Articles by Doug Stolhand

Scoring summaries from Thursday’s NHL games:Maple Leafs 2 at Capitals 1First PeriodNo Scoring.Penalties – Van Ryn Tor (delay of game) 4:01, Backstrom Wash (interference) 4:37, Ondrus Tor, Bradley Wash (fighting) 8:27, Van Ryn Tor (interference) 18:22

Results Thursday: AHL Houston 2 Grand Rapids 1Milwaukee 6 Iowa 2ECHL No Games Scheduled.IHL No Games Scheduled.Central Oklahoma City 3 Wichita 1Rocky Mountain 4 Colorado 3QMJHL No Games Scheduled

LOS ANGELES – Michal Handzus scored his third goal of the game at 1:31 of overtime, capping his second career hat trick and leading the Los Angeles Kings to a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over the Dallas Stars

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Marek Zidlicky scored Minnesota’s tying goal from mid-ice when San Jose goalie Brian Boucher made a humiliating blunder on the puck, and Mikko Koivu scored his second goal 4:46 into overtime in the Wild’s 4-3 victory over the Sharks on Thursday night

SUNRISE, Fla. – The Pittsburgh Penguins were finding ways to win without Sidney Crosby, but having him around made it easier.Crosby had a goal in his return to Pittsburgh’s lineup, and Tyler Kennedy scored twice in the third period to help the Penguins beat the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Thursday night

Movements in the world of hockey Thursday:National Hockey LeagueANAHEIM DUCKS-Recalled D Brett Festerling from Iowa (AHL).CALGARY FLAMES-Recalled F Kris Chucko from Quad City (AHL)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Steve Sullivan scored the tiebreaking goal on a breakaway with 1:46 left in the second period, and the Nashville Predators beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2 Thursday night for their NHL-best sixth straight victory

WASHINGTON – New Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Martin Gerber emerged from the minor league scrap heap to make 37 saves Thursday night in a 2-1 victory over the Washington Capitals

OTTAWA – Jason Spezza set a team record by scoring just 12 seconds into Thursday’s game and Mike Comrie and Chris Campoli scored a little more than two minutes apart in the second period to lift the Ottawa Senators to a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers

SUNRISE, Fla. – Sidney Crosby had a goal in his return to Pittsburgh’s lineup, and Tyler Kennedy scored twice in the third period to help the Penguins beat the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Thursday night

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Sean Avery yapped from the bench, then picked himself up off the ice after being face-planted into the glass.All in a night’s work for hockey’s most-hated player

BOSTON – Steven Reinprecht broke a second-period tie, and Ilja Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots to lead the revamped Phoenix Coyotes to a 2-1 victory over Boston on Thursday night, sending the East-leading Bruins to their ninth loss in 12 games

PHILADELPHIA – Olli Jokinen scored two goals in his first game for Calgary, and fellow trade deadline addition Jordan Leopold also had a goal, leading the Flames to a 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Sean Avery needed only one day of practice with the New York Rangers to make his way into the lineup.The agitating forward, claimed off waivers Tuesday after being banished by the Dallas Stars, got into his first NHL game since Nov

SUNRISE, Fla. – Sidney Crosby is back on the ice for the Pittsburgh Penguins.The Penguins captain missed four consecutive games because of a groin injury, but was in Pittsburgh’s starting lineup Thursday night against the Florida Panthers

WASHINGTON – NHL goal-scoring leader Alex Ovechkin missed the Washington Capitals’ game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night because of a bruised heel

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Steve Downie is in trouble again.The right-winger with the American Hockey League’s Norfolk Admirals has been suspended 20 games for slashing an official with his stick, the league said Thursday

TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed free-agent forward Jeff Hamilton to a contract for the rest of the season, the NHL team said Thursday

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Goalie Evgeni Nabokov will miss his fourth straight game for the San Jose Sharks on Thursday because of a minor lower-body injury

Scoring summaries from Wednesday’s NHL games:Canadiens 1 at Sabres 5First Period1. Buffalo, Roy 23 (Spacek, Connolly) 17:53 (pp)Penalties – Gaustad Buf (interference) 0:35, Roy Buf (tripping) 7:50, Sekera Buf (tripping) 12:44, Schneider Mtl (delay of game) 17:35, Vanek Buf (cross-checking) 19:43