The Flyers’ Derian Hatcher scored a rare goal at a most opportune time. The defensman’s second goal this season, along with 38 stops by goalie Antero Niittymaki, helped Philadelphia beat the Florida Panthers 1-0 on Sunday. “It’s always nice to score. What more can I say?” said Hatcher, who has just 80 goals in 1,022 career games.
Playing outdoor hockey is becoming old hat for Ryan Miller. Maybe this time it’ll be “new tuque.” Pulling a page from the Jose Theodore playbook, the Buffalo Sabres goalie is considering wearing a tuque — a knitted ski cap — on top of his mask during the Winter Classic on Tuesday at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Stars goalie Mike Smith wanted to make amends after allowing three goals to Paul Kariya in the third period and letting what looked like an easy win over St. Louis go to overtime. His sprawling save on Kariya in the shootout did just that, and when Mike Modano’s goal stood up as the only one, Smith and the Stars had their win, 5-4 over the Blues 5-4 Saturday night.
With top scoring threats Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Holmstrom out of Detroit’s lineup, Pavel Datsyuk knew the job of getting a key goal fall to him. He scored with just over four minutes remaining in the third period to break a tie and help the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes.
Steve Bernier helped the San Jose Sharks set a team record. Bernier had a goal and two assists in the Sharks’ 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators 5-2 Saturday night, winning a franchise-record ninth straight road game. Joe Thornton and Milan Michalek each had two assists for San Jose, and Marcel Goc, Craig Rivet, Matthew Carle and Torrey Mitchell also scored for the Sharks.
Ty Conklin is heating up at exactly the right time, just when the Pittsburgh Penguins are about to venture into the great outdoors. Conklin, stuck in the minors a month ago, won his fourth in a row and Sidney Crosby set up both Pittsburgh goals to help the Penguins beat the weary Buffalo Sabres 2-0 Saturday night.
Alexander Ovechkin found a constructive way to dull the pain of a freshly healing wound. Ovechkin had four goals and an assist to lead the Washington Capitals to an 8-6 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night. The Russian star, who needed stitches to close a leg cut in Thursday’s 4-3 overtime loss in Pittsburgh, scored a power-play goal 4:45 in to put Washington up 2-0.
Bill Parcells’ shakeup of the Miami Dolphins began Monday with the firing of general manager Randy Mueller. Assistant director of player personnel Mike Baugh and college scouting coordinator Rick Thompson also departed. Also at risk of being fired was coach Cam Cameron, who said he would discuss his future with Parcells this week.
Carl Peterson says he will return for a 20th year running the Kansas City Chiefs despite a disappointing season that left many fans unhappy. “We have a plan and it’s being implemented,” the Chiefs president and general manager told Sports Betting News Monday in a telephone interview from his office at Arrowhead Stadium.
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Stockar McDougle was charged with battery after he pushed a store owner and his employee, authorities said Monday. McDougle was arrested Friday and charged with battery on a person 65 and older, a felony, and touch-strike battery, a misdemeanor, after he went to a landscaping company to pay off a debt, according to a Broward Sheriff’s Office report.
