30 teams. 15 games. One live blogger.
Friday night’s action
Week in review: Killer Kuba
Fantasy video: line combos
DEVILS 2 @ FLYERS 3 (OT)
Coming in: New Jersey and Philadelphia came into this one as the second game of a home-and-home that Philly won last night by a 6-3 count, which was its first win of the season. Jersey (5-2-0) sits five points ahead in the Atlantic of Philly (1-3-3).
Goaltending match-up: Brodeur (30/33, .909 SV%) vs. Biron (29/31, .935 SV%)
Net notes: Brodeur’s three-game win streak was stopped last night and he gave up five goals in the one game; whereas he had only given up three total in the three games prior with two shutouts.
Biron got his first win of the season last night and coming into today he carried a 6-11-2-1 lifetime record vs. the Devils with 3.09/ .892 splits.
Line combos: Elias-Zubrus-Vrana/ Parise-Zajac-Clarkson/ Pandolfo-Madden-Gionta for the Devils with Hartnell-Richards-Lupul/ Nodl-Carter-Upshall/ Gagne-Metropolit-Knuble for the Flyers.
Key notes: Parise (1G, even, 22:46 ice time, 5:03 PP, 0:42 PK, 7 SOG, 2-2 FO) has goals in four straight and six of eight on the year and he had three straight multi-point efforts headed into this lone Saturday matinee. Zajac (1A, even, 22:56 ice time, 5:09 PP, 2:47 PK, 2 SOG, 14-11 FO) has points in three straight and he had back-to-back two-point games coming in here.
Gionta (1G, even, 2 PIM, 20:15 ice time, 3:22 PP, 0:29 PK, 5 SOG, 0-2 FO) had helpers in three of four coming in but finally struck for his first goal of the season before the end of the second.
Carter (1G, 1A, +1, 24:01 ice time, 3:03 PP, 3:14 PK, 6 SOG, 7-13 FO) had goals in five of six before the puck dropped today and he got a lucky tip in OT to win the game, but you won’t catch any of his owners complaining.
Hartnell (1G, +1, 5 PIM, 17:46 ice time, 1:46 PP, 1:43 PK, 4 SOG, 1-0 FO) has points in three straight and had five in two outings coming in, which he topped off today with some fisticuffs. Knuble (1G, +1, 18:52 ice time, 3:20 PP, 2:25 PK, 1 SOG) had four points in three games before getting more today. Coburn (2A, +1, 26:52 ice time, 2:20 PP, 5:30 PK, 1 SOG) has points in three of six and he also had 14 PIM in 7 GP before this one started.
Asham (15 PIM, 2:23 ice time, no PP, no PK, no SOG), Cote (12 PIM, 1:34 ice time, no PP, no PK, 1 SOG) and Rupp (20 PIM, 1:44 ice time, no PP, no PK, no SOG, 2-0 FO) had particularly good PIM contributions today in a game that had a number of fights. These two teams will next meet in early December.
Some kind of smoke/ stink bomb was thrown onto the ice in the Jersey end in late OT; delaying the game. Genius.
THRASHERS 4 @ BRUINS 5
Coming in: Atlanta, with a 2-3-2 record, was only two points back of first in the Southeast. Boston was 2-2-3, which put the team six points back of the 6-0-1 Sabres.
Goaltending match-up: Hedberg (28/33, .848 SV%) vs. Fernandez (28/32, .875 SV%)
Net notes: Hedberg got the nod tonight with Lehtonen facing a firing squad against Detroit last night.
Fernandez was 1-1-1 on the year coming into this one and he was a perfect 4-0-0 vs. ATL before this tilt.
Line combos: Kovalchuk-White-Little/ Kozlov-Christensen-Armstrong/ Perrin-Reasoner-Williams for the Thrashers with Axelsson-Savard-Ryder/ Sturm-Bergeron-Kessel/ Lucic-Krejci-Wheeler for the Bruins.
Key notes: Schneider (1G, 1A, -2, 20:41 ice time, 2:42 PP, 0:49 PK, 3 SOG) has points in two of three now and finally got his first goal of the season.Kovalchuk (1G, 1A, -1, 20:35 ice time, 3:20 PP, 0:37 PK, 2 SOG) halted a two-game pointless skid here and had just 2G, 2A overall before tonight, so it was nice to see this multi-point effort to reward his poolies.
Williams (1G, -1, 14:00 ice time, 0:27 PP, no PK, 3 SOG) has points in two straight now after four with none. Armstrong (2A, +1, 16:15 ice time, 0:58 PP, 3:43 PK, 2 SOG, 1-1 FO) has points back-to-back, while Christensen (1A, -1, 11:35 ice time, 0:22 PP, 0:14 PK, 4 SOG, 5-10 FO) also does too.
