The Leafs, Habs and Flames entertained at home in Tuesday night’s action.
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Monday’s recap
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PREDATORS 3 @ CAPITALS 4 (SO)
Coming in: Nashville began the night 4-4-0 with 29 GF and 31 GA, sitting fourth of five teams in the Central. Washington (4-3-1), meanwhile, was tied for first in the Southeast with Carolina.
Goaltending match-up: Ellis (29/32, .906 SV%) vs. Theodore (23/26, .885 SV%)
Net notes: This was only the second start vs. WAS for Ellis in his career and he came into tonight having won two of three starts.
Theodore gave up five goals in his last game and got a win, but gave up two goals in each prior tilt and came away with a loss in each. That’s hockey…
Line combos: Hornqvist-Arnott-Dumont/ Jones-Legwand-Erat/ Smithson-Bonk-Ward for the Preds with Laich-Backstrom-Kozlov/ Steckel-Fedorov-Semin/ Fleischmann-Nylander-Clark for the Caps.
Key notes: Dumont (3A, +2, 21:52 ice time, 7:07 ice time, 0:01 PK, 2 SOG) has points in five straight now and already had nine points in 8 GP coming in. This was his second multi-point effort of the season. Erat (1A, +1, 19:34 ice time, 6:41 PP, 1:19 PK, 1 SOG, 1-2 FO) had four goals in five games coming in. Arnott (2G, +2, 21:59 ice time, 7:07 PP, no FO, 5 SOG, 6-8 FO) has points in five of six overall and he came into tonight with seven in five total.
Koistinen (1G, even, 16:15 ice time, 3:38 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) had nadda before tonight and he got Nashville’s only shootout goal too. Hornqvist (1A, even, 15:38 ice time, 5:57 PP, no PK, no SOG) had three points in four outings before adding more here. Suter (1A, -1, 25:27 ice time, 9:41 PP, 3:10 PK, 1 SOG) has points back-to-back after three with none.
The Caps were sans Ovechkin tonight, who flew back to Russia to be with his ailing grandfather. Semin (1G, 1A, +1, 20:46 ice time, 4:42 PP, 6:42 PK, 5 SOG) came into this evening on a blistering pace with 14 points in 8 GP and he scored in the shootout.
Green (1A, +1, 29:28 ice time, 7:03 PP, 4:45 PK, 4 SOG) needed a multi-point effort to hit the point-per-game mark on the season. Kozlov (1G, even, 14:41 ice time, 3:07 PP, 0:08 PK, 3 SOG) is dealing with a knee sprain, but still managed to score his first goal of the season and has points back-to-back.
Backstrom (1A, even, 2 PIM, 16:46 ice time, 4:30 PP, 0:23 PK, 1 SOG, 4-7 FO) has helpers in three straight. Fedorov (1A, even, 21:32 ice time, 6:12 PP, 4:06 PK, 3 SOG, 7-6 FO) has points in six of seven and he’s having a heck of a season to date. Nylander (even, 4 PIM, 16:08 ice time, 4:33 PP, no PK, 1 SOG, 4-7 FO) got the GWG in the shootout.
FLYERS 7 @ THRASHERS 0
Coming in: Philadelphia began the season winless in six tries, but had won two straight before tonight’s tilt. Atlanta began the evening 2-4-2 and on a three-game winless skid.
Goaltending match-up: Niittymaki (24/24) vs. Lehtonen (24/31, .774 SV%)
Net notes: Niitty was a perfect 9-0-0 vs. ATL headed into this one with a 1.67 GAA and .940 SV%. This was his fourth career shutout after having one last season.
Lehtonen, on the other hand, had never beaten the Flyers in six starts coming in. He also hadn’t beaten Niitty head-to-head since they were teens.
Line combos: Hartnell-Richards-Lupul/ Upshall-Carter-Nodl/ Gagne-Metropolit-Knuble for the Flyers with Kovalchuk-White-Little/ Kozlov-Christensen-Armstrong/ Perrin-Reasoner-Williams for the Thrashers.
Key notes: If ever there was a mercy rule needed in the NHL…
Lupul (2G, +2, 13:59 ice time, 1:40 ice time, no PK, 5 SOG, 1-0 FO) opened the scoring tonight and did so in front of his father, who’s part of the contingent of Philly players’ dads who are on the road with the team. Lupul has better than a goal-per-average over the past week thanks to this multi-goal night.
