PHOENIX COYOTES (2-0-0-0) AT FLORIDA PANTHERS (1-0-2-0)
(Sports Network) - The Phoenix Coyotes seek their first 3-0 start in 16 years tonight when they visit the Florida Panthers at the Office Depot Center.
The Coyotes franchise hasn't won its first three contests since the start of the 1987-88 season when the Winnipeg Jets accomplished the feat.
Thus far this campaign, Phoenix has defeated St. Louis and Anaheim, including Sunday's 2-0 triumph against the host Mighty Ducks. Sean Burke made 31 saves for his 34th career shutout, as the Coyotes spoiled the Ducks' home opener.
Ladislav Nagy and Daymond Langkow each found the back of the net for the Coyotes. Langkow has scored in each of the first two contests.
The fast start for Phoenix is the polar opposite of what occurred last fall, as Bob Francis' club began 0-2 in 2002. Sunday's tilt marked the opener of a three-game road trip, and the Coyotes will visit Tampa on Thursday.
Florida, meanwhile, is unbeaten (1-0-2) through three. After a season-opening victory over Carolina, the Panthers have been forced to settle for consecutive ties. The Cats skated to a 1-1 stalemate with visiting Boston Saturday night before heading to Raleigh for a 2-2 deadlock with the Hurricanes on Monday.
Marcus Nilson had a goal and an assist Monday, while Kristian Huselius also scored for the Panthers. Roberto Luongo finished with 33 saves in net. Huselius, who has scored 20-plus goals in each of his first two NHL seasons, has found the net twice already in the early going.
After tonight the Panthers will open a three-game New York area road trip, beginning Saturday on Long Island. Florida will play six of its next seven away from home.
Phoenix and Florida skated to a 3-3 tie at America West Arena last November in their only meeting of the season, and the Coyotes are 2-1-1 in the last four clashes. The Coyotes have won in three of their last five trips to South Florida.
BOSTON BRUINS (0-1-2-0) AT DALLAS STARS (2-1-0-0)
(Sports Network) - The Boston Bruins continue the search for their first win of the young season tonight when they visit the Dallas Stars at AmericanAirlines Center.
Boston has sandwiched ties against Florida and New Jersey around a loss to Tampa Bay thus far. On Saturday, playing the second portion of a six-game road trip, the Bruins skated to a 1-1 deadlock against the Panthers. Olli Jokinen scored the lone goal of the third period to help the Cats salvage the point.
Andrew Raycroft stopped 34 shots for the Bruins, and the last time Boston was winless in its first three games was the 1999-2000 season, when it failed to win in its first nine matches. Sergei Samsonov scored the lone Bruins goal in the tie, cashing in a mere 32 seconds into the second period.
The B's went 0-for-5 on the power play Saturday, and are a meager 1-for-12 in the first three games.
Boston, which is expected to receive winger Martin Lapointe (knee) back from the injury shelf tonight, will resume its current trek Saturday in Los Angeles.
Dallas, meanwhile, had its bid for a 3-0 start spoiled with a 4-3 loss in Buffalo on Monday. Stu Barnes, Stephane Robidas and Philippe Boucher notched goals for the Stars, who had won their first two games by a combined score of 7-2. Marty Turco stopped 17 shots in the losing effort, as the Sabres tallied twice early in the match and had the Stars playing catchup the entire day.
Stars left wing Jere Lehtinen missed the loss with back spasms and will be a game-time decision this evening.
The matchup with Boston will be a reunion for Stars defenseman Don Sweeney, who fled the Bruins via free agency this past summer. After breaking in back in 1988, Sweeney spent his entire career with the club before heading to Dallas.
The Stars open a four-game home set tonight and will entertain Washington on Friday.
Boston and Dallas skated to a 5-5 tie up in Beantown last February in their lone meeting of the season, and the Stars are 6-0-3 in the series dating back to January 4, 1997. The Bruins are 0-5-2 in their last seven trips to Big D, last winning on February 16, 1994 at Reunion Arena.
OTTAWA SENATORS (1-0-0-1) AT LOS ANGELES KINGS (2-1-0-0)
(Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Kings seek their third consecutive victory tonight when they welcome the Ottawa Senators, last year's Presidents' Trophy winners, to the Staples Center for their home opener.
