-Today the big topic is how will the Tigers respond to having last nite’s crucial Game 4 rained out. They trail the cardiac Cards 2-1 and desperately need tonight’s game in St. Louis to even the series or face elimination in a hostile environment. The pitching match-up promises to be a good one with NLCS MVP Jeff Suppan going for St. Louis while Detroit counters with 23 year-old Jeremy Bonderman. So can the kid outpitch the vet and give his club the spark it needs to guarantee that this World Series goes back to Motown? We’ll see. Aside from that, Jim Leyland’s club needs to hit better. Kind of sounds similar to what happened to the Mets. The Tigers have been a scrappy lineup all year. Now they must deliver!

-Last night’s NY Hockey Report show was a success. Gary and myself brokedown the Flyers’ problems along with how the Pens’ dynamic duo of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin took apart the Devils. We also discussed what’s gone wrong with the Devs lately as well as previewed an exciting match-up between the Isles and undefeated Sabres at Nassau Coliseum tonight where Buffalo takes their run at history in trying to match the ‘93-94 Leafs for the NHL’s best start (10-0). Can ex-Sabres coach Ted Nolan’s Isles spoil the party? The highlight of the show though was Comast’s Jim Jackson coming on for our final seg to discuss the Flyers at length. It was an excellent interview. You can catch the show archive in its entirety here:

http://www.broadcastmonsters.com/NewyorkHockey/nyhockey102506.asx 

-Meanwhile, the Devils will try to solve their three-game slide against the Panthers, who are fresh off their first road win of the season over the Rangers at MSG 4-2. Can team captain Patrik Elias snap out of his funk? Will the New Jersey D get back on track? Can they reverse the second period trends? We’ll see.

-One game we’ll be keeping an eye on is the Thrashers taking on the Flyers at Wachovia Center tonight. It’s the Flyers’ first game under new coach John Stevens since the major shakeup last weekend. They are the NHL’s worst team so far. But now, a majority of them will play for a coach who they helped win a Calder Cup with in 2005. SO there should be some familiarity. And with them having been off since last Friday, it’s given Stevens a chance to hold some practices and work on shorter passes and a better breakout according to Jackson. So they should be ready to go tonight.