February 14th

LUNDQVIST INKS 6-YEAR EXTENSION WITH RANGERS

The New York Rangers and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist have agreed on a new six-year contract.

Lundqvist will earn $6.875 million per year for a total of $41.25 million over six years with a limited no-trade clause that would commence in the 2009-10 season.

The Rangers and Lundqvist have been working on a deal since the start of this year, as the 25-year-old was scheduled to become a restricted free-agent on July 1.

Lundqvist is 24-21-5 with a 2.37 GAA in 50 games this season, and for his NHL career is 91-55-22 with a 2.32 GAA over 173 games, all with the Rangers.


MODIN RETURNS FOR JACKETS

The Columbus Blue Jackets activated forward Fredrik Modin on Wednesday, and in a related move defenceman Marc Methot was demoted to the AHL to make room on the roster.

Modin has missed a total of 47 games this season with broken bones in his back and, most recently, an injured hamstring, and in 11 games this season has posted two goals and two assists.

A third round (64th overall) draft choice by Toronto in 1994, Modin has totalled 207 goals and 408 points in 751 games over 11 NHL season for the Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay, and Blue Jackets.

Methot failed to register a point in eight games with Columbus.


MOVIE PRODUCER SET TO PURCHASE LIGHTNING

The Tampa Bay Lightning may soon have some new owners who will bring a Hollywood feel to the franchise.

The team, owned by Michigan-based Palace Sports & Entertainment since 1999, announced Wednesday that it has been sold to OK Hockey LLC, a group controlled by Los Angeles TV and movie producer Oren Koules.

Koules was part of a group of bidders who tried to purchase the team last year, but the deal unravelled before it was approved by the NHL. The league still has to approve this deal, which is expected to be completed in 3 1/2 months.

The deal also includes the leasehold rights to the St. Pete Times Forum and approximately 5 1/2 acres of land near the arena.

The Lightning, who won the Stanley Cup in 2004, are last in the Eastern Conference. The team made the playoff the past two seasons, but were eliminated both times in the first round.


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
________________________________
9-VANCOUVER--63--28-22-7
10-COLUMBUS--61--26-24-9
11-PHOENIX--60--28-25-4
12-ST LOUIS--58--25-22-8
13-EDMONTON--57--26-27-5
14-CHICAGO--56--25-25-6
15-LOS ANGELES--51--24-32-3

EAST

1-OTTAWA*--73--34-19-5
2-PITTSBURGH*--69--32-20-5
3-WASHINGTON*--60--27-25-6
4-MONTREAL--69--30-19-9
5-NEW JERSEY--68--32-21-4
6-PHILADELPHIA--65--30-21-5
7-BUFFALO--64--28-21-8
8-BOSTON--63--29-23-5
___________________________________
9-NY RANGERS--63--28-24-7
10-CAROLINA--60--28-27-4
11-ATLANTA--60--28-27-4
12-FLORDIA--58--26-27-6
13-NY ISLANDERS--57--25-25-7
14-TORONTO--55--23-26-9
15-TAMPA BAY--54--24-27-6

(* DIVISION LEADER)


TODAYS NHL SCHEDULE (Central Time)

(15) LIGHTNING @ (6) FLYERS 6pm
(2) PENGUINS @ (10) HURRICANES 6pm
(13) ISLANDERS @ (14) MAPLE LEAFS 630pm
(14) BLACKHAWKS @ (7) PREDATORS 7pm
(12) BLUES @ (8) AVALANCHE 8pm
(2) STARS @ (11) COYOTES 8pm
(3) WILD @ (9) CANUCKS 9pm
(13) OILERS @ (5) SHARKS 930pm