Newsmakers in the NHL: During the regular season it's our weekday look at the previous night's action and some of the story lines taking place around the league. Have a tip or something you want linked? Send it in to nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.Avalanche 4, Coyotes 1: Peter Budaj missed his first scheduled start of the season after he was diagnosed with swine flu. On Wednesday, he finally had a chance to step on the ice and stopped 28 shots in Colorado's 4-1 win against Phoenix, in what was a battle of early season surprises in the Western Conference.
Milan Hejduk scored a pair of goals for the Avs, who also received tallies from Marek Svatos and David Jones.
The win snaps a two-game losing streak for Colorado, and moves it back into a tie with Pittsburgh for the most points in the NHL with 24.
Wednesday's game was only the fourth time the Avs were not out-shot in a game this season (both teams finished with 29 shots on goal), while Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 25 of 28 shots in the loss for Phoenix. Ed Jovanovski spoiled Budaj's shutout bid at the 9:52 mark of the third period.
Wednesday's Other Games
Devils 3, Capitals 2: Washington dropped its first game without Alex Ovechkin, as Niclas Bergfors scored a pair of power play goals in the third period to lead New Jersey.
Sharks 3, Blue Jackets 2: Steve Mason turned aside 36 shots for Columbus, but it wasn't quite enough as the Blue Jackets dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the Sharks. Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley scored in regulation, while Dan Boyle tallied the only goal in the shootout.
Panthers 3, Hurricanes 0: Another game, another loss for the Hurricanes as they get blanked by Tomas Vokoun and the Panthers. Vokoun stopped 31 shots -- including 21 in the first period -- to earn his second consecutive shutout.
Sabres 3, Islanders 0: Ryan Miller recorded his second shutout of the season as Buffalo ended the Islanders five game winning streak.
Flames 3, Stars 2: Daymond Langkow tied the game with 49 seconds to play in regulation and Jarome Iginla scored his second goal of the game in overtime to lead Calgary to a 3-2 win in Dallas.
Loose Pucks
-- The NHL handed out some discipline following the chaos that unfolded during Tuesday's Rangers-Canucks game. New York head coach John Tortorella has been fined, and Dane Byers has been suspended one game for instigating a fight late in the third period. [Blueshirt Banter]
-- The league-wide run on injuries continues -- though, this isn't exactly a new one -- as Atlanta Thrashers goaltender Kari Lehtonen is going to miss six-to-eight weeks following back surgery. He has yet to play this season. [TSN]
Video Of The Day
Daymond Langkow's game-tying goal with less than a minute to play in the third period:
Thursday's Key Games
Bruins vs. Canadiens: One of the best rivalries in hockey gets renewed when Boston and Montreal meet for the first time this season. The two teams met in the playoffs each of the past two seasons, with each club winning once. The Canadiens have lost nine straight games to the Bruins.
Sharks vs. Red Wings: San Jose carries a six-game winning streak into The Motor City on Thursday night, and has allowed just nine goals during its current run.
Penguins vs. Kings: Exciting matchup in Los Angeles as the Penguins put their unbeaten road record on the line against the league's leading scorer, Anze Kopitar, and the rest of the Kings.
