monday info

[Aces High]

Vancouver Canucks (38-17-10-0) at Boston Bruins (28-25-8-3), 7 p.m.

(Sports Network) - The Vancouver Canucks hope to build a new streak and draw closer to the top seed in the Western Conference tonight when they visit the Boston Bruins at FleetCenter.

Vancouver had its franchise-record 14-game unbeaten run (10-0-4) halted last Thursday against San Jose and skated to a 1-1 tie in Montreal on Saturday. The Canucks, with 86 points and a game in hand, trail Dallas by three points atop the West, and the Stars will be without All-Star Bill Guerin for up to six weeks after he underwent emergency surgery on his thigh Saturday night.

On Saturday against the Canadiens, Trevor Letowski put the Canucks ahead 1-0 early in the third period, but the Habs' Donald Audette tied the match 6:47 into the frame. Peter Skudra made 20 saves for Vancouver, subbing for starter Dan Cloutier, who is expected to miss another week with a knee sprain.

Defenseman Ed Jovanovksi chipped in an assist Saturday and extended his points streak to five games. He has six helpers in that time.

The Canucks, who are 29-0-5 when leading after two periods this season, are 5-0-3 in their last eight road games, matching the club record for a road unbeaten streak (4-0-4 from February 17 - March 14, 1995). They have a 20-7-5 mark away from home in 2002-03, and those 20 victories match the team record established in 1993-94, when Vancouver advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Canucks opened a five-game road trip Saturday and will resume the trek Tuesday in Philadelphia.

Boston, meanwhile, is 0-4-3-1 in its last eight games, including Saturday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Flyers. Rob Zamuner and Brian Rolston scored for the B's, with Rolston forcing overtime 7:46 into the third period. However, Philly's Jeremy Roenick won the match one minute into the extra session.

Jeff Hackett finished with 29 saves for Boston and fell to 4-7-0 since being acquired from Montreal. The veteran netminder has recorded a 3.25 goals- against average and .897 save percentage with the Bruins.

Boston, with 67 points, sits eighth in the Eastern Conference -- three ahead of the Rangers with four games in hand. The B's, 1-2-1-2 in their last six home tilts, will visit Carolina on Tuesday.

The Bruins defeated the Canucks, 6-3, in Vancouver on October 16 and are 3-0-1 in the last four meetings. The Canucks are 0-1-3 in their last four trips to Beantown.

2002-2003 Meetings
10/16 - Boston, 6-3 (at Van)

2001-2002 Meetings
11/23 - Boston, 3-2 (at Bos)

02/12 - Boston, 2-1 ot (at Van)

2000-2001 Meetings
03/15 - Tied, 2-2 ot (at Bos)

Game Notes
Note - Boston is unbeaten (3-0-1) after winless in the last five meetings.
Note - These two teams are 3-3-3 in the last nine meetings.
Note - Boston is 7-3-3 in the last 13 meetings.
Note - Boston snapped a four-game series home winless streak on 11/23/01.
Note - Vancouver is winless (0-1-3) in its last four at Boston.
Note - Vancouver is 3-2-3 in its last eight at Boston.
Note - Boston has won two straight after losing its last two at Vancouver.
Note - Boston has won five of seven and six of its last nine at Vancouver.
Note - Vancouver is 10-1-5 in its last 16 games.
Note - Vancouver is unbeaten (5-0-3) in its last eight road games.
Note - Vancouver is unbeaten (29-0-5) when leading after two periods.
Note - Boston is winless (0-4-3-1) in its last eight games.
Note - Boston is 1-2-1-2 in its last six home games.

 

[Aces High]

Detroit Red Wings (35-17-9-3) at Columbus Blue Jackets (23-32-7-2), 7 p.m.

(Sports Network) - The Detroit Red Wings target their sixth straight win this evening when they head to Columbus to face off with the lowly Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena.

