puck sundae

[Aces High]

EDMONTON OILERS (27-27-11-2) AT CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (18-35-9-5), 3 p.m. ----------------------------------------------------------------------

(Sports Network) - The Edmonton Oilers continue their pursuit for a playoff berth today, as they pay a visit to the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center.

The Oilers have 67 points and are six behind Los Angeles for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Edmonton skated to a 1-1 tie with the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night at the Savvis Center. The Blues are four points ahead of the Oilers in the playoff race.

Jussi Markkanen, in his return to the Oilers, finished with 27 saves. Raffi Torres scored the lone goal for Edmonton, which has registered at least a point in four straight games (2-0-1-1).

Markkanen, who spent his first two NHL seasons with Edmonton before going to the New York Rangers in a trade last summer, was re-acquired by the Oilers from the Rangers on Wednesday. Petr Nedved, who had an assist, was also part of the deal that sent collegiate prospect Dwight Helminen and minor league goaltender Stephen Valiquette to the Rangers.

Edmonton, which is 2-6-3-1 in its last 12 games as the visitor, completes its three-game road trip in Calgary on Tuesday night.

The Blackhawks were handed a 5-2 setback by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim at the United Center on Friday. Steve Rucchin finished with two goals and an assist to lead the Mighty Ducks.

Deron Quint and Eric Daze both posted a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks, who are winless in their last five (0-3-2). Michael Leighton stopped 31 shots in the loss.

The Blackhawks have just 50 points this season and currently sit in the basement of the Western Conference. They will miss the playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.

Chicago, 1-5-1 in its last seven home games, wraps up its three-game stand tonight.

The Oilers are unbeaten in the last four meetings with Chicago (3-0-1). They are also 2-0-1 in their previous three trips to the Windy City.

RECENT TRENDS
? EDM is 6-2 ATS in their last eight overall.
? The over is 4-1 in EDM?s last five road games.
? EDM is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.
? The over is 4-1-1 in CHI?s last six at home.
? CHI is 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games.
? The last four meetings have played over.

Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
1/29/2004 Edm. 5 Chi. 2 -0.5,-160/5 Edm./O
1/4/2004 Chi. 3 Edm. 4 0.5,-135/5 Edm./O
11/18/2003 Edm. 5 Chi. 2 -0.5,-140/5 Edm./O
3/30/2003 Chi. 4 Edm. 4 0.5,-110/5 Chi./O
2/8/2003 Edm. 0 Chi. 3 -0.5,-110/5 Chi./U
11/19/2002 Edm. 3 Chi. 1 -0.5,110/5 Edm./U
11/3/2002 Chi. 1 Edm. 4 -0.5,120/5 Edm./P
1/14/2002 Chi. 2 Edm. 1 0,-150/5 Chi./U
12/21/2001 Chi. 5 Edm. 1 0,-170/5 Chi./O
11/16/2001 Edm. 7 Chi. 1 0,-170/5 Edm./O

CALGARY FLAMES (33-26-5-3) AT COLORADO AVALANCHE (34-16-12-5), 3 p.m. ---------------------------------------------------------------------

(Sports Network) - The Calgary Flames try to get back on the winning track today when they visit the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center.

The Flames failed to improve their chances for a playoff berth on Friday evening, as they were pounded by the Dallas Stars, 5-1, at American Airlines Center. Mike Modano, Jason Arnott and Pierre Turgeon each posted a goal and an assist to lead the Stars.

Rhett Warrener scored the lone goal for the Flames, while Miikka Kiprusoff made 29 saves in Calgary's second straight defeat.

The Flames have 74 points and are currently situated in the seventh spot in the Western Conference -- one ahead of Los Angeles and two behind Nashville. Calgary is trying to reach the postseason for the first time since 1996.

Calgary, which has dropped five of its last seven road games, completes its three-game swing today.

The Avs, meanwhile earned a 5-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Friday. Joe Sakic had a goal and two assists to spark Colorado at the Pepsi Center.