After a dramatic loss to Detroit to begin the campaign, the Kings have responded with wins in Pittsburgh and Chicago. On Sunday, Trent Klatt collected two goals to lead a 4-2 win over the Blackhawks at the United Center.
Klatt's tallies were his second and third of the season after coming aboard this summer via free agency from Vancouver.
Jaroslav Modry and Lubomir Visnovsky also lit the lamp for the Kings, while Roman Cechmanek stopped 32 shots. Cechmanek, who was obtained from Philadelphia following last season, made his second start and bounced back nicely after surrendering the game-winner to Steve Yzerman with 1.7 seconds left in the third period of the opener.
Los Angeles remains without key cogs Jason Allison (whiplash) and Adam Deadmarsh (concussion), and there is no timetable for their return. Defensemen Aaron Miller (broken wrist) and Mattias Norstrom (bruised chest) are also out, but both are expected to return in the next few weeks.
The Kings kick off a seven-game home set tonight and will welcome Boston on Saturday.
Ottawa, meanwhile, opened the season with a victory over Montreal last Thursday but was defeated two nights later by Detroit. Nicklas Lidstrom scored a power-play goal with 2:08 left in overtime to lift the Red Wings to a 3-2 win over the Senators at the Corel Centre.
Jason Spezza and Radek Bonk scored in defeat, while Patrick Lalime made 16 saves. Lalime is slated to get tonight off in favor of sophomore backup Martin Prusek, who will make his first start of the campaign.
Ottawa announced during Saturday's first intermission that it signed right wing Martin Havlat to a one-year contract. Havlat, who was a restricted free agent, was planning on returning home to the Czech Republic after he had rejected a one-year offer from the team on Thursday, but the two parties were able to reach an agreement.
Havlat will not be in the lineup this evening.
The clash with the Kings opens a three-game road trip for the Sens, who will visit Anaheim on Friday.
Los Angeles swept two games from Ottawa last season and is 4-0-1 in the last five meetings. The Senators are 0-1-1 in their last two trips to the Staples Center.
(Sports Network) - The Phoenix Coyotes seek their first 3-0 start in 16 years tonight when they visit the Florida Panthers at the Office Depot Center.
The Coyotes franchise hasn't won its first three contests since the start of the 1987-88 season when the Winnipeg Jets accomplished the feat.
Thus far this campaign, Phoenix has defeated St. Louis and Anaheim, including Sunday's 2-0 triumph against the host Mighty Ducks. Sean Burke made 31 saves for his 34th career shutout, as the Coyotes spoiled the Ducks' home opener.
Ladislav Nagy and Daymond Langkow each found the back of the net for the Coyotes. Langkow has scored in each of the first two contests.
The fast start for Phoenix is the polar opposite of what occurred last fall, as Bob Francis' club began 0-2 in 2002. Sunday's tilt marked the opener of a three-game road trip, and the Coyotes will visit Tampa on Thursday.
Florida, meanwhile, is unbeaten (1-0-2) through three. After a season-opening victory over Carolina, the Panthers have been forced to settle for consecutive ties. The Cats skated to a 1-1 stalemate with visiting Boston Saturday night before heading to Raleigh for a 2-2 deadlock with the Hurricanes on Monday.
Marcus Nilson had a goal and an assist Monday, while Kristian Huselius also scored for the Panthers. Roberto Luongo finished with 33 saves in net. Huselius, who has scored 20-plus goals in each of his first two NHL seasons, has found the net twice already in the early going.
After tonight the Panthers will open a three-game New York area road trip, beginning Saturday on Long Island. Florida will play six of its next seven away from home.
Phoenix and Florida skated to a 3-3 tie at America West Arena last November in their only meeting of the season, and the Coyotes are 2-1-1 in the last four clashes. The Coyotes have won in three of their last five trips to South Florida.
BOSTON BRUINS (0-1-2-0) AT DALLAS STARS (2-1-0-0)
(Sports Network) - The Boston Bruins continue the search for their first win of the young season tonight when they visit the Dallas Stars at AmericanAirlines Center.
