Articles by Doug Stolhand

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche remain confident that captain Joe Sakic will return to the ice this season after he recovers from a back operation and three broken fingers.

BROSSARD, Que. – Struggling veteran Alex Kovalev has been given some time off by the Montreal Canadiens.General Manager Bob Gainey said Tuesday he met with Kovalev to tell him he won’t be on the team’s trip this week for games Wednesday night in Washington and Thursday night in Pittsburgh.

FRISCO, Tex. – Dallas Stars centre Brad Richards is expected to be out of the lineup for six to eight weeks due to a broken wrist.The NHL team placed the 28-year-old forward on injured reserve Tuesday.

Results Monday:AHL Hamilton 3 Philadelphia 2 Hershey 3 Syracuse 2Lake Erie 3 Iowa 2 (SO) Manchester 4 Albany 3 San Antonio 4 Rockford 3ECHL Bakersfield 4 Utah 3 (SO)Phoenix 2 Las Vegas 1IHL Bloomington 4 Flint 2Central No Games Scheduled.

Scoring summaries from Monday’s games:Senators 2 at Predators 0First Period1. Ottawa, Foligno 10 (Fisher) 5:202. Ottawa, Heatley 26 (Spezza, Lee) 13:56Penalties – Sullivan Nash (hooking) 0:44, Kelly Ott (tripping) 14:36, Jones Nash (hooking) 18:44.

LOS ANGELES – Ilya Kovalchuk had two goals and an assist, rookie defenceman Zach Bogosian had three assists, and Erik Christensen scored in the fourth round of the shootout to help the Atlanta Thrashers beat the Los Angeles Kings 7-6 on Monday night.

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Sheldon Souray scored a power-play goal with 14:27 remaining, lifting the Edmonton Oilers past the struggling Phoenix Coyotes 3-1 on Monday night.

Movements in the world of hockey Monday:National Hockey LeagueCAROLINA HURRICANES-Recalled F Michael Ryan from Albany (AHL).MONTREAL CANADIENS-Acquired D Mathieu Schneider from Atlanta for two draft picks.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Ottawa Senators are suddenly feeling as though the playoffs are still a possibility.Nick Foligno and Dany Heatley scored first-period goals and Alex Auld made 24 saves to lead the Senators to a 2-0 victory – their season-high fifth-straight – over the Nashville Predators on Monday night.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Colorado Avalanche centre Paul Stastny, who has missed the last seven weeks with a broken right forearm, skated with the team Monday and could return to the lineup as early as Friday against the Washington Capitals.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – James Neal scored the only goal in the shootout and Marty Turco had 41 saves Monday night to lead the Dallas Stars past the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2.

ST. LOUIS – B.J. Crombeen scored the go-ahead goal on a rebound with 5:14 to play, lifting the St. Louis Blues to a 2-1 victory over the punchless New York Rangers on Monday night.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Portland Pirates left-winger Tim Kennedy is the American Hockey League’s player of the week after collecting 10 points in four games.

PHILADELPHIA – Steve Gainey scored what proved to be the game-winner eighteen seconds into the third period and Marc Denis made 27 saves as the Hamilton Bulldogs beat the Philadelphia Phantoms 3-2 in American Hockey League action Monday.

PITTSBURGH – Michel Therrien says he saw improvement in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ play of late and didn’t expect to be fired as head coach.Therrien was dismissed Sunday night, after his team fell apart during a Saturday night loss to Toronto.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – If Dan Bylsma can’t turn around the Pittsburgh Penguins in their final 24 games, the defending Eastern Conference champions will be in the same sorry state as the lowly New York Islanders – out of the playoffs.

TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs appear ready to give Justin Pogge another start in goal.The 22-year-old has been recalled from the American Hockey League.

MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens, who were looking to boost their defence and power play, have acquired defenceman Mathieu Schneider in a trade with the Atlanta Thrashers.

NEW YORK – Zach Parise is the NHL’s first star of the week.The New Jersey Devils winger led all scorers with eight points and helped his team to four victories.

Scoring summaries from Sunday’s games:Canadiens 2 at Canucks 4First Period1. Vancouver, D.Sedin 24 (H.Sedin, Burrows) 10:28 2. Vancouver, Edler 6 (Ohlund, Hansen) 11:163.