24 replies to this topic

[Dark Knight]

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

Columbus at STL
Buffalo at Boston
Toronto at Montreal
Florida at Washington
TBL at Atlanta
Calgary at Vancouver

[BigBadDucksGal]

Looking forward to the Florida vs Washington game tonight. I hope it is as exciting as the NYIsanders win over New Jersey on the final day last season to get in the playoffs. Washington has been playing very well lately, they could do some damage in the playoffs if they win today!

[Duck304]

THE CROWD IN WASHINGTON IS INSANE. ALL RED!

[DropThePuck]

TSN's Ice Chips:

Doug Weight could face a battle to stay in the lineup now that rookie Ryan Carter is nearly recovered from a broken wrist. In practice Friday, Carter was skating on the second line with Chris Kunitz and Bobby Ryan. Coach Randy Carlyle says he still has faith in Weight, who has six goals and 14 points in 37 games since coming to Anaheim in a trade for Andy McDonald trade. - LA Times

Marc Savard skated on his own Friday for the first time since suffering a back injury against Montreal March 22. Savard skated for several minutes and also worked out off the ice. Savard missed his sixth straight game Friday night. Andrew Ference (sprained knee) said he felt better after the morning skate at Scotiabank Place. Ference, however, missed his sixth straight game. - Boston Globe

Teppo Numminen will play for the first time this season Saturday when the team closes out the year against Boston. With the Sabres getting eliminated from postseason contention Thursday, it was time to put Numminen on the ice. Goaltender Jocelyn Thibault will get his first start since Jan. 21. Michael Ryan will play for the first time since Feb. 21, while Andrew Peters might dress after sitting out 11 straight games. - Buffalo News

Winger Justin Williams (back) missed his second straight game friday, while Jeffrey Hamilton, left winger Wade Brookbank and defenseman Tim Conboy were healthy scratches. - Raleigh News Observer

Dustin Byfuglien is nursing a bulging disc and wouldn't have been able to play in at least the last two regular season games. Denis Savard revealed the injury at Friday's morning skate and said Byfuglien suffered the injury in Wednesday's 6-2 win over Detroit. Dave Bolland and Brent Sopel didn't play against Nashville and will sit out Sunday's season finale at Detroit. Bolland has been bothered by a sore ankle for several weeks. - Chicago Tribune

Adam Foote, who needed 20 stitches to close a cut to an ear in Tuesday's game, should be available for Sunday's game. - Denver Post

Mike Ribeiro (flu) and Brad Richards (soreness) both missed Friday's game, and Steve Ott left the game because of the flu. Zubov went overseas to undergo a procedure to fix lingering problems with his sports hernia, Dave Tippett said Thursday. Zubov is scheduled to fly back to Dallas and the Stars will evaluate his situation. Also out for the Stars was Krys Barch (slight concussion). - Dallas Morning News

Forward Kirk Maltby suffered a fluke left hamstring injury. Maltby said he'd probably miss at least a week, and likely the start of the playoffs, because of the injury. Forward Tomas Holmstrom has missed the past 13 games with a groin injury, but is expected to return for Sunday's game against Chicago. Forward Kris Draper missed five games with a groin injury, came back to play in four, then had a flare-up that caused him to miss the last two games. Forward Mikael Samuelsson has missed the last four games with a groin injury. Brad Stuart has missed seven games with a broken finger. He should be back soon, perhaps for Game 1. - Detroit Free Press/News

Florida was without Tomas Vokoun for tywo periods Friday, as he left with back spasms after the first period. Vokoun said his back flared up Friday morning, then got worse. Cory Murphy was a healthy scratch again. It is possible Murphy will play tonight. Noah Welch won't return from his shoulder surgery this season. Jacques Martin said he told Welch on Monday he wouldn't play the final three games because it wasn't worth the risk of another injury. - Sun Sentinel

Saku Koivu said Saturday the swelling in his broken left foot has diminished but he has not tried to put on a skate boot. He will see doctors again next Tuesday or Wednesday. He could not predict when he'll be back on the ice, which would suggest a return for Game 1 of the playoffs - which would likely be next Thursday - remains a longshot. He is no longer using crutches, but his foot remains in a walking cast. - TSN

