Hockey Today
SCOREBOARD
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Edmonton at Vancouver (10:30 p.m. EST). The Northwest Division rivals meet for the second time in four days after the Oilers’ 3-0 win over the first-place Canucks at home Saturday night.
STARS
Tuesday
— Alex Ovechkin, Capitals, scored his second goal of the game with 10.7 seconds left in overtime to lift Washington to a 5-4 victory over the New York Islanders.
— Jarome Iginla, Flames, had two goals and two assists to match his career best for points in a 6-3 win at St. Louis.
— Nigel Dawes, Rangers, stole a pass, deked defender Chris Pronger and scored the tiebreaking goal with 3:16 remaining in New York’s 3-1 victory at Anaheim.
— Loui Eriksson, Stars, scored two goals, including the game-winner with 1:21 left in overtime, to give Dallas a 2-1 win over Phoenix.
— Eric Staal, Hurricanes, had two power-play goals to lead Carolina to a 3-2 victory over Montreal.
— Colby Armstrong, Thrashers, scored a pair of goals 31 seconds apart in the third period and Atlanta ended a three-game skid with a 4-1 win over Ottawa.
ENOUGH ALREADY
The Montreal Canadiens were called for 11 of the game’s first 12 penalties in a 3-2 loss at Carolina. With the Hurricanes’ first penalty resulting in Guillaume Latendresse’s penalty shot, Carolina had the first 11 power plays, including four two-man advantages. Carolina’s 11 power plays were a season high, and a season high for a Montreal opponent.
BLOWOUT
Troy Brouwer had two goals and an assist as the Chicago Blackhawks stormed into Edmonton and won their fifth straight game, 9-2. The Blackhawks went 4-for-5 on the power play, improving to 15-4-6 since coach Joel Quenneville took over for Denis Savard. Patrick Kane added a goal and two assists for Chicago, 6-0-1 in its last seven. Edmonton gave up nine goals for the first time since a 9-4 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Dec. 28, 1992. The seven-goal margin tied a team record for home defeats. The other two also came against Chicago, one in 1992, the other in ‘95.
WAITING GAME
Free agent Mats Sundin is expected to announce Thursday whether he’ll play for the New York Rangers or Vancouver Canucks for the rest of the NHL season. Canucks general manager Mike Gillis met with Sundin’s agent Tuesday and said the star center is close to making up his mind. “We reiterated our position in all of this and formalized our offer moving forward,” Gillis told reporters. “We feel good about our team and where we sit and what we have to offer.”
WILD MAN
Marian Gaborik is set to return to the Minnesota Wild. The star right wing practiced Tuesday and said he plans to play Wednesday night against Calgary. Gaborik sustained an unspecified injury to his lower body and has missed the past 27 games since Oct. 14.
THE COMMISH
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman harshly criticized Sean Avery, calling the combative forward’s crude remark about ex-girlfriends dating other hockey players offensive and disgusting. Avery was only 23 games into a $15.5 million, four-year deal with Dallas when Bettman suspended him for the Dec. 2 remark. Avery was eligible to return from his six-game ban Sunday, but the Stars instead announced Avery will not rejoin the team—ever. Speaking to a luncheon crowd, Bettman said Avery’s remark offended him as a parent. “To be perfectly honest, I wouldn’t want to have to explain to my 12-year-old daughter what he said,” the commissioner said.
SURGING
Washington goalie Brent Johnson made 35 saves, winning his fifth consecutive start when the Capitals beat the New York Islanders 5-4 in overtime for their fourth straight victory. … Mike Richards and Simon Gagne each had a goal and two assists to help Philadelphia beat Colorado 5-2 for its fifth consecutive win. The Flyers are 8-0-2 in their past 10 home games. … Jeremy Williams scored in regulation and converted a shootout attempt to help Toronto beat New Jersey 3-2. Williams has scored in three straight games since being recalled from the minors, and the Maple Leafs have won three in a row for the first time this season.
