NHL FanHouse

2-on-1: Playoff Pretenders & Contenders

Christopher Botta — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Bruins, Coyotes, Ducks, Lightning, Senators, Thrashers

Every Monday during the season two of our hockey writers will debate one topic. It's the 2-on-1. This week, Chris Botta and Adam Gretz break down who's for real and who isn't at the quarter-pole of the NHL season.

Chris Botta: In dealing with contenders and pretenders, Adam, let's start off with a pair of teams that no one in our business had sniffing the playoffs. I'm talking, of course, about the Colorado Avalanche and the New York Islanders. My position is that we are still at least another 20 games away from knowing if they are legitimate contenders for playoff berths. However, both should be congratulated for already making something of their seasons when everyone thought they'd be playing for Taylor Hall. Do you think the Avalanche and Islanders are for real as playoff contenders?

Adam Gretz: Yeah, I figured the draft lottery would be the only thing these teams would be playing for this season, but if I had to pick one as a serious playoff contender right now, I think I'd still lean toward Colorado, even with their rough stretch over the past two weeks.

I think the Islanders deserve a ton of credit for what they've been able to do this season because even when they're not winning, they're still in just about every game. But when I look at the roster I just don't see a serious playoff contender. At least not yet. Especially in a division that has Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New Jersey and the Rangers. I just can't see the Islanders competing with that group all season, especially with some of the other improved teams around the Eastern Conference.

"I said to captain Shane Doan, 'I don't think you guys are The Little Team That Could.' He said, 'Shush, don't tell anyone. I know we've got a good team, but we don't want anyone to know it.'"
-- Christopher Botta on the Coyotes' Solid Start Of course, that's not to say that Colorado is a slam-dunk playoff team, either, but of the two, I think the Avs have a better shot. Especially since they don't have to compete with the Atlantic Division teams.

Chris Botta: I agree that the 'Lanche have the better shot of the two teams right now. Unless Garth Snow decides to use -- or is allowed to use -- the $147 million in cap space he has to acquire a veteran defenseman and maybe also a solid forward, the Islanders are not quite ready for prime time. That's far from the end of the world. Thanks to John Tavares being even better as a 19-year-old than most thought, the Islanders are actually ahead of schedule.

There are three other teams in the East surpassing expectations: Ottawa, Tampa Bay and Atlanta. My feeling is the Lightning are the least surprising. When your lineup starts with three studs like Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos and Vincent Lecavalier, as long as you get decent goaltending you should be able to contend for a seventh or eighth seed. Cory Clouston has done a fine job with the Senators, and that's with Jason Spezza not scoring. I'm telling you, Adam, I don't know how much you have seen of the Thrashers, but they are fun to watch. I'll admit that part of me is rooting for them because John Anderson's style has a lot of entertainment value.

Are you a true believer in Ottawa, Tampa Bay or Atlanta? I should add that it's hard to get a read these days. Let's face it: with the shootout, a record like the Bolts' unwieldy 8-4-7 doesn't always provide the most accurate picture.

Adam Gretz: Of the three teams you mentioned, I'm definitely a believer in Atlanta. Before the season I had them as a contender for the No. 8 playoff spot (and John Anderson was my sleeper for coach of the year). Not saying they'll get in, but I think they can hang around, especially if they keep Kovalchuk (even if it's a Jay Bouwmeester-desperation attempt that ends up blowing up in their faces). I think their top-four on defense is as good as they've ever had, and Maxim Afinogenov is actually scoring some goals. If they ever get Bryan Little going again I think this could absolutely be a dangerous team at the bottom of the playoff picture.

I think the biggest surprise out of those three, to me, is Ottawa. Here's a team that didn't have any offense to speak of a season ago when they had a two-time 50-goal scorer in the lineup. Take Dany Heatley's production out of that equation and I figured the bottom would just fall out. Mike Fisher has had a nice bounceback season, and Michalek seems like he's starting to settle in as well.

Still, at the quarter point, if I had to rank them in order of playoff probability I think I'd go 1) Atlanta, 2) Ottawa, 3) Tampa Bay.

Chris Botta: This is the part of our conversation where I'd want to take a reverse-angle look and talk about the teams in the East we thought would be good but are near the bottom of the pack. Fact is, there aren't any. The only top-talent team that has only been so-so is Boston, but for all the Bruins' struggles they are 10-8-2 and in the top eight. When they get Marc Savard back, they should climb higher. So let's move on to the West.

Besides Colorado, the other happy surprise in Phoenix. While the Coyotes are a nice Cinderella tale for their Slap Shot, who-ownz-the-team existence, a record of 13-9-2 seems about right for them. They have talent, experience and one of the best goalies in Ilya Bryzgalov.

When they were in New York a few weeks ago, about a half-dozen reporters showed up at the Coyotes' morning skate at the Garden to write the obligatory stories about how they're overcoming the odds and some unique circumstances. I said to captain Shane Doan, "I don't think you guys are the Little Team That Could." He said, "Shush, don't tell anyone. I know we've got a good team, but we don't want anyone to know it."

Adam Gretz: Funny you mention the Coyotes and people showing up to write about them. I saw them in Pittsburgh during the second week of the season and there was nobody there covering them. I think the post-game locker room session had me, an AP reporter and one Phoenix radio guy. It was almost as if people had already given up on them.

For me, I'm kind of shocked by the slow starts from Anaheim and St. Louis. With the Blues, they overcame injuries to just about every player on the roster last year (or so it seemed) and found themselves in the top-six of the Western Conference. I figured that with a healthy team, young guys having another year of experience (playoff experience) under their belts would be huge. But here we are. I'm not sure if it can be blamed on the European hangover or expectations that might have been too high coming in, but a .500 record isn't what I had this team pegged at. Not at all. On the plus side, David Perron is starting to pick it up but guys like Patrick Berglund and T.J. Oshie have been rather large disappointments.

