News

NEWARK, N.J. – The New Jersey Devils’ worst enemy right now is not the New York Rangers.It’s themselves. The Devils outplayed their longtime rivals and had more quality scoring chances in the series-opener on Wednesday, but they still find themselves down 1-0 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarter-final series heading into Game 2 on Friday night.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Craig Leipold officially took over as owner of the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, completing the purchase of the team from Bob Naegele in the middle of the first-round playoff series against Colorado.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Not enough leadership on a Sabres team with too young of a lineup was blamed as the key reason Buffalo failed to make the playoffs this season.

MONTREAL – The city’s mayor is seeing red – and white and blue – after firefighters painted several fire stations to show their support for the Montreal Canadiens.

ARLINGTON, Va. – When the Washington Capitals were introduced immediately following their playoff-clinching win last weekend, the fans roared loudest for a player who didn’t play.

PITTSBURGH – Bryan Murray shook his head and yelled his disapproval.”Hit the net! Hit the net!,” the Ottawa Senators head coach said after one of his players blew a shot wide of the cage during a drill in practice Thursday.

MONTREAL – Win or lose his first round series against the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins coach Claude Julien has a right to feel vindicated.

VOORHEES, N.J. – Defenceman Jason Smith practised Thursday and hopes to return from his upper-body injury for Game 1 of Philadelphia’s NHL playoff series against Washington.

WASHINGTON – The Washington Capitals took the long road, suffering through three last-place finishes while assembling a team good enough to get back to the playoffs.

MONTREAL – Montreal defenceman Mike Komisarek will return to the lineup for Thursday night’s opening game of the Habs’ Eastern Conference quarter-final against the visiting Boston Bruins.

Summaries from Wednesday’s NHL playoff games:Senators 0 at Penguins 4First Period1. Pittsburgh, Roberts 1 (Laraque, Talbot) 1:082. Pittsburgh, Sykora 1 (Malkin) 12:28Penalties – Staal Pgh (holding) 4:25, Schubert Ott (holding) 14:39.

Movements in the world of hockey Wednesday:National Hockey LeagueCAROLINA HURRICANES-Assigned F Jeff Hamilton and D Tim Conboy to Albany (AHL).

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild right-wing Mark Parrish left Wednesday night’s playoff opener against Colorado with a head injury following an awkward run-in with Ruslan Salei in the second period.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Something about the teal jerseys, the white pompons and the Shark Tank’s earsplitting crowd inspires fantastic hockey from Stephane Yelle and his teammates.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – If this is Joe Sakic’s final post-season, he sure started it with a flourish.Adding another line to his remarkable resume, Colorado’s 38-year-old captain tipped in a rebound for the winner 11:11 into overtime and sent the Avalanche past the Minnesota Wild 3-2 on Wednesday night in the first game of this first-round series.

HAMILTON – Corey Locke had three goals and three assists and the Hamilton Bulldogs recovered from a 4-1 deficit and defeated the Rochester Americans 8-4 in American Hockey League action Wednesday.

TORONTO – A smashing return by Jiri Tlusty helped the Toronto Marlies keep their hopes of winning the West alive.Tlusty had two goals and two assists and a five-goal Marlies second period helped Toronto pull away from the Chicago Wolves for an 8-3 win on Wednesday night.

NEWARK, N.J. – If Scott Gomez’s ribs were still sore during the New York Rangers’ playoff opener, he transferred every bit of that discomfort to the team that let him get away.

PITTSBURGH – When the Pittsburgh Penguins opened the NHL playoffs in Ottawa a year ago, Marc-Andre Fleury got pumped for six goals and Evgeni Malkin was invisible as the Senators jumped out to a series lead they would never relinquish.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Forget about the Ducks’ being defending Stanley Cup champions. Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle has – or at least that’s his story as Anaheim prepares to open its Cup defence.