Todd Bertuzzi insists he’s looking forward to Saturday’s game against Colorado but doesn’t want to talk about the last time they played.
On the eve of Vancouver’s first game against Colorado since his blindside punch left Avalanche forward Steve Moore with broken bones in his neck more than 19 months ago, the Vancouver Canucks player refused to talk about the attack.
“I’ve discussed it before, and this team is moving on and I’m moving on and we’re just concentrating on the game tomorrow and the two points we need,” Bertuzzi said Friday. “It’s a team we’ve always had spirited rivalries with. They’re exciting games to play in.”
Bertuzzi was suspended for 17 months but missed only 20 games because of the lockout that ended the 2004-05 season.
Ice shavings
The approach of Hurricane Wilma prompted the league to postpone Saturday’s game in Sunrise, Fla., between the Ottawa Senators and the Florida Panthers. The respective division leaders will make up the game Dec. 5. . . . “We are playing to 93 percent of capacity, a 6 percent increase over 2003-04,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. . . . During the first 97 contests, there were 18 periods in which at least five goals were scored, compared to seven such periods in the same span of the 2003-04 season.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
San Jose 1 at Columbus 4
Jason Chimera scored twice. Adam Foote and David Vyborny also scored. Marc Denis made 24 saves. Scott Thornton had goal for Sharks, who lost 3rd straight.
Ottawa 4 at Tampa Bay 1
Daniel Alfredsson scored short-handed goal to break tie. Ottawa (6-0) remained Eastern Conference’s only unbeaten team. Dany Heatley, Chris Neil, Peter Schaefer each had goal and assist.
Anaheim 2 at Detroit 3
Pavel Datsyuk, Robert Lang, Mikael Samuelsson scored PPGs for Red Wings. It was Detroit coach Mike Babcock’s 1st game vs. his former team. He coached Mighty Ducks from 2002 to ’04.
Colorado 7 at Edmonton 1
Milan Hejduk had 2 goals and assist in his 1st game of season. Goaltender Jussi Markkanen gave up 3 goals on 13 shots. Oilers allowed 4 goals in 2nd period in losing 6th straight game.