Speaking of which, what's up with the Anaheim Ducks? Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry are looking great, but they currently have the worst record in the Western Conference, third-worst overall. This is a team that knocked out the team that won the Presidents Trophy last year, and took Detroit to a Game 7. I think in the long run the Chris Pronger trade could really benefit them, not only with Luca Sbisa, but the boatload of first-round picks, but in the short term their defense has gone from a rather menacing group to one that is far less intimidating.

Chris Botta: You nailed it, Adam. There are several nice surprises this year -- Colorado and the rest of the team we've mentioned. The Ducks are really the only major disappointment so far. Wouldn't it be something if they decide to re-tool and move Scott Niedermayer to a contender for another package of picks and prospects, like they got for Pronger? On the bright side, Anaheim could re-build in two trades. I don't like their chances of turning around their season in a significant way. When Niedermayer started thinking about a trade and Jean-Sebastian Giguere said he'd rather retire than be a backup -- I would love to see the Ducks call his bluff -- it just doesn't seem to be their season.

Rapid Fire time. Individual performances at the quarter pole:

Biggest Surprises: Chris -- Matt Moulson, Maxim Afinogenov; Adam -- Moulson, of course, and Dustin Penner.

Biggest Duds: Chris -- Jason Spezza (one goal in 18 games), Michal Rozsival (sixth d-man making $5 million a year); Adam -- Mike Komisarek.

Player Most Likely to Take Off: Chris -- Phil Kessel; Adam -- Evgeni Malkin has been off to a slow start, he's due to bust out.

2-on-1: Playoff Pretenders & Contenders originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plus/Minus: Lightning Give Up Late Lead, Stamkos Gets the Winner

Adam Gretz — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Lightning, Thrashers

We're trying something different to replace the old Newsmakers in the NHL posts. Hopefully you'll like it. Each weekday we'll take a look at one positive performance from the previous night (a plus), and one negative performance from the previous night (a minus). It's the plus/minus.Tell us what you think at nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

More Coverage: Sunday's NHL Scoreboard

Plus Of The Day: Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning

Rewind back to November 22, 2008, and Steven Stamkos, the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL draft, had recorded just two goals (both in the same game) and five assists in his first 19 games. One year later, and Stamkos has already scored 15 goals (tied with Jarome Iginla for fourth most in the league) and added nine assists to lead the Lightning with 24 points through the team's first 21 games.

How impressive is the 15-goal mark for the 19-year-old Stamkos at this point in the campaign? Well, consider that he didn't score his 15th goal last year until March 17.

He's currently on a pace for well over 50 goals.

He continued his white-hot start on Sunday when he tallied the game-winning goal in overtime -- he also had an assist and seven shots on goal -- during Tampa Bay's 4-3 win against Atlanta, a game that saw the Lightning surrender a 3-1 lead with less than five minutes to play.

Going back to the start of last February, Stamkos has now scored 32 goals in his past 54 games, which will surely get the attention of Steve Yzerman when it's time to put together the Team Canada roster.

Minus Of The Day: Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta Thrashers

Slim pickings on Sunday with only two games on the slate and few bad performances, but Ilya Kovalchuk was on the ice for three of Tampa Bay's four goals -- including the game-winner -- and didn't record a point in the Thrashers' 4-3 loss.

He did get seven shots on goal, but on a day with few options, Kovalchuk's line in the box score is one of the few that stands out in a negative way, and there haven't been many from him this season. Consider that Saturday and Sunday's games were the first time this season he went back-to-back games without a point, while he's been held off the score sheet just four times in 14 games.

Plus/Minus: Lightning Give Up Late Lead, Stamkos Gets the Winner originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sources: 19-Year-Old Zach Bogosian Enters US Olympic Picture

Christopher Botta — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:51:00 EST

Filed under: Thrashers, FanHouse Exclusive

Zach Bogosian, the 19-year-old defenseman from the Atlanta Thrashers, has emerged as a serious candidate for the United States Olympic Team, a pair of sources have told FanHouse.

The 19-year-old Bogosian, a native of northern New York, has developed into a superb two-way defenseman with shocking ease, with just 64 NHL games under his belt. The third overall pick from 2008 already has eight goals this season, tops among NHL defensemen. He would be a natural for the up-tempo system Team USA coach Ron Wilson plans to install for the Olympics in Vancouver in February.

The biggest roadblocks, of course, are Bogosian's youth and lack of big-game experience. However, he has displayed great maturity in his season and a quarter with Atlanta. His poise while leading the Thrashers' blue line proves little fazes him.

In addition, the 6-3 defenseman figures to be a part of many Olympiads to come -- if the NHL continues to make its world-class players available for the Winter Games. Since USA general manager Brian Burke is leaning towards taking eight defenseman, Bogosian could make the roster as both a worthy player and a prospect who'll gain invaluable experience for future Olympics.

This season Bogosian is 8-2-10 in 18 games for the Thrashers. The teenager is leading all Atlanta skaters with 23:30 per game in average ice-time. In the Thrashers' 4-3 shootout loss to Boston on Thursday, Bogosian played a team-high 29:13 despite getting less than a minute on the power play. (Ilya Kovalchuk, who played 9:52 on the power play, takes up most of the time as the right-hand shot on the point).

While Bogosian seems to get better with each week of NHL experience, another factor in his favor is that few American defensemen are slam-dunk candidates while others -- including Paul Martin, Mike Komisarek and Brooks Orpik -- have suffered injuries this season.

Veterans with roster spots likely locked up are New Jersey's Martin and Brian Rafalski of Detroit. Nashville's Ryan Suter has an excellent chance, and youngsters Erik Johnson of St. Louis and Jack Johnson of the Kings are in the mix. Other contenders include Ryan Whitney, Matt Carle, Brooks Orpik and Rob Scuderi.