Pavel Datsyuk had two goals and two assists to lead Detroit to a 5-2 win over Phoenix on Sunday. Brett Hull added a goal and two assists, while Henrik Zetterberg and Nicklas Lidstrom each recorded a score and a helper for the Wings, who have outscored their opponents 28-11 during the current five-game tear.

Curtis Joseph made 22 saves for Detroit, which is unbeaten in regulation in its last nine outings (8-0-0-1).

Sergei Fedorov assisted on Lidstrom's goal and extended his points streak to 10 games. He has four goals and 12 assists in that span.

On the injury front, Chris Chelios left the game in the second period after colliding with the Coyotes' Daymond Langkow and appeared to hurt his right knee. Following the game head coach Dave Lewis said he did not expect Chelios to play tonight.

With the win, the Red Wings moved two points ahead of the idle St. Louis Blues atop the Central Division. Detroit has won its last two on the road and is 14-11-4-1 away from home this season.

Columbus, meanwhile, enters Monday's tilt on a two-game unbeaten streak after skating to a 3-3 tie with the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. David Vyborny and Ray Whitney scored third- period goals, as the Blue Jackets rallied to earn the deadlock. Rick Nash also scored for the Blue Jackets, who roared back from a 3-0 deficit.

Columbus, coming off a 3-1 win over Los Angeles on Thursday, is just 1-6-1 in its last eight, though, and with 55 points is only one ahead of the Calgary Flames, who own the lowest point total in the league. Marc Denis finished with 24 saves for the Blue Jackets.

Detroit, which has taken all three meetings with Columbus this season, has won four straight and 11 of the 13 all-time matchups with the Jackets. The Red Wings have also won three straight, and five of six in Columbus.

2002-2003 Meetings
12/14 - Detroit, 6-4 (at Det)
12/23 - Detroit, 1-0 (at Clb)
12/26 - Detroit, 4-2 (at Det)

2001-2002 Meetings
10/16 - Detroit, 4-3 (at Det)
11/21 - Detroit, 1-0 ot (at Clb)
12/27 - Detroit, 5-1 (at Det)
02/08 - Columbus, 3-2 (at Det)
03/21 - Detroit, 3-2 ot (at Clb)

2000-2001 Meetings
10/22 - Detroit, 2-1 ot (at Clb)
10/28 - Detroit, 4-1 (at Det)
01/31 - Detroit, 3-2 ot (at Clb)
02/16 - Detroit, 4-2 (at Det)
04/03 - Columbus, 2-1 (at Clb)

Game Notes
Note - Detroit has won four straight and seven of the last eight meetings.
Note - Detroit has won 11 of the 13 meetings.
Note - Detroit has won three straight and five of the six meetings at Columbus.
Note - Columbus has lost two straight and six of the seven meetings at Detroit.
Note - Detroit has won five straight and eight of its last nine games.
Note - Detroit has won two straight after losing its last three road games.
Note - Columbus is unbeaten (1-0-1) after losing its last six games.
Note - Columbus is 5-1-3 in its last nine home games.

 

[Aces High]

Florida Panthers (19-25-12-9) at Toronto Maple Leafs (37-23-4-1), 7:30 p.m.

(Sports Network) - The Toronto Maple Leafs conclude a brief homestand tonight when they welcome the Florida Panthers to Air Canada Centre.

Toronto, which has won seven of its last nine games, posted a 3-1 victory over woeful Carolina on Saturday, as Trevor Kidd made 20 saves and four different Maple Leafs scored goals. Bryan McCabe, Alexander Mogilny, Darcy Tucker and Shayne Corson found the back of the net for the Leafs, who sit fifth in the Eastern Conference with 79 points -- two behind fourth-place Philadelphia.

Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin was held off the scoresheet for the second straight game and remains two points shy of 1,000 for his career. Sundin can become just the fifth player to reach the plateau while wearing a Maple Leafs sweater (Norm Ullman, Doug Gilmour, Glenn Anderson and Larry Murphy).

