News

MOSCOW – Alexei Cherepanov, a former first-round draft pick of the NHL’s New York Rangers, died Monday during a game in Russia. He was 19.The six-foot-one, 187-pound Cherepanov reportedly collapsed on the bench of his Avangard Omsk team in the third period of a Continental Hockey League game and died a short time later.

TORONTO – Andy McDonald and Brad Boyes scored in a shootout to give the St. Louis Blues a 5-4 comeback win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday afternoon.

The Boston Bruins shipped defenseman Andrew Alberts to Philadelphia Monday, in exchange for 22-year-old left winger Ned Lukacevic and a fourth-round pick in the 2009 entry draft.

According to a report from Canadian sports network TSN, Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jack Johnson is likely to miss as much as three months with an arm injury suffered in Sunday night’s loss to San Jose.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Shortly after Todd McLellan became the San Jose Sharks’ new coach, he recognized the importance of convincing his talented team to shoot early and often.

The San Jose Sharks had just enough to stay perfect.

Lukas Kaspar scored his first NHL goal and Brian Boucher made 21 saves to lead the Sharks to a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday night.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Rookies Kyle Turris and Mikkel Boedker both scored for the first time in the NHL, and Ilya Bryzgalov made 34 saves against his former Anaheim teammates to lead the Phoenix Coyotes to a 4-2 victory that spoiled the Ducks’ home opener Sunday night.

EDMONTON – Dustin Penner scored his second goal of the game with just 5.4 seconds remaining as the Edmonton Oilers got the season started on a winning note, defeating the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Sunday night.

TORONTO – Now the teacher has a little more material to work with.That’s one thing Ron Wilson was thinking after watching his Toronto Maple Leafs get blown out in their home opener on Saturday night.

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Olli Jokinen didn’t need much time to make an impression with his new team.He had a first-period goal and assist in his Phoenix debut Saturday night and the Coyotes went on to win their season opener, 3-1 over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

CALGARY – Thanks to a potent offence, the new-look Vancouver Canucks are off to a perfect 2-0 start.Pavol Demitra’s goal 3:54 into overtime Saturday night gave Vancouver a 5-4 win over Calgary, spoiling the Flames’s home opener.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Jacques Lemaire took some time last spring to make sure his heart and mind were still fully invested in his coaching. He’s still his same old demanding self.

TORONTO – Toronto Maple Leafs rookie defenceman Luke Schenn saw some of the NHL’s less glamourous side on Saturday night.Two days after the Leafs upset the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Detroit Red WIngs, by a score of 3-2 to open the 2008-09 NHL regular season, Toronto was trounced 6-1 in its home opener by the Montreal Canadiens.

WASHINGTON – Pleased about a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks thanks in part to his two goals, Alex Ovechkin already was smiling when he walked past Brooks Laich and saw the red construction helmet his Washington Capitals teammate was wearing.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Jason Arnott scored two power-play goals and had an assist, and the Nashville Predators beat the Dallas Stars 3-1 in their home opener Saturday night.

TAMPA, Fla. – Eric Staal scored the tying and winning goals to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 4-3 overtime victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night.

PITTSBURGH – Zach Parise’s wrist shot from the left circle sailed past Marc-Andre Fleury’s glove with 37.6 seconds left in overtime and the New Jersey Devils, outshooting Pittsburgh by a more than 3-to-1 margin, rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Penguins on Saturday night.

SUNRISE, Fla. – David Booth scored his second goal of the game with 1:06 left in overtime to give the Florida Panthers a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday night.

PHILADELPHIA – Nikolai Zherdev scored the first of four first-period goals, and the New York Rangers remained unbeaten and are off to their best start in 25 years with a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night.

OTTAWA – Johan Franzen scored twice in the third period, including the winner with just 1:17 left, as the Detroit Red Wings fought back from two one-goal deficits to defeat the Ottawa Senators 3-2 Saturday night.