February 12th

SPEZZA, MALKIN, GIGUERE 'THREE STARS' OF THE WEEK

Ottawa Senators center Jason Spezza, Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin and Anaheim Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the week ending February 10.

First Star - Jason Spezza, C, Ottawa Senators

Spezza tallied 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in three games as the Senators (34-18-4, 72 points) won two of three contests and extended their Northeast Division lead to five points. Spezza recorded one goal and one assist in a 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens Feb. 5, notched three assists in a 5-4 victory over the Florida Panthers Feb. 7 and posted a career-high six points (three goals, three assists) in a 6-1 victory over the Canadiens Feb. 9. Spezza ranks second on the Senators in scoring and fifth in the League overall with 71 points (23 goals, 48 assists) in 50 games.

Second Star - Evgeni Malkin, C Pittsburgh Penguins

Malkin recorded 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in four games as the Penguins posted a 3-1-0 record and moved into first place in the Atlantic Division. He tallied a goal and two assists in a 4-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes Feb. 4, recorded two assists in a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers Feb. 7, notched two goals, including the game-winner, and one assist in a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings Feb. 9 and had a goal and three assists in a 4-3 victory over the Flyers Feb. 10. Malkin leads the Penguins in scoring and ranks third in the NHL with 73 points (31 goals, 42 assists) in 56 games. He has recorded 8-13--21 in the 10 games since Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was sidelined with an ankle injury Jan. 18.

Third Star - Jean-Sebastien Giguere, G Anaheim Ducks

Giguere posted a 3-0-0 record with a 1.01 goals-against average, .966 save percentage and one shutout as the Ducks won four consecutive road games during their season-long, nine-game trip. Giguere turned aside 84 of 87 shots for the week, beginning with a 25-save shutout in a 3-0 victory over the New York Islanders Feb. 5. He stopped 32 of 33 shots in a 4-1 victory over the New York Rangers Feb. 7 and made 27 saves in a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings Feb. 10. Giguere improved his season record to 24-15-5 with a 2.27 goals-against average, .918 save percentage and four shutouts in 44 appearances.


STILLMAN, COMMODORE TRADED TO SENS

The Ottawa Senators added playoff experience, secondary scoring and toughness to their lineup Monday, picking up left-winger Cory Stillman and defenceman Mike Commodore from Carolina.

Stillman and Commodore, who led the Hurricanes with 74 penalty minutes this season, were members of Carolina's Stanley Cup championship team in 2006. They are both unrestricted free agents on July 1.

Forward Patrick Eaves and defenceman Joe Corvo are the newest Hurricanes, who stood three points back of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference entering Monday's action.

Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford said Stillman waived his no-trade clause to complete the deal.

Eaves will be a restricted free agent, while Corvo has two more seasons left at $2.75 million per year.

Stillman, 34, has 21 goals and 46 points in 55 games this season while earning $1.75 million. The Senators had been looking to add a top-six forward to complement leading scorers Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza.

Commodore, 28, is a rugged defenceman who had 12 points in 41 games this season while earning $1.3 million.

Eaves, 23, had four goals and six assists in 26 games this season. He was sidelined 24 games earlier in the campaign with a separated right shoulder.

Corvo, 30, had 27 points (6-21) and a plus-13 rating in 51 games.

The NHL trade deadline is Feb. 26 at 3 p.m ET.


ZEDNIK STABLE AFTER LIFESAVING SURGERY

Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednik lost five units of blood, but doctors never considered his life in jeopardy after the player had his carotid artery nearly severed by a teammate's skate in a freak and frightening accident.

Zednik underwent an hour of surgery to reconnect the artery and was listed in stable condition in the intensive care unit at Buffalo General Hospital.

He was awake and cooperative with the medical staff, doctors said.

Attending surgeon Sonya Noor said there were no initial signs of brain damage, which is a fear whenever the coratid artery is clamped.

She said clamps were in place for about 15 to 20 minutes during surgery, which she considers a short time.

Zednik was sliced across the right side of the throat by teammate Olli Jokinen's skate midway through the third period of Buffalo's 5-3 victory.

Doctors said the skate blade just missed cutting the jugular vein.

The carotid artery supplies blood to the brain, while the jugular vein takes blood from the brain. Blood pressure is much higher in the carotid artery.

Sabres orthopedic surgeon Les Bisson, who attended to Zednik shortly after he got off the ice, said losing five units — about five pints — of blood was significant, but "not a lot" for this type of injury.

