Month: December 2009

Scoring summaries from Sunday’s NHL games:Flames 2 at Avalanche 3First Period1. Colorado, Wolski 13 (Stewart, Quincey) 13:05 (pp)Penalties – McGrattan Cal, Koci Col (fighting) 1:52, Glencross Cal (hooking) 5:39, Johnson Cal (elbowing) 11:09, Glencross Cal (double high-sticking) 12:20, Iginla Cal, Mcleod Col (fighting), Kronwall Cal (holding) 17:08

DENVER – With a new coach and a young squad, the Colorado Avalanche were picked by many prognosticators to finish in the back of the pack.Way back – just as they did last season

CHICAGO – Antti Niemi is taking full advantage of his limited time in goal for the Chicago Blackhawks.Niemi made 18 saves for his third shutout in seven starts this season, and Marian Hossa had a goal and an assist in Chicago’s 4-0 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday night

TORONTO – The Ricoh Coliseum felt like home Sunday – maybe not to the Toronto Marlies, but certainly to a pair of forwards who used to play for them

HAMILTON, Ont. – The Hamilton Bulldogs solved a hot goalie, while the Abbotsford Heat couldn’t.Cedrick Desjardins continued his scoring play of late, turning aside 20 shots as the Bulldogs blanked the Heat 3-0 in AHL action on Sunday afternoon

DENVER – Avalanche forward Milan Hejduk will miss Colorado’s game against the Calgary Flames with a knee injury.The team also will be without right wing Marek Svatos, who is hampered by a groin injury

Scoring summaries from Saturday’s NHL games:Capitals 3 at Maple Leafs 6First Period1. Washington, Ovechkin 21 (Green, Fleischmann) 2:00 (pp)2

LOS ANGELES – The rule is clear when it comes to penalty shots and shootout chances: No goals on rebounds. It has to be one continuous motion

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Henrik Sedin says he hasn’t played much basketball, but you wouldn’t know it by how the Vancouver Canucks centre was dishing behind-the-back passes on Saturday night

TORONTO – Sometimes statistics don’t tell the whole story and Saturday night’s tilt between the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs is a perfect example

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Phoenix Coyotes have discovered a winning formula.Take a lead, then let Ilya Bryzgalov take over.It worked again Saturday night, as Radim Vrbata and Robert Lang scored in the second period and Bryzgalov made the goals stand up in a 2-1 victory over the Western Conference-leading San Jose Sharks, who have lost a season-worst five in a row

NASHVILLE – Different night, different city, same hero.Todd Bertuzzi scored in regulation and overtime for the second straight night, giving the Detroit Red Wings a 3-2 victory over Nashville on Saturday night

PITTSBURGH – Finally playing at full strength, the Pittsburgh Penguins still needed to go past regulation to beat the pesky Florida Panthers

ATLANTA – The seventh power play was the magic number for Ilya Kovalchuk and the Atlanta Thrashers.The Thrashers needed overtime to finally solve Montreal’s penalty kill, with Kovalchuk’s goal from the left circle in the extra period giving Atlanta a 4-3 victory over the Canadiens on Saturday night

NORFOLK, Va. – Brandon Bochenski scored a pair of power-play goals and added an assist as the Norfolk Admirals edged the Manitoba Moose 5-4 in American Hockey League action Saturday

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – The New York Islanders made themselves right at home after a long road trip.Dwayne Roloson made 17 of his 30 saves in the third period to help force overtime and Frans Nielsen scored on a breakaway 24 seconds into the extra period to give the Islanders a 3-2 victory over Boston on Saturday night, snapping a three-game losing streak

NEW YORK – Patrick Kaleta’s hard work on his shot is paying off. His lavish celebrations are getting better, too.Known more for his grit than his offensive touch, Kaleta scored twice, including the tiebreaking goal in the second period, and the Buffalo Sabres shook off an uncharacteristic rough beginning by Ryan Miller in a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday night

OTTAWA – It had been a long time since Alex Kovalev had something to celebrate.He made up for it Saturday night.Kovalev scored three times – including the 400th of his career – as the Ottawa Senators defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2

TORONTO – Even though they still occupy 14th spot in the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Maple Leafs clearly believe they’re for real.It’s not just that Saturday’s 6-3 victory came over the league-leading Washington Capitals and gave the Leafs three straight wins at Air Canada Centre for the first time in almost two years

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Dan Sexton’s excellent adventure continued and the Anaheim Ducks didn’t let another game slip away late.Sexton, Bobby Ryan and Corey Perry scored goals, and Jonas Hiller stopped 35 shots to power the Ducks past the Columbus Blue Jackets, 3-1 on Saturday night