Ryan Miller Shoulders the Load against the Brodeurless Devils
AP/NHL.com Link: http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020168
-Devils backup G Kevin Weekes had no time to settle in to his first start of the season. Weekes was peppered with 20 shots in the first period and turned away all but one. That one PPG from Jason Pominville would prove to be the difference in a 2-0 win for the Sabres in Newark.
All in all, Kevin Weekes had a solid outing in his first start of the year, making 28 saves. The problem was he had no goal support. Ryan Miller stopped all 24 shots he faced to earn his 2nd straight shutout (Washington was the other on Saturday night). Patrick Kaleta scored the other Sabres goal in the 3rd period and D Jaroslav Spacek chipped in with two assists. Sabres D Craig Rivet returned to the lineup after missing five games with a knee injury while Devils D Paul Martin was out with an upper body injury.
The big story out of New Jersey is the status of G Martin Brodeur. Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said before the game the team was awaiting test results. He gave no indication how long the 15-year veteran would be sidelined. Brodeur's absence Monday marked the first time in 57 games dating to last season that he did not start. It also marked only the 21st time in his career that he did not dress for a game.
The Sabres will get a few days off before they try to extend their two game winning streak on Friday night against the Thrashers. The Devils will get a chance to rebound against the Lightning at home Wednesday night.
OTHER HEADLINES
-Ottawa prospect Alexander Nikulin was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for defenceman Drew Fata. Nikulin told the Senators last week that he will return to Russia if they didn't have a deal in place by today. Originally selected by the Senators in the fourth round (122nd overall) in the 2004 NHL entry draft, he had 14 goals and 36 assists in 71 games for the baby Sens last season. Prior to coming to North America, Nikulin played for five seasons with CSKA Moscow.
Fata, 25, has played in seven games this season with the San Antonio Rampage (AHL), where he has recorded no points and six penalty minutes. He signed with Phoenix as a free agent this past summer.
-The Minnesota Wild placed right wing Owen Nolan on IR with a lower body injury. Nolan is in his first season with Minnesota and he has one goal and three assists in five games. To take his spot on the roster, the team recalled center Krys Kolanos from Houston of the American Hockey League. He has seven goals and one assist in seven games with the Aeros.
RUMOR MILL
-Nothing to report today
LAST NIGHT'S RECAP
Chicago Blackhawks (6-3-3) over the Colorado Avalanche (5-7-0) 6-2
-Colorado's lack of offense hurt them again for the 4th straight game. On the flip side, the Blackhawks are off to their best start in seven seasons. Coincidentally, that is the last time the Blackhawks made the playoffs. Andrew Ladd and Patrick Sharp each had two goals and an assist while Patrick Kane, Dustin Byfuglien, and Dave Bolland each added two assists. Troy Brouwer and Cam Barker also scored for Chicago. The Blackhawks improved to 5-1-2 under coach Joel Quenneville. This was Quenneville's first game coaching against his old team.
AROUND THE BOARDS
-Tickets go on sale for the 2009 Winter Classic:
-The Columbus Blue Jackets have activated left wing Fredrik Modin (groin injury) off injured reserve and sent right wing Derek Dorsett to the minors.
-The LA Kings have activated forward John Zeiler from the injured reserve list and have loaned him to the Manchester Monarchs (AHL) for conditioning. The Kings have also assigned forward Matt Moulson to Manchester, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today.
-The Dallas Stars sent defenseman Mark Fistric, forward James Neal and left-winger Chris Conner to the minors. Fistric and Neal were assigned to the Manitoba Moose while Conner's going to the Peoria Rivermen (both AHL teams) after his emergency recall. The Stars are the only NHL team without an AHL affiliate this season.
GAME OF THE NIGHT
Minnesota Wild (7-2-1) @ San Jose Sharks (10-2-0) - 10:30PM
-The Sharks are looking to extend their winning streak to five games and stay undefeated at the HP Pavilion. The Wild come in to the game with the league's best Penalty Kill and the least amount of goals allowed in the league (2.2 per game). This will be a classic battle of offense vs. defense. San Jose has won 7 straight against the Wild.
NY Islanders (3-7-1) @ NY Rangers (10-3-1) - 7PM (I will be @ this game in Sec 326-come say hi)
Washington (5-4-1) @ Ottawa (4-5-2) - 5PM
Carolina (6-3-2) @ Toronto (5-4-3) - 7:30PM
Phoenix (4-5-0) @ Calgary (7-4-1) - 10PM
Nashville (6-4-1) @ Vancouver (6-6-0) - 10PM
*My weekly power rankings, "PLUS/MINUS", comes out on Monday evenings
~Dropping the Gloves with Andrew Bogusch comes out on Wednesday evenings
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