February 13th

ZEDNIK'S CONDITION UPGRADED TO GOOD

While the Florida Panthers returned back to the sunshine state, teammate Richard Zednik remained in a Buffalo hospital where his condition was upgraded to good.

The hockey world is still reeling from the incident, which could have killed the 32-year-old winger if not for life-saving treatment at HSBC Arena and Buffalo General Hospital that reconnected his carotid artery, which supplies the head and neck with blood.

Zednik's neck was cut open in the third period of this past weekends game against the Buffalo Sabres after teammate Olli Jokinen was upended and his right foot skate went into Zednik's path. Moments later, he kneeled forward with his hands at his throat, blood coming from his neck and made his wat to the bench where trainers and teammates helped him.

The 7 1/2-sentimetre laceration barley missed Zednik's jugular vein, which takes blood from the brain, but cut his carotid artery. He remained conscious throughout the incident, even as he lost five units of blood.

In the end, doctors said the only effect would be some "hoarseness."

Zednik suffered no long-term brain or nerve damage, and could be discharged as early as this weekend, though he will have to sit out the rest of the season.

The Panthers called up forward Rob Globke from the Rochester Americans of the AHL to replace Zednik.


SOURAY DONE FOR SEASON

Sheldon Souray's name has been added to the growing list of Edmonton Oilers who have been sidelined for the rest of the season.

The Oilers defenceman revealed Tuesday that he is done for the remainder of the 2007-08 NHL season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder last week.

Souray joins left-winger Raffi Torres (torn knee ligament) and center Shawn Horcoff (left shoulder) who were recently ruled out for the rest of the season for Edmonton.

Souray tried playing through the pain, but ended up aggravating the joint. He suffered the original injury, a second-degree sprain, last October 13 in a 4-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, and has missed a total of 29 games this season.

After joining the Oilers as a free agent in the off-season, signing a five-year $27-million contract, Souray had three goals and seven assists in 26 games this season.


SENS RETURN FOLIGNO TO AHL

Ottawa Senators forward Nick Foligno is headed back to the AHL, again.

The rookie was assigned Tuesday to the Binghamton Senators, ending his third NHL stint in four months.

The 20-year-old opened the season in Ottawa, scoring twice with six penalty minutes in 14 games before being sent down to the minor leagues last November 14.

Foligno returned 13 days later, and posted three goals and five points in 17 games before being demoted to Binghamton on January 4.

He had one goal and one assist for two points in six NHL games since being recalled January 29.

Foligno, the son of former NHLer Mike Foligno, was drafted 28th overall by Ottawa in 2006.


FERGUSON JOINS TSN AS HOCKEY ANALYST

Former Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager John Ferguson Jr has joined TSN as a guest analyst.

For those of you who have the NHL Centre Ice Package, look for Ferguson during TSN broadcasts as he'll be making three guest appearances in the coming weeks.

Ferguson became the 12th general manager in Toronto Maple Leafs history when he took over from Pat Quinn in 2003. He spent five seasons with the Leafs and was also a member of Team Canada's management team at the 2007 IIHF World Championship in Russia, where Canada went undefated and won gold. Ferguson was relieved of his duties by the Leafs in January and was replaced by interim GM Cliff Fletcher. He is now a scout for Team Canada's entry in the upcoming 2008 IIHF World Championship in Halifax and Quebec City.


PLAYOFF STANDINGS

(RANK-TEAM--PTS--RECORD)

WEST

1-DETROIT*--87--41-13-5
2-DALLAS*--75--35-20-5
3-MINNESOTA*--68-32-21-4
4-ANAHEIM--71--32-22-7
5-SAN JOSE--70--31-17-8
6-CALGARY--66--29-20-8
7-NASHVILLE--66--30-22-6
8-COLORADO--65--30-22-5
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9-VANCOUVER--63--28-22-7
10-COLUMBUS--61--26-23-9
11-PHOENIX--60--28-25-4

EAST

1-OTTAWA*--72--34-19-4
2-PITTSBURGH*--69--32-29-5
3-CAROLINA*--60--28-27-4
4-MONTREAL--67--29-19-9
5-NEW JERSEY--66--31-21-4
6-PHILADELPHIA--65--30-21-5
7-NY RANGERS--63--28-24-7
8-BUFFALO--62--27-21-8
__________________________________
9-BOSTON--61--28-23-5
10-WASHINGTON--59--27-25-5
11-ATLANTA--58--27-27-4
12-NY ISLANDERS--57--25-25-7
13-FLORDIA--57--26-27-5

(* Division Leader)


TODAY'S NHL SCHEDULE

SENATORS @ DEVILS 6pm
CAPITALS @ THRASHERS 6pm
BLACKHAWKS @ BLUE JACKETS 6pm
MAPLE LEAFS @ SABRES 630pm
BRUINS @ PENGUINS 630pm
CANADIENS @ PANTHERS 630pm