TOP STORY
FLAMES LIGHT UP MSG
(Photo Credit: AP)
The New York Rangers flame out at home against Calgary
Calgary Flames (16-10-1) over the New York Rangers (18-10-2) 3-0
TOP PERFORMER = Flames G Miika Kiprusoff - 31 Saves, Shutout
The ticket stub may have said it was the Rangers home game, but it was Calgary temperatures outside of Madison Square Garden and the Flames looked as comfortable on the MSG ice as they would have in the Pengrowth Saddledome. The Flames continued their hot streak by winning their 5th game in their past 6 and 7th of their last 10 in the 3-0 shutout win over the Rangers last night.
The teams would remain scoreless after the 1st period. In the 2nd, Jarome Iginila would position himself by the crease and put back a rebound to give the Flames the only goal they would need in the game. In the 3rd period, David Moss (who has a goal in four straight games) scored almost two minutes in and Rene Bourque would add a late shorthanded goal to seal the deal for Calgary. Miikka Kiprusoff looked like the All-World goalie he can be by turning away 31 shots.
The Rangers lost their third in four games, including a pair of home shutout losses (their only two regulation blankings this season). New York has been outscored 15-4 in that span and hasn't won in regulation since topping Phoenix at home on Nov. 24. This is easily their worst week of the season so far. Their power play is so bad that giving up shorthanded goals (an NHL worst 8 SH goals allowed) has become a regular occurance. They have only converted 3 of their past 30 power play attempts. D Wade Redden missed the game due to a right leg injury sustained Thursday at Montreal. Corey Potter was recalled from Hartford (AHL) and made his NHL debut in Redden's place. Next up for the Rangers is the Thrashers in Atlanta on Wednesday night.
The Flames are making a surge in the Northwest Divison and now hold the 1st place tie-breaker over Vancouver for the lead. The Flames are 2-0 so far on the four game road trip and will be in Montreal to take on the Canadiens tomorrow night.
OTHER HEADLINES
-The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Saturday that Dave Nonis has been named senior vice president of hockey operations."David Nonis brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our hockey staff," said Leafs President and General Manager Brian Burke in a statement. "We have successfully worked together in the past, and he has a deep understanding of contractual, legal and financial matters as well as scouting and roster management. He'll be an asset to our organization in several areas." Nonis, 42, worked under Burke for six years as the Senior Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations for the Vancouver Canucks before replacing him in 2004. He was most recently the Anaheim Ducks' senior advisor of hockey operations.
-The Carolina Hurricanes placed goaltender Cam Ward on the IR with a groin problem. Ward is 8-7-2 with a 2.68 goals-against average and .911 save percentage in 18 games this season. In a related move, the Hurricanes recalled defenseman Brett Carson from Albany of the American Hockey League. Carson has yet to appear in an NHL game.
LAST NIGHT'S RECAP
Carolina Hurricanes (13-12-3) over the Washington Capitals (15-10-3) 3-1
TOP PERFORMER = Hurricanes LW Ray Whitney - 2 goals
-Ray Whitney got the Hurricanes on the board in the 1st period on a feed from Joni Pitkanen and Rod Brind'Amour. Both teams would go scoreless in the 2nd period. In the 3rd, Nicklas Backstrom would tie it up for the Caps on the power play about halfway in to the period. Seven minutes later, Eric Staal would give Carolina the lead for good and Ray Whitney would tack on another goal two minutes later. Carolina defenseman Anton Babchuk left the game because of a right arm injury. He did not return. Scott Walker returned to action for Carolina after missing four games with a leg injury. Michael Leighton made 38 saves for Carolina in Paul Maurice's first win in his second stint as head coach of the team.
