38 replies to this topic

[Dark Knight]

Please post your thoughts, pictures and comments on tonight's games in this thread.

TBL at Boston
Dallas at Washington
Montreal at Carolina
Toronto at Atlanta
Florida at Ottawa
Philadelphia at NYI
Nashville at STL
Colorado at Edmonton
LAK at Phoenix

[DropThePuck]

Kings goaltender Mathieu Garon suffered a groin injury during practice Wednesday and will not play in today's game against the Phoenix Coyotes.
...
There could be some call for panic, given that the Kings have to start Dan Cloutier in net.

The Kings recalled Barry Brust, the backup goalie from their American Hockey League team in Manchester, N.H. The team did not want to risk recalling Jason LaBarbera — Garon's backup last season for the Kings — because he would have to clear reverse waivers before he could join the team.

Seems LA learned from the Ducks' experience ...

<LAT link>

[Dark Knight]

Kerry Fraser refereeing first game of the season, TBL-Boston; wearing a helmet with a visor

[Dark Knight]

Dallas already losing 2-0 to Washington with 4 to go in the first Smith in goal.

[Dark Knight]

There's hardly anyone at the Scottrade Center (St. Louis)... I don't know if I've ever seen a place this empty.

[Dark Knight]

Dallas down 4-1 to Washington after two...

[Dark Knight]

Chistov not getting much ice time, looking a bit lost...

[Duckette]

Chistov not getting much ice time, looking a bit lost...

Better than where he was earlier, stuck under Kuba's rear

[DropThePuck]

Start of the 3rd:
TBL: 2 PERRIN, E. (17:08 in 1st), ST. LOUIS, M. (SHG, 04:44 in 2nd)
BOS: 2 BOYES, B. (11:06 in 1st), AXELSSON, P. (SHG, 18:26 in 2nd)


Boston Bruins P.J. Axelsson of Sweden (11) tries to control the puck as Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Marc Denis, left, defends during the first period of NHL hockey game in Boston, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006. Tampa Bay Cory Sarich, right, looks on.
(AP Photo/Chitose Suzuki)


Boston Bruins' Brad Boyes, front, scores the first goal against Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Marc Denis during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Boston, Thursday, Nov., 30, 2006.
(AP Photo/Chitose Suzuki)


Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins clears the puck in the first period against the Tampa Bay Lightning on November 30, 2006 at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)


incent Lecavalier #4 of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Milan Jurcina #68 of the Boston Bruins fight for the puck on November 30, 2006 at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

[Nordy]

Sick save by Boston's goalie. They had to review it because Tampa Bay didn't think someone could actually make the save....

[DropThePuck]

End of the 2nd:

DAL: JOKINEN, J. (00:41 in 2nd)
WSH: ZEDNIK, R. (13:05 in 1st), CLARK, C. (PPG, 14:57 in 1st), PETTINGER, M. (17:53 in 2nd), SEMIN, A. (PPG, 19:48 in 2nd)


Dallas Stars' Mike Smith (41) and Phillipe Boucher (43) makes a save against Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) of Russia during first-period hockey play in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006.
(AP Photo/Linda Spillers)


Mike Green #52 of the Washington Capitals hangs on the former Capital player Jeff Halpern #11 of the Dallas Stars at the Verizon Center November 30, 2006 in Washington, DC.
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)


Mike Smith #41 of the Dallas Stars fights for puck with Matt Pettinger #18 of the Washington Capitals during a NHL hockey game at the Verizon Center November 30, 2006 in Washington, DC.
(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)


Alexander Semin #28 of the Washington Capitals tries to control the puck during a NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars at the Verizon Center November 30, 2006 in Washington, DC.
(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

[DropThePuck]

Knotted at 2 in the first half of the 3rd:

MTL: RYDER, M. (10:42 in 1st), PLEKANEC, T. (15:23 in 2nd)
CAR: COLE, E. (16:24 in 1st), COLE, E. (08:23 in 2nd)


Montreal Canadiens' Cristobal Huet (39) blocks the shot of Carolina Hurricanes' Trevor Letowski (19) during the first period of a hockey game Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006, in Raleigh, N.C.
(AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)


Montreal Canadiens' Michael Ryder (73) deflects the puck past Carolina Hurricanes' Cam Ward (30) with Hurricanes' Anton Babchuk (48) nearby during the first period of a hockey game Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006, in Raleigh, N.C.
(AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)


