With 23 games between Friday and Sunday, there was plenty of NHL action this weekend. Every NHL team played at least one game, and there were a number of games that went into overtime or a shootout. Friday night was full of great hockey, as all but one game was decided by one goal, with four taking extra time to decide.
In Chicago, the Blackhawks got off to an early 2-0 lead over the Canadiens, but ended up needing a late 3rd period goal from Patrick Sharp to win 3-2. Carey Price played well for the Habs, making 33 saves in his first start in five games. Pat Kane had two assists, while Kris Versteeg had a goal and an assist as the Blackhawks continued to play well without leader Jonathan Toews. Toews has been out with concussion like symptoms for over a week now.
Montreal would bounce back from the loss in Chicago with a shootout win at home against the rival Maple Leafs. Toronto, losers on Friday night in Buffalo, continued to struggle in overtime, as they dropped their third straight overtime game since finally getting their first win of the season on Monday in Anaheim. Toronto outshot Buffalo 35-28, and tied the game at 2-2 on a shorthanded goal by Mikhail Grabovski in the closing seconds of the 3rd period, only to fall to Tim Connolly’s powerplay goal in overtime. Saturday was virtually the same story, as Toronto rallied with 2 late goals from Alexei Ponikarovsky and the red-hot Tomas Kaberle to force overtime, only to fall in the shootout. Montreal got goals from Mike Cammallerri and Scott Gomez in their only two shootout attempts, while Jaroslav Halak stopped both Toronto attempts.
The Islanders had a good weekend, first upsetting the Capitals 4-3, and then shutting out Buffalo on Saturday night. The Isles got good starts from both Dwayne Roloson and Martin Biron on back-to-back nights, and knocking Buffalo starter Ryan Miller from the game. New York’s other team had a bit of a scare last week, as the Rangers lost Marian Gaborik for a few games, losing to the Minnesota Wild on Friday, 3-2, in what would have been Gaborik’s first game in Minnesota as a visitor. The Rangers bounced back on Sunday night with a 1-0 win over the Boston Bruins. Incidentally, Gaborik got the Rangers’ only goal, his 11th of the season, that game.
Vancouver struggled without starter Roberto Luongo, losing 7-2 to the Ducks on Friday, but got a good start on Sunday from Andrew Raycroft, who shut out his former teammates from Colorado 3-0. Colorado recorded two regulation losses in a row for the first time this season, as they have gotten great goaltending from new starter Craig Anderson in their surprising start. Anderson made 43 saves in San Jose on Friday, but the Avs still came up short, 3-1.
The Sharks had a solid weekend, outscoring the Avs and the Hurricanes 8-2 in their two games. San Jose now has 10 wins, putting them at the top of the Western Conference. Sitting atop the West is familiar territory for the Sharks, although, until they win in the playoffs, none of it means anything. Speaking of Carolina, has anyone else already forgotten that they were the Eastern Conference finalists last year? The Hurricanes have dropped nine games in a row and were slammed all weekend, first by Philadelphia (6-1) and then by San Jose. Granted, backup keeper Michael Leighton was in net on Saturday, but Ward hasn’t been much better, making only 20 saves on Sunday night.
Carolina’s not getting much help from the rest of their division, either. Even when Washington loses, they still find a way to garner at least a point. The Caps dropped two in a row this weekend, losing to the Islanders and the Blue Jackets, both in overtime. Florida apparently found some offense, scoring 10 goals in back-to-back wins over the Blues and the Stars. Meanwhile, the Thrashers continue to get solid play from Ondrej Pavelec in Kari Lehtonen’s absence. Pavelec made 50 saves to beat the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.