Chicago Blackhawks (12-6-7) over the Phoenix Coyotes (12-13-2) 7-1
TOP PERFORMER = Blackhawks LW Andrew Ladd - 1 Goal, 3 Assists)
-The Blackhawks came out an absolutely smacked the Coyotes at the United Center yesterday. Dave Bolland, Jonathan Toews, Dustin Byfuglien and Patrick Sharp (PPG) would all score goals in the 1st period. In the 2nd period, Ben Eager would score twice and Andrew Ladd added a goal before Enver Lisin finally got Phoenix on the board. Cristobal Huet made 20 saves in the win. Chicago's KrisVersteeg, the NHL rookie's scoring leader with 22 points, fought Phoenix rookie Kyle Turris following a scrum with just over a second remaining in the third period. Versteeg received an instigator, fighting major and two game misconduct penalties. The 19-year-old Turris was assessed only a fighting major. Gretzky was fuming on the bench as the game ended, but calm after the contest. "What happened in the last 5 seconds, I don't like to see an 18-year-old kid (Turris) get grabbed out of a pile in a 7-1 hockey game and take a beating like that," Gretzky said. "I don't think there's any room for that. "I've never seen anything like that. In a 7-1 hockey game, to me it doesn't make a lot of sense."
Colorado Avalanche (13-13-1) over the Vancouver Canucks (15-10-3) 5-4 (SO)
TOP PERFORMER = Avalanche RW Milan Hejduk - 1 Goal, 2 Assists
-Darcy Hordichuk put Vancouver on the board in the 1st period on a set up from Jason Jaffray and Jannik Hansen. In the 2nd period, Colorado would score two straight goals from David Jones and Ryan Smith. Daniel Sedin and Steve Bernier (PPG) answered back with two of their own goals to take the lead heading in to the 3rd period. Milan Hejduk tied it up for the Avs early in the 3rd period, but Steve Bernier answered back again for Vancouver. The Canucks would hold on until 3 minutes to go when Daniel Tjarnqvist tied the game for Colorado. In the shootout, all three shooters (Wojtek Wolski, Marek Svatos, Hejduk) would all score to get Colorado back to .500. C Paul Stastny chipped in with three assists for the Avs. Vancouver defenseman Sami Salo left the game in the first period because of a groin injury.
TOP PERFORMER = Avalanche RW Milan Hejduk - 1 Goal, 2 Assists
-Darcy Hordichuk put Vancouver on the board in the 1st period on a set up from Jason Jaffray and Jannik Hansen. In the 2nd period, Colorado would score two straight goals from David Jones and Ryan Smith. Daniel Sedin and Steve Bernier (PPG) answered back with two of their own goals to take the lead heading in to the 3rd period. Milan Hejduk tied it up for the Avs early in the 3rd period, but Steve Bernier answered back again for Vancouver. The Canucks would hold on until 3 minutes to go when Daniel Tjarnqvist tied the game for Colorado. In the shootout, all three shooters (Wojtek Wolski, Marek Svatos, Hejduk) would all score to get Colorado back to .500. C Paul Stastny chipped in with three assists for the Avs. Vancouver defenseman Sami Salo left the game in the first period because of a groin injury.
Anaheim Ducks (15-10-3) over the Columbus Blue Jackets (11-13-3) 5-3
TOP PERFORMER = Ducks C Ryan Getzlaf - 2 Goals
-Both Anaheim and Columbus would go scoreless in the 1st period. In the 2nd period, Ryan Getzlaf would score twice and Ryan Carter would add a goal to give Anaheim a 3-1 lead heading in to the 3rd period (Derrick Brassard scored on the PP for the lone Blue Jackets goal). Bobby Ryan gave the Ducks a 4-1 lead early in the 3rd period. Columbus would battle back late with goals from Kris Russell and Frederik Modin. Rob Niedermayer would put the game away 11 seconds after Modin's goal.
TOP PERFORMER = Ducks C Ryan Getzlaf - 2 Goals
-Both Anaheim and Columbus would go scoreless in the 1st period. In the 2nd period, Ryan Getzlaf would score twice and Ryan Carter would add a goal to give Anaheim a 3-1 lead heading in to the 3rd period (Derrick Brassard scored on the PP for the lone Blue Jackets goal). Bobby Ryan gave the Ducks a 4-1 lead early in the 3rd period. Columbus would battle back late with goals from Kris Russell and Frederik Modin. Rob Niedermayer would put the game away 11 seconds after Modin's goal.