The Avalanche now have 85 points and hold a two-point edge over San Jose for second place in the Western Conference. Colorado is also just one ahead of Vancouver for the top spot in the Northwest Division.

Steve Moore and Milan Hejduk each chipped in with a goal and an assist for Colorado, while Alex Tanguay also scored. David Aebischer stopped 27 shots for the win as the Avalanche snapped a five-game winless slide (1-2-2-1).

Sakic was coming off a four-point performance in Wednesday's 5-5 tie with Vancouver in which he recorded his 14th career hat trick. The Avs have scored 10 goals in their last two games after managing just 11 in their previous eight contests.

The Avalanche, 1-4-3-1 in their last nine home games, complete a four-game stand tonight.

Colorado lost the previous meeting with Calgary on February 24, but is 4-1-1 in the last six matchups. However, the Flames are 5-2-2 in their last nine trips to Colorado.

RECENT TRENDS
? CAL is 2-5 ATS in their last seven road games.
? The over is 3-1 in CAL?s last four overall.
? The last three meetings have played under.
? COL is 1-8 ATS in their last nine at home.
? The over is 3-1 in COL?s last four overall.
? COL is 4th in team offense avg. 2.96 goals/gm.

cent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
2/24/2004 Colo. 0 Cal. 2 -0.5,-140/5 Cal./U
12/31/2003 Cal. 1 Colo. 2 0.5,-130/5 Colo./U
12/13/2003 Cal. 1 Colo. 1 0.5,-105/5 Cal./U
11/27/2003 Cal. 5 Colo. 6 0.5,-110/5 Colo./O
10/28/2003 Colo. 4 Cal. 2 -0.5,-180/5.5 Colo./O
2/9/2003 Colo. 4 Cal. 2 -0.5,-170/5 Colo./O
1/7/2003 Colo. 2 Cal. 4 -0.5,-170/5 Cal./O
12/14/2002 Cal. 1 Colo. 3 0.5,-145/5 Colo./U
12/3/2002 Colo. 1 Cal. 2 -0.5,-170/5 Cal./U
11/2/2002 Cal. 4 Colo. 4 0.5,100/5 Cal./O

 

[Aces High]

SAN JOSE SHARKS (33-17-11-6) AT DALLAS STARS (34-22-11-0), 4 p.m. -----------------------------------------------------------------

(Sports Network) - The Dallas Stars try to keep their current hot streak alive today when they welcome the San Jose Sharks to American Airlines Center in a key Pacific Division battle.

The Sharks have 83 points and currently hold the third spot in the Western Conference -- two behind Colorado. However, San Jose has also seen its lead in the Pacific Division dwindle to just four points over Dallas.

Dallas has 79 points and is sixth in the Western Conference playoff race -- five behind Vancouver and three ahead of Nashville.

On Friday, Mike Modano, Jason Arnott and Pierre Turgeon each posted a goal and an assist to help lead Dallas to a 5-1 victory over Calgary. Brenden Morrow and Rob DiMaio also scored for Dallas, and Bill Guerin added two assists.

Marty Turco stopped 22-of-23 shots in net for the Stars, who currently are riding a franchise-record 13-game home unbeaten streak (10-0-3). Dallas tied the home unbeaten mark set by the Minnesota North Stars during the 1990-91 season

The Stars have also won four straight overall and are unbeaten in their last eight tilts (7-0-1).

Arnott extended his point streak to seven games and has compiled four goals and eight assists in that stretch.

Dallas is 6-0-1 on its current eight-game homestand, a season-long stretch at home. The Stars complete the stand tonight before travelling to Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

The Sharks, meanwhile, had their hot streak ended on Friday evening, as they were pounded 5-1 by the Colorado Avalanche. Joe Sakic had a goal and two assists to spark the Avs at the Pepsi Center.

