Sport-scan daily brief

Alex Galchenyuk, who ended a 13-game drought Thursday against Winnipeg, got the first of the lucky goals at 6:49 of the first period.

“I tried to put it in off the defenceman (Matt Bartkowski) but I missed and he put it in himself,” said Galchenyuk. “It was a lucky goal, but I’ll take it.”

There was an element of luck in Michael Ryder’s game-winner as he deflected P.K. Subban’s shot from the point for a power-play goal at the 57-second mark of the second period. The Bruins have the best penalty-killing record in the league with a success rate of 90.2 per cent, but that brings us back to killing penalties at the right time.

Boston has allowed only 12 power-play goals, but the Canadiens have scored four of those, including Ryder’s winning goal Saturday and Markov’s game-tying goal in Montreal’s 6-5 shootout win on March 27.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.08.2013

668795 Montreal Canadiens

Sunday a day of rest for Habs; Beaulieu recalled from Bulldogs

Stu Cowan

Canadiens coach Michel Therrien rewarded his team for Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins with a day off on Sunday as they get ready to face Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals Tuesday night at the Bell Centre (7:30 p.m., TSN-HABS, RDS, TSN Radio 690).

Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin was working on Sunday, calling up defenceman Nathan Beaulieu from the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs after Alexei Emelin suffered what appeared to be a knee injury in a collision with the Bruins’ Milan Lucic. In two games with the Canadiens this season, Beaulieu posted one assist and two penalty minutes. In 64 games with the Bulldogs, he has 7-21-28 totals to go along with 56 penalty minutes. Beaulieu was selected by the Canadiens in the first round (17th overall) of the 2011 NHL entry draft.

Saturday’s win improved the Canadiens record to 25-8-5 and gave them a three-point lead over the Bruins (24-9-4) atop the Northeast Division. The Canadiens rank second in the Eastern Conference, three points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins (29-10-0). If the NHL playoffs had started based on the standings after Saturday’s games, the Canadiens would have faced the New York Rangers in the first round with the Bruins taking on the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.08.2013

668796 Montreal Canadiens

Cory Conacher pots first goal as a Sen

Don Brennan

Ottawa Sun

First posted: Sunday, April 07, 2013 09:24 PM EDT

Updated: Sunday, April 07, 2013 09:30 PM EDT

SUNRISE, Fla. -- A day after the Senators went golfing, Cory Conacher tapped in a "gimme."

The winger's first goal with his new team was a two-footer (give or take) into a wide open net, presented to him by Jakob Silfverberg. Also collecting an assist was the third member of the all-rookie (or The Swirlington Connection) line, Mika Zibanejad.

The goal was Conacher's team-leading 10th of the season and 70th since turning pro in 2010.

It also had to be the easiest of his life.

ROAD WARRIORS

Attending the game was Jim Beam (the Senators season ticket holder, not the bourbon guy) and his daughter Janice. He lives in Ompah (outside of Perth), she's now in Toronto (the centre of the universe). Both wearing Senators white jerseys, the Beams held their homemade sign high for the players to see as they left the morning skate on the team bus. "We came 1,500 miles to see the Sens win." Chatting with members of the Ottawa media, Jim expressed a concern many fans probably had/have regarding Craig Anderson. "I'm still worried about his ankle," said Jim. "It broke my heart they were trading (Ben) Bishop. I was hoping they would hang on to him. What happens if (Anderson) goes down again?" On a lighter note, Jim's sweater had No. 19 and "Spezza" on the back, and black tape covering the letter on the front. "It used to say 'Yashin,' " he explained. "And I didn't want to show the 'C' in case Alfie came out."

STARTS AND STOPS

Some had to wonder about Paul MacLean's decision to give the Senators Saturday off. After losing three straight, shouldn't they be practising? "We always have to look at the big picture," rationalized MacLean after the morning skate. "We're playing 48 games in 90-some days. The games are more important than the practices. We're more concerned with how we play the games. Right now, we're in a place where we have time to get some rest and we're trying to take advantage of that. At the same time, it is a results oriented business. We need some results tonight." Results, he saw ... Earlier in the day, MacLean also expressed concern the Senators weren't reaching playoff mode at the same time as the league's good teams. "The game has moved and we haven't gone with it," he said. "We haven't played near hard enough to win our last three games. The league just gets faster, more intense, it gets more physical, it gets harder. If you don't go with it, you get left behind." Stiffer tests await this week.