STATS
Phoenix fell to 0-4 in overtime with a 2-1 loss at Dallas, which played its first game since cutting ties with Sean Avery on Sunday. … Calgary goalie Miikka Kiprusoff beat St. Louis for the 11th consecutive time, 6-3. … The injury-riddled Islanders have lost seven straight, matching their longest skid of last season. New York has dropped nine of 10 overall (1-8-1).
GOOD OMEN
The Chicago Blackhawks have won five games in a row for the first time since the 2001-02 season—the last time they made the playoffs. “We’re an unbelievable team,” Troy Brouwer said. “We’re young and we’ve got a lot of heart on this team and we know we’re good.”
SPEAKING
“It was humiliating. It was a real poor effort. They pretty much exposed us in every area of the game. They took it to us all over the place. All the way around we got outplayed. It’s been a long time since I have been part of a game like that.”—Edmonton defenseman Sheldon Souray, after a 9-2 loss to Chicago.
New Jersey Devils vs. Buffalo Sabres
Zach Parise and Mike Rupp lit up the lamp for New Jersey in its 3-2 shootout loss to Toronto on Tuesday night.
Toronto won as +105 home underdogs as the game played under the 5.5-goal total set by sportsbooks.
The Buffalo Sabres scored two goals in the third period for a 4-2 win over the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center Saturday night.
Buffalo won as a +145 road underdog while the final score played over the 5.5-goal total.
Current streak:
New Jersey has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
New Jersey: 16-9-3
Buffalo: 15-12-3
New Jersey most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 7-3
Before playing Buffalo are 9-1
After playing Toronto are 5-5
After a loss are 4-6
Buffalo most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 7-3
Before playing Colorado are 7-3
After playing New Jersey are 3-7
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
New Jersey is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of New Jersey's last 14 games when playing Buffalo
New Jersey is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of New Jersey's last 12 games when playing on the road against Buffalo
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Buffalo's last 5 games
Buffalo is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Buffalo's last 14 games when playing New Jersey
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Buffalo's last 12 games when playing at home against New Jersey
Next up:
New Jersey home to Ottawa, Friday, December 19
Buffalo home to Los Angeles, Friday, December 19
San Jose Sharks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Dan Boyle and Ryane Clowe scored in the shootout to give San Jose a 3-2 win over the L.A. on Monday night.
The Sharks won as -190 favorites, while the final score played UNDER the total of 5.5.
The Blue Jackets lost to Chicago 3-1 as a +190 underdog on Sunday. The four goals scored fell UNDER the posted over/under total (5.5).
Fredrik Modin scored the Blue Jackets' lone goal and Steve Mason made 28 saves in the loss.
Current streak:
San Jose has won 3 straight games.
Team records:
San Jose: 25-3-2
Columbus: 13-14-3
San Jose most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 3-7
Before playing Toronto are 3-3-2
After playing Los Angeles are 6-4
After a win are 9-1
Columbus most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 2-8
Before playing Dallas are 4-6
After playing Chicago are 3-7
After a loss are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
San Jose is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Columbus
San Jose is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
San Jose is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of San Jose's last 9 games when playing on the road against Columbus
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Columbus's last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Columbus's last 9 games when playing at home against San Jose
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Columbus's last 8 games
Columbus is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Next up:
San Jose at Detroit, Thursday, December 18
Columbus at Dallas, Thursday, December 18
Calgary Flames vs. Minnesota Wild
Jarome Iginla netted two goals and had two assists to lead the Flames over the Blues 6-3 on Tuesday night.
Calgary cashed as -150 road favorites as the game played over the 5.5-goal total set by oddsmakers.
The Wild lost to Anaheim 4-2 as a +155 underdog on Sunday. The six goals scored went OVER the posted over/under total (5).
Eric Belanger and Marc-Andre Bergeron scored for Minnesota, while Josh Harding made 30 saves in the loss.
Current streak:
Minnesota has lost 5 straight games.
