FTS -- 3/11/09

photo credit: AP/Jim Prisching

B’HAWKS BLOW LEAD, BUT GET SO WIN

CANES’ 4-GAME RUN OVER

The Carolina Hurricanes did all they could to continue their 4-game winning streak Wednesday night in Chicago, but Kris Versteeg’s wrister beat Cam Ward to clinch the shootout and the 3-2 decision for the Blackhawks. Overtime and the skills competition were necessary because Tuomo Ruutu put a rebound past Cristobal Huet to tie the game with :26.5 left. Versteeg’s winner came in the 4^th round of the shootout, and was followed by a Huet stop of Sergei Samsonov.

Versteeg and Troy Brouwer scored in regulation for Chicago (37-19-9), while Rod Brind’Amour had the other Carolina tally. The Blackhawks wake up this morning 4^th in the Western Conference. The Hurricanes (36-27-6) use their one point to tie Pittsburgh for 6^th in the East.

Ducks 4 – Canucks 3 OT

Scott Niedermayer reached back into the early years of his career to rush down the ice and beat Roberto Luongo 3:37 into overtime, giving the Ducks (32-30-6) a 4-3 home-ice win. It was Niedermayer’s second OT winner in a month and the 12^th of his career, the most among defensemen. Anaheim (32-30-6) now has 70 points, which ties it for 9^th out West with Minnesota and Dallas, one point behind Edmonton and Nashville. This was the first time in 12 starts that Luongo allowed more than three goals.

Senators 3 – Lightning 2 OT

It’s too little, too late, but the Ottawa Senators (27-29-10) won again Wednesday night. That’s four in a row, all with Brian Elliott in net. The rookie stopped 22 Tampa shots, while Ryan Shannon, Chris Kelly and Mike Fisher beat Kari Ramo. Fisher got the OT winner 2:38 into the extra session, banging home the rebound of a Chris Phillips shot. The Lightning (21-32-14) have dropped 4 straight and 15 of 19.

IN OTHER NEWS…

Former Oilers owner Peter Pocklington was arrested Wednesday at his Palm Beach Desert home for lying about assets during bankruptcy proceedings. He is accused of failing to disclose two bank accounts and the contents of two storage units. Pocklington, 67, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

The Blackhawks have activated goalie Nikolai Khabibulin off injured reserve. He’s been out with a groin injury since February 11^th.

Gary Bettman says he’d like to discuss fighting’s role in the game with Montreal’s Georges Laraque, who was very critical of the anti-fighting thoughts coming out of this week’s GM meetings. Laraque thinks the ideas will eliminate enforcers, but the Commissioner thinks he can show Laraque that that wouldn’t be the case.

And the AHL Board of Governors has voted unanimously to uphold the 20-game suspension given Norfolk Admirals winger Steve Downie for slashing a lineman in the shin during a faceoff. The contended that Downie made contact with the official as part of his natural follow-through on the draw.

THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE

Ottawa @ Boston 7:00pm ET

Florida @ Buffalo 7:00

Calgary @ Detroit 7:00

Phoenix @ New Jersey 7:00

Washington @ Philadelphia 7:00

Pittsburgh @ Columbus 7:00 (Game of the Night)

NY Islanders @ Montreal 7:30

Tampa Bay @ Toronto 7:30

NY Rangers @ Predators 8:00

Carolina @ Dallas 8:30

San Jose @ St. Louis 8:30

Minnesota @ Colorado 9:00

Atlanta @ Edmonton 9:30