Month: March 2010

STANSTEAD, Que. – Even Prime Minister Stephen Harper is making jokes about the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.At the announcement of a new arena named for former NHL coach Pat Burns on Friday, Harper recalled Burns coaching the Toronto Maple Leafs to a conference final appearance in 1993

STANSTEAD, Que. – There was no sobbing or self pity from Pat Burns at what likely will be one of his last public appearances.The once-robust NHL coach has been left thin and frail, with a raspy, high pitched voice, from the cancer that is ravaging his lungs, only a few years after he battled the same disease in his colon and liver

Movements in the world of hockey Thursday:National Hockey LeagueANAHEIM DUCKS-Announced a multi-year affiliation agreement with Syracuse (AHL) beginning next season

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Although Evgeni Nabokov gets visibly uncomfortable in the spotlight, the San Jose goalie allowed himself to enjoy it for a moment after his 50th career shutout

ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Blues have a pulse, albeit a faint one.T.J. Oshie scored his first goal in 10 games, and B.J. Crombeen and Paul Kariya also scored in the St

NASHVILLE – When it comes to shootouts, eight was finally enough for the Phoenix Coyotes.David Legwand scored the shootout winner in the Nashville Predators’ 4-3 victory over Phoenix on Thursday night

NEWARK, N.J. – The teetering-on-the-brink New York Rangers were on the verge of a pointless night and somehow found a way to steal a win from the New Jersey Devils

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The plan for Chicago was to use the final 10 games starting with Columbus to find a groove heading into the playoffs.Well, they’re going to have to reset that to nine games

MONTREAL – Brian Gionta scored two goals and Montreal beat Florida 4-1 on Thursday night, but even in the Canadiens room after the game the mood was subdued due to what may have been another head injury to Panthers forward David Booth

RALEIGH, N.C. – Chad LaRose took full advantage of an unexpected shootout chance for the Carolina Hurricanes.LaRose scored in the fifth round of the tiebreaker to give the Hurricanes a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Thursday night

PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia goalie Brian Boucher felt the puck squirt out of his glove, then heard teammate Chris Pronger yell, “In the air!”Next thing Boucher knew, the puck was in the net, after bouncing off Boucher and into the net, giving Kyle Brodziak an overtime goal and sending the Minnesota Wild to a 4-3 comeback victory Thursday night

BOSTON – Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steve Stamkos had a pair of goals to tie a pair of Hart Trophy winners for the NHL lead in goals.That’s not the race he’s interested in

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Calgary’s dressing room door stayed closed for a meeting that lasted almost 20 minutes after the New York Islanders rallied for a pair of third-period goals in a 3-2 victory over the Flames on Thursday night

ATLANTA – Atlanta moved one point closer to eighth place in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but Thrashers coach John Anderson didn’t feel like celebrating

MONTREAL – Florida Panthers forward David Booth was taken to hospital after a shoulder hit to the head by Montreal Canadiens defenceman Jaroslav Spacek on Thursday night

TORONTO – Donald Fehr didn’t come out and say he was interested in taking the vacant executive director’s position with the NHL Players’ Association, but it’s clear a growing number of people within the game would like to see it happen

When Donald Fehr announced his retirement as head of the Major League Baseball Players’ Association in June of 2009, he had no intention of finding another full-time position

PHILADELPHIA – Flyers leading scorer Jeff Carter is having surgery on his broken left foot and hopes to be back in time for the playoffs.Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren says Carter will have a screw placed in the foot on Friday

MONTREAL – Pat Burns will be joined by Prime Minister Stephen Harper at a ceremony Friday where plans for a new arena named after the ailing former NHL coach are to be unveiled

Former Major League Baseball Players’ Association executive director Donald Fehr shed no light Thursday on whether or not he’ll assume the same role with the NHL Players’ Association in the near future