The London Free Press: Ponikarovsky paused to shake his arm a few times yesterday.
«You're going to have some weird feelings in it, but it has nothing to do with (pain)," the big right-winger said. «You do more and more every day, trying to progress.»
...
«Yes, but I don't want to rush it too much," Ponikarovsky said. «It can get injured again and I'd be out longer. That's my first priority, to fix the shoulder, then to play.»
Coach Paul Maurice could have him back by Saturday's game against Vancouver.

Canadian Press: The only forward nearly ready to return is Alexei Ponikarovsky. The shoulder he hurt is better, but Maurice doubts he'll skate against the Canucks.
«He'd be closest, he'd be the first one in," said Maurice. «Darcy Tucker is the next one in.

The London Free Press: Coach Paul Maurice said Alexei Ponikarovsky and Nik Antropov are probable for tonight's game against the hot Tampa Bay Lightning, provided they make it through the morning skate today. The six-foot-six, 230-pound Antropov, who has missed 17 games with an sprained ankle, and the six-foot-four, 220-pound Ponik-arovsky, who has missed 11 games with a separated shoulder, practised yesterday and said they're ready.
...
Ponikarovsky skated with Sundin and O'Neill yesterday, while Antropov was with Matt Stajan and Chad Kilger. John Pohl remained with Battaglia and Boyd Devereaux and Travis Green was with Kris Newbury and Wade Belak.
GM John Ferguson said he would wait until today to activate Ponikarovsky and Antropov. If those two and Steen play tonight, two players will be sent back to the Toronto Marlies. It's expected one would be Ben Ondrus, while Newbury also could go.

CBS: Rachunek was 24 seconds into a boarding penalty when Ponikarovsky netted his 16th goal while attempting a pass. He slid the puck through the crease, but it ricocheted past Lundqvist off the right skate of defenseman Aaron Ward at 13:34.
«I wasn't facing the play," Ward said. «I was unlucky.»
The goal served as payback for Ponikarovsky, who earlier in the period was flattened by Ward's hard shoulder check. Ponikarovsky stayed down on his stomach, holding his head, for several minutes before gingerly making his way back to the bench.

The Sports Network: Sundin upped the lead to 2-0 with 5:08 to play in the period, when he went top shelf on the far side as Emery dove across the crease to follow a loose puck. Alexei Ponikarovsky made the play happen as he picked up the disc inside the right circle off a scramble in front, and waited until Sundin got into position to send a cross-ice pass to the Leafs sniper.

Associated Press : Staal's wrist shot past Raycroft made it 2-0 at 11:32 of the second and Malkin's wrist shot gave Pittsburgh a 3-0 lead 8:22 of the second. Crosby assisted.
Toronto tied it with three straight goals late in the second, including two by Toronto's top line of Sundin, Antropov and Alexei Ponikarovsky.

CP: In the shootout in front of 19,600 spectators, Nielsen dazzled, DiPietro stopped Alexei Ponikarovsky with a right leg save, Raycroft stuck his right foot out to stop a Satan shot, Sundin beat DiPietro with a low wrist shot to the stick side, Kozlov roofed in a backhander, and Nik Antropov shot into DiPietro's right leg pad.

Newsday:

Robitaille scored once earlier this season in a shootout at Boston, but this was his first appearance in the top three skaters.
«In Boston, I came in straight and waited," Robitaille said. «Tonight, I changed my angle and my speed. I knew what I'd do before I shot.»
That left it to DiPietro to stop Alexei Ponikarovsky, which the Islanders goaltender did with a poke check that sent the puck high over the net and caused the Leafs skater to tumble head over heels behind the net. Getting to his feet, DiPietro rushed from the crease and jumped into teammate Chris Simon's arms, looking like Yogi Berra jumping into Don Larsen's embrace after the perfect game in the 1956 World Series.

Newsday: If it's as entertaining as the final period and overtime of Thursday night's game was for a crowd of 11,759, they'd better keep a defibrillator handy. The Islanders fell behind 2-0 on a first-period goal that went off the skate of Matt Stajan and a second-period goal credited to Ponikarovsky, who threw the puck off the left wall and hit the skate of Islanders defenseman Brendan Witt, who deflected it past DiPietro.