Stars F Steve Ott suspended 3 games
March 12, 2008
DALLAS (AP) -Dallas Stars forward Steve Ott was suspended three games without pay Wednesday by the NHL because of a hit to the head of Colorado defenseman Jordan Leopold.
No penalty was assessed on the play in the first period of Sunday's game, but the suspension came after a review of the play. Ott appeared to leave his feet to make a hit on Leopold against the boards, and Leopold left the game with a head injury.
Ott will miss Thursday's game at Detroit and games against Vancouver and Anaheim before being eligible to return March 22 against Los Angeles.
Ott's $12,834 salary will go to the NHL players' emergency assistance fund.
Hockey Today
Dallas at Detroit (7:30 p.m. EDT). The league-leading Red Wings face the Stars, one point behind San Jose for first in the Pacific Division and second in the conference.
STARS
-Alexander Ovechkin, Capitals, scored his NHL-leading 55th and 56th goals, including the tiebreaker with 1:54 left, and Washington edged Calgary 3-2.
-Eric Staal, Hurricanes, had a goal and two assists in the first period to help Carolina beat Chicago 3-0.
-Karlis Skrastins, Panthers, broke a tie with 8:42 left to lead Florida to a 4-2 victory over the New York Islanders.
SID STILL SORE
Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby missed Wednesday night's game against Buffalo after having pain in his right ankle during the team's morning skate. Crosby recently missed 21 games with a ligament sprain in the same ankle, an injury commonly known as a high ankle sprain.
DISCIPLINE DAY
The NHL suspended three players on Wednesday for various infractions. Dallas' Steve Ott was suspended three games without pay because of a hit to the head of Colorado defenseman Jordan Leopold on Sunday. Buffalo enforcer Andrew Peters was suspended for one game without pay for a confrontation from the bench with Colton Orr of the New York Rangers on Monday, while Chicago defenseman James Wisniewski drew a one-game ban without pay for cross-checking Detroit's Mikael Samuelsson in the neck area Monday night.
OLIE MOLEY
Washington's Olaf Kolzig became the 23rd goalie in NHL history to record 300 career victories after a 3-2 win over Calgary on Wednesday night. All of his victories have come during his 17-year career with the Capitals.
ELITE EIGHT
Anaheim set a club record with its eighth straight home win Wednesday night after topping Vancouver 4-1. The Ducks, 15-2 at Honda Center since Dec. 18, reached 40 wins for the fourth time in five seasons and avoided a four-game season sweep by the Canucks.
SHUTOUT CITY
Carolina recorded its fifth straight victory and eighth in nine games after blanking Chicago 3-0 on Wednesday night. The Hurricanes maintained their seven-point lead over the Capitals and Panthers in the Southeast Division standings.
REMEMBER ME?
Ty Conklin defeated Buffalo for the fourth time this season, stopping 30 shots in Pittsburgh's 7-3 victory on Wednesday night. Conklin, traded to the Sabres by Columbus at the 2007 trade deadline, has allowed just five goals to his former team this season. The Penguins swept the season series 4-0 for the first time since the Sabres entered the conference in 1970.
KUBINA, KUBINA
Toronto completed the home-and-home sweep against Philadelphia with its 3-2 victory on Wednesday night. Maple Leafs defenseman Pavel Kubina recorded the game-winning goal in each contest, including the overtime winner on Tuesday when Toronto rallied from a three-goal deficit
SCARY MOMENT
Buffalo defenseman Nathan Paetsch lay motionless on the ice for several minutes and was helped off the ice after being leveled by an elbow thrown by Pittsburgh's Georges Laraque early in the second period Wednesday night. Seconds after Paetsch passed the puck up the ice from along the goal line in the Sabres' zone, Laraque came skating by and hit him with a raised elbow. Laraque was given a five-minute penalty for elbowing and was ejected.
SWEDE START
Pittsburgh will open the 2008-09 season with two games against Ottawa in Stockholm, Sweden. The Penguins will play an exhibition against Jokerit of Finland's top professional league on Oct. 2 at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland before starting the season against the Senators on Oct. 4-5. The NHL will host regular-season games between the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning on Oct. 4-5 in Prague, Czech Republic.
SPEAKING
``It was cheap shot. How is it that not suspendable, taking an elbow to the chin and (being knocked) out cold? Somebody would have to explain to me why it's not.'' - Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff on Pittsburgh's Georges Laraque injuring Sabres defenseman Nathan Paetsch on Wednesday night, sidelining him indefinitely. The Penguins won 7-3.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Boston Bruins
- The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins will both be trying to pick up a win on Thursday when they battle at TD Banknorth Garden.
Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
Vincent Lecavalier scored a hat trick Tuesday and led the Lightning to an 8-4 win over the Islanders, as -120 favorites. The Lightning won the game as -120 favorites, and the 12 goals sailed OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Michel Ouellet had two goals, while Jeff Halpern, Nick Tarnasky and Jason Ward added the other goals in the win.
The Bruins were defeated 4-1 by the Senators last time out, as +155 underdogs on the road. The five goals were UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Dennis Wiseman scored for the Bruins, and Alex Auld stopped 21-of-24 shots in a losing effort.
