Articles by Doug Stolhand

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Free-agent Mats Sundin will decide Thursday whether he’ll suit up this season for the New York Rangers or Vancouver Canucks.

Goaltender Daren Machesney of Hamilton and defenceman T.J. Kemp of Pickering, Ont., have been loaned by their NHL clubs to the Canadian team that will defend its title at the Spengler Cup, Hockey Canada announced Tuesday.

TORONTO – Steve Moore and Todd Bertuzzi reportedly met face-to-face Monday at a hearing in Toronto aimed at preventing a lawsuit from going to court.

OTTAWA – In choosing his team for the 2009 world junior hockey championship, Canadian coach Pat Quinn has opted for skill and speed up front, a bruising blue-line and a touch of experience with four returning players.

Scoring summaries from Monday’s NHL games:Avalanche 3 at Red Wings 2First Period1. Colorado, Wolski 7 (Arnason) 1:072. Colorado, Stastny 7 (Hejduk, Leopold) 4:34 (pp)Penalties – Holmstrom Det (hooking) 3:49, Salei Col (high-sticking) 6:31, Clark Col (hooking) 7:25, Draper Det (holding stick) 10:44, Rafalski Det (holding) 16:02.

LOS ANGELES – The San Jose Sharks have become a measuring stick for their opponents, and they bring out the best in them.Such was the case with the Los Angeles Kings, who extended the NHL’s best team to a shootout before losing to them for the third time in three tries this season.

Movements in the world of hockey Monday:National Hockey LeagueCALGARY FLAMES-Recalled F Jamie Lundmark from Quad City (AHL).PHOENIX COYOTES-Recalled F Kevin Porter from San Antonio (AHL).

DETROIT – Colorado’s No. 1 goaltender Peter Budaj contributed to a victory over the rival Red Wings without even playing.Defenceman Jordan Leopold scored on a penalty shot and added an assist and backup goalie Andrew Raycroft made 34 saves and the Avalanche held on for a 3-2 win over Detroit on Monday night.

OTTAWA – A majority of Canadians backed the NHL’s decision to temporarily ban bad boy Sean Avery for his potty-mouthed remark about his ex-girlfriends, according to a new Canadian Press Harris-Decima poll.

The people who are preparing to telecast the Winter Classic outdoor game believe it will give the NHL something it rarely has – prime billing in the United States.

NEW YORK – Phil Kessel just keeps on scoring and the NHL has taken notice.The Boston Bruins winger was named the league’s first star of the week on Monday after scoring three goals and eight points during four games.

Whitby Dunlops’ Don Sanderson is in critical condition after suffering a severe head injury during Friday’s Major League Hockey game in Brantford.

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany – The opening game of the 2010 IIHF World Hockey Championship will be played at Schalke’s football stadium before what organizers hope will be a record-breaking crowd.

OTTAWA – One more defenceman and one less forward makes Canada’s junior hockey team unique.
In a departure from the makeup of junior teams of previous years, head coach Pat Quinn kept eight defencemen and 12 forwards instead of the traditional seven and 13 when the team was named Monday morning.

Scoring summaries from Sunday’s NHL games:Panthers 3 at Canucks 5 First Period1. Florida, Boynton 4 (Frolik, Kreps) 4:022. Florida, Bouwmeester 6 (Peltonen, Dvorak) 6:503.

VANCOUVER, B.C. – The Vancouver Canucks scored four times in eight minutes during a wild second period, including a pair of lucky goals from Pavol Demitra, to earn a come-from-behind 5-3 victory over the Florida Panthers on Sunday.

Movements in the world of hockey:National Hockey LeagueANAHEIM DUCKS-Acquired C David McIntyre and a conditional 2010 sixth-round draft pick from Dallas for C Brian Sutherby.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Brendan Morrison scored the go-ahead goal in the second period, and Chris Kunitz set up first-period goals by Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, leading the Anaheim Ducks to a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday.

CHICAGO – Cristobal Huet made 31 saves, and Martin Havlat scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to their fourth straight victory, 3-1 over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday night.

TORONTO – David Desharnais scored the winner late in the third period to give the Hamilton Bulldogs a 2-1 win over the Toronto Marlies in American Hockey League action Sunday.