TOP STORY
FIREFIGHTER
Steve Mason Pitches a Shutout To Take Down Calgary In A Potential Playoff Preview
(Photo Credit: AP)
Columbus Blue Jackets (39-28-7) over the Calgary Flames (42-26-6) 5-0
Columbus G Steve Mason stopped 33 shots for his franchise-record 10th shutout of the season, Jason Williams had two power-play goals, Rick Nash had a career-high four assists and former Flames forward Kristian Huselius also had four assists in the Blue Jackets' penalty-filled 5-0 win over Calgary on Thursday night. "We have a pretty good idea that if we're in the playoffs this is a team we could be playing, so we wanted to have a good effort. We definitely came forward with it, that's for sure," Mason said. Mason, who broke the team record set last season by Pascal Leclaire, leads the NHL in shutouts and has the most for a rookie since Tony Esposito had 15 for the Chicago Blackhawks in 1969-70. Calgary, the third-place team in the Western Conference, has dropped two straight. Manny Malhotra and Williams had goals in the first period and Raffi Torres and R.J. Umberger gave Columbus a 4-0 lead in the second. The sixth-place Blue Jackets are 7-1-1 in their past nine as they try to qualify for their first playoff appearance. "It shows what we have to do to beat a team like that," Nash said. "They're obviously a great team. We know they didn't play their best, but I thought we had a great game and we played our best."
FIREFIGHTER
Steve Mason Pitches a Shutout To Take Down Calgary In A Potential Playoff Preview
(Photo Credit: AP)
Columbus Blue Jackets (39-28-7) over the Calgary Flames (42-26-6) 5-0
Columbus G Steve Mason stopped 33 shots for his franchise-record 10th shutout of the season, Jason Williams had two power-play goals, Rick Nash had a career-high four assists and former Flames forward Kristian Huselius also had four assists in the Blue Jackets' penalty-filled 5-0 win over Calgary on Thursday night. "We have a pretty good idea that if we're in the playoffs this is a team we could be playing, so we wanted to have a good effort. We definitely came forward with it, that's for sure," Mason said. Mason, who broke the team record set last season by Pascal Leclaire, leads the NHL in shutouts and has the most for a rookie since Tony Esposito had 15 for the Chicago Blackhawks in 1969-70. Calgary, the third-place team in the Western Conference, has dropped two straight. Manny Malhotra and Williams had goals in the first period and Raffi Torres and R.J. Umberger gave Columbus a 4-0 lead in the second. The sixth-place Blue Jackets are 7-1-1 in their past nine as they try to qualify for their first playoff appearance. "It shows what we have to do to beat a team like that," Nash said. "They're obviously a great team. We know they didn't play their best, but I thought we had a great game and we played our best."
The Blue Jackets are a great story this year and if this happened in any other sport, ESPN would be all over them like white on rice.
ACTION FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE...
Florida Panthers (36-28-11) over the Philadelphia Flyers (40-23-10) 4-2
Brett McLean scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period, Craig Anderson made 40 saves, and the Panthers snapped a three-game losing streak against Philly. Cory Stillman, Radek Dvorak and David Booth also scored for the Panthers, who started the night below the postseason cutoff in the Eastern Conference. Florida hasn't advanced to the playoffs since 2000.
Atlanta Thrashers (39-27-9) over the New York Rangers (31-38-6) 5-4 (SO)
The Rangers played well for two periods, but forgot that there are 3 periods in a hockey game. Ilya Kovalchuk made it 4-2 with :21 remaining in the 2nd period, Colby Armstrong and Todd White would score in the 3rd, and White also had the shootout winner. Chris Drury's 1 goal, 2 assist performance went to waste for the Blueshirts. Johan Hedburg came in to relieve Thrashers G Kari Lehtonen after he had his bell rung late in the 1st period.
