Eight Preseason Games and Their Notable Players (Sep 17)

It was a busy night on the ice for preseason action in the NHL. Eight games took to the ice and there looks to be plenty of scoring, so hopefully we'll have a good number of players to focus on. Weeding out the multiple-point players has been good so far, as there have been a few names that have popped up in the first few days of the preseason that should be considered a little higher than before.

The Capitals took on the Sabres in Buffalo on Thursday night and ended up with the victory, winning 4-3 in overtime. The two stars for the Capitals were defenseman Brian Pothier and centre Nicklas Backstrom. They both came away with a pair of points, Pothier had a goal in his tally. Backstrom's two assists came without the help of either Russian sniper, as they were not in the line-up for the game. Backstrom's high pool value is starting to look justified. Pothier, on the scoresheet, has shown a glimpse of what he was able to accomplish prior to his concussion issues. Is he back to 100%? If so, look out sleeper!

The Canadiens and their high-profile acquisitions took to the ice for the first time in the preseason against Florida, beating them 3-2 in the end. Mike Cammalleri, one of their biggest signings, finished the game with a goal and an assist, as the only multiple-point player in the game. There is a lot riding on Cammalleri's back now in Montreal, moreso than in Los Angeles or Calgary, so it will be interesting to see how that all pans out for him.

The Nashville Predators feasted on the Atlanta Thrashers on Thursday night, beating up on them, 5-0. It was a big night for Calder-hopeful, Colin Wilson, who finished with a goal and two assists. It looks like a performance that will get his stock to rise in the coming days and it was already fairly high to begin with. Other players with 2-point games were Jason Arnott (G,A), Steve Sullivan (2A) and Patric Hornqvist (2A). If the Preds are to make a name for themselves in the West this year, they will have to get their scoring to this level on a more consistent basis.

The Avalanche played host to the Stars on Thursday night and they were not gracious by the looks of it. The Avs beat the Stars, 3-1, thanks to a complete game effort by goalie, Craig Anderson and a pair of assists from Milan Hejduk. Anderson is thought to be one of the better off-season signings of the whole summer, as he bids for the starting job in Denver. There are a lot of people saying that he has a good shot to get it too. Hejduk is coming off a somewhat sub-par season in 2009 and will have to help lead this rebuilding team in 2010. It's hard to put a lot of stock in that.

It was a high-scoring affair in the Saddledome on Thursday night, as the Flames beat the Islanders, 5-4 in a shootout. Olli Jokinen came out on fire for the Flames, scoring a pair and adding an assist for a 3-point night. He should be out to prove that it was a good idea making the move to acquire him at the deadline last season. Summer acquisition, Nigel Dawes, also had a good game, making a name for himself with Jokinen. Dawes finished the game with a goal and two assists. Also having a multiple-point night for the Flames was David Moss, who scored a goal and an assist.

With four goals of their own in regulation, the Islanders were no slouches on the ice on Thursday. Off-season acquisition, Matt Moulson, scored a pair of goals for the Isles, trying to earn himself a spot on Long Island. He played seven games for the Kings in 2009, scoring a single goal. Young defenseman, Jack Hillen, had a pair of assists in the game, as he's looking for a full-time job with the club to improve upon the 40 games that he played for the team last year.

In Anaheim on Thursday, the Canucks went in and beat the Ducks 5-0 on the pond. Kyle Wellwood was the top Canucks player with a pair of assists to lead the way. The competition for spots on the forward lines looks pretty competitive, so bubble players like Wellwood are due for a big preseason to make the team this year.