ST. LOUIS BLUES (36-28-11-2) AT CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (20-39-11-7), 4 p.m. -----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Sports Network) - The St. Louis Blues continue their battle for a Western Conference playoff berth tonight, as they visit the Chicago Blackhawks in the finale of a home-and-home series at the United Center.
The Blues picked up a victory over the Blackhawks in St. Louis on Saturday to move them into a three-way tie with Nashville and Edmonton for the final postseason berth in the West. All three teams have 85 points, but St. Louis and the Predators currently hold the final two spots by virtue of having more wins than Edmonton.
St. Louis is trying to reach the playoffs for a 25th consecutive season. The last time the Blues failed to reach the postseason was the 1978-79 campaign.
On Saturday, Bryce Salvador's goal 1:50 into overtime lifted the Blues to a 4-3 victory over Chicago at the Savvis Center. Keith Tkachuk and Pavol Demitra each had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who improved to 7-2-3 in its last 12 games.
Chris Osgood made 19 saves in the win, while Doug Weight picked up the 600th assist of his career.
Matt Keith, Tuomo Ruutu and Deron Quint all scored for the Blackhawks, who are winless in their last four contests (0-1-2-1).
Jocelyn Thibault, sidelined since November 7 because of a hip injury, returned to the ice and stopped 25-of-29 shots for the Blackhawks.
Trailing by a goal entering the third period, Chicago pulled even at 3-3 on Quint's fourth goal of the season at the 7:16 mark of the frame. A deflected puck came right to Quint in the slot and he one-timed a shot past Osgood to tie things up.
However, the game-winner came after a scrum in front of Thibault. The puck eventually came out to Chicago defenseman Bryan Berard in the right circle, but he couldn't get the puck out of the zone and turned it over to Salvador, who snapped a shot on net that beat a distracted Thibault on the glove side.
After tonight's contest, the Blues host Edmonton on Tuesday, while Chicago travels to Nashville for a test on the same day.
Chicago is still 4-1-2-1 in the last eight meetings with the Blues and is unbeaten in the previous eight matchups in the Windy City (5-0-3).
RECENT TRENDS
? Blues are 5-12 ATS on zero days rest.
? Under is 23-11 on the road for STL this year.
? STL is 9-2 ATS in their last 11 overall.
? Hawks are 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.
? CHI is 1-7 ATS in their last eight on the road.
? CHI is 1-3 ATS in their last four overall.
Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
3/27/2004 StL. 4 Chi. 3 -0.5,-240/5 StL./O
2/22/2004 Chi. 3 StL. 2 0.5,-110/5 Chi./P
1/12/2004 StL. 7 Chi. 4 -0.5,-220/5 StL./O
12/23/2003 Chi. 3 StL. 0 0.5,100/4.5 Chi./U
11/1/2003 StL. 2 Chi. 3 -0.5,-180/5 Chi./P
4/4/2003 Chi. 2 StL. 2 0.5,120/5.5 Chi./U
4/3/2003 StL. 4 Chi. 6 -0.5,-220/5.5 Chi./O
1/23/2003 Chi. 3 StL. 3 -0.5,110/5 StL./O
1/18/2003 StL. 4 Chi. 2 -0.5,-150/5 StL./O
1/2/2003 StL. 1 Chi. 4 -0.5,-140/5 Chi./P
MIGHTY DUCKS OF ANAHEIM (28-33-10-8) AT MINNESOTA WILD (26-28-20-3), 4 p.m. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Sports Network) - The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim complete a four-game road trip today when they visit the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center.
This game marks a rematch of last year's Western Conference finals, which the Ducks swept in four games. However, neither team is headed for the playoffs this season.
The Ducks were handed a 3-1 setback by the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Friday night.
Fred Brathwaite made 19 of his season-high 43 saves in the second period to lift the Blue Jackets. Nikolai Zherdev finished with a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets, while David Vyborny and Tyler Wright also scored.
Petr Sykora scored for the Mighty Ducks, who suffered their second straight loss. Martin Gerber stopped 26 shots.
Anaheim fell to 5-9-0-2 on Friday this season and 3-6-1 in its last 10 on the road.
The Ducks close out the season with a two-game homestand that begins Wednesday against Vancouver.
The Wild, meanwhile, are coming off a big victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. Alexandre Daigle scored two goals and Manny Fernandez stopped 32 shots, leading the Wild to an 8-2 rout over Chicago at the United Center.
Andrei Zyuzin, Wes Walz, Matt Johnson and Antti Laaksonen tallied first period goals for the Wild, who set a team-record with eight goals in a game. It was the second time this season that the Wild scored seven or more goals against the Blackhawks. Minnesota lit the lamp seven times against Chicago back on January 7. The Wild won that contest 7-4.
