FTS - 2/13/09

TOP STORY

PANTHER PUNISHMENT

(Photo Credit: AP)

Florida Panthers G Tomas Vokoun leads the way over division rival Carolina

The Florida Panthers (27-19-8) scored five goals, but they'd only need one. G Tomas Vokoun made 42 saves for his fourth shutout of the season (29th of his career) and became the first goalie to shutout the Hurricanes (27-23-5) this season. Nathan Horton and Richard Zednik scored in the 2nd period while Anthony Stewart, Gregory Campbell and Michael Frolik added goals in the 3rd period. The Panthers improved to 6-2 since the All-Star break while picking up a critical two points in the Eastern Conference standings. They lead Carolina by three points in the race for the eighth playoff spot in the East. Cam Ward stopped just nine of the 13 shots he faced before he was pulled midway through the second for Michael Leighton, who made nine saves and allowed Florida's fifth goal. With the win, the Florida Panthers take the lead in the season series 3-2. The Hurricanes have scored two or fewer goals in 28 of their last 43 games.

The Florida Panthers have a problem that no GM would envy. Do you ride this great play out and try and make the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons or do you deal one of the most sought after players in the league (D Jay Bouwmeester). Either way, GM Jacques Martin is going to have one of the tougher 11th hour decisions to make in a few weeks. (I haven't decided what Martin should do yet, that's why I have no commentary on it)

ACTION FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE...

-Dany Heatley scored twice and Jason Spezza had a goal and an assist to lead the Ottawa Senators (20-2-5-8) over the Philadelphia Flyers (28-16-9) 5-2. Senators G Brian Elliottt made 34 saves to improve to 7-3-2 and help Ottawa to the 3rd straight win.

-A three goal explosion in the 2nd period by the Red Wings (37-11-7) courtesy of Jiri Hudler, Kris Draper and Ville Leino helped Detroit past the Wild (28-23-3) 4-2. Mikael Samuelsson had the other Red Wings goal while Brent Burns (PPG) and Mikko Koivu (SHG) had the two Minnesota goals.

-The Tampa Bay Lightning (19-25-11) scored four goals in the 1st period, held off a 2nd period rally by Toronto (20-25-10) and iced the cake in the 3rd period for a 6-4 win. Martin St. Louis had a goal and three assists and Ryan Malone scored twice in a :54 second span.

-The Predators (26-26-3) rallied with two 3rd period goals (Kevin Klein and Jason Arnott) and Steve Sullivan scored the lone shootout goal to help Nashville to a 4-3 SO win over St. Louis (22-25-7). Nashville improved to 12-0-2 in it's last 14 home games against St. Louis. Blues RW Brad Boyes played in his 300th career game.

-Three goals in the 3rd period courtesy of Pavol Demitra, Alexander Edler and Henrik Sedin (PPG) helped lead Vancouver (26-20-8) past the Coyotes (25-26-5) 4-3. Sami Salo, Daniel Sedin and Kevin Bieksa each had two assists for the Canucks.

-Flames winger Mike Cammalleri scored his 29th goal of the season on the power play midway through the 1st period and that would be all Calgary (32-18-5) would need in a 2-0 win over the Kings (24-22-7). Rene Bourque added an empty net goal and Miika Kiprusoff made 36 saves for his fourth shutout of the season and 30th career shutout .Jonathan Quick made 18 saves in the loss for Los Angeles.

