Puck Podcast

DALLAS – The Dallas Stars have signed former Yale forward Sean Backman to a one-year contract.The 23-year-old Backman was a three-time all-Ivy League choice at Yale, where he was second on the team and 13th nationally with 21 goals last season

NEW YORK – Philadelphia Flyers forward Dan Carcillo has been suspended two games for cross-checking New Jersey’s David Clarkson in the face during a game Sunday

PITTSBURGH – Penguins defenceman Kris Letang has signed a US$14-million, four-year contract extension that runs through the 2013-14 season.The deal, which averages $3

ANAHEIM, Calif. – After Teemu Selanne basked in pre-game cheers from a ceremony honouring his 600th goal, he helped an Anaheim teammate from the next generation make some history of his own

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – With a huge night from their second line, the Manitoba Moose earned a road win over a division rival.Mike Keane, Guillame Desbiens and Mario Bliznak picked up five points as the Moose beat the Abbotsford Heat 5-2 in American Hockey League action Monday night

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A stumble in special teams efficiency has the Los Angeles Kings limping toward the playoffs.Martin Havlat scored a power-play goal in the third period and the Minnesota Wild beat Los Angeles 3-2 on Monday

Movements in the world of hockey Monday:National Hockey LeagueMINNESOTA WILD-Recalled G Anton Khudobin from Houston (AHL).NEW YORK RANGERS-Recalled F Corey Locke from Hartford (AHL)

SUNRISE, Fla. – Francis Bouillon and the Nashville Predators showed why they are in the playoff race on Monday night.Bouillon scored a minute into overtime to lift the Predators to a 3-2 win over the Panthers

ATLANTA – Cam Ward returned just in time to deal a major blow to Atlanta’s playoff hopes.After missing 19 games recovering from a back injury, Ward turned aside 26 shots Monday night to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 4-1 victory over the Thrashers, who squandered a chance to pull even with Boston for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference

BOSTON – The way Ryan Miller and the Buffalo Sabres are closing out games could make them extremely tough to face a few weeks from now.Tyler Myers had a goal and set up Paul Gaustad’s score to lift the surging Sabres to their sixth win in seven games, 3-2 over the Boston Bruins on Monday night

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The head of Ice Edge Holdings says his company remains on track to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes, despite widespread speculation that the acquisition is in trouble over financing

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Jared Boll and Chris Clark will miss the rest of the season for the Columbus Blue Jackets because of injuries.The club also added forward Tomas Kana to the roster on emergency recall from its American Hockey League affiliate in Syracuse

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Gritty Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta has had surgery to repair a thumb injury and is expected to miss the final two weeks of the regular season

TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs have added another college free agent to their roster.The NHL team announced Monday that it had signed forward Brayden Irwin to a two-year contract

NEW YORK – Ottawa Senators goalie Brian Elliott was named the NHL’s first star of the week Monday after posting a 4-0 record.The 24-year-old had a 1

OTTAWA – The Senators dodged a bullet Monday when an injury to top defenceman Anton Volchenkov suffered on the weekend turned out not to be serious

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – A screaming, stick-breaking meltdown caught on video has turned Jim Playfair into an Internet sensation.The intense but usually controlled head coach of the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Heat became enraged over the weekend following a call by referee Jamie Koharski during a game against the Hamilton Bulldogs

Movements in the world of hockey Sunday:National Hockey LeagueCOLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS-Recalled C Trevor Frischmon from Syracuse (AHL).WASHINGTON CAPITALS-Recalled C Mathieu Perreault from Hershey (AHL)

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Sharks looked fine for one game without top playmaker Joe Thornton.It turns out they have plenty of offensive firepower without him

CHICAGO – Steve Mason may finally be rounding back into the form that made him the NHL’s rookie of the year last season.The Columbus goalie made 33 saves, and Jakub Voracek had two goals and an assist to lead the Blue Jackets to a 4-2 win over the slumping Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night