The NHL Minute - 30 October

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2mins Player of the day:

• Tobias Stephan (G - Stars) earns our player of the day for his win over the Minnesota Wild.  Stephan played in only his 2nd ever NHL game.   His last game, almost a year ago was on the road in Chicago, a game where he played solid but lost the game in overtime.  A year is a long time to wait to prove you can play at this level, but Stephan did that today. 

Stars of the day:

• Teemu Selanne (Ducks), got his game on with a hat trick against the Detroit Red Wings
• Tobias Stephan (Stars) made his NHL debut for 2008 with a 4-2 win over the Wild
• Ryan Getzlaf (Ducks) had 5 assists in the Ducks win over the Red Wings
• Matt Stajan (Maple Leafs) scored 2 goals in the Leafs shootout win over the Devils
• Pavel Datsyuk (Red Wings) scored a pair against the Ducks

…and there were none:

• Going into todays game the Wild had no suffered a regulation loss this season, the only team remaining to do so.  Tobias Stephan and the Stars put and end to that with a solid 4-2 win over the travelling team.

Demoted:

• Jordan Staal has been demoted to the third line during Wednesday’s Penguins practice.

Trade Deadline moved:

• The NHL has announced that the Trade Deadline will be moved back to March 4.  The change has been approved by both the NHL and the NHLPA.

oh, they’re hurt:

• Sergei Zubov (Stars) should be back in the Stars lineup this Saturday.
• Randy Jones (Flyers) could resume skating in 2 weeks and should be back on the team before Christmas.
• Jere Lehtinen (Stars) is rumored to begin skating again soon.
• Tim Connolly (Sabres) is unlikely to play this weekend with a back injury.
• Pascal Leclaire (Blue Jackets) is looking at a second opinion after his MRI revealed just a sprained ankle.
• Bryan McCabe (Panthers) began skating on his own Monday.
• Rick DiPietro (Islanders) will not be on the upcoming road trip.

He shoots… the scores:

• Toronto Maple Leafs 6 - 5 New Jersey Devils (shootout)
• Dallas Stars 4 - 2 Minnesota Wild
• Anaheim Ducks 5 - 4 Detroit Red Wings (overtime)

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Around the NHL - Sun 12 October

Note: Due to not posting an update yesterday today’s will include information and results from both Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 October.

Injury Updates:

• Canucks D Bieksa leaves game with knee injury
  Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa left Saturday’s 5-4 overtime victory over the Calgary Flames in the first period with a left knee injury.  Bieksa attempted to check the 6-3, 230-pound Wayne Primeau against the boards, but the blue-liner quickly fell to the ice.  He did not return and will be re-evaluated on Sunday. (Yahoo! Sports)

• Flyers D Jones to be sidelined 3-4 months
  Defenseman Randy Jones will have surgery on a labrum in his hip, and while the 27-year-old estimated he would be sidelined only six to eight weeks, Holmgren had a different assessment. (Yahoo! Sports)
• New York Islanders defenceman Radek Martinek knocked out of game
  New York Islanders defenceman Radek Martinek left with an undisclosed injury in the first period, following a hard hit behind the net, and didn’t return to the home opener Saturday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
• Bruins RW Kobasew out indefinitely with fractured leg
  Boston Bruins right wing Chuck Kobasew is out indefinitely with a fractured left leg, an injury he suffered in the team’s season-opening victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.  Kobasew, who notched two assists and eight penalty minutes in the 5-4 win, said in a published report that a teammate’s dump-in shot in the second period caught him on the ankle, causing the fracture. (Yahoo! Sports)
• Bryan McCabe: (Back) MRI Reveals No Fractured Vertebrae
  An MRI on Saturday revealed that McCabe (back) did not suffer a fractured vertebrae as initially feared, TSN.ca reports. (Yahoo! Sports)
• Rick DiPietro: Issues with Surgically Repaired Knee
  DiPietro has swelling and fluid around his surgically repaired left knee, TSN.ca reports. (Yahoo! Sports)
• Sabres C Connolly sidelined with injured back
  Buffalo Sabres center Tim Connolly will be sidelined at least one week after tests revealed that he has a hairline fracture of a vertebra in his back, according to coach Lindy Ruff.  Connolly dressed for the pregame skate but did not play in the Sabres’ 2-1 shootout victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Friday. (Yahoo! Sports)
• Nathan McIver: Personal
  Questionable for Oct 12 vs Phoenix (Sportsline)
• Rhett Warrener: Shoulder
  IR. Out indefinitely (Sportsline)
• Niklas Hjalmarsson: Upper body
  Questionable for Oct 13 Vs Nashville (Sportsline)

Suspensions:

• Michael Peca suspended for bumping official
  Columbus Blue Jackets centre Michael Peca has been suspended indefinitely by the NHL for making contact with an on-ice official.  The team and league announced the suspension on Saturday. Peca was automatically suspended per Rule 41, Physical Abuse of Officials, Category 2.  He was assessed a game misconduct penalty at 5:21 of the second period of the Blue Jackets’ season opener on Friday night at Dallas, which they went on to win 5-4 on Rick Nash’s goal in overtime. (Yahoo! Sports)

