January 24th

KOVALCHUK SUSPENDED 1 GAME

Atlanta Thrashers forward Ilya Kovalchuk was suspended by the NHL one game for a hit into the borads from behind on defenceman Michal Rozsival in Tuesdays game against the New York Rangers.

Kovalchuk was ejected from the game, will sit out tonights rematch against the Rangers, and forfit $34,224 in salary.

The first overall pick by Atlanta in the 2001 draft, Kovalchuck has posted 37 goals and 26 assists for 63 points in 51 games this season, and in 438 career NHL games has 239 goals and 442 points.


CLARKSON ADDED TO NHL YOUNGSTARS

New Jersey Devils right-winger David Clarkson has been added to the list of NHL YoungStars invited to take part in the league's all-star festivites this weekend in Atlanta.

Clarkson replaces Pittsburgh Penguins center Tyler Kennedy on the Eastern Conference team, who is out indefinitely with monoucleosis.

Conprised of the top rookie players in the league, the eight-player Eastern and Western Conference YoungStar teams will face off in a special three-on-three game as part of the NHL's all-star weekend.


BEECH CLAIMED OFF WAIVERS BY CAPS

Kris Beech has been claimed off waivers by the Washington Capitals.

Beech was placed on waivers by the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, less then two weeks after the Canucks picked him up off waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The 26-year-old was originally drafted by the Capitals in the first round (seventh overall) in the 1999 entry draft, and only played in four games with Vancouver notching a goal and an assist.