Avs' O'Byrne, gashed two weeks ago, to play tonight

Times wires
Monday, March 7, 2011

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The stubbly beard of Avalanche defenseman Ryan O'Byrne can't fully hide the pinkish cut that required 100 stitches to close.

O'Byrne was caught flush in the face by the sharp skate of the Oilers' Taylor Hall two weeks ago, causing a gash that begins just above the left side of his mouth and snakes downward.

He needed 30 stitches on the outside of his cheek to close the wound and 70 more inside.

Still, he considers himself fortunate. The skate narrowly avoided a nerve and completely missed his eye or neck.

O'Byrne is scheduled to return tonight in Minnesota, wearing a caged helmet to protect his face.

"I feel good, really good," he said. "There will be a little bit of a scar, but everything considered it's not too bad. Got the 5 o'clock shadow going for a bit.

"You see guys who have played for 20 years and their faces are pretty cut up. This is just another one for the collection."

Monday's game

at Blues	3	1	0	0	5
Jackets	3	1	0	0	4
Blues win shootout 3-2

First Period—1, St. Louis, Berglund 18, 1:24. 2, Columbus, Voracek 13 (Nash), 6:46. 3, Columbus, Calvert 11 (Umberger, Russell), 7:32. 4, Columbus, Tyutin 6 (Clitsome, Vermette), 10:10 (pp). 5, St. Louis, McDonald 15 (Stewart, Berglund), 12:42 (pp). 6, St. Louis, Oshie 7 (D'Agostini, Backes), 13:57 (pp). Penalties—Dorsett, Clm, major (fighting), 1:43; Stewart, StL, major (fighting), 1:43; Boll, Clm, major (fighting), 1:48; Janssen, StL, major (fighting), 1:48; Rivet, Clm (roughing), 2:40; Backes, StL (roughing), 2:40; Cole, StL (holding), 10:05; Russell, Clm (holding), 11:48; Nash, Clm (tripping), 12:52.

Second Period—7, St. Louis, McDonald 16 (Backes, Shattenkirk), 6:53. 8, Columbus, MacKenzie 5 (Nash, Voracek), 10:28. Penalties—Reaves, StL, misconduct, 6:07.

Third Period—None. Penalties—Oshie, StL (slashing), 1:43; Cole, StL (elbowing), 5:49.

Overtime—None. Penalties—None.

Shootout—Columbus 2 (Nash G, Wilson NG, Tyutin G, Vermette NG), St. Louis 3 (Oshie G, McDonald G, Stewart NG, Steen G). Shots on Goal—Columbus 8-13-4-3—28. St. Louis 16-9-7-4—36. Power-play opportunities—Columbus 1 of 3; St. Louis 2 of 2. Goalies—Columbus, Mason 22-16-4 (36 shots-32 saves). St. Louis, Conklin (8-5), Bishop 3-4-0 (10:10 first, 20-19). A—19,150 (19,150). T—2:41.

Playoff chase

With nonshootout wins (the first tiebreaker) and games remaining. Division winners get the top three seeds:

East Pts. Wins GR

1. Flyers 86 38 17

2. Bruins 84 37 17

3. Capitals 8434 15

4. Penguins 84 33 15

5. Lightning 8232 16

6. Canadiens 79 34 16

7. Rangers 74 28 14

8. Sabres 72 27 17

9. Hurricanes 71 27 16

10. Maple Leafs 67 25 16

11. Thrashers 65 24 16

12. Devils 64 27 17

West Pts. Wins GR

1. Canucks 93 39 15

2. Red Wings 86 35 16

3. Sharks 82 33 16

4. Blackhawks 80 32 16

5. Flames 79 28 14

6. Coyotes 78 30 15

7. Stars 77 30 17

8. Kings 76 29 17

9. Wild 75 32 16

10. Ducks 75 31 16

11. Predators 75 27 16

12. Blue Jackets 7027 17

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/avs-obyrne-gashed-two-weeks-ago-to-play-tonight/1155904

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