CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (18-36-9-6) AT WASHINGTON CAPITALS (21-39-8-2), 7 p.m. -------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Sports Network) - The Chicago Blackhawks try and halt a seven-game winless streak tonight when they visit the Washington Capitals at the MCI Center.
The Blackhawks are coming off a 6-4 setback in New Jersey on Thursday night. Patrik Elias scored twice and Turner Stevenson notched a goal and two assists to lead the Devils.
Tuomo Ruutu posted a goal and two assists for Chicago, which has lost four in a row and is 0-4-2-1 in its last seven. Michael Leighton made 22 saves in defeat.
Chicago is currently last in the Western Conference with 51 points -- one behind the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Blackhawks are 3-20-1-1 in their last 25 road games and complete their two-game swing tonight. Chicago opens a four-game homestand on Sunday against Dallas.
Washington, meanwhile, was pounded by the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night with the help of the latest casualty from the Capitals' housecleaning.
Mike Grier scored a goal and added two assists in his first game for Buffalo, as the Sabres rolled to a 6-0 victory over the Caps at the MCI Center. Grier was traded by Washington to Buffalo at the deadline on Tuesday in exchange for prospect Jakub Klepis.
Olaf Kolzig, who surprisingly wasn't dealt by Washington at the deadline, made 29 saves in defeat.
Buffalo swept all four games with Washington this season, outscoring the Capitals, 21-4. It was the sixth series sweep for the Sabres against Washington and first since 1990-91.
Washington was shut out for the fourth time this season and fell to 1-5-0 in its last six outings.
The Capitals complete their three-game homestand tonight before visiting Atlanta on Saturday.
Washington is unbeaten in the last three matchups with the Blackhawks (2-0-1), but Chicago is 2-1-1 in the previous four meetings in the nation's capital.
RECENT TRENDS
? Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings.
? CHI ranks 29th in defense allowing 3.07 goals/gm.
? CHI is 4-22 ATS in their last 26 on the road.
? WAS is 2-8 ATS in their last 10 overall.
? WAS ranks 27th in defense allowing 3.04 goals/gm.
? WAS is 3-0 ATS in the last three meetings.
Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
2/15/2004 Chi. 0 Wash. 4 -0.5,105/5.5 Wash./U
11/15/2002 Chi. 2 Wash. 2 -0.5,110/5.5 Wash./U
4/9/2002 Wash. 3 Chi. 1 0,-150/5 Wash./U
2/27/2001 Wash. 2 Chi. 3 0,-250/5.5 Chi./U
1/19/2001 Chi. 3 Wash. 1 0,-130/5.5 Chi./U
2/18/2000 Chi. 4 Wash. 5 0,140/5.5 Wash./O
12/27/1999 Wash. 2 Chi. 2 0,-165/5.5 P/U
4/12/1999 Wash. 2 Chi. 4 -0.5,105/5 Chi./O
12/17/1998 Chi. 1 Wash. 3 -0.5,105/5 Wash./U
1/15/1998 Wash. 3 Chi. 2 -0.5,-125/5 Wash./P
ATLANTA THRASHERS (22-30-13-4) AT CAROLINA HURRICANES (27-33-7-3), 7 p.m. -------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Sports Network) - A pair of teams outside of the Eastern Conference playoff race meet tonight, as the Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Atlanta Thrashers to the RBC Center.
The Thrashers have 64 points and are currently 10 behind the New York Islanders for the eighth and final playoff berth in the East. Carolina is even further back with 61 points.
Atlanta continued to struggle on Tuesday night, as it was handed a 2-0 loss by the New York Rangers. Jaromir Jagr posted a goal and an assist for the Rangers and Mike Dunham made 25 saves for his second shutout of the season.
Pasi Nurminen turned aside 23 shots as Atlanta lost for the first time in its last nine tries against New York (7-1-1). The Thrashers also saw their winless slide extended to three games (0-1-1-1).
Jagr netted his 28th of the year with just 33 seconds remaining in the opening stanza to give New York a 1-0 edge. Mironov was able to keep an Atlanta clearing attempt in at the right point and threw the puck on net. Jagr got a piece of it on the way in to get it behind Nurminen.
The Thrashers open a four-game homestand against Washington on Saturday.
The Hurricanes were handed a 4-2 setback by the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night at the RBC Center. Dan Boyle and Tim Taylor each posted a goal and an assist to lead the NHL-leading Lightning.
Jesse Boulerice and Radim Vrbata produced the goals for Carolina, which remained winless in its last five home games (0-3-1-1).
The contest marked the club's first without veteran center Ron Francis, who was shipped to Toronto on Tuesday. Carolina received a fourth-round draft pick in 2005 for Francis.
Hurricanes' goaltender Arturs Irbe made just 12 saves in the setback.
Carolina completes a two-game homestand tonight and starts a five-game road trip in Tampa on Saturday.
The Hurricanes have won three of the last four meetings with Atlanta and are 17-3-4 all-time against the Thrashers. Atlanta is also just 2-9-1 all-time in Carolina.
RECENT TRENDS
? Over is 6-0-1 in the last seven meetings.
? ATL is 5-1 ATS in their last six on the road.
? ATL is 4-10 ATS after two days rest.
? Over is 4-1-1 in ATL?s last six overall.
? CAR is 2-10 ATS in their last 12 at home.
? CAR is 3-1 ATS in the last four meetings.
Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
3/5/2004 Atl. 2 Car. 3 -0.5,-130/5 Car./P
1/18/2004 Car. 2 Atl. 5 -0.5,-105/5 Atl./O
1/16/2004 Atl. 3 Car. 4 -0.5,-115/5 Car./O
11/13/2003 Car. 5 Atl. 1 -0.5,100/5 Car./O
3/26/2003 Atl. 5 Car. 1 -0.5,-120/5.5 Atl./O
1/7/2003 Atl. 3 Car. 3 0.5,120/5.5 Atl./O
12/27/2002 Car. 3 Atl. 5 -0.5,-180/5.5 Atl./O
12/20/2002 Atl. 2 Car. 3 0.5,125/5.5 Car./U
10/11/2002 Car. 5 Atl. 3 -1.5,130/5.5 Car./O
4/14/2002 Atl. 2 Car. 2 0,150/5.5 P/U
NEW YORK RANGERS (25-33-7-5) AT TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (40-17-8-5), 7 p.m. -----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Lightning continue their push for the top seed in the Eastern Conference when they host the New York Rangers tonight at St. Pete Times Forum.
The Lightning continued to roll Wednesday night, as they earned a 4-2 victory in Carolina. Dan Boyle and Tim Taylor each posted a goal and an assist to lead the Lightning to the victory over the Hurricanes at RBC Center.
Dave Andreychuk and Ruslan Fedotenko also scored for the Lightning, who have earned a point in each of their last 17 games (13-0-2-2).
With 93 points, Tampa Bay, which already has been crowned the Southeast Division champions, now leads Detroit by one point for the overall league lead.
John Grahame allowed two goals on 33 shots in the victory. The Lightning have not lost in regulation since February 3, a 2-1 setback at Washington.
Tampa Bay played with new defenseman Stan Neckar, who was acquired before Tuesday's trade deadline in a deal with Nashville. This is Neckar's second stint with the Lightning.
Tampa Bay opens a four-game homestand tonight. The Lightning host Carolina on Saturday.
The Rangers picked up a victory Tuesday night in Atlanta. Jaromir Jagr's first-period goal was the difference for New York, as Mike Dunham made 25 saves to blank the Atlanta Thrashers, 2-0, at Philips Arena.
Dunham recorded his second shutout of the season, both against the Thrashers, for the recently-dismantled Rangers, winners of just two of their last seven contests (2-4-0-1).
The Rangers have dealt eight players in the past week, including Brian Leetch, Alex Kovalev, Greg de Vries and Vladimir Malakhov.
Boris Mironov assisted on the tally by Jagr, who scored for the third time in four games.
Bobby Holik added an empty-netter to cement the victory. The Rangers complete their three-game road trip against Florida on Saturday.
Tampa Bay has won two straight and three of the last four meetings with the Rangers. New York has also dropped three in a row in Tampa.
RECENT TRENDS
? NYR is 3-10 ATS in their last 10 overall.
? Under is 6-2 in NYR?s last eight away.
? NYR ranks 25th in defense allowing 2.96 goals/gm.
? TB is 20-4 ATS in their last 24 overall.
? Over is 10-0-2 in TB?s last 12 home games.
? TB is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.
Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
1/11/2004 NYR 1 TB 2 -0.5,120/5 TB/U
12/7/2003 NYR 2 TB 3 -0.5,-115/5 TB/P
11/25/2003 TB 0 NYR 2 -0.5,-135/5 NYR/U
12/29/2002 TB 5 NYR 3 -0.5,-160/5.5 TB/O
12/1/2002 NYR 4 TB 3 -0.5,110/5.5 NYR/O
10/30/2002 TB 3 NYR 0 -0.5,105/6 TB/U
10/21/2002 NYR 2 TB 4 -0.5,-145/6 TB/P
4/1/2002 TB 4 NYR 6 0,105/5.5 NYR/O
1/28/2002 NYR 0 TB 1 0,-270/5.5 TB/U
12/2/2001 NYR 1 TB 0 0,-260/5.5 NYR/U
(Sports Network) - The Chicago Blackhawks try and halt a seven-game winless streak tonight when they visit the Washington Capitals at the MCI Center.
