Month: May 2008

HALIFAX – Under normal circumstances, Natalie Mayers would be at the IIHF World Hockey Championship watching her husband Jamal play for Team Canada.

HALIFAX – There aren’t many things more lovable than a Latvian hockey fan.They’re loud. They’re always smiling. And they really bring a festive atmosphere to the IIHF World Hockey Championship.

MONTREAL – For R.J. Umberger, it would be a dream to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL Eastern Conference final.Umberger, who turned 26 on Saturday, is a Pittsburgh native who was inspired by watching Penguins great Mario Lemieux to take up hockey as a child.

QUEBEC – What little NHL-calibre talent Team Sweden has at the IIHF World Hockey Championships, they’re going to need to get the most bang for their buck.

QUEBEC – What little NHL-calibre talent Team Sweden has at the IIHF World Hockey Championships, they’re going to need to get the most bang for their buck.

NEW YORK – Rangers forward Sean Avery was transferred out of the intensive care unit Saturday, and remained hospitalized during recovery from a lacerated spleen.

Scoring summary from Friday’s NHL game:Stars 2 at Sharks 3 (OT)First PeriodNo Scoring.Penalties – Robidas Dal (holding) 5:50, Grossman Dal (holding) 15:57, Brown SJ (hooking) 19:14.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – When the San Jose Sharks discarded all caution and finally decided to attack in Game 5, they were down two goals on the scoreboard and two games in the series, with playoff elimination just 14 minutes away.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Sharks just won’t go away – and now they’re going back to Dallas.Joe Pavelski scored 65 seconds into overtime and the Sharks evaded playoff elimination for the second straight game Friday night, improbably rallying from a late two-goal deficit to beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 in Game 5.

Movements in the world of hockey Friday:National Hockey LeagueCALGARY FLAMES-Signed C Mikael Backlund.LACROSSEMajor League LacrosseNEW JERSEY PRIDE-Waived G Howard Krongard.

TORONTO – The Toronto Marlies admitted they looked more like spectators than hockey players Friday night.Derek MacKenzie and Clay Wilson each had a goal and two assists as the Syracuse Crunch opened the American Hockey League’s North Division Final with a convincing win over the Marlies.

HALIFAX – On a United States team full of youth, its youngest player led the team to victory Friday night.Chicago Blackhawks 19-year-old sniper Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists as the U.

DENVER – The Reunion Tour didn’t go exactly as planned for the Colorado Avalanche.Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote rejoined Colorado captain Joe Sakic in Denver for the second half of the season and helped the Avalanche return to the playoffs after a one-year absence.

HALIFAX – Somebody, give this kid a chance.Goalie Robert Kristan came into the IIHF World Hockey Championship about as unheralded as you can be and promptly made 60 saves for Slovenia during a 5-1 loss to Canada in Friday’s opening game.

HALIFAX – It’s only one game into the IIHF World Hockey Championship and Dany Heatley has already found a pretty cool souvenir.He’ll be taking a puck back to his home in Ottawa after passing Marcel Dionne to become Canada’s all-time leading scorer at this event.

MONTREAL – Rookie Carey Price will be back in goal as the Montreal Canadiens try to stave off elimination from the NHL playoffs by the Philadelphia Flyers.

HALIFAX – Drums pounded, beer was swilled by the bucketful and the wild and crazy guys of international hockey worked their over-refreshed charm as the IIHF World Hockey Championship came to Canada for the first time Friday.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild star winger Marian Gaborik had minor arthroscopic surgery on his right hip on Friday to relieve “irritation” that bothered him for most of the season.

CALGARY – The Calgary Flames signed first-round draft pick Mikael Backlund to a contract Friday.The six-foot, 194-pounder was selected with the 24th overall pick of the 2007 NHL entry draft.