Around The Rinks (NHL Exhibitions And Training Camps)

The NHL exhibition season started this week, which also delivered the first cuts of training camps. So, let's take a quick lap around the rink and catch up with some Alaska connections.

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Matt Carle of Anchorage logged a game-high 26:59 of ice Wednesday night in a 3-1 loss at Detroit. He even logged 7:22 of penalty-killing time. Fired two shots, racked a +1 rating.

Meanwhile, former UAA goaltender Nathan Lawson stopped 19 shots for the New York Islanders in Wednesday's 3-2 loss at Edmonton.

Montreal Canadiens center Scott Gomez of Anchorage is at this moment playing in his first exhibition for his new club, skating against the visiting Florida Panthers (Gomez bagged a goal late in the first period in Montreal's 3-2 win. He fired two shots and was +1, but won only 7 of 17 draws. Still, his 22:18 of ice was the most for any forward in the game, and the second-most for any player). Gomez is rocking No. 91. He wore No. 19 with his previous club, the New York Rangers (he and Chris Drury flipped for No. 23 when they both signed as free agents with New York), and wore No. 23 with the New Jersey Devils.

Former UAA center Jay Beagle, who made his NHL debut last season, scored the game-tying goal with 2:09 left in regulation tonight for the Washington Capitals in their 4-3 OT win at Buffalo. Beagle fired four shots, won 7 of 10 draws and was +1 in 14:36 of ice.

Speaking of numbers, the Atlanta Thrashers' roster lists winger Joey Crabb of Anchorage as No. 15, so it looks like he's back to the number he wore at Colorado College. If memory serves -- and, frankly, it often doesn't at this age -- Crabb wore No. 42 last season when he made his NHL debut. Oh, and the Pittsburgh Penguins' roster lists winger Tim Wallace of Anchorage as No. 22 -- think he wore No. 63 or No. 61 last season.

In other news, the Nashville Predators have released for UAA and Aces goaltender John DeCaro -- he already is signed to play for the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs of the Central Hockey League.

The Ottawa Senators assigned former Aces goalie Chris Holt to Binghampton of the American Hockey League. The Edmonton Oilers assigned former UAF forward and former Aces winger Ryan MacMurchy to AHL Springfield.