The Blackhawks are coming off a 6-4 setback in New Jersey on Thursday night. Patrik Elias scored twice and Turner Stevenson notched a goal and two assists to lead the Devils.
Tuomo Ruutu posted a goal and two assists for Chicago, which has lost four in a row and is 0-4-2-1 in its last seven. Michael Leighton made 22 saves in defeat.
Chicago is currently last in the Western Conference with 51 points -- one behind the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Blackhawks are 3-20-1-1 in their last 25 road games and complete their two-game swing tonight. Chicago opens a four-game homestand on Sunday against Dallas.
Washington, meanwhile, was pounded by the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night with the help of the latest casualty from the Capitals' housecleaning.
Mike Grier scored a goal and added two assists in his first game for Buffalo, as the Sabres rolled to a 6-0 victory over the Caps at the MCI Center. Grier was traded by Washington to Buffalo at the deadline on Tuesday in exchange for prospect Jakub Klepis.
Olaf Kolzig, who surprisingly wasn't dealt by Washington at the deadline, made 29 saves in defeat.
Buffalo swept all four games with Washington this season, outscoring the Capitals, 21-4. It was the sixth series sweep for the Sabres against Washington and first since 1990-91.
Washington was shut out for the fourth time this season and fell to 1-5-0 in its last six outings.
The Capitals complete their three-game homestand tonight before visiting Atlanta on Saturday.
Washington is unbeaten in the last three matchups with the Blackhawks (2-0-1), but Chicago is 2-1-1 in the previous four meetings in the nation's capital.
RECENT TRENDS
? Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings.
? CHI ranks 29th in defense allowing 3.07 goals/gm.
? CHI is 4-22 ATS in their last 26 on the road.
? WAS is 2-8 ATS in their last 10 overall.
? WAS ranks 27th in defense allowing 3.04 goals/gm.
? WAS is 3-0 ATS in the last three meetings.
Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
2/15/2004 Chi. 0 Wash. 4 -0.5,105/5.5 Wash./U
11/15/2002 Chi. 2 Wash. 2 -0.5,110/5.5 Wash./U
4/9/2002 Wash. 3 Chi. 1 0,-150/5 Wash./U
2/27/2001 Wash. 2 Chi. 3 0,-250/5.5 Chi./U
1/19/2001 Chi. 3 Wash. 1 0,-130/5.5 Chi./U
2/18/2000 Chi. 4 Wash. 5 0,140/5.5 Wash./O
12/27/1999 Wash. 2 Chi. 2 0,-165/5.5 P/U
4/12/1999 Wash. 2 Chi. 4 -0.5,105/5 Chi./O
12/17/1998 Chi. 1 Wash. 3 -0.5,105/5 Wash./U
1/15/1998 Wash. 3 Chi. 2 -0.5,-125/5 Wash./P
ATLANTA THRASHERS (22-30-13-4) AT CAROLINA HURRICANES (27-33-7-3), 7 p.m. -------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Sports Network) - A pair of teams outside of the Eastern Conference playoff race meet tonight, as the Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Atlanta Thrashers to the RBC Center.
The Thrashers have 64 points and are currently 10 behind the New York Islanders for the eighth and final playoff berth in the East. Carolina is even further back with 61 points.
Atlanta continued to struggle on Tuesday night, as it was handed a 2-0 loss by the New York Rangers. Jaromir Jagr posted a goal and an assist for the Rangers and Mike Dunham made 25 saves for his second shutout of the season.
Pasi Nurminen turned aside 23 shots as Atlanta lost for the first time in its last nine tries against New York (7-1-1). The Thrashers also saw their winless slide extended to three games (0-1-1-1).
Jagr netted his 28th of the year with just 33 seconds remaining in the opening stanza to give New York a 1-0 edge. Mironov was able to keep an Atlanta clearing attempt in at the right point and threw the puck on net. Jagr got a piece of it on the way in to get it behind Nurminen.
The Thrashers open a four-game homestand against Washington on Saturday.
The Hurricanes were handed a 4-2 setback by the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night at the RBC Center. Dan Boyle and Tim Taylor each posted a goal and an assist to lead the NHL-leading Lightning.
Jesse Boulerice and Radim Vrbata produced the goals for Carolina, which remained winless in its last five home games (0-3-1-1).
The contest marked the club's first without veteran center Ron Francis, who was shipped to Toronto on Tuesday. Carolina received a fourth-round draft pick in 2005 for Francis.
Hurricanes' goaltender Arturs Irbe made just 12 saves in the setback.