Rangers Head Coach John Tortorella's thoughts on last night's game:
"Yeah, I thought we sucked, right on through the game. I think we're fortunate enough to get a point. We're very fortunate to get that," Tortorella told reporters just outside the visitors' locker room. "I don't give a [expletive] what the guys talked about. I really don't care what the guys talked about, we sucked."
Montreal Canadiens (38-27-9) over the Tampa Bay Lightning (24-33-17) 3-2 (OT)
Canadiens Captain Saky Koivu scored past Tampa Bay's All-Star forward on a goal-mouth scramble 3:15 into the extra period and the Montreal Canadiens recovered from blowing a two-goal lead in the third for the win. The Canadiens won their second in a row following a five-game losing streak to strengthen their hold on the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They have 85 points.
Nashville Predators (36-30-8) over the San Jose Sharks (48-15-11) 3-2
The Predators got points from six players and came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Pacific Division leaders. The Predators rallied with three goals in a span of 2:38 in the 2nd period. San Jose played the second of back-to-back games.
St. Louis Blues (35-30-9) over the Vancouver Canucks (39-25-9) 4-2
David Perron scored a power-play goal early in the third period and the Blues beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Thursday night. Perron and TJ Oshie each had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who are 8-2-1 in their last 11 games as they try to get into the Western Conference playoffs. Oshie missed the morning skate but fought off the effects of the flu hours later to turn in one of his strongest performances of the season. His goal early in the second period ignited the Blues, and then he set up David Backes with a perfect pass for a short-handed goal that put them ahead 2-1. Blues G Chris Mason stopped 21 shots for his first career victory over the Canucks in eight appearances. He played his 25th straight game and improved to 21-20-6 after a 3-13 start. St. Louis, which moved to five games over .500 for the first time this season, has 79 points -- one behind Anaheim and Nashville in the playoff race.
Los Angeles Kings (31-33-10) over the Dallas Stars (33-32-0) 1-0 (SO)
Justin Williams scored the lone shootout goal and the only puck to hit the twine last night as the Kings kept their meager playoff hipes alive. The Stars, 0-4-1 in their past five and 2-7-1 in their past 10 at home, are 12th in the Western Conference with 75 points. That's three points better than the Kings, 1-5-2 in their past eight. Dallas and Los Angeles both have eight games left, five each on the road.
Phoenix Coyotes (31-36-7) over the Edmonton Oilers (35-30-9) 3-2
The Coyotes continued to play their role of spoiler thanks to goals from Matthew Lombardi, Ken Klee and Martin Hanzal. Edmonton rallied with two goals in the 3rd period (Ales Kotalik - PPG, Ales Hemsky), but would fall short of gaining at least a point. Oilers G Dwayne Roloson started his 30th straight game, extending his team record.
OTHER HEADLINES
-NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says the financially struggling Phoenix Coyotes are actively seeking investors or possibly new ownership, but reiterated that the team won't be relocated. "Our goal is to bring in new capital and make this franchise solvent," Bettman said Thursday night while attending the Coyotes game against the Edmonton Oilers. "That's our direction, and at this point moving the franchise elsewhere is not on the table." The Coyotes have reportedly lost US$200 million since current owner Jerry Moyes brought the team in 2001, and are projected to lose another $30 million this season. Bettman said the Coyotes are actively engaging with potential investors, whom he would not identify. The Coyotes will miss the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season and have had only two sellouts in 37 home games. In a recent survey, Glendale residents rejected the notion of taxpayer money to help provide financial assistance to the team. "We're looking for an infusion of capital and thinking about nothing else," Bettman said. "We're talking to a number of people, but there's no sense of urgency." - COURTESY OF THE CANADIAN PRESS
-Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett dismissed reports he is looking to sell some of his major sports assets. "What was told to the media was that we are doing some estate planning and looking at various assets to see whether we should refinance them, sell them, buy them, nothing urgent, we were just starting the process," said Gillett to reporters at the SportAccord convention in Denver, CO. The reports earlier in the week stemmed from statements made by Canadiens president Pierre Boivin, who told La Presse the American businessman had hired financial advisers to evaluate certain properties. "We had engaged six investment advisers around the world and it got reported as four and that we were selling assets as opposed to estate planning," Gillett said on Wednesday. "Even when you think you're doing it right it gets distorted. There is no story yet, we'll find out what it is when we get the reports." Gillett is adamant he is not looking to sell off his sports assets in spite of the global economic crisis. "There some serious financial implications to what is going on in the world and the world economy but frankly we are fortunate to be involved in sports and sports entertainment," said Gillett. "I can tell you the last place to lose support is entertainment and within the entertainment core the last place to lose support is sports." The Canadiens currently sit eighth in the Eastern Conference two points up on the Florida Panthers.
