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Flyers rally to upend Chicago on Pronger's last-second score

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:51:13 GMT

With time winding down, Claude Giroux carried the puck down the right-wing side and waited at the outer edge of the right circle, until Pronger raced down the left side and was able to redirect the cross-ice pass into a half- open net.

Simon Gagne and Scott Hartnell also recorded third-period scores for the Flyers, who have won three of four.

Maple Leafs host Oilers in matchup of last place clubs

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:41:40 GMT

Despite having won two straight and three of their last four, the Maple Leafs are still last in the Eastern Conference with just 56 points on the year. Edmonton -- bottom feeders in the Western Conference -- is the only club lower than Toronto with 49 points.

In addition to winning its last two games, Toronto has recorded at least a point in four of its last five outings, going 3-1-1 over that stretch.

Home sweet home: Canucks return to GM Place to battle Senators

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:39:40 GMT

After playing 14 straight times on the road over a span of six weeks, the Vancouver Canucks finally return to GM Place for tonight's interconference showdown with the slumping Ottawa Senators.

That epic stretch -- the longest sequence of away games by any team in NHL history -- was necessitated by the city of Vancouver's hosting of the Winter Olympics. The Canucks played eight of those contests prior to the league's stoppage for the Games, then began their post-break schedule with a six-game trip that culminated with Wednesday's 4-3 shootout loss at Phoenix.

Blues hope to continue surge versus Blue Jackets

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:38:46 GMT

St. Louis' playoff push actually began prior to the Olympic break, when the club put together a perfect three-game homestand before the NHL temporarily stopped its schedule for the Vancouver Games. The Blues have remained hot since returning to action, winning three of four tests thus far on this current trek that concludes Sunday in Minnesota.

The latest victory came in a shootout against the New York Islanders, with T.J. Oshie and Brad Boyes each scoring during the final phase to give the Blues a 2-1 triumph.

Red Wings aim to get back in playoff picture against Sabres

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:38:17 GMT

The Red Wings will try to leap into the eighth spot in the Western Conference this evening at Joe Louis Arena against a Buffalo Sabres squad that will look to rebound after having a three-game winning streak snapped.

The Red Wings have been strong as of late, winning five of their last seven games. However, Detroit is still outside of the playoff picture as it currently holds the ninth spot in the Western Conference. The Red Wings are a point back of the Flames for the eighth spot in the conference, but Calgary is idle today.

Coyotes hit the road to take on Hurricanes

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:37:46 GMT

The Coyotes are among the league leaders with 25 home wins, but play 11 of their final 15 contests on the road. That includes each of their next four games, as they play as the visitor for the first time since Feb. 12.

Phoenix went 3-2-0 on a five-game homestand, with four of those games coming after the Olympic break, and wrapped the residency with a 4-3 shootout win on Wednesday versus Vancouver.

Devils visit Islanders with first place in sight

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:37:13 GMT

The Devils picked up their second victory in a row last night with a 3-1 home triumph over the Penguins while also moving within two points of the Penguins for first place in the division. They can pull even with the idle club with a victory tonight.

Ilya Kovalchuk came into last night's game with three goals and five assists in 10 games with the Devils since coming over in a trade with Atlanta, but he assisted on his team's first two goals before lighting the lamp himself for the 35th time this season.

Habs and Bruins square off as playoff hopefuls

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:36:21 GMT

It was the Bruins who won five of six versus the Canadiens last year en route to a 116-point season that gave them the top seed in the East. Montreal, meanwhile, snuck in as the eighth seed with 93 points but was then swept out of the first round by Boston.

The Habs, however, have won four of five this year in the series, including a pair of shootout victories. They recorded a 4-1 win in Boston when the teams last met on March 2 and have won nine of the last 12 played at Bell Centre in the series.

Blackhawks visit Flyers in afternoon clash

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:32:13 GMT

The Blackhawks have 93 points on the year, placing them first in the Central Division and two points behind San Jose for the conference lead. With a 14- point lead over Nashville, Chicago is likely headed to its first division title since the 1992-93 campaign.

Chicago dropped a 5-4 regulation decision last Sunday against Detroit but bounced back with Wednesday's close victory over the visiting Los Angeles Kings. Patrick Sharp opened the scoring early in the contest and lit the lamp 2:08 into overtime to give the Blackhawks a 3-2 win in the final test of a four-game homestand at United Center.

Panthers shoot for rare victory over Sharks

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:31:43 GMT

The Sharks entered Saturday as the top-seeded team in the Western Conference with 95 points and only Washington is ahead of them in the overall NHL standings.

Meanwhile, Florida is tied for 12th in the East and is eight points out of a playoff berth. The Panthers have the longest active postseason drought in the NHL, having last appeared in the playoffs in the spring of 2000.

Rinne posts another shutout against the Ducks

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:20:36 GMT

Shea Weber scored the lone goal off assists from Jason Arnott and Ryan Suter for the Predators, who had lost three of four coming into the game.

"He's been a great goalie ever since he's been here and obviously the organization wants him for the long run," said Weber about Rinne. "They showed that by signing him. Obviously, he's rewarding them with some good play." Nashville now has 79 points and sits three behind Colorado for the sixth spot in the Western Conference.

