Tuesday Game Notes

[Terryray]

New York Islanders at Buffalo.................................................................

NYI 16-13-2 away
Buffalo is 17-12-4 at home

Teams have met twice this season, both were Buff wins at the Island. 4-2 (12/1) and 5-0 (3/7).

Sabres are 8-1 ATS vs NYI last 3 seasons, 4-0 ATS and SU in Buffalo. But NYI certainly remember that 5-0 shutout last week. NYI are 2-0 ATS and SU this season in rematch with opponent who shut them out.

NYI 4-4-2 last 10, and 2-3-1 last 6 on road. Beat Phila and NYR, lost to AT, MN, Clmbs and tied FL.

NYI are 14-20 ATS when playing against a team with a losing record. Worse on road.

Buffalo is 5-3-2 last 10, and on a three game winning streak--outscoring the opposition 13-1. Win streak started with that NYI shutout.

NYI are starting a four game road swing with this game tonight. Next to NJ tomorrow.

Buff hit road for 3 game road trip starting at Phila thurs.

Sabres' Martin Biron is 5-0 vs NYI, with miniscule 0.80 gga, .965 save pct.

NYI are 11-2 ATS this season in road game where total is 5.5

NYI are 14-6 ATS when road dog of .5 goals or less

Buff is 0-2 ATS this season after a 3 game unbeaten streak (6-16 last 3 years).

This is Peca's first game at Buff after leaving there on bad terms. Last game was Hasek's first return, greeted with cheers at warm up, boos in game, and loud jeers as he was beaten and pulled from net during game.



from Grossman's piece in the Post:

As for the rest of the Islanders, revenge will be on their minds when they march into western New York. After last week's 5-0 loss at the Coliseum to Buffalo, there is no room for distractions revolving around their captain.

"I didn't sit out a year in Buffalo, so it's not going to distract me," Isles coach Peter Laviolette said. "I don't think anybody else on our team did either, so I think that Pecs is going to have to fight through that - not worry about the distractions and come with us after the game - because we owe Buffalo."



under is 5-1 last 6 meetings
under is 1-5 last 6 NYI road games
under is 10-5 in Buff games with total line at 5.5

 

[Terryray]

Dallas at Washington

Dallas at Washington

Dallas 17-12-2 away
WA 18-12-5 at home

Teams met once this season. In Dallas WA won 3-2 (12/28). Billington/Belfour.


Foster (from Stars official site):

As the Stars begin trying to help themselves out, they will turn to veteran Ed Belfour in goal Tuesday against Washington. Stars coach Rick Wilson said the goaltending decision would be made on a game-by-game basis, but that one thing is definitive: the Stars must have good goaltending the rest of the way to reach the spot in the standings they want.

"We're trying to keep our goals against to two or less a game," Wilson said. "And that will start with our goaltender."


Belfour is 0-2-0 last 3 starts (got pulled in Vancouver prior to interior re-decoration job), with 4.70 gga, .800 save pct.

Belfour is 7-4-1 vs WA, with 1.84 gga, .913 pct

Stars 9-4-1 last 14 vs Caps, 6-2-1 at WA since '91.

Dallas 8-2 ATS revenging home loss vs opponent.


Dallas 6-4 last 10, and 3-2 last 5 on road
WA 6-2-2 last 10, 4-2 last 6 at home

Dallas is clinging to playoff berth, WA is in 11th place. Both need points badly.

under is 3-11 for Caps when line is 5 or less
under is 7-0 last 7 meetings
under 4-1 WA last five
under 2-1-2 last five Dallas

WA papers talk of teams commitment to defense........................http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20020312-72687846.htm

WA's Zubus "hopes to play" tonight.

Dallas is starting 4 game road swing tonight, next is MTL thurs
WA starts 8 game road trip next, first stop is SJ friday.

 

[Sports Junkie]

Caps....

Bondra is red hot, Oates with an 11 game points streak on the line and they are trying to get the PP back on track. 2 points tonight can get them within 7 of CAR and keeps pace with NYR and BUFF.

By Jason La Canfora
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 12, 2002; Page D06


For much of this season the Washington Capitals struggled to overcome the most elementary of problems -- an inability to keep the puck out of the net, kill penalties or develop a potent top line. They also had a tendency to play miserably in the first period and wilt under adversity.

