FTS - 11/29/08

TOP STORY

DREAM JOB

Brian Burke will become the next General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs

After an extremely long courtship, former Ducks and Canucks GM Brian Burke will be taking the same position with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Rumors about him taking the position in Toronto had been swirling for over a year. TSN of Canada is reporting that it is a six year deal worth about $18 million dollars. "I am really excited that Brian is able to get this straightened out, if it is true," Toronto coach Ron Wilson said to the Associated Press after Thursday's game.

Cliff Fletcher was hired as interim general manager of the Maple Leafs in January, and said at the time his goal was to "set the table" for the man who would permanently hold down the job after him. "He's done a great job setting the table for Burkie. An unbelievable job," Wilson said to the AP.

Burke recently turned down a contract extension to remain general manager of the Ducks, citing the need to spend more time with his family and the strong state of the team he helped turn into a Stanley Cup champion as reasons for leaving. Burke, 53, explained that he wants to spend more time with his six children, who live on the East Coast, and that 11 years of commuting coast-to-coast was enough for him. "This is the toughest decision I've ever had in my life, professionally, as far as what to do next," Burke said then. "I've been wrestling with the decision. I've got four older children on the East Coast and two little ones [4½ and 2½], and I don't see any of them enough. So I felt if I can get a chance to get in the same time zone with them, I'm going to take it."

He was replaced by Bob Murray on Nov. 12 and remained with the Ducks as a special consultant to CEO Michael Schulman through the transition period.The Ducks allowed him to immediately pursue positions even though his contract with the team wasn't set to expire until next summer.

This is one of those rare times where a job is filled by the perfect man for the position. When I say perfect man for the position, consider all of the following:

-It's been no secret that this is the position he has always coveted

-It's no secret that the Maple Leafs organization and fan base has wanted this guy for a long time

-Burke desperately wants to be a key cog in returning the Stanley Cup to Toronto

Out of any GM candidate in the league, getting the Maple Leafs back to a top-heavy Eastern Conference is a challenge that Brian Burke relishes and will succeed at. It will take a couple of years, but he is the most capable man for the job. Burke has a chance to become a saint in the eyes of Maple Leafs fans everywhere. Kudos to Anaheim to being extremly cooperative with him. He helped to deliver a Stanley Cup to the organization and deserved the courtesy.

OTHER HEADLINES

-Phoenix Coyotes center Olli Jokinen will be sidelined for at least two weeks with a shoulder injury. Jokinen, the second-leading scorer on the team with seven goals and 18 points, was injured in the first period of Wednesday's 3-2 win at Columbus when he was checked into the boards by Blue Jackets defenseman Marc Methot. The injury will end Jokinen's consecutive games streak at 397. He last missed a game in the 2002-03 season while he was with Florida. F Daniel Winnik was taken off the IR after missing six games because of an upper-body injury.

--One day after being placed on waivers by the Ottawa Senators, D Luke Richardson announced yesterday that he is ready to retire. Richardson, 39, skated in just two games with the Sens and had been a healthy scratch for most of the season. The 21-year veteran recorded 35 goals and 166 assists in 1,417 career games with Toronto, Edmonton, Philadelphia, Columbus, Tampa Bay and Ottawa. Richardson was originally taken seventh overall by the Maple Leafs in the 1987 draft.

LAST NIGHT'S RECAP

Boston Bruins (15-4-4) over the New York Islanders (9-12-2) 7-2
TOP PERFORMER = Bruins RW Michael Ryder - 2 Goals (1 on the PP)
The Islanders would lead 1-0 after the 1st period, but it would be all downhill from there. Chuck Kobasew (PPG) and Michael Ryder got the Bruins on the board in the 2nd period. Boston would pull away in the 3rd with goals from Blake Wheeler, David Krejci, Dennis Wideman (PPG), Ryder (PPG), and Phil Kessel. Richard Park would have the other Islanders goal. It was Boston's 10th win in their last 12 games.

