61.   He took a pass from Tomas Sandstrom, skated around rookie defenseman Janne Niinimaa, avoided Hextall and slid the puck into an empty nets.

62.   He stepped around Flames rookie defenseman Derek Morris while being hooked, then pulled the puck around goaltender Rick Tabaracci before tucking it into the net.

63.   Lindy Ruff was a wide-eyed rookie defenseman the last time the Buffalo Sabres were in the conference finals.

64.   More importantly, he has served as a tutor for rookie defenseman Janne Niinimaa, and as a confidant and mentor for Eric Lindros.

65.   New York Rangers rookie defenseman Tomas Kloucek tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Sunday and is expected to be sidelined into next season.

66.   New York Rangers rookie defenseman Tomas Kloucek will have surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee and will be sidelined for about eight months.

67.   New York rookie defenseman Tomas Kloucek tore a knee ligament that will likely keep him out into next season.

68.   Rookie defenseman Karel Betik, playing in his first National Hockey League game, chipped in with two assists.

69.   Rookie defenseman Mark Eaton will be sent to the minors and defenseman Andy Delmore will join the team for the four-game road trip that begins next week.

70.   Rookie defenseman Andrei Markov also scored for Montreal, which has just one win in nine games against its former All-Star goalie.