Kozlov (1G, 1A, even, 2 PIM, 13: 36 ice time, 1:00 PP, 0:14 PK, 2 SOG) had gone five games without a goal or assist before this evening. Hainsey (1A, even, 23:08 ice time, 2:52 PP, 3:44 PK, 2 SOG) has a three-game point streak going now and he had six points in seven games coming in with 2 PPG as well.
Lucic (3G, 1A, +1, 15:01 ice time, 3:27 PP, no PK, 5 SOG), who had that monstrous hit in the Toronto game that shattered glass and will be included in highlight reels for years to come, has points in three of five and this just gives you a taste of the offenisve potential of this rugged kid.
Savard (2A, +2, 20:16 ice time, 4:54 PP, 0:26 PK, 3 SOG, 14-4 FO) had nine points in seven games coming in, despite not having a single point in the past three starts before tonight. Ryder (1A, +1, 16:26 ice time, 4:20 PP, no PK, 2 SOG, 0-1 FO) had also gone three with nothing. Wideman (2A, even, 22:25 ice time, 2:54 PP, 1:31 PK, 1 SOG) has points in three of six. Krejci (1G, even, 16:38 ice time, 3:06 PP, 1:07 PK, 3 SOG, 6-8 FO) already had five points on the season before tonight.
SENATORS 2 @ LEAFS 3
Coming in: Ottawa nearly erased a 4-0 hole against Anaheim last night, but fell short. Toronto’s 2-2-3 record left them one point ahead of the Sens as tonight’s action started.
Goaltending match-up: Auld (35/38, .921 SV%) vs. Toskala (22/24, .917 SV%)
Net notes: Auld could be in line for a few more starts if Gerber’s injury turns out to be anything, so keep an eye on that situation if you’ve got either guy or need spot starts and Auld is a FA.
Toskala had a 4-3-0 record vs. OTT coming into this one. He was large late in this one to preserve the win.
Line combos: Heatley-Spezza-Winchester/ Foligno-Fisher-Alfredsson/ Vermette-Kelly-Neil for the Sens with Ponikarovsky-Stajan-Antropov/ Hagman-Grabovski-Kulemin/ Steen-Moore-Blake for the Leafs.
Key notes: Kuba’s (1A, +1, 24:05 ice time, 3:53 PP, 4:46 PK, no SOG) season-long assist streak is alive after tonight, while Picard (1A, +1, 21:07 ice time, 3:12 PP, 3:01 PK, no SOG) has points in two in a row and he’s still getting good PP minutes.
Neil (even, 15 PIM, 7:29 ice time, no PP, no PK, 2 SOG) had a nice PIM evening.
Blake (1A, even, 16:40 ice time, 2:41 PP, 0:06 PK, 5 SOG) was back in the line-up here. Van Ryn (1A, even, 21:53 ice time, 5:56 PP, 1:50 PK, 3 SOG) has points in three straight and five of six. It’s kind of mind-boggling that Grabovski (1G, even, 14:34 ice time, 2:44 PP, no PK, 2 SOG, 4-6 FO) had no points prior to tonight since he’s played better than the stats would indicate.
Hagman (1A, even, 15:07 ice time, 2:56 PP, 0:06 PK, 3 SOG) was coming off that two-point effort @BOS.
Ponikarovsky (1G, +1, 16:09 ice time, 4:44 PP, no PK, 3 SOG) has points in three in a row, but this was his first goal since October 13th. Antropov (1A, +1, 16:38 ice time, 5:06 PP, no PK, 3 SOG) has points in four straight and had a three-game goal streak headed into this one.
DUCKS 6 @ CANADIENS 4
Coming in: Anaheim was 3-5-0 before tonight, barely hanging on for a win last night against Ottawa. Montreal sat two points back of Buffalo in the Northeast with a game in hand.
Goaltending match-up: Giguere (47/51, .922 SV%) vs. Halak (8/12, .667 SV%) & Price (11/13, .846 SV%)
Net notes: Montreal-born JSG had a 3-2-1 record vs. the Habs coming into this one and he put on quite a show for his home town.
Halak was 2-0-0 in his starts headed into this one with only two goals against total.
Line combos: Kunitz-Getzlaf-Perry/ Morrison-Marchant-Selanne/ Moen-Pahlsson-Niedermayer for the Ducks with S. Kostitsyn-Plekanec-Kovalev/ Tanguay-Koivu-Latendresse/ Higgins-Lang-Kostopoulos for the Habs.
