Puck Podcast

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Coach Alain Vigneault jokes about it but knows his Vancouver Canucks must play tighter defensively when the Stanley Cup playoffs begin next week

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins must be wondering if an entire team is eligible for the comeback player of the year award.The Penguins were one more losing streak away from being out of playoff contention when Dan Bylsma took over as interim coach on Feb

MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens are a good enough deal that the sale of the iconic National Hockey League franchise could spark a bidding war among buyers, even in the current recession, an economist says

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Sharks captain Patrick Marleau and high-scoring forward Ryane Clowe expect to return to San Jose’s lineup Thursday night for the NHL-leading club’s regular-season home finale

EDMONTON – Had things unfolded the way the Edmonton Oilers expected they would amid the optimism of October, they’d be facing the Calgary Flames on Friday and Saturday with the Northwest Division title hanging in the balance

Lokomotiv Yaroslavl defeated Ak Bars Kazan 3-2 Wednesday on the Snow Leopards home ice to move one win away from clinching the inaugural KHL Gagarin Cup

OTTAWA – The Ottawa Senators are keeping Cory Clouston as their head coach.The team announced today that they have signed him to a two-year deal, removing the interim tag from his title

Scoring summaries from Tuesday’s NHL games: Canadiens 1 at Rangers 3First Period1. N.Y. Rangers, Drury 21 (Callahan) 13:142. Montreal, Dandenault 4 (Higgins, Metropolit) 16:56Penalties – Redden NYR (tripping) 1:34, Dubinsky NYR (boarding) 14:45, Hamrlik Mtl (interference) 19:04

Results Tuesday:WomenIIHF World Championship At Hameenlinna, FinlandNo Games Scheduled.AHL No Games Scheduled.ECHL PlayoffsNo Games Scheduled

SAN JOSE, Calif. – For 65 excruciatingly scoreless minutes, the San Jose Sharks barely threatened to dent the net of the Western Conference’s last-place team

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Mattias Ohlund scored twice Tuesday as the Vancouver Canucks their hopes of winning the Northwest Division alive with a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames

GLENDALE, Ariz. – B.J. Crombeen scored twice and Chris Mason made 28 saves and the St. Louis Blues beat the Phoenix Coyotes 5-1 Tuesday to inch closer to the playoffs

EDMONTON – Wayne Simmonds had a goal and an assist as the Los Angeles Kings effectively removed the Edmonton Oilers from the playoff picture with a 2-1 victory on Tuesday night

Movements in the world of hockey Tuesday:National Hockey LeagueANAHEIM DUCKS-Signed RW Dan Sexton to a two-year contract.NEW YORK ISLANDERS-Signed F Doug Weight to a one-year contract extension, through the 2009-10 season

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Martin Havlat scored an empty-net goal and added an assist as the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Predators 4-2 Tuesday night, damaging Nashville’s playoff hopes

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Marian Gaborik is finally healthy, skating and shooting as if he doesn’t want the season to end.Gaborik kept up his remarkable scoring rate with a goal and two assists, and the Minnesota Wild avoided elimination from the playoff chase for at least three more days with a 3-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – The New York Islanders have signed veteran forward Doug Weight to a one-year contract extension Tuesday.In his first season with the Islanders, the 39-year-old Weight has recorded nine goals and 26 assists despite missing 29 games because of injury

OTTAWA – Dany Heatley scored his 38th goal of the season on the power play late in the second period Tuesday night and the Ottawa Senators went on to beat the Boston Bruins 3-2

ATLANTA – Tomas Fleischmann had a goal and an assist as the Washington Capitals beat the Atlanta Thrashers 4-2 on Tuesday to strengthen their hold on second place in the Eastern Conference

TAMPA, Fla. – Sidney Crosby scored twice in one minute and four seconds midway through second period to help the Pittsburgh Penguins clinch a playoff berth with a 6-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night