TOP STORY
BLACKOUT IN EDMONTON
BLACKOUT IN EDMONTON
(Photo Credit: John Ulan - AP/Canadian Press)
Jonathan Toews watches a Patrick Kane shot go in while G Mathieu Garon looks clueless to where it is
Chicago Blackhawks (16-6-7) over the Edmonton Oilers (14-13-2) 9-2
TOP PERFORMER = Blackhawks RW Troy Brouwer - 2 Goals, 1 Assist
After what the Blackhawks did to the Edmonton Oilers last night, I now understand why ancient Romans went to the Colosseum to watch the Christians fight Lions. Chicago won their 5th in a row and scored nine goals in a game for the first time since 1999. Edmonton surrendered nine goals in a game for the first time since 1992.
The Blackhawks had a two goal lead after the 1st period thanks to goals from Patrick Kane (PPG) and Colin Fraser. In the 2nd period, Brian Campbell scored on the power play to make it 3-0. Shawn Horcoff answered back with a PPG for Edmonton to make it 3-1, but that would be the end of Edmonton's night. Troy Brouwer (PPG), Kris Versteeg, Ben Eager, and Brouwer again would make it 7-1 heading in to the 2nd intermission. In the 3rd period, Chicago would make it 9-1 on a shorthanded goal from Duncan Keith and a power play goal from Craig Adams. Marc-Antoine Pouliot scored Edmonton's final goal of the game. Nikolai Khabibulin made 31 saves in the win while Mathieu Garon gave up five goals and Dwayne Roloson would give up four.
"It was humiliating," Oilers D Sheldon Souray said. "It was a real poor effort. They pretty much exposed us in every area of the game. They took it to us all over the place. All the way around we got outplayed. It's been a long time since I have been part of a game like that." The seven-goal margin of defeat tied a franchise record for home games. The other two seven-goal losses also came to Chicago, one in 1992 and the other in 1995. Next up for Edmonton is the Canucks tonight.
The last time the Blackhawks won five in a row was during the 2001-02 season, which is also the last season they made the playoffs (the Blackhawks have done a lot of things this season for the first time since their last playoff season, hmm...). "We're an unbelievable team," Troy Brouwer said. "We're young and we've got a lot of heart on this team and we know we're good. I think that's what really makes us even better is that we go out there and know we can win every night." Blackhawks D James Wisniewski made his season debut following knee surgery and had three assists. Chicago went 4-for-5 on the power play and is 15-4-6 since coach Joel Quenneville took over for Denis Savard behind the bench. Next up for Chicago is the Flames in Calgary on Friday.
OTHER HEADLINES
-Wild right wing Marian Gaborik declared himself "good to go" to face the Calgary Flames and, pending final consultation with coach Jacques Lemaire, will appear in a game for the first time since Oct. 14. He hurt part of his lower body (the Wild won't specify team injuries, but probably it's probably his groin which has affected him forever) which made his future with the Wild even more uncertain. Gaborik's contract expires this summer, and negotiations on an extension broke off before he was hurt. Attempts by the team to trade him have predictably hit a wall. With the Wild struggling to score, their 76 goals being the fewest in the Western Conference, Gaborik and his All-Star offensive skills have been missed. Their losing streak is at five games, and they've scored five goals during that span. "I want to get out there and make a difference, but obviously I want to be cautious," Gaborik said after a spirited practice Tuesday that lasted about 90 minutes. Lemaire left the decision on when to return up to Gaborik, who missed 34 games two years ago due to a nagging groin injury. The active roster is at 22 players, so if Gaborik comes off injured reserve the team does not have to make a corresponding move. "More than likely I'll go," Gaborik said, adding: "I think I'm at the point where I can go out there and play a game. I don't think it will get any better. Obviously sometimes I feel discomfort, but I think by playing games it's going to get there. To get out there and get into game shape, I'm looking forward to it." Gaborik skated Tuesday on a line with James Sheppard and Stephane Veilleux.