Carolina Hurricanes (12-10-2) over the Philadelphia Flyers (11-6-5) 3-2 (OT)
TOP PERFORMER = Hurricanes LW Sergei Samsonov - 1 Goal (GW)
-In a very evenly matched game, the Flyers would strike first in the 1st period on a Joffrey Lupul power-play goal. IN the 2nd period, Patrtick Dwyer and Tuomo Ruutu would give Carolina the lead, but Jeff Carter would answer back with a power play goal of his own before the intermission. Samsonov scored the game winner with 1:07 left in OT. The Flyers, who won seven of their previous eight, were denied their longest winning streak since they won eight straight in 1999-2000. The Flyers have killed off 15 straight penalties and 52 of 54 power plays in the last 10 games.

Minnesota Wild (13-7-1) over the Tampa Bay Lightning (6-9-7) 4-2
TOP PERFORMER = Wild G Nicklas Backstrom - 35 Saves
The teams would be even after the first period thanks to goals from Owne Nolan and Radim Vrbata (PPG). In the 2nd period, Ryan Malone would give the Lightning the lead. In the 3rd, James Sheppard tied the game two minutes in to the period. Mikko Koivu would give the Wild the lead for good on a beautiful drive to the net. Eric Belanger would add an empty-net goal. Wild D Marc-Andre Bergeron would add 2 assists. Wild forward Andrew Brunette has the longest consecutive games streak in the NHL at 474.

Phoenix Coyotes (10-10-2) over the Colorado Avalanche (10-12-0) 2-1
TOP PERFORMER = Coyotes G Mikael Tellqvist - 37 Saves

The Phoenix Coyotes got back to .500 with a solid win over the struggling Avalanche. Derek Morris put Phoenix on the board early in the game and Kevin Porter would add a goal in the 2nd period. Avs winger Ryan Smith would be the only shooter to beat Mikael Tellqvist in the game early in the 3rd period. Coyotes RW Enver Linsen contributed two assists. The Avalanche have been held to one goal or fewer in seven of their last 10 games. Colorado defensemen John-Michael Liles and Adam Foote did not make the trip. Foote is out with neck, back and knee injuries. Liles missed Wednesday's victory over St. Louis due to flu-like symptoms and was still feeling ill on Thursday. Coyotes LW Daniel Winnik returned to the lineup after missing six games with an upper-body injury.

Anaheim Ducks (13-8-3) over the Chicago Blackhawks (10-5-6) 1-0
TOP PERFORMER = Ducks G Jonas Hiller - 26 Saves (Shutout)

Ryan Getzlaf would score the only goal of the game on a set up from Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan. It was the Ducks third straight win and Hiller's 2nd career shutout. Hiller is 4-0 in his last six appearances and has stopped 131 of the last 138 shots he has faced. Jean-Sebastian Giguere is expected to return as starter on Sunday vs. Carolina. He is home dealing with family issues in Montreal. This was the first time the Blackhawks were shutout this season. The Ducks are 11-0-3 against Chicago at home since Feb. 7, 2001. Ducks defenseman Bret Hedican was honored in a pregame ceremony after appearing in his 1,000th NHL game in St. Louis on Nov. 22.

Buffalo Sabres (11-8-3) over the Pittsburgh Penguins (13-6-3) 4-3
TOP PERFORMER = Sabres RW Drew Stafford - 2 Goals, 1 assist

The teams would be even at 1 after the first period thanks to goals from Tyler Kennedy and Drew Stafford. In the 2nd period, Paul Gaustad would give the Sabres a short-lived lead on the power play. 34 seconds later, Sidney Crosby tied the game. He would give the Penguins the lead with just under a minute remaining in the period. In the 3rd period, Drew Stafford and Paul Gaustad would each add their 2nd goal of the game to move ahead of the Penguins for the win. The Sabres have won two straight after a season-high five-game losing streak. Friday was just the second regulation loss in the month of November for the Penguins. Penguins D Philippe Boucher played one shift in the second period, then left the ice and didn't return because of an undisclosed injury. He is day-to-day.