Current streak:
Boston has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Tampa Bay: 27-35-8
Boston: 36-26-8
Tampa Bay most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 5-5
Before playing St. Louis are 3-7
After playing NY Islanders are 3-7
After a win are 4-6
Boston most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 7-3
Before playing Ottawa are 5-5
After playing Ottawa are 2-8
After a loss are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games when playing on the road against Boston
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games when playing Boston
Tampa Bay is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
Tampa Bay is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Boston
Boston is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Tampa Bay
Boston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 6 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games
Next up:
Tampa Bay home to NY Rangers, Saturday, March 15
Boston home to Philadelphia, Saturday, March 15
Calgary Flames vs. Atlanta Thrashers
- The Calgary Flames and the Atlanta Thrashers will both be trying to pick up a win on Thursday when they battle at Philips Arena.
Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
The Flames were upended 3-2 by the Capitals last time out, at -110 odds. The five goals were UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Jarome Iginla and Kristian Huselius scored power play markers in the loss.
The Thrashers were defeated 5-2 by the Avalanche last time out, as +120 underdogs at home. The seven goals made it OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen scored the goals in the loss.
Current streak:
Atlanta has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Calgary: 36-24-10
Atlanta: 30-33-8
Calgary most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 7-3
Before playing Los Angeles are 5-5
After playing Washington are 3-3-1
After a loss are 6-4
Atlanta most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
Before playing NY Rangers are 2-8
After playing Colorado are 1-1-1
After a loss are 2-8
A few trends to consider:
Calgary is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Atlanta's last 15 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 6 games
Atlanta is 2-4-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Calgary
Atlanta is 1-10 SU in its last 11 games
Next up:
Calgary at Chicago, Sunday, March 16
Atlanta at Washington, Friday, March 14
Ottawa Senators vs. Montreal Canadiens
- The Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens will meet on the ice at Bell Centre on Thursday in a battle of division rivals.
Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
Dany Heatley had a hat trick and an assist, while Martin Gerber stopped 28 shots in helping the Senators defeat the Bruins 4-1 on Tuesday. The Senators won the game as -175 favorites, and the five goals were UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Jason Spezza had a goal and an assist for the Senators, and Andrej Meszaros pocketed a pair of assists in the win.
Carey Price stopped all 37 shots on Tuesday, as the Canadiens blanked the Devils 4-0. The Canadiens won the game as -125 favorites, while the four goals were UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Bryan Smolinski, Saku Koivu, Maxim Lapierre and Michael Ryder scored for the Canadiens in the win.
Current streak:
Ottawa has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Ottawa: 39-25-7
Montreal: 39-23-9
Ottawa most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 5-5
Before playing Boston are 7-3
After playing Boston are 6-4
After a win are 3-7
Montreal most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
Before playing NY Islanders are 8-2
After playing New Jersey are 7-3
After a win are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
Ottawa is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Montreal
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Ottawa's last 7 games when playing Montreal
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Ottawa's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Ottawa's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Montreal's last 7 games when playing Ottawa
Montreal is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
Montreal is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home
Montreal is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Ottawa
Next up:
Ottawa at Carolina, Sunday, March 16
Montreal home to NY Islanders, Saturday, March 15
Dallas Stars vs. Detroit Red Wings
- The Dallas Stars and the Detroit Red Wings will both be trying to pick up a win on Thursday when they battle at Joe Louis Arena.
Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
The Stars defeated Colorado 3-0 as a -140 favorite on Sunday. The three goals scored fell UNDER the posted over/under total (5.5).
Marty Turco stopped all 19 shots he faced to earn the shutout for Dallas, while Brad Richards had a goal and an assist in the win.
Three different players scored in the Red Wings 3-1 win over the Blackhawks last time out, as -250 favorites. The four goals were UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Kirk Maltby, Pavel Datsyuk and Johan Franzen into an empty net replied for the Red Wings.
Current streak:
Detroit has won 4 straight games.
Team records:
Dallas: 42-25-5
Detroit: 46-18-6
Dallas most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 7-3
Before playing Los Angeles are 5-5
After playing Colorado are 7-3
After a win are 7-3
Detroit most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 4-6
Before playing Edmonton are 5-5
After playing Chicago are 7-3
After a win are 8-2
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas's last 6 games
Dallas is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games on the road
Dallas is 14-5 SU in its last 19 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas's last 6 games when playing Detroit
Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Detroit is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing Dallas
Detroit is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Detroit's last 10 games
Next up:
Dallas home to Vancouver, Saturday, March 15
Detroit home to Nashville, Saturday, March 15
New Jersey Devils vs. Minnesota Wild
- The New Jersey Devils and the Minnesota Wild will both be gunning for a victory on Thursday when they meet at Xcel Energy Center.
Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
The Devils were shut out 4-0 by the Canadiens last time out, as +105 underdogs. The four goals were UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Martin Brodeur made 29 saves in a losing effort.
The Wild lost to San Jose 3-2 in a shootout as a +105 underdog last time out. The five goals scored caused this game to be a PUSH on the posted over/under total (5).
