January 3rd

CANADA, RUSSIA WINNERS AT WORLD JUNIORS

Canada skated into the semi-finals at the World Juniors Championship in the Czech Republic after edging a persistent Finnish squad, 4-2, in Wednesday's quarterfinals.

it will be the 10th straight semi-final appearance for the Canadians, who have won medals at the last nine straight World Juniors. This was the first time since 2002 that Canada had to skate in the quarterfinal game, and Finns made sure that the defending champions had to play hard for the entire 60 minutes as Canada couldn’t shake Finland until the last minute when an empty netter sealed the win. It was the sixth straight time that Canada beat Finland at the U20 World Championship.

The Canadians will take on the United States in the semi-final on Friday.


Russia earned the final spot in the semi-finals after defeating host Czech Republic, 4-1, as the Russians will play Sweden in its semi-final game on Friday. It's the fourth straight appearance for Russia in the semi-finals. For the Czechs it's the third straight year of quarterfinal round frustration as the team has played in the 5th place game the last two years.


The Czech Republic and Finland will meet in the fifth-place game today.


BABCOCK, PADDOCK NAMED ALL-STAR COACHES

Head coaches Mike Babcock of the Detroit Red Wings and John Paddock of the Ottawa Senators will lead the Western and Eastern Conference All-Star Teams, respectively, at the 2008 NHL All-Star Game, Sunday, Jan 27 at Phillips Arena in Atlanta.

Under the selection process for All-Star coaches, the head coach and assistant coach for the Western Conference All-Stars are the head coaches of the two teams with the top points percentages in the Western Conference through games of Friday, Jan. 4, the halfway point of the 2007-08 regular season. The head coach and assistant coach of the Eastern Conference All-Stars are the head coaches of the two teams with the best points percentages in the Eastern Conference.

Babcock's Red Wings lead the Western Conference with a points percentage of .763, posting 61 points in 40 games (29-8-3) entering Wednesday's play, and are assured of having the Conference's top points percentage through Friday. Paddock's Senators lead the Eastern Conference with a points percentage of .692, posting 54 points in 39 games (25-10-4), and are guaranteed of topping their Conference.

San Jose Sharks head coach Ron Wilson (22-12-5, .628), holds a slight lead over the Dallas Stars' Dave Tippett (23-13-4, .625) for the All-Star Game assistant coach position in the Western Conference. Tippett, however, can clinch the All-Star coaching berth if the Stars win their games at Detroit tonight and at Minnesota Thursday. The Stars earning fewer than maximum points would open the door for Wilson, whose Sharks host Calgary Thursday.

Brent Sutter, in his first season as the New Jersey Devils' head coach, brings a 21-14-3 (.592) record into Wednesday night's game against Florida and is the leading contender to join Paddock behind the Eastern Conference bench. Also in the crowded Eastern Conference field: the Montreal Canadiens' Guy Carbonneau (19-13-7, .577), the Philadelphia Flyers' John Stevens (19-14-4, .568) and the New York Rangers' Tom Renney (20-15-4, .564).

The starting lineups for the All-Star Game will be announced on Tuesday, Jan, 8.


SPEZZA, DATSYUK, NABOKOV DECEMBER'S THREE STARS

Ottawa Senators center Jason Spezza, Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk and San Jose Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the month of December

FIRST STAR -- JASON SPEZZA, C, OTTAWA SENATORS

Spezza led all NHL scorers in December with 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) and recorded a +14 rating as the Senators went 9-3-2 and extended their lead in the Eastern Conference standings. Spezza recorded points in 13 of 14 games, including nine multiple-point performances. He recorded goals in eight contests, including game-winners against Pittsburgh Dec. 13 and Boston Dec. 18. He also notched a 10-game point streak from Dec. 12-29, tallying 20 points (9-11--20) in that span. Spezza ranks third on the Senators and 10th in overall NHL scoring with 49 points (14 goals, 35 assists) in 33 games

SECOND STAR -- PAVEL DATSYUK, C, DETROIT RED WINGS

Datsyuk ranked third among NHL scorers for the month with 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) and posted a +11 rating in 15 games. He recorded points in 11 of 14 games, including two goals and an assist against Montreal Dec. 4, three-assist games against Minnesota Dec. 7, Washington Dec. 17 and St. Louis Dec. 26 and the game-winning goal and two assists against Phoenix Dec. 29. Datsyuk is second in scoring on the Red Wings and ninth among all NHL players with 49 points (15 goals, 34 assists) in 40 games. The Red Wings went 12-2-1 in December, improving their NHL-best record to 29-8-3.

THRID STAR -- EVGENI NABOKOV, G, SAN JOSE SHARKS

Nabokov posted a 10-4-1 record, 1.96 goals-against average and .925 save percentage in 15 games. He allowed two goals or fewer in 11 of 15 games, including shutouts against Phoenix Dec. 7 and St. Louis Dec. 28. The only goaltender to start each of his club's games this season, Nabokov has posted a 22-12-5 record, 1.99 goals-against average, .919 save percentage and five shutouts in 39 games. He leads all goaltenders in victories, ranks third in goals-against average and is tied for third in shutouts. His streak of 46 consecutive regular-season starts, which began March 24, 2007 at Carolina, is a franchise record.


OILERS' OWNERS TO REJECT TYCOON'S LATEST OFFER

The community-based investors group that owns the Edmonton Oilers is ready to reject a fourth bid by billionaire Daryl Katz to buy the NHL team.

The Edmonton Investors Group said Wednesday it will recommend that its shareholders turn down the $188-million offer made by Katz's Rexall Sports Corp. in December.

The EIG, a consortium of 34 local businessmen, sent Katz a list of questions on New Year's Eve about the bid: 1-Whether Katz will commit to keeping the Oilers in Edmonton. 2-What conditions might apply if Katz is prepared to spend $100 million on a new arena, including who would run it and where in Edmonton it would be built. 3-Clarifications on the purchase price offered to shareholders. 4-Verification of the payment structure and financial qualification of Rexall Sports Corp.

Bill Butler, who replaced Cal Nichols as board chairman last month, said it's important for the group to know if the team will remain in the city. He also said the EIG is considering other options, including buying out shareholders who want to sell.
An information meeting of EIG shareholders is scheduled for Jan. 21.

Katz's last offer, in August 2007, reportedly for more than $170 million US, was turned down. Previous offers of $145 million and $150 million were also rejected.


SMYTH OUT INDEFINITELY

The Colorado Avalanche's Ryan Smyth is sidelined indefinitely after spraining his ankle in the Av's 4-3 shootout loss to Phoenix. It was unclear how he injured his ankle, but did take a couple of big hits against the Desert Dogs. X-rays taken were negative.

Smyth is third in scoring on Colorado with 28 points, and doubtful for Saturday's home game versus the New York Islanders. He will join Av's captain Joe Sakic on the sidelines, as Sakic is out at least two months following hernia surgery last month.


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