SPORT-SCAN Anaheim Ducks 732569 Ducks' motivation is winning the division 732570 Ducks finally in position to claim division title 732571 Miller: Oh, baby, athletes put family first 732572 John Gibson helps Ducks eliminate Canucks from playoffs Boston Bruins 732573 Minnesota rallies past Bruins for win 732574 Playoff-bound Wild notch shootout win vs. Bruins 732575 Bruins roll out interesting line combinations in shootout loss to the Wild 732576 Iginla, Miller are out for the Bruins tonight Buffalo Sabres 732577 Quick roster update: Surplus of forwards 732578 Forty stitches later, Ehrhoff good to go tonight vs. Red Wings 732579 Pegula has great desire, lousy plan 732580 Stewart works hard to return 732581 Nolan miffed at Rinaldo s suspension Calgary Flames 732582 Game Day: Los Angeles Kings at Calgary Flames 732583 Feaster s famine: Torts buddy hungry to get back into a GM s role 732584 Hard-working Flames only care about winning, not tanking and improving draft odds 732585 Calgary Flames to fight to NHL finish 732586 2013-14 Flames were always competitive 732587 Calgary Flames won't tank for draft position Carolina Hurricanes 732588 Rangers' power play pummels Canes' postseason chances 732589 Rangers stick it to Canes in comeback 4-1 win Chicago Blackhawks 732590 Brandon Saad reads Joel Quenneville loud and clear 732591 Blackhawks put positive spin on playoffs on road 732592 Gillis axed after Canucks miss playoffs 732593 Brandon Saad s benching the least of Blackhawks worries 732594 Blackhawks Saad using game off as motivation 732595 Oduya back Wednesday; Kane, Toews doing fine, coach says 732596 Blackhawks not worried about starting playoffs on road 732597 Blackhawks: Healthy scratch a 'wakeup call' for Brandon Saad 732598 Who's in, who's out as Blackhawks prepare for Habs Colorado Avalanche 732599 Avalanche adjusts goalie schedule as playoff seeding enters final week 732600 Avalanche publicly tones down David Backes-Nathan MacKinnon incident 732601 Avalanche winger P.A. Parenteau nears returning from injury 732602 Kiszla: Avs coach Patrick Roy faces decision about resting Varlamov 732603 Avs win at Edmonton, just two points out of first in Central Division 732604 Remarkable Avalanche extends season-best points streak to eight games (7-0-1) Columbus Blue Jackets 732605 Blue Jackets: Injuries thin once-full forward ranks 732606 Blue Jackets notebook: Boll set to break mark of mentor Shelley 732607 It' s going down! How Kesha plays a part in Blue Jackets' success 732608 Blue Jackets race to finish line with NHL's busiest schedule NHL 4/9/2014 DAILY BRIEF Dallas Stars 732609 Kari Lehtonen to get 10th straight start tonight as Stars face Predators 732610 Stars know they have to get out of their 'comfort zone' in quest to make the playoffs 732611 He said it: Players and coaches comment after Stars' 3-2 shootout win over Nashville Tuesday 732612 Stars take down Predators 3-2 in clutch shootout victory 732613 Around the NHL: Blue Jackets can grab playoff berth vs. Stars; Vancouver fires president and general manager 732614 Stars get some breathing room in playoff hunt with shootout victory over Predators 732615 Blue Jackets-Stars, 7:30 p.m.; Both teams fighting to gain final wild-card playoff berth 732616 Heika: NHL following precedent with odd make-up setup for Stars-Blue Jackets game 732617 Kari Lehtonen and Tyler Seguin lead Stars to big victory over Nashville 732618 Stars shootout win over Predators strengthens playoff position 732619 GameDay: Columbus Blue Jackets at Dallas Stars Detroit Red Wings 732620 Detroit 4, Buffalo 2: Red Wings now just one point away from playoff spot 732621 Mike Babcock cautions 'these games aren't easy to win' as Detroit Red Wings take on Buffalo Sabres 732622 Detroit 4, Buffalo 2: Mike Babcock becomes winningest Red Wings coach as playoffs now just one point away 732623 Detroit Red Wings' new third line features speedsters Darren Helm, Tomas Jurco, veteran Daniel Alfredsson 732624 Detroit 4, Buffalo 2: Why the Red Wings won Tuesday 732625 Red Wings' Kyle Quincey trying to win the give-and-take game 732626 Red Wings defeat Sabres, need one point to clinch playoff spot 732627 Pavel Datsyuk is closing in on 'typical' game for Red Wings 732628 Red Wings 4, Sabres 2: David Legwand scores winner as Detroit needs one point to clinch playoff berth 732629 Olympia picks general contractor for new $450 million Detroit Red Wings arena 732630 Red Wings guard against letdown vs. cellar-dwelling Sabres; Mike Babcock looks to pass Jack Adams 732631 As Red Wings inch closer to clinching playoff berth they look to finish regular season with strong push 732632 Babcock not taking any team lightly this time of year 732633 Red Wings reduce playoff magic number to 1 Edmonton Oilers 732634 Gazdic pointing toward brighter future with Oilers 732635 Last year s draft foes headed opposite ways as Avalanche bury Oilers 732636 Colorado Avalanche should be template for Oilers 732637 Oilers Ryan Jones on where he'll play next year: 'Not here.' 732638 Colorado Avalanche avoid run-and-gun shootout in win over Oilers 732639 Oilers' uneven performance could have fans questioning direction team's headed 732640 Colorado Avalanche show playoff form as they outperform Oilers 732641 Oilers callup Tyler Pitlick in recovery after taking heavy shot off his knee 732642 Oilers brawler Luke Gazdic aims to be tough, effective fourth-liner
