Erik Johnson of the St. Louis Blues started the season strongly, but has had some tough recent weeks.Erik Johnson of the St. Louis Blues started the season strongly, but has had some tough recent weeks. (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

HNIC's senior online reporter Tim Wharnsby dishes out the latest news, buzz and inside information in the hockey world.

1. Rain forecast for Fenway

The weather forecast for Boston on Friday has a 70 per cent chance of rain and a high of 4 C. Not exactly ideal conditions for the Winter Classic between the Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway Park on New Year's Day, a game to be televised on Hockey Night in Canada and streamed at CBCSports.ca at 1 p.m. ET.

So what happens if the weather does not co-operate on Friday? The league’s contingency plan would be to hold the game on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET. The forecast for Saturday is –1 C with a 30 per cent chance of precipitation.

2. Blues for St. Louis youngster

When the St. Louis Blues lined up against the Nashville Predators at home on Tuesday, there was no Erik Johnson. Blues coach Andy Murray decided to sit 21-year-old Johnson because of his ineffective play of late. Although the Blues dropped a 4-3 decision, St. Louis general manager Larry Pleau supported the move.

"It’s not easy to do that," Pleau told Hockey Night in Canada Radio on Sirius on Tuesday. "Erik is like any young player. He’s going to go through his ups and downs. I think the coach thought it was a good time to sit him down.

"I give the coaches credit because I would have sat him sooner. He just hasn’t looked as comfortable as he did earlier in the season."

The offensive defenceman, taken first overall by the Blues in 2006, scored four goals and 19 points in his first 27 games. But he has only two assists in his past 11 outings.

3. Schneider hits the road

A disgruntled Mathieu Schneider left the Canucks 10 days ago because he was unhappy with his lack of playing time. He has not played for the Canucks since Dec. 16. Vancouver general manager Mike Gillis has tried to trade him, but there have been no takers. So the 40-year-old Schneider was put on waivers Tuesday.

If he clears by noon on Wednesday, he can be recalled and claimed on re-entry waivers, with the Canucks splitting his salary with the team that claims him.

Who would be interested in Schneider? The Columbus Blue Jackets, Buffalo Sabres and Dallas Stars are in the market for a puck-moving defenceman.

4. Habs may have goalie find

If the Montreal Canadiens find a trading partner to move goalie Jaroslav Halak before the NHL trade deadline on March 3, they won’t be leaving the cupboard bare behind Carey Price. In Hamilton, veteran Curtis Sanford has more than 100 games of NHL experience.

But Sanford has been outplayed by the smart free-agent signing last summer of 24-year-old Cedrick Desjardins. He is the former junior teammate of Sidney Crosby with the 2005 Memorial Cup finalist Rimouski Oceanic.

Desjardins was named to the Canadian team for the AHL all-star classic in Portland, Maine, on Jan. 19 after putting up an 11-4-1 record, 1.55 goals against average and .939 save percentage.

5. Canadians beat up Team Canada

Over at the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland, you may have seen some familiar names on the roster of Adler Manheim, the German team that upset Canada 5-2 on Tuesday. Manheim’s coach is Doug Mason of Sudbury, Ont., and he has 13 Canadians on his team.

Ottawa native Fred Brathwaite was in goal. Adam Spylo, a former San Jose Sharks prospect from Waterloo, Ont., scored three times and Montreal’s François Methot scored Manheim’s first goal.

The other Canadians on Manheim include: Colin Beardsmore (Peterborough, Ont.), Colin Forbes (New Westminster, B.C.), Scott King (Saskatoon), Justin Papineau (Ottawa), Jame Pollock (Quebec City), Nathan Robinson (Scarborough, Ont.), Mario Scalzo (St-Hubert, Que.), Chris Schmidt (Beaver Lodge, Alta.), Pascal Trepanier (Gaspe, Que.) and Cory Urquhart (Halifax).

Team Canada, 2-1, can make it into the tournament final on New Year’s Eve with a win over Dynamo Minsk on Wednesday morning. Of course, Canada will have to beat a couple more Canadians in the Minsk lineup, defenceman Duvie Westcott (Winnipeg) and forward Geoff Platt (Toronto).