BETWEEN PERIODS

Alfredsson golfed for the first time as a 40-year-old Saturday. He can still play that game, too. "I was pretty solid," Alfredsson said. "But I didn't shoot my age." No, he posted a 74 ... Erik Condra shot an 89. "Not bad for the first round of the year," said the winger, whose best-ever score is 77. "A lot of duffs, but my putting is what helps me. Duff three to the green then I putt it in." ... Zack Smith turned 25 Friday. He was presented a cupcake and candle on the flight to Florida from Buffalo. "It hasn't sunk in yet," said Smith. "If somebody were to ask me, I'd probably still tell them I was 24. Quarter century. It's a big one. I'm a half of a half century."

KASSIAN'S KORNER

Matt Kassian wasn't one of the golfers. Instead, he spent the day doing a whole bunch of nothing. "Don't tell my fiancee, but I didn't really get any of the wedding planning help done at all or any of that stuff," he said. "Taxes are due and I just kind of said, well I'll do that next week, right before they're due." ... He did get his see a frog. "It was massive," he said. -I tried to convince (Marc Methot) to kiss it, but he wouldn't." .. Kassian Tweeted a picture of a signed Chris Phillips rookie card. He later confessed it belonged to a fan. "I have a Chris Phillips card or two back home, in my big box of cards. I don't know if it's a rookie one or not. He's obviously been around for awhile. I was a kid and I collected them. Got a couple of Alfie cards too."

THINGS I THINK I THUNK

Because he calls games in a two-language market, Dean Brown wanted to get it right. So he asked Sylvain St-Laurent from Le Droit for "the proper pronunciation of No. 11's name." Said the ever-clever Sly: "AL-FRED-SSON." Dean, of course, was referring to Jonathan Huberdeau ... Remember when Dean used to call Gord Wilson "the young blond one?" He doesn't anymore. Not sure why. Gord is still blond ... Two seasons ago, then-Senators defenceman Filip Kuba was a minus-26, the sixth worst mark in the league. Last season, playing with Erik Karlsson, he was plus-26, which was the ninth best rating in the NHL. Now an overpaid Panther, Kuba entered the game with a minus-15, the 800th best (or fifth worst) plus-minus. So you see, it's true, even a dog could play with Karlsson ... Old-time Bruins fans would have appreciated hanging out in the BB&T pressbox over the weekend. At Saturday's game was Derek Sanderson. On Sunday, it was Bobby Orr. To some of us, 1970 and the greatest Cup winning goal of all-time seems like yesterday ... There's only one NHL rink that still "wands" reporters going to the morning skate. Yup, this one.

Montreal Sun LOADED: 04.08.2013

668797 Nashville Predators

Predators notebook: 'Excited' Austin Watson makes NHL debut

Josh Cooper

The Tennessean

Apr 7, 2013

CHICAGO — The Predators used forward Austin Watson a decent amount in his NHL debut Sunday night.

Watson, the Predators’ 2010 first-round pick, sometimes found himself on the power play, the penalty kill and against some of Chicago’s top players. Ultimately Watson played 13:47 and fired one shot on goal in a 5-3 loss to the Blackhawks.

“It was a good experience, wish we would have come out with the win. But for a first game, it’s good to get under my belt,” Watson said. “Just a little bit of nerves and trying to get on the same page as everybody who has been here throughout the year. Overall just a really good experience. Wish we would have come out with the win.”

Watson was called up under “emergency conditions” in order to replace forward Mike Fisher, who did not make the trip with a hand injury. Fisher injured his hand March 28 against Phoenix and missed three games. His status going forward is uncertain.

Meanwhile, coach Barry Trotz thought Watson played a solid game.

“I thought he was OK,” Trotz said. “I thought the pace was the biggest thing, but he did OK. Positionally, he was fine. Very committed. He has to get up with the pace.”

Alternate captain Hornqvist: With Fisher out and Martin Erat traded last week to Washington, the Predators gave forward Patric Hornqvist the alternate captaincy for Sunday’s game. Hornqvist, who had maybe Nashville’s top hustle play of the year in the Predators’ loss Saturday to Chicago by saving an empty-net goal with a block, played 19:17 and fired six shots on goal. He was a minus-2.

“He gives you everything you have, and that’s why you love Patric,” Trotz said.

Chicago clinches: The Blackhawks became the first Western Conference team to clinch a playoff berth. Chicago leads the NHL with 62 points and a 29-5-4 record.

“We obviously want to stay in the spot we’re in, in the standings,” Chicago captain Jonathan Toews said. “First and foremost, our No. 1 goal coming in every season is we want to make the playoffs. I think that’s a huge thing for us. To beat a team like Nashville twice in row on the road and at home is a great thing.”

Yip out: Trotz said forward Brandon Yip is “doubtful” for Tuesday’s game against St. Louis with a lower-body injury. Yip exited the game 4:56 into the second period. He only played 4:41.

Sharp out: Chicago forward Patrick Sharp missed all three games with the Predators this week with a shoulder injury, though the all-star has been skating. Sharp hasn’t played since March 6 against Colorado.

Tennessean LOADED: 04.08.2013

668798 Nashville Predators

Nashville Predators lose again to Chicago Blackhawks

Josh Cooper

The Tennessean

Apr 7, 2013

CHICAGO — When the Predators go ahead in the third period, it usually seems like they’ll get a positive outcome.

A win is a high possibility.

A point, at the least.

But in this struggle of a 2013 season, no Predators lead is safe, not in the final period and especially not against the high-flying Chicago Blackhawks.

The Predators gave up a third-period lead to lose 5-3 to the NHL-leading Blackhawks on Sunday at United Center, Nashville’s third loss in a row and fifth in six games, including two overtime losses.

It was the third time in seven days the Predators (15-17-8) lost to the Blackhawks, finishing the week 0-2-1.

Nashville remained stuck on 38 points, and coach Barry Trotz called the team’s playoff chances “remote.” The Predators are five points from eighth-place Detroit with eight games left.

“We had other chances at the end we have to capitalize on, but we can’t give up two goals that quick,” Predators forward David Legwand said. “We’re in a do-or-die situation. Every time we lose a lead in the third is tough to swallow.”

All it took was 55 seconds for Chicago to turn a 3-2 Predators advantage into a 4-3 lead and eventual win.

First, with 10:23 left in the third, Blackhawks forward Brandon Saad pounced on a loose puck in front of Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne and jammed it in to tie the score 3-3.

Then with 9:28 left in the third, Chicago forward Patrick Kane beat Nashville defenseman Jonathon Blum to a loose puck behind Rinne’s net. Kane fed Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews in the high slot, and Toews buried a wrist shot under the crossbar to put Chicago up 4-3.

“(Chicago) just got desperate,” Trotz said. “They were like, ‘Let’s get going,’ and they did.”

Trotz was critical of Blum on the game-winner.

“They dump the puck in two on three and beat us to the end boards and made a play,” Trotz said. “That’s right on our ‘D.’ Our ‘D’ has to have that puck.”

Tennessean LOADED: 04.08.2013

668799 Nashville Predators

Predators playoff hopes continue to fade with another defeat

Associated Press

Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 10:50pm

CHICAGO — It is no surprise the Chicago Blackhawks are in the playoffs for the fifth straight year.

After all, the NHL leaders started the lockout-shortened season with points in their first 24 games — a league record.

But the Blackhawks made a strong statement Sunday in becoming the first team this season to clinch postseason berth, as they used a third-period rally to beat the Nashville Predators 5-3.

Rookie Brandon Saad and Jonathan Toews scored 55 seconds apart midway through the third. Chicago (29-5-4) had fallen behind 3-2 early in the period on a goal by Nashville's David Legwand, but Saad and Toews connected against Pekka Rinne to put the Blackhawks back ahead.

The Blackhawks defeated the Predators for the second time in two days and improved to 13-0-1 against Central Division teams.

"We obviously wanted to stay in the spot we're in in the standings," Toews said, "but first and foremost, our No. 1 goal coming in every season is we want to make the playoffs.

"To beat a team like Nashville twice in a row, first on the road and then at home, is a great thing. We did a lot of good things in that game, but most of all, we didn't stop working. We found a way to win in the third."

Patrick Kane, who set up Toews' eventual game winner, added an empty-net goal with 32 seconds left to complete the scoring. Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell also scored for Chicago.

Kane's hustling assist on Toews goal at 10:32 of the third might have been the pivotal mark on the score sheet.

Kane outraced two Predators to a loose puck on the back boards, then centered to Toews, who connected on a low shot from the right circle.

"That should be the headline, because you don't see that too often. I'm just kidding," Toews said. "It was a great play by him.

"I came flying off the bench and he saw me in the slot. My first thought was to try and find Saad backdoor because I could see him kind of going to the net there, but I went against that instinct and shot the puck."

