sport-scan daily brief - nhl.compenguins.nhl.com/v2/ext/media/pdf/12 13 2011.pdf · devils goalie...

SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 12/13/2011

Anaheim Ducks 600004 Ducks send Foster and Pielmeier to New Jersey Boston Bruins 600005 Chara likely sidelined tonight 600006 Chara feeling 'better than I expected' but status still day-today 600007 Good morning from Ristuccia Arena 600008 Gregory Campbell questionable for tonight 600009 Zdeno Chara’s knee injury not as bad as feared Buffalo Sabres 600010 Three Sabres say farewell to injured list 600011 Szczechura's production earns top line promotion 600012 Sabres get healthier, set to get reinforcements Calgary Flames 600013 David Moss hopes to hit road with surging teammates 600014 Iggy says Flames ready for a run 600015 Max Reinhart: ‘It’s pretty much like game seven’ 600016 Flu claims latest victim: Rene Bourque 600017 Iginla's starpower shining bright 600018 Doggone good time for Comeau Carolina Hurricanes 600019 Staal to play against Leafs; Skinner questionable 600020 Canes' Ward vows to keep calm, carry on 600021 Canes' new defenseman recounts trade moments Chicago Blackhawks 600022 Chelios enters U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame 600023 Blackhawks finding ways to win, even when they're not at their best 600024 Blackhawks assign rookie Smith to Rockford 600025 Blackhawks send Ben Smith down to Rockford 600026 Chris Chelios, Gary Suter enter U.S. Hall of Fame together 600027 Blackhawks send Ben Smith down to Rockford 600028 Blackhawks just find a way to win 600029 Chelios hopes to be welcomed back in Chicago 600030 Blackhawks' Smith assigned to Rockford Colorado Avalanche 600031 Avs' Johnson has to provide more production Columbus Blue Jackets 600032 Blue Jackets' Mason set to get back in net 600033 Notebook: Jackets want to limit penalties vs. Canucks 600034 Jackets-Canucks preview Dallas Stars 600035 Heika: While Brad Richards thrives, Nieuwendyk is pleased with Stars' newcomers 600036 Former Star Miettinen agrees to join Lightning 600037 Stars at Rangers preview Detroit Red Wings 600038 Chris Chelios, four others inducted into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame 600039 Red Wings trying to feeling at home on the road 600040 RED WINGS: Crosby won't play for Pens tonight Edmonton Oilers 600041 Sutton fires back at NHL's unfair suspension appeal system 600042 Sutton: Suspension process flawed Florida Panthers 600043 Florida Panthers rookie Erik Gudbranson sees the learning curve

Los Angeles Kings 600044 Kings' uninspired performance led to Terry Murray's dismissal 600045 Terry Murray fired as Kings coach 600046 Kings fire coach Terry Murray; GM Lombardi holds players accountable for dismissal 600047 Midseason replacements: do they work? 600048 Lombardi conference call highlights 600049 It’s Stevens, but for how long? 600050 Terry Murray fired; Stevens interim coach 600051 Penner has seen it all before 600052 Murray: Approach doesn’t change 600053 Monday practice update 600054 Monday practice; new lines 600055 Kings practice in Boston Minnesota Wild 600056 A new Jet age takes flight in Winnipeg 600057 Game Day: Wild at Winnipeg 600058 First visit to Winnipeg with Wild rekindles old memories for Mike Yeo 600059 Minnesota Wild's Hackett selected NHL's second star 600060 Minnesota Wild's Clutterbuck to return Tuesday night Montreal Canadiens 600061 Kaberle enters Bell Centre on home side 600062 Montreal Canadiens' P.K. Subban puts emphasis on defence 600063 Jaroslav Spacek was expecting trade from Montreal Canadiens 600064 Montreal Canadiens: Chris Campoli likely a healthy scratch on Tuesday Nashville Predators 600065 Game preview: Predators vs. Calgary Flames 600066 Nashville Predators' new power-play strategy keys wins 600067 Predators send Blum back to Milwaukee to regain 'urgency' 600068 Boclair: Deja Vu New Jersey Devils 600069 Parise, Henrique Key Devils' Win Over Lightning 600070 Devils Deal Fraser, Pelley to Ducks 600071 Devils Get Off to Fast Start and Hold On to Beat the Lightning 600072 Devils Defeat Lightning Despite Late Stamkos Strikes 600073 Devils' Zach Parise, Adam Henrique key 5-4 win over Lightning 600074 Devils-Lightning: As they play 600075 Devils trade Rod Pelley, Mark Fraser to Ducks for Kurtis Foster and goalie 600076 Devils: Ilya Kovalchuk line back together; Travis Zajac still an extra 600077 Matt Taormina hoping to make best of call-up to Devils 600078 Devils: Cam Janssen won't play in Tampa; possible for Tuesday night 600079 Devils activate Cam Janssen, put Anton Volchenkov on IR 600080 Devils: Travis Zajac, Anton Volchenkov won't play in Florida; Cam Janssen may 600081 Devils goalie Johan Hedberg comes up big in 32-save effort 600082 Devils may be ready to start climbing standings after win in Tampa 600083 Devils goalie Johan Hedberg comes up big in 32-save effort 600085 Devils up next: Lightning 600086 Devils Notes: Pelley, Frazier traded to Ducks for defenseman Foster 600087 Devils hold on for 5-4 win over Lightning 600088 Devils acquire Foster from Ducks 600089 Shaky Devils weather Lightning's storm

New York Islanders 600090 Snow ready for playoff push to begin New York Rangers 600091 John Tortorella calls HBO cameras in NY Rangers locker room an 'invasion of privacy' 600092 Richards making Rangers sparkle 600093 Richards: Coming to Rangers was written in the Stars 600094 HBO cameras 'a pain' for Tortorella NHL 600095 Crosby Sidelined Indefinitely by Return of Symptoms 600096 In Debate About Fighting in Hockey, N.H.L.'s Experts Say More Research Is Needed 600097 Inside Look at N.H.L. That Even the Players' Families Want to See 600098 Crosby trudges back to the sidelines with concussion-like symptoms 600099 From elation to gloom - the NHL spirals into another abyss 600100 Crosby suffers concussion setback 600101 Sidney Crosby suffers setback, and that's no surprise to concussion doctor Ottawa Senators 600102 Senators assign Filatov to KHL team 600103 The Senators this week 600104 Big man, big minutes 600105 Senators have patience on their side this season 600106 Filatov 'gamble not over yet' for Senators 600107 Alfredsson going stronger at 39 600108 Sens' Filatov off to Russia Philadelphia Flyers 600109 Ed Snider inducted into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame 600110 Couturier replaces Giroux on Flyers' top line 600111 WINTER FAN FEST 600112 Inducted into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, Flyers owner Ed Snider remembers the two Cups 600113 Snider honored at U.S. Hockey Hall induction 600114 Giroux, feeling better, will miss at least one more game 600115 Researcher: Pronger's headaches may be traced to eye injury 600116 Couturier could step in again for injured Giroux 600117 Flyers' Giroux out vs. Capitals 600118 Flyers' Snider set to enter U.S. Hockey Hall 600119 Flyers' Giroux out, Couturier jumping into his spot 600120 Giroux out, Couturier jumping into his spot 600121 Enshrined Snider will have life-saving legacy 600122 Holmgren: Giroux injury appears to be 'whiplash' 600123 Comca Flyers ready to spend December on the road 600124 Couturier's role to change with Giroux out 600125 Winter Classic now a three-day festival! 600126 Flyers-Caps guarantees intense hockey 600127 Giroux doesn't practice, won't play vs. Caps 600128 How are Giroux and Crosby linked together? 600130 Enshrined Snider will leave life-saving legacy Phoenix Coyotes 600131 Former Phoenix Coyote Keith Tkachuk inducted into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame 600132 Phoenix Coyotes left wing Ray Whitney reaches milestone Pittsburgh Penguins 600133 Penguins' Crosby out with recurrence of concussion-like symptoms 600134 Primeau: Pens' Crosby showing true courage 600135 Headaches put Crosby back on sidelines 600136 Michalek, Strait inch closer to return for Pens 600137 Crosby, Penguins visit Children's Hospital 600138 Crosby out indefinitely again with concussion-like symptoms 600139 Crosby's concussion recovery is back to square one 600140 Penguins skating uphill over arena site plans? 600141 Injury totals growing every day

San Jose Sharks 600142 San Jose Sharks at Colorado Avalanche 600143 San Jose Sharks seeking more production from top lines 600144 Sharks fizzle late, fall 3-2 in OT in Chicago St Louis Blues 600145 Hitchcock says Blues deserve days off 600146 Backes valuable to Hitchcock, Blues in many ways 600147 Checketts may have new role 600148 Tkachuk goes into U.S. Hockey Hall Tampa Bay Lightning 600149 Devils keep Lightning in slide with 5-4 decision 600150 St. Louis is on mend after scary eye injury 600151 Bolts await word on Miettinen 600152 Tampa Bay Lightning signs former Wild player and free agent Antti Miettinen 600153 Tampa Bay Lightning loses 5-4 to New Jersey Devils 600154 Tampa Bay Lightning signs Antti Miettinen but must wait for waivers 600155 Marty St. Louis sees Tampa Bay Lightning again after facial injury Toronto Maple Leafs 600156 Carl Gunnarsson slips in Maple Leafs' lineup 600157 Muller gets his chance 600158 Maple Leafs' minor league report 600159 Muller hasn't changed 'Canes' losing ways 600160 Crabb leads Leafs in character roles Vancouver Canucks 600161 Canucks' Cody Hodgson ready to go vs. Blue Jackets 600162 Sedins live up to billing despite hooking penalties 600163 No issue with Canucks' toughness: Vigneault 600164 Sedin machine rolling smoothly again 600165 Hodgson cleared to start against Columbus Washington Capitals 600166 John Carlson named NHL third star of the week 600167 Injured Mike Green visits specialist 600168 Monday One Timers: ‘More ice, more smiles’ for Alex Ovechkin; When will Mike Green be back? 600169 Capitals willing to wait for ailing Green to heal 600170 Capitals’ Mike Green seeing specialist 600171 Caps not overlooking hurt Flyers Websites 600183 ESPN / With Murray gone, who will lead Kings? 600184 FOXSports.com / Murray takes fall, but blame can be shared 600185 NBCSports.com / Marty Turco is taking his talents to Salzburg for the weekend 600186 NBCSports.com / Filly don’t do AHL: Nikita Filatov headed back to Russia 600187 NBCSports.com / Terry Murray’s situation in L.A. seems awfully familiar 600188 Sportsnet.ca / No such thing as a lock Winnipeg Jets 600172 Noel only shows first period of Wings debacle 600173 Jets' pick Scheifele shooting for No. 1 centre 600174 JETS Notebook 600175 This Glass is half full 600176 A win tonight will put things right 600177 Jets Report 600178 Best to forget about this one 600179 Quartet of key Jets day-to-day 600180 Wheeler packing a punch 600181 Injury bug biting Jets again 600182 No place like home for Jets

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 600004 Anaheim Ducks

Ducks send Foster and Pielmeier to New Jersey

By ERIC STEPHENS

ANAHEIM – The Ducks dealt veteran defenseman Kurtis Foster and one-time goalie prospect Timo Pielmeier to the New Jersey Devils on Monday for center Rod Pelley, defenseman Mark Fraser and a 2012 seventh-round draft pick.

None of the players in the trade was playing much. Foster appeared in just nine out of a possible 23 games with the Ducks after missing the first six of this season to recover from thigh surgery in the first week of training camp.

The Ducks rid themselves of Foster's $1.8 million salary after acquiring him July 1 from Edmonton for Andy Sutton. Foster scored a goal in his Ducks debut on Oct. 23 against Phoenix but had only one other point — an assist on Nov. 17 against the Kings — and saw Nate Guenin essentially take his spot.

Lubomir Visnovsky's impending return also figured in Ducks GM Bob Murray moving Foster.

"It wasn't going to work out," Murray said. "Vish is coming back. It was just time to move him (Foster) on and (he can) get an opportunity."

Pelley, 27, played in just seven games with the Devils this season and went scoreless. The former Ohio State center has seven goals and 19 assists in 211 NHL games, appearing in 74 games with New Jersey last season and 63 contests in 2009-10.

"He's an intelligent centerman who can bring some energy to our group intelligently," Murray said.

Fraser, 25, has appeared in 98 games with the Devils over the past four seasons. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound rear guard only appeared in four games this season but played in 61 contests in 2009-10 and had three goals, three assists and 36 penalty minutes.

Pelley and Fraser, who are on one-way contracts worth $550,000, were expected to arrive in Orange County on Monday night and will report to the Ducks. Pelley will likely be a new addition to the club's fourth line while Fraser might ultimately be ticketed for the Ducks' minor-league affiliate in Syracuse but will need to pass through waivers.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.13.2011

600005 Boston Bruins

Chara likely sidelined tonight

He lists return as day to day

By Michael Vega

WILMINGTON - Zdeno Chara offered to conduct yesterday’s interview standing or sitting down. Not that it mattered much to the Bruins captain. He wasn’t going to let the lower-body injury he suffered in Saturday night’s 5-3 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets prevent him from doing either.

For the record, Chara opted to stand when he spoke to reporters after sitting out yesterday’s practice at Ristuccia Arena.

Saying he felt “better than I expected,’’ Chara remained uncertain about his availability against the Los Angeles Kings tonight at TD Garden.

“There’s no time frame on when I’m going to be back, but most likely, I won’t be playing [tonight],’’ said Chara, who appeared to injure his left knee in a collision with the Blue Jackets’ Antoine Vermette during the second period.

“That’s as far as I can tell you right now,’’ he said, “because honestly it is at a stage right now where we can’t talk about it any further than 24 hours ahead.’’

Although he did not skate yesterday, Chara completed an off-ice workout.

“Nobody wants to miss games,’’ Chara said. “It’s something I take a lot of pride in and any time I can play, I’ll play. Through injuries or sickness or whatever it is, but you also have to be smart because you don’t want to do something that will cause serious problems or things that can hurt you in the future.’’

Chara said he isn’t making projections on his return.

“The plan is to take it a day at a time, really,’’ he said. “You can’t really put a time frame on it. You basically have to see how it feels and it feels better than I expected.’’

That no doubt came as encouraging news to coach Claude Julien.

“Right from the start, we didn’t know how severe it was,’’ Julien said. “We anticipate having him back sooner than later and that’s why he’s been labeled day to day.’’

Chara has missed only 12 regular-season games during his Boston career.

Kings fire Murray

The Kings, losers of four straight, will have a new leader behind the bench tonight. Coach Terry Murray was fired yesterday amid high expectations and mediocre returns. Assistant coach John Stevens will be the interim coach.

The Kings, who have made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, made big offseason moves to acquire forwards Mike Richards and Simon Gagne in the hopes of keeping pace with high-scoring Western Conference powers Vancouver, Chicago, and San Jose.

However, the Kings are in 11th place in the West and have just 65 goals, second fewest in the NHL.

Murray went 139-106-30 with the Kings after taking over in 2008.

Campbell, Paille iffy

Gregory Campbell was wearing a walking boot and did not practice yesterday. He is doubtful after taking a shot off his left skate Saturday.

Daniel Paille, who returned last Thursday vs. the Florida Panthers for the first time since suffering a mild concussion, is questionable tonight. He was injured on a hit along the boards by Florida’s Krystofer Barch. Paille did not play Saturday.

Paille participated in non-contact drills skating with Jordan Caron and Shawn Thornton during the 40-minute practice.

“I felt good about it,’’ Paille said. “I was told to stay away from contact, but I felt pretty strong throughout the whole practice. I think it’s about getting your wind and stamina back, but it’s only been a couple of days so that shouldn’t take too long.’’

Before he is medically cleared to play, Paille said he has to follow protocol by passing a neurological test, which he has not taken.

“He could be [in the lineup],’’ Julien said. “But it all depends how everything goes. He still has to go through a couple of things and that was another stage he went through today.’’

NHL fines Marchand

The NHL hit Brad Marchand with a $2,500 fine for slew-footing Penguins defenseman Matt Niskanen Dec. 5 . . . With the injuries up front, the Bruins recalled Zach Hamill from Providence on an emergency basis . . . Patrice Bergeron led the team on its annual Holiday Toy Shopping event yesterday at Target in Woburn. Each player was provided a shopping list from local hospitals receiving the donation. Last year, $20,000 worth of toys were purchased and donated by the team and organization.

Boston Globe LOADED: 12.13.2011


Chara feeling 'better than I expected' but status still day-to-day

By Michael Vega, Globe Staff

WILMINGTON -- Although he sat out today's practice at Ristuccia Arena in preparation for Tuesday night;s game against the Los Angeles Kings at TD Garden, Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, speaking to media for the first time since he sustained a left lower-leg injury in Saturday night's win at Columbus, said he "was feeling better than I expected,''

Asked about whether the plan was to take the next week off, Chara replied, "No, the plan is to take it a day at a time, really. You can't really put a time frame on it. You bascially have to see how it feels and it feels better than expected.''

It came as an encouraging development for Bruins coach Claude Julien.

"He is better today than he was [Sunday], so that is good news,'' Julien said. "The only thing we know right now is that he's day-to-day. We can't do any better than that. That's the situation he's in; he's improved and the way our group is looking at it right now, our medical staff, he's a day-to-day. Obviously, pretty questionable for tomorrow and even I'd say doubtful.''

Chara, who suffered the injury during a power play in the second period of Saturday's 5-3 road victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, said he wasn't certain how long he would be out of the lineup.

"Most likely, I won't be playing tomorrow,'' he said. "That's as far as I can tell you right now. Honestly, it's a stage right now where we can't talk about it any further than 24 hours ahead.''

Chara said it was normal ''to be worried that it might be more serious'' but those feelings subsided after taking the last two days off.

"During the game, there's obviously a lot of emotions involved and once you calm down, you really know when you sleep on it, the next day, so that was the biggest thing,'' Chara said. "So far, it's been really good.''

In other items:

Daniel Paille returned to practice for the first time today since suffering a mild concussion in last Thursday's 2-0 loss vs. the Florida Panthers. "He looked fine,'' Julien said. "Today was a non-contact day. So he’s going through the protocol of what he has to go through and so far things have been going well.'' Asked about Paille's status for Tuesday night's game, Julien replied: ``All depends on how everything goes because he still has to go through a couple of things, but that was another stage he had to go through today."

Gregory Campbell sat out today's practice after taking a puck off his left foot trying to help kill off a penalty in Saturday night's game at. the Blue Jackets. Julien reported Campbell was in a walking boot and limping around the team's locker room at Ristuccia Arena. "He’s also a guy I would list as questionable for tomorrow. He didn’t feel very good today, but he’s a tough individual and questionable for tomorrow.

Asked if Campbell had undergone an X-ray examination, Julien said. ``Not sure. Honestly, I just saw him in a walking boot, limping, and he’s had treatments here this morning so I don’t know exactly what the final verdict is other than when they told me he was questionable.''



Good morning from Ristuccia Arena

By Michael Vega, Globe Staff

WILMINGTON --- Good morning from Ristuccia Arena, where the Bruins will hold practice in preparation for Tuesday night's game vs. the Los Angeles Kings at TD Garden.

The Bruins, who will likely be without captain Zdeno Chara for the next week after he sustained a lower leg injury Saturday night in Columbus, Ohio, pushed back their scheduled 10:30 a.m. practice by 30 minutes.

Defensemen Andrew Ference and Steven Kampfer, who will likely have to play expanded minutes in Chara's absence, were the first on the ice about 13 minutes before the start of practice.

Update, 11 a.m.At the start of practice, there was no sign of Chara as well as Gregory Campbell. However, Daniel Paille, who sustained a mild concussion after absorbing a heavy hit along the boards in last Thursday's 2-0 loss vs. the Florida Panthers at TD Garden, was back on the ice.

We'll update you later if there is any change in Chara's day-to-day status.

Of note: The Bruins will conduct their Christmas Toy shopping spree between 1-3 p.m. today at Target in Woburn.

Mark Recchi will be signing copies of ``Full 60 to History'' tonight at 7 p.m. at the AT&T Store at the South Shore Plaza in Braintree.



Gregory Campbell questionable for tonight

Paille might be ready vs. Kings

By Stephen Harris / Bruins Notebook | Tuesday, December 13, 2011 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Boston Bruins

WILMINGTON — The Bruins will have some roster decisions to make in advance of tonight’s visit by the Los Angeles Kings.

Fourth-line center Gregory Campbell was hit in the foot by a shot during Saturday’s win in Columbus, did not skate yesterday and is questionable for tonight.

Meanwhile, winger Daniel Paille (mild concussion) could be ready to return. If not, the B’s can turn to Zach Hamill, whom they called up on an emergency basis from Providence (AHL) last night.

Coach Claude Julien said of Campbell, “Certainly, he didn’t feel very good (yesterday). But he’s a tough individual. So (he’s) questionable for (tonight).”

Paille was hurt Thursday against Florida, saying he was a little dazed and foggy after the hit by Krys Barch, but those issues cleared almost immediately. He said he felt no symptoms during the weekend and went through a non-contact practice yesterday feeling fine.

“I’m definitely hoping to (play tonight),” Paille said. “I think it’s definitely a good, positive sign for me to skate (yesterday). I came in (yesterday) and told them how I felt and they asked me to go out and skate.”

Cros and effect?

Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby is out indefinitely again because of recurring concussion-like symptoms, and he’s citing a hit from Bruins center David Krejci as a possible reason.

Crosby hasn’t played since developing a headache following a 3-1 loss to the B’s last week. It’s unclear if one specific hit caused the symptoms to resurface, though Crosby pointed to a first-period collision with Krejci as significant.

Krejci was digging for the puck in front of the Pittsburgh bench when Crosby closed in. Krejci spun just before Crosby arrived, with Krejci’s left elbow appearing to knock Crosby off-balance.

“I know I got hit in the head there,” Crosby said. “But I felt like I was pretty good after that. I didn’t feel like it was anything too major, but if you look at one hit .?.?. that was a good one.”

Penguins coach Dan Bylsma refused to place the blame on Krejci but on the cumulative wear-and-tear that comes during the course of a game.

Training Kamp

Steven Kampfer, who has played just five games, takes Zdeno Chara’s spot in the lineup — though he will not, needless to say, be filling all of Chara’s average 24:48 in ice time. Still, this is the chance for which he has been waiting.

“You don’t want someone to go down to get the chance to play,” said Kampfer, who last played an NHL game Nov. 17. He recently got in two games during a weekend stint with Providence.

“I’m practicing with the team and watching the games,” he said. “You pick up little things that Z does or (Dennis Seidenberg) does. It’s a learning experience when you’re sitting up there. It’s going to be a good test to see how much I’ve learned.”

Uneasy lies crown

The Kings come to town struggling badly, and yesterday coach Terry Murray paid the price. Los Angeles fired Murray, who was one win away from 500 in his career, and named assistant John Stevens as his interim replacement. .?.?.

The NHL fined Brad Marchand $2,500 for slew-footing Pittsburgh defenseman Matt Niskanen eight days ago. .?.?.

The Bruins spent two hours yesterday doing Christmas shopping at the Woburn Target. The players will deliver the toys to local hospitals next week.

Boston Herald LOADED: 12.13.2011


Zdeno Chara’s knee injury not as bad as feared

Big sigh of relief

By Stephen Harris

WILMINGTON — Watching the slow-motion replay of the hit that Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara took Saturday in Columbus — the cringe-inducing manner in which his left knee buckled when he collided with the Blue Jackets’ Antoine Vermette — it was easy to assume he had a serious injury to one or more ligaments.

A cynic might have greeted the initial prognosis that Chara would miss only a week with great skepticism.

Well, it turns out he might not be out that long, with what is apparently quite a minor knee sprain. The injury is being handled on a largely precautionary basis.

Coach Claude Julien didn’t even rule out Chara for tonight’s game at the Garden against the Los Angeles Kings, terming him “pretty questionable.”

And Chara, making a surprise media appearance in the B’s dressing room — walking with no discernible limp — said he was feeling quite well.

“Good, good, better than I expected,” said Chara, who wasn’t about to accept the assertion that he will miss three games in the coming five days. “No, the plan is to take it one day at a time. You can’t really put a time frame on it. It’s obviously (a matter of) how it feels, and it feels better than I expected. So we go from there.”

Chara denied that he feared a severe injury when the play occurred.

“Every time you feel a little pain you worry that it might be more serious, but everything calms down and then you just wait,” he said.

“During a game there’s lot of emotions involved. Once you calm down, you really know when you sleep on it. The next day is the biggest thing, and so far it’s been really good. It’s something I’m pleased with so far. Each day we’ll evaluate it and go from there. .?.?. Most likely I’m not going to be playing (tonight). That’s as far as I can tell right now, because honestly it’s at a stage where we can’t really talk about any more than 24 hours ahead.”

Bruins players, perhaps clued in that Chara’s injury was minor, downplayed the impact of his absence.

“He’s an important player, but this is the sort of thing every team goes through,” defenseman Andrew Ference said. “The good teams, with depth and a strong system and confidence in what they’re doing, have a lot easier time dealing with those kind of things. We’re one of the teams that has that.

“You guys (in the press) probably make a bigger deal out of it than the guys in the room. .?.?. But when guys go down, it’s just part of the deal. We’re not making a big deal out of it.”

Julien echoed Ference.

“You can say he leaves a big void,” the coach said. “We feel we’ve got enough guys to come in and do the job. We’re certainly not going to come out at the end of a game and say, ‘We didn’t win this because Zdeno wasn’t in the lineup.’?”

The Bruins can shrug it off, given how minor the injury appears to be. Suffice to say that had it been much worse, the quotes coming out of the B’s room yesterday would have been far different.

Boston Herald LOADED: 12.13.2011

600010 Buffalo Sabres

Three Sabres say farewell to injured list

By John Vogl

The Sabres, in a change of pace, are actually getting healthier.

Defenseman Mike Weber and forwards Paul Gaustad and Patrick Kaleta participated fully in practice Monday. Coach Lindy Ruff said both forwards might play against Ottawa tonight in First Niagara Center, while Weber told The News he is cleared to return.

"I'm just extremely excited to hopefully get back in the lineup [tonight] and be ready to go," said Weber, who will wait for word from Ruff on his roster status. "I got cleared by the doctors, so I'm just glad I get to play now."

Weber told The News he suffered a broken first rib during a hit against New Jersey on Nov. 16.

"The first couple days were pretty painful, but after that I've been back practicing," Weber said. "I was just waiting for the bone to heal. That took the longest time, so I'm just ready to go now."

The injury didn't prohibit Weber from skating, so he feels he's in game shape.

"I was able to skate and keep the cardio up and get to move at game speed," Weber said. "I think it'll help."

Rookie call-up Brayden McNabb was still with the team Monday. If Ruff opts to insert Weber, the Sabres could send McNabb back to Rochester or scratch struggling D-man Marc-Andre Gragnani.

Kaleta is recovering from a groin injury that has limited him to just seven minutes of ice time since Nov. 19. He had been skating in a noncontact role. He pronounced Monday as his "best day by far."

"I'm on the verge here of coming back," Kaleta said. "I'm ready to get back out there and compete."

*

Tyler Myers, out since suffering a broken wrist Nov. 19, has begun light puckhandling drills. The defenseman is still expected to be sidelined another one to three weeks.

"He skates early every day," Ruff said. "He's actually now just handling the puck on a limited basis. He's been doing off-ice workouts. He's been doing the on-ice skating. He just can't handle the puck to a high degree right now.

"The encouraging part is he's got the stick back in his hand, and he's using it."

*

The Sabres made a holiday visit to Women & Children's Hospital following Monday's practice.

"There was a sign-up sheet, and every guy on the team signed up," Kaleta said. "It shows right there what kind of team we have."

It was the second straight day of spreading Christmas cheer for Kaleta. He and members of his HITS Foundation visited the League for the Handicapped's Preschool Learning Center in Springville on Sunday. The foundation, which stands for Helping Individuals to Smile, got the kids' wish lists and had Santa Claus deliver presents.

"It's the best feeling in the world when you see someone like that smile. It makes your day," Kaleta said. "I was happy my foundation was able to help out."

*

The Sabres close their five-game homestand with visits by the Senators tonight and Toronto on Friday. Ruff is ready.

"It should just be a great, emotional week," he said. "You get to play the teams you like to hate."

*

Fans can get 20 percent off their purchases at the Sabres Store by participating in "Shredding Day" on Saturday at two First Niagara Bank locations (1455 French Road in Cheektowaga and 4435 Transit Road in Williamsville). Fans can bring in personal documents to be shredded to help fight identity theft. ... The Junior Sabres and the Sabres Alumni Association will host a "Teddy Bear Toss" when the team hosts Brampton at 7:30 p.m. Monday in Northtown Center at Amherst. When the Junior Sabres score their first goal, fans will be encouraged to toss a new, unwrapped bear onto the ice. All collected items will be donated to needy local families.

Buffalo News LOADED: 12.13.2011


Szczechura's production earns top line promotion

By John Vogl

Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville, the wingers on the Sabres' top line, have been teammates for eight years. They know each other well. As for center Paul Szczechura ...

"I've known him for the four games he's been here," Vanek said Monday.

Of all the new names popping in and out of the Buffalo lineup lately, Szczechura's sticks out -- and not just because it's uncommon. Unlike Corey Tropp, T.J. Brennan, Brayden McNabb and other newcomers, Szczechura didn't get drafted by the organization. Technically, he's never participated in a Buffalo training camp.

Yet there he was Monday in the middle of the Sabres' top scorers, reprising the role he starred in for the first time Saturday. He's expected to be there again tonight when the Sabres host the Ottawa Senators.

"They're top players in this league, so I'm just going to try and contribute every way I can," Szczechura said in First Niagara Center. "I just want to play my game. Obviously, I was there because I was playing my game, and I didn't want to change that.

"I just want to focus on the things that I was doing well to get to that position. I didn't want to change a thing. I just wanted to keep it simple, make plays, play with confidence and just sort of go from there."

Szczechura got the first-line call because of production and necessity. He entered Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Rangers with three assists in his first three games.

"We really need somebody that can make some plays in there, has some offensive talent and can be a little creative," coach Lindy Ruff said. "There wasn't a lot of other options, really. I liked the way that [Ville] Leino and Luke [Adam] and [Zack] Kassian have been playing, so it was really the only spot for him."

Szczechura is obviously happy for the opportunity. The chance at a role like this is what prompted him to sign with the Sabres over the summer. He spent four seasons bouncing between the Tampa Bay Lightning and their minor-league squad, including all of 2010-11 in Norfolk.

"The new ownership came in, and everything looked positive," he said of the Sabres. "It looked like there was some opportunity here. Fortunately for me, it's working out right now."

An inability to participate in training camp added to the Szczechura intrigue. He suffered a knee injury during last spring's playoffs and wasn't ready to join his new mates until November.

"It was definitely a different situation," he said. "I wasn't around the guys as much. I wasn't in the games. I wasn't scrimmaging. That was tough. Kind of walking in here a week or two ago, guys kind of saw my face but didn't really know who I was."

Production has a way of speeding up the acclimation process.

"He's not put in easy situations, but he brings that NHL experience," Pominville said. "It's unfortunate we didn't have a chance to see him in training camp because he was injured, but he's stepped in and played well."

The 83 games Szczechura played for the Lightning between 2008 and 2010 prepared him for the recent call-ups. He played on all four lines during his time with Tampa, recording nine goals and seven assists.

The numbers are coming quickly in Buffalo despite having little time to prepare. The practice Monday was Szczechura's first with the Sabres. He'd been a last-minute call-up for most of his games.

"You've got to come to the rink ready to play no matter where you're playing," he said. "Definitely, having that [NHL] experience helps me. The second time around here has definitely been good so far, and I just want to keep going forward."



Sabres get healthier, set to get reinforcements

The Sabres, in a change of pace, are actually getting healthier.

Defenseman Mike Weber and forwards Paul Gaustad and Patrick Kaleta participated fully in practice today. Coach Lindy Ruff said both forwards might play against Ottawa on Tuesday, while Weber told The News he is cleared to return.

"I’m just extremely excited to hopefully get back in the lineup tomorrow and be ready to go," said Weber, who will now be a coach's decision. "I got cleared by the doctors, so I’m just glad I get to play now. We’ll find out tomorrow, I guess."

Weber told The News he suffered a broken first rib during a hit against New Jersey on Nov. 16.

"The first couple days were pretty painful, but after that I’ve been back practicing," Weber said. "I was just waiting for the bone to heal. That took the longest time, so I’m just ready to go now."

The injury didn't prohibit Weber from skating, so he feels he's in game shape.

"I was able to skate and keep the cardio up and get to move at game speed," Weber said. "I think it’ll help."

Rookie call-up Brayden McNabb is still with the team. If Ruff opts to insert Weber, the Sabres could send McNabb back to Rochester or scratch struggling D-man Marc-Andre Gragnani.

Kaleta is recovering from a groin injury that has limited him to just seven minutes of ice time since Nov. 19. He had been skating in a noncontact role.

"Today is the best day by far," Kaleta said. "I’m on the verge here of coming back. It was nice to get out of that ugly color by myself. I’ve done what I can do off the ice whether it’s studying other players or video. I’m ready to get back out there and compete."

Tyler Myers, out since suffering a broken wrist Nov. 19, has begun light puckhandling drills. The defenseman is still expected to be out another one to three weeks.

"He skates early every day," Ruff said. "He’s actually now just handling the puck on a limited basis. He’s been doing off-ice workouts. He’s been doing the on-ice skating. He just can’t handle the puck to a high degree right now.

"The encouraging part is he’s got the stick back in his hand, and he’s using it."

---John Vogl


600013 Calgary Flames

David Moss hopes to hit road with surging teammates

By John Down

David Moss came out flying during last Thursday morning's pre-game skate at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

It was his first day back skating with the Calgary Flames since he was finally forced to report to injury bay with a nagging hairline fracture in his right foot. It was the first real punishing test for the injury and it hurt.

"I feel better, but I still have a little bit of a tough time on the ice so we've decided to take a couple more days, let it heal up properly and hopefully it'll feel good on Monday," said the 29-year-old winger/centre.

"Thursday was as tough a skate as I've had. The day before, I had a tough skate on my own, but obviously you're doing more stopping an starting, a lot of that stuff with the team and it just didn't feel great afterwards.

"It's one of those things you can try to push through, maybe something bad happens and you might miss a lot more time rather than take a couple extra days, a week or whatever it is for it to feel good and make sure it's 100 per cent."

Moss knows what it's like to mark time on the sidelines. He missed 24 games last season with assorted injuries and 18 games the season before that. Now he's been out for 13 after blocking a hard shot with his foot in a Nov. 4 game at Buffalo.

He soldiered on until he took a hard check in a Nov. 12 game at Colorado that simply pushed the injury past the breaking point.

"I couldn't really skate on it anymore, so I needed to take some time," he said. "You al-ways want to come back as quickly as you can but, at the same time, you want to be smart so when you come back, you're helping the team and not coming back at 80 per cent just to be back in the lineup.

"You gotta be ready to help and I think everyone understands that."

These niggling little injuries, says Moss, are frustrating, but it's also good knowing that when this one mends, it probably won't nag him.

"It's not something like your groin or something that's nagging," he said. "Other injuries can be more frustrating where they kind of linger on and you don't know why or when it's going to end.

"This is a pretty definite thing and hopefully I can get back soon."

Moss stayed off skates Friday, Saturday and Sunday and, "if it feels good (today), I'll skate with the team when they go on the road.

"It'll be nice. It's miserable sitting here by yourself, working out and skating, doing all that stuff. You miss time with the team and I'm excited to get back at it."

Calgary Herald: LOADED: 12.13.2011


Iggy says Flames ready for a run

By John Down

Just in case you haven't noticed, captain Jarome Iginla is now the Flames' No. 1 sniper and tied with Olli Jokinen for points.

Seems as the captain rises, the Flames rise or maybe that should read the other away around. But while Iginla has scored six of his 11 goals during a 6-1-1 run in the past eight games, the whole team has been better.

They've pushed past. 500 for the first time this season and inched to within two points of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. All that after sinking to a season-low 8-12-1 on Nov. 25 after a 2-0 loss at St. Louis.

"Our whole game is getting better," said the captain, following Saturday's 3-0 dismantling of the visiting Edmonton Oilers to run up a season-high, three-game winning streak. "I think we have more puck control, our D has been outstanding . . . I think as a group we're starting to be more patient with it.

"On our cycles, we're just not banging it. Everyone wants the puck a little bit more."

Ah, yes, patience. The team is sticking to the blueprint through thick and thin, confident things will work out as long as they remain focused on their tasks.

"It's a confidence thing, but we're learning to win different games," added Iginla.

"Some are close and low scoring, some have been higher scoring, some have been close in the third periods.

"And I think we're doing a lot better early in the games. I think our composure right now, especially our young defence group, has been very impressive."

It all adds up to a grand feeling in the locker-room as they head out on a four-game road trip through Nashville, Florida, Tampa Bay and Chicago. They go with the same kind of feeling they had around Christmas last season when they finished the last half of the season with a bang only to fall short of a playoff spot.

"It's been there for a few games, but it's growing," said Iginla of that heady feeling. "I'd say there's definitely some similarities where everybody is kind of feeling good about their games, but more confident.

"As a whole, our style of what we want to play is coming and we feel like we're going in the right direction."

Right now, that's onward and upward.

COMING BACK

With veteran winger Alex Tanguay ready to rejoin the team, the Flames shuffled the deck again Sunday - a day off for the players.

Rookie centre/winger Greg Nemisz, who was summoned Friday night to fill in for the flu-stricken Tanguay, was sent back to the Abbotsford Heat, while rookie centre/winger Roman Horak and defenceman Brett Carson were called back up.

Horak had been sent down last week to work "on a couple of things in his game," while Carson has been down on a conditioning stint as he works his way back from a nagging off-season back injury.

Horak had a couple of assists in two games with the Heat, while Carson played four games and scored a goal. Nemisz, who played on a line Saturday with Mikael Backlund and Rene Bourque, had 6: 26 of ice time.

Carson has been on the active roster since he was sent down, so the Flames didn't have to open a spot. The team will carry 13 forwards, eight defencemen and two goaltenders into this week's road trip.

Nemisz, by the way, and defenceman Scott Hannan, who was rock solid, were the only Flames skaters not to register a shot on the Edmonton goal during a 34-shot attack.



Max Reinhart: ‘It’s pretty much like game seven’

Staff Report

Max Reinhart senses the urgency of tonight’s Red vs. White intra-squad scrimmage at the Team Canada junior selection camp.

A mediocre performance – heck, an average performance – could very well result in a free trip to Cranbrook, home of the Kootenay Ice.

“It’s pretty much like a Game 7,” the Calgary Flames prospect said Monday after an off-ice workout at Canada Olympic Park. “I’ve had experience with pressure games before. This isn’t the first.

“Hopefully, it’s not the last.”

Reinhart, 19, gave himself a less than overwhelming review in Sunday’s Red vs.White scrimmage at WinSport.

“I didn’t really know what to expect coming in,” said Reinhart, who went scoreless in his first audition for the Team Canada brass. “Maybe a little bit of nerves to start the game.

“I got through it. I think I could have played a little bit better. Not saying I played bad. I just left room for improvement tonight.”

The first round of cuts is expected Tuesday morning, with the final slash coming Wednesday. The roster sits at 42, meaning 20 hearts will be broken in the next 48 hours.

“It’s hard,” said Team Canada head scout Kevin Prendergast. “The dream for these kids is to play on this team. We would love to have all of them, on the team, but it’s Canadian hockey. “We have to take the best 22 who we feel give us the best chance to win,”

Right wing Brett Connolly, of the Tampa Bay Lightning, left Sunday’s scrimmage with what is being described as lower-body bruising. He is expected to take the pre-game skate tonight and decide if he can play.

Centre Jonathan Huberdeau slipped a skate on Sunday for the first time since breaking his foot Nov. 7. He went for X-Rays Monday morning, and Team Canada hopes the third-overall pick of the Florida Panthers will skate in the next few days.

Provided he can skate, Huberdeau is considered is one of a handful of locks to make the team.

Reinhart, for one, realizes he can’t say the same thing. “You now realize that you’ve got one ice time left to prove you belong,” he said.” I don’t think it’s the end of the world if I don’t make it. I think I still have a future in hockey. “But it’s something I’ve really focused on trying to get. It would mean a lot to be able to make this team.”



Flu claims latest victim: Rene Bourque

Filed by John Down

The flu continues to hop through the Calgary Flames locker-room, with winger Rene Bourque the latest victim.

Bourque was excused from Monday morning’s practice with ‘the bug’ as Alex Tanguay returned from a two-day battle with it, losing 10 pounds in the process. Prior to that, it was Curtis Glencross.

And goaltender coach Clint Malarchuk looked a little green as he left the building early.

The Flames have plenty of healthy personnel as they head out on this four-game road trip through Nashville, Florida and Chicago with the callups of rookie centre Roman Horak and defenceman Brett Carson from the Abbotsford Heat.

Horak stepped into Bourque’s spot on a line with Brendan Morrison and Tanguay at practice, while Carson was one of eight defencemen going full

tilt. Both Horak and Carson could see playing time on this trip although nothing is cut in stone.

“I think they’re going to possibly get an opportunity,” said assistant coach Dave Lowry, filling in for Brent Sutter at the post-practice media scrum, “but it’s not up for discussion today.

“We liked the way we finished the week and we’ll push forward that way.”

Another young player who’ll likely see action is goaltender Leland Irving, what with the team facing a back to back in Florida with the Panthers and Lightning.

Veteran winger David Moss (foot) also skated with the team Monday, wearing a no-hit jersey, and may or may not be ready to rejoin the team towards the end of the trip.

The other big news was Jarome Iginla taking a bow as the NHL’s first star of the week. The Flames captain, like his team, has been a tear – the teamwinning three in a row to go 6-1-1 in its last eight and Iginla bagging four goals and six points in the last three victories.

In the eight games, he’s scored five goals and collected six assists.

“Everybody knows when he’s involved physically and his emotional level is up, he’s a very tough guy to defend against,” said Lowry.

There’s a good chance Iginla could score the five goals he needs to reach the 500 mark for his illustrious career during this road trip.



Iginla's starpower shining bright

By WES GILBERTSON, QMI Agency

CALGARY - The Calgary Flames have won three straight hockey games.

Their captain and undisputed offensive leader just won the NHL’s First Star of the Week.

Coincidence? Not really.

After registering four goals and a pair of assists last week, Flames sharpshooter Jarome Iginla was named the NHL’s top performer over the seven-day stretch, which marked the club’s first three-game winning streak of the season and also Iginla’s only three-game point streak so far.

“Sometimes, it just clicks. I think a big part is when you have the team success, everybody does feel better. It’s lighter on everybody, and it just rolls from there,” Iginla said after Monday’s practice at the Saddledome. “I think we’ve gotten important goals from a lot of different guys and different lines and from defencemen — and it does make it easier on everybody.

“I can’t say exactly what it was, but it feels good.

“We’re going in the right direction, and we want it to continue as a team.

“It’s nice to get that recognition but definitely more (important) than that is the three wins and a really strong week for us as a group.”

The Saddledome’s Sea of Red celebrated a total of 13 goals in victories over the Carolina Hurricanes, the Colorado Avalanche and the Edmonton Oilers last week, with Iginla factoring in on almost half of those markers.

Five other Flames also registered multiple points on the three-game run, including centre Brendan Morrison’s haul of two goals and five assists.

With the squad embarking on a four-game road trip that starts Tuesday in Nashville and also includes stops in Tampa, Miami and Chicago, they’re counting on continued contributions from everybody on the roster. Another four-goal, two-assist week from Iginla would be a good start.

“The puck is going in the net for (Iginla), and obviously that’s a big part of his game and a big part of our game as a team — we’re successful when he’s scoring,” Morrison said. “But we can’t solely rely on him to carry the

load. We need other guys pitching in to be successful. We’re not sitting here hoping that Jarome carries us every night. I mean, it’s unrealistic, and it’s unfair.

“You look at all the top teams around the league — there are multiple guys that are scoring in order for those teams to be successful. We’re no different.”

Already the Flames’ all-time leading scorer and point-producer, Iginla is just five snipes shy of becoming the 42nd member of the NHL’s prestigious 500-goal club.

The 34-year-old has a history of prolonged scoring outbursts, although he’s more concerned with turning a three-game winning streak in four, five or maybe more.

“Winning makes it easier on everybody,” Iginla said. “It can snowball, and you get used to it, and you get confident. You always hear that word (confidence), and some people get sick of hearing it, but it’s very important.”

[email protected]

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 12.13.2011


Doggone good time for Comeau

By STEVE MACFARLANE, QMI Agency

CALGARY - Life in Long Island was stressful.

Since getting claimed by the Flames a few weeks ago, Blake Comeau’s biggest headache has been how to get his French Bulldog on a flight in time to join the family for Christmas in Calgary.

“If it’s too cold, he can’t fly,” the winger said of his pet, Reed. “That’s been a bit of a hassle.”

Everything else about life as a Flame has been pretty easy.

After starting the season with no points and a minus-11 rating through 16 games with the New York Islanders, Comeau found himself on waivers and looking for a fresh start.

It’s hard to imagine after watching his first nine games with the Flames why the 25-year-old from Meadow Lake, Sask., found himself in the Isles’ doghouse.

He’s scored a goal, earned four points and has a plus-1 rating as a member of the third line along with fellow flanker Lee Stempniak and, recently, centre Mikael Backlund. Comeau’s been a key part of the team’s penalty killing and has shown hustle on almost every shift.

“I don’t know what happened in Long Island, but I guess it’s just sort of that fresh start that he was looking for and needed,” Stempniak said.

“I think he’s played really well right from that first game in St. Louis. I’ve really enjoyed it.

“Any time you change teams for the first time, it’s not easy. I think he’s done a great job of just sort of jumping in.”

Although he has clearly been focused on the ice, there’s been plenty of jumping through hoops to make the transition from the New York Islanders to the Flames since they claimed him off waivers Nov. 25.

A lot of the organizational duties were left to wife Lacey.

“Basically, I had three hours to pack up my stuff, and I was gone. I left her with the rest of the things,” Comeau said. “She’s been really helpful. “We’ve got most of the things organized out in New York, where we can get all that set aside and get my wife moved out here. I can just focus on hockey.”

The off-ice stuff could easily become a distraction, especially as the holidays draw nearer.

“We had to pack up our house and get a moving company and move all of our furniture out to Calgary. I had to figure out my vehicle that was out in

New York. Getting my wife and my dog across the border,” Comeau said. “It seemed like the list went on and on.

“I wanted my family out here for Christmastime. I didn’t want my wife out in New York by herself. We were scrambling a little bit, but she did a really good job of getting everything organized.

“The organization has helped me out a ton, as well, which is really nice and a good feeling.”

Lacey was able to join her husband in Calgary on the weekend, just before the Flames head out on the road, kicking off a four-game trip Tuesday against the Nashville Predators.

Comeau hopes his good fortune continues on the ice.

“I think the production’s coming along with the coaching staff having confidence in me and giving me opportunities I don’t think I was getting in New York this year,” said the 6-foot, 195-pounder. “Hopefully, I can just keep contributing, whether it’s on the scoreboard or playing physical or penalty killing.

“It’s been awesome so far for me. Most importantly, we’re winning and we’re in a playoff race — which I haven’t experienced in a couple of years. In New York, we’ve been out of the race pretty early.”

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 12.13.2011

600019 Carolina Hurricanes

Staal to play against Leafs; Skinner questionable

By Chip Alexander

TORONTO -- Eric Staal will be in the Canes' lineup Tuesday against the Maple Leafs but Jeff Skinner is expected to miss his second straight game.

Staal returned to Raleigh for the birth Sunday of a son, Levi John. He was not at practice today but will be at Tuesday's morning skate at the Air Canada Centre -- coach Kirk Muller said his first inclination was not to have a skate following two hard practice days, but that he may with Staal not available until Tuesday.

Skinner, who has an undisclosed injury, did not play Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets. While not completely ruling Skinner out of the Leafs game, Muller said, "As of right now I don't think we're going to have him."

Drayson Bowman, who is an emergency recall from the Charlotte Checkers (AHL), was used today on Brandon Sutter's left wing opposite Chad LaRose. But Muller said not to read too much into it or assume Bowman would get significant ice time.

"I put him there because he had played with Sutter before," Muller said. "We worked on some systems and all that, so I wanted to get him on a line to get used to it. It was more just for today because we were short bodies. We'll see tomorrow."

The Canes had another high-speed practice today at the MasterCard Centre rink. All of the coaches were loud, banging sticks against the boards, pushing the pace.

"If we're going to play the game he wants us to play, play uptempo, you have to do it in practice, too," forward Pat Dwyer said. "It's what he's preaching in practice: he wants you to go from the start of practice to the end of practice, like you've got to go from when the first puck drops 'til the final buzzer goes."

"There's going to be shifts when you get caught in your zone, or the P.K., where you're going to have to dig through it. You're going to be tired and want to get off but you have to stay sharp and get through it."

With Staal and Skinner out, Tim Brent was used at center with Dwyer and Jiri Tlusty. Jussi Jokinen centered Alexei Ponikarovsky and Tuomo Ruutu, and assistant coach John MacLean hopped in for a few minutes to center the fourth line with Anthony Stewart and Andreas Nodl.

In the five-on-five drills, Tim Gleason was paired with Jamie McBain, Justin Faulk with Jaroslav Spacek, and Bryan Allen with Derek Joslin.

General manager Jim Rutherford said the Hurricanes may allow Faulk to participate for Team USA in the World Junior Championship, set in late-December and early-January in Calgary and Edmonton. Rutherford said the team may wait until the deadline just before Christmas before making a decision on Faulk.

News Observer LOADED: 12.13.2011


Canes' Ward vows to keep calm, carry on

By CHIP ALEXANDER

TORONTO -- Carolina Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller put his team through a rigorous practice Sunday at the Air Canada Centre.

"Be focused, be sharp," Muller shouted. "Fight through it, fight through it."

The day before, Muller said many of the same things to goaltender Cam Ward, except in a much calmer tone. It was a coach-and-player talk that both probably needed after Ward's outburst Friday night in Winnipeg.

Pulled from the game in the second period after the Jets had taken a 4-0 lead, Ward was visibly upset on the bench, frustrated, the emotions of a tough season spilling out of him.

"I think it built up over a period of time," Ward said Sunday. "I pretty much yelled a bad word as loud as I could a couple of times and that was it."

Ward, benched for the second time in three games, said he was "purely venting" and that the brief, uncharacteristic tirade was not aimed at Muller, who was coaching his sixth game with the Canes.

"I was absolutely not directing it at anybody," Ward said.

"I was thinking about smashing the stick but didn't do that. I just started yelling."

"It's over and done with," he added. "I take pride in remaining calm. But sometimes it's an emotional game and gets the best of you."

Which is OK, Muller said he told Ward.

"He showed emotion because he cares," Muller said. "If he didn't care and he wasn't a winner, he probably would have just come to the bench (quietly). But I was actually glad to see the emotion he had."

Ward, 27, was an NHL All-Star last season, when he played a career-high 74 games. But this season has been nightmarish, for Ward and the Canes (9-18-4), who have seen Paul Maurice fired and tumbled to the bottom of the NHL's Eastern Conference.

The Hurricanes embarked on a Canadian road trip last Monday, hoping to right the ship. Ward was touched for six goals and pulled in the third period of a 7-6 loss to the Calgary Flames. Ward and the Canes bounced back the next night for a solid 5-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers, ending a seven-game winless streak, but then lost 4-2 to the Jets as Ward played 31 minutes, 26 seconds and faced 30 shots before Muller again made a change.

Murphy, 22, made his NHL debut against the Flames and was in for a longer stretch against the Jets.

"I felt it was the right time ... to get (Murphy) playing and see if the team can respond when you throw a young kid in there," Muller said.

Jeff Skinner, the Canes' leading scorer, missed the Jets game with what the team announced Friday were flu-like symptoms. The Canes were off Saturday and Skinner was not at practice Sunday - forward Drayson Bowman was an emergency recall from the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL.

Skinner, according to the Hurricanes, now is sidelined an undisclosed injury. Muller said Skinner returned to Raleigh for evaluation and did not rule him out of Tuesday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Skinner took a hard hit from Edmonton's Andy Sutton in Wednesday's game, but Muller said there were no concussion issues.

Eric Staal also was back in Raleigh on Sunday as his wife, Tanya, gave birth to the couple's second son, Levi John. Staal is expected to play Tuesday.

Muller said he told Ward all he wanted from him was two days of hard practice, then to concentrate on his first save against the Leafs. Forget all the rest, Muller said.

"I told him, 'You'll get through it,'" Muller said. "I said, 'When the fun times come, you're going to enjoy it that much more.'"

That's what Ward is after.

"I write 'Have fun' on my sticks for a reason," Ward said. "And although at times it's been extremely difficult to have fun, I need to do that and get back to that.

"I need to try to stay positive and get my game back in control. Obviously things aren't coming easy. There's only one way to get out of it and that's by putting in the work."



Canes' new defenseman recounts trade moments

By CHIP ALEXANDER

TORONTO Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaroslav Spacek can laugh about it now, but it may have been the longest 30 minutes of a long hockey career.

On Friday, Spacek was preparing for practice with the Montreal Canadiens. He had been on injured reserve but had been activated the day before and was eager to get back on the ice with the Habs.

Then he looked at the lineup sheet in the locker room. His number was in a side column.

"I thought, 'Oh, something's going on,'" Spacek said Monday.

Soon, Montreal assistant coach Randy Ladouceur appeared to tell him that general manager Pierre Gauthier needed to see him. Spacek was being traded.

"They didn't tell me where I was going, so I had to wait," Spacek said. "It wasn't approved yet by the league."

The 37-year-old veteran had approved 16 teams for a trade in his contract, but for 30 minutes he didn't know where he was headed. Talk about playing mind games.

Finally, Spacek was told he had been sent to the Hurricanes in exchange for defenseman Tomas Kaberle - an interesting twist in that the two are natives of the Czech Republic and know each other well.

Spacek, 37, also knew someone else pretty well: Canes coach Kirk Muller. When Spacek first entered the NHL, during the 1998-1999 season, Muller was a teammate on the Florida Panthers. Muller also was an assistant coach for the Canadiens the last five seasons.

Spacek quickly packed a bag and hopped a flight, joining the Hurricanes in Winnipeg for the game Friday against the Jets. Getting 19 minutes of ice time, he had two assists and was plus-1 in the 4-2 loss.

Spacek then was able to catch his breath, returning to Montreal for two days to prepare for the move to Raleigh - his wife and two young kids, he said, would stay in Montreal through the end of the season.

"I did want to stay in the East so I could see my family more often," he said.

Spacek has been traded before during the season. In January 2006, the Chicago Blackhawks sent him to the Edmonton Oilers, where he played in the 2006 Stanley Cup final against the Hurricanes.

But this one was different, he said, coming so early in a season, so unexpectedly.

"It was kind of crazy," he said. "It's always a shock (to be traded). I was just in Montreal for a few days, and everybody was in shock. The neighbors

were saying, 'You knew all about it,' and I said, 'No, I just found out a few days ago.'"

Things may seem a bit more normal tonight when the Canes face the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre (7 p.m., FSCR). Spacek, who will be an unrestricted free agent after the season, got in his first practice Monday with the Canes and was paired with rookie defenseman Justin Faulk.

"I think I'm an easy guy to play with," Spacek said.

Muller said Spacek would be at ease in the lineup.

"He gets it. He understands it," Muller said. "He's excited to play here, and it's good."

Canes notes: Muller said center Eric Staal, who was in Raleigh on Sunday for the birth of his son, would play tonight. ... Forward Jeff Skinner, who has an undisclosed injury, likely will miss his second straight game.


600022 Chicago Blackhawks

Chelios enters U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

Staff

Chris Chelios led a class of five inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night in Chicago.

The three-time Norris Trophy winner and four-time Olympian was joined by fellow defenseman Gary Suter, who played with Chelios at the University of Wisconsin and for the Chicago Blackhawks, forward Keith Tkachuk, Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider and broadcaster Mike Emrick.

"In my generation of players, there weren't a lot of kids who played organized hockey," Chelios said. "Maybe a handful of us continued on to a college career. It wasn't as easy as today. American kids were playing baseball and football, and developed a little later. So those two years you need to grow, physically, there wasn't anywhere to play."

Chelios played for three Stanley Cup teams, one for Montreal and two for Detroit, in 26 seasons. Suter was the NHL's top rookie for Calgary in 1985-86. Tkachuk scored 538 goals in 19 NHL seasons, and, like Chelios, played on four Olympic teams.

Snider was among the Flyers' founders in 1966. Emrick, the lead play-by-play announcer for NBC and Versus, has called 13 Stanley Cup finals.

Tkachuk, who played for Winnipeg, Phoenix, St. Louis and Atlanta, had a vivid memory of one encounter with Chelios.

"Cheli and I tangled at Chicago Stadium, got me in a headlock and I couldn't breathe," Tkachuk said, grinning. "I was down to my last breath."

Chelios remembered Tkachuk "turning colors. I let him go right at the last second, but I could have made him pass out easy if I wanted to. And he knew it."

The two teammates on Olympic squads and during the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, in which the U.S. came back from losing the first game to sweep the last two games on Canadian ice. Suter was also on that team, Snider hosted the first game in the Wells Fargo Center, the Flyers' then-new building, and Emrick called the contests on American television.

"This means everything to me," Tkachuk said. "I'm only retired for two years, and to go in with this class is amazing."

Tkachuk scored 538 goals in 19 NHL seasons, but counted the World Cup victory as his top achievement.

"That generated great momentum, not only for me, but for U.S. hockey in general," Tkachuk said.

Suter's 17-year pro career opened in Calgary, where he was named the NHL's top rookie in 1985-86, and went through Chicago and San Jose. Like Chelios and Tkachuk, he was inspired by the American hockey victory in the 1980 Olympics.

"That was so unexpected, but in 1996, we were a good solid team, among the top four in the world. I think winning that had a similar effect to 1980 on kids, and American hockey has continued to get stronger."

Snider's stewardship of the Flyers commenced with the team's founding in 1966. He helped grow a small business into a corporation that became a unit of Comcast, but said he was prouder of his foundation's taking over the hockey rinks in Philadelphia's park system and creating educational programs associated with hockey for disadvantaged youths to flourish.

"We have a 94 percent graduation rate, compared to 54 percent for the city," Snider said. "We used hockey as the hook. It's the only thing I've put my name on. It's my legacy. It will last forever."

