HOCKEY ON THE WIRE
Gustavsson starts
Maple Leafs goalie Jonas Gustavsson has started four consecutive games since Randy Carlyle has taken over as head coach.
Gustavsson has won a career-high 17 games, and both his save-percentage (.906) and goals-against average (2.84) are better than either of his previous two NHL seasons.
“I’m never sure if I’m going to get the next start,” he said.
“Even if I played 30 games in a row, I don’t feel like you can be too sure to be out there.”
Markov returns
Andrei Markov’s knee survived his first game in 17 months — as did his sense of humour.
In the moments after the Canadiens’ 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, Markov was swarmed in the Canadiens’ locker-room and asked how his knee is. “Still there,” Markov said. The Canadiens are in Buffalo to face the Sabres tonight (7 p.m., TSN).
Offensive-minded
Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis headed Sunday to the NHL general managers’ meeting in Florida with offence on his mind.
“I think we need to keep offence in the game, and I think we need to make sure we keep offensive opportunities in the game,” the Vancouver Canucks GM said.
“I don’t think 1-0 hockey games and 2-1 hockey games are really that appealing.”
Scoreboard watching
Jarome Iginla can’t stop himself from looking up at the television these days or constantly checking his phone for updates on the out-of-town scoreboard.
“More than anything, we know we need to put together a really good string of hockey here,” Iginla said prior to a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild Sunday.
“We know we need to put a string together. We believe we can do that.”
Khabibulin struggles
Wins have been difficult to come by for Oilers goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, who is now dragging around a record of 2-13-3 in a stretch of games dating back to Dec. 17.
“It seems like every time we go to a shootout, I can’t make any saves,” he said.
“I guess I’m open for suggestions.”
The Oilers will host the San Jose Sharks tonight (9:30 p.m., TSN).