NHL-Record 5 Shootouts Decide Games

It was a longer and more exciting night than usual for goalies, sharpshooters and fans in NHL arenas all around the country. <br/><br/>A league-record five games were won in shootouts and another was decided

Wednesday, February 7th 2007, 6:18 am

By: News On 6


It was a longer and more exciting night than usual for goalies, sharpshooters and fans in NHL arenas all around the country.

A league-record five games were won in shootouts and another was decided in overtime Tuesday to highlight a night in which 60 minutes on the ice weren't nearly enough.

The NHL went to the shootout format before last season and there had been several nights with four games decided in that manner, most recently last Tuesday. Five in one night was something new.

Tampa Bay has gotten used to extra ice time this season, improving to 9-2 in games decided in overtime or a shootout with a 3-2 victory over Los Angeles.

``It looked like we had control for two periods, but they got back in the game,'' Lightning goalie Johan Holmqvist said. ``It was a good feeling to win a shootout again.''

In other games decided by shootouts, New Jersey topped the New York Rangers 3-2; Buffalo edged Atlanta 4-3; Boston defeated Washington 3-2; and Calgary got past Chicago 3-2. Colorado avoided the shootout, beating Florida 5-4 in overtime.

In games decided in regulation, it was: Phoenix 3, Columbus 0; Carolina 2, Montreal 1; Pittsburgh 4, Nashville 1; Dallas 4, Minnesota 2; Toronto 2, St. Louis 1; Vancouver 5, Edmonton 2; and Anaheim 7, San Jose 4.

At Tampa, Fla., Vincent Lecavalier scored his 34th goal and connected in the shootout for the Lightning.

``We weren't the best we could be,'' Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella said. ``We didn't play a very good game, but you still get two points. We're not the only team that goes through that. The teams that win the majority of those are the teams that are there in April.''

Lecavalier and Blair Jones scored first-period goals for the Lightning, who have won 11 of 13. Tampa Bay took the shootout 3-1.

Los Angeles defenseman Mike Weaver, playing in his 123rd career game, scored his first NHL goal during the Kings' two-goal third.

``It's about time,'' Weaver said. ``I wish we would have had a victory there at the end, but we didn't.''

Devils 3, Rangers 2, SO

Brian Gionta scored the lone shootout goal and Martin Brodeur stopped all three New York attempts.

``We've had a lot of games decided by one goal,'' Brodeur said. ``You've got to get used to it. This is playoff hockey. That's what it is all about.''

Paul Martin and Zach Parise scored in regulation as the Devils won their third straight.

Jaromir Jagr and Karel Rachunek scored for the visiting Rangers, who have lost four straight. It was Jagr's 611th career goal, passing Bobby Hull for 13th on the career list.

Sabres 4, Thrashers 3, SO

Daniel Briere scored two goals in regulation and another in the shootout, leading visiting Buffalo over Atlanta.

The Eastern Conference-leading Sabres scored all three of their regulation goals on the power play. They took the shootout 2-0, getting goals from Briere and Ales Kotalik.

Bruins 3, Capitals 2, SO

At Washington, Phil Kessel scored the winning shootout goal for Boston, which held the Capitals' Alex Ovechkin scoreless for a career-worst third consecutive game.

After Alexander Semin put Washington ahead 1-0 in the shootout and Patrice Bergeron evened it, Kessel flipped a backhander past Olie Kolzig.

Blackhawks 3, Flames 2, SO

Martin Havlat scored twice in the final 3 minutes and again in the shootout as Chicago rallied on the road.

The shootout ended quickly with Havlat scoring to put the Blackhawks in control after Kristian Huselius missed the net with his attempt. After Alex Tanguay was stopped by Nikolai Khabibulin, Chicago's Jeff Hamilton clinched it on a deke.

Avalanche 5, Panthers 4, OT

Joe Sakic scored a power-play goal 25 seconds into overtime and Colorado rallied past visiting Florida.

Paul Stastny tied it with 36.7 seconds remaining and the Avalanche skating 6-on-3.

Colorado's Karlis Skrastins played in his 486th straight game, tying Tim Horton for the longest streak by a defenseman in NHL history.

Coyotes 3, Blue Jackets 0

At Columbus, Ohio, Curtis Joseph made 28 saves for his 50th career shutout as Phoenix won a game delayed 35 minutes at the start by snow.

Steve Reinprecht, Shane Doan and Mike Zigomanis scored for Phoenix, which has won nine of its last 12 road games.

The Blue Jackets were shut out for a franchise-record 12th game.

Hurricanes 2, Canadiens 1

At Montreal, Frantisek Kaberle scored midway through the third period in his first game of the season, helping Carolina end a four-game losing streak.

Kaberle, who had shoulder surgery Sept. 11 and missed Carolina's first 55 games, scored 11:52 into the third.

Penguins 4, Predators 1

At Pittsburgh, Mark Recchi scored and set up rookie Evgeni Malkin for the go-ahead goal for the Penguins.

Marc-Andre Fleury, who hasn't lost in regulation in 10 games since Jan. 9, turned aside 25 shots as the Penguins won their ninth in 11 games, with two overtime losses.

Stars 4, Wild 2

At Dallas, Sergei Zubov scored a tiebreaking goal on the power play with 4:41 left and the Stars overcame a two-goal deficit to snap Minnesota's three-game winning streak.

Dallas rookie Mike Smith stopped all 15 shots he faced after taking over for starter Marty Turco, who gave up two goals on seven shots in the first period.

Maple Leafs 2, Blues 1

At St. Louis, Alex Steen snapped a tie late in the second period and Andrew Raycroft made it stand up with strong third-period play in goal for Toronto.

Alexei Ponikarovsky added a power-play goal for the Maple Leafs, who have won the first four games of a five-game trip and five in a row overall.

Canucks 5, Oilers 2

Daniel Sedin scored a career-high three goals and had two assists, while twin Henrik Sedin added four assists in Vancouver's road victory.

Markus Naslund and Taylor Pyatt also scored for Vancouver, which has won four straight over Edmonton and recorded at least a point in nine of its last 10 overall.

Ducks 7, Sharks 4

At San Jose, Calif., Travis Moen's second goal capped Anaheim's four-goal second period, and the Ducks won the front half of a key home-and-home series.

Rob Niedermayer had a goal and two assists for Anaheim, which scored twice within 32 seconds in the first period.
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