A Banging Saturday For Alaska's NHLers

Alaskans shined in the NHL on Saturday, pretty much to a man.

New York Rangers center Brandon Dubinsky of Anchorage absolutely rocked in a 5-2 win over Ottawa, delivering two goals, an assist, a +3 rating, four shots on goal, three hits and 11 wins in 23 face-offs in a cracking 22:36 of ice time. Sure, it's just one game, but bet ain't no Blueshirts fans whining about his $1.7 million salary for the moment (give 'em time, say the next time he goes three games without a point).

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Matt Carle of Anchorage was no slouch, either. He bagged a goal and a helper in a 5-2 win at New Jersey, and was +3 with two shots in 24:04 of ice.

Across the pond, St. Louis Blues goaltender Ty Conklin of Anchorage racked 30 saves in his Blues debut to beat his old team, the Detroit Red Wings, in Stockholm. (Tough start for the Winged Wheel, the Stanley Cup runners-up last spring -- two losses to St. Louis).

Meanwhile, Montreal Canadiens center Scott Gomez of Anchorage assisted on Brian Gionta's game-winning overtime strike in a 2-1 win at Buffalo. Gomez was +1 in 23:05, though the former Devil and Ranger is having a devil of a time in the face-off circle -- he won just 3 of 11 draws.

And New York Islanders checking-line center Nate Thompson of Anchorage received just 11:18 of ice in a 4-3 shootout loss to Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh, but was even with one shot, two hits, three takeaways and five face-off wins in 11 draws.