National Hockey League news: February 14, 2008

Thursday, February 14, 2008

There were 6 games played in the National Hockey League on February 13, 2008.

Game summaries

Ottawa Senators @ New Jersey Devils

  1 2 3 OT Total
Ottawa Senators 1 1 0 0 2
New Jersey Devils 0 2 0 1 3

Luke Richardson put the Senators on the board early in the first period. Jamie Langenbrunner picked up a short-handed goal, assisted by Patrik Elias to tie it up 6:12 into the 2nd period. The Devils went ahead less than two minutes later on a Karel Rachunek goal which Elias also assisted in. The Senators would tie it up again later in the 2nd period with Randy Robitaille beating New Jersey's Martin Brodeur at 15:29. After a scoreless 3rd, the game went to overtime, where Brian Gionta scored his first goal in 13 games off a rebound from Langenbrunner.

Washington Capitals @ Atlanta Thrashers

  1 2 3 OT SO Total
Washington Capitals 0 1 1 0 (0/2) 2
Atlanta Thrashers 0 2 0 0 (2/2) 3

After a scoreless 1st period, Viktor Kozlov scored on an Alexander Ovechkin feed to put the Caps up early. Eric Perrin and Marian Hossa then gave the Thrashers the lead with goals 2:34 apart late in the 2nd. Then Ovechkin scored his 48th goal of the season with just 1:21 left in the 3rd to send it into overtime. In the shootout, Perrin and Slava Kozlov each scored against Caps goaltender Olaf Kolzig. Thrashers goalie Kari Lehtonen stopped both Alexander Semin and Boyd Gordon's attempts to pick up the win.

Chicago Blackhawks @ Columbus Blue Jackets

  1 2 3 Total
Chicago Blackhawks 4 2 1 7
Columbus Blue Jackets 0 2 0 2

Patrick Kane scored his first goal since January 18 when he scored on Chicago's first power play. Brent Seabrook added one for the Hawks less than 1:30 later. Dustin Byfuglien scored twice for the Hawks in the 1st to give Chicago a 4 goal lead after 1 period of play. Dick Tarnstrom put the Jackets on the board early in the 2nd with a power play goal, but Chicago would answer back with a Martin Havlat goal to increase their lead back to 4. Fredrik Modin would score at 13:06 in the 2nd on another Columbus power-play to again cut the deficit, but James Wisniewski would put Chicago ahead by 4 once again just 2:17 later. Robert Lang would cap it off with an unassisted goal with less than a minute left in the game.

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Buffalo Sabres

  1 2 3 Total
Toronto Maple Leafs 0 0 0 0
Buffalo Sabres 0 0 1 1

In a real goaltender's duel, the Buffalo Sabers, who have seemed to catch a second wind after a 3-7-5 stretch leading into the all-star break, have rallied behind their star goaltender Ryan Miller, who stopped 35 shots and picked up the shutout. The game's only goal was scored by Paul Gaustad at 8:56 in the 3rd period.

Boston Bruins @ Pittsburgh Penguins

  1 2 3 Total
Boston Bruins 0 0 0 2
Pittsburgh Penguins 0 0 1 1

Petteri Nokelainen and Vladimir Sobotka scored back-to-back goals in the first period to put the B's ahead by 2 early in the game. Tim Thomas didn't have to stop very many shots in the second period; only one shot actually went on goal through a 15 minute stretch. One goal did get by him in the 3rd, scored by Evgeni Malkin on a Penguins power-play. Malkin has stepped up to fill the hole left by the injured Sidney Crosby, scoring 16 points in the last 6 games.

Montreal Canadiens @ Florida Panthers

  1 2 3 OT Total
Montreal Canadiens 0 0 1 1 2
Florida Panthers 1 0 0 0 1

Teammate Richard Zednik was on the minds of the Florida Panthers players in their first game since Zednik was cut in the neck by Olli Jokinen's skate in Buffalo on Sunday. Steve Montador scored the first goal at 12:04 in the first period on a Florida power-play. Christopher Higgins would tie the game in the 3rd period on a pass from Sako Koivu to send the game into overtime, where Alexei Kovalev scored the game winner at 1:43 to give Montreal the win.

Other news

Bruins defenseman Aaron Ward was taken to a hospital with a neck injury after being hit with a high stick early in the second period. Coach Claude Julien said that Ward had coughed up blood.

Richard Zednik is expected to be released from a Buffalo hospital in 24-48 hours, though he may not return to the ice before the end of the season.

Sources