Carolina completes a two-game homestand tonight and starts a five-game road trip in Tampa on Saturday.
The Hurricanes have won three of the last four meetings with Atlanta and are 17-3-4 all-time against the Thrashers. Atlanta is also just 2-9-1 all-time in Carolina.
RECENT TRENDS
? Over is 6-0-1 in the last seven meetings.
? ATL is 5-1 ATS in their last six on the road.
? ATL is 4-10 ATS after two days rest.
? Over is 4-1-1 in ATL?s last six overall.
? CAR is 2-10 ATS in their last 12 at home.
? CAR is 3-1 ATS in the last four meetings.
Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
3/5/2004 Atl. 2 Car. 3 -0.5,-130/5 Car./P
1/18/2004 Car. 2 Atl. 5 -0.5,-105/5 Atl./O
1/16/2004 Atl. 3 Car. 4 -0.5,-115/5 Car./O
11/13/2003 Car. 5 Atl. 1 -0.5,100/5 Car./O
3/26/2003 Atl. 5 Car. 1 -0.5,-120/5.5 Atl./O
1/7/2003 Atl. 3 Car. 3 0.5,120/5.5 Atl./O
12/27/2002 Car. 3 Atl. 5 -0.5,-180/5.5 Atl./O
12/20/2002 Atl. 2 Car. 3 0.5,125/5.5 Car./U
10/11/2002 Car. 5 Atl. 3 -1.5,130/5.5 Car./O
4/14/2002 Atl. 2 Car. 2 0,150/5.5 P/U
NEW YORK RANGERS (25-33-7-5) AT TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (40-17-8-5), 7 p.m. -----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Lightning continue their push for the top seed in the Eastern Conference when they host the New York Rangers tonight at St. Pete Times Forum.
The Lightning continued to roll Wednesday night, as they earned a 4-2 victory in Carolina. Dan Boyle and Tim Taylor each posted a goal and an assist to lead the Lightning to the victory over the Hurricanes at RBC Center.
Dave Andreychuk and Ruslan Fedotenko also scored for the Lightning, who have earned a point in each of their last 17 games (13-0-2-2).
With 93 points, Tampa Bay, which already has been crowned the Southeast Division champions, now leads Detroit by one point for the overall league lead.
John Grahame allowed two goals on 33 shots in the victory. The Lightning have not lost in regulation since February 3, a 2-1 setback at Washington.
Tampa Bay played with new defenseman Stan Neckar, who was acquired before Tuesday's trade deadline in a deal with Nashville. This is Neckar's second stint with the Lightning.
Tampa Bay opens a four-game homestand tonight. The Lightning host Carolina on Saturday.
The Rangers picked up a victory Tuesday night in Atlanta. Jaromir Jagr's first-period goal was the difference for New York, as Mike Dunham made 25 saves to blank the Atlanta Thrashers, 2-0, at Philips Arena.
Dunham recorded his second shutout of the season, both against the Thrashers, for the recently-dismantled Rangers, winners of just two of their last seven contests (2-4-0-1).
The Rangers have dealt eight players in the past week, including Brian Leetch, Alex Kovalev, Greg de Vries and Vladimir Malakhov.
Boris Mironov assisted on the tally by Jagr, who scored for the third time in four games.
Bobby Holik added an empty-netter to cement the victory. The Rangers complete their three-game road trip against Florida on Saturday.
Tampa Bay has won two straight and three of the last four meetings with the Rangers. New York has also dropped three in a row in Tampa.
RECENT TRENDS
? NYR is 3-10 ATS in their last 10 overall.
? Under is 6-2 in NYR?s last eight away.
? NYR ranks 25th in defense allowing 2.96 goals/gm.
? TB is 20-4 ATS in their last 24 overall.
? Over is 10-0-2 in TB?s last 12 home games.
? TB is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.
Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
1/11/2004 NYR 1 TB 2 -0.5,120/5 TB/U
12/7/2003 NYR 2 TB 3 -0.5,-115/5 TB/P
11/25/2003 TB 0 NYR 2 -0.5,-135/5 NYR/U
12/29/2002 TB 5 NYR 3 -0.5,-160/5.5 TB/O
12/1/2002 NYR 4 TB 3 -0.5,110/5.5 NYR/O
10/30/2002 TB 3 NYR 0 -0.5,105/6 TB/U
10/21/2002 NYR 2 TB 4 -0.5,-145/6 TB/P
4/1/2002 TB 4 NYR 6 0,105/5.5 NYR/O
1/28/2002 NYR 0 TB 1 0,-270/5.5 TB/U
12/2/2001 NYR 1 TB 0 0,-260/5.5 NYR/U