Emrick's dream of being an NHL broadcaster started in the corner of the rink in Fort Wayne, Ind., where he called minor-league games into a tape recorder for practice. Decades later, the voice of 13 Stanley Cup Finals, and the lead announcer for hockey on NBC and Versus, still has boyish enthusiasm.

"I get in free, I still get a good seat for the game, and I still like doing that," Emrick said. "So until my bosses don't want me doing that, or I'm unhappy with my work, I'll do it."

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 12.13.2011


Blackhawks finding ways to win, even when they're not at their best

By Chris Kuc,

The Blackhawks can probably count on one glove the number of games this season with which they've been completely satisfied with their effort.

After 30 games, that's the bad news. The good news is they've been able to find ways to win even when they aren't at their best, often putting together one spectacular stretch during games that has helped them to 18 victories and a second-place standing in the Western Conference. Case in point was Sunday night's 3-2 overtime victory over the Sharks, during which the Hawks were outplayed for 40 minutes before turning on the jets and dominating the rest of the way.

"In our good moments, I'd say we're getting close to being that team and having that identity that we want to have," captain Jonathan Toews said. "I'm never going to say we're there and we're good enough because we always want to improve and always want to be working on something.

"The good news is that even when we don't play a solid 60 minutes and we don't start well, we can always find a way to win. Even those tough games we have that confidence we can pull it out."

The Hawks have pulled out nine wins in the 15 games that have been decided by one goal this season, and accumulated another four points with overtime losses. Four victories have come after they've trailed after two periods, buoyed by a combined 31-20 scoring advantage over opponents in third periods.

In other words, the Hawks have often been playing with fire but not getting burned.

"It's something we have to be a little bit careful of," winger Andrew Brunette said. "We have a lot of skill on this team and playing one period you aren't going to win too many games in this league, especially as crunch time is starting to come. At the same time, the resiliency to find a way is what really good teams do."

With victories in two consecutive games and six of their last eight, the Hawks have 40 points, second-most in the NHL behind Minnesota's 43.

"We know we (aren't) playing as well as we'd like to but we're winning hockey games (and) that's important," winger Marian Hossa said. "We're getting points so it's a good thing."

As far as a status report after 30 games, coach Joel Quenneville said the Hawks appear to be putting it together with a showdown looming against the conference-leading Wild on Wednesday night in Minnesota.

"We've had some good stretches this year and we've had some stretches that were ugly," Quenneville said. "For the most part recently I think we're trending in the right direction where our play has been better."

On the move: Forward Ben Smith was assigned to Rockford of the American Hockey League on Monday. The 23-year-old rookie has one goal in seven games with the Hawks this season. Smith had one hit and no shots on goal in 5 minutes, 48 seconds of ice time against the Sharks on Sunday night.



Blackhawks assign rookie Smith to Rockford

By Chris Kuc

The Chicago Blackhawks assigned forward Ben Smith to Rockford of the American Hockey League on Monday.

The 23-year-old rookie has one goal in seven games with the Hawks this season. Smith had one hit and no shots on goal in 5 minutes, 48 seconds of ice time during the Hawks' 3-2 overtime victory over the Sharks on Sunday night at the United Center.

At the time of his Nov. 17 recall, Smith was tied for fifth in the AHL with four power-play goals, ranked second on the IceHogs with six goals and had 10 points in nine games.

Smith's departure likely paves the way for veteran Bryan Bickell to return to the lineup Wednesday night when the Hawks face the Wild in Minnesota. Bickell has been a healthy scratch for the last five games.



Blackhawks send Ben Smith down to Rockford

By ADAM L. JAHNS

Ben Smith believed he was getting there.

A playoff hero last season against the Vancouver Canucks, Smith told the Sun-Times recently that he thought he was getting better and better each day he practiced and played with the Blackhawks.

But in the end, the boost general manager Stan Bowman envisioned after Smith was called up in place of underachieving Rostislav Olesz during the circus trip never came about. There were no dramatic goals or heroic moments this time around. After one goal and a minus-6 rating in seven games, Smith was sent down to the Rockford IceHogs on Monday.

The Hawks apparently will turn elsewhere — whether it’s calling up another player such as Jeremy Morin or reinserting Bryan Bickell after he was scratched five consecutive games — as they try to get some production from their bottom-six forwards.

“We’re tough to beat when we have all four lines going,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “That’s where we want to get to when you have [Dave Bolland’s] line contributing defensively and offensively, and you get energy from [Jamal Mayers’] line. It comes from a lot of areas.

“Especially when you have your top two lines producing the way they have this year, it’s nice to have all four lines bringing that same intensity. It makes us a much better team when we have all four lines going.”

Smith primarily played with Bolland and winger Michael Frolik, who are both in offensive slumps. Smith said he liked the challenge of being used in a defensive role on Bolland’s line.

“In Rockford, you kind of do a bit of everything, which is nice,” he said. “So I had that checking-line role a little bit last year. It’s something I’m happy to do if that’s what you want to call it.”

Smith also said that he was “starting to play [his] game more, which is important.” But the production never came.

“We’ve had our chances,” Smith said. “It’s just a matter of bearing down a little bit more.”

Expectations were high for Smith. The rookie was in the spotlight when training camp began after his playoff success, but a concussion slowed his momentum. Smith took off in Rockford, but that failed to carry over in his stint with the Hawks.

“There’s patience with the puck, play recognition, and anticipating is part of [Smith’s] game,” Quenneville said. “There’s progress there, but there’s room there [for improvement] as well.”

Slap shots

It’s not often that you see Marian Hossa get involved physically with opponents and drop his gloves, but he had enough against the Sharks after taking some extra shots from forward Ryane Clowe at the end of regulation. Clowe also landed several shots on Duncan Keith’s face while they were being separated by officials and other players.

“The hits kept coming,” Hossa said. “So I just turned and said, ‘Don’t be a coward hitting me from behind.’?”

??Sharks center Andrew Desjardins was fined $2,500 — the maximum allowed under the collective-bargaining agreement — by the NHL for boarding Hawks defenseman Sami Lepisto in the first period Sunday.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 12.13.2011


Chris Chelios, Gary Suter enter U.S. Hall of Fame together

By Ben Meyer-

Chris Chelios’ father didn’t want his son to have to work in a restaurant like he did.

The NHL, let alone a Hall of Fame career of any type, was never a dream they had while Chelios was growing up in Evergreen Park.

“[Hockey] was never a serious thing; I played for fun,” Chelios said Monday before being inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in a ceremony at the Renaissance Chicago hotel. “I worked in the [Greek] restaurants [he owned] with him. The only thing he told me was, ‘You’re going to college. You’re not going to do what I did for the last 50 years and end up cooking and cleaning a restaurant for the rest of your life. You’re going to get an education.’?’’

Chelios’ love of the game and his father’s wishes took him to the University of Wisconsin before a remarkable 26-year NHL career that included a nine-year stint with his hometown Blackhawks.

“To be able to play for the Hawks was the luckiest break I could ever get,” Chelios said. “My only regret is not finishing it off and winning a Cup here.”

Chicago would be the only place Chelios didn’t win. He won Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens in 1986 and Detroit Red Wings in ’02 and ’08.

Chelios also won the Norris Trophy three times as the league’s best defenseman, was a member of the U.S. team that won the 1996 World Cup and captained the United States to the silver medal at the 1998 Salt Lake City Olympics. But one of his fondest memories was being in his hometown for the 1991 All-Star Game during the Gulf War.

‘‘I’m getting goose bumps just thinking about the anthem,” Chelios said.

Also inducted was Gary Suter, Chelios’ former Hawks teammate and fellow defenseman.

“It means a lot,” Suter said. “We’ve known each other for 30 years.”



Blackhawks send Ben Smith down to Rockford

By ADAM L. JAHNS

Ben Smith believed he was getting there.

A playoff hero last season against the Vancouver Canucks, Smith told the Sun-Times recently that he thought he was getting better and better each day he practiced and played with the Blackhawks.

But in the end, the boost general manager Stan Bowman envisioned after Smith was called up in place of underachieving Rostislav Olesz during the circus trip never came about. There were no dramatic goals or heroic moments this time around. After one goal and a minus-6 rating in seven games, Smith was sent down to the Rockford IceHogs on Monday.

The Hawks apparently will turn elsewhere — whether it’s calling up another player such as Jeremy Morin or reinserting Bryan Bickell after he was scratched five consecutive games — as they try to get some production from their bottom-six forwards.

“We’re tough to beat when we have all four lines going,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “That’s where we want to get to when you have [Dave Bolland’s] line contributing defensively and offensively, and you get energy from [Jamal Mayers’] line. It comes from a lot of areas.

“Especially when you have your top two lines producing the way they have this year, it’s nice to have all four lines bringing that same intensity. It makes us a much better team when we have all four lines going.”

Smith primarily played with Bolland and winger Michael Frolik, who are both in offensive slumps. Smith said he liked the challenge of being used in a defensive role on Bolland’s line.

“In Rockford, you kind of do a bit of everything, which is nice,” he said. “So I had that checking-line role a little bit last year. It’s something I’m happy to do if that’s what you want to call it.”

Smith also said that he was “starting to play [his] game more, which is important.” But the production never came.

“We’ve had our chances,” Smith said. “It’s just a matter of bearing down a little bit more.”

Expectations were high for Smith. The rookie was in the spotlight when training camp began after his playoff success, but a concussion slowed his momentum. Smith took off in Rockford, but that failed to carry over in his stint with the Hawks.

“There’s patience with the puck, play recognition, and anticipating is part of [Smith’s] game,” Quenneville said. “There’s progress there, but there’s room there [for improvement] as well.”

Slap shots

It’s not often that you see Marian Hossa get involved physically with opponents and drop his gloves, but he had enough against the Sharks after taking some extra shots from forward Ryane Clowe at the end of regulation. Clowe also landed several shots on Duncan Keith’s face while they were being separated by officials and other players.

“The hits kept coming,” Hossa said. “So I just turned and said, ‘Don’t be a coward hitting me from behind.’?”

??Sharks center Andrew Desjardins was fined $2,500 — the maximum allowed under the collective-bargaining agreement — by the NHL for boarding Hawks defenseman Sami Lepisto in the first period Sunday.



Blackhawks just find a way to win

By Tim Sassone

They are 19th in the NHL defensively, 27th in penalty killing, their No. 1 goaltender is in the midst of a concerning slump, and the third and fourth lines have stopped scoring.

Yet the Blackhawks have reached the 30-game mark with the second-best record in the league at 18-8-4, one of only two teams with 40 points or more.

What the Hawks have done is find ways to win, largely because of the league’s fourth-best offense led by forwards Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane and defensemen Duncan Keith and Nick Leddy.

“The resiliency to find a way is what really good teams do,” Andrew Brunette said.

What happened Sunday was a prime example of how it has gone for the Hawks. They trailed the San Jose Sharks for most of the game, getting badly outplayed for the first two periods, but pulled out a 3-2 victory in overtime.

“In our good moments we’re getting close to being that team and having that identity that we want to have,” Toews said. “I’m never going to say we’re there and we’re good enough because we always want to improve and be working on something.

“The good news is even when we don’t play a solid 60 minutes or we don’t start well like the way we did (Sunday), we can always find a way to win.

“There have been a couple ugly games lately, going to a shootout or the overtime period, but it doesn’t matter to us. We want to find a way to win, and we have confidence we can pull it out.”

There’s obvious danger in how the Hawks are getting it done, particularly from a defensive standpoint. Only goalie Ray Emery’s standout play kept them in the game against San Jose, just as Corey Crawford has done on more than one occasion despite his recent struggles.

The Hawks’ team defensive game still needs work, and there’s no doubt general manager Stan Bowman wants to add another defenseman to the mix at some point before the Feb. 28 trade deadline.

“We’ve gotten points,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “We’ve had some good stretches this year and we’ve had some stretches that were ugly, but for the most part recently we’re trending in the right direction.

“Our play has been better. Our team game has been more consistent.”

No team in the NHL has four players playing better offensively that Toews, Sharp, Hossa and Kane, all of whom rank in the top 14 in the league in scoring.

Toews has 17 goals and 32 points, Sharp 16 goals and 31 points. Hossa has 19 assists and 31 points, and Kane 23 assists and 31 points.

“We know that one night it’s going to be one or the other or maybe all of us to be relied on,” Toews said. “That’s our role, to go out there and make things happen.

“You always want to have a couple good dangerous lines. Lately it’s been a handful of guys scoring the goals.”

Among the Hawks who have been quiet lately offensively are Dave Bolland, Michael Frolik, Viktor Stalberg and Bryan Bickell.

Frolik has only 4 goals (2 of them empty-netters with the goalie pulled), and Bickell 3. Stalberg has been stuck on 5 goals despite playing regularly on the first line with Toews.

Bickell has been a healthy scratch for five straight games but likely gets back in the lineup Wednesday at Minnesota with Ben Smith going back to Rockford on Monday.

Hossa probably summed up the first 30 games the best:

“We know we haven’t played the way we would have liked to, but we’re winning hockey games.”

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 12.13.2011


Chelios hopes to be welcomed back in Chicago

Staff

Chris Chelios heard the cheers when he stood with his fellow U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductees at the Blackhawks’ game on Sunday night. But he figured it was a collaborative one and not so much for him.

“Yeah, it was good. They set it up so it was bullet-proof, putting all of us together at the same time,” Chelios said with a laugh.

Maybe, but it certainly sounded like that last rousing cheer, the one that came right after Chelios’ name was announced, was for him. It should have been, anyway. Because regardless of Chelios’ time with the Detroit Red Wings, he is still Chicago’s own.

Chelios was inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night, one night after he and the fellow inductees watched the Blackhawks beat the San Jose Sharks in overtime at the United Center. The last time Chelios was there, on his own Heritage Night, there were boos.

He hopes eventually he’s welcomed back completely.

“I hope everyone can forgive me for the Detroit thing. I just wanted to play hockey and that was the best situation for me,” he said. “I’m one of their own. I hope they’re proud of me for what I accomplished as a Chicago kid.”

The Evergreen Park product should be remembered for the entire body of work: the Stanley Cups, the All-Star and Olympic appearances and the 1996 World Cup of Hockey gold medal. Oh, and that longevity that has fellow inductee Keith Tkachuk calling him the “godfather of U.S. hockey.”

But Chelios said he deserves only so much credit.

“I don’t kid myself. People always ask, ‘How did you last so long?’ I was on great teams,” he said. “We won those Cups in Montreal… then to come to Chicago when things were going great, went to the finals and then Detroit, that was unreal to be traded to a team that won two (more) Cups. I wouldn’t have lasted that long if not for the skill level and success our teams had.”

And last night, at least, those cheers seem to have been for him.

“Last night saw about 30 friends I hadn’t seen in 35 years,” he said of his homecoming. “It’s amazing. They kept track of my career and how proud they were that one of their own had made it.”

Chelios vs. Tkachuk

Chelios and Tkachuk have been long-time friends, but that didn’t mean they didn’t have their on-ice skirmishes. Tkachuk remembered one at the old Chicago Stadium in which Chelios just about choked the life out of him.

“He got me in a headlock and I couldn’t breathe,” Tkachuk said. “I thought I was going to croak there, I was down to my last breath. He was strong for a little guy. We battled all the time but we’re really good friends.”

Chelios remembers that night, too.

“I had him; he jumped in a scrum late and I got him. I saw his face turning colors and I let him go right at the last second,” Chelios said. “I could’ve let him pass out if I wanted to and he knew it.”

A compliment to Toews

Chelios talked of the comparisons made between his former teammate Steve Yzerman and Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews. And he sees plenty.

“He could be (Yzerman’s) little brother or his kid,” said Chelios, who has trained with Toews in some summers. “He’s got that look. He’s great to watch. For a kid of his age, to wear the C and what he’s done and how he’s handled it, I love it. He’s going to be a great player for along time.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.13.2011


Blackhawks' Smith assigned to Rockford

Staff

The Blackhawks assigned forward Ben Smith to the Rockford IceHogs on Monday morning.

Smith, who was recalled during the Blackhawks' trek to Western Canada during their circus trip in November, had one goal in seven games with the Blackhawks. Smith was a healthy scratch for four games during his time in Chicago this season, getting back in the lineup against the New York Islanders on Dec. 2.

The Blackhawks will travel to Minnesota tomorrow and take on the Wild on Wednesday night.


600031 Colorado Avalanche

Avs' Johnson has to provide more production

By Adrian Dater

Erik Johnson stayed after practice for about 40 minutes Monday, spending the last few playing a game of "flip a puck into a small bucket" with Avalanche teammates Ryan O'Reilly, Brad Malone and Stefan Elliott. When the final puck found its way into the white bucket, Johnson threw his arms in the air and balanced on one leg.

Now, if that could just happen in a real game.

"I know I'm counted on to produce offense, to produce on the power play. I've never really been in kind of an offensive rut like this in my career," said the Avs defenseman, the team's key acquisition in a blockbuster trade with St. Louis last season. "I've just got to do a little bit better job of maybe jumping into the play a little more. I know some goals will come, but it's getting a little bit into the season now and I know I have to produce."

Johnson has yet to score a goal this season, through 25 games. While he has nine assists, the Avs could use some goals from him, or anyone else for that matter. With lots of ice time — his average of 21:58 per game is second-highest on the team — and plenty of power-play time, Johnson's lack of scoring has hurt the team.

But the Avs remain steadfast in their belief Johnson will come around. And, if the goals don't come, coach Joe Sacco will still be happy as long as Johnson is keeping goals out of the Avs' net. While his plus-minus number is not great — minus-14 entering tonight's game with San Jose — that statistic is probably a bit deceiving. Johnson has been on the ice for several empty-net goals that count against his stat line, and he has played most often against the other team's top lines.

Still, Johnson needs to be better if the Avs are to improve, and he and Sacco know it.

"We need more from Erik, there's no question. We need more from a lot of guys," Sacco said. "He's working hard, he's trying. He missed a little bit of time there (with a pulled groin) and he's putting in some extra work out there in the practices, and in the weight room he's working hard. Usually when you do that, your play will come back. Things will turn around for him. He's a big guy, and he's got to continue to focus on moving his feet."

Sacco does not want Johnson dwelling on his zero in the goal-scoring column.

"When you skate, when you're involved physically and you look after your responsibilities defensively, then everything else will take care of itself," Sacco said. "If you're worried about that part of the game , (scoring) as a defenseman, it just won't happen."

Johnson has size (6-foot-4, 232 pounds) and skill, enough so that he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 NHL draft with St. Louis. It has sometimes seemed, however, that he is caught between which style best suits his talents. Should he be a big, banging, stay-at-home D-man, or should he be up in the play all the time trying to score goals?

"I want to be good in my own end first and foremost," Johnson said. "But I could shoot the puck more than I have (55 shots overall). I expect more out of myself. It's no excuse. I've got to find a way. The only way I'm going to get better is to keep working at it, and keep working hard in practice."

Denver Post: LOADED: 12.13.2011

600032 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets' Mason set to get back in net

Career-high 12-game stretch without start expected to end against Canucks

By Shawn Mitchell

This was supposed to be the season that the goal-starved Blue Jackets took some pressure off their franchise goaltender, Steve Mason.

The team went on an offseason spending spree and acquired high-priced punch in the form of center Jeff Carter and defenseman James Wisniewski.

But the pour-it-on Blue Jackets have yet to materialize. Mason, often the victim of wave after wave of odd-man rushes and meager goal support, has paid the price.

His mediocre numbers of the past two seasons dipped during a horrendous autumn start. That led to a 12-game stretch on the bench when backup Curtis Sanford took over as the starter.

But Sanford’s red-hot run has cooled, so Mason finally is expected to get back out on the ice tonight against the Vancouver Canucks.

Mason’s return will be a big moment, both for him and the organization. Can the Blue Jackets give him the support he needs? Can the organization put its faith in him again?

“Hopefully I’ll get back in there and things will go well,” Mason said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Mason is 3-12-1 with a 3.63 goals-against average and .875 save percentage. Sanford is 5-4-3 with a 2.45 goals-against average and .909 save percentage, but he has allowed 16 goals in his past four games (1-2-1).

Sanford was signed to be the top goalie at minor-league Springfield, but projected No. 2 Jackets goalie Mark Dekanich has yet to play this season because of ankle and groin injuries.

Yet Sanford has been a surprise success. He has played at an elite level in most of his 12 starts, and the Jackets supported him with strong defense.

The Blue Jackets allowed an average of 3.71 goals in their first 17 games. They have allowed an average of 2.75 in their past 12.

Coach Scott Arniel said he expects the Jackets to play as well in front of Mason as they have in front of Sanford during their modest run of improvement.

“I think early in the year we were giving up a lot of scoring chances and a lot of goals,” Arniel said. “We left Steve a lot of times to fend for himself. This last stretch, we’ve been better as a group.

“We’ve really worked at trying to cut down on chances against and goals against. I don’t know why we wouldn’t do the same things (with Mason). Strong play in front of any goaltender gives you a chance to win hockey games.”

Sanford won’t complain about getting a night off. Twelve straight starts is a taxing stretch for any goaltender, he said. A focus on practice, rather than a game, will only help.

“I need to find a way to get back to what I was doing four or five games ago and just recapture that,” Sanford said. “You find time to fine-tune some things that maybe were eluding you for a little bit. It’s good to get back to work and work on some of those things.”

Sanford said every team needs two capable goaltenders.

“Everybody needs to play to stay sharp,” he said. “You’re seeing it more and more: (Goaltenders games played) numbers are dropping off. There are a lot of talented goalies in this league, and there is not that much of a drop-off (in backups) anymore.”

The 12-game respite has been the longest of Mason’s NHL career, but he has taken it in stride.

“I think the longest I’ve went without starting was four games in a row,” said Mason, who has not played since Nov.?15. “But it gave me a lot of time to work.”

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 12.13.2011


Notebook: Jackets want to limit penalties vs. Canucks

By Shawn Mitchell

The Blue Jackets are not among the few NHL teams that can match the skill of the Vancouver Canucks, but they will be wary of thugging things up against the defending Western Conference champions tonight in Nationwide Arena.

“What teams try to do is try to throw the skill off,” Blue Jackets coach Scott Arniel said. “Whether it’s (Ryan) Kesler or the (Sedin) twins, teams are trying to be very aggressive against those kinds of players.

“But you’ve got to be careful.”

Physical play leads to penalties, and the Blue Jackets would do well to limit the ice time of their woeful penalty-killing unit.

Vancouver is the top-scoring team in the West (3.31 goals per game) and has the strongest power play in the NHL (33 goals, 26.4 percent).

The Blue Jackets have the league’s worst penalty kill (73.7 percent).

“It’s a fine line you have to walk,” Arniel said. “You can go after people, but you better make sure you play within the rules. Their power play is extremely dangerous, and they can change the whole game on you.”

The Canucks are the NHL’s hottest team. They have outscored opponents 41-15 in their past 10 games, going 9-1-0 in the stretch.

The Blue Jackets worked on their defensive game during much of yesterday’s practice. The Canucks have scored at least four goals in each of their past six games.

“We talked about finishing our checks on their defense in their defensive zone because if you don’t, they’re coming 100 mph behind you, beating you up the ice,” Arniel said.

The Canucks have outscored the Blue Jackets 7-3 in two wins this season and are 6-0-3 against them in the past nine meetings. The Blue Jackets have not beaten the Canucks since Oct. 5, 2009.

Byers to debut

The Blue Jackets replaced injured forward Derek Dorsett with left winger Dane Byers yesterday.

Byers, 25, was recalled from minor-league Springfield and will make his Blue Jackets regular-season debut tonight.

The 6-foot-3, 204-pound forward had seven goals, eight assists and a team-leading 63 penalty minutes for Springfield.

Byers has one goal and 31 penalty minutes in six NHL games, all with the New York Rangers.

Dorsett suffered a left leg injury on Saturday and is considered day to day. He was walking with a slight limp yesterday in Nationwide Arena. He did not appear to be wearing any sort of protective boot.

Slap shots

Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash did not participate in practice. Arniel said he was given a “maintenance day.” … Goaltender Roberto Luongo is expected to start for the Canucks. He is 9-5-4 with a 2.25 goals-against average in 18 career games against the Blue Jackets. Corey Schneider started both previous games against the Blue Jackets this season. … The

Blue Jackets rank ninth in shots (31.9 per game) and seventh in shots against (28.6).



Jackets-Canucks preview

Canucks at Blue Jackets

7 TONIGHT

TV: Fox Sports Net; Radio: WBNS-FM (97.1)

Blue Jackets at a glance

• ?Past 10 games: 4-4-2

• ?Power play: 12.6 percent (27th in NHL)

• ?Penalty kill: 73.7 percent (30th)

• ?Injury update: RW Derek Dorsett (leg), LW Kristian Huselius (groin), D Radek Martinek (concussion), G Mark Dekanich (groin) out

Canucks at a glance

• ? Past 10 games: 9-1-0

• ? Power play: 26.4 percent (first in NHL)

• ? Penalty kill: 87.1 percent (fourth)

• ? Injury update: C Cody Hodgson (head) probable; LW David Booth (knee), LW Aaron Volpatti (shoulder), C Andrew Ebbett (foot), RW Byron Bitz (groin) out


600035 Dallas Stars

Heika: While Brad Richards thrives, Nieuwendyk is pleased with Stars' newcomers

By MIKE HEIKA

NEW YORK — It’s the never-ending drama of sports — how much are you willing to spend?

For the Stars last summer, they decided that spreading out their money for several players on short-term deals was smarter than trying to keep center Brad Richards on one long-term deal. So when Richards left July 1 to sign a nine-year, $60 million free-agent contract with the New York Rangers, Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk made his team over with a new coach and several tough role players.

The result is that both sides might be right. Nieuwendyk has the Stars leading the Pacific Division with one of the lowest payrolls in the NHL, while Richards has the Rangers near the top of the Atlantic with one of the highest. It will be a serious topic of discussion when the Stars play Tuesday at Madison Square Garden and meet Richards for the first time, but Nieuwendyk says it’s water under the bridge.

“It just seems so long in the past now,” he said. “Honestly, we’ve turned the page, and he’s turned the page, and we’re both moving forward.”

But have the fans moved on? Certainly, games such as Tuesday’s allow you to study the philosophy of how you’re spending. At the time, Nieuwendyk’s hands were tied by an uncertain ownership picture, so it was nearly impossible to offer up the deal that Richards signed. It pays him $12 million in each of the first two seasons, then lessens each season until Richards gets $1 million in the ninth season.

However, if Nieuwendyk could have shaped a contract with a $6.7 million cap hit, then maybe he could have fit Richards in and added some other players as well. Richards had a $7.8 million cap hit when he played in Dallas.

The problem is Nieuwendyk doesn’t really like contracts that go that long — an interesting insight now that the team does have a well-heeled owner in Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi.

“There are certainly exceptions, and you have to study every possibility to make your team better, but I just feel you are going to get your best talent by developing it,” Nieuwendyk said. “Players like Jamie Benn and Loui Eriksson, young players that we have coming up, that’s where the future has to be.”

Nieuwendyk said his goal is to win every season, and that’s why he is relying on veterans such as Brenden Morrow, Mike Ribeiro, Steve Ott and Stephane Robidas. It’s also why he put together a checking line of Eric Nystrom, Vernon Fiddler and Radek Dvorak that might just be the best part of the team right now.

“I believe we have a team that can win right now, but I also believe we can position ourselves going forward,” Nieuwendyk said. “We have at least four very good prospects who will likely move to Texas [of the AHL] next year. We have players developing there right now. We have guys like Jamie Benn and Tomas Vincour and Philip Larsen and Richard Bachman, who are helping us now. You have to build at several different levels, and you have to be patient.”

Of course, there’s always the drive for more in sports, and Nieuwendyk really hasn’t had the money to spend until now, so future free-agent classes will probably be bigger tests. After all, one of the reasons Richards signed with the Rangers was that he wanted a team that would spend to add players in addition to him.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 12.13.2011

600036 Dallas Stars

Former Star Miettinen agrees to join Lightning

From Staff and Wire Reports

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning have agreed to terms with free-agent forward Antti Miettinen on a two-year contract.

Miettinen started his career with the Dallas Stars after being a seventh-round pick 2000 NHL draft. He spent three full seasons and part of another with the Stars from 2003-08, scoring 38 goals and adding 53 assists in 238 games.

The team announced the move Monday.

Miettinen appeared in 20 games with Ak-Bars Kazan of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League this season. He played with Minnesota during the 2010-11 season when he had 16 goals and 35 points in 73 games. Miettinen spent three seasons with the Wild.

Miettinen has played in 472 NHL games overall with the Wild and Dallas, recording 89 goals and 212 points.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 12.13.2011

600037 Dallas Stars

Stars at Rangers preview

Staff

Stars at Rangers

6 tonight, Madison Square Garden, New York

TV: FSSW

Radio: KTCK/1310 AM

Records: Stars 16-11-1, 33 pts.; Rangers 17-6-4, 38 pts.

Notable: This is the teams' only meeting this season. ... Center Brad Richards left the Stars to sign a nine-year contract with the Rangers over the summer. He shares the team lead with 25 points. ... Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen is sidelined indefinitely with a lower-body injury. Backup Andrew Raycroft has won only two of nine starts and has a 3.53 goals-against average, which could lead to rookie Richard Bachman making his second start.

Star-Telegram LOADED: 12.13.2011

600038 Detroit Red Wings

Chris Chelios, four others inducted into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

Detroit Free Press News Services

CHICAGO -- Former Red Wing Chris Chelios led a class of five inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night.

The three-time Norris Trophy winner and four-time Olympian was joined by fellow defenseman Gary Suter, who played with Chelios at Wisconsin and for the Chicago Blackhawks, forward Keith Tkachuk, Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider and broadcaster Mike Emrick.


Chelios played for three Stanley Cup teams, one in Montreal and two in Detroit, in 26 seasons. Suter was the NHL's top rookie for Calgary in 1985-86. Tkachuk scored 538 goals in 19 NHL seasons.



"Cheli and I tangled at Chicago Stadium, got me in a headlock, and I couldn't breathe," Tkachuk said, grinning. "I was down to my last breath." Chelios remembered Tkachuk "turning colors. I let him go right at the last second, but I could have made him pass out easy if I wanted to. And he knew it."

Emrick got his pro start in sportscasting in 1973, when he was hired to do play-by-play for the Port Huron Flags of the IHL. Decades later, he still has boyish enthusiasm.

"I get in free, I still get a good seat for the game, and I still like doing that," said Emrick, who lives in St. Clair. "So until my bosses don't want me doing that, or I'm unhappy with my work, I'll do it."

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 12.13.2011


Red Wings trying to feeling at home on the road

By Ted Kulfan

“What are we doing at home that we’re not doing on the road?” Red Wings coach Mike Babcock asks.

“What are we doing at home that we’re not doing on the road?” Red Wings coach Mike Babcock asks. (The Detroit News)

Detroit— Winning at Joe Louis Arena hasn't been a problem for the Red Wings.

Winning on the road …

The Red Wings are 12-2-1 at home, but only 6-7-0 on the road.

This week, the Red Wings get two chances to prove they can win on the road — against two quality opponents.

"What are we doing at home that we're not doing on the road?" Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "Why can we play with the pace and tenacity we can at home, (but on the road) we've been fine but not as good? Is it matchups, is it special teams? What is that? We haven't been as good, and we have to find a way to be better."

Detroit plays at Pittsburgh tonight and at Central Division rival Nashville on Thursday.

A team that always has prided itself on being a good road team, the Red Wings view these games as tests.

"We want to (play) a little more like here (at Joe Louis Arena), a more faster and fast-paced game," Red Wings center Henrik Zetterberg said.

All the same to Conner

Chris Conner spent the last two seasons with the Penguins, scoring seven goals in 60 games last season.

The sides, however, parted ways last summer, and Conner joined the Red Wings as an unrestricted free agent.

But, he doesn't see tonight's game as any sort of payback.

"Any game … I want to prove I can play here and do what I can to help the team win," he said. "I'm going to treat it like any other game and play hard."

Conner (Westland) scored his first goal with the Red Wings last weekend, and continues to impress with his speed and relentless approach.

Penguins still good

The Penguins won't have Sidney Crosby (concussion) and Jordan Staal (lower-body injury) tonight, and played without Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for most of last season.

Yet, even without two of the best players in the NHL, the Penguins remained near the top of the standings last season — and this year. The Penguins have 38 points, one off the Atlantic pace.

"Great structure," Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall said of the reason behind the Penguins' success. "The coach (Grand Haven's Dan Bylsma ) has done a great job of making sure everyone is on the same page. They don't live or die with one guy."

Red Wings at Penguins

Faceoff: 7 tonight, Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh

TV/radio: FSD/97.1

Outlook: The Penguins are getting tremendous production from former Plymouth Whalers LW James Neal , among the league leaders with 17 goals. … C Evgeni Malkin (10 goals, 18 assists) and G Marc-Andre Fleury (15-6-2, 2.23 GAA) have been consistent.

Detroit News LOADED: 12.13.2011


RED WINGS: Crosby won't play for Pens tonight

By Chuck Pleiness

DETROIT – The one and only regular season meeting between the Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins will be played without one of the league’s top stars – Sidney Crosby.

Crosby will miss his third straight game tonight due to a recurrence of concussion-like symptoms after he was elbowed in the head by Boston’s David Krejci last Monday.

“You have to be sure with these sorts of things, careful and aware that I am 100 percent before I come back,” Crosby said during his media availability in Pittsburgh.

It’s not the news the Wings, who didn’t know Crosby’s status for the game after practice, were hoping for.

“He's the face of hockey, has been since he came into the league pretty much,” Niklas Kronwall said. “It's huge for the game of hockey to have a guy like him back. The way he came back, the whole league was watching that game, just enjoyed watching that game.”

In Crosby’s first game back, he had two goals and two assists against the New York Islanders.

“You want to see him healthy, you want to see him back playing,” Henrik Zetterberg said. “(The league) needs him. You saw those games he came back and played, the boost that came with it. You want him to be healthy and back playing. We all need him.”

“You want the star players to be playing,” Nicklas Lidstrom said. “To help promote the league and do everything they can to be on the ice. It's not good when the top guys aren't there.”

“Obviously, we'd like Sid to be playing, as a league you want him to be playing,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “I think you want all the good players every night. When you're playing another team, you want their best goalie, you want their best players.”

Crosby missed 61 games, dating back to last season and has played in just eight this season, recording a pair of goals and 10 assists.

Crosby did say he doesn't feel as bad as he did nearly a year ago.

“You want him playing,” Jimmy Howard said. “He's one of the best in the game. He's great for our sport. It hurts us when he's not playing. With that being said, they're still dangerous. (James) Neal is playing real well as is (Evgeni) Malkin.”

The Wings lost two meetings with the Penguins last season, both without Crosby in the lineup.

“There's a guy named Malkin who's pretty good, too,” Babcock said. “Malkin is a star, he won the Conn Smythe the year they won the Cup. They’ve got lots of good players. They're a good hockey team. Obviously, we'd like to have Sid in the game because it's important for the game. He's an elite, elite player. He does things the right away. You're cheering for him when you're not playing.”

Back in Pitt

Chris Conner played 68 games over two seasons with the Penguins before signing with the Wings this offseason.

“I'm going to treat it like any other game, go out there and play hard, but I'm excited and looking forward to it,” Conner said. “I don't know if it's any extra (motivation) but maybe a little bit.”

Conner played 60 games last season in Pittsburgh and had seven goals and nine assists.

“It's a matter of what I wanted to do,” Conner said when asked if Pittsburgh had offered him a contract prior to free agency. “They treated me great. It's a great organization there. Obviously, I got no complaints about how they treated me.”

Road woes

Last year, the Wings had a better record on the road than they did at home. This season, it’s the complete opposite.

Detroit is 12-2-1 at Joe Louis Arena and 6-7-0 on the road.

“What have we done at home that we're not doing on the road? Why can't we play with the pace and the tenacity we can at home? We've been fine, but we haven't been near as good,” Babcock asked. “Is that match-ups? Is that specialty teams? What is that? We’ve got to find a way to be better.”

One area one would think would account for such a poor record on the road is the Wings’ overall penalty-kill ranking, which is 22nd in the league. However, that’s not the case. Detroit’s penalty kill ranks 11th on the road and 26th at home.

“Whatever it is, we did just the opposite last year, did real well on the road,” Lidstrom said. “For whatever reason, we haven't played as well on the road. Last year we were a very patient team on the road, waited for opportunities. This year we haven't been able to do that.

“Specialty teams have been a big part of that too,” Lidstrom added. “Penalty killing hasn't been as strong on the road. When you let in a goal or two it's hard to score goals on the road.”

Macomb Daily LOADED: 12.13.2011

600041 Edmonton Oilers

Sutton fires back at NHL's unfair suspension appeal system

Oilers defenceman sitting out second multiple-game ban of season after head hit on Ponikarovsky

By Joanne Ireland

EDMONTON - Under a different structure, Edmonton Oilers defenceman Andy Sutton would have appealed his sentence.

But under the current collective bargaining agreement, his only recourse is to plead his case with commissioner Gary Bettman, who is the boss of all things NHL, including Brendan Shanahan, the senior vice-president of player safety.

"They make their decisions and unfortunately you have to live with them. I really don't have much recourse in any way shape or form," said Sutton, who spoke on Monday for the first time since his hearing with Shanahan.

Sutton received an eight-game suspension for charging Alexei Ponikarovsky of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Because it was his second suspension of the season, Sutton moves into the repeat offender classification and the salary he now loses is based on the number of games in a season (82) not days (185). In other words, he will forfeit over $207,000.

The five games he got for hitting Colorado Avalanche rookie Gabriel Landeskog in October, set him back $57,432. In total, he's lost almost 12 per cent of his $2,250,000 salary.

"In the new CBA we have to make strides to have an impartial arbitration committee," Sutton continued. "I'd have people on my side, the NHL would have theirs, and then we'd have an independent party make these decisions."

Sutton went to New York for his first hearing, but elected this time to do it by phone, convinced that it wouldn't alter the outcome.

NHLPA boss Don Fehr has stated that the system is flawed, that when a player is having his contract modified, there should be an impartial mechanism in place.

"If you get a parking ticket, you can contest it," he said on a recent interview with HNIC radio. "And it's not the same person who levies the penalty who gets to decide whether you're right and it's not somebody with whom he works, that gets to decide if you're right. So that's an issue."

The CBA expires at the end of this season so the NHLPA will have an opportunity to push for change.

So far, Shanahan, who replaced Colin Campbell with a mandate to crack down on shots to the head, has suspended 20 players - and Sutton twice - for a total of 28 pre-season games and 71 regular season games.

His rulings have been accompanied with video explanations. In Sutton's case, he said that the veteran left his feet and, in the act of charging, propelled Ponikarvosky's head into the glass. Ponikarovsky was not hurt on the play; Sutton received a boarding minor.

In 2010-11, through the pre-season, regular season and playoffs, a total of 32 suspensions were handed down. Players missed 134 games.

"I can appeal to Gary Bettman, but that's not going to change anything," said Sutton. "You're allowed to bring as many people as you want to defend you, but at the end of the day, it's just more opinions - and they are going to make theirs. It needs to change."

In the meantime, the Oilers will carry on without Sutton. He is eligible to return on Dec. 31 against the New York Islanders.

Head coach Tom Renney said that the team needs Sutton's physical presence while acknowledging that often an opponent will be compromised when challenged by the six-foot-six, 245-pounder.

"I don't ever want to pull the reins in on him, but we all have to try and play within the rules of the game," said Renney.

Sutton acknowledged that he's -always straddled the line and now he has to find a way to do it so he can stay in the lineup. He also said that players shouldn't be allowed to drop their heads and skate around with impunity, that there has to be more awareness on the ice.

"The way it's set up now, you can come (in for the hit), but with a slight body change, or if your timing is a hair off, it goes from being a good hit to a bad hit just like that," Sutton said. "When I hit (Jeff) Skinner at the end of that game, it could have gone the other way."

SHORT SHIFTS: Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, who last played in Friday's 4-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche was not on the ice Monday. Renney said it was nothing more than a chance to give the veteran a prolonged break from practice. Goaltending coach Frederic Chabot instead manned the net. ... Both winger Taylor Hall (shoulder) and defenceman Corey Potter (ankle) were active practice participants, indicating that one or both could be back in the lineup on Thursday against the Phoenix Coyotes. ... Defenceman Ladislav Smid, with fresh sutures holding together his busted up mouth, was getting treatment post practice and didn't speak about the stick that was slammed into his face in Saturday's 3-0 loss to the Calgary Flames. Hit by Olli Jokinen, Smid left a pool of blood on the ice, but did return for the third. "That looked pretty awful. He had a mouthful of blood there when he came off the ice ... but then again it's Ladi Smid so I guess (I wasn't surprised he came back)," said Renney.

Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 12.13.2011

600042 Edmonton Oilers

Sutton: Suspension process flawed

Oilers D-man wants appeal system

By DEREK VAN DIEST, QMI Agency

EDMONTON - Andy Sutton concedes the game has changed since he first broke into the NHL 13 years ago.

And as the league continues to hand out suspensions like beads at Mardi Gras, the Edmonton Oilers defenceman believes the disciplinary process should evolve as well.

Currently serving his second suspension this season, Sutton is at the totalitarian mercy of the league when it comes to how hard he's hit both on the ice and in the pocketbook.

"Obviously I wasn't very happy about it. They make the decisions and unfortunately we have to live with them. I don't have much in the way of recourse in any way, shape or form," Sutton said. "It's hard the way they have things set up now. You come in with the best of intentions and a slight body change by the guy you're hitting, or maybe timing, if your timing is a hair off, it goes from being a good hit to a bad hit, just like that.

"Even when I hit (Jeff) Skinner later in the game, it could have gone the other way if he just moved subtly in a certain direction. It's walking a fine line and I feel like I'm getting the brunt of it."

Sutton was issued an eight-game suspension by NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan for a hit on Carolina Hurricanes forward Alexei Ponikarovsky last Wednesday.

It comes just over a month after Sutton received a five-game ban for stepping into Colorado Avalanche rookie Gabriel Landeskog.

In total, the two suspensions will cost Sutton $264,749 in salary.

"At a certain point we have to start keeping our heads up and knowing who's on the ice," Sutton said. "You can't be skating around with your head down and not expected to get hit because everyone is going to get suspended. There has to be ownership all the way around. I feel like the guys are learning but we don't have the balance just right yet.

"It's changed so much since I started, in so many ways. So this is just another dimension for us to get used to."

Apart from the seemingly excessive suspensions being handed out by Shanahan this season, some for hits that have put others in the Hall of Fame, a growing concern among players is that there is no real appeal process in the league.

Shanahan's word is final and the inconsistencies in how suspensions have been handed out this year have led to confusion as to what's legal what's not legal Ñ what will cost a player three games and what will cost one eight.

On a few occasions this season, Shanahan has suspended players for hits that weren't penalized in the game.

"There absolutely should be (an appeal process)," Sutton said. "My only course of action is that I can appeal to Gary Bettman. That's not going to change anything. Going forward in the new CBA we have to make strides in that regard. We should have an impartial arbitration committee that's going to take a look at this have my people on my side, have the NHL on their side and have an independent party that's going to make these decisions. It's not just one guy making all these decisions."

Sutton was allowed to state his case on both occasions with Shanahan. The first time he travelled to New York to meet in person. In regards to the Ponikarovsky hit, Sutton spoke his piece over the phone.

Had Sutton believed he could have swayed Shanahan's opinion, the six-foot-six, 245-pound defenceman would have probably made the trip.

However, he's in a growing group of people around the game that is frustrated with the process.

"It's a big hot-button issue for the NHLPA going into the next negotiation, it has to be," Sutton said. "You can't have it set up when it's just Shanahan's decision and then your only course of action is to go to his boss, who has never played a game of hockey in his life. How is that a good setup? It's not.

"It's a flawed process, and it needs to be changed. You can't just go around taking people's money."

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 12.13.2011

600043 Florida Panthers

Florida Panthers rookie Erik Gudbranson sees the learning curve

By George Richards

At 19 years old, Erik Gudbranson is learning a lot about life, including his craft as a defenseman in the NHL.

Gudbranson played just his 24th professional hockey game Sunday. It came against the famed Rangers at the “world’s most famous arena.’’ It is at Madison Square Garden where the Panthers’ prized prospect-turned-regular might have learned more about what it takes to make it in the NHL than he did in any of his previous games or weeks of training camp.

The NHL is a league of give and take. In one moment, Gudbranson is celebrating after scoring his first NHL goal. Not long after, he’s limping off the ice after taking a couple of rough hits. Mind you, Gudbranson laid out some doozies of his own. Yet the picture of him slowly skating off the ice pretty much summed up Florida’s 6-1 loss to an unforgiving Rangers team that night.

“Some of the goals were bounces, some were mistakes,’’ Gudbranson said after a game in which he left with less than 10 minutes remaining. He said he sustained a charley horse and should be back in the lineup Tuesday against the Devils. “I take full responsibility for the third goal. It was just one of those games, and they’re tough to be in. You need to bounce back in the next one.’’

Like many of his teammates, Gudbranson will take home a souvenir from the big city. Although unlike his teammates who purchased watches, leather belts and expensive winter coats, Gudbranson likely will hold on to his keepsake from New York for a long time.

Like Keaton Ellerby did last season, Gudbranson scored his first NHL goal at the Garden against the Rangers. Like Ellerby, the team grabbed the puck after it went past Henrik Lundqvist so to present it to the rookie in a proper way.

Of course, an NHL equipment manager’s “proper way’’ is to put white stick tape around the rubber puck and write the puck’s significance on the tape with a black Sharpie. There will be no ceremony; Gudbranson likely will find the puck sitting in his locker Tuesday.

“It was nice to score. It was a good goal at the time, and it’s nice to get that monkey off my back,’’ Gudbranson said. “But it’s overshadowed by the night. This is a new league. Guys hit hard, and you have to hit harder. I took one in the corner. That’s the way it is.’’

The Panthers have high hopes for Gudbranson, a player considered part of Florida’s future success. The third overall pick in 2010, it appeared Gudbranson would play for the Panthers as an 18-year-old. But he and the Panthers couldn’t work out a contract, and Gudbranson was returned to his junior team. It was probably for the best.

Gudbranson played in Florida’s first 11 games before being “given a break,’’ by coach Kevin Dineen. Gudbranson watched six of the next 10 games from the press box as Ellerby replaced him in the lineup. Gudbranson got back on the ice on Nov. 23 and hasn’t sat since. He played in his 10th consecutive game Sunday.

“He’s played extremely well the past two weeks,’’ Dineen said. “I went through a long experiment, and I know it’s no fun for Keaton right now. ... I felt Gudbranson’s body of work was deserving of staying in the lineup. He’s building confidence.’’

• The Panthers put center Tim Kennedy on waivers Monday in order to return him to AHL San Antonio. Florida has been carrying an extra forward — center Mike Santorelli was benched Sunday — and could get Marcel Goc (concussion) back this week.

Miami Herald LOADED: 12.13.2011

600044 Los Angeles Kings

Kings' uninspired performance led to Terry Murray's dismissal

Helene Elliott

On a fine summer day in 2008, shortly after Terry Murray was appointed the 22nd coach in the Kings' rocky history, he predicted the course of the team's latest rebuilding process.

"You're going to have to go through a lot," he said. "A lot of pain. Hard nights, long nights, pain."

He was right. The under-talented Kings winced through much of Murray's first season while he stabilized the defense and instilled a sense of purpose, but they reaped the rewards by making the playoffs the next two seasons.

The reason he was fired Monday and that John Stevens will become No. 23 in a line of failed Stanley Cup seekers is that the Kings were enduring hard, long, painful nights again — this time with a high-salaried team whose skill level promised more than it was delivering.

Four straight losses in which the uninspired Kings scored six goals proved the tipping point for General Manager Dean Lombardi. He had tried to avoid this in deference to Murray's conscientious nature and unwavering class but on Sunday, with the Kings 12th in the West and averaging a league-low 2.24 goals per game despite the highest payroll in their history, he had no choice but to dismiss Murray and put Stevens in charge on an interim basis. Read that as until Darryl Sutter can take over.

For the first time in Lombardi's tenure the Kings faced pressure to win. They responded by finding ways to lose, and Murray's praise of one or two aspects of their game was ringing hollow. They anticipated making a big leap this season but were giving no indication they were capable of it.

"The challenge for a coach as well as players when you have expectations it's driven more to results. It's harder, at times, to look for those victories within losses. That's just the state of the franchise right now," Lombardi said

from Boston, where he flew Monday to deliver the news to Murray at the team's hotel.

"You could look for more of those things three years ago, but we're trying to push to the next level…. I do think we're at the stage of the franchise where you're going to be judged on wins and losses and playoff rounds. And that's where you strive to be. It's a lot easier when there's no expectations and with every win you can get a parade. We're not there right now, so it comes down to wins and losses."

As it should. In 2010 they were happy to make the playoffs for the first time in eight years and considered their six-game loss to Vancouver a learning experience. They believed they could beat San Jose last spring but were again eliminated in six games, a lateral move after a season of statistical stagnation.

They had big dreams this season after they acquired Mike Richards and signed Simon Gagne, but the promised flow of goals never materialized. Players felt stifled, frustrated, taking needless penalties and losing their prized discipline.

Married to a conservative style that didn't capitalize on the little speed he had up front and valued safety above creativity, Murray had taken the Kings as far as he could but not as far as Lombardi thinks they can go. It's entirely possible Lombardi has overestimated his assets but he's not ready to concede that. And with a payroll that brushes the salary-cap limit, importing an impact player wasn't an option.

As Kings governor Tim Leiweke noted before the season, parent company AEG has committed to paying Richards, Gagne and Drew Doughty $114.6 million, about $1.3 million more than it paid for the franchise in 1995. A tedious, predictable, cycle-the-puck-til-the-rubber-wears-out strategy and non-playoff standing wasn't the return AEG envisioned.

If Leiweke or anyone else pressured Lombardi into making this move, that's perfectly fine. Stevens will be the third coach to work for Lombardi following the too-impatient Marc Crawford and the noble but incomplete Murray. Lombardi has to get this coaching decision right or the next dismissal visit will be paid to his hotel room or office.

There is plenty of blame to be heaped on players, too. Doughty isn't nearly the player he was two seasons ago and isn't contributing enough offensively. Dustin Penner should have more than two goals and Justin Williams more than four. Anze Kopitar should have outgrown his streakiness. The third and fourth lines need to establish identities. And it's long past time to hear from Jarret Stoll.

Lombardi didn't mince words Monday in telling players they bore as much responsibility as Murray.

"It's simple. It sounds cliche-like but it's true. Ultimately the message is that they're accountable, and unfortunately the coach has to pay the price," Lombardi said. "But make no mistake that they're the ones who are accountable for this."

So is he, and it's time for him to live up to expectations with the right coaching pick and a season-saving turnaround. To fans so patiently waiting for the Kings to win the Cup, the alternative is simply unthinkable.

LA Times: LOADED: 12.13.2011


Terry Murray fired as Kings coach

By Lisa Dillman

There were signs as early as the fourth week of the season that the Kings were curiously flat, strangely "out of sync," according to their annoyed General Manager Dean Lombardi.

Those subtle signals morphed into a full-scale distress siren by the end of a stretch of four straight losses, three of which came at Staples Center, forcing Lombardi's hand. He boarded a plane Monday morning in Los Angeles, flew to Boston and fired his old friend Terry Murray, who stood one win away from 500 in his coaching career.

"It wasn't easy for both of us," said Lombardi, sounding downcast, on a conference call with reporters Monday afternoon. "I have such respect for the man. This was more than just business. This goes beyond that."

Lombardi said there was no final straw behind the decision, which was made Sunday. He said it didn't hit him "like a ton of bricks," rather the realization had been building and crystallized after 29 games.

It may have been difficult to deliver the message to Murray in his hotel room, but Lombardi had some especially pointed and tough words for his underachieving, flat-lining players, who scored a mere six goals in their recent losing streak.

King assistant John Stevens was named interim coach, and indications are that he is not among the candidates for the permanent position. Nearly all signs are pointing to Darryl Sutter, who once coached for Lombardi in San Jose, and later led the Calgary Flames to the Stanley Cup finals in 2004.

He was the general manager of the Flames until December of last season, leaving behind a legacy of derided trades and salary-cap woes for his successors.

Lombardi made no secret of his continued admiration for Sutter, chatting with a reporter in his office about his former coach. This was years ago and he said he thought the man from the famous hockey family would be the perfect fit to coach the kids in Los Angeles. But Sutter's Calgary position, at that time, prevented a reunion.

On the conference call, Lombardi was asked specifically about the Sutter option.

"Like I said, there's no timeline and we're looking at all options," Lombardi said. "Right now, I think that's as far as I can comment."

Murray, who remains under contract through the 2012-13 season, is the fifth NHL coach to be fired this season and the second in less than two weeks, joining the Ducks' Randy Carlyle, who was dismissed by Anaheim on Nov. 30.

Carlyle was fired after a Ducks win, and Murray was let go after conducting practice in Boston.

Individuals familiar with the situation and not authorized to comment said that the Kings have not contacted the Ducks for permission to talk to Carlyle, nor have they done so with the Pittsburgh Penguins in regard to assistant coach Tony Granato, a former Kings player.

"When you're in this situation, it is a very short list," Lombardi said.

The urgency for change has been building and only increased after the Kings slipped to 12th in the Western Conference standings as they dropped below .500 at home. They sit last in the NHL in goals per game, at 2.24, a disappointing output considering their summer spending spree on talent.

Murray's record with the Kings was 139-106-30, and he twice guided the Kings to the playoffs, losing in the first round both times, and is third all-time in wins among Kings coaches. He instilled a strong defensive philosophy and stabilized the Kings with a calm professional demeanor, following the stormy Marc Crawford era.

This midseason firing is not a typical Lombardi move.

He didn't fire Crawford when the Kings were stumbling in the midst of an eight-game losing streak in December of the 2007-08 season. Nor did he do so when they were officially eliminated from the playoff race in March that season.

In fact, the last major midseason coaching change by Lombardi came when he was still the general manager with the Sharks, firing Sutter on Dec. 1 after a slow start in 2002.

Nine years later, oddly enough, another midseason firing could very well end up reuniting Lombardi and Sutter.

LA Times: LOADED: 12.13.2011


Kings fire coach Terry Murray; GM Lombardi holds players accountable for dismissal

By J.P. Hoornstra Staff Writer

He compiled the best regular-season winning percentage of any coach in Kings history, helping transform a young, rebuilding franchise from a lottery-pick lock into a winner.

Yet as the expectations rose, Terry Murray couldn't coax the club to rise to the occasion.

After leading the team through practice in Boston, where the Kings will play the Bruins tonight, Murray was fired Monday afternoon and replaced with assistant coach John Stevens on an interim basis.

With a somber voice, general manager Dean Lombardi expressed a heavy heart over the decision. "Unfortunately the coach has to pay the price," he said, "but make no mistake, (the players) are the ones who are accountable for this."

During the past two regular seasons, the Kings posted their best two-year run ever with 101 and 98points, respectively. In all, Murray went 139-106-30 (.560 winning percentage) after succeeding Marc Crawford in 2008-09.

Last summer Lombardi went on a spending spree, adding center Mike Richards via trade and left wing Simon Gagne via free agency. A team record eight-year, $56 million contract for restricted free agent Drew Doughty brought the Kings near the salary cap ceiling for the first time in the post-lockout era.

But the team struggled to score en route to a 13-12-4 start, averaging an NHL-worst 2.21 goals per game. The Kings scored just eight goals in five games to start December, losing the past four.

"With the

expectations this year, it becomes more results-oriented," Lombardi said. "We're at the stage of the franchise where you're going to be judged on wins and losses and playoff rounds."

There too, Murray may not have inspired much confidence for what was expected to be a long playoff run in 2012. The Kings were eliminated in ix games in the first round of the playoffs each of the past two seasons - to the San Jose Sharks in April and to the Vancouver Canucks the year before.

That merely fueled speculation the Kings needed a new voice, someone with more urgency and a better offensive vision than the 61-year-old Murray, who preached patience and an emphasis on defensive fundamentals.

Stevens, 45, was on the other side of the axe in 2009, when Philadelphia fired him 25 games into the season. He was hired by the Kings as an assistant coach in 2010.

Stevens guided the Flyers to a 120-109-34 record from 2006-09, not including an 11-12 record in the playoffs. The Flyers upset Washington and Montreal in Stevens' only trip to the playoffs in 2008, before losing to Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference championship series.

The Flyers were 13-11-1 when Stevens was replaced with Peter Laviolette in December 2009.

Lombardi hinted the door is open to hire a permanent replacement from outside the organization, saying, "it's a very short list."

Other than Stevens, that list could very well include former Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter. As the Sharks' general manager, Lombardi hired Sutter in 1996; the two were separately dismissed from San Jose during the 2002-03 season.

Sutter's last NHL job came as general manager in Calgary, a post he held from 2003 until he resigned in December 2010. Asked directly about Sutter, Lombardi merely said, "There's no timeline. We're looking at all our options."

Randy Carlyle has something Sutter doesn't - a Stanley Cup championship, which he won in 2007 with the Ducks. However, he might be considered a longshot for the job since he hasn't worked with Lombardi as a coach in the NHL or American Hockey League. Carlyle was fired by the Ducks on Nov. 30.

Lombardi said he made the decision to fire Murray on Sunday, a day after the Kings lost at home to Dallas, then flew to Boston and delivered the news in person.

"I think the last homestand it was kind of like the end of it," Lombardi said.

The decision did not come easily to the veteran GM.

"We always use the cliche `It's a business.' This was more than business," Lombardi said. "This goes beyond that. That was difficult even if you're using the business approach. There's a very good man in here and nobody likes to be the bearer of this type of news."

LA Daily News: LOADED: 12.13.2011


Midseason replacements: do they work?

Posted by Rich Hammond

Today, Terry Murray became the fifth NHL coach to be fired this season. How has it worked out for the other four? Well, mixed bag.

– St. Louis was 6-7-0 when it fired Davis Payne. Ken Hitchcock is 11-2-3.

– Carolina was 8-13-4 when it fired Paul Maurice. Kirk Muller is 1-5-0.

– Washington was 12-9-0 when it fired Bruce Boudreau. Dale Hunter is 3-3-0.

– Anaheim was 7-13-4 when it fired Randy Carlyle. Boudreau is 1-3-1.

