If the Washington Capitals win tonight at the Toronto’s Air Canada Centre it will be their first 5 game streak of wins in seven years.
With Monday’s 6-5 win over Pittsburgh the Capitals took their season-high streak of wins to four games . The Capitas Alexander Semin came up with the game-winning goal in the final round  for Washington.  Semin skated toward the net and finished with an impressive backhand past goalie Ty Conklin to clench the victory. Alexander Ovechkin scored two goals, and Viktor Kozlov has his second two goal game in a row. The last time this time won five games in a row was March, 2001.
Moreover Ovechkin has scored six goals and four assists in the last five games. The Russian player is leading the league with 38 goals.  Ovechkin has scored at least one goal in every one of his last five games while Kozlov has four goals in his last two contests. It would appears as though Washington is going to cause a ruckus in the Southeast Division. Washington has won five of their last seven games against the Maple Leafs and three of the last four in Toronto.

Fours after the fatal crash that killed Chicago Blackhawks Keith Magnuson, Toronto Maple Leaf Rob Ramage has been sentenced to serve  four years in prison. Ramage will then be banned from driving for the next five years after his release. Ramage told the Newmarket court that he could only imagine what a loving father and husband Magnuson was. Ontario Superior Court Justice Alexander Sosna made sure to note that Ramage was an “exemplary citizen”. The Ontario Court of Appeal decided that Ramage will be able to appeal the conviction. Ramage’s appeal says that the judge was in the wrong when he admitted evidence regarding the alcohol concentration of his urine samples. The appeal also states that the judge gave his opinion concerning factual findings and then made errors regarding critical evidence during the trial. Ramage was released from custody and is returning to his home in St. Louis.

After Kariya lit up the Stars for a third-period hat trick the last time the teams met, expect coach Dave Tippett to try to get Mike Modano’s line out against Kariya as much as possible. With Kariya a left wing and Halpern a right wing. The Blues rank last in the NHL in average shots on goal per game at 25.3. Dallas ranks fourth in fewest shots on goal against at 26.0.

The Chicago Blackhawks recalled right wing Troy Brouwer from Rockford of the American Hockey League on Saturday. The 22-year-old Troy has 17 goals and 29 points. And the team assigned center Petri Kontiola to Rockford.

The Philadelphia Flyers finished up season 2007 on a positive note, winning three straight to end the calendar year. However, during the four days of 2008, they already showed that their 2008 start leaves much to be desired and has plenty of room for improvement. The Flyers will try to rehabilitate themselves as they continue a six-game road trip Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leaves.

Forwards of the New Jersey Devils Noah Clarke and Barry Tallackson have been recalled from Lowell under emergency conditions, it has been announced. Tallackson has collected 12 goals and nine assists for 21 points in 30 games this season with Lowell. Last season Tallackson was recalled by the Devils for three games.

On Friday, Calgary beat Carolina 4-3, Buffalo crashed Washington 5-6, Toronto outplayed Atlanta 4-0, and Minnesota won over Anaheim 5-2.

John Madden scored two goals and Martin Brodeur made 29 saves to lead the New Jersey Devils to a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. The game started to the Devils’ favor and thus it ended up. In the second period, Brodeur stopped Briere’s penalty with a stick save. Even though the Flyers managed to score two goals, they lost the matchup.

On Wednesday night, a pair of injury fill-ins – Raymond and Jaffray playing for the Canucks beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2. As the teammates said earlier, it was the first time teammates scored their first NHL goals. Ducks coach Randy Carlye explains the loss of his team and the victory of the other by the young age and energy of the new team members. For Jaffray, that game was a debut game. Raymond played in nine games and it was his first time up with the Canucks this season before he was sent back to the minors.

Crosby made his 1st NHL visit to Western Canada a victorious one here. The player helped the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 in the city, where Gretzky became a legend. Sidney Crosby assisted on 3 of Pittsburgh’ 4 goals in the final period in his 1st National Hockey League game in his home nation west of Toronto. The Oilers led 2-0 but goals by Talbot, Armstrong, Letang, and Whitney lifted Pittsburgh to win for the 5th time in 6 matches.