Boston has sandwiched ties against Florida and New Jersey around a loss to Tampa Bay thus far. On Saturday, playing the second portion of a six-game road trip, the Bruins skated to a 1-1 deadlock against the Panthers. Olli Jokinen scored the lone goal of the third period to help the Cats salvage the point.
Andrew Raycroft stopped 34 shots for the Bruins, and the last time Boston was winless in its first three games was the 1999-2000 season, when it failed to win in its first nine matches. Sergei Samsonov scored the lone Bruins goal in the tie, cashing in a mere 32 seconds into the second period.
The B's went 0-for-5 on the power play Saturday, and are a meager 1-for-12 in the first three games.
Boston, which is expected to receive winger Martin Lapointe (knee) back from the injury shelf tonight, will resume its current trek Saturday in Los Angeles.
Dallas, meanwhile, had its bid for a 3-0 start spoiled with a 4-3 loss in Buffalo on Monday. Stu Barnes, Stephane Robidas and Philippe Boucher notched goals for the Stars, who had won their first two games by a combined score of 7-2. Marty Turco stopped 17 shots in the losing effort, as the Sabres tallied twice early in the match and had the Stars playing catchup the entire day.
Stars left wing Jere Lehtinen missed the loss with back spasms and will be a game-time decision this evening.
The matchup with Boston will be a reunion for Stars defenseman Don Sweeney, who fled the Bruins via free agency this past summer. After breaking in back in 1988, Sweeney spent his entire career with the club before heading to Dallas.
The Stars open a four-game home set tonight and will entertain Washington on Friday.
Boston and Dallas skated to a 5-5 tie up in Beantown last February in their lone meeting of the season, and the Stars are 6-0-3 in the series dating back to January 4, 1997. The Bruins are 0-5-2 in their last seven trips to Big D, last winning on February 16, 1994 at Reunion Arena.
OTTAWA SENATORS (1-0-0-1) AT LOS ANGELES KINGS (2-1-0-0)
(Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Kings seek their third consecutive victory tonight when they welcome the Ottawa Senators, last year's Presidents' Trophy winners, to the Staples Center for their home opener.
After a dramatic loss to Detroit to begin the campaign, the Kings have responded with wins in Pittsburgh and Chicago. On Sunday, Trent Klatt collected two goals to lead a 4-2 win over the Blackhawks at the United Center.
Klatt's tallies were his second and third of the season after coming aboard this summer via free agency from Vancouver.
Jaroslav Modry and Lubomir Visnovsky also lit the lamp for the Kings, while Roman Cechmanek stopped 32 shots. Cechmanek, who was obtained from Philadelphia following last season, made his second start and bounced back nicely after surrendering the game-winner to Steve Yzerman with 1.7 seconds left in the third period of the opener.
Los Angeles remains without key cogs Jason Allison (whiplash) and Adam Deadmarsh (concussion), and there is no timetable for their return. Defensemen Aaron Miller (broken wrist) and Mattias Norstrom (bruised chest) are also out, but both are expected to return in the next few weeks.
The Kings kick off a seven-game home set tonight and will welcome Boston on Saturday.
Ottawa, meanwhile, opened the season with a victory over Montreal last Thursday but was defeated two nights later by Detroit. Nicklas Lidstrom scored a power-play goal with 2:08 left in overtime to lift the Red Wings to a 3-2 win over the Senators at the Corel Centre.
Jason Spezza and Radek Bonk scored in defeat, while Patrick Lalime made 16 saves. Lalime is slated to get tonight off in favor of sophomore backup Martin Prusek, who will make his first start of the campaign.
Ottawa announced during Saturday's first intermission that it signed right wing Martin Havlat to a one-year contract. Havlat, who was a restricted free agent, was planning on returning home to the Czech Republic after he had rejected a one-year offer from the team on Thursday, but the two parties were able to reach an agreement.
Havlat will not be in the lineup this evening.
The clash with the Kings opens a three-game road trip for the Sens, who will visit Anaheim on Friday.
Los Angeles swept two games from Ottawa last season and is 4-0-1 in the last five meetings. The Senators are 0-1-1 in their last two trips to the Staples Center.