Like Bogosian, Alex Goligoski wasn't invited to Team USA's orientation camp in August but is having an outstanding season for Pittsburgh. As Burke's committee -- including Thrashers GM Don Waddell -- keeps an eye on Bogosian they will also watch his defense partner. Ron Hainsey is playing the best hockey of his career and merits consideration for the Olympic team.

Team USA will announce its final roster on Jan. 1 during the festivities at the Winter Classic at Fenway Park in Boston.

Sources: 19-Year-Old Zach Bogosian Enters US Olympic Picture originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plus/Minus: Huselius Leads Jackets Over Stars; Fleury Gets Benched

Adam Gretz — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jackets, Penguins, Thrashers

More Coverage: Thursday's NHL Scoreboard
Leafs-Canes In A Surprising Thriller

Plus Of The Day: Kristian Huselius, Columbus Blue Jackets

A lot of the discussion from the Columbus-Dallas game will be centered around James Neal's hit on Derek Dorsett (which resulted in Neal getting a five-minute major and a game-misconduct), and the near fight between goaltenders Steve Mason and Marty Turco in what was a physical, penalty-filled game. The star of the night for Columbus -- which pulled out a 4-1 win on the road -- was forward Kristian Huselius, who scored two goals and added an assist in his team-high 22 minutes of ice-time.

Huselius has now recorded six points (three goals, three assists) in his past three games since returning from a shoulder injury, helping lead the Blue Jackets to their third straight win and sixth in the past eight games.

Minus Of The Day: Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins welcomed Sergei Gonchar and Max Talbot back to the lineup on Thursday night in Ottawa, but were still on the losing end of a 6-2 decision that saw starting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury get yanked after giving up five consecutive goals.

Some of the blame can be pinned on a relatively inexperienced defense that, thanks to injuries to Alex Goligoski, Kris Letang, Brooks Orpik and Jay McKee, now consists of Deryk Engelland, Ben Lovejoy, Nate Guenin and Martin Skoula, but that doesn't excuse some of the goals Fleury gave up in the third period, including a pair of bad angle goals from defenseman Chris Phillips.

Fleury stopped just 19 of 24 shots on the night, and was pulled for the second time in his past three road starts (the other being a 5-0 loss in San Jose).

Highlight Of The Day: The Atlanta Thrashers overcame a 2-0 deficit to force a shootout on Thursday night, a comeback effort that saw Nik Antropov score his first goal of the season. Entering the night, Antropov led the Thrashers with 16 assists, but had yet to get his name in the goal column. That all changed when he deflected a Tobias Enstrom shot past Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask.

Plus/Minus: Huselius Leads Jackets Over Stars; Fleury Gets Benched originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Puck Talk: A Blow to the Head

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blackhawks, Islanders, Kings, Thrashers, FanHouse Exclusive

With the issue of head shots becoming more and more talked about in NHL circles, it's time to tackle it on Puck Talk. We're joined this week by Anthony Curatolo, who is a senior writer at Crash the Crease and also has a podcast every week. Since Anthony is an Islanders fan, we also let him talk up his red-hot team and discuss the Blackhawks' impending cap woes. Listen after the jump.

Listen to the podcast above, or click here to download the file.

Puck Talk: A Blow to the Head originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plus/Minus: Ray Whitney Helps Hurricanes Snap 14-game Losing Streak

Adam Gretz — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hurricanes, Oilers, Thrashers

More Coverage: Sunday's NHL Scoreboard

Plus Of The Day: Ray Whitney, Carolina Hurricanes

It's been a miserable start to the season for the Carolina Hurricanes, losing their two best players (Eric Staal and Cam Ward) to injuries, and losing 16 of their first 18 games, including 14 in a row entering Sunday. That unthinkable skid finally came to an end with a 5-4 shootout win against Minnesota, and even that turned out to be a struggle, as the 'Canes saw a 4-1 second period lead disappear over the final 27 minutes of regulation.

Jussi Jokinen eventually scored the game-winner in the shootout, and also tallied his fourth goal of the season at the 2:45 mark of the first period.

Ray Whitney was the star of the day for Carolina, scoring a goal and adding two assists in over 20 minutes of ice-time. He's currently leading the the Hurricanes with 13 points in 17 games, while Sunday's contest marked just the second time this season they scored more than four goals in a game.

Had the shootout gone the other way, Minnesota defenseman Brent Burns would have been a candidate for this as he managed to finish Sunday's game with a plus-four rating on a day when his team gave up four goals, while rookie Robbie Earl scored the first two goals of his career for the Wild.

But, hey, when you snap a 14-game losing skid, you need all the positive attention you can get.

Minus Of The Day: Edmonton Oilers Special Teams

When you lose a game by one goal, there's probably a few situations you can look back at and say, "well, if we had just done this, it might have been a different game." For the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday, it comes down to their special teams. Edmonton's penalty kill surrendered a pair of power play goals (on just three attempts) in a 3-2 loss in Atlanta, and was held off the scoreboard on five power play attempts, registering just five shots on goal with the man advantage.

Highlight Of The Day: Every once in a while, Maxim Afinogenov puts all of his raw talent together and makes some eye popping plays. Here's one such example from Sunday's game against Edmonton as he scores a power play goal with just 22 seconds to play in the second period.

Plus/Minus: Ray Whitney Helps Hurricanes Snap 14-game Losing Streak originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight of the Week: Cam Janssen Edition

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blues, Canucks, Flyers, Rangers, Thrashers, Red Wings, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

Every Friday, FanHouse sifts through the rubble and picks the best NHL fight, with the help of HockeyFights.com.

If last week seemed a little bit light, we're going to make up for it now. There is no shortage of fights to choose from this week, and we had some really good ones that had to be left on the proverbial cutting room floor. We've also added to our series of rather unlikely scraps. To top it all off, we had an easy choice for the week's best bout.

"Why Are We Fighting?" Fight of the Week: Zach Bogosian vs. Ryan Callahan

Apparently, Callahan really took exception to a bit of a cross-check by Bogosian. Instead of sending a goon after the young defenseman, Callahan took matters into his own hands. This wasn't a great fight by any means, but it was a bit of a head-scratcher. Video can be watched here.