Florida Panthers 732643 FLYERS NOTEBOOK: Boyes, Huberdeau, Shore Back in Lineup... End of the Line for Gomez?... Barkov Works Out wi 732644 Philadelphia Flyers beat Florida Panthers and clinch playoff spot as injured Robert Luongo sits out 732645 PLAYOFFS IN PHILLY: Flyers Clinch Spot in Postseason as Ellis Takes Blame for Panthers' 5-2 Loss... Roberto L 732646 NEW ENVIRONMENT: Panthers to Close Off End Zone, New Capacity Like Miami Arena 732647 Tough season for young Panthers Huberdeau and Barkov 732648 Panthers can't spoil Flyers' playoff party in 5-2 defeat Los Angeles Kings 732649 Kings' Mike Richards rolls with rolling with the fourth line 732650 Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks will soon learn NHL playoffs first-round foes 732651 King getting closer; he and Doughty travel 732652 Trevor Lewis signs for two years, 3.05 million 732653 Rested Saturday, third 82-game season a near-miss for Regehr Minnesota Wild 732654 Wild G Harding up for Masterton Trophy 732655 Wild can clinch playoff spot tonight against Boston 732656 Wild rallies, wins in shootout to clinch top wildcard spot in playoffs 732657 Wild notes: Masterton winner Harding is up for award again 732658 Playoff-bound Wild notch shootout win vs. Bruins 732659 Wild locks up top wildcard spot with shootout victory over Boston 732660 Wild playoff glance 732661 Wild-Boston game recap 732662 Minnesota Wild clinch playoff berth when Phoenix Coyotes lose 732663 Minnesota Wild's Josh Harding nominated for Bill Masterton Trophy 732664 Former Wild executive Bill Robertson to run WCHA 732665 Wild think they'll have Clayton Stoner back for playoffs 732666 Tom Powers: Playoffs will make or break Wild's season Montreal Canadiens 732667 Habs without Price, Markov and Emelin in Chicago 732668 Price among Habs not making trip to Chicago (with video) Nashville Predators 732669 Dallas shootout stumble doesn't help Predators 732670 Stars end Predators' playoff hopes New Jersey Devils 732671 Ramo Makes 31 Saves as Flames Edge Devils 1-0 732672 Devils to be eliminated from playoff contention if Columbus and Detroit win Wednesday 732673 Devils teammates vote Jaromir Jagr MVP, Ryan Carter Player's Player and Andy Greene Unsung Hero 732674 Jersey product Kenny Agostino draws penalty leading to Flames goal that dooms Devils 732675 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Devils can be dead before next game; here's the lowdown on East's wild-card contenders 732676 Devils on brink of elimination after Detroit, Columbus and Philadelphia wins tonight 732677 Jagr voted Devils MVP; Carter named Players Player, Greene Unsung Hero New York Islanders 732678 Spezza Powers Senators Past Islanders 4-1 732679 Islanders fall to Jason Spezza, Senators 732680 Youthful Islanders team no match for Senators 732681 Islanders lose to Senators, finish season under.500 at home for fourth straight year New York Rangers 732682 Richards' 2 Power-Play Goals Lift Rangers 732683 NY Rangers clinch playoff berth with Devils' loss to Flames 732684 Brad Richards, Martin St. Louis help NY Rangers blow by Hurricanes for 4-1 win 732685 Henrik Lundqvist shakes off early struggles and is ready to lead NY Rangers into NHL playoffs 732686 With playoffs booked, Rangers focus on home-ice advantage 732687 Brad Richards two power-play goals propel Rangers 732688 Veterans play will be key for Rangers playoff run 732689 Vigneault shutting down information on injuries 732690 Staal says Neil s hit was late 732691 McDonagh, Kreider both skate, not ready to play; Playoff tickets on sale Friday 732692 Rangers 4, Hurricanes 1: Wrapping up 732693 Martin St. Louis has three assists to lead Rangers past the Hurricanes 732694 Ryan McDonagh misses third straight game with an injured left shoulder 732695 Rangers 4, Hurricanes 1 post-game notes & quotes 732696 Rangers-Hurricanes in review Ottawa Senators 732697 Senators eliminated from playoffs despite win 732698 Senators face elimination reality 732699 Scanlan: Even minus Sens, some playoff matchups intrigue 732700 Ottawa Senator Cowan's season likely over 732701 Michalek could be saying goodbye to Ottawa Senators 732702 Ottawa Senators in New York to battle Islanders Philadelphia Flyers 732703 Flyers can clinch tonight 732704 Flyers rout Panthers and clinch playoff spot 732705 Flyers Notes: Downie 'back in the groove' for Flyers 732706 Downie returns; Flyers can clinch playoff spot 732707 Flyers' Mason: "One goal achieved, and now we have bigger one' 732708 Frozen Four: Will Gaudreau's dominance translate to the NHL? 732709 Giroux's prediction comes true for Flyers 732710 What role will Tye McGinn serve for Flyers? 732711 Downie returns to help fill Rinaldo role 732712 Downie back in time for possible clincher 732713 'This one's for you,' Flyers tell their fans 732714 Flyers clinch playoff berth with 5-2 win 732715 Rinaldo full of regret as Flyers aim to clinch playoff spot 732716 Flyers searching for cure for late-season blues 732717 Second-period onslaught books Flyers a playoff spot 732718 With win, Flyers can clinch playoff spot tonight 732719 Skate Update: Downie returns to Flyers' lineup 732720 Panthers out to play the role of spoiler vs. Flyers 732721 Is Flyers' balance a double-edged sword? 732722 Flyers cap turnaround with playoff-clinching win 732723 Berube points to roadtrip as turnaround to Flyers season 732724 Giroux makes good on promise, carries Flyers to playoff berth 732725 With chance to clinch, Flyers more concerned with level of play 732726 Rinaldo's suspension puts damper on his progress 732727 Win in Florida clinches playoff berth 732728 Downie returns to shutdown line Phoenix Coyotes 732729 Coyotes fall to the Blue Jackets in overtime 732730 Coyotes' Ekman-Larsson continues raising game with 'big goal' 732731 Playoff fate no longer in Coyotes' hands
Pittsburgh Penguins 732732 Penguins notebook: Wilkes-Barre welcomes Vokoun for conditioning assignment 732733 Penguins star center Malkin tests injured foot with skating sessions 732734 Penguins get chance to shape their future 732735 Penguins notebook: Vokoun to see if he can play 732736 Penguins goaltender Vokoun assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton San Jose Sharks 732737 Sharks' Pacific Division hopes on the line 732738 Kennedy getting an increased role for Sharks 732739 Sharks set for biggest game of the season vs. Ducks 732740 Kearns recall a message to other Sharks forwards St Louis Blues 732741 Strauss: Mystery funk has Blues reeling toward playoffs 732742 Blues continue slide with 4-1 loss to Capitals 732743 Famous wounded Ranger attends Blues skate 732744 Steen will play tonight as Blues face Capitals 732745 Halak not quite ready to face his former team 732746 Blues' downward spiral continues 732747 Ovechkin gets 50th goal, Capitals top Blues 4-1 732748 Blues continue skid with loss to Capitals Tampa Bay Lightning 732749 Bolts win, but loss of Bishop could be devastating 732750 Bolts G Bishop injured, taken out of game 732751 Bolts Notes: Stamkos up for Masterton Trophy 732752 Steven Stamkos focuses on present, future 732753 Steven Stamkos nominated for Masterton Trophy 732754 Ben Bishop leaves injured in Lightning victory 732755 Lightning's Stamkos nominated for Masterton Trophy 732756 Kostka skating again, says, 'I think I've been pretty fortunate' Toronto Maple Leafs 732757 Maple Leafs officially eliminated from the playoffs 732758 Lightning not taking Maple Leafs lightly 732759 Maple Leafs roster is as bad as it looks 732760 Maple Leafs' Ashton looking to translate AHL success to the NHL 732761 Maple Leafs's playoff hopes dead after 3-0 loss to Lightning 732762 Leafs recall Carter Ashton as they prep for Lightning 732763 Only questions remain for Maple Leafs 732764 Changes need to be made to Leafs core after third disappointing season in a row 732765 Toronto Maple Leafs see playoff hopes extinguished in goal-less loss to Tampa Bay Lightning 732766 What will Toronto Maple Leafs do about Dave Bolland? 732767 Toronto Maple Leafs turn to youth, call up Carter Ashton 732768 Toronto Maple Leafs Jonathan Bernier by the numbers: Closer look shows how great goalie s season really was Vancouver Canucks 732778 Gillis out as Canuck president-gm; fired by Aquilinis 732779 Linden denies talking to Aquilinis about Canuck team presidency 732780 Canucks fire president and GM Mike Gillis (with video) 732781 Canucks icon Trevor Linden denies rumours he s to be named new team president 732782 Mike Gillis made some major moves for Canucks 732783 Trevor Linden, Bob Nicholson top candidates to head Canucks 732784 Botchford: Trevor Linden likely a Canuck again 732785 Willes: This is now on the Aquilinis 732786 Jamieson: Naslund could be coming back to Vancouver 732787 Canucks fire general manager Mike Gillis 732788 Gallagher: Linden-as-president would have cachet in this market, but Linden keeping Tortorella here would keep 732789 Feaster s famine: Torts buddy hungry to get back into a GM s role Canucks Continued 732790 Mike Gillis fired 732791 Jay Feaster says he hasn t heard from Canucks, but wants back in; Markus Naslund declines comment 732792 Canucks dump Gillis after six years at the helm Washington Capitals 732769 Alex Ovechkin records his 50th goal of the season 732770 Braden Holtby to face Blues; Jaroslav Halak not comfortable facing former team 732771 Ovechkin gets 50th goal, Capitals top Blues 4-1 732772 Caps Ovechkin reaches 50-goal mark Websites 732793 ESPN / Canucks fire GM Gillis to save brand 732794 ESPN / Stars, Coyotes watching the scoreboard 732795 CNN/Sports Illustrated / Vancouver Canucks fire GM Mike Gillis 732796 CNN/Sports Illustrated / Sam Bennett tops Central Scouting s final rankings for 2014 NHL Draft 732797 CNN/Sports Illustrated / Trevor Linden to be new president of Vancouver Canucks? Not so fast 732798 CNN/Sports Illustrated / Allan Muir>NHL POWER RANKINGS 732799 CNN/Sports Illustrated / Top Line: Is home ice a disadvantage?; trouble with P.K. Subban; more links 732800 USA TODAY / The top Americans in June's NHL draft 732801 USA TODAY / The other NHL race: Determining the lottery picks 732802 USA TODAY / USA's Jack Eichel has eyes on 2015 top prize Winnipeg Jets 732773 Watching playoffs from the couch hard for those who've never made it 732774 The gaps and the cap 732775 Hutchinson would love to get a shot at Bruins 732776 Longtime Jets tired of waiting to get into Stanley Cup playoffs 732777 Adam Pardy making most of ice time with Jets SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129
Anaheim Ducks Bruce Boudreau didn't commit to who'll be in goal, with veteran Jonas Hiller trying to shake an 0-3 skid and rookie Frederik Andersen returning to the ice Tuesday after getting his head banged in Friday's game. Defenseman Cam Fowler wants to play for the first time since suffering his knee injury March 14 but won t do so unless he is sound in mind and body. It s my responsibility and I think it s the responsibility for everyone involved that no matter what the situation is, until I m 100 percent it s just not something that s going to happen, Fowler said. Buffalo Sabres Defenseman Mark Pysyk has been called up from Rochester and will dress tonight. Christian Ehrhoff is on the ice but his status is uncertain after getting his ear sliced for 40 stitches Sunday. John Scott is on defense this morning. Goaltender Andrey Makarov has been recalled and will back up Matt Hackett tonight before returning to play for the Amerks Friday. We'll have to find out what the Sabres' plans are for the weekend. uke Adam has been returned to Rochester because Marcus Foligno, Chris Stewart and Torrey Mitchell are all expected to return tonight. It will be Stewart's home debut. His two previous games for Buffalo were on the road, at Dallas and Tampa Bay. Drew Stafford is also skating today, but as an extra. Calgary Flames D Tyler Wotherspoon (shoulder), D Ladislav Smid (upper body), D Dennis Wideman (upper body), C Mikael Backlund (hand), C Matt Stajan (personal), C Paul Byron (personal), C Markus Granlund (upper body), RW David Jones (shoulder) Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Kane, who is out for the remainder of the regular season with a left knee injury suffered March 19, went through rigorous drills with members of the coaching staff after practice. Kane skated hard around the rink and fired slap shots as he works his way back. Joel Quenneville added that Jonathan Toews, also sidelined until the playoffs with an upper-body injury, is expected to begin skating this week. Quenneville said a decision on Teuvo Teravainen's status will be determined soon. The rookie center has appeared in three games but will be a scratch for the third consecutive contest when the Hawks face the Canadiens on Wednesday night at the United Center. Teravainen could stay with the Hawks for the remainder of the regular season and into the playoffs or be sent to Rockford of the AHL as he adapts the North American style of play. Defenseman Johnny Oduya will return to the lineup after missing three games with a lower-body injury. Colorado Avalanche Avalanche right winger P.A. Parenteau missed his 14th consecutive game Tuesday night but skated to exhaustion in the morning at Rexall Place and is on the cusp of returning to the lineup before the playoffs. Avs coach Patrick Roy said Parenteau is on schedule to play Friday at San Jose, the night after Colorado visits Vancouver. The Avs complete their regular-season Sunday at Anaheim. Rugged winger Cody McLeod missed his third consecutive game with an ankle injury, again forcing Roy to play a defenseman up front. The Avs have just 11 available forwards, so defenseman Ryan Wilson was again asked to play left wing on the fourth line for a balanced attack. McLeod is on the trip and expected to play at some point, but he did not skate with the team Tuesday morning. Roy previously said Semyon Varlamov would start at Edmonton, but Jean- Sebastien Giguere instead got the nod in what could be his last NHL regular-season start. Because the two final games in California could have playoff-seeding implications, Roy said Varlamov might play in the finale against the Ducks, a game Giguere was originally scheduled to start. Third-stringer Reto Berra is scheduled to start Friday against San Jose. Goalie coach Francois Allaire, who is with the team periodically, is on the trip. SPORT-SCAN NHL REPORT FOR 4.9.2014 SPORT-SCAN, INC. OPERATIONS@SPORT-SCAN.COM FOR YOUR EYES ONLY Columbus Blue Jackets Right wing R.J. Umberger had his right arm in a sling yesterday after he suffered an upper-body injury. He will be out for at least a couple of weeks, Richards said. Umberger will miss the final four games of the regular season, as will left wing Nick Foligno (lower body). Both could return at some point during the postseason if the Jackets qualify, but the Jackets will play their final four games without two of their top-five goal scorers. Nathan Horton has missed the past four games because of a lower-body injury but might play in the home finale against the Phoenix Coyotes tonight. Richards said a decision will be made at game time. The Blue Jackets recalled forward Jack Skille from minor-league Springfield yesterday morning to help fill the void left by an upper-body injury to Umberger. Boston Bruins The Bruins are down a few players Jarome Iginla (lower body), Kevan Miller (undisclosed), and David Krejci (healthy scratch). Dallas Stars Aaron Rome (lower body) has been taken off the injured list and is now available to play. Rome and Kevin Connauton are expected to be healthy scratches tonight. Ray Whitney missed his third game in a row for Dallas with a lower body injury. Detroit Red Wings Mike Babcock is using the same lineup he did Saturday in Montreal, the only change being Jimmy Howard goaltending instead of Jonas Gustavsson. Florida Panthers Backup goalie Dan Ellis, who was an emergency starter after Roberto Luongo suffered an undisclosed injury during warm-ups. Florida center Scott Gomez, who had been playing on the top line, was a healthy scratch. Aleksander Barkov was out practicing on Florida's fifth line but it's still very doubtful we'll see the rookie center again this season. Barkov has been out with a knee injury since the Olympics. Los Angeles Kings Having forged his identity as a hard-working, character-type defensive forward who forechecks and kills penalties, Trevor Lewis has scored six goals in the second half of the season to set a new career high. On Tuesday, it was announced that the 27-year-old Salt Lake City native has signed a two-year contract extension that will pay him 3.05 million dollars over two seasons. The $1.525 million average annual value is $200,000 more than his current contract. Last summer, Lewis signed a one-year, $1.325 million extension. Minnesota Wild Defenseman Clayton Stoner, who has missed eight games with a sprained knee, began skating Tuesday. Mike Yeo hopes to get him back by the playoffs, especially after he was limited to one playoff game last year because of a concussion. Veteran Dany Heatley was scratched for the fifth time in six games. Defenseman Keith Ballard (groin) skated Tuesday morning. Thanks to a Phoenix Coyotes loss in Columbus, the Wild are playoff-bound regardless of the outcome in their game against the Boston Bruins. Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa Bay goaltender Ben Bishop left last night's game vs. Toronto with an apparent shoulder injury. The team did not offer any update on Bishop s status after the game, only classifying the injury as upper-body, though he underwent some form of testing Tuesday night. Page1
Montreal Canadiens Six players stayed behind in Montreal, including goaltender Carey Price and defencemen Andrei Markov and Alexei Emelin, who were given a chance to rest with the team playing back-to-back games Wednesday and Thursday. The Habs have secured a playoff spot, but are battling for home-ice advantage with their first-round series looming next week. Peter Budaj will start in goal against the Blackhawks Wednesday night with Dustin Tokarski, who was called up from the American Hockey League s Hamilton Bulldogs Tuesday afternoon, as the backup. As for Price, Therrien said they re sticking to their approach of using both goalies in back-to-back games. Price will play against the Islanders on Thursday and Saturday against the New York Rangers at the Bell Centre, the Habs final two games of the regular season. Defenceman Douglas Murray was among those who didn t travel with the Habs to Chicago. Murray has to sit out one more game as part of his threegame suspension for an illegal check on Lightning defenceman Mike Kostka. Brandon Prust, who has missed the last eight games with an upper-body injury, skated on his own before practice. There s a chance he ll be back for the playoffs, Therrien said. We ll see next week, but we re not there yet. The same thing applies to Travis Moen, who is out with a concussion and following the protocol, the coach added. Nashville Predators D Michael Del Zotto, F Patrick Eaves were the Predators scratches. New Jersey Devils The Devils did not have defenseman Bryce Salvador, left wings Ryane Clowe and Patrik Elias, and centers Adam Henrique and Jacob Josefson due to injuries. New York Islanders The Islanders have had to contend with a litany of injuries to key players, particularly veteran defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky, who missed most of the season with a concussion and starting goaltender Evgeni Nabokov. Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck left during the first period with an upperbody injury and didn t return. New York Rangers Ryan McDonagh (left shoulder, day-to-day) and Chris Kreider (left hand surgery, out indefinitely) skated Tuesday morning for the first time since their respective injuries. Alain Vigneault said McDonagh is expected to make a "100 percent" recovery, but the coach is "50/50" about whether he'll put his top defenseman back in the lineup prior to the playoffs. Kreider was unable to use his left hand, which was covered by a black brace, and is expected to miss at least a first-round playoff series, if not more. Jesper Fast played his first game back since being recalled from AHL Hartford on Monday, playing 13:54 while mostly on a line with Brad Richards and Carl Hagelin. Dan Carcillo was the odd-man out up front (along with college signee Ryan Haggerty. Defenseman Justin Falk remained a scratch, having not played since Dec. 29. Ottawa Senators Ottawa was without defensemen Colin Greening and Jared Cowen with lower-body injuries, plus forward Bobby Ryan (sports hernia). Philadelphia Flyers Winger Steve Downie returned to the lineup Tuesday night and tried to help the Flyers defeat Florida and clinch a playoff spot. Downie, who missed the last eight games with a head injury, replaced the suspended Zac Rinaldo. He played on the third line with Sean Couturier and Matt Read. When healthy, Downie has been on that line most of the season. Left winger Tye McGinn also returned to the lineup, replacing Jay Rosehill. McGinn, a healthy scratch the previous two games, was on a line with Vinny Lecavalier and Adam Hall. SPORT-SCAN NHL REPORT FOR 4.9.2014 SPORT-SCAN, INC. OPERATIONS@SPORT-SCAN.COM FOR YOUR EYES ONLY Phoenix Coyotes G Thomas Greiss has done an admirable job substituting for No. 1 Mike Smith while Smith deals with an apparent right knee injury. Pittsburgh Penguins Penguins goalie Tomas Vokoun will be re-assigned to Wilkes- Barre/Scranton on an AHL conditioning assignment that will begin Wednesday and cover three games this weekend. Vokoun has not played this season since a blood clot was discovered in his pelvis in September. Forwards Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz and defensemen Brooks Orpik and Olli Maatta were at practice Tuesday after missing Sunday's game in Colorado. Every day over recent weeks, defenseman Kris Letang has done two things: Skate and consult with team medical personnel. Letang, out since a January stroke, said he feels 100 percent of myself both on and off the ice. Defenseman Paul Martin reported some general soreness but declared himself feeling good after playing three games over a four-day period after returning from an absence of more than six weeks because of a broken hand. More than two weeks since his most recent game and a little more than one week until the playoffs begin, Penguins center Evgeni Malkin returned to the ice for light skating Monday and Tuesday. Malkin skated on his own Monday and was accompanied by injured forward Joe Vitale when he skated at Southpointe on Tuesday prior to Penguins practice. Like Malkin, Vitale (middle-body injury) recently had been seen by a doctor before being cleared to skate. Vitale hasn't played since March 20. With Malkin and Marcel Goc (foot) out, the Penguins have been forced to play Jussi Jokinen at center. San Jose Sharks Todd McLellan declined to identify his starting goalie but suggested there would be a lineup change after forward Bracken Kearns was called up from Worcester. The 32-year-old took Tuesday morning line rushes with forwards Mike Brown, Andrew Desjardins and Marty Havlat, so one of those four is likely to sit against Anaheim in the team s huge game on Wednesday at Honda Center. St Louis Blues Healthy scratches are Jordan Leopold, Ian Cole, Magnus Paajarvi and Dmitrij Jaskin. Vladimir Tarasenko (thumb) is out. Alexander Steen returned to the Blues' lineup after missing the last three games. Toronto Maple Leafs Winger Joffrey Lupul, left back in Toronto with a knee injury that will be addressed with arthroscopic surgery. Dave Bolland (ankle) joined Joffrey Lupul (knee) and Jonathan Bernier (knee) on the injured list. Washington Capitals Dustin Penner will be back in the lineup after sitting out Saturday s game against the Islanders with an undisclosed upper-body injury. Brooks Laich (groin) made the trip to St. Louis with the team and worked out with the scratches and assistant coaches. Laich isn t expected to be ready to play prior to the end of the regular season. Vancouver Canucks The announcement came down in a press release from Canucks Sports and Entertainment. The end came swiftly and suddenly for Mike Gillis, who was fired Tuesday as president and general manager of the Vancouver Canucks. Assistant GMs Laurence Gilman and Lorne Henning both survived the Gillis firing. Page2