Marek Zidlicky, Greg de Vries, David Legwand, Jason Arnott and Dan Ellis were the Predators' scratches Friday. Steve Sullivan, who's been out since February of 2007 with disc problems in his back, will continue to work with area therapists in an attempt to fully recover. - Tennessean

Bryce Salvador, sidelined with a left foot contusion, is hopeful of being ready for the start of the playoffs even though he is not yet skating. Brent Sutter, who said there is no chance Salvador will play in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Rangers, was cautious. - Bergen Record

Brendan Shanahan returned to the lineup after sitting out Thursday night's game with a strained thigh and fired 12 shots on goal. Blair Betts was kept out of the lineup for one more game and will make his return from March 21 minor foot surgery in Sunday afternoon's season finale at New Jersey. - Newsday

The Coyotes have reassigned forward Enver Lisin and defenseman Keith Yandle to San Antonio to help the Rampage in the AHL playoffs. Prior to Friday's game, the Coyotes recalled left wing Pete Vandermeer from San Antonio of the American Hockey League. - Arizona Republic

Gary Roberts would first like to get back on the ice for a regular-season game, something he appeared intent on doing Sunday in Philadelphia following the Penguins' practice on Friday. He's been out since suffering a broken leg and a high-ankle sprain on Dec. 29 against Buffalo. Sunday's regular-season finale at Philadelphia is Roberts' last chance to get in a tune-up prior to next week's opening of the playoffs. Roberts skated at left wing on a line with Adam Hall and Georges Laraque. Darryl Sydor was a healthy scratch for Wednesday night's game against Philadelphia. Friday, he had received no word on whether he'd be in the lineup Sunday in the season finale. - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Vinny Lecavalier did not accompany the team today to Atlanta, where the Lightning will close out the regular season on Saturday. General manager Jay Feaster said that Lecavalier flew home to Tampa along with team assistant medical trainer Jason Serbus where Lecavalier will undergo further 'diagnostic testing and evaulation' on his injured right shoulder. Lecavalier has already been ruled out of Saturday's game and possible surgery has not been ruled out. - Tampa Tribune

Checking-line centre David Steckel, who has missed 13 games with a broken finger on his right hand, said he hopes to be able to play Saturday night. Bruce Boudreau said it would difficult for him to disrupt a lineup that has won 10 of 11 games. - Washington Post

[DropThePuck]

0
3 - Boyes, B. (PPG, 08:36 in 1st), Tkachuk, K. (PPG, 15:54 in 1st), Tkachuk, K. (01:30 in 3rd)


St. Louis Blues' goalie Manny Legace (34) defends against Columbus Blue Jackets' Michael Peca (19) in the first period in an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 5, 2008 in St. Louis.
(AP Photo/Bill Boyce)


St. Louis Blues' Dan Hinote (13) takes a shot on Columbus Blue Jackets' goalie Pascal Leclaire (31) as the Blue Jackets' Jan Hejda, center, of Czech Republic, defends in the second period in an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 5, 2008 in St. Louis.
(AP Photo/Bill Boyce)

[UltraDavid]

Woooo!! Go Capitals!!

[GLOVESAVE35]

Caps win 3-1 to win their division and clinch a playoff berth.

[QuacksMeUp]

And who gets the GWG???!!! SERGIE FEDOROV!! What a team the Caps have become. Can't wait to see what happens in the East (and that's the first time EVER I've said that!)

And who is the sweetest goalie to come out of the East? CRISTOBAL HUET!! (I thinking Crow is really feeling STOOPID!!)

[Dark Knight]

And who is the sweetest goalie to come out of the East? CRISTOBAL HUET!! (I thinking Crow is really feeling STOOPID!!)

Huet... Garon... Legace...

[Duck304]

Now that the Caps qualified, we can have a Pens vs Caps series if the Penguins win tomorrow.

[UltraDavid]

Negative, since the Caps qualified as the Southeast Division Champions. They're the #3, and the Pens are #1 or #2. Right now the Caps are paired up with the Senators, but if Philly beats the Pens tomorrow it'll be Washington-Philly in the 1st round.