RUMOR MILL
-Jay Bouwmeester to the Senators is really getting some legs in a big multiplayer deal
-Jay Bouwmeester to the Senators is really getting some legs in a big multiplayer deal
-Mats Sundin could sign somewhere this week. Still the usual candidates in play (Montreal, Vancouver, NY Rangers, Chicago)
-The Devils, who were originally looking at Dwayne Roloson in Edmonton, are now looking at Mathieu Garon instead
-Panthers C Nathan Horton could be on the move soon as Florida continus their firesale
AROUND THE BOARDS
-Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Luke Schenn left Saturday's 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Washington Capitals after suffering an undisclosed lower body injury. Although the team did not disclose the injury, it was stated that he would be out for at least two weeks. Schenn, the fifth overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, has tallied two assists in 27 games this season. Toronto forward Niklas Hagman also left the game and did not return after receiving a knee to the head. His injury was also undisclosed and his status is unknown. Hagman has tallied eight goals and 11 assists in 27 games this season.
-Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Luke Schenn left Saturday's 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Washington Capitals after suffering an undisclosed lower body injury. Although the team did not disclose the injury, it was stated that he would be out for at least two weeks. Schenn, the fifth overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, has tallied two assists in 27 games this season. Toronto forward Niklas Hagman also left the game and did not return after receiving a knee to the head. His injury was also undisclosed and his status is unknown. Hagman has tallied eight goals and 11 assists in 27 games this season.
-The Washington Capitals have recalled the AHL's leading goal scorer, forward Alexandre Giroux from the Hershey Bears. He has played 10 career NHL games, but none since the 2006-07 season when he suited up for nine games with Washington. He has four NHL points (2g-2a) on his resume, all of which have come while wearing a Capitals sweater. Giroux made his NHL debut during the 2005-06 season with the New York Rangers, but played only one game. He leads the AHL in goals (18) and is second in points (30) behind fellow Hershey teammate Keith Aucoin (36), who was called up by the Capitals on Dec. 4.
GAME OF THE NIGHT
Buffalo Sabres (12-11-3) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (15-7-4) - 7:30PM
Buffalo hasn't scored more than four goals since Nov. 1, and it's scored two or fewer in nine of its last 15 games, a 5-9-1 stretch. They have lost eight of their past 11. Buffalo has gone six games (24 times shorthanded) without allowing a power-play goal. It was a key factor in keeping the Tampa Bay Lightning off the board Saturday with a 4-3 win. Thomas Vanek is tied for the league in goal scoring with 19. The Penguins broke out of their 2 for 30 power play slump with two power-play tallies in a 5-2 win at Carolina on Thursday, then went 1-for-2 with the man advantage Saturday despite losing 3-2 at Ottawa. Sidney Crosby's recent surge has him just three points behind Malkin for the NHL scoring lead. Malkin had a goal and an assist on Saturday, the first time he'd found the back of the net in five games.
Other Action:
Tampa Bay (6-12-8) @ Boston (18-4-4) - 7PM
Florida (11-12-3) @ Dallas (10-10-4) - 7:30PM
NY Islanders (10-14-2) @ Toronto (9-12-6) - 7:30PM
Nashville (14-10-2) @ St. Louis (11-11-3) - 8:30PM
Tampa Bay (6-12-8) @ Boston (18-4-4) - 7PM
Florida (11-12-3) @ Dallas (10-10-4) - 7:30PM
NY Islanders (10-14-2) @ Toronto (9-12-6) - 7:30PM
Nashville (14-10-2) @ St. Louis (11-11-3) - 8:30PM
^ALL TIMES EASTERN
*My weekly power rankings, "PLUS/MINUS", comes out tonight
~Dropping the Gloves with Andrew Bogusch comes out Wednesday evenings
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