SanLuisObispo.com: Hockey

Demitra scores in OT to lift Canucks past Flames

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:47 PDT

Thanks to their potent offense, the new-look Vancouver Canucks are off to a strong start.

Pavol Demitra scored with 1:06 left in overtime to give the Canucks a 5-4 victory over the Calgary Flames on Saturday night. Vancouver outscored Calgary 11-4 in sweeping the season-opening home-and-home series.

"It's a great feeling, a win in this building, and a good start at 2-0," Demitra said. "Everybody on this team is having a good time, everyone's contributing."

Jokinen scores first Phoenix goal; Coyotes win 3-1

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:52 PDT

Olli Jokinen didn't need much time to make an impression with his new team.

He had a first-period goal and assist in his Phoenix debut Saturday night and the Coyotes went on to win their season opener, 3-1 over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Coyotes' Keith Yandle scored the most spectacular goal of the night, a slap shot from just inside the blue line for Phoenix's third goal with 13:16 left in the second period.

Plihal, Nabokov star in Sharks' 3-1 win over Kings

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:27 PDT

Shortly after Todd McLellan became the San Jose Sharks' new coach, he recognized the importance of convincing his talented team to shoot early and often.

With 82 shots and two easy wins in their first two outings, the Sharks are clearly paying attention to their new bench boss.

Tomas Plihal scored the short-handed go-ahead goal, Evgeni Nabokov had to make just 12 saves and the Sharks overwhelmed Los Angeles with 41 shots in a 3-1 victory Saturday night, blemishing Kings coach Terry Murray's debut.

Belanger scores twice in 4-3 Wild win over Bruins

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:17 PDT

Jacques Lemaire took some time last spring to make sure his heart and mind were still fully invested in his coaching. He's still his same old demanding self.

Eric Belanger scored twice, and the Wild welcomed former goalie Manny Fernandez back to Minnesota with a three-goal second period that was enough to hang on for a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.

Marc-Andre Bergeron and Antti Miettinen also scored for the Wild, who have won all five of their season openers played at home.

Predators bounce back, beat Stars in home opener

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:02 PDT

Jason Arnott and J.P. Dumont are friends away from the rink and have something very nice working on the ice for the Nashville Predators.

Arnott scored two power-play goals off assists from Dumont and had an assist of his own, leading the Predators to a 3-1 victory over the Dallas Stars in their home opener Saturday night.

"He seems to find me wherever I am," Arnott said of Dumont. "We kind of created that chemistry and bond. We're talking all the time. When we're coming to the bench, he's saying, 'Did you see me here? Did you see me there?' Because next time when you get on the ice, he's going to be there."

Staal rallies Hurricanes past Lightning in OT

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:57 PDT

Although the Carolina Hurricanes don't want to make a habit of falling behind their Southeast Division rivals, they suddenly seem to be thriving on it.

Eric Staal scored the tying and winning goals Saturday night to help Carolina overcome a three-goal deficit for a 4-3 overtime victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The previous night, the Hurricanes rallied from two goals down to beat Florida in their season-opener.

"We definitely don't always dig ourselves that hole, but it was nice to come back and show that character again," Staal said.

Tanguay leads Canadiens to 6-1 win

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:42 PDT

Alex Tanguay figures he's quieted the critics for a little while.

The Montreal newcomer had a goal and three assists to help the Canadiens rout the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 on Saturday night for their first victory in their centennial season.

Tanguay was the biggest name added to Montreal's lineup over the summer and is one of the reasons a team that finished first in the Eastern Conference last year is expected to challenge for that title again.

Devils beat Penguins 2-1 on Parise's OT goal

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:32 PDT

Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury won't get many tougher regular-season losses than this one. Devils goalie Martin Brodeur won't get many easier victories against a Penguins team that traditionally is one of the NHL's most offensively proficient.

Zach Parise's wrist shot from the left circle sailed past Fleury's outstretched glove with 37.6 seconds left in overtime and New Jersey, outshooting Pittsburgh by more than a 3-to-1 margin, rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Penguins after being shut out for more than 57 minutes on Saturday night.

The Penguins were working a 3-on-2 break in overtime when Travis Zajac came up with the puck and made a long lead pass to Parise, who streaked down the left-wing boards to beat Fleury on the only Devils shot of the game to get past him.

Booth scores in OT to lift Panthers

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:32 PDT

David Booth became a fan-favorite in Florida last season, and he's doing his best to keep it that way.

Booth scored his second goal of the game with 1:06 left in overtime to give the Panthers a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday night.

"Speed, enthusiasm, the energy he plays with every night, he s a great player," said first-year Florida coach Peter DeBoer, who earned his first NHL victory. "Guys like that are almost the heartbeat of your team. They get over the boards and they can change the momentum with their energy and their work ethic. Those guys are easy to coach."

Islanders back up backup with big 1st period

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:27 PDT

No one expected Scott Gordon's first NHL coaching victory to come with someone other than Rick DiPietro in goal for the New York Islanders.

Using an early barrage and steady play from backup netminder Joey MacDonald, the Islanders ran away to a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues in the home opener Saturday night.

"It was the way we played," said Gordon, last season's AHL coach of the year who opened his NHL career Friday with a 2-1 loss at New Jersey. "Hopefully that's going to be our identity as a team and that's how we're going to play.