-The Philadelphia Flyers agreed to terms with Swedish free-agent goaltender Johan Backlund on a one-year contract on Thursday. In 49 games with Timra of the Swedish Elite League this season, the 27-year-old Backlund has a 2.56 goals against average. He also had a .907 save percentage and four shutouts.
-Great article courtesy of The Canadian Press on Jamie Heward's comeback efforts:
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=272749
"Yeah, I thought we sucked, right on through the game. I think we're fortunate enough to get a point. We're very fortunate to get that," Tortorella told reporters just outside the visitors' locker room. "I don't give a [expletive] what the guys talked about. I really don't care what the guys talked about, we sucked."
Montreal Canadiens (38-27-9) over the Tampa Bay Lightning (24-33-17) 3-2 (OT)
Canadiens Captain Saky Koivu scored past Tampa Bay's All-Star forward on a goal-mouth scramble 3:15 into the extra period and the Montreal Canadiens recovered from blowing a two-goal lead in the third for the win. The Canadiens won their second in a row following a five-game losing streak to strengthen their hold on the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They have 85 points.
Nashville Predators (36-30-8) over the San Jose Sharks (48-15-11) 3-2
The Predators got points from six players and came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Pacific Division leaders. The Predators rallied with three goals in a span of 2:38 in the 2nd period. San Jose played the second of back-to-back games.
St. Louis Blues (35-30-9) over the Vancouver Canucks (39-25-9) 4-2
David Perron scored a power-play goal early in the third period and the Blues beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Thursday night. Perron and TJ Oshie each had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who are 8-2-1 in their last 11 games as they try to get into the Western Conference playoffs. Oshie missed the morning skate but fought off the effects of the flu hours later to turn in one of his strongest performances of the season. His goal early in the second period ignited the Blues, and then he set up David Backes with a perfect pass for a short-handed goal that put them ahead 2-1. Blues G Chris Mason stopped 21 shots for his first career victory over the Canucks in eight appearances. He played his 25th straight game and improved to 21-20-6 after a 3-13 start. St. Louis, which moved to five games over .500 for the first time this season, has 79 points -- one behind Anaheim and Nashville in the playoff race.
Los Angeles Kings (31-33-10) over the Dallas Stars (33-32-0) 1-0 (SO)
Justin Williams scored the lone shootout goal and the only puck to hit the twine last night as the Kings kept their meager playoff hipes alive. The Stars, 0-4-1 in their past five and 2-7-1 in their past 10 at home, are 12th in the Western Conference with 75 points. That's three points better than the Kings, 1-5-2 in their past eight. Dallas and Los Angeles both have eight games left, five each on the road.
Phoenix Coyotes (31-36-7) over the Edmonton Oilers (35-30-9) 3-2
The Coyotes continued to play their role of spoiler thanks to goals from Matthew Lombardi, Ken Klee and Martin Hanzal. Edmonton rallied with two goals in the 3rd period (Ales Kotalik - PPG, Ales Hemsky), but would fall short of gaining at least a point. Oilers G Dwayne Roloson started his 30th straight game, extending his team record.
