Articles by Doug Stolhand

DETROIT – Detroit and Dallas, opponents in the NHL’s Western Conference final, have met only three times previously in the playoffs, and the Red Wings won every time.

PITTSBURGH – Some NHL rivalries evolve from a big game, a major trade or a short-lived scuffle, then fade after a few years. Not the Philadelphia Flyers versus the Pittsburgh Penguins.

HALIFAX – Clearly, something isn’t quite right with the Canadian team at the IIHF World Hockey Championship.It took an incredible solo effort from Rick Nash with 3:58 to play on Thursday for Canada to beat upstart Norway 2-1.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Former Sabres enforcer Rob Ray is suing the NHL Players’ Association for a second time over money owed him during the NHL lockout, accusing the union of deceiving him into settling his initial suit two years ago.

DALLAS – The Dallas Stars have won the Fabian Brunnstrom sweepstakes, agreeing to terms on a two-year, entry-level deal with the Swedish forward.

With the preliminary round of the IIHF World Hockey Championship in the books, here’s a look at some of the surprises and disappointments so far:HalifaxIt was just six years ago that Slovakia won its first world championship and solidified its permanent place among the top contenders at this event – or so we thought.

Highly-touted and persued free agent prospect Fabian Brunnstrom will sign with the Dallas Stars, sports TV station TSN is reporting.

Brunnstrom first came to the attention of the larger hockey world in late November when THN senior writer Ken Campbell wrote a story quoting one NHL GM who said every team in the league was interested in the Swedish forward, who was playing for Farjestads in the Swedish Elite League at the time.

TORONTO – Paul Maurice says he has one regret when he looks back at his two seasons as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs – the firing of former GM John Ferguson.

Thehockeynews.com has learned veteran referee Bill McCreary leads a cast of 16 refs and linesmen into the third round of playoffs.
The other seven referees are Paul Devorski, Mike Hasenfratz, Marc Joanette, Dan O’Halloran, Kevin Pollock, Kelly Sutherland and Brad Watson.

The Maple Leafs have officially begun their search for a new GM.

Reports on Wednesday stated the Leafs asked and were granted permission to speak with former Canucks GM Dave Nonis.

Movements in the world of hockey Wednesday:National Hockey LeagueBUFFALO SABRES-Signed F Felix Schutz to a three-year contract.NEW YORK ISLANDERS-Signed LW Robin Figren to a three-year contract.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Joakim Lindstrom scored in overtime as the Syracuse Crunch beat Toronto 5-4 Wednesday, pushing the Marlies to the brink of elimination from the American Hockey League playoffs.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – There were captains of industry, professional athletes, famous coaches, celebrities and even little kids wearing Blue Jackets jerseys quietly filing into Nationwide Arena on Wednesday night.

TAMPA BAY – Tampa Bay centre Jeff Halpern is expected to miss the next six to eight months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament at the IIHF World Hockey Championship, the Lightning announced Wednesday.

When the NHL playoffs started a month ago, there were plenty of questions about goalies Martin Biron and Marc-Andre Fleury.The 30-year-old Biron had never started an NHL playoff game before taking to the ice with the Philadelphia Flyers in early April.

VOORHEES, N.J. – Winning the Eastern Conference final would be icing on the cake for the Philadelphia Flyers.Actually, it would mean another cake.

PITTSBURGH – Sidney Crosby always has been No. 1.The No. 1 most-watched youth player in Canada. A No. 1 draft pick. No. 1 in scoring in his second NHL season.

HALIFAX – Many Canadians might consider hockey an art form and its best players scarred Picassos on skates.But artist Graeme Patterson is literally pushing the connection between art and hockey.

QUEBEC – The sluggish Swedes know they need step it up at the IIHF World Hockey Championship.Sweden got off to another slow start Wednesday against Switzerland, but unlike their last two games when they rallied to score 15 goals in a pair of wins, the Swedes were unable to kickstart their attack in a 4-2 loss.

HALIFAX – Germany has lost defenceman Jason Holland at the IIHF World Hockey Championship but not its upset victory over Slovakia.The former Canadian world junior player appeared in the first two games for Germany at this tournament before being deemed ineligible.