So, among the four, only St. Louis has improved thus far, although that has been a dramatic improvement. We’ll see where the Kings end up. Also, for an interesting conversation between two great hockey pundits about today’s news, check out this story from ESPN.com’s Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.13.2011


Lombardi conference call highlights


I’ll have the full transcript of Dean Lombardi’s conference call shortly, but here are some highlights…

– Lombardi said he had no timetable for hiring a full-time coach, but said, “we are looking at all our options.” Lombardi was asked directly about Darryl Sutter, but only repeated the looking-at-options line and indicated that he had a short list of candidates.

– Lombardi met with the players after firing Terry Murray and said, “They’re accountable. Unfortunately, the coach has to pay the price, but make no mistake, they’re the ones accountable for this.”

– Lombardi said he informed Murray of his firing around 4 p.m. local time. Lombardi said there was no moment that led him to dismiss Murray, not “one glaring moment,” but called it “something that builds up.”

– Lombardi acknowledged that some of the Kings’ young players have not met expectations, but said ”Greene and Brown certainly have to look at themselves as much as the young guys.”



It’s Stevens, but for how long?


What a circle of coaching life it has been for Terry Murray and John Stevens. Early in the 2006-07 season, Ken Hitchcock was fired as the

Philadelphia Flyers’ coach and was replaced by Stevens, who had been head coach of Philadelphia AHL’s affiliate. Stevens retained Murray, who had been an assistant coach under Hitchcock. Murray and Stevens spent two seasons together before Murray left to coach the Kings in 2008. Then, 26 games into the 2009-10 season, Stevens was fired. The following summer, Murray hired Stevens to replace Mark Hardy as an assistant coach. Now, Stevens takes over for Murray on an interim basis.

From what I’ve come to understand, the Kings don’t see Stevens as their long-term coach. Keep an eye on the whereabouts of Darryl Sutter in the next few days. Dean Lombardi is very close with Sutter and, as GM in San Jose, hired Sutter in 1997. Sutter left the coaching ranks after the 2005-06 season, as he went from coach/GM to GM, and he left that role last December. I’ll never forget the exchange I had with Lombardi, at the press conference to announce his hiring as Kings’ GM in 2006. It went like this…

Question: “In terms of qualities, what will you be looking for in a coach?”

Lombardi: “Darryl.”

Sutter, at that time, was still the coach in Calgary.



Terry Murray fired; Stevens interim coach


The Kings will announce shortly that Terry Murray has been fired as coach and that John Stevens will take over as interim coach. Dean Lombardi will be available to the media today, so stay tuned for further quotes and information…



Penner has seen it all before


Dustin Penner certainly has seen a lot in his 5 1/3 seasons in the NHL. He’s been on a Stanley Cup championship team, with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007, and on an Edmonton Oilers team that won only 27 games in 2009-10. Talk about the highs and lows… And while Penner, personally, seems to be getting himself on track — he has put together three solid games in a row — the Kings haven’t been scoring or winning. Today, Penner gave some reflections and tried to put things in some perspective…

PENNER: “If you look at it, as a whole, every team I’ve been on it’s the same kind of story at some point (in the season). Can’t score, power play… It happens every year. It’s just the trials and tribulations that you go through, unless you’re the Red Wings or something. But even them, they had a slump early on. It’s all about how you bounce back, and that’s what we’re faced with now.’’

Question: You’ve been on some really successful teams and some really unsuccessful teams. Looking at things here, what does it take to get this turned around?

PENNER: “Obviously we have the personnel here. Every team goes through injuries. Because goals are coming easily, you have to go out there and will them into the net. Like with Dallas, the puck goes off a skate. Maybe it hits off my body and bounces onto Brownie’s stick. We’ve got to get ugly goals, and when you get enough ugly goals, that usually translates into a few pretty ones.’’

Question: That’s like the saying, `You earn your luck.’ Work hard enough, and the luck evens out eventually…

PENNER: “Yeah. We’re being tested now. We’re working hard, but the hockey gods really want us to earn it.’’



Murray: Approach doesn’t change


Any time a team goes through a rough stretch, the “hot seat’’ enters the coach’s room. The process is accelerated, of course, when a team saddled with high expectations does not match them. Terry Murray, a member of the coaching fraternity since the early 1980s, is no stranger to this, so he can’t be surprised to see his name surface in potential-firing reports, with the Kings now sitting in 12th place in the Western Conference. Murray has twice been fired mid-season, by Washington and Florida, and he was on the other side of it, taking over for his brother, Bryan, who was fired in Washington during the 1989-90 season. Today, Murray was asked whether hearing his name surface in firing reports makes it more difficult to do his job on a day-to-day basis…

MURRAY: “No, it doesn’t make it any more difficult. We’re trying to win hockey games. I’m going to approach every game and every practice the same as if we had seven or eight wins in a row. You want to win the next one. So that’s the approach that I take every day, every game. I like the way we’re playing. The effort, the compete, the intensity, the chances that we’re getting, everything is in place. We just have to find a way to get a `W.’

“We had a meeting here before practice. We have to know that we are playing good. That’s why I want to show it and talk about it. You know, with a young group of guys, you want them to go on the ice and have some fun with the game, too. You want to play instinctive hockey and not become, in any sense, a robotic team, where you’re so stationary and hesitant that now you do look really out of place. We want to play the right way, play instinctively, and get after the puck, hunt it down and make sure we’re doing the right things. I think that’s where we’re at.’’

To that end, perhaps getting on the road is a good thing for the Kings. Being at home certainly was not. The Kings were in California for three weeks straight — including one trip to Anaheim — went 2-5-0 and didn’t score more than two goals in a single game.

MURRAY: “It was a long time at home. I guess they felt sorry for us, after the European trip, and wanted to give us some games there. We’re a good road hockey club. We’ve been able to show that over the time that I’ve been here. We played extremely well in the month of February, last year, in a difficult time. That’s what we need to start to get back to right now, is playing a more relaxed game, in the sense that you don’t have to feel the need to put on a show. I don’t know if that’s part of the issue with us or not, but when I take a look at our home games, over last year and this year, there seems to be something, emotionally, that we need to deal with a lot better, to play that relaxed game.’’



Monday practice update


The Kings will go with the lines they used in practice, and there will also be tweaks to the power play, with Slava Voynov joining Drew Doughty on the blue line on the first unit. Jonathan Quick will start in goal. More notes and quotes to come, including Terry Murray’s thoughts on whether “hot seat” reports make it more difficult for a coach to do his job.



Monday practice; new lines


Here’s how the Kings are lined up this morning…

Gagne-Kopitar-Penner

Brown-Stoll-Williams

Richardson-Loktionov-Hunter

Clifford-Fraser-Lewis/Westgarth

Scuderi-Doughty

Mitchell-Voynov

Johnson-Greene

Martinez/Drewiske

Also, in an email, Kings governor Tim Leiweke declined to comment on any potential team-personnel changes. All normal on the ice this morning.



Kings practice in Boston


Having arrived in Boston yesterday, the Kings will practice at TD North Garden today at 12:30 p.m. local time. As of now, there is zero indication that any coaching change is on the horizon today, but no doubt that will remain a topic of conversation, reports and rumors as long as the Kings struggle. Per road-trip plan, Dean Lombardi and Ron Hextall are to arrive later today.


600056 Minnesota Wild

A new Jet age takes flight in Winnipeg

Hockey-mad Winnipeg got its wish with the return of the NHL. Tonight, the Wild will get an up-close taste of a Jets party that's only beginning.

Article by: KENT YOUNGBLOOD , Star Tribune

Tony DaCosta remembers it as clearly as a Manitoba winter night.

April 28, 1996. It was a Sunday. The final NHL game in Winnipeg.

Through that winter, no matter where you went in southern Manitoba, you saw this: S.O.J. Save Our Jets. But the Winnipeg Jets were victim of an old arena, a crummy exchange rate for the Canadian dollar and a recession.

And a loss in Game 6 of a first-round playoff series against Detroit on that late April day ended the 23-year love affair for Jets fans.

DaCosta, a Winnipeg native, is the Wild's equipment manager. Back then, he was working for the Jets.

"People were bawling their eyes out," he said. "It's something I'll never forget. It was a dark day."

For the final 15 minutes of the game, the fans at old Winnipeg Arena stood and yelled. It was not a cheer, but a roar that continued after the final horn.

The fans were saying goodbye. The players returned to the ice for a farewell.

And that was it.

Winnipeg was a small market -- it still has only 633,000 people -- in a league looking for big impact. The team was moving to Phoenix, but this wasn't only about the loss of a team. It was about the loss of the NHL, the most important sport in Canada, for a city with a great hockey heritage.

"That was a tough moment for the community," said Don Baizley, a long-time NHL agent and a Winnipeg native. "Most people here in Winnipeg would have told you it was over. We'll never get a team back.''

Of course, this story has a happy ending. Tuesday night, the Wild will play in Winnipeg. It will be the first time a Winnipeg team has played host to a Minnesota squad in an NHL game since Feb. 28, 1993, when the first-generation Jets beat the North Stars -- themselves fleeing to Dallas -- 7-6 behind four goals by Teemu Selanne.

Wild players and coaches will see a spectacle.

Hockey is back. There has been a party atmosphere since news of the Thrashers' move from Atlanta was announced in May. On that day, down by the waterfront in an area known as The Forks, pickup games of street hockey broke out. Season tickets were sold only in three- to five-year packages. All 13,000 seats were gone in minutes.

Hundreds of fans line up outside the MTS Centre -- which opened in 2004 and has a seating capacity of 15,000 for hockey -- for morning skates, hoping to get autographs.

When the words "true north" come up during the pregame Canadian national anthem, the crowd roars the words, a tribute to True North Entertainment, which owns the team and the arena and was responsible for getting the NHL back.

"That franchise was dying on the vine in Atlanta," said Lou Nanne, who played, coached and ran the North Stars during his career. "They'll get more fans in Winnipeg in a night than Atlanta got in a month. That is a fanatical hockey town, and they deserve this."

Hull and heritage

Winnipeg jumped into the hockey big-time when the World Hockey Association was formed in 1972.

The WHA made a splash by targeting talent from the NHL, where the average salary was about $25,000, lowest among the four North American major pro leagues. The brand-new Winnipeg Jets made the biggest splash, signing Chicago Blackhawks superstar Bobby Hull to a 10-year, $2.75 million contract.

The Jets became a super team by tapping into European talent all but snubbed by the NHL. Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson teamed with Hull to become a high-scoring line. Lars-Erik Sjoberg and Veli-Pekka Ketola became standouts in the upstart league.

"The Jets showed how you could combine the European and North American styles," former Wild assistant GM Tommy Thompson said. "When the Edmonton Oilers won their first Stanley Cup, Glen Sather said he modeled his team after the Jets of the early '70s. I don't think fans realized how good they had it at the time."

The Jets won three WHA titles, including the last one, in 1979, when they bested an Oilers team featuring a high-scoring rookie named Wayne Gretzky. After that season four WHA teams -- the Jets, Oilers, New England Whalers (who were renamed the Hartford Whalers) and Quebec Nordiques -- were absorbed into the NHL.

After early struggles in the NHL, the Jets, led by Hall of Famer Dale Hawerchuk, became regular playoff qualifiers. But playing in the same division as Edmonton and Calgary made things tough. And trouble was coming. The NHL was expanding, costs and salaries were rising.

With no new arena coming and no local buyer stepping forward, the team was sold to American businessmen Steven Gluckstern and Richard Burke. They originally planned to move the team to Minnesota to fill the void created when the North Stars moved to Dallas. But the Jets ultimately ended up in Phoenix and became the Coyotes.

DaCosta made the move with the team. But he was well aware of the devastation the move left behind.

"Their population went down," DaCosta said. "A lot of young people left. Winnipeg wasn't a major league city any more. The identity of the city was gone."

The long road back

Help in getting the NHL back came in the form of Mark Chipman and David Thomson.

Chipman, a lawyer and Winnipeg native, helped form True North Sports & Entertainment in 2001 with simple goals: Build a downtown arena, revive the city's core and, maybe, get an NHL team back. Chipman already owned the Manitoba Moose, a minor league team he lured from St. Paul.

By 2004 the MTS Centre was finished, built for $133.5 million on land acquired from a real estate firm owned by Thomson, a Toronto billionaire who got a minority share in True North in exchange for the land. The rink was 70 percent privately financed.

By 2007 Chipman was making presentations about bringing the NHL to Winnipeg through relocation or expansion. For a while, it seemed the Coyotes would be a logical team to move, but True North eventually drew a bead on the Thrashers. On May 31, that deal was announced.

The NHL has been back in Minnesota for more than a decade. So fans who mourned the loss of the North Stars probably can understand the emotion. Then again, maybe not. Hockey is a near-religion in Canada. And in Winnipeg, it is the main event.

When the Jets played their first home exhibition game the fans were in regular-season form.

"It's almost like 15 years of vented emotion -- I don't know if it's anger or whatever," coach Claude Noel said after listening to the crowd sing "O Canada" before the game. "It just gave you goosebumps, like everybody was singing. It was beautiful."

The Prime Minister was there for the regular-season opener, when a commemorative 50-cent Canadian coin was unveiled.

"This is not unlike Minnesota," Baizley said. "You lost the North Stars, then got the Wild back. The intensity of the building when the Wild first came back, I just marveled at that. And now you're seeing that here. It's tremendous. There is so much intensity in this building."

Winnipeg is revitalized. A new airport in October. A new stadium for the Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League is being built, as is a $310 million Canadian Museum of Human Rights.

"There are a whole lot of things that are badges of honor for this community," Baizley said. "What has topped all of that off is the NHL coming back."

Of course, the weather still is daunting.

Former North Stars defenseman Brad Maxwell played a lot of games in Winnipeg. He has two strong memories: "It was colder than hell, but a great place for hockey," he said.

"My son Sean just graduated from the University of Winnipeg, and his girlfriend works for the Jets. The fans there are incredible."

Star Tribune LOADED: 12.13.2011


Game Day: Wild at Winnipeg

KENT YOUNGBLOOD

Preview: The Wild has won seven consecutive games overall and seven in a row on the road. ... The Jets had a four-game winning streak (all at home) end with a 7-1 loss at Detroit on Saturday.

Players to watch: Wild C Mikko Koivu has goals in his past three games and has points in 11 of his past 12 games (6-10--16). W Dany Heatley has points in six in a row (3-3--6). C Kyle Brodziak is coming off his second two-goal performance in his past five games. G Niklas Backstrom has won four consecutive starts. ... For Winnipeg, LW Evander Kane leads the team with 24 points. He has seven goals in his past eight games. Minnesota natives

Dustin Byfuglien and Blake Wheeler are second and tied for third on the team in scoring. Wheeler has seven points in his past seven games. C Bryan Little has goals in three games in a row. G Ondrej Pavelec is 10-10-4 this season.

Numbers: The Jets are 9-4 at the relatively small MTS Centre (capacity: 15,004) and have won eight of their past nine there. The Wild's seven-game road winning streak is the NHL's longest this season. It has 22 road points, most in the league.

Injury update: The Wild had several players return to practice Monday, including D Marek Zidlicky (concussion), W Guillaume Latendresse (concussion), D Justin Falk (upper body) and G Josh Harding (whiplash), who all were cleared to play, although they likely will not suit up against the Jets. W Cal Clutterbuck (charley horse) is back after missing two games and will skate with the Wild's top line with Koivu and Heatley. Devin Setoguchi (lower body) will miss his third consecutive game. ... For Winnipeg, C/RW Aaron Gagnon (undisclosed), D Derek Meech (lower body), D Tobias Enstrom (broken collarbone) and D Ron Hainsey (lower body) are all on injured reserve. RW Eric Fehr (shoulder) is questionable.

Star Tribune LOADED: 12.13.2011


First visit to Winnipeg with Wild rekindles old memories for Mike Yeo

By Ben Goessling

As a veteran of the now-defunct International Hockey League, Wild coach Mike Yeo knew St. Paul and Winnipeg when both cities were scorned hockey markets trying to keep the flame alive through minor league teams - or rather, one minor league team.

A year after Norm Green moved the North Stars to Dallas in 1993, the Minnesota Moose began play in the old St. Paul Civic Center. They had a handful of recognizable names - 1980 Olympic gold medalist Dave Christian among them - but the Moose lasted just two seasons before moving to Winnipeg, where they would play as the Manitoba Moose.

The team arrived there in the first season after the NHL's Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix, following an unsuccessful attempt to relocate to Minneapolis. The Moose played in Winnipeg for 15 seasons, posting some of the best attendance marks in the minors, but the city never stopped trying to get another NHL team.

Now Winnipeg has one again, and Yeo - who played against the Moose in both St. Paul and Winnipeg as a member of the Houston Aeros - is taking his red-hot hockey team to another resurgent NHL market.

The Wild will make their first trip to the MTS Centre tonight, facing the new-look Jets for the first time since they relocated from Atlanta this summer. The Wild and Jets will be in the same division once NHL realignment is complete next season, re-igniting a rivalry from the old Norris Division. For now, though, it's significant enough that Winnipeg is back in the NHL.

"People

are just real excited to have their team back," Yeo said. "It's not one of the biggest rinks, but it's a loud building....It's going to be a great challenge going up there."

Yeo also coached in Winnipeg last season when the Aeros faced the Moose. As good as the crowds might have been then, he knows to expect something different this time.

The Jets have played in front of capacity crowds in all 13 of their home dates this year and have the ninth-best home record in the league, despite a 4-8-4 road record that has them tied for 10th in the Eastern Conference.

"Whenever you go up to a Canadian city, much like playing in Minnesota, the game is so important up there," Yeo said. "They have an awful lot of pride in their team, having their team back, and every game they've had, there's been excitement right from the drop of the puck."

Clutterbuck ready: Forward Cal Clutterbuck, who missed the past two games because of a leg injury, said he is ready to play tonight, and Yeo said Clutterbuck will return to the Wild's top line.

Clutterbuck's return will be the only change to the lineup, however. Guillaume Latendresse, Marek Zidlicky and Justin Falk all skated Monday, but Yeo wants to give them more time before they return.

"Today was their first practice," Yeo said. "Their conditioning looks good. I was happy with what I saw from them today. But going into tomorrow, 'Clutter' will be the one change."

Hackett, Kuemper honored: Goaltender Matt Hackett, who won his first two NHL starts with Josh Harding out last week, was named the league's second star of the week. Hackett set an NHL record with a 102:48 shutout streak to start his career. He took a Brad Staubitz shot off the side of his face mask in practice Monday, but was on the flight to Winnipeg.

Houston goalie Darcy Kuemper, who posted a 2-0-2 record and 0.96 goals-against average after Hackett was called up, won AHL Player of the Week honors.

Pioneer Press LOADED: 12.13.2011


Minnesota Wild's Hackett selected NHL's second star

Ben Goessling

Minnesota Wild goaltender Matt Hackett, who won his first two NHL starts with Josh Harding out last week, was named the league's second star of the week. Hackett set an NHL record with a 102:48 shutout streak to start his career. He took a Brad Staubitz shot off the side of his facemask today, but was on the Wild's flight to Winnipeg.

Houston goalie Darcy Kuemper, who posted a 2-0-2 record and 0.96 goals-against average after Hackett was called up, also won AHL Player of the Week honors.



Minnesota Wild's Clutterbuck to return Tuesday night

Pioneer Press

Minnesota Wild Forward Cal Clutterbuck, who missed the past two games with a leg injury, said he is ready to play on Tuesday night, and Yeo said Clutterbuck will return to the Wild's top line.

Clutterbuck's return will be the only change to the Wild's lineup, however. Guillaume Latendresse, Marek Zidlicky and Justin Falk all skated today, but Yeo wants to give them more time before they return.

"Today was their first practice," Yeo said. "Their conditioning looks good. I was happy with what I saw from them today. But going into tomorrow, 'Clutter' will be the one change."


600061 Montreal Canadiens

Kaberle enters Bell Centre on home side

BILL BEACON

Tomas Kaberle had some of his best games at the Bell Centre playing against the Montreal Canadiens for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Now, he'll see how it is to be part of the home team.

The veteran defenceman, who was acquired last Friday in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes, will wear his No. 22 Habs jersey at home for the first time Tuesday against the visiting New York Islanders.

"I'm happy here. I always loved to play against Montreal and now I'm playing for them," the 33- year-old said Monday. "There have been some up and downs.

"Obviously, I want to show I can play and this is the right spot. A Canadian team. Original Six. You're always under the microscope. I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Kaberle, playing on his fourth team in 10 months, won't know what kind of welcome awaits him at his new home rink until he skates onto the ice.

When the deal was announced, it was savagely panned by fans and media who pointed to the Czech defenceman's weak play that started last season and carried into his first 29 games with Carolina, who signed him to a three-year contract paying $4.25-million (U.S.) per season as a free agent in July.

His detractors were stunned to see Kaberle have an instant impact on Montreal's moribund power play, as he picked up two assists in the Canadiens' 2-1 victory in New Jersey last Saturday.

It was only one game, but for the first time in months he looked like the strong puck mover and clever power-play quarterback he was in his best days with the Leafs.

And after collecting four assists in his final two games with Carolina, he has six points in the last three.

"I'll do my best here and work hard, that's all I can control," he said. "Hopefully, I'll fit in well with my new teammates."

The Canadiens needed the help. After going 1-for-5 in New Jersey they remain 28th in the 30-team league on the power play with an 11.8-per-cent success rate.

Kaberle started a play that led to Max Pacioretty's power-play goal, and got another assist when Erik Cole scored just after a man advantage ended.

P.K. Subban, who played the point with the new rearguard, was impressed with Kaberle's skill and smarts at getting the puck to the right teammate at the right time.

"A little dish and the puck's in the back of the net," Subban said. "He does that really well.

"Growing up in Toronto, I hate to say it, but I watched him do it really well with the Leafs for a long time. ... So you know he's a great player and I look forward to playing with him."

Montreal has badly missed Andrei Markov, who suffered his second torn anterior cruciate ligament in as many seasons last November. The Russian signed a new three-year contract in the summer, and was expected back for the start of the season, but setbacks have pushed his return to after the all-star break in January.

Last December, general manager Pierre Gauthier reached out for point man James Wisniewski to fill the Markov void. This time, it was Kaberle, who was acquired in exchange for veteran defenceman Jaroslav Spacek.

Things have not gone well for the native of Rakovnik, Czech Republic, since before the Leafs dealt him to Boston on Feb. 18 for prospect Joe Colbourne and two draft picks.

Kaberle never fit in with the Bruins, and certainly didn't help their struggling power play even if the team ended up winning its first Stanley Cup since 1972.

In Carolina, he looked sluggish at the start of the season. Kaberle feels he has started to find his groove this month.

It was too late for the Hurricanes, as GM Jim Rutherford said signing Kaberle was a mistake.

Kaberle was aware of Rutherford's comments and doesn't dispute he was a disappointment in Carolina.

"I know I didn't have a good start to the season but the last two or three weeks I felt a lot better," he said. "I felt my game was coming along and I hope I can maintain that and get even better."

Toronto Globe And Mail LOADED: 12.13.2011


Montreal Canadiens' P.K. Subban puts emphasis on defence

By PAT HICKEY

MONTREAL - If you think P.K. Subban's game has changed from last season, you're right.

And the young defenceman and head coach Jacques Martin are both delighted with the change.

There are fewer end-to-end rushes and you won't see Subban trying to elude the forecheck with a spin move. And Subban is committed to being a defenceman.

"For my team, you look at the amount of minutes, I'm playing, they don't need me rushing the puck every shift or extending my shifts or leading the cycle in the offensive zone," Subban said. "The offence will come. I know I can jump in the rush and create more, but it's picking your spots."

Subban's progress can be measured with statistics. Last season, he was minus-8. This season, he's a plus-4 and he and partner Josh Gorges have been charged with playing against the top opposition line. Going into Tuesday night's home game against the New York Islanders (7:30 p.m., TSN-A, RDS, TSN Radio0-990), Subban averages a team-high 24 minutes a game while Gorges is close behind at 22:31.

"I'm happy to hear it," Martin said with a smile when told that Subban as putting defence first.

"It's something that people don't see," Martin said. "I mentioned numerous times last season that P.K. had a good second half of the year and it wasn't because of his points. It was more of his commitment to playing well away from the puck.

"If you look at his combination with Josh Gorges, they've been one of the better pairs in the National Hockey League as a shutdown pair. At times, he'll make a crucial mistake and show a lack of maturity and you get upset. But I appreciate the way he's committed to playing 5-on-5 and working at improving his game. He's been much better when you look at the last stretch of games than the early part."

Subban agrees.

"I try not to make the same mistakes," he said. "I try to evaluate my game every 10 games. I remember the first 10 games, I made a lot of the same mistakes I made last year. Whether it was a lack of focus or coming out of training camp and not having participated in camp that much. But the 10 games after that, I changed my game completely. It was a 360-degree turnaround and it's been good since then."

The 22-year-old Subban said he has benefitted from his experience.

"Playing against the first line isn't the easiest thing," he said. "They're going to score goals on you. But with a couple of more games under your belt, you gain maturity (and) you get an idea how certain players play. When you play against (Ilya) Kovalchuk, you find out what his tendencies are. Last year, I kind of got thrown into the fire and the next thing you know, (Sidney) Crosby is doing spinoramas against you.

"Me and Josh have looked at videos on players and that's why we've been successful this year."

As for offence, Subban said: "You want to contribute, but you have to put the team first. You want to do more and I know I can help the team offensively, but those opportunities will come. Right now, the team needs me to play solid defence because I'm capable of doing that. I like that. I like being solid in the (defensive) zone and having the coach throw me over the boards every shift. The coach has faith in me and that's more important than scoring two goals in a 6-2 loss."

It's not that Subban has been a total bust on offence. He has one goal and 10 assists in 30 games; in the same period last season, he had two goals and nine assists.

His numbers picked up when James Wisniewski joined the team after Christmas. He scored seven of his 12 post-Christmas goals on the power

play and there's a good chance of a similar uptick following the acquisition of Tomas Kaberle.

Martin said the addition of Kaberle shouldn't impact on the ice time for his No. 1 pair and that's good news for Subban, who thrives on a heavy workload.

"The more minutes, the better I play," he said. "I find you're into the game more. You're not worried about when your next shift is going to be, you know you're going to be out there. I find I keep the game a lot simpler when I'm playing more minutes. When you play less, you have a lot more energy and you want to do more.'

Notes: Defenceman Chris Campoli is ready to play, but Martin suggested that he would benefit from a few more practices. That's one way of saying the coach is happy with the defence and is reluctant to make a change... Travis Moen took a therapy day Monday but will face the Islanders. Scott Gomez is practicing with a do-not-touch-me jersey, while Brian Gionta is out with a lower-body injury. Martin said he's out for an "indeterminate" period and he won't play this week.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 12.13.2011


Jaroslav Spacek was expecting trade from Montreal Canadiens

By Dave Stubbs

MONTREAL - Jaroslav Spacek's biggest regret about being traded by the Canadiens last Friday was that, when he got the news, all of his teammates were in full uniform and heading out onto Brossard practice ice.

"I'd have liked to cut all their laces, but they already had their skates on," Spacek said Monday from Toronto. "I was mad that I couldn't do it, everything was happening so fast.

"Maybe when I get back I'll get them. Don't worry."

The Canadiens will be wise to be on their guard come Feb. 13, when Spacek's bag of practical jokes is just down the hallway in the visitors' dressing room of the Bell Centre.

The anatomy of the veteran's trade to the Carolina Hurricanes for fellow defenceman Tomas Kaberle had weird written all over it, from the hours leading to it, to his debut the same night with his new team in Winnipeg.

Not that Spacek thought he'd finish the year with the Canadiens, with whom he signed a three-year, $11.5-million free-agent contract in July 2009.

"To be honest, I'd say I knew I'd be traded by the end of the year," he said. "Maybe a little before the trade deadline, but not right now."

Spacek had sat out 12 games through last Thursday's home-ice loss to Vancouver, rehabbing an upper-body injury. Post-game Thursday, he was cleared by the Canadiens for a return to action and he was eager to play Saturday afternoon in New Jersey.

"I packed for the trip and everything was fine in the (Friday) morning meeting," Spacek said. "But then I walked by the (dressing-room) board and there was the lineup for practice. My number was outside the lineup and I thought, 'Ah, here we go, something's going on for sure.' "

Spacek shrugged and laced his skates shortly after 11 a.m. for 11:30 practice and was about to pull his stockings over his shin pads when assistant coach Randy Ladouceur told him he was wanted in head coach Jacques Martin's office.

Off he went, still in skates.

"(Martin) said: 'How are you doing?' then started punching a number into his phone," Spacek recalled. "I figured he was calling Pierre (Gauthier, the Canadiens general manager).

"Pierre told me I was traded, but the strange thing was, he didn't tell me where because it hadn't been approved by the league. He told me: 'It's not fair to the other team if I tell you where you're going,' and I said: 'What the hell are you talking about? You've just traded me.' "

Spacek was told to stay near his phone, so he returned to his stall, began undressing and thanked those teammates still in the room for their friendship.

The rest of the club, already on the ice with laces safely tied, got wind of a trade and returned to the room to wish Spacek well.

"I basically saw everyone, so that was really nice," he said.

Spacek showered, still not knowing where he'd been traded, then got a call from Gauthier telling him he was bound for Carolina.

"A minute later (around 11:30), the Carolina assistant GM called and told me: 'We're really happy to have you, and you have a 1:40 flight to Winnipeg. You're playing tonight.' "

Spacek high-tailed it out of the Brossard rink, finally able to tell his wife, Lenka, by phone to which team he belonged.

"I had called her earlier to tell her: 'We've been traded, I'm sorry. I'll find out in a half-hour where,' " he said.

Spacek parked his car at home and Lenka sped him to the airport, getting him there 40 minutes before his flight.

At this point, the couple's elder son, David, nearly 9, was in school and had no idea how his family's life had changed. For Jacob, going on 4, it means a different red sweater.

Lenka detoured back to David's school to pick him up and break the news before his friends did.

"The boys thought I was going to New Jersey," Spacek said. "I talked to David as soon as I landed in Winnipeg (around 4:30 local time). He knows his hockey team and school friends will be over at the end of the year, so we didn't want to take him out now."

Spacek's family will remain in Montreal through season's end, keeping in touch by Skype with regular alternating visits south and north.

The Hurricanes were in a team meeting when he touched down in Winnipeg, so he jumped in a cab to the rink, arriving about 21/2 hours before the game. Spacek's No. 6 was taken, worn for five-plus seasons by Tim Gleason, so he took No. 8, the jersey he wore when he broke into the NHL with Florida in 1998-99.

A teammate that year was Kirk Muller, now his head coach.

"Kirkie has talked to me about how much I'll play, and about the role I'll have helping the young defencemen develop," Spacek said.

He earned two assists in a 4-2 Hurricanes loss last Friday, and laughs at the idea that he's on pace for a 102-assist season with Carolina.

"That's awesome!" he said. "I'd better pick it up."

Only Spacek's helmet remains from his Canadiens days, bearing his new number and logo, the Hurricanes equipment staff having confiscated all else.

"No memories - they wanted to cut the cord right away," he joked.

The Hurricanes chartered out of Winnipeg to Toronto Friday night, and Spacek jumped on a Saturday morning flight back to Montreal, spending the weekend here before returning to Toronto for Tuesday's game against the Maple Leafs.

"It didn't go too well for me at the end in Montreal," Spacek said. "I came into the season in great shape then got hurt twice, and that hurt me. The young guys on defence started to do a good job. Obviously, the Canadiens wanted to go a different way and I didn't think they'd offer me anything for next year.

"I want to be somewhere that I can show I can still play hockey, and get the chance to sign another contract. The fans in Montreal were the greatest," he said. "I had lots of fun. Maybe they didn't think of me as the greatest hockey player, but I gave them all that I had. And on my way out of town, I had lots of nice greetings at the airport, so I was pretty happy about that."



Montreal Canadiens: Chris Campoli likely a healthy scratch on Tuesday

By MIKE BOONE

MONTREAL - Fans don't need that new all-traffic radio station to tell them it's bumper-to-bumper on the Canadiens' blue line: Eight healthy defencemen ... plus the one whose health the team doesn't talk about.

Chris Campoli, who was injured during the season opener in Toronto, has been cleared to play and has been practising full-out for a week. But at the Monday morning session in Brossard, Campoli was the seventh defenceman.

The pairings at practice were the ones coach Jacques Martin used during the Canadiens' win Saturday in New Jersey: Josh Gorges and P.K. Subban, Hal Gill and Raphael Diaz, newly acquired Tomas Kaberle and Alexei Emelin - with Yannick Weber skating as a fourth-line forward.

When asked after practice if Campoli might be drawing into the lineup imminently, Martin said: "We'll see."

"We have seven healthy defencemen, not counting Yannick Weber," Martin added. "Chris has been out since the first game of the season and was cleared for practice only last week. He can benefit from some more practice time."

Given Martin's disinclination to tamper with a lineup that has won one in a row, Campoli almost certainly will be a healthy scratch when the New York Islanders visit the Bell Centre Tuesday night.

And you sense the inactivity is beginning to chafe. When asked if he's chomping at the bit, Campoli said "Yeah, I'm excited to get back. I'm ready."

Is he 100-per-cent healthy?

"I feel good."

Will he be in the Tuesday night lineup?

"I have no idea. As a player you have to focus on doing your job, and that's coming to work and doing your job every day to help this team."

Campoli is not whining. You want players who want to play.

But the depth chart on D is deeper than necessary. And what happens when Andrei Markov is ready to play?

Martin mentioned the absence of the team's best defenceman and power-play quarterback has obliged the Canadiens to seek blue line help three seasons running.

Two years ago, it was Marc-André Bergeron whose booming shot brought the Markov-less power-play to life. Markov was hurt again last season, and general manager Pierre Gauthier traded for James Wisniewski.

Campoli was acquired when Jaro Spacek was lost to injury before the season began. As as the PP sputtered through November and into this month, Gauthier made the deal for Kaberle.

The GM was knocked for taking on a three-year contract that Carolina GM Jim Rutherford was only too happy to unload. Critics were chastened, at least temporarily, by Kaberle's contributions against New Jersey; but one bad game - and Kaberle's career history suggests there will be at least one sub-par game - will suffice to re-inflame the torch-and-pitchfork crowd.

You can read a more ominous subtext into the Kaberle deal: Markov might not play a game this season.

And the general manager - who gave his injured D-man a three-year contract - knows it.

Best nicknames: It's early, but we may have the two best nicknames of the season:

When Tomas Kaberle was teamed with Alexei Emelin, who is getting attention for his bone-jarring hits, Chantal Machabée of RDS picked up this name for the defence pairing from a fan's Tweet: "Ka-boom!"

And a couple weeks ago, when David Desharnais, who's 5-foot-7 and weighs 175 pounds, began centring Erik Cole, 6-foot-2, 205, and Max Pacioretty, 6-foot-2, 200, a Hockey Inside/Out Commenter suggested they be called the Two and a Half Men line.

Embarrassed Bear: Is there an athlete in the world who is more embarrassed and unhappy than Marion Barber?

In case you missed the latest Tim Tebow miracle Sunday evening, Chicago led Denver 10-7 coming out of the two-minute warning. The Bears had the ball and the Broncos were out of timeouts,

Chicago could get the clock down to about 20 seconds before having to punt. But Barber, a Bears running back, carried the ball for 6 yards then inexplicably ran out of bounds to stop the clock. Instead of burning 40 seconds, the play used up five.

Chicago punted, and Tebow had time to move the Broncos downfield for the field goal that tied the game and hung the goat horns on Barber. But the luckless Bear wasn't done.

He made a spectacular catch to give his team a first down on the opening possession of overtime. A couple snaps later, Barber ran the ball through a large hole and looked like he might take it to the house.

Then Barber got hit ... and fumbled. Denver took over, moved the ball into range for their strong-legged kicker and won the game.

The loss, which probably will cost the Bears a playoff spot, is squarely on Barber. In the pantheon of Chicago sports screw-ups, he joins Steve Bartman, the fan who interfered with the ball Moises Alou was going to catch in Game 6 of the 2003 National League playoffs.


600065 Nashville Predators

Game preview: Predators vs. Calgary Flames

Mike Organ

When: 7 p.m. today

TV/radio: Fox TN/102.5-FM

Season series: Tied 1-1

Flame to watch: F Jarome Iginla has 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists). He has nine points in his past five games.

Flames injuries: F Rene Bourque (flu), F Alex Tanguay (flu) and D. Brett Carson (back) are questionable. F David Moss (foot) is out.

Predators injuries: F Blake Geoffrion (upper body) is doubtful.

Nashville's next game: 7 p.m. Thursday vs. Detroit

7 p.m. Thursday vs. Detroit

Tennessean LOADED: 12.13.2011


Nashville Predators' new power-play strategy keys wins

Mike Organ

The Predators are on a power-play trip that has resulted in back-to-back wins for the first time in nearly a month.

A new strategy led to power-play goals in wins over Columbus and Anaheim, and the Predators hope their extra-man success continues today when the Calgary Flames visit Bridgestone Arena.

The Predators have scored on the power play in nine of their past 11 games, but the past two were highly important. The score against Columbus sent the game into overtime, and the one against Anaheim proved the go-ahead score.

In the previous seven games when they scored with the extra man, the Predators went 2-4-1.

"We needed to support each other out there, support the puck a lot more," captain Shea Weber said. "We're trying to move it faster to prevent them from getting into position to be able to stop it."

The new system has more players in closer proximity to the goal and is designed to place more consistent pressure on the defense.

Three or four of the five players ideally are in position to take a shot at most any time during the power play.

"I don't know what you call it; a spread or a 2-3, I guess," Weber said. "It's a different look. We've been the same for so long here, it just gives teams a different look and they're maybe a little bit surprised."

The Predators have had more scoring chances with the new system, defenseman Ryan Suter said.

"Whenever you're on the power play you want to get shots at the net, but you can't do it unless you have people there or the opportunity is right," Suter said. "We're just hungrier; we're playing more desperately, we want to get the puck and we want to get chances. In the past no one really wanted to go get the puck. We all wanted to handle the puck."

Nashville's power play has improved to 20.4 percent for the season. The Predators never have finished the season with that high a number since the lockout of 2004-05.

Coach Barry Trotz admitted the Predators had fallen into a rut and that the power play needed to be addressed. He also said more changes are in store.

"We picked a couple of things that we thought we could use against a few teams, and then we talked about it and made some adjustments," Trotz said. "It's sort of evolving. It takes time to change, it takes time to see some results, it takes time for the buy-in by the players."

Much of the earlier trouble on the power play came about because opponents were focused on stopping Weber, and no one else stepped up, the coach said.

"We've finally got a decent balance where we can be dangerous in both situations - when teams are shading Webs real hard or playing a certain way," Trotz said. "It gives us some options, and we've got two or three different looks that we can give teams now."

Proud nephew: Suter regretted not getting to attend his uncle Gary Suter's induction into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday.

Gary Suter scored 844 points (203 goals, 641 assists) during his 17-year, 1,145-game NHL career with the Flames, Blackhawks and Sharks. He retired in 2002.

"It's pretty special. It's a pretty cool honor for him," Suter said. "Sunday night, they honored him and (Monday night) is the actual dinner, and I wish I could be there because he's meant the world to me. I grew up watching him and idolized him when I was younger."

Suter said he leaned heavily on his uncle's advice early in his career.

"We still talk all the time, but now it's mostly about hunting or the stuff that he does with his kids," Suter said. "It's not really about hockey."

Geoffrion practices: Forward Blake Geoffrion, who was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 1 after taking a hit against Edmonton that left him with an upper-body injury, has returned to practice.

He said he is unsure whether he will be able to play today.

Blum to Milwaukee: Slumping defenseman Jonathon Blum was assigned to Milwaukee of the American Hockey League on Monday.

He started the season on Nashville's second defensive pair but fell out of favor with a minus-11 rating through 27 games. He was a healthy scratch for the past two games.

On Sunday, the California native wished his parents well on Twitter as they started a cross-country road trip to see him over the Christmas holidays.

Blum has five points (two goals, three assists) in 27 games for Nashville.

Tennessean LOADED: 12.13.2011


Predators send Blum back to Milwaukee to regain 'urgency'

By David Boclair

Jonathon Blum went from being sat down to being sent down.

The Nashville Predators reassigned the 22-year-old defenseman to the Milwaukee Admirals on Monday. He was a healthy scratch for each of the previous two contests after having played in the first 27.

The move leaves just six defensemen on Nashville's active roster for Tuesday's game against the Calgary Flames (7 p.m., Bridgestone Arena, Fox Sports-Tennessee).

"We just need to get him playing with more urgency," assistant general manager Paul Fenton said. "We talked to Jonathon this morning, and he knows where he's at. He's very good at evaluating his own play and in his words he's playing 'cautious' right now."

Blum's departure likely also was fueled by the recent play of Roman Josi, his former defense partner with the Admirals. Josi made his NHL debut Nov. 26 at Detroit and scored his first career goal in last Saturday's 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks.

"[Josi] has been good," coach Barry Trotz said following that contest. "He's a little bit unassuming. He's a good first-year player. He's not too cocky or arrogant. He's very polite and does the right things as a young pro.

"I was very happy for him to get his first goal."

Blum had two goals (one game-winner) and three assists after having started the season on an NHL roster for the first time. His minus-11 rating was second worst on the team to Kevin Klein (minus-13).

He was recalled for the first time last February and played in the final 23 games of the regular season and all 12 in the playoffs. He was a plus-8 in the regular season, which put him among the NHL's top 10 rookies in that category.

"We need him to play with the urgency he showed over the stretch late in the season after he was recalled," Fenton said. "He showed us everything we needed to see then and everything we knew he was capable of doing. He just needs to get back to that.

"Sometimes players struggle mentally and sometimes physically. Right now the mental part of his game is not where it needs to be."

Trotz had been critical of Blum's play almost from the start of this season. The 2007 first-round draft pick began the season with Klein as part of the Predators' second pairing. He played more than 20 minutes in each of the first seven contests.

More recently he was on the third unit, often with Jack Hillen, and logged 20 minutes or more only three times in his last 20 appearances.

"I just wanted the chance to play and prove myself. I got that last year," Blum said early this season. "I did well with my opportunity and I have to keep that up this year.

"... I knew I had high expectations coming in to play a big part on this team."

Nashville City Paper LOADED: 12.13.2011


Boclair: Deja Vu

By David Boclair

The Nashville Predators were so pleased with what happened last season in regard to Sergei Kostitsyn that they tried for a repeat.

Now they have that opportunity, albeit not in the way they imagined.

In an offseason absent any significant free agent additions, Nashville did sign forward Niclas Bergfors to a relative bargain-basement deal of one

year at $575,000. The 24-year-old was a first-round draft choice in 2005 who had not exactly lived up to expectations.

It was a year earlier that they acquired Kostitsyn, at the time a 23-year-old with a reputation as an underachiever, and signed him for one year at $550,000. That turned into an undeniable bargain when he scored a team-leading 23 goals and tied for team-high honors with 50 points.

If only it were that easy.

Bergfors was sent to Milwaukee on Nov. 23 (keep in mind his was an NHL-only contract) having produced just two points (one goal, one assist) in 11 appearances and having made little, if any, impact.

That does not mean the chance for a repeat of last year is gone. Far from it, in fact.

Two months into the season they have a chance to do it all again - with Kostitsyn.

Recall that it was not exactly smooth sailing with the young Russian last season. He was a bit player for much of the early part of the season as he struggled with what was expected of him and how he ought to fit into coach Barry Trotz's defense-first approach to the game.

Things even got to the point where franchise officials were ready to send him to Milwaukee. At the end of November he had just two goals and one assist.

Then it happened. Trotz reasoned that Kostitsyn learned to trust the coaches, which freed his mind and body to play the game at full speed.

Whatever the reason, he had at least one point in the first eight games of December and stayed productive throughout the remainder of the regular season. He eventually put together the second-longest points streak (11 games) and matched the third-longest goal streak (five games) in franchise history.

Fast-forward to now.

He went without a point in 10 of the 11 games he played in November. He entered December injured, underproductive (11 points and 20 games) and with Trotz publicly questioning his usefulness.

It all sounds so familiar.

As such, one way or another he is poised to repeat a piece of his personal history.

After all, Kostitsyn broke into the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens as a 20-year-old. He generated a bit of a buzz when he delivered 27 points in 52 games as a rookie.

Then his goal, assist and - obviously - point totals dropped over each of the next two seasons. Questions about his commitment arose, and eventually he was reassigned to the AHL, a move against which he openly railed.

It is entirely possible, therefore, that Nashville already has gotten the best it is going to get out of Kostitsyn, who was rewarded for last season's turnaround with a one-year, $2.5 million contract for this season.

Then again, maybe he's just a slow starter. He actually is ahead of where he was at this time last year in terms of point production, despite the fact that he has missed six games with some minor ailments.

There's no doubt the Predators expected him to do much of what he did last season. Chances are, though, they did not figure he would do so in the same fashion.

At this point, that's the best they can hope.

Nashville City Paper LOADED: 12.13.2011

600069 New Jersey Devils

Parise, Henrique Key Devils' Win Over Lightning

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sign In to TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Zach Parise and Adam Henrique both had a goal and two assists to lead the New Jersey Devils past the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4 on Monday night.

Parise, Henrique and Ilya Kovalchuk each scored in the second period as the Devils broke open a tie game after both teams scored twice in the first.

Petr Sykora and Dainius Zubrus had the other goals for New Jersey, which had lost five of seven.

Steve Stamkos had two goals for the Lightning, losers of seven of eight. Steve Downie and Blair Jones also scored. Tampa Bay goalie Dwayne Roloson was replaced by Mathieu Garon early in the second after allowing three goals on 12 shots.

Parise scored 56 seconds into the second on an odd-man rush to make it 3-2. After Kovalchuk had a breakaway goal at 5:42, Henrique gave the Devils the three-goal advantage during a short-handed 2-on-none with 6:37 to go in the period.

Henrique had a seven-game points streak (2 goals, 7 assists) end in Saturday's 2-1 loss to Montreal. Parise assisted on two of the second-period goals.

Stamkos had a power-play goal at 9:29 of the third, and added his 18th goal of the season in the final minute with the Lightning net empty. The center had not scored a goal in his previous five games.

Sykora put the Devils up 1-0 on a backhand rebound just 28 seconds into the game, ending a personal seven-game goal-scoring drought. It also gave the right wing 39 points (18 goals, 21 assists) in 39 career games against Tampa Bay.

New Jersey went ahead 2-0 when Zubrus re-directed Matt Taormina's shot during a power play at 5:38 of the first.

Downie cut the deficit to 2-1 from the left circle with 2:26 left in the first. Jones pulled Tampa Bay even at 2-all after skating in from the right wing boards and beating Johan Hedberg with a backhander at 18:54.

It was Jones' first goal in 29 games, dating back to Nov. 3, 2010.

NOTES: Tampa Bay RW Martin St. Louis, sidelined since getting hit near the left eye by a shot in practice last Thursday, was at the game. ... New Jersey Devils acquired D Kurtis Foster and G Timo Pielmeier from Anaheim for C Rod Pelley, D Mark Fraser and a seventh-round pick in 2012. ... Tampa Bay agreed to a two-year contract with free-agent F Antti Miettinen and recalled D Evan Oberg from Norfolk of the AHL. ... Devils RW Cam Janssen missed his fourth straight game due to a bruised chest, but could return this week. ... Lightning D Pavel Kubina was in the lineup after missing four games with a lower-body injury.

New York Times LOADED: 12.13.2011


Devils Deal Fraser, Pelley to Ducks


The New Jersey Devils have acquired defenseman Kurtis Foster and goaltender Timo Pielmeier from Anaheim in exchange for defenseman Mark Fraser, center Rob Pelley and their seventh-round pick in the 2012 draft.

Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello announced the trade late Monday afternoon, a deal which seemingly will give the players involved a new start.

Foster, 30, had a goal and an assist in nine games with Anaheim. He also played in two games with Syracuse of the AHL. Now in his seventh NHL season, the 6-5, 225-pound defenseman has career totals of 38 goals and 105 assists.

Pielmeier, 22, has appeared in ten games this season with Elmira of the ECHL.

Fraser has appeared in four games, while Pelley saw action in seven contests.



Devils Get Off to Fast Start and Hold On to Beat the Lightning


Zach Parise and Adam Henrique both had a goal and two assists to lead the visiting Devils past the Tampa Bay Lightning, 5-4, on Monday night.


Petr Sykora and Dainius Zubrus had the other goals for the Devils, who had lost five of seven.

"It's an important game," Devils Coach Pete DeBoer said. "I think we're both spinning our wheels a little bit where we're sitting in the standings and both trying to get some traction and move up. It was a key 2 points."

Steven Stamkos had two goals and an assist for the Lightning, losers of seven of eight. Steve Downie and Blair Jones also scored.

Parise scored 56 seconds into the second on an odd-man rush to make it 3-2. After Kovalchuk had a breakaway goal at 5 minutes 42 seconds, Henrique gave the Devils the three-goal advantage during a short-handed two-on-none with 6:37 to go in the period.

KINGS FIRE MURRAY Coach Terry Murray does not deserve the blame for the Los Angeles Kings' disappointing start to a season of high expectations, according to General Manager Dean Lombardi. Yet Lombardi decided Murray had to pay for it.

Los Angeles fired Murray and replaced him with the assistant John Stevens, who will be the club's interim head coach when the Kings open a four-game trip Tuesday in Boston.

Los Angeles, which was expected to contend in the West, has lost four straight to drop to 13-12-4, culminating in a lifeless effort in a 2-1 home loss to Dallas on Saturday

FIVE ENTER U.S. HALL Chris Chelios led a class of five inducted into the United State Hockey Hall of Fame.

Chelios, a three-time Norris Trophy winner and four-time Olympian, was joined by his fellow defenseman Gary Suter, who played with Chelios at Wisconsin and for the Chicago Blackhawks; forward Keith Tkachuk; the Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider; and the broadcaster Mike Emrick.



Devils Defeat Lightning Despite Late Stamkos Strikes

By REUTERS

Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos scored two late goals to put the heat on New Jersey in the final period but the Devils held on to claim a 5-4 win over the Lightning on Monday.

New Jersey went 2-0 up in the first through Petr Sykora and Dainius Zubrus before Steve Downie and Blair Jones tied the game in the final few minutes of the period.

The Devils dominated the second and extended their lead to 5-2 on goals from Zach Parise, Ilya Kovalchuk and Adam Henrique.

There would be no easy cruise through the third though as Stamkos pulled a goal back midway through the period then grabbed his 18th of the season in the final minute to make New Jersey (15-13-1) sweat.

Both teams are struggling in the Eastern Conference, with New Jersey coming into the game losers of five of their last seven, while the Lightning (12-16-2) fell to their seventh loss in eight games.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)



Devils' Zach Parise, Adam Henrique key 5-4 win over Lightning

By Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger

TAMPA, Fla. - It wasn't the kind of trade that would shake up a team, but hours after the Devils acquired veteran defenseman Kurtis Foster to provide some pop on their power play, their offense came to life.

Zach Parise and rookie Adam Henrique both had their first three-point games of the season with a goal and two assists as the Devils scored on the power play, short-handed and at even strength to outlasted the Tampa Bay Lightning, 5-4, tonight at the St. Pete Times Forum.

The Lightning made it close by scoring twice in the third period, including a one-timer from Steven Stamkos (his second goal of the game) with 33.5 seconds left and an extra skater on the ice for Tampa Bay.

With the victory the Devils tied the idle Capitals and Canadiens in the Eastern Conference standings with 31 points.

Star Ledger LOADED: 12.13.2011


Devils-Lightning: As they play

Rich Chere/

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Devils, who acquired defenseman Kurtis Foster in a trade earlier in the day, faced the Tampa Bay Lightning Monday night at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Johan Hedberg was in goal for the Devils against Dwayne Roloson.

Foster will join the team in Sunrise, Fla., Tuesday, although it hasn't been determined whether he will play.

THIRD PERIOD

Clarkson and Ryan Malone fought at 2:01. Later, Alex Urbom fought Downie after the Devils rookie cross-checked the Tampa Bay winger at 8:23.

Urbom's minor resulted in a Lightning power play goal from Stamkos at 9:29. Fayne was unable to sweep the puck out of the zone as Dominic Moore set up Stamkos in front for the goal.

Hedberg robbed Nate Thompson with a glove save with 7:56 left.

The Devils called timeout with 3:26 remaining. Larsson was responsible for two late icings.

SECOND PERIOD

Parise's ninth goal of the season gave the Devils a 3-2 lead 56 seconds into the period. Parise sent the puck in to Henrique behind the net and then got it back for a chance at the left edge of the crease.

Although Gilroy was there, Parise jammed it past Roloson. At that point, Lightning coach Guy Boucher replaced Roloson with Mathieu Garon. Roloson allowed three goals on 12 shots.

Ryan Carter knocked Garn down at the left side of the net at 4:43. That prompted Pavel Kubina to drop his gloves and fight the Devils center. Kubina had been on IR with a knee injury and wasn't expected to play.

Kovalchuk's ninth goal gave the Devils a 4-2 lead at 5:42. The puck bounced over Gilroy's stick, giving Parise a 2-on-0 break with Kovalchuk. Garon never had a chance as Parise waited and then fed Kovalchuk for the shot that beat the Lightning goalie on his stick side.

Adam Larsson was sent off for interference at 8:12. When Taormina shot the puck into the netting at 9:52 it gave the Lightning a 5-on-3 power play for 20 seconds. The Devils killed off both penalties.

A short-handed goal by Henrique gave the Devils a 5-2 lead at 13:23. Mark Fayne cleared the puck from his own end and it went past Lightning defenseman Brett Clark at the left point.

That gave Parise another 2-on-0 breakaway. This time it was with Henrique, who put his stick on the ice in teh slot and redirected Parise's pass into the net for his seventh goal.

Larsson was in the box for interference against Tyrell when Hedberg made a leg save on Vinny Lecavalier at 16:30 with the Lightning on the power play.

The Devils are being outshot by the Lightning, 27-17.

End of period: Devils 5, Lightning 2

FIRST PERIOD

The Devils started the Petr Sykora-Patrik Elias-David Clarkson line with Bryce Salvador and Matt Taormina on defense.

Other lines: Zach Parise-Adam Henrique-Ilya Kovakchuk; Eric Boulton-Tim Sestito-Mattias Tedenby; Dainius Zubrus-Ryan Carter-Nick Palmieri.

It took the Devils 28 seconds to score. Salvador took a slapper than Roloson stopped with his right arm. However, the rebound came out far enough to allow Sykora to score on a backhander from below the right hash marks as the goalie went diving back across the crease.

The goal was Sykora's six of the season and first in eight games.

That line almost struck again at 3:13, but Rolson stopped Elias from 12 feet.

Eric Brewer was in the penalty box for holding Zach Parise when the Devils scored in the power play for a 2-0 lead.

Taormina took a snap shot from well above the slot and Dainius Zubrus tipped it past Roloson with six seconds remaining on the power play. It was the ninth goal of the season for Zubrus.

Roloson stopped Clarkson from below the right circle at 9:20.

Two giveaways in their own end forced Devils goalie Hedberg to make a stop on Nate Thompson with 7:11 remaining in the period.

Tampa Bay cut the deficit in half at 17:34. Steven Stamkos carried the puck out from the left wing boards, giving it to Matt Gilroy. Steve Downie, who had fallen down in the left circle, got up for a pass from Gilroy and beat Hedberg on his stick side.

The Lightning tied the score, 2-2, when Blair Jones took a long pass from Dana Tyrell and skated past rookie Alex Urbom in the circle to Hedberg's left. Cutting across the slot with speed, Jones backhanded a shot in at 18:54. The goals came 80 seconds apart.

The Devils outshot the Lightning, 11-10.

End of period: Devils 2, Lightning 2



Devils trade Rod Pelley, Mark Fraser to Ducks for Kurtis Foster and goalie

Rich Chere/

TAMPA, Fla. - The Devils today traded forward Rod Pelley and defenseman Mark Fraser to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Kurtis Foster and minor league goalie Timo Pielmeier.

The Devils also sent a seventh-round draft pick in 2012 to the Ducks.

Foster, 30, earns $1.8 million and will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. The combined salaries for Pelley ($575,000) and Fraser ($525,000) total $1.25 million. Both will be UFAs.

Foster has played in only six games this season for Anaheim. He has two points (one goal, one assist) with eight penalty minutes. Now in his seventh NHL season, the 6-5, 225-pound Foster also played two games for Syracuse (AHL).

He has played for Atlanta, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Edmonton and Anaheim with 143 points (38 goals, 105 assists) in 340 games. He will join the Devils in Sunrise, Fla., Tuesday while Pielmeier will be assigned to one of the Devils' minor league affiliates.

The Devils are hoping Foster helps their power play.

"He's a right-handed shot and really a power play specialist," general manager Lou Lamoriello said. "His shot is what intrigues you. Also, he played under Jacques Lemaire in Minnesota. He had an injury after that and recovered from it and was also here in Tampa Bay under Adam Oates. We've seen him and played against him but there is nothing like (the opinions) of two people he worked under.

"In Anaheim there were power play people ahead of him. In Edmonton it was a similar situation. He's 100 percent healthy. He hasn't played much this year but we know enough about him. We'll give him an opportunity and see what he brings. We were looking for someone who can handle the puck at the point."

Although Foster will join the Devils Tuesday, it isn't known whether he will play against the Panthers.

Pielmeier, 22, has been in Elmira (ECHL), where he appeared in 10 games this season (4-5 with a 3.45 goals-against average). He played one game for the Ducks last season. He was born in Deggendorf, Germany.

Pelley played in seven games for the Devils this season and did not score. He had seven penalty minutes.

Fraser appeared in four games and also did not score. He was minus-2 with 14 penalty minutes.

Neither player was in coach Pete DeBoer's plans and the Devils will need to make roster moves when center Travis Zajac and defenseman Anton Volchenkov are taken off IR some time soon.

"I think we get a pretty good acquisition very soon in Travis Zajac, who will be back soon and Anton should be back by the end of the week," Lamoriello said. "When you have such quality individuals (like Pelley and Fraser) who've given you so much each and every day in practice and in the locker room as support, you try and do the best for them. This is a win situation for both teams. They're getting two role players who will be tremendous for them and we're getting a player who has tremendous upside in the role we see that he'll fit."



Devils: Ilya Kovalchuk line back together; Travis Zajac still an extra

By Rich Chere

Devils center Travis Zajac will make the trip to Florida but remained an extra in practice today.

Travis Zajac, Cam Janssen and Rod Pelley were the extra line as the Devils practiced today at the AmeriHealth Pavilion before flying to Tampa, Fla.

