Sheldon Souray’s goal with 2:08 left in regulation lifted the Anaheim Ducks to a 2-1 win over Chicago and pulled the Ducks within three points of the top spot in the league. Patrick Kane had the lone Chicago goal and Corey Perry had the other goal for the Ducks.
SPIN: Ray Emery suffered his first loss of the year in goal for Chicago. These two teams look to be on a collision course for the Western Conference Finals and either of them could win it. This was a playoff-caliber game at the end of March and it should be noted Anaheim swept Chicago. Players from both teams should be used in your usual fashion.
Dallas ended Minnesota’s seven-game winning streak by downing the Wild 5-3. Ray Whitney, Jamie Benn and Cody Eakin each tallied a goal and an assist in the Dallas win.
SPIN: Matt Hackett got the call between the pipes for the Wild. Nicklas Backstrom was given the game off after 12 straight starts and didn’t travel with the team to Dallas. There’s no indication about him being hurt but it made more sense to leave him in Minnesota than drag him all the way to Dallas for nothing. Look for Backstrom to take on the Kings Saturday at home. Devin Setoguchi potted his 12th goal of the season for the Wild in the loss.
Tampa Bay knocked off New Jersey 5-4. Steven Stamkos scored twice including his league-best 25th goal of the season in the first win for Lightning coach Jon Cooper.
SPIN: Alex Killorn tied the game with 15 seconds left for Tampa Bay but has just five goals on the season. Killorn might have average value in fantasy keeper leagues but wouldn’t have much value over the final month of the season unless he goes on a tear. Andy Greene had a goal and an assist for the Devils but doesn’t bring much to the table in a fantasy sense.
Columbus took down Calgary 6-4.
SPIN: This game featured 10 different goal scorers and 20 players with at least one point so there was plenty of fantasy gold that half of the players got a share of. Goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff was pulled after the end of the second period when he gave up five goals to Columbus. Steve Mason got the call in goal for Columbus and he gave Sergei Bobrovsky a well-deserved night off.
Multiple Goal Scorer
Stamkos-TB
Stat of the Night-I’ll Take Jaromir for 1000, Alex.
Jagr’s assist was the 1,000th assist of his career.
Stat of the Night II-Bolt Out of the Blue
Tampa improved to 2-17-1 when they are tied or behind after the first period.
Stat of the Night III-Been A While, Huh?
Brian McGrattin’s goal for Calgary was his first in a 75-game span dating back to October 16, 2009.
Three Stars of the Night
1 Jagr
2 Stamkos
3 Souray
Saturday’s Games (all times ET)
Boston at Philadelphia 1pm A loss to the Bruins could start the Flyers’ funeral for the season.
NY Islanders at Pittsburgh 1pm The Penguins try to complete a perfect month and run their winning streak to 15.
Carolina at Winnipeg 3pm A win by the Jets would give them an eight-point lead in the Southeast.
Nashville at Colorado 3pm How will the Predators respond after getting blown up by Phoenix?
Washington at Buffalo 7pm Mediocre visits mediocre.
NY Rangers at Montreal 7pm The Rangers try to hold on to the eighth spot in the East.
Toronto at Ottawa 7pm The winner of the Battle of Ontario gets their 20th win of the season.
New Jersey at Florida 730pm Lowly Florida, oh lowly Florida.
Los Angeles at Minnesota 8pm The Wild has their first of three meetings with the defending champs.
Vancouver at Edmonton 10pm The Canucks look for a 7th straight win.
Phoenix at San Jose 1030pm Will the Sharks recapture some of that home-ice magic?
