Hockey today - October 30
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SCOREBOARD Tuesday, Oct. 30
Pittsburgh at Minnesota (7 p.m. EDT). The Penguins visit the Wild, who are 0-2-1 since starting the season 7-0-1.
STARS Monday
-Devin Setoguchi, Sharks, scored two goals in the third period of his first NHL game to help San Jose beat Dallas 4-2.
-Alexander Ovechkin, Capitals, scored twice to lead Washington to a 7-1 win at Toronto.
MEMORABLE DEBUT
San Jose's Devin Setoguchi, the eighth overall pick in 2005, scored twice in his first NHL game to help the Sharks rally for a 4-2 win at Dallas. Setoguchi tied the game at 2 midway through the third before giving San Jose the lead for good 2:34 later.
THIRD TIME NOT A CHARM
Philadelphia defenseman Randy Jones was suspended two games by the NHL on Monday for his violent hit on Boston's Patrice Bergeron, making him the third Flyers player suspended for a dangerous play this season. Bergeron is still out after he was hammered to the boards face-first by Jones in the first period of Philadelphia's 2-1 victory over the Bruins. Steve Downie (20 games) and Jesse Boulerice (25 games) were the other Flyers to be suspended for violent on-ice hits this season.
TROUBLE IN TORONTO
Toronto dropped to 3-4-2 at Air Canada Centre after a 7-1 defeat to Washington on Monday night. The Leafs have allowed an NHL-high 51 goals this season, including two 7-1 home defeats. Carolina also did it on Oct. 9.
ROAD WOES
Tampa Bay is 0-4 on the road after a 3-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Monday night. The Lightning, who are 5-0-1 at home, visit New Jersey on Wednesday night and the New York Islanders on Thursday.
KEEPING KIPRUSOFF
Miikka Kiprusoff agreed to a $35-million, six-year extension with the Flames on Monday that will keep the star goalie in Calgary through the 2013-14 season. The Flames acquired Kiprusoff from San Jose for a second-round draft pick in November 2003. He's 111-54-23 with four ties for the Flames and helped the team reach the Stanley Cup final in 2004.
SPEAKING
''What a night. Break my skate, first period. Second, my glove. Then my teeth. I didn't see myself yet. It's Halloween tomorrow. I don't have to buy a mask.'' - New York Rangers captain Jaromir Jagr on scoring the winning goal after getting bloodied in the mouth earlier in Monday night's 3-1 victory over Tampa Bay.
''We're playing a team that's like Tupperware. Once they close the lid and burp it, you're done,'' - San Jose coach Ron Wilson after the Sharks rallied for a 4-2 win at Dallas on Monday night.
Tuesday's key NHL matchup notes
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pittsburgh Penguins at Minnesota Wild
Minnesota is 5-1-0 with one tie all-time against Pittsburgh. The Penguins have never won in Minnesota, going 0-2-0 with a tie.
Marc-Andre Fleury is 0-2-0 with a 5.36 GAA in two career games against the Wild. The Penguins may start Dany Sabourin, who has a 2.08 GAA in four games but has never faced Minnesota.
Atlanta Thrashers at Montreal Canadiens
Atlanta has gone 3-2-0 after starting the season with six straight losses and firing coach Bob Hartley. The Thrashers are 2-2-0 on a season-high seven-game road trip.
Montreal is riding a four-game winning streak and their offense has been outstanding during the team's current hot streak, scoring 20 goals.
Phoenix Coyotes at St. Louis Blues
St. Louis has won four of five home games this season, allowing three goals or fewer in each contest.
Coyotes head coach Wayne Gretzky has yet to decide on a No. 1 goaltender with Alex Auld and Mikael Tellqvist sharing time. Auld has lost three of his last four starts while Tellqvist is 1-2-0 with a 3.36 GAA this season.
Nashville Predators at Calgary Flames
Not only have the Predators lost their first four road games, they've been outscored by a remarkable 16-2 margin. The Preds have been shut out in their last two road contests.
Calgary is usually one of the toughest places in the NHL to win, but the Predators are 4-0-1 in their last five visits there.
Detroit Red Wings at Edmonton Oilers
Eleven different players have scored at least one goal for Detroit (9-2-1) during a five-game winning streak. The Red Wings have outscored opponents 20-9 in that stretch.
