Lundqvist's 47 saves keeps Wolves even with Dayton>>>
Thunder Bay, Ont- The build up of a major contest was much the same on Friday as one two days earlier in Denmark. The number three Timberwolves welcomed the number four Musicmen to Thunder Bay and the end result was much the same. A split of two points at hand, and no clearly better hockey club.
>>>Managing 14 shots and 11 minutes of power play time, the Timberwolves could not solve Mikka Kiprusoff and both teams remained scoreless through the first 20 minutes of hockey.
>>>"We had plenty of chances to get ahead," Timberwolves forward Ales Hemsky said between periods. "But we didn't and it's going to be a struggle to capitalize on a team like this if we continue to lay eggs when we're being handed the game by their penalties."
>>>In the second period, Simon Gagne broke the ice for Thunder Bay at 4:00 for his 17th goal from John Tavares and Hemsky to make it 1-0 for the home team.
>>>But two more power play opportunities provided nothing for the Timberwolves, and at 19:16 Kris Draper made them pay to tie things up late and into the intermission.
>>>In the third Dayton found their game and unloaded shot after shot on Henrik Lundqvist [pictured]. But Thunder Bay's backstop was equal to the task and kept his team in it despite spending literally half of the final period killing penalties.
>>>In overtime, the Timberwolves had their chances again. Putting six solid shots on goal. But 65 minutes of hockey proved nothing more than once again... Thunder Bay has met their equal.
>>>In all, Thunder Bay was 0-8 on the power play (also 6-6 on the penalty kill) and were outshot 46-48.
>>>"It's frustrating to give up those chances to take over the game," said Timberwolves head coach Craig Hartsburg. "It's was there on a platter and we got up from the table with nothing. In the second intermission we talked about disipline. It was the A #1 thing we needed to focus on. So we go out and end up spending half the period in the box? We were lucky. Absolutely lucky to take a point out of this. If not from our goalie, we watch Dayton move over us in the standings. Henrik [Lundqvist] better be getting some very expensive dinners out of this."
>>>
>>>3-STARS
>>>
>>>*Henrik Lundqvist [THU] - 1 goal against and 47 saves
>>**Mikka Kiprusoff [DAY] - 1 goal against and 45 saves
>***Simon Gagne [THU] - 1 goal
>>>
>>>TRADE NEWS
>>>
>>>Within minutes of Simon Gagne saluting the Thunder Bay crowd after being named a third star, he was informed of his trade to the Springfield Homers.
>>>"It wasn't the most ideal of timing," remarked Timberwolves GM Blake Wendt regarding the deal. "The deal was sputtering along for awhile. Simon knew he was on the block. Springfield accepted the deal during the game and it was sent to the league for approval and accepted immediately following the game. Simon has been a great contributor to the Timberwolves and if not for the logistics of free agency, we would have loved to have kept him. He has a wonderful opportunity in Springfield and should get quality minutes and likely be their UFA re-sign."
>>>With Gagne, the Timberwolves also dealt prospects Linus Omark, Danny Kristo, John Ramage and their 1st round pick in this summers Entry Draft.
>>>In return Thunder Bay gets UFA left winger, Steve Sullivan and prospects Brayden Schenn [centre] and James Reimer [goaltender].
>>>"We are thrilled with the return from Springfield. We feel Sullivan is an upgrade on the third line for our playoff run. Like Gagne wouldn't have been, Sullivan is also not going to be re-signed by us as a UFA. He understands that, and is looking forward to getting here and giving his all for that ring.
>>>Brayden Schenn has been on our radar for a very long time. Up until we moved up to the third spot in the '09 draft [used to take Matt Duchene], he was our guy at the five spot. Luckily for us, we moved up and took Duchy, since Schenn went right after him at four. Brayden is the real deal. He's solid in all aspects of his game. He's physical. He's a leader, and he's ripping up the WHL much the same as he did at world juniors. That said, he's still a couple seasons away from making our team. He'll finish up this season in Saskatoon and spend next season in Duluth.
>>>James Reimer is a 22 year old minor-league pro goaltender who honed his craft at Red Deer prior to being drafted by Springfield in 2006.
>>>"Reimer's a big goalie that is very technically-sound and never gives up on the puck. He plays his angles well and doesn't get rattled easily. All very good traits for an up-and-coming goalie."