Toronto, which has won four of its last five on home ice, will visit Ottawa on Tuesday.

Florida, meanwhile, has lost its last three games, including Saturday's 5-3 defeat to the Rangers in New York. Kristian Huselius and Olli Jokinen scored in the setback, while Roberto Luongo finished with 42 saves.

Jokinen's tally was his team-leading 33rd of the season, and he also paces the club with 27 assists and 60 points. Jokinen's linemate, Viktor Kozlov, has contributed a point in 22 of his last 30 games.

The Panthers, who sit 11th in the East, are eight points out of the final playoff spot, which is currently held by the Boston Bruins. Florida, 4-2-1 in its last seven away from home, will host Colorado on Wednesday.

Florida and Toronto are 1-1-1 against each other this season, as the Leafs snapped a four-game series winless streak (0-2-2) with a 6-0 pounding on February 5 in Sunrise. Ed Belfour made 33 saves for the shutout, and six different players provided goals.

2002-2003 Meetings
10/23 - Florida, 4-1 (at Tor)
12/18 - Tied, 2-2 ot (at Fla)
02/05 - Toronto, 6-0 (at Fla)

2001-2002 Meetings
11/14 - Toronto, 3-2 (at Fla)
11/19 - Toronto, 5-1 (at Tor)
12/29 - Florida, 4-2 (at Fla)
04/06 - Tied, 2-2 ot (at Tor)

2000-2001 Meetings
12/04 - Tied, 4-4 ot (at Tor)
12/30 - Toronto, 4-1 (at Fla)
03/17 - Toronto, 5-3 (at Fla)
03/21 - Florida, 3-1 (at Tor)

Game Notes
Note - Toronto snapped a four-game series winless streak on 02/05/03.
Note - Florida is 2-1-2 in the last five meetings.
Note - Toronto is 3-2-2 in the last seven and 5-3-3 in the last 11 meetings.
Note - Toronto is 9-4-3 in the last 16 and 12-5-5 in the last 22 meetings.
Note - Florida is unbeaten (1-0-1) in its last two at Toronto.
Note - Florida is 2-1-2 in its last five at Toronto.
Note - Florida is 2-6-2 in its last 10 at Toronto.
Note - Florida is 3-7-2 at Toronto.
Note - Toronto snapped a two-game series road winless streak on 02/05/03.
Note - Toronto is 4-1-1 in its last six and 5-2-1 in its last eight at Florida.
Note - Toronto is 5-3-2 in its last 10 and 7-4-4 in its last 15 at Florida.
Note - Florida is winless (0-3-1) after winning its last three games.
Note - Florida is 4-2-1 in its last seven road games.
Note - Toronto has won seven of nine and 12 of its last 15 games.
Note - Toronto has won four of five and five of its last seven home games.

 

[Aces High]

New York Islanders (30-24-8-2) at New York Rangers (27-31-8-2), 8 p.m.

(Sports Network) - It will be a playoff-like atmosphere at Madison Square Garden tonight when the New York Rangers continue their improbable push towards the postseason against the hated New York Islanders.

With 64 points, the Rangers have moved into sole possession of the ninth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race, three behind the slumping eighth-place Boston Bruins. However, the B's hold four games in hand on the Blueshirts.

The Rangers improved to 4-1-1 over their last six on Saturday with a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers. Pavel Bure notched a goal and an assist against his former team and Mike Dunham made 32 saves to keep the playoff dream alive.

Brian Leetch, Radek Dvorak and Mark Messier scored in the first period for the Rangers, who have opened their crucial five-game homestand with consecutive wins.

Alexei Kovalev also scored in the win to extend his points streak to five games (3g, 3a). In his 10 contests with the Rangers, Kovalev has scored six goals, while assisting on three others.

Leetch, who will be celebrating his 35th birthday tonight, has two goals and four assists since his return from an ankle injury, and the team has gone 5-3-1 with him back.

