| HOCKEY INSIDER December 28 - January 7, 2007 |
| Brendan Shanahan #14 of the New York Rangers squares off with Donald Brashear #87 of the Washington Capitals on December 30, 2006 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Brashear is then led away by linesman Greg Devorski #54 when he sucker punches defenseman Aaron Ward #4 of the New York Rangers. Brashear was suspended for one game after being assessed a match penalty. |
| Washington Capitals at NY Rangers December 30, 2006 |
| Roberto Luongo #1 of the Vancouver Canucks falls backwards in front of teammate Mattias Ohlund #2 after being interfered with by Chuck Kobasew #19 of the Calgary Flames during their game at General Motors Place on December 27, 2006 in Vancouver, Canada. |
| A fan holds up a sign supporting defenseman Rory Fitzpatrick of the Vancouver Canucks during their game against the Calgary Flames at General Motors Place on December 27, 2006 in Vancouver, Canada. |
| Buffalo Sabres' Maxim Afinogenov (61), of Russia, fights with Carolina Hurricanes' Justin Williams (11) during the second period of the NHL hockey game at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006. |
| Carolina Hurricanes Rod Brind'Amour poses with his children in front of a commemorative painting of his career at a ceremony celebrating his 1000 career points and 600 assists, prior to the Hurricanes' NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Friday, Dec. 29, 2006, in Raleigh, N.C. From left are Briley, 8, Skyler, 7, and Reece, 6. |
| Canada fans react to a goal during second period as Team Canada was on its way to beat team Germany, 3-1, during the World U20 hockey championship Friday, Dec. 29, 2006, in Leksand, Sweden. |
| Team Canada back up goalie Leland Irving, left, congratulates winning teammate Carey Price after a 3-1 win over team Germany during the World U20 hockey championship Friday, Dec. 29, 2006, in Leksand, Sweden. |
| Team Canada Darren Helm, right, leans back after colliding with team Slovakia David Buc during first period action at the World U20 hockey championship Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006 in Leksand, Sweden. Canada won 3-0 and clinches the 16th win in a row at the World Junior Championships. |
| Brendan Shanahan #14 of the New York Rangers tosses a puck to fans after the Rangers defeated the Washington Capitals 4-1 on December 30, 2006 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. |
| Team USA Jack Johnson (3) jumps in the air to celebrate his overtime goal with Erik Johnson (6) as team mate Jack Skille skates to the at the World U20 hockey championship Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006 in Leksand, Sweden. |
| Roberto Luongo #1 of the Vancouver Canucks falls backwards in front of teammate Mattias Ohlund #2 after being interfered with by Chuck Kobasew #19 of the Calgary Flames during their game at General Motors Place on December 27, 2006 in Vancouver, Canada. |
| Toronto Maple Leafs fans cheer a second-period goal by Leafs captain Mats Sundin during NHL hockey action against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Pittsburgh, Friday, Dec. 29, 2006. |
| Nashville Predators goalie Chris Mason, top, dives to block a shot from Dallas Stars defender Sergei Zubov, bottom, during the first period of their hockey game Friday night, Dec. 29, 2006, in Dallas. |
| Brad Stuart #6 of the Boston Bruins checks Peter Bondra #12 of the Chicago Blackhawks with an elbow to the face on December 29, 2006 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. |
| Jeremy Berger #16 (L) and Cedric LaCroix #77 (R) of the Long Island Icecats hoist the gold medal trophy in the air after defeating the Bridgeport Riverhawks during the Charles B. Wang Project Hope Invitational International Youth Hockey Tournament on December 30, 2006 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. |
| Team Slovakia's Juraj Mikus (12) is sent to the ice as Team USA's Peter Mueller (88) and Kyle Lawson (2) squeeze him as they battle for the puck during first period action at the World U20 hockey championship Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006 in Leksand, Sweden. |
| Pittsburgh Penguins' Jordan Staal (11) is shoved to the ice by Toronto Maple Leafs' Chad Kilger after scoring a short handed goal during third period NHL hockey action at Pittsburgh, Dec. 29, 2006. |
| Minnesota Wild's Wes Walz is pushed into the net by Columbus Blue Jackets' Jason Chimera after scoring the winning goal in overtime as the Wild beat the Blue Jackets, 4-3, in a NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 29, 2006, in St. Paul, Minn. |
| Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins makes a diving save in the 3rd period against the Chicago Blackhawks on December 29, 2006 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. |
| Rick DiPietro #39 of the New York Islanders knocks over his net as he tries to get back to his crease as Scott Gomez #23 of the New Jersey Devils skates by during their game at the Nassau Coliseum December 30, 2006 in Uniondale, New York. |
| Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) collides with New York Rangers' Michal Rozsival (3) during the first period of hockey action at Madison Square Garden, Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006, in New York. |
| Scott Clemmensen #40 of the New Jersey Devils warms up before playing the New York Islanders during their game on December 30, 2006 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. |
| New York Islanders Tom Poti checks New Jersey Devils Patrik Elias of the Czech Republic after Elias put the puck into an empty net during the third period of their hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y. |
| Dany Heatley #15 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates Chris Phillips' overtime winning goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during their NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on December 30, 2006 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. |
| Brendan Shanahan #14 the New York Rangers prepares to land a punch on Donald Brashear #87 of the Washington Capitals on December 30, 2006 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. |
| San Jose Sharks center Mark Smith, left, reels from a punch landed by Phoenix Coyotes left winger Josh Gratton, right, in the third period of a hockey game Saturday, Dec. 30. 2006, in Glendale, Ariz. |
| Anaheim Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger, pictured last month, broke his left foot in the first period of the team's 4-3 National Hockey League loss to Minnesota. The 32-year-old Pronger had to leave the game shortly after he blocked a shot with his foot on a power play. |
| Wade Belak #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates a goal scored by teammate Kris Newbury against the Boston Bruins during their NHL game at the Air Canada Centre January 1, 2007 in Toronto, Ontario. |
| Team USA's Kyle Okposo (8), bottom right, and Trevor Lewis (24), center, and team Finland's Mikael Kurki (6) pile up over Finland's goalie Tuukka Rask during second period action at the World U20 hockey championship Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007 in Mora, Sweden. USA won 6-3 and will play Canada on Wednesday in the semi-final in Leksand. |
| Team USA goalie Jeff Frazee jumps on a puck during second period action against Finland at the World U20 hockey championship Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007 in Mora, Sweden. USA won 6-3 and will play Canada on Wednesday in the semi-final in Leksand. |
| Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers makes a glove save against the New Jersey Devils during their game at the Continental Airlines Arena on January 2, 2007 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. |
| New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, of Sweden, reacts after beating the New Jersey Devils, 3-2, in an eight-round shootout during NHL hockey Tuesday night, Jan. 2, 2007 in East Rutherford, N.J. |
| Cristobal Huet #39 of the Montreal Canadiens waits for a faceoff against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Bell Centre January 2, 2007 in Montreal, Quebec. |
| Peter Forsberg #21 of the Philadelphia Flyers goes into the penalty box in the first period against the New York Islanders during their game on January 2, 2007 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. |
| Jamie Langenbrunner #15 of the New Jersey Devils is checked hard by Darius Kasparaitis #6 of the New York Rangers during their game at the Continental Airlines Arena on January 2, 2007 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. |
| Alexei Yashin #79 of the New York Islanders shoots the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers during their game on January 2, 2007 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. |
| Simon Gagne #12 of the Philadelphia Flyers shoots the puck against Mike Dunham #1 of the New York Islanders during their game at the Nassau Coliseum January 2, 2007 in Uniondale, New York. |
| Nicklas Lidstrom #5 of Detroit Red Wings prepares for a face-off against the Anaheim Ducks during their NHL game at Joe Louis Arena January 2, 2007 in Detroit, Michigan. |
| Steve Yzerman's number 19 hangs from the rafters along with the other retired numbers from the Detroit Red Wings organization during their NHL game at Joe Louis Arena January 2, 2007 in Detroit, Michigan. |
| CHECK OUT THE STEVE YZERMAN RETIREMENT CEREMONY FROM JANUARY 2nd, 2007 |
| Team Canada's Jonathan Toews jumps on the board and into the arms of teammates after he score one of his three shootout goals against team USA during semifinal action at the World U20 hockey championship Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007 in Leksand, Sweden. Toews scored three times in a shootout to lift two-time defending champion Canada over the United States 2-1 |
| Team USA goalie Jeff Frazee kneels on the ice and looks up in dejection as teammates from left, Ryan Stoa, Justin Abdelkader, Jim Fraser and Jack Skille look down after losing in a shootout in semi final game action against Canada at the World U20 hockey championship Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007 in Leksand, Sweden. |
