February 26th

SELANNE, KIPRUSOFF, BRODEUR 'THREE STARS' OF THE WEEK

Anaheim Ducks right wing Teemu Selanne, Calgary Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff and New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the week ending February 24.

First Star -- Teemu Selanne, RW, Anaheim (LA) Ducks

Selanne tallied seven points (five goals, two assists) as the Ducks posted three consecutive victories and improved to 9-1-0 since the 15-year veteran returned to the lineup. Selanne notched one goal in a 3-2 shootout win over the Colorado Avalanche Feb. 20, tallied once in a 2-1 overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues Feb. 22 and recorded five points (three goals, two assists) in a 6-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks Feb. 24. Selanne's 20th career NHL hat trick increased his career goals total to 546, moving him past Maurice Richard (544) into 25th place on the all-time list. He also reached the 600-assist milestone in the contest.

Second Star -- Mikka Kiprusoff, G, Calgary Flames

Kiprusoff went 3-0-0 with a 0.67 goals-against average, .980 save percentage and one shutout, stopping 100 of 102 shots as the Flames posted four consecutive victories and moved into first place in the Northwest Division. He made 24 saves in a 4-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes Feb. 19, recorded his 25th career NHL shutout by making 38 saves in a 1-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings Feb. 22 and stopped 38 of 39 shots in a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild Feb. 24. Kiprusoff has posted a 32-19-8 record, 2.71 goals-against average, .903 save percentage and one shutout in 60 games this season.

Third Star -- Martin Brodeur, G, New Jersey Devils

Brodeur posted four consecutive victories with a 1.48 goals-against average and .947 save percentage as the Devils moved into first place in the Eastern Conference. He made 21 saves in a 5-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes Feb. 18, stopped 30 of 32 shots in a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks Feb. 20, made 19 saves in a 4-2 win over the New York Islanders Feb. 23 and closed the week with a 37-save effort in a 2-1 overtime victory over the Washington Capitals Feb. 24. Brodeur leads NHL goaltenders with 35 victories, five shy of an NHL-record seventh 40-win season and becoming the first goaltender in League history to post three consecutive 40-win campaigns. He also ranks among the League leaders this season in goals-against average (fourth, 2.15) and save percentage (fifth, .920).


FORSBERG RETURNS TO AVS

Free-agent forward Peter Forsberg confirmed Monday night that he is returning to the Colorado Avalanche for the rest of the season.

Forsberg agreed to a one-year, $5-million contract with Colorado pro-rated through the end of the season, which means he'll pocket about $1.1-million.

The 34-year-old has spent the past year in his native Sweden trying to recover from chronic foot problems that had him contemplating retirement. Yet last Monday, he issued a statement through his agent, Don Baizley, that he wasn't expecting to play this season.

"I always wanted to be honest with teams coming down the stretch," Forsberg said. "I was, like, 'If you want to go in a different direction, please do. Don't wait for me. I didn't want to be a burden. That is why I came out and said that."

Forsberg underwent separate surgeries on both ankles in 2006, getting the bones realigned and lax ligaments firmed up because they affected his balance and put undue stress on his abdomen.

He split 57 games between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Predators last season, finishing with 13 goals and 45 points.

The five-time all-star has totalled 248 goals and 623 assists for 871 points in 697 games with the Quebec Nordiques, Avalanche, Flyers and Predators since being selected sixth overall in the 1991 NHL draft.

Forsberg captured the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie in 1995 and was voted the leagues MVP in 2003. He won Stanley Cups with Colorado in 1996 and 2001, and helped Sweden capture the gold medal at the 2006 Torino Olympic Winter Games.


BOYLE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING FOR $40M

Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Dan Boyle reached terms late Monday on a six-year contract extension, reportedly worth $40-million.

Boyle has posted three goals and eight assists for 11 points in 17 games this season, averaging a little less than 28 minutes of ice time per game. Over 9 NHL seasons with the Florida Panthers and Lightning, the 31-year-old has totalled 75 goals and 278 points in 503 games.

Last season Boyle set a franchise record for a defenceman with 20 goals.


RANGERS LOSE MARA FOR 2 WEEKS

New York Rangers defenceman Paul Mara has scheduled facial surgery and will be sidelined for two weeks.

The 28-year-old suffered the injury on a high scheck from forward Patrick Kaleta three minutes into Saturday's 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, and he missed Sunday's game against the Florida Panthers.

Mara has posted one goal and 16 assists in 55 games this season, and in 557 career NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Phoenix Coyotes, Boston Bruins and Rangers has 58 goals and 218 points.


BLUES INK JACKMAN FOR $14.4M

St. Louis Blues defenceman Barret Jackman was rewarded Monday with a four-year contract extension worth $14.4-million.

Jackman, who was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, will make $3.6-million annually.

The 17th overall pick by St. Louis in the 1999 entry draft, Jackman has two goals and six assists with 63 penalty minutes in 58 games this season, and in 289 NHL games has registered 13 goals and 67 points with 532 penalty minutes.

The 26-year-old won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie in 2002-03.


FLYERS GET PROSPAL FROM LIGHTNING

The Philadelphia Flyers reacquired forward Vaclav Prospal from the Tampa Bay Lightning late Monday for Alexandre Picard and a conditional draft pick.

If the Flyers reach the conference finals, they will surrender a second-round pick rather than a third-rounder.

Prospal has 29 goals and 57 points in 62 games this season, but is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Picard has five goals and 21 points in 25 games with the AHL's Philadelphia Phantoms this season.


PLAYOFF STANDINGS

(RANK-TEAM--PTS--RECORD)

WEST

1-DETROIT*--89--42-17-5
2-DALLAS*--83--39-22-5
3-CALGARY*--74--33-22-8
4-ANAHEIM--79--36-23-7
5-SAN JOSE--74--33-21-8
6-MINNESOTA--73--34-23-5
7-VANCOUVER--72--32-22-8
8-NASHVILLE--72--32-24-8
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9-PHOENIX--69--32-26-5
10-COLORADO--68--31-26-6
11-COLUMBUS--67--29-26-9
12-ST LOUIS--66--28-24-10
13-CHICHAGO--64--29-27-6
14-EDMONTON--61--28-30-5
15-LOS ANGELES--56--26-34-4

EAST

1-NEW JERSEY*--79--37-21-5
2-OTTAWA*--78--36-21-6
3-CAROLINA*--69--32-28-5
4-PITTSBURGH--77--35-21-7
5-MONTREAL--75--33-21-9
6-NY RANGERS--72--32-24-8
7-BOSTON--70--32-23-6
8-PHILADELPHIA--69--31-25-7
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9-BUFFALO--69--30-24-9
10-NY ISLANDERS--67--30-26-7
11-WASHINGTON--64--28-27-8
12-TORONTO--63--27-28-9
13-FLORIDA--63--28-30-7
14-ATLANTA--62--29-30-4
15-TAMPA BAY--57--25-30-7

(* DIVISION LEADER)


TODAYS NHL SCHEDULE (Central Time)

(4) PENGUINS @ (10) ISLANDERS 6pm
(6) WILD @ (11) CAPITALS 6pm
(1) DEVILS @ (3) HURRICANES 6pm
(2) SENATORS @ (7) BRUINS 630pm
(14) THRASHERS @ (5) CANADIENS 630pm
(2) STARS @ (12) BLUES 730pm
(10) AVALANCHE @ (3) FLAMES 8pm
(1) RED WINGS @ (14) OILERS 8pm