Puck Podcast

PITTSBURGH – It wasn’t so long ago that none of this seemed possible for Chris Osgood.When the Detroit Red Wings sent their goaltender home for a few days in February, who would have guessed that he’d be making a strong pitch for the Conn Smythe Trophy? Even as this star-studded Stanley Cup final kicked off over the weekend, how many people figured he’d be the biggest difference-maker in Games 1 and 2?But there was Osgood turning back the talented Pittsburgh Penguins, allowing just two goals during the first two games of a championship series that could be heading for a quicker conclusion than most would have imagined

The Stanley Cup rematch is garnering similar Canadian television ratings as last year.CBC announced Monday that 1.875 million viewers watched the Detroit Red Wings take a 2-0 series lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins, a small increase over the 1

The Kontinental League held its first junior entry draft Monday with 23 KHL clubs selecting players with a minimum age of 17 years old. 

The 91 draftees came from the following categories: graduates of non-KHL Russian hockey schools, graduates of KHL club hockey schools with no contractual obligation to the parent KHL club and international (non-Russian) hockey players

PITTSBURGH – So who is Justin Abdelkader anyway?The 22-year-old has been the surprise of the Stanley Cup final, scoring in the third period of each of the Detroit Red Wings home victories to start the best-of-seven series against the Pittsburgh Penguins

PITTSBURGH – Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin took turns leaving the ice in anger and frustration after the opening two games of the Stanley Cup final in Detroit

DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock says Kris Draper is able to play but he might sit the gritty forward in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final

MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens appointed Jacques Martin as their new head coach Monday.Martin has been the general manager of the Florida Panthers for the past three seasons

DETROIT – Battling Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin dodged a suspension for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final for instigating a late third-period fight

Sunday’s NHL playoff scoring summary:Penguins 1 at Red Wings 3First Period1. Pittsburgh, Malkin 13 (Letang, Guerin) 16:50 (pp)Penalty – Kronwall Det (cross-checking) 16:08

DETROIT – Report card on Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final:FORWARDSPenguins, B: They had enough chances to win but didn’t bury them. Led by Sidney Crosby, a standout, they vastly improved on their meagre 30 per cent faceoff win rate from Game 1, and goal-scorer Evgeni Malkin was a presence for a second straight game

Movements in the world of hockey:National Hockey LeagueDALLAS STARS-Named Joe Nieuwendyk general manager. Reassigned co-general managers Brett Hull and Les Jackson

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings just keep finding ways to win at the Stanley Cup.Outchanced for a second straight game and still battling injuries, the Red Wings managed to grab a commanding 2-0 series lead with a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday

DETROIT – American television ratings for Game 1 of the Red Wings-Penguins Stanley Cup final rematch were down from last year’s levels.The NBC telecast drew a 2

MONTREAL – Strength and conditioning coach Scott Livingston will leave the Montreal Canadiens this summer, the NHL club announced Sunday.Livingston, 45, wants to concentrate on training amateur athletes

DALLAS – The Dallas Stars didn’t wait until the end of the Stanley Cup playoffs to make a major front-office shakeup.Former NHL forward Joe Nieuwendyk has been named the Stars’ new general manager, the team announced Sunday

DETROIT – Having his appendix removed just as the Stanley Cup final was approaching was more than a pain in the side for Detroit Red Wings rookie defenceman Jonathan Ericsson

EDMONTON – The Oilers signed centre Milan Kytnar to a three-year entry level contract Sunday.Kytnar, 20, was Edmonton’s fifth pick (127th overall) in the 2007 NHL draft and joins the Oilers after two seasons in the Western Hockey League

DETROIT – It didn’t take long for the mind games to start at the Stanley Cup final.Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said he thought Sidney Crosby was “headhunting” when he hammered Henrik Zetterberg with an open-ice hit in the first period of Game 1

DETROIT – Centre Pavel Datsyuk will not be ready to return to the Red Wings lineup for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final.Coach Mike Babcock said there would be no lineup changes for the Red Wings when they face the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second time in as many nights Sunday (CBC, 8 p

WINNIPEG – Alexandre Giroux completed his hat trick with an overtime winner as the Hershey Bears defeated the Manitoba Moose 5-4 to take Game 1 of the American Hockey League Calder Cup final Saturday