HOCKEY LAST NIGHT: ALFIE SHAKEN UP FOR SENS, LEAFS SIMPLY SHAKY

Thrashers 5 Leafs 2: Last night's Leafs therapy was going to see Tenacious D In The Pick Of Destiny. Only about 12 people showed up at the theatre, but that's more than you can say for the Leafs.

Leafs defensive goats: Hal Gill (for taking one of several second-period penalties that sapped the Leafs' stamina), Alex Steen (for a giveaway on a goal) and Ian White (minus-2 and in the box for a delay of game on Atlanta's first goal). The Leafs are better than this, but right now they can't seem to prove it.

Oh, and Boston tomorrow night? Lovely.

Senators 4 Islanders 2: If Daniel Alfredsson is going to be out for a couple games after hurting his leg (oops, "lower body") last night, it's probably not coming at a bad time, since Ottawa is on a roll after making it eight wins in nine games with a win over the Islanders. Dany Heatley scored twice to give him 18 goals on the year.

Sabres 4 Lightning 1: Daniel Brière's first NHL hat trick helps Buffalo run their record to a league-best 21-4-2. James Mirtle was on this the other day -- isn't it something that the Sabres and their AHL affiliate in Rochester are both leading their league? Must make all the small-town kooks happy.

Flames 3 Hurricanes 0: Miikka Kiprusoff records the shutout, Daymond Langkow gets the Flames started off with a goal in the first minute..... zzzzzzzzzz. The Flames are their boring, brilliant selves again, at least when inside the great province of Alberta.

Blue Jackets 3 Avs 0: Some day, songs and movies will be written about the night Fredrik Norrena made 42 saves to help the Blue Jackets win for the first time ever in Denver. Really. OK, not really.

Elsewhere: Wild 3 Blackhawks 2 (shootout); Panthers 3 Penguins 2; Red Wings 5 Blues 1 (Brett Hull's sweater retirement just ended... did they really have to play all of Neil Young's Rust Never Sleeps as part of the tribute? Just kidding).

Tonight's better games: Sens-Capitals, 7 p.m.; Canadiens-Devils, 7:30 p.m.; Hurricanes-Oilers, 9:30 p.m.; Predators-Ducks, 10 p.m. (all times Eastern)

CIS hockey note: College Colours editor Duane Rollins has launched a message board dedicated to Canada's best-kept hockey secret. Canadian university hockey is on an exam break, but activity on the message board should pick up in the new year.

That's all for now. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.