Key notes: Getzlaf (1G, 1A, +2, 7 PIM, 2:33 PP, no PK, 4 SOG, 0-1 FO) has goals back-to-back with points in three of four, so he’s starting to heat up. Perry (1G, 2A, +2, 7 PIM, 17:06 ice time, 2:33 PP, no PK, 4 SOG, 0-1 FO) has helpers in three straight. Kunitz (1G, 1A, +1, 4 PIM, 16:29 ice time, 0:25 PP, no PK, 3 SOG, 0-2 FO) has points in three straight now too. That whole line was large tonight.
S. Niedermayer (2A, even, 27:40 ice time, 2:33 PP, 6:21 PK, 2 SOG) stopped a three-game pointless skid here, as did Pronger (2A, even, 2 PIM, 24:07 ice time, 2:33 PP, 4:44 PK, 2 SOG).
Selanne (1G, -1, 13:21 ice time, 2:33 PP, no PK, 1 SOG, 1-0 FO) has points back-to-back and finally got his second goal of the season. Moen (1G, -1, 17:00 ice time, no PP, 3:17 PK, 2 SOG) has points in five of seven.
Koivu (1G, +1, 18:50 ice time, 5:04 PP, 0:25 PK, 2 SOG, 11-10 FO) has struck for goals in four straight with points in six in a row. Kovalev (1A, -2, 4 PIM, 17:46 ice time, 5:44 PP, no PK, 2 SOG, 1-1 FO) has points in five of six. Markov’s (1A, -2, 24:38 ice time, 6:56 PP, 2:33 PK, 5 SOG) streak of points in every game is alive from the back end.
Higgins (1A, +1, 18:05 ice time, 5:12 PP, 0:25 PK, 3 SOG) finally got into the line-up tonight. Tanguay (2G, even, 20:15 ice time, 6:55 PP, no PK, 4 SOG, 1-0 FO) has goals in two of three and he kept his point-per-game average alive here.
Lang (2A, +2, 16:04 ice time, 5:04 PP, 0:35 PK, no SOG, 14-3 FO) has points in three of five.
HURRICANES 4 @ ISLANDERS 3
Coming in: Carolina was 3-2-1 and one point back of Florida for first in the Southeast, while New York was dead-last in the Atlantic with a 2-4-0 record.
Goaltending match-up: Ward (57/60, .950 SV%) vs. DiPietro (10/12, .833 SV%) & MacDonald (14/16, .875 SV%)
Net notes: Ward owned a good 5-2-0 lifetime mark vs. the Isles headed into this one.
This was DiPietro’s third start of the year and he had allowed seven goals overall coming into this evening. He appears to have left this game with an injury, since his coach said the pull was not performance-related but wouldn’t expand any further.
Line combos: Cullen-Brindy-Samsonov/ Whitney-Staal-Ruutu/ Bayda-Sutter-Eaves for the Canes with Bergenheim-Weight-Guerin/ Park-Comrie-Okposo/ Tampbellini-Nielsen-Hunter for the Isles.
Key notes: Brindy 1G, +1, 18:18 ice time, 1:18 PP, 1:56 PK, 2 SOG, 15-5 FO) has goals in two of three and four of seven overall. Corvo (1A, +1, 21:10 ice time, 3:55 PP, 0:37 PK, 3 SOG) stopped a three-game slide here. Staal (1G, +1, 23:43 ice time, 3:36 PP, 4:44 PK, 5 SOG, 7-7 FO) has goals in two of three with points in three of four.
Sutter (1A, +1, 12:10 ice time, no PP, 6:45 PK, 3 SOG, 8-7 FO) has points in two straight and he got ROCKED by a big mid-ice hit tonight that took him out of the game.
Streit (1G, even, 2 PIM, 27:19 ice time, 12:18 PP, 1:05 PK, 6 SOG) had goals back-to-back and he already had five points in six games before tonight, so it’s tough to ask for more from the new Isles defenceman.
Weight (1A, -1, 23:46 ice time, 10:16 PP, no PK, 3 SOG, 7-9 FO) has points in three of four, while Guerin (1A, -1, 2 PIM, 22:00 ice time, 8:44 PP, no PK, 10 SOG) has them in three of four. He already had 11 SOG in 2 GP before tonight’s incredible total there.
Meyer (1G, 1A, +1, 15:15 ice time, no PP, 2:54 PK, 2 SOG) got his first two points of the season. Bergenheim (1G, even, 2 PIM, 12:22 ice time, no PP, 1:39 PK, 7 SOG) has points back-to-back.
PENGUINS 2 @ RANGERS 3 (SO)
Coming in: Pittsburgh was off to a quietly good 5-2-1 start headed in here, while the Rangers moved to 7-2-1 after a win over Columbus last night.
Goaltending match-up: Fleury (42/44, .955 SV%) vs. Lundqvist (27/29, .931 SV%)
Net notes: MAF was 9-7-0-4 against the Rangers headed into this Saturday night event with a 4-2-1 mark overall in ’08-9. He was tested often in the latter half of this game and was generally really strong.
