Month: May 2009

ARLINGTON, Va. – When the Washington Capitals host the Pittsburgh Penguins to finish their taut, thrilling Eastern Conference semifinal Wednesday night, Alex Ovechkin’s third career Game 7 in the NHL playoffs will mark Sidney Crosby’s debut in such a setting

VANCOUVER, B.C. – It’s become an annual rite of spring on the West Coast: media and fans lamenting another Vancouver Canucks exit from the playoffs and speculating on what changes need to be made

CHICAGO – The Blackhawks are back. On the ice, off the ice. Their faces – most of them young – are everywhere in this sports-crazed city. After missing the playoffs for most of a decade, they’ve reached the final four of the Stanley Cup playoffs

CANONSBURG, Pa. – Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Sergei Gonchar has practised for the first time since injuring his right knee during a collision with Alex Ovechkin and hopes to play in Wednesday’s Game 7 against Washington

RALEIGH, N.C. – A punch to the face probably won’t keep Aaron Ward off the ice.The Boston Bruins defenceman says he expects to play in Tuesday night ‘s Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals

Results Monday:AHL PlayoffsDivision Finals(Best-of-7)Atlantic DivisionProvidence 4 Worcester 3(Providence leads series 3-2)West DivisionMilwaukee 7 Houston 0(Series tied 3-3)ECHL PlayoffsConference Finals (Best-of-7)American Conference South Carolina 3 Cincinnati 1(South Carolina leads series 2-0)QMJHL PlayoffsNo Games Scheduled

Scoring summaries from Monday’s NHL playoff games:Canucks 5 at Blackhawks 7First Period1. Vancouver, Raymond 2 (Sundin, Ohlund) 11:132. Chicago, Kane 6 (Toews) 13:13Penalties – Kane Chi (holding) 1:41, Versteeg Chi (delay of game) 13:35

CHICAGO – Patrick Kane scored three times, Jonathan Toews had the go-ahead goal in a frantic final period Monday night, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Vancouver Canucks 7-5 to win the Western Conference semifinal series 4-2

Movements in the world of hockey Monday:National Hockey LeagueNHL-Fined Carolina F Scott Walker $2,500 for throwing a punch that knocked Boston D Aaron Ward to the ice during a May 10 game at Boston

PITTSBURGH – The Washington Capitals supposedly can’t win without Alex Ovechkin scoring. They can’t win an overtime playoff game. They can’t beat the Pittsburgh Penguins when a series is on the line

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Facing playoff elimination, Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle decided to get creative as the Ducks prepare for Tuesday’s Game 6 against the Detroit Red Wings

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Detroit defenceman Brian Rafalski could be back in the lineup Tuesday night when the Red Wings look to eliminate the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals

The San Jose Sharks are already home for the summer, left to admire the Presidents’ Trophy that honours a stellar regular season but now also magnifies another empty postseason

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche have signed draft picks Cameron Gaunce and Trevor Cann, both from the OHL, to entry-level contracts.The 19-year-old Gaunce, a defenceman, was Colorado’s top selection (50th overall) in the 2008 NHL entry draft

DALLAS – Mike Modano is coming back for his 20th NHL season.Modano had said he would take some time to ponder if he would retire when the Dallas Stars’ season ended without a playoff berth a month ago

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Boston Bruins aren’t going down without a fight. Or several of them, actually.One loss from early elimination, hockey’s top remaining seed got itself back into the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Carolina Hurricanes with a series of hard hits, bruising checks – and, yes, an occasional skirmish

ATLANTA – One of the Thrashers’ owners says the team has “several inquiries” from possible investors but adds the talks do not include moving the team from Atlanta

TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Lightning have made Rick Tocchet their full-time coach.Tocchet took over in mid-November after Barry Melrose was fired

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Buffalo Sabres signed defenceman Tyler Myers to a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday.The six-foot-eight Myers was Buffalo’s top selection (12th overall) in the 2008 NHL entry draft

OTTAWA – A new poll suggests almost two-thirds of Canadians believe Canada could support a seventh NHL team, but most doubt Jim Balsillie’s attempt to bring the Phoenix Coyotes to Southern Ontario will succeed