Montreal Canadiens' Craig Rivet (52) deflects the shot of Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal (12) in front of Canadiens goalie Cristobal Huet (39) during the first period of their hockey game Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006, in Raleigh, N.C.
(AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

[DropThePuck]

In only the waning minutes of the 2nd, Ottawa ruling over Florida, 6-0:

FLA:
OTT: HEATLEY, D. (PPG, 02:37 in 1st), HEATLEY, D. (08:52 in 1st), FISHER, M. (SHG, 17:37 in 1st), KELLY, C. (02:28 in 2nd), MESZAROS, A. (06:01 in 2nd), VERMETTE, A. (16:10 in 2nd)


Florida Panthers goaltender Alex Auld gets up after Ottawa Senators' Dany Heatley (not shown) scores the Senators' first goal of the game during first-period NHL action in Ottawa, Hockey, Thursday, November 30, 2006.
(AP photo/Patrick Doyle,CP)

[DropThePuck]

At the end of the 2nd, Flyers over the Islanders, 3-1

PHI: ROBITAILLE, R. (PPG, 10:12 in 1st), GAGNE, S. (SHG, 19:55 in 1st), KNUBLE, M. (PPG, 18:21 in 2nd)
NYI: SIMON, C. (19:29 in 2nd)



New York Islanders' Brendan Witt dives to clear the puck away from Philadelphia Flyers' R.J. Umberger during the first period in NHL hockey action Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006 in Uniondale, New York.
(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)


New York Islanders goaltender Mike Dunham deflects a shot on goal as Philadelphia Flyers' Randy Rones (6) looks on during the first period in NHL hockey action Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006, in Uniondale, New York.
(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)


Mike Knuble #22 of the Philadelphia Flyers tries to find room past Mike York #16 and Alexei Zhitnik #77 of the New York Islanders November 30, 2006 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)


Mike Sillinger #18 of the New York Islanders skates with the puck against Kyle Calder #19 of the Philadelphia Flyers November 30, 2006 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

[DropThePuck]

Halfway through the 2nd, Preds and Blues tied at 2

NSH: LEGWAND, D. (05:04 in 1st), HARTNELL, S. (16:23 in 1st)
STL: TKACHUK, K. (00:58 in 1st), MCCLEMENT, J. (02:19 in 2nd)


St. Louis Blues goalie Manny Legace (34) makes a stick save on Nashville Predators' Scott Nichol (12) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006, in St. Louis.
(AP Photo/Bill Boyce)


St. Louis Blues' Keith Tkachuk (7) is congratulated by teammate Bill Guerin (13) on his first-period goal against the Nashville Predators during an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006, in St. Louis.
(AP Photo/Bill Boyce)

[DropThePuck]

In the first half of the 1st, it's a goalfest ... LA and Phoenix at 2 a piece

LAK: ARMSTRONG, D. (PPG, 02:14 in 1st), CAMMALLERI, M. (04:17 in 1st)
PHX: NAGY, L. (04:06 in 1st), SAPRYKIN, O. (05:23 in 1st)


And even with Lupul's opening minutes goal, Oilers behind the Avs, 1-2 in the back half of the 1st

COL: LILES, J. (04:55 in 1st), ARNASON, T. (07:35 in 1st)
EDM: LUPUL, J. (01:22 in 1st)

[DropThePuck]

Doesn't look good for the Barmy's Maple Leafs ... waning minutes of the 3rd

ATL: 4 HOSSA, M. (PPG, 13:08 in 1st), HOSSA, M. (01:46 in 3rd), MELLANBY, S. (PPG, 12:20 in 3rd), LARSEN, B. (12:34 in 3rd)
TOR: 0


Atlanta Thrashers' Ilya Kovalchuk of Russia gets past Toronto Maple Leafs' Tomas Kaberle of the Czech Republic (15) during the first period of a hockey game in Atlanta, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006.
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)


Atlanta Thrashers' Marian Hossa of Slovakia shoots the puck past Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Andrew Raycroft to score during the first period of a hockey game in Atlanta, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006.
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)


Goalie Kari Lehtonen #32 of the Atlanta Thrashers makes a save against the Toronto Maple Leafs November 30, 2006 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

[DropThePuck]

Goalie Kari Lehtonen #32 of the Atlanta Thrashers makes a save against Darcy Tucker #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs November 30, 2006 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)


Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the Atlanta Thrashers battles against Pavel Kubina #31 of the Toronto Maple Leafs November 30, 2006 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)


Goalie Andrew Raycroft #1 of the Toronto Maple Leafs makes a save against Eric Boulton #36 of the Atlanta Thrashers November 30, 2006 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)


Atlanta Thrashers goalie Kari Lehtonen, of Finland, blocks a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Atlanta, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006.
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)

[GLOVESAVE35]

Cloutier got pulled in the 1st and now Brust is in goal. Pho up 4-3.