Lundqvist stopped a three-game winless skid last night against Columbus. He was UNCONCSIOUS in overtime tonight with some incredible saves.
Line combos: Dupuis-Crosby-Malkin/ Fedotenko-Staal-Sykora/ Kennedy-Talbot-Satan for the Pens with Naslund-Drury-Zherdev/ Dawes-Gomez-Callahan/ Voros-Dubinsky-Prucha for the Rangers.
Key notes: Crosby (1G, even, 22:07 ice time, 2:33 PP, no PK, 4 SOG, 7-7 FO) has goals in two straight and three of four, with nine points in four games coming in. He just missed an empty net from centre ice that would have sealed the deal on this game in regulation. He also could not score on Lundqvist with the game on the line in the shootout.
Malkin (1A, even, 22:19 ice time, 3:18 PP, no PK, no SOG, 0-1 FO) has a five-game point streak going and had 10 points in that stretch before adding more here.
Goligoski (1A, +1, 16:04 ice time, 2:18 PP, no PK, no SOG) had just 2G, 0A coming in, although he had been getting his chances and plenty of PP time. Letang (1A, even, 22:33 ice time, 0:55 PP, 2:05 PK, 3 SOG) had a decent 3A overall headed into this one, but owners were likely hoping for a bit more. He was stopped in the shootout, where he’s normally really strong with an effective bag of tricks.
Zherdev (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 18:11 ice time, 3:11 PP, no PK, 3 SOG) sniped the GTG with seconds left in the third period, which is a pretty sweet follow-up to last night’s heroics against his former team. The Rangers had trailed 2-0 at one point.
Naslund (1G, 1A, +1, 19:30 ice time, 2:56 PP, no PK, 6 SOG) picked up his second PPG in three games to extend his point streak to three outings. Gomez (1A, +1, 23:49 ice time, 3:54 PP, 1:35 PK, 9 SOG, 11-9 FO) had eight points in 10 GP coming in and he has points in three of four. Drury (1A, even, 21:42 ice time, 3:50 PP, 1:42 PK, 2 SOG, 4-9 FO) now has points back-to-back after a long stretch with nadda.
Sjostrom (even, 10:53 ice time, no PP, 1:21 PK, 1 SOG) scored in the shootout to win the game.
SHARKS 3 @ LIGHTNING 0
Coming in: San Jose owned first place in the West as Saturday’s action began, despite last night’s loss to Florida. Tampa Bay and Philadelphia shared the “honour” of being the only teams in the league with one win.
Goaltending match-up: Boucher (22/22) vs. Smith (42/45, .933 SV%)
Net notes: Don’t look now, but Boucher has yet to allow a goal in two starts this seaosn. Not bad, eh?
Smith has already seen 40+ shots three times this season, but at least it’s good for his SV%.
Line combos: Marleau-Thornton-Setoguchi/ Michalek-Pavelski-Setoguchi/ Clowe-Goc-Grier for the Sharks with Prospal-Lecavalier-St. Louis/ Malone-Stamkos-Vrbata/ Roberts-Jokinen-Artyukhin for TB.
Key notes: Clowe (1G, +1, 5 PIM, 15:12 ice time, 5:47 PP, no PK, 8 SOG) and Malone (-2, 5 PIM, 14:06 ice time, 0:51 PP, 2:12 PK, no SOG) had a fight in this one.
Thornton (1A, +1, 19:17 ice time, 2:40 PP, no PK, no SOG, 7-8 FO) has points in four straight now and five of six. Boyle’s (1A, +1, 22:25 ice time, 6:29 PP, 0:15 PK, 3 SOG) assist stretch his point streak to three games with five points in that period. Blake (1A, +1, 22:46 ice time, 2:22 PP, 2:52 PK, 1 SOG) has helpers back-to-back now after a dry spell.
Ehrhoff (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 20:28 ice time, 3:06 PP, 0:50 PK, 4 SOG) had seven points in eight games coming in and he’s just off to such a great start this year. Good for him… he deserves it. Setoguchi (1G, +1, 16:20 ice time, no PP, no PK, 5 SOG) has goals in three of four and is just shy of a point-per-game average on the year. Pavelski (1A, even, 20:58 ice time, 5:34 PP, 1:50 PK, 5 SOG, 9-7 FO) has points in five of eight.
KINGS 4 @ PREDATORS 5
Coming in: Los Angeles had a decent 3-3-0 record headed into this one, while Nashville was 3-4-0 and tied for last in the Central.
Goaltending match-up: LaBarbera (12/15, .800 SV%) & Ersberg (10/12, .833 SV%) vs. Ellis (26/30, .867 SV%)
Net notes: LaBarbera had a 2-3-0 record with 13 goals against vs. NAS before this one.
