News

HELSINKI, Finland – Ville Koistinen provided a fitting end to the first regular-season NHL game ever played in Finland.The Finish defender scored the winning goal in the shootout, lifting the Florida Panthers to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday in their season opener

MONTREAL – Montreal Canadiens defenceman Andrei Markov will be out of action for at least four months after slicing a tendon in his ankle.Markov had an operation in a Toronto hospital after Habs goaltender Carey Price caught the Russian with his skate during Montreal’s 4-3 overtime victory against the Maple Leafs on Thursday

ANAHEIM, Calif. – A huge portion of the Anaheim Ducks’ success rested squarely on Chris Pronger’s broad shoulders over the past few seasons. The former MVP routinely played 30 minutes a game, fluidly moving the puck while clogging up opponents’ offences and sometimes keeping the Ducks competitive all by himself

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Veteran forward Doug Weight was named captain of the New York Islanders on Friday.Weight, a 38-year-old four-time all-star, had 38 points (10 goals, 28 assists) in 53 games last season

HELSINKI, Finland – The Florida Panthers made Randy Sexton the team’s new general manager on Friday, promoting the man responsible for the club’s numerous off-season moves

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Phoenix Coyotes can’t wait to open the 2009-10 season.It means their chaotic off-season is over.Five months after owner Jerry Moyes took the team into Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the Coyotes hope the focus shifts to the ice when they visit the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night

CALGARY – Calgary goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff made 39 saves as the Flames opened their NHL season with a 5-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday

CALGARY – Calgary goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff made 39 saves as the Flames opened their NHL season with a 5-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday

DENVER – Wojtek Wolski scored two goals and Craig Anderson stopped 38 shots, lifting Colorado to a season-opening 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night after the Avalanche retired Joe Sakic’s No

TORONTO – Mike Cammalleri is ready to put any talk about a Montreal Canadiens makeover to rest.”I don’t even want to talk about new Habs any more, we’re all Habs now, we’ve passed through training camp, this is our team,” said Cammalleri after his Canadiens kicked off the season with a 4-3 overtime win versus the Toronto Maple Leafs

TORONTO – Mike Komisarek’s frequent trips to the penalty box Thursday night may have lost the Toronto Maple Leafs the game – but his style of play won over head coach Ron Wilson

FRISCO, Texas – The Dallas Stars have signed defenceman Stephane Robidas to a US$13.2-million, four-year contract extension, through the 2013-14 season

TORONTO – Even though a few of the newest Montreal Canadiens provided some optimism on opening night, it was a standout performance by a much-maligned holdover that had everyone raving

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Phoenix Coyotes are sending forward Kevin Porter to the AHL after signing centre Colin Long.The 23-year-old Porter had five goals and five assists in 34 games for the Coyotes as a rookie last season

BOSTON – Alex Ovechkin is off to a fast start, and so are the Washington Capitals.The two-time defending NHL Most Valuable Player had two goals and an assist, and Jose Theodore stopped 19 shots to lead Washington to a 4-1 victory over the Boston Bruins in the season-opener on Thursday night

DENVER – Joe Sakic would typically rather retreat from the spotlight than bask in it.Always a humble and reserved player, the longtime Colorado Avalanche captain doesn’t like a fuss to be made over him

PITTSBURGH – Sidney Crosby is still speaking softly, only now he’s carrying a different stick.The Stanley Cup-winning Pittsburgh Penguins captain plans to use a one-piece synthetic hockey stick for the first time during the season-opener Friday night against the New York Rangers

NEW YORK – The sting from last season’s playoff collapse lasted a little longer for the stunned New York Rangers.After all, they bounced back from a slump that cost coach Tom Renney his job and nearly derailed New York’s post-season hopes altogether

PITTSBURGH – Dan Bylsma will stand behind the Pittsburgh Penguins’ bench in an NHL season opener for the first time Friday night against the New York Rangers, and he knows it will be impossible not to be excited

STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Peter Forsberg is heading to Denver to honour former Colorado Avalanche teammate Joe Sakic next week.Forsberg, who won two Stanley Cups with the Colorado Avalanche and was the NHL’s MVP in 2003, will stay in North America for two weeks before returning to his native Sweden