Hockey Today - November 25
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SCOREBOARD Sunday, Nov. 245
Los Angeles at Anaheim (8 p.m. EST).
The Ducks have won three of the first four meetings with the Kings this season.
STARS Friday
-Radim Vrbata, Coyotes, scored his second goal of the game on a power play with 1:07 left in regulation, then added the clinching goal in the shootout to give Phoenix a 4-3 win at Anaheim.
-Pascal Leclaire, Blue Jackets, stopped all 32 shots he faced in Columbus' 4-0 win at Minnesota.
-Nicklas Backstrom, Capitals, scored 1:55 into overtime to give Washington a 4-3 victory at Philadelphia.
-Olli Jokinen, Panthers, scored the only goal of the shootout and Florida edged the New York Rangers 3-2.
-Glen Wesley, Hurricanes, scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period and Carolina rallied for a 4-3 win over Tampa Bay.
SIX PACK
Columbus' Pascal Leclaire set a team record with his sixth shutout of the season after making 32 saves in a 4-0 win at Minnesota on Friday. Marc Denis had five in 2002-03 and 2003-04.
REMEMBER ME?
Phoenix goalie Ilya Bryzgalov haunted his former team by stopping 23 shots in regulation and both shootout attempts for a 4-3 win at Anaheim on Friday. Bryzgalov was Jean-Sebastien Giguere's backup with the defending-champion Ducks before being claimed off waivers by the Coyotes on Nov. 17.
RALLY TIME
Carolina scored three times in less than 7 minutes during the third period and rallied to beat Tampa Bay for the first time this season, 4-3 on Friday night. The Lightning won both previous games in the season series by the combined score of 11-2.
REGULATED
Vancouver lost in regulation for the first time in its past nine games with a 3-1 defeat at St. Louis on Friday night. The Canucks had gone 6-0-2 during that run.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Washington's Nicklas Backstrom celebrated his 20th birthday by scoring the overtime winner in a 4-3 victory at Philadelphia on Friday. The goal also gave Bruce Boudreau a win in his NHL coaching debut after he took over for the fired Glen Hanlon on Thursday.
MORE WITH LESS
Boston was held to two goals or fewer for the 12th time in 20 games this season on Friday, but still won for the fourth time in five contests with its 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders. The Islanders have been held to two goals or fewer in their past seven games, but are 3-4 in those games.
STARS ALIGNING
Dallas extended its winning streak to a season-high four games after a 3-1 win over Toronto on Friday night.
SNAPPED
Thomas Vanek ended a seven-game goalless drought by getting the tiebreaking tally midway through the third period and helping Buffalo defeat Montreal 4-2 on Friday night. ... Atlanta goalie Johan Hedberg had his six-game winning streak end with a 3-0 loss to New Jersey. ... The New York Rangers' five-game road winning streak was ended after a 3-2 shootout loss at Florida.
SIDELINED
Dallas right wing Jere Lehtinen will be out indefinitely with an abdominal strain, but might not need surgery as the team originally thought, coach Dave Tippett said after Friday night's 3-1 win over Toronto. The 13-year NHL veteran has six goals and 13 assists in 21 games this season.
WELCOME BACK
Carolina's Eric Cole returned to the lineup Friday night after missing four games with a neck injury and assisted on Eric Staal's 100th career goal during the 4-3 win over Tampa Bay.
SPEAKING
''It sounds funny but for the first time in my life I was practicing all summer and I told a couple guys I've got some new moves. They asked me to show them those moves and I said I'll wait for a game. I don't think I've scored one in practice doing my old stuff.'' - Olli Jokinen after scoring the lone goal in the shootout to give Florida a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers.
Sunday's NHL betting matchup notes
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dallas at N.Y. Rangers
This is Dallas' first visit to MSG since a 3-0 loss on Nov. 4, 2003.
Calgary at St. Louis
The Blues have not defeated the Flames since a 2-1 victory on Feb. 5, 2004. Calgary has outscored St. Louis 27-13 in the matchups since then.
Los Angeles at Anaheim
The Ducks have won three of the first four meetings with the Kings this season.
Chicago at Vancouver
Since a five-game winning streak in the series, the Blackhawks are 3-10-4 with one tie versus the Canucks (11-9-2).
Dallas Stars vs. New York Rangers
- The fans at Madison Square Garden will be treated to a game between the Dallas Stars and the New York Rangers when they take their seats on Sunday.
Antti Miettinen scored the game-winning goal on Friday night as the Stars knocked off the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1.
