Articles by Doug Stolhand

PALM BEACH, Fla. – Sean Avery’s fate with the Dallas Stars could be decided as soon as Wednesday. And it doesn’t sound too good for the NHL’s super pest.

According to Canadian sports network TSN, Radim Vrbata is done with the Tampa Bay Lightning this season and will return to the Czech Republic to finish the season there.

NEW YORK – Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne was named NHL first star of the week Monday.Chicago Blackhawks centre Jonathan Toews was the second star and Ottawa Senators centre Jason Spezza was the third star.

CALGARY – Another former NHL star is getting involved with the Canadian men’s hockey team.Joe Nieuwendyk has been named assistant general manager on Doug Armstrong’s management staff for the 2009 IIHF World Hockey Championship.

National Hockey LeagueCALGARY FLAMES-Recalled F Warren Peters from Quad City (AHL).NEW YORK ISLANDERS-Assigned LW Jeff Tambellini to Bridgeport (AHL).

Flames 3 at Rangers 0First PeriodNo Scoring.Penalty – Ro.Regehr Cal (hooking) 0:15.Second Period1. Calgary, Iginla 14 (Cammalleri, Phaneuf) 15:50Penalties – Voros NYR (tripping) 1:38, Gomez NYR (holding) 5:54, Bourque Cal (hooking) 13:05, Phaneuf Cal (elbowing) 18:27.

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Lance Bouma’s goal with 3:49 left in regulation lifted the Vancouver Giants to a 3-2 Western Hockey League victory over the Chilliwack Bruins on Sunday night.

DENVER – Wojtek Wolski, Marek Svatos and Milan Hejduk scored for Colorado in a shootout, Peter Budaj made 34 saves and the Avalanche beat the Vancouver Canucks for the eighth straight time, 5-4 on Sunday.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Anaheim Ducks built a substantial lead, then held on for a nervous victory.”When you have a 4-1 lead, you have to be able to stay focused,” Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf said after he scored twice Sunday night in a Anaheim’s 5-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

CHICAGO – Ben Eager scored twice, and Andrew Ladd had a goal and three assists for a career-high four points in the Chicago Blackhawks’ 7-1 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Sunday night.

NEW YORK – Jarome Iginla and David Moss struck for the second straight game, and Calgary workhorse Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 31 shots to earn his 29th NHL shutout in the Flames’ 3-0 victory over the New York Rangers on Sunday night.

RALEIGH, N.C. – When Washington tied Carolina in the third period, Paul Maurice implored the Hurricanes to stay positive – even if they had to pretend.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The sagging economy will be front and centre as the NHL’s board of governors convenes for meetings this week.Team owners and executives will be addressed by leading economists from both sides of the border on the longer-term effects the economy is expected to have on the league’s business.

LOS ANGELES – Jason LaBarbera spent considerable time at the end of the Los Angeles Kings bench last month, playing behind Erik Ersberg and preparing himself for another chance.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – By the time Dwayne Roloson stopped a shot with his head and kept playing even when his mask came off, the San Jose Sharks had a good idea their nine-game winning streak wouldn’t make it through the night.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Pekka Rinne didn’t expect to even start for the Nashville Predators, let alone pitch a shutout against the Minnesota Wild.

ST. LOUIS – Patrick Berglund scored his eighth goal of the season and added an assist on B.J. Crombeen’s winner for the St. Louis Blues, who snapped a two-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday night.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Jeff Carter had no thoughts about taking NHL lead in goals. He would have been just as happy with an assist off a faceoff in overtime.

DETROIT – After allowing a bad goal to give Chicago the lead, Detroit’s Ty Conklin made sure to keep his composure in case the Red Wings fought back.

TORONTO – Life is pretty good right now for 20-year-old Karl Alzner.The Washington Capitals blue-line has been decimated by injuries and Alzner is one of five rearguards who started the season in the American Hockey League, but have since been summoned up to the big club.