As a Caps fan (second to Ducks, obviously), I'm hoping Philly loses and we get to play Ottawa. Washington owned Ottawa even when the Sens were good in the first half of the season, and since then they've started sucking horribly and even lost Alfredsson and Fisher. Ottawa's probably the worst team in the playoffs at this point, and I think the Caps would own them up to the tune of a 5-gamer or even a sweep.

[DropThePuck]

Huzzah!

1 - Kreps, K. (PPG, 06:47 in 2nd)
3 - Fleischmann, T. (07:19 in 1st), Fedorov, S. (15:03 in 2nd), Semin, A. (PPG, 02:21 in 3rd)


Washington Capitals' Tomas Fleischmann (43) of the Czech Republic moves past Florida Panthers goalie Craig Anderson (31) en route to scoring a goal during the first period of a NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 5, 2008, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)


Florida Panthers' Rostislav Olesz (85) of the Czech Republic runs over Washington Capitals' Steve Eminger (44) during the second period of a NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 5, 2008, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)


Washington Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau (partially obscured), top left, pumps his fists in the bench area as Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, Nicklas Backstrom (19), of Sweden, Brooks Laich (21), Sergei Fedorov (91), also of Russia, and Alexander Semin (28), also of Russia, celebrate against the Florida Panthers during the final seconds of the third period of a NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 5, 2008, in Washington. The Capitals won 3-1.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)


Washington Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau, top, pumps his fists in the bench area with Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, Nicklas Backstrom, center, of Sweden, and Viktor Kozlov, right, also of Russia, against the Florida Panthers during the final seconds of the third period of a NHL hockey game , Saturday, April 5, 2008, in Washington. The Capitals won 3-1.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)

[Cassie8236]

Watching the last 30 seconds or so of the caps game....that place was CRAZY!!

I was happy they won!

[DropThePuck]

3 - Vanek, T. (PPG, 01:01 in 2nd), Vanek, T. (PPG, 11:38 in 2nd), Vanek, T. (19:17 in 3rd)
0


Goalie Tim Thomas #30 of Boston Bruins takes a drink before facing the Buffalo Sabres at the TD Banknorth Garden April 5, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts.
(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)


Petteri Nokelainen #56 of Boston Bruins defends against Maxim Afinogenov #61 of the Buffalo Sabres at the TD Banknorth Garden April 5, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts.
(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

[Dark Knight]

Luongo chased from the net tonight after the first period During the "Hotstove" feature on HNIC, they speculated that he might want to be traded back to the EC because he doesn't like the WC... double

I think he's starting to define the term overrated for me

[DropThePuck]

1 - Darche, M. (PPG, 03:50 in 2nd)
4 - Holik, B. (05:48 in 1st), Armstrong, C. (15:51 in 3rd), Slater, J. (19:04 in 3rd), Little, B. (19:33 in 3rd)


The Atlanta Thrasher's Mark Recchi (8) edges out The Tampa Bay Lightning's Filip Kuba (71) of the Czech Republic during the third period of a hockey game in Atlanta, Ga. on April 5, 2008.
(AP Photo/ Josh D. Weiss)


The Tampa Bay Lightning's Dan Boyle (22) tries to steal the puck from The Atlanta Thrasher's Eric Perrin (11) during the third period of a hockey game in Atlanta, Ga. on April 5, 2008.
(AP Photo/ Josh D. Weiss)

[DropThePuck]

1 - Bell, M. (18:02 in 2nd)
3 - Streit, M. (09:00 in 2nd), Higgins, C. (14:03 in 2nd), Higgins, C. (PPG, 07:29 in 3rd)


Toronto Maple Leafs' Matt Stajan falls over Montreal Canadiens' Andrei Kostitsyn, from Belarus, during first period NHL hockey action Saturday, April 5, 2008 in Montreal.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson)


Toronto Maple Leafs' defenseman Bryan McCabe, right, hangs on to Montreal Canadiens' Alex Kovalev, from Russia, for a two minute holding penalty during first period NHL hockey action Saturday, April 5, 2008 in Montreal.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson)


