Gameday vs. Buffalo, Tonights Games

Finally, after 4 days of being off and 12 days since their last home game the Minnesota Wild will play tonight against the Buffalo Sabres. Only new news coming today is that Owen Nolan is skating with the team and most likely will play on Saturday against the Blue Jackets. Like I wrote yesterday, Zidlicky will be making his Wild debut tonight and Bouchard will be in. Tonight's game won't be easy, seeing as the Sabres have been hot as of late, but if our guys can keep out of the box and get some early offense, they'll have a good night.

Tonight's Games
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins, 6:00pm CT
Dallas Stars vs. New York Islanders, 6:00pm CT
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 6:30pm CT
Calgary Flames vs. Nashville Predators, 7:00pm CT
Buffalo Sabres vs. Minnesota Wild, 7:00pm CT
Edmonton Oilers vs. Colorado Avalanche, 8:30pm CT
Washington Capitals vs. Phoenix Coyotes, 9:00pm CT

Read more...

Tonight's Games: Results

Buffalo Sabres, 3 vs. New York Rangers, 1
The New York Rangers were handed their first loss by the Buffalo Sabres as they lost 3-1, with their only goal coming from Scott Gomez. Ryan Miller made 17 saves to get the win, while Thomas Vanek scored two goals and Ales Kotalik stopped the Rangers' 23 consecutive penalty kills with a powerplay goal in second to tie the game at 1-1.

Boston Bruins, 3 vs. Montreal Canadiens, 4 SO
How about the Montreal Canadiens who blew a 3-0 lead but winds up winning the game against the Boston Bruins in a shootout with a goal from Tanguay in the shootout and Carey Price stopping all 3 Bruins shooter, including the last shooter former-Canadien Michael Ryder (who was booed every time he touched the puck).

Phoenix Coyotes, 1 vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 4
The Chicago Blackhawks get their first win of the season as they beat the Phoenix Coyotes 4-1 at home. Nikolai Khabibulin made 29 saves en route toward the win as Brian Campbell and Colin Fraser score their first goals as Blackhawks (Fraser's first in the NHL), along with goals from Patrick Sharp and Martin Havlat. Peter Mueller scored for the Coyotes, his first of the season.

Nashville Predators, 4 vs. Dallas Stars, 6
There were a lot of first NHL goals as Patric Hornqvist and former Minnesota Wild draft pick Ryan Jones scored their first NHL goals, and Fabian Brunnstrom scored his first goal, along with his second, and his third in a closely contested game against the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars, in which the Stars get their first win of the season. It is only the third time in NHL history that a rookie has scored a hat trick in his first NHL game (I guess that's why there was all that hype about him during the offseason). Nashville also got goals from Martin Erat and Radek Bonk, while Dallas got their other goals from Mike Modano (2 goals) and Stephane Robidas.

Edmonton Oilers, 3 vs. Anaheim Ducks, 2
Jonas Hiller was strong in his season debut in goal, but his offense was not able to convert on their scoring chances, losing to the Edmonton Oilers 3 – 2, and remaining one of only two NHL teams to have not registered a point in the season (Colorado is the other team).

My 3 Stars of the Night:
1. Fabian Brunnstrom, 3 goals
2. Nikolai Khabibulin, 29 out of 30 saves
3. Thomas Vanek, 2 goals (1PPG, 1SHG)

In other news: anyone find it weird that the first guest on NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's radio show NHL Hour is Whoopi Goldberg? The NHL says that she's a long time NHL fan, but have you ever heard her talk hockey?

~ FOTW

Read more...