Kovalchuk Scores, Congratulates Zharkov on First NHL Goal

lya Kovalchuk followed Zharkov with a power-play strike 57 seconds later as the Devils jumped ahead 2-0 in the opening 5:22. He blasted an Andy Greene feed past Islanders goaltender Kevin Poulin for his team-leading 13th of the season. Kovalchuk has 351 career goals in his career, but knows the first one is special. “Hopefully,

Sergei Shirokov will get an offensive role with Canucks

“We see him as a skilled player, an offensive player, to fill in an offensive role,” assistant coach Newell Brown said. “We’ve heard he’s been playing real well. We’ve got good reports about him. He’s had a great attitude. He’s skating real well and producing.” Concerns about Shirokov’s fitness and his skating have been alleviated

Canucks Recall Sergei Shirokov

The Canucks have recalled right-winger Sergei Shirokov from Manitoba in his place. Shirokov leads the Moose in both goals and assists this season (16-17-33) and has recently improved his defensive play, demonstrated by a plus-10 rating through the first 39 games of the season. “He’s checking way better,” Noel said. “Through his checking and defending

Evgeny Dadonov Scores, Helps Lead Panthers to 3rd win in row

Dadonov evened the score on a power play at 15:07, when he wristed a shot to Brodeur’s high stick side. Wideman skated the puck into the Devils zone before passing to Weiss down the right side. Weiss made a drop-back pass to Dadonov, who skated around Sestito before putting it past Brodeur for his fourth

Sergei Shirokov Breaks AHL Manitoba Moose Point Streak Record

The Moose opened a 2-0 lead in the second period after Kevin Connauton and Sergei Shirokov each scored in the opening frame. But Milwaukee’s Scott Ford cut the lead to one when he scored his first of the year 16:50 of the second, then Aaron Johnson tied the game early in the third. Mark Dekanich

Pekka Rinne and Predators rally to edge Blackhawks in shootout

If there’s one thing Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne loves, it’s playing in a shootout. Marcel Goc scored the only goal in the shootout with Rinne stopping Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane and the Predators rallied from a two-goal deficit after two periods to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 Saturday night. Nashville forward Jerred Smithson said

Kovalchuk Scores Twice, Takes Down Stamkos and Lightning

After Stamkos scored a power-play goal on the Lightning’s first shot at 5:06 of the first, the Devils scored four straight goals — Kovalchuk (7:59), Rolston (9:19), Elias (11:44) and Zajac (15:54) — to take a 4-1 lead after the opening period. “It’s unacceptable for us to get behind by that much,” Stamkos said. Zajac’s