The Stars were winners as -155 home favorites in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (5.5).
Chris Drury scored twice in New York's 3-2 loss to the Florida Panthers last time out.
The Panthers pulled out the win as +110 home underdogs in that contest, while the combined score was a PUSH against the posted total (5).
Current streak:
Dallas has won 4 straight games.
Team records:
Dallas: 11-7-4
New York: 13-8-2
Dallas most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-2-2
Before playing Los Angeles are 5-5
After playing Toronto are 3-3-1
After a win are 5-5
New York most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 5-4-1
Before playing Florida are 7-3
After playing Florida are 5-5
After a loss are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas's last 5 games when playing NY Rangers
Dallas is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Dallas's last 9 games when playing on the road against NY Rangers
Dallas is 1-3-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing NY Rangers
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of the NY Rangers last 10 games at home
NY Rangers are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the NY Rangers last 5 games when playing Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of the NY Rangers last 9 games when playing at home against Dallas
Next up:
Dallas at NY Islanders, Monday, November 26
NY Rangers home to NY Islanders, Thursday, November 29
Calgary Flames vs. St. Louis Blues
- The Calgary Flames and the St. Louis Blues will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at Scottrade Center.
Matthew Lombardi had a goal and an assist to lead the Flames to a 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night.
The Flames cashed as +130 road underdogs as the game played over the 5.5-goal total set by books.
Paul Kariya picked up two points on Friday as the Blues knocked off the Vancouver Canucks by a final score of 3-1.
The Blues were winners as -130 home favorites in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (5).
Team records:
Calgary: 10-10-3
St. Louis: 12-8-0
Calgary most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Los Angeles are 3-7
After playing Colorado are 3-7
After a win are 3-7
St. Louis most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 2-8
Before playing Tampa Bay are 4-4-1
After playing Vancouver are 4-6
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
Calgary is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing St. Louis
Calgary is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
The total has gone OVER in 17 of Calgary's last 25 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
Calgary is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
St. Louis is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
St. Louis is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. Louis's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 17 of St. Louis's last 25 games when playing at home against Calgary
Next up:
Calgary at Detroit, Tuesday, November 27
St. Louis at Buffalo, Wednesday, November 28
Los Angeles Kings vs. Anaheim Ducks
- The fans at Honda Center will be treated to a game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks when they take their seats on Sunday.
Los Angeles' Anze Kopitar scored the game-winner in the first period in Saturday's 2-1 win at San Jose, coming in as 195 road underdogs. The three goals scored were UNDER the posted total of 5.5.
Kopitar added an assist, while Jason LaBarbera stopped 26 shots for the Kings.
Anaheim was outshot 38-26 in Friday's 4-3 shootout loss to Phoenix, falling as -200 home favorites. The seven goals scored were OVER the posted total of 5.5.
Chris Pronger scored a pair of goals, and Jonas Hiller made 35 saves for the Ducks.
Current streak:
Anaheim has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Los Angeles: 9-12-1
Anaheim: 10-9-4
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 5-4-1
Before playing Dallas are 3-7
After playing San Jose are 2-8
After a win are 3-7
Anaheim most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Vancouver are 8-2
After playing Phoenix are 7-3
After a loss are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Los Angeles's last 14 games when playing on the road against Anaheim
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Los Angeles's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Los Angeles's last 7 games when playing Anaheim
Los Angeles is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Anaheim
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Anaheim's last 14 games when playing at home against Los Angeles
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Anaheim's last 7 games when playing Los Angeles
Anaheim is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games when playing Los Angeles
Anaheim is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games at home
Next up:
Los Angeles at San Jose, Wednesday, November 28
Anaheim at Vancouver, Tuesday, November 27
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks
- The Chicago Blackhawks and the Vancouver Canucks will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at General Motors Place.
Chicago tied Saturday's games twice, but fell 3-2 in the shootout at Edmonton as -125 road favorites. The five goals scored were UNDER the posted total of 5.5.
Duncan Keith tied the game in the third period, while Nikolai Khabibulin made 29 saves for the Blackhawks.
Ryan Kesler had the lone Vancouver goal in their 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Friday.
The Blues were winners as -130 home favorites in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (5).
