Articles by Doug Stolhand

DENVER – Jason Blake’s goal early in the third period snapped a tie, and Dominic Moore scored twice as the Toronto Maple Leafs broke a four-game losing streak by beating the Colorado Avalanche 7-4 on Thursday night.

ST. LOUIS – Peter Regin scored his first goal in the NHL with 1:57 left in the third to lift the Ottawa Senators to a 3-1 victory over the St.

DETROIT – Brad Richards had two power-play assists a minute apart midway through the first period and the Dallas Stars beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-2 Thursday night.

CHEVY CHASE, Md. – Reigning league MVP Alex Ovechkin and injured defenceman Tom Poti both participated in three-on-three scrimmages that the Washington Capitals held at an outdoor rink Thursday night.

ATLANTA – It’s not every day you give up four goals in the third period and still win the game.The New York Islanders and goalie Yann Danis survived a furious Atlanta rally in the final frame to hold on for a 5-4 victory against the Thrashers on Thursday night, snapping a 14-game winless streak on the road.

SUNRISE, Fla. – The way Florida Panthers coach Pete DeBoer saw it, his team put together a near-perfect game.Jay Bouwmeester and Stephen Weiss scored power-play goals in the first period and the Panthers beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-1 on Thursday night.

BOSTON – Jamie Langenbrunner scored his second goal of the game with 1:11 gone in overtime and the New Jersey Devils, who allowed three straight third-period goals to blow a two-goal lead, beat the Boston Bruins 4-3 on Thursday night.

RALEIGH, N.C. – So this is what the Carolina Hurricanes needed to get back on track: A return home, a visit from the team they always seem to beat, and a dramatic goal from their all-star centre.

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks coach Alain Vigneault likens his teams’ struggles to that of a golfer trying to turn around his game.That analogy might prove to be prophetic – unless there’s a turnaround, the Canucks could be booking their own tee times when the NHL playoffs begin April 15.

According to reports from Swedish newspaper Sportbladet, the Malmo Redhawks have released its contracted players to avoid a financial meltdown.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – George Parros has been given some job security by the Anaheim Ducks.The NHL team signed its tough guy to a three-year extension on Thursday that will keep him under contract through the 2011-12 season.

EDMONTON – Still stinging from the worst home defeat in franchise history, the Edmonton Oilers expect to be facing a tough crowd at Rexall Place when the Minnesota Wild come calling Friday.

BOSTON – Phil Kessel has been cleared to rejoin Boston after missing six games with a case of mononucleosis, giving the Bruins another key offensive player back on the ice.

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings recalled Finnish forward Ville Leino from the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League on Thursday.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Dan Fritsche is joining his third NHL team.The New York Rangers have dealt the 23-year-old forward to Minnesota in exchange for defenceman Eric Reitz.

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings recalled forwards Ville Leino and Aaron Downey from Grand Rapids of the AHL and placed defenceman Brad Stuart on injured reserve.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – University of Michigan police won’t seek criminal charges in an on-ice attack on a Michigan hockey player involving two Michigan State players.

VANCOUVER, B.C. – J.P. Dumont scored the game winner, capping a run of three Nashville goals on three straight power plays, as the Predators extended Vancouver’s futility on home ice with a 5-3 victory over the Canucks on Wednesday.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Nikolai Khabibulin made 36 saves, and Jonathan Toews’ second-period goal was the difference in the Chicago Blackhawks’ 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night.

CALGARY – The all-star break did little to cool down Michael Cammalleri.The Calgary forward continued his torrid scoring stretch with three more goals as the Flames downed the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Wednesday night.