According to Noor, the slashed artery was "hanging by a thread."

She stressed, if the artery had been completely severed, it would have recessed into the neck, requiring even more extensive surgery.

Zednik will remain in the ICU for a few days, but it is uncertain when he will be discharged and allowed to return to Florida, Noor said.

It will be six to eight weeks before he can return to normal activity.

A 12-year NHL veteran, Zednik is in his first season with the Panthers, after signing as a free agent last summer.

After a two-month slump, he has been playing well. Zednik entered the game on a four-game point streak, in which he had six goals and three assists, giving him 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists) in 54 games this season.


HASEK INJURED

The Detroit Red Wings will have to make do without Dominik Hasek for the next little while.

Detroit revealed Monday that the veteran goaltender's status is day-to-day on account of minor inflammation of his hip flexor.

The Red Wings said Hasek is not expected to be in uniform on Tuesday night when they visit the Nashville Predators.

Hasek, who sports a 19-7-3 record, also missed three games earlier this season with a sore hip.
With Hasek out, Detroit called up goalie Jimmy Howard from their American Hockey League affiliate, Grand Rapids Griffins, on Monday.

Chris Osgood and Howard are expected to dress for Tuesday night's contest in Nashville.

Howard, who was named the AHL goaltender of the month for December, has appeared in 39 games this year for the Griffins, compiling a 17-19-2 record with a 2.61 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage.

Also on Monday, the Wings placed defenceman Niklas Kronwall on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 30 when he suffered a shoulder sprain during the third period in a game against the Phoenix Coyotes.


GAGNE OUT WITH 3RD CONCUSSION

Simon Gagne of the Philadelphia Flyers is indefinitely sidelined after sustaining his third concussion of the season on Sunday.

The one-time all-star has already missed 30 games this year due to concussions.

Gagne sat out four games after he was hit by Jay Bouwmeester on Oct. 24, and missed a further 26 contests after a collision with Gary Roberts on Nov. 7.

Gagne's latest concussion came after a high hit by Jordan Staal during his first shift in the Flyers' 4-3 defeat in Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Team physician Dr. Gary Dorshimer examined Gagne on Monday and said he has a mild concussion.

The 27-year-old, who had complained of dizziness after previous concussions, said his symptoms were relatively light.

Gagne said his injuries were not comparable to those of former Flyers Keith Primeau and Eric Lindros, whose careers were ended by a series of concussions.


STARS EXTEND BARCH 2 YEARS

Dallas Stars enforcer Krys Barch agreed Monday to a two-year contract extension worth $1.15 million.

Barch, 27, is committed to the Stars through the 2009-10 campaign.

Barch has amassed one goal and three points with 78 penalty minutes in 34 games this season, his second in the NHL. In 26 games this season, the rookie has three goals and five points to go along with 107 penalty minutes.


PLAYOFF STANDINGS

(RANK-TEAM--POINTS--RECORD)

WEST

1-DETROIT*--87--41-12-5
2-DALLAS*--75--35-20-5
3-MINNESOTA*--68--32-20-4
4-SAN JOSE--69--31-17-7
5-ANAHEIM--69--31-22-7
6-COLORADO--65--30-21-5
7-CALGARY--64--28-20-8
8-NASHVILLE--64--29-22-6
_______________________________
9-VANCOUVER--63--28-22-7
10-COLUMBUS--61--26-23-9
11-PHOENIX--60--28-25-6

EAST

1-OTTAWA*--72--34-18-4
2-PITTSBURGH*--69--32-19-5
3-WASHINGTON*--59--27-25-5
4-MONTREAL--67--29-18-9
5-NEW JERSEY--66--31-21-4
6-PHILADELPHIA--65--30-20-5
7-NY RANGERS--63--28-24-7
8-BOSTON--61--28-22-5
______________________________
9-BUFFALO--60--26-21-8
10-CAROLINA--58--27-27-4
11-ATLANTA--58--27-27-4

(* DIVISION LEADER)


TODAY'S NHL SCHEDULE

VISITOR--HOME--TIME (Central)

HURRICANES--BRUINS--6pm
FLYERS--ISLANDERS--6pm
CANADIENS--LIGHTNING--6pm
SABERS--SENATORS--630pm
RED WINGS--PREDATORS--7pm
KINGS--BLUES--730pm
WILD--OILERS--8pm
DUCKS--AVALANCHE--830pm
FLAMES--SHARKS--930pm