Runner-Up: Rick Rypien vs. Brad May

Vancouver's game against St. Louis Wednesday became a fight-fest (more on this in a bit), but Rypien showed that he had some energy left over to take on one of the league's real veteran heavyweights. This isn't a terribly long fight, but it's intense, and it's not a surprise the guys seemed to wear out a bit. Check it out here.

Runner-Up: Cam Janssen vs. Arron Asham

Janssen looked for a moment to have an easy one here, as Asham struggled from the opening bell. The home crowd inspiring him, Asham pulls off an impressive comeback, and you could argue he at least gave himself a chance to "win the fight." Click here to watch the video.

Fight of the Week: Tanner Glass vs. Cam Janssen

Here's Janssen again. This one's a legitimate candidate for Fight of the Year, not that we're contemplating such an honor at the end of the season. The Canucks were in the midst of getting blown out by St. Louis on Wednesday, but Glass took a shot at injecting some life into his team, which hadn't shown much in the first game of a back-to-back. Janssen got a rousing ovation, and responded to it, after his performance in this fight.

Fight of the Week: Cam Janssen Edition originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kovalchuk Practicing, May Play Thursday

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Thrashers, Eastern, NHL Injuries

The Atlanta Thrashers have played six games without star and team captain Ilya Kovalchuk. Any reports of their demise were greatly exaggerated, as they have gone 3-3 since Kovalchuk was lost to a broken foot.

Initial reports had Kovalchuk missing four to six weeks, but he practiced Tuesday, and there is confidence that he will return to action Thursday.

Coach John Anderson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he is "95 percent" sure Kovalchuk will be in the lineup Thursday at Madison Square Garden, when Atlanta battles the New York Rangers.

General manager Don Waddell essentially confirmed the report in a Tuesday appearance on NHL Live!, which was broadcast from the general managers' meetings in Toronto. He told hosts E.J. Hradek and Craig Button that he was confident Kovalchuk would play "this weekend," but he didn't specify a target date for the captain's return. Waddell noted that Atlanta plays three games over four days starting Thursday (they host Los Angeles Friday and Edmonton Sunday), so it would be great to have Kovalchuk back in the lineup.

Kovalchuk had nine goals in eight games before he was injured. The Thrashers are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference, two points out of eighth.

Kovalchuk Practicing, May Play Thursday originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stamkos Leads Lightning; Capitals Survive Thrashers Comeback Attempt

Adam Gretz — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Lightning, Senators, Thrashers

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.

Lightning 5, Senators 2: After what can only be described as a disappointing rookie season, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steve Stamkos is starting to show the talents that made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft. The 19-year-old center scored two more goals on Thursday (giving him nine on the season), while he and his linemates (Ryan Malone and Alex Tangauy) combined for eight points in Tampa Bay's 5-2 win against Ottawa.

Stamkos added an assist in the win, and is now tied with Martin St. Louis for the team lead with 14 points in 10 games. His second goal of the game, which gave Tampa Bay a 4-0 lead midway through the third period, was a perfectly placed wrist shot on the fly.

Capitals 4, Thrashers 3: Alex Ovechkin scored two goals in the first period and helped Washington take a 3-0 lead into the third period in Atlanta. The Thrashers managed to make it a game thanks to a pair of goals from Zach Bogosian and Todd White, only to have Mike Knuble seal it with an empty-netter with 53 seconds to play. Bogosian added a second goal with one second remaining. The Capitals have now won six in a row and get the Islanders at home on Friday.

Thursday's Other Games

Speaking of comeback attempts ... Detroit rallies to force a shootout in Edmonton but comes up short in the end.

New Jersey is now 6-0 on the road.

Ilya Bryzgalov picks up the shutout against St. Louis.

Pekka Rinne stopped all 22 shots he faced to help lead Nashville past Chicago.

Vancouver knocks off the kings in a shootout.

Loose Pucks

-- The top 10 worst shootout attempts of all time. [Greatest Hockey Legends]

-- Phil Kessel might be getting close to making his Toronto Maple Leafs debut. They certainly need him. [Leafs247]

Picture Of The Day

I already gave you your video of the day up above, so here's a picture of the day: You're always in the spotlight when you're a goaltender in the NHL.

Friday's Key Games

Avalanche vs. Sharks: Probably the best game of the night as Colorado, the team with the best record in the NHL at the moment, visits the team that finished last year with the best record in the NHL.

Penguins vs. Blue Jackets: The suddenly shorthanded Penguins visit Columbus. Based on their meetings from a year ago, this could be a fantastic rivalry if the NHL ever put them in the same division.

Maple Leafs vs. Sabres: A team that seems to be sneaking under the radar? Buffalo. The Sabres have lost only one game in regulation and Ryan Miller is leading the league in just about every category for goaltenders.

Stamkos Leads Lightning; Capitals Survive Thrashers Comeback Attempt originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Jeff Schultz Beats Ondrej Pavelec With 175-Foot Shot

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Thrashers, Eastern, NHL Videos

Vesa Toskala has more company.

A couple years ago, Toskala allowed an improbable goal from over 190 feet away against the New York Islanders. Since then, guys have allowed bad goals left and right, but few have come close to duplicating Toskala's feat until Thursday night in Atlanta. It was there that Thrashers goalie Ondrej Pavelec was fooled by a puck with a mind of its own. Video after the jump.

The Capitals took a 3-2 lead on this goal, which was credited to Jeff Schultz, who was probably standing around 175 feet away from Pavelec when he shot.

It was the start of a string of three goals by Washington in just 1:28, which was enough to chase Pavelec in favor of Johan Hedberg.

