SCOREBOARD
Sunday, Feb. 11
Minnesota at St. Louis (6 p.m. EST). The Wild lead the Northwest Division by one point.
Monday, Feb. 12
Phoenix at Dallas (7 p.m. EST). The Stars go for their seventh straight win when they host the Coyotes, who are 17-11-1-1 on the road this season.
STARS
Saturday
-Jason Spezza, Senators, scored three goals and a career-high six points in leading Ottawa to a 6-1 rout of Montreal.
-Jonathan Cheechoo, Sharks, scored three goals, including the game-winner with 4:55 left, to help San Jose outlast Nashville 4-3.
-Evgeni Malkin, Penguins, scored two goals and set up another and Pittsburgh beat Los Angeles 4-2.
-Marek Svatos and Tyler Arnason, Avalanche. Svatos had two goals and an assist and linemate Arnason added a goal and two assists, leading Colorado to a 6-2 win at Vancouver
-Paul Martin, Devils, had his first career two-goal game in New Jersey’s 6-1 win over Carolina.
-Nik Antropov, Maple Leafs, deflected in the winning goal 62 seconds into overtime to give Toronto a 3-2 victory over Detroit.
o a 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders.
-Alexei Zhitnik, Thrashers, scored 1:26 into overtime and Atlanta rallied past Tampa Bay 2-1.
ELITE COMPANY
Ron Wilson became the 11th coach in NHL history and second this season to reach 500 career victories when San Jose edged Nashville 4-3 Saturday night. Wilson is tied with Toe Blake for 10th on the career list and is one shy of Pat Burns for ninth. Florida’s Jacques Martin reached 500 wins on Jan. 18.
TOP TRIO
Ottawa’s top line of Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson and Dany Heatley were reunited for the first time in 13 games and combined for 15 points in Saturday night’s 6-1 win over Montreal. Spezza recorded three goals and a career-high six points, Alfredsson, who returned after missing four games because of a nagging hip injury, had two goals and three assists and Heatley added a goal and three assists.
SEVERE SLUMP
Vancouver has only one win in its last six games – and two in the last 11 – after a 6-2 loss to Colorado on Saturday night. The Canucks are ninth in the Western Conference after finishing atop the Northwest Division with a team-record 105 points last season.
BLANKETY, BLANK
Steve Valiquette shut out Philadelphia for the second time in nine days on Saturday, making 31 saves in the New York Rangers’ 2-0 win. The two shutouts were the only ones for Valiquette in his career.
NDING THEIR WAY
Pittsburgh has won consecutive games for the first time since captain Sidney Crosby’s injury after topping Los Angeles 4-2 Saturday. Evgeni Malkin has helped fill the void, collecting two goals and an assist to give him 11 points in four games and 69 for the season, four behind NHL leader Alex Ovechkin of Washington.
UNLIKELY OFFENSE
New Jersey defenseman accounted for four goals in Saturday night’s 6-1 win over Carolina. Paul Martin had his first career two-goal game and Colin White and Johnny Oduya added tallies. The last time Devils defensemen were this productive was Oct. 31, 1984, when they scored five goals. Uli Hiemer had a hat trick, and Joe Cirella scored twice.
UNLUCKY SEVEN
The New York Islanders’ losing streak reached seven games after a 4-3 overtime defeat at Minnesota on Saturday night. They have been outscored 27-11 during the skid and have the fewest goals in the league.
SIX PACK
Dallas’ winning streak reached six games after its 6-2 victory over St. Louis.
IMPROVING
Florida won for the fourth time in five games with Saturday night’s 6-3 win at Boston, scoring 24 goals during that stretch. … Toronto has won three of four after stunning NHL-leading Detroit 3-2 in overtime.
PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM
The New York Rangers have won 11 of their last 12 games at the Wachovia Center after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Philadelphia, and is 6-0-1 there since a loss on April 15, 2006.
WELCOME BACK
Chicago rookie Jonathan Toews is expected to return against Vancouver on Sunday night after missing 16 games with a sprained left knee. Toews was among the NHL rookie leaders with 32 points in 36 games before getting hurt during a game in Los Angeles on Jan. 1.
SPEAKING
“Take it for what it is fellas. Some of you will really like the win and some of you will think that it hurts our draft pick. Do with it what you want.” – Toronto coach Paul Maurice after the Maple Leafs, third from the bottom in the league, defeated NHL-leading Detroit 3-2 in overtime on Saturday.