Puck Podcast

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Mike Ribeiro had a goal and a career-high four assists in the Dallas Stars’ 5-3 victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday night.

BOSTON – Anton Stralman scored with 9:14 left to break a third-period tie, and Vesa Toskala stopped 26 shots as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Boston Bruins 4-2 on Thursday night and snapped a five-game winless streak.

ARLINGTON, Va. – Defenceman John Erskine signed a two-year contract extension with the Washington Capitals on Thursday.Erskine could have become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, his third with the Capitals and seventh in the NHL.

VANCOUVER, B.C. – There has been a lot wrong with the Vancouver Canucks lately.The penalty killing has been bad, the power play worse and goaltender Roberto Luongo has been merely human, which isn’t good enough if the team hopes to return to the NHL playoffs.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Veteran defenceman Bret Hedican has signed a one-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks, the team announced Thursday.”Bret is a mobile defenceman coming off a strong season with Carolina last year,” general manager Brian Burke said in a statement.

OTTAWA – The Ottawa Senators likely don’t need the reminder, but with the Anaheim Ducks visiting Scotiabank Place on Friday, they’re getting one anyway.

VANCOUVER, B.C. – The Vancouver Canucks could be without forward Pavol Demitra for a month with a rib injury.Demitra has a fractured cartilage in his eighth rib and will be gone for three to four weeks, Alain Vigneault, coach of the NHL team, said Thursday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason has been cleared to resume playing after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on Sept.

MONTREAL – Kim St-Pierre has made another breakthrough – playing in goal at a Montreal Canadiens practice.The 29-year-old goaltender for Canada’s national women’s team was called in when goalie Carey Price missed practice for a second straight day with a flu.

TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Lightning have added some depth to their young blueline.
The NHL team signed free-agent defenceman Marek Malik to a one-year contract on Wednesday.

Marian Gaborik’s agent, Ron Salcer, is convinced his client has been the victim of “character assassination” recently and denied the Slovak sniper has been offered any long-term, lucrative offer from the Wild.

According to a report in Toronto’s Globe and Mail, Mats Sundin underwent a physical exam at a Toronto hospital Wednesday, which is necessary for him to begin training again.

Scoring summaries from Wednesday’s games in the NHL:Panthers 3 at Senators 1 First Period1. Florida, Olesz 1, 4:452. Florida, Horton 2 (Stillman, Skrastins) 5:33Penalties – Richardson Ott (elbowing) 9:41, Phillips Ott (interference) 16:15, Campbell Fla (hooking) 18:40.

Movements in the world of hockey Wednesday:National Hockey LeagueATLANTA THRASHERS-Reassigned LW Myles Stoesz from Chicago (AHL) to Gwinnett (ECHL).

CHICAGO – Nikolai Khabibulin made 23 saves for his 39th career NHL shutout and the Chicago Blackhawks beat Edmonton 3-0 on Wednesday night to end the Oilers’ season-opening winning streak at four games.

ST. LOUIS – Tomas Holmstrom scored for the fourth straight game to lead the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-3 victory over the St. Louis on Wednesday night.

PHILADELPHIA – Former Philadelphia star Jeremy Roenick scored the deciding goal in a shootout to give the San Jose Sharks a 7-6 victory over the Flyers on Wednesday night, Philadelphia’s season-opening sixth straight loss.

CHICAGO – Chicago season-ticket holders will get the first shot at tickets for Blackhawks’ New Year’s Day game against Detroit at 41,160-seat Wrigley Field.

NEWARK, N.J. – Martin Brodeur shut out the Dallas Stars – even though he couldn’t quite shut up Sean Avery.Brodeur made 21 saves for his 98th NHL shutout, and mostly avoided Avery, his No.

OTTAWA – The Ottawa Senators had a different look Wednesday night, but the end result was a familiar one.Craig Anderson turned aside 41 shots and former Senators forward Cory Stillman had a goal and an assist to lead the Florida Panthers to a 3-1 win over listless Ottawa.