The Detroit Red Wings took advantage of the shootout to win three times during their NHL-record, 23-game home winning streak. Detroit's good fortune in the one-on-one duels ran out and its run ended against the Vancouver Canucks. Alex Burrows scored the only goal in a shootout, which was made possible when Daniel Sedin scored his second goal of the game with 15.4 seconds left in regulation, to...
No. 1 Star: Devan Dubnyk, Edmonton Oilers
Dubnyk kept the Philadelphia Flyers at bay all night with a 35-save performance earning him his 12th win of the year in a 2-0 Oilers win. Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall scored both Edmonton goals in the second period. The shutout was Dubnyk's first of the season and third of his career.
No. 2 Star: Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks
Marleau's 24th and 25 goals of the year came in the game's opening 10:43 and were the only tallies for the Sharks in their 2-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Marleau's first of the night came just 32 seconds into the game that helped drop the Leafs to their seventh loss in eight games. Antti Niemi made 29 saves to record just his second win in his last eight starts.
No. 3 Star: Andrew Ladd, Winnipeg Jets
The Jets captain scored twice in the opening two periods as they built up a 4-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning and held on for a 4-3 win. It was the second straight two-goal game for Ladd, who also assisted on Dustin Byfuglien's 10th of the year to make it 4-0.
Honorable mention: Ray Whitney scored in regulation, assisted on another and put home the only goal in the shootout as the Phoenix Coyoted downed the Calgary Flames 4-3 to win for the ninth time in 10 games. Mike Smith made 21 saves for his ninth straight win ... Corey Perry recorded his third straight 30-goal season and eighth goal in nine games as the Anaheim Ducks slipped by the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in a shootout. Saku Koivu netted the only goal in the skills competition and Jonas Hiller stopped 30 shots ... The game marked the 2,900th in the career of Hurricanes broadcaster Chuck Kaiton ... Matt Cullen scored in regulation and later in the shootout as the Minnesota Wild edged the Florida Panthers 3-2. Niklas Backstrom made 41 saves ... Stephen Weiss played in his 614th game with the Panthers, passing Radek Dvorak on the franchise's all-time list ... Vladimir Sobotka tied things at two with under seven minutes to play and T.J. Oshie and Andy McDonald both scored in the shootout as the St. Louis Blues beat the Nashville Predators 3-2. Jaroslav Halak made 25 saves for his fourth win in six starts ... Ryan Malone has your assist of the night with this sweet between-the-legs dish to Steven Stamkos:
Steve Ott, Michael Ryder and Loui Eriksson all scored third period goals for the Dallas Stars as they defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1. Richard Bachman stopped 26 shots as the Stars ended Chicago's four-game winning streak ... Daniel Sedin's second goal of the night with 15.4 seconds in regulation forced overtime and Alex Burrows would later pot the shootout winner as the Vancouver Canucks got by the Detroit Red Wings 4-3. Henrik Sedin, of course, assisted on both of Daniel's goals and Roberto Luongo made 33 saves ... Darren Helm recorded three points in the loss for Detroit. Kyle Quincey scored in his first game since being acquired by the Red Wings.
Fight of the Night: Jody Shelley vs. Darcy Hordichuk:
Did you know? The Ducks have earned 36 points since January 1, tied with Detroit for the most in the NHL. (@AnaheimDucks)
Dishonorable mention: The loss ends the Red Wings' 23-game winning streak at Joe Louis Arena. Their last defeat at home came on Nov. 3 against Calgary ... Mathieu Garon lasted just 22 minutes for the Lightning, allowing four goals on 18 shots ... Finally, Scott Hannan may have a few sleepless nights after this turnover:
The Vancouver Canucks ended the Detroit Red Wings' historic home winning streak at 23 games Thursday, defeating the Wings 4-3 in a shootout. The winner was scored by Alex Burrows, who celebrated the streak-ending goal in reminiscent fashion, pretending to break a stick over his knee, just as he did after a very similar big goal four years ago.
Here's Burrows, beating Jimmy Howard with his go-to backhand deke to win the game for Vancouver:
You'll notice that, after the goal, he curls around to the boards and feigns breaking his stick over his knee.
