Month: December 2008

BUFFALO, N.Y. – With one deflection, Sidney Crosby ended a personal goal-scoring drought and helped the Pittsburgh Penguins make up for a poor performance.

ATLANTA – Justin Pogge only wanted a shot to prove himself as an NHL goaltender. Four years after Toronto drafted him 90th overall, Pogge finally made the most of his big chance.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Grand Rapids Griffins centre Francis Pare was named American Hockey League player of the week Monday.Pare had seven points (three goals, four assists) and a plus-7 rating to help the Griffins win all four of their games last week.

EDMONTON – Dustin Penner stood after practice in the Edmonton Oilers dressing room Monday, a smile stapled to his face, ice-cold eyes locked on reporters as they urged him, just one more time, to recount what it was like to be called out in public by your coach.

Ty Conklin won’t be able to give Pavel Datsuyk and Marian Hossa any advice about stick-handling on an outdoor rink. He doesn’t even plan to tell Henrik Zetterberg or Nicklas Lidstrom how best to keep warm.

TORONTO - Evander Kane feels like he’s been given the opportunity of a lifetime.
The 17-year-old forward officially joined the Canadian junior team early Monday morning after a long day of travel from Vancouver.

Sweden, Russia and the U.S. are the challengers to Canada’s drive for five at the world under-20 men’s hockey championship.
Canada, the winner of four straight titles, opens the 2009 world junior championship Friday in Ottawa against the Czech Republic.

OTTAWA – Mired in last place in the NHL’s Northeast Division, the struggling Ottawa Senators are hoping a lengthy road trip will help turn their season around.

The final numbers for Mats Sundin’s one-year deal with the Vancouver Canucks have finally been filed and they reveal that Sundin will earn a total of $5.

NEW YORK – Dallas Stars left-winger Loui Eriksson was named NHL first star of the week Monday after scoring six goals in three games last week.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Derick Brassard’s rookie season is over.The Columbus Blue Jackets centre suffered a dislocated shoulder during a game last Thursday and will require season-ending surgery.

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – When you’ve enjoyed as much success as Canada has at the world junior championship, it tends to create the perception that winning comes easily.

Scoring summaries from Sunday’s NHL games:Hurricanes 3 at Canadiens 2 (OT) First Period1. Carolina, Samsonov 5 (Staal) 13:48Penalties – Latendresse Mtl (interference) 8:27, Pitkanen Car (roughing) 10:50, Komisarek Mtl (cross-checking) 15:30.

Movements in the world of hockey:National Hockey LeagueANAHEIM DUCKS-Recalled C Andrew Ebbett from Iowa (AHL). Reassigned G David LeNeveu to Iowa.

MONTREAL – Good things seem to happen for the Carolina Hurricanes when they play the Montreal Canadiens.Eric Staal’s long shot trickled between goaltender Carey Price’s pads and lay near the goal-line for Tuomo Ruutu to push into the net 1:43 into overtime to give the Hurricanes a 3-2 victory over the Canadiens on Sunday night.

ST. LOUIS – Phil Kessel had two assists to extend his points streak to 18 games, and former University of Minnesota teammate Blake Wheeler had two first-period goals in the Boston Bruins’ 6-3 victory over the St.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Tomas Vokoun made 23 saves for his second shutout of the season, and Brett McLean, Richard Zednik and Bryan McCabe scored goals in the Florida Panthers’ 3-0 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night.

NEWARK, N.J. – Scott Clemmensen made 27 saves in regulation and overtime, then added four more in the shootout, and the New Jersey Devils beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Sunday.

BOSTON – Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron, who missed most of last season with a concussion, was released from the hospital Sunday after being diagnosed with another concussion.

MOSCOW – Russia routed Sweden 6-2 Sunday to win the Channel One Cup, the second event of the four-leg Euro Hockey Tour.Russia dominated from the start and scored three of its goals on power plays as it easily secured its fifth straight title in the tournament.