February 21th

FLAMES TRADE FOR VANDERMEER

The Calgary Flames made a minor trade acquiring defenceman Jim Vandermeer from the Philadelphia Flyers for a third-round draft pick in 2009.

Vandermeer has three goals, 15 assists and 71 penalty minutes in 54 games this season with Chicago and Philadelphia, and in 246 career games has 17 goals and 49 assists.

The 27-year-old is making $1.225-million this season and is due to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.


GAGNE ADVISED TO END SEASON

Simon Gagne might not play again this season because of lingering symptoms from the three concussions he sustained this season.

The injured Philadelphia Flyers forward was told Wednesday to sit out the rest of the year when he went to visit concussion specialist James Kelly in Denver.

Gagne suffered his first concussion on Oct. 24, sat out four games, then had another concussion on Nov. 7 and missed the next 26 games. He was injured again on his first shift in a Feb. 10 loss at Pittsburgh and hasn't played since.

The 27-year-old has seven goals and 18 points in 25 games and said his symptoms were worse after the last two concussions and hoped to play again this season. He hasn't played in fewer than 72 games each of the last three seasons, and now has to worry he doesn't follow the path of former Flyers Eric Lindros and Keith Primeau. Both had promising careers derailed in Philly because of too many brutal blows to the head.

The Flyers have been hit hard with injuries, as Joffrey Lupul, who has 18 goals could miss up to three weeks with a high ankle sprain. Defenceman Darian Hatcher might be out for three weeks with a knee injury, and forwards Steve Downie and Denis Tolpeko are out with concussions.


LIDSTROM OUT 3 WEEKS

Detroit Red Wings defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom will miss three weeks after an MRI exam Wednesday revealed a mild ligament strain in his right knee.

The five-time Norris Trophy winner as the leagues top defenceman has seven goals and 50 assists in 61 games this season, and since entering the NHL in 1989 has only missed 22 games.

In related news, the Red Wings have placed goaltender Dominik Hasek (hip flexor) and defenceman Brian Rafalski (groin) on injured reserve. The team is also without blue-liner Niklas Kronwall (clavicle) and forward Dan Cleary (broken jaw), and recalled defenceman Jonathan Ericsson and forward Mark Hartigan from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League.


LIGHTNING LOSE LUKOWICH FOR A MONTH

Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Brad Lukowich will have surgery Friday in Germany to repair a sports hernia, and is expected to miss four weeks.

Dr. Ulrike Muschaweck, who has operated on other NHL players, will perform the procedure in Munich. Her minimal repair technique cuts the recovery time from the operation in half.

Lukowich was hurt early in Tamps Bay's 2-1 overtime loss at Atlanta on Feb 9., and missed the Lightning's next three games before opting ti travel to Germany on Wednesday for the surgery.

The two-time Stanley Cup winner, with Tampa Bay in 2004 and Dallas in 1999, has one goal and seven points in 54 games this season.


CANUCKS SEND BIEKSA TO AHL FOR CONDITIONING

Vancouver Canucks injured defencemen Kevin Bieksa is closer to returning to the lineup.

The third-year NHLer is prepairing to join the team's American Hockey League affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, the next step in his recovery from a lacerated calf. If all goes well he'll return to the Canucks this weekend.

Bieksa, who topped Canucks defencemen with 42 points last season, resumed skating Feb 1, exactly three months after having surgery to repair damage to the calf and other muscles leading to his Achilles tendon.

Vancouver's backline has been decimated by injuries for most of the season, with Lukas Krajicek (season-ending shoulder surgery) and Aaron Miller (foot) remaining on the shelf.


PLAYOFF STANDINGS

(RANK-TEAM--PTS--RECORD)

WEST

1-DETROIT*--89--42-15-5
2-DALLAS*--79--37-22-5
3-MINNESOTA*--73--34-22-5
4-ANAHEIM--75--34-23-7
5-NASHVILLE--71-32-23-7
6-SAN JOSE--70--31-21-8
7-CAGARY--70--31-22-8
8-VANCOUVER--68--30-22-8
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9-PHOENIX--66--31-26-4
10-COLORADO--66--30-25-6
11-ST LOUIS--65--28-22-9
12-COLUMBUS--63--27-26-9
13-CHICAGO--62--28-26-6
14-EDMONTON--59--27-29-5
15-LOS ANGELES--53--25-34-3

EAST

1-OTTAWA*--75--35-20-5
2-NEW JERSEY*--75--35-21-5
3-CAROLINA*--65--30-28-5
4-MONTREAL--75--33-19-9
5-PITTSBURGH--73--34-21-5
6-NY RANGERS--68--30-24-8
7-BOSTON--66--30-23-6
8-PHILADELPHIA--66--30-24-6
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9-BUFFALO--66--29-23-8
10-NY ISLANDERS--65--29-25-7
11-WASHINGTON--63--28-26-7
12-ATLANTA--62--29-28-4
13-FLORIDA--60--27-29-6
14-TORONTO--59--25-27-9
15-TAMPA BAY--57--25-28-7

(* DIVISION LEADER)


TODAYS NHL SCHEDULE (Central Time)

(15) LIGHTNING @ (10) ISLANDERS 6pm
(6) SHARKS @ (8) FLYERS 6pm
(12) THRASHERS @ (3) HURRICANES 6pm
(9) SABRES @ (14) MAPLE LEAFS 630pm
(5) PENGUINS @ (4) CANADIENS 630pm
(12) BLUE JACKETS @ (1) SENATORS 630pm
(7) BRUINS @ (13) PANTHERS 630pm
(8) CANUCKS @ (5) PREDATORS 7pm
(11) BLUES @ (15) KINGS 930pm