Rickard Wallin added his second goal of the season for the Wild, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Pascal Dupuis had a solid night contributing four helpers, while Filip Kuba chipped in with two.
The Wild visit the Detroit Red Wings on Monday evening.
Anaheim is unbeaten against Minnesota this season (2-0-1) and is 3-1-1 in the last five matchups. The Ducks are also 3-2-2 all-time in Minnesota.
RECENT TRENDS
? Ducks are 13-27 ATS on the road this year.
? Under is 24-13 on the road for ANA this year.
? ANA is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.
? Under is 7-1-1 in the last nine meetings.
? Wild are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 overall.
? Under is 3-1-1 in MIN's last five overall.
Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
3/3/2004 Ana. 2 Min. 0 -0.5,-110/4.5 Ana./U
1/23/2004 Ana. 6 Min. 2 -0.5,110/4.5 Ana./O
11/30/2003 Min. 1 Ana. 1 -0.5,120/4.5 Ana./U
5/16/2003 Ana. 2 Min. 1 -1.5,170/4 Min./U
5/14/2003 Ana. 4 Min. 0 -1.5,220/4 Ana./P
5/12/2003 Min. 0 Ana. 2 -1.5,240/4.5 Ana./U
5/10/2003 Min. 0 Ana. 1 1.5,-280/4.5 Min./U
1/20/2003 Ana. 1 Min. 2 -0.5,110/4.5 Min./U
1/18/2003 Min. 0 Ana. 1 -0.5,-105/5 Ana./U
12/31/2002 Min. 4 Ana. 1 -0.5,105/5 Min./P
NEW YORK ISLANDERS (36-28-10-4) AT NEW JERSEY DEVILS (40-24-12-2), 5 p.m. -------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Sports Network) - The New York Islanders try to inch their way closer to a playoff berth tonight when they travel to the Meadowlands to face the New Jersey Devils.
The Islanders have yet to clinch the final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference, but have a five-point lead over Buffalo for the eighth slot with just four games remaining for each team.
On Saturday, the Islanders were dealt a 3-2 loss by the Carolina Hurricanes. Kevin Weekes made 16 of his 36 saves in the third period to lead Carolina, while Allan Rourke and Sean Hill posted goals.
Oleg Kvasha and Mark Parrish both tallied for the Islanders, who had their four-game winning streak snapped. Rick DiPietro stopped 21 shots in the loss.
Kenny Jonsson, Mariusz Czerkawski and Cliff Ronning each had an assist for New York, which went 1-for-8 on the power play.
The Islanders follow up tonight's game with Wednesday's home tilt against the Montreal Canadiens.
New Jersey has already clinched a playoff berth, but is still fighting for position in the East. The Devils, currently in sixth with 94 points, are two behind Ottawa and three ahead of Montreal.
The Devils are coming off an easy win over Atlanta on Friday night. Scott Gomez scored twice and assisted on another goal to lead New Jersey to a 5-0 win over the Thrashers at Philips Arena.
Patrik Elias also factored in three goals with a goal and two assists for the Devils.
Scott Clemmensen recorded his second shutout in only four starts this season as the Devils rested starting netminder Martin Brodeur for the stretch run. Had Brodeur played, it would have been a relatively easy night anyway as the Thrashers managed just 18 shots on goal. Brodeur is expected to start tonight's game.
The Devils, 6-2-2 in their last 10 home tests, complete a two-game homestand against the Rangers on Tuesday.
The Islanders have won three straight against the Devils this year to take a 3-2 lead in the season series. New Jersey is 9-4-1 in the last 14 matchups and has just two losses in the previous nine meetings at the Meadowlands (6-2-1).
RECENT TRENDS
? Under is 5-2-1 in NYI's last eight overall.
? NYI's are 6-2 ATS in their last eight overall.
? NYI's are 3-1 ATS in their last four roads.
? NJ is 0-3 ATS in the last three meetings.
? Devils are 1st in team def. with 2.01 goals/gm.
? NJ is 10-4 ATS in their last 14 as the fav.
Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
12/29/2003 NYI 3 NJ 1 0.5,-105/4.5 NYI/U
12/26/2003 NJ 3 NYI 4 -0.5,-170/4.5 NYI/O
12/16/2003 NYI 5 NJ 4 0.5,-115/4.5 NYI/O
12/10/2003 NJ 1 NYI 0 -0.5,-170/4.5 NJ/U
10/28/2003 NYI 0 NJ 4 -0.5,130/5 NJ/U
3/30/2003 NJ 6 NYI 0 -0.5,-160/5 NJ/O
3/22/2003 NYI 2 NJ 4 0.5,-130/5 NJ/O
3/8/2003 NYI 2 NJ 4 0.5,-125/5 NJ/O
2/27/2003 NYI 3 NJ 3 0.5,-130/5 NYI/O
1/15/2003 NJ 5 NYI 0 -0.5,-140/5 NJ/P
(Sports Network) - The St. Louis Blues continue their battle for a Western Conference playoff berth tonight, as they visit the Chicago Blackhawks in the finale of a home-and-home series at the United Center.
The Blues picked up a victory over the Blackhawks in St. Louis on Saturday to move them into a three-way tie with Nashville and Edmonton for the final postseason berth in the West. All three teams have 85 points, but St. Louis and the Predators currently hold the final two spots by virtue of having more wins than Edmonton.
St. Louis is trying to reach the playoffs for a 25th consecutive season. The last time the Blues failed to reach the postseason was the 1978-79 campaign.
On Saturday, Bryce Salvador's goal 1:50 into overtime lifted the Blues to a 4-3 victory over Chicago at the Savvis Center. Keith Tkachuk and Pavol Demitra each had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who improved to 7-2-3 in its last 12 games.
Chris Osgood made 19 saves in the win, while Doug Weight picked up the 600th assist of his career.
Matt Keith, Tuomo Ruutu and Deron Quint all scored for the Blackhawks, who are winless in their last four contests (0-1-2-1).
Jocelyn Thibault, sidelined since November 7 because of a hip injury, returned to the ice and stopped 25-of-29 shots for the Blackhawks.
Trailing by a goal entering the third period, Chicago pulled even at 3-3 on Quint's fourth goal of the season at the 7:16 mark of the frame. A deflected puck came right to Quint in the slot and he one-timed a shot past Osgood to tie things up.
However, the game-winner came after a scrum in front of Thibault. The puck eventually came out to Chicago defenseman Bryan Berard in the right circle, but he couldn't get the puck out of the zone and turned it over to Salvador, who snapped a shot on net that beat a distracted Thibault on the glove side.
After tonight's contest, the Blues host Edmonton on Tuesday, while Chicago travels to Nashville for a test on the same day.
Chicago is still 4-1-2-1 in the last eight meetings with the Blues and is unbeaten in the previous eight matchups in the Windy City (5-0-3).
RECENT TRENDS
? Blues are 5-12 ATS on zero days rest.
? Under is 23-11 on the road for STL this year.
? STL is 9-2 ATS in their last 11 overall.
? Hawks are 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.
? CHI is 1-7 ATS in their last eight on the road.
? CHI is 1-3 ATS in their last four overall.
Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
3/27/2004 StL. 4 Chi. 3 -0.5,-240/5 StL./O
2/22/2004 Chi. 3 StL. 2 0.5,-110/5 Chi./P
1/12/2004 StL. 7 Chi. 4 -0.5,-220/5 StL./O
12/23/2003 Chi. 3 StL. 0 0.5,100/4.5 Chi./U
11/1/2003 StL. 2 Chi. 3 -0.5,-180/5 Chi./P
4/4/2003 Chi. 2 StL. 2 0.5,120/5.5 Chi./U
4/3/2003 StL. 4 Chi. 6 -0.5,-220/5.5 Chi./O
1/23/2003 Chi. 3 StL. 3 -0.5,110/5 StL./O
1/18/2003 StL. 4 Chi. 2 -0.5,-150/5 StL./O
1/2/2003 StL. 1 Chi. 4 -0.5,-140/5 Chi./P
MIGHTY DUCKS OF ANAHEIM (28-33-10-8) AT MINNESOTA WILD (26-28-20-3), 4 p.m. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Sports Network) - The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim complete a four-game road trip today when they visit the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center.
This game marks a rematch of last year's Western Conference finals, which the Ducks swept in four games. However, neither team is headed for the playoffs this season.
The Ducks were handed a 3-1 setback by the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Friday night.
Fred Brathwaite made 19 of his season-high 43 saves in the second period to lift the Blue Jackets. Nikolai Zherdev finished with a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets, while David Vyborny and Tyler Wright also scored.
Petr Sykora scored for the Mighty Ducks, who suffered their second straight loss. Martin Gerber stopped 26 shots.
Anaheim fell to 5-9-0-2 on Friday this season and 3-6-1 in its last 10 on the road.
The Ducks close out the season with a two-game homestand that begins Wednesday against Vancouver.
The Wild, meanwhile, are coming off a big victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. Alexandre Daigle scored two goals and Manny Fernandez stopped 32 shots, leading the Wild to an 8-2 rout over Chicago at the United Center.
Andrei Zyuzin, Wes Walz, Matt Johnson and Antti Laaksonen tallied first period goals for the Wild, who set a team-record with eight goals in a game. It was the second time this season that the Wild scored seven or more goals against the Blackhawks. Minnesota lit the lamp seven times against Chicago back on January 7. The Wild won that contest 7-4.
Rickard Wallin added his second goal of the season for the Wild, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Pascal Dupuis had a solid night contributing four helpers, while Filip Kuba chipped in with two.
The Wild visit the Detroit Red Wings on Monday evening.
Anaheim is unbeaten against Minnesota this season (2-0-1) and is 3-1-1 in the last five matchups. The Ducks are also 3-2-2 all-time in Minnesota.
RECENT TRENDS
? Ducks are 13-27 ATS on the road this year.
? Under is 24-13 on the road for ANA this year.
? ANA is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.
? Under is 7-1-1 in the last nine meetings.
? Wild are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 overall.
? Under is 3-1-1 in MIN's last five overall.
Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
3/3/2004 Ana. 2 Min. 0 -0.5,-110/4.5 Ana./U
1/23/2004 Ana. 6 Min. 2 -0.5,110/4.5 Ana./O
11/30/2003 Min. 1 Ana. 1 -0.5,120/4.5 Ana./U
5/16/2003 Ana. 2 Min. 1 -1.5,170/4 Min./U
5/14/2003 Ana. 4 Min. 0 -1.5,220/4 Ana./P
5/12/2003 Min. 0 Ana. 2 -1.5,240/4.5 Ana./U
5/10/2003 Min. 0 Ana. 1 1.5,-280/4.5 Min./U
1/20/2003 Ana. 1 Min. 2 -0.5,110/4.5 Min./U
1/18/2003 Min. 0 Ana. 1 -0.5,-105/5 Ana./U
12/31/2002 Min. 4 Ana. 1 -0.5,105/5 Min./P
NEW YORK ISLANDERS (36-28-10-4) AT NEW JERSEY DEVILS (40-24-12-2), 5 p.m. -------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Sports Network) - The New York Islanders try to inch their way closer to a playoff berth tonight when they travel to the Meadowlands to face the New Jersey Devils.
The Islanders have yet to clinch the final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference, but have a five-point lead over Buffalo for the eighth slot with just four games remaining for each team.
On Saturday, the Islanders were dealt a 3-2 loss by the Carolina Hurricanes. Kevin Weekes made 16 of his 36 saves in the third period to lead Carolina, while Allan Rourke and Sean Hill posted goals.
Oleg Kvasha and Mark Parrish both tallied for the Islanders, who had their four-game winning streak snapped. Rick DiPietro stopped 21 shots in the loss.
Kenny Jonsson, Mariusz Czerkawski and Cliff Ronning each had an assist for New York, which went 1-for-8 on the power play.
The Islanders follow up tonight's game with Wednesday's home tilt against the Montreal Canadiens.
New Jersey has already clinched a playoff berth, but is still fighting for position in the East. The Devils, currently in sixth with 94 points, are two behind Ottawa and three ahead of Montreal.
The Devils are coming off an easy win over Atlanta on Friday night. Scott Gomez scored twice and assisted on another goal to lead New Jersey to a 5-0 win over the Thrashers at Philips Arena.
Patrik Elias also factored in three goals with a goal and two assists for the Devils.
Scott Clemmensen recorded his second shutout in only four starts this season as the Devils rested starting netminder Martin Brodeur for the stretch run. Had Brodeur played, it would have been a relatively easy night anyway as the Thrashers managed just 18 shots on goal. Brodeur is expected to start tonight's game.
The Devils, 6-2-2 in their last 10 home tests, complete a two-game homestand against the Rangers on Tuesday.
The Islanders have won three straight against the Devils this year to take a 3-2 lead in the season series. New Jersey is 9-4-1 in the last 14 matchups and has just two losses in the previous nine meetings at the Meadowlands (6-2-1).
RECENT TRENDS
? Under is 5-2-1 in NYI's last eight overall.
? NYI's are 6-2 ATS in their last eight overall.
? NYI's are 3-1 ATS in their last four roads.
? NJ is 0-3 ATS in the last three meetings.
? Devils are 1st in team def. with 2.01 goals/gm.
? NJ is 10-4 ATS in their last 14 as the fav.
Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
12/29/2003 NYI 3 NJ 1 0.5,-105/4.5 NYI/U
12/26/2003 NJ 3 NYI 4 -0.5,-170/4.5 NYI/O
12/16/2003 NYI 5 NJ 4 0.5,-115/4.5 NYI/O
12/10/2003 NJ 1 NYI 0 -0.5,-170/4.5 NJ/U
10/28/2003 NYI 0 NJ 4 -0.5,130/5 NJ/U
3/30/2003 NJ 6 NYI 0 -0.5,-160/5 NJ/O
3/22/2003 NYI 2 NJ 4 0.5,-130/5 NJ/O
3/8/2003 NYI 2 NJ 4 0.5,-125/5 NJ/O
2/27/2003 NYI 3 NJ 3 0.5,-130/5 NYI/O
1/15/2003 NJ 5 NYI 0 -0.5,-140/5 NJ/P