Articles by Doug Stolhand

PITTSBURGH – Before the NHL’s Eastern Conference final is over and done with, there’s a chance John Stevens and Michel Therrien will rekindle their personal rivalry.

QUEBEC – Canadian coaches are becoming a hot commodity on the international hockey scene.At the IIHF World Hockey Championship, six of the 16 coaches are Canadian in addition to Team Canada’s Ken Hitchcock.

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings signed forward Ville Leino to a one-year entry level contract on Saturday.The 24-year-old played for Jokerit of Finnish Elite League in 2007-08, leading the team in scoring with 77 points (28 goals and 49 assists) in 55 games.

DETROIT – No Franzen, no problem.The Red Wings surprised everybody just before the game by announcing that Johan Franzen, the leading goal scorer of the NHL playoffs, was out indefinitely with concussion-like symptoms, but it didn’t stall their drive for the Stanley Cup.

DETROIT – Dallas Stars forward Jere Lehtinen was sent off the ice because of a leg injury in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.Lehtinen started Saturday night’s game against the Detroit Red Wings, but didn’t finish.

DETROIT – Johan Franzen, who leads all NHL playoff scorers with 12 goals, is out of the Red Wings lineup indefinitely.Franzen sat out Game 2 of the Western Conference final Saturday night with concussion-like symptoms, and his team since he would not make the trip for Dallas and Game 3 Monday night.

DETROIT – Johan Franzen, who leads all NHL playoff scorers with 12 goals, is out of the Red Wings lineup indefinitely.Franzen sat out Game 2 of the Western Conference final Saturday night with concussion-like symptoms, and his team since he would not make the trip for Dallas and Game 3 Monday night.

PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh Penguins centre Maxime Talbot, sidelined with a broken right foot for three games, may play Sunday night in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against Philadelphia.

HALIFAX – Eric Staal picked a good time to make his presence felt at the IIHF World Hockey Championship.The Canadian forward picked up his first four goals of the tournament in the team’s 10-1 rout of Germany on Saturday.

DETROIT – The possibility that he might get his name etched on the Stanley Cup as a member of the Detroit Red Wings this spring blows Darren Helm’s mind.

MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota Wild coach Jacques Lemaire says he’ll return for an eighth season with the team.Lemaire, who announced his decision in a news release Saturday, has a career record of 500-381-168 over 14 years, including 60-52 in the playoffs.

MINNEAPOLIS – Jacques Lemaire has 11 Stanley Cup championship rings, 500 victories as a coach and is widely considered one of the best coaches in the NHL.

QUEBEC – Radim Vrbata and Ales Kotalik scored in shootout as the Czech Republic survived a scare from plucky Belarus to post a 3-2 victory on Saturday at the IIHF World Hockey Championship.

PITTSBURGH – Given the offensive pizzazz on the Pittsburgh Penguins, it’s hardly surprising that the most overlooked facet of their game has been their defensive prowess in these NHL playoffs.

Movements in the world of hockey Friday:National Hockey LeagueCOLORADO AVALANCHE-Announced the contract of Joel Quenneville, coach, will not be renewed.

TORONTO – Toronto Marlies left winger Bates Battaglia scored late in the first overtime period to beat the visiting Syracuse Crunch 4-3 in second-round American Hockey League playoff action on Friday night.

PITTSBURGH – Unlike the Montreal Canadiens, the Pittsburgh Penguins polished off their scoring chances against the Philadelphia Flyers.Evgeni Malkin had two goals and an assist Friday night and the high-flying Penguins skated past the Flyers 4-2 in Game 1 of the NHL’s Eastern Conference final.

DALLAS – Swedish free agent Fabian Brunnstrom signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars on Friday after being wooed by a handful of NHL teams.

PITTSBURGH – Kimmo Timonen wasn’t in the Philadelphia Flyers’ lineup Friday night, sidelined by a blood clot on his left ankle that is all but certain to keep him out the rest of the playoffs.