News

CALGARY – No one can doubt that Matthew Lombardi has top-notch speed.Now the Calgary Flames forward wants to prove that he also has the hands required to score goals in the National Hockey League.

TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs trimmed their training camp roster on Friday, sending hopefuls Darryl Boyce, Tim Stapleton and 11 others to the AHL Marlies.

The inaugural 2008 Victoria Cup between the New York Rangers and Russian team Metallurg Magnitogorsk on Oct.1 in Bern, Switzerland will be played according to a rulebook that will be a blend between the rules of the IIHF and the NHL.

Claude Lemieux is attempting a comeback to the NHL.

The 43-year-old former Conn Smythe winner has been retired since the end of the 2002-03 season, played one year in Switzerland and joined the front office of the Phoenix RoadRunners of the ECHL.

EDMONTON – Marc Pouliot scored the shootout winner as the Edmonton Oilers finally recorded a pre-season victory for the first time in four tries, defeating the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Thursday night.

Movements in the world of hockey Thursday:National Hockey LeagueANAHEIM DUCKS-Assigned D Stu Bickel, D Eric Regan, D Adrian Veideman, F Ajay Baines, F Bobby Bolt, F Ryan Dingle, and F Matt Stefanishion to Iowa (AHL), D Stefan Warg to Seattle (WHL) and F Eric Tangradi to Belleville (OHL).

CALGARY – Michael Cammalleri and Andre Roy scored to help the Calgary Flames down the Phoenix Coyotes 3-1 in an NHL pre-season game Tuesday.Matthew Lombardi also scored for the Flames (2-1-0), while Miikka Kiprusoff and Curtis McElhinney shared the goaltending duties.

DALLAS – T.J. Hensick scored a tiebreaking power-play goal early in the third period to send the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-2 pre-season victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Grant Stevenson scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Atlanta Thrashers to a 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night in the pre-season opener for both teams.

LONDON, Ont. – Mike Richards and Joffrey Lupul each had a goal and an assist as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the New York Islanders 4-0 in a pre-season game Thursday.

WASHINGTON – Alex Ovechkin had two goals and an assist, Michael Nylander added two goals, and the Washington Capitals rallied for a 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in a pre-season game Thursday night.

NEW YORK – Ryan Malone and Martin St. Louis scored 2:18 apart in the third period to rally the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 4-2 pre-season victory over the New York Rangers on Thursday night.

HALIFAX – If they’re fatigued from the long run to the Stanley Cup and a short summer lugging their prize to hometowns around the continent, the Detroit Red Wings didn’t show it Thursday night.

OTTAWA – Jason Smith has seen first-hand just how hard it can be to play against the offensively gifted Ottawa Senators.And with the Senators seeking to be equally as tough to beat in their own end this season, they’ve turned to players such as the veteran Smith for help.

MONTREAL – They are only pulled groins or sore hips, feet and hands, but the injuries are beginning to add up for the Montreal Canadiens.On Thursday, there were 10 veterans suffering some sort of minor ailment in training camp, but coach Guy Carbonneau isn’t losing any sleep over them just yet.

EDMONTON – When it comes to Dustin Penner of the Edmonton Oilers, bigger isn’t necessarily better.”Big” was the word of the day when Penner reported to training camp a year ago.

DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom has a broken nose after being hit in the face with a puck during a pre-season game.He was helped off the ice Wednesday night in Detroit during a game against Montreal.

NEW YORK – The NHL’s television audience is about to grow in an unlikely place.The league announced Thursday that the Hong Kong-based All Sports Network (ASN) has signed a multi-year deal to obtain rights to show games throughout much of Asia, including India and China.

MONTREAL – Robert Mayer has been rewarded with a contract from the Montreal Canadiens.The 19-year-old goaltender agreed to a three-year deal with the Habs on Thursday after attending training camp on a tryout.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom was hit by a puck over his right eye in Wednesday night’s exhibition game against the Montreal Canadiens and was forced to leave the game.