Team records:
Chicago: 12-8-2
Vancouver: 11-9-2
Chicago most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 3-7
Before playing Edmonton are 5-5
After playing Edmonton are 6-4
After a loss are 6-4
Vancouver most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing San Jose are 5-5
After playing St. Louis are 5-5-1
After a loss are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Chicago's last 7 games when playing Vancouver
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Chicago's last 9 games
Chicago is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing Vancouver
Chicago is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Vancouver
Vancouver is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Chicago
Vancouver is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Vancouver's last 7 games when playing Chicago
Vancouver is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games
Next up:
Chicago home to Tampa Bay, Wednesday, November 28
Vancouver home to Anaheim, Tuesday, November 27
Lehtinen's injury might require surgery ... but wait
DALLAS -- The initial news wasn't so bad. The second bit of news didn't sound good at all. But by the end of the night, Jere Lehtinen's situation might not have been as bad as once thought.
The Stars' veteran was sidelined with an abdominal strain against Toronto on Friday night, but the news changed a few times. Prior to the third period, it was announced that Lehtinen had a sports hernia and would need surgery on Monday. But after the game ended, the official word was he had suffered an abdominal strain.
Regardless, Lehtinen will be re-evaluated.
"We're going to continue to look at it the next couple of days and do some tests and see what happens," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. When asked if the surgery was still occurring Monday, Tippett added, "It's premature to say that."
Lehtinen has been on a great run lately for the Stars. Prior to missing Friday, he had scored points in his last seven games, a career-best mark.
Loui Eriksson took Lehtinen's place on the line with Brenden Morrow and Mike Ribeiro. Eriksson played just under 19 minutes, and had three shots and three takeaways.
Even if Lehtinen is out a game or two, he's a presence that's definitely missed.
"It's up to us to pick up where we're lacking without him," Morrow said.
"We need to do it by committee. There aren't going to be one or two guys who can fill Jere's shoes. It's going to take a team effort."
Winchester activated
Left wing Brad Winchester (abdominal strain) was activated from the injured reserve and sent to Iowa on a conditioning assignment Friday afternoon. He has been out since he was injured against Phoenix on Nov. 2.
Briefly
Mike Ribeiro has three goals in his last five games, and is on a five-game point streak.
Antti Miettinen's goal was his first since Oct. 10 against Los Angeles. It was his third point in his last four games.
Jeff Halpern's goal in the third period was the 99th of his career.
Brenden Morrow's assist on Ribeiro's goal was his fifth in as many games.
The Stars killed off four more power plays on Friday. They have killed 24 of 25 at home this month.
www.star-telegram.com
Injury keeps Kings' Frolov out this weekend
A struggling Kings offense that has scored one goal in the past three games will be without Alexander Frolov at least through the weekend.
Frolov, who leads the team in points and assists, is taking time off to recover from a pulled right groin.
The injury occurred when he stepped on a puck against the Ducks on Nov. 15. Frolov played three games since but sat out practices. While the time off between games helped, the groin kept getting worse as games wore on.
Coach Marc Crawford and Frolov decided the injury was going to need rest to fully heal.
"It's always bad when you have to miss games with an injury," Frolov said. "I don't like it. That's why I tried to keep playing. But I think it's sometimes better to take a few games off and get back in the lineup healthy."
Crawford said Frolov is out for today's game at San Jose and Sunday's game in Anaheim. He'll be re-evaluated before Wednesday's game.
Frolov was hampered earlier in the season by an injury to his left groin, which he had just recovered from.
"I probably played one or twogames completely healthy and then I step on the puck and it happens with the other leg," said Frolov, who doesn't think this groin injury is as serious as the last.
The Kings also will be without veteran forward Scott Thornton, who bruised his sternum early in Wednesday's game at Phoenix.
Kyle Calder and Raitis Ivanans practiced fully Friday and could
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come off the injured list today.
Crawford said he was "very optimistic" about Ivanans playing against San Jose and called Calder a game-time decision.
"They looked good (Friday)," Crawford said. "If they look like that (today), there's a very good chance they will play."
Ivanans, the team's enforcer, has missed the past seven games since breaking his cheekbone when he took a puck to the face Nov. 2. He will need to wear a full face mask for four weeks.
Calder has missed eight games since a slap shot broke his left thumb on Halloween. He will wear a cast underneath his left glove to protect the thumb, which is still swollen about 50 percent more than its normal size.
Only five players on the Kings were born in the United States, but that didn't stop many of the others from participating in the celebration of Thanksgiving.
"We're all adopted Americans," said Canadian-born Rob Blake, who joined his American wife and her family for the traditional turkey dinner. "Especially when you have kids, you kind of adopt all those holidays."
Two gone, two return Giving thanks
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