Hockey Night's Take 5
Last Updated: Thursday, November 5, 2009 | 1:30 PM ET
By Tim Wharnsby, CBC Sports
Washington Capitals can't wait to see Alex Ovechkin, back in action -- the team has gone a collected 1-4-0 without their star player in the lineup since 2005. (Luis M. Alvarez/Associated Press)HNIC's senior online reporter Tim Wharnsby dishes out the latest news, buzz and inside information in the hockey world.
1. Not so great without No. 8
The Capitals played their fifth game without Alex Ovechkin, a 3-2 loss to New Jersey on Wednesday, since the superstar joined Washington in 2005. They are now 1-4-0 in those five games. How much longer will the dynamic offensive machine be missing from the Capitals lineup? Well, he has not been placed on the long-term injured list and he has not been ruled out from a possible return on the weekend from his suspected left shoulder strain. "Soon, you are going to see me again. Soon," Ovechkin told the Washington Post on Wednesday night.
2. Avs' winning start not winning fans
We're not even at the first-quarter pole of the 2009-10 season, but Avalanche's impressive start hasn't had the desired effect on the local fan base in Denver. The smallest crowd in club history, 11,012, showed up to the Pepsi Center on Wednesday to watch the Western Conference-leading Avalanche defeat Phoenix 4-1 and push its home record to 5-0. Maybe the Coyotes are now affecting crowds as visitors. Phoenix has the lowest attendance in the league with average crowds of 9,407 in seven games. The N.Y. Islanders (11,909,) are next, followed by Nashville (13,398), Tampa Bay (14,329) and Florida (14,397). The Avalanche is next with an average crowd of 14,759 in five games.
3. Friendly rivalry between 'Canes, Panthers coaches
Florida coach Peter DeBoer and his Carolina counterpart Paul Maurice are good friends, dating back to when they were junior teammates with the Windsor Spitfires in the mid-1980s. But their closeness is put on hold when their teams meet. The Panthers won the latest get-together, a 3-0 decision on Wednesday. It was Florida's third consecutive victory and the Hurricanes 10th loss in a row. It was the eighth time the pals have coached against each other in the NHL and the Panthers have a 4-2-2 edge.
4. Sharks 'Super' trainer
San Jose trainer Ray Tufts worked his 1,000th career game for the Sharks on Wednesday. He won three Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers prior to jumping over to the Sharks in 1996. Tufts and San Jose equipment manager Mike Aldrich, who will behind the bench for his 1,000th game on Friday, will work for the United States men's hockey team at the Olympics in Vancouver.
5. First-goal wins
Scoring first has been golden for the Penguins, Sharks and Thrashers this season. They are the only teams yet to suffer a loss after scoring the game's first goal. Pittsburgh has gone 8-0, followed by San Jose at 5-0 and Atlanta at 4-0. Scoring first has not been as good a development for Calgary (6-3-1), Vancouver (5-4-0) and Washington (6-3-3). Meanwhile, the Sharks (six wins), Red Wings (five) and Avalanche (five) are the best teams so far at prevailing after being scored on first.