OTHER HEADLINES

-Martin Brodeur was cleared by doctors on Wednesday to participate in full-team practices, reports the Newark Star-Ledger. The problem was most of his teammates had the day off. Brodeur did get some time in net and according to the newspaper, faced shots from Bobby Holik, David Clarkson, Mike Rupp, Jay Leach, Jay Pandolfo and some of the coaches including head coach Brent Sutter. The Devils are in the midst of a three-week, 10-game, run and Sutter decided to give his players some time to rest. While he would like to get into a full practice, Brodeur understands the decision. "I can't ask for a full practice. The team has to do what it has to do," Brodeur told the Star-Ledger. "But this is more work than a full practice. Six guys shooting non-stop for 40 minutes. If I get that many shots in a game, we'll be in trouble." Sutter explained getting his star goaltender into a full practice was not a factor in his decision. "We have to do what's right for the team," Sutter told the Star-Ledger. "The guys who went out, we felt were the guys who could use it. We have to do what's right for the hockey club. That's first and foremost." According to the newspaper, Brodeur will skate with the team on Friday morning ahead of their game against the Boston Bruins. The first full practice since he was injured on November 1 against the Atlanta Thrashers should come on Saturday. The 36-year-old had surgery on November 6 to repair a torn tendon in his elbow and says he is feeling better.

-The New York Islanders will be without centre Doug Weight for six weeks the result of a knee injury. The Islanders placed Weight on the injured reserve list retroactive to Wednesday, when he suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament after colliding with New Jersey's Brian Gionta in the second period of the Devils' 4-2 win. Weight, in his 17th NHL season, has nine goals and 26 assists in 44 games this season with New York and is the club's second-leading scorer.

-Montreal Canadiens forward Tomas Plekanec has been suspended for two games without pay by the NHL. Plekanec slew footed Edmonton Oilers D Denis Grebeshkov in the second period of Wednesday night's 7-2 Canadiens loss. Plekanec was assessed a minor penalty for tripping on the play, and Grebeshkov has a high ankle sprain that will sideline him for at least two weeks. Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Plekanec will forfeit $17,204.30. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

-The Phoenix Coyotes have demoted former third overall draft pick Kyle Turris to San Antonio of the AHL. The 19-year-old C has six goals and 10 assists with a -12 rating in 50 games this season. He has been a healthy scratch in the last two games and had not registered a point in the six games prior to that. Recently, Turris had been used sparingly on the fourth line and needs more quality playing time to assist in his development. Last season, Turris managed one assist in three games, after leaving the University of Wisconsin to sign with the Coyotes late in the year. Defenseman David Schlemko was recalled from the Rampage.

-Former NHL star Peter Forsberg returned to pro hockey Thursday night, scoring the opening goal in a 4-1 win for hometown club Modo against Skelleftea in the Swedish Elite League. Forsberg, one of the few players to win a Stanley Cup, Olympic gold medal and world championship, said he almost forgot how to score. "It was such a long time ago that I almost forgot what to do afterward," he told Swedish news agency TT. Forsberg, 36, made a late-season return to the Colorado Avalanche last year, but injuries kept him out of nine of 18 regular-season NHL games and three of four games in the second round of the playoffs. Playing before a sellout crowd at Swedbank Arena, Forsberg scored at 15:21 in the first.

RUMOR MILL

-Look for Leafs D Tomas Kaberle to be dealt at the deadline (from the Obvious Dept). Montreal and Buffalo are the top suitors, but San Jose is making a push and could be dangling winger Milan Michalek (they would also likely ask for Antropov back as well)

-Another D the Canadiens are looking at is Mathieu Schneider. He would definitely aid their power play woes.

-In the "Why Would They Do This" department, the Blackhawks seem to be dangling G Nikolai Khabibulin and the Flyers are the team that wants him the most.

-Two Atlantic Divison rivals appear to be working out a deal. The Rangers would send Petr Prucha to the Penguins for D Ryan Whitney. This deal would be a big help to both sides.

-The Stars appear to be interested in Senators winger Antoine Vermette.

TONIGHTS ACTION:
%Boston @ New Jersey - 7PM
Detroit @ Columbus - 7PM
San Jose @ Buffalo - 7:30PM
NY Rangers @ Florida - 7:30PM
Vancouver @ Dallas - 8:30PM
Chicago @ St. Louis - 8:30PM
Montreal @ Colorado - 9PM

% = Game of the Night
^All Times are Eastern

*My weekly power rankings comes out Mondays

~Dropping the Gloves with Andrew Bogusch comes out on Thursdays

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