The Blueshirts, who will close their homestand with visits from the Flyers and another by the Panthers, have won three straight on their ice and are 14-15-3-1 at home on the season.

The Islanders, meanwhile, continue chugging towards the postseason and enter Monday's clash on the heels of Saturday's exciting 2-1 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres. Jason Blake scored 2:42 into the extra-session to provide the heroics.

Shawn Bates also lit the lamp for the Islanders, who won for the first time in four games (1-1-2). Garth Snow made 36 saves in the victory.

Defenseman Kenny Jonsson (knee sprain) missed the game and is not expected to play tonight.

The Islanders currently occupy the seventh position in the Eastern Conference playoff race with 70 points, one back of the Tampa Bay Lightning and three in front of the Bruins.

In the last meeting between the New York City rivals, it was the Blueshirts, who skated away with a 5-0 win on Long Island. However, the Islanders lost goaltender Chris Osgood (ankle) and mammoth defenseman Eric Cairns (shoulder) in the game to injuries and neither has played since.

The road team in this series has won the last two matchups and seven of the last eight. The Islanders, who have won four of the last six overall from the Rangers, are 6-1-1 in their last eight trips to MSG.

2002-2003 Meetings
11/23 - NY Islanders, 3-1 (at NYR)
01/21 - NY Rangers, 5-0 (at NYI)

2001-2002 Meetings
11/08 - NY Rangers, 6-2 (at NYI)
12/21 - NY Islanders, 2-1 (at NYR)
01/22 - NY Rangers, 5-4 (at NYI)
01/30 - NY Islanders, 6-3 (at NYR)
03/25 - NY Islanders, 4-2 (at NYI)

2000-2001 Meetings
11/22 - NY Rangers, 4-3 ot (at NYI)
01/26 - NY Islanders, 3-2 (at NYR)
03/05 - NY Islanders, 5-2 (at NYR)
03/28 - NY Rangers, 4-2 (at NYR)
03/29 - NY Rangers, 6-4 (at NYI)

Game Notes
Note - The road team has won two straight meetings.
Note - The road team has won seven of eight and 12 of the last 14 meetings.
Note - The Rangers snapped a three-game series losing streak on 01/21/03.
Note - The Islanders have won four of the last six meetings.
Note - The Rangers have won five of the last nine meetings.
Note - The Islanders are 8-7-1 in the last 16 meetings.
Note - The Rangers are 14-8-1 in the last 23 meetings.
Note - The Islanders have won three straight at the Rangers.
Note - The Islanders are 6-1-1 in their last eight at the Rangers.
Note - The Islanders are 6-5-2 in their last 13 at the Rangers.
Note - The Rangers have won six of seven and nine of their last 11 at the NYI.
Note - The Islanders are 4-1-3 in their last eight games.
Note - The Rangers are 4-1-1 in their last six games.
Note - The NYR have won three straight after losing their last four home games.

 

[Aces High]

VAN is 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 overall.
VAN is second on offense with 3.15 goals/game.
The under is 6-3-1 in the last 10 meetings.
BOS has won the last three meetings ATS.
The Bruins are 8-4 ATS at home following a loss.
The over is 3-0-1 in BOS last four at home.


DET is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings.
DET is 8-1 ATS in their last nine overall.
The Wings last 10 overall have played over.
The last four meetings in CLB have played under.
The over is 3-0 for CLB when the total is at 6.
The Jackets are 8-1 ATS in their last nine at home.


FLO is 3-1-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
The Panthers have lost their last four overall ATS.
The over is 3-1 in FLO's last four away games.
The under is 3-1 in the last four meetings.
The over is 4-1-1 in the Leafs last six at home.
TOR is 4-1 ATS in their last five home games.


NYI is 3-1 ATS in the last four meetings.
The under is 8-1-1 in the Isles last 10 away.
NYI is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 overall.
The over is 7-3 in the Rangers last 10 at home.
The under is 27-18 when the total is 5.5 for NYR.
NYR is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 overall.