Hockey News

SYOSSET, N.Y. (AP) -Josh Bailey flashed a wide, kid-like grin - quite apropos for an 18-year-old hockey player just starting to live the NHL life.

The New York Islanders’ most recent first-round draft pick dressed in the orange and blue for the first time at a rookie minicamp this week and took his first spin at the suburban practice rink.

Any impressions he can make on that otherwise ordinary sheet of ice could mean the difference between a ticket to the big leagues or another season back in juniors.

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SYOSSET, N.Y. - Josh Bailey flashed a wide, kid-like grin - quite apropos for an 18-year-old hockey player just starting to live the NHL life.

The New York Islanders’ most recent first-round draft pick dressed in the orange and blue for the first time at a rookie minicamp this week and took his first spin at the suburban practice rink.

Any impressions he can make on that otherwise ordinary sheet of ice could mean the difference between a ticket to the big leagues or another season back in juniors.

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PITTSBURGH - Henrik Zetterberg was a little sheepish when asked about some extended shifts he worked in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final.

“Sometimes if you’ve been out there 30 seconds and you have a chance to go for another rush, it’s hard to go to the bench,” the Detroit Red Wings star said Thursday. “Sometimes you want to create some more offence.

“And sometimes, you get caught out there and you pay for it in the end.”

Detroit coach Mike Babcock blamed himself for over-using Zetterberg and linemates Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom in a 3-2 loss Wednesday that put the Pittsburgh Penguins back into a series the Red Wings had been dominating.

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DALLAS - The Detroit Red Wings aren’t really going to blow this - are they?

Just a few days ago, the Red Wings were still in a span of being undefeated for almost a month, owning the NHL’s longest post-season winning streak in 15 years and doing it with flair. Three games into the Western Conference final, they hadn’t even trailed the Dallas Stars for a single second. All they had to do was win once more to seal a spot in the Stanley Cup final.

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PITTSBURGH - Veteran rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd took over Mellon Arena for a concert Saturday.

On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins hope it’ll once again be Sweet Home Mellon Arena.

“We feel comfortable in this building,” Penguins head coach Michel Therrien said Saturday after practice. “We like to play in front of our fans. They’ve been great and we’ve got their support.

“That’s why we’re glad Game 5 will be at home (CBC, 3 p.m. ET). We’re a tough team to play at home.”

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Postseason Week 3 Results

Thursday, May 1: Rockford 1 at Chicago 4 (Game One)

Saturday, May 3: Rockford 3 at Chicago 7 (Game Two)

Sunday, May 4: Chicago 1 vs. Rockford 3 (Game Three)

Postseason Week 4 Schedule

Wednesday, May 7 vs. Chicago, 7:05 p.m. (Game Four)

Friday, May 9 at Chicago, 7 p.m. (Game Five)

Sunday, May 10 vs. Chicago, 4:05 p.m. (Game Six)*

* if necessary

Postseason Week 3 Recap

Home-ice advantage has been key through three games of the West Division Finals as the Rockford IceHogs trail the best-of-seven series 2-1. Rockford took Game 3 at the MetroCentre after falling in the series’ first two contests at the Allstate Arena. Game 4 is slated for Wednesday and a Rockford win would force a Game 6 at the MetroCentre on Sunday.

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MONTREAL - Rookie goaltender Carey Price says he feels rested and ready to play the most important game of his young NHL career.

A loss by his Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night (7 p.m. ET) to Philadelphia, which leads their best-of-seven playoff series 3-1, would send the Canadiens packing for the summer and put the Flyers into the Eastern Conference final for the first time since 2000.

A struggling Price was replaced in goal for Game 4 on Wednesday night in Philadelphia, a 4-2 Flyers win, after having been yanked for the third period of a 3-2 loss in Game 3 in favour of back-up Jaroslav Halak.

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PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Penguins answered the New York Rangers’ desperation with frustration, and with a predictable result.

Sidney Crosby looked unhappy and exasperated during the Penguins’ first playoff loss in eight games, their 3-0 defeat to the Rangers on Thursday night in Game 4 of the second-round series.

Evgeni Malkin, the Penguins’ best player so far with the possible exception of goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, was so off his game after missing a penalty shot that he tried kicking out Paul Mara’s skates near the end of the game. Mara called it a “classless act by a superstar.”

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TORONTO (AP) -The NHL and its players’ union have formed a group to examine the size and configuration of goalie equipment. They will meet June 11 in Toronto.

The NHL representatives include Doug Risebrough of Minnesota, Garth Snow of the New York Islanders, Jim Rutherford of Carolina and Brett Hull of Dallas.

Three goalies and two skaters will represent the players - Martin Brodeur of New Jersey, Rick DiPietro of the New York Islanders, Ryan Miller of Buffalo, Dany Heatley of Ottawa and Mike Cammalleri of Los Angeles.

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MONTREAL - Scott Hartnell is expected to be back on the Philadelphia Flyers top line for Game 2 of their NHL playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.

Hartnell skated on right wing with centre Daniel Briere and winger Vaclav Prospal on Saturday morning. They were his linemates for most of the opening round of playoffs against Washington.

He was a left-winger with Mike Richards and Sami Kapanen in Game 1. Joffrey Lupul will move onto the Richards line.

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