Detroit Red Wings (15-3-4) over the Columbus Blue Jackets (9-10-3) 5-3
TOP PERFORMER = Red Wings RW Marian Hossa - 2 goals

As they always do, Detroit had to grind out and battle for a division win. Jakub Voracek and Henrik Zetterberg (PPG) would keep thins even at 1 after the 1st period. In the 2nd period, Jiri Hudler (PPG), Fedor Tyutin, and Marian Hossa would alternate goals to give the Red Wings a 2 period-edge. In the 3rd period, Fedor Tyutin would tie the game at 3 just over a minute in to the period. With 2 minutes remaining in the game, Marian Hossa would score the winner from Pavel Datstyuk. Kris Draper would add a shorthanded empty-net goal. Detroit RW Dan Cleary returned after missing eight games because of an eye infection. Red Wings' RW Tomas Holmstrom missed his fifth game with back spasms.

Washington Capitals (13-7-3) over the Montreal Canadiens (12-6-4) 3-0
TOP PERFORMER = Capitals G Jose Theodore - 28 Saves & SO

Thomas Fleischmann would score in the 1st period and that would be all the Caps needed. This was Theodore's first shutout with the Capitals. Alexander Ovechkin and Dave Steckel added goals in the 3rd period. Alex Ovechkin extended his point streak to 10 game. The Caps improved to 9-0-1 at home this season and 17-1-1 in the last 19 games when Ovechkin scores a goal (including last season). Montreal was shut out for the first time this season. The Canadiens were without LW Alex Tanguay (whiplash). RW Georges Laraque missed his third straight game because of a groin injury. Capitals D Tom Poti was scratched because of a groin injury. Seven Washington regulars missed the game because of injuries. To replace Poti, the Capitals recalled D Bryan Helmer from Hershey. The 36-year-old Helmer played in his first NHL game since April 2004 with Phoenix.

New York Rangers (17-7-2) over the Florida Panthers (8-11-3) 4-3 (SO)
TOP PERFORMER = Rangers RW Nikolai Zherdev - 1 Goal, 1 Shootout goal

The Rangers woud jump out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Nikolai Zherdev and Dan Fritsche. Florida would get one back in the 1st period (Radek Dvorak) and then tie the game in the 2nd period on a Jay Bouwmeester PPG. In the 3rd period, Aaron Voros and David Booth would trade goals (btw, Booth now has 12 goals) to keep the game tied. In the shootout, Markus Naslund and Zherdev would score to ive the Rangers the win. Rangers D Michal Rozsival had two assists while G Henrik Lundqvist made 40 saves. Panththers G Craig Anderson made 43 saves in the loss. After scoring the game's first goal, Nikolai Zherdev had assisted on or scored each of the Rangers' last seven even-strength goals. Nick Tarnasky, acquired from Nashville on Thursday, made his debut for the Panthers.

Nashville Predators (11-9-2) over the Atlanta Thrashers (8-11-3) 4-3 (OT)
TOP PERFORMER = Predators D Ryan Suter - 1 Goal

Dan Hamhuis and Todd White would trade goals to keep the game tied after the 1st period. In the 2nd period, Scott Nichol and Nathan Oystrick would do the same. The Predators would again strike first in the 3rd period thanks to Jason Arnott, but Atlanta would follow the trend of answering back off the stick of Ilya Kovalchuk. In overtime, Ryan Suter would end things on a breakaway set up by Shea Weber and G Pekka Rinne. Veteran Wade Belak, acquired from Florida on Thursday, played his first game for Nashville at right wing.

San Jose Sharks (19-3-1) over the Dallas Stars (7-11-4) 6-2
TOP PERFORMER = Sharks D Dan Boyle - 2 goals

Joe Pavelski would open the scoring for San Jose mdway through the first period. Loui Eriksson would answer back with his 11th goal of the season 91 seconds later. Dan Boyle would score both of his goals before the end of the 1st period (one of them was on the PP) and Dallas wouldn't get close the rest of the way. Milan Michalek (PPG), Rob Blake, and Tomas Pilhal all added goals on before Dallas finally responded with a late goal from James Neal. Sharks RW Ryan Clowe had 3 assists on the night. Nabokov won his second straight game after missing seven because of a lower-body injury. The Sharks have now won 6 in a row. The Sharks have scored six or more goals in four of their last six games and scored four or more goals seven times this month. By comparison, they've allowed two or fewer goals seven times (This is a really good hockey team, folks).