-Wild right wing Marian Gaborik declared himself "good to go" to face the Calgary Flames and, pending final consultation with coach Jacques Lemaire, will appear in a game for the first time since Oct. 14. He hurt part of his lower body (the Wild won't specify team injuries, but probably it's probably his groin which has affected him forever) which made his future with the Wild even more uncertain. Gaborik's contract expires this summer, and negotiations on an extension broke off before he was hurt. Attempts by the team to trade him have predictably hit a wall. With the Wild struggling to score, their 76 goals being the fewest in the Western Conference, Gaborik and his All-Star offensive skills have been missed. Their losing streak is at five games, and they've scored five goals during that span. "I want to get out there and make a difference, but obviously I want to be cautious," Gaborik said after a spirited practice Tuesday that lasted about 90 minutes. Lemaire left the decision on when to return up to Gaborik, who missed 34 games two years ago due to a nagging groin injury. The active roster is at 22 players, so if Gaborik comes off injured reserve the team does not have to make a corresponding move. "More than likely I'll go," Gaborik said, adding: "I think I'm at the point where I can go out there and play a game. I don't think it will get any better. Obviously sometimes I feel discomfort, but I think by playing games it's going to get there. To get out there and get into game shape, I'm looking forward to it." Gaborik skated Tuesday on a line with James Sheppard and Stephane Veilleux.
-Peter Forsberg says he wants to try the NHL one more time. According to the Denver Post, Forsberg hopes to participate in the 2009 NHL playoffs, and he would like to do so in a Colorado jersey. "I want to play. I hate sitting in the stands and not be able to be out there on the ice," Forsberg reportedly told the Swedish television program "Hockeynight" this week. "If it doesn't work this time, I'll call it quits. But I have the best doctor in the world (Bertil Romanus), and without him I would have given up already. I'm still hopeful." Forsberg also went public with the news that he had to wear electrodes on his bad foot after re-joining the Avalanche late last season. "(I had) a battery package hidden in my pants. When I turned it on, the foot straightened in the skates," Forsberg said. "It was kind of funny." Forsberg had 15 points in nine games with Colorado at the end of the regular season. He followed up with five points in seven playoff games, although he missed three games with a back problem. Forsberg has 885 points in 706 career NHL games, and 171 points in 151 NHL playoff games. The Post also reported that Forsberg had more surgery on his right foot a few weeks ago. Forsberg did not discuss details and his agent, Don Baizley, likewise opted not to get into specifics about the procedure, although he did not deny some work had been done.
LAST NIGHT'S RECAP
Carolina Hurricanes (14-12-5) over the Montreal Canadiens (16-9-5) 3-2
TOP PERFORMER = Hurricanes C Eric Staal - 2 Power Play Goals
-Eric Staal scored both his power play goals in the 1st period. In the 2nd period, Guillaume Latendresse and Alexei Kovalev (SHG) scored to tie the game at 2 early in the 2nd period. Joe Corvo added another power play goal for Carolina to give he Hurricanes the lead and the win. 'Canes LW Sergei Samsonov chipped in with two assists. Montreal goalie Carey Price and forward Saku Koivu missed their second straight games with lower body injuries. Carolina had as many power plays (five) as shots in the first period.
Washington Capitals (19-10-3) over the New York Islanders (10-18-3) 5-4 (OT)
TOP PERFORMER = Capitals LW Alexander Ovechkin - 2 Goals (GWG)
-The Capitals jumped out to a two goal lead in the 1st period thanks to Boyd Gordon and Brooks Laich. Dough Weight scored on the power play to make it 2-1 heading in to the intermission. In the 2nd period, Milan Jurcina scored to make it 3-1 caps. Richard Park would answer back 8:30 later to make it 3-2, but AO scored two minutes later to make it 4-2 heading in to the 2nd intermission. In the 3rd period, Andy Sutton and Jon Sim would both score to force overtime. With just over :10 seconds remaining in OT, Alexander Ovechkin scored his 19th of the season on a feed from Nicklas Backstrom (2 assists on the night) for the win. The Capitals are 21-1-1 in the last 23 games in which Alex Ovechkin has scored a goal, including 11-1-1 this season. Mark Streit had 3 assists for the Isles, but they fell to 1-5-1 against the Southeast Division this season.