NHL Daily Transactions Buffalo Sabres Mark Pysyk Called up from minors, from Rochester-AHL Buffalo Sabres Andrey Makarov Called up from minors, from Rochester-AHL Buffalo Sabres Luke Adam Sent to minors, Rochester-AHL Los Angeles Kings Trevor Lewis Contract extended, Two-year contract extension Montreal Canadiens Dustin Tokarski Called up from minors, from Hamilton-AHL Pittsburgh Penguins Tomas Vokoun Sent to minors, Wilkes- Barre/Scranton-AHL (conditioning) San Jose Sharks Bracken Kearns Called up from minors, from Worcester-AHL Toronto Maple Leafs Drew MacIntyre Called up from minors, from Toronto-AHL Toronto Maple Leafs Carter Ashton Called up from minors, from Toronto-AHL SPORT-SCAN NHL REPORT FOR 4.9.2014 END FOR YOUR EYES ONLY SPORT-SCAN, INC. OPERATIONS@SPORT-SCAN.COM Page3
732569 Anaheim Ducks Ducks' motivation is winning the division Anaheim Coach Bruce Boudreau says the team is focused on beating San Jose on Wednesday to clinch the Pacific Division, and not on trying to avoid facing the Kings in the playoffs. By Lance Pugmire 5:18 PM PDT, April 8, 2014 He said he'll weigh who'll start Wednesday by determining first "What's the downside? You say, 'Boy if this doesn't work, this is really going to hurt us,' or, 'If this doesn't work, it's OK, we can rebound from it,' and there's your answer." Gibson said he hadn't heard from Boudreau, and primary starter Hiller he has "no idea" whether he's in. "I assume he knows I want to play," Hiller said. "I feel like I'm on the track, but it's coach's decision. If I'm not, I'll try to work even harder in practice. [Monday] was a solid defensive game. With that, we'll have a chance to win every night no matter who's in the goal." LA Times: LOADED: 04.09.2014 The way the Ducks tell it, their interest in beating the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday is rooted mostly in the perks of what accompanies winning the Pacific Division and not about avoiding a first-round playoff series against the Kings. "No one's ever mentioned that about the Kings," Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau said. "The guys have fought long and hard to get to first place. It's about the satisfaction of playing for six months and being the best." By beating the Sharks in any fashion at Honda Center, the Ducks will clinch their second consecutive Pacific Division title and at least the No. 2 Western Conference playoff seeding. A loss leaves the Ducks clinging to a one-point lead with games remaining at the Kings on Saturday and versus visiting Central Division playoff qualifier Colorado on Sunday. San Jose plays host to Colorado on Friday and closes the regular season at Phoenix on Saturday. In four Ducks-Sharks meetings this season, San Jose has won all three at home, including the most recent clash, 3-2, on March 20 when Sharks forward Brent Burns deflected in a goal with 3 minutes 59 seconds remaining in the third period. The Sharks haven't played since Saturday. The Ducks won the only meeting in Anaheim, 6-3, on New Year's Eve, and they're rejuvenated by their first shutout since Feb. 28, a 3-0 victory over Vancouver in 20-year-old rookie goalie John Gibson's NHL debut Monday. "We really needed that," said Ducks forward Daniel Winnik, a former Shark who scored Monday's opening goal and said the game-long, defensive-minded effort reminded him of Anaheim's play during its 18-1 record from Dec. 6 to Jan. 15. Anaheim gave up only 18 shots Monday, blocked 22, and pressured the Canucks into playoff elimination with 21 missed shots. "When you look at that roll we weren't giving up very many shots," Winnik said. "We'd gotten away from that. We really clamped down, and even when they had us hemmed in there, they didn't really have a good shot. Guys were blocking, battling. That's the way we've got to play." San Jose is paced by centers Joe Pavelski (39 goals, 37 assists) and Joe Thornton (63 assists) and forward Patrick Marleau (32 goals, 35 assists). Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf (31 goals, 55 assists) said the focus is to push for the best record possible to maximize home playoff games, not to avoid a historic first playoff meeting with the Kings, who had won eight games in a row before Thursday's loss at San Jose. "We're going to have to go through everybody eventually if you want to get to the championship," Getzlaf said. "The matter of getting the home ice can prove very beneficial down the stretch." The Ducks are aware analysts are saying that no one wants to face the Kings in the playoffs. "[The Kings] are a team with a great goalie, they know how to win in the playoffs, are only a couple years removed from the Stanley Cup," Ducks forward Kyle Palmieri said. "You want to try and make it as easy as you can and finish with the highest seed possible. I feel the excitement about what we did in Vancouver and finishing what we need to do [Wednesday]." Minding net Boudreau didn't commit to who'll be in goal, with veteran Jonas Hiller trying to shake an 0-3 skid and rookie Frederik Andersen returning to the ice Tuesday after getting his head banged in Friday's game. "I don't think [Andersen's] ready to step into a game yet," Boudreau said.
