Hockey today - Nov. 3
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SCOREBOARD
Saturday, Nov. 3
Pittsburgh at N.Y. Islanders (7 p.m. EDT).
Al Arbour returns to coach the Islanders for one night to reach 1,500 career games.
STARS
Friday
- Shane Doan, Coyotes, had a goal and two assists in leading Phoenix to a 5-0 defeat of Dallas.
- Mike Cammalleri, Kings, scored a goal and added two assists in Los Angeles' 5-2 victory over San Jose.
- Richard Zednik, Panthers, scored twice in a three-goal second period to give Florida a 4-2 win over Buffalo.
- David Legwand, Predators, had a goal and an assist to help Nashville beat Edmonton 4-1.
- R.J. Umberger, Flyers, scored a goal and added an assist as Philadelphia posted a 3-2 victory against Washington.
KINGS OF THE ROAD
Los Angeles took over first place in the Pacific Division with a 5-2 victory at San Jose Friday night. It was the Kings' second straight road win and their fifth victory in six games. Goalie Jean-Sebastien Aubin made 45 saves and Dustin Brown scored two goals for Los Angeles in the front end of a home-and-home series.
SHUTOUT
Mikael Tellqvist stopped 35 shots for his fifth career shutout as Phoenix blanked Dallas 5-0 on Friday night. Tellqvist, who was sick with the flu, was also credited with an assist on a second-period Coyotes goal in what turned out to be a very healthy performance.
SCORING
Washington's Alex Ovechkin scored for the eighth consecutive game against Philadelphia Friday night, but the Capitals star came up short in losing to the Flyers 3-2. Ovechkin has the longest active scoring streak by any player against one team.
SIGNED
Senators center Jason Spezza agreed to a $49 million, seven-year contract extension Friday that allowed Ottawa to lock up the final member of its potent first line. Spezza, who has a goal and 12 assists in 10 games this season, would have been a restricted free agent after this season but now will be with the team through 2014-15. He joins Daniel Alfredsson, who is signed through 2011-12, and Dany Heatley, who agreed to a six-year extension through 2013-14 last month.
SPEAKING
''We play the game hard, but within the rules. Other than a couple of minor blips, we just try and outwork the teams. We play a hitting style, a checking style where we try to turn pucks over. I don't think it's 'Bullies.''' - Philadelphia's Mike Richards after the Flyers' 3-2 win over Washington Friday night. There 46 minutes in penalties and no fewer than four outright fights in the game. Richards, who received 12 stitches in and around his nose from a fight, came back to score a goal.
Saturday's key NHL matchup notes
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Toronto at Montreal
Andrew Raycroft has started just twice since Oct. 15, allowing five goals each in losses to Buffalo and Chicago. He is only 1-1-3 with a 3.24 GAA in six career starts against the Canadiens.
Boston at Ottawa
The Senators won four of the final five meetings with Boston (7-4-0) last season after dropping the first three. Dany Heatley had six goals and five assists against the Bruins in 2006-07.
Pittsburgh at N.Y. Islanders
New York went 4-3-1 against Pittsburgh last season. Sidney Crosby played in seven of those contests and had three goals and 14 assists.
New Jersey at N.Y. Rangers
Chris Drury has three points in his last two games, but only five goals and 11 points in 20 career games versus the Devils.
Florida at Carolina
Carolina is 3-1-1 at home this season, while Florida is 2-5-0 on the road.
Atlanta at Tampa Bay
Scoring has not been a problem for the Lightning in recent years against the Thrashers. Tampa Bay has scored five goals or more five times in its last eight games against Atlanta, going 6-1-1 in that span.
Calgary at Minnesota
Marian Gaborik had two assists in Minnesota's first meeting with Calgary this season, while Pavol Demitra sat out.
Chicago at St. Louis
Manny Legace is 9-6-0 with two shutouts and a 2.18 goals-against average in 18 games - 15 starts - against the Blackhawks.
Anaheim at Phoenix
Phoenix has been outscored 22-13 at home, but will try for its second straight win there over the Ducks.
Vancouver at Colorado
The Avalanche have won four straight overall and play 10 of their next 11 against Northwest Division opponents. They have won six of their last eight home games against Vancouver.
San Jose at Los Angeles
In three career games - two starts - against San Jose, Jason LaBarbera is 1-2-0 with a 2.03 GAA. His best game against the Sharks came on April 17, 2006, when he stopped 31 shots in the Kings' 4-0 road victory.
Stars send Lundqvist to Iowa
Frisco, TX (Sports Network) - The Dallas Stars sent center Joel Lundqvist to Iowa of the American Hockey League and recalled left wing Chris Conner from Iowa on Friday.
Lundqvist has two goals and two assists for four points in 11 games with Dallas.
Conner has three goals and six assists for nine points in 11 games with Iowa this season.
Hurricanes' Wallin to undergo shoulder surgery
Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Niclas Wallin will undergo surgery on his right shoulder on Saturday, and is expected to miss three to four weeks, the club announced Friday.
Wallin, 32, has tallied one assist in 11 games played with the Hurricanes this season.
The Hurricanes' fourth-round selection in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Wallin has notched 14 goals and 33 assists for 47 points in 351 career regular-season NHL games, all with Carolina.