The Oilers continue to struggle on the power play. They failed to convert on any of their four opportunities Sunday, and are an NHL-worst 3-for-48 with the man advantage.
Flyers defenseman Randy Jones suspended two games
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHILADELPHIA -- Flyers defenseman Randy Jones was suspended two games by the NHL on Monday for his violent hit on Boston's Patrice Bergeron, making him the third Philadelphia player suspended for a dangerous play this season.
''I'm disappointed,'' Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. ''I think it is a situation that we see - minus the injury to Patrice Bergeron - I think we see quite often.''
The 22-year-old Bergeron was injured after he was hammered to the boards face-first by Jones in the first period of Philadelphia's 2-1 victory over the Bruins.
Bergeron lost consciousness, was transported from the ice on a stretcher and was taken to the hospital where team physician, Dr. Bertram Zarins, diagnosed him with a concussion and a broken nose. No other serious injuries to Bergeron's head or neck were revealed by tests and he was released Sunday.
The suspension was handed down by NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell.
''I think the reason was because Randy was just a little too aggressive on the player, in his viewpoint, on a player who was in a vulnerable position,'' Holmgren said.
Jones joins Steve Downie and Jesse Boulerice on Philadelphia's suspended list. Boulerice was suspended 25 games by the NHL earlier this month for striking Vancouver's Ryan Kesler across the face with his stick, the longest single-season ban in league history. Downie was suspended 20 games by the NHL last month for leaving his feet to deliver a deliberate and dangerous hit to the head of Ottawa's Dean McAmmond.
Medical personnel cut away Bergeron's jersey and shoulder pads as they worked on him, placing his neck in a brace. They placed him on a board and then onto a stretcher, his legs taped together and his arms folded across his chest. There was little sign of movement. The game was delayed some 15 minutes.
Getzlaf, Niedermayer and Schneider could return this week
Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle offered a ray of hope amid a four-game losing streak.
After Sunday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Edmonton Oilers, Carlyle said that forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Rob Niedermayer along with defenseman Mathieu Schneider could be available for Thursday's home game against Columbus.
"I would suspect that the majority of them will be back at that time," Carlyle said. "That's a very strong possibility."
Getzlaf and Niedermayer both sat for the second consecutive game with Getzlaf nursing a wrist injury and Niedermayer sidelined by a groin strain. Both did take part in Saturday's practice at Anaheim Ice.
Schneider also practiced and the puck-moving defenseman's return could be a major boost to a team struggling mightily on the power play. The Ducks went scoreless in three chances Sunday and now rank 28th in the league at 10.7% (eight for 75).
A few Ducks players and staff greeted former left wing Dustin Penner outside the locker room following the Oilers' victory.
Forward Corey Perry said it was different seeing his former linemate in another uniform. Penner joined Edmonton in August when the Ducks didn't match the Oilers' five-year, $21.25-million offer sheet for the big forward.
"We lined up beside each other a few times," said Perry, who had dinner with Penner when the Oilers came to Southern California. "Things have changed. He's doing well and he played well tonight. Hopefully, he's going to have a great year."
Penner, who has two goals and three assists with Edmonton, received his Stanley Cup ring from Ducks owner Henry Samueli after the game.
www.latimes.com
Peter Bondra retires
Associated Press
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — NHL veteran and Slovakian star Peter Bondra retired from professional hockey Monday to become general manager of his country's national team.
"I kept it a secret for a long time. They will know overseas only after this press conference," Bondra said, according to the Slovak national hockey association. "I hope I can help Slovakia win another medal at the world championship."
The 39-year-old Bondra played last season for the Chicago Blackhawks before becoming a free agent. He had 503 goals and had 389 assists in 1,081 NHL games, mostly for the Washington Capitals. He also played for the Ottawa Senators and Atlanta Thrashers.
His contract as general manger runs through 2008, when the hockey worlds are to take place in Canada. Bondra scored the decisive goal in the 4-3 victory over Russia at the 2002 hockey worlds in Sweden that gave Slovakia the title.
www.globesports.com
Hi
My picks
Wild (Minnesota) -1.5(+220)
Thrashers (Atlanta) 1.5 (-170)
P.s. Good luck if you betting