732570 Anaheim Ducks Ducks finally in position to claim division title BY ERIC STEPHENS Defenseman Cam Fowler wants to play for the first time since suffering his knee injury March 14 but won t do so unless he is sound in mind and body. It s my responsibility and I think it s the responsibility for everyone involved that no matter what the situation is, until I m 100 percent it s just not something that s going to happen, Fowler said. Orange County Register: LOADED: 04.09.2014 ANAHEIM Six months of twists and turns, dizzying heights and the occasional mystifying lows have brought the Ducks to their current place, a Pacific Division crown that is within their reach. It seemed preordained back in January when they were winning 18 of 19 and about to run away with the NHL points title. Adversity finally arrived and the Ducks went sideways for a few weeks, allowing San Jose to jump past them on March 20. As the Sharks started to veer off the road, the Ducks pulled out improbable comeback wins over Winnipeg and Edmonton last week before finding that dominant midseason form again Monday in a shutout of Vancouver. The Sharks come to Honda Center on Wednesday in a matchup of playoff-bound rivals, and nothing could be simpler for the Ducks at this moment: Win and the Pacific is theirs. We wish it wouldn t come down to basically this, but it has, Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said. I m sure San Jose s saying the same thing. That there s games that they lost that they should ve won where they shouldn t be in the position they re in. We re also saying, Geez, how d we lose that game and we wouldn t have this problem. But it should mean for an exciting game. Winning a division title means far more than having home-ice advantage for the first round and the ability to start preparing another banner for the rafters. First place in the Pacific means not having to deal with the dangerous Kings right off the bat. The Kings are built for playoff hockey and have Jonathan Quick looking again like the all-world goalie who was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner for the 2012 Stanley Cup champions. No team is saying with bravado, We want them. Right here. Right now. But the Ducks, while presumably fine with San Jose and the Kings colliding for another long playoff battle, aren t talking about avoiding them. No one s ever mentioned that about the Kings or whatever, Boudreau said. I m not in the room all the time, but I haven t heard that. I think the guys have fought long and hard to get to first place. I think they would really like to get there. Boudreau also went out of his way to express that the Ducks potential playoff opponents which at this point is looking like Minnesota are going to be really good and that it s not a point of who you re playing. It s a point of the satisfaction of playing for six months and being the best. Center Mathieu Perreault shared that sentiment. His feeling is the Ducks haven t given up on chasing down St. Louis for the top seed in the Western Conference. The main goal is to win a Stanley Cup, Perreault said. If you can finish on top of your conference, you get home-ice advantage all the way until the final, which is huge. This is something we can still do. This is what we re going into battle for the last couple of games. INJURY UPDATES After delivering an 18-save shutout in his NHL debut on Monday, John Gibson could get his second consecutive start as Frederik Andersen recovers from a head injury when struck by Shea Weber s slap shot Friday against Nashville. Andersen took some shots for the first time since suffering the injury, but Boudreau said he isn t ready for game action. I don t feel anything, Andersen said. Otherwise, I wouldn t be out there. So that s kind of how we progress from now. Keep monitoring anything that can come up and just make sure everything is like it should be.
732571 Anaheim Ducks Miller: Oh, baby, athletes put family first BY JEFF MILLER As the playoffs near, it s fortunate for the Ducks that Ryan Getzlaf isn t a Ranger or an Islander. It s even more fortunate for Getzlaf. If he played in New York, he d be filleted enough to be served on a bun, with a side of tartar sauce. That s what can happen in places where perspective is seen from the obstructed-view seats, the seats where what matters in life can still be inexplicably obscured by what matters only in sports. Getzlaf told the Register s Eric Stephens this week that, if necessary, he d miss a playoff game to be present for the birth of one of his children. And get this it might just be necessary in a few weeks. The chances of me missing a baby being born, Getzlaf said, are very slim. Can you believe this guy s shortsightedness? A man choosing to be a father and husband over being an athlete and teammate? And in the playoffs, no less? Come on, Getzlaf, there will be other children! When Daniel Murphy missed the Mets first two regular-season games to be there for his wife and newborn son, he was ripped in New York by radio hosts Boomer Esiason, Craig Carton and Mike Francesa, each of whom was immediately and rightly portrayed as having the perspective and mentality of an earthworm. Esiason, who since has apologized, said Murphy s wife should have had a C-section before the season starts, and isn t it easy to slice into otherwise healthy human flesh when it isn t yours? Carton made a crack about breastfeeding and announced that, once everyone is deemed to be healthy, You get your (rear end) back to your team and you play baseball, because, honestly, what could be more important than beating the Washington Nationals? Francesa pointed out that Murphy, as a professional ballplayer, has the wherewithal to hire a nurse, and who needs actual parenting and spousal support when you can buy the next best thing? I think it s ignorant, Getzlaf said of the criticism Murphy received. It s ignorant to think that an athlete is an exception because of what he s playing.... I think that anyone at any other job would be there for their wife. Unless, apparently, that job is New York radio host, which clearly requires having an opinion but must not specify anything about possessing a heart. Getzlaf and his wife, Paige, have two kids sons, Ryder and Gavin with a third child on the way. The baby is due in early May, a time when the Ducks plan on being up to their ears in postseason. So Getzlaf is facing a potentially tough situation but hardly a difficult decision. The decision is so easy, in fact, that it already has been made. Same as always, I would miss as little time as possible, Getzlaf explained. I d get there and be a part of it and make sure everybody s OK, and I d be right back. If that happens to fall on a game day, that s unfortunate, but that s what would happen. What about the possibility of taking the advice of Esiason, the former NFL quarterback, and calling an audible on the play sent in by God? We would do whatever s best for our family, Getzlaf said. I induced with my first child (Ryder) because the time came where he was late and we needed that baby out. Would I be inducing when it s not the right time? No. I would never do that. And how can the Ducks have as their captain a player who doesn t understand the value of being selfish, who obviously needs to learn that winning a Stanley Cup comes before everything, including the needs some unborn child? These decisions really have become no-brainers. Life long ago stopped being an old TV show, where the expectant father paces across the worn waiting room carpet until a nurse emerges and announces, It s a boy/girl! Fathers today are expected to be present, not being there hardly an acceptable first impression for any dad. Some radio hosts would be wise to catch up. Baseball introduced its paternity list in 2011 and nearly 100 players, including three already this season, have taken leave. Instead of being criticized, players like Murphy should be celebrated. How many athletes have famously neglected their children? Their wives? Their responsibilities? The subject is so prevalent that it has evolved into a running joke. Here s a man doing everything he can everything that is completely within his rights to be the best father and husband possible and, for that, he s belittled? There s a word for this type of perspective: warped. On Friday, Murphy and the Mets visit Angel Stadium for the start of a three-game series, and what a wonderfully timed opportunity. Why not salute him with a warm ovation before his first at-bat? Murphy has earned the support, a sign that one well-grounded daddy beats three nonsense-talking heads. Orange County Register: LOADED: 04.09.2014
