Hockey Night’s Take 5

HNIC’s senior online reporter Tim Wharnsby dishes out the latest news, buzz and inside information in the hockey world.

1. Penner’s tribute

Edmonton’s Dustin Penner(notes) had plenty on his mind when he stepped on the ice against Detroit on Thursday. His grandfather Isaac had passed away earlier in the week at age 84 and Penner wouldn’t be able to attend the funeral in Winkler, Man., on Friday. So he dedicated his performance in memory of his grandfather and came through with a four-point game in Edmonton’s crazy 6-5 shootout win. The flu-ridden Oilers quenched their goal-scoring drought with three goals in the opening 12 minutes and 24 seconds. But the Red Wings overcame a 5-1 deficit to send the game into overtime. Edmonton entered the game having not scored a goal in 141:25, but needed only 42 seconds for J.F. Jacques to beat Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard(notes). A key move from Oilers coach Pat Quinn was reuniting centre Shawn Horcoff(notes) between Penner and Ales Hemsky(notes). The threesome checked in with four goals and 10 points. We’ll also note that Canadian men’s Olympic ice hockey executive director Steve Yzerman was in attendance.

2. St. Louis states his case for 2010

Lightning mighty mite Martin St. Louis(notes) certainly is making a strong bid to play on his second Canadian Olympic team. In his 700th career NHL game on Thursday evening, the 34-year-old forward from Laval, Que., extended his point streak to a perfect 10-for-10 this season. He has three goals and 14 points and his next point will be his 600th. The NHL record for a point streak to start the season is 51 games, set by Wayne Gretzky 26 years ago.

3. Gretzky still mum on sale

Still no word from Gretzky on owner Jerry Moyes’s decision earlier this week to accept the NHL’s $140-million bid to purchase the Coyotes. However, one of Gretzky’s representatives, Darren Blake, did provide a statement to the Arizona Republic newspaper. “We are hoping that Judge [Redfield T.] Baum can make the most of this very unfortunate situation. Clearly there are no winners here. We hope that the creditors, the Coyotes organization, and the city of Glendale all walk away from this getting what they deserve.” Baum set a Friday deadline to hear from creditors on the tentative agreement between Moyes and the NHL, and both sides were hoping to close on the deal on Monday.

4. Helm steps up

In his 29th career NHL regular season game, Detroit’s Darren Helm(notes) finally scored his first goal. What makes this so unique? Well, the 22-year-old Winnipeg native already had six goals in his 41-game Stanley Cup playoff heroics with the Red Wings in the past two springs. Detroit will need Helm to step up because centre Valterri Filppula is out six to eight weeks with a broken wrist. He was slammed into the boards in the second period by Edmonton’s Gilbert Brule(notes) on Thursday.

5. Raycroft makes the grade

Vancouver backup goalie Andrew Raycroft(notes) passed his first test filling in for Roberto Luongo(notes), who is recovering from a hairline left rib fracture. Raycroft made 30 saves in the Canucks 2-1 shootout road win in Los Angeles on Thursday and will start again against Anaheim on Friday. It was his first win since Feb. 20, when he beat Washington 4-1 as a member of Colorado. Raycroft does have a .958 save percentage and 1.03 goals against average for Vancouver, but has made only three appearances this season. The first two were in relief of Luongo.