Philadelphia Flyers (17-7-6) over the Colorado Avalanche (15-15-1) 5-2
TOP PERFORMER = Flyers C Mike Richards - 1 Goal, 2 Assists (GWG), extended his points streak to 8 games
-Paul Stastny scored the first goal of the game on the power play to give the Avalanche a 1-0 lead. That would be the last lead Colorado had in the game. Mike Knuble (PPG) and Jeff Carter (SHG, 22nd goal of the season) would make it 2-1 heading in to the intermission. In the 2nd period, Joffrey Lupul and Mike Richards would score to make it 4-1. David Jones scored his 5th goal of the season right before the 2nd intermission to make it 4-2. In the 3rd, Simon Gagne scored his 16th goal of the season on the power play. Flyers G Antero Niittymaki made 29 saves in the win. The Flyers improved to 8-0-2 in their last 10 home games and have earned a point in 16 of their last 17 games overall (13-1-3). Philly leads the NHL with 12 short-handed goals, one less than their 2007-08 total.
TOP PERFORMER = Flyers C Mike Richards - 1 Goal, 2 Assists (GWG), extended his points streak to 8 games
-Paul Stastny scored the first goal of the game on the power play to give the Avalanche a 1-0 lead. That would be the last lead Colorado had in the game. Mike Knuble (PPG) and Jeff Carter (SHG, 22nd goal of the season) would make it 2-1 heading in to the intermission. In the 2nd period, Joffrey Lupul and Mike Richards would score to make it 4-1. David Jones scored his 5th goal of the season right before the 2nd intermission to make it 4-2. In the 3rd, Simon Gagne scored his 16th goal of the season on the power play. Flyers G Antero Niittymaki made 29 saves in the win. The Flyers improved to 8-0-2 in their last 10 home games and have earned a point in 16 of their last 17 games overall (13-1-3). Philly leads the NHL with 12 short-handed goals, one less than their 2007-08 total.
Toronto Maple Leafs (12-12-6) over the New Jersey Devils (16-9-3) 3-2 (SO)
TOP PERFORMER = Maple Leafs D Tomas Kaberle - 2 Assists
-Mike Rupp scored the lone goal in the 1st period to give New Jersey the lead heading in to the intermission. In the 2nd period, Nik Antropov and Jeremy Williams scored for Toronto to give them a 2-1 lead. With :20 remaining in the 2nd period, Zach Parise scored on the power play to knot the game at two. In the shootout, Jason Blake scored the winnner on a filthy helicopter move to put the puck by Devils G Scott Clemmensen (25 saves). Vesa Toskala made 25 saves in the win. The Maple Leafs have won three straight for the first time this season while the Devils dropped two in a row after winning 9 of 10.
Atlanta Thrashers (10-16-4) over the Ottawa Senators (11-13-5) 4-1
TOP PERFORMER = Thrashers RW Colby Armstrong - 2 Goals (GWG)
-The Thrashers held a 3-0 lead through most of the game (Slava Kozlov PPG, Colby Armstrong PPG and another Armstrong goal) before Chris Kelley scored his 3rd of the season late in the 3rd period. Todd White added an empty-net power play goal for the final tally. Atlanta G Ondrej Pavelec made 28 saves in the win and ended a three game losing streak for the Thrashers. Atlanta won for just the third time since Nov. 14.
TOP PERFORMER = Maple Leafs D Tomas Kaberle - 2 Assists
-Mike Rupp scored the lone goal in the 1st period to give New Jersey the lead heading in to the intermission. In the 2nd period, Nik Antropov and Jeremy Williams scored for Toronto to give them a 2-1 lead. With :20 remaining in the 2nd period, Zach Parise scored on the power play to knot the game at two. In the shootout, Jason Blake scored the winnner on a filthy helicopter move to put the puck by Devils G Scott Clemmensen (25 saves). Vesa Toskala made 25 saves in the win. The Maple Leafs have won three straight for the first time this season while the Devils dropped two in a row after winning 9 of 10.
Atlanta Thrashers (10-16-4) over the Ottawa Senators (11-13-5) 4-1
TOP PERFORMER = Thrashers RW Colby Armstrong - 2 Goals (GWG)
-The Thrashers held a 3-0 lead through most of the game (Slava Kozlov PPG, Colby Armstrong PPG and another Armstrong goal) before Chris Kelley scored his 3rd of the season late in the 3rd period. Todd White added an empty-net power play goal for the final tally. Atlanta G Ondrej Pavelec made 28 saves in the win and ended a three game losing streak for the Thrashers. Atlanta won for just the third time since Nov. 14.