Knuble (2G, +1, 2 PIM, 14:43 ice time, 2:34 PP, 1:21 PK, 2 SOG, 0-1 FO) has goals in three straight and each of his goals tonight was reviewed but counted. Gagne (2G, 2A, +3, 16:24 ice time, 3:27 PP, 1:22 PK, 3 SOG) had a six-game point streak stopped in his last game, but started a new one here in a big way with his first multi-point effort of the season. He also got a SHG.
Richards (1A, +2, 21:33 ice time, 3:02 PP, 2:56 PK, 4 SOG, 11-5 FO) had 6 SHP last season and he began his short-handed point contributions tonight. He also had a third period penalty shot and bumbled it, although the score was already 6-0.
Metropolit (1G, 2A, +2, 16:26 ice time, 0:32 PP, 2:36 PK, 1 SOG, 6-9 FO) has points back-to-back. Carter (1A, +1, 18:25 ice time, 2:10 PP, 2:23 PK, 4 SOG, 8-13 FO) had goals in six of seven before this night began.
Coburn (1A, +1, 4 PIM, 19:06 ice time, 2:57 PP, 2:16 PK, 1 SOG) was coming off that two-assist night against Jersey. Sbisa (2A, +3, 19:06 ice time, 1:25 PP, no PK, 1 SOG) has points in three of four and he’ll stick with the big club this year.
Bogosian (even, 0:52 ice time, no PP, no PK, no SOG) was lost in this game early with an injury. Kovalchuk (-2, 4 PIM, 19:52 ice time, 5:12 PP, no PK, 5 SOG) racked up a few minors for unsportsmanlike conduct, so the night wasn’t a total loss in standard leagues.
LIGHTNING 3 @ LEAFS 2
Coming in: Tampa Bay had one win to its credit headed into this evening, although all but one loss was a one-goal game. Toronto was 3-2-3 with 18 GF and 25 GA before tonight’s action began.
Goaltending match-up: Smith (37/39, .949 SV%) vs. Toskala (22/25, .880 SV%)
Net notes: Smith had a sharp .941 SV% coming in thanks to the nightly barrage of shots he’s been facing, but the 2.13 GAA was even more impressive.
Toskala was 2-1-1 lifetime vs. Toronto headed into this one and had three wins in seven starts this year coming in.
Line combos: Prospal-Lecavalier-St. Louis/ Malone-Stamkos-Hall/ Artyukhin-Jokinen-Recchi for the Lightning with Ponikarovsky-Antropov-Stajan/ Hagman-Grabovski-Kulemin/ Steen-Moore-Blake/ for the Leafs.
Key notes: Lecavalier (2G, +1, 17:31 ice time, 4:56 PP, no PK, 4 SOG, 7-11 FO) scored a gorgeous breakaway goal utilizing that long reach of his. He backhanded his second on the PP and he has goals in four of six. Stamkos (1A, even, 12:58 ice time, 4:16 PP, no PK, 2 SOG, 4-2 FO) finally got his first NHL point in this one and at least the PP time was good, although he needs more overall ice time.
Prospal (2A, +1, 2 PIM, 19:24 ice time, 5:02 PP, 1:34 PK, 3 SOG, 1-1 FO) had four points in five tries coming in. Jokinen (1G, +1, 17:35 ice time, 1:35 PP, 2:59 PK, 2 SOG, 3-14 FO) stopped a three-game slide here.
Antropov (1A, even, 18:31 ice time, 4:36 PP, no PK, 1 SOG, 0-1 FO) had 4G, 1A in his previous 4 GP coming in with a +3 rating in that period. Ponikarovsky (1A, even, 17:19 ice time, 4:07 PP, no PK, 3 SOG) has a four-game point streak rolling now, while Stajan (1G, even, 18:06 ice time, 4:36 PP, no PK, 3 SOG, 18-16 FO) has them in three straight.
Van Ryn (1G, -1, 4 PIM, 23:46 ice time, 5:22 PP, 1:15 PK, 4 SOG) has a PPG in two of three with points in four straight and six of seven. Grabovski (1A, -2, 14:04 ice time, 2:13 PP, no PK, no SOG, 3-4 FO) has points back to back after many zeroes before that, while Hagman (1A< -2, 15:16 ice time, 1:59 PP, 0:05 PK, 3 SOG) has them in three straight.
HURRICANES 2 @ CANADIENS 3 (SO)
Coming in: Carolina began the night 4-2-1 and in a first-place Southeast tie with the Caps, while Montreal (5-1-1) trailed Buffalo by three points in the Northeast with two games in hand.
