Philadelphia Flyers vs. Buffalo Sabres
- The Philadelphia Flyers and the Buffalo Sabres will both be gunning for a victory on Monday when they meet at HSBC Arena.
Daniel Briere had the only Flyers goal in their 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday night.
The Panthers were winners as +130 road underdogs in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (5.5).
Ales Kotalik scored twice for Buffalo in their 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday night.
The Rangers had been listed at -105 on the road in that contest, while the combined score went OVER the night's posted total (5.5).
Current streak:
Philadelphia has lost 10 straight games.
Team records:
Philadelphia: 30-25-7
Buffalo: 30-24-8
Philadelphia most recently:
When playing on Monday are 5-4-1
Before playing Tampa Bay are 4-6
After playing Florida are 5-5
After a loss are 1-9
Buffalo most recently:
When playing on Monday are 6-4
Before playing Colorado are 6-4
After playing NY Rangers are 5-5
After a loss are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Philadelphia's last 7 games when playing Buffalo
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 5 games
Philadelphia is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Philadelphia is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing Buffalo
Buffalo is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
Buffalo is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Buffalo's last 7 games when playing Philadelphia
Buffalo is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games
Next up:
Philadelphia home to Ottawa, Thursday, February 28
Buffalo home to Nashville, Wednesday, February 27
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators
- The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators will both be trying to pick up a win on Monday when they battle at Scotiabank Place.
Nik Antropov had a goal and two assists on Saturday night as the Maple Leafs knocked off the Atlanta Thrashers by a score of 3-1.
The Leafs were winners as -130 home favorites in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (6).
Daniel Alfredsson scored the winner in overtime to lift the Senators to a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.
Ottawa cashed as -125 road favorites as the game played over the 6-goal total listed by sportsbooks.
Team records:
Toronto: 26-28-9
Ottawa: 36-20-6
Toronto most recently:
When playing on Monday are 4-5-1
Before playing San Jose are 3-3-2
After playing Atlanta are 4-6
After a win are 4-6
Ottawa most recently:
When playing on Monday are 7-2-1
Before playing Boston are 8-2
After playing Pittsburgh are 8-2
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 6 games when playing on the road against Ottawa
Toronto is 6-15 SU in its last 21 games when playing Ottawa
Toronto is 2-10 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Ottawa
Ottawa is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games when playing at home against Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Ottawa's last 5 games
Ottawa is 15-6 SU in its last 21 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Ottawa's last 12 games at home
Next up:
Toronto at Florida, Wednesday, February 27
Ottawa at Boston, Tuesday, February 26
Stars D Sergei Zubov out 3-4 weeks after foot surgery
February 25, 2008
DALLAS (AP) -Dallas Stars defenseman Sergei Zubov is expected to miss the next three to four weeks after surgery to repair a foot fracture.
Surgeons inserted a screw Sunday to help Zubov's foot injury heal faster, according to a team statement.
The 37-year-old Zubov has missed the past 17 games with the injury. He is third on the Stars with 31 assists and fourth in points with 35.
Zubov became the 15th defenseman in NHL history to reach 600 assists earlier this season. He's the only active NHL defenseman with at least 30 assists in each of the past 12 seasons.
Avalanche activate Joe Sakic after 2 1/2-month absence
February 24, 2008
DENVER (AP) -Forward Joe Sakic was activated from the injured reserve list in time for the Colorado Avalanche's game at Edmonton on Sunday night.
Sakic, who underwent a hernia operation on Dec. 28, had missed 38 games, the longest absence of his stellar career. Before getting hurt on Nov. 30, the 38-year-old star had played in 232 consecutive games.
When he was hurt, Sakic, who led the team in scoring last year with 100 points, had scored 22 points in 24 games, giving him 1,611 points in 1,343 career games, eighth on the NHL's career scoring list.
To make room for Sakic, the Avalanche reassigned forward T.J. Hensick to the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL.
Colorado's other top scorer, Paul Stastny, returned to the Avs' lineup Friday night, scoring a goal in a 3-2 win at Phoenix. Stastny had missed 14 games after an appendectomy and groin injury.
NHL trade deadline: Big names on the block
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mats Sundin could be on the move before Tuesday's NHL trade deadline. The same might be true for Tampa Bay's Brad Richards and Dan Boyle, along with Los Angeles defenseman Rob Blake.
Their inclusion in rumors is hardly the only thing these big-name players have in common. They all also have their fate very much in their hands thanks to the presence of no-trade clauses in their contracts.
Sundin and defenseman Tomas Kaberle can't be dealt away from the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs - the Philadelphia Flyers were rebuffed in an attempt to acquire Kaberle for that reason - without permission. Blake returned to the Kings because he wanted to be back in Los Angeles and has no interest in heading East to the Flyers or New York Rangers, either.
Is this good for the game? Is it bogging down the trade market?
''That is totally blown out of proportion because there may be one or two isolated situations,'' New Jersey Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said after returning this week from the GM meetings. ''I don't think it will be at all something that is a concern or an issue, nor should it be because when you give (a no-trade clause), you give one because you have the right to make that decision.
''The player had a right at that time to free agency. Maybe he gave up something to get that stability. So, he has the right to not go. And I do not feel that is impeding things.''
The salary cap, now in its third season following the yearlong NHL lockout, is the dominant factor in what trades get done. Teams such as Tampa Bay have to clear out salary or are looking to get something back for an impending free agent that might command too much money on the open market.
Atlanta is trying desperately to re-sign forward Marian Hossa, but likely will have to trade the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent since he doesn't appear willing to agree to a new deal before Tuesday. The Thrashers are in the race for the Southeast Division title and need to get NHL-ready talent back if they trade the free agent-to-be.