Video: Jeff Schultz Beats Ondrej Pavelec With 175-Foot Shot originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Evander Kane a Virtual Lock to Stick

Christopher Botta — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:12:00 EST

Filed under: Thrashers, FanHouse Exclusive

Atlanta general manager Don Waddell all but confirmed to FanHouse Wednesday morning that 2009 fourth-overall pick Evander Kane will not be returned to the WHL and will be with the Thrashers all season.

"Evander is certainly making the decision easy for us," Waddell said in a phone conversation.

Kane just turned 18 in August. By comparison, Islanders first-overall pick John Tavares turned 19 in September. Like any player on his entry level deal, Kane could be sent back to junior hockey before his 10th NHL game and a year would not burn off his contract.

This is very unlikely to happen, now that management has an even better idea of what they have in their first round pick.

The Atlanta center prepared himself to play in the NHL this season. According to Waddell, Kane was 162 pounds in the summer of 2008. At the start of the '09-10 season he was 190 pounds with just 4 percent body fat.

The Thrashers have only played three games so far and their next one is not until Friday in New Jersey. Kane has a goal and an assist, but his play and his approach since the start of training camp give Waddell confidence the young man is ready for the challenges of his rookie NHL season.

"He's a very mature individual," said Waddell. "He's just 18 and he's in a new city, a big city, but he has handled everything better than you could ever expect. On our team, he fits right in as a player and is a respectful young man. That has made it easy to fit in among his teammates.

"He's used to a first-line role in junior (WHL Vancouver) and he's not getting power play time here because the coaching staff is wisely breaking him in. Evander understands this is a process for him and he's really adapted strongly. He has the speed and the hockey sense to excel at this level right now."

Plenty can happen as the Thrashers play six games over the next two weeks. However, since Waddell appears convinced Kane has the poise to handle anything, count on the top pick being in Atlanta all season.

Evander Kane a Virtual Lock to Stick originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight of the Week: Long, Competitive Southeast Division Scrap

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bruins, Flames, Hurricanes, Kings, Lightning, Oilers, Sharks, Thrashers, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

Every Friday, FanHouse sifts through the rubble and picks the best NHL fight, with the help of HockeyFights.com.

Fighting will always be controversial. Many fans say that it's as much a part of hockey as the ice is. Others would rather it went away, even if they may secretly enjoy it. However, it seems that fighting is here to stay in the NHL. This week's card included a few heavyweight bouts, an unlikely matchup in Alberta, and a rather long, intense fight between division rivals.

Honorable Mention: Craig Conroy vs. Sam Gagner

Video can be found here. No, the Oilers haven't signed an enforcer named Sam Gagner. The young, dynamic center apparently thought it was his job to use his fists to ignite his team. CBC's Mark Lee was almost incredulous. The best part? Big Zach Stortini of Edmonton was a spectator.

Runner-Up: Jay Harrison vs. Milan Lucic

The video is here. Sometimes, a fight's quality is hurt because it doesn't last long enough. Harrison had good intentions here, but he was completely overmatched, and he ended up wearing the ol' crimson mask because of his decision to try to fight Lucic. Quality visual on this one, and great work by Lucic, but it was too much of a mismatch to climb atop the list for this week.

Runner-Up: Jody Shelley vs. Raitis Ivanans

Watch the video here. Shelley's teammate looked to throw an unnecessary hit on an icing play, and Ivanans did his job, going after the heavyweight and sticking up for a teammate. Good scrap between fighters who share space in the Pacific Division, so they're probably familiar with each other's work.

Fight of the Week: Zenon Konopka vs. Chris Thorburn

Konopka has never played more than 23 games in an NHL season. He was up against a slightly bigger and more experienced Thorburn in this fight from Saturday's Thrasher home opener. The two combined for one of the longer fights of the week, and there was some serious intensity from both sides.

Fight of the Week: Long, Competitive Southeast Division Scrap originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is This the Thrashers' Year?

Susan Slusser — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Thrashers, FanHouse Exclusive

Before the season starter, Atlanta star Ilya Kovalchuk brashly proclaimed "This is our year."

Crazy? Well, maybe not. Thrashers defenseman Ron Hainsey told FanHouse by phone this week that the team's forwards are so talented the club can contend, despite the fourth-worst finish in the league last year.

"We have a team that has no excuse except under-performance not to be in the playoffs," Hainsey said. "We match up with anyone, especially with our skill up front."

That starts with Kovalchuk, naturally, and the main storyline this year for the Thrashers might be the left wing's contract status. There's a lot of talk about a new deal, but he'd like to see the team take a step forward before any long-term commitment.

The rest of the Thrashers very much want Kovalchuk to stay around -- a two-time 52-goal scorer who is also Atlanta's captain -- but Hainsey said, "I've learned you just never know with these things, so why worry about it? There's a lot that plays into it and we can't control it. Obviously, we want to keep him here."

"I've learned you just never know with these things, so why worry about it? There's a lot that plays into it and we can't control it. Obviously, we want to keep him here." -- Rod Hainsey on Ilya Kovalchuk It might help that Atlanta added center Nik Antropov, who like Kovalchuk is from Russia, and defenseman Pavel Kubina. Atlanta's defense should be much improved with Kubina arriving from Toronto and with highly promising Zach Bogosian getting some experience last year, playing 47 games despite missing two months with a broken leg. Hainsey described himself as "pumped up" about what Bogosian might accomplish, but he knows how demanding the NHL is at that age.

"He still has a lot to learn," Hainsley said. "He's 19, and we're putting a lot on him. The good thing is, we have guys around him who can help bring him along. There are going to be times when he is a little unsettled because defense when you're young, every mistake is so magnified because it's usually in the net."

Better defense is a key because the Thrashers had the second-worst goals against average in the NHL last year and goaltending isn't expected to be the team's biggest strength. With Kari Lehtonen out after back surgery and unlikely to return for several weeks, Ondrej Pavelec is in goal. Hainsey said he was "tremendous" in his first game, stopping 36 of 39 shots.

