After missing 11 games with a shoulder injury, Dany Heatley was back in the Senator line-up and that seemed to do the trick for the struggling Sens. He scored twice and was assisted on both goals by Jason Spezza who had trouble carrying the heavy load in Heatley's and Daniel Alfredsson's absence. Ray Emery was back in goal and made 29 saves. After going 3-8-0 without Heatley, this could be a turning point for the reigning Conference Champions. Florida saw their three-game winning streak snapped and currently sit four points behind Boston, who hold the eight spot in the Eastern Conference.
Toronto 4 - Montreal 2
Perhaps the Toronto players read my blog and were pissed off, but likely they didn't. However, they did manage to double up on the neighboring Canadiens. But like Mats Sundin put it, "Any time Montreal and Toronto play it seems it doesn't matter where the teams are in the standings, it's a playoff type of atmosphere and you can feel it in the dressing room."
Anaheim 4 - NY Rangers 1
The Rangers can't seem to win against any Western teams this season, they are 0-7-2 so far. The Ducks seem to have found their scoring touch, after scoring just five goals during a six-game losing streak they have now have seven tallies in two games, both in the big apple (On Tuesday they beat the Islanders 3-0). With an average of 2.37 goals per game - second fewest in the NHL, the Ducks still have a lot of work to do. Perhaps the returning Teemu Salanne, who played in his second straight game, can help polish those numbers. The Rangers now find themselves five points behind division leading Philadelphia and Henrik Lundqvist needs to regain the form that helped carry the team during the start of the season. Right now back-up goalie Stephen Valiquette is ahead of him in both GAA (2.37) and Save PCT (.907). None of those numbers are particularly great so clearly the blue shirts aren't getting what they need from either of their netminders at the moment.
Los Angeles 5 - Detroit 3
Perhaps the Toronto players read my blog and were pissed off, but likely they didn't. However, they did manage to double up on the neighboring Canadiens. But like Mats Sundin put it, "Any time Montreal and Toronto play it seems it doesn't matter where the teams are in the standings, it's a playoff type of atmosphere and you can feel it in the dressing room."
Anaheim 4 - NY Rangers 1
The Rangers can't seem to win against any Western teams this season, they are 0-7-2 so far. The Ducks seem to have found their scoring touch, after scoring just five goals during a six-game losing streak they have now have seven tallies in two games, both in the big apple (On Tuesday they beat the Islanders 3-0). With an average of 2.37 goals per game - second fewest in the NHL, the Ducks still have a lot of work to do. Perhaps the returning Teemu Salanne, who played in his second straight game, can help polish those numbers. The Rangers now find themselves five points behind division leading Philadelphia and Henrik Lundqvist needs to regain the form that helped carry the team during the start of the season. Right now back-up goalie Stephen Valiquette is ahead of him in both GAA (2.37) and Save PCT (.907). None of those numbers are particularly great so clearly the blue shirts aren't getting what they need from either of their netminders at the moment.
Los Angeles 5 - Detroit 3
The Vancouver Canucks aren't the rallying kind team, so far this season they are 1-19-1 when trailing after two periods. Against the Thrashers a rare comeback in the third to win by one. Roberto Luongo, who have struggled a bit since declining to participate in the All-Star game, had 27 saves and is perhaps finding his form ever so slowly, the Canucks sure need him to.
Vancouver 2 - Atlanta 1
When your team has a record streak going you don't want to play the worst team in the league, ask the Ottawa Senators or the Detroit Red Wings. Earlier this season Washington (then last in the conference) did what all other teams failed to do, they beat the Senators thus ending their winning streak. Last night Los Angeles, currently occupying the last spot in the NHL, did the same to the league-leading Red Wings. This was a bad loss for the Wings. Not only did they lose and miss the chance to tie the franchise record of nine straight wins, but they blew a two-goal lead in the final period to do it. This is most uncharacteristic of the Wings, who will want to forget this ever happened and move on.
NY Islanders 3 - Pittsburgh 4
In Pittsburgh the Mellon Arena was sold out for the 40th consecutive time, and people don't seem to mind their favorite, Sidney Crosby, is playing or not. The Pens are doing find in his absence (he missed his eighth straight game) and Evgeni Malkin, who had three assist against the struggling Isles, has eight points in his last three games. The Islanders have lost six straight and are 2-7-1 in their last ten games. They are also the lowest scoring bunch in the league so things are looking pretty bleak out on Long Island.
