Friday, February 9, 2007
Johan Holmqvist, Tampa Bay Lightning - Holmqvist is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Rangers. Probability of start occurring: 75%
Kevin Weekes, New York Rangers - Weekes is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Lightning. Probability of start occurring: 65%
Nikolai Khabibulin, Chicago Blackhawks - Khabibulin is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Oilers. There's a chance that Patrick Lalime could get a second straight start after registering a shutout in his season debut, but don't count on it. Probability of start occurring: 65%
Dwayne Roloson, Edmonton Oilers - Roloson is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Blackhawks. Probability of start occurring: 75%
Year-to-date: 1568 / 1654 = 94.8%
Hockey Today - February 9
Fri, Feb 9, 2007
By Associated Press
Tampa Bay at N.Y. Rangers (7 p.m. EST). The Lightning have won 11 of 13, while the Rangers have dropped four straight and eight of 11 to fall to 11th in the Eastern Conference standings.
STARS Thursday
-Ray Whitney, Hurricanes, had three goals and an assist to lead Carolina to a 5-2 win at Boston.
-Marian Hossa and Vyacheslav Kozlov, Thrashers, each had two goals and two assists and Atlanta beat Colorado 6-3.
-Niklas Backstrom, Wild, made 41 saves to lead Minnesota to a 4-2 victory over Florida.
-Dainius Zubrus, Capitals, poked in a rebound 2:28 into overtime to give Washington a 4-3 win over Los Angeles.
-Sidney Crosby, Penguins, scored the only goal in the shootout to give Pittsburgh a 5-4 victory at Philadelphia.
NEW IRONMAN
Colorado's Karlis Skrastins broke Tim Horton's NHL record for durability by a defenseman Thursday night when he played in his 487th consecutive regular season game. Since joining the NHL in 1999 in Nashville, Skrastins has missed just one game, on Feb. 18, 2000, when he sat out against St. Louis because of a minor shoulder injury. Horton's record was established from Feb. 11, 1961, to Feb. 4, 1968.
HOME WOES
Philadelphia's franchise-worst, home-losing streak reached 13 games after a 5-4 shootout loss to Pittsburgh. The Flyers haven't won at home since beating former coach Ken Hitchcock in his debut with Columbus on Nov. 24, and have just three victories there in 25 games. ... Boston has lost four straight at home after a 5-2 defeat to Carolina.
RUDE HOSTS
Nashville's home winning streak reached eight games after its 4-2 victory over Toronto.
DRAWING BLANKS
Detroit was shut out for the first time in 176 games after losing 1-0 at St. Louis on Thursday night. The Red Wings last were shut out Jan. 7, 2004, in a 3-0 loss to Boston. Calgary holds the NHL record for consecutive games without being shutout - 264 from Nov. 12, 1981 to Jan. 9, 1985. ... Martin Brodeur posted his NHL-best 10th shutout of the season, stopping 25 shots to lead New Jersey to a 2-0 victory over the New York Islanders. Brodeur has 90 career regular-season shutouts, 13 behind all-time leader Terry Sawchuk.
CAN'T DO EVERYTHING
Philadelphia's Simon Gagne had three goals, including two on the power play, but failed to convert during the shootout and Pittsburgh won 5-4 on Thursday night.
DROUGHT OVER
Columbus failed to score in 133 minutes, 26 seconds, before netting two goals in 47 seconds during the third period for a 2-1 win over Calgary on Thursday night.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Brandon Bochenski scored both Boston goals in Thursday night's 5-2 loss to Carolina. Bochenski was acquired in a swap of minor leaguers from Chicago on Feb. 3 and has scored three goals in two games since joining Boston.
SPEAKING
''When you think about it, it's hard to believe it's that high. You never expect to do that, but that's where I am now.'' - New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur on moving within 13 shutouts of all-time leader Terry Sawchuk after recording his 90th in Thursday night's 2-0 win over the New York Islanders.