"Pavelec is our guy," Hainsley said. "We're hoping he plays like an All-Star this first month."

Bogosian had a goal in Atlanta's season-opening victory over the Lightning last week; fellow defenseman Anssi Salmela also had a goal and Kovalchuk had two goals and an assist in the 6-3 victory. Rookie forward Evander Kane,18, picked up his first NHL point, with an assist on a second-period goal by Rich Peverley.

"All the things he did were positive," Hainsey said of Kane's play. "He's physically mature for a kid his age and he can add to our team. I know he has a lot of offensive capability. It would be a real plus if he can handle the everyday grind while facing 230-pound defensemen and not hurt us defensively."

That clear-cut win, and the Thrashers' fine finish last year (they won 12 of their final 18) might be signs that things are pointing up for Atlanta. And Thursday night, the team gets a barometer on where they are, starting a five-city road trip at St. Louis, which is coming off two wins in Sweden against Detroit.

"They're coming off a big trip and this will be a good test for us," Hainsey said. "At the same time, we're going on a trip and we're looking to play solid and to get two points every game."

Is This the Thrashers' Year? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL's Top 50: Ilya Kovalchuk (No. 13)

Adam Gretz — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Thrashers, NHL Fans, NHL Videos

FanHouse's Adam Gretz takes a look at his top 50 players in the NHL. No. 13 is Atlanta Thrashers forward Ilya Kovalchuk.

In their nine-year existence, the Atlanta Thrashers have qualified for the postseason just one time, failing to win even one playoff game. The one consistent bright spot for seven of those years has been the electrifying talents of forward Ilya Kovalchuk. He's entering the final year of his contract, and negotiations are underway according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. If they can work out an agreement, it would be the biggest, and most important move in what has already been an impressive offseason that has seen the club trade for defenseman Pavel Kubina to bolster their defense, and also add forward Nik Antropov, a move Kovalchuk had a role in.

The NHL's Top 50 Players: See the Entire List

The Numbers: Ilya Kovalchuk
Ilya Kovalchuk	Goals	Assists	Points	Pim
Career Totals	297	260	557	384
Average Per 82 Games	44.2	39.3	83.6	57.4

Draft Year: 2001

The No. 1 pick by Atlanta in 2001, one spot ahead of Ottawa's Jason Spezza. The most prolific goal-scorer in his class, he's already closing in on 300 career goals (he currently has 297) while no other player taken that year has reached the 150-goal plateau

Why He's On My List

As dominant a goal-scorer as you will find in the NHL, Kovalchuk has scored at least 40 goals in each of the past five seasons, and has developed a pattern of alternating 40-goal and 50-goal performances: 41 in '03-04, 52 in '05-06, 42 in '06-07, 52 in '07-08, and 43 in '08-09. If the pattern continues, you can pencil him in for 52 this upcoming season. Possessing great speed and a lightning-fast shot, Kovalchuk has finished in the top-10 in goals scored six times in his seven-year career, and was tied for the league-lead during the 2003-04 season.

Obligatory YouTube Video

A collection of Kovalchuk's top goals

NHL's Top 50: Ilya Kovalchuk (No. 13) originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kubina, Antropov Give Thrashers Fans Some Hope

Adam Gretz — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:24:00 EST

Filed under: Thrashers, NHL Free Agency

Hockey fans in Atlanta have known nothing but losing and front office incompetence since the Thrashers joined the NHL a decade ago. Even the best season in franchise history, the 2006-07 campaign that saw the Thrashers qualify for their first and only playoff appearance, ended in disappointment as they were quickly swept under the rug in four games by the New York Rangers.

In the two seasons following that trip to the postseason, the Thrashers have returned to their sub-80-point ways, toiling at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Thanks to a couple of shrewd moves at the start of the offseason, and some returning young talent, this year's version of the Thrashers looks like it has a chance to make some noise.

On Wednesday, the Thrashers acquired defenseman Pavel Kubina from the Toronto Maple Leafs for the bargain basement price of Garnet Exelby and Colin Stuart, solidifying a young defense that already contains the talents of Zach Bogosian, Tobias Enstrom and Ron Hainsey, as well as Anssi Salema, a deadline day acquisition from the New Jersey Devils.

General manager Don Waddell continued his re-tooling on Thursday by adding free agent forward Nik Antropov with a four-year, $16 million deal. Antropov, 29, can be somewhat of an enigma, but he's coming off back-to-back 25-plus goal seasons, and gives Atlanta a possible top-six containing Ilya Kovalchuk, Bryan Little, Todd White, Slava Kozlov, and Antropov. Throw in guys like Rich Peverley, who averaged nearly a point-per-game with the Thrashers after being picked up on waivers from Nashville, and Colby Armstrong, and there are certainly worse teams in the league.

Aside from what Antropov brings to the team in terms of size and offense, this also could have been a goodwill gesture toward Kovalchuk, as he's set to become an unrestricted free agent following this season. Especially since Andy Strickland reported, via Twitter, that the 25-year-old forward played a role in getting the deal done. Waddell had this to say on the Kovalchuk-Antropov relationship, via the team's official website: "He's played with Ilya (Kovalchuk) during the work stoppage, Ilya knows him well, and we think he'll be a tremendous addition to our hockey club. We were looking to get bigger up front and find somebody that could play on our No. 1 line with Ilya and this certainly serves our purpose."

The $4 million per year cap hit is somewhat reasonable, seeing as how Larry Brooks of the New York Post reported earlier this week that Antropov was seeking over $5 million per season from New York. Rangers general manager Glen Sather called such demands "ridiculous." The biggest gamble with the move, and this is similar to what New York and Minnesota are dealing with when it comes to Marian Gaborik and Martin Havlat respectively, is that Antropov has missed his fair share of games over the years. He's topped 70 games just three times in his nine-year career.

Havlat's contract puts Minnesota on the hook for a $5 million per year cap hit, and just to compare the two players, since the lockout, strictly in terms of goals per minute, there really isn't much of a difference statistically.

