Wrigley Field to host New Year's Day game

From Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

According to a knowledgeable source, it’s official. The NHL’s second outdoor Winter Classic will take place New Year’s Day at the storied Wrigley Field when the Blackhawks take on the Stanley Cup-champion Detroit Red Wings.

An announcement is expected next week in the days leading up to the three-day inaugural “Blackhawks Convention” at the Chicago Hilton.

Read the entire entry from Russo's Rants here.

Should be a fun New Year's day game. The fact that Wrigley Field is hosting the game makes it much more intriguing than watching a game at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Having Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Nicklas Lidstrom, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane playing doesn't hurt either.

NHL Morning Papers: Stanley Cup Finals Edition (Monday)

Here are the morning papers for the Stanley Cup Finals which resume tonight...

Detroit Red Wings (1) versus Pittsburgh Penguins (2):

• Tomas Holmstrom will suit up for Game 5 tonight. It appears that Chris Chelios will remain on the sidelines for the possible clinching game tonight. The Red Wings are acting like it is just another game tonight, explains Helene St. James. St. James believes that Henrik Zetterberg has to be the Conn Smythe favorite. Meanwhile, Mitch Albom decided to take a closer look at Nicklas Lidstrom. Wings fans will love the fact that 28 out of 29 Stanley Cup finalists have won the Cup when leading the Finals 3-1.
• Forget winning the series, the Penguins are just concerned about winning Game 5, writes Robert Dvorchak. Sometimes you have to look at the numbers, explains Bob Smizik. Michel Therien explained his distribution of ice-time to the press on Sunday. You just cannot match the Wings' playoff experience, writes Chuck Finder.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

Email any thoughts, ideas or suggestions to illegalcurve@gmail.com

Afternoon Roster News

Here are some news and notes from around the NHL this afternoon:

• Pascal Leclaire will start in net tonight for the Jackets.
• Chris Simon returns to the Islanders line-up tonight for the first time since being suspended for stepping on Jarko Ruutu's foot.
• Casey Borer has been demoted by the Hurricanes to the AHL.
• The MRI on Nicklas Lidstrom's knee revealed no tear, and the star defenseman will be lost to the Wings for three weeks.
• Niklas Kronwall (shoulder) may return to the Wings line-up this weekend.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

EURO CURVE

Euro Curve takes a look at the latest international hockey headlines.

Writers Note: My apologies for not posting the Morning Papers yesterday. I just couldn't find time to peel myself away from my Advertising textbook. By the way, I aced the exam! Alas, here is a Euro Curve post to wet your appetite. Morning Papers will be back Wednesday, with yours truly, while Richy P will be back in his regular role starting next Monday.

- Everyone must pick up The Hockey News this week (December 18, 2007 issue with a handsome Nicklas Lidstrom on the cover). The entire issue is dedicated to the Euro game, and explores the all-time best European players, profiles the major leagues, and discusses the future of the international game.

- There is an interesting article about Fabian Brunnstrom, a 22-year-old Swede who is tearing up the Swedish Elite League for Farjestad. He is drawing comparisons to fellow countrymen Henrik Zetterberg and Mikael Samuelsson. Writer Ken Campbell also mentions these four players as showstoppers overseas:

• Defenseman Victor Hedman (Kyle Kosior was on top of this weeks ago)
• Right Winger Alexei Morozov (used to love scoring goals for the Penguins)
• Rearguard Danny Markov (how is he not in the NHL?)
• LW Nikolai Kulemin (The Next One, as in Next Ponikarovsky)

For Illegal Curve, I'm Ezra Ginsburg.