| Hockey Today |
|
SCOREBOARD Thursday, Oct. 9 Toronto at Detroit (7 p.m. EDT). The Stanley Cup champion Red Wings open the season by hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs. Friday, Oct. 10 Chicago at N.Y. Rangers (7 p.m. EDT). The Rangers return home for their North American season debut beating Tampa Bay twice in the Czech Republic last weekend. SELLING SIDNEY A new DVD marketing Penguins star Sidney Crosby as the face of the NHL gives fans an off-ice look at the 21-year-old during last season's run to the Stanley Cup finals. Among other tidbits, ``On Ice and Beyond'' shows Crosby as someone who is polite to a fault, avoids chocolate chip cookies during training camp - even those baked by a fan - and is undaunted by expectations the team faces after falling just short of a Stanley Cup. SUSPENDED e ice. Eager was assessed a match penalty for attempt to injure and will miss the Blackhawks' first three regular-season games. SPECIAL VISITOR Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin will drop the ceremonial first puck when the Philadelphia Flyers open the regular season against the New York Rangers on Saturday. Palin, the Alaska governor and self-described ``hockey mom,'' will join the winner of a team promotion for the ``Ultimate Hockey Mom'' to drop the puck. Last month, Palin visited a Philadelphia bar with Flyers owner Ed Snider, who has donated money to GOP presidential nominee John McCain's campaign. CREATING CAP ROOM The San Jose Sharks assigned defenseman Kyle McLaren to their minor-league affiliate in Worcester on Wednesday after no NHL teams claimed the 12-year NHL veteran on waivers. McLaren, who spent the past 4 1/2 seasons with the Sharks, was waived Tuesday in a move to create salary-cap room. The oft-injured veteran is due to make $2.5 million this season, but he didn't fit the Sharks' plans after the club added defensemen Rob Blake, Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich to a young defensive core. ALSO SENT DOWN Krog, signed to a $700,000 free-agent deal, were both sent to Vancouver's AHL affiliate in Manitoba. Cowan, a tough guy who has played more than 400 NHL games since 2000, was sent to Peoria, the affiliate of the St. Louis Blues. SPEAKING ``If we don't continue to work as we have, we won't look as good as we do on paper. You can't win a Stanley Cup in training camp or the first 20 games, but you can set up a foundation that sets you up for success.'' - Defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock. |