Zajac continues his comeback from Aug. 18 Achilles tendon surgery while Janssen said he is ready to play after suffering a chest injury in Winnipeg.

Coach Pete DeBoer had the Zach Parise- Adam Henrique- Ilya Kovalchuk line back together.

Other lines: Petr Sykora-Patrik Elias-David Clarkson

Dainius Zubrus- Ryan Carter-Nick Palmier

Rod Pelley-Travis Zajac- Cam Janssen

Eric Boulton- Tom Sestito- Mattias Tedenby

Andy Greene, out a month with a non-displaced fracture of his toe, and Anton Volchenkov, sidelined with a hand injury, both did not practice.

Devils defense pairings: Bryce Salvador-Matt Taormina, Henrik Tallinder-Adam Larsson, Alex Urbom-Mark Fayne.

Parise's penalty shot on Saturday was the ninth potential game-tying penalty shot in the final minute of an NHL game over the last 18 seasons. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, none of the nine have resulted in goals.



Matt Taormina hoping to make best of call-up to Devils

By Rich Chere/

TAMPA, Fla. - Devils defenseman Matt Taormina has literally taken it on the chin this season.

Called up for Saturday's home game against the Montreal Canadiens, Taormina took a puck in the chin during the second period and has sported a large cut the last few days.

It wasn't nearly as painful as starting the year in Albany (AHL) after a rookie season in which he showed great promise in 18 games before fracturing his ankle and missing the rest of the season after surgery.

"The first part of this season it took me a little bit to get everything back," he said. "I felt I had to do more than I really had to do and I started to get myself in trouble. I finally kind of relaxed a little bit, started being myself and everything started going my way."

Taormina, 25, said he is trying not to put too much pressure on himself after getting an opportunity with injuries to Anton Volchenkov (ankle) and Andy Greene (toe).

"At first you're happy to get the call and then you do put a little pressure on yourself and you get a little nervous," he said. "Once game time comes that goes out of your mind and you just play your game. Now I just have to make sure I play a simple game rather than trying to do too much. If I put too much pressure on myself I try to do too much."

Taormina will be paired with Bryce Salvador against the LIghtning in his second game with the Devils this season. It is an opportunity he'd like to seize.

"Absolutely. It's unfortunate Volchenkov and Greene go down. But to be called up and get a shot again is a great opportunity," he said.

In 18 games last season, Taormina scored five points (three goals, two assists).



Devils: Cam Janssen won't play in Tampa; possible for Tuesday night

By Rich Chere/

TAMPA, Fla. - Devils right winger Cam Janssen will not play tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but he hopes to be back the following night against the Florida Panthers.

Janssen, nursing an injury to his sternum, was taken off injured reserve before the team left for Tampa.

"It felt good to sign those papers," Janssen said. "I'm hoping (to play) tomorrow. I got a good skate in today and got the practice I needed. Now it's just a coaching decision. I'll be ready when they need me.

"I'm unbelievably eager. I just got going. I was playing every night, playing good, feeling good, making good plays, getting my hits in, being physical

and doing my job. I think I was doing it pretty well, getting the puck out and getting the puck in. When you're playing every day it comes a lot easier. To react to those little plays that might not look like a big deal, but they are to the coaches when they look at them on tape."

Coach Pete DeBoer said he would not change his lineup in Tampa.

"Not tonight. He's had basically one practice. We had him skate today and I'll consider him in tomorrow's lineup," DeBoer said.

Janssen said he'll be ready.

"Now I've sat out for a couple of games, which is not that big of a deal, and I missed two or three practices. Not that bad," he insisted. "So I've got everything back. I just have to get my first game in and get my groove back."

It could've been much worse. When Janssen was hit in the chest by Arturs Kulda in Winnipeg Dec. 3, he suffered a sternum injury when the stick caught him in that area.

"It was extremely scary," Janssen said. "If I didn't know any better I would've sworn my chest was caving in and something really bad was happening. I didn't believe the doctors when they told me there was nothing wrong.

"The next day it hurt like heck, but then the next day it felt a lot better. If there was something wrong it would take a lot longer to feel good like I did that third day. Then I got everything tested again and everything was negative again. Now I'm fine. Doesn't hurt at all. Bit it was scary. It was scary for my family more than anything."

He will have his shoulder pads altered to include a brace across the front.

"Just in case there is a stick. Guys come to hit you and their stick hits you and gets you in the spot again," he explained. "With a little more padding there it'll help out a lot."

Janssen's presence in the lineup is a factor in that opponents don't target skilled forwards like Zach Parise or Ilya Kovalchuk.

"Absolutely. I think having those guys definitely keeps the opposition honest," Parise said. "With Janny in particular, you can see when the puck is dumped in the 'D' don't even want to go get it because they know he's going to come hammer them.

"There definitely is an intimidation factor there. On any team, but partucularly on ours, opponents know if they want to take liberties they have to answer to those guys. And they do a really good job at it."

David Clarkson and Eric Boulton also play physical roles.

"I think they go into games knowing their responsibilities," Parise said. "I don't think Janny being out puts more stress or pressure on Boults. I think that's just what he does."

Without Janssen, there is more responsibility for Clarkson and Boulton to fight.

"There was a hole there to be filled but me and Boults don't mind the fighting part. That's something we both obviously do," Clarkson said. "Everybody had their own roles. Janny has had a great start to the season here doing the little things that we need from him."

Boulton had to come back from his own injury. He missed 17 games with a non-displaced fracture in his right hand after a fight on Oct. 21.

"The first few games it took me a while to get going. It takes two games to get the legs and the timing back, but I feel good now," Boulton said. "You can skate as hard as you want, practice as hard as you want and work out as hard as you want. It's just not the same as being in a game.

"Until you get into those game situations where you read and react, the quickness and physicality of it, you don't really get back into game shape."

Boulton wasn't sure if Janssen's long-term absence would've meant he'd have to fight more often.

"Not necessarily," he said, "but having a guy like that in the lineup just makes your team tougher. It makes your team harder to play against. Having a couple of guys in the lineup that are physical I think complements each other. When he is out there they're keeping their heads up for sure. He brings that element to the game.

"If you want to go to war with us, Clarkie is great, too. We have some guys in here that are physical. It's a team effort, but it's definitely nice having Cam in the lineup. When we're both in, teams have to be wary of it."

Coach Pete DeBoer on forming his lines: "I find that guys sound good together on paper but if you have to move people out of position in order to get those combinations, guys playing on their off sides and things like that, it sometimes isn't as good as it sounds."

DeBoer spoke of facing the Lightning. The Devils beat them, 4-2, on Nov. 19.

I think once we got the lead on them they really came on strong in the third period," he recalled. "I expect they're going to try and pick up where they left off in the third and try to make a good push on us. I thought we did a really good job last time of playing a patient game in here early against their neutral zone and out-waiting them. They key is getting the first goal or two.

"We've had some success coming from behind but it's not a game you want to play all the time. And particularly not against a team that can frustrate you through the neutral zone like this team can."

DeBoer on back-to-back games in Florida and flying down the evening before: "There are obviously a lot of distractions down here with the weather. It's such a change from the northeast. I think that can work either way.

"With how busy our road schedule has been I think it's nice we can come down, play two games right off the bat and get out."

DeBoer said his defense pairings for tonight with be Henrik Tallinder and Adam Larsson, Alex Urbom and Mark Fayne, Bryce Salvador and Matt Taormina.



Devils activate Cam Janssen, put Anton Volchenkov on IR

By Rich Chere/

TAMPA, Fla. - The Devils today removed right winger Cam Janssen from injured reserve and put defenseman Anton Volchenkov on the IR.

Janssen was injured on Dec. 3 in Winnipeg when he was hit in the chest by Arturs Kulda of the Jets. During the open-ice hit, the butt end of Kulda's stick may have caught Janssen in the chest and the tough winger had to be taken to a local hospital for X-rays and a CT scan to make sure there was no serious.

Janssen said he had trouble breathing and there was fear a broken bone might puncture his heart or lungs, but all tests were negative.

Volchenkov had been nursing a sore hand, but aggravated the injury during the third period of Thursday night's home game against the Ottawa Senators. The defenseman did not accompany the Devils on their two-game road trip to Florida.

To activate Janssen, the Devils needed to make a roster move. He could play Monday night against the Lightning at the St. Pete Times Forum.

The Devils face the Lightning without Martin St. Louis (nasal & orbital bone fracture), Pavel Kubina (lower body) and Mattias Ohlund (knee).

Janssen did not skate with the Devils' top four lines during the morning skate. The lines were:

Zach Parise-Adam Henrique-Ilya Kovalchuk

Petr Sykora-Patrik Elias-David Clarkson

Dainius Zubrus-Ryan Carter-Nick Palmieri

Eric Boulton-Tim Sestito-Mattias Tedenby

Janssen was an extra with Travis Zajac.



Devils: Travis Zajac, Anton Volchenkov won't play in Florida; Cam Janssen may

Rich Chere/

Devils rookie defenseman Adam Larsson could see less time on the power play.

The night the Devils raise No. 27 to the rafters to honor Scott Niedermayer could also mark the return of Travis Zajac to the lineup.

The center, still working his way back from Aug. 18 Achilles tendon surgery, will make the trip to Florida with the Devils but will not play either Monday night in Tampa or the following night in Sunrise.

"No. I'd say the earliest would be at the end of next week," Zajac told me today. "I'm still a week away, or at least five or six days. We'll see how the week goes, but that would be the earliest."

That's not to say he isn't anxious.

"Very anxious," Zajac said. "If someone asked me if I wanted to play tomorrow and whether I could play tomorrow I'd probably say yes. But talking to the coaches and Lou (Lamoriello), we'll stick to what we talked about."

Zajac said there have been no setbacks.

"No, I've been feeling pretty good," he said. "The leg and the Achilles feel good. Strong. It's more getting some more reps in during practice and practicing shots. It takes a few weeks to get back into it, especially missing camp."

Cam Janssen, who is practicing with the team after suffering a hard hit to the chest in Winnipeg, is a possibility for the game against the Lightning.

"I believe he's healthy enough to play. We'll see if we stick him in with one practice or not," coach Pete DeBoer said. "I believe he is available to play."

Janssen stressed: "I'm ready when they need me. It's a coaching decision, but I'm excited. Very excited."

Johan Hedberg will start in goal for the Devils Monday night with Martin Brodeur scheduled to play against the Panthers Tuesday night.

"We had targeted all the back-to-back situations and that we were going to play both guys (Hedberg and Brodeur) right from the beginning," DeBoer said. "So he was going to start one of the two anyway."

Defenseman Anton Volchenkov (hand) will not make the trip to Florida with the team.

"He's close to getting better but he's not available Monday or Tuesday," DeBoer said.

DeBoer suggested rookie defenseman Adam Larsson could see less time on the power play if his five-against-five play isn't at its best.

Matt Taormina will likely see some time on the PP.

"We gave (Taormina) a little look (on the power play Saturday)," DeBoer said. "It's nice to have another option there outside of Larsson, (Mark) Fayne and Kovy (Ilya Kovalchuk). He'll get some opportunity there."

And is Larsson off the PP completely?

"I wouldn't necessarily say that," DeBoer said. "With young defensemen, for me, sometimes you have to take a step back and concentrate on your five-on-five play. That's where my priority lies. I think the power play is something you add on top for somebody that is playing well and is confident five-on-five.

"So we'll rotate those young defensemen based on how they're playing five-on-five."

DeBoer said Taormina and Alex Urbom "gave us some good minutes" against the Canadiens on Saturday. "I think you saw their mobility and their puck-moving ability. They definitely added some things to our team in the minutes they were in the ice. They made a few young player mistakes, but it wasn't for lack of effort or enthusiasm and you can live with those."

Tarmina and Urbom paired together in practice today. Taormina skated with Bryce Salvador and Urbom with Mark Fayne.

"Not necessarily (as much) for them as we wanted to look at some different pairings in the other groups," DeBoer explained.

How does he like having three rookies on his six-man defense corps?

"It's not scary. It's me recognizing when they're on and when they need to take a step back," he said. "That's the key thing with young defensemen like that."

*DeBoer spoke today of rookie center Adam Henrique.

"I think it's still to come," DeBoer said. "I think he's definitely grabbed some people's attention, but just like the season this is a marathon not a six or eight-week sprint. There's a lot of work left to do and I think he knows that."

DeBoer continues to tinker with his lines.

"I don't know the exact numbers but we've had one or two goals in probably six of the last eight games or seven of the last nine games," he said. "We're not generating enough. It seems early we had (Patrik) Elias's line going and we didn't have a secondary line. Now lately we've had (Adam) Henrique's line going and we haven't had a secondary line scoring. We've got to find a way to get at least a couple of lines going at the same time."

In practice today Henrique was centering familiar linemates Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk.

"I think it's nice to play with the same guys for a little while. You know them better," Kovalchuk said. "Not in the last game, but for six, seven, eight games before that I thought we played very well. One game shouldn't change all that.

"But we'll see tomorrow. We have back-to-back games against good teams and we'll see how we respond. But I think we've been working real hard and creating chances. Even last game we spent a lot of time in their zone."

Kovalchuk said DeBoer's decisions to make line changes on Saturday were worthwhile.

"We were struggling. We couldn't get a shot on net net in the third period in like 12 minutes or something," Kovalchuk noted. "I think it's really good when a coach does something like that. He lets you know. He wants to get something from you.

"He played (Nick Palmieri's) line most of the time in the third period and they scored a goal and created chances."



Devils goalie Johan Hedberg comes up big in 32-save effort

By Rich Chere

TAMPA, Fla. - Devils goalie Johan Hedberg had to make 32 saves to pull out a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight and he knew the third period wasn't going to easy.

"Going into the third period even though we were up by three goals (5-2) it didn't seem liek it was going to be an easy ride," Hedberg said. "We did it to Ottawa the other night. We came back from three down. It is a tricky lead to have. You night relax a bit thinking you're in good shape and they get one they get a jump. They get a power play like tonight and get two and they're right back in it."

The Devils made plenty of mistakes in the game, including turnovers and icings by young defensemen.

"I think there were a couple of mistakes by some young guys and we took some penalties that cost us some momentum," coach Pete DeBoer said.

But Hedberg wouldn't point a finger at the young defensemen.

"I don't think it had anything to do with it. I think they played great," the goalie said. "They're so calm. They hold onto the puck and make good decisions. I don't feel any different playing behind them than any other D."

He did know it was going to be wild.

"If that team gets the first goal, the only thing I'm going to see all night are 2-on-1s and power plays," Hedberg said. "If we get the goal, they're going to start pushing it more."

DeBoer said he would make a decision Tuesday whether newly acquired defenseman Kurtis Foster would play against the Panthers Tuesday night.

"It's good," he said of the trade. "I'm happy Mark (Fraser) and Pell (Rod Pelley) get a chance to play and contribute in Anaheim. For us, Adam Oates is familiar with Kurtis Foster. He felt he can help us."



Devils may be ready to start climbing standings after win in Tampa

By Rich Chere

TAMPA, Fla. - Before the Devils' 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight, coach Pete DeBoer reinforced to his players that it is time to make a move in the standings.

"Tampa is a team below us in the standings," said captain Zach Parise, who scored a goal with two assists in the win. "Pete was talking about we have to get some wins, separate ourselves and get in the top eight."

It is, perhaps, time for the Devils to make their move in the Eastern Conference race.

"A big two points," DeBoer said. "Where we're both sitting in the standings, these are big four-point games. It was important we came out and got a win. We had a disappointing home loss to Montreal and we wanted to start the road trip right.

"We did that. It wasn't textbook hockey, but we did enough to get a win."

He has wanted to see more offense, and he got that.

"Yes, we got some more offense," DeBoer said with a laugh. "We scored some goals. We've obviously got to tighten up some things and hopefully still create those three goals a night."

DeBoer was asked about the Devils' two two-on-none breaks in the game, both led by Zach Parise.

"You guys are on me about the short-handed breakaways, so hopefully the tough questions are at the other end of the hall tonight."

Parise wound up making passes on both of his rushes, creating goals by Adam Henrique and then Ilya Kovalchuk.

"A couple of Christmas presents from Zach," Kovalchuk said. "That's always nice."

Even nicer was a victory over the Lightning.

"I think we're both spinning our wheels where we're sitting in the standings," DeBoer said.

Parise added: "Now we have to redeem, ourselves in Florida after what happened the last time (blowing a 3-0 lead in a 4-3 loss to the Panthers on Nov. 21)."



Devils goalie Johan Hedberg comes up big in 32-save effort

By Rich Chere

TAMPA, Fla. - Devils goalie Johan Hedberg had to make 32 saves to pull out a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight and he knew the third period wasn't going to easy.

"Going into the third period even though we were up by three goals (5-2) it didn't seem liek it was going to be an easy ride," Hedberg said. "We did it to Ottawa the other night. We came back from three down. It is a tricky lead to have. You night relax a bit thinking you're in good shape and they get one they get a jump. They get a power play like tonight and get two and they're right back in it."

The Devils made plenty of mistakes in the game, including turnovers and icings by young defensemen.

"I think there were a couple of mistakes by some young guys and we took some penalties that cost us some momentum," coach Pete DeBoer said.

But Hedberg wouldn't point a finger at the young defensemen.

"I don't think it had anything to do with it. I think they played great," the goalie said. "They're so calm. They hold onto the puck and make good decisions. I don't feel any different playing behind them than any other D."

He did know it was going to be wild.

"If that team gets the first goal, the only thing I'm going to see all night are 2-on-1s and power plays," Hedberg said. "If we get the goal, they're going to start pushing it more."

DeBoer said he would make a decision Tuesday whether newly acquired defenseman Kurtis Foster would play against the Panthers Tuesday night.

"It's good," he said of the trade. "I'm happy Mark (Fraser) and Pell (Rod Pelley) get a chance to play and contribute in Anaheim. For us, Adam Oates is familiar with Kurtis Foster. He felt he can help us."



Devils may be ready to start climbing standings after win in Tampa

Rich Chere

TAMPA, Fla. - Before the Devils' 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight, coach Pete DeBoer reinforced to his players that it is time to make a move in the standings.

"Tampa is a team below us in the standings," said captain Zach Parise, who scored a goal with two assists in the win. "Pete was talking about we have to get some wins, separate ourselves and get in the top eight."

It is, perhaps, time for the Devils to make their move in the Eastern Conference race.

"A big two points," DeBoer said. "Where we're both sitting in the standings, these are big four-point games. It was important we came out and got a win. We had a disappointing home loss to Montreal and we wanted to start the road trip right.

"We did that. It wasn't textbook hockey, but we did enough to get a win."

He has wanted to see more offense, and he got that.

"Yes, we got some more offense," DeBoer said with a laugh. "We scored some goals. We've obviously got to tighten up some things and hopefully still create those three goals a night."

DeBoer was asked about the Devils' two two-on-none breaks in the game, both led by Zach Parise.

"You guys are on me about the short-handed breakaways, so hopefully the tough questions are at the other end of the hall tonight."

Parise wound up making passes on both of his rushes, creating goals by Adam Henrique and then Ilya Kovalchuk.

"A couple of Christmas presents from Zach," Kovalchuk said. "That's always nice."

Even nicer was a victory over the Lightning.

"I think we're both spinning our wheels where we're sitting in the standings," DeBoer said.

Parise added: "Now we have to redeem, ourselves in Florida after what happened the last time (blowing a 3-0 lead in a 4-3 loss to the Panthers on Nov. 21)."



Devils up next: Lightning

Staff

Today, 7 p.m.

TV: Versus

Radio: WFAN-AM 660

Story line: The Devils (14-13-1) hit the road again for their 11th game away from Prudential Center in their last 15 overall. They are 8-8-0 on the road this season, including a 4-2 win over the Lightning on Nov. 19.

Bergen Record LOADED: 12.13.2011


Devils Notes: Pelley, Frazier traded to Ducks for defenseman Foster

Tom Gulitti

Foster joins Devils

The Devils acquired defenseman Kurtis Foster and goaltender Timo Pielmeier from Anaheim on Monday for seldom-used center Rod Pelley and defenseman Mark Fraser along with a 2012 seventh-round draft pick.

Devils GM Lou Lamoriello said Foster "probably" will join the team in time for tonight's game in Florida, but he did not know if he would play. Pielmeier, who has been playing for Elmira in the ECHL, will be assigned to the minors.

Foster, 30, had a goal and an assist in nine games with the Ducks. Lamoriello believes the 6-foot-5, 226-pound Carp, Ontario native can help the Devils' power play with his big, right-handed shot.

"He's really a power-play specialist and his shot is what intrigues you," Lamoriello said.

Foster played under former Devils coach Jacques Lemaire in Minnesota and had a career season in 2009-10 with Tampa Bay, putting up eight goals and 34 assists in 71 games, when current Devils assistant Adam Oates was working for the Lightning.

After that, Foster signed a two-year, $3.6 million contract with Edmonton but was with the Oilers for only one season before being traded to Anaheim.

"He went through situations in Anaheim where there were power-play people ahead of him and in Edmonton it was a similar situation," Lamoriello said. "So, he hasn't played that much this year. But we know enough about him."

Pelley and Fraser each passed through waivers twice this season.

Janssen activated

The Devils activated RW Cam Janssen (bruised sternum) from IR but held him out of Monday's game to let him get in one more on-ice workout after the morning skate. To activate Janssen, they placed D Anton Volchenkov (hand) on IR. Lamoriello said Volchenkov should be back by the end of the week.



Devils hold on for 5-4 win over Lightning

By TOM GULITTI

TAMPA, Fla. - Pete DeBoer got the goal-scoring outburst he was seeking.

The Devils coach knew his team's defensive play still left a lot to be desired, however, after it barely held on for a 5-4 victory over the slumping Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night at St. Pete Times Forum.

The positive side of the ledger included goals from five Devils, including a goal and two assists from captain Zach Parise and rookie center Adam Henrique. Petr Sykora, Dainius Zubrus and Ilya Kovalchuk also scored for the Devils, who won for the third time in four games.

The negative side included letting a 2-0 lead become a 2-2 tie in the final 2:26 of the first period and then the final stressful seconds that followed Steven Stamkos' second goal of the night, which came with 33.5 seconds remaining and trimmed what had been a 5-2 lead after two periods to one goal.

Even with five goals of support, goaltender Johan Hedberg still had to make 32 saves to pull out the victory against a Lightning team that's lost seven of eight.

"We got more offense," DeBoer said laughing. "We scored some goals. We've, obviously, got to tighten up some things and, hopefully, still create those three goals a night."

The Devils had scored more than two goals in regulation only once in their previous nine games - Thursday's 5-4 shootout win over Ottawa.

Henrique, 21, continued to thrive on the top line with Parise and Kovalchuk. He enjoyed the first three-point game of his career and now stands second among all NHL rookies with 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 26 games. Edmonton's Ryan Nugent-Hopkins leads all NHL rookies with 13 goals, 19 assists and 32 points.

"I thought we played well as a line," Henrique said. "Obviously, Zach and Kovy had a few nice plays out there, but it's the same thing again. We've got to maybe bear down a bit more in the third there with the lead."

Sykora scored only 28 seconds into the game, backhanding home the rebound of Bryce Salvador's left-point shot to put the Devils up 1-0. Zubrus made it 2-0 with his power-play deflection at 5:38.

After the Lightning came back to tie it with goals from 1:20 apart from Steve Downie and Blair Jones late in the first period, the Devils bounced back with three unanswered goals in the second.

Parise jammed his own rebound past goaltender Dwayne Roloson only 56 seconds into the period to put the Devils back ahead. That was the end of the night for Roloson, who was replaced by Mathieu Garon after giving up three goals on 12 shots.

Garon fared no better as Kovalchuk finished a 2-on-0 rush with Parise to make it 4-2 at 5:42

Henrique added a short-handed goal - again off a 2-on-0 rush feed from Parise - to up the Devils' lead to 5-2 at 13:23 of the second.

Parise couldn't remember being part of one 2-on-0 rush in an NHL game before tonight, let alone two. And he passed on both.

"You've got guys wide open on a 2-on-0, you've got to pass it," Parise said. "If I got a third one, I was going to shoot it."

Kovalchuk and Henrique were appreciative of the unselfish plays by their captain.

"A couple Christmas presents from Zach," Kovalchuk said. "That's always nice."

It was also nice that the Devils pulled even in points with Washington for eighth place in the conference as they head to Florida tonight looking to avenge a 4-3 loss to the Panthers on Nov. 21, in which they blew a 3-0 lead.

"Pete was talking about that we've got to start getting some wins here and separating ourselves and getting up into that top eight," Parise said. "It was a good road win for us. It's a team that's been struggling to find wins lately

as well. So, it was good. Now, we've got to redeem ourselves a little bit in Florida after what happened last time."



Devils acquire Foster from Ducks

By MARK EVERSON

TAMPA -- The Devils new defenseman nearly died in 2008 from complications after breaking his left leg chasing an icing.

That near-tragedy to Kurtis Foster, 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, prompted the NHL to adjust its icing rule, but not to adopt the no-touch icing long advocated in some corners.

The Devils on Monday acquired Foster from Anaheim to be a power-play point man, along with farmhand goalie Timo Pielmeier of Germany, for seldom-used defenseman Mark Fraser, center Rod Pelley and a seventh-round pick.

Foster, 30, has played 340 NHL games for Atlanta, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Edmonton and Anaheim, but only nine in this, his first season with the Ducks.

"He's a right-handed shot and really a power-play specialist. His shot is what intrigues you," Lou Lamoriello said."He played under Jacques Lemaire in Minnesota and also in Tampa Bay under [assistant coach] Adam [Oates]."

Lamoriello twice waived Fraser and Pelley in an attempt to find them a place to play.

"When you have such quality individuals who have given you so much each and every day, you try to do the best for them," Lamoriello said. "It's a win situation for both teams. They're getting two role players who will be tremendous for them, and we're getting a player [for the lineup]."

The Ducks acquired Foster from the Oilers for Andy Sutton July 1, and he was 1-1-2 in his nine games in Anaheim, but minus-5. He is on the final year of a contract with $1.8 million salary.

He was still a rookie when he went 10-18-28 in 58 games for Minnesota in 2005-06, after cups of coffee with the Thrashers the previous two seasons. Those 10 goals were enough to share second place among that year's rookie defensemen. His best point production came with Tampa Bay, 8-34-42 in 71 games in 2009-10.

Foster went 8-14-22 and minus-12 in 74 games with the Oilers last season, after signing with Edmonton for two years in the summer of 2010. He was a second-round pick by Calgary in 2000.

"There were power play people ahead of him," Lamoriello said of Foster of his stays in Edmonton and Anaheim. "He hasn't played that much this year, but we knew enough about him.

"We were looking for someone who could handle the puck at the point."

The Devils thought Adam Larsson would be that player, but the rookie has recently lost much of that duty. Call-up Matt Taormina, a lefty, looked to be set to receive more time, but now the Devils will be giving Foster a chance.

Lamoriello said Foster may join the team in Sunrise, Fla., Tuesday, but might not face the Panthers Tuesday night. He may make his Devils debut Friday, Scott Niedermayer Night, when Dallas visits Newark.

Pielmeier, 22, was a third-round draft pick by San Jose in 2007 and played one game for Anaheim, a relief appearance, last season.

New York Post LOADED: 12.13.2011


Shaky Devils weather Lightning's storm

By MARK EVERSON

TAMPA - This time, the Devils barely survived a squandered lead.

Tonight, they visit the Panthers in Sunrise, Fla., where they wasted an even bigger bulge three weeks ago.

"We have to redeem ourselves a little bit in Florida after what happened last time," Zach Parise said after the Devils' nervous 5-4 victory over the flopping Lightning last night, when they threw away a 2-0 start, raced back to a 5-2 bulge, and had to hang on for their third triumph in eight games. On Nov. 21, they held a 3-0 lead over the Panthers in Sunrise and lost 4-3, the beginning of their current 5-6 malaise.

Now they return to the scene of that start of struggles. They've won three of four after losing four straight, so they're building hope.

"It wasn't textbook hockey, but we got a win," coach Pete DeBoer said. "We scored some goals. Obviously, we have to tighten up some things."

Playing only two real vets on defense, some of the Devils' failings last night could be attributed to inexperience on the depleted backline. It was the right night for Parise and rookie center Adam Henrique to have a goal and two assists each.

"It was fun," Parise said. "Ideally, you'd like to be able to put the clamp down, shut them down a lot better."

Petr Sykora and Dainius Zubrus had the Devils up by two in the opening 5:38. but that lead didn't survive the first period. Steve Downie and Blair Jones struck 1:20 apart, exploiting the same line and defense pair.

In the second, Parise turned in his first three-point outing since April 10, 2010, putting the Devils back in front for good with his ninth, then leading a pair of 2-on-0 breakaways, for goals by Ilya Kovalchuk and Henrique.

"A couple of Christmas presents from Zach. Always nice," Kovalchuk said.

Tampa Bay mounted another comeback on Steve Stamkos' pair in the third, and the Devils barely escaped another debacle.

"We score five goals, we should come out on top," said goalie Johan Hedberg, blameless against 36 shots.

Victory, however, made another erratic performance acceptable.

"Tampa's a team below us in the standings that Pete [DeBoer] is talking about getting wins and separating ourselves from, getting into the top eight," Parise said.

They've pulled even in points with Montreal and Washington for that final playoff position.

Before the game, the Devils acquired 6-foot-5 defenseman Kurtis Foster and farmhand goalie Timo Pielmeier of Germany from Anaheim for defenseman Mark Fraser, center Rod Pelley and a seventh-round pick. ... The Lightning is 1-7 in eight, its lone triumph by shootout. ... The Devils removed right wing Cam Janssen from injured reserve, but he sat out last night. He may rejoin the lineup tonight from a sternum bruise suffered Dec. 3. Defenseman Anton Volchenkov (hand) was placed on the IR. ... Martin Brodeur is scheduled to play against Florida tonight.


600090 New York Islanders

Snow ready for playoff push to begin

By STEVEN MARCUS

Garth Snow said he isn't giving up a goaltender or the idea of making the playoffs. With at least one of the Islanders' three goalies often injured, he may have been stating the obvious on the trade front while reinforcing his position that the team has the personnel to make a playoff run.

Snow said there has been no consideration given to trading a goalie. "I haven't been looking to do that by any means," he said after yesterday's practice at IceWorks. "If anything, I'm glad we have the depth we do have with our goaltending, not just here but in Bridgeport as well.''

Al Montoya, Rick DiPietro and Evgeni Nabokov were healthy to start the season, but each has been injured at some point in the first 27 games. Nabokov is about to return from his second groin injury. DiPietro, who has a similar problem, is not. "I think he's going to start skating sometime this week,'' Snow said. "We'll take a look at it day to day.''

The Islanders (9-12-6) seemed to be on an upward swing, going 4-0-2 before an ugly 6-3 loss to the Sidney Crosby-less Penguins on Saturday. "We're in no position to take any kind of game easy,'' P.A. Parenteau said. "We're still not in the playoffs, we're still under .500, so I don't see why we would think a game would be easy. There are no easy games.''

Snow expects the playoff push to start now, saying, "In the short term, we've got to get to .500 as quickly as possible and take it from there. We obviously had a letdown the other night against Pittsburgh. We're not in position to take anybody lightly. In the case of the Penguins, when they lose a top player like that, they play a better game because they are trying to pay attention to detail. That's just something I've always found to be a common theme when teams lose certain players.

"Our goal is to get to .500 and get ourselves in the playoffs. The group that we have can win on any given night. We're a lot like several teams across the league where we do have some players out with injury. That's something that the good teams and playoff teams deal with.''

Notes & quotes: F Nino Niederreiter (concussion) is not likely to accompany the team to Montreal for 's game. "He's still in the early phases'' of recovery, coach Jack Capuano said.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 12.13.2011

600091 New York Rangers

John Tortorella calls HBO cameras in NY Rangers locker room an 'invasion of privacy'

By Pat Leonard

The Rangers will be allowed to review each episode of HBO's "24/7 Flyers/Rangers: Road to the Winter Classic" before it airs, but they can't do anything about John Tortorella Live.

The Blueshirts' coach called the presence of HBO crews in the Rangers' locker room an "invasion of privacy," though he acknowledged the producers and staff do a great job staying out of the way.

RANGERS RIP PANTHERS, 6-1

"Oh, it's a pain in the (butt)," Tortorella said Sunday night at the Garden, when asked if the network production was a distraction. "There's no question. I can't stand it."

He went on but, as Tortorella often does, caught himself mid-thought in a humorous change of tone.

"Once you get going, once you're - and listen, let me make sure - they're good guys. They're good guys," Tortorella said of the three HBO crews with the team for the month. "I just don't want people in our locker room, but I know we have to do it."

New York Daily News LOADED: 12.13.2011


Richards making Rangers sparkle

By LARRY BROOKS

A review of his contract might lead one to call him "Richie Rich," except Brad Richards is every bit a lunch pail pro with as much of a blue-collar approach to his work as anyone in the Rangers' room, if not the NHL.

He's a star, an upper-echelon player whose presence and sense of professionalism have elevated the Blueshirts on and off the ice; a star, after

dropping the capital "S" upon leaving Dallas for New York this summer as a free agent.

"It's nobody's fault that I left [the Stars], it was my decision and I take full accountability for it," said Richards, who will face his former team tonight at the Garden. "The three [full] years I was there, we didn't make the playoffs, and the organization wasn't spending the money that six, seven or eight other teams were in the tough Western Conference.

"There are a lot of good people there and I have a lot of good friends there, but I'm not looking back. That's the business we're in."

Richards chose New York on July 2 after the Rangers offered a front-loaded nine-year, $60 million contract under which the center will have received $20 million by next July 1. There were two larger offers, but no other franchise could offer John Tortorella as the coach, and as the season evolves it becomes more apparent by the day how beneficial that relationship is to the team.

The significance of their mutual trust cannot be minimized in analyzing Tortorella's decision to move Richards off Marian Gaborik's line - what was perceived as the first line; the glamour line - just eight games into the season.

It was the coaching decision that established the foundation for the season, coming when the team was 3-3-2, establishing as it did a balanced attack featuring Gaborik with Derek Stepan and Artem Anisimov on one line, and Richards with Ryan Callahan and either Ruslan Fedotenko or Brandon Dubinsky on another.

And it was a decision Tortorella almost certainly would not have been able to effect so seamlessly with a high-priced free agent with whom he did not have a history. And it was a move that a different kind of personality might have resisted rather than embraced, as Richards did.

These are examples of leadership that do not go unnoticed within a team. These are examples of leadership that help explain why the Rangers are 17-6-4.

Richards could have come to the Rangers last year at the trade deadline. But, according to an individual with knowledge of the situation, he declined to waive his no-move clause when he learned of the bounty (three Grade A assets) the Stars were demanding in return, not wanting the Blueshirts to be diluted upon his arrival.

And so Broadway would wait for Richards, who has recorded 25 points (11-14) with the promise of better things ahead.

"I have to admit that even though I wanted to come here, it was a hell of a transition, especially since I'm not the kind of person who is the best at adapting to change," Richards told The Post. "Mentally, it took its toll on me, and I wasn't as sharp as I wanted to be or needed to be, but thankfully I got great support from my teammates and we were winning.

"I'm starting to feel it come now. I feel comfortable being here and living here. The best is ahead of me."

Said Richards, no longer a Dallas Star, but a star on Broadway.



Richards: Coming to Rangers was written in the Stars

By ANDREW GROSS

Brad Richards never wanted to leave Tampa Bay and was stung when the Lightning traded him to Dallas. That wasn't the case, though, this off-season, as he made it clear he would not re-sign with the Stars, even if he called leaving his teammates "tough."

"It just didn't work out," Richards said. "It was time we start over."

Richards faces the Stars, who visit Madison Square Garden tonight, for the first time since signing a nine-year, $60 million deal that almost ensures he will retire a Ranger.

For Richards, the Rangers provided a stability he could not achieve in Dallas.

"We were not in the playoffs for three straight years, and we were not spending the money that six, seven, eight teams are in a tough Western Conference," Richards said. "I wanted that stability. It's nobody's fault."

Tom Hicks, the Stars' former owner, began experiencing financial troubles shortly after the Stars acquired Richards from the Lightning - where he won a Stanley Cup with current Rangers coach John Tortorella in 2004 - on Feb. 26, 2008.

In actuality, Richards escaped the Lightning's tumultuous times under bickering former co-owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie, who forced then-Lightning general manager Jay Feaster into dealing Richards shortly after purchasing Tampa Bay.

The Rangers just won at Tampa Bay, 4-2, on Dec. 3, in a victory Richards admitted was special after he lost in his two trips back with the Stars.

The Stars reached the Western Conference finals in 2008 after acquiring Richards but did not reach the playoffs again during his time in Dallas.

Hicks reportedly kept the Stars' payroll nearly $11 million below the salary cap. The league eventually took over managing the club until it could be sold at auction.

"It's unfortunate," Richards said. "There are a lot of good people there and I have a lot of good friends there. But I'm very happy to be a New York Ranger."

The 31-year-old center from Prince Edward Island started his Rangers' career with a five-game point streak and enters tonight's game with 11 goals and 14 assists. That includes three goals and eight assists on the power play he was signed to quarterback from the point. Lately, though, Richards has moved down low on the first unit.

He has five goals and seven assists over his past nine games.

"To me, as far as his feeling part of it, I think it started right away," Tortorella said of Richards' assimilation. "He's a bit of a mental case, just his whole routine as far as playing. He is really focused. Our room is tight. I heard right when he was signed, he made calls to his new teammates right away. It looked like he just joined right in."



HBO cameras 'a pain' for Tortorella

By JOHN JEANSONNE

When that HBO "24/7" series leading up to hockey's Jan. 2 Winter Classic in Philadelphia debuts the first of four episodes tomorrow night, viewers will get more of an inside glimpse at the Rangers than coach John Tortorella would prefer.

The team is playing well -- 14 victories in its last 18 games after Sunday night's 6-1 blowout of Florida -- and exuding a one-for-all togetherness. Still, the constant presence of behind-the-scenes cameras is "a pain" to Tortorella.

"There's no question; I can't stand it," Tortorella said. "But it doesn't affect my coaching. Listen, let me make it clear. are good guys, good guys. I just don't want people in our locker room. But I know we have to do it."

As part of participating in the Winter Classic, teams are required by the league to sign on to the HBO project. And Tortorella acknowledged that, most of the time, "you don't even notice" the presence of the cameras. "I don't even see them. That's where they're really good. It hasn't affected how we go about our business. I just don't agree with it."

He has not, he insisted, edited himself for the cameras. "Because I know we have final say" in what will be broadcast. "You know, things happen. The last thing I want to happen on that show is a player looked at the wrong way. It's an emotional game, emotional times. There's plenty enough stuff you can turn into a good show without a player being jammed up or be in a tough spot that is seen by everybody.

"I don't want you to think it's a free-for-all in that locker room every night, screaming and yelling, because it doesn't happen. And I think you'll see that as we go through it."

Meanwhile, on full display over the weekend were the back-to-back victories over Buffalo and Florida, giving the Rangers a 3-0-1 record in the second game of back-to-backs this season, legitimizing the team's demanding training camp, Tortorella said.

"We have a hard camp," he said. "It's condition-oriented, and it's a challenge for them. The way we always talk about it is, 'This is going to pay off.' You can hear me even say that in between periods in these types of situations.

"It's nice to have in the back of your mind when that's what we've talked about, in terms of energy."

And there will be no rest for the weary now: After Tuesday night's home game against Dallas, the Rangers will play at St. Louis on Thursday and at Phoenix on Saturday before next Monday's game in New Jersey. While HBO prepares to chronicle everything about that big game in Philadelphia Jan. 2.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 12.13.2011

600095 NHL

Crosby Sidelined Indefinitely by Return of Symptoms

By JEFF Z. KLEIN and CHRISTOPHER BOTTA

Sidney Crosby, the N.H.L.'s biggest star, said Monday that he was experiencing concussion symptoms again and that he would sit out indefinitely.

"After talking with everyone, I just figured it was better to be cautious here and not take any chances," he told reporters in Pittsburgh. "That's kind of where I'm at right now."

Crosby, who missed more than 10 months after sustaining a concussion last January, said he was probably hurt when he was hit in the head while colliding with the Bruins' David Krejci during a 3-1 loss Dec. 5. He said, "It didn't feel like anything too major."

He did not miss a shift, but later collided with his Penguins teammate Chris Kunitz near center ice. He sat out the next two games, against Philadelphia and the Islanders.

In a video on the Penguins' Web site, Crosby said he "just didn't feel right" when he skated the day after the Boston game.

"I have to make sure with these sort of things that I'm careful," he said. "You have to listen to your body."

Crosby has learned from recent history. Several former N.H.L. stars have had their careers shortened after sustaining multiple concussions.

Last Wednesday, Crosby met with Dr. Michael Collins and passed an Impact test, the standard concussion assessment test. Penguins Coach Dan Bylsma said Collins did not see indications of a concussion.

But Crosby had concussionlike symptoms - including headaches - after light workouts last weekend. He said he was not sure whether the symptoms were a result of a new concussion.

Dr. Robin Green, senior scientist at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and an expert in traumatic brain injury, said it was not unusual for Crosby to still feel symptoms after passing an Impact test.

"All of our clinical tests have very limited sensitivity," she said. "People can look perfectly intact, including on the Impact test he took. Part of the big problem of figuring out when it's safe for an athlete to return to play is our tests lack sufficient sensitivity to tell us that a person is completely recovered."

Green added that it was unclear "whether the brain ever fully resets" after a concussion. "One study showed that a year after a single concussion, a given individual shows definitive effects using a particular type of

neuroimaging," she said. "That was after just one concussion, and Crosby may have had more than one."

Crosby played eight games and had 12 points in his comeback, including two goals in his first game back Nov. 21 against the Islanders - the only ones he had scored.

Pat LaFontaine, the former Islanders, Sabres and Rangers center, retired at 33 after a series of concussions. Eric Lindros played fewer than 40 games in each of his last three seasons before retiring at 34 with postconcussion syndrome. Keith Primeau retired at 34 in 2005 after sustaining four concussions.

Rangers defenseman Marc Staal sustained a concussion last February, but missed only four games before returning to play the rest of the season - except for a two-game break in March when he had concussion-related symptoms. Staal has not resumed practice with contact, and his availability this season remains in question.

Marc Savard, a center with the Boston Bruins, sustained a concussion when he was blindsided by a hit from Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke on March 7, 2010. Cooke's check, considered legal at the time, led to a rule change penalizing hits to the head. Savard returned for 25 games the next season, sustained another concussion Jan. 22 and has not played since.

On Monday, the Philadelphia Flyers announced that Claude Giroux, the leading point scorer in the N.H.L. with 39, would miss at least Tuesday's game against Washington after sustaining a head injury Saturday.

Crosby said he felt better than he did when he was recovering this summer. Crosby practiced for a month before he was cleared to return.

"I'm way better off than I was dealing with this stuff 10 months ago or whenever it was," he said.

But for now, the comeback of the best player in hockey has been derailed.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: December 12, 2011

An earlier version of this article referred incorrectly to the date of Sidney Crosby's return as Nov. 23.


600096 NHL

In Debate About Fighting in Hockey, N.H.L.'s Experts Say More Research Is Needed

By JEFF Z. KLEIN

The determination that the hockey enforcer Derek Boogaard had a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated hits to the head when he died in May at 28 has fueled a debate among medical experts over whether the sport should ban fighting.

The N.H.L. commissioner, Gary Bettman, has played down the findings announced last week by Boston University researchers that Boogaard had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a close relative of Alzheimer's disease known as C.T.E. He said data on the causes of brain trauma was insufficient to warrant stiffer penalties for fighting.

Dr. Ruben Echemendia, a former president of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, advises Bettman as the director of the concussion working group formed in 1997 and operated jointly by the N.H.L. and the players union. He agreed with Bettman's position, saying there is not enough evidence to justify rules changes that would curtail or end fighting in the N.H.L.

"I think it's an opinion based on limited data," Echemendia said about the conclusion by scientists at Boston University's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy that hits to the head sustained in hockey might lead to C.T.E. "My perspective is, we should not make wholesale changes until we have more than opinion and speculation."

Some independent experts, however, say ample evidence exists.

"We in science can dot the line between blows to the head, brain degeneration and all of these other issues," said Dr. Charles H. Tator, a neurosurgeon and researcher at Toronto Western Hospital who directs programs to reduce head and spinal-cord injuries in sports. "So in my view, it's time for the leagues to acknowledge this serious issue and take steps to reduce blows to the brain."

Those steps, he said, include "getting fighting out of the game."

Boogaard played six seasons in the N.H.L. with the Minnesota Wild and the Rangers, scoring 3 goals and totaling 589 penalty minutes. At 6 feet 8 inches and 260 pounds, he established himself as one of the game's most feared fighters, regularly receiving and delivering bare-knuckled blows to the head. The last several months of his life were marked by injuries and an addiction to prescription drugs. On May 13, he was found dead from what was ruled an overdose of alcohol and painkillers.

After his death, Boogaard's brain was examined by the Boston University researchers. C.T.E. can be diagnosed only posthumously, but scientists say it manifests itself in symptoms like memory loss, impulsiveness, mood swings and addiction. They said they found striking evidence of the disease in Boogaard's brain.

The Boston group has examined the brains of four former N.H.L. players - all four have been found to have had C.T.E., and three of them fought regularly in their careers. Boogaard was the youngest.

"There is evidence at this point in time to speculate about a link between repetitive blows to the head and C.T.E.," Echemendia said. "However, we are not sure at this point in time how strong that link is or what the parameters are that would lead to C.T.E."

Over the last two seasons, the N.H.L. has banned most checks to the head and stiffened penalties for those and other rule violations through its new department of player safety. Those steps were taken primarily out of concerns for players' health, to reduce concussions.

The N.H.L.'s data from last season indicated that 8 percent of concussions resulted from fights. Still, Bettman said the league and the players were not inclined to enact measures that would limit fighting.

Tator said he believed fighting caused 10 percent of all concussions in hockey - "a significant number." Asked if he could reduce by 10 percent a serious health problem by taking a particular step, he said, "Absolutely - the fighting issue is an important aspect of the whole issue of hits to the head."

Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, a neurologist who heads the University of Michigan NeuroSport program and is an N.H.L. Players' Association consultant to the concussion working group, said the elimination of fighting was a policy decision for the league and the players union to make, in much the same way cracking down on checks to the head was.

"I'm going to beg off on commenting on the policy part of it," he said. "I can see the inconsistency that you're outlining there.

"In essence, I would say there's no more evidence that fighting is bad for the brain than there is that hits to the head are bad for the brain. The amount of evidence is the same - essentially, very little. Yet the decision was made on a policy level: let's take head shots out of the game. There's no more evidence, or less, for head shots than there is for fighting."

Researchers generally agree that there is a link between repeated blows to the head and C.T.E. But they are uncertain which specific hits lead to the disease and whether some people have a genetic predisposition. In Boogaard's case, the Boston University researchers said it was impossible to know whether the condition was caused by blows he sustained in fights.

Dr. Robert Cantu, a co-director of the Boston group and a prominent neurosurgeon in the area of head trauma in sports, said the evidence was strong enough to say that league officials "are putting people at risk by allowing fighting."

Dr. Robert A. Stern, a neurosurgeon and another co-director of the Boston group, said that the elimination of fighting was a policy matter for the N.H.L. to decide and that "we need to not overreact or make knee-jerk policy or rule changes." But, he added, "If there's a logical explanation for a larger number of hits and you can then reduce that number of hits, that makes sense to do."

When asked if, as a neuropsychologist, he believed fighting should be allowed in hockey, Echemendia said: "My role is to provide the league with information regarding mechanisms of injury in concussion and the

evaluation and management of the injury in the N.H.L. It is up to the league to analyze the information we provide along with other sources of information in making policy decisions."

Dr. Willem Meeuwisse, a University of Calgary epidemiologist and medical consultant to the N.H.L., said the concussion working group's goal was "to try and look at scientific evidence for things we can do to prevent concussion, and if there isn't evidence, then it's hard for that group to make a firm recommendation."

Until the cause of C.T.E. is better understood, Echemendia said, the league should not jump to conclusions about the damage caused by fighting.

"I think that there are some real and interesting findings related to C.T.E., that there's a lot of important work that's being done," he said, referring to the Boston group's findings of C.T.E. in the brains of all four former hockey players it has examined.

"But now that work is in its infancy, and it is very premature to draw any conclusions of any causal links between fighting and C.T.E. There's just not enough evidence to support that."

Dr. Michael J. Stuart, an orthopedic surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and the chief medical officer for USA Hockey, acknowledged the range of opinions among medical experts.

"These are opinions, very educated opinions and very experienced people providing their opinions," said Stuart, who was a chairman of last year's Ice Hockey Summit: Action on Concussion at the Mayo Clinic.

Stuart said he applauded the N.H.L.'s efforts to reduce the number of checks to the head. But "maybe they're not ready to eliminate fighting now - I don't know, but I certainly would hope that we head toward that to minimize risk," he said.

"If we truly want to make every effort to reduce the risk of concussion in the sport of ice hockey, we should eliminate fighting," Stuart added. "There's no doubt about that."

The N.H.L. finds itself in a position somewhat similar to that of the N.F.L. several years ago, when researchers began diagnosing C.T.E. in the brains of former professional football players. N.F.L. officials and the league's medical experts initially dismissed the findings. But as more cases surfaced and Congressional inquiries were conducted, the league was forced to make rules changes.

Dr. Michael Cusimano, a neurosurgeon at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto who is involved in efforts to reduce sports injuries, criticized the N.H.L. for saying it needed more data.

"We heard this about 40 years ago with cigarette smoking," Cusimano said. "Sure, there can be more evidence, but there's some evidence out there that fighting is clearly a cause of brain injuries.

"What's the threshold of evidence that Gary Bettman needs to see this?"


600097 NHL

Inside Look at N.H.L. That Even the Players' Families Want to See

By CHRISTOPHER BOTTA

As production crews for the HBO documentary series "24/7: Road to the N.H.L. Winter Classic" record every move of the players and coaches on the Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers, their lives are open books. The sanctity of the locker room is gone.

When Coach John Tortorella entered the Rangers' locker room at Madison Square Garden on Sunday for his pregame meeting, he knew that not everyone in the room was on his team. As Tortorella prepared the Rangers for the Florida Panthers, the presence of three camera operators and three sound engineers was a horror.

"There's no question," Tortorella said. "I can't stand it."

Peter Laviolette, the Flyers' coach, calls the reality-show scene "a big commotion, every hour and every day."

But they deal with the relentless invasion of privacy because they know that the second season of HBO's four-episode series, which makes its debut Wednesday night, is good for the brand of the Rangers, the Flyers and the N.H.L. Last season's series, previewing the outdoor game between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins, averaged 2.5 million viewers an episode.

"All the cameras take a while to get used to," said Ryan Callahan, the Rangers' captain. "But there isn't a guy in the league who didn't watch the show last year. I'm sure most players don't just want to be in the Winter Classic, but also be part of '24/7.' For our relatives who want to know what our lives are like during the season, the show is as good a reflection as I can give them."

After the Rangers arrived in Buffalo on Friday before playing the Sabres the next day, Callahan, who grew up in Rochester, had dinner with his parents at Buffalo Chop House. The Callahans were wired for sound and accompanied at the table by camera operators.

"It was a little awkward, talking to your parents and knowing it might get on TV," Callahan said. "But after a while - for me, at least - you get so used to having the crews around all the time, even a filmed dinner becomes comfortable."

Achieving that comfort level has been the goal since meetings began last summer among network executives, the teams, the league and the Players' Association.

"We respect that the locker room and the team plane and all those spaces are sacred to the athletes and coaches," said Dave Harmon, HBO's vice president for sports production and the coordinating producer of the Winter Classic documentaries. "That's why there has been constant communication about what we require to show off the best aspects of the game. Everyone has been on board. The Rangers and Flyers have been exceptional to deal with."

Camera crews have been following the teams full time since Dec. 5, and the players and coaches will not know what made the first 60-minute program until it is shown Wednesday night. Two more episodes will be filmed before the Winter Classic on Jan. 2 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, and one after the game.

"Everything's been great, but we haven't lost a game since the cameras showed up," Laviolette joked.

The Rangers won their games Saturday and Sunday, the last two games to be featured in the premiere episode.

Tortorella may wish the teams had final say, as he told reporters Sunday, but they do not. Private medical evaluations, like the concussion tests that Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger had recently, are off limits.

But if it is words - profane, insulting or strategic - the Rangers or the Flyers want cut, Harmon will extend the courtesy of a discussion, but will not allow the teams to be editors.

Laviolette does not seem concerned. "We have the advantage of seeing last year's show," he said. "I don't think HBO is focused on X's and O's, and they're not out to embarrass anyone. If something really bad happens, we'll ask for consideration. I'm O.K., I think, with a rough moment. We are who we are."

The series captured a very human moment Thursday, when Rangers forward Artem Anisimov exuberantly celebrated a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning by pretending his hockey stick was a rifle and firing a shot. A skirmish ensued on the ice, followed by apologies by Anisimov to his teammates and the Lightning for disrespecting the game. The episode was gold for "24/7."

"There are things you plan for, and then events that happen innocently and you know have to be part of the show," Harmon said.

Anisimov, who scored a goal Sunday and celebrated modestly, said he understood why his mistake was almost certain to make the final cut.

"I went into this trying to be myself," Anisimov said. "I did something wrong, and we have moved on. People want to see what we really are. "

Hockey fans and casual observers will see plenty over the next four weeks. Expect Tortorella and Laviolette, Ilya Bryzgalov and Jaromir Jagr of the Flyers and the Rangers' Sean Avery and Henrik Lundqvist to be among the

early stars. Last year's breakout star was Bruce Boudreau, the Capitals' coach at the time, who was seen shopping and snacking and endlessly cursing.

"It's a little weird at times," Lundqvist said. "You go to stretch in a room in an arena away from everybody, and then you look up and a camera is there. But, for the most part, I think what makes the show great is that the people working on it are skilled at being invisible. That's how they get the good stuff."

Still, the players are aware they are being watched at all times. In the third period of a game Dec. 5 against Toronto, Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto became entangled with an opponent and crashed headfirst into the end boards. Before the game, he had agreed to let HBO attach a microphone under his jersey.

"I hit the boards pretty hard, and it was a little scary," Del Zotto said. "But to be honest, more than my own health, I was thinking about all of my friends laughing when they see me stumbling around and trying to breathe."

The "24/7" cameras followed Del Zotto after the accident and were there when he drove to practice the next morning.


600098 NHL

Crosby trudges back to the sidelines with concussion-like symptoms

david shoalts

Sidney Crosby's setback in his recovery from a major concussion is no surprise, according to concussion experts, and while it is too soon to worry that hockey's biggest star could be facing retirement, great care needs to be taken with the decision on his return to the ice.

Dr. Paul Echlin of London, Ont., a sports-medicine specialist, said clearing Crosby to play an NHL game again should be done only if his doctors are sure the prognosis for his long-term health is good.

"I say to parents, 'You want to support your son's excellence in sports but you have to focus on his long-term health,'" Echlin said.

Crosby, 24, and his team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, announced Monday that he will not return to the ice after experiencing a recurrence of concussion symptoms when he was hit a couple of times during a game Dec. 5 against the Boston Bruins. A collision with Bruins forward David Krejci is thought to be the one that caused the setback. "I know I got hit on the head there," Crosby said.

Crosby missed the Penguins' next two games but was expected to play Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. However, Crosby said Monday he "just didn't feel right" the day after the Bruins game. Crosby collided with teammate Chris Kunitz in that Bruins game, but he said Monday that was a "knee-on-knee" hit and probably not responsible for his relapse.

No timetable was put on Crosby's return, although he told reporters he is optimistic he is not facing a recovery nearly as long as the one that kept him off the ice from Jan. 5 until Nov. 21. He said he does not feel nearly as bad as he did last January and if he had to compare his symptoms now with his first recovery, he said he feels better "than I did in August, much better than when I was dealing with this the first time, so that's a great thing."

Crosby is on the same recovery program he was for his first concussion. He is not practising with his teammates but said he is "doing a little light [exertion] stuff and we'll see how that goes."

Dr. James Kissick, a sports-medicine specialist in Ottawa who is a member of an international advisory panel on concussions, says it's a concern that Crosby is having problems a short time after a long recovery. But it is difficult to say much beyond that, he added.

"It sounds like the Penguins are being extra cautious, which is a great idea," Kissick said. "There's no question it's concerning."

While Echlin said he cannot discuss Crosby's concussion because he never treated him, he did say a recurrence of concussion symptoms has led him to have difficult conversations with his own patients.

"Then you start to think, is this the wrong sport for you?" Echlin said. "This is a hard decision to make for him."

However, it is not a decision Crosby has to make right away, and Echlin said the fact all of his symptoms were gone when he returned to play on Nov. 21 is "a triumph in itself."

Crosby said Monday he passed an ImPACT test, a neurocognitive evaluation system that tests brain and neurological reactions. However, both Kissick and Echlin said ImPACT tests are not sensitive enough to be used solely as a gauge for concussed patients. Echlin said they are a valuable tool in assessing and treating concussions, but too much emphasis should not be placed on the tests because they are just one part of the decision to let an athlete play again.

"[The decision] comes down to using all a clinician has: his own experience, the patient's history and all the other information," Echlin said. "It's not that easy, so it shouldn't be placed on [the results of] one test."

Echlin and Dr. Kelly Brett of the University of Calgary's sports-medicine clinic, who has been the head physician of the Calgary Flames for the last 11 years, are both skeptical of the treatment Crosby received from Ted Carrick, a Canadian chiropractor based in Atlanta who is a leader in a new field Carrick calls chiropractic neurology.

Crosby turned to Carrick when his recovery proved to be slow. He gave Carrick credit for getting him over a plateau in his recovery and helping him get back on the ice.

Carrick's treatments included using a full body gyroscope, or rotating chair that spins around and upside down. This seems odd to some sports-medicine specialists. The one thing physicians know about a concussed brain, is not to roll it around or turn it upside down.

"It's setting concussion management back again," Brett said.

Although it's not clear where Crosby was in his recovery when this device was employed, the use of it could feed into the superstition of hockey players to try whatever gizmo, gadget or gimmick worked for somebody else, Brett said.

"The whole thing doesn't make any sense. It's unorthodox and there's no science behind it," Brett said of the recovery protocol Crosby received.

Echlin said he would be open to Carrick's ideas, but is not aware of any long-term studies.

"There's no evidence behind it," Echlin said. "It's hard for me to understand or even comment about it."


