News

Maple Leafs 5 at Canadiens 2First Period1. Toronto, Kulemin 11 (Ponikarovsky, Grabovsky) 7:512. Toronto, Grabovsky 18 (Ponikarovsky, Schenn) 8:14Penalties – Finger Tor (roughing) 8:14, Pacioretty Mtl (hooking) 11:58, Schenn Tor, Mitchell Tor, Lapierre Mtl (roughing), Komisarek Mtl (double roughing) 20:00

GLENDALE, Ariz. – At this point of the season, the Phoenix Coyotes don’t want to be in a position to further embarrass themselves.Deep in the Western Conference and out of the playoff picture, the Coyotes took advantage of a rare national television audience – on CBC’s “Hockey Night in Canada” – to put together a solid 60 minute effort, and beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-1

CHICAGO – Brock Trotter scored the shootout winner and Marc Denis made 36 saves as the Hamilton Bulldogs beat the Chicago Wolves 3-2 in AHL action Saturday

ROCKFORD, Ill. – Antti Niemi shut the door in the shootout as the Rockford IceDogs beat the Manitoba Moose 3-2 in AHL play Saturday.Niemi stoned Moose shooters Mark Cullen, Mike Keane and Jason Krog, while at the other end Jack Skille, Tim Brent and Pete MacArthur scored shootout goals for the IceHogs

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Darren Haydar’s empty-netter in the final minute of the game helped the Grand Rapids Griffins edge the Toronto Marlies 3-2 in AHL action Saturday

TAMPA, Fla. – Slava Kozlov scored the only shootout goal, and goalie Johan Hedberg stopped all three Tampa Bay tries in the tiebreaker in the Atlanta Thrashers’ 4-3 victory over Tampa Bay on Saturday night

OTTAWA – Forget first impressions, the Ottawa Senators are trying to give their fans a lasting one.After spending much of the season at the

SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida goalie Tomas Vokoun stopped shot after shot on Saturday night, holding Columbus scoreless through two periods and much of the third

MONTREAL – Nikolai Kulemin got just the gift he wanted for his newborn son Alexei – a goal and a big victory over the Canadiens in Montreal.Kulemin had a goal and two assists while linemates Alexei Ponikarovsky and Mikhail Grabovski had four points each as the Toronto Maple Leafs played playoff spoiler with a 5-2 victory over the slumping Canadiens on Saturday night

NEW YORK – It all came together for Ryan Callahan.The New York forward scored two goals Saturday night against the Buffalo Sabres, a team in close pursuit of his Rangers and the club he grew up rooting for in Rochester

RALEIGH, N.C. – The defence did everything for the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night, from scoring to shutting down the Washington Capitals’ potent offence

TORONTO – CBC personality Don Cherry used his “Coach’s Corner” segment on Saturday’s “Hockey Night in Canada” to criticize Washington Capitals sniper Alex Ovechkin for what he felt was an excessive celebration of his 50th goal earlier this week

The NHL suspended Chicago Blackhawks forward Ben Eager for three games Saturday.Eager was penalized for delivering a blow to the head of Edmonton’s Liam Reddox in the third period of the Oilers’ 5-4 victory Friday night

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Stars centre Brad Richards returned to the Dallas lineup Saturday after missing 15 games because of a wrist injury, but the former playoff MVP then broke his other hand in the third period of a 5-2 loss to San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Coach Todd McLellan has been calling his San Jose Sharks a fragile team for a few weeks now, even with a record that puts them among the NHL’s elite

MONTREAL – Tomas Kaberle will have to wait a little longer to get back into the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup.

Coach Ron Wilson said Saturday his top defenceman will need another week to heal his injured right hand

Blues 3 at Flames 2

First Period

1. St. Louis, Oshie 5 (Backes) 4:04 (sh)

Penalties – Steen StL (hooking) 3:40, St. Louis bench (too many men; served by Perron) 11:03

Movements in the world of hockey Friday:National Hockey LeagueDALLAS STARS-Assigned F Tyler Shelast from Hamilton (AHL) to Idaho (ECHL).LOS ANGELES KINGS-Activated F Justin Williams from injured reserve

MOLINE, Ill. – Anders Eriksson scored 49 seconds into overtime to give the Quad City Flames a 2-1 win over the Hamilton Bulldogs in AHL play Friday night

CALGARY – The St. Louis Blues’ desperation was too much for the Calgary Flames to handle.Third period goals 51 seconds apart by Andy McDonald and Jay McClement led St