Shea Weber and Nick Spaling each had a goal and an assist for the Predators (15-17-8), who are 13th in the Western Conference with 38 points, five behind eighth-place Detroit at the postseason cutoff.

"It was competitive," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "They (Nashville) played both these games as they had to win. Yesterday we were maybe a little bit more efficient than we were today, but we were sticking with it."

Nashville played with desperation after a sluggish first period, but the Predators were done in by mistakes — and a talented Chicago team.

"We got beat to the puck on the one (Toews) goal," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "It was just individual stuff.

"That's on our D. Our D' has got to have that puck."

Chicago's Ray Emery stopped 19 shots, following a 20-save, 1-0 win at Nashville on Saturday. The Blackhawks improved to 4-0 against the Predators this season.

Rinne, who leads the NHL in games and minutes played, made 35 saves as he appeared in his 29th straight contest.

The Predators have made the playoffs the past three seasons and in seven of eight, but that run is in jeopardy

"We've just got to play hard and see what happens," Trotz said. "The chances are remote, but you've got to play hard. You're not going to do anybody any favors if you don't."

Both teams skated without key forwards.

Nashville left wing Gabriel Bourque, who is tied with Legwand for the team lead with 11 goals, missed his fourth game because of an upper body injury. Mike Fisher, third on the Predators with 19 points, sat out after aggravating a hand injury that caused him to miss three games last week.

Patrick Sharp, who led the Blackhawks with 33 goals last season, missed his 14th game with a shoulder injury. Dave Bolland sat out his second because of a lower body injury, believed to have been caused when a shot by Weber struck him last Monday.

The Blackhawks killed the only penalty against them on Sunday and have snuffed 17 straight chances. Chicago hasn't allowed a power-play goal in 10 games, dating to March 18.

The Blackhawks entered the game as the third-least penalized team in the NHL, training the New York Islanders and Rangers.

Shaw opened the scoring 6:34 in on a tip-in.

Michael Frolik jumped on a rebound that Rinne had deflected to the left boards, then turned and fired on goal in one motion. Shaw deflected the puck over Rinne's shoulder.

The Blackhawks dominated the first period, outshooting the Predators 17-7. But a turnover by defenseman Johnny Oduya in the slot set off a scramble that led to Spaling's goal that made it 1-1 with 2:44 left.

Sergei Kostitsyn grabbed the loose puck and shot from a sharp angle to the right of the net. Emery stopped that attempt, but Spaling fired in the rebound before Emery could recover.

Bickell, who scored Chicago's only goal on Saturday, put the Blackhawks back in front 2-1 at 2:09 of the second.

Weber tied it at 2 just over three minutes later, when he fired from the top of the right circle directly from a faceoff win by Spaling.

Legwand scored on a rebound to put Nashville ahead 3-2 at 6:54 of the third to cap a scrum around the Chicago net.

Saad tied it at 3 at 9:37 from 10 feet. After fanning on a first shot attempt, defenseman Duncan Keith swept in and fired a shot that Rinne blocked. Saad converted the rebound.

Toews put Chicago ahead 4-3 at 10:32. Kane's goal with 32 seconds left completed the scoring.

Nashville City Paper LOADED: 04.08.2013

668800 New Jersey Devils

Devils’ Losing Streak Hits 7; Ovechkin Keeps Up His Pace

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: April 7, 2013

Nathan Gerbe scored the only goal in the shootout to give the host Buffalo Sabres a 3-2 victory Sunday night over the Devils, extending their losing streak to seven games.

Ryan Miller stopped 37 shots through overtime and all three shootout attempts, including a victory-clinching glove save on Travis Zajac.

The Devils’ loss clinched a playoff spot for the Eastern Conference-leading Pittsburgh Penguins.

CAPITALS 4, LIGHTNING 2 Alex Ovechkin scored twice, giving him five goals in two games, as host Washington beat Tampa Bay.

Ovechkin has 16 goals in his last 14 games and 25 goals over all. He is tied with the Lightning’s Steven Stamkos for the N.H.L. lead.

PANTHERS 2, SENATORS 1 Dmitry Kulikov scored a power-play goal 10 minutes 46 seconds into the third period to lift Florida over visiting Ottawa.

Scott Clemmensen had 40 saves for the Panthers, who have won four of five.

DUCKS 4, KINGS 3 Corey Perry scored late in the second period and added the winning goal in the shootout, leading host Anaheim closer to the Pacific Division title with a victory over Los Angeles.