Updated Thursday, November 30

TEAM: Vancouver Canucks
Projected lineup vs. Ducks:

Forwards:
D.Sedin - H.Sedin - Naslund
Schultz - Morrison - Pyatt
Bulis - Kesler - Burrows
Linden - Chouinard - Cooke

Defence:
Ohlund - Salo
Mitchell - Krajicek
Bieksa - Edler

Goal: Luongo

Notes: Josh Green is having X-rays for a suspected broken toe after blocking a shot in practice yesterday. Tommi Santala will be a scratch for the game tonight. The last time the Canucks hosted the Ducks they were beaten 6-0. Roberto Luongo was pulled after giving up three goals on nine shots. In that game, the Canucks had three defencemen in the lineup that had played a total of two NHL games - Sami Salo and Mattias Ohlund were out with injuries. After the game, coach Alain Vigneault hammered his veterans including Markus Naslund and the Sedins. The Canucks have had trouble scoring and their 56 goals rank 27th in NHL. Their total is 38 fewer than the Ducks who lead the league with 94. Vancouver's PP is a brutal 11.8% (27th overall, 30th at home), while the Ducks PP is 21.8% (2nd). Luongo will make his league-leading 25th start. - TSN


Calgary Flames
Pairings during Thursday's practice:

Forwards:
Tanguay - Langkow - Iginla
Huselius - Lombardi - Kobasew
Friesen - Lundmark - Amonte
Nilson - Ritchie - McCarty

Defence:
Hamrlik - Phaneuf
Regehr - Warrener
Ference - Zyuzin

Goal: Kiprusoff / McLennan


Ottawa Senators: Ray Emery gets the nod in net tonight for the Senators. Emery is 4-1 at home with a 1.69 GAA and .950 sv% while Martin Gerber is 0-5 at ScotiaBank Place with a 4.13 GAA and .877 sv%... Defenceman Anton Volchenkov, who missed two games with a lower body injury, will play tonight... Coach Bryan Murray held an optional skate today and he didn't announce who would be healthy scratches for tonight's game. - TSN


Anaheim Ducks: J.S. Giguere will get the start in net tonight against the Vancouver Canucks. - TSN


Florida Panthers: Netminder Alex Auld will get his third straight start tonight against Ottawa. Auld has been great lately, and Jacques Martin is clearly leaning towards him as the number one. The goalie has only given up one goal in the last two games... Joe Nieuwendyk didn't practice Wednesday, but is expected to play tonight. - Miami Herald


New Jersey Devils: Devils defenceman Paul Martin sat out of Wednesday's practice with an undisclosed illness. The team said it wasn't serious and that Martin "isn't expected to be out long-term." - Star-Ledger


Atlanta Thrashers: Defenceman Steve McCarthy will play tonight against the Maple Leafs after missing three weeks. McCarthy has been out with a bad shoulder. - Atlanta Journal-Constitution


Pittsburgh Penguins: Pittsburgh forward Andre Roy cleared waivers today. The gritty winger saw very limited action this season, playing just five games with no points and 12 penalty minutes. - TSN


Pittsburgh Penguins: Centre Jordan Staal did not practice yesterday due to illness. He could rejoin the Penguins for a practice at Mellon Arena today and is expected to play in New Jersey on Friday... Sidney Crosby said his groin was a little tight, but that he felt good after returning from the injury. - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review


Pittsburgh Penguins: Defenceman Mark Eaton is improving but will still be out another seven to nine weeks after wrist surgery. "Hopefully, it's the short end of that, but it's not something you want to press or force," said Eaton, whose forearm, wrist and lower hand are still heavily wrapped. - Post-Gazette

[DropThePuck]

Cloutier got pulled in the 1st and now Brust is in goal. Pho up 4-3.

