Thursday April 5

With the final Thursday of the regular season buzzing around the league and 12 games up for grabs all is not yet solidified in the standings. Former Islanders accounted for a paltry 2 goals, 1 assist and 2 losses but much of the night for FIs hung heavy with history. Here is a quick look:

• Zdeno Chara was credited with a powerplay assist on Boston's second goal in the Bruins' 4-2 road loss to the Eastern Conference champion Buffalo Sabres. With the point Chara equals his career high with 43. Speaking of assists, his 32 overall and 17 powerplay assists are also single season acmes. Chara has one game left to set a new personal best.
• Jim Dowd has undoubtedly sealed himself a place in hearts of New Jersey Devils fans. Dowd's shorthanded game winner at 8:46 of the third period ended a continual come-from-behind effort for New Jersey in their 3-2 road win over the lowly Flyers. The win gave Martin Brodeur a new single season league record in wins with 48 passing Flyer Bernie Parent's 33 year old record. It was Dowd's 4th of the season. In 65 games Dowd has 8 points for the Devils. The shortie was his first since March 25, 2006 when he was playing with the Colorado Avalanche.
• Mark Parrish scored the game winner 5:57 into the first period of Minnesota's 3-0 home win over the moribund Edmonton Oilers. It was Parrish's 19th of the season and 39th point overall. In 75 games this season Parrish has scored the deciding goal in 4 of his teams 47 wins.
• Chris Osgood took the OT loss even though he played a fine game in net. The host Blackhawk's shut down the Detroit Redwings 3-2 in the SO on Thursday. While Osgood stopped 19 of 21 shots and 2 of 4 in the shootout Nikolai Khabibulin one-upped him over and over again with 56 saves on 58 shots and an additional 3 of 4 in the penalty shots. Despite that Osgood has not lost in regulation since January 6th and has posted a 6-0-5 record since then. On the year Osgood is 10-3-6 with 2.40 goals against average.
• The best Roberto Luongo can do now is share the new goaltending wins record. Vancouver dropped its home competition against the Colorado Avalanche, 3-1. Colorado remains alive despite having to overcome a major deficit against #8 in the West, the Calgary Flames. They survived one more night, putting in 3 goals on 30 shots against Luongo. Luongo's record dropped to 46-22-6. With 2 games left to play Luongo can, at best, equal Brodeur's new single season league record 48 wins. That is assuming Luongo's wins his last two starts and Brodeur either sits out or loses to the Islanders on Sunday.

Only 3 games are up for grabs on Friday night. None of it has major playoff implications, just some minor positioning issues. Stay tuned in the final few days for the all the exciting action on FIW.