Alexander Korolyuk scored the lone goal for the Sharks, who saw their three- game win streak come to an end. Evgeni Nabokov allowed three goals on 12 shots before giving way to Vesa Toskala, who gave up two bad goals in a 19-save performance.

San Jose also may have lost its second-leading scorer, Marco Sturm, for the remainder of the season after he was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a fractured ankle. He was racing for the puck with Adam Foote on a delayed icing in the first period when he slid feet first into the boards.

Sturm has 21 goals and 20 assists for 41 points on the season, second behind Patrick Marleau's 50.

Dallas has won two straight and seven of the last eight matchups with the Sharks. San Jose also has just four wins in its previous 14 trips to Big D (4-8-2).

RECENT TRENDS
? The under is 7-1 in the last eight meetings.
? The over is 6-1-2 in SJ?s last 10 overall.
? SJ is 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games.
? DAL is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
? DAL is 14-4 ATS in their last 18 overall.
? The over is 3-1 in DAL?s last four at home.

Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
1/30/2004 Dal. 3 SJ 1 -0.5,-120/4.5 Dal./U
1/13/2004 SJ 0 Dal. 3 -0.5,105/4.5 Dal./U
12/6/2003 SJ 2 Dal. 1 0.5,-150/4.5 SJ/U
3/29/2003 SJ 3 Dal. 4 0.5,140/5 Dal./O
3/9/2003 Dal. 3 SJ 0 -0.5,-220/5 Dal./U
2/16/2003 Dal. 3 SJ 1 -0.5,-170/5 Dal./U
1/18/2003 SJ 1 Dal. 3 0.5,-105/5 Dal./U
1/2/2003 SJ 1 Dal. 3 0.5,-125/5 Dal./U
3/26/2002 SJ 3 Dal. 2 0,-145/5 SJ/P
3/3/2002 Dal. 4 SJ 1 0,-130/5 Dal./P

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (14-44-6-4) AT NEW YORK RANGERS (24-32-7-5), 5 p.m. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

(Sports Network) - A pair of teams out of the playoff picture meet tonight, as the New York Rangers host the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden.

On Friday, Bobby Holik scored midway through the third period to lift the Rangers over the Washington Capitals, 3-2, at MSG. The New York squad is barely recognizable after the team dealt Alex Kovalev, Petr Nedved and franchise staple Brian Leetch earlier this week.

Mark Messier had a goal and assisted on another by Chris Simon to help snap a four-game skid for the Rangers. Recent callup Jason LaBarbera made 19 saves to earn his first NHL win and also registered an assist on the game-winning tally.

The Rangers are all but eliminated from the playoff race, as they have 60 points and are 13 behind the Islanders for the eighth and final berth in the Eastern Conference.

Holik gave New York the lead for good when he notched his 19th marker of the year at 10:44 of the final frame on the power play. He worked a give-and-go with Jaromir Jagr at neutral ice, and then skated in front of the right boards before backhanding the puck behind Sebastien Charpentier. Jagr garnered his 1,300th career point on the play.

The Rangers, who have dropped six of their last eight home games, open a three-game road trip in Atlanta on Tuesday night.

Pittsburgh picked up a rare home victory on Saturday night, as it defeated the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, 2-1, at the Igloo.

Ric Jackman and Matt Bradley scored first-period goals, helping the Penguins post their first home win in over two months.

Andy Chiodo rebounded from a disastrous performance which saw him surrender nine goals on Thursday night with 26 saves for the Penguins, who last won at home against Chicago on December 29. Pittsburgh hadn't won at the Igloo in its previous 16 homes games (0-15-1).

It was also just the third overall victory in 24 games for the Penguins this season (3-19-1-1).

The Penguins are last in the NHL's overall standings with 38 points -- 12 points behind the next closest team.

After tonight's road tilt, the Penguins return home for Tuesday's game against Dallas.

The Rangers have won three straight and five of the last six meetings with Pittsburgh. The Penguins are also just 2-4-1 in their previous seven trips to MSG.