Ellis had split his last two games overall coming into this tilt tonight.
Line combos: Calder-Kopitar-Brown/ O’Sullivan-Stoll-Moller/ Frolov-Handzus-Simmonds for the Kings with Hornqvist-Arnott-Dumont/ Jones-Legwand-Erat/ Smithson-Bonk-Ward for the Preds.
Key notes: Kopitar (2A, -1, 2 PIM, 20:19 ice time, 4:50 PP, 0:55 PK, 6 SOG, 5-9 FO) has six points in five games after tonight, while usual linemate Brown (1G, even, 20:16 ice time, 4:30 PP, 0:55 PK, 5 SOG) has has goals in three of four and 3G, 4A in 5GP overall now.
Frolov (1G, even, 16:50 ice time, 4:17 PP, 1:22 PK, 2 SOG) has points in three of five. O’Sullivan (2A, even, 17:42 ice time, 3:49 PP, 0:44 PK, 1 SOG) has a nifty five-game point streak going, so he’s clearly on his game despite not spending time with his normal linemates on L1 too often. Stoll (2G, +1, 18:31 ice time, 5:04 PP, 1:18 PK, 3 SOG, 7-4 FO) has goals back-to-back and in three of five with points in four of five.
Arnott (1A, -2, 15:25 ice time, 2:03 PP, 0:02 PK, no SOG, 5-4 FO) has three points in two games since coming back into the line-up from his finger injury. Dumont (1G, -2, 15:23 ice time, 1:09 PP, 0:02 PK, 1 SOG) has points in four in a row but has been really consistent all season long thus far. Erat (1G, even, 16:00 ice time, 1:09 PP, 1:30 PK, 2 SOG) has 3G in 3 GP and is just under the point-per-game mark.
Legwand (1A, even, 6 PIM, 17:37 ice time, 2:29 PP, 1:57 PK, 2 SOG, 8-7 FO) has all three of his points in the past three games. Hamhuis (1A, -1, 27:15 ice time, 2:40 PP, 6:01 PK, 2 SOG) has points in two of three from the point, while Weber’s (1A, even, 1:09 PP, 0:50 PK, 1 SOG) unreal campaign continues to roll forward.
Suter (1A, even, 20:01 ice time, 1:09 PP, 2:40 PK, 1 SOG) stopped a three-game slide here, while Jones (1G, even, 2 PIM, 14:47 ice time, 2:29 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) has four points in his past five. Hornqvist (2A, -1, 12:59 ice time, 1:35 PP, no PK, 5 SOG) has three points in four efforts after tonight’s results.
BLUE JACKETS 1 @ WILD 2
Coming in: Columbus lost to the Rangers last night and fell to 3-4-0, while Minnesota was 4-0-1 and first in the Northwest.
Goaltending match-up: Leclaire (13/14, .929 SV%) & Norrena (8/9, .889 SV%) vs. Backstrom (25/26, .962 SV%)
Net notes: Leclaire had won two of three starts coming in with eight goals against. Check his injury status for next week.
Backstrom was 3-1-0 vs. CBJ coming into this one with 2.31/ .921 splits.
Line combos: Nash-Malhotra-Huselius/ Chimera-Brassard-Voracek/ Umberger-Peca-Murray for the Jackets with Brunette-Koivu-Miettinen/ PMB-Belanger-Nolan/ Veilleux-Sheppard-Weller for the WIld.
Key notes: Nash (even, 19:39 ice time, 2:33 PP, 2:09 PK, 3 SOG) has gone two games without a point after having 4G, 1A in 3 GP prior to that.
Nolan (1G, 1A, +2, 19:13 ice time, 2:56 PP, no PK, 4 SOG, 2-2 FO) was back in the line-up after recovering from his leg injury, while PMB (1G, +1, 18:16 ice time, 4:23 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) has points in all three of his games this season. Zidlicky (1A, even, 19:04 ice time, 2:38 PP, 1:05 PK, 1 SOG) got his first point of the year in his second game back from that ankle injury.
Koivu (1A, +1, 21:22 ice time, 3:47 PP, 1:46 PK, 6 SOG, 16-10 FO) stopped a two-game pointless skid here that he had endured since that big five-point night.
CAPITALS 6 @ STARS 5 (OT)
Coming in: Washington was 3-3-1 overall before tonight began, while Dallas was 3-4-1 with 32 goals against in eight games.
Goaltending match-up: Theodore (28/33, .848 SV%) vs. Turco (24/30, .800 SV%)
Net notes: Theodore was a horrible 2-9-2-1 lifetime vs. Dallas coming into this evening.
Turco had only played this franchise three times before, but had won them all with only four goals against.