One rumor mentioned San Jose as a possible landing spot for Hossa in an exchange that could send Sharks captain Patrick Marleau to Atlanta. Marleau returned to action this week following a groin injury.
''Whatever happens happens. I've got to worry about my job on the ice. That's enough on its own,'' said Marleau, who signed an extension that will pay him $6.3 million each of the next two seasons. ''You owe it to the guys in the locker room and you owe it to yourself. If your mind starts getting cluttered, that's when things don't go as well.''
BUY OR SELL? Further complicating the trade market is the closeness of the playoff races, outside of the Detroit Red Wings who are running away with things.
A perfect example is the New York Islanders, who seemed out of the postseason running during a seven-game losing streak but now have gotten back into the race with a six-game winning streak.
With only a quarter of the season remaining, 25 teams entered the weekend within seven points of a playoff spot. That is up from 21 clubs last year. In the season before the lockout, four years ago, only 19 were this close.
Now 17 teams are within seven points of first place in their division, and six leaders owned an edge of four points or fewer following Thursday's games.
Detroit was 17 points in front of Nashville in the Central Division and 10 ahead of Dallas in the Presidents' Trophy chase. The four teams in the running for first place in the East were separated by only one point.
MR. OLYMPIAN: Although the odds are long for Chris Chelios to be on the U.S. Olympic team two years from now in Vancouver, the 46-year-old Detroit defenseman isn't shutting that door just yet.
If nothing else, he wants to at least be part of the team in some capacity.
''Well, in the role I'm playing now, it's going to be tough,'' Chelios said of playing in a fifth Olympics. ''I'm kind of comparing myself to a relief pitcher in baseball where I'm almost like a role player, basically penalty killing and defensive situations.
''I'd be honored to play in those Olympics because I think it's going to be one of the best ever, to have the greatest group of players in the world, and the fact that it's going to be in North America.''
Chelios played in 57 of the Red Wings' first 62 games this season, his 24th in the NHL. He made his debut with Montreal during the 1983-84 season after being selected by the Canadiens with the 40th pick in the 1981 draft.
He suited up for the United States at the Olympics in 1984, and was part of the team all three times that NHL players participated.
Chelios would like that experience again, one way or another.
''If it's not as a player, I would hope in some capacity, maybe as a coach, management, but I would really love to be involved,'' he said. ''It's a ways away still, so a lot can happen. I feel great. I don't want to hold any young kid from getting a spot on the team, but by the same token I'm not ready to give it up, either.''
TEXAS HOLD 'EM: Sure the Dallas Stars brought the Stanley Cup to Texas and nearly repeated as champions in 2000, but that doesn't mean they have been embraced by the masses in 10 gallon hats.
The Stars entered the weekend atop the Pacific Division and owned the second-most points in the NHL. And they still haven't captured the attention of sports fans who are more wrapped up with the Cowboys' early exit from the NFL playoffs and gearing up for baseball season.
''It's kind of always been the case down here in Texas,'' forward Mike Modano said, who started his Stars career when the team was still in Minnesota. ''We're kind of like the stepchild down here. You love them but they're really not yours. That's kind of always how we felt.
''We always kind of flew under the radar and let the hockey speak for itself and not moaning and groaning about winning the popularity contest. We've never been talked about and covered much, so that's just the way it is down here. Obviously they're still talking about football on the radio and preparing for spring training and baseball. I guess until we make some noise this spring, it's always going to be the case.''
The Stars advanced to the second round of the playoffs in 2001 and 2003, sandwiched around one year of missing the postseason. Dallas has been knocked out in the first round each of the last three seasons.
GREAT COMEBACK: After 80-plus years and nearly 600 games, it's really difficult for anything original to emerge from the ''Original Six'' series between the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers.
The latest installment Tuesday showed why it is still relevant to watch these teams face off.
After spotting the Rangers a 5-0 lead in the second period at home, the Canadiens stormed back with five straight goals to tie it and then completed the unprecedented comeback with a shootout victory.
Never in the storied history of the Canadiens had they erased a five-goal deficit to win or even tie. Likewise, the Rangers had never come out on the short end after taking such a big lead.
Montreal leads the series 313-183-94-2.
Today's NHL analysis
Hot Teams
-- Maple Leafs won five of their last seven games.
Cold Teams
-- Sabres are 4-6 in their last ten home games. Flyers lost ten in a row, scoring total of 19 goals.
-- Senators lost three of last four home games.
Series Records
-- Sabres won eight of last ten against Philadelphia.
-- Ottawa is 15-6 in its last 21 games vs Toronto; home team is 4-0 in last four series games.
Totals
-- Over is 3-1-1 in last five Buffalo games.
-- Four of last five Ottawa games stayed under the total.
Injuries & Issues - Feb 25
C. Beckford-Tseu (STL) - signed NHL contract, new backup to Legace
C. Crawford (CHI) - will backup Lalime for the near future
E. Ersberg (LA) - will backup Cloutier for the near future
M. Fernandez (BOS) - knee surgery, likely done for entire season
M. Fleury (PIT) - has been recalled to the big squad
T. Greiss (SJ) - up from Worcester for a few games
D. Hasek (DET) - will return to practice mid-week
J. Howard (DET) - called up in Hasek’s absence, started Saturday
N. Khabibulin (CHI) - will undergo MRI today for back problems
J. LaBarbera (LA) - groin injury, did not play this weekend
D. Patzold (SJ) - sent down to Worcester
A. Raycroft (TOR) - is back on the ice and practicing after a bout with the flu
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