600099 NHL

From elation to gloom - the NHL spirals into another abyss

Roy MacGregor | Columnist profile | From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

This past weekend, his Pittsburgh Penguins announced he would skip two road games as a precaution after "not feeling 100 per cent" following two slight on-ice collisions. Then, on Monday, Crosby failed to show at the Penguins' morning practice. He later announced that he would not play in Tuesday's game against the Detroit Red Wings. (The Penguins are also scheduled to play the Senators in Ottawa on Friday.) While Crosby called the setback beyond frustrating, he added that: "After talking with everyone, I figured it was better to be cautious and not take any chances. That's where I'm at right now."

What is curious about this turn of events is that here the NHL is blameless. Even if head shots had been eliminated and all fighting banned, this setback could not have been prevented. Teammates will always collide, accidental hits to the head are impossible to prevent.

The absence of hockey's 24-year-old superstar has sucked the wind out of sails that billowed in late November when the native of Cole Harbour, N.S., returned with such fanfare. In the days following the Penguins' 5-0 defeat of the Islanders, the hockey world was aTwitter with predictions that he might even win the NHL scoring race.

"Sidney Crosby's back, guys," linemate Pascal Dupuis said that night.

It turns out the announcement was premature.

In a bizarre coincidence, the current NHL scoring leader, 23-year-old Claude Giroux of Hearst, Ont., is also out after suffering an accidental hit to the head - delivered by a teammate's knee - in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Giroux will miss Tuesday's game against the Washington Capitals. So, too, will Flyers captain Chris Pronger and rookie Brayden Schenn, both sidelined with concussion-like symptoms.

Last season's rookie of the year, 19-year-old Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes, is also out of action following a heavy hit during a match against the Edmonton Oilers. The team has not disclosed the nature of the injury suffered by the native of Markham, Ont.

But player injuries are not all the league has suffered through in recent days. An exhaustive New York Times investigation into the life and death of New York Rangers brain-damaged enforcer Derek Boogaard has taken an issue long familiar in Canadian media and given it new prominence in influential American circles.

As well, the rising concern over the long-term effects of taking shots to the head in a league that refuses to ban fighting took a blow itself this past week when a Canadian company, In The Game, produced a series of blood-spattered trading cards celebrating NHL fighters. One card, for former Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Wade Belak, who died under mysterious circumstances last summer, "disgusts" Belak's mother.

But nothing compares to the effect Crosby's long-term concussion had on the game this year and the unknown effect that his problems may have in the future. Crosby is not only the face of the NHL but is beloved in Canada as the scorer of the goal that gave Canada the Olympic gold medal in Vancouver in February of 2010. Concerns for his health reverberate beyond the Pittsburgh team and beyond the league itself to the very roots of hockey, where minor-hockey parents are increasingly concerned about the effects of head hits on the health of their children.

With Crosby sitting out again, there is growing worry that his career path might follow that of Paul Kariya, a budding superstar whose potential greatness was snuffed by a series of concussions. When the 36-year-old Vancouver native finally retired from the game this year, he told The Globe and Mail's Eric Duhatschek: "The thing that I worry about is that you'll get a guy who is playing with a concussion, and he gets hit, and he dies at centre ice. Can you imagine would happen to the league if a guy dies at centre ice?"

Reeling again, the league is pinning its hopes for recovery on its Winter Classic outdoor match that in recent years has caused a rise in interest and American television ratings. This year's match is set for Jan. 2 in Philadelphia, the Flyers playing host to the Rangers.

However, should Crosby not return by then, that much-trumpeted outdoor game will only serve to remind of the previous outdoor match, New Year's Day 2011, when Crosby suffered the first hit to the head that would send the NHL into its dark spiral.


600100 NHL

Crosby suffers concussion setback

Kevin McGran

Sidney Crosby's comeback has been derailed by the return of "concussion-like symptoms" in a turn of events concussion experts could have predicted.

The Penguins captain missed practice again Monday, telling reporters in Pittsburgh he wasn't sure when he'd be back. He has missed the last two games as a precaution.

"I'm not happy about watching, but you've got to make sure with these sorts of things to be careful," Crosby told reporters in Pittsburgh.

Crosby said he wasn't feeling 100 per cent after taking a few hits during a 3-1 loss to the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins last week. Crosby

practised as usual on Wednesday, two days after the Boston game, but told team officials afterward he had a headache.

That doesn't surprise Dr. Paul Echlin, one of Canada's leading authorities on concussions and sports medicine, who says the rate of recurrence for concussions is very high.

"It really doesn't take much the second time," said Echlin.

"It took very little to provoke his symptoms. It was a collision at speed ... (that) transmitted to his brain forces that irritated him."

After sitting out, Crosby took, and passed, a baseline test for cognitive functions. "The (test) isn't everything. You've got to listen to your body. But it was encouraging," the player said.

Crosby's setback comes after revelations in The New York Times that enforcer Derek Boogaard - at age 28 - suffered from a degenerative brain condition related to Alzheimer's disease. Echlin said the Times report should be a warning to all hockey players.

"This is a serious brain injury that everybody is unique to," said Echlin. "You don't want to end up like some of the retired players who are chronically impaired, chronically have symptoms."

Crosby missed 41 games last season and seven playoff games following two concussions he suffered in early January. He was forced to miss the first 20 games this season while recovering from concussion symptoms.

He made a spectacular return on Nov. 21 against the New York Islanders, scoring two goals and two assists. He has two goals and 10 assists in eight games.

Toronto Star LOADED: 12.13.2011

600101 NHL

Sidney Crosby suffers setback, and that's no surprise to concussion doctor

Kevin McGran

Sidney Crosby sat out Pittsburgh's two-game road trip to Philadelphia and New York as a precaution but said he's noticed symptoms during light workouts over the weekend.

Gene J. Puskar/AP file Sidney Crosby's comeback has been derailed by the return of "concussion-like symptoms" in a turn of events concussion experts could have predicted.

The Penguins captain missed practice again Monday, telling reporters in Pittsburgh he wasn't sure when he'd be back. He has missed the last two games as a precaution.

"I'm not happy about watching, but you've got to make sure with these sorts of things to be careful," Crosby told reporters in Pittsburgh.

Crosby said he wasn't feeling 100 per cent after taking a few hits during a 3-1 loss to the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins last week. Crosby practised as usual on Wednesday, two days after the Boston game, but told team officials afterward he had a headache.

That doesn't surprise Dr. Paul Echlin, one of Canada's leading authorities on concussions and sports medicine, who says the rate of recurrence for concussions is very high.

"It really doesn't take much the second time," said Echlin.

"It took very little to provoke his symptoms. It was a collision at speed ... (that) transmitted to his brain forces that irritated him."

After sitting out, Crosby took, and passed, a baseline test for cognitive functions. "The (test) isn't everything. You've got to listen to your body. But it was encouraging," the player said.

Crosby's setback comes after revelations in The New York Times that enforcer Derek Boogaard - at age 28 - suffered from a degenerative brain condition related to Alzheimer's disease. Echlin said the Times report should be a warning to all hockey players.

"This is a serious brain injury that everybody is unique to," said Echlin. "You don't want to end up like some of the retired players who are chronically impaired, chronically have symptoms."

Crosby missed 41 games last season and seven playoff games following two concussions he suffered in early January. He was forced to miss the first 20 games this season while recovering from concussion symptoms.

He made a spectacular return on Nov. 21 against the New York Islanders, scoring two goals and two assists. He has two goals and 10 assists in eight games.

Toronto Star LOADED: 12.13.2011

600102 Ottawa Senators

Senators assign Filatov to KHL team

Posted on 12 December 2011. By James Gordon

Senators assign Filatov to KHL team

The short-lived Nikita Filatov experiment is over for the Ottawa Senators.

Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray confirmed Monday morning that the team has loaned the talented, underachieving winger to Central Red Army of the KHL.

"After a fair amount of discussion with him we had a determination whether to move him back to Binghamton or go over to play in the KHL and his preference was to go home for the balance of the year, so we made an agreement with them to have that happen," Murray said.

Murray was asked why Filatov couldn't make it with the Senators.

"You have to look at his games," the general manager explained. "We think he's a very talented kid, but he played some nights and other nights, couldn't contribute very much. I think he has to get stronger, we know he has to get stronger and be a little more competitive."

This is the second gamble with the Columbus Blue Jackets that has come up snake eyes for Ottawa general manager Bryan Murray.

A few seasons ago, he dealt popular centre Antoine Vermette for talented-yet-brittle goalie Pascal Leclaire, who spent much of his time with the Senators on injured reserve.

Ottawa traded a third round draft pick this summer for Filatov, for former sixth-overall NHL draft pick (2008) who had underwhelmed in limited work at the NHL level.

The hope was that Filatov might thrive with a change of scenery, but never did establish himself here after running afoul of head coach Paul MacLean early in the season.

Instead, he spent most of the season in the AHL and played limited minutes when he was called up to the big club. Filatov finished this NHL season with just one assist in nine games.

Often relegated to the fourth line, Filatov averaged just 9:49 of ice time per game.

According to Murray, however, it was a good gamble and one that hasn't played out completely just yet.

He didn't rule out making a qualifying offer to Filatov this spring to retain the winger's rights.

Coach Paul MacLean dismissed suggestions that Filatov didn't get a fair shake here.

"He was in the lineup lots and got to play with our best players and the dimension he brought to our team was skill and creating offence and that didn't happen often enough," he said.

"He didn't have an attitude, no, I thought he worked really diligently...without the puck, we didn't really have any questions about that, it was the fact, the

fact for me, was his dimension with the puck in the American League was something that was noticeable and that's what he brought. We just didn't get that here."

*

Other news and notes from Senators practice today:

- Murray said prospect defenceman Patrick Wiercioch, who was hit in the throat by a slap shot over the weekend, is resting up in hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

- Assistant coach Mark Reeds took a puck to the face during the skate and had to leave for stitches. "Just a bo-bo, he'll be alright," according to MacLean.

Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 12.13.2011


The Senators this week

Posted on 12 December 2011. By Ken Warren Tags: Ottawa Senators

The Senators this week

At the Buffalo Sabres, Tuesday, 7 p.m.

TV: Sportsnet, TVA Sports. Radio: The Team 1200 AM.

Sabres fans are still waiting for the rewards from the high priced offseason moves (adding Christian Erhoff and Ville Leino and re-signing Tyler Myers to a colossal extension). Buffalo has been decidedly mediocre - a 15-12-2 record, scoring and allowing 79 goals - barely clinging to a playoff position. The Sabres have struggled at home (7-9-2).

Versus the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Scotiabank Place, 7: 30 p.m.

TV: TSN, RDS. Radio: The Team 1200 AM.

Nothing could slow down the Bruins during their November to remember - they're fourth in the league in goals scored (94) and tops in goals against (59) - but star defenceman Zdeno Chara is out at least a week after he left Saturday's game with a leg injury following a collision with Antoine Vermette. The Bruins have lost only three of 11 games on the road.

Versus the Pittsburgh Penguins, Friday, Scotiabank Place, 7: 30 p.m.

TV: Sportsnet. Radio: The Team 1200 AM.

The Senators are hoping for a better start than when the teams met in Pittsburgh on Nov. 26. The Penguins exploded for four goals in the first 9: 11 en route to a 6-3 win. Even without Sidney Crosby in the lineup, the Penguins easily rolled to a 6-3 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday.



Big man, big minutes

Rookie logs ice time of a veteran

By Ken Warren

Suddenly, Jared Cowen is sporting Zdeno Chara-and Chris Pronger-type numbers.

He's on the ice almost half the time for the Ottawa Senators.

In Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, Cowen played 25 minutes 43 seconds, matched up much of that time against the Sedin twins. In Thursday's 5-4 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils, the rookie defenceman hit a season high of 31: 42, playing against, well, just about everyone. He clocked 28: 22 on Dec. 3 against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals and 24: 20 the following game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, guarding Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos.

Those are impressive numbers for the 20-yearold Cowen, who has a mere 30 National Hockey League games under his belt, and yet there's more.

While Erik Karlsson's offensive skills have drawn more attention, Cowen has been arguably just as important for the Senators because of his solid defence. On a team that has allowed 14 more goals than it has scored, he has a minus-2 plus/minus rating. He hasn't been on the negative side for six consecutive games.

Clearly, the 6-5, 230-pound defenceman has made himself at home in the big leagues.

"It's nice, I don't mind playing that many minutes," said Cowen, selected ninth overall in the 2009 NHL draft. "I think they trust me and realize I can play in more situations than just the safer ones. That's good for me. I feel more comfortable in the hot spots and on the penalty kill. I feel better and I'm playing against the top lines. I'm used to doing that in other leagues, and it's just a transition to doing it in this league, as well."

Like most players, Cowen relishes playing as much as possible, and coach Paul Mac-Lean has treated him like a veteran in recent games, leaning on him because of injuries to Sergei Gonchar and Filip Kuba.

"He's playing real well," MacLean said. "He's a young player, but we've said it before: He has probably been our most consistent young player and he's getting better and better. When you play well, you should play."

Cowen certainly isn't complaining about the increased playing time. He isn't thinking about it much, either.

"When you're playing more, it just feels more natural," he said. "You just do the things. You don't analyse it. That's the way it should be. That's when you're playing your best."

With the increased ice time comes offensive confidence and he's content with his modest numbers (two goals, three assists). His biggest impact on the team comes when he uses his size effectively, taking care of his own end physically.

If there's anything he quibbles about in the numbers beside his name, it's his hit count of 74 for the season, second on the team behind forward Nick Foligno's 84. Off-ice officials in some buildings are less likely to credit a hit to visiting players.

"I've felt pretty physical the last few games," Cowen said. "The stat sheet might not show it, but they're always sleeping up there or something. It's funny. I feel good about the physical part. It's just as important as anything in my game."

FIGURING OUT FILATOV

Nikita Filatov's immediate future with the Senators could depend on what happens with Foligno.

Foligno's questionable hit to Vancouver's Cody Hodgson on Saturday night could result in a conversation with NHL chief disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan and, potentially, a suspension. If Foligno is sidelined, it would leave the Senators with only one extra forward.

If Foligno escapes discipline, however, there wouldn't appear to be much point in keeping Filatov in Ottawa. MacLean has shown no interest in playing him when he doesn't have to, meaning the team is carrying an extra NHL salary for no purpose.

Yet there remains a question about whether the Senators would re-assign Filatov to Binghamton of the American Hockey League or allow him out of his contract, letting him play in the Kontinental Hockey League.

THE SENATORS THIS WEEK

At the Buffalo Sabres, Tuesday, 7 p.m.

TV: Sportsnet, TVA Sports. Radio: The Team 1200 AM. Sabres fans are still waiting for the rewards from the highpriced offseason moves (adding Christian Erhoff and Ville Leino and re-signing Tyler Myers to a colossal extension). Buffalo has been decidedly mediocre - a 15-12-2 record,

scoring and allowing 79 goals - barely clinging to a playoff position. The Sabres have struggled at home (7-9-2).

Versus the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Scotiabank Place, 7: 30 p.m.

TV: TSN, RDS. Radio: The Team 1200 AM. Nothing could slow down the Bruins during their November to remember - they're fourth in the league in goals scored (94) and tops in goals against (59) - but star defenceman Zdeno Chara is out at least a week after he left Saturday's game with a leg injury following a collision with Antoine Vermette. The Bruins have lost only three of 11 games on the road.

Versus the Pittsburgh Penguins, Friday, Scotiabank Place, 7: 30 p.m.

TV: Sportsnet. Radio: The Team 1200 AM. The Senators are hoping for a better start than when the teams met in Pittsburgh on Nov. 26. The Penguins exploded for four goals in the first 9: 11 en route to a 6-3 win. Even without Sidney Crosby in the lineup, the Penguins easily rolled to a 6-3 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday.



Senators have patience on their side this season

By Ken Warren,

OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators are not a playoff-bound team.

At least they haven't looked anything like one in the past two weeks, losing five of their past six games and allowing 22 goals during that time. For extended stretches, they look lost at how to stop offensive waves, leaving goaltenders Craig Anderson and Alex Auld alone to fend off countless odd-man rushes.

And yet the sky isn't falling.

This is, more or less, what we expected. Some encouraging nights where the youngsters show great promise. Some tough nights when more veteran teams such as the Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils wear them down. Some long nights when elite teams such as the Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks outgun them with poise and skill.

Perhaps the inconsistency is predictable. To be more competitive, the Senators could use an experienced second-line centre, and the loss of veterans Sergei Gonchar and Filip Kuba to injury has showcased the inexperience of the rest of the team's defence.

Yet fans are not demanding change, screaming for general manager Bryan Murray to make deals. In general, Senators fans have accepted that slumps are a necessary evil when trying to rebuild the franchise with scores of young talent.

A recent survey of more than 500 respondents revealed that 75 per cent of fans wanted Murray to stay the course and not start gambling by making trades. It's not a scientific poll - I have no idea what the margin of error of plus or minus is - but three-quarters of anything is a sizable majority.

In that sense, Senators fans and management are going against the grain of the normal professional sports attitude. Organizations typically embrace a Buy Now, Pay Later philosophy, often based on desperation or crazy hope.

Montreal Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier, who doesn't have the luxury of time, traded for longtime underachieving defenceman Tomas Kaberle on Friday, looking to spark a weak power play. Maybe Kaberle can provide a short-term fix, but considering he's only in the first season of a three-year contract worth $12.75 million US, it's a multi-million gamble.

On a far bigger scale, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim threw all their chips on the table Thursday, signing slugging first baseman Albert Pujols to a 10-year contract for $234 million. Pujols is 31 years old and has already shown signs of being on the downside of his career. What happens if Pujols is done in three seasons, no longer able to catch up to 95-mph fastballs?

Now, back to the Senators, who learned plenty of those lessons last season while still trying to chase a Stanley Cup championship with too many overpaid veteran players.

A year ago Friday, Alex Kovalev, signed to that ill-advised two-year contract worth $10 million, delivered his colourful diatribe against former Senators coach Cory Clouston. Kovalev, you'll recall, said: "I never make Christmas wishes, but I think at this point I wish people would stop picking my brain and just let me play the way I can. That's the only Christmas wish I can have right now."

Clouston, of course, was only trying to make Kovalev earn his ice time by looking like he cared once in a while, an impossible task as it turned out.

Kovalev was only the tip of the iceberg. The tension in the dressing room was thick.

Looking back, though, the Senators sported a similar record to the one they do now. After 30 games a year ago, they were 12-16-2, also having lost five of six games. Today, they're 13-13-4. A mere win and four points better.

The attitude, however, couldn't be any different. Unlike Clouston, current coach Paul MacLean doesn't face the pressure of winning every night. He can experiment - such as using rookie winger Kaspars Daugavins on a top line with Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek, or rookie defenceman David Rundblad in a shootout - while trying to learn more about his young players.

It really does look a three-year plan, the life of MacLean's contract. There's stress, of course, but the coach isn't in panic mode as the struggling Senators look ahead at a week that includes games against the Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins and the Penguins.

"It hasn't been easy the first 30 games, either," MacLean said. "I don't anticipate the last 52 to be easy. I don't think it matters who we play. It's a real tough league to play in and we're competing."

Don't expect any quick fix in time for Christmas. It certainly looks as if the Senators are going to win or lose with the same group that's on the ice now.



Filatov 'gamble not over yet' for Senators

Murray allows Russian to return home, vows to make him an offer next summer

By DON BRENNAN, QMI Agency

OTTAWA - If Nikita Filatov really does have a desire to get back to the NHL next season, it will either be as a Senator or to a team that is generally managed by a Bryan Murray trading partner.

Upon announcing that he is allowing the 21-year-old Russian's return to the KHL's CSKA Moscow, Murray said he would make a qualifying offer to Filatov when he becomes a restricted free agent in July.

"We won't retain his rights if we don't," said Murray. "I'm saying today we will retain his rights.

"It was a no-lose situation," he added of obtaining Filatov from the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he never scratched the surface of his potential. "We had a lot of picks, so it was a good gamble. And the gamble is not over yet."

To get Filatov last summer, the Senators traded a third-round pick in a year they were able to grab four forwards in the first two rounds.

Filatov, the sixth selection overall (or nine picks before the Senators took Erik Karlsson) in the 2008 draft, had no goals and one assist in nine games with Ottawa. He was going to be sent back to Binghamton and his $65,000 AHL salary, but preferred to develop while collecting many more rubles in his homeland.

"He wants a chance to come back to the National Hockey League at some point (and go to Russia) rather than play in the minors," said Murray. "I

totally understand that's a financial thing for him and his family. That's why I'm letting it happen.

"If he wants to be a player in the NHL and he spends some time in physical development, strength and conditioning, then he can be a player."

From Binghamton, Filatov had made noise about going back to Russia last month, so the Senators promoted him for another chance at cracking their lineup. He started three games as Jason Spezza's winger but produced nothing more than a couple of chances.

Filatov was a healthy scratch for the past five games, essentially losing his spot to Bobby Butler. Despite having no goals, no assists and just three shots on goal in those games, Butler wasn't losing it back.

"(Filatov) was in the lineup lots and got to play with our best players. The dimension he brought to our team, the skill and creating offence, didn't happen often enough," said coach Paul MacLean. "He didn't have an attitude. I thought he worked really diligently without the puck. We didn't have any problem with that. No, it was the fact that his dimension with the puck in the American League was noticeable, and that's what he brought. We just didn't get that here."

Filatov, who has just six goals (including a hat trick) in 53 career NHL games, did produce with Columbus' AHL team in Springfield last season, but rather modesty, with 20 points (nine goals) in 36 games. He had seven goals and five assists in 15 games for Binghamton earlier this season.

In 2009-10, he left Columbus to play for CSKA Moscow, with whom he had nine goals and 13 assists in 26 games.

"They play at a different level of competition than we do over here," Murray said of European leagues in general. "They think having the puck all the time is the way to play. We think having the puck part-time and running into people once in a while, winning battles along the wall once in a while ... I think it's a learning curve, and some people take longer than others."

Murray told Filatov the same thing he has told other Europeans in the past.

"Sometimes, like a Canadian or American player, you have to spend time in the minors," said Murray. "You have to take time to develop. We've got some players on our team that were 23, 24 by the time they made it. When (Filatov) is 23 or 24, maybe he'll make it."

Spezza can vouch for the AHL. When he was the same age as Filatov is now, an NHL work stoppage led to Spezza spending the entire season in Binghamton.

In 80 games, he had 32 goals and 117 points in 2004-05.

"I got better playing in the American League in the lockout year," said Spezza. "It helped me a lot, to develop and make me the player I am today, because I had that year to really work on my game. Obviously it was easier because there was no NHL at the time, but it's a league you can develop in. I guess he feels it's a better league in Russia for him."

Spezza had no problems with Filatov as a teammate.

"He worked hard when he was here, things just didn't get going for him, in his game," said Spezza. "But it wasn't a bad attitude or work ethic thing. I think he worked hard and wanted to do well. But it's a tough league to be an offensive guy in. It's an every day thing and it's hard to be consistent."

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 12.13.2011


Alfredsson going stronger at 39

Senators captain has picked up scoring pace after injury


OTTAWA - Only 364 days from his 40th birthday, Daniel Alfredsson is still one of the best players on the Senators.

He's tied for sixth in team scoring, but he has also played six fewer games than most everybody else because of a hip flexor and concussion. Of his 16 points, seven (two goals, five assists) have come in the past seven games -- or about the time veteran Nick Foligno became his centre.

In most of the previous 17 games, Alfredsson played with rookie Stephane Da Costa.

Alfredsson turned 39 Sunday and naturally spent the day at the rink - only this time it was with his family, for a kids Christmas party. Afterwards, he went home where his clan was joined by brother Henric and his wife. Birthday gifts included underwear, socks, a tie and "hot chocolate packages from the kids."

On Monday, it was back to work, then a flight to Buffalo, where Alfredsson scored his biggest goal -- the game winner to send the Senators to the 2007 Stanley Cup final.

With the better-than-expected play of this season's team, we were wondering if it has caused Alfredsson to rethink his future -- not that he has made any concrete decisions yet.

"No it hasn't," said Alfredsson. "I'm just enjoying this year, trying to do as good as I can, and for our team to do as well as we can. I think after the season, that's when I'll evaluate how I feel and how my body feels more than anything.

"See what happens after that."

Of his own game this season, Alfredsson isn't completely satisfied.

"It's been okay," he said. "I felt really good in the beginning. Then I think I struggled when I came back from my concussion. In the last week or so I feel my skating is getting better, feel like I'm getting around and getting in position a lot more. It's okay right now."

It's been good enough that he's still one of the best Senators.

DRAFT DAY IN DECEMBER

Alfredsson and Chris Phillips each made their first two picks for the Senators Dec. 28 skills competition. Team Phillips has defeated Team Alfredsson the past three years.

"It's been a good run and I have a few tricks up my sleeve again," Phillips said. "I guess I could kind of be called the Billy Beane of skills competitions. I kind of look inside hard at the task and it's paid off for me the last couple of years."

Like Beane, the shrewd GM of the Oakland A's and subject of Moneyball, the Phillips strategy could be called Money Puck.

"Yeah, but I'm not going to say that three times fast," said Phillips.

Said Alfredsson: "Usually I try to put the blame on everybody else, but three in a row I've got to look at myself in the mirror. I've done some research here and I'm going to do a better job of selecting my team."

Alfredsson had first pick overall and he took Jason Spezza.

"It's a skills competition, right? When you think skill, I go to Jason right away," said Alfredsson, who likes his team's chances this year. "He can do pretty much every competition ... there's a lot of passing and a lot of shooting. He's going to come out and get some points I think."

Spezza was beside himself - when he was beside Alfredsson.

"It's a huge honour," he said. "I'm nervous right now. Shocked really. I wish my family could be here to share this with me."

Phillips pulled out one of those tricks up his sleeve with his first pick.

"The last 10 minutes I've been really busy," he said. "I traded up to get the second pick. And with the second pick overall, we're pleased to announce Matt Carkner was the first pick of Team Phillips."

Unlike Spezza, Carkner wasn't surprised at all.

"Obviously he saw me last year in the fastest skating competition and he couldn't resist," said Carkner. "I'm really excited to be a part of this."

To be fair, Carkner did win the hardest shot competition last year.

"It's the only thing I'll ever beat Alfie in," he said.

Alfredsson took Erik Karlsson next. Why?

"He's Swedish," said Alfredsson.

Nick Foligno was Phillips' second pick.

"He was closest to (the door) and coming out for the media release here," explained Phillips.

Said Foligno: "I'm a little nervous, but I like our chances."

THIS AND THAT

It looks like the Senators may catch a break, as both Eastern Conference powerhouses about to visit Scotiabank Place could be doing so minus their captains. Zdeno Chara is expected to miss a week with a leg injury and Sidney Crosby is out indefinitely with more concussion-like symptoms ... Senators prospect Patrick Weircioch is still recovering in hospital after taking a slap shot in the throat last week. "There's nothing different. He's stable, he's obviously comfortable now," said GM Bryan Murray. "He's in Syracuse and he's being looked after by one of the best doctors in the business. We expect a full recovery." ... Senators assistant coach Mark Reeds will have a nasty shiner after being hit by a deflected puck just under the left eye at Monday's practice. "He has to have a baseline test tomorrow. See if he can pass it," joked Paul MacLean. "It's just a boo-boo. He'll be all right. It's a long way from his heart." ... Peter Regin played 12:29 in his first game back after a missing two months with a shoulder injury. He should expect a bigger workload going forward. "It feels good," he said. "Obviously, it's going to take a couple of days to get the timing back and everything. I've only played one game and it was a pretty fast game against Vancouver. It was a tough game to start, and that was the biggest challenge in the beginning, I felt. The speed and timing and the whole game ... it got better as the game went on, I thought." Regin was asked if he was worried about affecting the chemistry on a team that has so far exceeded expectations. "I think we have a good team and the guys have played great the last month," he said. "Hopefully I can help. Hopefully we won't get worse. That wouldn't be good. I'll do my best to try and help out."



Sens' Filatov off to Russia


OTTAWA - Nikita Filatov is heading back to Russia.

The Senators have given the 21-year-old winger permission to return to the KHL's CSKA Moscow. Filatov, who had one assist in nine games for Ottawa, was reluctant to spend part of the season in Binghamton.

As a healthy scratch the last five games, he could no doubt see a demotion in the cards.

The Senators will retain the rights of the sixth overall pick in the 2008 draft by making Filatov a qualifying offer when he becomes a restricted free agent in July.

"We think he's a very talented kid that played some nights and other nights couldn't contribute very much," GM Bryan Murray said Monday morning at Scotiabank Place. "He has to get stronger and be a little more competitive. I think from a talent point of view he can play in the league and be very successful.

"He's a young player. He can go back and play there and be an important player. We'll let that happen and we'll see about what happens in the future."

The Senators will try to end a three game losing streak when they visit the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday.


600109 Philadelphia Flyers

Ed Snider inducted into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

By Daniel I. Dorfman

CHICAGO - As he was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame Monday night, Flyers owner Ed Snider took time to reflect on some of his favorite moments in running the franchise since 1966.

Of course, the two Stanley Cup championships in the 1970s stood out.

"When the Flyers won the Stanley Cup in [1974] my seventh year of existence, that was my greatest thrill," Snider, 78, said. "Then we had two million people at the parade the next day. That was probably my No. 1 experience."

The fact that Snider was in Chicago also brought back memories of one of his other favorite teams. The 2010 Flyers came up short against the Blackhawks in the Finals after an incredible playoff run. And the playoffs were only a reality because the Flyers won their last regular-season game in a shootout.

"That was a great run and a tremendous fun for our fans, for me and our players," Snider said. "It was unexpected to say the least. I'm just sorry the way it ended. We thought we were going all the way."

Along with presiding over the Flyers and their 16 division titles, eight conference championships and two Stanley Cup titles, Snider serves as chairman of Comcast-Spectator. He also owned the 76ers for 15 years before selling the franchise this summer.

He also has been adamant in spreading the sport to inner-city youth. Established in 2005, the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation supplies more than 3,000 children with coaching, equipment and ice time.

In November 2008, Snider salvaged three public ice rinks that were targeted for closure by the city. A year later, Snider gained control of each of the city's five rinks. This summer, renovations on three of the rinks transformed them from open-air, bi-yearly rinks to fully operational, year-round rinks.

Snider on Monday said it would take him a long time to mention all of his favorite players from over the years. But two figures from the mid 1970s teams did come immediately to his mind.

"Bernie Parent was a phenomenal goalie who was responsible for us winning two Cups, along with Bobby Clarke," Snider said. "They stand out because of the two Cups primarily."

Aside from the championships, Snider takes great satisfaction in the Flyers brand that he has built.

"I'm proud that we have been around all these years, and we have established a reputation internationally," Snider said. "Our logo is known everywhere, and we have never changed our colors or logo."

In an ironic twist, the five inductees Monday night - Snider, players Chris Chelios, Keith Tkachuk and Gary Suter and broadcaster Mike Emrick - were all part of the 1996 World Cup of Hockey that the U.S. team won with a 2-1 victory over Canada. The initial game of the finals was the first game played in what is now the Wells Fargo Center.

Calling that series was one of the greatest thrills for Emrick, who was associated with the Flyers for 11 seasons, including those he called for the American Hockey League's Maine Mariners, then the Flyers affiliate.

"They were similar to the Flyers," Emrick said of the Mariners. "They were a collection of skill guys and a delightful band of thugs."

Emrick pointed to the 2008 Winter Classic in Buffalo and the gold-medal game in the 2010 Winter Olympics between the U.S. team and Canada as two of his favorite games among the more than 3,200 he has called in nearly 40 years of being in the booth.

During his 26-year career Chelios played for Montreal, Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta before retiring in 2010. He set the league's all-time record for games played by a defenseman with 1,651 and is a three-time recipient of the Norris Trophy, given yearly to the league's top defenseman.

Suter retired in 2002 after a 17-year career that included stops in Calgary, Chicago and St. Jose. He is ranked fourth in points among American-born defenseman.

A five-time all-star, Tkacuk scored a league-leading 52 goals in 1996-1997 while with Phoenix. He also played for Winnipeg and St. Louis during his 19-year career.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 12.13.2011


Couturier replaces Giroux on Flyers' top line

Staff

Rookie center Sean Couturier will replace Claude Giroux on the Flyers' top line Tuesday in Washington.

Giroux, the league's leading scorer, continues to make progress from his head injury, but will not make the trip, GM Paul Holmgren said. The center was injured when teammate Wayne Simmonds inadvertently kneed him in the back of the head on Saturday against Tampa Bay.

Giroux was scheduled to visit a doctor on Monday morning, but the Flyers did not release the results of any testing. Holmgren said Giroux would also see a doctor on Tuesday.

Couturier, who usually centers the fourth line, played most of the third period Saturday between Jaromir Jagr and Scott Hartnell. He will center that line Tuesday.

Giroux is also expected to miss Thursday's game in Montreal.



WINTER FAN FEST

STAFF REPORT

A 3-DAY FAN festival will be held outside Citizens Bank Park in conjunction with the Winter Classic.

The festival will run from Dec. 31 to Jan. 2, on Citizens Bank Way between Phillies Drive and Pattison Avenue. It will have live musical performances, interactive hockey-themed attractions with prizes and giveaways, and tents with Rangers and Flyers Winter Classic merchandise.

Spectator Plaza will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 31, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 1, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on game day.



Inducted into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, Flyers owner Ed Snider remembers the two Cups

By Daniel I. Dorfman

CHICAGO - As he was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night, Flyers owner Ed Snider took time to reflect on some of his favorite moments in running the franchise since 1966.

Of course, the two Stanley Cup championships in the 1970s stood out.

"When the Flyers won the Stanley Cup in [1974] my seventh year of existence, that was my greatest thrill," Snider, 78, said. "Then we had two

million people at the parade the next day. That was probably my No. 1 experience."

The fact that Snider was in Chicago also brought back memories of one of his other favorite teams. The 2010 Flyers came up short against the Blackhawks in the Finals after an incredible playoff run. And the playoffs were only a reality because the Flyers won their last regular-season game in a shootout.

"That was a great run and tremendous fun for our fans, for me and our players," Snider said. "It was unexpected to say the least. I'm just sorry the way it ended. We thought we were going all the way."

Along with presiding over the Flyers and their 16 division titles, eight conference championships, and two Stanley Cup titles, Snider serves as chairman of Comcast-Spectator. He also owned the 76ers for 15 years before selling the franchise this summer.

He also has been adamant in spreading the sport to inner-city youth. Established in 2005, the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation supplies more than 3,000 children with coaching, equipment and ice time.

In November 2008, Snider salvaged three public ice rinks that were targeted for closure by the city. A year later, Snider gained control of each of the city's five rinks. This summer, renovations on three of the rinks transformed them from open-air, seasonal rinks to fully operational, year-round rinks.

Snider on Monday said it would take him a long time to mention all of his favorite players from over the years. But two figures from the mid-1970s teams did come immediately to his mind.

"Bernie Parent was a phenomenal goalie who was responsible for us winning two Cups, along with Bobby Clarke," Snider said. "They stand out because of the two Cups primarily."

Aside from the championships, Snider takes great satisfaction in the Flyers brand that he has built.

"I'm proud that we have been around all these years, and we have established a reputation internationally," Snider said. "Our logo is known everywhere, and we have never changed our colors or logo."

In a nice twist, the five inductees into the Hall based in Minnesota - Snider; players Chris Chelios, Keith Tkachuk, and Gary Suter; and broadcaster Mike Emrick - were all part of the 1996 World Cup of Hockey that the U.S. team won with a 2-1 victory over Canada. The initial game of the finals was the first game played in what is now the Wells Fargo Center.

Calling that series was one of the greatest thrills for Emrick, who was associated with the Flyers for 11 seasons, including those he called for the American Hockey League's Maine Mariners, then the Flyers affiliate.

"They were similar to the Flyers," Emrick said of the Mariners. "They were a collection of skill guys and a delightful band of thugs."

Emrick pointed to the 2008 Winter Classic in Buffalo and the gold-medal game in the 2010 Winter Olympics between the U.S. team and Canada as two of his favorite games among the more than 3,200 he has called in nearly 40 years of being in the booth.

During his 26-year career Chelios played for Montreal, Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta before retiring in 2010. He set the league's all-time record for games played by a defenseman with 1,651 and is a three-time recipient of the Norris Trophy, given yearly to the league's top defenseman.

Suter retired in 2002 after a 17-year career that included stops in Calgary, Chicago and St. Jose. He is ranked fourth in points among American-born defenseman.

A five-time all-star, Tkacuk scored a league-leading 52 goals in 1996-1997 while with Phoenix. He also played for Winnipeg and St. Louis during his 19-year career.



Snider honored at U.S. Hockey Hall induction

By STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

CHICAGO - Flyers chairman Ed Snider was full of praise and pride as he was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame last night.

"It's a real honor to be inducted and really special to be in a class with these great players, Chris Chelios, Gary Suter and Keith Tkachuk," Snider said.

"I'm very proud that I hired the other deserving inductee, Mike Emrick, for our American Hockey League team at the time, the Maine Mariners. I then gave him his first NHL job as TV broadcaster for the Flyers. I'm still bummed that we let the greatest hockey broadcaster ever get away."

Snider, whose teams have won 16 division titles, eight conference championships and two Stanley Cups, has come a long way.

"I entered the league in 1966 when we were awarded the franchise," Snider said in his speech. "The Hockey News voted us the least likely of the new teams to succeed. Boy, I'm sure glad they were wrong, because otherwide I wouldn't be here today."

Snider is the longest serving member of the Board of Governors in the NHL.

"We had six American players in the NHL in my first season, 1967," he said "This year there are 216 American players.

"Today three U.S.-born players - James van Riemsdyk, Matt Carle and Sean Couturier - are currently on the Flyers roster. I'm very proud that we had a hand in developing players right in our own backyard such as Mike Richter.

"Bobby Ryan, Mark Eaton and T.J. Brennan are also from the Philadelphia area and are playing in the NHL. None of these players, and others from our area playing in juniors, college, and the minor leagues would have ever been thinking of a hockey career if we hadn't started the Flyers in 1967.

"Paul Holmgren, terrific player for the Flyers and now our GM, is from St. Paul; Peter Laviolette, our coach, is from Massachusetts.

"Six years ago, I started a youth hockey program for inner-city kids in Philadelphia. Three years ago, the city was going to close its five rinks for economic reasons. We stepped in and said we would take over management of the rinks.

"Now, many of our 3,000 kids have ice 365 days a year. Our goal is to have 10,000 kids in the program, helping to expand the reach of hockey to more U.S. boys and girls."

Chelios is a three-time Norris Trophy winner and four-time Olympian. Fellow defenseman Suter, who played with Chelios at the University of Wisconsin, played for three Stanley Cup teams, one for Montreal and two for Detroit, in 26 seasons. He was was the NHL's top rookie for Calgary in 1985-86.

Tkachuk scored 538 goals in 19 NHL seasons, and, like Chelios, played on four Olympic teams.

"This means everything to me," Tkachuk said. "I'm only retired for 2 years, and to go in with this class is amazing."



Emrick, the lead play-by-play announcer for NBC and Versus, has called 13 Stanley Cup finals.

Suter's 17-year pro career opened in Calgary, and went through Chicago and San Jose. Like Chelios and Tkachuk, he said was inspired by the American hockey victory in the 1980 Olympics.



Giroux, feeling better, will miss at least one more game

By Sam Carchidi

Claude Giroux is making progress from a head injury, but the Flyers star center will not play Tuesday night in Washington and appears questionable for Thursday's game in Montreal.

General manager Paul Holmgren said Giroux would not make the trip to Washington; he gave no word on whether Giroux would join the team in Montreal.

"We can't sit back and feel sorry for ourselves," center Danny Briere said after Monday's practice in Voorhees.

Giroux is "continuing to feel better," Holmgren said in a statement from Chicago, where he was attending a ceremony in which Ed Snider, the Flyers' chairman, was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday.

The Flyers said Giroux, the league's leading scorer, will be examined again Tuesday; he was to be examined Monday, but the club gave no report on his visit or whether he has a concussion after colliding with teammate Wayne Simmonds on Saturday.

The Flyers do not allow reporters to talk to trainer Jim McCrossin.

Giroux, wearing street clothes, was at the Flyers' training facility in Voorhees but declined a chance to talk with reporters.

Briere doesn't expect Giroux, who is one of his closest friends, to miss a lot of time.

"He seems to get better every day," Briere said. "From the first night we saw him, yesterday and then today. There seems to be a step up every time. I'm hoping and confident it won't be too long.''

Rookie Sean Couturier, who had been the fourth-line center, will replace Giroux on the top line between Jaromir Jagr and Scott Hartnell.

"It's new linemates, but I've just got to play my game - a solid two-way, control the puck [game]," Couturier said. "Obviously there's more offense on that top line, so it's fun to step up."

Giroux (39 points), Hartnell (26) and Jagr (24) have been a dynamic unit.

"When you're on the bench you say, 'Wow,' but when you're out there, you've got to be ready for those 'wow' plays," Couturier said. "I've just got to be ready and prepare to get some nice passes."

Couturier, who just turned 19, has excelled on the penalty kill, but he hasn't scored a point in the last 14 games. He has eight points (five goals, three assists) and is third on the team at plus-8.

"It's a great chance for me to show what I've got offensively," he said.

Couturier played most of the final period of Saturday's 5-2 win over Tampa Bay with Jagr and Hartnell as his linemates, and they created several scoring chances.

"I thought we played good," said Jagr, who will face his former team Tuesday. "We didn't spend much time in our zone. That was a positive. But of course [Tuesday] we're going to play a hungry team, Washington. But he's very good defensively for the age he is."

Jagr calls Giroux "little Mario Lemieux." His nickname for Couturier?

"Give me one more game," he said with a smile.

Added Jagr: "I think all of his game is underrated. . . . When he's had a chance to play, he's a very good player. He's got a lot of scoring chances on penalty kills. Not many guys can do that."

Jagr, 39, said he didn't think Giroux would be sidelined for long.

"I think if it would be up to him, he would play [Tuesday]," Jagr said. "On the other side, the doctors have to make sure. You don't want anything like what happened to [Sidney] Crosby. You have to be very careful because he's got the talent.

"You don't look just for the next game. You look for the next 10 years, not only two games. That's probably the biggest difference. If he would be my age, nobody would really care!"

The Flyers have won five straight. On Tuesday, they will be without their best offensive player (Giroux) and defensive player (Chris Pronger), each of whom may have concussions.

"We have to keep doing the same thing we've done," Briere said. "We missed Chris Pronger for many games. It gave other guys a chance to step up, have more responsibilities."



Researcher: Pronger's headaches may be traced to eye injury

By Sam Carchidi

Flyers star defenseman Chris Pronger will visit with two Pittsburgh concussion specialists on Wednesday, and the club hopes they can explain the cause of his headaches.

A local doctor on Monday said a blow to the eye - which Pronger suffered on Oct. 24 against Toronto - can cause a concussion.

After taking an inadvertent stick to the eye and missing six games, Pronger returned and played five games. He was then sidelined because the team said he was suffering from a virus. Eighteen days later, however, they said he had concussion-like symptoms.

The Eastern Conference-leading Flyers have three players - Pronger, Brayden Schenn and Claude Giroux - who could have concussions. Giroux was hit in the back of his head in a collision with teammate Wayne Simmonds on Saturday, and the Flyers said he will miss Tuesday's game in Washington. They have not given specifics of his injury.

Schenn is sidelined indefinitely with what the club has called a "mild concussion."

Douglas Smith, director of the center for brain injury and repair at the University of Pennsylvania, said there is "no such thing" as a mild or minor concussion. He said any kind of concussion often leads to chronic headaches.

How long should a player sit out after suffering a concussion?

"I would have to sit 50 years before I went back in," he said.

Once a person has suffered a concussion, "we suspect you have a lower threshold to have an exaggerated response to another smaller hit," Smith said. "Maybe a tiny hit will be devastating because the brain has a much lower tolerance to the next hit."

The Flyers do not allow reporters to speak to trainer Jim McCrossin on any medical matters, including recovery from concussions.

When it was announced Pronger had a "virus" last month, general manager Paul Holmgren said it was not connected to the eye injury.

The veteran defenseman passed a concussion test, but the headaches continued. (In an unrelated matter, Pronger had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Dec. 2.)

Since Pronger now has concussion-like symptoms, there has been speculation that it is related to when he was hit in the eye in late October.

Smith, who has spent the last 18 years devoted to neurotrauma research, said a blow to the eye "certainly can cause rapid acceleration of the brain, which can cause a concussion."

The Flyers announced that Pronger had a "virus" and headaches on Nov. 21, which was nearly a month after he suffered the eye injury.

With most concussions, the headaches start "within days or a week," Smith said, but it can be longer.

During the five games he played after returning from his eye injury, Pronger said he does not remember getting hit in the head during that time.

But Smith said that "any kind of hit" to another part of the body could have triggered the problem, since the head may have already been injured.

"Another hit can send spasms," he said.

Smith said 15 percent of people who suffer a "mild" concussion "go on to have a persistent cognitive dysfunction and their processing speed is lower

and their memory is not as sharp for a long time, perhaps for the rest of their life.

"On top of that, this is an injury that is known for increasing the chances of Alzheimer's disease. This is an injury that can keep on taking."

When a player is cleared to play, "it just means he's passing certain tests, but it may be setting him up for a big fall," Smith said. "If you have another hit . . . it could lead to more damage."

Because teams have millions of dollars invested in players, most players try to come back from concussions.

"But do you want to become less of who you are?" Smith asked. "At what point do you say, 'I kind of like who I am?' What you have in your brain is pretty precious. You don't have a spare - and you don't want to spend the rest of your life down a quart."

Smith said hockey helmets don't have nearly the same protection as football helmets because of their design and that there is "not enough padding compared with football."

Recently a group of former athletes - including ex-Flyer Keith Primeau - physicians and researchers teamed up in an attempt to reduce concussions.

Primeau was forced to retire in 2006 after suffering his fourth concussion, and he still feels the effects today. In an effort to avoid this happening to other athletes, Primeau is promoting the newly launched Impact Indicator.

Produced by a sports safety company, the device is a helmet chin strap that uses sophisticated technology and software with a built in "indicator" light that alerts coaches and trainers when an athlete suffers a significant blow to the head. If it meets a certain Head Injury Criteria (HIC) level, a tiny light turns red.

Some youth hockey teams have started wearing the "indicator."



Couturier could step in again for injured Giroux

By MARK KRAM

UNDERSTANDABLY, the Flyers are being cautious with star right wing Claude Giroux, who was accidentally kneed in the head Saturday by teammate Wayne Simmonds. While the team has not clarified the extent of his injury - if indeed Giroux suffered a concussion - Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said in a statement yesterday that "Claude is continuing to feel better."

Giroux will not travel with his teammates to Washington, where they play the Capitals tonight, but instead will again be seen by a team doctor, Holmgren added.

Stepping into the void created by Giroux' injury is likely to be Sean Couturier. Selected by the Flyers eighth overall in the 2011 NHL draft, Couturier was called upon by coach Peter Laviolette to replace Giroux in the second period Saturday. Laviolette liked what he saw and worked Couturier at practice yesterday on the top line with Jaromir Jagr and Scott Hartnell.

Laviolette would not say definitively whether he planned to use Couturier in that spot this evening. But he appeared to lean that way.

"We had to move someone up [Saturday] and we finished the game that way," Laviolette said. "We moved Sean up, and we generated two or three quality scoring chances. We just had to get through practice today. We'll figure it out and adjust the lineups tomorrow. But based on the way he finished the game the other night, he did a good job, so we put him there in practice."

Laviolette referred questions about Giroux to Holmgren.

Giroux was not available for comment.

But teammate Danny Briere said Giroux "seems to be doing better every day." Briere added he was confident Giroux would be back soon.

Jagr also voiced optimism.

"I know that if it was up to him, he want to play tomorrow," Jagr said. "But the doctors have to be sure." Jagr added that the Flyers wanted to be careful with Giroux, "especially with the talent he has.

"You have to look at him [in terms] of the next 10 years, not just two games," said Jagr, who then joked, "If he was my age [39], nobody would care."

Couturier is excited to get his chance to play alongside Jagr and Hartnell. While he has played well on the penalty kill, he looks forward to showing what he can do offensively. Asked whether he worried about putting too much pressure on himself, Couturier shrugged and replied, "Not really."

"I look at it like an opportunity," he said. "I just to know what I can do bring energy and momentum to the team."

Couturier added that he is especially eager to be on the ice again with Jagr.

"On the bench, you see his 'wow' [plays]," Couturier said. "Out there on the ice, you have to be ready for those 'wow' plays."

Jagr said Couturier should be fine.

"He is a very good player," Jagr said. "He had a lot of scoring chances on the penalty kill. Not a lot of players can do that."

Did Jagr have any advice for him?

"I think he should be OK," Jagr said. "I am a different player than I was 10 years ago. I would have been tough to play with 10 years ago. Now, I'm so nice."

Hartnell also expected Couturier to blend in on the top line.

"He's a young kid with a lot of skill," Hartnell said. "He's still learning the ropes. But it's pretty simple. Get the puck to Jagr, go to the net and good things will happen."

Good things have been happening to the Flyers lately. They have won five straight, their longest winning streak since last December. To close out December, the Flyers will play seven of eight games on the road.

"We'll be having a lot of nights in hotels," Hartnell said.

Laviolette acknowledged it would be a "grind," but has been pleased with how his team has played on the road.

"If we can get through the month and keep doing what we've been doing," Laviolette said, "the schedule sets up in our favor in the second half."



Flyers' Giroux out vs. Capitals

(AP)

Flyers center Claude Giroux will not make the trip to Washington for Tuesday night's game as he recovers from a head injury.

Giroux, who leads the NHL with 39 points, was hit in the back of the head by teammate Wayne Simmonds on Saturday night against Tampa Bay.

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren made the announcement Monday. He says Giroux is feeling better and will get another checkup from the team doctors on Tuesday.

The Flyers put rookie center Sean Couturier on the top line between Jaromir Jagr and Scott Hartnell during Monday's practice.

Delaware County Times LOADED: 12.13.2011


Flyers' Snider set to enter U.S. Hockey Hall

By DAN GELSTON,

With his team in first place and the Winter Classic coming to town, it's a good time to be Ed Snider.

The Philadelphia Flyers founder and owner is set for a more personal honor: Snider will be inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday.

Snider brought hockey to Philadelphia, owned the Flyers during the days of the Broad Street Bullies and their rough-and-tumble heyday, and still takes his seat each home game to watch Claude Giroux and Jaromir Jagr lead this season's team to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation has also thrived, providing free hockey and academic services to inner-city children. He calls the program his legacy - even greater than what he's done with the Flyers since the 1960s.

For all his accolades, Snider still appreciates the Hall of Fame honor.

"These honors are nice and I'm proud to be part of it," he said.

Snider will be inducted Monday night in a ceremony in Chicago with longtime NHL defenseman Chris Chelios, play-by-play announcer Mike "Doc" Emrick, and former NHL stars Keith Tkachuk and Gary Suter.

"He's one of the few people in hockey who literally created a market for hockey," Comcast-Spectacor president Peter Luukko said. "There was no hockey in Philadelphia. He created that and grew the sport unlike many people ever."

Snider's next big weekend comes over New Year's when the Flyers play the Rangers in the Winter Classic, the league's annual international showcase. There's a star-studded alumni game that includes former Flyers greats like Eric Lindros and Bernie Parent, and their AHL team also hits the outdoor rink at baseball's Citizens Bank Park.

HBO's "24/7" cameras have been rolling at recent games, filming Snider during last week's win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

"The game is a league production, so we don't have that much to do with it," Snider said. "We do have a lot to do with the alumni game, which is really big, and a few other events we're really involved in. Luckily, I don't have to do too much but show up.

"Who would have ever thought when I started the Flyers in 1967 we'd be playing a Winter Classic in any baseball stadium."

In Philadelphia, the alumni game has received Stanley Cup finals-type buzz because of Lindros' return after a nasty split with the organization a decade ago. He clashed with management, specifically general manager Bobby Clarke, over treatment of his numerous head injuries. Snider had little interest in rehashing the Lindros Era, saying it was current general manager Paul Holmgren's decision to invite Lindros, and, "we're happy about it."

Snider, the NHL's longest-tenured owner, supported the radical realignment plan announced last week that will give the league four conferences instead of six divisions and guarantee home-and-home series among all teams. The Flyers will be lumped in a seven-team conference with the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes.

"Obviously, we preferred the way it was, but we knew that it would hurt a lot of teams if we continued with the status quo," Snider said. "There were some features about this new system that we liked, therefore, we supported it to help some of our fellow owners. The game's better than it's ever been and I'm very happy right now with everything."

That includes the Flyers. Their 5-2 victory over Tampa Bay on Saturday night kept the revamped team (18-7-3 for 39 points) atop the East standings.

"I think it's been really satisfying considering all the injuries we've had and all the new players and rookies we have," he said. "It's been a very exciting start of the season. I hope we can keep it up.

"It looks like a very exciting team."



Flyers' Giroux out, Couturier jumping into his spot

By ANTHONY J. SANFILIPPO

Claude Giroux felt better Monday than he did either of the previous two days, but it wasn't good enough.

Giroux didn't practice with his teammates, nor did he board the team's charter train to Washington for tonight's rivalry game against the struggling Capitals.

That means the NHL's leading scorer will miss at least one game - and maybe more - after suffering a blow to the head in the second period of the Flyers' 5-2 win over Tampa Bay Saturday.

Giroux took a knee in the back of his head by teammate Wayne Simmonds, who was trying to jump over his teammate to avoid a collision.

Giroux went to the bench and a few minutes later went to the locker room and didn't return.

The Flyers have not given an official diagnosis for Giroux - but it's almost a sure bet that it's a concussion.

Giroux was not available for comment Monday and Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren released a statement saying, "Claude is continuing to feel better. He will not travel with the team ... and will be seen by our doctor again (today)."

It is the first game Giroux will miss this season, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Giroux miss at least one more - which would be Thursday in Montreal.

"He seems to get better every day," close friend Danny Briere said. "From the first night we saw him, yesterday and then today. There seems to be a step up every time. I'm hoping and confident that it won't be too long.

"We have to keep doing the same thing we've done. We missed Chris Pronger for many games. It gave other guys a chance to step up, have more responsibilities ... Yes, Claude is a major part of our offense. We have to play without him; we can't sit back and feel sorry for ourselves. That's the last thing that's going to help us. We have to keep doing the same thing we have, keep working hard ... we're known as a team that works hard and skates hard. We have to keep doing the same thing."

Rookie Sean Couturier will step up from the fourth line to replace Giroux between Jaromir Jagr and Scott Hartnell. He looked comfortable there in the third period against Tampa and had a few chances to score, but wasn't rewarded with a goal.

Still, getting used to playing with one of the greatest scorers in the history of the game can be a little overwhelming for a 19-year-old.

"When you're on the bench you say, 'Wow,' but when you're out there you've got to be ready for those 'wow' plays," Couturier said. "I just have to be ready and prepare to get some nice passes. If you take a look at the last game, a couple unbelievable passes that I should have scored but I maybe wasn't as ready as I should, so next game, I've got to be ready."

For Jagr's part, he thinks Couturier will fit in fine.

"I think he's OK," Jagr said. "I think right now I'm a different player than I was 10 years ago. It would be tough to play with me 10 years ago. Now I'm too nice.

"I think all of his game is underrated. I can see he's a great player. When he's had a chance to play, he's a very good player. He's got a lot of scoring chances on penalty kills. Not many guys can do that."

As interesting as it should be to see Jagr play consistently with a linemate who is young enough to be his son, it's almost a certainty that he would like to see Giroux back on the ice as soon as possible.

"If it would be up to him, he would play (today)," Jagr said. "On the other side, the doctors have to make sure ... you don't want anything like what happened to (Sidney) Crosby. You have to be very careful because he's got the talent. You don't look just for the next game. You look for the next 10 years, not only two games. That's probably the biggest difference. If he would be my age, nobody would really care."

There were no updates on the health of either Pronger or Brayden Schenn. The Flyers said Schenn suffered a mild concussion in Phoenix last week,

but he hasn't been cleared to play. Pronger has been dealing with concussion-like symptoms and will be in Pittsburgh Wednesday to meet with Crosby's doctors at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He has had to suspend his extensive rehabilitation for minor knee surgery a couple weeks ago.



Giroux out, Couturier jumping into his spot

By ANTHONY J. SANFILIPPO

Claude Giroux felt better Monday than he did either of the previous two days, but it wasn't good enough.

Giroux didn't practice with his teammates, nor did he board the team's charter train to Washington for tonight's rivalry game against the struggling Capitals.

That means the NHL's leading scorer will miss at least one game - and maybe more - after suffering a blow to the head in the second period of the Flyers' 5-2 win over Tampa Bay Saturday.

Giroux took a knee in the back of his head by teammate Wayne Simmonds, who was trying to jump over his teammate to avoid a collision.

Giroux went to the bench and a few minutes later went to the locker room and didn't return.

The Flyers have not given an official diagnosis for Giroux - but it's almost a sure bet that it's a concussion.

Giroux was not available for comment Monday and Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren released a statement saying, "Claude is continuing to feel better. He will not travel with the team ... and will be seen by our doctor again (today)."

It is the first game Giroux will miss this season, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Giroux miss at least one more - which would be Thursday in Montreal.

"He seems to get better every day," close friend Danny Briere said. "From the first night we saw him, yesterday and then today. There seems to be a step up every time. I'm hoping and confident that it won't be too long.

"We have to keep doing the same thing we've done. We missed Chris Pronger for many games. It gave other guys a chance to step up, have more responsibilities ... Yes, Claude is a major part of our offense. We have to play without him; we can't sit back and feel sorry for ourselves. That's the last thing that's going to help us. We have to keep doing the same thing we have, keep working hard ... we're known as a team that works hard and skates hard. We have to keep doing the same thing."

Rookie Sean Couturier will step up from the fourth line to replace Giroux between Jaromir Jagr and Scott Hartnell. He looked comfortable there in the third period against Tampa and had a few chances to score, but wasn't rewarded with a goal.

Still, getting used to playing with one of the greatest scorers in the history of the game can be a little overwhelming for a 19-year-old.

"When you're on the bench you say, 'Wow,' but when you're out there you've got to be ready for those 'wow' plays," Couturier said. "I just have to be ready and prepare to get some nice passes. If you take a look at the last game, a couple unbelievable passes that I should have scored but I maybe wasn't as ready as I should, so next game, I've got to be ready."

For Jagr's part, he thinks Couturier will fit in fine.

