Puck Podcast

TORONTO – There’s a monster waiting in the wings for the winless Toronto Maple Leafs.Goaltender Jonas Gustavsson, dubbed “The Monster” by his former Swedish league coach, is quietly sitting on the sidelines and looking forward to his first career NHL start

CALGARY – Despite just one assist each from top-line forwards Jarome Iginla and Olli Jokinen, the Calgary Flames have still managed to jump out to a 2-0 start

OTTAWA – Alex Kovalev’s detractors often accuse him of not working hard enough.But with Ottawa looking for an offensive spark ahead of the new NHL season’s first Battle of Ontario, the talented Russian winger said the Senators’ biggest problem so far may have been a result of working too hard

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Wayne Gretzky can laugh about it now.The infamous trade that dealt him from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings on Aug

SUNRISE, Fla. – Centre Dominic Moore signed a one-year contract with the Florida Panthers on Monday.Terms of the deal were not disclosed.Moore, 29, has 35 goals and 65 assists in 305 career NHL games

NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-winger Alex Ovechkin was named first star of the week Monday after opening the NHL regular season with a pair of three-point games

Movements in the world of hockey Sunday:National Hockey LeagueCHICAGO BLACKHAWKS-Assigned G Corey Crawford to Rockford (AHL).MONTREAL CANADIENS-Recalled D Yannick Weber from Hamilton (AHL)

TORONTO – Hockey hero Claude Lemieux drew swoons for a cheeky butt wiggle while NHL bruiser Tie Domi got the crowd cheering with his best Mick Jagger impression Sunday as beefy athletes traded their hockey sticks for sequined outfits and sexy female partners on the CBC TV elimination-style series, “Battle of the Blades

TORONTO – A strong debut from Joey MacDonald gave Andre Deveaux a chance to play hero.Deveaux scored the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the Hamilton Bulldogs 3-2 on Sunday afternoon in the American Hockey League season opener for both teams

Scoring summaries from Saturday’s NHL games:Canucks 0 at Avalanche 3First Period1. Colorado, Wolski 3 (Stastny, Hejduk) 14:52Penalties – Stastny Col (hooking) 6:07, Bieksa Vcr, Tucker Col (roughing) 16:09

Results Saturday:AHL Houston 4 Manitoba 2Binghamton 5 Hartford 3Bridgeport 4 Lowell 3 (OT)Grand Rapids 3 Peoria 1Hershey 3 Norfolk 1Lake Erie 3 Rochester 2 (OT)Manchester 6 Albany 3Milwaukee 3 Chicago 2Springfield 5 Portland 2Texas 3 San Antonio 2 (OT)Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 4 Syracuse 2Worcester 3 Adirondack 2QMJHLAcadie-Bathurst 3 Moncton 1Drummondville 3 Chicoutimi 2 (SO)Halifax 6 Val-d’Or 1Rouyn-Noranda 7 P

TORONTO – NHL tough guys Tie Domi and Bob Probert will have to float like butterflies and forget old habits of stinging like bees Sunday night

LOS ANGELES – Radim Vrbata scored two goals to lead the beleaguered Phoenix Coyotes to a 6-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night in the season opener for both teams

EDMONTON – Nikolai Khabibulin’s gift goal to David Moss with 48.7 seconds left was the difference as the Calgary Flames spoiled archrival Edmonton’s home opener, defeating the Oilers 4-3 on Saturday

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The San Jose Sharks had little trouble getting on track against the Anaheim Ducks this time.With Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton each scoring first period goals, Dany Heatley adding two assists and Evgeni Nabokov making 24 saves the Sharks quickly spoiled the Ducks season opener with a dominating 4-1 victory on Saturday night

WINNIPEG – Pete Zingoni scored twice as the Houston Aeros beat the Manitoba Moose 4-2 in American Hockey League action Satruday.Justin Falk and Clayton Stoner, into an empty net, also scored for the Aeros (1-1-0)

DALLAS – Jason Arnott had an early goal, Michael Santorelli scored the winner in a shootout and the Nashville Predators handed the Stars their first season-opening loss in Dallas with a 3-2 victory Saturday night

Just when it seemed John Tavares’ NHL debut would be perfect, Sidney Crosby wrecked the ending for the prized rookie and the New York Islanders

NEW YORK – The sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden came to cheer Marian Gaborik, the New York Rangers’ major free-agent signing over the summer, only to see him upstaged by linemates Brandon Dubinsky and Vinny Prospal

BOSTON – The Bruins came out with a lot to prove Saturday night after flaming out in their opener.Mission accomplished.”Night and day,” goalie Tim Thomas said after Boston beat Carolina 7-2 to rebound from a 4-1 loss in Washington on Thursday night