Hockey Today - Thursday, Dec. 13
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
SCOREBOARD Thursday, Dec. 13
New Jersey at Boston (7 p.m. EST). The Devils are 8-1-1-0 in their last 10 games.
STARS Wednesday
-Mike Green and Joe Motzko, Capitals. Green scored 3:41 into overtime after posting two assists in regulation, Motzko had his first two goals of the season, and Washington beat the New York Rangers 5-4.
-Dany Heatley, Senators, had two goals and an assist, leading Ottawa to a 6-0 rout of Carolina.
-Martin Havlat, Blackhawks, scored twice and Chicago beat Los Angeles 6-3.
SNAPPED
Brendan Morrison's 542-game playing streak, the longest current run in the NHL, ended Wednesday night when the Vancouver Canucks center was forced out of the lineup by a wrist injury that will require surgery. The streak that began on Feb. 27, 2000, is the 11th-longest in league history. ... Chicago ended a season-high, four-game losing streak with a 6-3 victory over Los Angeles.
SHOVELING OUT
Columbus beat Colorado 4-1 on Wednesday night for the second time in a week, a first for the franchise that was 2-21-2 against the Avalanche before the back-to-back wins.
DEBUT
Mark Recchi scored twice in his first game with Atlanta, a 5-3 win over Boston.
STREAKING
Washington beat the New York Rangers 5-4 Wednesday night in overtime for its first three-game home winning streak. The last-in-the-league Capitals also have won four of five overall.
SIDELINED
Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, unbeaten the last three weeks, has a sprained ankle that will keep him out of the Pittsburgh Penguins' lineup for up to two months. Penguins forward Maxime Talbot has a similar injury and may be out a month. Both Fleury and Talbot were examined Wednesday by a team doctor after the Penguins returned from an eight-day road trip.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Brendan Shanahan had a goal and two assists in the Rangers' 5-4 overtime loss to Washington.
SPEAKING
''I've given guys plenty of opportunities, but patience can only go so long. We're in a business. You have to produce and you have to play hard.'' - Islanders coach Ted Nolan after a 5-3 loss to Buffalo on Wednesday night. Nolan juggled lines and sat defenseman Bryan Berard for the final two periods in an effort to jump-start his club that came in ranked last in the NHL with 63 goals.
Thursday's NHL matchup notes
ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Jersey Devils at Boston Bruins
The Bruins have dropped seven of their last nine games against the Devils (16-11-3).
Phoenix Coyotes at New York Islanders
The Coyotes are 7-1-0 with three ties in their last 11 meetings with the Islanders.
Montreal Canadiens at Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers have lost two straight and four of five at home against the Canadiens.
Ottawa Senators at Pittsburgh Penguins
The Senators (19-7-3) look to snap a four-game losing streak to the Penguins tonight.
Calgary Flames at Tampa Bay Lightning
After being held without a point in his first four visits to Tampa Bay from 1997-99, Jarome Iginla has a goal and two assists in his last two regular-season games there.
Edmonton Oilers at Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings have defeated the Oilers (14-16-2) twice this season, most recently 2-1 in Edmonton on Oct. 30. They've won six of the last eight meetings in Detroit.
Colorardo Avalanche at Nashville Predators
The Predators have won the last two meetings overall in the series, and nine of 13 matchups dating to the 2003-04 season.
Florida Panthers at St. Louis Blues
St. Louis has six wins and a scoreless tie at home against Florida since a 3-1 loss in November 1996. Two of the victories in that span have been shutouts.
Los Angeles Kings at Dallas Stars
The Stars (16-11-4) look for their seventh straight win over the Kings.
Vancouver Canucks at San Jose Sharks
The Sharks have won both meetings this season against Vancouver, and are 5-1-2 in the past eight meetings overall.
Bruins goalie Fernandez has knee surgery, likely out for season
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BOSTON -- Bruins goalie Manny Fernandez had knee surgery on Wednesday and likely will be sidelined for the rest of the season.
Fernandez hurt his left knee during practice on Oct. 30. It's the same knee he injured last January, ending his season with the Minnesota Wild. The Bruins acquired Fernandez last July for forward Petr Kalus and a fourth-round draft pick.
In four games this season, Fernandez went 2-2 with a 3.93 goals-against average.
Alex Auld is 3-0 since being acquired from Phoenix last week after starting goalie Tim Thomas was hurt, but Thomas is expected to return soon.