NHL NEWS FEB 11 – Mr. Ilitch Gone at 87

Mike Ilitch, founder of Little Caesars Pizza, owner of the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings, Chairman of Ilitch Holdings, and champion for Detroit, died yesterday at a local hospital. The founder of Hockeytown was 87.

Mike Ilitch was married to Marian Ilitch, his partner in life and business for 61 years. They have seven adult children Denise (Jim Scalici), Ron, Michael Jr. (Noelle), Lisa (Glenn Murray), Atanas (Patty), Christopher (Kelle), Carole, 22 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Feature photo: Mr. Ilitch backstage at the 2008 Stanley Cup Championship parade, Hart Plaza, downtown Detroit.

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MILESTONES WITHIN REACH ON 13-GAME SATURDAY

• The Penguins (34-13-6, 74 points) take their five-game point streak (4-0-1) into Arizona to face the Coyotes (17-28-7, 41 points). Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby sits two points shy of becoming the 86th player in NHL history to record 1,000 career points (368-630—998 in 754 GP).
• The Predators (26-20-8, 60 points) welcome the Panthers (23-20-10, 56 points) to Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, where the NHL Centennial Fan Arena is set up for the team’s weekend doubleheader. Florida’s Jaromir Jagr needs two points to become just the second player in NHL history to reach the 1,900-point milestone (758-1,140—1,898 in 1,682 GP).
• The Rangers (35-18-1, 71 points) eye a fifth consecutive victory when they host the Avalanche (15-34-2, 32 points) at Madison Square Garden. New York’s Henrik Lundqvist sits one victory shy of becoming the 12th goaltender in NHL history to reach 400 career wins.
• The League-leading Capitals (38-11-6, 82 points), who are 18-2-1 since New Year’s Eve, pursue a 12th consecutive home win when they host the Ducks (29-17-10, 68 points). Washington’s Nicklas Backstrom, who shares third in the League with 16-41—57 this season, sits one point shy of 700 in his NHL career (181-518—699 in 707 GP).

FRIDAY’S NHL RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
MINNESOTA 2, Tampa Bay 1 (SO)
Chicago 5, WINNIPEG 2

SATURDAY’S NHL ACTION
All Times Eastern
NY Islanders @ Ottawa, 1 p.m.
Vancouver @ Boston, 1 p.m.
San Jose @ Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
Carolina @ Dallas, 2 p.m.
Florida @ Nashville, 2 p.m.
Detroit @ Columbus, 5 p.m.
Tampa Bay @ Winnipeg, 7 p.m.
Buffalo @ Toronto, 7 p.m.
St. Louis @ Montreal, 7 p.m.
Colorado @ NY Rangers, 7 p.m.
Anaheim @ Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh @ Arizona, 8 p.m.
Chicago @ Edmonton, 10 p.m.