With the team finally playing the kind of hockey expected of it all season long and on the cusp of the final playoff spot, it can begin focusing on some nuances that were once dwarfed by the larger deficiencies.

Washington has righted its defensive woes, created some stable offensive lines -- with stars Adam Oates, Jaromir Jagr and Peter Bondra leading the way -- solidified the defensive pairs and put together its first extended stretch of success. The Capitals bring a 7-2-2 run into tonight's game against Dallas and only have smaller issues in need of attention, such as sustaining an effective fourth line and tweaking an already dangerous power play.

"I think there's no question we're playing a lot better hockey the last few weeks, and you feel a lot better about yourself because of that," Oates said. "Things start to jell a little bit, and different guys every night are contributing and the bottom line is we're playing better hockey. If we play like that we'll be okay."

Oates is the linchpin of the power play, controlling puck distribution and setting up teammates with his deft passing skills. But as Washington's overall game has improved, its power play efficiency has dipped. The power play was ranked first in the NHL for much of the season but is now in an 8-for-62 slide, well off its former pace above 20 percent.

Washington scored two or more power play goals in a game 11 times in its first 45 contests, but has failed to do so in its last 21 games (since Jan. 11). Bondra leads the NHL in power-play goals and teams with Jagr and Sergei Gonchar to provide ample scoring threats. But lately the pucks just have not gone in with much regularity.

"Special teams sometimes will look like they're slumping when they're not, when it's just a bounce here or there," Coach Ron Wilson said. "We didn't score a power-play goal [Sunday] when really we did because the play at the end [of a power play] from Gonch to Bonzai was technically a power-play goal in my book because the guy just got back into the play [from the penalty box] and we were still in power-play mode."

There is room for improvement, however. Oates would like to steer the puck more frequently to Gonchar and Bondra for slap shots from the point, and the club is eager for another multi-goal game on the power play, which would raise confidence levels even higher.

"Every time we do get [a power play], I think there's a certain feeling like we can score right there," Oates said.

Washington also wants more sustained quality play from its fourth line, traditionally a collection of role players and rookies who play far fewer minutes than their teammates. The Capitals have operated as a three-line team much of this season, with the fourth liners unable to generate any offensive or puck possession and getting caught on the ice for goals against.

But Wilson is gradually gaining confidence in the group, and on Sunday fourth-line wingers Joe Sacco (who handled himself in a fight with Steve Staios) and Matt Pettinger played a strong physical game and forechecked well. Finding a fourth line capable of giving the top lines a breather would only fortify the team's playoff search.

"We have balance through our lines," Wilson said. "And we've got a fourth line that can go out there and start some forechecking and have some speed and get a few hits in."

Capitals Notes: Wilson said he hopes winger Dainius Zubrus, who is recovering from a broken bone in his hand, can play tonight. Zubrus is practicing with the team but his playing status will be a game-time decision. . . . The Capitals do not play at home again until March 30, with their eight-game road trip beginning Friday night in San Jose. . . . Defenseman Patrick Boileau was returned to the minors. . . . Dallas lately has been riding young goalie Marty Turco, who is winning the starting job away from all-star Ed Belfour. The Stars are 7-8-2-2 against Eastern Conference teams and lost in overtime to Washington this season

 

[Terryray]

Philadelphia at Toronto

Philadelphia at Toronto

Phila is 21-10-3 away
Tor is 20-7-3 at home

Tonight is 2nd meeting of home/away series. Leafs took first 3-1 (empty goal) in lifeless affair featuring less than 20 shots on goal by each team.

A sweep of the series tonight would place Leafs on top of Division, just past Boston by one point.

Phila is 0-2-1 in second game of b/b series. They won or tied first game in each.

Toronto is 2-2-1 in second game of b/b series. Swept NYR and Chicago.

Phila's inconsistency has gotten worse, alternating with wins and losses in last 6 games. Article here about a meeting team had to discuss this.......................................http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/hockey/nhl/philadelphia_flyers/2842037.htm


Teams met at Toronto Jan 19 for the only other encounter of this season. Phila won 3-0. Toronto hasn't lost at home since then.

