HAMILTON, Ont. -- The Hamilton Bulldogs tempted fate one too many times against the American Hockey Leagues top power-play unit on Saturday. The Texas Stars scored two power-play goals in the second period, erasing a two-goal deficit, before eventually winning the game 3-2 in overtime. "Each time that weve played (the Stars), weve played them physically, especially on their top line," said Bulldogs head coach Sylvain Lefebvre. "We played a really good first period, but the penalties were costly, especially in the end." Chris Mueller had three points, including the game-winning goal in overtime, while Travis Morin and Curtis McKenzie also scored for the Stars (30-15-6). Cristopher Nilstorp made 25 saves in the win. Nick Tarnasky and Louis Leblanc had goals for the Bulldogs (22-22-5), while Dustin Tokarski stopped 45 shots in a losing effort. Hamilton took an early lead when Tarnasky stole the puck from a Texas defender in the neutral zone and broke in alone on Nilstorp. The winger kept things simple, launching a rising slap shot from the top of the left circle that trickled between the goaltenders arm and body and slid across the goal line at 4:03 of the first period. Chances were at a premium as the period wore on, with both teams content to play primarily in the neutral zone. But it was a rare passing play that brought the Bulldogs their second goal of the game at 16:32. Patrick Holland moved the puck out to Martin St. Pierre on the left wing, as Hamilton broke into the Texas zone with numbers. The Bulldog captain waited as Leblanc caught up to the play, and slid a drop pass to him that Leblanc snapped high and hard, and past Nilstorp at the far post. A high-sticking penalty to Leblanc at the conclusion of the first period gave the Stars 1:43 to work with a two-man advantage to open the second. They made the most of it almost instantly, scoring to cut their deficit in half just 13 seconds into the period. Mueller took control of the puck below the goal line and centred it cross-ice to Morin, who chipped a one-time shot over the near shoulder of Tokarski. St. Pierre singled out his teams lack of discipline as a fatal flaw, especially because Texas entered play with an AHL-leading power-play thats connected on 27.6 per cent of its opportunities. "I think we shot ourselves in the foot taking a penalty in the last minute of the first period," said St. Pierre. "We knew that (Texas) had a good power play. We have a good penalty kill as well, but we gave them a couple of chances and with the skill that they have, they scored." Mueller was the creator once again when Texas levelled the game on another power play at 8:21 of the second period. With McKenzie streaking in along the opposite wing, Mueller threaded a cross-ice pass to him that McKenzie quickly slid back across Tokarskis crease and inside his far post. Nilstorp had to be sharp to maintain the tied score with four minutes to play in the second, when the Bulldogs pieced together a dangerous rush of their own on the power play. Gabriel Dumont received a cross-ice pass in space, and released a rising one-time shot that Nilstorp slid across his crease to kick aside. Controversy struck in the final minute of the game, as a group of Bulldogs attacked a loose puck in Nilstrops crease and believed that the puck had crossed the goal line. The play was quickly waved off, however, with the official indicating that he had intended to stop play. Texas secured the extra point in overtime when Scott Glennie won the puck behind the Hamilton net and centred to a wide-open Mueller, who fired a quick slap shot high and past Tokarski at the near post at 1:33 of the overtime period. Tokarski, who was frustrated with what he thought to be inconsistency from the referees, believed that he had earned a stoppage of play before the final goal was scored. "If youre going to be bad for the game, be bad on both sides," he said. "(The official) waved a goal off for us with a quick whistle, and then when there should have been a whistle at (our) end, he didnt blow it. "Who knows who would have won, but I would have liked to have seen a better end to the game than the refs deciding it." Texas was 2-5 on the power play while Hamilton went 0-5. .Brooks, a three-year veteran, was slow to get up after suffering the injury during a 5-yard run by Arian Foster.Brooks limped off the field midway through the quarter and then slowly walked to the locker room a few minutes later. . -- Isaiah Pead took a stutter step forward, then raced to the left sideline and travelled 60 yards up the field before finally getting tripped up by a leg tackle.
