Puck Podcast

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Buffalo Sabres cut it about as close as possible.Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek scored in the shootout after Buffalo rallied with two late third-period goals, giving the Sabres a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night

WASHINGTON – In a rivalry dominated by Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, it was left to a player who was 0-for-forever in shootouts to decide the latest tussle between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins

If the New York Rangers are going to make a successful, last-ditch run at a playoff spot, this is the Marian Gaborik they will need in the final nine games

WASHINGTON – Injured centres Evgeni Malkin and Brooks Laich missed Wednesday night’s game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals

TORONTO – The five players who sit on the NHL’s competition committee are in favour of a new rule outlawing blindsided hits to the head.Brian Campbell, Jeff Halpern, Ryan Miller, Mathieu Schneider and Jason Spezza gave their endorsement Wednesday after reviewing a league proposal that gives Colin Campbell the power to hand out supplementary discipline for head hits on unsuspecting players

WASHINGTON – Washington Capitals players on Wednesday described their visits to a chiropractor arrested on drug charges as nothing more than routine treatments, while the sheriff leading the investigation said there’s no “conclusive proof” that the steroids involved were supplied to athletes

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia – Former NHL goaltender Glen Hanlon is the new head coach of Slovakia’s national hockey team.The Slovak Ice Hockey Federation said Wednesday that Hanlon has been given a four-year contract until the 2014 Sochi Olympics

BOSTON – The Boston Bruins signed defenceman Andrew Ference to a US$6.75-million, three-year contract extension Wednesday that runs through the 2013-14 NHL season

Scoring summaries from Tuesday’s NHL games:Flyers 0 at Senators 2 First Period1. Ottawa, Kelly 14 (Ruutu, Winchester) 10:34Penalties – Richards Pha (holding) 0:26, Powe Pha (boarding) 4:59, Van Riemsdyk Pha (hooking) 7:55, Ruutu Ott (holding) 17:31

Movements in the world of hockey Tuesday:National Hockey LeagueNHL-Suspended Colorado F Darcy Tucker for one game for making excessive physical contact on an icing play during a March 22 game against Los Angeles

TORONTO – Coach Ron Wilson is concerned all the recent good press the Toronto Maple Leafs have been given might be going to his young players’ heads

EDMONTON – It’s far too late to do any good for this season, but the Edmonton Oilers are on a bit of a roll.Tom Gilbert had a goal and an assist as the Oilers continued to make a surprise late surge, winning their third in a row with a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday

CALGARY – Rene Bourque took advantage of some hard work from Jarome Iginla to help the Calgary Flames in their playoff push.Bourque scored the game-winner late in the second on Tuesday as the Flames topped the Anaheim Ducks 3-1

WINNIPEG – Manitoba Moose defenceman Evan Oberg admitted his winning goal on Tuesday night wasn’t pretty.”I turned around, closed my eyes and shot it,” Oberg said with a smile

CHICAGO – In what Chicago coach Joel Quenneville had billed as the biggest game of the year, the Blackhawks got the kind of goaltending they’ll need once the playoffs start

NASHVILLE – Half a minute of poor play was enough to end the Nashville Predators’ six-game winning streak.Loui Eriksson and Matt Niskanen scored goals 30 seconds apart early in the third period to give the Dallas Stars a 3-1 victory over Nashville on Tuesday

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The San Jose Sharks were relieved and back in first place in the Pacific Division after ending their long losing streak.Evgeni Nabokov stopped 18 shots, and four San Jose players scored to help the Sharks snap a six-game losing streak with a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night

OTTAWA – Anton Volchenkov showed he’ll do whatever it takes to get the Ottawa Senators into the playoffs.Volchenkov was all over the ice Tuesday, blocking shots and delivering some game-changing if questionable hits as the Senators beat the Philadelphia Flyers 2-0

TAMPA BAY, Fla. – Martin St. Louis is doing his part to keep Tampa Bay’s slim playoff hopes alive.St. Louis scored his second goal of the game 29 seconds into overtime and the Lightning stopped a five-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday

ATLANTA – Boston was in danger of giving up the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Fortunately for the Bruins, they had the right team chasing them