Canucks: Calf injury takes down Bieksa
Kevin Bieksa suffered a cut in his calf muscle Thursday and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. He had surgery Friday.
Canucks: Salo out with broken nose
Sami Salo broke his nose Thursday and is out of the lineup indefinitely. He may need to have a metal plate inserted in his nose
Capitals: Semin out a while longer
Alexander Semin missed another game Friday due to his sore right ankle, and he may not play again for a while. Caps coach Glen Hanlon said that Semin, Tom Poti and Chris Clark all may stay at home when the team travels for a three-game road trip on Monday, according to the AP.
Kings: Calder placed on injured reserve
The Kings placed Kyle Calder on injured reserve on Friday.
Ducks: Schneider returns
Mathieu Schneider made his debut with the Ducks on Thursday. He had been sidelined by a broken bone in his ankle, which he suffered during the first preseason games.
Maple Leafs: Nicked-up McCabe stays home
Bryan McCabe isn't expected to be with the Maple Leafs on their upcoming road trip. He's battling a groin injury.
Avery likely to return vs. Brodeur
newsday.com
November 3, 2007
GREENBURGH, N.Y. - Sean Avery will return from a shoulder injury Saturday night and no doubt will be planted on the porch of Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur at Madison Square Garden.
The two had several run-ins last season, but tempers really flared last Feb. 21. Avery was his usual irritating self, screening Brodeur for almost two periods, then crashed into the big goalie near the end of the second while driving for a rebound. Brodeur's mask went flying and he gave Avery a two-handed shove. Avery's response sent Brodeur to the ice and a pileup followed. The Devils went on to win, 2-1, and the feud simmered.
In a television interview between periods, Avery called Brodeur a "whiner" with a flair for the dramatic. The Devils were not pleased. Nor have they forgotten.
Statistically the Rangers (5-6-1) resemble the Devils of yore, surrendering the fewest goals in the league (22 in 12 games) and scoring the fewest (21). They've won two in a row and three of the last four.
The 4-6-1 Devils' numbers also are uncharacteristic: Together, Brodeur and former Rangers goalie Kevin Weekes have allowed 35 goals in 11 games.
Under new coach Brent Sutter, who has loosened the offensive reins and broken up long-standing line combinations, the Devils had scored 28 goals in 11 games before Friday night's game against Toronto.
"What they've done is made a couple of minor adjustments on their forecheck. They're just a little more active with their first guy," Rangers coach Tom Renney said Friday. "I don't think they're less defensive. I'd say that they've diversified their game. The pressure is not unlike the 'contain' or 'trap.' They just seem to play with a little more vigor now that they've got the green light."
Notes & quotes: With defenseman Marek Malik doubtful, according to Renney, Jason Strudwick, who has been filling in on the fourth line, will be back on defense. Malik wrenched his back and ribs in a spill late in the Caps game Thursday ... Defenseman Dan Girardi didn't play the last five minutes of Thursday's game after a puck glanced off his stick and hit his nose and left eye. Girardi said his vision initially was blurred but that it cleared with eye drops.
Wings' Russian prospect goes home
Grigorenko will join Super League team, and might be finished with the Red Wings.
The Detroit News
DETROIT -- Igor Grigorenko might be finished with the Red Wings.
The Wings announced Friday the forward is joining UFA of the Russian Super League.
Once considered a top-line prospect, Grigorenko, 24, has struggled since suffering serious injuries in an automobile crash in Russia in 2003. He was selected in the second round of the 2001 draft.
Grigorenko was given a good chance to make the roster this season, but had a lackluster camp. He had no points in five games for the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Wings' AHL affiliate
Ice chips
The Wings sent goaltender Jimmy Howard to Grand Rapids. Howard had been called up to replace injured Dominik Hasek (hip).
Johan Franzen took 15 stitches for a cut above the nose after taking a puck to the face in the first period Thursday. He'll have tests as a precaution, but expects to play Wednesday.
Zetterberg was named player of the month in the NHL, but it was Osgood some players were calling "Mr. October" after his 7-0 record.
Stars place forward Winchester on IR
November 3rd, 2007
Frisco, TX (Sports Network) - The Dallas Stars placed left wing Brad Winchester on the injured reserve list Saturday with an abdominal strain.
Winchester suffered the injury in Friday's 5-0 loss to Phoenix. The 26-year- old, who has recorded an assist and 22 penalty minutes in 10 games this season, will be re-evaluated in one week.
Winchester signed a one-year contract with Dallas this past summer.
Rangers send Kasparaitis to Russia
November 3rd, 2007
New York, NY (Sports Network) - The New York Rangers have loaned defenseman Darius Kasparaitis to SKA St. Petersburg of the Russian Super League (RSL), the team announced on Saturday.
Kasparaitis, 35, appeared in four games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) this season, registering one goal, along with four penalty minutes and a plus-one rating.
In 215 games with the Rangers, he has recorded six goals and 28 assists for 34 points, along with 260 penalty minutes.
The 5-11, 210-pound defenseman has skated in 863 career NHL games with the Rangers, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh, and Colorado, totaling 27 goals and 136 assists for 163 points, along with 1,379 penalty minutes. In 82 career playoff matches, he registered two goals and 10 assists for 12 points, along with 107 penalty minutes.
He was a first round selection of the New York Islanders, fifth overall, in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft.