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NHL Player News and Notes
Date	Player	News
5/8/2008	Kimmo Timonen, D, Phi	Timonen will likely miss the Eastern Conference finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins because of a blood clot in his left ankle. Timonen was hit by a shot by Montreal's Andrei Markov late in Game 4 of Philadelphia's second-round victory over the Canadiens. Timonen had an MRI taken Wednesday that didn't show a clot, but a vascular surgeon found a small one Thursday. Analysis: Timonen is the Flyers' top defenseman and played a crucial role in shutting down Washington's Alex Ovechkin for most of the seven-game, first-round series. He was just as effective against Montreal's Alex Kovalev, and was being counted on to limit Pittsburgh's top forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
5/7/2008	Jeff Halpern, C, TB	Halpern ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the world hockey championships and is expected to be sidelined until late December or early January. Halpern also sprained the medial collateral ligament and suffered a small tear to the lateral meniscus during the United States' 5-4 loss to Canada in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Tuesday. Analysis: Halpern was fantastic after he was sent to Tampa Bay as part of the trade that sent Brad Richards to Dallas. He had 10 goals and eight assists in 19 games with the Lightning, and finished the season with 20 goals and 22 assists.
5/6/2008	Michael Ryder, RW, Mon	Ryder is eligible to become a free agent on July 1, and the Canadiens are expected to let the right wing seek employment elsewhere, according to the Montreal Gazette. Analysis: Ryder posted career lows in 2007-08 with 14 goals and 31 points in 70 games for the Canadiens. He posted back-to-back 30-goal seasons after having 25 in 2003-04, when he was named to the All-Rookie team. Ryder was also a healthy scratch for eight of the Canadiens' 12 playoff games.
5/6/2008	Dany Heatley, LW, Ott	Heatley scored the winning goal with 46.8 seconds remaining to lift Canada to a 5-4 victory Tuesday over the United States at the world hockey championships. Analysis: It was Heatley's second goal of the game in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Entering play on Tuesday, Heatley had 23 goals in the world championships, the most by a Canadian player. Heatley was third on the Senators with 82 points (41 goals, 41 assists) in 71 regular-season games.
5/6/2008	Nathan Gerbe, C, Buf	Gerbe signed a three-year deal potentially worth $2.55 million with the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, electing to forgo his senior season at Boston College. Analysis: A fifth-round pick in the 2005 NHL draft, the 5-foot-5 Gerbe overcame questions about his lack of size by leading the nation with 68 points (35 goals, 33 assists) in 43 games for the national champions. Gerbe, from Oxford, Mich., was a finalist for this year's Hobey Baker Award, presented to college hockey's best player. After spending three seasons with the U.S. National Under-18 team, Gerbe scored 10 goals in his first year at Boston College, and 25 as a sophomore.
5/6/2008	Sergei Fedorov, C, Was	Fedorov scored a goal Tuesday, helping Russia defeat Denmark 4-1 at the IIHF World Hockey Championship. Analysis: Fedorov's Capitals teammate, Alex Ovechkin, also had a goal. Fedorov, who assisted on Ovechkin's goal, scored on a tipped point shot on a power play in the second period. It was Fedorov's first world championship goal since 1990, when he last played in the tournament for the Soviet Union.
5/6/2008	Milan Michalek, LW, SJ	Michalek suffered a shoulder injury in San Jose's 2-1, four-overtime loss to the Dallas Stars on Sunday night, and was expected to receive test results as early as Tuesday, according to the Sharks' official Web site. Analysis: Michalek was hurt near the end of regulation, forcing him to miss all four overtime periods. The left wing finished with four goals in 13 postseason games after totaling 24 goals and 55 points in 79 regular-season contests.
5/6/2008	Luke Beaverson, D, Fla	The Panthers and Beaverson agreed to terms on an entry-level contract, according to the Canadian Web site, tsn.com. Analysis: Beaverson, a ninth-round pick for the Panthers in 2004, just completed his senior season at the University of Alaska-Anchorage, scoring a goal and adding two assists in 30 games. "Beaverson, who served as his team's captain this past season, is another high character player who we are pleased to have signed," general manager Jacques Martin said. "He is a big, strong and durable defenseman who will continue to develop playing at the professional level."
5/6/2008	Simon Gagne, LW, Phi	Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said there is no chance Gagne would return to play in the postseason, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. Analysis: Gagne was limited to just 25 contest this season, totaling seven goals and 11 assists in those appearances, but hasn't participated in a game since Feb. 10 in Pittsburgh because of lingering symptoms from a series of concussions. He has been around the Flyers and traveling with the team, but Holmgren said he doesn't see Gagne as "an option no matter how long this thing goes." The Flyers open their Eastern Conference final series versus the Penguins on Friday.
5/6/2008	Valtteri Filppula, C, Det	Filppula sat out Monday's practice after twisting his leg in the third period of a Game 4 win over Colorado last Thursday, according to The Detroit News. Analysis: Filppula said he fell awkwardly after catching a rut in the ice, but he is optimistic he'll play in the opener of Thursday's Western Conference final series against Dallas. "I got (the leg) twisted a little bit but I feel a lot better, and hopefully I can get ready to go Thursday," Filppula said. The center has two goals and three assists in his last six playoff games. He's played in all 10 of the Red Wings' postseason contests.
