Sunday, March 18, 2007
The goalies below have been confirmed by a source:
Mike Smith, Dallas Stars - Smith is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Coyotes, reports the Dallas Morning News.
Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins - Fleury is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Senators, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Jocelyn Thibault is in line to start Monday's game against the Rangers.
The goalies below have not been confirmed by any sources:
Johan Holmqvist, Tampa Bay Lightning - Holmqvist is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Capitals.
Olaf Kolzig, Washington Capitals - Kolzig is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Lightning.
Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres - Miller is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Thrashers.
Kari Lehtonen, Atlanta Thrashers - Lehtonen is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Sabres. Johan Hedberg was superb in relief on Lehtonen last time out so it's possible that he could get another start. However, with this being a huge game for the Thrashers, we'll stick with Lehtonen for the time being.
Ray Emery, Ottawa Senators - Emery is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Penguins.
Sean Burke, Los Angeles Kings - Burke is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Ducks.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Anaheim Ducks - Giguere is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Kings.
Evgeni Nabokov, San Jose Sharks - Nabokov is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Avalanche.
Peter Budaj, Colorado Avalanche - Budaj is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Sharks.
Mikael Tellqvist, Phoenix Coyotes - Tellqvist is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Stars.
Year-to-date: 2050 / 2156 = 95.1%
Rangers LW Straka leaves with leg injury.
Sat, Mar 17, 2007
By Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Rangers forward Martin Straka injured his right leg and needed help getting off the ice in the first period Saturday night of New York's game against the Boston Bruins.
Straka was skating inside the Boston zone when his left skate got locked up with the skate of Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference with 5:23 remaining in the period. His right leg stretched out and stuck in the ice.
The left wing, who has been playing despite a sore left shoulder, went down and sprawled out on his stomach. Straka received attention by the Rangers' training staff and reached for his knee before getting to his feet. He was helped off by teammates Dan Girardi and Marek Malik, putting weight only on his left leg while the right foot dangled a few inches above the ice.
He didn't return to the game and was listed as day to day.
It is the latest injury to strike the Rangers, who are trying to reach the postseason for the second straight season.
New York, which entered the game in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, was already without forward Brendan Shanahan (concussion), forward Marcel Hossa (knee), and defensemen Fedor Tyutin (knee) and Karel Rachunek (knee). Each player got hurt within the past month.
Straka, 34, has 27 goals and 38 assists this season but hasn't found the net in 10 games - dating to Feb. 18. He hurt his shoulder six days later against Columbus and sat out the next three games. He has no points in the seven games he's played since.
Hockey Today - March 18
Sun, Mar 18, 2007
By Associated Press
SCOREBOARD
Sunday, March 18
Ottawa at Pittsburgh (7:30 p.m. EDT). The Penguins, 6-0-1 in their last seven games, are battling the Senators for fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. Oddsmakers have Pittsburgh listed as 109 point favorites and the total is 6 1/2.
Monday, March 19
Vancouver at Edmonton (9 p.m. EDT). The Oilers' 10-game losing streak is one shy of the franchise record set in 1993.
STARS Saturday
-Olli Jokinen, Panthers, scored two third-period goals and added three assists to help Florida outlast the New York Islanders 8-5.
-Saku Koivu and Andrei Kostitsyn, Canadiens, scored in the shootout after both scored in regulation, leading Montreal to a 3-2 win over Toronto.
-Chad LaRose, Hurricanes, had his first two-goal game in Carolina's 7-2 win at New Jersey.
-Ryan Callahan, Rangers, scored his first two NHL goals in New York's 7-0 rout of Boston
-Kimmo Timonen, Predators, scored two goals and Nashville edged Dallas 3-2.
-Eric Brewer, Blues, scored 2:04 into overtime to give St. Louis a 3-2 win at Edmonton.
-Joe Sakic and Paul Stastny, Avalanche, scored two goals apiece in Colorado's 6-3 win at Phoenix.
OIL'S NOT WELL
Edmonton's losing streak is at 10 games, one short of the franchise record, after a 3-2 overtime loss to St. Louis on Saturday night. The Oilers' losing streak, during which they have been outscored 37-9, started one game before they traded Ryan Smyth to the New York Islanders at the NHL trade deadline.
ONE-SIDED SERIES
Ottawa swept the four-game season series with Philadelphia after Saturday night's 3-2 win and moved ahead of Pittsburgh into fourth place in the Eastern Conference. ... The New York Rangers have taken the first three meetings from Boston this season, outscoring the Bruins 16-2 after Saturday night's 7-0 victory.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Mike Modano scored twice in Dallas' 3-2 loss at Nashville on Saturday to pass Joe Mullen and become the highest scoring American-born player with 503 career goals. Modano's record-tying goal came in his 1,227th career game. Mullen posted his 502 goals in 1,062 games. ... Mike Sillinger and Ryan Smyth scored two goals apiece for the New York Islanders in an 8-5 loss at Florida. ... David Clarkson scored his first NHL goal and added an assist in New Jersey's 7-2 loss to Carolina. ... Geoff Platt had two goals for Columbus in a 5-3 loss at Los Angeles. All three of his NHL goals have come against the Kings.
STREAKING
Colorado's Paul Stastny extended his NHL rookie record by scoring in his 20th consecutive game with two goals in a 6-3 win over Phoenix on Saturday night.
SNAPPED
Dany Heatley's 16-game scoring streak (11-13-24) came to an end during Ottawa's 3-2 win over Philadelphia on Saturday night.
RED HOT
Colorado is 7-0-1 in its last eight games after Saturday night's 6-3 win at Phoenix. With the victory and Calgary's loss to Minnesota, the Avalanche pulled within six points of the Flames for the final Western Conference playoff spot. ... Vancouver is 7-1-1 in its last nine games after defeating Detroit 4-1.
INJURIES
Dallas defenseman Stephane Robidas was carried off of the ice on a stretcher in the third period after being punched by Nashville's Jordin Tootoo on Saturday night. ... Rangers forward Martin Straka injured his right leg and needed help getting off the ice in the first period of New York's game against Boston.
HOME WOES
New Jersey has lost five straight home games after Saturday's 7-2 setback to Carolina.
SPEAKING
''We have 10 games left so let's win eight or nine of them.'' - Winger Sean Avery after the New York Rangers leapfrogged three teams into eighth place in the Eastern Conference with Saturday night's 7-0 win over Boston.