FTS - 2/25/09

(Photo Credit: AP)

ACTION FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE...

-The Philadelphia Flyers (32-17-9) scored three times in a 3:19 span of the 3rd period to come from behind to beat the Washington Capitals (38-18-5) 4-2

-The Boston Bruins (41-12-8) paid back the Florida Panthers (30-22-8) for last week's loss with a 6-1 win in Boston last night. RW Byron Bitz had two goals for Boston.

-The Anaheim Ducks (30-27-5) defeated the Ryan Miller-less Buffalo Sabres (31-24-6) 3-2 behind 34 saves from Jean-Sebastian Giguere.

-The Atlanta Thrashers (22-33-6) earned their 10th home win in 29 tries over the Colorado Avalanche (28-32-1) 4-3. Defenseman Tobias Enstrom had a goal and an assist in the win.

-Canadiens goalie Jaroslav Halak made 34 saves for his first shutout of the season as Montreal (32-22-7) beat Vancouver (30-22-8) 3-0. It was the first time the Canucks had lost to Montreal since 11/30/2000 (12 games). Mats Sundin was booed every time he touched the puck in this game.

-Dany Heatley scored his 30th goal of the season and Alex Auld made 41 saves to help the Senators (23-27-9) to a 4-2 win over the Hurricanes (31-26-5). The Senators improved to 6-3-2 since Cory Clouston replaced Craig Hartsburg as coach on Feb. 2.

-The Nashville Predators (29-28-4) scored four goals in the 3rd period to beat the Blackhawks (34-17-8) in a come-from-behind effort 5-3. The Predators had only six goals in their previous five games.

-Antti Miettinen scored shorthanded in the 2nd period for Minnesota, Jack Johnson scored on the power play 9 minutes after that for Los Angeles, and Drew Doughty scored the shootout winner as the Kings (26-29-4) tamed the Wild (30-24-5) 2-1.The Doughty SO goal was the first goal Wild G Nicklas Backstrom had given up in a shootout all season.

-David Perron and Jay McClement (SHG) both scored in the 2nd period to give the Blues (26-26-8) a 2-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes (27-29-5). As the Blues make a playoff push, they are 10-3-5 in their last 18 games.

-Jarome Iginla scored twice (and added two assists), Dion Phaneuf added a power play goal, and Mike Cammalleri scored his 30th goal of the season to lead the Flames (36-18-6) past the Blue Jackets (30-25-6) 4-1.

-Defenseman Sheldon Souray scored twice and center Andrew Cogliano added a goal and an assist as the Oilers () beat the Lightning (20-29-12) 5-3. Goalie Dwayne Roloson won while allowing three goals for the first time since Jan. 20.

OTHER HEADLINES

-Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has left practice early because of a sore groin, but is listed as probable for Wednesday night's home game against the New York Islanders. Crosby's groin bothered him a few minutes into the practice and he decided to leave the ice Tuesday. Crosby did not speak with reporters after practice. Crosby, the 2006-07 NHL scoring champion, is second in scoring with 79 points, eight points behind teammate Evgeni Malkin and two points ahead of last year's champion, Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals. Crosby had two goals and two assists as the Penguins beat the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, but settled for an assist - and a shoving match with Ovechkin - during a 5-2 loss in Washington on Sunday.

-The city of Glendale, Ariz., has been quietly bailing out the money-losing Phoenix Coyotes for several months, according to documents obtained by a Phoenix television station. A record of lease payments by the Coyotes obtained by TV station KPNX shows the city has been letting the team play virtually rent-free at Jobing.com Arena for seven months. The station reported on its website that the break could be worth up to US$4 million over the course of a year. The report says the Coyotes are getting the multi-million-dollar break even as Glendale tries to fill a sizeable hole in its budget. "They're using that money for their operating money when it should have been paid to the city of Glendale," said city councillor Phil Lieberman. Some council members said they were unaware the city was bailing the Coyotes out. Absolutely I should have been told," said Lieberman, a member of the city council for 17 years.

-John Tortorella held his first practice as Rangers head coach, and he's laying down the law already (courtesy of The Canadian Press):
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=268466&lid=sublink011&lpos=headlines_nhl

RUMOR MILL

-Vinny Lecavalier's name is swirling. Despite what Lightning GM Brian Lawton says, Vinny will garner too much in return for Lawton to pass up a deal (probably from Montreal or the Rangers).

-Staying with the Lightning, expect Jeff Halpern to be on the move to either Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Vancouver or Edmonton (all would be good fits for him)

-The Penguins and Capitals are looking at the Ducks defensive forward Sammy Pahlsson

-Islanders winger Bill Guerin could be heading to Calgary (talk about a perfect addition)

-Scott Gomez could be on the trading block. His personality and Tortorella's don't exactly match. While Sather has done dumber things, I can't imagine the Rangers trading him unless it was for the perfect package.

TONIGHTS ACTION:
Los Angeles @ Philadelphia - 7PM
%San Jose @ Detroit - 7:30PM
NY Islanders @ Pittsburgh - 7:30PM
NY Rangers @ Toronto - 7:30PM

% = Game of the Night
^All Times are Eastern

*My weekly power rankings comes back on Monday

~Dropping the Gloves with Andrew Bogusch comes out on Thursdays

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