Articles by Doug Stolhand

HAMILTON – Syracuse defenceman Nick Holden scored his first career goal to lift the Crunch past the Hamilton Bulldogs 3-1 in AHL action Sunday.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Matt Cullen had his first career hat trick and the Carolina Hurricanes extended their winning streak to three games with a 5-2 victory against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.

WASHINGTON – After a little push-and-shove, Sidney Crosby was still running his mouth, even as his helmet came off and a linesman tried to push him back toward the bench.

MONTREAL – The mystery that is Alex Kovalev took another twist Saturday night – this time a dramatic three-point return from a two-game exile from the Montreal Canadiens.

THE CANADIAN PRESSSenators 3 at Canadiens 5 First Period1. Montreal, Plekanec 15 (Kovalev, Markov) 2:23 (pp)2. Montreal, Kovalev 14, 5:38Penalties – Kuba Ott (holding) 1:18, Komisarek Mtl (hooking) 8:38, Smith Ott, Stewart Mtl (roughing) 14:12, Fisher Ott, Higgins Mtl (roughing) 14:47, Ruutu Ott, Dandenault Mtl (fighting) 19:21.

EDMONTON – Todd Bertuzzi recorded the shootout winner as the Calgary Flames won for the fourth time in their last five outings, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 on Saturday night.

TORONTO – In a season of disappointing results, the shootout continues to haunt the Toronto Maple Leafs.Mats Sundin scored the shootout winner as the Vancouver Canucks beat Toronto 3-2 on Saturday night, handing the Maple Leafs their second consecutive home shootout loss.

ST. LOUIS – Defenceman Shea Weber scored 2:36 into overtime, and Pekka Rinne made 30 saves for his fifth shutout of the season in the Nashville Predators’ 1-0 victory over the St.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Jay Bouwmeester has noticed the changes. There are growing crowds and there is bubbling excitement over his surprising Florida Panthers, a franchise whose long absence from the playoffs has often left it forgotten in the crowded South Florida sports scene.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire was able to say something Saturday night that he hasn’t said in quite a while.After a strong opening period, Lemaire looked at an assistant coach and said, “All of a sudden I like the team because everyone’s working and everyone’s doing what they were supposed to do, and I know we have a chance when they do this.

TORONTO – Mats Sundin really couldn’t have picked a better way to say goodbye.Scoring the shootout winner with the entire Air Canada Centre crowd on its feet was one thing.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Derek Roy had a goal and two assists and the Buffalo Sabres extended the New York Rangers’ road woes with a 4-2 victory Saturday night.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Radek Dvorak scored twice in the third period, and Tomas Vokoun made 41 saves for his second shutout in three games as the Florida Panthers beat the Boston Bruins 2-0 on Saturday night.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Corey Perry had a goal and two assists, four teammates also scored and the Anaheim Ducks ended a three-game slide, beating the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2 on Saturday night.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Yann Danis made a career-high 40 saves for his first shutout in more than three years, and the New York Islanders stalled the New Jersey Devils’ pursuit of the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a 4-0 victory Saturday night.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Sabres goalie Ryan Miller limped off the ice favouring his left leg after being upended by Rangers forward Scott Gomez early in the third period of Buffalo’s game against New York on Saturday night.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota left wing Andrew Brunette sat out Saturday night against Detroit because of a lower-body injury, ending the NHL’s longest active consecutive games streak at 509.

MONTREAL – Chris Campoli quickly realized he wasn’t in Long Island anymore.The new Ottawa Senators defenceman and power play quarterback played a team-high 23:38 and notched two assists, but his arrival from the New York Islanders along with Mike Comrie couldn’t prevent a 5-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday afternoon.

LOS ANGELES – Olli Jokinen scored twice in the second period against his former team to reach 500 career points, then added an empty-netter to complete his sixth career hat trick as the Phoenix Coyotes beat the Los Angeles Kings 6-3 on Saturday.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Jeremy Roenick picked up his 700th career assist in his return from a 10-week injury absence, and Ryane Clowe broke a scoreless tie 30 seconds into the third period of the San Jose Sharks’ 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday.