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Riding the Zamboni - Saturday, March 19th

Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf

Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry, center, and teammate Ryan Getzlaf celebrate after Perry scored a game-winning goal against the Los Angeles Kings in overtime of an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Saturday, March 19, 2011. The Ducks won 2-1 in overtime. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

AP

Need to catch up? Click on respective games for their recaps: Columbus beats Minnesota, Buffalo destroys Atlanta, Toronto upsets Boston and Philadelphia clinches a playoff spot against Dallas.

Now that we covered those bases, let’s take a look at Saturday’s other six games.

Ottawa 3, Tampa Bay 2 (OT)

The Lightning blew a 2-0 lead and allowed a Jason Spezza overtime goal to lose this game to the almost inexplicably frisky Senators tonight. It’s tough to ask a team to tank, but Ottawa’s way out of contention, so these wins just hurt their odds in the draft lottery. Meanhwile, Tampa Bay’s chances of winning the Southeast Division keep diminishing.

NY Islanders 4, Florida 3 (SO)

Speaking of questionable winning, the Islanders now have 68 points after beating the Panthers in a shootout. Both teams have 68 now, although Florida has one extra game remaining. The Isles earned points in nine of 10 games (5-1-4), so it seems like they might hop over the Panthers in the final standings. Which doesn’t seem particularly smart.

Nashville 3, Detroit 1

Both goalies were strong in this one, but Pekka Rinne came up the biggest. He stopped 39 out of 40 Red Wings shots to win a game that Nashville really needed while Jimmy Howard made 36 out of 38 saves for Detroit. This win puts the Predators in the top eight - at least for a brief time - with 84 points in 72 games played.

Colorado 3, Edmonton 2 (SO)

Let’s face it, the Oilers are probably the “real” winners in this one as they improved their chances of getting a better draft pick. Matt Duchene scored a goal and an assist during regulation while Ryan Stoa scored the only shootout goal in the game as Colorado won this irrelevant match.

San Jose 5, St. Louis 3

Joe Pavelski generated three points to help the Sharks win without Todd McLellan behind the bench. The win helps them stay ahead of their division rivals, as San Jose has 92 points in 73 games played this season. The negative side is that they might have lost Logan Couture for some time, as the talented rookie left Saturday’s game with a right leg injury.

Anaheim 2, Los Angeles 1 (OT)

Ray Emery’s long recovery from a career-threatening hip injury is starting to approach “legitimately inspiring” territory, as he now has two wins in a row. It’s not exactly like Emery was the beneficiary of an easy start, either, as he made 31 out of 32 saves to help the Ducks earn a huge win (even if they couldn’t do it in regulation). Corey Perry scored the game winner in overtime, Brandon McMillan scored the Ducks’ other goal and Dustin Brown scored a game-tying tally in the third for the Kings.

Los Angeles is in fifth place with 86 points while Anaheim is still very much alive in ninth with 83.