News

NEW YORK – Sean Avery’s glasses had clear frames, and his expression revealed a smile instead of the concerned scowl he sported the last time he showed up at NHL headquarters

DETROIT – Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk had a chance to develop slowly, playing behind and learning from Detroit Red Wings stars such as Steve Yzerman

PITTSBURGH – When Eric Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes proudly took the Stanley Cup back home to Ontario on a sunny summer’s day in 2006, little brother Jordan Staal probably was the only person in their hometown of Thunder Bay who didn’t lift it

CHICAGO – Scotty Bowman’s imprint on the Detroit Red Wings stretches back 15 years. It includes three Stanley Cup titles during nine seasons as coach and a stint as a consultant that was capped by another championship a year ago

Gary Bettman would prefer to see the Phoenix Coyotes move to Winnipeg than Hamilton, according to court documents filed as part of the NHL team’s bankruptcy case

RALEIGH, N.C. – The wife of Carolina Hurricanes forward Scott Walker has cancer. The team says the cervical cancer is treatable and she is expected to make a full recovery

DETROIT – Detroit police say a woman was accidentally hit by a chair swung by Ducks general manager Bob Murray after Anaheim’s loss to the Red Wings in Game 7 of their Western Conference semifinal series

Movements in the world of hockey Friday:National Hockey LeagueST. LOUIS BLUES-Extended the contracts of Ray Bennett, Brad Shaw and Rick Wamsley, assistant coaches

WINNIPEG – Dusty Collins and Mario Bliznak scored for Manitoba and Cody Hodgson recorded a point in his first professional game as the Moose beat the Houston Aeros 2-1 in Game 1 of the American Hockey League Western Conference final

ANAHEIM, Calif. – As they stumbled through the regular season, the Anaheim Ducks started making the type of roster moves that could’ve signalled they were entering a rebuilding phase

With 26 NHL teams on the sidelines, there are just four who still have a chance to lift the Stanley Cup.Pittsburgh, Carolina, Detroit and Chicago have risen above the rest and all have their eyes on the prize

RALEIGH, N.C. – One thing about the Carolina Hurricanes, when they get into the playoffs, they stick around for a while.They’re in the post-season for just the third time since 2002 but have reached the Eastern Conference finals all three times

There’s the upstart, the underdog, the contender and the defending champ.And, of course, two Staals.The NHL is down to its final four teams and there are plenty of compelling storylines heading into the conference finals

DETROIT – The defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings are going from a playoff-tested, big and feisty opponent to a team in the playoffs for the first time since 2002 that relies on speed and skill

SAN FRANCISCO – Silicon Valley financier William (Boots) Del Biaggio III was scrambling during the summer of 2007 to buy a significant portion of the NHL’s Nashville Predators

BOSTON – The Boston Bruins had plenty of reasons to believe they could win their first Stanley Cup in 37 years.They allowed the fewest goals in the NHL and scored the most in the Eastern Conference

TORONTO – Jim Balsillie expanded his own personal NHL power play Friday, announcing a pair of corporate sponsors were on board for his bid to bring the Phoenix Coyotes to southern Ontario

Scoring summaries from Thursday’s NHL playoff games:Ducks 3 at Red Wings 4First Period1. Detroit, Hudler 4 (Franzen, Zetterberg) 15:43 (pp)Penalties – Zetterberg Det (holding stick) 4:42, Kronwall Det (hooking) 5:32, Getzlaf Ana (holding) 8:42, Getzlaf Ana (slashing) 14:12

BOSTON – Scott Walker delivered the final knockout punch to the Boston Bruins.His overtime goal sent the Carolina Hurricanes into the Eastern Conference finals and eliminated the top-seeded team in the process

Movements in the world of hockey Thursday:National Hockey LeagueVANCOUVER CANUCKS-Re-signed F Steve Bernier to a two-year contract extension