Hype for December 12, 2009

No Ryan Miller, no problem for the Buffalo Sabres.

Backup Patrick Lalime made 39 saves in just his third start of the season in favour of the workhorse Miller, and Thomas Vanek and Clarke MacArthur scored in the Sabres' 2-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night.

Sixteen scouts were at the Wachovia Center to watch Ottawa outlast the fading Flyers, 2-0, on Thursday night.

That's a stunningly high number of scouts, and, with Flyers starting goalie Ray Emery sidelined for at least six weeks, speculation is running rampant that the club is interested in a goaltender.

But the fact is, Brian Boucher _ who had another strong performance Thursday _ is good enough to carry the load until Emery returns.

Todd Bertuzzi tied the game midway through the third period and scored a power-play goal 1:07 into overtime to give the Detroit Red Wings a 3-2 comeback victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.

Bertuzzi beat Jean-Sebastien Giguere high on the short side from the bottom of the right circle in overtime, skating out front from behind the net.

The Ice Edge investment group has signed a letter of intent to purchase the financially floundering Phoenix Coyotes from the NHL with a long-term commitment to keep the team in Arizona.

The league and Ice Edge announced the agreement in brief statements on Friday.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said much remains to be done before the sale closes but the league pledged to work closely with Ice Edge "to bring the sale to conclusion as expeditiously as possible."

Look out for Finland at the Vancouver Olympics.

That's what many fans at the Saddledome may have been thinking as they witnessed a brilliant display of goaltending Friday night by the two men expected to contend for the Finns' No. 1 job at the Winter Games.

The Flames' Miikka Kiprusoff shined the brightest, making 44 saves, but the Wild's Niklas Backstrom got the last laugh when Minnesota rallied for a 2-1 victory in overtime.

The Edmonton Oilers scored five unanswered goals in a span of just over 17 minutes to erase a three-goal deficit in St. Louis, returning home a five-game win streak under their belts.

Gilbert Brule started the rally with two goals and Sam Gagner, Shawn Horcoff and Dustin Penner poured in their own in a four-goal final period for a 5-3 victory Friday night over the Blues.