National Hockey League news: February 21, 2008

February 21, 2008

There were 6 games played in the National Hockey League on February 20, 2008.

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Buffalo Sabres
Chris Gratton scored to give Tampa Bay an early lead. After nearly 40 minutes without a goal, Brad Richards would put the Lightning ahead by two goals 1:03 into the third period. Derek Roy put Buffalo on the scoreboard two minutes later, but the Lightning added to their lead less than a minute after that when Vaclav Prospal beat Ryan Miller. Down 3-1 late in the game, the Sabres needed something to happen, and that something came from #26 Thomas Vanek. He scored three consecutive goals, the first two 36 seconds apart, and the last one, the game winning power play goal, 2:25 into overtime. The Sabres snapped a two game losing streak, and a 7 game losing streak in shootouts. The Sabres out-shot the Lightning 46-25.

San Jose Sharks @ New Jersey Devils
Jonathan Cheechoo, in the closing seconds of San Jose's second power play, put the Sharks on the board early 35 seconds into the second period. Zach Parise tied the score 7:56 into the second, his 24th goal of the season. John Madden gave New Jersey their first lead of the game with 3:04 left in the second period, and Sergei Brylin would increase their lead 1:10 later. Kyle McLaren cut the Devils' lead in half, but despite doubling New Jersey's shots in the final period, couldn't put another past Devils goalie Martin Brodeur. Devils have now won their third straight, and the Sharks lose their fifth straight game.

New York Islanders @ Washington Capitals
Alexander Semin put Washington up early in the game. Brooks Laich picked up a power play goal later in the first period to put the Capitals up by two. Miroslav Satan put the Islanders on the board near the halfway point of the game. Joseph Vasicek scored an unassisted goal 11:09 into the third period to tie the score. In a shootout, Mike Comrie scored the only goal needed for the Islanders to take their fifth straight win, a season high. The Capitals out shot New York 30-19; Rick DiPietro saved 28, most coming after Washington's two goals. Alexander Ovechkin, the current NHL points leader, has not earned a point in his third consecutive game.

Minnesota Wild @ Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks, who were shut out by the Wild in the season opener, finally got to return the favor. Patrick Kane gave Chicago an early 1-0 lead 3:49 into the game. They would put the Wild further behind them with back-to-back goals by David Bolland, his 2nd and 3rd of the season, the first one late in the second period, then again 5:40 into the third. Nikolai Khabibulin stopped all of Minnesota's 38 shots. Chicago wins their 4th of 5 games, while the Wild drop their second in a row. Rene Bourque assisted in both the Bolland goals. Kane, now with 51 points this season, increases his lead as the NHL's rookie points leader, now 2 ahead of Washington's Nicklas Backstrom.

Calgary Flames @ Dallas Stars
Alex Tanguay put the Flames up first, scoring a power play goal in the first period. Niklas Hagman tied the score for Dallas early in the second period. Tanguay, with his second goal of the night, retook the lead for Calgary on a short handed goal 30 seconds into the third period, then Dallas's Mattias Norstrom scored his first goal of the season to retie the score moments later. With 2:27 left in the game, Jarome Iginla scored his 38th goal of the season, the game winner, to give the Flames their second win in a row, and put themselves two points ahead of the Vancouver Canucks, and three points back from Minnesota, the division leader in the Northwest. Dallas lost their second of their past 11 games.

Colorado Avalanche @ Anaheim Ducks
Teemu Selanne scored his second goal of the season in a first period Ducks power play to give them the first lead of the game. Jeff Finger scored for Colorado to tie the score 8:12 through the second period. Andrew Brunette gave the Ducks their first lead of the game later in the period. Rob Niedermayer tied the score for Anaheim, which would send the game into overtime. In a shootout, Corey Perry scored the only shootout goal, which is all Anaheim needed. Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 26 goals, plus the three Avalanche shootout attempts, to pick up his fifth win in 6 decisions. Ryan Getzlaf assisted in Selanne's goal, his 45th of the season.

Other news
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom is expected to be out for three weeks after injuring his knee. Lidstrom, the NHL plus/minus leader with +39, as well as the points leader among defensemen, left Sunday's game in the first period after a hit from Colorado's Ian Laperriere. Stars forward Stu Barnes had eye surgery performed after partially tearing a retina in Saturday's game against Detroit, and is expected to miss a week.

With the trading deadline less than a week away, the Philadelphia Flyers traded defenseman Jim Vandermeer to Calgary for a third-round pick in the 2009 entry draft. Vandermeer, who started the season with Chicago, has 3 goals, 12 assists, and 71 penalty minutes this season.