Team records:
Calgary: 17-11-3
Minnesota: 15-13-1
Calgary most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 4-6
Before playing Los Angeles are 5-5
After playing St. Louis are 4-6
After a win are 4-6
Minnesota most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 7-1-2
Before playing Florida are 4-4-2
After playing Anaheim are 5-5
After a loss are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
Calgary is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Calgary's last 5 games when playing Minnesota
Calgary is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Calgary's last 7 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games when playing Calgary
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota's last 7 games when playing at home against Calgary
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 6 games at home
Next up:
Calgary home to Chicago, Friday, December 19
Minnesota home to NY Islanders, Friday, December 19
New York Rangers vs. Los Angeles Kings
Nigel Dawe's goal stood up as the winner, as the Rangers downed the Ducks 3-1 on Tuesday night.
New York cashed as +135 road underdogs as the teams played under the 5-goal total posted by sportsbooks.
Teddy Purcell had a goal and an assist for L.A. in a 3-2 loss in a shootout to San Jose on Monday night.
The Kings lost as +190 underdogs, while the final score played UNDER the total of 5.5.
Current streak:
New York has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
New York: 21-11-2
Los Angeles: 13-12-5
New York most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 7-3
Before playing Florida are 6-4
After playing Anaheim are 5-5-2
After a win are 5-5
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 6-4
Before playing Dallas are 6-4
After playing San Jose are 5-5
After a loss are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
NY Rangers are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games on the road
NY Rangers are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing Los Angeles
Los Angeles is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing NY Rangers
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Los Angeles's last 6 games at home
Los Angeles is 2-3-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against NY Rangers
Next up:
NY Rangers at San Jose, Saturday, December 20
Los Angeles at Buffalo, Friday, December 19
Edmonton Oilers vs. Vancouver Canucks
Shawn Horcoff and Marc-Antoine Pouliot tallied for Edmonton in its 9-2 loss to Chicago on Tuesday night.
Chicago won as -115 road favorites as the game played over the 5.5-goal total listed by sportsbooks.
The Canucks defeated Florida 5-3 as a -175 favorite on Sunday. The eight goals scored went OVER the posted over/under total (5.5).
Pavol Demitra scored a pair of goals for Vancouver and Ryan Kesler added a goal and an assist in the win.
Team records:
Edmonton: 14-13-2
Vancouver: 17-11-3
Edmonton most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 5-5
Before playing Detroit are 8-2
After playing Chicago are 3-7
After a loss are 6-4
Vancouver most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 5-5
Before playing San Jose are 5-5
After playing Florida are 4-4-1
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Edmonton's last 5 games on the road
Edmonton is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Edmonton is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Edmonton is 5-10 SU in its last 15 games when playing Vancouver
Vancouver is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games at home
Vancouver is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Edmonton
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Vancouver's last 10 games at home
Vancouver is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games when playing Edmonton
Next up:
Edmonton home to Anaheim, Friday, December 19
Vancouver home to Chicago, Saturday, December 20
NEW JERSEY vs. BUFFALO
New Jersey is 5-7-3 SU in its last 15 games when playing on the road against Buffalo
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of New Jersey's last 12 games when playing on the road against Buffalo
Buffalo is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Buffalo's last 5 games
SAN JOSE vs. COLUMBUS
San Jose is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Jose's last 5 games
Columbus is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against San Jose
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Columbus's last 9 games when playing at home against San Jose
CALGARY vs. MINNESOTA
Calgary is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Calgary is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Minnesota
Minnesota is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Calgary
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota's last 7 games when playing at home against Calgary
EDMONTON vs. VANCOUVER
Edmonton is 5-10 SU in its last 15 games when playing Vancouver
Edmonton is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Vancouver is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Edmonton
Vancouver is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
NY RANGERS vs. LOS ANGELES
NY Rangers are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing Los Angeles
NY Rangers are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Los Angeles's last 6 games at home
Los Angeles is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing NY Rangers
Hot teams
-- Columbus won its last four home games, outscoring foes 11-4. Sharks won 11 of their last 12 games.
