Puck Podcast

TAMPA BAY, Fla. – Boston financier Jeff Vinik has agreed to buy the Tampa Bay Lightning.Vinik is purchasing Tampa Bay Sports & Entertainment from a group led by Oren Koules and Len Barrie, the NHL said in a statement on its website Friday

The Carolina Hurricanes have placed forward Chad LaRose on injured reserve and have brought up goaltender Justin Peters from their AHL affiliate in Albany

Shortly after stepping on the ice at the Prudential Center, Ilya Kovalchuk and New Jersey Devils coach Jacques Lemaire skated around the rink a couple of times, cracked a couple of jokes and shared some laughs

Canucks 1 at Senators 3

First Period

1. Ottawa, Michalek 19 (Kovalev, Alfredsson) 1:34 (pp)

2. Ottawa, Spezza 12 (Michalek, Alfredsson) 18:03

Penalties – Samuelsson Vcr (high-sticking) 0:52, Kelly Ott (tripping) 10:17, Glass Vcr, Carkner Ott (fighting) 14:29

AHL Chicago 3 Abbotsford 2ECHLCincinnati 6 South Carolina 3Florida 4 Charlotte 3 (SO)Las Vegas 5 Idaho 4 (SO)IHLNo Games Scheduled.CentralCorpus Christi 6 Amarillo 2Rio Grande Valley 3 Laredo 2 (SO)QMJHLGatineau 1 Baie-Comeau 0Victoriaville 3 Quebec 2OHLMississauga 3 Barrie 2 (SO)Brampton 4 Erie 2Niagara 2 London 1Kingston 5 Peterborough 4Windsor 8 Owen Sound 2WHLCalgary 4 Medicine Hat 1Maritime Jr

Movements in the world of hockey Thursday:National Hockey LeagueATLANTA THRASHERS-Traded F Ilya Kovalchuk and D Anssi Salmela to the New Jersey Devils for RW Niclas Bergfors, D Johnny Oduya, F Patrice Cormier and a first-round pick

LOS ANGELES – Dustin Brown scored the go-ahead goal with 5:32 left after Los Angeles blew a three-goal lead in the third period and the Kings tied a franchise record with their eighth straight victory, beating Anaheim 6-4 on Thursday night

NASHVILLE – Fans started tossing caps onto the ice, celebrating what they thought was a hat trick by Nashville captain Jason Arnott. Patric Hornqvist actually had tipped in two of those goals, which Arnott knew

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Anton Khudobin acknowledged feeling a little nervous at the start of his sudden NHL debut.He sure didn’t show it.Martin Havlat’s first two-goal game for Minnesota, and Khudobin’s flawless emergency goaltending gave the Wild a 4-2 win over Edmonton 4-2 on Thursday night for their 12th straight home victory over the Oilers

OTTAWA – The goals keep going in for Jason Spezza and the wins keep piling up for the Ottawa Senators.Spezza scored the game-winner and extended his team-record goal-scoring streak to eight games as the Senators beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 on Thursday night

ST. LOUIS – Patrick Marleau scored in the opening minute, keeping pace with Alex Ovechkin for the NHL scoring lead. The rest of the game was every bit as successful for the San Jose Sharks

BOSTON – If Jaroslav Halak had his way, he wouldn’t have to face 40 shots. But when it happens, the Montreal goalie is tough to beat.Halak is 7-0 in games he’s faced 40 shots or more this season, making 45 saves and three more in the shootout Thursday night to carry the Canadiens to a 3-2 victory over the free-falling Bruins, losers of nine straight

TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa Bay is turning production from its top offensive players into victories.Martin St. Louis scored in his fifth consecutive game, Steven Stamkos had two goals and an assist and the Lightning beat the New York Islanders 5-2 on Thursday night

NEW YORK – As if the Washington Capitals needed any more help while streaking through the NHL schedule, when they go for win No. 13 in a row against Atlanta, they won’t even have to face Ilya Kovalchuk

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Everywhere there were players laughing and smiling.Along the back wall of the dressing room, Steve Mason was wearing a goofy-looking hard hat, a symbol that maybe the Columbus Blue Jackets were ready to finally laugh away their troubles and get down to the work of turning their season around

NASHVILLE – NHL linesman Steve Barton tried to avoid Nashville defenceman Alexander Sulzer along the right boards during the first period, lost his footing and slammed down backward hard, bouncing the back of his head on the ice

According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, defenseman Sheldon Souray has supplied Oilers GM Steve Tambellini with a list of at least six teams he’d be willing to waive his no-trade clause to join

Atlanta Thrashers superstar Ilya Kovalchuk has been traded to the New Jersey Devils.

The Devils have given up defenseman Johnny Oduya, forwards Niclas Bergfors, prospect Patrice Cormier and a first round pick

TORONTO – If Canada makes it to the gold-medal game at this month’s Vancouver Olympics it’s doubtful it would be more historically significant than the 1972 Summit Series, says Prime Minister Stephen Harper

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Phoenix Coyotes recalled centre Joel Perrault from their AHL affiliate in San Antonio on Thursday after he cleared re-entry waivers