5/6/2008	Pavol Demitra, LW, Min	Demitra, the Wild left wing and pending free agent, was in Vancouver over the weekend before returning to his native Slovakia for the summer, according to the Minnesota Star-Tribune. Analysis: New Canucks general manager Mike Gillis confirmed Demitra's trip during a radio interview. However, Gillis, Demitra's agent until last month, is not officially allowed to talk to him until he becomes a free agent July 1. Demitra is coming off of a tough offensive season, in which he had just 15 goals and 54 points in 68 games. He had at least 20 goals in each of his previous nine campaigns.
5/6/2008	Stefan Legein, RW, Cls	Legein has left Syracuse of the AHL to begin his offseason conditioning, Blue Jackets' general manager Scott Howson told the Columbus Dispatch. Analysis: Legein, a second-round pick for the Blue Jackets in the 2007 draft, played two postseason games with the Crunch after joining the team from junior hockey in April. Howson said he didn't want the 19-year-old serving as a spare part when he could begin his workouts. Legein had 24 goals and 13 assists in 30 games for Mississauga of the Ontario Hockey League.
5/6/2008	Steve Sullivan, RW, Nsh	Predators general manager David Poile said determining Sullivan's status for next season is among the team's top priorities this offseason, according to The Tennessean. Analysis: Sullivan hasn't played since Feb. 22, 2007 after going out with a back injury. He underwent two surgeries last summer, but his recovery has been slow. Sullivan is under contract through 2008-09 and is expected to be on the payroll next season, meaning his $3.2 million contract counts toward the salary cap - whether he plays or not. Sullivan has yet to play a full season with the Predators since he was acquired from Chicago in February 2004.
5/6/2008	Mikael Backlund, C, Cgy	Backlund signed a three-year, $2.6 million entry-level contract with the Flames on Saturday, according to the Calgary Herald. Analysis: Backlund, selected 24th overall in the 2007 draft and regarded as the Flames' top prospect among skaters, had nine goals and 13 points in 37 games for Vasteras of the Swedish first division last season. He led his team with four goals and seven points in five postseason contests, as well. While the 19-year-old hopes to make the Flames' roster in the fall, he could return to Sweden or possibly play a year of junior hockey.
5/6/2008	Evgeni Malkin, C, Pit	Malkin, Calgary's Jarome Iginla and Washington's Alex Ovechkin are the three finalists for the Lester B. Pearson award, according to the Calgary Herald. Analysis: Malkin finished second in scoring with 106 points, totaling 47 goals and 59 assists. He also has six goals and eight assists in nine postseason contests thus far. The Pearson award goes to the league's most outstanding player, as voted by members of the NHL Player's association. Last Tuesday, these same three players were named as finalists for the Hart Trophy, awarded to the NHL's most valuable player and decided by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.
5/6/2008	Alexander Ovechkin, LW, Was	Ovechkin, Calgary Flames right wing Jarome Iginla and Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin are the three finalists for the Lester B. Pearson award, according to the Calgary Herald. Analysis: Ovechkin won the scoring title with 112 points and also led the league with 65 goals. The Pearson award goes to the league's most outstanding player, as voted by members of the NHL Player's association. Last Tuesday, these same three players were named as finalists for the Hart Trophy, awarded to the NHL's most valuable player and decided by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.
5/6/2008	Mark Streit, D, Mon	Streit is eligible to become a free agent on July 1, but he expressed his desire to remain with the Canadiens for "three, four, five more seasons," according to the Montreal Gazette. Analysis: In his third NHL season, the 30-year-old Streit posted career highs in goals (13), assists (49) and points (62), making him one of the most valuable defensemen on the market. "I know I'll get offers, but I'm hoping to stay here," Streit said. "Montreal gave me a chance to play and I'm happy here." He had a goal and three assists in 11 playoff games. Streit isn't expected to join his Swiss countrymen at the IIHF world championship due to a back injury.
5/6/2008	Jarome Iginla, RW, Cgy	Iginla, Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin and Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin are the three finalists for the Lester B. Pearson Award, according to the Calgary Herald. Analysis: Iginla had 50 goals and 48 assists to rank third in the league in both categories. The right wing and Flames captain won the Pearson award in 2001-02. It goes to the league's most outstanding player, as voted by members of the NHL Player's association. Last Tuesday, these same three players were named as finalists for the Hart Trophy, awarded to the NHL's most valuable player and decided by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.
5/5/2008	Sidney Crosby, C, Pit	Crosby contributed two assists as the Penguins rallied after giving up a two-goal lead to beat the New York Rangers, 3-2, on Sunday and advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in seven years. Analysis: Crosby totaled six assists in the five-game playoff series versus the Rangers, and has two goals and 12 assists in nine postseason contests thus far.
5/5/2008	Marian Hossa, RW, Pit	Hossa scored his second goal of the game 7:10 into overtime, and the Penguins rallied after giving up a two-goal lead to beat the New York Rangers, 3-2, on Sunday and advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in seven years. Analysis: Hossa had 13 goals and 22 assists in 55 postseason games before these playoffs, during which he's picked up five goals and five assists in nine contests.
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