Brian Rolston and Kuris Foster scored for Minnesota, while Niklas Backstrom stopped 24-of-26 shots.
Current streak:
Minnesota has lost 4 straight games.
Team records:
New Jersey: 40-24-6
Minnesota: 37-26-7
New Jersey most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 8-2
Before playing Buffalo are 9-1
After playing Montreal are 7-3
After a loss are 5-5
Minnesota most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
Before playing Florida are 3-3-2
After playing San Jose are 9-1
After a loss are 3-7
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Jersey's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Jersey's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New Jersey's last 7 games when playing Minnesota
New Jersey is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Minnesota's last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 7 games when playing New Jersey
Minnesota is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home
Minnesota is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Next up:
New Jersey at Colorado, Saturday, March 15
Minnesota home to Los Angeles, Saturday, March 15
Los Angeles Kings vs. Nashville Predators
- The Los Angeles Kings and the Nashville Predators will both be gunning for a victory on Thursday when they meet at Sommet Center.
Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
The Kings were edged 2-1 in overtime by the Canucks last time out, as +140 underdogs. The three goals were UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Patrick O'Sullivan scored the lone Kings goals in the loss.
The Predators were defeated 2-1 by the Sharks last time out, as +110 underdogs at home. The three goals were UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Jason Arnott tallied on the power play for the Predators, and Dan Ellis made 40 saves in a losing effort.
Current streak:
Los Angeles has lost 2 straight games.
Nashville has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Los Angeles: 27-38-6
Nashville: 35-28-8
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 2-8
Before playing Dallas are 4-6
After playing Vancouver are 3-7
After a loss are 4-6
Nashville most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 4-6
Before playing Minnesota are 7-3
After playing San Jose are 5-5
After a loss are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Los Angeles's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Los Angeles's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Los Angeles's last 6 games when playing Nashville
Los Angeles is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Nashville
Nashville is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Los Angeles
Nashville is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Los Angeles
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Nashville's last 16 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Nashville's last 6 games when playing Los Angeles
Next up:
Los Angeles at Minnesota, Saturday, March 15
Nashville at Detroit, Saturday, March 15
Edmonton Oilers vs. Colorado Avalanche
- The Edmonton Oilers and the Colorado Avalanche will both be gunning for a victory on Thursday when they meet at Pepsi Center.
Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
Andrew Cogliano scored with five seconds remaining in overtime on Tuesday, as the Oilers pulled out a 4-3 win over the Blues. The Oilers won the game as -155 favorites, while the combined score made it OVER the posted over/under (5).
Jarret Stoll and Sam Gagner scored on the power play, while Zack Stortini added and even strength marker for the Oilers.
Joe Sakic had a goal and two helpers as the Avalanche defeated the Thrashers 5-2 last time out, as -140 favorites. The seven goals made it OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Andrew Brunette potted two goals for the Avalanche, while Milan Hejduk and David Jones had the other marker.
Current streak:
Edmonton has won 3 straight games.
Team records:
Edmonton: 34-31-5
Colorado: 38-27-6
Edmonton most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 4-6
Before playing Detroit are 8-2
After playing St. Louis are 4-6
After a win are 7-3
Colorado most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 7-3
Before playing Buffalo are 8-8-1
After playing Atlanta are 4-5
After a win are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
Edmonton is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Edmonton's last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Edmonton's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Edmonton's last 11 games when playing on the road against Colorado
Colorado is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Colorado's last 7 games at home
Colorado is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Edmonton
Colorado is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Next up:
Edmonton at Phoenix, Saturday, March 15
Colorado home to New Jersey, Saturday, March 15
Vancouver Canucks vs. Phoenix Coyotes
- The Vancouver Canucks and the Phoenix Coyotes will both be gunning for a victory on Thursday when they meet at Jobing.com Arena.
Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
The Canucks lost 4-1 to the Ducks last time out, as +115 underdogs. The five goals were a PUSH against the posted over/under (5).
Mason Raymond scored the lone Canucks goal on the power play.
Radim Vrbata scored the shootout winner to give the Coyotes a 3-2 win over the Ducks on Tuesday. The Coyotes won the game as +125 underdogs, while the combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under (5).
Shane Doan and Keith Yandle scored for the Coyotes, while Ilya Byzgalov made 35 saves in the win.
Team records:
Vancouver: 35-25-10
Phoenix: 35-30-5
Vancouver most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 3-7
Before playing San Jose are 5-5
After playing Anaheim are 4-6
After a loss are 4-6
Phoenix most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 1-9
Before playing Chicago are 5-5
After playing Anaheim are 5-5
After a win are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
Vancouver is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games when playing Phoenix
Vancouver is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Vancouver's last 7 games when playing Phoenix
Vancouver is 5-11 SU in its last 16 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Phoenix's last 7 games when playing Vancouver
Phoenix is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home
Phoenix is 2-6-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Vancouver
Phoenix is 3-14-2 SU in its last 19 games when playing Vancouver
Next up:
Vancouver at Dallas, Saturday, March 15
Phoenix home to Edmonton, Saturday, March 15