Puck Podcast

IIHF Men’s World Championhsip Qualifying RoundAt ZurichFinland 2 Slovakia 1 (OT)At BernU.S. 6 France 2AHL PlayoffsDivision Finals(Best-of-7)North DivisionManitoba 2 Grand Rapids 1(Manitoba leads series 1-0)ECHL PlayoffsDivision Finals(Best-of-7)North DivisionCincinnati 2 Elmira 0(Cincinnati wins series 4-0)South DivisionSouth Carolina 4 Florida 3(South Carolina leads series 2-1)West DivisionVictoria 4 Alaska 0(Alaska leads series 3-1)IHL PlayoffsNo Games Scheduled

WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Moose scored twice in the third period Friday to beat the Grand Rapids Griffins 2-1 in Game 1 of the American Hockey League’s North Division final

Movements in the world of hockey Friday:National Hockey LeagueNASHVILLE PREDATORS-Assigned D Jonathon Blum to Milwaukee (AHL)SAN JOSE SHARKS-Signed LW John McCarthy to a two-year contract

BOSTON – Aaron Ward laughed when he saw all the newspaper articles asking whether the Boston Bruins would be rusty from the long layoff they earned by sweeping Montreal in the first round

DETROIT – Nicklas Lidstrom usually plays a subtle style of hockey appreciated most by coaches, players and die-hard fans.The Detroit Red Wings defenceman’s latest performance, though, was so spectacular it impressed an opponent

DETROIT – Anaheim Ducks forward Mike Brown was ejected from Game 1 against the Detroit Red Wings for a hit that bloodied Jiri Hudler.Hudler passed the puck and was defenceless when Brown hit him, appearing to land an elbow to his head during the first period on Friday night

DETROIT – The Red Wings were without standout defenceman Brian Rafalski for Game 1 against the Anaheim Ducks. He was replaced in the lineup by 47-year-old Chris Chelios

VANCOUVER, B.C. – It was a lesson learned.The Vancouver Canucks now have a taste of what the Chicago Blackhawks are capable of. What the Canucks don’t want is another serving when they face the young Hawks in Saturday’s Game 2 of the NHL Western Conference semifinal (9 p

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Any good coach would understand why Todd McLellan wasn’t exactly jumping for joy about the major coaching honour he received Friday

BERN, Switzerland – The U.S. used Friday’s game at the IIHF World Hockey Championship as a tuneup for a much more important matchup.David Backes had a goal and two assists to lead a balanced attack as the Americans cruised past France 6-2 in qualifying round action

Remember when Don Cherry liked to pick on Sidney Crosby?Not anymore. Now, Cherry calls him “the most complete player in the game. “To me, this is the best year that Crosby’s ever had,” the colourful Hockey Night In Canada analyst said Friday on a conference call

ARLINGTON, Va. – Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis walked into the locker-room Friday carrying a bag containing a blue No. 23 Cleveland Cavaliers jersey, signed by LeBron James with the inscription:”To Alexander the Great: Keep up the good work

MONTREAL – Hockey legend Guy Lafleur has never been one to hide.The high-scoring right-winger from the Montreal Canadiens’ dynasty of the 1970s went about his business as a restaurant owner and public relations “ambassador” for the NHL club even while dealing with his son’s legal troubles and then his own legal woes

NEW YORK – Todd McLellan of the San Jose Sharks, Claude Julien of the Boston Bruins and Andy Murray of the St. Louis Blues are the finalists for the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s coach of the year

ARLINGTON, Va. – Simeon Varlamov figures if people are saying his name more often, they might as well get it right.”I will change the spelling,” the Washington Capitals goaltender, speaking through an interpreter, said Thursday after practice

SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednik is leaving the NHL to join the Russian league.Russian hockey club Lokomotiv of the KHL announced Thursday it has signed Zednik to a two-year contract

MONTREAL – Hockey legend Guy Lafleur will be sentenced next month after his conviction today on a charge of giving contradictory evidence at his son’s bail hearing

Scoring summary from Thursday’s NHL playoff game:Blackhawks 3 at Canucks 5First Period1. Vancouver, Demitra 1 (Sundin, Wellwood) 15:22 (pp)Penalties – Rypien Vcr (boarding) 2:02, Toews Chi (hooking) 6:17, Ladd Chi (double high-sticking) 10:26, Keith Chi (tripping) 14:36

Results Thursday:AHL PlayoffsDivision FinalsHouston 2 Milwaukee 1 (Houston leads series 1-0)ECHL PlayoffsDivision FinalsStockton 5 Las Vegas 1(Stockton leads series 2-1)IHL PlayoffsTurner CupFort Wayne 2 Muskegon 1 (OT)(Fort Wayne leads series 1-0)Central PlayoffsNo Games Scheduled

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Defenceman Sami Salo scored with 1:13 left in the third period to break a 3-3 tie as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3 Thursday in the opening game of their NHL Western Conference semifinal series