Line combos: Ovechkin-Backstrom-Kozlov/ Laich-Fedorov-Semin/ Fleischmann-Nylander-Clark for the Caps with Morrow-Ribeiro-Eriksson/ Avery-Richards-Brunnstrom/ Neal-Modano-Crombeen for the Stars.
Key notes: Fedorov (2G, even, 2 PIM, 21:05 ice time, 6:32 PP, 1:21 PK, 3 SOG, 8-8 FO) has three goals in three games with points in five of six. He also became the highest scoring Russian player in NHL history tonight with those goals. Semin (1G, 2A, even, 2 PIM, 16:30 ice time, 4:48 PP, 0:24 PK, 2 SOG) added another three points to what has been an amazing season so far.
Fleischmann (2G, +1, 15:07 ice time, 2:59 PP, 1:35 PK, 4 SOG, 0-1 FO) stopped a three-game pointless slide here. Ovechkin (1A, even, 2 PIM, 24:10 ice time, 4:24 PP, 2:46 PK, 4 SOG) has assists in three of four, but no goals since October 11th! They’ll come… patience. Green (1A, -1, 2 PIM, 29:20 ice time, 7:12 PP, 3:31 PK, 2 SOG) only had one point in four tries before tonight.
Backstrom (1A, even, 18:36 ice time, 3:42 PP, no PK, 2 SOG, 5-8 FO) has assists back-to-back now. Nylander (2A, +1, 12:12 ice time, 3:41 PP, no PK, 1 SOG, 3-7 FO) had gone three games without a point before tonight.
Modano (1G, 2A, +2, 20:18 ice time, 4:52 PP, 3:36 PK, 6 SOG, 11-9 FO) already had seven points in eight games coming in , so the 38-year old is still humming along. Morrow (2A, even, 2 PIM, 22:35 ice time, 4:17 PP, 3:14 PK, 3 SOG) has five points in his past two and is averaging more than a point-per-game. Ribeiro (1A, even, 21:01 ice time, 4:52 PP, 1:34 PK, no SOG, 12-7 FO) followed up his five-point game with an assist here.
Avery (1G, 1A, -1, 2 PIM, 16:45 ice time, 2:18 PP, no PK, 3 SOG) doubled his year’s point production tonight and also added a minor penalty. Brunnstrom (1G, -2, 10:52 ice time, 1:14 PP, no PK, 1 SOG) didn’t get a lot of ice time, but he did make it count to break a brief two-game slide.
Crombeen (1G, 1A, +1, 2 PIM, 11:37 ice time, no PP, no PK, 2 SOG) has four points in five games, while Eriksson (1G, 1A, +1, 21:33 ice time, 4:17 PP, 1:57 PK, 1 SOG) posted his second consecutive two-point game and third in five tries.
WINGS 6 @ HAWKS 5 (SO)
Coming in: Detroit earned another two points with a win over Atlanta last night, moving to 5-1-1. Chicago was 3-2-2 before this one and three points back of the Wings.
Goaltending match-up: Conklin (36/41, .878 SV%) vs. Khabibulin (39/44, .886 SV%)
Net notes: Conklin was 2-0-0 coming in with 2.00/ .923 splits.
Khabi has been fairly solid this season and had won both of his home starts coming into this one.
Line combos: Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Hossa/ Franzen-Zetterberg-Samuelsson/ Cleary-Filppula-Hudler for the Wings with Versteeg-Toews-Kane/ Brouwer-Sharp-Havlat/ Ladd-Bolland-Byfuglien for the Hawks.
Key notes: Datsyuk (1G, +1, 23:01 ice time, 2:39 PP, 5:56 PK, 3 SOG, 13-16 FO) and Hossa (1G, 1A, +1, 2 PIM, 18:10 ice time, 2:39 PP, 1:52 PK, 3 SOG) scored in the shootout to secure the win. Datsyuk finally got his first goal after 8A (six straight games with points now), while Hossa pushed his point streak to six affairs. Zetterberg (1A, even, 20:22 ice time, 2:07 PP, 4:49 PK, 5 SOG, 8-11 FO) has seven points in a five-game point streak.
Franzen (1G, -1, 10:22 ice time, 2:07 PP, 1:01 PK, 5 SOG, 0-1 FO) left this game after a hit, so watch his status.
Hudler (1G, 2A, +1, 12:03 ice time, 1:55 PP, no PK, 1 SOG) has points in three of four. Kronwall (1G, 2A, +1, 4 PIM, 20:38 ice time, 2:19 PP, 3:17 PK, 2 SOG) also has points in three of four and he’s finally starting to heat up on the blueline for his owners. Samuelsson (2A, even, 2 PIM, 15:33 ice time, 2:19 PP, no PK, 5 SOG) has a four-game point streak running now.
