News

NEW YORK – Rangers leading scorer Marian Gaborik missed New York’s game against Nashville on Wednesday night because of a cut on his right leg caused by the skate of teammate Henrik Lundqvist one day earlier in practice

DETROIT – Red Wings coach Mike Babcock says Niklas Kronwall will not play against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday and Tomas Holmstrom is questionable because of knee injuries

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom is back in the starting lineup.Coach Todd Richards said before Wednesday’s game against Phoenix that Backstrom will be taken off injured reserve and face the Coyotes

MONTREAL – With only a few days to go before the start of the Olympic hockey tournament, Russia’s Alexander Ovechkin says he’s not thinking about it yet

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – After more than a year of trying, the Carolina Hurricanes are getting their wish: their top minor-league affiliate is coming to North Carolina

Results Tuesday:AHL Abbotsford 4 Toronto 3 (SO) Chicago 4 Peoria 2Grand Rapids 2 Texas 1ECHLGwinnett 4 Florida 3 (OT)Johnstown 4 Wheeling 3 (SO)IHLNo Games Scheduled

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – David Van Der Gulik scored the winner for Abbotsford in the eighth round of the shootout as the Heat came back from a 3-0 deficit to squeeze out a 4-3 win over the Toronto Marlies in American Hockey League action Tuesday

Scoring summaries from Tuesday’s NHL games:Flames 2 at Senators 3 First Period1. Calgary, Hagman 21 (Iginla, Stajan) 16:512. Ottawa, Kovalev 15 (Kuba, Spezza) 17:10 (pp)Penalties – Ott Kuba (tripping) 1:19, White Cal (delay of game) 17:01eSecond Period3

Movements in the world of hockey Tuesday:National Hockey LeagueATLANTA THRASHERS-Placed D Boris Valabik on injured reserve.CAROLINA HURRICANES-Activated F Tuomo Ruutu from injured reserve

CHICAGO – Kris Versteeg’s strategy in the fifth round of a shootout Tuesday night was not to have one.”It was just going in and shooting and hoping it went in,” Versteeg said after he beat Dallas goalie Marty Turco and gave the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 victory over the Stars

ST. LOUIS – Paul Kariya has a lot to do with the St. Louis Blues being the NHL’s worst team on home ice. For once, he played a key role in a happier ending

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Thrashers traded a former franchise cornerstone for the second time in less than a week on Tuesday night, sending goaltender Kari Lehtonen to the Dallas Stars

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Boston Bruins are getting all the breaks lately, thanks in large part to their rookie goalie.Tuukka Rask made 43 saves and David Krejci scored the winner in the fourth round of the shootout to help the Bruins beat the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on Tuesday night

OTTAWA – After a franchise best 11-game winning streak was snapped by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night, the Ottawa Senators started a new one on Tuesday

TAMPA BAY, Fla. – Martin St. Louis kept Tampa Bay from wasting another strong performance by Antero Niittymaki.St. Louis scored two third-period goals, Niittymaki stopped 39 shots and the Lightning beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 on Tuesday night

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Three goals from defencemen and a suddenly potent power play gave the New York Islanders what they needed to snap a season-high, seven-game losing streak

The first time Cam Ward got hurt this season, the Carolina Hurricanes had a hard time winning. This time around, they can’t lose.Joni Pitkanen scored the go-ahead goal, and Manny Legace made 19 saves to help Carolina beat the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Tuesday night

The Atlanta Thrashers have moved goalie Kari Lehtonen to Dallas for defense prospect Ivan Vishnevskiy and a fourth round draft pick.

Lehtonen, who hasn’t played all season due to a back injury, is set to become a restricted free agent this off-season

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Ryan Getzlaf is still planning to join Team Canada.An MRI on his sprained left ankle Tuesday showed no significant ligament damage, leaving the Anaheim Ducks centre hopeful that he can still compete in the Olympics

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Phoenix has recalled forwards Mikkel Boedker and Jeff Hoggan from its San Antonio affiliate and placed forward Joel Perrault on injured reserve after one game with the Coyotes