Predators F Scott Nichol breaks left thumb, out for series against Red Wings
April 11, 2008
DETROIT (AP) -Nashville Predators forward Scott Nichol broke his left thumb in Game 1 against the Detroit Red Wings and was scheduled to have surgery Friday.
``Scotty is an all-purpose guy for us,'' Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. ``He's strong on the draw, he's a top penalty killer and he's one of the leaders. We're going to miss him, but we've missed a lot of players over the last year or so. We just have to find another way to get things done.''
It would help the Predators, trailing 1-0 heading into Saturday's game in Detroit, if forward David Legwand can return from a foot injury.
``He really will be a game-time decision,'' Trotz said. ``I'm hopeful.''
If Legwand can't play, the Predators either will call up a forward from the minors or play with seven defensemen.
NHL SHORT SHEET
Saturday, April 12th
First Round
Game Two
Detroit Leads, 1-0
Nashville at Detroit, 2:05 ET
Nashville:
18-25 SU as an underdog
8-13 SU playing with double revenge
Detroit:
31-8 SU after scoring 3+ goals in BB games
28-8 SU after a win by 2+ goals
First Round
Game Two
Montreal Leads, 1-0
Boston at Montreal, 7:05 ET
Boston:
3-21 SU Away after having lost 4 of their last 5
44-81 SU playing with revenge
Montreal:
17-6 SU off BB home games
29-15 SU second half of the season
First Round
Game Two
Dallas Leads, 1-0
Dallas at Anaheim, 10:05 ET
Dallas:
13-16 SU in April
12-17 SU off BB division wins
Anaheim:
20-5 SU off BB home games
18-9 SU as a home favorite of -200 or less
NHL Trend Sheet
Nashville at Detroit
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Detroit.
Favorite is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Home team is 13-5 in the last 18 meetings.
Under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
Predators are 19-39-4 in the last 62 meetings.
Predators are 6-25-2 in the last 33 meetings in Detroit.
Boston at Montreal
Favorite is 18-5 in the last 23 meetings.
Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
Bruins are 16-36-1 in the last 53 meetings.
Bruins are 6-20-1 in the last 27 meetings in Montreal.
Dallas at Anaheim
Under is 8-3-3 in the last 14 meetings.
Home team is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings.
Stars are 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
Underdog is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Hockey Today
Boston at Montreal (7 p.m. EDT). The Canadiens have won all nine meetings with the Bruins this season, including a 4-1 victory in the opener of this first-round series Thursday night.
STARS
-Petr Sykora and Sidney Crosby, Penguins. Sykora scored two goals and Crosby had four assists to lead Pittsburgh to a 5-3 victory over Ottawa.
-Mike Green, Capitals, scored two goals, leading Washington to a 5-4 win against Philadelphia.
-Keith Carney, Wild, scored on a slap shot 14 seconds into overtime to lift Minnesota to a 3-2 victory over Colorado.
ONE SIDED
Jaromir Jagr and Sean Avery scored 23 seconds to lead the New York Rangers to a 2-1 victory over New Jersey on Friday night. The win was the Rangers' ninth in 10 games against the Devils this season, and it gives New York a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series that will shift across the Hudson River for Game 3 on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.
SHOOTING GALLERY
Pittsburgh had 54 shots, the most in regulation in their playoff history and the Penguins rallied for a 5-3 win over Ottawa on Friday night. The previous record was 49 shots. The Penguins lead the Senators 2-0 in the Eastern Conference playoff series.
INJURED
Flyers left wing Patrick Thoresen was taken to a hospital for tests after getting hit in the groin by a shot during Philadelphia's 5-4 loss to Washington on Friday night. Thoresen blocked the shot with about 6 1/2 minutes left in the game, then dropped to the ice, writhing in pain. Moments later, Washington scored to tie the game 4-4.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Danny Briere and Vaclav Prospal each had two goals, but Philadelphia fell to the Capitals 5-4 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first-round series.
MAKING MOVES
The Florida Panthers announced Friday that Jacques Martin would not return as Florida's coach next season, but has been offered the chance to retain his role as the team's general manager. Martin has held both roles since the 2006-07 season, and is expected to make his decision in the coming week.
SIGNED
The Edmonton Oilers signed defenseman Tom Gilbert to a six-year, $24 million contract Friday. The 25-year-old Gilbert, a former University of Wisconsin player from Bloomington, Minn., was second among rookie defensemen with 33 points (13 goals and 20 assists) and led all NHL freshmen with 159 blocked shots.
SPEAKING
``Fifty-four shots? There's only so much a goaltender can do.'' - Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby after the Penguins 5-3 victory over Ottawa on Friday night. The Penguins' 54 shots was their most in regulation in their playoff history.