hope you sweep as well Antonio, good luck.
an assortment of comments on tonights games...
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Coach Eddie Olczyk would not commit to a goaltender for tonight because he had hoped to use the morning skate today to give Jean-Sebastien Aubin a chance to show he was recovered from being struck by a puck under his right eye Saturday. But the Penguins are not likely to have a skate at the MCI Center, which Olczyk suggested could prompt him to stick with Sebastien Caron.
Washington's injury list includes Brendan Witt, their only established defenseman, who missed the team's most recent game Saturday because of an unspecified injury. Witt was upgraded to probable after practice yesterday. The Capitals also could be without RW ***** Willsie, one of their few offensive contributors of late. He is listed as doubtful with an unspecified injury. Players certain to be out are C Dainius Zubrus (shoulder), D Jason Doig (wrist), D John Gruden (concussion) and G Sebastien Charpentier (hip).
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Oilers need to avoid battle of special teams
ROBIN BROWNLEE, EDMONTON SUN
ST. LOUIS -- Despite a more potent power play and improved penalty killing, the Edmonton Oilers will be trying to avoid a battle of special teams with the St. Louis Blues tonight. With points in 16 straight games, the Oilers power play has perked up and scored goals in 10 of those games. In the same stretch, they've blanked opposing power plays in 10 outings.
Still, with St. Louis boasting the NHL's eighth-ranked power play, one that scorched Chicago three times in 5-on-3 situations in a 3-1 win Sunday, the Oilers had best stay out of the box and not leave things to their 27th-ranked penalty killing.
"We can't give them too many power-play opportunities because they have a great power play," Petr Nedved said. "They have some very nifty players and they thrive on the power play."
Counting Sunday's 4-2 win over Phoenix, the Oilers have outscored opponents 146-116 playing 5-on-5. The Oilers got a 1-1 tie March 4 in their last visit to the Savvis Center, allowing the Blues just three power-play attempts and blanking them on all three.
"The last game against them we had success because we only took a couple of penalties," coach Craig MacTavish said. "They've had a hard time scoring 5-on-5, but their power play is very dangerous ... we want to stay out of the box and make it a 5-on-5 game."
JUSSI OR TY?
MacTavish isn't disclosing his starter for tonight, but he says Ty Conklin and Jussi Markkanen will split games here and in Dallas. Who gets the call tonight is a coin-flip.
"There's no wrong decision there," MacTavish said. "I'm not gambling with either of them. Jussi's played unreal, just as Conks has."
Markkanen was solid against Phoenix with 25 saves.
Likewise, he was very good in his first start for the Oilers after arriving from New York March 3, making 27 saves in the 1-1 tie with the Blues the next night. Markkanen is 2-1-2 with a 1.91 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage since arriving from Broadway.
Conklin beat Los Angeles 3-1 with 18 saves Friday in his last start and has been getting the bulk of the work in the stretch. He's 16-13-4 with a 2.39 GAA and a .913 saves percentage.
AROUND THE RINK: Shawn Horcoff, who sat out Sunday with a sore right knee after being hit by a Marc-Andre Bergeron slapper Friday, is expected to play.
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Carolina's win over Florida at the RBC Center on Thursday was only the Canes' second at home since Feb. 16 (2-4-1-1). Two of Carolina's past three home wins have been against the Panthers. ... This is Carolina's third-to-last game of the season and second-to-last at home. The Canes' last home game is Thursday against the New York Islanders. ... Carolina is unbeaten against the Bruins this season (2-0-1-0), but winless in five against them at the RBC Center (0-3-2-0), the last win coming in February 2001 (0-3-2-0). ... Carolina is 0-for-14 on the power play against Boston this season.by the numbers Leading scorers: Josef Vasicek (18-23-41), Justin Williams (11-30-41), Erik Cole (17-22-39), Sean Hill (13-25-38).
Probable goalie: Kevin Weekes (2.26, 23-28-10).Bruins are in tight division race
The Bruins went into Monday's games two points ahead of Toronto and three points ahead of Ottawa for the Northeast Division lead after a 3-2 win over Montreal on Saturday. Sergei Samsonov figured in all three goals, scoring the game-winner. Boston has four games remaining. ... At 7-2-1-0 in the past 10 games, Boston is the hottest team in the Eastern Conference. Boston is also 21-7-6-5 on the road. ... Former Carolina forward Craig MacDonald has three assists in 18 games with the Bruins. ... Boston has played an NHL-record 29 overtime games. ... Travis Green has four goals in the past six games.Leading scorers: Joe Thornton (22-48-70), Glen Murray (30-27-57), Sergei Gonchar (11-46-57).
Probable goalie: Andrew Raycroft (2.00, 28-17-8).
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B's wary of Hurricanes: Underdogs approached with caution
By Steve Conroy
Tuesday, March 30, 2004
WILMINGTON - The Bruins needed no artificial stimulation to get in the mood to play last week.
With games against Tampa Bay, Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal, the balance of power in the Eastern Conference weighed in the balance every night.
But while tonight's game against the Carolina Hurricanes won't have the same ripple effect on the playoff race that those games did, it still means an awful lot to the B's, who were just a point ahead of Philadelphia for second place in the conference and two in front of Toronto for first place in the Northeast Division heading into last night. And though the Hurricanes' season will be over in less than a week, tonight's matchup does present its share of danger.
In the past four years, the Bruins are 5-8-2 against the 'Canes, including an 0-2-1 mark this season. And despite Jeff O'Neill's shoulder injury and Ron Francis' departure to Toronto, Carolina is hot, going 6-2-2 in its past 10 games, including wins in Ottawa and Tampa Bay.
``I just think it's a different type of challenge to play teams that aren't necessarily playing for a playoff spot or home-ice advantage, or whatever that may be,'' Bruins coach Mike Sullivan said after yesterday's practice at Ristuccia Arena. ``They're playing for other reasons. Players in this league are quality players and that's why they're here. They play with pride. There are players playing for jobs. Those teams can pose threats because potentially they can play a carefree type of game. It's a different type of challenge, but it's still a big challenge.''
So far this year, the B's have not had their best games against trapping-style teams like Carolina.
``They're a good team on the transition,'' said defenseman Dan McGillis. ``They play that trap style of game, so we have to focus on our style of game, keeping it out of the middle and try to dictate how the game's going to be played early. Sometimes, we wait and see how the game's going to be played and I think we've done a better job of that, of making teams play our style, getting the puck deep and working to our strengths. That's the mentality we have to bring to their building.''
Sullivan agreed.
``They play a very sound defensive game. They make you work for your scoring chances, and we've got to make sure that we're patient and we recognize where the opportunities exist on the ice and take advantage of them,'' the coach said.
Nick Boynton said any team with hungry players is tough to play.
``I just think those teams are some of the hardest-working teams in the league,'' he said. ``You've got guys trying to earn spots and trying to make names for themselves and, as a defenseman, I find that they just finish all their checks and they make it difficult on you.''
With the start of the playoffs just a little over a week away, it would be only human nature if some of the players started thinking about the identity of their first-round opponent. But even if that is the case, Sullivan won't let distractions affect how the last four regular-season games are approached.
``Regardless of who the matchup's going to be, it's going to be a tough opponent,'' Sullivan said. ``But right now, our focus has to be on the game ahead of us. And that's the message to our players. Nobody's going to get ahead of themselves.
``It's that time of year,'' he said. ``It doesn't matter who we're playing. We've got to get up for it. There are no excuses.''
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INJURIES
Blues: Petr Cajanek (stitches), probable; Mark Rycroft (charley horse), out; Alexander Khavanov (foot), out; Eric Boguniecki (concussion), out.
