February 15th

KHABIBULIN OUT WITH SPRAINED KNEE

The Chicago Blackhawks will have to make due without Nikolai Khabibulin as the goaltender sprained his knee in Chicago's 7-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, but it's not known how long he'll be sidelined.

The Blackhawks recalled goalie Corey Crawford from their AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs on Thursday. He has appeared in 44 games at Rockford with a record of 24-13-5 with two shutouts, a 2.72 goals-against-average and .911 save percentage.

Craeford played in two NHL games for the 'Hawks, both during 2005-06. He was Chicago's second-round pick (52nd overall) in the 2003 entry draft.

Also on Thursday, the Blackhawks assigned forward Jack Skille to Rockford.


ZEDNIK MAY BE DISCHARGED SATURDAY

Flordia Panthers forward Richard Zednik, recovering from a serious neck gash, could be released from a Buffalo hospital by Saturday.

Zednik, who almost had his carotid artery severed in a game against the Sabres last Sunday, is showing significant improvement, said Dr. Sonya Noor on Thursday.

Noor performed emergency surgery after Zednik's neck was cut open in the third period when teammate Olli Jokinen was upended and his right foot skate went into Zednik's path.

Moments later, Zednik kneeled forward with his hands at his throat, blood coming from his neck. He made his way to the bench, where trainers and teammates helped him.

Zednik lost five units of blood in the gruesome accident, but was upgraded to good condition on Wednesday.

Zednik's condition has improved so much that Noor granted a special treat — Buffalo's famed chicken wings.

"He asked if he could eat Buffalo chicken wings," Noor said. "So we let him." A restaurant donated wings and pizza for Zednik, his wife and nurses at Buffalo General Hospital."

The Panthers forward is expected to miss the remainder of the season.


BRUINS' WARD RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL

Boston Bruins defenceman Aaron Ward was released from a Pittsburgh hospital Thursday, following a neck injury he sustained in the Bruins 2-1 win over the Penguins.

The 35-year-old was accidentally struck in the throat by Penguins defenceman Sergei Gonchar when he raised his stick. Ward wasn't bleeding, but had to be helped from the ice.

Boston coach Claude Julien later said Ward was coughing up blood in the locker room.

Bruins' spokesman Matt Chmura said there's no word on if Ward would miss any playing time.

Playing in his 11th NHL season, Ward has nine points in 44 games this year and is second to Dennis Wideman among Bruins defenceman with a plus-9 rating.


PLAYOFF STANDINGS

(RANK-TEAM--PTS--RECORD)

WEST

1-DETROIT*--87--41-13-5
2-DALLAS*--75--35-21-5
3-MINNESOTA*--70--33-21-4
4-ANAHEIM--71--32-22-7
5-SAN JOSE--70--31-18-8
6-CALGARY--66--29-20-8
7-NASHVILLE--66--30-23-6
8-COLORADO--65--30-23-5
_________________________________
9-VANCOUVER--64--28-22-8
10-PHOENIX--62--29-25-4
11-COLUMBUS--61--26-24-9
12-ST LOUIS--60--26-22-8
13-EDMONTON--59--27-27-5
14-CHICAGO--58--26-25-6
15- LOS ANGELES--51--24-32-3

EAST

1-OTTAWA*--73--34-19-5
2-PITTSBURGH*--69--32-21-5
3-CAROLINA*--62--29-27-4
4-MONTREAL--69--30-19-9
5-NEW JERSEY--68--32-21-8
6-PHILADELPHIA--65--30-22-5
7-BUFFALO--64--28-21-8
8-BOSTON--63--29-23-5
___________________________________
9-NY RANGERS--63--28-24-7
10-WASHINGTON--60--27-25-6
11-ATLANTA--60--28-27-4
12-NY ISLANDERS--59--26-25-7
13-FLORIDA--58--26-27-6
14-TAMPA BAY--56--25-27-9
15-TORONTO--55--23-27-9

(* DIVISION LEADER)


TODAY'S NHL SCHEDULE (Central Time)

(11) THRASHERS @ (5) DEVILS 6pm
(10) CAPITALS @ (13) PANTHERS 630pm
(11) BLUE JACKETS @ (1) RED WINGS 630pm
(2) STARS @ (4) DUCKS 9pm
(6) FLAMES @ (15) KINGS 930pm