RUMOR MILL

-Kings D Tom Preissing has been quietly, but not actively, shopped by the Kings. It looks like Ottawa is a new potential partner for a deal to bring him back to the Senators.

AROUND THE BOARDS

-Washington Capitals forward Chris Clark will be sidelined at least three weeks with a stress fracture in his forearm. D Jeff Schultz has a broken finger and will be sidelined four to six weeks.

-Atlanta goalie Kari Lehtonen, who hasn't played since Oct. 30, had an injection Thursday as part of the treatment for his ailing back and could be skating in a few days.

-The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled D Andrew Hutchinson from their AHL affiliate in Norfolk. Hutchinson, who signed as a free agent this past summer, had a goal and 13 assists in 20 games for Norfolk this season. He led all AHL defensemen with 64 points last season with Hartford and was named the league's Eddie Shore Award winner as the most outstanding defenseman.

-The Chicago Blackhawks have placed D Aaron Johnson on injured reserve with an arm injury. Johnson has already matched a career high with three goals this season and has added four assists for seven points in 18 games. He also leads the team and is fifth in the NHL with a plus-13 rating. The Blackhawks, with goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin considered day-to-day with a lower body injury, have recalled netminder Corey Crawford from Rockford (AHL). Crawford is 6-3-0 with a 2.75 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage in nine games with Rockford this season. He appeared in five games with the Blackhawks last season, posting a 1-2 record with a 2.14 GAA.

GAME OF THE NIGHT
Detroit Red Wings (15-3-4) @ Boston Bruins (15-4-4) - 7PM

The Bruins seek to win nine straight home games for the first time in more than 25 years on Saturday, when they match up against a Detroit Red Wings team that boasts the best road record in the NHL. The Bruins lost back to back games and then rebounded in a big way with a 7-2 beating of the Islanders yesterday. Like Boston, Detroit had been hot this month, going 7-0-1 before back-to-back losses earlier this week. The Red Wings prevented a three-game slide with a 5-3 home victory over Columbus last night. These Original Six teams have split their last 12 meetings, although Detroit has won three of its last five visits to Boston. This is arguably a battle of the 2nd best teams in each conference right now.

Other Action:
Edmonton (9-10-2) @ St. Louis (9-9-2) - 2PM
Chicago (10-5-6) @ Los Angeles (9-9-3) - 4PM
Buffalo (11-8-3) @ Montreal (12-6-4) - 7PM
Ottawa (8-9-4) @ NY Islanders (9-12-2) - 7PM
Philadelphia (11-6-5) @ Toronto (7-9-6) - 7PM
Washington (13-7-3) @ Columbus (9-10-3) - 7PM
New Jersey (12-7-2) @ Pittsburgh (13-6-3) - 7:30PM
Minnesota (13-7-1) @ Nashville (11-9-2) - 8PM
Tampa Bay (6-9-7) @ Colorado (10-12-0) - 9PM
San Jose (19-3-1) @ Phoenix (10-10-2) - 9PM
Vancouver (14-7-2) @ Calgary (14-7-2) - 10PM

SUNDAY ACTION
Florida (8-11-3) @ NY Rangers (16-7-2) - 1PM
St. Louis (9-9-2) @ Atlanta (8-11-3) - 3PM
Edmonton (9-10-2) @ Dallas (7-11-4) - 6PM
Anaheim (13-8-3) @ Carolina (12-10-2) - 7PM (GAME OF THE NIGHT)

^ALL TIMES EASTERN


*My weekly power rankings, "PLUS/MINUS", comes out Monday evenings

~Dropping the Gloves with Andrew Bogusch comes out tonight!

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