Month: May 2008

HALIFAX – The United States needed every bit of its quick start to survive a scare from an opportunistic German team.Zach Parise’s power play goal with 8:56 remaining in the third period was the winner as the Americans held on for a 6-4 qualifying round victory over Germany at the IIHF world hockey championship Thursday.

HALIFAX – What began looking like a cake-walk for the United States turned into anything but.Zach Parise’s power-play goal with 8:57 remaining in the third period was the winner as the United States survived a scare from Germany in a 6-4 qualifying-round victory at the IIHF World Hockey Championship Thursday.

DETROIT – The opening game of the NHL’s Western Conference final was no contest.The Detroit Red Wings continued to roll, winning their seventh straight game, in ripping the Dallas Stars 4-1 Thursday night.

QUEBEC CITY, Que. – The Czech Republic put an end to Switzerland’s undefeated streak at the IIHF World Hockey Championship with a 5-0 win Thursday night at Le Pepsi Colisee.

PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia Flyers all-star defenceman Kimmo Timonen will likely miss the Eastern Conference finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins because of a blood clot in his left ankle.

Henrik Lundqvist was solid in his first game of the tournament and Sweden bounced back from a disappointing loss to hammer Demnark 8-1 Thursday at the IIHF world hockey championship.

DETROIT – Detroit and Dallas, opponents in the NHL’s Western Conference final, have met only three times previously in the playoffs, and the Red Wings won every time.

PITTSBURGH – Some NHL rivalries evolve from a big game, a major trade or a short-lived scuffle, then fade after a few years. Not the Philadelphia Flyers versus the Pittsburgh Penguins.

HALIFAX – Clearly, something isn’t quite right with the Canadian team at the IIHF World Hockey Championship.It took an incredible solo effort from Rick Nash with 3:58 to play on Thursday for Canada to beat upstart Norway 2-1.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Former Sabres enforcer Rob Ray is suing the NHL Players’ Association for a second time over money owed him during the NHL lockout, accusing the union of deceiving him into settling his initial suit two years ago.

DALLAS – The Dallas Stars have won the Fabian Brunnstrom sweepstakes, agreeing to terms on a two-year, entry-level deal with the Swedish forward.

With the preliminary round of the IIHF World Hockey Championship in the books, here’s a look at some of the surprises and disappointments so far:HalifaxIt was just six years ago that Slovakia won its first world championship and solidified its permanent place among the top contenders at this event – or so we thought.

Highly-touted and persued free agent prospect Fabian Brunnstrom will sign with the Dallas Stars, sports TV station TSN is reporting.

Brunnstrom first came to the attention of the larger hockey world in late November when THN senior writer Ken Campbell wrote a story quoting one NHL GM who said every team in the league was interested in the Swedish forward, who was playing for Farjestads in the Swedish Elite League at the time.

TORONTO – Paul Maurice says he has one regret when he looks back at his two seasons as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs – the firing of former GM John Ferguson.

Thehockeynews.com has learned veteran referee Bill McCreary leads a cast of 16 refs and linesmen into the third round of playoffs.
The other seven referees are Paul Devorski, Mike Hasenfratz, Marc Joanette, Dan O’Halloran, Kevin Pollock, Kelly Sutherland and Brad Watson.

The Maple Leafs have officially begun their search for a new GM.

Reports on Wednesday stated the Leafs asked and were granted permission to speak with former Canucks GM Dave Nonis.

Movements in the world of hockey Wednesday:National Hockey LeagueBUFFALO SABRES-Signed F Felix Schutz to a three-year contract.NEW YORK ISLANDERS-Signed LW Robin Figren to a three-year contract.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Joakim Lindstrom scored in overtime as the Syracuse Crunch beat Toronto 5-4 Wednesday, pushing the Marlies to the brink of elimination from the American Hockey League playoffs.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – There were captains of industry, professional athletes, famous coaches, celebrities and even little kids wearing Blue Jackets jerseys quietly filing into Nationwide Arena on Wednesday night.

TAMPA BAY – Tampa Bay centre Jeff Halpern is expected to miss the next six to eight months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament at the IIHF World Hockey Championship, the Lightning announced Wednesday.