February 3rd

OVECHKIN, DUMONT, HUET NAMED 'THREE STARS' FOR JANUARY

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin, Nashville Predators forward J.P. Dumont and Montreal Canadiens goaltender Cristobal Huet have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the month of January.

First Star -- Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

Ovechkin led all NHL scorers in January with 22 points (13 goals, 9 assists) in 13 games and recorded a +9 rating as the Capitals won nine games during the month. Ovechkin recorded points in 10 of 13 games, including a four-goal, one-assist effort in the Capitals 5-4 win against Montreal on Jan. 31.  The four-goal game was his second of the season (Dec. 29 vs. Ottawa).  Ovechkin took over the League lead in points (70) and goals (43) during the month.  He has registered points in 32 of his last 36 games, averaging nearly a goal-per game during that stretch (34-20--54).

Second Star -- J.P. Dumont, Nashville Predators

Dumont registered points in each of the team's 14 games during the month (6-14--20) as the Predators posted an 8-3-3 record. He figured in 20 of the Predators’ 48 goals during the month and had multi-point games in six of the 14 contests.  He is in the midst of a career and franchise-record 16-game point scoring streak that began on December 29 with a goal against San Jose.

Third Star -- Cristobal Huet, Montreal Canadiens

Huet posted an 8-2-1 record, 2.40 goals-against average and one shutout in 11 games during the month. He improved his overall season record to 18-8-6 with a 2.34 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage.


TOOTOO RESIGNS WITH PREDS

The Nashville Predators signed forward Jordin Tootoo to a two-year contract extension worth $1.95 million.

Tootoo, who will earn $700,000 this year, has seven goals and six assists with 57 penalty minutes while playing in his fourth NHL season.

Tootoo, 24, became the first player of Inuit decent to play in the NHL when he made his debut in October 2003. Nashville used the 98th overall selection to draft the native of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.


USA HOCKEY TO STAGE 24-HOUR GAME

USA Hockey plans to stage a 24-hour game beginning at noon ET on Feb. 29 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the International Ice Hockey Federation.

The venture is dubbed USA Hockey's 24-Hour Hockey Game, and is supported by the organization's affiliates throughout the U.S.

"We're very excited about the 24-Hour Game," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey.

"Feb. 29 has been designated as the worldwide day to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the IIHF and our 24-hour game is a unique and fun way for us to be engaged in the celebration and also bring visibility to our great sport."

Each of the lower 48 states will compete in a 30-minute running-time game in sequence starting in Maine. Hawaii and Alaska will conclude the event by playing a 30-minute overtime game each, with the festivities ending in Hawaii at 1 p.m. ET on March 1.

The teams will be divided into squads called Stars and Stripes.


FORSBERG EYING NHL RETURN THIS SEASON

Former NHL MVP Peter Forsberg has turned down an offer to play with Swedish club Modo because he has sights set on returning to the league.

Forsberg, 34, decided not to sign with the Swedish Elite League team late last week, and instead has instructed his agent, Don Baizley, to begin talking to NHL teams that might be interested in signing him.

"I turned Modo down because my goal is to play in the NHL," Forsberg told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. "It is still going in the right direction and I have a new deadline to catch — the 26th of February."

That's the last date Forsberg could sign with a new NHL club and still be eligible for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Forsberg has been out of action with a foot and ankle injury since finishing the 2006-07 NHL campaign with the Nashville Predators, but the talented forward recently practised with Modo in his native Sweden, prompting speculation he could sign a contract to play with his hometown club.

The Swedish forward became an unrestricted free agent after the Predators, who acquired him in a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers last February, decided not to re-sign him at the end of the 2006-07 campaign.

Forsberg won two Stanley Cups with the Colorado Avalanche and was awarded the Hart Trophy as league MVP for the 2002-03 season after scoring 29 goals and adding 77 assists.

He also won an Olympic gold medal with Sweden at the 1994 and 2006 Winter Games.

Injuries have plagued the Swedish forward in recent years. He hasn't played more than 60 games in a season since suiting up for 75 games in the 2002-03 campaign with the Avalanche.