Antropov vs. Havlat: Goals Per Minute
Year	Antropov	Havlat
2008-09	.020	.020
2007-08	.017	.015
2006-07	.020	.020
2005-06	.013	.027

Is Atlanta a lock for the playoffs at this point? No, there's still work to do, and the Eastern Conference is coming off a season where 10 teams finished with 90 points (Atlanta finished with 76, and had a -23 goal differential). But, when you combine an impressive start to the offseason, with the way the team finished over the final two months (18-12-1 record since the end of February) and there should be some reasons for optimism heading into the season.

Kubina, Antropov Give Thrashers Fans Some Hope originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pavel Kubina Traded to Atlanta; Toronto Signs Mike Komisarek

Adam Gretz — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Maple Leafs, Thrashers, NHL Free Agency

Late last week, Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke made it clear that his team would not be pushed around this upcoming season. Based on his first moves this offseason, he wasn't kidding. After signing tough-guy Colton Orr to a four-year, $4 million deal earlier on Wednesday, the Leafs sent defenseman Pavel Kubina, and the rights to Tim Stapleton, to the Atlanta Thrashers for Garnet Exelby and Colin Stuart.

On the surface, it's a woefully lopsided trade in favor of Atlanta, and nothing more than a salary dump for Toronto.

The plus side? Just moments after the deal was made, word surfaced that defenseman Mike Komisarek had signed with the Maple Leafs.

Komisarek's contract is reportedly a five-year, $22.5 million pact, which is a great deal for the Leafs, and enough to likely infuriate the good folks in Montreal. Perhaps the best "stay-at-home" defenseman on the market, Komisarek brings toughness and size (6-foot-4, 240 pounds) to the Toronto blue line.

So, to recap for the Leafs:

In: Komisarek, Exelby, Orr, Stuart

Out: Kubina, Stapleton

As for the Kubina-to-Atlanta aspect: It's not everyday that we get to say this, but it's a hell of a trade by Don Waddell and the Atlanta Thrashers. To land a legitimate, proven top-four NHL defenseman, while only giving up, essentially, a couple of spare parts/fourth-liners is nothing short of a steal.

The Thrashers' top-four on defense now contains Kubina, Tobias Enstrom, Ron Hainsey and 2008 first-round pick Zach Bogosian. All four players bring plenty of offensive ability to the attack, while it's a considerable improvement from where the team was a year ago at this time.

Pavel Kubina Traded to Atlanta; Toronto Signs Mike Komisarek originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Offseason Roadmap: Southeast Division

Tom Mantzouranis — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:37:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Hurricanes, Lightning, Panthers, Thrashers

It's officially the offseason, meaning the time is right to look into the future. We continue our division-by-division preview of the potential wheeling and dealing with the Southeast Division.

The Southeast is probably going to be the most boring division in hockey this offseason. Three of the teams don't have the financial capability to make the sort of splash they need, and the other two were good enough to mostly maintain the status quo.

Still, we've got two top-5 draft picks to look forward to, as well as the ongoing sagas surrounding the stars for both Florida franchises.

Atlanta Thrashers: We know (or are being told) this much: the Thrashers are hanging on to Ilya Kovalchuk. But to have a chance of keeping him around past this year, the last of his deal, they'll have to put a better team around him. With only $30.8 currently committed to 17 players, they've got the financial situation to make it happen this year. But considering that they'd be stocking up their roster in an effort to have the chance to ink Kovalchuk to a huge contract next year, they have to spend this year with an eye on ensuing seasons. In other words, they have ample cap space, but they have to ration a chunk of it on Kovalchuk in lieu of making a splash this offseason.

But they might not be too far from being competitive, anyway. They've got very solid young pieces locked up cheap in Zach Bogosian, Bryan Little, and Anssi Salmela.

They need some top-line guys to pair with Kovalchuk and a top-four defenseman. And they've got some pieces to deal, including the No. 4 pick in this week's draft and depth at goalie in a weak free agent market at the position (especially if they re-sign Kari Lehtonen, who's a restricted free agent). That won't be enough to net any real "wow" guys, but it could still improve the team's quality and depth (which is sorely lacking). With slight improvements on the roster and the continued ascension of those young guys, the Thrashers could be in the playoff chase next year, or at least show enough potential to convince Kovalchuk to stick around and watch it blossom.

Carolina Hurricanes: They've got their coach of the future (for the second time) locked up, but the Hurricanes have trouble brewing on the blue line. Dennis Seidenberg and Anton Babchuk are free agents (unrestricted and restricted, respectively), and the team is uncertain whether they can retain both, or either. After all, they have some key players to lock up at forward too -- Erik Cole, Tuomo Ruutu, Jussi Jokinen, and Chad LaRose -- and would like to add a physical defenseman, as well, to diversify the back end.

This is probably a team that is going to lose some of its talent, which is unfortunate given that they were closer to the Stanley Cup Finals than their conference final against the Penguins indicated.

Florida Panthers: They took a gamble keeping Jay Bouwmeester at the trade deadline, opting to push for the playoffs instead of getting a return on their impending departure. They're still trying to get something for his negotiating rights, but first things first -- how about hiring a general manager?

The Panthers are like the Thrashers in that they won't be able to spend a lot (the team will also have to pay the rising David Booth a handsome raise in restricted free agency), so they'll be counting on the continued improvement from those like Booth, Stephen Weiss and Karlis Skrastins on top of some additions from the farm, to again get even close to the playoffs.

Tampa Bay Lightning: The team is still sort of in a mess, with the biggest questions surrounding the future of Vincent Lecavalier. What direction they decide to go in, and we'll know that answer soon, will give away their concept of next season.

Dealing him means the Lightning are content with blowing it up and re-building around Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman, whom they likely will select with the second-overall pick. That's not a bad duo to build around, as Hedman will probably play in the NHL from Day 1. However, by sacrificing the most iconic player in franchise history for a bounty that surely won't have equal value, it's a clear message that Lightning fans should expect another three or so years of equal misery.