League Updates:

• Sarah Palin drops first puck at Flyers’ home opener
  To a mixture of boos and cheers, Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin dropped the ceremonial first puck Saturday night at the Philadelphia Flyers’ home opener against the New York Rangers.  The Alaska governor and self-described “hockey mom” heard a few boos when she walked onto the ice, but that soon turned to polite applause as she headed to centre ice with Mike Richards of the Flyers and Scott Gomez - from Alaska - of the Rangers. (Yahoo! Sports)

• Devils play opener despite arena code dispute
  The New Jersey Devils played their home opener as scheduled Friday night despite a construction code dispute that closed the Prudential Center down this summer.  The team obtained a temporary certificate of occupancy to enable it to play the opener against the New York Islanders, and was closing in on a permanent solution. Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek said the paperwork required for a permanent certificate was submitted to the City of Newark last week.  “The city is reviewing those documents and we’re both close to getting it done,” Vanderbeek said in a telephone interview. “We could hear back from them as early as next week.” (Yahoo! Sports)
• Hull among four inducted into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
  The Dallas Stars surely can forgive Brett Hull for missing the team’s 2008-09 season opener.  The co-general manager of the Stars, Hull skipped the club’s first game of the campaign Friday in order to be one of four players inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.  Also inducted during the ceremony at the Magness Arena were Brian Leetch, Mike Richter and Cammi Granato, who was the first woman to receive the honor. The addition of the quartet gives the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame 138 members. (Yahoo! Sports)

Signings, Transactions & Acquisitions:

• Anze Kopitar: Inks 7-Year Extension with Kings
  The Kings signed Kopitar to a seven-year, $47.6 million contract extension on Saturday, TSN.ca reports. (Yahoo! Sports)

• View more NHL and Minor League transactions at NHL.com

Trades & Rumours:

From spectorshockey.net (click to view the full report):

• TSN.CA reports the Detroit Red Wings have placed defenseman Kyle Quincey on waivers.

• COURIER POST ONLINE/PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: reports Flyers defenseman Randy Jones is facing hip surgery which could sideline him for between six-eight weeks. With Ryan Parent also sidelined by injury GM Paul Holmgren is examining his options, which includes shopping for a veteran defenseman, which Holmgren suggests could cost him a forward. Holmgren also noted that he didn’t claim veteran blueliner Kyle McLaren off waivers as the Flyers have salary cap issues.
• PIONEER PRESS: John Shipley reports the contract impasse between the Minnesota Wild and Marian Gaborik officially becomes a distraction for the club when the puck drops on their season opener Saturday. Shipley reports the contract talks have stalled and the Gaborik camp is waiting for the Wild to reignite them.
• USA TODAY: Kevin Allen reports veteran NHL defenseman Bryan Berard is considering his options, which includes possibly signing with a team in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League.
• EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples reports Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin confirmed he rejected an $11 million contract offer from his former Russian team to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins, telling them “I’m not (Alexander) Radulov”.
• MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan reports Detroit Red Wings forward Darren McCarty is eligible to come off short term injury reserve in a week, leaving management with three options. One is demoting McCarty, trading defenseman Kyle Quincey or placing him on waivers.
• EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE: reports the Phoenix Coyotes have traded forward Mike Zigomanis to the Pittsburgh Penguins for future considerations. 
• The San Jose Sharks have released forward Jeff Friesen.

Game Results:

Montreal vs Toronto	Final
Montreal	6
Toronto	1
NY Rangers vs Philadelphia	Final
NY Rangers	4
Philadelphia	3
Chicago vs Washington	Final
Chicago	2
Washington	4
St. Louis vs NY Islanders	Final
St. Louis	2
NY Islanders	5
Atlanta vs Florida	Final OT
Atlanta	2
Florida	3
Detroit vs Ottawa	Final
Detroit	3
Ottawa	2
New Jersey vs Pittsburgh	Final OT
New Jersey	2
Pittsburgh	1
Carolina vs Tampa Bay	Final OT
Carolina	4
Tampa Bay	3
Dallas vs Nashville	Final
Dallas	1
Nashville	3
Boston vs Minnesota	Final
Boston	3
Minnesota	4
Columbus vs Phoenix	Final
Columbus	1
Phoenix	3
Los Angeles vs San Jose	Final
Los Angeles	1
San Jose	3
Vancouver vs Calgary	Final OT
Vancouver	5
Calgary	4

(Game results courtesy of Yahoo! Sports)

Source: Yahoo! Sports | TSN.ca | ESPN | NHL.com

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Around the NHL - Mon 6 Oct

Injury Updates:

• Jere Lehtinen: Groin injury
  Lehtinen sat out the final preseason game today due to a groin injury. (Yahoo! Sports)

• Tim Connolly ready for season opener
  Connolly (back) says that he feels fine and will play in Friday’s season opener, according to The Buffalo News. (Yahoo! Sports)
• Gaborik back at full speed
  Wild’s Marian Gaborik is back at full speed, and scored a goal in today’s preseason game against Montreal (Yahoo! Sports)
• Jimmy Howard: Broken finger
  Howard suffered a broken fingertip prior to Saturday’s game against the
  Leafs and he’ll likely be out one week as a result, the Detroit News
  reports. (ESPN)