RECENT TRENDS
? The under is 6-2-2 in the last 10 meetings.
? PIT is 4-15 ATS in their last 16 overall.
? The over is 7-3-1 in PIT?s last 11 road games.
? NYR are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings.
? NYR are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 overall.
? NYR is 14th in team offense avg. 2.59 goals/gm.

Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
1/3/2004 Pit. 1 NYR 4 0.5,140/5.5 NYR/U
11/28/2003 Pit. 1 NYR 4 0.5,140/5 NYR/P
11/12/2003 NYR 6 Pit. 2 -0.5,-200/5 NYR/O
3/26/2003 NYR 1 Pit. 3 -0.5,-330/5 Pit./U
2/14/2003 NYR 1 Pit. 0 -0.5,-170/5.5 NYR/U
1/11/2003 Pit. 1 NYR 3 -0.5,120/5.5 NYR/U
12/26/2002 NYR 1 Pit. 6 -0.5,105/6 Pit./O
10/12/2002 Pit. 6 NYR 0 0.5,-145/6 Pit./P
4/8/2002 NYR 3 Pit. 2 0,-200/6 NYR/U
3/9/2002 Pit. 3 NYR 2 0,105/5.5 Pit./U

ST. LOUIS BLUES (30-26-9-2) AT BUFFALO SABRES (30-30-6-1), 6 p.m. -----------------------------------------------------------------

(Sports Network) - Two teams fighting to break into their respective conference's playoff race meet tonight, as the Buffalo Sabres host the St. Louis Blues at HSBC Arena.

Both teams picked up ground with wins on Saturday. The Blues now have 71 points and moved within two of the Los Angeles Kings for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Kings lost at home to Montreal.

Meanwhile, Buffalo took advantage of the Blues' win over the Islanders by picking up a victory in Toronto. The Sabres are now within six of the Isles for the eighth playoff position in the East.

Keith Tkachuk scored the game-winning tally and assisted on another goal to help St. Louis earn the 4-2 win at Nassau Coliseum.

Chris Osgood was stellar in net in his first game against his former team, turning aside 39 shots for the win, the first for St. Louis in six games under new head coach Mike Kitchen (1-3-2).

Pavol Demitra and Mark Rycroft also lit the lamp as the Blues halted a seven- game winless slide (0-4-2-1). Petr Cajanek cemented the victory with an empty- netter in the closing seconds.

Mark Parrish tied the game for New York with 34 seconds left in the second period, but Tkachuk scored just 14 seconds later to put the Blues ahead for good. It was Tkachuk's team-leading 27th goal of the campaign.

St. Louis, which has scored just 12 goals in its last eight games, completes a two-game road trip tonight. The Blues begin a four-game homestand against the Isles on Tuesday night.

The Sabres, meanwhile, destroyed the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. Derek Roy scored two goals to lead Buffalo to the 5-1 win over Toronto. The Sabres are now unbeaten in four meetings with the Maple Leafs this season (3-0-1).

Miroslav Satan tallied and recorded two assists for the Sabres, who won their second straight after dropping the previous four contests. Brian Campbell recorded a marker and a helper, while Daniel Briere scored Buffalo's other goal.

Martin Biron stopped 32 of the 33 shots he faced, including 15 saves in the second and 11 in the third, to earn the win.

Roy recorded the first multi-goal game of his career and just the third multi- point game of his career.

Buffalo heads back on the road to play in Washington on Tuesday night.

St. Louis has dominated the Sabres recently, going unbeaten in the previous nine matchups (7-0-2). The Blues are also undefeated in six trips to Buffalo (4-0-2).

RECENT TRENDS
? STL is 9-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
? The under is 9-3-1 in STL last 13 road games.
? STL is 1-4 ATS in their last five overall.
? BUF is 14-4 ATS in their last 18 at home.
? The over is 10-2-1 in BUF?s last 13 overall.
? BUF is 12th in team offense avg. 2.61 goals/gm.

Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
2/11/2003 Buf. 2 StL. 3 0.5,100/5 StL./P
1/30/2003 StL. 2 Buf. 1 -0.5,-170/5 StL./U
3/28/2002 StL. 4 Buf. 1 0,-200/5 StL./P
1/23/2002 Buf. 2 StL. 5 0,135/5 StL./O
11/18/2000 StL. 4 Buf. 1 0,-280/5 StL./P
11/26/1999 Buf. 0 StL. 2 0,-120/5 StL./U
1/13/1999 Buf. 2 StL. 4 -0.5,-170/5 StL./O
12/8/1998 StL. 2 Buf. 2 0.5,-135/5 StL./U
1/27/1998 Buf. 3 StL. 3 -0.5,-115/5 StL./O
10/1/1997 StL. 1 Buf. 3 -0.5,-125/5.5 Buf./U

 

[Aces High]

MINNESOTA WILD (21-26-18-2) AT PHOENIX COYOTES (20-27-15-5), 7 p.m. -------------------------------------------------------------------

(Sports Network) - A pair of teams caught in terrible slumps meet tonight, as the Minnesota Wild travel to Phoenix to battle the Coyotes at Glendale Arena.

The Coyotes continued their downward spiral Friday night, as they were handed a 4-3 loss by the Montreal Canadiens. Saku Koivu and Richard Zednik each scored a goal and assisted on another to lead the Habs at Glendale Arena.

Daymond Langkow scored a goal and added an assist for the Coyotes, who fell to 0-3-0-2 in head coach Rick Bowness' first five games at the helm of the team. Phoenix's winless streak stretches even further, as it hasn't tasted victory in its last seven games (0-4-1-2).

Phoenix is just 2-12-2-3 in its last 19 games and is only trailed in the Western Conference standings by Columbus and Chicago.

Mike Comrie and Chris Gratton notched Phoenix's other two tallies, while Brian Boucher faced 25 shots and turned aside 21 in the loss.

The Coyotes open a home-and-home in Los Angeles on Sunday night.

Minnesota, meanwhile, skated to a 1-1 tie in Los Angeles on Thursday. Jason Wiemer scored with 2:17 remaining in the third period to help the Wild salvage the point.

Dwayne Roloson turned aside all but one of the 26 shots he faced for the Wild, who are now winless in their last six overall (0-4-2). Minnesota has just one victory in its last 18 road games (1-7-9-1).

Minnesota is unbeaten (2-0-2) in its last four in LA, however the Kings are unbeaten (1-0-3) against the Wild this season.

The Wild have 62 points and are currently 11 behind Los Angeles for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Minnesota plays the fourth test of a five-game road trip in San Jose on Tuesday.

The Coyotes have won two of the three last meetings with Minnesota.

RECENT TRENDS
? MIN is 1-5 ATS in their last six overall.
? The under is 15-3 in MIN?s last 18 road games.
? MIN is 27th in team offense avg. 2.15 goals/gm.
? The home team has won the last three meetings ATS.
? The over is 14-1-2 in PHO?s last 17 overall.
? PHO is 3-14 ATS in their last 17 at home.

Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
1/9/2004 Min. 0 Pho. 2 -0.5,-105/4.5 Pho./U
12/15/2003 Pho. 2 Min. 5 -0.5,105/4.5 Min./O
2/14/2003 Min. 2 Pho. 3 -0.5,-125/5 Pho./P
1/10/2003 Min. 2 Pho. 1 -0.5,-125/5 Min./U
11/7/2002 Pho. 4 Min. 1 -0.5,130/5 Pho./P
10/26/2002 Pho. 1 Min. 6 -0.5,-110/5 Min./O
4/12/2002 Pho. 7 Min. 1 0,-280/5 Pho./O
3/17/2002 Min. 2 Pho. 2 0,-115/5 P/U
11/23/2001 Min. 5 Pho. 2 0,-130/5 Min./O
11/20/2001 Pho. 2 Min. 1 0,-160/5 Pho./U