Puck Podcast

LOS ANGELES – Jack Johnson’s excellent adventure to Vancouver and back didn’t take too much out of him. He still had enough energy at both ends of the ice to help the Los Angeles Kings go into the Olympic break with a victory

CALGARY – Jarome Iginla is catching fire at just the right time for Canada’s Olympic hockey team.Iginla scored twice Saturday night to lead the Calgary Flames to a much needed 3-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks

CHICAGO – Jonathan Toews wasn’t about to let yet another shaky second period by his Chicago Blackhawks cost them the game.Toews scored the lone shootout goal to give the Blackhawks their third straight victory, 5-4 over the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday night

WINNIPEG – Goalie James Reimer hadn’t played for more than two months, but he showed little rust in backstopping the Toronto Marlies to a 2-1 win over the Manitoba Moose on Saturday

ST. LOUIS – David Perron scored the lone goal in the shootout to help the St. Louis Blues to a 4-3 victory over Washington on Saturday night, sending the Capitals into the Olympic break on a down note

By Josh Ferguson

The Canadian women’s team kicked off their run for a third straight Olympic gold medal with an 18-0 drubbing of the Slovaks in Group A action at Canada Hockey Place on Sunday night

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Marty Turco made 40 saves for his fourth shutout of the season and 40th overall, and Brandon Segal and rookie Jamie Benn scored second-period goals in the Dallas Stars’ 3-0 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday night

BUFFALO, N.Y. – In the final minute of a big win for the Buffalo Sabres, Ryan Miller heard his hometown crowd chant: “USA! USA!”At that point, Miller knew it was time to focus on the Olympics

SUNRISE, Fla. – Mark Recchi scored in the eighth round of the shootout to lift the Boston Bruins to their fourth win in a row with a 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Saturday night

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes could do without a break in the schedule right now.They’re on their best run of the season after Ray Whitney scored two power-play goals in a minute in the second period and rookie goalie Justin Peters won his second game in two outings in a 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings were finally able to hold a lead.Pavel Datsyuk had a goal and an assist, and Jimmy Howard made 29 saves to help the Red Wings beat the Ottawa Senators 4-1 on Saturday night in the last game before the Olympic break for both teams

MONTREAL – Daniel Briere got a hat trick and Jeff Carter extended his goal streak to four games as the Philadelphia Flyers completed a home-and-home sweep with a 6-2 win Saturday night over the Montreal Canadiens

DETROIT – Detroit right winger Tomas Holmstrom left the Red Wings’ game against Ottawa on Saturday night because of a left knee injury, leaving him questionable to play for Sweden in the Olympics

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Phoenix Coyotes left-winger Petr Prucha was wheeled off the ice on a stretcher early in the first period Saturday night after taking a hard hit from Dallas’ James Neal

By Robin Short

Vancouver – Both Steve Yzerman and Bob Nicholson are in agreement NHLers should remain in the next Olympic Games in four years time, but both could be excused if their focus is not on Sochi, Russia, but first this little matter here in Vancouver

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Richard Park scored twice, including the winning goal with 2:22 left, and the New York Islanders outlasted the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4 on Saturday

MONTREAL – Just judging by their temperament, it’s easy to see the wide chasm of Olympic experience separating Philadelphia Flyers teammates Chris Pronger and Mike Richards

TORONTO – The Maple Leafs have added another ex-Calgary Flame to their roster.Toronto claimed forward Jamie Lundmark off waivers from the Flames on Saturday

MONTREAL – Hockey tough guy Georges Laraque is throwing his considerable weight behind the Green Party of Canada.The 260 lbs former Montreal Canadiens enforcer will be playing an as-yet undefined role with the political party, but isn’t ruling out running in the next federal elections

OTTAWA – Ottawa forward Jonathan Cheechoo has been re-assigned to the club’s AHL affiliate in Binghamton, the clubs announced Saturday.The moves comes a day after Cheechoo was placed on waivers to make room for newly-acquired forward Matt Cullen, clearing room under the team’s salary cap