Puck Podcast

HAMILTON, Ont. – The possibility of a NHL franchise settling in the Steel City is very real, Hamilton’s mayor said Wednesday as Ontario’s premier called the prospect of another team in the province exciting and thousands of fans signed on to a web site to push for it to happen

BERN, Switzerland – Defending champion Russia has advanced to the semifinals at the IIHF World Hockey Championship.The Russians defeated Belarus 4-3 in the quarter-finals at the ice hockey world championship

BERN, Switzerland – It wasn’t the kind of wakeup call Shane Doan was expecting.The captain of the Phoenix Coyotes was sleeping in a Swiss hotel room when his cellphone was flooded with messages early Wednesday

NEW YORK – NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is skeptical of Jim Balsillie’s offer to buy the Phoenix Coyotes, saying he isn’t sure the BlackBerry boss could gain approval of league owners

PITTSBURGH – Hundreds of Pittsburgh Penguins fans received text messages recently saying they had won four tickets to an upcoming playoff game, but were disappointed to learn the messages had been sent in error

PRAGUE, Czech Republic – Count the prime minister among those backing another NHL team in southern Ontario.Stephen Harper says the region could support a second NHL club

Scoring summaries from Tuesday’s NHL playoff games:Canucks 3 at Blackhawks 1First Period1. Vancouver, Raymond 1 (Kesler, Bieksa) 15:34Penalties – Vaananen Vcr (roughing) 1:43, Byfuglien Chi (goaltender interference) 2:45, Pyatt Vcr (boarding) 12:00, Bolland Chi (delay of game) 16:45, Kane Chi (hooking) 19:20

Results Tuesday:AHL PlayoffsDivision Finals(Best-of-7)West DivisionHouston 3 Milwaukee 1(Houston leads series 2-1)ECHL PlayoffsDivision Finals(Best-of-7)South DivisionSouth Carolina 4 Florida 3 (OT)(South Carolina wins series 4-2)Pacific DivisionStockton 2 Las Vegas 1(Series tied 3-3)IHL PlayoffsTurner CupChampionship(Best-of-7)Fort Wayne 5 Muskegon 2(Fort Wayne leads series 3-0)Central PlayoffsRay Miron President’s Cup Championship(Best-of-7)Texas 6 Colorado 3(Texas leads series 3-1)QMJHL PlayoffsQMJHL Championship(Best-of-7)Drummondville 5 Shawinigan 4(Drummondville leads series 2-1)OHL PlayoffsNo Games Scheduled

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Anaheim Ducks defenceman James Wisniewski left the ice on a stretcher and was taken to a hospital after being struck in the head by Detroit forward Tomas Holmstrom’s elbow

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins signed forward Casey Pierro-Zabotel to a three-year entry-level contract on Tuesday.Pierro-Zabotel will report to the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who are currently in the East Division final against Hershey

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Teemu Selanne scored in the first period, Scott Niedermayer added a goal in the second, and Jonas Hiller made 18 of his 45 saves in the third for the Anaheim Ducks, who held on for a 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night and grabbed a 2-1 lead in Western Conference semifinal series

CHICAGO – Roberto Luongo made sure Vancouver’s early lead stood up instead of slipping away.The Canucks offset the Chicago Blackhawks’ speed with better puck control and tougher defence and quieted the raucous crowd at the United Center with a 3-1 victory Tuesday night that gave them a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal

RALEIGH, N.C. – Chad LaRose tried to beat up six-foot-nine Boston defenceman Zdeno Chara a few months ago, but that didn’t quite work.So once the playoffs started, the 5-10 Carolina forward instead turned to his quickness to outfox the NHL’s tallest player, turning a hustling steal of the defenceman’s lazy pass into the kind of goal that can swing a series

TORONTO – BlackBerry boss Jim Balsillie is looking to buy the financially ailing Phoenix Coyotes and bring them to Southern Ontario.The co-CEO of BlackBerry maker Research In Motion says his US$212

PITTSBURGH – Evgeni Malkin stepped into the Pittsburgh Penguins’ practice rink dressing room, spotted a large group of reporters forming a faceoff circle around his seat and quickly scooted into an adjacent off-limits area without taking any questions

BERN, Switzerland – Alexander Medvedev, the billionaire owner of Russia’s Continental Hockey League, is interested in buying an NHL franchise

BERN, Switzerland – Team Canada’s report card heading into the medal round at the IIHF World Hockey Championship:ForwardsMartin St. Louis, A-plus: Leads the tournament with 14 points and has consistently provided a spark to the offence

Chris Pronger and Steve Ott are the dirtiest players in the National Hockey League, according to a survey of their fellow players.A Sports Illustrated poll of 324 players that is to appear in this week’s issue has Anaheim Ducks defenceman Pronger and Dallas Stars forward Ott in a tie, each chosen by 13 per cent of their peers

REGENSDORF, Switzerland – Ian White is leaving the IIHF World Hockey Championship.The Canadian defenceman has a sore neck and will travel back to Toronto on Wednesday to be examined by doctors

CHICAGO – Dustin Byfuglien looks like a middle linebacker on hockey skates. At six foot three and 247 pounds, the Chicago Blackhawks right-winger is stirring up the Western Conference semifinals with his physical play – a lot of it right in front of the net