Muller Recalls Skinner Into Regulation

Hockey Betting Lines

Steve Mason got the start in net for the Blue Jackets and made 25 saves.

 

Leland Irving, the 26th overall pick of the 2006 draft, made his NHL debut and stopped 39 shots. Despite the shootout, nerves weren't an issue for the 23- year-old.

 

"After the first two shots the adrenaline took over," said Irving, who was beaten twice in the shootout. "I just tried to keep it simple and not try to overplay the puck. It's kind of a blur right now. It would have been nice to get the two points, but we'll go back and look at the video and see what we can work on."

 

While the Flames are hoping to avoid their longest losing streak of the campaign, the Blackhawks will try to stretch their current run of victories to a season-high five straight. They are 6-0-1 in December and sit a point back of the Wild for first place in the Western Conference.

 

Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa both logged a goal and an assist, with Sharp having now registered seven goals and five assists over an eight-game point streak. Jamal Mayers snapped a 24-game goal drought and Dave Bolland also lit the lamp.

 

These two clubs have split a pair of meetings this year, with each team winning once on home ice. The Flames haven't won in Chicago since March 16, 2008 and the Blackhawks have won 11 of the past 14 encounters overall.

 

(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Carolina Hurricanes are starting to see some success under new head coach Kirk Muller. They'll look to show the Florida Panthers just how much they've changed as the two club's battle tonight at BankAtlantic Center. The Hurricanes have posted a 2-1-1 record since a seven-game slide, one that saw the firing of Paul Maurice on Nov. 28. Muller made his debut the next night in a loss to the Panthers, the first of four setbacks in a row under the new coach.

 

Drayson Bowman scored twice and Tuomo Ruutu added a goal during a 4:45 span in the game that erased a two-goal deficit, and Jaroslav Spacek also lit the lamp. Cam Ward then made 33 saves to preserve the win, posting some key stops down the stretch.

 

Skinner had the only Carolina goal and Ward made 18 saves in the 3-1 loss to the Panthers back in late November. It was the first of six meetings between the division rivals and just only the Hurricanes' second setback in the past six encounters.

 

The Panthers came into the game just 1-4 in shootouts this year and had scored just once on their 14 chances in the tiebreak. However, they got goals from Dmitry Kulikov and Stephen Weiss in last night's breakaway session, while Jose Theodore stopped three of four skaters after posting 24 saves through overtime.

 

"It was one of those games that just built up towards the end," said Florida head coach Kevin Dineen. "We really played as a team tonight and it was nice to get those two points."

comments

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•    We found Hazza in a Lou-less place.

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•    So far my fiancee Rachel Ward has raised $140 for Cancer Council NSW.

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•    Marcus Camby had 0 points and 20 rebounds tonight smh

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•    Ulg, seriously frustrated with the Department of Licensed Professional Regulation...

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•    Annnd I might need a place to stay doe

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•    I brought it in the mo'fckin strip club, ima mo'fckin spend it!!!

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•    Muller, está chovendo mas euzinha irei dormir no ar condicionado pra mostrar quem estudou e quem manda u.u

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•    Im not a cougar! these kids r panthers.. Blahhh

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