Dallas Stars (12-14-4) over the Phoenix Coyotes (14-13-4) 2-1 (OT)
TOP PERFORMER = Stars LW Loui Eriksson - 2 Goals (GWG)
-Loui Eriksson scored early in the 1st period for Dallas on a feed from Chris Conner and Brad Richards. The teams would remain scoreless until halfway through the 3rd period when Todd Fedoruk scored on a set-up from Peter Mueller and Zbynek Michalek. At 3:39 of Overtime, Eriksson scored his 2nd of the game and 14th of the season from Mike Ribeiro and Matt Niskanen. Marty Turco made 22 saves in the win for Dallas while Ilya Bryzgalov made 28 saves in the loss. The Coyotes are 0-4 in games decided after regulation this season. Ilya Bryzgalov has been in net for three of those losses.
TOP PERFORMER = Stars LW Loui Eriksson - 2 Goals (GWG)
-Loui Eriksson scored early in the 1st period for Dallas on a feed from Chris Conner and Brad Richards. The teams would remain scoreless until halfway through the 3rd period when Todd Fedoruk scored on a set-up from Peter Mueller and Zbynek Michalek. At 3:39 of Overtime, Eriksson scored his 2nd of the game and 14th of the season from Mike Ribeiro and Matt Niskanen. Marty Turco made 22 saves in the win for Dallas while Ilya Bryzgalov made 28 saves in the loss. The Coyotes are 0-4 in games decided after regulation this season. Ilya Bryzgalov has been in net for three of those losses.
Calgary Flames (17-11-3) over the St. Louis Blues (12-15-3) 6-3
TOP PERFORMER = Flames RW Jarome Iginla - 2 Goals, 2 Assists
-Iginla scored both of his goals in the 1st period to give him 16 on the season. In the 2nd period, Matthew Lombardi made it 3-0, but St. Louis would answer back with two goals from Patrik Berglund and Brad Boyes' 16th of the season (PPG). Mike Cammalleri (PPG, 11th goal of the season) and Adrian Aucoin answered back with two of their own to make it 5-2 heading in to the 2nd intermission. In the 3rd period, David Backes inched St. Louis closer, but Daymond Langkow would put the nail in the St. Louis coffin. Craig Conroy and Cory Sarich each had two assists for the Flames. The Flames are 10-1 when Iginla has more than one point.
TOP PERFORMER = Flames RW Jarome Iginla - 2 Goals, 2 Assists
-Iginla scored both of his goals in the 1st period to give him 16 on the season. In the 2nd period, Matthew Lombardi made it 3-0, but St. Louis would answer back with two goals from Patrik Berglund and Brad Boyes' 16th of the season (PPG). Mike Cammalleri (PPG, 11th goal of the season) and Adrian Aucoin answered back with two of their own to make it 5-2 heading in to the 2nd intermission. In the 3rd period, David Backes inched St. Louis closer, but Daymond Langkow would put the nail in the St. Louis coffin. Craig Conroy and Cory Sarich each had two assists for the Flames. The Flames are 10-1 when Iginla has more than one point.
New York Rangers (21-11-2) over the Anaheim Ducks (17-12-3) 3-1
TOP PERFORMER = Rangers LW Nigel Dawes - 1 Goal (GWG)
-The game would remain scoreless until the 2nd period when Chris Drury scored (unassisted) his 9th goal of the season early in the period. Chris Kunitz would tie it up on a feed from Bret Hedican and Ryan Carter late in the period. In the 3rd, Nigel Dawes scored unassisted on a beautiful move to give the Rangers the lead for good. RW Nikolai Zherdev added an empty-net power play goal to clinch the game. Henrik Lundqvist made 19 saves for the Rangers while Jonas Hiller made 27 saves in the loss. Jean-Sebastien Giguere's father, Claude, died in Canada on Monday, and Giguere was given the night off. Anaheim's five-game home winning streak came to an end and managed just 20 shots, their second-lowest total of the year.
RUMOR MILL
-We are still on Sundinwatch 2008. It looks like he's leaning towards the Rangers
AROUND THE BOARDS
-Forward Steve Sullivan joined the Predators yesterday, the first time he has participated in a practice with the team this season. He was able to stay out for the full length of practice and skate at full speed with the team, though in a non-contact capacity. “With the way the schedule works with Christmas, New Years, the team going on the road, today was just an opportunity for me to go out and be on the ice for an hour and fifteen, twenty minutes; do the drills I could handle with the team,” Sullivan said of the decision to skate with the team today. “We’ll re-evaluate tomorrow morning and see if it was too much or if we handled it correctly, if we need to take something away or if we can add something. Every day is a different day; we’re re-assessing day by day; we’re not guessing, estimating, or giving any timetable as to when I’ll be able to skate again. We are on a day-to-day basis. I’m hoping to feel good tomorrow morning and continue the process.” Sullivan, who missed the past season and a half after injuring his back late in the 2006-07 season, has been vigorously rehabbing with the team’s medical staff in hopes of attempting to make a comeback with the team. Yesterday’s practice marked a major milestone in his progress.
