St. Louis (4) @ Detroit (3)

The Blues drove into The Motor City and clipped the Wings 4-3. Detroit tried as they might to come out on top by firing 41 shots at Nik Backstrom but he was the difference in this one by turning aside 38 of those shots. Devin Setoguchi scored twice in the game, including the winner for the Blues on the powerplay midway through the third, in fact three of St.Louis' four goals were scored on the powerplay. Ryan Smyth and Peter Forsberg had a pair of assists also for St.Louis. Eight different players registered a point for Detroit but it wasn't enough. Evgeni Nabokov who was tagged with the loss for the Wings, made 18 saves on 22 shots.

Calgary (3) @ Carolina (1)

The Flames scored all the offense they would need, in the second period as they scored three times in the period, two of those on the powerplay. Carolina would score once in the third to ruin rookie Sergei "Bob" Bobrovsky's shot at his first career WCHL shut-out. Joe Corvo (1-1-2) and Marian Gaborik (0-2-2) led the offense for Calgary. Ales Hemsky half way through the third was the only 'Cane to find the back of the net.

Toronto (0) @ Washington (5)

Unlikely goal scorer Scott Nichol instilled he's own style of Capital punishment on the Maple Leafs as he fired three goals in a 5-0 white-wash of Toronto. Anssi Salmela (0-3-3) and Sean Avery (0-2-2) also had great nights for the all checking line scoring line. Jose Theodore stopped all 23 shots he faced to record his second shut-out this season. The game wasn't the only thing the Leafs lost, rookie center Ryan Stone was lost to the team for at least a week with what the team is calling a lower body injury.


Tampa Bay (7) @ New Jersey (1)

No I didn't write the score backwards, The Lightning went into "The Swamp" and made New Jersey's night a living hell as they handed them their second straight loss (after eight straight wins). Tampa scored twice in the first and second periods while turning the trick in the third, the only blemish on Brian Elliot's record for the night was a Chris Kunitz's goal midway through the second. Brian Rafalski and Jere Lehtinen led the Lightning (2-1-3). The Devils fired a low 12 shots at Brian Elliot in Tampa's net.

NY Rangers (4) @ Philly (3)

The Rangers broke the Philly's three game win streak with a 4-3 road win. The game started well for the Flyers as they jumped out 1-0 at the 1:18 mark of the first period, but it was pretty much downhill from there as the Rangers would score four of the next six goals. Anze Kopitar (0-3-3) and Shane Doan (2-1-3) led the Rangers while King Henrik made 25 saves. Matt Moulson (0-2-2) continued to carry a hot stick and Scott Hartnell (1-1-2) led the way for the Flyers, who are 6-4 in their last ten home games. The Rangers are alone atop the Eastern Conference with a 8-2 record in their last ten games. Scott Hartnell and ex-Flyer Chris Phillips renewed acquaintances as they dropped the gloves in the third period, with Hazel May's grey skirt calling it a draw.

Nashville (3) @Colorado (6)

Colorado got out to a 2-0 lead after one pretty evenly played period but the two teams exploded for seven goals on 30 shots in the second and after the smoke settled the Avs had sent Nashville packing on the wrong end of a 6-3 drubbing. Troy Brouwer not known for his goal scoring did most of the damage for Colorado as he had a career four goal game, Blake Comeau and Nick Lidstrom both had three helpers. Guillaume Latendresse and Jesse Niinimaki led Nashville with (1-1-2), Jiri Hudler chipped in a pair of assists.

Atlanta (6) @ Boston (3)

The Thrashers, trying to keep pace with the Rangers doubled up on the Bruins 6-3. The Bruins kept it close after two as they were only down by one after fourty minutes but Atlanta came out in the third and put the game away with three goals. Atlanta had five players with two points including James Neal (2-0-2) but it was Mason Raymond and Patrik Berglund that led the way (0-3-3). Brendan Morrison led the Bruins (1-1-2). Martin Brodeur got his 14th win of the season.

Phoenix (3) @ Dallas (1)

The game was tightly played for two periods as the two teams were deadlocked at one. Phoenix came out in the third and scored two early period goals to put the game away. Eric Brewer had two goals for Phoenix and Alex Auld had 20 saves for his fifth win of the season. Brian Gionta had the lone marker for Dallas as Roberto had an off night allowing three goals on twenty shots.



Reporting for The WCHL Network
Peter Pucker