News

DENVER – Defenceman Ray Macias is expected to make his NHL debut for the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night against Phoenix after being recalled from the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL

Doug Armstrong has two big reasons to be monitoring the NHL’s playoff races closely.Not only are his St. Louis Blues making a strong push in the Western Conference, he’s also trying to assemble the Canadian team for the upcoming IIHF World Hockey Championship

NEWARK, N.J. – Head coach Brent Sutter didn’t need to watch the videotapes of the last five games to discover why the New Jersey Devils are on their longest losing streak of the season

MONTREAL – The battle is still on between Chicago’s Cristobal Huet and Nikolai Khabibulin for the starting goaltender’s job in the NHL playoffs

TORONTO – The Hockey Hall of Fame is revamping its bylaws in a move that signals it is ready to admit its first female player.Starting in 2010, the Hall will consider male and female candidates separately

TORONTO – A member of hockey’s famous Hanson family is joining the Toronto Maple Leafs.Christian Hanson, the son of Dave from “Slap Shot” movie fame, has signed a two-year, entry-level deal with the team

AHL No Games Scheduled.ECHL Mississippi 5 Charlotte 4IHL No Games Scheduled.Central Playoffs Conference Semifinals(Best-of-7)Colorado 4 Bossier-Shreveport 3(Colorado leads series 2-0)QMJHL PlayoffsNo Games Scheduled

Scoring summaries from Monday’s games in the NHL:Sharks 2 at Flames 1First Period1. San Jose, Boyle 15 (Thornton, Pavelski) 6:11 (pp)2. Calgary, Iginla 32 (Langkow, Phaneuf) 15:09Penalties – Conroy Cal (hooking) 5:33, Aucoin Cal (delay of game) 5:36, Ehrhoff SJ (roughing), Jokinen Cal (cross-checking) 14:40

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Petr Prucha scored 53 seconds into overtime to lift the Phoenix Coyotes to a 6-5 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night

CALGARY – Jonathan Cheechoo scored the go-ahead goal and Evgeni Nabokov made 28 saves as the San Jose Sharks won 2-1 Monday night over the Calgary Flames

Movements in the world of hockey Monday:National Hockey LeagueANAHEIM DUCKS-Signed D Mark Mitera to a three-year entry-level contract and assigned him to Iowa (AHL)

NEW YORK – Brandon Dubinsky and defenceman Dan Girardi scored 2:04 apart during New York’s three-goal second period, and Henrik Lundqvist earned his 20th NHL shutout to lift the Rangers to a 3-0 victory

MONTREAL – Molson Coors (TSX:TAP) president Peter Swinburn said Monday he has not talked to George Gillett since the majority owner of the Montreal Canadiens announced plans to review his holdings

EDMONTON – Common sense suggests playing five of their final six games at Rexall Place should be a big boost to the playoff hopes of the Edmonton Oilers, but as Craig MacTavish’s team has proven time and again, home ice might turn out to be a bust

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Without looking at a calendar, it’s easy to tell it’s playoff time at Ken Hitchcock’s house.The bills are piling up and so are the dishes

NEW YORK – Chris Mason is the NHL’s first star of the week after posting a 4-0-0 record to help the St. Louis Blues climb up to eighth in the Western Conference

Results Sunday:AHL Manitoba 3 Hamilton 2Syracuse 4 Toronto 3 (SO)Lowell 5 Bridgeport 3Milwaukee 5 Chicago 2Philadelphia 4 Grand Rapids 1Portland 4 Springfield 3Quad City 3 Iowa 2 (SO)Rockford 2 Houston 1Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 1 Hershey 0Worcester 4 Providence 2ECHL Elmira 4 Wheeling 1Reading 2 Johnstown 1South Carolina 3 Mississippi 1Stockton 3 Las Vegas 1IHL Fort Wayne 6 Flint 5 (SO)Muskegon 7 Bloomington 6 (SO)Central PlayoffsConference Semifinals(Best-of-7)Colorado 4 Bossier-Shreveport 3(Colorado leads series 1-0)Texas 5 Rio Grande Valley 4 (Texas leads series 2-0)QMJHL PlayoffsQuarter-finals(Best-of-7)Montreal 4 Rouyn-Noranda 3(Montreal wins series 4-2)OHL PlayoffsNo Games Scheduled

Scoring summaries from Sunday’s NHL games: Senators 3 at Lightning 0First Period1. Ottawa, Heatley 35 (Fisher) 9:45 (pp)2. Ottawa, Shannon 8, 13:44Penalties – Lashoff TB (cross-checking) 8:56, Campoli Ott (hooking) 17:03

ANAHEIM, Calif. – After getting off 54 shots only to lose their previous game, the Anaheim Ducks figured they needed to try something different

Movements in the world of hockey Sunday:National Hockey LeagueATLANTA THRASHERS-Assigned G Dan Turple to Gwinnett (ECHL).DALLAS STARS-Recalled D Dan Jancevski from Hamilton (AHL) and D Garrett Stafford from Grand Rapids (AHL)