Goaltending match-up: Ward (23/25, .920 SV%) vs. Price (31/33, .939 SV%)
Net notes: Ward had a 6-2-1 mark vs. Montreal career coming in with two wins in four starts in ’08-9 before tonight.
Price had only played Carolina once to date and he was pulled in that game after allowing four goals in two periods.
Line combos: Whitney-Staal-Ruutu/ Samsonov-Brindy-LaRose/ Bayda-Cullen-Eaves for the Canes with A. Kostitsyn-Plekanec-Koivu/ Latendresse-Koivu-Tanguay/ Higgins-Lang-S. Kostitsyn for the Habs.
Key notes: Brindy (1A, even, 21:34 ice time, 5:02 PP, 3:16 PK, no SOG, 17-7 FO) has points in three of four. Cullen (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 17:53 ice time, 3:38 PP, 4:08 PK, 2 SOG, 5-7 FO) stopped a three-game slide here, as did Seidenberg (1A, even, 2 PIM, 28:00 ice time, 6:14 PP, 4:58 PK, 5 SOG).
Eaves (1A, even, 12:08 ice time, 0:50 PP, 2:18 PK, 4 SOG) had a point in his first game of the season, but nothing since until this one.
Kovalev (1G, +1, 22:38 ice time, 9:57 PP, 2:48 PK, 3 SOG, 1-2 FO) had gone three games without a goal, but he buried a turnover here to get going again. He did have points in five of six coming in though.
Tanguay (1G, -1, 19:17 ice time, 7:28 PP, 0:04 PK, 2 SOG) converted a late first period penalty shot and he already had four goals in three starts before tonight. He’s normally a playmaker, but to date his only assists had come in a three-helper night @TOR October 11th. At more than a point-per-game average on the season though, do you really care when the points come more than the fact that they’re there in the end?
Koivu (-1, 21:04 ice time, 5:35 PP, 2:23 PK, 2 SOG, 12-6 FO) got the GWG in the shootout with a nifty shoulder fake and he went five-hole.
AVALANCHE 0 @ FLAMES 3
Coming in: Colorado came into this Northwest battle sitting one point ahead of Calgary thanks to a 5-3-0 record, while the Flames had a 4-3-1 mark and entered the evening on the strength of a three-game winning streak.
Goaltending match-up: Budaj (27/30, .900 SV%) vs. Kiprusoff (22/22)
Net notes: Budaj gave up five goals in his last start against the Flames and had lifetime 3.96/ .867 splits against them.
Kipper came into tonight on a three-game winning stretch with only five goals against. He got his 27th career shutout tonight. He only had two last year after having 17 the two previous seasons combined.
Line combos: Smyth-Stastny-Hejduk/ Wolski-Sakic-Tucker/ Jones-Arnason-Svatos for the Avs with Bourque-Conroy-Iginla/ Cammalleri-Langkow-Bertuzzi/ Glencross-Boyd-Moss for the Flames.
Key notes: Smyth (even, 21:19 ice time, 4:13 PP, 1:52 PK, 1 SOG), Stastny (even, 21:19 ice time, 4:13 PP, 0:56 PK, 3 SOG, 7-11 FO) and Hejduk (even, 20:52 ice time, 4:13 PP, 051 PK, 1 SOG) have been the tantalizing offensive story for the Avs this year, but they were shut down here.
Cammalleri (1G, 1A, +2, 12:41 ice time, 0:59 PP, no PK, 4 SOG) extended his point streak to three games and he needed a two-point game here to achieve point-per-game status, which he wrapped up in the third period alone. Regehr (1A, +1, 22:34 ice time, 0:50, 2:39 PK, 1 SOG) has helpers back-to-back now, as does Giordano (1A, +2, 15:39 ice time, 1:56 PP, 0:08 PK, 2 SOG).
Glencross (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 14:24 ice time, no PP, no PK, 2 SOG) got his first as a Flame midway through the third to break open a scoreless tie, but this is not a sign to run out and get him. Bourque (1G, 1A, +2, 16:09 ice time, no PP, 1:44 PK, 3 SOG) had four points in eight coming in, but just one in his last five before this evening.
Prust (even, 5 PIM, 8:52 ice time, no PP, no PK, 1 SOG) had 27 PIM coming in, while McLeod (even, 7 PIM, 8:46 ice time, 0:06 PP, no PK, no SOG) had 12 and got in his third fight of the season here with the Calgary pest.
BRUINS 1 @ CANUCKS 0
Coming in: Boston was coming off a 1-0 OT win over the Oilers last night and had won back-to-back, while Vancouver (4-4-0) was last in the Northwest despite sporting a .500 record that also featured a dead-even 28 GF and 28 GA.
