Following another day off, all five Central Division teams are back on the ice tonight.

Around The Central Division: February 7, 2013

It’s back to the AHL for Ryan Johansen. (PHOTO: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports)

YESTERDAY

There were no games in the Central Division yesterday.

Transactions

Columbus Blue Jackets assigned C Ryan Johansen to Springfield (AHL).

St. Louis Blues reassigned F Anthony Nigro from Evansville (ECHL) to Peoria (AHL).

Standings

Leaders

Points: Patrick Kane (CHI) – 15
Goals: Patrick Kane (CHI), Marian Hossa (CHI) -6
Assists: Patrick Kane (CHI) – 9
PIM: Jared Boll (CBJ) – 44
Wins: Corey Crawford (CHI) – 6
GAA: Corey Crawford (CHI) – 1.82
SV%: Corey Crawford (CHI) – .930

TODAY

Can Nashville beat L.A. at home, too? (PHOTO: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

Los Angeles Kings (3-2-2) at Nashville Predators (4-2-3)
7:00 p.m. CST
FOX Sports Tennessee

The Kings’ season so far has been composed of short streaks – three losses to start the season, then two wins and two more losses. Their last game out was a win in Columbus, so the Preds will be looking to break the pattern by handing them a loss before they can get another streak going. Read my preview, or see what Rink Royalty thinks of the matchup.

With the way things go, this might actually end up being a decent game…nah. (PHOTO: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports)

Calgary Flames (2-3-2) at Columbus Blue Jackets (3-6-1)
6:00 p.m. CST

Looking for ways to make this game more exciting? Consider this one the Teams That Have Beaten Detroit Bowl and see if that helps. The Flames are without Miikka Kiprusoff, which will hurt their chances out of climbing out of the Northwest Division cellar tonight.

“No love lost” could have been coined just for these two teams. (PHOTO: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports)

Detroit Red Wings (4-4-1) at St. Louis Blues (6-3-0)
7:00 p.m. CST

The last time these two teams met it wasn’t pretty. The Wings limp in having lost consecutive games to Columbus and Calgary, while the Blues are still reeling from a beating at the hands of the Predators. Things could turn nasty quickly in this one, making it perhaps the night’s ideal candidate for picture-in-a-picture viewing. Bleedin’ Blue looks ahead.

Two playoff foes from last season meet in the desert tonight. (PHOTO: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports)

Chicago Blackhawks (8-0-2) at Phoenix Coyotes (4-4-2)
9:00 p.m. CST

The NHL’s top team heads takes on, well, the NHL’s team in the desert tonight. The Coyotes have had one of the more suspect defenses in the Western Conference early this season, but getting goalie Mike Smith back from injury has helped their cause with two consecutive wins. As for Chicago, even when the Blackhawks don’t win they earn points. No bonus for you if you’re picking them to win.