March 18th

IGINLA, SYORA, VOKOUN NHL 'THREE STARS' OF THE WEEK

Calgary Flames right wing Jarome Iginla, Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Petr Sykora and Florida Panthers goaltender Tomas Vokoun have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the week ending March 16

First Star -- Jarome Iginla, RW, Calgary Flames

Iginla led all NHL scorers with eight points (five goals, three assists) in four games as the Flames (37-25-10, 84 points) ended the week even in points with the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche atop the Northwest Division. He notched one goal and two assists in a 7-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues Mar. 10, becoming the Flames' franchise leader in career goals with 365. He recorded one goal and one assist in a 3-2 loss to the Washington Capitals Mar. 12, tallied a pair of goals in a 6-4 loss to the Atlanta Thrashers Mar. 13 and closed the week with one goal in a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks Mar. 16. Iginla ranks third in the NHL points race with 87 (45 goals, 42 assists) in 72 games and also ranks third among goal-scorers, trailing Washington's Alex Ovechkin (57) and Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk (49).

Second Star -- Petr Sykora, RW, Pittsburgh Penguins

Sykora recorded six points (three goals, three assists) in two games, including the game-winning goal in each contest, as the Penguins (41-24-7, 89 points) finished the week one point behind the New Jersey Devils for first place in the tight Atlantic Division race. He notched the game-winner and added one assist in a 7-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres Mar. 12 and posted a season-high four points (two goals, two assists) in 7-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers Mar. 16, reaching the 25-goal mark for the ninth consecutive season. Sykora is fourth on the Penguins in scoring with 58 points (25 goals, 33 assists) in 72 games.

Third Star -- Thomas Vokoun, G, Florida Panthers

Vokoun posted a 3-0-0 record with a 1.67 goals-against average and .946 save percentage as the Panthers (35-31-8, 78 points) extended their winning streak to seven games, tying a franchise record, and moved within two points of an Eastern Conference playoff berth. He stopped 27 of 29 shots in a 4-2 victory over the New York Islanders Mar. 12, made 32 saves in a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers Mar. 14 and closed the week with a 29-save effort in a 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers Mar. 16. Vokoun has posted a record of 29-26-7 with a 2.74 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and four shutouts in 63 appearances this season. He leads all NHL goaltenders in shots faced (2,031) and saves (1,862).


JACKETS LECLAIRE OUT FOR 2 GAMES

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Pascal Leclaire will miss at least two games because of a head injury.

Leclaire, 25, was struck in the head by a shot during Sunday's pre-game warmup. He was replaced by reserve netminder Fredrik Norrena, who stopped 43 shots in a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.

Norrena will start Tuesday's game against the Calgary Flames, with AHL callup Dan LaCosta dressing as his backup.

Leclaire has posted a 24-15-6 record with a 2.22 goals-against average in 52 games this season, his fourth in the NHL, and leads the league with nine shutouts.

The eighth overall pick by Columbus in the 2001 NHL draft is 41-47-11 with a 2.70 GAA in 111 appearances.


HATCHER, UMBERGER OUT FOR REST OF REGULAR SEASON

Clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot in the East, just a point ahead of Buffalo and two points ahead of Washington and Florida, the Philadelphia Flyers learned late Monday that defenseman Derian Hatcher will be out for the season with a fractured right tibia and forward R.J. Umberger will miss the next two weeks with a sprained MCL.

Hatcher was hurt with 12:07 left in the first period of Saturday's 3-2 overtime loss to Boston while blocking a slap shot by Bruins forward Andrew Ference. Hatcher was helped off the ice and didn't return.

The right leg was broken just above the ankle and was placed in a cast on Saturday. It is possible he might return to play if the Flyers make the postseason.

Hatcher, who recently came back to play after missing three weeks with a sore right knee, has two goals and five assists in 44 games this season.

Umberger was injured during a 7-1 rout at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday.

He has 12 goals and 37 assists in 71 games this season.


VICTORIA HOCKEY PLAYER MAY FACE ASSULT CHARGE

A Victoria hockey player could face an assault charge following an incident that occurred during a game between the Victoria Salmon Kings and the Las Vegas Wranglers on March 1.

Salmon Kings left-winger Robin Gomez is accused of punching a Las Vegas Wranglers forward named Chris Ferraro.

The injuries that Ferraro sustained in the incident required stitches.

Victoria police said they are recommending that charges be laid against Gomez, but it will be up to Crown prosecutors to decide whether or not the case proceeds.

A March 2 report, published on the Salmon Kings website, said an ugly incident overshadowed an otherwise riveting East Coast Hockey League game the night before at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.

At one point, Las Vegas led the game 5-1 and hung on to edge the surging Salmon Kings 5-4 before 5,471 boisterous fans.