The Ducks were outshot, 38-22, by the Kings, who had won five of seven.

BLUES 1, RED WINGS 0 Brian Elliott made 28 saves for his 19th career shutout, and Chris Porter scored the only goal in St. Louis’s victory at Detroit.

STARS 5, SHARKS 4 Jamie Benn scored the lone goal in a shootout as Dallas came from behind to end host San Jose’s seven-game winning streak.

Alex Chiasson started the rally from a two-goal deficit in the third period when he scored his second goal of the game, and Loui Erickson tied it for the Stars. Kari Lehtonen made 32 saves for Dallas and stopped all three attempts in the shootout.

BLACKHAWKS 5, PREDATORS 3 Brandon Saad and Jonathan Toews scored 55 seconds apart midway through the third period, and host Chicago rallied to beat Nashville. The Blackhawks clinched a playoff spot.

WILD 3, BLUE JACKETS 0 Niklas Backstrom made 24 saves and the newcomer Jason Pominville had a goal and an assist to help visiting Minnesota end a three-game losing streak.

Pominville, acquired this week from Buffalo, earned his first points with Minnesota.

WINTER CLASSIC TO RETURN The Red Wings-Maple Leafs Winter Classic at the Big House is back on.

After being canceled by this season’s lockout, the N.H.L.’s showcase regular-season event will be played Jan. 1 at Michigan Stadium before an expected crowd of more than 100,000, Commissioner Gary Bettman announced. JEFF Z. KLEIN

New York Times LOADED: 04.08.2013

668801 New Jersey Devils

Maple Leafs and Red Wings Will Meet in Winter Classic After All

By JEFF Z. KLEIN

The Detroit Red Wings-Toronto Maple Leafs Winter Classic at the Big House is back on.

After being canceled because of this season’s lockout, the N.H.L.’s showcase regular-season event will be played Jan. 1 at Michigan Stadium before an expected crowd of more than 100,000, the league announced Sunday.

Along with the originally scheduled teams and venue, the rest of the original outdoor program will return, which features hockey from the N.C.A.A., junior, high school, sled and A.H.L. levels as well as a Detroit-Toronto alumni game at Comerica Park in Detroit starting in mid-December.

At the Winter Classic game, the Red Wings will wear red sweaters featuring their traditional winged wheel. The Maple Leafs will wear blue sweaters featuring the large maple leaf crest of the 1920s.

In addition to the game, HBO’s Emmy-winning 24/7 reality program will return. “24/7 Red Wings/Maple Leafs: Road to the Winter Classic” will premiere on HBO in December.

The Rangers and the Flyers were showcased in the last installment of the series, leading to their outdoor matchup on Jan. 2, 2012.

New York Times LOADED: 04.08.2013

668802 New Jersey Devils

Devils' Lou Lamoriello: Ilya Kovalchuk will begin skating soon

Rich Chere

The Star-Ledger

April 07, 2013 at 6:18 PM, updated April 07, 2013 at 7:02 PM

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said today "it won't be very long" before Ilya Kovalchuk starts skating.

Kovalchuk has been sidelined since injuring his right shoulder Mar. 23 when he crashed into the end boards in a home game against the Florida Panthers. He could begin skating some time this week.

The Devils are 0-3-3 without Kovalchuk.

"The silver lining is it's not like we're not creating chances," coach Pete DeBoer said of the team's trouble scoring goals. "We're outshooting teams most night. Outchancing teams. We're getting a handful of gade A chances.

"If we were going 60 minutes and not creating anything I would be very very concerned. I'm still concerned, obviously, because we're not putting the puck in the net. We just have to stick with it."

DeBoer added: "The guys are doing what we ask them to do. They're executing the game plan. For the most part we've been solid defensively and we've been creating chances offensively. You want to reward the guys with a win for that. The guys need a win, two points, because it reinforces what they're doing.

"They haven't strayed but there is a natural reaction when you do all those things well and you don't win, to step out of the box a little bit. That never works."

Center Travis Zajac, who missed so much time last season with Achilles tendon problems even after surgery, said he has been pain-free this season.

"I truly haven't felt anything," Zajac said. "I wasn't sure if with this many games in a short period of time would affect it, but it hasn't. I didn't really know what to expect, but I knew I had a good offseason where I got a lot of time to strengthen it. Coming in it felt great and it still feels good now. So I think that is behind me."