TOP PERFORMER = Rangers LW Nigel Dawes - 1 Goal (GWG)
-The game would remain scoreless until the 2nd period when Chris Drury scored (unassisted) his 9th goal of the season early in the period. Chris Kunitz would tie it up on a feed from Bret Hedican and Ryan Carter late in the period. In the 3rd, Nigel Dawes scored unassisted on a beautiful move to give the Rangers the lead for good. RW Nikolai Zherdev added an empty-net power play goal to clinch the game. Henrik Lundqvist made 19 saves for the Rangers while Jonas Hiller made 27 saves in the loss. Jean-Sebastien Giguere's father, Claude, died in Canada on Monday, and Giguere was given the night off. Anaheim's five-game home winning streak came to an end and managed just 20 shots, their second-lowest total of the year.
RUMOR MILL
-We are still on Sundinwatch 2008. It looks like he's leaning towards the Rangers
AROUND THE BOARDS
-Forward Steve Sullivan joined the Predators yesterday, the first time he has participated in a practice with the team this season. He was able to stay out for the full length of practice and skate at full speed with the team, though in a non-contact capacity. “With the way the schedule works with Christmas, New Years, the team going on the road, today was just an opportunity for me to go out and be on the ice for an hour and fifteen, twenty minutes; do the drills I could handle with the team,” Sullivan said of the decision to skate with the team today. “We’ll re-evaluate tomorrow morning and see if it was too much or if we handled it correctly, if we need to take something away or if we can add something. Every day is a different day; we’re re-assessing day by day; we’re not guessing, estimating, or giving any timetable as to when I’ll be able to skate again. We are on a day-to-day basis. I’m hoping to feel good tomorrow morning and continue the process.” Sullivan, who missed the past season and a half after injuring his back late in the 2006-07 season, has been vigorously rehabbing with the team’s medical staff in hopes of attempting to make a comeback with the team. Yesterday’s practice marked a major milestone in his progress.
-Contrary to a published report, Sean Avery has not been put into Stage 1 of the joint NHL-NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Modification Program. But that doesn't mean it won't happen at some point in the near future, perhaps in a matter of days or weeks. Avery, who is still being paid by the Dallas Stars even though he is no longer welcome in that organization, is undergoing counseling with doctors from the NHL-NHLPA program but it is the medical people, in consultation with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly, who decide when an NHL player is to be formally entered into Stage 1, which ensures a medical leave from the game with pay while undergoing treatment. Once a player is entered into the program, it is the doctors who decide when, or if, a player is prepared to return to active duty in the NHL. It should be noted that all players who enter Stage 1 are not necessarily dealing with substance abuse issues because, as the name implies, the care and treatment also exists for Behavioral Modification. (credit Bob McKenzie - TSN). In a related story, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday of the Dallas Stars "They're supportive of him getting the counselling he's getting, they're continuing to pay his contract, and I think it became obvious that that was an uncomfortable situation for everybody, so they've all decided to move on. I think that was a very professional way to handle it." Bettman was speaking to reporters after addressing and taking questions from the floor at a chamber of commerce luncheon at a downtown hotel. "What Sean Avery said was wrong. It was offensive. It was disgusting. We have a lot of women who are fans. We have a lot of children who are fans, and to be perfectly honest I wouldn't want to have to explain to my 12-year-old daughter what he said."
TONIGHT'S ACTION
New Jersey (16-9-5) @ Buffalo (15-12-3) - 7PM
San Jose (25-3-2) @ Columbus (13-14-3) - 7PM
%Calgary (17-11-3) @ Minnesota (15-13-1) - 8PM
NY Rangers (21-11-2) @ Los Angeles (13-12-5) - 10:30PM
Edmonton (14-13-2) @ (Vancouver 17-11-3) - 10:30PM
% = 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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