The gesture is a familiar one to Canuck fans. In 2008, with the team mired in an 8-game losing streak and 1:30 to go in a 3-3 tie versus the Carolina Hurricanes, Burrows broke in alone, shorthanded, and scored the eventual game-winner using the exact same deke -- and then he celebrated in the exact same way.
Of course, in that case, it was the Canucks' own streak they were breaking, not someone else's. When you break someone else's streak then celebrate like this, isn't it just showboating?
While we're talking about this, to anyone complaining that the Wings' streak ended in a skills competition: it was made possible by the same skills competition. Either there's asterisks everywhere or there's none anywhere. I'm in the latter camp.
It was an incredible streak and now it's over. That is all. As the saying goes: live by the arbitrary skills competition, die by the arbitrary skills competition.
Here are your Puck Previews: Spotlighting the key games in NHL action, news and views as well as general frivolity. Make sure to stop back here for the nightly Three Stars when the games are finished.
• The first step in an east coast/west coast mascot war equivalent to Biggie versus Tupac. [Getty]
Preview: San Jose Sharks at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET. The Sharks are currently fighting for their playoff lives as they sit tied with the Phoenix Coyotes at 69 points atop the Pacific Division and enter tonight's game against the Leafs losers of their last four and nine of 11 on the road. Toronto is in a similar battle but are clinging to eighth in the Eastern Conference with four teams behind them within six points.
Preview: Vancouver Canucks at Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. ET. Next up to attempt to snap Detroit's 24-game win streak at Joe Louis Arena are the team sitting right behind the Red Wings for No. 1 overall in the NHL. Vancouver holds the most road wins (20) in the league and have a game in hand behind the Western Conference-leading Wings.
Preview: St. Louis Blues at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m. ET. A night after St. Louis' 22-game home point streak ended, their opponents look to extend one of their own. The Predators have picked up at least a point in their last nine games at Bridgestone Arena and with a regulation win will move to within a point of the Blues for fourth in the West.
Preview: Phoenix Coyotes at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m. ET. Despite the muck surrounding their future off the ice, on the ice the Coyotes are playing their best hockey of the season. Winners of eight of their last 10 and led by Radim Vrbata and his 30 goals, Phoenix has played themselves into the top-8 in the West and a win coupled with a San Jose loss would give them the Pacific Division lead. The Flames currently sit just outside the West playoff picture, but a win puts them into eighth ahead of the Los Angeles Kings.
Check out previews and updated scores for all of today's games on the Y! Sports NHL scores and scheds page. For tonight's starting goalies, check out Left Wing Lock.
Evening Reading
• After today's blog post about a press conference room inside Nationwide Arena being expanded for what appeared to be preparation for something, Aaron Portzline reports that the Columbus Blue Jackets and Los Angeles Kings are deep in talks about a deal that may go down tonight involving Jeff Carter. Not involved? Jonathan Bernier. [@APortzline]
• Nick Cotsonika on why Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson should wait until the summer to deal Rick Nash. [Y!]
• Stephen Weiss will play in his franchise-record 614th game with the Florida Panthers. Here are some Stephen Weiss "facts", courtesy of fans. [Panthers]
• Vancouver Canucks forward David Booth returns to his hometown of Detroit tonight and he'll have plenty of friends and family in attendance at Joe Louis Arena, including his brother, who's supposedly going to dress up as one of the Green Men. [Vancouver Sun]
• Debating Alex Goligoski versus Matt Niskanen one year after the deal. [Defending Big D]
Puck Daddy Reader Comment of the Day: Galen on Jonathan Toews' car accident today:
"He was talking to Peggy from USA Prime Credit. Juke to the left, high glove side….Doh he hits the post."
Bold Prediction: Detroit wins again and Radim Vrbata scores again.
May 17, 2012No Comments
May 17, 2012No Comments
May 17, 2012No Comments
May 17, 2012No Comments
May 17, 2012No Comments
February 20, 20121,295 Comments
February 15, 20121 Comment
March 2, 20121 Comment
January 28, 2012No Comments
February 5, 2012No Comments
February 20, 20121,295 Comments
February 15, 20121 Comment
March 2, 20121 Comment
January 28, 2012No Comments
February 5, 2012No Comments
May 17, 2012No Comments
May 17, 2012No Comments
May 17, 2012No Comments
May 17, 2012No Comments
May 17, 2012No Comments
86 days ago
86 days ago
86 days ago
Recent Comments