Montreal Canadiens' Guillaume Latendresse can't control the rebound in front of Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Andrew Raycroft during first period NHL hockey action Saturday, April 5, 2008 in Montreal.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson)


Toronto Maple Leafs' Dominic Moore, right, gets a glove in the face from Montreal Canadiens' Ryan O'Byrne during second period NHL hockey action Saturday, April 5, 2008 in Montreal.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson)

[DropThePuck]

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Andrew Raycroft looks back at the puck in the net on a goal by Montreal Canadiens' Christopher Higgins, right, as Leafs' Boyd Devereaux looks on during second period NHL hockey action Saturday, April 5, 2008 in Montreal.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson)


Montreal Canadiens' Guillaume Latendresse celebrates a goal by teammate Christopher Higgins past Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Andrew Raycroft during second period NHL hockey action Saturday, April 5, 2008 in Montreal.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson)


Toronto Maple Leafs coach Paul Maurice, center, watches the last minutes of play against the Montreal Canadiens behind John Pohl, left, and Alex Steen during third period NHL hockey action Saturday, April 5, 2008 in Montreal. The Canadiens beat the Leafs 3-1.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press)


Toronto Maple Leafs coach Paul Maurice walks across the ice following his team's 3-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens in NHL hockey action Saturday, April 5, 2008 in Montreal.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson)

[Dark Knight]

Vancouver being ripped by Calgary 7-1 with 1:30 to go. Iginla scored his 50th for the season. This could also be Linden's last in the NHL, and Naslund's last in Vancouver.

All Calgary players stay on the ice to shake hands with Linden. Very classy. He gets a standing ovation from the crowd and takes a lap. I guess this is it for Trevor Linden. His mom and dad in the audience.

Linden gets first star of the game (sentimental star one must admit)... takes another lap...

This just in: According to Eklund, Linden to Anaheim (e4)

[DropThePuck]

7 - Moss, D. (01:33 in 1st), Huselius, K. (09:05 in 1st), Nystrom, E. (16:16 in 1st), Boyd, D. (15:12 in 2nd), Tanguay, A. (09:43 in 3rd), Iginla, J. (12:35 in 3rd), Nystrom, E. (18:18 in 3rd)
1 - Ritchie, B. (08:42 in 1st)


Vancouver Canucks' Kevin Bieksa (3) and Calgary Flames' Eric Nystrom collide along the side boards during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia on Saturday, April 5, 2008.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Richard Lam)


Calgary Flames' David Moss (25) beats Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo to score during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia on Saturday, April 5, 2008.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Richard Lam)

[lvsprt]

Luongo chased from the net tonight after the first period During the "Hotstove" feature on HNIC, they speculated that he might want to be traded back to the EC because he doesn't like the WC... double

I think he's starting to define the term overrated for me

[DropThePuck]

Caps photos from the NHL.com gallery:


{click on images for larger views}

[Cassie8236]

Luongo chased from the net tonight after the first period

This is what he said about last nights game..... nice to know he cared about his team and how they looked infront of their fans.

"I don't really care," Luongo said of the outcome. "My season ended (with the Edmonton loss) Thursday as far as I'm concerned. I tried to bring it tonight, but obviously I didn't have anything in the tank."

TSN

[UltraDavid]

Wow, what an ass! The only real player the Canucks have, and he's willing to say that kind of stuff publicly... I don't envy those fans.

[hockey2k]

Well, I'm not surprized that Lou is a little devil may care about the team that's left him hung out to dry for the last two years...he thought he was being traded to a playoff contender and look where he ends up. I could tell in the first period that he shouldn't have been playing that game though, you could tell from the nosebleed seats that he couldn't give a crap. Same could be said of the entire team though.

Fans after the game were saying "oh, I don't care what the score was, tonight was all about Trevor." Well, I'll tell you one thing, I wouldn't have driven 3 hours north if I had known I'd be watching Trevor Linden Tribute Night instead of a hockey game. I came to see a win, or at the very least a team that wants to win. No effort at all, and after all the effort I put in to get there I was not pleased!! Not even a fight!! It was the wimpiest game ever. Well, I'm through paying the big bucks to see a bunch of millionaires take the night off. Give me Junior hockey any day...at least the kids have passion!!