Final scores:

Dallas almost makes a comeback ...
3 DAL: JOKINEN, J. (00:41 in 2nd), BARNES, S. (16:39 in 3rd), JOKINEN, J. (17:57 in 3rd)
4 WSH: ZEDNIK, R. (13:05 in 1st), CLARK, C. (PPG, 14:57 in 1st), PETTINGER, M. (17:53 in 2nd), SEMIN, A. (PPG, 19:48 in 2nd)

2 MTL: RYDER, M. (10:42 in 1st), PLEKANEC, T. (15:23 in 2nd)
4 CAR: COLE, E. (16:24 in 1st), COLE, E. (08:23 in 2nd), WILLIAMS, J. (12:27 in 3rd), BELANGER, E. (13:13 in 3rd)

Hossa with the hat trick ...
0 TOR:
5 ATL: HOSSA, M. (PPG, 13:08 in 1st), HOSSA, M. (01:46 in 3rd), MELLANBY, S. (PPG, 12:20 in 3rd), LARSEN, B. (12:34 in 3rd), HOSSA, M. (PPG, 17:02 in 3rd)

[psg]

Dean Lombardi has to be the dumbest GM in the league for signing Cloutier to that inane contract. My God, he's terrible.

[GLOVESAVE35]

More final scores:

Tampa Bay 3 Boston 4 F (SO)

Philadelphia 3 NY Islanders 2 F

Florida 0 Ottawa 6 F

Nashville 5 St. Louis 4 F

Colorado 7 Edmonton 3 F

Los Angeles 4 Phoenix 7 F

[DropThePuck]

Los Angeles Kings left winger Jeff Cowan, left, and Phoenix Coyotes left winger Josh Gratton exchange punches in the first period of a hockey game Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006, in Glendale, Ariz.
(AP Photo/Paul Connors)


Los Angeles Kings goalie Dan Cloutier cannot make a stop on a shot for a goal by Phoenix Coyotes left winger Ladislav Nagy, not shown, in the first period of a hockey game Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006, in Glendale, Ariz. Cloutier was pulled from the game for Barry Brust in the period.
(AP Photo/Paul Connors)


Phoenix Coyotes goalie Curtis Joseph, left, makes a save on a shot by Los Angeles Kings left winger Alexander Frolov, right, of Russia, in the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006, in Glendale, Ariz. Joseph faced 35 shots as the Coyotes defeated the Kings 7-4.
(AP Photo/Paul Connors)


Linesman Derek Nansen, center, is trapped between Los Angeles Kings center Craig Conroy, front, Phoenix Coyotes center Yanic Perrault, right, Coyotes defenseman Dennis Seidenberg, left, of Germany, and Kings left winger Jeff Cowan, rear, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006, in Glendale, Ariz. The Coyotes defeated the Kings 7-4.
(AP Photo/Paul Connors)

[DropThePuck]

Edmonton Oilers' Marc-Antoine Pouliot, left, avoids a check from Colorado Avalanche's Brett Clark during the first period of NHL hockey action at Rexall in Edmonton, Canada on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006.
(AP Photo Jimmy Jeong,CP)


Colorado Avalanche goalie Peter Budaj, top right, and teammate John-Michael Liles watch as the puck misses the net during second-period NHL action against the Edmonton Oilers in Edmonton, Canada, on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006.
(AP Photo Jimmy Jeong,CP)


Edmonton Oilers goalie Dwayne Roloson jumps over the boards after being benched as teammate Jussi Markkanen, left, skates towards the net against the Colorado Avalanche during the second period in NHL hockey action in Edmonton, Canada, on Thursday Nov. 30, 2006.
(AP Photo/ Jimmy Jeong,CP)


Colorado Avalanche's Brad Richardson lays on the ice after being hit by Edmonton Oilers' Ryan Smyth during the third period in NHL hockey action in Edmonton, Canada, on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006.
(AP Photo Jimmy Jeong,CP)

[DropThePuck]

Atlanta Thrashers' Ilya Kovalchuk, of Russia, takes a shot as he gets past Toronto Maple Leafs' Bryan McCabe (24) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Atlanta, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006. Atlanta won 5-0.
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)


Atlanta Thrashers' Jon Sim (14) reaches for the puck from the ice next to Toronto Maple Leafs' Bryan McCabe during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Atlanta, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006. Atlanta won 5-0.
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)


Atlanta Thrashers' Jon Sim, center, and Glen Metropolit, right, fight with Toronto Maple Leafs' Darcy Tucker (16) and Alexei Ponikarovsky, of Ukraine, during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Atlanta, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006. Atlanta won 5-0.
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)


Goalie Kari Lehtonen #32 of the Atlanta Thrashers makes a save against Mats Sundin #13 of the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 30, 2006 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)