Toews (1A, -1, 23:32 ice time, 6:38 PP, 0:43 PK, 5 SOG, 17-11 FO) was the only Chicago player to score in the shootout, but he still can’t buy a goal in regulation. He does have helpers in four straight though. Kane (1G, -1, 24:14 ice time, 8:09 PP, no PK, 5 SOG, 0-1 FO) has 4G, 3A in 4 GP now. Versteeg (1G, -1, 22:32 ice time, 6:21 PP, 1:53 PK, 3 SOG, 0-1 FO) is on a five-game point streak now and he’s clearly thriving on that top line.
Sharp (1A, even, 18:28 ice time, 7:10 PP, 0:42 PK, 3 SOG, 7-7 FO) has points in six straight and has three different multi-point efforts in that stretch. Havlat (1G, 1A, +1, 20:55 ice time, 8:03 PP, 0:01 PK, 6 SOG) has points in five of seven, while Brouwer (2A, +1, 15:41 ice time, 5:04 PP, no PK, 1 SOG) got his first points of the season.
Campbell (1A, +2, 27:41 ice time, 9:33 PP, 1:32 PK, 3 SOG) has four points in five tries. Johnson (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 14:12 ice time, 0:59 PP, 1:14 PK, 1 SOG) has points in four of five and he’s been paired at even strength with Campbell at times.
PANTHERS 0 @ BLUES 4
Coming in: Florida was first in the Southeast with a 4-3-0 mark, while St. Louis had a similar 4-3-0 record and sat second in the Central.
Goaltending match-up: Anderson (27/31, .871 SV%) vs. Bishop (12/12) & Schwarz (5/5)
Net notes: Anderson had one start in ’08-9 prior to this evening and he stopped 51/54 shots in it.
Bishop made his debut last night after Legace left the game injured. Bishop left this one with an injury though.
Line combos: Stillman-Horton-Frolik/ Booth-McLean-Zednik. Olesz-Kreps-Dvorak for the Panthers with Kariya-Tkachuk-Backes/ Stempniak-McDonald-Boyes/ Berglund-Oshie-Perron for the Blues.
Key notes: Ballard (even, 18 PIM, 24:57 ice time, 4:40 PP, 2:26 PK, no SOG) and Belak (even, 12 PIM, 6:40 ice time, no PP, no PK, no SOG) had great PIM nights for their owners on the Florida side of this equation tonight.
Kariya (1G, 1A, +1, 17:43 ice time, 5:48 PP, 1:11 PK, 6 SOG) has points in seven of eight and this was his fifth two-point game of the season. McDonald (3A, +2, 18:53 ice time, 5:37 PP, 1:10 PK, 4 SOG, 8-5 FO) has five different multi-point efforts now already, while Boyes (2G, +1, 19:51 ice time, 7:14 PP, no PK, 4 SOG, 3-3 FO) scored his sixth and seventh goals of the year already and has points in all but one game.
Tkachuk (1G, 1A, even, 16:08 ice time, 5:37 PP, no PK, 1 SOG, 9-5 FO) has goals in all but one outing this season and he finally got an assist too.
SABRES 1 @ AVALANCHE 2 (SO)
Coming in: Buffalo was still perfect in regulation with a 6-0-1 record headed in, while Colorado was 4-3-0 and one point back of first-place Minnesota in the Northwest.
Goaltending match-up: Miller (28/29, .966 SV%) vs. Budaj (29/30, .967 SV%)
Net notes: Miller had won all five of his starts to date with only nine goals allowed.
Budaj had won two straight starts with only four total goals against after a bit of a rough start to the season.
Line combos: Vanek-Roy-Stafford/ Paille-MacArthur-Pominville/ Kotalik-Mair-Afinogenov for the Sabres with Smyth-Stastny-Hejduk/ Wolski-Sakic-Tucker/ Jones-Arnason-Svatos for the Avs.
Key notes: MacArthur (1A, even, 2 PIM, 17:36 ice time, 1:27 PP, 0:29 PK, 2 SOG, 6-9 FO) has points in five of seven for his Sabres.
Kotalik (-1, 17:43 ice time, 1:27 PP, no PK, 4 SOG, 0-1 FO) and Roy (even, 25:45 ice time, 2:23 PP, 1:50 PK, no SOG, 7-9 FO) scored for Buffalo in the shootout.
Hejduk (1A, even, 20:39 ice time, 2:47 PP, 1:46 PK, 5 SOG), Wolski (even, 15:49 ice time, no PP, no PK, 2 SOG, 1-0 FO) and Smyth (1A, even, 19:23 ice time, 2:57 PP, 1:02 PK, 2 SOG) connected in the shootout for the Avs.
Leopold (1G, even, 15:54 ice time, no PP, 0:08 PK, 2 SOG) has points in three straight.