Goaltending match-up: Thomas (31/31) vs. Luongo (29/30, .967 SV%)
Net notes: Thomas was really strong playing last night in that 1-0 win over the Oilers. He now has back-to-back shutouts and this was the ninth of his career. 132:14 is his current shutout streak now.
Since grabbing a shutout in the first game of the season, Luongo had given up three or more goals in every affair since headed into this one.
Line combos: Lucic-Savard-Kessel/ Sturm-Bergeron-Ryder/ Axelsson-Krejci-Wheeler for the Bruins with Sedin-Sedin-Bernier/ Burrows-Kesler-Hansen/ Pyatt-Wellwood-Raymond for the Canucks.
Key notes: Lucic (even, 16:33 ice time, 1:30 PP, no PK, 5 SOG, 8 hits) was playing in front of a large hometown crowd tonight at GM Place and he almost sent the home team’s goalie to the hospital with a blast to the mask from just past the faceoff dot to Luongo’s right midway through the third. Ok, maybe it didn’t turn out to be that bad for Luongo, but I was totally thinking Sleepy Hollow/ Headless Horseman after seeing that cannon whistling toward the goalie’s head. Lucic easily had the most hits of anyone on either team and he was only two hits shy of matching the entire Vancouver roster’s total in that category.
Savard (1A, +1, 19:21 ice time, 2:30 PP, 0:41 PK, 4 SOG, 13-10 FO) has points in three in a row after going three with none, but still had 12 points in 9 GP coming in.
Ryder (1G, +1, 14:25 ice time, 2:30 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) got his first goal since a game against Colorado weeks ago. He also had just one point in five contests coming in too. Sturm (1A, +1, 15:06 ice time, 2:30 PP, 1:33 PK, no SOG) had just one point in five tries before this one.
D. Sedin (-1, 20:07 ice time, 4:01 PP, no PK, 2 SOG, 0-1 FO) just stopped a five-game pointless skid in that last game against Edmonton, while H. Sedin (-1, 20:46 ice time, 3:55 PP, no PK, 2 SOG, 6-2 FO) had two points in that same five-game stretch.
PENGUINS 1 @ SHARKS 2
Coming in: Pittsburgh carried a 2-0-1 road record into this tilt at the Shark Tank; their only loss coming in their last game at MSG in a shootout. San Jose, meanwhile, began this evening with a 7-2-0 mark and sat one point back of Detroit for first place in the West.
Goaltending match-up: Sabourin (32/34, .941 SV%) vs. Nabokov (10/11, .909 SV%)
Net notes: Sabourin gave Fleury the night off here and had given up only one goal in his other start of the season.
Nabby had given up 18 goals in four starts coming in, which means there’s a window of opportunity to get one of the guys that’ll be in the upper echelon of fantasy goalies this season.
Line combos: Dupuis-Crosby-Malkin/ Fedotenko-Staal-Sykora/ Cooke-Kennedy-Satan for the Pens with Marleau-Thornton-Setoguchi/ Michalek-Pavelski-Cheechoo/ Clowe-Roenick-Grier for the Sharks.
Key notes: Fedotenko (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 15:29 ice time, 1:24 PP, 0:51 PK, 1 SOG) has goals in two of three, but it was Crosby (1A, even, 2 PIM, 22:15 ice time, 1:28 PP, 3:23 PK, no SOG, 4-16 FO) and Malkin (1A, even, 2 PIM, 22:00 ice time, 1:28 PP, 2:04 PK, 2 SOG) who did most of the heavy lifting on that play. Crosby has points in six straight now and had 3G, 7A in the first five of that period, while Malkin also has points in six in a row and all but one this season. Fedotenko was on that line and they created a lot of pressure late in the third period, so maybe we’ll see that trio start the next game.
Boyle (1A, +2, 22:29 ice time, 5:05 PP, 1:00 PK, 4 SOG) pushed his point streak to five games tonight and had eight points in nine games coming in. Ehrhoff (1A, +1, 23:14 ice time, 4:44 PP, 1:00 PK, 2 SOG) also has a five-outing point streak going and had a similar eight points headed into this one in what has truly been a standout season to date.
Pavelski (1G, even, 20:32 ice time, 5:13 PP, 1:38 PK, 2 SOG, 11-7 FO) scored short-handed to give him goals in three of five and points in four of five. Michalek (1A, even, 20:43 ice time, 4:17 PP, 1:12 PK, 4 SOG) stopped a three-game slide tonight and was also in on that shortie.