OTHER HEADLINES
-NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says the financially struggling Phoenix Coyotes are actively seeking investors or possibly new ownership, but reiterated that the team won't be relocated. "Our goal is to bring in new capital and make this franchise solvent," Bettman said Thursday night while attending the Coyotes game against the Edmonton Oilers. "That's our direction, and at this point moving the franchise elsewhere is not on the table." The Coyotes have reportedly lost US$200 million since current owner Jerry Moyes brought the team in 2001, and are projected to lose another $30 million this season. Bettman said the Coyotes are actively engaging with potential investors, whom he would not identify. The Coyotes will miss the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season and have had only two sellouts in 37 home games. In a recent survey, Glendale residents rejected the notion of taxpayer money to help provide financial assistance to the team. "We're looking for an infusion of capital and thinking about nothing else," Bettman said. "We're talking to a number of people, but there's no sense of urgency." - COURTESY OF THE CANADIAN PRESS
-Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett dismissed reports he is looking to sell some of his major sports assets. "What was told to the media was that we are doing some estate planning and looking at various assets to see whether we should refinance them, sell them, buy them, nothing urgent, we were just starting the process," said Gillett to reporters at the SportAccord convention in Denver, CO. The reports earlier in the week stemmed from statements made by Canadiens president Pierre Boivin, who told La Presse the American businessman had hired financial advisers to evaluate certain properties. "We had engaged six investment advisers around the world and it got reported as four and that we were selling assets as opposed to estate planning," Gillett said on Wednesday. "Even when you think you're doing it right it gets distorted. There is no story yet, we'll find out what it is when we get the reports." Gillett is adamant he is not looking to sell off his sports assets in spite of the global economic crisis. "There some serious financial implications to what is going on in the world and the world economy but frankly we are fortunate to be involved in sports and sports entertainment," said Gillett. "I can tell you the last place to lose support is entertainment and within the entertainment core the last place to lose support is sports." The Canadiens currently sit eighth in the Eastern Conference two points up on the Florida Panthers.
-The Philadelphia Flyers agreed to terms with Swedish free-agent goaltender Johan Backlund on a one-year contract on Thursday. In 49 games with Timra of the Swedish Elite League this season, the 27-year-old Backlund has a 2.56 goals against average. He also had a .907 save percentage and four shutouts.
-Great article courtesy of The Canadian Press on Jamie Heward's comeback efforts:
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=272749
TONIGHTS ACTION:
Tampa Bay @ Washington - 7PM
Toronto @ Buffalo - 7:30PM
NY Islanders @ Detroit - 7:30PM
New Jersey @ Chicago - 8:30PM
Vancouver @ Colorado - 9PM
%Edmonton @ Anaheim - 10PM
% = Game of the Night
^All Times are Eastern
Tampa Bay @ Washington - 7PM
Toronto @ Buffalo - 7:30PM
NY Islanders @ Detroit - 7:30PM
New Jersey @ Chicago - 8:30PM
Vancouver @ Colorado - 9PM
%Edmonton @ Anaheim - 10PM
% = Game of the Night
^All Times are Eastern
THE NCAA ICE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS, AKA THE FROZEN FOUR, KICKS OFF TODAY
Air Force @ Michigan - 3PM
Miami (OH) @ Denver - 5:30PM
Vermont @ Yale - 6:30PM
Princeton @ Minnesota-Duluth - 9PM
Air Force @ Michigan - 3PM
Miami (OH) @ Denver - 5:30PM
Vermont @ Yale - 6:30PM
Princeton @ Minnesota-Duluth - 9PM
TOMORROW'S GAMES
Ohio State @ Boston
New Hampshire @ North Dakota St
Cornell @ Northeastern
Bemidji St. @ Notre Dame
For the record, my Frozen Four are BU, Michigan, Minnesota-Duluth and Cornell, with BU beating Cornell for the title.
For the record, my Frozen Four are BU, Michigan, Minnesota-Duluth and Cornell, with BU beating Cornell for the title.
~Dropping the Gloves with Andrew Bogusch comes out on Thursdays
TO EMAIL FTS, write fromtheslot@gmail.com
TO EMAIL FTS, write fromtheslot@gmail.com
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