New Jersey Devils 2; Toronto Maple Leafs 1 (OT)
It’s been a long time coming; but Jacques Lemaire got his 600th win making him one of only seven others that have accomplished that feat.
Now 11-1-2 in their last fourteen games the Devils have not given up after going 10-29-2 to start the season. It took a long time to get started but Ilya Kovalchuk has five goals (ten points) in his last eight games including the game winner in overtime in Toronto.
Carolina Hurricanes 1; Philadelphia Flyers 2
In a night of one goal games the Flyers were the only ones that did not need extra time to come out on top. All of the goal scoring took place in the third period. Jeff Carter opened the scoring 18 seconds into the third with a power play goal and Danny Briere gave the Flyers a 2-0 lead little over halfway though the third. It looked as though the Flyers were going to do something they have not done all season – get shutout. No such luck as Hurricanes Tuomo Ruutu snuck one past Flyers goaltender Brian Boucher after a feed from Chad LaRose.
Los Angeles Kings 1; Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (OT)
Just the opposite of the Hurricanes/Flyers game all the regulation scoring between the Kings and Penguins took place in the first period. Pittsburgh took an early lead as Brett Sterling got past Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick. Jarret Stoll scored http://www.theroyalhalf.com/ the only goal for the Kings at the 17:17 mark of the first. There may not have been any scoring in the second but there were two fights. At the 7:38 mark in the second Kings’ Kevin Westgarth and Penguins Deryk Engelland took five minute fighting majors only to be followed up by Wayne Simmonds (Kings) and Ryan Craig (Penguins) at the 13:12 mark. It was not until just under the two minute mark of over time that Jordan Staal got a wrist shot past Quick to decide the game.
New York Islanders 4; Montreal Canadiens 3 (SO)
Mikko Koskinen got his second NHL start last night – this time planned and not a last minute change after / yet another Islanders goaltending injury. Koskinen stopped 37 shots and then beat the Canadiens in a shootout in Montreal – the house that was home to countryman Saku Koivu for years. Not a bad way to get your first NHL win. The game started rought with seven penalties handed out in the first period – the Canadiens coming off of a highly emotionally changed loss to fellow Original Six Boston Bruins (who play yet another Original Six rival the Detroit Red Wings tonight). Islanders Kyle Okposo was the only one to get pasted a goaltender in the shootout.
Buffalo Sabres 3; Florida Panthers 2 (OT)
The is not over – until it is over. It took until the 4:55 mark of overtime to declare Buffalo as the winner. Last seasons Calder winner for rookie of the year Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers ripped a shot off and got past Panthers goaltender Tomas Vokoun. Both Vokoun and Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller had 24 saves on the night.
Up into the Netting
Dmitry Chesnokov brings to light the new look of Russian names. Yevgeni Malkin is not a jersey foul.
Speaking of Malkin – he and Chris Kunitz were placed on IR by the Penguins. Malkin underwent knee surgery on his ACL/MCL injuries yesterday morning and is out the rest of the season. Kunitz is out with a lower body injury and is not elgible for return until Feb 16 vs. Colorado.
Senators traded Mike Fisher to the Predators for a first round pick and a conditional pick. Not surprised that Fisher went to Nashville – was only a matter of time with his wife being country music star Carrie Underwood.
The Hockey Writers own Jim Neveau weights in on the Volchenkov and Cooke suspensions.
Avalanche goaltender Craig Anderson returned to Colorado without the team taking personal leave.
Charm City Cakes made a cake for the New York Rangers… You have to see this to believe it… Charm City Cakes is the featured bakery on Food Networks Ace of Cakes.
Ever left a nasty note on a blog? A news article? What about to someone on Twitter that you did not agree with?
In Florida beating the bitter northern winter? Looking for something to do other than enjoying the sun, the beach, the relaxation? Florida Panthers rookies Evgeny Dadonov and Keaton Ellerby will be at Skatezone in Lake Worth tomorrow (Feb 12) signing autographs at 5:00 p.m. local time.
