December 31st

CANUCKS GET LABARBERA FROM KINGS

The Vancouver Canucks, still missing top goalie Roberto Luongo, added some insurance Tuesday night by acquiring Jason LaBarbera from the Los Angeles Kings for a seventh-round pick in the 2009 draft.

Labarbera will join the starting rotation of Curtis Sanford and rookie Cory Schneider who've been sharing Vancouver's goaltending duties since Luongo was placed on the injured list Nov.23 because of a groin injury. Luongo did resume skating on his own Tuesday, but isn't expected to be ready for game action for at least three weeks.

Sanford will also be out for a while after suffering a groin injury in Tuesday mornings skate. Although he did feel well enough to start that night's game, a 3-2 home loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, he was replaced at the start of the second period by Schneider, and was then placed on the injured list following the game.

Both Sanford and Luongo are considered week-to-week.

LaBarbera went 5-8-4 with a 2.83 goals-against average, an .893 save percentage and posted two shutouts in 18 games with the Kings this season. Following the improved play by Jonathan Quick, who posted a pair of shutouts last week and was the NHL's number-three star of the week, the 28-year-old became expendable.

LaBarbera was selected in the third round of the 1998 entry draft by the New York Rangers, and in 98 NHL games has posted a 34-42-8 record with a 3.00 GAA, .901 SV %, and four shutouts.



CUJO GETS 450TH WIN

It took a while, but Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Curtis Joseph got win number 450 Tuesday night as the Maple Leafs beat the Atlanta Thrashers 4-3 in overtime.

The win didn't come easy for Cujo, who made 29 saves as the Thrashers took an early 2-0 lead, and after Toronto rallied to go ahead 3-2 Thrashers winger Colby Armstrong scored a power-play goal with 6:43 left in regulation to tie it 3-3. Pavel Kubina scored the game winner in overtime for the Leafs.

Joseph got his 449th win back on April 5, as a member of the Calgary Flames, and the 41-year-old will have a chance for win number 451 on Thursday when Toronot hosts the Buffalo Sabres.



GAGNE INJURES "UPPER BODY"

Philadelphia Flyers forward Simon Gagne sustained an upper body injury in the first period of Tuesday's game against the Vancouver Canucks and didn't return.

Gagne, who was limited to just 25 games last season due to a concussion, was hit hard into the boards by Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa on the first shift of the game. Gagne went to the bench favoring his left arm and shoulder.

The Flyers took exception to the hit, although no penalty was assessed, and captain Mike Richards immediately challenged Bieksa toa fight.

In 35 games this season Gagne has scored 18 goals and 22 assists.



BRUINS PLACE BERGERON ON IR

Having not played a game since suffering a concussion against the Carolina Hurricanes on Dec 20, the Boston Bruins placed forward Patrice Bergeron on Injured reserve.

The Boston Globe reported Tuesday that Bergeron is still experiencing some headaches, following the severe concussion that forced him to miss almost all of last season.

In 31 games this season, Bergeron had four goals and 14 assist, and in 270 career NHL games has scored 76 goals and 131 assists.

There is no timetable for Bergeron's return to physical activity

Boston also announced that centre Martin St. Pierre, who scored his first goal as a Bruin in Tuesday's win over Pittsburgh, has been sent back to the Providence Bruins of the AHL, where he has 35 points in 30 games this season, tops for Providence.