"I think he's OK," Jagr said. "I think right now I'm a different player than I was 10 years ago. It would be tough to play with me 10 years ago. Now I'm too nice.

"I think all of his game is underrated. I can see he's a great player. When he's had a chance to play, he's a very good player. He's got a lot of scoring chances on penalty kills. Not many guys can do that."

As interesting as it should be to see Jagr play consistently with a linemate who is young enough to be his son, it's almost a certainty that he would like to see Giroux back on the ice as soon as possible.

"If it would be up to him, he would play (today)," Jagr said. "On the other side, the doctors have to make sure ... you don't want anything like what happened to (Sidney) Crosby. You have to be very careful because he's got the talent. You don't look just for the next game. You look for the next 10 years, not only two games. That's probably the biggest difference. If he would be my age, nobody would really care."

There were no updates on the health of either Pronger or Brayden Schenn. The Flyers said Schenn suffered a mild concussion in Phoenix last week, but he hasn't been cleared to play. Pronger has been dealing with concussion-like symptoms and will be in Pittsburgh Wednesday to meet with Crosby's doctors at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He has had to suspend his extensive rehabilitation for minor knee surgery a couple weeks ago.



Enshrined Snider will have life-saving legacy

Staff

CHICAGO -- Growing up in Washington, DC, Ed Snider never saw a hockey game as a kid.

In fact, he saw a lot more of coach Red Auerbach, the future general manager of the Boston Celtics.

"It was very sporadic in Washington, DC," Snider recalled. "There was a small arena, Uline Arena, and hockey wasn't very popular and it was at a low level. I used to watch Red Auerbach coach the Washington Capitols basketball team at that same Uline Arena."

One day, a friend of his took him to see the Montreal Canadiens at the old Madison Square Garden.

"It blew me away," Snider said. "I thought it was the greatest spectator sport I had ever seen. To me, I have never lost my enthusiasm for the game. And I think the sport is better now than it has ever been."

If you ask Snider, who turns 79 next month, what his foremost accomplishment in hockey has been, he will say it was founding the Flyers franchise in 1967.

"You start a franchise from scratch and you're the chairman from day one," Snider said. "And I'm still in it. I'm a serving governor in the league. Not that I love that job so much. You know what that means.

"But I never thought all these years later that I would be doing the same thing and still loving it and having the enthusiasm for it."

Now ask what the most meaningful thing Snider has ever done in hockey and you get an entirely different answer.

"It's my youth hockey foundation," Snider said.

The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation was created in 2005 and provides inner-city kids with a safe shelter molded into a learning environment that teaches them life's disciplines through hockey.

This is what truly matters to Snider in his golden years.

On a night when Snider was inducted in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame after 45 years of service, this is how he wants people to remember him.

During a series of interviews at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown, Snider talked about what matters most to him now -- his legacy of helping impoverished kids survive.

Snider wants his legacy to be more than just building a sports-business empire called Spectacor and later Comcast-Spectacor. More than eight conference titles or two Stanley Cups.

He wants to make a difference with children. His foundation actually touches peoples lives on an intimate level.

"Dad has always been very philanthropic and encouraged us to be that way," said daughter, Lindy, one of five Snider children at Monday's ceremonies at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown.

"The youth hockey foundation is very special to him. This is the most important work dad has ever done. He loves it and he's proud of it and the kids.

"The legacy he wants to leave deals with human beings and their families. The ability for him to do something to help other people is very meaningful to him."

For every dollar donated by the public, Snider contributes $2. All the equipment, the staffing, the educational services, whatever a child needs when he arrives at the rink, it is provided for them.

More than 2,500 kids have reaped the benefits and that number is expected to grow to 10,000 and beyond in the years ahead through his foundation, Snider Hockey.

The foundation matched the city of Philadelphia's $6.5 million to refurbish and enclose five outdoor rinks marked for demolition back in 2008.

"We're keeping kids off the streets all year long," Snider said. "These kids are all hockey fans and their parents are all hockey fans and they didn't even know what hockey was before we started this. We've done it mostly to help these kids with their education."

The matriculation rate for these kids is 94 percent compared to 50 percent for those at their own school not involved in the program.

Long after the players, the banners, the records and the memories of the Flyers' Cup years have faded from people's minds, there will still be ESYHF.

"All the inner cities unfortunately, in this country, are messed up," Snider said. "And the kids are in trouble in what they have to go through.

"I was thinking for years about helping the inner city kids in some way and finally, I realize the best way I could do it was through what I know best. We used hockey as the hook. We're saving lives. We already feel we've saved a few.

"It's the only thing I've ever put my name on in my life. All the various things I started, all the companies I've owned. This is the first time I've used my name. I did that purposely because I wanted that to be my legacy and wanted it to last forever."

Flyers president Peter Luukko said people only see the "fiery Ed Snider" but "he's got a heart of gold," when it comes to families.

"And he wants hockey to help these kids reach their goals," Luukko said.

All of it was made possible through being an NHL owner who wanted to give back to the community, something the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame recognizes.

"It's a great honor," Snider said of his Hall of Fame induction. "I am particularly happy to be taken in the Hall of Fame in the U.S. and I'm thrilled with the growth of hockey in the U.S. since I first started in 1967.

"I definitely feel part of it here, the players who have come out of here, we've definitely been part of the growth since we started the Flyers in 1967."

You wonder what would have been Snider's passion if he had never gone to that Rangers' game at Madison Square Garden?

You wonder if ESYHF ever would have existed.

"I have absolutely no way to answer that," Snider said. "I did get involved in hockey and never really thought about anything else ... I love sports. I was able to make a career out of it."

Off the ice, Snider said he never waded into a dressing room and "violated" the inner sanctum of that room before games.

Likewise, he allowed his coaches and general managers to make decisions without imposing his will, something that Luukko, who is also Comcast-Spectacor COO, said dominated his business acumen.

"When I was younger and coming up through the organization, he explained to me that as president or as an owner of the team, you've got to honor the chain of command," Luukko said.

"That coaches coach, that GMs do their thing and the owner and president should question but always allow coaches and GMs to make their moves because they are the experts. It's a philosophy we have with the whole company. You hire good people and allow them to do their jobs. That's something that always stood about Ed with me.

"People don't realize this, but Ed Snider never fired anyone."



Holmgren: Giroux injury appears to be 'whiplash'

Staff

CHICAGO - Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren, speaking to reporters at Ed Snider's induction in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night, said that Claude Giroux's problems right now don't appear to be a concussion but "whiplash."

Giroux was accidentally kneed in the back of the head by teammate Wayne Simmonds during Saturday's game against Tampa Bay.

The Flyers center will not play in Washington on Tuesday (see blog post.)

"He was better today," Holmgren said. "He did some things physically and felt OK. We'll continue to err on the side of caution.

"He's got a little whiplash going. He's done the tests and his scores are OK. A concussion? I don't know. I wouldn't go that far just yet. Sometimes they come forward after a certain period of time.

"He actually has issues with his neck right now."



Comca Flyers ready to spend December on the road

Staff

Every December, the Flyers plan on spending a significant amount of time away from the Wells Fargo Center.

This year, however, their December schedule is even a bit extreme compared to usual. In part because of the annual Disney on Ice program the Center hosts, the Flyers will play just one home game between now and the new year.

That means they'll play seven of their next eight games on the road - and after Saturday afternoon's affair against the Boston Bruins, they won't play a true home game until Jan. 5. (The Winter Classic, on Jan. 2, technically counts as a home game.)

"It's a grind this month," coach Peter Laviolette said. "The home game-road games, we seem to be doing OK on both, especially the road. The home record now is straightened out a little bit, it struggled a little bit at the start of the year but we've got that going in the right direction."

Despite injuries (See blog post), the Flyers continue to be successful away from their home arena. They still have the NHL's best winning percentage on the road.

"The road has been fairly consistent," Laviolette said. "The games that we've played, we've been happy with the effort on the road. I think there's always a game that you look back at, where you think you could have played better, or maybe you just didn't have the jump you needed. There's certain things that you look at, but for the most part, we've been pretty consistent.

"So if we can get through this month and keep doing what we're doing here, the schedule sets up in our favor for the second half. I think that's a positive."st

SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.13.2011


Couturier's role to change with Giroux out

Staff

At training camp this summer, rookie Sean Couturier was considered a long shot to make the Flyers' roster.

On Monday, however, he practiced on the team's top line with Jaromir Jagr and Scott Hartnell, selected by coach Peter Laviolette to take the place of the injured Claude Giroux (See blog post).

What a difference five months makes.

"You know, we had to move somebody up," Laviolette said. "Claude wasn't on the ice. We finished the game that way the other night, we had moved Sean up there. He generated two or three good quality scoring chances. ... Just based on the way he finished the game the other night, we thought he did a good job, so we put him there in practice."

Laviolette declined to discuss his plans for Tuesday's game against the Capitals in Washington D.C., but it's fair to assume Couturier will move off the fourth line and play in Giroux's place when the two teams meet at the Verizon Center.

Couturier, who just turned 19 last week, is known as a steady, defensive-minded center, despite his youth. He's spent time on the penalty kill and is tied for second in the NHL among rookies in plus/minus, with a plus-3.

His role will change - at least a bit - on Tuesday. He's got five goals and three assists on the season, but playing on the top line means there will be an onus on him to generate more offense. He's without a goal in the Flyers' last 14 games.

"I try to play the same way, two-way forward," Couturier said, describing what it's like skating alongside Hartnell and Jagr. "I still have to take care of my own end first. When we're in the offensive zone, we obviously can create more. With those two guys, they have a lot of talent so it's easier to create stuff."

And, he said, he won't be feeling any additional stress, adding: "It's an opportunity, so I try to see it that way and just do what I can do to help the team."

The move to the top line also means Couturier will have to adjust to playing with a guy like Jagr, a veteran who's known for his playmaking ability, to put it lightly. That's something he's already considered.

"When you're on the bench, you say 'wow,' but when you're out there, you've got to be ready for those 'wow' plays," Couturier said. "I've just got to be ready and prepare to get some nice passes."

Jagr had some hefty praise for Couturier, as well.

"I think all of his game is underrated," Jagr said. "I can see he's a great player. When he's had a chance to play, he's a very good player. He's got a lot of scoring chances on penalty kills. Not many guys can do that."

During the brief time they played together in the win over Tampa Bay on Saturday, Jagr, Hartnell and Couturier did generate a handful of chances and seemed to mesh well together. Reflecting on how things went, Jagr said he was pleased.

"I thought we played good," he said. "I thought we had some chances to score. We didn't spend much time in our zone. That was a positive."

Despite mounting injuries (Chris Pronger and Brayden Schenn are out indefinitely with concussions), the Flyers have managed to persevere. They've won their last five games, and maintain top standing in both the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division. The loss of Giroux - for however long it lasts - is just the latest test for a team that's constantly pressed to demonstrate its resiliency.

"Yes, Claude is a major part of our offense," Danny Briere said. "We have to play without him, we can't sit back and feel sorry for ourselves. That's the last thing that's going to help us. We have to keep doing the same thing we

have, keep working hard ... We're known as a team that works hard, skates hard. We have to keep doing the same thing."

As Briere also said, the injuries have given younger players a chance to contribute in new and increased ways. The team has been lucky that, despite its relative youth, it has continued to succeed when forced to adapt.

His coach, however, doesn't see it that way.

"I don't even look at it like that anymore," Laviolette said. "I know there are young players in here, rookies, but they've done such a good job for us and filled so many roles. I don't necessarily call them young players. I just call them by name or their number or their line. They've done what we've asked and done a good job of it."

As for the rookie who's found himself promoted to the top line, there's one thing he intends to do a better job of against the Capitals.

"If you take a look at last game, a couple unbelievable passes that I should have scored but I maybe wasn't as ready as I should," he said. "So next game, I've got to be ready."



Winter Classic now a three-day festival!

DAVE ZANGARO

The Winter Classic isn't just a hockey game. It's a festival!

The NHL and City of Philadelphia are teaming up for the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic Spectacor Plaza - a three day festival leading up to the big day on Jan. 2.

For three days, Citizens Bank Way, between Phillies Drive and Pattison Ave., will be transformed into a hockey wonderland with musical performances, hockey themed attractions, giveaways and food and merchandise. Check out all the cool festivities below.

Here are the dates:

Saturday, Dec. 31: 9 a..m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 1: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 2: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

First, fans will have a chance to test their shooting skills and go one-on-one against a live goalie in slap shot competition while an announcer does play-by-play from the booth. If you don't want to actually play hockey, you can play EA Sports' NHL 12.

There will also be a Molson Canadian Hockey House too, where fans can compete for prizes playing bubble hockey (bubble hockey!) and video games.

"Fans 21 and older can raise a cup of cold Coors Light or Molson Canadian with other hockey fans." Oh, happy day!

Honda will be there to showcase a new 2012 CR-V and a 2012 Pilot and have a special autograph session with an unnamed alumnus. I'm pulling for Jim Dowd.

Geico will have a "Guess the Gecko" competition for prizes. Not sure what that is. Maybe you try to guess which country the Gecko is from. Australia right?

Reebok will have some attractions as well. You can suit up in the real NHL gear (hopefully unused) and take photos with the jerseys and everything.

Lastly, NHL Green has partnered with Restore Hockey, so bring out your old used hockey equipment to donate and keep hockey alive through the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation.

It sounds like a ton o' fun. Dress warm and enjoy the festival.



Flyers-Caps guarantees intense hockey

Staff

Danny Briere says there's no love between the Flyers and Capitals. (AP)

The Flyers have a rather comfortable eight-point Eastern Conference lead over the Washington Capitals, but they've had tomorrow's game at the Verizon Center circled on their calendars nonetheless.

After all, there's something about the rivalry between the Flyers and Capitals that's made for intense hockey - no matter where either team rests in the standings.

"Since the first year I got to Philadelphia five years ago, the rivalry seems to be growing with these guys," Danny Briere said. "There another one of those teams where there is no love. They're always very intense games. They're fun games to play in because it's easy motivation - you don't have to think very hard and long to get up for these kinds of games."

Following last week's success, the Flyers lead both the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference, with 39 points. If the postseason were to start today, they would face the Caps who, in eighth place and with 31 points, would only just barely make the playoffs.

No matter, the Flyers have faced a tough competitor in Washington in recent years. The Capitals won the teams' only other meeting this season, 5-2, in Philadelphia on Oct. 20.

"They've been a top division, top conference team for the last four or five years," coach Peter Laviolette said. "When you play them in the regular season, it's about being as competitive as you can be to try and hold the standings for home ice in the playoffs.

"As that plays out through the course of the year, you always find yourself taking on Washington, which is No. 1 in the conference, No. 3 in the conference and they've built that reputation and it's been a little bit of an off year for them, as far as that goes, but they're still an extremely dangerous team - talented players, a new coach in place that they're trying to make a good impression on, so we know that we're going to be in for a tough go down in Washington."

Someone who's historically had a tough go in Washington - at least according to what he says - is Jaromir Jagr. Jagr spent three seasons as a Capital, from 2001-03.

Since the Caps traded him to the New York Rangers, he's registered two goals and six assists in seven games at the Verizon Center.

"I don't like that arena much," Jagr said. "I've not really had luck there. It's a tough place to play, even if I was in Pittsburgh and New York. It was always tough. But hopefully we can stay on winning."



Giroux doesn't practice, won't play vs. Caps

Staff

As expected, Claude Giroux wasn't on the ice with the Flyers at this morning's practice and won't travel with the team to Washington D.C. later today.

Giroux was accidentally kneed in the back of the head in the second period of Saturday's 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning by teammate Wayne Simmonds, sparking fears he may have sustained a concussion.

He was evaluated immediately after the incident, and didn't play in the third period for "precautionary reasons," said general manager Paul Holmgren. He's doing better today, Holmgren said, but will be re-evaluated by team doctors on Tuesday.

Because of the logistics of the Flyers' travel schedule (they fly directly from Washington to Montreal after Tuesday night's game), Giroux is questionable for Thursday's game against the Canadiens, as well.

The Flyers haven't officially updated his status, but it seems increasingly more likely Giroux could have sustained a concussion, or is at least experiencing symptoms strongly enough to keep him from playing.

"I think if it were up to him, he would play tomorrow," linemate Jaromir Jagr said. "On the other side, the doctors have to make sure ... you don't want anything like what happened to [Sidney] Crosby. You have to be very careful because he's got the talent. You don't look for just the next game. You look for the next 10 years, not only two games."

Giroux, the Flyers' - and NHL's - points leader (he's got 39) didn't have a headache after the game and, according to Holmgren, felt better on Sunday, but wasn't on the ice with the rest of his team today nonetheless. He was at Skate Zone, but dressed in street clothes and declined to speak to the media.

Rookie Sean Couturier skated in place of Giroux with Jagr and Scott Hartnell during practice.



How are Giroux and Crosby linked together?

TIM RIDAY

FOLLOW CSNPHILLY ON Claude Giroux's ascension to the top of the NHL's scoring race has been an exciting story for Flyers' fans this season.

Giroux has been an offensive force for the orange and black this season, registering 39 points (16 goals, 23 assists) in 28 games.

Some argue that Giroux has been the NHL's best player, but after a scary incident in Saturday's win over the Lightning, the 23-year-old now has ties to the Penguins' Sidney Crosby.

Chris Stevenson of Winnipegsun.com pointed out Giroux and Crosby are both dealing with issues as a result of collisions with teammates.

"Crosby ran into teammate Chris Kunitz a week ago -- it was a jarring hit, with no direct contact with the head (but as we've learned, rotational forces can be just as damaging). Giroux was kneed by teammate Wayne Simmonds Saturday night after Giroux fell in the neutral zone and Simmonds tried to jump over him, but caught him in the back of the head."

Giroux did not skate with the Flyers during Monday's morning practice (see blog post) and will not play Tuesday against the Capitals.

As for Crosby, the 24-year-old is out indefinitely with concussion-like symptoms, according to the Associated Press.

There is no timetable for Crosby's return.



Giroux doesn't practice, won't play vs. Caps

Staff

As expected, Claude Giroux wasn't on the ice with the Flyers at this morning's practice and won't travel with the team to Washington D.C. later today.

Giroux was accidentally kneed in the back of the head in the second period of Saturday's 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning by teammate Wayne Simmonds, sparking fears he may have sustained a concussion.

He was evaluated immediately after the incident, and didn't play in the third period for "precautionary reasons," said general manager Paul Holmgren.

He's doing better today, Holmgren said, but will be re-evaluated by team doctors on Tuesday.

Because of the logistics of the Flyers' travel schedule (they fly directly from Washington to Montreal after Tuesday night's game), Giroux is questionable for Thursday's game against the Canadiens, as well.

The Flyers haven't officially updated his status, but it seems increasingly more likely Giroux could have sustained a concussion, or is at least experiencing symptoms strongly enough to keep him from playing.

"I think if it were up to him, he would play tomorrow," linemate Jaromir Jagr said. "On the other side, the doctors have to make sure ... you don't want anything like what happened to [Sidney] Crosby. You have to be very careful because he's got the talent. You don't look for just the next game. You look for the next 10 years, not only two games."

Giroux, the Flyers' - and NHL's - points leader (he's got 39) didn't have a headache after the game and, according to Holmgren, felt better on Sunday, but wasn't on the ice with the rest of his team today nonetheless. He was at Skate Zone, but dressed in street clothes and declined to speak to the media.

Rookie Sean Couturier skated in place of Giroux with Jagr and Scott Hartnell during practice.



Enshrined Snider will leave life-saving legacy

Staff

CHICAGO -- Growing up in Washington, DC, Ed Snider never saw a hockey game as a kid.

In fact, he saw a lot more of coach Red Auerbach, the future general manager of the Boston Celtics.

"It was very sporadic in Washington, DC," Snider recalled. "There was a small arena, Uline Arena, and hockey wasn't very popular and it was at a low level. I used to watch Red Auerbach coach the Washington Capitols basketball team at that same Uline Arena."

One day, a friend of his took him to see the Montreal Canadiens at the old Madison Square Garden.

"It blew me away," Snider said. "I thought it was the greatest spectator sport I had ever seen. To me, I have never lost my enthusiasm for the game. And I think the sport is better now than it has ever been."

If you ask Snider, who turns 79 next month, what his foremost accomplishment in hockey has been, he will say it was founding the Flyers franchise in 1967.

"You start a franchise from scratch and you're the chairman from day one," Snider said. "And I'm still in it. I'm a serving governor in the league. Not that I love that job so much. You know what that means.

"But I never thought all these years later that I would be doing the same thing and still loving it and having the enthusiasm for it."

Now ask what the most meaningful thing Snider has ever done in hockey and you get an entirely different answer.

"It's my youth hockey foundation," Snider said.

The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation was created in 2005 and provides inner-city kids with a safe shelter molded into a learning environment that teaches them life's disciplines through hockey.

This is what truly matters to Snider in his golden years.

On a night when Snider was inducted in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame after 45 years of service, this is how he wants people to remember him.

During a series of interviews at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown, Snider talked about what matters most to him now -- his legacy of helping impoverished kids survive.

Snider wants his legacy to be more than just building a sports-business empire called Spectacor and later Comcast-Spectacor. More than eight conference titles or two Stanley Cups.

He wants to make a difference with children. His foundation actually touches peoples lives on an intimate level.

"Dad has always been very philanthropic and encouraged us to be that way," said daughter, Lindy, one of five Snider children at Monday's ceremonies at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown.

"The youth hockey foundation is very special to him. This is the most important work dad has ever done. He loves it and he's proud of it and the kids.

"The legacy he wants to leave deals with human beings and their families. The ability for him to do something to help other people is very meaningful to him."

For every dollar donated by the public, Snider contributes $2. All the equipment, the staffing, the educational services, whatever a child needs when he arrives at the rink, it is provided for them.

More than 2,500 kids have reaped the benefits and that number is expected to grow to 10,000 and beyond in the years ahead through his foundation, Snider Hockey.

The foundation matched the city of Philadelphia's $6.5 million to refurbish and enclose five outdoor rinks marked for demolition back in 2008.

"We're keeping kids off the streets all year long," Snider said. "These kids are all hockey fans and their parents are all hockey fans and they didn't even know what hockey was before we started this. We've done it mostly to help these kids with their education."

The matriculation rate for these kids is 94 percent compared to 50 percent for those at their own school not involved in the program.

Long after the players, the banners, the records and the memories of the Flyers' Cup years have faded from people's minds, there will still be ESYHF.

"All the inner cities unfortunately, in this country, are messed up," Snider said. "And the kids are in trouble in what they have to go through.

"I was thinking for years about helping the inner city kids in some way and finally, I realize the best way I could do it was through what I know best. We used hockey as the hook. We're saving lives. We already feel we've saved a few.

"It's the only thing I've ever put my name on in my life. All the various things I started, all the companies I've owned. This is the first time I've used my name. I did that purposely because I wanted that to be my legacy and wanted it to last forever."

Flyers president Peter Luukko said people only see the "fiery Ed Snider" but "he's got a heart of gold," when it comes to families.

"And he wants hockey to help these kids reach their goals," Luukko said.

All of it was made possible through being an NHL owner who wanted to give back to the community, something the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame recognizes.

"It's a great honor," Snider said of his Hall of Fame induction. "I am particularly happy to be taken in the Hall of Fame in the U.S. and I'm thrilled with the growth of hockey in the U.S. since I first started in 1967.

"I definitely feel part of it here, the players who have come out of here, we've definitely been part of the growth since we started the Flyers in 1967."

You wonder what would have been Snider's passion if he had never gone to that Rangers' game at Madison Square Garden?

You wonder if ESYHF ever would have existed.

"I have absolutely no way to answer that," Snider said. "I did get involved in hockey and never really thought about anything else ... I love sports. I was able to make a career out of it."

Off the ice, Snider said he never waded into a dressing room and "violated" the inner sanctum of that room before games.

Likewise, he allowed his coaches and general managers to make decisions without imposing his will, something that Luukko, who is also Comcast-Spectacor COO, said dominated his business acumen.

"When I was younger and coming up through the organization, he explained to me that as president or as an owner of the team, you've got to honor the chain of command," Luukko said.

"That coaches coach, that GMs do their thing and the owner and president should question but always allow coaches and GMs to make their moves because they are the experts. It's a philosophy we have with the whole company. You hire good people and allow them to do their jobs. That's something that always stood about Ed with me.

"People don't realize this, but Ed Snider never fired anyone."


600131 Phoenix Coyotes

Former Phoenix Coyote Keith Tkachuk inducted into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

Associated Press

Chris Chelios led a class of five inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night. It's a group that includes former Phoenix Coyote Keith Tkachuk.

The three-time Norris Trophy winner and four-time Olympian was joined by fellow defenseman Gary Suter, who played with Chelios at the University of Wisconsin and for the Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider and broadcaster Mike Emrick.


Chelios played for three Stanley Cup teams, one for Montreal and two for Detroit, in 26 seasons. Suter was the NHL's top rookie for Calgary in 1985-86. Tkachuk scored 538 goals in 19 NHL seasons, and, like Chelios, played on four Olympic teams.



"Cheli and I tangled at Chicago Stadium, got me in a headlock and I couldn't breathe," Tkachuk said, grinning. "I was down to my last breath."

Chelios remembered Tkachuk "turning colors. I let him go right at the last second, but I could have made him pass out easy if I wanted to. And he knew it."

The two teammates on Olympic squads and during the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, in which the U.S. came back from losing the first game to sweep the last two games on Canadian ice. Suter was also on that team, Snider hosted the first game in the Wells Fargo Center, the Flyers' then-new building, and Emrick called the contests on American television.

"This means everything to me," Tkachuk said. "I'm only retired for two years, and to go in with this class is amazing."



Suter's 17-year pro career opened in Calgary, where he was named the NHL's top rookie in 1985-86, and went through Chicago and San Jose. Like Chelios and Tkachuk, he was inspired by the American hockey victory in the 1980 Olympics.

"That was so unexpected, but in 1996, we were a good solid team, among the top four in the world. I think winning that had a similar effect to 1980 on kids, and American hockey has continued to get stronger."

Snider's stewardship of the Flyers commenced with the team's founding in 1966. He helped grow a small business into a corporation that became a unit of Comcast, but said he was prouder of his foundation's taking over the hockey rinks in Philadelphia's park system and creating educational programs associated with hockey for disadvantaged youths to flourish.

"We have a 94 percent graduation rate, compared to 54 percent for the city," Snider said. "We used hockey as the hook. It's the only thing I've put my name on. It's my legacy. It will last forever."

Emrick's dream of being an NHL broadcaster started in the corner of the rink in Fort Wayne, Ind., where he called minor-league games into a tape recorder for practice. Decades later, the voice of 13 Stanley Cup Finals, and the lead announcer for hockey on NBC and Versus, still has boyish enthusiasm.

"I get in free, I still get a good seat for the game, and I still like doing that," Emrick said. "So until my bosses don't want me doing that, or I'm unhappy with my work, I'll do it."

Arizona Republic LOADED: 12.13.2011

600132 Phoenix Coyotes

Phoenix Coyotes left wing Ray Whitney reaches milestone

By Jim Gintonio

Players like to reach milestones during their career, but all Coyotes left wing Ray Whitney needed to put his 600th assist in perspective was a phone message from Hall of Famer Ron Francis.

" ... After saying congratulations, (he said), 'You have only 649 more to go to catch me,' with a little laugh," Whitney said. "I guess in today's day and age, 600 is pretty good, but if you look at it where it is in the scheme of the history of the league, it's still quite a ways back there."

Francis' 1,249 assists rank second all-time to Wayne Gretzky's 1,963. Whitney's 600th came in a 5-2 loss in Detroit last week, putting him 75th on the list.

Throughout his career, Whitney has had the playmaker's touch. In his final year of junior hockey, he had 118 assists to go with 67 goals.

"I've always by nature, maybe to a fault, tried to pass the puck," he said. "And if you look, sometimes I pass (up) some pretty good shot opportunities. I've always preferred to pass than shoot for whatever reason, so I guess the assist part isn't as surprising as maybe it should be."

Defenseman Adrian Aucoin said Whitney's assist total is "ridiculously impressive."

"It's not only a matter of longevity, it's a matter of producing," he said. "Stuff like that just amazes me. ... If you look historically, there were a lot of guys getting mid-100 points. Now you might see guys with 100 points, maybe one or two, so it's very impressive.

"I can remember just about every guy I played with who actually makes you better, and it's a guy like Ray because he draws attention, and he's just so good at finding spots."

Words such as those are a point of pride for players.

"Yeah, if other people are saying that, then yes, you like to think when somebody's playing with me their stats aren't going down," Whitney said with a laugh. "That's not good for me or them, so I'm glad that they say that, that's very nice.

"I think just what it is I give people opportunity to score goals just because I will pass the puck to them. Not necessarily does that make them better, but I think the combination of them maybe getting some more opportunities to shoot the puck builds confidence. Then if you get a couple that go in, it builds confidence as a player.

"Once you start scoring you play better, and that really doesn't have so much to do with me, but more of their own personal confidence; I might have a small factor in that in terms of trying to create stuff for them."

Ice chip

Defenseman Rusty Klesla, who has missed two games becasue of a lower-body injury is skating and remains day to day.

"He's been a valuable player for us," coach Dave Tippett said. "What he does is he plays key minutes, and some of those minutes are penalty-kill; he plays against other teams' top players."

Arizona Republic LOADED: 12.13.2011

600133 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins' Crosby out with recurrence of concussion-like symptoms

By Jerry DiPaola,

Penguins center Sidney Crosby won't play Tuesday night against the Detroit Red Wings and is out indefinitely after suffering a recurrence of concussion-like symptoms, but he said he doesn't feel as bad as he did nearly a year ago when he missed 61 games.

"I am not happy about watching," said Crosby, who missed two games last week after receiving an elbow to the head from the Boston Bruins' David Krejci last Monday night.

"That being said, you have to be sure with these sorts of things, careful and aware that I am 100 percent before I come back."

Crosby said results from an Impact test administered to him after suffering the injury indicated it wasn't as severe this time. The imPACT test is a neurocognitive assessment used to determine brain function after head injuries.

"If I had to put a timeframe on it, I would say (I feel) better than August (three months before he returned) and much better than I was dealing with the first time."

"It is obviously frustrating for Sid," coach Dan Bylsma said. "Sid knows his body better than anybody else. He is not feeling 100 percent. He will return to practice and playing when he is feeling 100 percent."

Bylsma also said forward Richard Park has a fracture in his foot and will miss four to six weeks and center Jordan Staal is "day-to-day" with a lower body injury.

Tribune Review LOADED: 12.13.2011


Primeau: Pens' Crosby showing true courage

By Josh Yohe, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW

A minority of NHL fans are using social media outlets to question Penguins star Sidney Crosby's toughness because of his refusal to play with concussion symptoms.

Former NHL standout Keith Primeau, whose career was ended prematurely by concussions, is coming to Crosby's defense and believes his behavior is heroic.

"Sidney Crosby is an ambassador for people who have brain injuries and who have endured head trauma," Primeau told the Tribune-Review late Monday.

"People are looking up to his courage as we speak."

Primeau, who was drafted two spots ahead of Jaromir Jagr in 1990, played 14 NHL seasons before being forced into retirement at 34 because of multiple concussions. He is the co-founder of www.stopconcussions.com, a website designed to help the prevention of concussions.

Primeau appreciates that Crosby has displayed the prudence to temporarily halt his return from a concussion. Dealing with headaches for more than a week, Crosby isn't going to play until he is 100 percent healthy.

"For me and my quest," Primeau said, "seeing Sidney do the right thing is special."

Primeau said that many hockey players make the decision to play through dangerous concussions, and that Crosby has become a wonderful role model for his decision to put his health first.

"The culture we're brought up in with the hockey world just tells us to play through injuries," Primeau said. "That may seem like courage, but it really isn't. This is an injury that can be debilitating. The fact is, Sidney had the courage to speak up when something wasn't right. Good for him. Maybe people don't realize it, but that's a true sign of courage. It really is."

Primeau was at his son's hockey tournament in New Jersey when he heard the news on Monday that Crosby was out indefinitely because concussion symptoms had returned.

The news was jarring.

"I know how difficult that road is and how frustrating that scenario is," Primeau said. "Even though he's having a setback, which isn't good, I think he's still managing everything in the appropriate manner. I'd like to think and hope that his road is different than mine."



Headaches put Crosby back on sidelines


Sidney Crosby is the face of the National Hockey League, but once again, his head has become the issue.

Crosby, the Penguins' star center who missed 11 months because of a concussion, is out indefinitely because of recurring symptoms, the team announced on Monday.

Headaches resurfaced since he took an elbow to the head from the Boston Bruins David Krejci on Dec. 5, Crosby said at his locker room stall at Consol Energy Center.

"The next day, after the game, I didn't feel right," he said. However, a subsequent medical test showed no serious injury, he added.

The question of when he will return to the ice leaves fans, Crosby and the medical community speculating. He has played in eight games this season.

"Three or four months ago, I was concerned he might never come back to play because of how long it was taking him to recuperate," said Dr. Jack Wilberger, chairman of the department of neurosurgery for West Penn Allegheny Health System. "My concerns are further heightened now."

Several NHL stars including Eric Lindros, Keith Primeau, Pat LaFontaine and Mark Savard had their careers end prematurely because of repeated concussions.

"Personally," said Wilberger, "I wouldn't be surprised if he reconsiders what he's doing (with his life.)" Wilberger is not on Crosby's medical team.

Crosby downplayed the latest developments, saying his condition is more comparable to a minor setback he experienced in August than the full-blown symptoms he experienced after a hit during the Winter Classic game at Heinz Field on Jan. 1.

Crosby's medical team was not available for comment.

Dr. Michael Stuart, a professor of orthopedics at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and the chief medical officer of USA Hockey, said this might not be a major setback.

"It is concerning that he is having symptoms again, but there is a very real possibility that Crosby and those around him are simply being extremely cautious, which is the proper course to take," Stuart said. "This does not mean his career is in jeopardy."

But the mere fact an athlete suffers a concussion makes him three to four times more likely to suffer another, Wilberger said.

Both Wilberger and Stuart say athletes experience recurring concussions for one of three possible reasons:

Sometimes you have a player who is reckless. "That's not the case with Sidney, I don't believe," Stuart said. Other reasons are genetics and bad luck.

Crosby excited the hockey world when he returned two weeks ago against the New York Islanders with a four-point night. But now he's getting credit for being a trendsetter off the ice.

"Athletes rarely come forward and admit something isn't right," said Dr. Julian Bailes, chairman of the department of neurosurgery and co-director of the NorthShore Neurological Institute outside of Chicago. "He should be applauded."



Michalek, Strait inch closer to return for Pens


Defensemen Zbynek Michalek and Brian Strait returned to practice Monday at Consol Energy Center.

Neither will be ready for game-action this week, but for a team so decimated by injuries, seeing two players approaching 100 percent health was encouraging.

"This was the first practice after a long time, and I felt good," Michalek said.

Michalek and defenseman Kris Letang were concussed in Montreal on Nov. 26. It was believed that Michalek's was the least serious of the two concussions, and he confirmed that his symptoms were only minor.

However, Michalek acknowledged that getting his first concussion was an eye-opening experience.

"I never had problems with my head before," he said. "You see so many head injuries in the league now. Now, I understand that it's not so easy to go through."

Michalek didn't sound terribly rushed to return to the lineup, and the Penguins are being especially cautious with concussion victims this season.

"I need a few more practices under my belt, and if I feel better and have no symptoms then I can think about coming back," Michalek said.

Michalek, who missed a month earlier this season with a broken finger, said that his primary concussion symptoms were a slight headache and dizziness.

Letang and defenseman Robert Bortuzzo remain out with concussions.

Strait injured his wrist in Minnesota on Oct. 18.

Park gets parked

Center Richard Park will miss four-to-six weeks with a foot fracture, which occurred during the Penguins' sublime 6-on-3 penalty-killing performance in the final 2:04 of regulation against Carolina on Dec. 3.

Park spent much of the recent road trip in Philadelphia and Long Island riding a stationary bike. He attempted to skate before two practices on the trip, but did not look comfortable on either occasion.

Staal questionable

Center Jordan Staal remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury. His availability for Tuesday night's game against Detroit is unknown. He was injured in the third period against the Flyers on Thursday.

Special visit

The Penguins made their annual Christmas visit to Children's Hospital yesterday. Despite dealing with concussion symptoms, center Sidney Crosby made the trip.

Milestone

Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury will attempt to secure his 200th career NHL win Tuesday night.



Crosby, Penguins visit Children's Hospital

Staff

Penguins players Sidney Crosby, Zbynek Michalek, Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury, Brooks Orpik and Steve MacIntyre and Matt Niskanen paid a visit to Children's Hopsital of Pittsburgh of UPMC in Lawrenceville, bearing presents for the young patients there. Check the link at left to see more photos, and watch the video below.

Post Gazette LOADED: 12.13.2011


Crosby out indefinitely again with concussion-like symptoms

By Shelly Anderson,

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby sits in pain on the bench in a game last week against Boston.

Penguins center and captain Sidney Crosby said today he is experiencing a recurrence of concussion-like symptoms and will be held out of practice and games until that situation improves.

"I don't think 'frustrating' even describes it," said Crosby, who has 12 points in eight games since he returned from a concussion that knocked him out of the lineup for 61 games and nearly 11 months.

Crosby said he is doing light workouts and will have to go through a similar progression -- skating, practicing, practicing with contact -- before he is cleared to return to the lineup.

However, he noted that, "I'm way better off than I was 10 months ago."

Crosby got good results last week on an imPACT neurocognitive test, but the symptoms, including headaches, convinced him and his medical team to pull him back. He said because the imPACT test did not specifically indicate a concussion, he doesn't have a label for what he's going through now.

Crosby got hurt last Monday during a game against Boston, possibly when he was hit along the boards in front of the Penguins bench by the Bruins' David Krejci. He said he didn't feel quite right after that game. He practiced Wednesday but, because of headaches, did not travel with the Penguins for games Thursday at Philadelphia and Saturday in New York against the Islanders.

In other injury news, center Jordan Staal did not practice. He is day-to-day because of an unspecified injury, coach Dan Bylsma said. Forward Richard Park has a broken foot and will be out four to six weeks.

Defensemen Zbynek Michalek (concussion) and Brian Strait (hyperextended elbow) returned to practice but will not be available Tuesday night when Detroit visits Consol Energy Center.



Crosby's concussion recovery is back to square one

By Shelly Anderson,

As Sidney Crosby is out with concussion symptoms again, all fans can do is wait.

Overshadowed by the ovations and relief when Sidney Crosby returned to the Penguins lineup Nov. 21 was a touch of the cringe factor.

There was a thought that the center, team captain and face of the National Hockey League was taking a risk by playing, even though it had been nearly 11 months since he was diagnosed with a concussion and he had gone through several painstaking steps to be cleared medically.

Posts on social media urged the Penguins to shut down Mr. Crosby for the full season. Talk show callers wondered if a leveling hit might end his career.

Not Mr. Crosby.

Even Monday, as he sat at his locker stall at Consol Energy Center explaining that concussion-like symptoms have resurfaced and forced him back out of the lineup indefinitely, Mr. Crosby was resolute that he had returned with no trepidation.

"No," he said. "I wasn't thinking about it. That's the honest truth.

"I came back feeling comfortable and ready to accept whatever came with playing hockey. I wasn't expecting [a setback], no."

It's not clear when Mr. Crosby, 24, got hurt in his most recent game Dec. 5 against Boston. His best guess is an early tussle for the puck with the Bruins' David Krejci in front of the Penguins bench.

"I know I got hit in the head there, but I felt like I was pretty good after that," he said. "I didn't feel like it was anything too major. But if I had to look at one hit, that [would be the one]."

It was announced on Wednesday that, as a precaution, Mr. Crosby would not accompany the team to road games Thursday at Philadelphia and Saturday on Long Island. He passed an ImPACT neurocognitive test, which was compared to his baseline test, but he didn't feel well and had symptoms, including headaches, through the weekend and Monday.

For now, Mr. Crosby is limited to light workouts. He did not participate in the team's practice Monday.

"It is frustrating for Sid," Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma said. "Sid knows his body better than anybody else. He's not feeling 100 percent. He'll return to practice and playing when he is 100 percent."

Mr. Crosby would consider that an understatement.

"I don't think 'frustrating' even describes it," he said. "It's not fun watching [games]. But at the same time, I look at my ImPACT and I look at some of that stuff and I'm way better off than I was dealing with that stuff" in January.

Mr. Crosby took hits to the head in successive games Jan. 1 and Jan. 5 and was diagnosed with a concussion Jan. 6. He then launched into months of ebbs and flows in his recovery -- light exercises in late January, skating on his own and then practicing in March, a relapse of symptoms in April, a summer of good days and bad, back to practice when training camp began in September and clearance for hitting in practice in October.

He maintains an educated optimism this time about his recovery period.

"I'm not happy ... to be dealing with this, but I've got a pretty good idea of things now, and know that this is not where I was before," Mr. Crosby said. "That's encouraging."

The Penguins will play their third game in a row without him tonight when the Detroit Red Wings visit Consol Energy Center. Mr. Crosby had two goals, 12 points in eight games in his two-week comeback.

The team has been plagued by injuries -- including concussions to eight players over the past 12 months -- yet is still among the top teams in the NHL with 38 points through 30 games.

"It's frustrating for us," Penguins forward Craig Adams said, "but it's nothing for us compared to what Sid's dealing with and some of the other guys are dealing with. I just mostly feel badly for him.

"We're going to keep on trucking the way we have the last year or so. I just hope for him that he starts to feel better soon."

The Penguins are 35-20-8 in the 63 games Mr. Crosby has missed since Jan. 6. Continuing to play at that level is a reasonable expectation, Mr. Adams said.

"We're all professionals," he said. "I don't think we're going to get into a situation where we're feeling sorry for ourselves. We've got a great team. We're taken care of and spoiled and all those things.

"There's nobody here feeling sorry for themselves. We know that this organization will do and does everything [it] can to put us in position to win. We've got more than enough horses in here to win games."

Still, the absence of Mr. Crosby -- a former NHL scoring champion, goal champion and most valuable player and Olympics star -- leaves a massive hole in the lineup.

The Penguins were 5-2-1 in Mr. Crosby's short comeback. He is a dynamic player who was leading the NHL with 66 points in 41 games when he got hurt last winter. He is also one of the most driven players, making this setback all the tougher to take.

Teammate Zbynek Michalek gets that. The defenseman is one of three other Penguins who have a concussion, his first. The others are defensemen Kris Letang and Robert Bortuzzo.

"You see so many head injuries in the league," Mr. Michalek said. "Now I understand -- it's not easy to go through.

"For him to have it so long, it must have been so hard on him. It's not easy. I hope he gets better."

There is no designation for Mr. Crosby's status. His ImPACT test did not reveal a concussion, but Mr. Letang and Mr. Michalek are out because of concussions that also were not detected by ImPACT tests.

Post-concussion syndrome? Mr. Crosby doesn't know. He just considers himself to be symptomatic, and that means waiting until he feels better and wading through the steps to come back.

"It's that whole routine again," he said. "But, hopefully, not as long."



Penguins skating uphill over arena site plans?

By Mark Belko,

If the history of development around Heinz Field and PNC Park is any guide, the Penguins organization is facing a daunting task in its bid to replace the Civic Arena and the surrounding land with offices, housing and shops.

On the North Shore, the Steelers, the Pirates and their partner, Continental Real Estate Cos., failed to reach targets that required them to develop -- on average -- less than one acre a year over the course of a decade.

By the time the teams negotiated amendments to the agreement with the city's Stadium Authority last month, they had developed only four of nine parcels that should have been done by then. That's despite the construction of two office buildings, a hotel and a concert venue.

The trouble that those two professional sports teams have had developing land on the North Shore seems to call into question the ambitious timetable facing the Penguins in redeveloping the Civic Arena property, Uptown, that is owned by the city-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority and adjacent land owned by the city Urban Redevelopment Authority.

Under the 2007 deal worked out with state and local leaders, the Penguins have 10 years to develop the 28 acres. That's 2.8 acres a year, nearly three times that required of the Pirates and Steelers.

The arena demolition should be completed this spring, and the Penguins are required to start developing a year after that.

If the hockey team fails to develop 2.8 acres in any given year, it must forfeit the rights to a parcel of equal size. In such cases, the SEA or URA has the right to offer the land to another developer.

While the team insists the timetable is realistic, not everyone is as sure, given the economy and tight money supplies.

"I talk with a lot of developers in the East End, which is a pretty hot market, and right now there is a lot of trouble in getting banks to offer financing [for projects]," city Councilman William Peduto said. "Getting the type of financing to do that much development is going to be difficult."

Mr. Peduto also questioned whether the Penguins will have any incentive to develop the land, virtually all of which will be used -- at least temporarily -- for parking once the arena is demolished. The team has the rights to the parking revenue for 10 years.

Even if the team is forced to forfeit a 2.8-acre parcel, it is still able to use that land for parking -- and collect the revenue -- until another developer takes the land.

"It's like an ATM for the next 10 years, guaranteed," said Mr. Peduto, a former stadium authority board member who was removed by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl after he questioned parts of the North Shore deal.

The Penguins also get $15 million in credits to help offset the purchase of the land from the SEA or URA. The team will pay fair market value for the land, as determined by appraisals.

However, if the team doesn't use all of the credits in 10 years, it can continue to keep the parking and the revenue until it has collected the difference, plus 7 percent interest.

While the terms smack of a "sweetheart deal" to Mr. Peduto, Travis Williams, the Penguins' chief operating officer, said the team has no plans to leave the land undeveloped to collect parking revenue.

"One could make that argument, that it's better to leave it as a parking lot financially. But we're looking at it as what's best for the city and the region. We believe development is not only in the best interest of the Penguins organization, but the city and the region and the Hill District as well," Mr. Williams said.

Despite a seemingly aggressive schedule, he said, the team is confident. "We think this site is uniquely positioned to attract the developers and the type of development that we're trying to do," he said.

The Penguins believe the land will generate interest because of its location near Downtown. The team is in the process of hiring an owner's representative to help select a developer. It also is working with the city to put together a special planning district that would govern redevelopment of the site.

Mr. Williams said the team already is spending "significant resources" to lay the groundwork for development. "We wouldn't be doing that if we thought the best thing to do is to sit on [the land] and take the parking revenue," he said.

The Penguins are planning 1,200 units of housing, 600,000 square feet of offices and 200,000 square feet of commercial space at the site. Mr. Williams said the team probably will start with housing, most likely as an extension of Crawford Square in the lower Hill.

One factor that could slow potential development is the lack of infrastructure, said Mark Schneider, a former stadium authority board chairman. A key to starting the North Shore work was securing federal funds for streets and other infrastructure, he said.

"That's the money that's going to be harder to raise right now," he said.

The city and SEA hope to establish a tax-increment financing district to raise money for roads, utilities and other infrastructure. The SEA wants to be ready to begin the first phase in 2013. The city planning commission today is scheduled to consider a blight designation for the 28 acres as a first step toward establishing a TIF district.

Mr. Williams said not much can take place without infrastructure. But SEA executive director Mary Conturo said the team is required to start development a year after the arena is cleared even if no infrastructure is in place.

Several real estate experts believe the Penguins have a good shot at hitting the deadlines. With most Downtown prime office space filled, they think the arena site will be a perfect spot for such development.

"There are very limited options Downtown right now. We're starting to see development push into the Strip and the North Shore. It's only natural that

development would push up the Hill," said Dan Adamski, managing director of Jones Lang LaSalle.

Peter Sukernek, vice president and general manager of Howard Hanna Commercial Real Estate Services, sees the potential for a "signature" office building at some point, but believes housing will drive the early development.

"The residential development, I think, has the greatest opportunity at this time," he said. "The housing that has been built in the lower Hill area has been very successful."



Injury totals growing every day

By Shelly Anderson,

An update on the Penguins' injury front might start with the old question of whether one would like the good news or the bad news first.

And that's pretty much every day.

While the concussion setback involving center Sidney Crosby topped other injury issues Monday, several other players are out or are in various stages of coming back from problems.

In new developments, forward Richard Park has a broken right foot and is out four to six weeks, and defensemen Zbynek Michalek (concussion) and Brian Strait (elbow) returned to practice at Consol Energy Center.

Michalek and Strait aren't expected to be available for the home game tonight against Detroit, and Crosby ruled himself out of at least that game, but center Jordan Staal could be a possibility. He is day to day because of an unspecified injury, according to coach Dan Bylsma.

Another defenseman, Deryk Engelland, returned Saturday after missing two games because of an unspecified injury.

Remaining out are defensemen Kris Letang (concussion), Robert Bortuzzo (concussion) and Ben Lovejoy (wrist), and forward Dustin Jeffrey (knee). Lovejoy skated before practice with conditioning coach Mike Kadar.

The Penguins have lost 143 man-games to injury through 30 games -- more than a third of the season -- which has led to a pipeline of players being brought up from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.

"I've been really impressed with the guys coming in, doing a great job," Michalek said. "It's nice to see that this team has so much depth."

Michalek, who has missed six games, is going through a multi-step process that so many others, including Crosby, have when they are recovering from a concussion. He will be monitored to see if symptoms surface again. If not, he still must be cleared for contact in practice and then for games.

"It's moving in the right direction," Michalek said. "[It] was a really big step, going back to practice. It was a good day. I felt good on the ice."

He and Letang got hurt in the same game, Nov. 26 at Montreal, but Letang -- who also got a broken nose -- hasn't reached the point of being cleared for practice.

Strait, a rookie, was one of those summoned from Wilkes-Barre because of injuries. He got a hyperextended left elbow in his first game of the season, Oct. 18, and has missed the past 22 games.

"It is tough," Strait said. "It's one of those things where, especially for a guy like me, there's opportunities [to play], but injuries happen in hockey."

Fellow rookie Simon Despres is with the Penguins after starting the season in the AHL, but Strait feels as if he could play soon if the club needs him. He will meet with doctors today.

"I feel good," he said. "Aerobically, I feel real good. I've been skating for about three weeks. Now it's just getting my timing back, battling a little bit in practice, making sure everything goes well. I'm excited to be out there. It's been a long time being out. It's nice to play hockey.

"I feel like I'm close, but every couple of days we'll have to re-evaluate."

Bortuzzo's experience was similar to Strait's. Another rookie, he was called up for the second time this season and was playing in his fifth game during this stint when he got hurt Thursday on a leveling hit by Philadelphia's Zac Rinaldo.

Lovejoy has missed the past 16 games because of broken left wrist.

Park got hurt Dec. 3 when he took a shot off of his right foot while killing a penalty late in a game at Carolina. Before the break was discovered, he was listed as day to day, but he had not practiced.

Jeffrey missed the first eight games because of lingering issues following spring knee surgery, played in six games, then had a setback. He is not practicing.

Staal missed Saturday's 6-3 win against the New York Islanders because of an unspecified injury he got a game earlier.

If Staal can't play tonight, the Penguins will need to add a forward, most likely via a promotion from Wilkes-Barre.

•NOTES -- Boston forward Brad Marchand was fined $2,500, the maximum allowed, for slew-footing Penguins defenseman Matt Niskanen in a game Dec. 5. Marchand got a minor tripping penalty, and the two fought. ... Despite reports that Los Angeles has interest in Penguins assistant Tony Granato, the Kings had not sought permission to speak to Granato about replacing fired coach Terry Murray.


600142 San Jose Sharks

San Jose Sharks at Colorado Avalanche

By David Pollak

[email protected]

Posted: 12/12/2011 09:19:54 PM PST

Updated: 12/12/2011 09:40:57 PM PST

SHARKS AT COLORADO

Faceoff: 6 p.m. at Pepsi Center

TV/Radio: Versus, 92.1, 98.5, 102.1

Avalanche update: Colorado brings a three-game losing streak to the start of a home-and-home series with San Jose that continues Thursday night at HP Pavilion. ... The Avalanche was outscored 13-3 in losses to Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. ... The Vancouver contest was costly beyond the two points as C Kevin Porter was given a four-game suspension for knee-on-knee contact with David Booth of the Canucks and will miss both San Jose games.

Sharks update: San Jose activated G Antero Niittymaki and sent him to Worcester on a conditioning assignment for his first competition since undergoing hip surgery in September. The team also put D Jim Vandermeer on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. ... The NHL fined C Andrew Desjardins the maximum $2,500 after a hearing on his first-period boarding penalty against Chicago Blackhawks D Sami Lepisto.

Avalanche injuries: RW Chuck Kobasew (hand), D Ryan Wilson (head) and C Peter Mueller (concussion) are out.

Sharks injuries: D Douglas Murray (hand/wrist) and Vandermeer (upper body) are out.

-- DAVID POLLAK

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 12.13.2011


San Jose Sharks seeking more production from top lines

By David Pollak

DENVER -- For the first month of the season, just about everyone connected with the Sharks emphasized the need to avoid the poor start that plagued San Jose a year ago.

Everything seemed to be on track for a while. But now, one-third of the way through the NHL campaign, the Sharks have lost six of their past eight games and are right where they didn't want to be: with precisely the same number of points they had 27 games into the 2010-11 season.

What's the problem?

Hockey is the ultimate team game because of the constant high-speed interaction, so it's rarely just one thing that goes wrong when a club struggles.

But any assessment of the Sharks' current plight starts with a twist of the classic cliché often heard during the Stanley Cup playoffs when coaches talk about the need for their best players to be, well, their best players.

Turns out that same logic applies to the 82 games before the postseason as well. Consider:

Joe Pavelski, the team's leading goal scorer with 12, has only one in his past nine games. Patrick Marleau, who led the team with 37 goals last season, has one over that same stretch and no assists. Joe Thornton has no goals and three assists over the same nine games, far below his usual production.

The two defensemen counted on the most for offense? Dan Boyle has two assists in his past 13 games. Brent Burns has one goal and three assists in his past 18.

All the above doesn't even

include the one player that coach Todd McLellan singled out before Sunday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.

McLellan was talking about how the line of Logan Couture, Ryane Clowe and Marty Havlat was playing well despite limited appearances on the score sheet lately, when he added:

"We're still waiting for Marty to score his first even-strength goal."

Havlat has one goal -- on a Nov. 5 power play -- in 23 games as a Shark since coming to San Jose in the July trade that sent Dany Heatley to the Minnesota Wild. Havlat scored 22 goals last season and was counted on to replace a chunk of the offense that left the lineup with both Heatley and Devin Setoguchi.

Havlat voiced his own unhappiness Monday with the way his season has gone.

"If I wouldn't be frustrated with that, there would be something wrong with me. I'm not used to this," Havlat said. "I'm having a hard time with that, but I have to battle through it."

And he indicated it was something that was constantly on his mind.

"I'm just trying to figure it out," Havlat said. "Right now the confidence level is not where I would like to have it."

Going into Tuesday's game against the Colorado Avalanche, it's no coincidence that San Jose's power play is only 1 for 27 at a time when the players are collectively in the dumpster. But the power play did look better on its two failed opportunities against Chicago than it did going 0 for 6 in St. Louis.

McLellan took note. Before the game, the coach said he talked with his team's core players individually and was encouraged by the response to the message he was delivering.

"Our core guys have to produce for us to win, and they know that," he said. "None of them skirted their responsibility."

When the Sharks were getting goals from their top two lines, they weren't getting much help from forwards on the bottom two, where a hard forecheck and high-energy hitting dominate the job description.

But lately, it's the third and fourth lines that have come through offensively. Jamie McGinn for example, has four goals in the past six games with Michal Handzus earning assists on each one. Brad Winchester also has three goals in the past 12.

All well and good -- but not good enough as the Sharks' recent won-lost record shows.

Any look at what has been going wrong for the Sharks can't ignore the penalty kill even though it has been successful on seven of eight chances over the past two games.

That ended San Jose's dubious status as the NHL's worst short-handed team, as the Sharks climbed over Toronto and Columbus to the No. 28 spot.

Trent Yawney was the Sharks assistant coach in charge of the penalty kill that finished 24th in the NHL last season before leaving to pursue an AHL head coaching job.

Yawney, now an Anaheim Ducks scout living in Chicago, stopped by the Sharks locker room before Sunday's game and took the high ground when asked about the team's current penalty kill.

"As long as it's where it needs to be going down the stretch, that's where it's the most important," Yawney said. "You get no points for it being No. 1 right now."

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 12.13.2011


Sharks fizzle late, fall 3-2 in OT in Chicago

Associated Press

Patrick Sharp is working overtime on an impressive goal-scoring roll.

Sharp steered in a loose puck off a rebound at 4:26 of overtime to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 3-2 victory over the visiting Sharks on Sunday night.

Antti Niemi stopped Marian Hossa's shot from the top of the right circle, but kicked the puck toward the goal line. Sharp swooped in to bury the rebound for his 16th goal of the season, and second overtime winner in the Blackhawks' past two games.

Chicago's Andrew Brunette scored on a deflection with 1:06 left in the third and Blackhawks goalie Ray Emery pulled for an extra attacker to tie it 2-2.

Rookie Marcus Kruger also scored for the Blackhawks. Jamie McGinn and Justin Braun scored for the Sharks, who controlled the first two periods.

"We played against a very good team and did very well for two periods," San Jose head coach Todd McLellan said. "It was pretty evident that one team has played three games in four nights and the other was fresh.

"We ran out of gas a little bit in the third and we lost a number of key face-offs in the third period that allowed them to start with the puck and play in our end."

Niemi stopped 31 shots and was sharp for the second time this season against his former teammates. Niemi, who backstopped the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup in 2010, shut out Chicago 1-0 in the teams' only previous game this season, Nov. 23 in San Jose.

Niemi "is a competitive guy and I know he has a lot of really good friends on the other side of the building he likes to compete against," McLellan said.

Niemi made several close-in saves in the first to keep it scoreless. McGinn eventually scored the only goal of the first with 3:35 left, thanks to a Chicago defensive breakdown.

The Sharks dominated the second period, outshooting Chicago 16-5, but led only 2-1 after 40 minutes.

Rangers 6, Panthers 1:

Derek Stepan scored twice, including a coast-to-coast goal just after the Rangers killed a penalty, and New York beat visiting Florida. ... Marian

Gaborik, Brad Richards, Artem Anisimov and Steve Eminger also scored for the Rangers.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/11/SP2P1MB83N.DTL#ixzz1gNqJ77iO

San Francisco Chronicle LOADED: 12.13.2011

600145 St Louis Blues

Hitchcock says Blues deserve days off

By JEREMY RUTHERFORD

In years past, the Blues have always lagged behind the rest of the NHL in the number of games played at this point in the season, sometimes as many as three games behind the pack.