| Team Canada goalie Carey Price, left, jumps in the arms of teammates Marc Stall and Steve Downie, right, after beating team USA in a shootout during semi-final game action at the World U20 hockey championship Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007 in Leksand, Sweden. Canada will play for gold against the winner of a Russia and Sweden semifinal. |
| Team Russia's Artem Anisimov, right, jubilates with teammate Andrei Zubarev (3) after scoring his team's third gaol during second period action of the semifinal match Russia vs. Sweden at the World U20 hockey championship Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007 in Leksand, Sweden. |
| Mike Comrie #89 looks on during warmups prior to his Ottawa Senator debut against the Buffalo Sabres on January 3, 2007 at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Canada. |
| This photo released by the Wayne County Prosecutors Office Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007, shows Justin Blackshere. Blackshere, 17, of Detroit, a former employee of Cheli's Chili Bar in downtown Detroit, was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of two current employees who were found Tuesday morning at the sports bar. |
| Buffalo Sabres winger Jason Pominville (29) flys through the air after being checked by Ottawa Senator winger Patrick Eaves (44) during NHL hockey action in Ottawa, Canada, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007. |
| Goaltender Ray Emery #1 of the Ottawa Senators performs his pregame ritual by burying his head in the net prior to his game against the Buffalo Sabres on January 3, 2007 at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Canada. |
| Buffalo Sabres center Paul Gaustad (28) is punched in the face by Ottawa Senators winger Chris Neil during third period NHL hockey action in Ottawa Wednesday Jan. 3, 2007. |
| Los Angeles Kings wing Sean Avery grimaces after getting hit in the face with a stick in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007. |
| Buffalo's Lindy Ruff and Anaheim's Randy Carlyle will coach the Eastern and Western Conference All-Star Teams, respectively, at the 2007 NHL All-Star Game on Wednesday, Jan. 24 in Dallas. |
| Construction on the 18,500 seat Sprint Center continues Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007, in Kansas City, Mo. Pittsburgh Penguins' owners, unhappy with the 45-year-old Mellon Arena, the NHL's oldest venue, have been exploring a move since a new arena deal fell through last month. The Sprint Center is being considered as possible venue for the Penguins if negotiations with team owners and city officials in Pittsburgh are not resolved. |
| Coach Wayne Gretzky of the Phoenix Coyotes screams at the officials as he leaves the ice after the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes on January 4, 2007 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. |
| New York Rangers' Ryan Hollweg, left, fights with Philadelphia Flyers' Ben Eager during the second period in NHL hockey action Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007, at Madison Square Garden in New York. |
| Rick DiPietro #39 of the New York Islanders takes a break against the New Jersey Devils on January 4, 2006 at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. |
| New York Rangers' Martin Straka acknowledges the crowd's applause after being the first star of the game on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007, at Madison Square Garden in New York for a hat trick . |
| Brendan Bell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Shean Donovan #22 of the Boston Bruins exchange blows on January 4, 2007 at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. |
| Phoenix Coyotes' Curtis Joseph poses in the team's locker room with a puck from the game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007, in Raleigh, N.C. With the win, Joseph passed Jacques Plante for fifth all time in wins with 438. |
| Florida Panthers' Bryan Allen, left, reacts as Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla lands a punch as the two fought during second period NHL hockey action in Calgary, Canada,Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007. |
| Evgeni Nabokov #20 of the San Jose Sharks waits for the game to start against the Detroit Red Wings at HP Pavillion on January 4, 2007 in San Jose, California. |
| Team USA goalie Jeff Frazee raises his arms in celebration after defeating Sweden 2-1 in the bronze medal game at the World U20 hockey championship Friday, Jan. 5, 2007 in Leksand, Sweden. |
| Team USA players gather around goalie Jeff Frazee after defeating Sweden 2-1 in the bronze medal game at the World U20 hockey championship Friday, Jan. 5, 2007 in Leksand, Sweden. |
| Team USA players gather around goalie Jeff Frazee after defeating Sweden 2-1 in the bronze medal game at the World U20 hockey championship Friday, Jan. 5, 2007 in Leksand, Sweden. |
| Team Canada players, including MVP goaltender Carey Price, front, celebrate their 4-2 gold medal win over Russia at the World U20 hockey championship Friday, Jan. 5, 2007, in Leksand, Sweden. |
| Boston Bruin Phil Kessel continues his recovering after cancer surgery with the Providence Bruins against the Worcester Sharks, Friday, Jan. 5, 2007, in Providence, R.I. Kessel, the fifth pick-overall in the 2006 NHL draft, learned he had testicular cancer shortly before playing in a Dec. 9, 2006, game against New Jersey. |
