Random thoughts from the week so far...

Crosby's consecutive games points streak ends at 25 - I have a feeling this will be the first of many extended points streaks in his career. The irony of it is it stopped against the Isles, the team he's been the most productive against in the league. You know that's burning him up inside.

24/7 Winter Classic - 3rd Installment - A very entertaining episode but it was too much about the Pens-Caps game in Washington last Thursday. You get the sense that if the Caps win the game at Heinz Field, it could turn their season around. Everyone needs to stop worrying about the potential weather issues. The NHL will find a way to have it run smoothly.

James Wisniewski - I can't believe the Isles traded him. He's your best defenseman that's healthy and has shored up their back end as much as he can. I know you're a team that's perennially building towards the future, but c'mon. Great pick up for Montreal, though. Their power play should be firing on all cylinders soon.

Marek Svatos - What a genius move by the Predators. They wait for another team to sign him (division rival St. Louis) and grab him before he clears waivers, and only have to foot half the bill. Anytime Marek scores against St. Louis, it will cut just a little deeper. Svatos isn't what he used to be, but in an anemic offense like Nashville's, he'll provide a spark.

Bye Bye Sutter - The Flames axed GM Duane Sutter. It's about damn time. He wasted Miika Kiprusoff's career and didn't know how to follow up their Cup run after the strike. Calgary needs to officially go in to rebuild mode. If they can get a great offer for Jarome Iginla at the deadline, they need to think about it. If Ray Bourque can leave Boston to go win and have the Bruins fans behind him, Jarome should mean the same to Flames fans.

NHL Weekly TV Viewer Guide

MONDAY - Minnesota @ Columbus - 7:30PM - Versus

It boggles my mind how Versus picks their nationally televised games sometimes. I thought the goal was to grow the popularity of the game, not stiffle it. This is a match-up of the 12th and 13th place teams in the West. Columbus has only earned four points in its last eight games. The Wild come in to the game having won three of its last four. The teams have split 3-2 regulation victories in each others buildings. While the Wild have been a fun team to watch this year, I can't imagine why they wouldn't take Detroit @ Coloraod or Islanders @ Rangers instead (luckily I will be at the Rangers game)

TUESDAY - Boston @ Tampa Bay - 7:30PM - Versus

The Lightning have a slim edge on 1st place in the Southeast Division and are in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference while the Bruins have a hold of 8th place in the Conference by four points. Boston is in the midst of a 4 game swing against the Southeast Division. They beat Atlanta on Thursday night 4-1 and will travel to play the Panthers tonight before heading to Tampa. The Lightning finished up a 3 game road trip in Atlanta last night and earned five points on the trip. The teams have split the two meetings so far with Boston dominating Tampa 8-1 in their last meeting

WEDNESDAY - NO GAME

THURSDAY - NO GAME

FRIDAY - Phoenix @ St. Louis - 8:30PM - Versus

This is another game that features two non-playoff teams in the West (St. Louis is in 10th, Phoenix is in 11th), but both of these teams are competitive and can hang with the best teams in the conference. The Coyotes went 2-3-1 on a 6 game road trip heading in to the week while the Blues have won three in a row heading in to Tuesday's game against Chicago. The Coyotes won 5-3 in their only meeting of the season back in November.

SATURDAY - Washington @ Pittsburgh- 1PM - NBC (WINTER CLASSIC)

This is the game everyone has been waiting for whether you're an avid hockey fan or a casual sports fan. The Winter Classic has been a big success so far and now the NHL has their two poster boys facing off at Heinz Field. The Penguins won 3-2 in a shootout in Washington this past Thursday in their first meeting of the season.

SATURDAY - Toronto @ Ottawa - 7PM - NHL Network

Another match-up of two teams below 8th place in their respective conference (not a banner week for the NHL to close out 2010). The Maple Leafs would get talked about more as the worst team in the NHL if it wasn't for the injury-ridden Islanders and the just plain awful Devils. Ottawa is in better shape than Toronto and is only four points out of a playoff spot. This will be their 4th meeting of the season and Ottawa has won the past 2.

SUNDAY - NO GAME