Month: April 2008

MONTREAL – Montreal police have been visiting media outlets to seize recorded images of the rioting that happened after the Montreal Canadiens won their series against the Boston Bruins.

TORONTO – They were 1-2-3 in the NHL’s rookie scoring race and they are the final three contenders for the Calder Trophy.Forwards Patrick Kane, Nicklas Backstrom and Jonathan Toews were announced as the finalists for the rookie award Wednesday, the cream of the crop in a season where many fresh faces made a strong case for themselves.

MONTREAL – Police reported lots of jubilation but little confrontation as a show of force coupled with the resolve of citizens amounted to quiet night following Thursday night’s Montreal Canadiens victory.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – The long break between series has been driving some of the Colorado Avalanche players bonkers.Not Peter Forsberg. He couldn’t have asked for a better scenario.

NEW YORK – NHL games will continue to air on NBC next season.The network decided to exercise its option to extend the contract, it announced Wednesday.

PRAGUE, Czech Republic – Nashville Predators forward Martin Erat will play for the Czech Republic at the upcoming IIHF world hockey championship in Quebec City and Halifax.

CALGARY – The streets of Calgary were cold and quiet Tuesday night as the Flames were handily defeated in the deciding game seven of their first NHL playoff round series against the San Jose Sharks.

Summaries from Tuesday’s NHL playoff games:Flames 3 at Sharks 5First Period1. San Jose, Thornton 2 (Cheechoo, Roenick) 10:57 (pp)2. Calgary, Iginla 4 (Aucoin, Phaneuf) 12:23 (pp)Penalties – Eriksson Cal (hooking) 9:32, Michalek SJ (holding) 12:07, Nolan Cal, Clowe SJ (roughing) 12:46, Phaneuf Cal (holding) 17:12.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Jeremy Roenick didn’t come out of semi-retirement for just one playoff round.The veteran San Jose centre is only interested in a long run at the Stanley Cup, and he carried the Sharks one step closer Tuesday night.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – A rest did Jeremy Roenick and the San Jose Sharks a world of good.Roenick, a healthy scratch in Game 6 of the series, had two goals and two assists as the Sharks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 5-3 win over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.

Movements in the world of hockey Tuesday:National Hockey LeagueLOS ANGELES KINGS-Agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract with F Oscar Moller.

WINNIPEG – Tom Sestito was hoping to catch his coach’s eye, and he picked a good way to do it.Sestito scored 11 minutes into overtime to lift the Syracuse Crunch to a 2-1 win over the Manitoba Moose in American Hockey League playoff action Tuesday.

WASHINGTON – The Philadelphia Flyers finally figured out how to put away the Washington Capitals.Joffrey Lupul netted a rebound during a power play 6:06 into overtime in Game 7 to lift Philadelphia past Alex Ovechkin and Washington 3-2 on Tuesday night in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

WASHINGTON – The Philadelphia Flyers finally figured out how to put away the Washington Capitals.Joffrey Lupul scored on a Cristobal Huet a rebound during a power play 6:06 into overtime in Game 7 to lift Philadelphia past Alex Ovechkin and Washington 3-2 on Tuesday night in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks will need innovative thinking and possibly “bold decisions” to evolve into a Stanley Cup contender, new general manager Mike Gillis said Wednesday.

VANCOUVER – New Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis says he isn’t sure what changes he will make to the NHL team.”I haven’t made any predisposed decisions based on any thing I have heard,” Gillis, a former player agent, told a news conference Wednesday where he was officially unveiled as the new GM.

VANCOUVER – Former NHL player agent Mike Gillis has been hired to be the general manager of the Vancouver Canucks, a source told The Canadian Press Tuesday night.

The Vancouver Canucks will name player agent Mike Gillis as their new GM at a press conference Wednesday, according to several reports.
A former NHLer who played 246 games with the Colorado Rockies and Boston Bruins, Gillis has been a player agent since 1991.

In the midst of three NHL playoff series going to a Game 7 in the first round, Mark Messier wouldn’t recommend a captain guaranteeing a victory in an elimination game as he did 14 years ago with the New York Rangers.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Will it be Toronto or Anaheim for Brian Burke?It’s too early to answer that question. But the Ducks general manager stopped short of confirming he will still be on the job in Anaheim when training camp opens in September.