Harding solid as Wild escape Sabres

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:53:43 GMT

Andrew Ebbett, Andrew Brunette and Guillaume Latendresse lit the lamp for the Wild, who halted a four-game losing streak.

"Last night (a 5-1 loss in Detroit) wasn't good.

Kings reach 40 wins with shootout victory over Dallas

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:34:04 GMT

After Jamie Benn's shot to open the round found its way into the sliding pad of Jonathan Bernier, Stoll ripped a wrister under the crossbar to end the game.

Fredrik Modin provided the offense for the Kings, who have won two of three and reached the 40-win plateau for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign.

Lightning escape Verizon Center with win over Caps

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:33:56 GMT

Vincent Lecavalier and Brandon Bochenski each had goal for the Lightning, who had dropped seven of eight coming in. Antero Niittymaki made 28 stops in the win.

It is a big two points for Tampa Bay as the team now has 68 and sits four points back of Boston for the final playoff seed in the East.

Prospal, Rangers down sliding Thrashers

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:09:38 GMT

Marian Gaborik had a goal and two assists while Ryan Callahan added a goal and an assist for the Rangers, who stopped a four-game slide. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 29 shots in the win.

The win moves New York to 69 points, three back of idle Boston for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Kovalchuk, Devils clip Pens to tighten Atlantic race

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:51:04 GMT

Patrik Elias and Andy Greene also scored for the Devils, who have won two in a row and climbed to within two points of Pittsburgh for the Atlantic Division lead.

Sidney Crosby tallied the lone goal for the Penguins, who dropped their second in a row after winning four straight. Marc-Andre Fleury was tagged for three goals on 32 shots in defeat.

Kings activate Williams from IR

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:05:23 GMT

Williams suffered a broken right leg in a game against the Coyotes on December 26 and missed the last 28 games.

The 28-year-old is expected to be in the lineup tonight against the Stars.

Stars return home to face Williams and Kings

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:04:23 GMT

Dallas begins that residency tonight at American Airlines Center looking for its first win of the season over the Los Angeles Kings, who will have forward Justin Williams back in the lineup when they seek a fifth straight victory over the Stars.

Having dropped four of five since the break, the Stars find themselves seven points back of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with 16 games to go. Dallas went 1-2-0 on a recent three-game road trip, which included a big shootout win over Washington on Monday before Wednesday's disappointing 5-3 setback to Buffalo.

Sliding Ducks host Predators

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:58:04 GMT

The Ducks have dropped four straight (0-3-1) since the Olympic break, meaning they haven't won a game since February 14. Anaheim will try tonight to avoid matching its longest losing streak of the season, an 0-2-3 stumble from November 29-December 6.

The Ducks began their current seven-game homestand at Honda Center with a shootout loss to Montreal on Sunday prior to Tuesday's 5-2 setback in Columbus on Tuesday.

Rangers and Thrashers both try to end slides in Atlanta

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:55:40 GMT

Atlanta will try to sweep the season series and record a sixth straight victory over New York this evening at Philips Arena, where the Rangers try to avoid matching their longest losing streak of the season.

The Thrashers come into this meeting with 66 points, one back of the ninth- place Rangers in the Eastern standings and six back of the Bruins for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference.

Sabres try to run win streak to four games versus Wild

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:48:25 GMT

The Sabres' three-game winning streak is the club's longest since a season- best six-game stretch from Dec. 27-Jan. 8. Buffalo needs all the wins it can get at this point as it fights to stay atop the Northeast Division. With 81 points, the Sabres are just two ahead of Ottawa for first place.

After winning back-to-back overtime decisions the Sabres recorded a regulation victory Wednesday against Dallas. Thomas Vanek scored the eventual game-winner midway through the second period, helping lift the Sabres to the 5-3 home win.

Capitals turn eye to East's top seed in meeting with Lightning

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:44:47 GMT

Tonight, they'll try to move closer to locking up the top seed in the Eastern Conference when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight at Verizon Center.

The Capitals were off Wednesday, but clinched the division title as a result of Atlanta's regulation loss against Columbus. Washington -- which leads the Southeast by a whopping 33 points over the Thrashers and Tampa -- not only became the first NHL club this season to win its division, but also is the first to secure a playoff spot.

Devils try to close the gap versus Atlantic Division-leading Pens

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:41:24 GMT

The Penguins lead the Atlantic with 85 points, while New Jersey -- the defending division champs -- are four points behind.

Pittsburgh and the Devils will complete the regular-season series next week, meeting for the final time Wednesday in New Jersey. The Devils have taken all four encounters with the defending Stanley Cup champions this year and have outscored the Pens by a 14-2 margin in those tests.

Sharks score six times in third to beat Nashville

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:13:53 GMT

Dany Heatley added two goals and a helper, while Manny Malhotra finished with a goal and two assists for the Sharks, who have won three straight on their five-game homestand that ends Saturday against Florida.

San Jose's Patrick Marleau reached the 40-goal plateau for the first time in his career, and Joe Thornton also tallied as the Sharks moved two points ahead of Chicago in the race for the Western Conference's top seed.

Franzen helps lead Red Wings over Wild

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:58:07 GMT

Henrik Zetterberg added a goal and two assists and Tomas Holmstrom picked up a goal and a helper for the Red Wings, who have won five of their last seven games.

Jimmy Howard finished with 21 saves.