| Tampa Bay Lightning center Nick Tarnasky, left, fights with Colorado Avalanche right winger Ian Laperriere in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Denver on Friday, Jan. 5, 2007. |
| Anaheim Ducks' Teemu Selanne, of Finland, acknowledges the crowd after being honored for his 500th NHL goal and 1,000th NHL game before the Ducks' game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, Jan. 5, 2007, in Anaheim, Calif. |
| Curtis Joseph #31 of the Phoenix Coyotes makes a save against the Atlanta Thrashers on January 5, 2007 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. |
| Goaltender Peter Budaj #31 of the Colorado Avalanche turns away one of his 26 saves against the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 5, 2007 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. |
| Edmonton Oilers goalie Dwayne Roloson right, winds up to give Vancouver Canucks Matt Cooke a two-handed hit with his stick in the second period of NHL action in Vancouver, Canada, Friday, January 5, 2007. There was no penalty. |
| George Parros #16 of the Anaheim Ducks pulls the jersey over the head of Jody Shelley #45 of the Columbus Blue Jackets during a fight in the second period at the Honda Center on January 5, 2007 in Anaheim, California. |
| Daniel Sedin (L) and Dany Sabourin of the Vancouver Canucks play a game of soccer outside their locker room before a NHL game against the Edmonton Oilers at General Motors Place January 5, 2007 in Vancouver, Canada. |
| Robert Esche #42 of the Philadelphia Flyers makes a save against the Boston Bruins on January 6, 2007 at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. |
| Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins defends his net against the Philadelphia Flyers during their game at the TD Banknorth Garden January 6, 2007 in Boston, Massachusetts. |
| Marc Savard #91 of the Boston Bruins gives a stick to a fan after being named star of the game against the Philadelphia Flyers during their game at the TD Banknorth Garden January 6, 2007 in Boston, Massachusetts. |
| New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur (30) slips after getting hit by teammate Alex Brooks (8) and Ottawa Senators' Christoph Schubert (5) during third period NHL action at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Canada, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007. |
| Team Canada Juniors gold Medalists (R) Ryan O'Marra and James Neal were honoured along with four others before the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs NHL game at Air Canada Centre January 6, 2007 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. |
| Adam Mair #22 of the Buffalo Sabres gets knocked down by Ben Ondrus #26 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the NHL game at Air Canada Centre January 6, 2007 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. |
| St. Louis Blues defenseman Dennis Wideman (25) recoils from the puck in the second period against the Nashville Predators in an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007. |
| St. Louis Blues right wing Jamal Mayers (21) lands a punch on Nashville Predators right wing Jordin Tootoo (22) in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007. |
| San Jose Sharks goalie Vesa Toskala, of Finland, stops a shot on goal by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007. |
| New Jersey Devils' Brad Lukowich bleeds on the ice after taking a high stick in the face from Montreal Canadiens' Michael Ryder during third period NHL action Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007 in Montreal. |
| Los Angeles Kings goalie Mathieu Garon, center, is congratulated by teammates Alexander Frolov, of Russia, left, Anze Kopitar, of Slovenia, center right, and Oleg Tverdovsky, of Russia, after the Kings' 4-2 win, in the past 13 meetings, over the Detroit Red Wings in an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, in Los Angeles. |
| Anaheim Ducks goalie Ilya Bryzgalov of Russia makes a stop in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007. |
| Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby slides into the boards after scoring a second period goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during NHL hockey action in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007. |
| Alex Burrows #14 of the Vancouver Canucks checks Mike Van Ryn #26 of the Florida Panthers into the Canucks bench during their NHL game January 7, 2007 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, Canada. |
| Goaltender Roberto Luongo #1 of the Vancouver Canucks celebrates after making a save on Jozef Stumpel of the Florida Panthers during the shootout in their game January 7, 2007 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, Canada. |
| Detroit Red Wings defenseman Danny Markov, of Russia, left, and Anaheim Ducks center Rob Niedermayer, center, watch as Red Wings goalie Dominik Hasek, of the Czech Republic, makes a stop in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007. |