The Five hole: A five-step trip through the stars and numbers of the week for March 9-16
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Tim Smith, Post-Gazette
STICKING WITH IT: Ottawa goaltender Ray Emery denies Toronto a goal with this last-second lunge to knock the puck away with his stick March 10 in Toronto. Emery was fourth in the NHL in save percentage (.920) going into the weekend.
1. Stand up
The best players of the past week (March 9-16)
LW Jussi Jokinen, Dallas Stars
1 goal, 6 assists ... +4
A goal and an assist by Jokinen helped lead the Stars to a 3-2 defeat of the Flyers Tuesday.
C Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks
2 goals, 7 assists ... +6
Thornton contributed a goal and three assists in a 5-1 win against the Coyotes Thursday.
RW Marian Gaborik, Minnesota Wild
1 goal, 7 assists ... +6
In a 2-1 defeat against Northwest division rival Edmonton, Gaborik scored the winning goal.
D Sergei Zubov, Dallas Stars
1 goal, 6 assists ... +2
Zubov scored the winning goal and had an assist in a 3-0 defeat of Columbus March 9.
G Evgeni Nabokov, San Jose Sharks
3-0-0.....0.99 GAA, .960 save pct.
Stopping all 22 shots he faced, Nabokov led the Sharks to 3-0 shutout of the Oilers Sunday.
D Francois Beauchemin, Anaheim Ducks
2 goals, 4 assists ... +4
In a 3-2 win against Vancouver Sunday, Beauchemin had three assists, including two on a power play.
2. Calder comparison
How young Penguins standout Evgeni Malkin compares to last season's leading Calder Cup contenders Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin at similar stages of their rookie seasons (Through Thursday):
Evgeni Malkin: '06-07
66 games, 74 points, 31 goals, 43 assists, -1
The skinny: Malkin had a goal and an assist in a 3-2 overtime win against the Rangers Saturday.
Sidney Crosby: '05-06
66 games, 75 points, 31 goals, 44 assists, -7
The skinny: Crosby assisted on both of the Penguins' goals in a 2-0 defeat of the rival Flyers March 12, 2006.
Alexander Ovechkin: '05-06
66 games, 85 points, 44 goals, 41 assists, +1
The skinny: Ovechkin scored a power-play goal in a 4-2 loss to the Canadiens, March 20, 2006.
3. Scoring in the USA
In a 3-2 win against the Flyers Tuesday, Mike Modano joined Joe Mullen as one of two American players with 500 or more career goals. The all-time leaders among U.S. scorers (through Thursday):
PlayersCareerGoalsJoe Mullen1981-97502*-Mike Modano1989-2007501*-Jeremy Roenick1988-2007491*-Keith Tkachuk1991-2007471Pat LaFontaine1983-98468*-Tony Amonte1991-2007415*-John LeClair1990-2007406*-active
Source: James Mirtle, Toronto Globe and Mail, mirtle.blogspot.com
4. He said what?
"There's like two people in Canada who have never seen them, and I'm one."
Jon Sim, Atlanta Thrashers left winger on The Tragically Hip, a popular Canadian band that played in Atlanta Tuesday.
5. The fan's hat trick
Maple Leafs at Canadiens, 7 p.m. today
In a matchup of two teams with high expectations but are struggling to reach the playoffs, Darcy Tucker and the Maple Leafs meet Saku Koivu and the Canadiens.
Senators at Penguins, 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Dany Heatley and the Senators have been battling with Jordan Staal and the Penguins for fourth place in the Eastern Conference much of the last month. (TV: FSN Pittsburgh).
Predators at Flames, 9 p.m. Thursday
Steve Sullivan, Kimmo Timonen and the Predators face Jarome Iginla, Dion Phaneuf and the Flames in a potential first round matchup in the Western Conference playoffs.
First Published March 17, 2007 12:00 am
