Stars of the night
--Ilya Kovalchuk, 2 goals, Johan Hedberg 40 saves (20 in the third); Atlanta beats Buffalo, 4-2. And a little in-your-face goal by Maxim Afinogenov late in the game to make the score 4-2 for the Thrashers. Had to make Lindy Ruff angry.
--Cody McLeod, 2 goals including the game-tying goal with 2:32 left; Colorado beats Detroit in a shootout, 4-3. Another big win for the Avs. Three goals in the third, including Matt Duchene's first career goal.
--Pascal Leclaire, 27 saves; Ottawa beats Montreal, 3-1.
--Martin Brodeur and Cam Ward combined for 53 saves; Brodeur got the shutout, 2-0. Ward let in just one. So much for what I wondered about Brodeur being done. He now has 102 shutouts, one away from tying Terry Sawchuk's record.
--Joe Thornton, three points including a goal; San Jose beats the Islanders, 4-1.
--Alex Ovechkin, 2 goals and the only one in the shootout; Washington beat Nashville, 3-2. Not a real hat trick, Caps fans. Sorry.
--Sergei Gonchar, one goal and assist; Pittsburgh beat Tampa Bay, 4-1.
--Andy McDonald, 2 goals 1 assist; Ty Conklin 26 saves in St. Louis' 5-0 blanking of the Ducks.
Should we start thinking an 0-fer is a possibility?
Here's a new game: Let's see how long the Maple Leafs go before winning a game. Another home loss, this one 4-1 to the Rangers, makes Toronto 0-6-1. Henrik Lundqvist made 34 saves. Marian Gaborik's points streak is at eight. Brandon Dubinsky had a goal and assist. Phil Kessel isn't going to solve all this team's woes. The good news for Leafs fans is no losses for a week - that's how long Toronto has off before its next game.
One step forward, one step back
So Boston shuts out Dallas one game, then loses to Phoenix the next game, 4-1. Second-most goals scored by the Coyotes in a game this season. Shane Doan had three assists and Ilya Bryzgalov (22 saves) continues to impress. Maybe Boston, not Florida, is the early candidate for most disappointing team of the season. No consistency at all.
It could be worse
Wild fans, at least you're not Toronto.
Record starts
The Thrashers are off to a record 4-1-0 start. So are the Blue Jackets at 5-1-0 after a 4-1 win over Los Angeles. Steve Mason made 27 saves, Rick Nash had a shorthanded goal and Raffi Torres had the game-winner.
Did you see that?
Stephane Robidas scored a crazy goal last night in Dallas' 4-3 win over Chicago, which proved to be the game-winner. Alex Auld made 29 saves for the Stars. The only YouTube video I saw of it is stupid, so I suggest going to NHL.com. That puck had some serious schizophrenia going on.
Quote of the night
"If you're going to hand their best player those types of opportunities, you're going to fail."
Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff, on Kovalchuk's two goals.
Marquee matchup
None. No games Sunday.
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