Ahh... Hockey Night in Canada... I love Saturday nights... I just wish I could get more of them off work... 12 games tonight, a veritable buffet, to fulfill your hockey appetite.
In an afternoon tilt between the Rangers, and Devils of Jersey City, a Petr Prucha shootout goal was the difference, as the Rangers won 3-2.
In the other afternoon game, two shootout goals, care of off season pick up's Pavol Demitra and Jeremy Roenick, had the LA Kings, win 3-2 over the quickly sliding Preds.
The dominant Senators continued their... um... dominance... with a 6-0 whoopin' over the Isles. Daniel Alfredsson with 3 points, and Dominik Hasek with (another) shut-out. Don't worry Leaf fans, remember, THIS IS ONLY THE REGULAR SEASON. ;-) (Someone beat me for that later...)
Speaking of the Leafs, Mats Sundin made his return, and in a big way, picking up a goal and assist, in a 5-3 win, over the Lightning. Jeff O'Neil also had a goal and assist in the win, as did Vinny Lecavalier, in a losing cause.
A Simon Gagne hat-trick, as well as an assist, for the Flyers, brought them a 4-3 victory over Atlanta. The hat-trick, brings Gagne to an NHL leading 15 goals, on the season, and wins him the Hockeyleaks Player of the Night Award, for November 5th.
Joe Thornton, and Jiri Slegr both with 2 goals, and an assist, brought victory for the Bruins of Beantown, in a 6-3 win over Mario, and his Penguins.
Martin Gerber blanked the Panthers, for a 2-0 win for his Carolina Hurricanes, who continue their dominance at home.
Alexei Kovalev had 2 goals, in a 3-2 Montreal win, over the visiting Sabres. Saku Koivu, (2 A) Andrei Markov, (2 A), and Richard Zednik (1 G 1 A), all had 2 points for the Habs as well.
The always mighty, Goliath-esq Red Wings, were slayed tonight, by the David-ish, Coyotes, 4-1. Mike Leclerc, Mike Comrie, and Ladislav Nagy, each with 2 points for the Yotes.
Sergei Zubov, and Jussi Jokinen each scored in a shootout win over the Avalance. Final Score: Dallas 3, Colorado 2.
A Marcus Nilson goal, was all that was needed in a 1-0 Calgary victory over Western Canada rivals, Vancouver. Miikka Kiprusoff making 23 saves, in the shutout.
Nolan Schaefer had his shut-out streak of 143:21, between goals, snapped, in a 3-1 loss to Minnesota. Schaefer's streak is the second longest in Sharks history, to Evgeni Nabokov's 145:07 minute streak. Brian Rolston scored into an empty net, to complete the hat-trick, and Dwayne Roloson with 35 saves for the Wild.
That's all for recapping tonight's games. Ok... time to take a breath.
On the rumor side, there seems to be alot of talk about Keith Tkachuk going to one of Phoenix, or Calgary. Going to Calgary, makes some sense to me, since there, he 'could' play with Tony Amonte, whom he played with for the Coyotes a few years back. But, I don't see him being moved, simply because of his contract. As huge as it is.
Anyway... any disgruntled Sens fans, any questions, any comments, ryanc@hockeyleaks.com. Later.
