Month: May 2008

When the NHL playoffs started a month ago, there were plenty of questions about goalies Martin Biron and Marc-Andre Fleury.The 30-year-old Biron had never started an NHL playoff game before taking to the ice with the Philadelphia Flyers in early April.

VOORHEES, N.J. – Winning the Eastern Conference final would be icing on the cake for the Philadelphia Flyers.Actually, it would mean another cake.

PITTSBURGH – Sidney Crosby always has been No. 1.The No. 1 most-watched youth player in Canada. A No. 1 draft pick. No. 1 in scoring in his second NHL season.

HALIFAX – Many Canadians might consider hockey an art form and its best players scarred Picassos on skates.But artist Graeme Patterson is literally pushing the connection between art and hockey.

QUEBEC – The sluggish Swedes know they need step it up at the IIHF World Hockey Championship.Sweden got off to another slow start Wednesday against Switzerland, but unlike their last two games when they rallied to score 15 goals in a pair of wins, the Swedes were unable to kickstart their attack in a 4-2 loss.

HALIFAX – Germany has lost defenceman Jason Holland at the IIHF World Hockey Championship but not its upset victory over Slovakia.The former Canadian world junior player appeared in the first two games for Germany at this tournament before being deemed ineligible.

MONTREAL – A prominent Quebec publisher is calling on governments to force the Montreal Canadiens to spin more French-language tunes for the Bell Centre crowd.

DETROIT – Chris Osgood is the Red Wings’ unsung hero going into the NHL’s Western Conference final.Johan Franzen’s scoring exploits have captured much of the attention during Detroit’s quest for the Stanley Cup, but Osgood’s goaltending contributions should not be ignored.

HALIFAX – This is a different coaching assignment for Ken Hitchcock.Only half of his Canadians players at the IIHF World Hockey Championship have worked themselves into a permanent role on the team, leaving everyone else in a state of flux while Hitchcock moves them around and looks for the magic mix.

Tampa Bay Lightning center Jeff Halpern has suffered a right knee injury that is expected to require surgery.
Halpern sustained the injury during the third period of Team USA’s 5-4 loss against Canada at the IIHF World Championships in Halifax Tuesday.

HALIFAX – Florian Busch remains eligible to play for Germany at the IIHF World Hockey Championship.The World Anti-Doping Agency had requested that he be suspended from the event after refusing a doping test two months ago but the IIHF decided Wednesday that it would not take that action.

BY JORDAN SAMERY
With Wednesday’s news the Maple Leafs had fired head coach Paul Maurice after two seasons, the search now begins for a coach who can return the team to winning ways.

TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs made the first big move of what is expected to be a busy off-season for the NHL club by firing head coach Paul Maurice.

TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs made the first big move of what is expected to be a busy off-season for the NHL club by firing head coach Paul Maurice.

TORONTO – Paul Maurice is out as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.A source tells The Canadian Press that Maurice has been fired. The team has called a news conference for later Wednesday at Air Canada Centre.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Before Jeremy Roenick led a group of Sharks on a season-ending vacation to parts undisclosed, he all but confirmed he’ll return to San Jose next season for another run at the Stanley Cup.

Movements in the world of hockey Tuesday:National Hockey LeagueBUFFALO SABRES-Signed F Nathan Gerbe to a three-year contract.NASHVILLE PREDATORS-Signed F Ian McKenzie.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – John Mitchell had two goals and an assist and the Toronto Marlies climbed back into their AHL playoff series with the Syracuse Crunch with an 8-2 win on Tuesday.

GREENBURGH, N.Y. – Jaromir Jagr entered his season-ending exit interview not knowing if it would be his last act with the New York Rangers.Two days after the Rangers were eliminated with an overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the playoffs, Jagr stood in front of his stall Tuesday and did his best to explain what the future holds.