Ovechkin, Laich lead Capitals past Blackhawks, 4-2

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:17 PDT

Pleased about a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks thanks in part to his two goals, Alex Ovechkin already was smiling when he walked past Brooks Laich and saw the red construction helmet his Washington Capitals teammate was wearing.

"What is that?" the NHL's reigning MVP yelled above the locker-room din. "What is your hat?"

It's symbolic of hard work, and captain Chris Clark awarded it Saturday night to Laich, who was credited with the tiebreaking goal in the third period after a replay review.

Rangers edge Flyers 4-3 for best start in 25 years

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:17 PDT

The Rangers traveled around the globe looking for wins like a politician stumping for votes. The Czech Republic, New York and, now, Philadelphia.

No matter the locale, the Rangers are perfect and off to their best start in 25 years.

Even Sarah Palin would like a run like this.

Franzen leads Red Wings past Senators

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:12 PDT

Johan Franzen got just enough on the puck to get it past Ottawa goalie Martin Gerber and get the Detroit Red Wings a win.

Franzen scored two goals in the third period to rally the Red Wings to a 3-2 win over the Senators on Saturday night.

Franzen tied it at 2 with a goal off a quick transition 11:16 into the third before scoring the winner with 1:17 remaining. His second goal came on a shot from the right side that Gerber partially stopped, only to watch the puck trickle into the net inside the left post.

Palin drops puck at Philadelphia Flyers' game

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:07 PDT

To a mixture of boos and cheers, Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin dropped the ceremonial first puck Saturday night at the Philadelphia Flyers' home opener against the New York Rangers.

The Alaska governor and self-described "hockey mom" heard a few boos when she walked onto the ice, but that soon turned to polite applause as she headed to center ice with Mike Richards of the Flyers and Scott Gomez - from Alaska - of the Rangers.

Palin waved to the crowd and smiled as she dropped the puck to applause and cheers. Palin stuck around and watched two periods in the Rangers' 4-3 win over the Flyers.

'Hockey Night in Canada' gets new anthem

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:57 PDT

Saturday nights in Canada in the winter will now have a note of gold in them.

After receiving nearly 15,000 entries, the song "Canadian Gold," written by an elementary school teacher from Alberta has been voted as the new anthem for CBC's "Hockey Night in Canada."

Colin Oberst's winning composition was up against "Sticks to the Ice," a piece by 13-year-old Toronto composer Robert Fraser Burke.

Islanders D Martinek knocked out of game

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:52 PDT

New York Islanders defenseman Radek Martinek left with an undisclosed injury in the first period, following a hard hit behind the net, and didn't return to the home opener Saturday night.

An Islanders spokesman said Martinek was being evaluated by doctors, but declined to give any information about the injury.

Martinek was skating along the end boards behind the New York goal and crumpled after being crunched by St. Louis center David Backes with 3:10 left in the period. He remained down on the ice for a few moments before skating without assistance toward the tunnel to the dressing room.

Peca suspended for bumping official

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:47 PDT

Columbus Blue Jackets center Michael Peca has been suspended indefinitely by the NHL for making contact with an on-ice official.

The team and league announced the suspension on Saturday. Peca was automatically suspended per Rule 41, Physical Abuse of Officials, Category 2.

He was assessed a game misconduct penalty at 5:21 of the second period of the Blue Jackets' season opener on Friday night at Dallas, which they went on to win 5-4 on Rick Nash's goal in overtime.

McCabe likely to miss 2 weeks with back injury

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:02 PDT

Florida Panthers defenseman Bryan McCabe is expected to miss two weeks because of a back injury sustained in Friday night's season opener at Carolina.

McCabe had an MRI on Saturday, and it revealed a contusion and lower back strain.

"There's no fracture," Florida general manager Jacques Martin said. "So that's good news for us. He's probably going to need probably a couple of weeks, but that's encouraging."

Brodeur stops penalty shot in Devils' 2-1 win

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:42 PDT

While much of the preseason talk about the New Jersey Devils has focused on the return of Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik, the player who decided the season opener was the man who has been the face of this team since the 1990s - Martin Brodeur.

Brodeur stopped a penalty shot and finished with 25 saves, Patrik Elias and Zach Parise scored goals and the Devils spoiled Scott Gordon's NHL coaching debut with a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Friday night.

"Marty is Marty. He is the best goalie of all time," said Rolston, who had an assist in his first game with the Devils since late in 1999. "He was awesome again tonight, and unfortunately that is what everyone is expecting of him."

Dubinsky has 3 points as 3-0 Rangers top Hawks 4-2

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:52 PDT

Brandon Dubinsky scored once and added two assists, and newcomers Wade Redden, Aaron Voros and Nikolai Zherdev chipped in with goals, too, leading the New York Rangers to a 4-2 victory over the vastly improved Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night.

Fresh off last weekend's season-opening sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Czech Republic, the Rangers showed no signs of jet lag in winning their home opener and starting 3-0 for the first time since 1989.

Redden, the Rangers' biggest offseason addition on defense, gave New York a 1-0 lead 6:47 in. But later in the first period, Chicago's Brian Campbell - who netted the biggest deal for a free-agent defenseman during the summer - turned an end-to-end rush into a goal for reigning NHL rookie of the year Patrick Kane.