SCOREBOARD
Friday, Feb. 22
Colorado at Phoenix (9 p.m. EST). The Avalanche have lost five straight.
STARS
Wednesday
– Thomas Vanek, Sabres, scored three consecutive goals, including the winner 2:35 into overtime, to rally Buffalo to a 4-3 win over Tampa Bay.
– Nikolai Khabibulin and Dave Bolland, Blackhawks. Khabibulin made 38 saves for his 37th career shutout and rookie Bolland scored two goals to lead Chicago to a 3-0 win over Minnesota.
-Alex Tanguay, Flames, scored twice to lead Calgary to a 3-2 victory over Dallas.
STREAKING
Mike Comrie scored the only goal of the shootout, and the New York Islanders pushed their winning streak to a season-high five games Wednesday night with a 3-2 victory over Washington. New York’s winning streak is its longest since December 2003.
SLUMPING
San Jose dropped its season-worst fifth in a row overall (0-4-1), with a 3-2 loss to New Jersey on Wednesday night. … Colorado dropped its fifth straight after a 3-2 shootout loss to Anaheim. The Avalanche had not previously lost five consecutive games in nearly ten years since dropping six from March 30-April 11, 1998.
PIPE MASTER
Alexander Ovechkin hit the pipes four times and was held without a point for a season-high third straight game in Washington’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Islanders on Wednesday night.
OUT
Simon Gagne was told Wednesday to sit out the rest of the year because of lingering symptoms of three concussions suffered this season. The Flyers forward visited concussion specialist James Kelly, who suggested that Gagne not try and play again this season.
MAKING MOVES
The Calgary Flames acquired defenseman Jim Vandermeer from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a 2009 third-round draft pick on Wednesday. Vandermeer has three goals and 15 assists and 71 penalty minutes in 54 games this season with Chicago and Philadelphia. He has 17 goals and 49 assists in 246 games with the Blackhawks and Flyers.
SPEAKING
“They got a lucky goal. … They find a way to get those cheesy ones. I give those guys credit. Every team has that team that they have a tough time playing against, and they work their butts off. For all the guys they are missing and them to come out with a win, I mean, hats off to them.” – Washington goalie Olie Kolzig after the Capitals 3-2 shootout loss to the Islanders on Wednesday night.