Flames Stay Ahead of Avalanche

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»

(AP) - Turns out the NHL has a bigger bite than Ottawa's Jarkko Ruutu. The league suspended Ruutu two games without pay for biting the gloved hand of Buffalo's Andrew Peters in a game Tuesday. "It's weird to even think that that goes on in hockey," said Peters, known more for his fists than his skill. "Even in my role, I would never think of doing something like that." More»

10 reasons for fans outside of Canada to focus on hockey

(NEWSER) - That time is upon us again: the season in which we ignore most of what's going on in the NHL. But this year it might behoove sports fans to pay attention, writes Maxim. Here's why:

• Detroit needs some good news, right? The champs got even stronger.
• Finally, all of the 'Original Six' teams are strong again. Yes, even the Blackhawks. Look out for Montreal, celebrating its 100th birthday.

Franzen nets second hat trick of series

(NEWSER) - Johan Franzen outscored the Colorado Avalanche by himself. His second hat trick in three games fueled the Detroit Red Wings' 8-2 rout last night that completed a sweep of the Avalanche. Franzen needed just 10 playoff games to score 11 goals and break the Red Wings' record for most goals in one postseason, which was held by three players, including Brett Hull. More»

Colorado pushed to brink of elimination

(NEWSER) - The usually heated Colorado-Detroit matchup has never been this one-sided, on the scoreboard or in the trainer's room. Pavel Datsyuk scored twice and Johan Franzen picked up his sixth goal of the series, putting the Red Wings on the cusp of the Western Conference finals with a 4-3 victory Tuesday night over the ailing Avalanche. More»