Tonight's Schedule: 12/30

After the Stars won 5-4 against Chicago last night, the Stars are just outside of the playoff spots as the gap from 5th place Nashville to 10th place Detroit is just 5 points separating and several teams that are in that boat are in action tonight.

The biggest game being involved is the as the Los Angeles Kings VS. Calgary Flames at the Saddledome in Calgary as battles like this will be critical towards moving up or down the Western Conference Standings as that's the only All Western Conference Battle tonight as LA hasn't beaten Calgary at the Saddledome since 2005.

Within the Pacific Division, the San Jose Sharks is hosting the Eastern Conference Leading Washington Capitals as it's a battle of 2nd place teams in both Conferences, in addition to chasing down Conference Leaders Chicago and New Jersey, expect a lot of scoring as they are currently 2 of the top 3 scoring offenses in the NHL tonight.

Also, an important game that will most likely be for the Atlantic Division Title as the Pittsburgh Penguins travel to New Jersey where earlier this month, Martin Broduer shut out Sydney Crosby and company to win 3-0 and where Broduer set the All Time Shutout Mark back on December 21.

In the AHL tonight, the San Antonio Rampage will take on the Syracuse Crunch as the Crunch finish up a 3 game Texas Road Trip where both games have gone to OT. Back on Monday night against Houston, a 5-4 win for Houston came in OT while last night against the Texas Stars saw them go up 2-0 just 5 minutes into the game with 2 goals coming from Jared Aulin who scored twice in just 16 seconds.

Tonight, it's San Antonio's turn to take on the Crunch as the Rampage are starting to comeback after having former head coach Greg Ireland fired back in Mid November. Right now the Rampage have won 4 of their last 5 and despite still being last in the West Division, they are starting to catch up with the rest of the Division and being just 9 points back of 4th place Rockford right now.

The Houston Aeros will travel to Chicago as the Aeros and Wolves are neck and neck towards catching the Peoria Rivermen, Milwaukee Admirals, and the Rockford Icehogs who are just separated by just 2 points and are just 4 points back of division leading Texas.

Just one game in the Central Hockey League as the Texas Brahmas host the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs as both teams are in the midst of tight Conference Races. For Texas, the Brahmas, the Laredo Bucks and the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees where just 2 points separate 3rd thru 5th in the South.

It's a similar story in the North as the Mudbugs, Tulsa Oilers, Mississippi Riverkings and the Missouri Mavericks are just 4 points apart which separates 3rd thru 6th in the North. With both teams being in 3rd place, the Brahmas and the Mudbugs will want to separate themselves from the pack as we reach the midway point of the season as we approach the All Star Game which will be in Laredo, Texas on January 13.

Professional Scores

National Hockey League

Atlanta Thrashers 0 Boston Bruins 4 (0-3, 0-1, 0-0)
www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009020590

Pittsburgh Penguins 0 New Jersey Devils 2 (0-1, 0-0, 0-1)
www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009020591

Philadelphia Flyers 6 NY Rangers 0 (3-0, 2-0, 1-0)
www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009020592

Montreal Canadians 2 Tampa Bay Lighting 1 (OT) (0-0, 1-0, 0-1, 1-0)
www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009020593

Colorado Avalanche 4 Ottawa Senators 3 (2-1, 1-0, 1-2)
www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009020594

Los Angeles Kings 1 Calgary Flames 2 (0-1, 1-1, 0-0)
www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009020595

Toronto Maple Leafs 1 Edmonton Oilers 3 (0-1, 0-1, 1-1)
www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009020596

Washington Capitals 2 San Jose Sharks 5 (0-2, 0-1, 2-2)
www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009020597


American Hockey League

Adirondack Phantoms 4 Albany River Rats 2 (1-1, 2-0, 1-1)
http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1006548

Springfield Falcons 3 Hartford Wolfpack 5 (2-0, 1-3, 0-2)
http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1006551

Peoria Rivermen 2 Toronto Marlies 3 (0-2, 0-0, 2-1)
http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1006553

Binghamton Senators 3 W-B/Scranton Penguins 6 (1-3, 1-1, 2-2)
http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1006554

Rochester Americans 1 Hamilton Bulldogs 4 (0-2, 1-1, 0-1)
http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1006550

Houston Aeros 1 Chicago Wolves 5 (0-0, 0-2, 1-3)
http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1006549

Game Story: www.aeros.com/news/news/index.html?article_id=2414

Syracuse Crunch 2 San Antonio Rampage 3 (1-0, 1-2, 0-1)
http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1006552

Game Story: www.sarampage.com/news/index.html?article_id=740


Central Hockey League

Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs 4 Texas Brahmas 3 (SO) (1-1, 2-0, 0-2, 0-0, 1-0)
www.pointstreak.com/stats/pro/boxscore.html?gameid=1067638

Game Story: www.brahmas.com/news/articles/index.html?article_id=1253


Major Junior

Western Hockey League

Moose Jaw Warriors 2 Prince Albert Raiders 1 (0-1, 2-0, 0-0)
http://whl.ca/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1006563

Medicine Hat Tigers 2 Lethbridge Hurricanes 3 (OT) (2-0, 0-1, 0-1, 0-1)
http://whl.ca/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1006562

Brandon Wheat Kings 2 Red Deer Rebels 4 (1-0, 0-3, 1-1)
http://whl.ca/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1006564

Kamloops Blazers 4 Kelowna Rockets 1 (2-0, 0-1, 2-0)
http://whl.ca/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1006561

Prince George Cougars 4 Vancouver Giants 1 (1-1, 0-0, 3-0)
http://whl.ca/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1006566

Saskatoon Blades 4 Seattle Thunderbirds 3 (2-0, 2-0, 0-3)
http://whl.ca/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1006565


Ontario Hockey League

Oshawa Generals 3 Kingston Frontenacs 5 (1-2, 1-3, 1-0)
www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=16345

Brampton Battalion 2 Mississauga St. Micheals Majors 3 (OT) (2-1, 0-1, 0-0, 0-1)
www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=16346

Niagara Icedogs 1 Owen Sound Attack 3 (0-0, 1-1, 0-2)
www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=16347


Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Acadie-Bathurst Titans 5 P.E.I. Rockets 2 (1-0, 1-0, 3-2)
www.lhjmq.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php?page=342374&id_partie=20576

Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 4 Halifax Mooseheads 2 (3-0, 1-2, 0-0)
www.lhjmq.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php?page=342374&id_partie=20574

Drummondville Voltigeurs 5 Victoriaville Tigers 4 (2-1, 2-2, 1-1)
www.lhjmq.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php?page=342374&id_partie=20578

Gatineau Olympiques 4 Lewiston Maineiacs 6 (0-3, 1-1, 3-2)
www.lhjmq.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php?page=342374&id_partie=20575

Rimouski Oceanic 4 Quebec City Ramparts 3 (OT) (0-0, 1-3, 2-0, 1-0)
www.lhjmq.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php?page=342374&id_partie=20577

Chicoutimi Sagueneens 4 Baie-Comeau Drakkar 3 (1-1, 1-2, 2-0)
www.lhjmq.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php?page=342374&id_partie=20579

Shawinigan Cataractes 1 Montreal De Junior 2 (1-0, 0-1, 0-1)
www.lhjmq.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php?page=342374&id_partie=20580


U.S.A. Juniors

North American Hockey League

Alpena Ice Diggers 1 Marquette Rangers 5 (1-2, 0-2, 0-1)
www.pointstreak.com/stats/pro/boxscore.html?gameid=1068351