Month: January 2009

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Niklas Backstrom is so determined to succeed, so disciplined in his focus that upon learning of his first all-star selection last week he expressed relief the news was delivered on a day without a game.

CALGARY – They’re the hottest team in the NHL, but not yet ready to declare themselves among the league’s elite.The first club this season to beat the San Jose Sharks in regulation at home Thursday, the Calgary Flames are on an 18-4-3 run that has put then firmly atop the Northwest Division.

Claude Julien could be forgiven a smile of smug satisfaction when he steps behind the NHL Eastern Conference all-star team bench at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Jan.

MONTREAL – Quebec’s century-long bond to the Montreal Canadiens has been called passion, and even obsession. Now a university theologian has branded it as religion.

MOSCOW – The Continental Hockey League suspended four officials on Friday in connection with the death last year of rising star Alexei Cherepanov.

PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby ruled himself out of Friday night’s game against Anaheim because of an apparent left knee injury.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Columbus Blue Jackets have activated left-winger Raffi Torres off injured reserve after he missed 19 games following arthroscopic knee surgery.

Movements in the world of hockey Thursday:National Hockey LeagueANAHEIM DUCKS-Recalled RW Troy Bodie from Iowa (AHL). Reassigned LW Matt Beleskey to Iowa.

Detailed summaries from Thursday’s games:Maple Leafs 6 at Hurricanes 4First Period1. Toronto, White 6 (Blake) 12:43 (pp)Penalties – May Tor (roughing) 5:38, Walker Car (roughing) 11:14.

Results from other leagues:AHL No Games Scheduled.ECHL Florida 4 South Carolina 0IHL Port Huron 5 Bloomington 3Central No Games Scheduled.QMJHL No Games Scheduled.

LOS ANGELES – Ty Conklin posted his fifth shutout of the season, Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby each had a goal and an assist, and the Detroit Red Wings cruised to a 4-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Joakim Lindstrom scored two goals as the surging Phoenix Coyotes beat the slumping Vancouver Canucks 4-1 on Thursday night, spoiling goaltender Roberto Luongo’s return after a two-month absence.

ST. LOUIS – Cam Janssen grew up watching the St. Louis Blues, wondering what it would be like to score a goal for them.Now he knows. Janssen scored his second career goal and Patrick Berglund scored his 14th to take the lead among NHL rookies, helping the Blues to a 5-2 victory Thursday night over the Colorado Avalanche.

DALLAS – Jason Pominville scored in the sixth round of the shootout, and goalie Ryan Miller turned aside five of six attempts in the Buffalo Sabres’ 5-4 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Journeyman Krys Kolanos and scrapper Cal Clutterbuck gave the Minnesota Wild an early lead with first-period goals, and Niklas Backstrom stayed perfect in goal against the Edmonton Oilers with a 5-1 victory Thursday night.

TAMPA, Fla. – Martin St. Louis, Andrej Meszaros and Ryan Craig scored during a 2:03 span of the second period to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to their fourth victory in six games, 4-1 over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.

MONTREAL – Red-hot Andrei Kostitsyn scored in a fourth straight game and the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 in a listless NHL match-up on Thursday night.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Tomas Kaberle scored the go-ahead goal on a power play late in the third period to help the Toronto Maple Leafs shake off a blown four-goal lead and beat the Carolina Hurricanes 6-4 on Thursday night.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – The New York Islanders have become a formidable opponent. That still doesn’t translate into wins.Tim Thomas made 40 saves, and Marc Savard and Martin St.

TAMPA, Fla. – Philadelphia right wing Claude Giroux returned to the Flyers’ lineup Thursday night against Tampa Bay after missing five games because of a concussion.