Archive for April 2011

Saturday Night Highlights


Washington (2) vs New York Islanders (3)  O/T............
 The Islanders jumped out 2-0 by the halfway mark of the first but the Caps used two powerplay goals in two periods to draw even before the end of regulation. Patrik Hornqvist with  his 20th of the season won it for Isles just 3:12 into OT as he put in his own rebound during a scramble around the Caps net. Islanders defenseman Mike Del Zotto had (1-2-3) while Hornqvist had (1-1-2), Carey Price won his 24th, stopping 22 shots. Scoring for Washington was Niklas Bergfors and Sergei Samsonov. 
 
St. Louis (3) vs Montreal (1).......
 The Blues moved one point clear of ninth in the West with their 3-1 win in Montreal. St.Louis built a 3-0 lead after two periods before J.P Dumont scored his 20th in the third period but it was a case of alittle too little too late. Steve Mason stopped 15 shots for the win while Peter Forsberg, Jason Strudwick and Alexandre Bolduc scored for the Blues.
 
Edmonton (1) vs Anaheim (3)..........
 Anaheim won their 5th in a row and stayed three points ahead of St.Louis with a 3-1 win over the Oilers. Two third period goals by the Ducks was the difference in the win, the last by David Backes (his 16th) into an empty net. John Oduya (1-1-2) and Patrice Bergeron (0-2-2) led the Ducks. The only Oiler to score was Saku Koivu with his 12th on the powerplay just twelve seconds into the third period. Tuukka Rask wins his 36th game stopping a mere 10 shots.
 
Philly (1) vs Atlanta (3)..........
 The Flyers couldn't solve Martin Brodeur on this night as they fired 42 shots at him and only scored once, while the Thrashers scored three times on just 19 shots. Two powerplay goals by Martin St.Louis, his 28th and 29th powered Atlanta to their second straight win and vaulting them three points clear of Philly for the lead in the East. Henrik Sedin had two assists while his brother (Daniel) was suspended two games for (unsportman-like) cross checking Ryan Getzlaf across the head, late in the second period during a goal mouth scramble. The lone Flyer goal was scored by Mike Green midway through the third period on the powerplay, his 19th of the season.
 
Minnesota (2) vs Dallas (3)..........
 Dallas had a more difficult time than they should have with the Wild, as Alex Ovechkin (with two goals) scored the winner with just fourty-nine seconds remaining in regulation. Jakub Voracek scored the other goal for Dallas while Roberto Luongo stopped 17 shots for his 35th victory of the season. Martin Hanzel and Pavel Kubina scored for Minnesota who have lost three in a row. The win keeps Dallas four points ahead of Calgary for third in the Western Conference.
 
LA (2) vs Columbus (6).............
The Blue Jackets de-throned the Kings and LA looked more like jesters, losing 6-2. Columbus won their 3rd straight game as they closed within one point of eighth placed St.Louis. Los Angeles has lost nine straight games and inching ever closer to being eliminated from the playoffs. Leading the scoring for the Blue Jackets was Jamie Langenbrunner with his 36,37,38 of the season, while Ian White had a trio of helpers. Johan Hedberg continues his solid play in net as he stops 15 shots for his 30th victory of the season. For LA Evgeni Malkin potted his 22nd.
 
Tampa Bay (2) vs NJ (1)......
 Tampa continues their strong play of late as they improved to (8-1-1) in their last ten games beating a surprisingly slumping Devils 2-1. The Lightning were seventeen seconds away from shutting out the Devils but Steve Sullivan scored his 12th of the season. Scoring for Tampa were Bill Guerin and Robert Lang, who scored his team leading 29th of the season. Brian Elliott won his 31st start, stopping 17 shots. Craig Adams of the Devils was ejected for instigating a fight with Curtis Glencross in the second period.
 
 
Reporting for The WCHL Network...........
 Peter Pucker
 

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The Saturday Recap - April 9th

New York Islanders (3) vs Boston (5)
 Center Brendan Morrison scored twice for Boston as the Bruins defeated the Isles 5-3. The Bruins lead 3-0 before the ten minute mark of the opening stanza. Brad Richards potted two for the Isles before the period ended but the Isle's season of misery continued with their 34th defeat in their 62nd game. Mikko Koivu and Milan Hedjuk had (1-1-2) for the Bruins and Craig Anderson stopped 28 shots for his 43rd win of the season.
 
San Jose (4) vs Buffalo (2)
 Tonight in Buffalo it was the Staal show. Younger brother Jordan out-scored his brother Eric 2-1 as they single handedly beat the Sabres. Dany Heatley chipped in with a goal and an assist. Brian Boyle and R.J Umberger scored for Buffalo who lost for only the third time in ten games, and fell four points behind the Rangers for 4th in the East. The win enabled SanJose to re-claim 1st place in the West. Cam Ward won his 43rd of the season stopping 18 shots.
 
Edmonton (2 ) vs St. Louis (3)
 Two teams heading in different directions lately met in St.Louis. The Blues won their 5th in a row and are now just a single point out of a play-off in the West. With four straight losses Edmonton slipped seven points behind eighth placed Anaheim. Scoring for the Blues were Daniel Paille, Thomas Vanek and Ryan Smith, while Steve Mason won for just 12th time stopping 32 shots. Tomas Vokoun dropped his record to 29-32-4 in the loss, as Ian Lapperiere and Marcus Johansson replied for the Oil.
 
Phoenix (0) vs Washington (5)
 The Caps were less than gracious hosts as they nutered the heavily under dogged Coyotes by the score of 5-0. Jordan Eberle scored twice and Steve Begin and Todd Bertuzzi had a goal and an assist each, while Jose Theodore registered his 4th shut-out of the season. The play-offs are still a long shot for Washington as they are 22 points out with 22 games remaining but stranger things have happened.
 
Atlanta (5) vs Anaheim (4) S/O
 This game was a see-saw affair that saw Anaheim's David Backes send it into O/T and then a S/O with just twenty-five seconds remaining in regulation. Atlanta depended heavily on their powerplay as the scored three time on six attempts. Martin St.Louis was the only shooter to score in the shoot out giving the Thrashers the two points and enabling them to move into a first place tie with idle Philadelphia for first in the East. James Neal (1-2-3) and Tom Poti (0-3-3) led Atlanta. While Sid the Kid had a goal and an assist for the Ducks.
 
 Tampa Bay (6) vs Montreal (4)
The home team lead 3-1 after one, but three goals in 3:30 for the Lightning in the second period turned this game around, Tampa would add another two in the third and leave Quebec with the two points. Alexei Zhitnik registered four assists and David Legwand scored twice for Tampa who with five straight wins moved into a tie for 8th in the East. J.P Dumont (2-0-2), Jaromir Jagr and Ryan Kesler (1-1-2) replied for Montreal, who with three straight losses trail eighth place by twelve points.
 
Chicago (0) vs Dallas (3)
 Roberto Luongo stopped 30 shots for his 4th shut-out of the season while Alex Ovechkin scored his 51st goal of the season to pull eleven goals ahead of both his teammate (Brian Gionta) and the Flame's Marian Gaborik. Mike Modano had a pair of helpers for the Stars. The win vaulted Dallas past the Flames for third and are just three points behind San Jose for tops in the West.
 
Reporting for WCHL Network...
 Peter Pucker
 

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