http://www.airmaxschweizonline.ch/. -- Damian Lillard couldnt believe when he got a clear look at the rim. .Kessy tried to show what he can do playing left wing for the Oilers in 5-0 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday in pre-season action. . Yahoo! Sports columnist Marc Spears says that the Boogie Smooth album may have been an elaborate April Fools prank.BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Sidney Crosby still has Ryan Millers number after scoring a highlight-reel go-ahead goal in Pittsburghs 5-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night. Thats fine with Penguins coach Dan Bylsma, so long as that trend doesnt continue once the Winter Games open next week. "I was cheering the goal this time," said Bylsma, who will be switching hats in Sochi, where he will be coaching Miller on the U.S. team. "It did dawn on me as Sid was going in and he scores that goal." Crosby, Canadas captain, had a goal and assist in a pre-Olympic tuneup in which the Eastern Conference-leading Penguins (40-15-2) set a franchise record by reaching 40 wins in 57 games. That eclipsed the previous mark of 40 wins in 65 games in 1995-96. Evgeni Malkin, James Neal, Brian Gibbons and minor-league call-up Harry Zolnierczyk also scored in a game the Penguins overcame a 1-0 deficit. Drew Stafford scored for the NHLs worst team, and Miller finished with 29 saves. Buffalo (15-33-8) dropped to 4-9-4 in its past 17 and winless in its last eight home games (0-5-3). Thats the Sabres worst home stretch since opening the season 0-8-1. For Crosby, he scored his first goal in six games and also ended a two-game point drought. That it happened against Buffalo and Miller shouldnt come as a surprise. Crosby has at least a point in all 14 trips to Buffalo (9 goals and 13 assists). And he has been particularly sharp at beating Miller, including the gold-medal winning overtime goal in Canadas 3-2 victory at the Vancouver Games four years ago. "He made some big saves tonight," Crosby said in defence of Miller. "Cant blame him. He held his team in it. And we scored some nice goals." The performance didnt sit well with Miller, but he doesnt think it will carry over to the Olympics. "Its game-by-game. Stuff happens out there and you reset," Miller said. Sabres coach Ted Nolan had his goalies back. "That had nothing to do with Ryan tonight," Nolan said. "It was the guys in front of him. Our team, we need everyone. We had a couple of guys no-show tonight." That was evident on Crosbys goal, which came on the power play 2:08 into the seconnd period, and put the Penguins up 2-1.dddddddddddd Immediately after Marc-Andre Fleury stopped Buffalos Brian Flynn in close, Crosby circled his own net and built up a head of steam by driving up the left wing. Accepting Matt Niskanens pass while crossing centre, Crosby didnt break stride in cutting between Flynn and Mike Weber. He then drove toward the net and snapped a shot just inside the top right corner. Neal joked that hes seen Crosby score goals like that so many times that he didnt even celebrate, but instead simply headed to the bench. Miller had no chance some 17 minutes later, when Malkin scored on the breakaway. Pouncing on Marcus Folignos turnover inside the Penguins blue line, Malkin streaked past flat-footed defender Jamie McBain. Driving in alone on Miller, he faked going right and went left to deposit the puck in the open side. Miller is one of the three U.S. goalies selected to play at Sochi, and the game against the Penguins was regarded his last chance to make a firsthand impression on Bylsma. Bylsma has yet to name his starter, and maintained that Millers performance on Wednesday would have no influence on his decision. Miller was coming off his worst outing of the season. He was benched after giving up five goals on 27 shots through two periods in a 7-1 loss at Colorado on Saturday. He allowed three goals on 28 shots through two periods before the floodgates opened in the third. Gibbons scored off a face off, and Neal on a transition break. "The first period we werent very sharp," Crosby said. "Yeah, we took a little bit of time to get going, but once we did, I felt like we did grab a lot of momentum there." NOTES: The Sabres played without D Tyler Myers, who hurt his right leg in a 3-2 loss to Edmonton on Monday. Coach Ted Nolan has not ruled out Myers from playing in their pre-Olympic break finale at Ottawa on Thursday. ... Zolnierczyk stepped into the lineup a day after being recalled from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He replaced Taylor Pyatt (lower body), who was hurt in a 2-1 overtime win over Ottawa on Monday. ... The Penguins completed a three-game series sweep of the Sabres, and improved to 12-4 in their past 16 meetings. ' ' '
