It’s now happened enough times to become a trend: with the beginning of each calendar year, we are treated to hockey that will be tough to surpass. Obviously, there’s been a formidable Winter Classic each of those years, but when you add the World Junior Championships, you really cannot go wrong for two amazing weeks.
Of course, some of the bigger fireworks-inducing moments overshadow the “normal” games, so we wanted make sure last night’s other six NHL contests don’t fall by the wayside altogether. Let’s summarize how 12 other teams begin 2011 on the ice.
When you see a game set to feature the Sabres and Bruins, the expectation is for a low scoring affair. That wasn’t to be on a Saturday evening that might leave all the netminders involved with NYE-sque hangovers. Seven of the game’s 12 “real” goals were scored in a manic first period in which the Bruins earned a 4-3 lead. Both Tuukka Rask and Tim Thomas allowed three goals for the Bruins while Ryan Miller was in net for all of Buffalo’s allowed scores.
Drew Stafford scored a hat trick which included the game-tying goal plus a shootout goal, Jason Pominville had two goals and two assists and plenty of other players padded their stats on a shocking scoring Saturday.
It’s painful to admit this - although some might say it’s a long time coming - but things have devolved so much for Martin Brodeur that you have to wonder about his future. The future Hall of Famer allowed three goals on seven shots before being pulled in favor of Johan Hedberg after only eight minutes of action. Tuomo Ruutu (one goal, three assists), Jeff Skinner (two goals) and Sergei Samsonov (two goals) were the greatest beneficiaries of this miserable evening by the Devils.
Speaking of miserable moments, things are growing awfully dire for the Senators right now. They’re now on a three-game losing streak, must find a way without Jason Spezza and perhaps worst yet, lost to their hated neighbors from Toronto. Tyler Bozak (two goals) and the rest of the Leafs charged off to a 5-0 lead before Sergei Gonchar scored a meaningless power-play goal in the third period.
Tampa Bay 2, NY Rangers 1 (OT)
Dwayne Rolowhat,son? Cedrick Desjardins probably won’t get a serious look with the Lightning until next season (or later), but he’s made the most of his brief glance with two wins in his first two games. He made 34 saves and almost shut out the Rangers before allowing a Marian Gaborik in the waning seconds of the third period, but Nate Thompson quickly ended the game in overtime to keep the Bolts ahead of the Capitals in the Southeast Division.
The Lightning are now 8-1-1 in their last 10 games.
Antti Niemi avenged a 4-0 loss on Monday, December 27th by pitching a 29-save shutout against the Sharks’ hated in-state rivals. It’s too early to say that Niemi (and San Jose overall) have “figured things out” but they’re aware enough of the situation in front of them to slide into fourth in the West.
While they’re still a few more wins away from really being in the Western Conference playoff picture, the Flames are heating up in the Jay Feaster Era. Calgary’s on a four-game winning streak overall, which is pretty good considering they hadn’t won more than two games in a row all season before now. They beat the Oilers by pounding Nikolai Khabibulin with 30 shots and giving Miikka Kiprusoff a pretty easy night (16 out of 17 saves).