• Datsyuk: returning to action
  Datsyuk (groin) returned to action for the preseason finale on Sunday, the Detroit News reports. (ESPN)
• Marian Hossa missed third period
  Hossa sat out the third period of Sunday’s preseason finale against
  Buffalo due to a minor groin injury, the Detroit News reports. (ESPN)

• Karlis Skrastins: Upper body injury
  Skrastins did not practice Saturday because of an upper-body injury, according to the Miami Herald. (ESPN)
• Stephen Weiss: Groin injury
  Weiss (groin) participated in Saturday’s practice, his first in over a week, according to the Miami Herald. (ESPN)
• Nick Tarnasky continues to practice
  Tarnasky (broken thumb) continues to practice, but it remains to be
  seen whether he’ll be ready for the season opener, the Nashville
  Tennessean reports. (ESPN)

Team News:

• Melrose not liking what he sees with Lightning
  Perhaps Barry Melrose should have known better.  After spending more than a decade as a television analyst, the 52-year-old Melrose opted to return to the bench as coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who finished the 2007-08 season with an NHL-worst 31 wins.  And after the Lightning dropped a pair of 2-1 decisions to the New York Rangers this weekend - and were outshot, 80-40, in the process - the normally relaxed coach was rather vocal with his displeasure. (Yahoo! Sports)

• Luongo wearing the “C” on mask
  Roberto Luongo is sporting a C
  after all.  The Vancouver captain, forbidden by NHL rules from wearing
  the letter on his jersey because he is a goaltender, sported a new C on
  his mask Sunday night as the Canucks hosted Anaheim in the final
  2008-09 pre-season game for both clubs.  “It can stand for whatever he
  wants it to stand for,” said Vancouver general manager Mike Gillis,
  when asked if the C stood for Canucks or captain. (Yahoo! Sports)

Signings & Acquisitions:

• Canucks sign 1st round Hodgson
  The Vancouver Canucks signed top 2008 draft choice Cody Hodgson to an NHL entry-level contract Sunday.  “Cody has done what we expected him to do,” said Canucks general manager Mike Gillis. “He came in really well prepared.” (Yahoo! Sports)

• View more NHL and Minor League transactions at NHL.com

Trades & Rumours:

From Spectorshockey.net (click to view the full report):

• CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Chris Kuc reported Blackhawks goalie Nikolai Khabiblin remains in limbo while Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon “explores opportunities” to benefit the netminder and the Blackhawks.

• CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Len Ziehm reports Khabibulin could end up playing in Russia.”Tallon hasn’t been able to move Khabibulin to another NHL team.
• EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson reports on some trade possibilities for the Minnesota Wild if forced to deal Marian Gaborik, who’ll be a UFA next summer. One suggestion was to peddle him to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Evgeni Malkin as the Pens are “very weak on the wing”.
• Matheson also reports that if the Chicago Blackhawks fail to land Washington’s Michael Nylander they might pursue Boston’s Marc Savard, suggesting the Bruins might do it if they got defenseman Brent Seabrook and young winger Jack Skille in return.
• BOSTON HERALD: Stephen Harris reports Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli has said there’s a good chance he’ll make a trade in the coming days and there’s no doubt he’s been trying to move veteran forward Peter Schaefer to free up cap space for promising youngster Blake Wheeler. If Schaefer isn’t traded Harris suggests he could be waived and demoted.
• CALGARY SUN: Randy Sportak reports Flames GM Darryl Sutter needs to pare three players and more than $1 million from his payroll prior to the start of the season.
• PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Dave Molinari reports the Penguins could find some extra cap room to bring in more depth by placing injured defenseman Sergei Gonchar on the long-term injury status, noting that the club would be allowed to go over the cap to the amount of Gonchar’s salary for this season to bring in a replacement for as long as he remains on the long term injury list.
• PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: reports the Flyers have released defenseman Bryan Berard and center Jim Dowd.

Game Results:

NHL Regular Season Games:

Tampa Bay vs NY Rangers
Tampa Bay	1	Final
NY Rangers	2	Box Score
Ottawa vs Pittsburgh
Ottawa	3	Final
Pittsburgh	1	Box Score

NHL Preseason Games:

Nashville vs Carolina
Nashville	0	Final
Carolina	2	Box Score
Boston vs Washington
Boston	5	Final SO
Washington	4	Box Score
Buffalo vs Detroit
Buffalo	0	Final
Detroit	3	Box Score
Columbus vs Toronto
Columbus	5	Final SO
Toronto	4	Box Score
Colorado vs Chicago
Colorado	4	Final OT
Chicago	3	Box Score
Edmonton vs Dallas
Edmonton	3	Final
Dallas	2	Box Score
Los Angeles vs San Jose
Los Angeles	1	Final
San Jose	3	Box Score
Anaheim vs Vancouver
Anaheim	4	Final OT
Vancouver	3	Box Score

(Results data courtesy of yahoo! sports)

Source: Yahoo! Sports | TSN.ca | ESPN | NHL.com

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