Month: May 2008

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings would be in rough shape without Sweden.In fact, their general manager insisted the Western Conference champions would’ve been knocked out of the post-season long ago – if they even made it – without their seven Swedes.

DETROIT – The NHL’s new economics have done nothing to derail the Detroit Red Wings’ juggernaut.The Red Wings are back in the Stanley Cup finals for the 23rd time and the first since 2002, when they won their 10th championship.

DALLAS – The last time the Dallas Stars got such a late start on summer vacation, Brenden Morrow was a 21-year-old rookie trying to make a name for himself in a locker room filled with seasoned pros.

PITTSBURGH – His first NHL goal didn’t leave him in awe. Neither did winning his first scoring title or MVP award, even if The Kid accomplished all of this while still a teenager.

VOORHEES, N.J. – The Flyers’ one-year transformation from the worst team in the NHL to one of the last four playing was quicker than expected.

BOSTON – The Boston Bruins have signed defenceman Aaron Ward to a multi-year contract extension.The three-time Stanley Cup champion had 13 points (5-8) in 65 regular season games for the Bruins last season.

When the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins meet for the first time in two seasons, it will be for all the marbles.The Red Wings clinched their first Stanley Cup final appearance since 2002 with a 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars Monday night, winning the Western Conference series in six games.

DALLAS – So much for the demise of the Detroit Red Wings. Not only are they headed back to the Stanley Cup final, they’re again looking like the club that dominated the regular season and most of the playoffs.

DALLAS – Dominant in the regular season, superb again in the post-season, the Detroit Red Wings are headed back to the Stanley Cup finals.With gusto, too.

KITCHENER, Ont. – Shawn Matthias scored the winner and added a short-handed goal to pace the Belleville Bulls to a 6-3 win over the Gatineau Olympiques at the Memorial Cup on Monday.

DALLAS – Detroit Red Wings defenceman Chris Chelios missed Game 6 of the Western Conference finals against the Dallas Stars on Monday night because of a lingering leg injury.

DALLAS – Detroit Red Wings defenceman Chris Chelios missed Game 6 of the Western Conference finals against the Dallas Stars on Monday night because of a lingering leg injury.

PHILADELPHIA – Make it 25 years and counting without a championship in Philadelphia.The Flyers were the latest team to skate away without a title, making the city’s big four sports teams 0-for-25 since the 76ers last won a championship in 1983 and celebrated with a parade down Broad Street.

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins are in the Stanley Cup final just two years removed from a last-place finish in the NHL’s Eastern Conference.

QUEBEC – Let the countdown to the Games begin.The dry run ended in disappointing fashion with Canada’s loss in the gold medal final at the IIHF World Hockey Championship, but there’s plenty to be taken from here and applied to preparation for the Olympic hockey tournament in Vancouver two years down the road.

QUEBEC – The first ever IIHF World Hockey Championship to be played in Canada ended in silver for the host country after a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to Russia on Sunday in the gold-medal game.

QUEBEC – Losing to Russia left Dany Heatley in no mood to celebrate being named most valuable player at the IIHF World Hockey Championship.”Not right now,” the Ottawa Senators winger said after Russia downed Canada 5-4 in overtime in the final on Sunday at the Pepsi Colisee.

QUEBEC – The first ever IIHF World Hockey Championship to be played in Canada ended in silver for the host country after a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to Russia on Sunday in the gold-medal game.

PITTSBURGH – Don Cherry again ripped the NHL over the automatic penalty given to players who shoot the puck over the glass, a call that helped cost Canada gold at the IIHF World Hockey Championship.

DALLAS – The Detroit Red Wings aren’t really going to blow this – are they?Just a few days ago, the Red Wings were still in a span of being undefeated for almost a month, owning the NHL’s longest post-season winning streak in 15 years and doing it with flair.