That's not the case this season. The Blues have played 29 games, which is the third-most in the NHL. Carolina has played 31 games and eight other teams have hit the 30-game mark.

So after playing 16 games in 34 days since Ken Hitchcock took over on Nov. 6, the coach gave the players off Sunday, and after a high-intensity practice today, the Blues will be off Tuesday, too. Their next game is Thursday against the New York Rangers at Scottrade Center.

"I think we needed a break just mentally," Hitchcock said. "When you're playing every second day, it feels like you're in a playoff series. I think mentally, we've got time to regroup.

"Today was the first time we put some things in at practice that we've never had a chance to work on. You couldn't afford to put this type of energy in, knowing that you were going to play the next day. So for us, rest and work, the combination has been good ... the mental break has been good for the players. We'll see how we respond on Thursday."

NHL teams can sometimes go 10-14 days without a day off. Blues forward Chris Stewart said today that he couldn't remember having two days off in a three-day span.

"I've never had that," he said. "It's nice to get a little break in the schedule. It's been pretty hectic the last month or so ... a lot of stuff going on, and we've been playing a lot of games. It shows a lot of respect ... a veteran coach, we're winning hockey games here, get a couple of practices in before Thursday and we'll be ready. Time here to rest ourselves and get ready for the long haul before the Christmas break."

When the Blues return Thursday, they will be facing the New York Rangers (17-6-4), who are No. 4 in the Eastern Conference standings. While the Blues are 11-2-3 in their last 16 games, all under Hitchcock, the Rangers are 14-3-2 in their last 19 games.

"The Rangers are probably playing the best hockey of anybody, certainly in the East," Hitchcock said. "Whether it's in the league or not, we'll see. But they're certainly playing the best of anybody in the East. They're blitzing teams right now, so that will be a real good wake-up call to start with on Thursday."

****

SOBOTKA INJURED

Blues forward Vladimir Sobotka was hit near the left ankle with a shot in today's practice and left the building wearing a boot and walking on crutches. Sobotka was scheduled for further testing to evaluate the severity of the injury.

Sobotka has been one of the Blues' best all-around players this season with two goals, 10 points and plus-9 rating.

****

D'AGOSTINI SITS OUT

After leaving Saturday's game in the second period following a collision near center ice, Blues forward Matt D'Agostini did not practice today.

D'Agostini was tested for a concussion Saturday night, and did not return to the game, but said afterwards that he was OK.

"He's going to skate hard tomorrow and then join us for practice on Wednesday .. that's the plan right now," Hitchcock said. "I think there's a protocol. When you pull him out, you've got to follow protocol, so we're following protocol."

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 12.13.2011


Backes valuable to Hitchcock, Blues in many ways

By DAN O'NEILL • [email protected] > 314-340-8186 | Posted: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 12:25 am

When Ken Hitchcock replaced Davis Payne as the coach of the Blues on Nov. 6, he was looking for help.

The Blues didn't need a new voice in the room, they needed a familiar voice to translate a new message. Hitchcock would have to lean on the coaching staff that was in place to implement it. But if the transition was going to be swift and significant, he needed leaders in the dressing room to manage his 200-foot mantra. He needed David Backes.

The Blues have come about under Hitchcock, improving from a 6-7-0 start to a more emphatic 17-9-3. They have points in 14 of 16 games, a 11-2-3 mark since the coaching change and a marvelous 11-3-1 record at home. Not coincidentally, their new captain is off to the most productive start of his career.

Now 29 games into the season, the historically slow-starting Backes leads the team in goals (10) and has 18 points. Last season, when he finished with 31 goals, the 6-foot-3, 227-pound Backes had four goals and 13 assists at this point. In his previous 31-goal season, 2008-09, he had six goals and six assists at this stage.

Points aren't the measure of the man, who routinely shadows the opposition's premier center. But the numbers underline how effective he has been in embracing his new role as the team's captain and dressing room headpin.

For Hitchcock, Backes has been the perfect conduit, a kindred spirit who bonded with the white-haired mentor and paired him with the soul of the dressing room.

"The best part for me with David is that he cuts to the chase," Hitchcock said. "So, if it's a message coming from the coaches, or a message that needs to be delivered inside the locker room, we don't go through the dance where the political correctness has to take place — 'How is this guy going to take it, or how is that guy going to feel about it?'

"We just cut to the chase and that's what has made my job so much easier. If I need a message sent, I just go tell (Backes) and I walk away. I don't have to oversee it, I don't have to worry about the darn thing, it's just done. If the players need something, if he doesn't agree with length of practice, day off, the travel schedule, whatever, he can just open the door and say, 'Hey, Coach, we're looking to change this, and this is why.'

"We don't have to go through a bunch of big debates. I know his heart is in the right place and he wants to do what's right for the team. He knows that I'm doing what's right for the team, so there's a sense of cooperation. You're able to develop chemistry quicker in your hockey club when you have that element in your leadership."

Transition Coordinator wasn't part of the title when the Blues handed the 27-year-old Backes the "C." But the seamless conversion has highlighted how integral the Minnesota native is to the hard drive of the hockey team.

Alongside Backes, literally and figuratively, assistant captain Alex Steen has nine goals and 10 assists and is among the NHL's leaders in plus-minus at plus-14. On the opposite flank, T.J. Oshie has nine goals, 10 assists and a plus-6. Steen and Oshie represent the nails in the toolbox; the 227-pound Backes is the hammer.

While Hitchcock has preached a new gospel at 14th and Clark, the Backes Bunch has demonstrated the message, chapter and verse.

"They set the competitive tone for our hockey club," Hitchcock said. "That's why we put the three guys together. We felt like we needed to develop an identity without talking about it. We had no chance to practice, no training camp. Somewhere along the line we had to have something set the tone for us, and that's what they've done."

Steen, a jock-of-all-trades for the Blues since coming in a 2008 trade, has bounced from one line to another, embracing one role to the next. But he hadn't played more than the odd shift with Backes. The tag team has been a natural blend of talent, tenacity and intuition.

"We're just three guys, hard working, playing smart," Steen said. "We talk a lot, communicate a lot in all situations. ... We just kind of gel together, push each other with hard work. I hadn't played with David much over the years, but it seems like when the three of us got together, good things happened."

Scoring normally isn't the group's primary focus, but Hitchcock isn't surprised by its production. He uses Backes' brood to make life hard for the opposing top line. While they assume a pestering posture by definition, they are fiends with benefits.

"We use Backes' line when we want to negate somebody and, depending on the top-end skill level of the other team, if we want to set tempo," Hitchcock said. "But the one thing that happens with lines that have that responsibility is they usually lead the team in getting the odd-man rushes.

"When you're playing against scoring players, the risk (for the opposition) is they're going to turn over the puck and give up some odd-man rushes. That's where Backes' line — because of how hard they're working — has really been opportunistic and taken advantage."

When he was introduced as the team's new captain, Backes made it clear his vision was to lead by example. His entire line has borne the standard, which he finds especially gratifying. And to that end, Backes is quick to share any recognition. As far as he's concerned, it takes a village.

"It's not just me," he said, correcting an interviewer. "Alex Steen is a huge part of that. T.J. Oshie is a player whose work ethic is unmatched, his hockey sense, his ability for second, third and fourth efforts. Those are the kinds of things I was talking about, and if we can kind of embody that and kind of lead by example, that's what we're trying to do.

"That being said, there's plenty of other guys on the team who are capable of doing that and the idea is to have a multiple-pronged attack."

The new coach wasn't sure how long it might take to change the culture in St. Louis. Thanks to the new captain, thanks to the Backes Bunch, the process is being expedited.



Checketts may have new role

By JEREMY RUTHERFORD • [email protected] > 314-444-7135 | Posted: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 12:00 am

The involvement of Blues chairman Dave Checketts as an investor in Matthew Hulsizer's bid to buy the hockey team won't change despite a report by Bloomberg on Monday that Checketts soon might be employed by Legends Management LLC.

According to Bloomberg, Checketts is in advanced talks to become the CEO of Legends, a concessions, merchandising and management-services company owned by the New York Yankees, Dallas Cowboys and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Legends provides concessions to Yankee Stadium and Cowboys Stadium.

A private-equity fund established by Checketts is expected to acquire a 16 percent stake in Legends, a stake previously owned by CIC Partners. Meanwhile, Checketts' fund, which includes local investors, according to a source, will continue with its plan to buy a 30 percent stake in the Blues if a sale to Hulsizer is completed.

The NHL has issued a Dec. 31 deadline for a deal to be consummated between the Blues and Hulsizer. Sources have indicated that the two sides have an agreement in place and are awaiting bank approval on financing. An announcement might come within the next two weeks.

Blues minority owner Tom Stillman isn't expected to have a significant interest in the club if Hulsizer's deal is completed. Stillman, however, remains head of a local group of investors ready to buy the team if there are complications in the sale to Hulsizer.

TIME OFF

The Blues have played 29 games, which is the third most in the NHL this season. They have played 16 games in 34 days since Ken Hitchcock took over Nov. 6.

So with four days before the Blues play the New York Rangers on Thursday at Scottrade Center, Hitchcock gave the players off Sunday, and they will be off again today.

"We needed a break, just mentally," Hitchcock said. "When you're playing every second day, it feels like you're in a playoff series. So for us, rest and work, the combination has been good. ... The mental break has been good for the players. We'll see how we respond on Thursday."

Blues forward Chris Stewart said that he doesn't remember being on a team that had two days off in a three-day span.

"It's nice to get a little break in the schedule," Stewart said. "It's been pretty hectic the last month or so ... a lot of stuff going on, and we've been playing a lot of games. It shows a lot of respect ... a veteran coach, we're winning hockey games here, get a couple of practices in before Thursday and we'll be ready."

SOBOTKA INJURED

Blues forward Vladimir Sobotka was hit near the left ankle with a shot in practice Monday and left the St. Louis Mills practice facility wearing a boot and walking on crutches. Sobotka was scheduled for further testing to evaluate the injury, and an update is expected today.

Sobotka has been one of the Blues' best all-around players this season with two goals, 10 points and a plus-9 rating.

D'AGOSTINI SITS OUT

Blues forward Matt D'Agostini didn't practice Monday, following the NHL's protocol for a player who might have suffered a concussion. D'Agostini was involved in a collision near center ice in the second period of the Blues' 1-0 win over San Jose on Saturday. He was tested for a concussion that night and didn't return to the game.

"He's going to skate hard (today) and then join us for practice on Wednesday … that's the plan right now," Hitchcock said. "When you pull him out, you've got to follow protocol, so we're following protocol."



Tkachuk goes into U.S. Hockey Hall

By NORM SANDERS - News-Democrat

Former St. Louis Blues forward Keith Tkachuk was part of the new induction class for the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night in Chicago.

Tkachuk was joined by former NHL defensemen Chris Chelios and Gary Suter, broadcaster Mike Emrick and longtime Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider.

Tkachuk and the new Hall of Famers were also recognized at the Chicago Blackhawks game on Sunday night.

Tkachuk is a five-time NHL All-Star and he ranks second all-time in goals (538) and points (1,065) among all U.S.-born players. He was raised in the Boston suburb or Melrose, Mass., and attended Boston University.

In parts of nine seasons with the Blues, Tkachuk scored 208 goals and racked up 427 points in 543 games. He helped the Blues to their last appearance in the Western Conference finals and played in four Winter Olympics with Team USA.

His international experiences includes a 2002 silver medal with the Americans and a gold medal with Team USA in 1996 at the World Cup of Hockey tournament.

Tkachuk cracked the top 10 in several Blues scoring categories, including fourth in power-play goals (96), fifth in goals (208), sixth in points (427) and seventh with 29 game-winning goals.

During his pro career, Tkachuk played for the Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, the Blues and the Atlanta Thrashers.

The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Eveleth, Minn.

New title for Checketts?

Bloomberg News reported Monday that Blues Chairman Dave Checketts is currently in talks to become chief executive officer of Legends Hospitality Management, LLC.

Legends deals with concessions, merchandising and management services and is owned by the New York Yankees, Dallas Cowboys and Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

Checketts and his Sports Capital Partners group is hopeful of completing the sale of the Blues in the near future.

Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 12.13.2011

600149 Tampa Bay Lightning

Devils keep Lightning in slide with 5-4 decision

By The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA --

Zach Parise and Adam Henrique both had a goal and two assists to lead the New Jersey Devils past the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4 on Monday night.


Petr Sykora and Dainius Zubrus had the other goals for New Jersey, which had lost five of seven.

Steve Stamkos had two goals for the Lightning, losers of seven of eight. Steve Downie and Blair Jones also scored. Tampa Bay goalie Dwayne Roloson was replaced by Mathieu Garon early in the second after allowing three goals on 12 shots.

Tampa Tribune LOADED: 12.13.2011


St. Louis is on mend after scary eye injury

By Erik Erlendsson

As blood rapidly rushed into his left eye, Marty St. Louis knew that this time was different.

Throughout his years of playing hockey, St. Louis has experienced plenty of close calls involving sticks, skates and pucks around his eye. There are plenty of scars that serve as reminders.

But Thursday morning, when an errant Dominic Moore backhand shot during a pregame skate at Madison Square Garden struck St. Louis in the left eye, it was a shock to his system.

"When that one hit me, I knew I was in trouble because I couldn't see out of my left eye, and panic set in a little bit," St. Louis said. "I was very overwhelmed with the possibilities of what just happened."

Four days after the incident, the 35-year-old stood at the Forum's locker room doors, a bandage across his the bridge of his nose with a pair of regular glasses covering his yellow and purple colored eyes, bumping fists with his teammates as they made their way to the ice. That St. Louis could stand there and watch his teammates pass by makes him somewhat fortunate, considering the alternative.

"I was scared, I was scared, like I felt — and I don't know if it was anxiety or everything, I just felt very, very sick before I got to the hospital," he said. "You have a lot going through your mind."

It wasn't until later Thursday night that St. Louis knew things could have been worse.

"That night, at that point I knew that I had vision in the eye," he said. "I didn't know what kind of vision I had, but I could see light and movement, so I knew that it wasn't as bad as I thought it was."

With this being the closest call of any he has experienced, St. Louis expects that once he comes back — and there remains no timetable — he will put a visor on his helmet, which might have prevented Thursday's incident.

"It's easy to look back and there are plenty of things in your life you want back, do things a certain way. We all do (but) you learn and sometimes you need something like that to make you lean a certain way," he said.

After spending Thursday night at NYU Medical Center, St. Louis and his wife, Heather, spent Friday at the couple's home in Connecticut before driving to Philadelphia on Saturday and flying home on the team's private charter. One of the first people St. Louis sought out was Moore.

"Anybody would feel terrible," St. Louis said of Moore. "There was nothing he could do. It's not just him missing the net, it's me being there, too. It's not all his fault, but of course the guy who shoots the puck usually feels the blame a lot more than the guy who takes it."

St. Louis is not allowed to do any physical activity until the blood subsides from his eye, which makes playing hockey with his kids impossible, let alone getting back on the ice with his teammates.

And until the blood dissipates, there will be no timetable established for his return, although head coach Guy Boucher said Monday morning that he is not expecting St. Louis until after Christmas, at the earliest.



Bolts await word on Miettinen

Staff Report

TAMPA --

The Lightning dug deep to add depth to their lineup on Monday, signing free agent Antti Miettinen to a two-year contract worth $1.5 million each season. This year the salary is prorated, but includes a $500,000 signing bonus and a no-move clause.

Miettinen has played in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League this season with Ak Bars Kazan. Because he was signed after appearing in a European league this season, Miettinen must first clear waivers before officially joining the Lightning. Tampa Bay placed Miettinen on waivers Monday and must wait until noon today to find out if he clears.

Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said there was interest in signing Miettinen during the summer before Miettinen opted to go to Russia. But after Miettinen played in only 20 games, scoring two goals and eight points for Kazan, his contract with the Russian team ended and he became a free agent.

"A week or two ago when he got out of his contract, his agent sent out an e-mail that said he was free of his contract and if you have interest give him a call," Yzerman said. "We sat around here waiting for a week to see if anyone would sign him. We'll do our best and see what happens."

A seventh-round draft pick of the Dallas Stars in 2000, the 31-year-old native of Finland has appeared in 472 career NHL games with the Dallas

and Minnesota. Miettinen has scored 10 or more goals in all six of his full seasons in the NHL, his best year coming in 2009-10 when he finished with 20 goals. Last season with the Wild, he registered a career-high eight power-play goals.

"He's a guy who averaged between 10 and 20 goals a year the last two years, can play in all situations," Yzerman said. "We're hoping he clears waiver (today). He'll help our team."

Should Miettinen clear waivers, he would not come over right away as he would require a work visa before being eligible to play. Until then, Yzerman said, Miettinen will remain in Finland as things get sorted out.

"We'll know (today) at noon and we're working on getting him a visa and hopefully he's here by the end of the week," Yzerman said.

Kubina returns

After sitting out four games with an undisclosed lower-body injury, D Pavel Kubina returned to the lineup Monday. Kubina was injured late in the Dec. 3 game against the New York Rangers but traveled with the team on the recently completed four-game road trip, skating with the team twice.

He was back on the ice Monday morning without wearing the red non-contact jersey. With Kubina back, D Bruno Gervais was a healthy scratch after filling in during his absence. Gervais picked up a goal and was a minus-3 in the four games.

Nuts and Bolts

RW Steve Downie was fined for leaving the bench to enter an altercation during Thursday's game. The exact amount has not been released by the league, but the maximum allowed is $2,500. … D Evan Oberg was recalled from Norfolk of the American Hockey League. … C Blair Jones scored his first goal of the season. … Tampa Bay is 1-for-9 in 5-on-3 situations this season. … Rookie LW Brett Connolly sustained a minor lower-body injury during a scrimmage with Team Canada on Sunday in preparation for the World Junior Championships. The injury, however, did not keep Connolly off the ice Monday.

Erik Erlendsson



Tampa Bay Lightning signs former Wild player and free agent Antti Miettinen

The Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday signed free agent and former Wild player Antti Miettinen. The Finnish right wing, 31, had been playing for Ak-Bars Kazan of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League but no longer is on the active roster, making him available to be signed. Miettinen must go through waivers. We will know at noon Tuesday whether he clears.

Miettinen is a defensively responsible player who has some offensive upside. In 2010-11 for Minnesota, Miettinen, 6 feet, 190 pounds, had 16 goals and 35 points with 38 penalty minutes and was minus-3. He had 20 goals and 44 points in 2009-10.

Here is the official announcement from the team:

The Tampa Bay Lightning have agreed to terms with free agent forward Antti Miettinen to a two-year, one-way contract today, Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman announced.

Miettinen, 6-foot-0, 190 pounds, appeared in 20 games with Ak-Bars Kazan of Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League this season, recording two goals and eight points. He last appeared in an NHL game as a member of the Minnesota Wild during the 2010-11 season when he registered 16 goals and 35 points in 73 games played. He also tied for the team lead that year in power-play goals with eight and game-winning goals with four.

A native of Hameenlinna, Finland, Miettinen has skated in 472 career NHL games with the Wild and Dallas Stars. He has amassed 89 goals and 212 points throughout his NHL career. His best season came in 2008-09 when he recorded 15 goals and a career-high 29 assists for a career-best total of 44 points. The following season, in 2009-10, he put up a career-high goal total of 20 to finish fourth on the team in that category. In addition, he has

played in 24 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, all with Dallas, notching two goals and five points with 10 penalty minutes.

Miettinen has also represented Finland in international competition multiple times throughout his career. He has suited up for his native county on six occasions to participate in the IIHF’s annual World Championships tournament, registering eight goals and 23 points in 45 games. He was named to Team Finland’s Olympic roster in 2006, and most recently, in 2010, when he helped his squad bring home a bronze medal.

Miettinen was original drafted by the Stars in the seventh round, 224th overall, at the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

Other stuff from the morning skate: As expected, right wing Steve Downie said he was fined by the league for his part in the fracas Thursday with the Rangers. He did not say how much is the fine but the max would be $2,500. Downie and GM Steve Yzerman spoke with league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan. "It's what I expected," Downie said. "It is what it is. You've got to respect the decision. It's not my call but I expect what he did and what he said." ... Defenseman Pavel Kubina, who has missed four games with a lower-body injury, skated without a red no-contact jersey and might play tonight against the Devils. Coach Guy Boucher would not say if Kubina is playing, but said he might go with seven defensemen, which would keep Bruno Gervais in the lineup. ... Gervais had a tough game against the Flyers, committing the turnover that led to Philadelphia's first goal. ... Defenseman Evan Oberg has been re-called from AHL Norfolk. .... In light of Marty St. Louis' injury, Boucher said he would like all his players to wear visors, but understands it is a personal choice. "Its obviously their decision, but I just think eventually everybody will be wearing them." Yzerman over the summer asked his non visor-wearing players to put them on, though none did. Boucher he was on the same page as Yzerman. "All I know is you have something available to protect yourself, and the most important thing you probably can protect is your eyes."

St. Petersburg Times LOADED: 12.13.2011


Tampa Bay Lightning loses 5-4 to New Jersey Devils

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer

TAMPA — Before Monday night's game with the Devils, Lightning coach Guy Boucher said he asked one thing of his players — to compete.

And Tampa Bay did. But when things are going as badly as they have, that isn't enough. Teams have to make plays, too, and that didn't happen nearly enough in a 5-4 loss at the St. Pete Times Forum.

"We showed a lot of character like we always do," center Steven Stamkos said. "We never quit and came back. But we dug ourselves a hole that was too big to climb out."

Stamkos' two third-period goals, the second with 33.5 seconds left, cut what had been a 5-2 deficit. And the Lightning outshot New Jersey 36-22, including 26-11 in the final two periods.

But Tampa Bay (12-16-2) suffered from the same maladies that have hurt so much in a streak in which it has lost seven of eight games: poor goaltending, poor defense and a struggling power play.

• Goaltender Dwayne Roloson, in his first start after three games, was pulled 56 seconds into the second period after allowing three goals on 12 shots.

Zach Parise's goal was painful because the Lightning had come back with goals by Steve Downie and Blair Jones to tie the score 2-2 after the first period.

"I needed to turn the game around. I needed to do something and I felt that was the moment," Boucher said. "I had to pull him out. I feel bad. I know how he cares so much and prepared so hard for this game."

Roloson also mishandled a shot that led to Petr Sykora's rebound goal 28 seconds into the game, and he let Dainius Zubrus' deflection go under his pads at 5:38 to make it 2-0.

• The defense didn't always help.

Defenseman Matt Gilroy could have been stronger on Parise on New Jersey's third goal, and Tampa Bay allowed odd-man breakout goals to Ilya Kovalchuk (after Parise blocked Gilroy's shot) and Adam Henrique (shorthanded thanks to the puck's weird bounce off the glass) to make the score 5-2 in the second.

• The power play, on a 2-for-23 skid coming in, was 1-for-5 but 0-for-4 after two periods, including a 20-second five-on-three.

"It's frustrating," said Stamkos, whose 18 goals are tied for the league lead. "That word doesn't even describe it. In a game like this when you have a slow start, you need your power play to get you a goal and generate opportunities at least. We have to find a way to correct it."

"There's moments in a season that you don't understand why," Boucher said. It's just happening this way and you have to manage it mentally. React the right way or you sink lower."

Right now, Tampa Bay is sinking fast.

Devils 2 3 0 5

Lightning 2 0 2 4

First—1, New Jersey, Sykora 6 (Salvador, Elias), :28. 2, New Jersey, Zubrus 9 (Taormina, Henrique), 5:38 (pp). 3, Tampa Bay, Downie 4 (Gilroy, Stamkos), 17:34. 4, Tampa Bay, Jones 1 (Tyrell, Gilroy), 18:54. Penalties—Brewer, TB (holding), 3:44.

Second—5, New Jersey, Parise 9 (Henrique, Tallinder), :56. 6, New Jersey, Kovalchuk 9 (Parise), 5:42. 7, New Jersey, Henrique 7 (Parise, Fayne), 13:23 (sh). Penalties—Carter, NJ, major (fighting), 4:43; Kubina, TB, major (fighting), 4:43; Larsson, NJ (interference), 8:12; Taormina, NJ (delay of game), 9:52; Tallinder, NJ (tripping), 13:07; Larsson, NJ (interference), 16:21; Moore, TB (tripping), 19:11.

Third—8, Tampa Bay, Stamkos 17 (Moore, Lecavalier), 9:29 (pp). 9, Tampa Bay, Stamkos 18 (Kubina, Lecavalier), 19:26. Penalties—Clarkson, NJ, major (fighting), 2:01; Malone, TB, major (fighting), 2:01; Moore, TB (slashing), 4:49; Urbom, NJ, minor-major (cross-checking, fighting), 8:23; Downie, TB, major (fighting), 8:23. Shots—New Jersey 11-6-5—22. Tampa Bay 10-17-9—36. Power plays—New Jersey 1 of 3; Tampa Bay 1 of 5. Goalies—New Jersey, Hedberg 9-5-1 (36 shots-32 saves). Tampa Bay, Roloson (12-9), Garon 6-8-1 (0:56 second, 10-8). A—17,341 (19,204). T—2:32.



Tampa Bay Lightning signs Antti Miettinen but must wait for waivers


TAMPA — The Lightning will watch the waiver wire closely.

The team on Monday signed free agent Antti Miettinen, but the right wing has to clear waivers and GM Steve Yzerman believes there is a chance he will be claimed by noon today.

"There's a possibility," Yzerman said. "We sat around here waiting for a week to see if anyone would sign him. We'll see what happens."

The contract is clearly fashioned to scare other teams away; two years at $1.5 million a year (this season's salary will be pro-rated), a $500,000 signing bonus and a no-move clause.

Miettinen, 30, played 20 games for Kazan of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League with two goals and eight points before getting out of his contract. The 6-foot, 190-pounder had 16 goals, 35 points in 2010-11 for the Wild and 20 goals, 42 points in 2009-10.

Yzerman said he had interest in Miettinen over the summer.

"A week or two ago when he got out of his contract, his agent sent out an email that said he was free of his contract and if you have interest give him a call," Yzerman said.

"We're hoping he clears waivers. He'll help our team."

DOWNIE FINED: RW Steve Downie said he was fined by the league for his part in Thursday's fracas with the Rangers. There has been no official announcement. The maximum under the collective bargaining agreement is $2,500.

"It's what I expected," Downie said after his conversation with league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan. "I respect what he did and what he's trying to do."

Downie, 24, came to the aid of Vinny Lecavalier, Marc-Andre Bergeron and Steven Stamkos, who were taking turns trying to get at New York's Artem Anisimov after he used his stick as a mock rifle to celebrate a goal.

Downie, sitting on top of the boards, joined the confrontation after it heated up.

"Yeah, I see Vinny getting in there. I see Stammer, Bergeron; I was supposed to be on the ice," Downie said. "We were halfway through a line change, so with those guys on the ice. I felt I had to go in there."

MEDICAL MATTERS: D Pavel Kubina played Monday after missing four straight games with a lower-body injury.

ODDS AND ENDS: Rookie Brett Connolly slid into the boards and left the ice during an intra-squad game for Canada's world junior championship team. The Lightning said he is fine. … D Evan Oberg was re-called from AHL Norfolk and was scratched. … D Bruno Gervais also was scratched.



Marty St. Louis sees Tampa Bay Lightning again after facial injury


TAMPA — When Lightning star Marty St. Louis rejoined his teammates Saturday on a plane ride back from Philadelphia, he knew he had to put Dominic Moore's mind at ease.

Moore's errant backhand shot during Thursday's morning skate broke St. Louis' nose, bloodied his face, swelled his left eye so he could not see and knocked him out of a game with the Rangers that would have been his 500th in a row.

So, when St. Louis saw Moore he gave him a hug.

"Anybody would feel terrible," St. Louis said Monday. "I talked to him. There was nothing he could do."

"I couldn't wait to see him, I felt so bad," Moore said. "I gave him a hug and he gave me a hug. I'm grateful he's been forgiving. He's a class act."

St. Louis said he has no idea when he can start skating. It all depends on how quickly the blood drains from his eye, and coach Guy Boucher said he doesn't expect St. Louis back before Christmas.

His eye is partly open, though there is black and blue around it. He wore a bandage over his nose and has stitches in his left eyebrow.

All in all, St. Louis said, it could have been worse.

"When that one hit me I knew I was in trouble because I couldn't see out of my eye," he said of the moment of impact. "Panic set in a little bit. I was overwhelmed with the possibilities of what just happened."

"I was scared," he added. "I don't know if it was anxiety, I just felt very, very sick before I got to the hospital. You have a lot going through your mind."

By Friday, which he spent at his Greenwich, Conn., home with wife Heather, St. Louis said his eye began to open. By Saturday, it opened more.

He said he should eventually be fine. He also seriously is considering wearing a visor.

"You just want to know he's okay," Moore said. "That's the main thing."

"It's not his fault," St. Louis said. "Of course, the guy who shoots the puck usually feels the blame a lot more than the guy who takes it."


600156 Toronto Maple Leafs

Carl Gunnarsson slips in Maple Leafs' lineup

james mirtle

He started the season on a surprising high, with a spot on the top defence pairing and big minutes alongside Dion Phaneuf.

But over the past handful of games, Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Carl Gunnarsson's minutes have been slipping, to the point that so far in December, he's behind four other blueliners with under 19 minutes a game.

Gunnarsson averaged 22:18 in the first month of the season and 20:59 in November, but he's down to 18:37 this month and has had a few tough games of late.

He was at least partially to blame for the second and third goals against in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Devils last week and then was on the ice for three power play goals against in Washington in Friday's 4-2 loss.

Getting many of the minutes in his place have been Jake Gardiner and Luke Schenn, aged 21 and 22, as they have picked up their play and jumped into the team's top four.

Gunnarsson started the season going plus-5 in his first 12 games, but he has since slid to minus-3 on the year.

"Sometimes, it's ups and downs," Gunnarsson said. "You've just got to try to get out of it."

Leafs coach Ron Wilson said he didn't believe Gunnarsson's play had tailed off, saying only that he wanted to turn to Gardiner and Cody Franson more on the power play, which meant dialing others' minutes back with the man advantage.

"I think it's the fact that Gardiner's played so well," Wilson said. "Now we're starting to see Cody play pretty good, too.

"Cody and Gardsy are going on the second unit of the power play and that's where you lose three, four minutes of a game right there. You lose some power play time because the other guys are a bit better at it. I don't think Gunnar's really struggling."

Part of what may be making life a little more difficult for Gunnarsson is the fact he's got a mangled ring finger on his left hand.

He is wearing a special glove that has the ring and middle finger attached using a piece of protective black plastic. While he said it's not a big deal to play with, it's also clear he hasn't been shooting the puck much of late (and as a result, wouldn't be very valuable on the PP).

"It'll be a while till it gets to 100 per cent," he admitted.

Notebook

- Speaking of Gardiner, he's averaging 23:30 minutes a game in December so far, second highest on the team. Pretty hard to believe given few thought he'd make the team.

- No word from Wilson on who will start in goal, but I'd be surprise not to see James Reimer face the Hurricanes on Tuesday. The Leafs have back-to-back games on the weekend so both goaltenders will be getting work then anyway. "I have it in my mind who's going to play tomorrow night," Wilson said. "Beyond that, I haven't decided."

- Practice was a long one on Monday, with much of the time spent on penalty killing after the Leafs allowed four goals when down a man in their loss to the Capitals on Friday. Wilson was asked what they're working on, specifically: "Pressure. Where our sticks are. It's hard to work on shot blocking in practice for obvious reasons, but we're constantly harping about being in the shooting lanes. We need better clears."

- Wilson on Joey Crabb taking a few bad penalties last game: "It better be out of character. If it's part of his character, he won't be playing much. Hopefully he's learned his lesson. It happened once; I don't expect it to happen again."

- Wilson provided a brief update on the injured, saying Matt Lombardi (dislocated shoulder) and Mike Komisarek (broken arm) will both be out until after Christmas. Mike Brown has to wait six weeks after back surgery, leaving him with roughly a month to go.

Leafs projected lineup

Lupul - Bozak - Kessel

MacArthur - Connolly - Armstrong

Frattin - Grabovski - Kulemin

Crabb - Steckel - Dupuis

Gunnarsson - Phaneuf

Gardiner - Schenn

Liles - Franson

Reimer

Gustavsson



Muller gets his chance

LANCE HORNBY, Toronto Sun

TORONTO -

Ex-Leaf and new Carolina coach Kirk Muller didn't envision startng his NHL career with a record of 1-5, but neither does he regret taking a challenging job in mid-season with a last-place team. He has been working towards this moment for five years, most recently in the AHL with Milwaukee.

"I didn't put a timetable on it," Muller said Monday. "You have to earn your stripes (in the minors)."

Muller, who had 62 points in 102 games as a Leaf, will get a nice reception here on Tuesday.

"We're old school and this game in Toronto means a lot," he said. "I played here, we're from here, and my family is coming up from Kingston for the game. We still get a high playing in the Canadian cities."

DON'T LOOK BACK

The Leafs are 1-3-1 in their past five games, but that was enough to tighten the NHL standings considerably.

"We have to regain some traction here," coach Ron Wilson said. "It comes in waves. You get hot a couple of weeks and think you've cleared the gate. Next thing you know, you play .500 for a week and half, three teams don't lose any games and they're right back in it."

ARMY GETS A REST

Winger Colby Armstrong worked hard to get back into playing shape from a bad ankle sprain, only to arrive when the Leafs are in the midst of playing twice in nine days. But he says that was partly by design.

"In speaking with the doctors (in mid-October), they gave me a timeline in weeks," Armstrong said. "You could see there was going to be quite a break in the schedule.

"I saw I might get back in against Washington (Friday) and that I'd have a couple of days to practice. This has been valuable time to work out with the guys, hang out and getsome flow. At the same time, you want to get going right into games. So I'm looking forward to playing tomorrow."

BRIGHT AND EARLY

Wilson isn't topped in the humour department often by his players, but centre David Steckel zinged him on Monday afternoon.

Wilson came out of the dressing room long after most players had departed and was nearly bumped by Steckel hurrying off the ice after a photo session in his full Leaf uniform.

"You mean the game isn't tonight?," Steckel said with a shocked look and disappointed tone.

LOOSE LEAFS

Tuesday's game will be captain Dion Phaneuf's 500th career game ... Wilson concentrated more work on the team's 29th -place penalty killing the past two games, concentrating on "pressure, where our sticks are and constantly harping about being in the shooting lanes." ... Wilson won't commit to a goaltender against Carolina. In the 3-2 overtime loss in Raleigh last month, the demoted Ben Scrivens had started.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 12.13.2011


Maple Leafs' minor league report

By Rob Longley ,Toronto Sun

There will be few outside the immediate family of Leafs' draft pick Brad Ross pulling harder for him over the next few days than those invested in him becoming a big-time pro.

The only Toronto prospect invited to try out for Team Canada's entry at the world junior hockey championship is in tough to secure one of four left wing spots, especially after missing Sunday's first scrimmage with a minor injury.

But the Leafs are hoping Ross, who has scored 20 goals and 18 assists in 30 games with the Portland Winter Hawks, will get his shot at one of the best developmental opportunities available to a young player.

"To be on this kind of stage, especially in Canada, how can that not be a great developmental point of any of these kids?" Leafs' director of player development, Jim Hughes, said on Monday. "It's a great platform for any player to develop his trade. And the pressure involved you can't buy that experience."

Ross was hoping to be in action in Monday's second Red-White game and his potential to represent Canada in the tournament, which begins, as usual, on Boxing Day, will depend on how quick an impression he can make at the short camp. The 22-player tournament roster (from 42 invitees) will be named Wednesday.

It may also depend on what type of player Team Canada coach Don Hay is looking for. There has been speculation Hay will favour speed and skill, but this week the coach said he wants a team where "scorers have to check and checkers have to score," which fits into the style of Ross, who has piled up 84 penalty minutes already this season.

"It's a highly competitive situation," Hughes said. "There are so many good players and it's some serious hockey. Brad's in the mix and looking forward to showcase it (Monday night). He's got to get out there and represent himself quickly."

Regardless of whether he makes the team, the Leafs are pleased with Ross's maturation in Portland, where he has been in the top 20 of WHL scoring all season.

"He's still a very physical player, but he's doing it intelligently," Hughes said. "We told him we wanted him on the ice more. His penalty minutes last year and two years ago were at the wrong time of the game. He's starting to understand what it's going to take."

That Ross is the only Leafs' prospect invited to the camp came as a surprise to Leafs' brass who thought St. Michael's Majors' defenceman Stuart Percy, Erie Otters forward Greg McKegg and Saskatoon Blades winger Josh Nicholls would get a shot.

"We were somewhat disappointed," Hughes said. "We know (Team Canada staff) have a lot to choose from but we were certainly hopeful. All three of those guys, you could have popped into (Sunday's scrimmage) and they would have done well."

QUICK HIT

The injury bug just won't leave Percy, the Majors' captain and a first-round pick from June. On Sunday, Percy was smashed head-first into the boards in a game against Kitchener and taken to hospital where x-rays were negative for a wrist injury. The Oakville native is expected to be out of the lineup for a week to 10 days after suffering what Hughes referred to as a mild concussion. Percy also suffered a hit to the head at Leafs rookie camp and missed a handful of games in October with various injuries.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. Dale Mitchell

RW, Reading

The Leafs' top pick (third round) from 2007 - trying to work his way back to the Marlies following knee surgery - piled up four goals and an assist in three games. Two goals (on eight shots) came in a Friday win over the Wheeling Nailers.

2. Sam Carrick

C, Brampton

Team captain led the Battalion to three wins in three days on the weekend with two points in each of the games and four goals all told. Leafs' fifth-round pick in 2010 is a pest with a creative touch who plays bigger than his size.

3. Ben Scrivens

G, Marlies

After giving up four goals against St. John's in his return to the AHL, the big netminder rebounded nicely by stopping 54 of 56 shots as the Marlies posted back-to-back wins over Hamilton and Albany on Friday and Saturday, respectively.



Muller hasn't changed 'Canes' losing ways

By Lance Hornby ,Toronto Sun

Kirk Muller wants his Carolina Hurricanes to shut their eyes to the current NHL standings and open their minds about where the last-place team could go.

That might be hard for the players, winning just once so far for their new coach (1-5), but it's easy to see why the motivational magic of Muller brought him so far as a player and now a coach.

"I just said to the players. I'm not interested in what their plus-minuses are, their season, their goals," Muller explained Monday after his club practised at the MasterCard Centre.

"Let's just get through this (transition from the firing of head coach Paul Maurice) together. Be aggressive, play hard. I don't want anyone afraid to make mistakes. We're in the process of seeing who can play a high-tempo game and who can't. They guys are buying into it, we just have to be more consistent."

By Tuesday night against the Leafs, Muller will have had the Canes on the road four days since their last game in Winnipeg, believing the practice and bonding to be crucial to putting his mark on the team.

"It was good timing," Muller said of the schedule. "I really threw some different looks at the guys and we didn't have time to practise. We're kind of learning in the games as we go.

"Since I took the position, I've really, really enjoyed Eric Staal. He's been the true leader so far. I asked him just to be my hardest working guy. He doesn't care who he plays with. He's a plus player and he's putting up some points.

"We have a good, young core skill group, with Jamie McBain, Justin Faulk and Jeff Skinner to build with. We'll get this thing turned around. We're thin in numbers now. But we get everybody (healthy) and we're a good club."



Crabb leads Leafs in character roles

By Lance Hornby ,Toronto Sun

Joey Crabb is at the stage of his career where one bad game won't mean a bus back to the bush leagues.

But as one of the best long-shot Leaf stories, Crabb doesn't want to make a habit of what happened Friday in Washington. It was already one of his more quiet games since an early December recall, when he took a run at one of the Capitals far up ice, after the puck had been advanced. The resulting boarding call put Toronto in a no-win 5-on-3 for the winning goal. When the Leafs came back with a Cody Franson goal, Crabb was fingered for reckless use of his stick, resulting in another power play goal - one of four against Toronto's already vulnerable penalty kill.

At another stage of his career with Atlanta, the 226th overall pick from 2002 might have spent a sleepless night with his bag packed.

"(Friday) better be out of character for him," coach Ron Wilson said half in jest. "If it isn't, he won't be playing much.

"It was just one of those things that happens and hopefully, he's learned his lesson about discipline. He's an NHLer now. He was that at the end of training camp, but we just had way too many healthy bodies who performed as well as he did."

Crabb was a big part of Toronto's late-season push in the standings last year and when he didn't make the cut in October, he turned out to be the ideal linemate for AHL player of the month Joe Colborne. When the big rookie was promoted, Crabb played with him in Toronto and significantly, stayed on after Colborne was demoted.

The Leafs have used the 28-year-old on right and left wing, with kids, veterans, scorers and checkers. On Friday, Wilson had him on an intriguing set with centre Tim Connolly and the returning Colby Armstrong which suited the needs of the other two. On Monday at the MasterCard Centre, in ongoing efforts to get Nikolai Kulemin to end a 22-game goalless streak, Wilson changed the deck putting Clarke MacArthur there and moving Crabb back with David Steckel and Philippe Dupuis on the fourth line.

Up to the second game of the back-to-backs against Boston, Crabb had fashioned a five-game points streak, which included three straight games with a goal.

"I'm not saying it as a cliche, but whatever I do, I'm happy with it," Crabb said. "I feel like I'm able to move around on different lines and be valuable in different situations. I've embraced every role I've been in. If we're out there trying to shut down, fine, if you're out there with scorers, I'm obviously happy, too."

The burly Alaskan will ease up on the throttle Tuesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes in a game the Leafs need to win to re-assert themselves as a playoff contender.

"I don't think I'm a guy who really takes bad penalties," Crabb said. "The first one (in Washington), I was trying to finish my check, which is part of my game and I maybe got a little over-zealous. The second one was bad luck. If you look at the replay, he lifted my stick into his own face. It was just unfortunate and I'll move on from there."

Crabb is a slightly newer model of Brian Burke's prototypical Leaf. Crabb carries more weight than some forwards, but doesn't go around trying to intimidate. He measures his truculence with some speed and puck movement, which has kept him in ahead of Jay Rosehill and Colton Orr.

"I want to bring energy, passion and some grit -- and have a lot of fun while I'm doing it," Crabb said. "I haven't fought a ton since I've been here, but I fight every once in awhile.

Wilson said Crabb's role will be defined later in the schedule by how fast other Leafs get back from injuries. Armstrong has just returned, now the question will be where Crabb ends up after Matthew Lombardi gets back early in the new year from a shoulder injury and a few weeks later, when Mike Brown comes around from back surgery. "That's the type of player (Crabb) is, he'll be moved around the lineup," Wilson said. "Especially the veteran people who are out. When they come back, they'll deserve to be in the lineup and we'll have a tough decision to make."


600161 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks' Cody Hodgson ready to go vs. Blue Jackets

Notebook: Young centre has full practice, two days after getting knocked out of game

By Iain MacIntyre

COLUMBUS, Ohio - As if the positive baseline test wasn't proof enough, Cody Hodgson proved his sound state of mental health Monday by properly using the word "cognitively" in a sentence. He'll play Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets (4 p.m., Sportsnet Vancouver, Team 1040).

"Cognitively, I was good and knew what was going on," the Vancouver Canuck centre explained two days after his legs turned to jelly on a hit by Ottawa Senator Nick Foligno. "It looked a lot worse than I felt. I would love to have gone out and played the rest of the game."

Hodgson, the 21-year-old rookie who has played himself solidly into the Canucks' lineup this season, was hammered against the boards by Foligno in the first period of Vancouver's 4-1 win.

Hodgson got to his feet and wobbled before being steadied by teammates and helped off the ice. He went to the dressing room to be examined by doctors, as per the National Hockey League's head-injury protocol.

Hodgson was lucid and correctly answered all the questions put to him, but medical staff that included Canuck trainer Mike Burnstein decided to keep Hodgson out of the game as a precaution.

Hodgson fully practised on Monday.

Asked if he considered holding out Hodgson until Thursday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said he had to trust medical advice that the player is ready to go.

"As coaches, I like to think that I know everything just like the media ... thinks they know everything," Vigneault said. "From what I can understand ... he could have come back to play [Saturday] and he wanted to come back to play. He was fine after the game and he's been fine ever since."

Hodgson has been fine all season. He had four points in the four games before Saturday, and with six goals and 15 points in 29 games he could push 20 goals and 50 points as a rookie. Hodgson has displaced veteran centre Manny Malhotra on the third line as he is earning his ice time.

Some floated a theory at the start of the year that Vigneault was biased against Hodgson. What Vigneault is biased against is losing, and he won't dress a prospect if it weakens his lineup. But Hodgson is making the Canucks, and especially the second-unit power play, better. The merit-based system is working.

"I'm feeling good," Hodgson said. "Every night, I'm playing with good linemates, good wingers and I'm having fun out there. I think it's just more of a comfort level."

HAMMER TIME: Canucks defenceman Dan Hamhuis, cut below the nose by teammate Max Lapierre's stick late in the third period in Ottawa, also practised Monday and will play against the Blue Jackets.

"I wasn't dazed," Hamhuis explained. "I was bleeding. There was blood on my visor and my eyes were full of water. I looked up and figured I better get back to the bench because I couldn't see anything. I was going to go back for another shift, but there were only two minutes to go."

NET PRESENCE: Vigneault declared Roberto Luongo his starter Tuesday. The No. 1 goalie will make his fifth straight start after watching Cory Schneider play the previous seven games. Columbus coach Scott Arniel refused to reveal his starter, although The Columbus Dispatch reported it would be Steve Mason.

TOUGH ENOUGH: After losing Derek Dorsett to a knee injury in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins, Columbus recalled tough minor-leaguer Dane Byers and is expected to challenge Vancouver physically.

"I think what teams try to do is try to throw the skill off and go after the players that have the puck most of the time," Arniel said. "You've got to be careful because I saw in Ottawa the other night that [the Canucks] burned them a couple of times with their power play. It's a fine line that you have to walk. You can go after people, but you better make sure you play within the rules because their power play is extremely dangerous."

The Canucks' power play is ranked No. 1 in the NHL. Blue Jackets' penalty-killing is 30th.

Vancouver Sun: LOADED: 12.13.2011


Sedins live up to billing despite hooking penalties

Despite climbing number of hooking penalties, Sedins are tough, generous, genuine and sometimes under-appreciated

By Iain MacIntyre

Henrik Sedin makes a lousy Captain Hook.

His hands are much softer than iron, he thinks the Jolly Roger is amiable conditioning coach Roger Takahashi, and Peter's pan is what his older brother uses to fry herring. Besides, pirates take money; they don't give it to Children's Hospital.

So, as it relates to Henrik, we're not getting the whole Captain Hook thing. Except for the whole hooking thing.

The Vancouver Canucks' captain leads the National Hockey League with nine hooking penalties. But that's only because hockey sticks have blades.

"You get a lot of points in fantasy leagues with penalty minutes," Sedin joked after Monday's practice here. "Friends picked me first."

Canuck coach Alain Vigneault, who is in no hockey pools, was not amused and said: "I'm going to deal with that tomorrow. I'm going to deal with that in my own little way."

Vigneault was speaking, as people usually do, about Henrik and Daniel Sedin, whose six hooking minors had him tied for fourth in the NHL.

Just when it seemed impossible that the Art Ross twins could push their numbers higher, the Sedins are on pace for career-high penalty minutes. Who says they're not tough? If Vigneault can stop them, then he's stronger than opponents who have been unable to stop the Sedins from scoring.

Despite being targeted nightly with increasing hostility, Henrik has nine assists in his last five games and Daniel has nine points, including six goals, in his last six.

Before this road trip began, Shane O'Brien and the Colorado Avalanche tried to bully the Sedins like the Boston Bruins did in the Stanley Cup Final. Saturday in Ottawa, it was Chris Neil's mission to make Swedish meatballs.

This afternoon, the Columbus Blue Jackets are expected to have tough minor-leaguer Dane Byers in their lineup.

But the Sedins keep scoring and the Canucks keep winning. They've got nine wins in their last 10 games as the wondertwins edge closer to the NHL scoring lead.

Although the Canucks' lack of a heavyweight or any individual to deter opposition aggressiveness will be a recurring talking point this season, there is a toughness about the Sedins that many underestimate.

Henrik has not missed a game since the 2004-05 lockout and Daniel has had one significant injury: a broken ankle that cost him 19 games two seasons ago.

"Toughness can be measured in different ways," Vigneault said. "There's the physical aspect. But ... when it's time on the ice to make a play or to make the power play work or to play in those pressure moments, do you want to be out there? Whether you want to call that mental toughness ... the twins are all about that. They want to be the go-to guys. They want to win. And they've done that ever since they've been with this organization."

And they've been with the organization long enough that Henrik's next point will be his 700th as a Canuck. With 33 points in 29 games this season, he has the chance in the next four months to surpass boyhood idol Markus Naslund's franchise record of 756 points.

Trevor Linden, who mentored the twins and is credited by them for convincing them to stay in the NHL during a difficult transition to North American hockey, is second on the Canucks' all-time scoring list at 733 points.

Henrik is third on the list and Daniel, a point ahead of his brother this season, is fourth at 685 points. The twins turned 31 during the pre-season. By the time their contracts expire in 2014, each should have more than 900 points. By miles, they are going to finish as the greatest scorers in Canuck history.

"I remember our fourth year or fifth year, I had about 50 points and thought that was the maximum I could ever get," Daniel said with a laugh. "That was a lot of points."

He won the scoring title last year with 104 points and should have won the Hart Trophy, too, replicating Henrik's awards double from the previous season. But Daniel concedes his brother's 14-point career lead - Henrik has played 839 games, Daniel 816 - is untouchable.

"It will be tough," he said. "Seriously. Obviously, we're on the ice at the same time, so he's probably going to lead the whole way."

Asked about reaching 700 points, Henrik said: "It's some sort of milestone but I hope to reach more than that in the future. It's going better than maybe we thought it would. We didn't come in ... like guys do now and they're ready for the NHL right away and put up points. We came in and were struggling and we needed to work hard to get better. That feels good."

He also feels good that the Canucks' top three scorers all-time could soon be from the same Swedish town, Ornskoldsvik. Naslund left the Canucks in 2008 and retired from the NHL a year later at age 35.

It was under Vigneault that the torch was passed to the twins by Naslund, first in terms of role and ice time and later the captaincy itself.

"What people don't see, unless you're around our team quite a bit, is the great people that those two are," Vigneault said of the Sedins. "How they are there every day to serve their teammates, to help their teammates in anything - not just the hockey stuff, but in anything. They're two genuine people. I think we're really fortunate to have them. We probably under-appreciate them, considering everything they do. But at the end of the day, they're two great guys."

Now, if they'd just stop hooking people. ...

Vancouver Sun: LOADED: 12.13.2011


No issue with Canucks' toughness: Vigneault

By Jason Botchford

COLUMBUS, Ohio - If there's a problem with the Canucks physical push back, head coach Alain Vigneault doesn't see it.

"There were a couple of good hits thrown [against the Senators on Saturday] but hitting is part of the game," Vigneault said. "I didn't see that game as chippy as a lot of people have seen it. I liked how we responded. We responded with our power play when they took penalties.

"When they were maybe crossing the line, you saw Dale Weise step in there after the hit on Cody. You saw Kevin [Bieksa] come in to the support of Hank and Danny and you saw Lappy [Max Lapierre] come to the support of [Alex Edler] when he was hit on the ice when he was on his knees.

"Our guys stick up for one another."

That's a lot of "sticking up" in a game Vigneault didn't see as chippy. And the Canucks may need to do more of the same.

At least that was the suggestion when the Columbus Blue Jackets recalled scrapper Dane Byers, who is expected to make his season debut subbing in for the injured Derek Dorsett.

The move dovetails nicely into the theory that teams are playing the Canucks differently this year, upping doses of physical intimidation and cheap shots.

"Not from what I've seen," Vigneault said. "All games are hard fought and competitive. Some games in an 82-game schedule are going to be a little more physical than others.

"But I haven't seen any difference. When teams try to cross the line, our power play makes them pay. I mean, we're No. 1 in the league on the power play again, that's a pretty good weapon to have."

Great weapon, if his players all stay healthy in the meantime.

Daniel Sedin acknowledged there are teams "who think they can get us off our game" by running players.

"They think they can do it, but we showed against Ottawa we can handle those situations," he said. "We have guys in here who can step up and take care of that."

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.13.2011


Sedin machine rolling smoothly again

By Jason Botchford

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Here's how you know it's going well for the Vancouver Canucks.

Henrik Sedin was making jokes about leading the league in hooking penalties. He has nine. For reference, Christian Ehrhoff led the NHL last year with 10.

Head coach Alain Vigneault seemed bemused, too, though he did say he was going to do something about it.

"They've taken way too many hooking penalties. I'm going to deal with that tomorrow," Vigneault said, laughing. "I'm going to deal with it in my own little way."

However he handles it, the challenging part will be attempting to maintain a straight face. Because any criticism of the Sedins is going to ring of nitpicking.

The NHL's quietest superstars are at it again. Their team is winning - on a 9-1 run - and they are producing as consistently as they ever have in what

looks to be the third straight season in which they collect goals and assists at a 100-point clip.

They were in the top five in scoring Monday - Daniel -Sedin third with 34 points and Henrik fifth with 33. They've each gone pointless in back-to-back games just once this season.

And all this for two players who admittedly struggled in the first five weeks of the year because they weren't "playing the right way," as Henrik summed it up.

"We were trying to play the same way as we are now but it was really tough to be in games mentally, 100 per cent, after what we went through in the playoffs," Daniel said.

"I think the last 15 games, we have been in it, totally, and it's really paid off the last 10."

What Daniel was touching on was the evolution of the Sedins. They can be frayed mentally, and fighting it on the ice like they were in October, but they can still find a way on to the scoresheet night in and night out.

The regular season production is machine-like, which in itself is a funny term to use for two players who are so endlessly artistic on the ice. But what started slow for them is building again, and with it is their confidence.

Take the game against Montreal when the Canucks came back from a three-goal deficit. Could that have happened in October?

"I don't think so," Daniel said. "The feeling right now is that we're never out of games. We didn't have that earlier. We did last year. We stuck with it, stayed in games and all of a sudden we have the lead with five minutes to go. It's a great feeling to have. When you're down 3-0 on the road, it should be over."

If you think the fans are lucky to have them, how about the coaching staff?

"We are really fortunate to have them and we probably under-appreciate them, considering everything they do," Vigneault said. "But at the end of the day, they are two great guys to coach and have on our team.

"Toughness can be measured in different ways. Obviously, there's the physical aspect but there's also when it's time on the ice to make a play or to make the power play work or to play in those pressure moments - do you want to be out there? - whether you want to call that mental toughness or mental strength or whatever.

"And the twins are all about that. They want to be the go-to guys. They want to win and they've done that.

"When I got here six years ago, they were second-line players at the time and quickly we noticed they deserved to be running the offensive ship and we gave them the ship.

"They've been two of the best players in the NHL ever since."



Hodgson cleared to start against Columbus

By Jason Botchford

COLUMBUS - If there's any surprise out of the Canucks practice Monday, it has nothing to do with who is net.

Roberto Luongo will get the start which was predictable. But so will Cody Hodgson which was not.

The Canucks rookie third-line centre looked like he suffered some brain bruising on an awkward hit Saturday which left him noticeably dazed, and unbalanced. He said he felt fine not long after, and continues to do so a couple of days later.

He has passed all his protocol tests, and doctors cleared him to play after he showed no symptoms Monday following a off ice workout. He participated in practice fully. Head coach Alain Vigneault said he didn't consider keeping Hodgson out of the lineup after he was cleared.

"From what I can understand, anyway, from talking to Bernie (trainger Mike Burnstein) and the doctors, he could have come back to play (Saturday) and he wanted to come back and play," Vigineault said. "They were precautionary during that game. He was fine after the game. And he's been fine ever since. I like to think I know everything but I'm not going to go above the doctors"

Hodgson said he passed the quiet room evaluation, correctly answering all the base line questions after the Nick Foligno hit.

"It wasn't a problem at all," he said. "I understand the decision (to keep me) out.

"It looked worse than how I personally felt. I did a bike ride (Monday) and a workout and cleared those tests. It was a progression thing and I cleared a bunch of stuff.

"I feel good. I felt good after the game and I felt good after practice."

Anytime there is a possible concussion, it's a sensitive issue. Especially when there has been a couple notable cases, including Sidney Crosby and Marc Staal, of players who said they were fine, but really were not..

"I wanted to play (Saturday) especially because I had lots of family there," Hodgson said. "But you have to respect the decision. And they were looking out for me and my health."


600166 Washington Capitals

John Carlson named NHL third star of the week

By Katie Carrera

Capitals’ second-year defenseman John Carlson was dubbed the third star of the week by the NHL after he racked up seven points in three games.

Through 28 games this year, Carlson sits third on the team with 20 points (5G, 15A) behind only Nicklas Backstrom (31 points) and Alex Ovechkin (21 points). He carries a plus-7 rating and is averaging 22 minutes and 45 seconds of ice time per contest.

Since Coach Dale Hunter took over in Washington, Carlson has one goal, seven assists in six games and he’s played no less than 23:30 in any single contest.

Calgary’s Jarome Iginla was named the NHL’s first star of the week while Minnesota goaltender Matt Hackett earned second-star honors. Check out the league’s release here.

Washington Post LOADED: 12.13.2011


Injured Mike Green visits specialist

By Katie Carrera

Mike Green is out of town visiting with a specialist, presumably about the strained right groin muscle that has held him out of the lineup for 14 consecutive games.

Coach Dale Hunter wouldn’t elaborate when asked what type of doctor Green was seeing but said that the defenseman is expected to join the Capitals on the road later this week. Washington travels to Winnipeg for a game on Thursday then to Colorado to face the Avalanche on Saturday; the team would not say when Green would meet up with them.

“It’s day to day and he’s getting better. It just takes time,” Hunter said. ”I think every player’s been through it. It’s a little frustrating because you can’t play — it just takes time and it heals.”

Green, 26, suffered the groin injury back on Nov. 11 at New Jersey when he was hit by Devils’ forward Ryan Carter in the corner. The two-time Norris Trophy finalist appeared to be making progress as he skated for consecutive days with strength and conditioning coach Mark Nemish in late November, but Green hasn’t skated in the past four days.

When he skated most recently, on Thursday, Dec. 8, Green slammed his stick into the boards as he went off the ice. He told reporters afterward that there was still no timeline for his return.

Green has now missed 20 of the past 21 games because of the groin strain and the ankle injury that caused him to miss six consecutive games beginning on Oct. 27.



