NHL: Smits fires two shots, Silovs stops 18 in Boston win
Two Latvians featured in NHL games: Alberts Smits and the New York Rangers beat the Philadelphia Flyers, while Arturs Silovs and the Boston Bruins defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-2.
Two Latvian players took part in games in the NHL, North America's top professional ice hockey league: defenseman Alberts Smits with the New York Rangers and goaltender Arturs Silovs with the Boston Bruins.
Smits and the Rangers
The New York Rangers won 3-2 at home against the Philadelphia Flyers, collecting a second straight victory. Smits played 13 minutes and 22 seconds over 16 shifts, including 47 seconds on the penalty kill. The Latvian blueliner put two shots on goal, delivered one hit and finished without a point. He was paired with Scott Morrow.
Gabe Perreault opened the scoring in the fifth minute of the first period. In the second period the visitors took the lead within two minutes, with goals from Simon Benoit and Noel Acciari. New York tied the game 6 minutes 8 seconds before the end of regulation, when Pavel Dorofeyev scored on the power play. A minute and 29 seconds later Tye Kartye put the Rangers back in front. Adam Fox added two assists, and goaltender Dylan Garand stopped 23 of 25 shots.
Silovs and the Bruins
The Boston Bruins won 6-2 on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins, who suffered a fourth straight defeat. Silovs played the whole game and saved 18 of 24 shots, or 75 percent, including both opposing power-play shots. Boston led 3-1 after the first period and 5-2 after the second. Pavel Zacha scored twice, while Morgan Geekie had a goal and an assist. Nick Robertson and Justin Brazeau scored for Pittsburgh.
Boston has now won three in a row and ten of its last 13 games, while Pittsburgh has lost eight of its last 10. Sidney Crosby went without a point again and, with 1,771 points, remains tied with Marcel Dionne for sixth place in NHL history.
