Articles by Doug Stolhand

NEW YORK – Jaromir Jagr didn’t get the chance to celebrate his goal because the New York Rangers captain was flattened just as he shot.After a season-saving 3-0 victory over Pittsburgh on Thursday night, no one could stop him from applauding the adoring Madison Square Garden crowd that wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

NEW YORK – Jaromir Jagr was flat on his stomach after scoring and cheers echoed through Madison Square Garden in what might have been his last home game with the New York Rangers.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Several of the current San Jose Sharks still remember the nagging ache of uncertainty that a team gets when it has three victories in a playoff series, but just can’t nail down the fourth.

HALIFAX – The players shuffled through the interview area one by one Thursday and it quickly became evident what kind of message Team Canada had been delivered on the eve of the IIHF World Hockey Championship.

By Allan Hougaard
The Czech Ice Hockey Association has decided not to sign the IIHF’s player transfer deal with the NHL after the 14 hockey clubs in the Czech Extraliga voted in favor of ending the current deal immediately.

DENVER – The ailing Colorado Avalanche will be without centre Peter Forsberg and forward Ryan Smyth for Game 4 against the Detroit Red Wings.

MONTREAL – It seems that it is goalscoring and not goaltending that is at the root of the Montreal Canadiens’ playoff predicament.Debate raged after coach Guy Carbonneau named backup Jaroslav Halak as the starter for Game 4 of their playoff series against Philadelphia, but the result was the same – the Canadiens lost 4-2 despite outshooting the Flyers by a wide margin.

DENVER – The fiery rivalry has fizzled.

Usually a hotly contested, physical tussle, the Colorado-Detroit series hasn’t lived up to its past.

TORONTO – Hart Trophy finalists Jarome Iginla, Evgeni Malkin and Alexander Ovechkin will also be in the running for the Lester B. Pearson Award as the top player of the 2007-08 season, the NHL Players’ Association announced Thursday.

The NHLPA has announced Jarome Iginla, Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin as finalists for the Lester B. Pearson Award, given to the “most outstanding player” as voted by members of the players union.

NEW YORK – Rangers forward Sean Avery remained in an intensive care unit Thursday, two days after his spleen was lacerated during a playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

NHL scoring summaries from Wednesday:Canadiens 2 at Flyers 4First PeriodNo Scoring.Penalties – Richards Pha (boarding) 5:25, Kukkonen Pha (roughing) 11:14.

Movements in the world of hockey Wednesday:National Hockey LeagueANAHEIM DUCKS-Signed F Matt Beleskey, F Jason Bailey and D John de Gray to three-year entry-level contracts.

DALLAS – Back to the Shark Tank.Milan Michalek scored San Jose’s first power-play goal of the series with 16:34 left and the Sharks beat Dallas 2-1 on Wednesday night to avoid being swept in the Western Conference semifinals.

TORONTO – Bruce Boudreau was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year Wednesday after leading the Washington Capitals to a remarkable turnaround.

PHILADELPHIA – Daniel Briere was steaming on the Philadelphia Flyers bench, upset at himself and his line for giving the Montreal Canadiens a new life.

PHILADELPHIA – Daniel Briere was steaming on the Philadelphia Flyers bench, upset at himself and his line for giving the Montreal Canadiens a new life.

DALLAS – Dallas Stars center Stu Barnes missed Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinal series against San Jose on Wednesday night, a day after he took a hard hit to the head.

PHILADELPHIA – The Montreal Canadiens are one game away from elimination despite yet another night of outshooting and outchancing the Philadelphia Flyers.