Monday One Timers: ‘More ice, more smiles’ for Alex Ovechkin; When will Mike Green be back?

By Katie Carrera

This is a regular blog feature that appears once a week with takeaways from the past seven days of the Capitals’ 2011-12 season. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.

After six games and two weeks since the Capitals made a coaching switch, here is a freshly incarnated edition of One Timers with observations, questions and things to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

Has Alex Ovechkin found the power switch? In the past two games, the star left wing has two points (1 goal, 1 assist) along with 15 combined shots and was a legitimately imposing and dangerous presence on nearly every shift. That’s not something that could be said about many contests this season.

It’s tough to tell if the trend will continue given a small sample size of games Ovechkin has played under Coach Dale Hunter, but the captain admitted last week that as his ice time has increased, so has his confidence. “More ice, more smiles,” he said.

Ovechkin’s end-to-end rush against the Ottawa Senators, the stop that may still have defenseman Erik Karlsson skating the wrong way and ensuing goal was the type of play he made a regular occurrence early in his career. If Ovechkin can make that type of impact on a nightly basis again, the Capitals can only benefit.

When will the Capitals get Mike Green back? When the defenseman came off the ice Thursday, he smashed his stick into the boards. While Green said afterward there was no update he could offer on his recovery from a strained right groin muscle, he did not skate either of the following two days.

Did he suffer a setback? Hunter said no, but there is no firm timetable for his return. The only thing that is certain is it will take some time from when Green gets back on the ice for the defenseman to work his way back into game shape and get back into the lineup. That doesn’t even include the consideration that Green will have to adapt to a new coach and system of play once he is back.

For those keeping score at home, Green has missed 14 games and a month with the groin injury and he’s been out of 20 of the last 21 contests when counting the absences that came with an earlier ankle injury.

A light mood at the rink was a rare sight for a few weeks. But Saturday after back-to-back wins, the Capitals held a light 30-minute practice that included a scrimmage and shootout when the two sides wound up tied at the conclusion of the session. Back and forth, the players took turns shooting until Cody Eakin broke the deadlock with a goal for the “red” team.

The coaching staff signaled it wasn’t a goal, but the players insisted upon a victory and the celebration began. Troy Brouwer ran off the ice and found his squad’s prize – a red puck bucket – and carried it to center ice as his

teammates crowded around him as though it were the Stanley Cup. Turns out the groups had made a lunch bet on the scrimmage, but there’s nothing like a little friendly competition and some joking around to help elevate the mood of a dressing room.

“We were just having some fun,” Brouwer said. “We had a little bet for lunch and Chimmer [Jason Chimera] came in here and you can see all the water all over, spraying the water like we won, too.”



Capitals willing to wait for ailing Green to heal

By Stephen Whyno

It fell apart for the Washington Capitals under Bruce Boudreau when defenseman Mike Green hurt his ankle and couldn’t play. Ex-assistant coach Bob Woods said Green’s absence “disrupted” the team’s success, and Boudreau had a tough time explaining how one injury contributed so heavily to his exit.

“I don’t want to put the onus on Mike getting hurt as our reason for being mediocre after that because I don’t think any one man on any team should be the difference between winning and losing,” Boudreau said after being fired as coach.

The definition of mediocre might be the Caps’ 7-12-1 record with Green out of the lineup, most recently 14 straight games with a strained right groin. He’ll miss his 15th in a row Tuesday when Washington plays host to the Philadelphia Flyers.

On Monday, coach Dale Hunter confirmed the All-Star defenseman, who hasn’t played since suffering the groin injury Nov. 11, was going to see a specialist. And while Hunter called that a good sign and noted that Green would join the Caps later this week on their road trip, there’s no timetable for Green’s return — which has forced his teammates to preach patience.

“It’s still bothering him and he’s not a hundred percent. You don’t want to push him because there’s no point if he can be out for longer,” defenseman Roman Hamrlik said. “Everybody is different. You can’t judge whether a player should play or not. He’s going to know when he’s ready. This is the kind of injury that can come back again and again.”

Groin injuries can linger for long periods of time. See fellow defenseman Tom Poti, whose last game with the Capitals was Jan. 12. He’s not with the team and is on long-term injured reserve.

Green’s injury is not believed to be season- or career-threatening, like Poti‘s, which is good news given not only his value to the team but the potential for the 26-year-old to still play several good years in the NHL.

“He brings every single element to the game for us: His offense, his defense, his leadership,” defenseman Karl Alzner said. “It’s just one other weapon other teams have to focus on.”

Teammates aren’t outwardly concerned about Green’s prolonged absence beyond knowing that they would like to have him in the lineup. But players such as Hamrlik, who have dealt with groin injuries, can relate.

Hamrlik said he spent an entire season with the New York Islanders battling a groin injury and didn’t feel better about it until after supervised offseason training.

“I had to tape my groin every game, every practice. I feel like 70 percent. It’s no fun,” Hamrlik said. “You don’t have power. You’re playing basically with pain, and it’s no fun.”

Because skating is an unnatural motion compared to walking or running, groin and abdominal muscles play a major role and can throw everything off.

Hamrlik cautioned that it’s prudent not to rush Green back. Doctors, trainers and Green know the situation better than anyone else. Given that the Capitals were 8-0-0 with Green in the lineup, they’re willing to suck it up for now and hope he’s 100 percent eventually.

“It’s not one of those things where you could just jump back in and battle through it because it could make it worse,” Alzner said. “So you have to wait. We’re prepared to wait until playoffs if that’s how long it were to take. That’s no big deal. We just want him back at some point and completely healthy.”

Washington Times LOADED: 12.13.2011


Capitals’ Mike Green seeing specialist

Defenseman has been out a month with groin injury

By Stephen Whyno

Mike Green made it known Sunday night he was leaving on a jet plane — and the Washington Capitals don’t know when he’ll be back again.

Everyone hopes it will be soon, as the All-Star defenseman has missed 14 games and will be out another one Tuesday with a strained right groin. But coach Dale Hunter confirmed Monday that Green was going to see a specialist.

Hunter called it a “good sign” and added that Green would be joining the Caps in Winnipeg as they begin a two-game road trip. The coach would not divulge where Green went. There is no timetable for his return.

Green, 26, hurt his groin late in the first period Nov. 11 at the New Jersey Devils.

“It’s a day-to-day thing, and not a three-week day-to-day thing — an actual day-to-day thing,” then-coach Bruce Boudreau said at the time.

It has now been a month since Green was involved in a Caps game. They’re 8-0-0 with him in the lineup and 7-12-1 without him.

“It’s still bothering him, and he’s not a hundred percent. You don’t want to push him because there’s no point if he can be out for longer,” defenseman Roman Hamrlik said. “Everybody is different. You can’t judge whether a player should play or not. He’s going to know when he’s ready. This is the kind of injury that can come back again and again.”

Defenseman Tom Poti has been out since January with nagging groin injuries.

Washington Times LOADED: 12.13.2011


Caps not overlooking hurt Flyers

By: Brian McNally | 12/12/11 8:05 PM

If there is any team in the NHL that cares less about its opponent's health, it would be the Capitals.

Burned last month in games against both the Toronto Maple Leafs (seven regulars hurt) and the Buffalo Sabres (nine regulars hurt), Washington will avoid looking at the injury list for the Philadelphia Flyers, who visit Verizon Center on Tuesday night.

Star defenseman Chris Pronger remains out of the lineup with both a left knee injury that required surgery last month and concussion symptoms. Then on Saturday, center Claude Giroux, an early candidate for the NHL's Hart Trophy, took a knee to the head from teammate Wayne Simmonds. Giroux, 23, led the NHL with 39 points entering play Monday. That total includes 16 goals.

Capitals notes

» Washington defenseman Mike Green left town Sunday to see a specialist about his injured right groin, coach Dale Hunter said.

»

Matt Hendricks (right knee injury), hurt Dec. 5 against Florida, made it through a second consecutive practice. But his status is still uncertain for Tuesday's game vs. Philadelphia.

»

Jay Beagle (concussion) still hasn't been cleared for contact but skated with his teammates for about 30 minutes early during Monday's practice at Kettler Iceplex.

Promising rookie center Brayden Schenn (concussion) returned from a long layoff earlier this month, played two games and is back on the shelf. Even goalie Ilya Bryzgalov is nursing a lower-body injury after leaving Saturday's victory in the second period. But he is expected to play against the Caps.

All that sounds promising for a Washington win. But after getting embarrassed by what amounted to Buffalo's American Hockey League team on Nov. 26 -- and costing then-coach Bruce Boudreau his job -- it's unlikely the Caps will take much comfort in Philadelphia's health issues.

The Flyers (18-7-3, 39 points) lead the Atlantic Division and have the best record in the Eastern Conference. Washington (15-12-1, 31 points), meanwhile, has looked better under new coach Dale Hunter with three wins in its last four games. But the Caps remain the No. 8 seed in the conference playoff chase -- not a spot in which they expected to be one-third of the way through the schedule.

Philadelphia traded two of its top players -- forwards Mike Richards (Los Angeles) and Jeff Carter (Columbus) in the offseason -- yet hasn't missed a beat. Adding forward Jaromir Jagr, now 39 and back after a three-year stint in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League -- was a gamble that has worked out. Jagr has 10 goals and 14 points.

"They got rid of two superstars [in the Carter and Richards trades], but they got a lot of good players in return," Washington forward Troy Brouwer said. "Those guys are playing really well for them. And then they knew with Giroux progressing as a player he was going to turn into a pretty good player. ... [And] I forgot about [Jagr] actually, which is tough to do. He's always had that skill set that's made him unbelievable."

Washington Examiner LOADED: 12.13.2011

600172 Winnipeg Jets

Noel only shows first period of Wings debacle

By: Ed Tait

Winnipeg Jets left wing Evander Kane falls into the net between Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard and defenseman Niklas Kronwall during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Detroit, Saturday.

If there was such a thing as game tape any more in the age of technology, Winnipeg Jets’ head coach Claude Noel would have burned the evidence of Saturday’s 7-1 to the Detroit Red Wings long ago.

What he did instead was go over the first period of Jets’ loss with his players before practice Monday – they trailed 2-1 after one – and then opted to fast forward through the rest.

Good call.

"People deal with those types of games in different ways," said Noel Monday. "Players are players... it’s different when you’re a coach because you kind of live and die with those games. We moved on. I moved on this morning. One of the questions was would I watch the game back and suffer the pain twice. I watched the first period and I liked the first period.... I thought we did some good things. We watched some tape today and reviewed the first period. I didn’t go to the second... that was by design.

"We’ve moved past that game. A loss is a loss. It was painful for everybody. Watching it on TV would have been painful, being behind the bench was painful, playing and being one of the players was painful, sitting in the

stands as one of the extra player would be painful... there was nothing good about it. But we’ll be good (Tuesday)."

The Jets will have to be considerably better Tuesday when they play host to the surprising Minnesota Wild, first overall in the NHL with a 20-7-3 record. The match-up is the first of a six-game home stand for the Jets before Christmas; a docket of games that also includes Washington and Anaheim this week – featuring Teemu Selanne’s return – as well as contests against the New York Islanders, Montreal and Pittsburgh.

"(Minnesota) is obviously having a great year," said Jets’ captain Andrew Ladd. "It stems from their team play and how well they are playing together. For us we’re going to have to play a simple game and counter their attack and just play smart hockey."

On the injury front, defenceman Tobias Enstrom participated in his first full practice with the team, but likely won’t be cleared to play from until the end of the month. Nik Antropov, Dustin Byfuglien and Eric Fehr did not practice Monday and are game-time decisions. Same for Ron Hainsey, who did work out with the team but is still recovery from a foot injury.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 12.13.2011


Jets' pick Scheifele shooting for No. 1 centre

By: Donna Spencer

CALGARY -- Three NHL centres could have played for Canada's junior team but won't, leading to questions about the country's depth up the middle for the upcoming world junior hockey championship.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Edmonton Oilers, Ryan Johansen of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Sean Couturier of the Philadelphia Flyers were not released to try out for Canada by their respective NHL clubs.

And that leaves the door wide open for Winnipeg Jets' prospect Mark Scheifele, who isn't shying away from his goal of being the No.1 centre on the team.

"I think it's definitely important to make goals like that," Scheifele, who has 13 goals and 23 assists in just 19 games for the OHL's Barrie Colts, said. "That's definitely my goal, to be the No. 1 centre. I'm going to do whatever it takes to do that."

When the players invited to Canada's selection camp hit the ice for the first time Sunday in Calgary, it looked like only six centres were competing for four jobs on the team.

But head coach Don Hay and Hockey Canada head scout Kevin Prendergast insist Canada won't be short at centre. As many as five who started camp on the wing can also play in the middle, Prendergast said.

"I would do wingers in the middle," Hay agreed Sunday prior to the first intra-squad game at night. "There's going to be guys that play out of position. There's going to be roles for different players. I think good players can adapt."

Prendergast has said the team wants two scoring centres and two more to play a two-way game.

Scheifele and Ryan Strome of the Niagara IceDogs are the front-runners for two of the four jobs. While the world junior championship is considered a 19-year-old's tournament, they are both 18.

Scheifele, from Kitchener, Ont., played seven NHL games with the Jets and scored his first NHL goal before he was returned to the Colts.

Although Strome didn't appear in any regular-season games with the New York Islanders, they kept the Mississauga, Ont., native with the team until Oct. 13.

"They're high-profile young men," Hay said. "They've been exposed to the National Hockey League level and played in some exhibition games and some regular season games.

"They're like anybody else. They have to show us they can play a 200-foot game and be good on both sides of the puck and not just be an offensive guy, but a good defensive guy."

The Jets took Scheifele seventh overall in this year's NHL draft.

While he's bigger than Strome at almost six-foot-two and 192 pounds, Prendergast says both have good hockey sense and distribute the puck well.

"If you put them in a race, they'd probably be tied," Prendergast said.

Strome, the fifth overall pick the Isles, has 16 goals and 17 assists in 32 games for the IceDogs. The six-foot, 183-pound forward is prepared to be a checking forward if that what it takes to make the team.

"Canada always plays a hard-nosed game and you can't take any shortcuts," Strome said. "Everybody's got to go out there and play the body and be gritty and that's what I plan to do. I'm not going to shy away from the physical stuff because in this tournament it will cost you."

Behind Scheifele and Strome, there's Strome's Niagara teammate Freddie Hamilton, Zack Phillips of the Saint John Sea Dogs, Michael Bournival of the Shawinigan Cataracts and Mark McNeill of the Prince Albert Raiders battling for jobs at centre.

Bournival, 19, was among the final players cut from last year's team.

"I came here confident because I was at the camp last year and I knew what happened during that camp," Bournival said. "I don't want to miss my chance this year. It's the only chance I have and I will give everything I have to make the team."

Phillips, from Fredericton, has never worn the Maple Leaf on the front of his jersey before. The Minnesota Wild property is also willing to alter his game to make the team.

"I've always been more of an offensive player, but I know to play on this team you're going to have to be able to play both ways," Phillips said. "It's something I have worked on this year and I think I can do a good job."

Boone Jenner of the Oshawa Generals, Ty Rattie of the Portland Winter Hawks, Philip Danault of the Victoriaville Tigres, Quinton Howden of the Moose Jaw Warriors and Jonathan Huberdeau of the Sea Dogs can also move into the middle if reinforcements are needed there, according to Prendergast.

But Huberdeau did not skate Sunday. He broke a bone in his right foot Nov. 7, yet came to camp in the hopes the big winger will recover in time to play for Canada. The tournament opens Dec. 26 in Edmonton and Calgary.

Hay says Huberdeau was examined by team doctors and underwent physiotherapy after his arrival, but the head coach doesn't know when the Memorial Cup MVP will get on the ice.

Forty-two players reported to camp Saturday. Hay intends to thin the crowd with the first round of cuts Tuesday morning after watching the players in two intra-squad games. The remaining players face a team of university selects in an exhibition game that night.

Hay will announce Canada's 22-player roster Wednesday.

Scheifele and Strome just missed being teammates on the Colts. Barrie traded Strome mid-way through his rookie season to the IceDogs, while Scheifele didn't start his OHL career with the Colts until the following season.



JETS Notebook

By: Ed Tait

Clever captain

foils assailants

IT hasn't taken Winnipeg Jets' captain Andrew Ladd long to immerse himself into the Manitoba culture.

And so what does a guy do on a day off -- his birthday, no less -- for kicks in Winnipeg?

He hits the pebbled ice at the Granite Curling Club, of course.

"It was my wife's idea, we were looking for something different," said Ladd, who was joined by about 10-11 people, including some teammates. "It was fun. It was tough. It was a lot harder than most guys thought, but it was fun to get out on the ice sheet in a little bit different format.

"We all came out of it unscathed, so that's the important thing I guess.

"Mase (goaltender Chris Mason) was actually really good. I'll give him some credit. But I think he's done it a few times. He was getting into it pretty good."

Ladd turned 26 on Monday and his teammates did attempt -- attempt being the key word here -- to play a trick on their captain. Dustin Byfuglien interrupted a media scrum with Ladd with a small cake and candle while Nik Antropov sneaked up behind him and tried to jam a plate of shaving cream into his mug. Ladd deftly ducked out of the way, yelling "Way too smart for you guys! Almost got me there."

Asked how he knew something was up, Ladd said:

"I've never seen Buff bring me a cake, so I knew there was something more to it than that."

SICK BAY UPDATE: Jets' head coach Claude Noel began his daily media session with a statement, knowing full well the daily questions about the team's injured players would be asked again.

"It's day to day on all the guys," said Noel. "I'm waiting on for tomorrow. I'm not sure who's in, who's going to be out or what."

Defenceman Tobias Enstrom took part in his first full practice with full contact on Monday, but likely still won't see action until later in the month.

"It feels good so I'm going to talk to the trainers and see what the plan is," Enstrom said. "I'd like to get back as soon as possible. I've been out for awhile and I really miss the game. I've been practicing for awhile and my shoulder feels good and everything feels great and I'm really looking forward to getting back out there."

Both Ron Hainsey and Eric Fehr were on the ice but Nik Antropov and Dustin Byfuglien, who played Saturday in Detroit, were not.

"Time will tell, we'll see how I feel (Tuesday)," said Fehr. "I was just taking a couple maintenance days because I was feeling a little sore. I felt pretty good today and hopefully can get back at it again soon. It's my second shoulder surgery in three years. It feels pretty tight some days so I don't want to aggravate it or push it over the edge. I want to make sure I'm ready to go for the second half of the season."

WILD NEWS: Minnesota is expected to make one lineup change for tonight, adding winger Cal Clutterbuck, who was skating on the top line with Mikko Koivu and Dany Heatley before suffering a charley horse.

The Wild and Jets will be in the same division next season and with Manitoba and Minnesota neighbours, many fans are hoping it develops into a dandy rivalry between two hockey-mad locales.

"People are just real excited to have their team back," Wild head coach Mike Yeo said of Winnipeg in an interview with the St. Paul Pioneer-Press on Monday. "It's not one of the biggest rinks, but it's a loud building... It's going to be a great challenge going up there.

"Whenever you go up to a Canadian city, much like playing in Minnesota, the game is so important up there. They have an awful lot of pride in their team, having their team back, and every game they've had, there's been excitement right from the drop of the puck."

Yeo and Jets' boss Claude Noel are quite familiar with each other, the two having worked in the AHL last year -- Noel with the Manitoba Moose; Yeo with the Houston Aeros.

"You have to be impressed with the job Mike Yeo and the coaching staff have done there," said Noel. "You've got to like what you see with their team and what they've done there. Best team in the league. You look at

their goals against, they're well-balanced, they're getting good goaltending and it looks like there's a lot of joy there, which you always (have) when you're first in the league."



This Glass is half full

Former Canuck brings positive, winning attitude to the dressing room

By: Ed Tait

There is no magic formula to gulp down. There is no clear-cut solution in the coach's manual.

So, just how does a team prevent one loss from becoming two or three and officially a losing streak?

For that we go to Tanner Glass, who spent the last two years with the Vancouver Canucks -- the 2010-11 winners of the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL squad with the best regular-season record.

And if you're looking for some sort of deep introspective take on it all, look elsewhere.

"It was easy for us in Vancouver," said Glass on Monday. "Win or lose, that day was done. It was always come to the rink the next day with a clean slate. We had some runs where we won eight, nine in a row and every day was a new day and we came to practice to work. We were held to the same standard whether we won 5-0 or got spanked. It was the same all the way through the regular season and the playoffs. The playoffs didn't feel any different. It was business as usual. I thought it was a credit to the veteran players and leaders in that room because they showed the young guys how to do it right away.

"That's something we've already gotten better at here this year. The pace has got to be good at practice, the coach holds us accountable. It's something we're really working on."

And it's critical given what happened in Atlanta last year where this young squad faded in the last 50 or so games.

"We watched it happen from Vancouver," said Glass. "All I can speak to is what we did there: it's about preparation and execution every day. We had a fun group, it was fun around the rink. It's easy when you're winning, but at the same time, win or lose, you come back with the same attitude. It's tough when you start losing because you have meeting after meeting and it can wear on a guy mentally.

"But if you just bring your smile and work boots to the rink every day it can be a lot easier."



A win tonight will put things right

TONIGHT: Wild at Jets, 7:30 p.m., MTS Centre Jets want to rebound quickly from trouncing

By: Ed Tait

They can write it down on their Christmas to-do list -- get a win -- right after finding the perfect gift for their sweeties, stocking up the liquor cabinet for the holiday guests and scoring the frankincense and myrrh for the office party.

But this is hardly as simple a task as slapping down the credit card and worrying about the bill later.

Yes, it's still all good in the land of the Winnipeg Jets these days, even after the 7-1 spanking the Detroit Red Wings administered to the local heroes in Hockeytown on Saturday. Reeling off four straight wins before that Motown Massacre, after all, means this group is allowed to indulge in a little selective memory -- and boy was that Wings' game put out of sight, out of mind in a hurry on Monday when the team returned to practice in preparation for their tilt against the league-leading Minnesota Wild.

Head coach Claude Noel had the squad watch the first period of the loss in Detroit -- Winnipeg was down 2-1 after one -- and then skipped the rest. His rationale here was simple: "At the end of the day it's about people and how you get them to play. All I know is you get more from sugar than you do from... blank. I'll leave that to you guys.

"We've moved past that game. A loss is a loss. It was painful for everybody. Watching it on TV would have been painful, being behind the bench was painful, playing and being one of the players was painful, sitting in the stands as one of the extra players would be painful... there was nothing good about it. But we'll be good (Tuesday)."

Asked what he might have learned from Saturday's loss, Noel added:

"I learned from Saturday night that I don't enjoy games like that. I don't enjoy standing behind the bench when it's 5-1 and you're looking for some form of relief and you're not sure what form that would come in and you've got to endure the last 20 minutes in pain. I don't enjoy those games. It's even worse when you have to deal with the media after those games because the questions all seem dumb."

It was at this point that those assembled in the press conference room burst out in laughter. Again, selective memory.

But it's here where things could soon get a little testy in Jetville, especially if a setback becomes a skid. Minnesota is here today, Washington on Thursday and Anaheim on Saturday. The Islanders, Montreal and Pittsburgh next week -- all at home, all before Christmas. And it's worth noting -- just as a point of reference -- that these Jets (nee: Atlanta Thrashers) were leading their division roundabout this time last year before everything began to unravel.

Consider that on Dec. 20 a year ago this team was 19-11-5 -- eight games above .500 -- before finishing the season on a 15-25-7 stumble.

"We had that segment last year where we didn't play great for a month and a half," recalled Jets' centre Bryan Little. "It seems like we're more focused this year and we expect more out of ourselves. I don't expect that to happen again, but this will be a good test for us after that game in Detroit, to see how we respond.

"We proved last year we had a good core to play with the best teams. But that maturity, that ability to deal with something before it skids out of control is something we all had to go through. Hopefully we have learned from it. You have to play consistently every night because this is a tough league. It's hard to get into a playoff position and that's our goal, to get up there in the standings.

"To be a good team you've got to find ways to win games against tough teams like the Wild."

So once again this Jet crew, for the 30th time in 30 games, will be under the microscope as this intense hockey market watches to see what unfolds next. Does this team exhibit growth or take a step back? That's just life in the fishbowl.

"We've got to get back to winning," said Noel. "I mean, (the Detroit loss) is one game. I'm not going to beat it up. Sometimes when you're young you forget that you've done so well. You've played one game and now you micromanage and you pound your team because of one game. It's like, have you forgotten about the other nine? We were (6-2-1) before we played this game. We've moved on. We need to get back to winning and that will be our challenge (Tuesday). It's a good team and we know we've played good teams and won, so we have to find a way to do it again."



Jets Report

By: Ed Tait

About the Jets

WINNIPEG has won seven of its last eight at MTS Centre by a combined score of 30-18, but is coming off a 7-1 spanking in Detroit last Saturday... The Jets are 9-4-2 in games in which they score first, including Saturday's loss in Detroit... Bryan Little is on a six-game point streak (4G, 4A) and has 10 goals in his last 15 games... Blake Wheeler has 12 points (2G, 10A) in his last 11 games... The Jets' power play is ranked 14th overall; the penalty kill is 19th... Evander Kane (112) and Dustin Byfuglien (111) are ranked third and fourth in the NHL in shots taken... Kyle Wellwood leads the Jets in shooting percentage (20.6) with seven goals on 34 shots; that ranks in him 10th in the NHL.

About the Wild

MINNESOTA sports the best record in the NHL at 20-7-3 and have been absolutely dominant on the road with a 10-3-2 mark... This is the farthest into a a season the Wild has been ranked first overall in franchise history... The Wild roster features four Minnesotans: Mike Lundin (Burnsville), Matt Cullen (Virginia); Jeff Taffe (Hastings) and Nate Prosser (Elk River). Just for comparison, the Jets' lineup features three Minnesotans: Mark Stuart (Rochester), Blake Wheeler (Robbinsdale) and Dustin Byfuglien (Minneapolis).. Snowflake, Man.'s Justin Falk is on the injured reserve list... This is Minnesota's fifth consecutive road game; they are on a seven-game road winning streak... Mikko Koivu leads Minny in scoring (7G, 19A)... Wild goaltenders have combined to sport the third-best goals-against average through 30 games at 2.06.

WINNIPEG JETS

31 Ondrej Pavelec

50 Chris Mason

4 Zach Bogosian

5 Mark Stuart

8 Alex Burmistrov

9 Evander Kane

12 Randy Jones

13 Kyle Wellwood

14 Tim Stapleton

15 Tanner Glass

16 Andrew Ladd

18 Bryan Little

19 Jim Slater

22 Chris Thorburn

26 Blake Wheeler

29 Johnny Oduya

33 Dustin Byfuglien

36 Mark Flood

41 Jason Jaffray

80 Nik Antropov

MINNESOTA WILD

31 Matt Hackett

32 Niklas Backstrom

37 Josh Harding

2 Mike Lundin

4 Clayton Stoner

5 Greg Zano

6 Marco Scandella

7 Matt Cullen

9 Mikko Koivu

14 Darroll Powe

15 Dany Heatley

16 Brad Staubitz

17 Casey Wellman

18 Colton Gillies

21 Kyle Brodziak

22 Cal Clutterbuck

23 Jeff Taffe

25 Nick Johnson

27 Cody Almond

39 Nate Prosser

46 Jared Spurgeon

55 Nick Schultz

96 Pierre-Marc Bouchard

-- Ed Tait



Best to forget about this one

Erase memory banks and reboot after 7-1 annihilation

By: Tim Campbell

The stinging defeat doesn't entirely ruin the Jets' recent stretch of progress. They are still above .500 at 13-12-4 because they are 8-3-1 in their last 12 starts.

But a six-goal loss? And overrun from the second period on? Can that just be forgotten?

"I think you've just got to forget about it, to be honest with you," Jets captain Andrew Ladd said. "Go back Monday and get back to work. You can't dwell on games like this. Obviously you could sit there and pick for days upon end, but at the end of the day, it's a long season and you've got to move on."

Moving on will bring the Jets to Game 30, Tuesday night at the MTS Centre against the Western Conference leaders, the Minnesota Wild.

The team took Sunday as a down day, not surprising given the taxing weekend itinerary. They played and won at home Friday against Carolina, then jumped on their jet and got into their Detroit hotel beds at around 4 a.m. ET.

The Jets then came straight back to Winnipeg after their four-game winning streak was dumped into the Detroit River.

"I think it's one of those games that usually you come back and have a lot better game after it," said Jets centre Bryan Little, who scored in Saturday's first minute. "I think we were on a high for a while and this game kind of brought us back down to earth.

"We realize we're not where we should be yet, that we have a lot to learn. I think it should be a lot different when we get back and get some rest."

To be fair, Saturday's trouncing also had something to do with the Red Wings.

Their high-skill, rapid puck movement ruled the evening and it's unlikely that even the 1996 Nikolai Khabibulin would have been able to fend off the quality onslaught seen Saturday.

"Puck possession's a big thing," Little said. "Tonight our faceoffs weren't great (beat 34-21) and it just seemed like they were hanging onto the puck a lot longer.

"We got caught watching them too much. We had a bit too much respect for them. It felt like were on the penalty kill half the game."

Added Ladd: "The thing that makes them a great team is that they play the same way from start to finish. They don't change their game. That's something we can learn."

But change is what the Jets did on Saturday, unintentionally of course.

That was head coach Claude Noel's biggest issue with the evening.

"It wasn't so much skating, the problem was we gave them the middle of the ice in the first period way too much and that would allow them to play east and west as much as they wanted to," Noel said. "Then for me, we didn't defend very well. You look, we were puck-watching in our D zone.

"It was poor."

The coach said he was unsure how much he would dwell on the lowlights for his team before Tuesday.

"If nothing else, this grounds us and puts us back on solid ground and we'll see," Noel said, asked to look forward. "There are days you face these things. You always ask yourself as a coach and a staff, 'Why?' and 'What could we have done, should have done? Should I have mixed lines, called a time-out earlier, all those things.' And you don't know the answers and it's not a good feeling."

Through six games of their most favourable stretch of schedule for the entire 2011-12 season -- 13 of 15 at home between Nov. 29 and Dec. 31 -- the Jets are 4-2-0 to date, with the next six at the MTS Centre until their Dec. 27 game in Colorado.

[email protected]

Enter Antro

JETS centre Nik Antropov returned to the lineup Saturday night in Detroit after missing four games.

Antropov was held out of Friday's home game against Carolina but returned Saturday to the line that was having some success when he aggravated a previous undisclosed injury two weeks ago.

The big centre played 15:18 on Saturday.

Kane hits post

Left-winger Evander Kane collected an assist on Bryan Little's first-minute goal on Saturday, giving him points in seven of his last eight games.

Kane was largely a non-factor on Saturday, though, after being smacked hard into the post and partly over Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard late in the first period by defenceman Niklas Kronwall. He ended the night minus-four.

Don't stop now

Little, with his goal, has run a points streak to six games (4-4-8), while right-winger Blake Wheeler now has points in six of the last seven straight games (1-7-8).

Jones back

Jets defenceman Randy Jones returned from injury to play both weekend games.

Jones played 15:30 against Carolina on Friday and then saw 18:51 of ice on Saturday night in Detroit.

He missed 15 games after blocking a shot Nov. 3.

Fehr scratched again

Right-winger Eric Fehr was a scratch again Saturday.

After missing the first 19 games of the season while recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, Fehr played five games, recording just one assist.

He then went out of the lineup and has missed five straight games, and has barely practised in the last week.

Coach Claude Noel said Saturday that Fehr was still day-to-day and wasn't yet ruled out of Tuesday's home game against Minnesota.



Quartet of key Jets day-to-day

By KEN WIEBE, QMI Agency

WINNIPEG - A quartet of Jets are day-to-day on the eve of a big game against the Minnesota Wild.

Defencemen Dustin Byfuglien (leg) and Ron Hainsey (ankle), along with centre Nik Antropov (foot) and right winger Eric Fehr (shoulder), are all questionable for Tuesday’s home game against the Wild, who sport the league’s best record at 20-7-3.

Byfuglien and Antropov didn’t practise on Monday at MTS Centre, but they were healthy enough to attempt a trick on captain Andrew Ladd, who is celebrating his 26th birthday. While Ladd was being interviewed by a large media scrum, Byfuglien came into the dressing room with a small cake that had a candle on it.

At the same time, Antropov sneaked up behind Ladd and tried to deliver a shaving cream pie, but Ladd figured something was up and ducked out of the way in the nick of time.

Hainsey and Fehr were on the ice Monday, as was defenceman Tobias Enstrom, who was allowed to practise with contact for the first time since breaking his collarbone on Halloween. However, head coach Claude Noel said Enstrom will not play against the Wild.

The Jets are coming off a 7-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night. Their record is 13-12-4.

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 12.13.2011


Wheeler packing a punch

Jets forward playing with more bite

By KIRK PENTON, QMI Agency

WINNIPEG - Blake Wheeler has never had a massive passion for pro hockey teams in Minnesota.

The Jets right-winger was too young when the North Stars left, and he was too old when the Wild came back to really have a love for them deep in his heart.

The NFL’s Vikings on the other hand? Well, that’s a different story.

In fact, he probably risked his personal safety when he decided to play for the United States Hockey League’s Green Bay Gamblers during his senior year of high school. He even went to a playoff game between the Vikings and Packers.

“It was an experience,” Wheeler said Monday. “At that point in time, both teams were really good. The Vikings actually knocked them out of the playoffs that year and I was at the game, so that was one of the better moments I’ve had. That was awesome.

“I was at the 50-yard line watching the Packers get killed at home by the Vikings in the playoffs. That was once in a lifetime.”

If Wheeler didn’t have a problem strolling into Lambeau Field as a Vikings fan at playoff time, he shouldn’t be scared of anything. Over the last 10 games for the Jets, the right-winger has shown that to be true.

When he signed a two-year deal with the Jets during the summer, he said his mission was to become a true power forward and use his 6-foot-5 frame to its full potential. He didn’t do that for the first month and a half this season, but over the last few weeks he has added the power to his game, driving hard to the net and packing a little more punch.

And it’s not a stretch to say Wheeler’s improvement is one of the reasons why the Jets have turned it around lately as well, going 8-3-1 in their last 12 games. In addition, the top line of Wheeler, Evander Kane and Bryan Little was formed on Nov. 19, and the trio has accounted for 17 of Winnipeg’s 30 goals since then.

“I’ve put more of an emphasis on being physical and finishing checks,” Wheeler said. “When you do those little things it just seems to all come together. You seem to create more turnovers, you seem to be in the right spots a lot more.

“That’s a big thing for our line. Kaner, he’s a physical guy and if I can be physical on the other side, too, it’s just going to create more havoc and create more turnovers for us, because when we get the puck we can make plays.”

Wheeler had only seven points in his first 18 games, but he has 12 in his last 11 outings. Head coach Claude Noel said that’s probably because he has more “bite” in his game.

“He’s just more confrontational, if that’s the right word, more into the physicality of stuff,” Noel said. “Because when I watched him before he was OK, but you wanted more physicality and he’s doing that.

“He’s not going to be a crusher all the time, but he’s playing with more bite and that’s good. I liked him the last 10 games.”



Injury bug biting Jets again

By KEN WIEBE, QMI Agency

WINNIPEG - A quartet of Jets are day-to-day before their big game against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night.

Defencemen Dustin Byfuglien (leg) and Ron Hainsey (ankle), along with centre Nik Antropov (foot) and right winger Eric Fehr (shoulder), are all questionable for Tuesday’s tilt against the Wild.

Byfuglien and Antropov didn’t practise on Monday at MTS Centre, but Hainsey and Fehr did. So did defenceman Tobias Enstrom, who was allowed to practise with contact for the first time since breaking his collarbone on Halloween, but head coach Claude Noel said Enstrom will not play against the Wild.

Byfuglien appeared to injure his left leg against Detroit on Saturday night, but he finished the game. Antropov played against the Red Wings after missing four games but wasn’t very noticeable. Then again, not many Jets were during the 7-1 loss.

Fehr has missed the last five games. He sat out the first 19 matches of the season after shoulder surgery in May, played in five, and then went back on the shelf. Hainsey, meanwhile, has also played in only five games this season due to a variety of ailments, the latest being an open wound on his ankle after blocking a shot on Nov. 23.

Enstrom is eager to get back in the lineup, but it doesn’t sound like that will happen for a while.

“I miss the game, and I want to come back as soon as possible, but it’s not really my decision if I’m going to play or not,” he said. “I’m not going to take any chances.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY?

Captain Andrew Ladd celebrated his 26th birthday on Monday, and a couple of his teammates tried to give him a “present.”

Ladd was being interviewed when Byfuglien walked into the dressing room carrying a cake with a lit candle on it. The sea of reporters parted to let Byfuglien through when Antropov came up from behind and tried to nail Ladd in the face with a shaving cream pie.

The captain, however, sensed something was happening, because he ducked just in time and Antropov missed his target.

“I’ve never seen Buff bring me a cake,” Ladd said, “so I knew there was something more to it than that.”

ROARING GOOD TIME

Ladd and about 10 of his teammates hit the ice at the Granite on Sunday for a game of curling. It was the brainchild of Ladd’s wife, Brandy.

“We were looking for something different to do, and that was the idea,” Ladd said. “It was good. It was tough. It was a little harder than most guys thought, but it was fun to get on the ice sheet in a little different format.”

According to the captain, goaltender Chris Mason would be the skip if the Jets ever entered a team in the Safeway Championship playdowns.

“Mase was actually really good,” Ladd said. “I’ll give him some credit, but I think he’s done it before.”

AROUND THE GLASS

Ladd believes the team’s dominance at home and troubles on the road lately are coincidental.

“We started to play a lot better hockey here in this home stretch, so I don’t think it was the road,” he said. “It was at the start of the season (when they had a lot of road games) we weren’t playing the way we needed to play.” … According to the StarTribune, the Wild brought all three of their goalies — Josh Harding, Niklas Backstrom and Matt Hackett — to Winnipeg … The lone Manitoban on the Wild roster, defenceman Justin Falk of Snowflake, won’t play on Tuesday because of back spasms.



No place like home for Jets

By KIRK PENTON, QMI Agency

WINNIPEG - Still trying to find the perfect Christmas gift for that special Jets fan in your life?

Wonder no more.

It’s the perfect present, and it will make him or her extremely happy in more ways than one. Tell me their eyes wouldn’t light up when they unwrapped this: airfare, hotel and tickets to a Jets road game.

Why not send your loved one to Denver on Dec. 27? Who wouldn’t want to go to Buffalo on Jan. 7? I hear Newark, N.J., is lovely in mid-January.

So call your travel agent and fork over the credit card number. The Jets fan in your life will be happy for two reasons: They’ll get to see their beloved Jets on the road, and, if enough of them are there, they might actually see them win.

You see, the irony here is the team called the Jets can’t win after they ride in one. They have dropped seven of their last eight road tilts, including Saturday night’s fatigue-fuelled flop against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. They were in the rest of their road defeats but still ended up on the losing end. Conversely, they have won seven of their last eight at home.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that the Jets, who are 9-4-0 in the Manitoba capital, like their home cooking.

And why wouldn’t they?

MTS Centre is one of the loudest buildings in the NHL. Manitobans never want to let their team get away again, so they fill the building and roar until they lose their voices.

The Jets are feeding off that frenzy, but have been unable to find the drive and motivation to compete at the same level away from their friendly confines, where they are 4-8-4.

So there’s only one answer to this problem: Jets fans need to start filling opposing rinks.

I’m almost not joking, because they look like a different team when they don’t have their boisterous fan base behind them.

Granted, no NHL team spent more time on the road in the early part of the season than the Jets, and they were dealing with a new city, a new coach and a new system at the time. No squad had more obstacles to overcome, which perhaps skewed their road mark in the early going.

That’s not the case anymore.

The Jets have shown in the last month they can compete with the league’s best. They won a hard-fought clash with the Boston Bruins last week, snapping the defending champs’ streak of going more than a month without a regulation loss. However, against the Red Wings, another of the league’s elite, it almost looked like the AHL versus the NHL, to borrow one of head coach Claude Noel’s phrases from earlier in the season.

Now, you might be saying there’s nothing new about playing better at home than on the road, but the last few Atlanta Thrashers teams were pretty much the same squad at in their own barn as they were in someone else’s.

Last year, they had 17 wins on the road and 17 at home. The year before that it was 19 and 16, respectively.

It’s obvious why the Jets are strong at home, but it doesn’t explain their road woes. Is it their youth? Is it not having the last change? Is it playing in the Eastern Conference?

Luckily for them, they play eight of their next nine at MTS Centre and have a few weeks to figure it out.

As for you, get shopping.


600183 Websites

ESPN / With Murray gone, who will lead Kings?

By Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun

Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun discuss who will be the next head coach of the Kings now that Terry Murray was fired on Monday.

Scott Burnside: Well my friend, you have to feel bad for Los Angeles Kings head coach Terry Murray and GM Dean Lombardi after Lombardi flew out to Boston on Monday and told Murray his services were no longer needed by the club. Listening to Lombardi on the conference call announcing the change -- assistant John Stevens will take over on an interim basis -- you get the sense this was a really hard decision for Lombardi.

"He never quit," Lombardi said. "That's not his nature. His work ethic and his focus never changed."

Los Angeles fired coach Terry Murray after the team went on a four-game skid and dropped to 12th in the West.

I was in Los Angeles for a few days last week and got a chance to chat with Murray before the Kings dropped a 4-2 decision to Minnesota. Even then he

was talking the talk, trying to get his team out of a funk that has now seen it drop four straight and fall to 30th in the league in goals against. Also, I had a chance to drop in on Lombardi and you knew the strain of balancing the team's underachievement (the Kings are in 12th place in the Western Conference but just two points out of eighth) against his loyalty to Murray was weighing on him. But now, the interesting decision will be what Lombardi does moving forward. It didn't really sound like Stevens was going to factor in, but he's a guy who has NHL experience and people forget he took an overachieving Flyers team to the Eastern Conference final in 2008.

What say you?

Pierre LeBrun: Given Lombardi's past relationship with Darryl Sutter in San Jose and the way Lombardi has often talked about him to me during our general hockey conversations, you know how highly he thinks of him. Lombardi was asked specifically about Sutter during that media call Monday night, and he simply answered that the Kings had options, refusing to confirm or deny any interest in Sutter.

I asked Lombardi on that call if he had a short list and he said it was a very short one. One thing to keep in my with Sutter is that he's still under contract with the Flames, so there's the business of having to ask permission from Calgary to speak with him. Either way, you can take it to the bank that Sutter is on Lombardi's short list.

Randy Carlyle's name was thrown out a lot on message boards by Kings fans but, as of Monday night, a Ducks source said the Kings had not called asking permission.

I feel bad for Murray too, Scotty, as you mentioned in your opening remarks. He's a thoughtful, classy man. The young players on that Kings roster learned a lot from him over the past few years. But clearly his message was getting muted the past few weeks.

"I think it had to happen," one Kings player who requested anonymity told me via text message. "We were dead."

Burnside: I get the connection between Sutter and Dean Lombardi from their days in San Jose. What I don't really get is how he would be the guy to help this Kings team get out of its funk. Sutter led the Flames to the Cup final in '04 but other than that has had only limited playoff success as a head coach. He moved on to management after the Flames were bounced in the first round in 2005-06, so he has been away from the coaching game for some time now.

This is a Kings team that has the defensive fundamentals in place but has lost its creative juice. Its goal totals are down significantly from two years ago. Drew Doughty has hit a wall in his development and whether that's due to his ill-advised contract squabble or not is moot; bottom line is he hasn't been very good and he is the cornerstone of that Kings blue line. He and Jack Johnson need to produce more. So do Dustin Penner and Justin Williams and Dustin Brown.

I'm just not sure how Darryl Sutter, if Lombardi goes that route, gets the Kings out of their funk. Doesn't he represent more of the same? To me Lombardi needs to find someone to bring a fresh approach, whether that means younger or someone like Craig MacTavish, who is currently toiling in the American Hockey League.

LeBrun: I disagree with you on Sutter. I think he'd be a good fit. You can say what you want of him as a GM, but as a coach he's been proved to be a winner, including coaching the underdog Flames to the 2004 Stanley Cup finals. To me, if the Kings do indeed go the Sutter route, they might get a similar impact to the way Ken Hitchcock turned things around in St. Louis. A veteran coach with an edge commands players' respect. Both Hitchcock and Sutter fit that profile.

Another name that made the rounds Tuesday night was that of Tony Granato, who is currently an assistant coach in Pittsburgh. What say you on that possibility?

Burnside: Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree. To me Sutter is at best a parallel move, different voice same message. This is an L.A. team that has sold the rebuild to its fan base and, for whatever reason, the pressure of meeting high expectations for the first time has caused the Kings to shrink into themselves. As Lombardi pointed out in his conference call, it's a lot easier when you're playing with the house's money and every win gets you a parade.

Maybe Sutter is the kind of hard-edged guy that gets the Kings over the hump, but you take a closer look at his coaching record and other than '04 there are a lot more playoff disappointments than upsets.

As for Granato, who also has ties to Lombardi, Los Angeles and the Sharks, the Kings have not made a request to the Penguins to talk with Granato, a source told ESPN.com Monday. Also, my sense is that the Pens would want Granato to finish out the season in Pittsburgh rather than disrupt what is a pretty cohesive coaching staff in Pittsburgh.

The thing I don't quite get is that it doesn't look like John Stevens is in the mix. Why not give him a chance to turn things around. Good man, Stevens, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Kings respond to him, although it won't be an easy road as they play in Boston Tuesday and then travel to Columbus, Detroit and Toronto.

LeBrun: This is a hugely important decision for Lombardi. After all, his own GM job is on the line as well given the expectations ownership had in Los Angeles this season. And that's why as much as he dreaded firing Murray -- a man he greatly respects -- he knew he had to do something. It's a familiar pattern in a league where meaningful trades are so hard to pull off in the first half of the season, a coaching change ends up being the only answer even though it's not only the coach's fault. In the case of the Kings players, there are several of them who should look in the mirror and realize what they've contributed so far this season is not nearly good enough.

ESPN LOADED: 12.13.2011

600184 Websites

FOXSports.com / Murray takes fall, but blame can be shared

Jon Rosen

For the Los Angeles Kings, the story wasn't supposed to unfold like this.

Not with goaltending competence finally established with dependable Jonathan Quick. Not following a mid-summer trade that brought the Kings one of the most intelligent two-way centers in the game in Mike Richards. Not with a nearly maxed-out payroll and lofty expectations both within and outside of a locker room that exudes character.

Twenty-nine games into the 2011-12 season, Los Angeles is tied for 11th in the Western Conference and coming off a 7-9-2 stretch since November 1 in which they spent 38 of 41 days in their home state. They haven't scored more than two goals in eight consecutive games and are on pace for a league-worst 184 goals scored, which would be their lowest full-season total since 1969-70.

And, as is nearly universally the case with underperforming teams with high payrolls, the coach took the fall.

The Kings relieved head coach Terry Murray of his duties Monday afternoon on the first day of a weeklong, four-game roadtrip. Assistant coach John Stevens will take over behind the bench in Boston on Tuesday with an interim title, and "there's no timeline on John," president/general manager Dean Lombardi said.

While early reports have Darryl Sutter or Tony Granato as possible replacements, one of the few things Lombardi could specify on the search for a new coach was that "when you're in this situation, it's a very short list."

The Kings hadn't been playing extremely poor hockey this season — they just weren't scoring. They weren't blowing big leads or showing confidence issues or calling out teammates. The competition level appeared to be high; the team had established an identity as a physical club difficult to play against. They were stingy in the face-off circle and relied on sound defensive structure and goaltending.

Encouraging as that sounds, that's how ineffective the offense was, coupled with a step back by certain players through the first half of the season.

The most glaring step back has been taken by Drew Doughty, who was electric during his breakout season of 2009-10, when he scored 16 goals and recorded 59 points, catalyzing an effective power play and appearing to become among the most skilled players in the league in carrying the puck up the ice.

Last season, he was hampered by injuries and recorded 11 goals and 40 points in 76 games. This season, after holding out over the summer and signing the largest contract in franchise history, he’s only been able to

produce two goals and eight points in 24 games. He looks tentative on the power play and has endured a career-worst slump with one assist and a minus-13 rating in his last 13 games.

"In the end, it still comes down to the player getting his focus and being the best he can be," Lombardi said. “With young players today, this is a challenge.

“I don't think it's just the young players, I think it's been right across the board. So I'm not just pinning some of the performance of the younger [guys] going to the next level. They're all trying to reach their potential, and there's always stumbling blocks along the road to reaching their utmost.

"Then you have players with a specific M.O.. who have had a certain level of success in this league. I know players that establish themselves are going to have ups and downs and things, but they should be in the neighborhood of what they have done in the past. I don't think we have any guy here you'd consider old or on the downside. So it's collective.

"You just highlighted the young players, but I think the young player presents a different challenge for the coach today in terms of getting to them. It's so difficult with all the things they have to get to where they need to be, and it's a process.

“I've been through this before. I saw it with the Marlowes and the Stuarts, the Nabokovs and things. But it's collectively across the board here. You can't just say it's the young players. The Stolls, the Williamses, the Greenes, all these guys, the Browns certainly have to look at themselves as much as the younger players."

Speaking of the veterans, there has been a steep drop-off in production by players in a top-six role that has been compounded by an injury to Richards. Simon Gagne, Justin Williams Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown have combined for three goals and 11 points along with a -12 rating in the team's last 10 games.

"I think if you look around us, we have what it takes in this room, regardless of who's in or out of the lineup,” Brown said. “It's up to the guys in here. This is our team.”.

Perhaps the team was not adequately prepared for adversity after losing several key players last year. Ryan Smyth and Michal Handzus both played in 82 games, combining for 35 goals and 77 points while providing a gritty, net-front presence missing from the team today. The pesky Wayne Simmonds contributed to the team's two-way efforts and was a handful to play against.

With Richards injured and Gagne perhaps just a touch off from his best years of hockey, the team needs that willing-the-puck-into-the-net type of greasy hockey more than ever.

Or maybe this autumn malaise is more representative of the excellent parity in the Western Conference, where only seven points separate the fourth- and 12th-place teams.

While the team has battled, the goals and wins just haven't been there.

"You never see exactly what your coach sees, but for the most part, I think it's safe to say that with the expectations this year, it becomes more result-orientated," Lombardi said when asked if he agreed with Murray that the club had been competing and showing a strong effort. "Every situation is different, and the challenge for a coach, as well as players, when you have expectations, is driven more to results. It's harder, at times, to look for those victories within losses. That's just the state of the franchise right now.

"You could look for more of those things three years ago, but we're trying to push to the next level. And it isn't easy. It's a lot easier playing with the house's money. We're at the stage of the franchise where you're going to be judged on wins and losses and playoff rounds. That's where you strive to be. It's a lot easier when there's no expectations, and with every win you can get a parade.

“We're not there right now, so it comes down to wins and losses."

FOXSports.com LOADED: 12.13.2011

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NBCSports.com / Marty Turco is taking his talents to Salzburg for the weekend

Joe Yerdon

Looks like NHL scorers won’t have Marty Turco to kick around anymore.

Turco is taking his talents and heading to Austria where he’s signed a short-term deal to play with EC Salzburg. There he’ll play in a tournament with the team next weekend. So much for buying that Alpine lodge and learning to yodel.

Turco spent last season with the Chicago Blackhawks as a backup goalie to Corey Crawford after initially being brought in to start. Instead, Turco took a backseat after Crawford seized the starting job helping the Hawks roll into the playoffs nearly upsetting Vancouver in the first round.

While there’s been a host of teams dealing with goaltending issues this season, Turco hasn’t gotten a call for a job. Turco was rumored to be talking to the Maple Leafs earlier this season but that proved to be false. Playing in Austria for even a weekend sure makes for a nice way to kill time and at least potentially show you’ve still got it.

NBCSports.com / LOADED: 12.13.2011

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NBCSports.com / Filly don’t do AHL: Nikita Filatov headed back to Russia

Joe Yerdon

Nikita Filatov doesn’t do backchecking and he doesn’t do the AHL either. SovSport’s Slava Malamud reported via Twitter this morning (since deleted) that Filatov is headed back to Russia after deciding he didn’t want to go back to Binghamton in the AHL. Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos also confirmed Malamud’s report as did TSN’s Bob McKenzie. Senators GM Bryan Murray had to sign off the deal and was happy to do so.

Filatov had spent the last few games as a healthy scratch in Ottawa and without him getting any playing time, the Sens at least wanted to make sure he stayed in game shape by sending him to Binghamton. After spending a short time there already this season, Filatov decided he’s had enough of the up and down life and now heads back home to play in the KHL.

With Ottawa assigning Filatov to the KHL, they still retain his contractual rights so we might get to do this dance again next season if the Sens decide to negotiate with the impending restricted free agent. For now, it’s dasvidaniya to Filatov who may go down as one of the biggest draft busts of the last five years.


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NBCSports.com / Terry Murray’s situation in L.A. seems awfully familiar

Joe Yerdon

With the speculation looming that Kings coach Terry Murray could soon be out of a job, looking at what’s going on in L.A. seems very familiar.

A team loaded with superstars that looks sapped of their will to compete and struggle mightily at putting the puck in the net. Wait, are we talking about Terry Murray with the Kings or what Bruce Boudreau had to deal with in Washington? Or Davis Payne in St. Louis? What about Randy Carlyle in Anaheim? The situations are curiously similar and in Murray’s case, it’s one where the competitiveness in the West has a hand in speeding things up.

While the Kings are in a division that’s playing poorly all around, falling back into a tie with Calgary for 11th in the conference is about as big of a sign

that things are wrong that a team expected to compete for the Stanley Cup needs to see that something is very wrong. Whether you’re critical of Murray’s “defense at all costs” ways or you think the Kings’ offensive weapons just aren’t trying hard enough, the truth is it’s a situation where a new voice is needed there.

Murray’s gotten the Kings to where they play as strong as any team defensively and Jonathan Quick is as good as it gets in goal, but they’ve lost their way in other facets of the game and the moves Murray makes to try and spark the offense just aren’t working. When the team stops listening and responding, that’s a sign that things have to change. It’s happened in Washington, St. Louis, and Anaheim for the same reasons and now it should be L.A.’s time as well.


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Sportsnet.ca / No such thing as a lock

Despite being the worst team in the Eastern Conference, the Canes dropped the Leafs 3-2 on Nov. 20.

Mike Brophy

One might be tempted to say the Toronto Maple Leafs should have an easy night Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes.

On paper, that is.

And that’s saying something when you consider the Leafs, who opened the year 4-0-1 at home, have dropped six of their last seven games at the Air Canada Centre and were out-scored 29-10 in those contests.

Nevertheless, so much about this particular match-up appears to favor the Leafs.

One glance at the standings suggests the game should be Toronto’s for the taking. Despite a recent swoon, the Leafs remain sixth in the Eastern Conference with 33 points.

The Hurricanes, meanwhile, are dead last with 22 points.

Advantage: Leafs

The Leafs possess the NHL’s most deadly scoring duo in Phil Kessel, who is tied for first in goals with 18 and is second in points with 36, as well as Joffrey Lupul, who is tied for fourth in points with 33. Carolina’s top scorer, Jeff Skinner, has 24 points and isn’t expected to play Tuesday night. Their second leading scorer is Eric Staal, who is off to a woeful start to his year with just seven goals and 19 points in 31 games, and he’s a team- worst minus-18.

Offensive advantage: Leafs

As for the special teams, the Leafs have struggled on the penalty-kill once again this season, but they are up against a power play that ranks 25th. Toronto’s power play is second best in the NHL while the Hurricanes are 26th in penalty-killing.

Special teams advantage: Leafs

There’s no question the Hurricanes have the best and most established goaltender in Cam

Ward, but Carolina’s team defence ranks 30th in the NHL compared to the Leafs who are

26th.

Goaltending advantage: Even

Toronto coach Ron Wilson has won 634 games in his NHL career; guided Team USA to a gold medal in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and guided the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup final in 1978-79. Carolina’s Kirk Muller has one NHL victory as a head coach in the NHL.

Coaching advantage: Toronto

In spite of all of this, you won’t find anybody in the Maple Leafs dressing room that is looking for an easy game against the Hurricanes.

"Ever since I’ve been in the league, any team can win on any given night," said veteran winger Colby Armstrong. "The teams are so close. You have to have good special teams and you have to have that 60-minute mentality where everyone is playing well. You can’t have any lulls."

Asked if he was concerned anybody would be taking the opposition lightly, defenceman

Cody Franson was definitive in his response.

"No, not with the league being the way it is now; any team can win on any given night," Franson said. "We went into Carolina and they played really well against us. They made it tough for us in their building and we don’t forget those kinds of things. We aren’t going to take these guys lightly. They might be struggling, but they have a good team and they work hard.

"The biggest thing is you don’t want to look back at this point of the season and say, ‘Those two points against Carolina when they were struggling were the points we needed to get into the playoffs.’ You never know which two points are going to be the biggest two points. Every two points count and we have to make up for some lost ground.

We haven’t had enough wins ourselves in the past few games."

The only time the Leafs and Hurricanes met, Nov. 20 in Carolina, it was the home team that escaped with a 3-2 victory.

Since then, though, the Hurricanes have fired Maurice and replaced him with Muller. The veteran of 19 years as a player in the NHL has assistant coaching experience at this level, but this is his first head coaching gig. Carolina is 1-5-0 with him.

That said, the Hurricanes have been in Toronto since last Friday and have had their first real opportunity to learn the new coach’s system.

"We have to know that Carolina, probably for the first time with the new coach, has had a couple of days of good practice," said Toronto coach Ron Wilson. "I’m sure when he took over he didn’t have much time to institute things. His team should be pretty prepared after a few days of practice. We’ve always had a difficult time with Carolina and I don’t think that’s going to change. They play well and their goalie (Cam Ward) plays really well against us. We’re going to have to be on our toes and be ready to work hard for 60 minutes."

Wilson didn’t say who would start in goal for him, but the thinking is he’ll go with James Reimer who is 0-3 since returning from six weeks out with concussion-like symptoms. Reimer, for one, knows his team could be in for a tougher game than some might expect.

"The Hurricanes are a good team; they beat us once already," Reimer said. "It doesn’t really matter what a team’s record is. You look at us last year; we didn’t have a great record and all of a sudden at the end we turned it on and we were one of the best teams in the league. It’s a fine line between winning and losing (in the NHL) and with the new coach I think they’re starting to turn things around. They played really well against Edmonton a couple of days ago so we can’t take them lightly at all."

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.13.2011

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