They could keep Lecavalier and his enormous contract, on the other hand, and bank on Hedman and some scotch-taping to a woeful blue line being enough to allow the Lightning at least out-score their way out of the land of laughing-stocks.

Washington Capitals: This team is better than their exit point indicated, and when you've got the best scorer (arguably player) in the league and a young goalie who looks to have a bright future, you're going to be OK. And the Capitals have depth up front behind that all-world talent. Still, there's going to be some turnover here. But there will be a reliance on filling those spots from within -- Kari Alzner on defense, perhaps Chris Bourque and Keith Aucoin up front.

Offseason Roadmap: Southeast Division originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL Draft Lottery: Isles Get First Pick

Kevin Schultz — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:33:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Islanders, Kings, Lightning, Thrashers, NHL Draft

The NHL Lottery is a serious exercise in television programming. It takes an event that could be completed in less than five minutes and stretches it out into a 30 minute program that makes the jitters that much worse for the fanbases and teams involved.

That doesn't mean the Draft Lottery live on TSN Tuesday night was a bad thing, though. TSN did a nice job filling the other 25 minutes with interviews, prospect analysis and John Tavares vs. Victor Hedman hype tonight. But, at the end of the day, all we came to find out is the answer to the question "who will pick No. 1?"

In a lottery machine at NHL Headquarters in New York City, the lottery balls spun and the New York Islanders wound up with the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NHL Draft. In the top five, everything went according to the standings. Tampa Bay took second, Colorado third, Atlanta fourth and Los Angeles fifth.

Now, what happens with that first pick is anyone's guess and will likely continue to be until the entry draft in June. Speaking to Newsday reporter Greg Logan earlier today, GM Garth Snow said that the Islanders will consider "five or six" players. Last year, the Lightning announced that they would select Steven Stamkos live on the air when they grabbed the top spot. Tonight, Islanders representative Ken Morrow chose to do no such thing. And now, the speculation begins.

NHL Draft Lottery: Isles Get First Pick originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ilya Kovalchuk Throws Down

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:35:00 EST

Filed under: Panthers, Thrashers, Eastern, NHL Videos

Long gone from the playoff race, the Atlanta Thrashers are busy playing out the proverbial string. While they did lose Thursday, 3-2 to Florida, there's no denying the Thrashers have been playing some pretty good hockey as of late. They're also feisty. In Thursday's game, captain Ilya Kovalchuk decided it was time to throw some punches, as he got into it with Florida defenseman Bryan McCabe. It was just the fifth fight of Kovalchuk's NHL career (second this season), but there's no doubt he more than held his own.

Ilya Kovalchuk Throws Down originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Canadiens Are in the Playoffs

Adam Gretz — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 01:30:00 EST

Filed under: Bruins, Canadiens, Flyers, Panthers, Rangers, Thrashers, NHL Fans

Newsmakers in the NHL is a weekday morning attempt to clear yesterday's rebounds and look to the day ahead.

Bruins 5, Canadiens 4: The Montreal Canadiens may have lost on Thursday night, but because they did so in overtime, earning a "Bettman point," they managed to secure a playoff spot, avoiding what would have been a spectacular disappointment in a season of celebrations and championship expectations. Montreal overcame a 3-1 deficit in the second period with a four-goal outburst, including a tally from defenseman Mathieu Schneider who suited up despite earlier reports that his season was over.

Aside from Montreal, the New York Rangers also punched their playoff tickets with a 2-1 win over the Flyers, which means the Florida Panthers, despite their 3-2 win in Atlanta, are mathematically eliminated from contention.

It was a valiant effort from first-year head coach Peter DeBoer and his young team, but they're going to come up just short, and this past Friday's loss to Atlanta is probably going to sting for quite a while this offseason. On the plus side ... free tickets next season!

Predators 4, Red Wings 3: Gigantic win for Nashville, as the Predators overcame a 3-1 deficit in the final seven minutes of regulation to pick up a 4-3 shootout win in Detroit. Jason Arnott and J.P. Dumont scored for Nashville in the third period, while Arnott added the game-winner in the fourth round of the shootout. With the win, the Predators move into a tie with St. Louis and Anaheim for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference.

The Rest Of Thursday's Action

-- The Hurricanes have their winning streak snapped with a 5-1 loss to Buffalo.

-- Pittsburgh wins, 6-1, against the Islanders, while New York has been outscored 15-1 in its past two games.

-- The New Jersey Devils clinch the Atlantic Division with a 3-2 shootout win in Ottawa.

-- Mike Green scores his 31st goal of the season in Washington's 4-2 win over Tampa Bay.

-- Thanks to their 1-0 win over Los Angeles, the Vancouver Canucks take over first place in the Northwest Division.

-- Dallas Beats Colorado, 3-2.

-- Phoenix surprises the Sharks, 4-1.

Daily Rebounds

-- Steve Lepore of Puck The Media talks to Bruins broadcaster Jack Edwards about ESPN and hockey. [Puck The Media]

-- The Calgary Flames have had some problems with the salary cap. [TSN]

-- The Tampa Bay Lightning have used 50 players this season. 50! [Lightning Strikes]

Friday's Key Games

Blues vs. Blue Jackets: The Blue Jackets have already secured their spot in the playoffs, while the Blues look to complete their improbable run, entering action in a three-way tie for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference. It's worth pointing out that all three teams (St. Louis, Nashville and Anaheim) are in action on Friday. After the Blues take on Columbus on Friday, they close out their regular season on Sunday in Colorado.

Flames vs. Oilers: Ah, yes, the Battle of Alberta. The Oilers may not be making the playoffs this season, but they can still help play spoiler on Friday as they attempt to keep their long-time rivals from winning the Northwest Division.

The Canadiens Are in the Playoffs originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 01:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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