NHL Today: Canadiens Win Again, Pulling Away From Thrashers
Also: Avs Lose, Tie For First
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Canadiens 6, Penguins 5
PITTSBURGH (Sports Network) -- Chris Higgins and Alex Kovalev scored two goals apiece as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, 6-5, at Mellon Arena. Michael Ryder registered a goal and an assist and David Aebischer made 30 saves for Montreal, which has won three straight and four of its last five. Radek Bonk added his fifth tally of the season and Saku Koivu notched three assists for the Habs. With 79 points the Canadiens, who are seeking their first back-to-back playoff appearances since 1997-98, are currently tied with the Devils for seventh in the East, are three points ahead of the Atlanta Thrashers. Colby Armstrong scored twice, Noah Welch tallied a goal and an assist and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 19 shots for Pittsburgh, which has dropped three of its last four games. John LeClair and Tomas Surovy added a goal apiece for the Pens.Oilers 4, Avalanche 3 (SO)
DENVER -- Dwayne Roloson made 31 saves and stopped all three shooters in the shootout, as the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Colorado Avalanche, 4-3, at the Pepsi Center. Sergei Samsonov was the only player to score in the shootout and Ryan Smyth, Steve Staios and Jarret Stoll scored a goal each for the Oilers, who have won two straight since a three-game skid. Milan Hejduk and Andrew Brunette tallied a goal and an assist each and Peter Budaj stopped 24 shots for Colorado, which has lost two of its last three games. Jim Dowd also scored for the Avs. Despite gaining just a point in the shootout loss, Colorado jumped into a first-place tie with Calgary atop the Northwest Division standings with 86 points apiece. The Oilers are in seventh place in the Western Conference, two points in front of Vancouver and San Jose, who are tied for eighth.Flames 3, Stars 2
DALLAS -- Jason Arnott netted the game-winner in the second period to lead the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 win over the Calgary Flames at the American Airlines Center. Mike Modano and Niko Kapanen netted the other goals and Marty Turco made 17 saves to pick up his league-leading 38th win of the season for the Stars, who have won three straight and seven of their last eight contests.Dallas, which leads the Pacific Division, currently has 99 points and trails Detroit by four for the top spot in the Western Conference and overall in the NHL. Jordan Leopold had a goal and an assist and Jamie Lundmark scored the other goal for the Flames, who have lost two straight and three of their last four games. Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 20 shots for Calgary, which fell into a first-place tie with Colorado for the top spot in the Northwest Division. Colorado lost to Edmonton, 4-3, in a shootout.Sharks 5, Blackhawks 4 (OT)
CHICAGO -- Tom Preissing scored the game-winning goal with 3:36 left in overtime as the San Jose Sharks downed the Chicago Blackhawks, 5-4, at the United Center. Mark Smith totaled one goal and one assist while Thornton assisted on three goals for the Sharks, who have now won back-to-back games and four of their last five. Vesa Toskala turned away 30 shots in the win. Radim Vrbata recorded a four-point game as he scored two goals and helped out on two others. Mark Cullen picked up two assists and Michael Holmqvist tallied a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks, who have now dropped their last five games. Khabibulin let in five goals on 35 San Jose shots.Maple Leafs 4, Devils 3
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Matt Stajan scored the eventual game- winner to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils at Continental Airlines Arena. Mats Sundin, Chad Kilger and Kyle Wellwood netted goals and Jean-Sebastien Aubin stopped 35 shots in the win for the Maple Leafs, who snapped a two-game slide. Toronto has 72 points and now trails New Jersey and Montreal by seven points for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Scott Gomez had a goal and an assist and Erik Rasmussen and Patrik Elias netted goals for the slumping Devils, who have dropped four of their last five games. Martin Brodeur stopped 26 shots in the loss for New Jersey, which with 79 points is now tied for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with Montreal.
PITTSBURGH (Sports Network) -- Chris Higgins and Alex Kovalev scored two goals apiece as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, 6-5, at Mellon Arena. Michael Ryder registered a goal and an assist and David Aebischer made 30 saves for Montreal, which has won three straight and four of its last five. Radek Bonk added his fifth tally of the season and Saku Koivu notched three assists for the Habs. With 79 points the Canadiens, who are seeking their first back-to-back playoff appearances since 1997-98, are currently tied with the Devils for seventh in the East, are three points ahead of the Atlanta Thrashers. Colby Armstrong scored twice, Noah Welch tallied a goal and an assist and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 19 shots for Pittsburgh, which has dropped three of its last four games. John LeClair and Tomas Surovy added a goal apiece for the Pens.Oilers 4, Avalanche 3 (SO)
DENVER -- Dwayne Roloson made 31 saves and stopped all three shooters in the shootout, as the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Colorado Avalanche, 4-3, at the Pepsi Center. Sergei Samsonov was the only player to score in the shootout and Ryan Smyth, Steve Staios and Jarret Stoll scored a goal each for the Oilers, who have won two straight since a three-game skid. Milan Hejduk and Andrew Brunette tallied a goal and an assist each and Peter Budaj stopped 24 shots for Colorado, which has lost two of its last three games. Jim Dowd also scored for the Avs. Despite gaining just a point in the shootout loss, Colorado jumped into a first-place tie with Calgary atop the Northwest Division standings with 86 points apiece. The Oilers are in seventh place in the Western Conference, two points in front of Vancouver and San Jose, who are tied for eighth.Flames 3, Stars 2
DALLAS -- Jason Arnott netted the game-winner in the second period to lead the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 win over the Calgary Flames at the American Airlines Center. Mike Modano and Niko Kapanen netted the other goals and Marty Turco made 17 saves to pick up his league-leading 38th win of the season for the Stars, who have won three straight and seven of their last eight contests.Dallas, which leads the Pacific Division, currently has 99 points and trails Detroit by four for the top spot in the Western Conference and overall in the NHL. Jordan Leopold had a goal and an assist and Jamie Lundmark scored the other goal for the Flames, who have lost two straight and three of their last four games. Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 20 shots for Calgary, which fell into a first-place tie with Colorado for the top spot in the Northwest Division. Colorado lost to Edmonton, 4-3, in a shootout.Sharks 5, Blackhawks 4 (OT)
CHICAGO -- Tom Preissing scored the game-winning goal with 3:36 left in overtime as the San Jose Sharks downed the Chicago Blackhawks, 5-4, at the United Center. Mark Smith totaled one goal and one assist while Thornton assisted on three goals for the Sharks, who have now won back-to-back games and four of their last five. Vesa Toskala turned away 30 shots in the win. Radim Vrbata recorded a four-point game as he scored two goals and helped out on two others. Mark Cullen picked up two assists and Michael Holmqvist tallied a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks, who have now dropped their last five games. Khabibulin let in five goals on 35 San Jose shots.Maple Leafs 4, Devils 3
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Matt Stajan scored the eventual game- winner to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils at Continental Airlines Arena. Mats Sundin, Chad Kilger and Kyle Wellwood netted goals and Jean-Sebastien Aubin stopped 35 shots in the win for the Maple Leafs, who snapped a two-game slide. Toronto has 72 points and now trails New Jersey and Montreal by seven points for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Scott Gomez had a goal and an assist and Erik Rasmussen and Patrik Elias netted goals for the slumping Devils, who have dropped four of their last five games. Martin Brodeur stopped 26 shots in the loss for New Jersey, which with 79 points is now tied for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with Montreal.