Phila 4-1 ATS last five on road

Phila 21-10-2 on 1 days rest, and 9-1 after a loss
Toronto is 14-13 on 1 days rest, and 6-9 following a loss

Phila is 14-3 ATS after upset loss as a favorite
Phila is 8-3 ATS revenging a home loss

Phila's Primeau is back from rib problems, and Recchi returns tonight after 2 game suspension

last 3 meetings went under
Leafs under hit 3-1 last four games
under 11-6 in Phila road games with 5.5 line
Leafs under 1-6 in games after upset loss as a underdog


Phila starts 4 game homestand next, with Buff on thurs.
Leafs next is to Boston thurs.

 

[infinii]

Lifeless?!!?!?! That last Leaf/Flyer game was "lifeless"???

Did you watch? That was a great playoff style game. Very physical with a few fights thrown in for entertainment. Just because there were few shots didn't mean it was lifeless. I watched and the game was great. Schwab made a couple of huge saves. What about the icing attempt by McCabe from behind his own goal line that hit the goal post of Philly's empty net? That brought a laugh.

Hopefully it's not my hometeam bias speaking here but IMO, that game was far from lifeless.

 

[Terryray]

Dallas tidbits

Dallas tidbits

No infinii, I didn't watch it. Just reporting from the write-ups and player comments. "Listless" was the word used more ofter. I guess it's not what you saw!

Stars cut DiMaio, recall Lyashenko.....................http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news/ap/20020312/ap-starsmoves.html

 

[Terryray]

Tampa Bay at Atlanta

Tampa Bay at Atlanta

Bolts 10-19-3 on road
Atl is 10-17-6 at home

Teams have gone 1-1-1 in meetings this season, each winning at home. The ties was last meeting, 2-2 at Atl jan 13.

TB is 5-3-1 last nine against Atl, but 1-5-1 all time at Atlanta.

TB is 4-6 last 10, and 2-4 last 6 on road, but 3-2 last five.

Atl is 2-8 last 10, and 0-5 last five--getting outscored in that five by combined 22-6.

Now Thrasher's leading scorer, Kovalchuck, is out for the season.

Atl Consitution sez Hnilicka in goal tonight.
Khabib will be in goal for rest of games this season sez coach, except maybe a few on b/b nights.

under is 14-0 for TB when line is 5.5 (8-1 on road sez another stat site)
under 21-8 on road TB this season
under 3-7 last 10 meetings
under 12-7 for Hnilicka home starts

TB 6-3 ATS in next game after scoring 4 goals or more in previous game

TB at home for next game--take on Calgary thurs. Atl next is at home thurs against Colorado.

 

[Terryray]

Vancouver at Nashville

Vancouver at Nashville

Canucks are 12-19-1 on road
Nash is 15-10-7 at home (19-13 ATS at home)

Teams met three times this season, each winning on home ice. last meeting was Van winning 5-1 (1/28) with Naslund hat trick.

Naslund is out tonight for the birth of his son.

Dunham is 4-7-1 vs Nash, with 3.49 gga, .882 pct
But Dunham is 3-1 in next game after being pulled, with 1.00 gga. the loss was 0-1 at Phx.

Nash is 5-0-3 at home after a road loss

over is 3-0 in meetings this season
over is 20-11 for Van when line is 5 or less
over is 18-4 for Van in 2nd half of season
over is 2-2-1 last five Nash

Vancouver is 4 points from final playoff berth, Nash is 11.

Nash is 12-4 ATS after loss by 2 goals or more in previous game

Van next game is at Columbus thurs, then Atl.
Nash next game is at home vs Phx fri

 

[wigs]

ott

ott

hurme in nets

http://www.canoe.ca/SlamResults020312/nhl_min_ott-can.html

 

[PerpetualCzech]

Renberg and Mogilny out for Toronto tonight.

Schwab is confirmed starting goalie.

(Source: FAN590 radio)

 

[Frogy]

Schwab $$$$

 

[wigs]

refs

atl/tb- joannette & heyer
dal/was- lee & faucette
buf/nyi- sutherland & devorski
nas/van- angus & koharski
phi/tor- mccreary & meier
phx/chi- fraser & hasenfratz
ott/min- warren & watson

 

[wigs]

The Dallas Stars have acquired left wing Manny Malhotra and left wing Barrett Heisten from the New York Rangers in exchange for left wing Martin Rucinsky and center Roman Lyashenko, it was announced today by Stars' General Manager Doug Armstrong.