Tampa Bay 2 - Nashville 1
The Tampa Bay Lightning seem to think they still have a shot at a playoff berth. After earning their sixth straight road win, the team that use to be the worst in the league away are suddenly looking very comfortable away from the Sunshine State. I don't think they'll make it all the way to the post season, but, I admit, stranger things have happened.
Dallas 1 - Minnesota 0
When the Dallas Stars returned to their old hometown of St. Paul, Mike Modano was honoured by the Minnesota Wild for becoming the career American-born scoring leader. After the ceremony the Stars beat the Wild to earn their fifth straight win and their fith straight road win. They were recently turned down by Peter Forsberg so, though they sit quite comfortably in second place behind the confernce-leading Red Wings, they will be looking to strengthen their offense befor the trade dead-line.
Chicago 3 - Calgary 1
It seems Chicago goalie, Nikolai Khabibulin, has some sort of mental advantage over the Calgary Flames. In the 3-1 win he ended a personal losing streak of ten games and improved to 19-5-2 against the Flames. Both these teams are struggling offensively. The Blackhawks are 5-9-2 without Jonathan Toews, who missed his 16th game, and Flames forward, Alex Tanguay hasn't scored in his last eleven games. I think Calgary will try to trade him and more for Mats Sundin. I also think they will fail.
Columbus 2 - Phoenix 1
Who would have thought the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Phoenix Coyotes would be in a tight race for a playoff spot this spring? Not me. but they sure are, and with the win yesterday, the Jackets are within a point of the Coyotes and are still making life hard for the other teams with their strong defensive style and good netminding. The Coyotes have dropped two straight but are still very much in the race. Ilya Bryzgalov has earned a respectable 20 wins so far and is the key to the team making the playoffs for the first time since the 2001-02 season.
Vancouver 2 - Atlanta 1
When your team has a record streak going you don't want to play the worst team in the league, ask the Ottawa Senators or the Detroit Red Wings. Earlier this season Washington (then last in the conference) did what all other teams failed to do, they beat the Senators thus ending their winning streak. Last night Los Angeles, currently occupying the last spot in the NHL, did the same to the league-leading Red Wings. This was a bad loss for the Wings. Not only did they lose and miss the chance to tie the franchise record of nine straight wins, but they blew a two-goal lead in the final period to do it. This is most uncharacteristic of the Wings, who will want to forget this ever happened and move on.
NY Islanders 3 - Pittsburgh 4
In Pittsburgh the Mellon Arena was sold out for the 40th consecutive time, and people don't seem to mind their favorite, Sidney Crosby, is playing or not. The Pens are doing find in his absence (he missed his eighth straight game) and Evgeni Malkin, who had three assist against the struggling Isles, has eight points in his last three games. The Islanders have lost six straight and are 2-7-1 in their last ten games. They are also the lowest scoring bunch in the league so things are looking pretty bleak out on Long Island.
Tampa Bay 2 - Nashville 1
The Tampa Bay Lightning seem to think they still have a shot at a playoff berth. After earning their sixth straight road win, the team that use to be the worst in the league away are suddenly looking very comfortable away from the Sunshine State. I don't think they'll make it all the way to the post season, but, I admit, stranger things have happened.
Dallas 1 - Minnesota 0
When the Dallas Stars returned to their old hometown of St. Paul, Mike Modano was honoured by the Minnesota Wild for becoming the career American-born scoring leader. After the ceremony the Stars beat the Wild to earn their fifth straight win and their fith straight road win. They were recently turned down by Peter Forsberg so, though they sit quite comfortably in second place behind the confernce-leading Red Wings, they will be looking to strengthen their offense befor the trade dead-line.
Chicago 3 - Calgary 1
It seems Chicago goalie, Nikolai Khabibulin, has some sort of mental advantage over the Calgary Flames. In the 3-1 win he ended a personal losing streak of ten games and improved to 19-5-2 against the Flames. Both these teams are struggling offensively. The Blackhawks are 5-9-2 without Jonathan Toews, who missed his 16th game, and Flames forward, Alex Tanguay hasn't scored in his last eleven games. I think Calgary will try to trade him and more for Mats Sundin. I also think they will fail.
Columbus 2 - Phoenix 1
Who would have thought the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Phoenix Coyotes would be in a tight race for a playoff spot this spring? Not me. but they sure are, and with the win yesterday, the Jackets are within a point of the Coyotes and are still making life hard for the other teams with their strong defensive style and good netminding. The Coyotes have dropped two straight but are still very much in the race. Ilya Bryzgalov has earned a respectable 20 wins so far and is the key to the team making the playoffs for the first time since the 2001-02 season.
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