Hurricanes Stun Maple Leafs in Last Seconds

Fortunately, Jim Deutsch did not have to play

(NEWSER) - The NHL's Minnesota Wild signed an emergency goalie today, which is news only because the guy is 51 years old and owns an embroidery store. As it turns out, Jim Deutsch won't have to suit up for an NHL game, but he came thisclose, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune . The team got in a pickle when it found out usual starter Nik Backstrom couldn't play in tonight's game. Backup Josh Harding got the nod, and the team called up a minor league goalie to back up Harding. Problem: It wasn't a sure thing that the minor league goalie's plane would arrive in time. More»

Derek Boogard, former Minnesota Wild standout, found yesterday

(NEWSER) - New York Rangers hockey player Derek Boogard, 28, was found dead in his Minneapolis apartment last night. Boogard, formerly a Minnesota Wild player, fought on the ice 54 times and amassed 255 penalty minutes, but the enforcer known as the "Boogey Man" will be remembered just as much for his kindness off the ice, teammates tell the the Minneapolis Star Tribune . His cause of death is still unknown, pending autopsy results. More»

(NEWSER) - This year's NHL Hall of Fame class is a stellar one, TSN reports. All three forwards inducted—Brett Hull, Steve Yzerman, and Luc Robitaille—are among the top 10 scorers in pro hockey history. Brian Leetch, meanwhile, was a two-time winner of the Norris Trophy, awarded to the league’s top defenseman. Also to be inducted in November is Lou Lamoriello, who as general manager built three Stanley Cup winners for New Jersey. More»

(AP) - Martin Brodeur posted his 552nd win tonight and passed childhood idol Patrick Roy for the most career victories by a goalie in NHL history. He made 30 saves in the New Jersey Devils' 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The victory came in Brodeur's 987th game of a 15-year career played entirely with the Devils. "If this continues being fun, I'll stick around for a long time," said Brodeur, 36. More»

Unretired hockey star makes solid start to comeback at 43

(NEWSER) - Four-time Stanley Cup winner Claude Lemieux took to the ice for the San Jose Sharks yesterday after nearly 6 years in retirement, and Mark Purdy of the Mercury News is cautiously optimistic. The 43-year-old, who's been a pro for longer than several of his new teammates have been alive, "was solid. That's one of the finest compliments you can pay a professional athlete," Purdy writes. More»