Leafs Keep Playoff Hopes Alive With Win

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»

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»

Pavelski goal in OT extends series to sixth game

(NEWSER) - The Sharks just won't go away _ and now they're going back to Dallas. Joe Pavelski scored 65 seconds into overtime and San Jose evaded playoff elimination for the second straight game Friday, improbably rallying from a late two-goal deficit to beat Dallas 3-2 in Game 5. Brian Campbell scored the tying goal midway through the third period for the Sharks. More»

(NEWSER) - Back to the Shark Tank. Milan Michalek scored on a power play with 16:34 left and San Jose beat Dallas 2-1 on Wednesday night to avoid being swept in the Western Conference semifinals. The Sharks were 0-for-4 on power plays in Game 4 before getting another chance early in the third period when Mike Modano drew a delay of game penalty for knocking a puck into the stands. More»