-- Sabres won four of their last five.
-- Kings won three of their last four home games. Rangers won three of their last four games overall.
Cold teams
-- Devils lost last two games, after winning nine of previous ten.
-- Flames lost three of their last four games. Minnesota lost its last five games, outscored 13-5.
-- Oilers lost two of last three games, scoring five goals. Canucks are 3-6 in their last nine games.
Totals
-- Last seven Columbus games stayed under the total.
-- Under is 10-2-1 in New Jersey road games this season; four of last five Buffalo games went over.
-- Six of last nine Calgary road games went over the total; five of last six Minnesota games stayed under.
-- Three of last four Los Angeles home games stayed under the total.
-- Three of last four Edmonton games stayed under the total.
Series Records
-- Sharks won their last five games against Columbus.
-- Sabres won last three games against New Jersey, outscoring them, 9-4.
-- Flames won five of their last six games against Minnesota.
-- Kings won their last two games against the Rangers, 4-1/4-2.
-- Oilers are 2-0 against Vancouver this season, 6-3/3-0.
Gaborik plans to play for Wild on Wednesday
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -Wild fans have grown so frustrated with Marian Gaborik's contract status and 27-game absence that mentions of his name over the Xcel Energy Center speakers have brought boos a couple of times this season.
Minnesota's star right wing should find out how the customers feel on Wednesday night. Gaborik declared himself ''good to go'' to face the Calgary Flames and, pending final consultation with coach Jacques Lemaire, will appear in a game for the first time since Oct. 14.
The next day, he hurt part of his lower body - presumably that long-problematic groin muscle, though the team won't specify injuries anymore - which made his future with the Wild even more uncertain. Gaborik's contract expires this summer, and negotiations on an extension broke off before he was hurt. Attempts by the team to trade him have predictably hit a wall.
With the Wild struggling to score, their 76 goals being the fewest in the Western Conference, Gaborik and his All-Star offensive skills have been missed.
Their losing streak is at five games, and they've scored five goals during that span.
''I want to get out there and make a difference, but obviously I want to be cautious,'' Gaborik said after a spirited practice Tuesday that lasted about 90 minutes.
Lemaire left the decision on when to return up to Gaborik, who missed 34 games two years ago due to a nagging groin injury. The active roster is at 22 players, so if Gaborik comes off injured reserve the team does not have to make a corresponding move.
''More than likely I'll go,'' Gaborik said, adding: ''I think I'm at the point where I can go out there and play a game. I don't think it will get any better. Obviously sometimes I feel discomfort, but I think by playing games it's going to get there. To get out there and get into game shape, I'm looking forward to it.''
Gaborik skated Tuesday on a line with James Sheppard and Stephane Veilleux. Lemaire, naturally, cautioned against assuming the return of the franchise's career scoring leader would immediately boost production.
''A lot of people, they figure he's going to come back, he's going to settle every problem we have on this team. We're going to start to score five goals five-on-five and six on the power play,'' Lemaire said. ''It won't happen.''
The Wild are an unimpressive 8-6-1 at home. They've fallen a few games behind Vancouver and Calgary in the Northwest Division standings during their slump, so Wednesday will be an important night.
Lemaire, though, also cautioned against expecting Gaborik to be at 100 percent. Skating is only part of the equation in returning from a long injury absence. It takes at least a few games to rebuild the strength necessary to take the hits and the holds and battle for pucks in the corner and in front of the net.
''That gets you tired,'' Lemaire said. ''It's not like skating. I'm telling you.''
The coach declined to divulge whether Brent Burns would move back to the blue line on Wednesday if Gaborik plays, but Burns was working on defense during Tuesday's practice.
As for his reception from the home crowd, Gaborik said he wasn't worried.
''It's totally up to them how they're going to take it, but I think I've done pretty good so far for this team,'' he said. ''So I don't think they can have anything bad against me. So we'll see.''