(Photo Credit: Michael Chow - Arizona Republic)
Anytime a team has a hot streak going, it's bound to come to an end at some point. In the NHL, it tends to come from the hands of a division opponent, and last night was no different. The Phoenix Coyotes' ended the Sharks seven game winning streak and, in the process, got themselves over .500 for the first time this season.
C Olli Jokinen had two goals and an assist in the Coyotes come from behind win (they trailed by two goals halfway through the first period). Peter Mueller scored a goal on the power play and Viktor Tikhonov scored his first career NHL goal. Ilya Bryzgalov made 30 saves for his third win in five games for Phoenix.
The Sharks were without goalie Evgeni Nabokov and right wing Jonathan Cheechoo, both of whom are day-to-day. Nabokov sustained a lower-body injury Thursday, while Cheechoo missed his second straight game because of an upper-body injury. D Dan Boyle and winger Ryane Clowe both scored PP goals. G Brian Boucher made 26 saves in his first loss of the season.
The Sharks now head back home, where they remain unbeaten, to take on the Nasvhille Predators tomorrow night. The Phoenix Coyotes head on a two-game road trip that starts in Columbus on Wednesday night.
RUMOR MILL
-This is one of the more comprehensive rumor reports I've seen in awhile. Scott Cullen does a great job for TSN.CA:
-Marty Reasoner had his first two-goal game since 11/15/02 and that proved to be a factor in the win. Carolina lead 2-1 in the 2nd period but the Thrashers would score four unanswered goals (other goals scored by Hainsey, Williams and Kovalchuk). Rod Brind'Amour (is two points away from tieing Mike Bossy and Joe Nieuwendyk for 50th all-time in scoring with, 1,126 points) and Ray Whitney had the Carolina goals. Johan Hedberg made 35 saves in the win and it gives the Thrashers their fourth win in a row and second straight on the road.
-Patrick Kane and Martin Havlat each had a goal and two assists as Chicago won their 4th straight game after a 5 day break. Jonathan Toews and Kris Versteeg each added a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks, who are 6-0-2 at home. Aaron Johnson and Troy Brouwer also scored for Chicago, Cristobal Huet made 22 saves for the 'Hawks, and the lone Flames goal came from Dustin Boyd. Calgary lost its second straight game and fourth in its last five. Calgary C Matthew Lombardi missed his ninth game because of a shoulder injury.Chicago D Brent Sopel sat out the game because of an undisclosed injury.
Edmonton Oilers (7-6-1) over the New Jersey Devils (7-5-2) 2-1
Florida Panthers (5-8-1) over the Anaheim Ducks (9-7-1) 3-1
-Corey Perry would score for the Ducks about two minutes in to the first period. That would be the end of the night for Anaheim. Panthers RW David Booth scored a natural hat trick and G Craig Anderson made 44 saves in the road win for the Panthers. Jassen Cullimore and Stephen Weiss each had two assists for Florida. C Steve Montador faced the Panthers for the first time since signing with Ducks as free agent last summer. He played 196 games for Florida from 2005-08. Panthers D Nick Boynton was a healthy scratch for the first time this season.
AROUND THE BOARDS
GAME OF THE NIGHT
Tampa Bay Lightning (5-4-4) @ Washington Capitals (7-4-2) - 7PM
-It looks like there might be a new starting goalie in the nation's capital. Brent Johnson has started the past three games for the Caps and has gone 2-0-1. He's not officially the starter (at the time of this writing) but it would appear he'll get the go. Johnson is 3-1-2 with a 2.12 GAA in six games this season. The Caps are coming off a 3-1 win over the Rangers and are 5-0-1 at the Verizon Center. Tampa's coming off a 2-1 win in Philly on Saturday night. Mike Smith made 34 saves in the win. Washington was 6-2-0 against Tampa Bay last season.
*My weekly power rankings, "PLUS/MINUS", comes out on tonight!
~Dropping the Gloves with Andrew Bogusch comes out Wednesday evenings
FEEL FREE TO COMMENT OR EMAIL ANYTIME HERE OR AT
No comments:
Post a Comment