Saturday Night Updates

New York Rangers (2) vs Montreal (4)..........
 The Rangers looked to continue their climb up the Eastern Conference standings as they visited the Habs in Le Province. Montreal had other plans as they scored two powerplay goals in the second and led 3-2, but it was P.J. Axelsson's third period tally early on that was the insurance marker and temporarily de-railed the Rangers climb. Alex Pietrangelo scored once and had an assist to led the Canadiens. It was a selfish unsportsmanlike penalty by Rangers Fedor Tyutin that gave Montreal the led the needed and never reliquished. Jonathan Quick stopped 17 shots for his 29th win.
 
Buffalo (2) vs Pittsburgh (4).............
 The Penguins stretched their home unbeaten streak to 9-0-0-1 in their last ten games at the Igloo as the doubled up on the Sabres. Teemu Selanne's 35th of the season (and second of the game) was the insurance marker scored on the powerplay with just 1:15 remaining in regulation. Along with Selanne's two goals, Bobby Ryan had (1-1-2) to help led the Pens. Tomas Plekanec's first period goal was his 37th of the season and his team leading 100th point for Buffalo. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 26 shots for his 45th win.
 
St. Louis (3) vs Nashville (4).................
 Thomas Vanek's second goal of the game (his 40th) tied the game for St.louis and sent it into overtime. Nashville scored three goals in just 19 shots in regulation and OT, and Steve Downie scored the winning goal in the shoot-out to improve the Preds to 5-5 in their last ten games. St.Louis missed out on a chance to catch Columbus for the 8th seed in the West with the loss. Kevin Bieksa led the Preds with a goal and an assist in regulation.
 
Washington (1) vs Anaheim (4)...........
 Three goals in 10 minutes of the opening frame was more than enough for the Ducks as they beat the Caps. Duncan Keith scored twice and added an assist, Sidney Crosby scored his 39th of the season and had on helper to led the offense for Anaheim. Todd Bertuzzi was the only Cap to beat Tuukka Rask who stopped 20 shots for his 46th win. The win assured the Ducks 7th place in the West as they cannot be caught by Columbus.
 
Edmonton (5) vs Columbus (8)........
 The Blue Jackets scored four goals in the first and three in the second to cruise to a 8-5 win. Kris Versteeg scored a hat-trick and had one assist to power Columbus. While rookie Yannick Riendeau had two goals for Edmonton. Columbus is in the eigth and final playoff spot in the West but the Blues can still catch them as they have a game in hand. Edmonton lost defenseman Paul Mara in the first period with a broken finger on his left hand and will not play in the Oilers final regular season game versus the Penguins.
 
LA (1) vs San Jose (4)..........
 Evgeni Malkin staked the Kings to a 1-0 first period lead but the Sharks scored four goals in the second on nine shots to top LA. Zach Parise scored his 44th of the season along with an assist, Eric Staal and Lee Stempniak duplicated Zach's output to power the Sharks. Cam Ward won his 54th of the season stopping 26 shots. The Sharks have one more game remaining but cannot catch Dallas for top spot in the West and will have to settle for third in the Conference. Malkin was injured off the second period face-off as he took an undetected two hander across his right arm and will most likely miss LA's final two games.
 
Reporting for WCHL Network......
 Peter Pucker

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