>>>In a strange set of events, the Timberwolves next game is Sunday at Springfield. To avoid awkward tension on the plane, Simon Gagne traveled commercially to Springfield and Thunder Bay will depart Saturday afternoon. Steve Sullivan remained in Massachusetts after the trade and will meet his new teammates when they arrive.
>>>Managing 14 shots and 11 minutes of power play time, the Timberwolves could not solve Mikka Kiprusoff and both teams remained scoreless through the first 20 minutes of hockey.
>>>"We had plenty of chances to get ahead," Timberwolves forward Ales Hemsky said between periods. "But we didn't and it's going to be a struggle to capitalize on a team like this if we continue to lay eggs when we're being handed the game by their penalties."
>>>In the second period, Simon Gagne broke the ice for Thunder Bay at 4:00 for his 17th goal from John Tavares and Hemsky to make it 1-0 for the home team.
>>>But two more power play opportunities provided nothing for the Timberwolves, and at 19:16 Kris Draper made them pay to tie things up late and into the intermission.
>>>In the third Dayton found their game and unloaded shot after shot on Henrik Lundqvist [pictured]. But Thunder Bay's backstop was equal to the task and kept his team in it despite spending literally half of the final period killing penalties.
>>>In overtime, the Timberwolves had their chances again. Putting six solid shots on goal. But 65 minutes of hockey proved nothing more than once again... Thunder Bay has met their equal.
>>>In all, Thunder Bay was 0-8 on the power play (also 6-6 on the penalty kill) and were outshot 46-48.
>>>"It's frustrating to give up those chances to take over the game," said Timberwolves head coach Craig Hartsburg. "It's was there on a platter and we got up from the table with nothing. In the second intermission we talked about disipline. It was the A #1 thing we needed to focus on. So we go out and end up spending half the period in the box? We were lucky. Absolutely lucky to take a point out of this. If not from our goalie, we watch Dayton move over us in the standings. Henrik [Lundqvist] better be getting some very expensive dinners out of this."
>>>
>>>3-STARS
>>>
>>>*Henrik Lundqvist [THU] - 1 goal against and 47 saves
>>**Mikka Kiprusoff [DAY] - 1 goal against and 45 saves
>***Simon Gagne [THU] - 1 goal
>>>
>>>TRADE NEWS
>>>
>>>Within minutes of Simon Gagne saluting the Thunder Bay crowd after being named a third star, he was informed of his trade to the Springfield Homers.
>>>"It wasn't the most ideal of timing," remarked Timberwolves GM Blake Wendt regarding the deal. "The deal was sputtering along for awhile. Simon knew he was on the block. Springfield accepted the deal during the game and it was sent to the league for approval and accepted immediately following the game. Simon has been a great contributor to the Timberwolves and if not for the logistics of free agency, we would have loved to have kept him. He has a wonderful opportunity in Springfield and should get quality minutes and likely be their UFA re-sign."
>>>With Gagne, the Timberwolves also dealt prospects Linus Omark, Danny Kristo, John Ramage and their 1st round pick in this summers Entry Draft.
>>>In return Thunder Bay gets UFA left winger, Steve Sullivan and prospects Brayden Schenn [centre] and James Reimer [goaltender].
>>>"We are thrilled with the return from Springfield. We feel Sullivan is an upgrade on the third line for our playoff run. Like Gagne wouldn't have been, Sullivan is also not going to be re-signed by us as a UFA. He understands that, and is looking forward to getting here and giving his all for that ring.
>>>Brayden Schenn has been on our radar for a very long time. Up until we moved up to the third spot in the '09 draft [used to take Matt Duchene], he was our guy at the five spot. Luckily for us, we moved up and took Duchy, since Schenn went right after him at four. Brayden is the real deal. He's solid in all aspects of his game. He's physical. He's a leader, and he's ripping up the WHL much the same as he did at world juniors. That said, he's still a couple seasons away from making our team. He'll finish up this season in Saskatoon and spend next season in Duluth.
>>>James Reimer is a 22 year old minor-league pro goaltender who honed his craft at Red Deer prior to being drafted by Springfield in 2006.
>>>"Reimer's a big goalie that is very technically-sound and never gives up on the puck. He plays his angles well and doesn't get rattled easily. All very good traits for an up-and-coming goalie."
>>>In a strange set of events, the Timberwolves next game is Sunday at Springfield. To avoid awkward tension on the plane, Simon Gagne traveled commercially to Springfield and Thunder Bay will depart Saturday afternoon. Steve Sullivan remained in Massachusetts after the trade and will meet his new teammates when they arrive.
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