732572 Anaheim Ducks John Gibson helps Ducks eliminate Canucks from playoffs By From news services Posted: 04/07/14 VANCOUVER, British Columbia John Gibson made 18 saves to record a shutout in his NHL debut and the Ducks eliminated the Vancouver Canucks from playoff contention with a 3-0 victory Monday night. Daniel Winnik, Kyle Palmieri and Matt Beleskey scored for Anaheim, which is three points ahead of San Jose for first place in the Pacific Division. The 20-year-old Gibson, who led the United States to a gold medal at the 2013 world junior hockey championship, wasn t tested much but made a huge save on Niklas Jensen to preserve the shutout with about eight minutes gone in the third. Eddie Lack stopped 20 shots in his 19th consecutive start for Vancouver since the Olympic break. Lack stopped Andrew Cogliano on a breakaway 15 seconds into the first period after he stripped defenseman Jason Garrison of the puck, but the Canucks goaltender couldn t bail his team a second time after another gaffe a few minutes later. With Vancouver on the power play, Winnik jumped on a mistake by Canucks captain Henrik Sedin and moved in alone to score his sixth goal of the season at 6:26 over Lack s blocker. Vancouver had a couple of chances later in the man advantage, including a scramble in front of Gibson that saw the puck dribble off the post and stay out. Canucks defenseman Alexander Edler then took another shot off the iron that fooled the 20-year-old Gibson, who is seen by many as Anaheim s goalie of the future. Ryan Kesler then raced in on a short-handed breakaway late in the period, but Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm made a great play to strip the Canucks forward of the puck. Anaheim grabbed a 2-0 lead at 17:03 of the second period when Palmieri deflected a point shot home past Lack for his 14th goal of the season. Vancouver had just nine shots to Anaheim s 18 through two periods and there was a smattering of boos as the players left the ice for the intermission, with fans resigned to the fact there will be no playoff hockey at Rogers Arena this spring for the first time in six years. Anaheim made it 3-0 against the Canucks 1:20 into the third when Beleskey finished off a pretty passing play with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf for his seventh of the season. Moments earlier, the Ducks moved in on a 2-on-0 break, but Lack managed to thwart Cogliano s effort. LA Daily News: LOADED: 04.09.2014
732573 Boston Bruins Minnesota rallies past Bruins for win By Amalie Benjamin Globe Staff April 09, 2014 ST. PAUL The names, lines, and positions were all over the map Tuesday night. Defenseman Torey Krug was moved to forward for some of the game, Carl Soderberg and Loui Eriksson were moved up to the top trio, and there were lines getting ice time they normally would never see. And it showed. For the second time in nine days, the Bruins allowed a game-tying goal with the opposing goalie pulled and the seconds ticking down. The last time, March 30, it was the Flyers. This time it was the Wild s Ryan Suter, who blasted a blue-line missile past Tuukka Rask with 1:05 to go at the Xcel Energy Center. Though Rask came back to stone the Wild in overtime, making six crucial saves, the Bruins took a loss to Minnesota, 4-3, after Mikko Koivu scored the lone goal in the shootout. You don t like to lose games, especially in the last minute of the regular time, Zdeno Chara said. But situations like that do happen, and we have to probably play them better so they don t happen next time. They will likely have different personnel on the ice for those next times, especially in the playoffs. With the Bruins down a few players Jarome Iginla (lower body), Kevan Miller (undisclosed), and David Krejci (healthy scratch) they weren t at full strength. There s guys that were out there that shouldn t be out there, and at the same time they should have changed because their centerman changed, coach Claude Julien said. They didn t. So those aren t guys that we put out there late in the game. But we re down to three lines. We had some tired guys. I asked them to go out there for a short shift. Some guys didn t get off quick enough there for us to get the right people out there. But that s the way it is. During that 6 on 5, Dougie Hamilton, Daniel Paille, Patrice Bergeron, and Jordan Caron were on the ice, in addition to Chara. Hamilton appeared to make contact with Zach Parise, who then made contact with Rask before Suter converted. Yeah, they told me Dougie pushed him, Rask said. I felt something hit my head, then went black for a second and it was in the net. But I m not going to start [complaining] about it. Up until that final minute the Bruins led for the entire third period after going back-and-forth with goals in the first. They had taken the lead on a power-play goal at that point they were 2 for 2 with the man advantage by Loui Eriksson, after a shot deflected first off Gregory Campbell s stick and then off Eriksson s on its way past Bryzgalov at 16:18 of the second. It seemed like that would be enough. But in the end, against a team knowing it needed at least a point to clinch a playoff spot, it wasn t. To me, I was really impressed with the effort [by the Wild], especially in the third period, Julien said. Third game in four nights, and when there s some desperation there and you want to clinch, you find that energy somewhere. Thought they had pretty good energy there in the third period. The Bruins, on the other hand, didn t look quite as good. I felt we were a little sloppy tonight, Julien said. We weren t very sharp. Our passing and our playmaking, we didn t have everybody really playing that well. Some of our big players were just very average tonight, so it wasn t a great game, but we came out of here with a point. So I guess with what we expect out of our team and the way we played tonight, I think we should be happy with a point. Minnesota scored first at 1:05 of the first period, after Milan Lucic was called for tripping 41 seconds in. Jason Pominville got the goal glove-side on Rask on a shot from the point. But the Wild followed up with a penalty of their own, and the Bruins took advantage, as Reilly Smith scored his second goal in 27 games at 3:00 through traffic. The teams traded another pair of goals in 28 seconds in the first. Bergeron got one on a shot from Chara that got tangled in Brad Marchand s skate. The puck was poked out, but right to Bergeron who who extended his point-scoring streak to12 games with his 29th goal at 10:28. At 10:56, Pominville got his second of the game off a Wild faceoff win, and it was 2-2. And then, after the Bruins took the lead late in the second, it was tied again late in the third. After Rask s heroics in overtime, Koivu s goal in the second round of the shootout sealed the deal. Asked about whether he d seen Koivu s backhand move before, Rask said, Probably. I was trying to figure out what he was going to do. I couldn t remember. I remembered afterward. Boston Globe LOADED: 04.09.2014