Puck Podcast

ATLANTA – Ilya Kovalchuk waited until the day after last year’s season finale to call for an improved roster.Now that he’s three months into his role as team captain, Kovalchuk spoke out immediately after the Atlanta Thrashers closed another season by missing the playoffs

SUNRISE, Fla. – The Florida Panthers rallied late in the third period Saturday night, scoring twice in an eight-second span to break a 4-4 tie with the Washington Capitals

TORONTO – It was pretty easy to find some significance in what appeared to be a meaningless Battle of Ontario.The joy was there for all to see in the Toronto Maple Leafs dressing room, where Boyd Devereaux and Martin Gerber each wore a big smile after Saturday’s 5-2 victory over Ottawa on Saturday

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Coach Jacques Lemaire’s last game with the Minnesota Wild may also be the final one for star forward Marian Gaborik. If so, it was a sweet one

MONTREAL – The Pittsburgh Penguins had a little more to play for than the Montreal Canadiens at the end of the regular season and it showed on the ice

TORONTO – The Toronto Marlies and Hamilton Bulldogs decided to extend the regular season by playing an overtime affair in the final game of the year

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Thomas Vanek scored two goals, including his 40th, and had an assist in the Buffalo Sabres’ season-ending 6-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Saturday that clinched the Presidents’ Trophy for the San Jose Sharks

LOS ANGELES – Wayne Simmonds had a goal and an assist, and Jonathan Quick made 27 saves as the Los Angeles Kings finished their season with a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks, who still won the Presidents’ Trophy on Saturday

DETROIT – Dustin Byfugliuen scored on a penalty shot with 28 seconds left, breaking a tie and lifting the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday

DENVER – Henrik Sedin scored 40 seconds into overtime and Roberto Luongo stopped 22 shots for his second straight shutout, helping the Vancouver Canucks clinch the Northwest Division title with a 1-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Martin Biron stopped 30 shots and Simon Gagne had the game-winning goal and an assist as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the New York Islanders 3-2 on Saturday

NEWARK, N.J. – Dainius Zubrus scored with 4:26 to play and the New Jersey Devils took advantage of some favourable bounces to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 on Saturday in a possible preview of a first-round playoff series

DETROIT – Johan Franzen is staying in Hockeytown.The Swedish forward inked an 11-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday worth US$43

NEWARK, N.J. – Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward finally has a day off, ending a streak of 28 straight starts.Ward posted a 19-7-2 record in the run that started Feb

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Last summer, the Minnesota Wild talked Jacques Lemaire into returning as coach. This time, they might have to be more persuasive

NEWARK, N.J. – The New Jersey Devils aren’t wasting time worrying about who they will face in the opening round of the playoffs next week.They are more concerned about themselves after hitting bump at the end of the regular season for the second straight year

THE CANADIAN PRESSFlames 1 at Oilers 5 First PeriodNo Scoring.Penalties – Jokinen Cal (high-sticking) 7:52, Souray Edm (hooking) 11:02, MacIntyre Edm (hooking) 20:00

IIHF Women’s World Championship At Hameenlinna, FinlandChampionship Bracket Canada 2 U.S. 1 Sweden 8 Russia 0Relegation Bracket Japan 2 China 1 IIHF Men’s Under-18 World Championship Prelimary Round At Fargo, N

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Last summer, the Minnesota Wild talked Jacques Lemaire into returning as coach. This time, they might have to be more persuasive