OILERS 3 @ CANUCKS 6
Coming in: Edmonton had dropped two in a row after a perfect 4-0-0 start, while Vancouver was 3-4-0 when tonight began and last in the Northwest.
Goaltending match-up: Garon (24/30, .800 SV%) vs. Luongo (25/28, .893 SV%)
Net notes: Garon has lost two straight now after winning his first three.
Luongo had three losses in four tries coming into tonight with 15 goals against.
Line combos: Nilsson-Horcoff-Hemsky/ Penner-Cogliano-Gagner/ Moreau-Pouliot-Cole for the Oilers with Sedin-Sedin-Bernier/ Raymond-Wellwood-Pyatt/ Burrows-Kesler-Hansen for the Canucks.
Key notes: Cole (even, 17 PIM, 7:24 ice time, 2:33 PP, no PK, 4 SOG) not only got into a fight with Ohlund (+1, 7 PIM, 22:13 ice time, 4:48 PP, 2:35 PK, 1 SOG) , but he got ejected for not having the jersey tied down. Bonus PIM for standard league owners.
Hemsky Nation (1A, even, 19:09 ice time, 4:27 PP, 1:53 PK, 3 SOG) has helpers in three straight and five of seven overall, but has yet to find his way to the back of the net. Nilsson (1G, 1A, even, 18:20 ice time, 2:56 PP, 0:06 PK, 2 SOG, 0-2 FO) broke a three-game slide here and took advantage of his L1 slot.
Cogliano (1A, even, 2 PIM, 14:25 ice time, 2:56 PP, 0:16 PK, 1 SOG, 3-3 FO) has points in four of six, while Gagner (1A, +1, 16:28 ice time, 2:58 PP, 2:43 PK, 4 SOG, 1-1 FO) finally appeared in a scoring summary.
D. Sedin (1A, -1, 19:05 ice time, 5:02 PP, 0:35 PK, 2 SOG) stopped an ugly five-game pointless skid. Raymond (2G, +1, 15:35 ice time, 4:56 PP, no PK, 4 SOG, 0-2 FO) has points in five straight now though, while Hansen (2G, +1, 12:57 ice time, no PP, 0:25 PK, 4 SOG) got his first two-point game of the season. Burrows (1A, -1, 16:38 ice time, no PP, 4:04 PK, 3 SOG) stopped a two-game pointless period, but had six points in seven outings coming in anyway.
Bieksa has points (2A, -1, 2 PIM, 24:17 ice time, 5:03 PP, 3:33 PK, 2 SOG) back-to-back now, while Kesler (2A, +1, 19:21 ice time, 3:40 PP, 4:17 PK, no SOG, 16-6 FO) has a five-game point streak going with a better than point-per-game average as well. Wellwood (1G, even, 14:58 ice time, 3:31 PP, no PK, 3 SOG, 5-1 FO) has three points in his past two starts. Bernier (1A, -2, 13:37 ice time, 3:40 PP, no PK, no SOG) has points in three of four.
FLAMES 4 @ COYOTES 1
Coming in: Calgary was 3-3-1 as the puck dropped, while Phoenix was 3-3-0 and six points back of San Jose in the Pacific.
Goaltending match-up: Kiprusoff (23/24, .958 SV%) vs. Tellqvist (32/35, .914 SV%)
Net notes: Kipper has now won three straight after a rough start.
Tellqvist had only given up one goal in his only other start of the season.
Line combos: Bertuzzi-Langkow-Cammalleri/ Bourque-Conroy-Iginla/ Glencross-Boyd-Moss for the Flames with Doan-Jokinen-Boedker/ Carcillo-Porter-Mueller/ Winnik-Hanzal-Tikhonov for the Coyotes.
Key notes: Iginla (1G, 2A, +1, 19:41 ice time, 4:41 PP, no PK, 4 SOG, 1-0 FO) has five goals in his past three games with two of them going into an empty net. Who cares? Cammalleri (1A, even, 15:11 ice time, 1:30 PP, no PK, 3 SOG) has seven points in eight games, including a point in each of his past two. Bertuzzi (1G, 17:46 ice time, 4:24 PP, no PK, 1 SOG, 0-1 FO) has six goals in his past seven starts now.
Phaneuf (1G, even, 25:44 ice time, 4:06 PP, 2:14 PK, 7 SOG) has three points in his past two games after three with none. I put Prust (1G, +1, 9:36 ice time, no PP, no PK, 2 SOG) into the line-up tonight to get a fight, but ended up with his first NHL goal instead.
Carcillo (even, 9 PIM, 10:47 ice time, 1:46 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) had just 4 PIM in 4 GP before tonight, but this game is why you leave a guy like him in the line-up. You just never know when the big nights will come…