My Sports News Digest

More than half way through the 2011-12 campaign, we’ve seen newcomers making important conversations to teams all over the circuit. In Philadelphia, for example, 11 different rookies have played at least one game for the Flyers, who came into Tuesday’s action as the fourth seed in the East. In this week’s edition of the Tuesday 10, I thought I’d offer my thoughts on some of the most impactful freshmen in the Calder Trophy chase. Center – PHI GOALS: 10 | ASST: 10 | PTS: 20SOG: 81 | +/-: 12 Sean Couturier, C, Flyers Philadelphia general manager Paul Holmgren used the [...]

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WASHINGTON — After his team’s practice Monday, Washington Capitals coach Dale Hunter said Tuesday’s night game against the Florida Panthers was going to be “a playoff game.” After his team’s morning skate Tuesday, Hunter made the same statement. It may have seemed incredibly unlikely six months ago, but the Panthers and Capitals will battle at Verizon Center in early February and first place in the Southeast Division will be on the line. “I’ve got a veteran lineup. I’ve got guys that can count and read the paper,” Florida coach Kevin Dineen said. “They know what the deal is. It’s very [...]

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ARLINGTON, VA. — The Florida Panthers came to Verizon Center on April 5, 2008, and ended up with a first-hand account of the beginning of a Southeast Division dynasty. Washington won that night, 3-1, and it was the final step in frenetic dash to a division title. The atmosphere in the building was electric and the ovation as the final seconds counted down reached decibel levels normally reserved for playoff games in most NHL arenas. The Capitals will welcome the Panthers to Washington on Tuesday night, and they will be there trying to take another step toward ending that same [...]

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When Brian Elliott returned to the place where it all began for him in the National Hockey League during All-Star weekend, he was received with open arms. The reception Elliott got from the fans at Scotiabank Place, he admitted, was palpable. But those feelings might be a bit more subdued when Elliott and the St. Louis Blues face the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night. When the Blues (30-14-7) and Senators (27-21-7) skate for the only time this season, it marks the first time Elliott returns as a visiting player since being dealt last season to the Colorado Avalanche. Elliott, who [...]

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WASHINGTON – Brooks Laich did not practice Monday with the Washington Capitals, and the team will learn the severity of his left knee injury after a doctor visit later in the day. Laich was helped off the ice with eight minutes to play in the second period Sunday afternoon at Verizon Center during a 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins. He was hit by Boston defenseman Dennis Seidenberg behind the net, and left the arena after the game on crutches, with his knee in a brace. “He was walking on it, so he was fine,” Capitals coach Dale Hunter said. [...]

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DALLAS — Before Saturday’s game between the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center, the Stars honored Ed Belfour, a 2011 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee and key contributor to their only Stanley Cup championship team in franchise history. “Winning the Stanley Cup in ’99 was a dream come true,” Belfour said in his remarks to a sellout crowd. “It was an unbelievable experience. I’ll never forget it. So thankful for (former Stars GM) Bob Gainey for bringing me here and giving me an opportunity to play in such a great city.” But before the Hall of Fame [...]

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The first few games back from the All-Star break are usually a struggle to regain the consistency they had before the layoff, but most of the teams at the top of the Super 16 didn’t break stride. The Rangers secured the No. 1 spot with their 5-2 win against the Flyers, who had a strong victory against the Nashville Predators at home this week but dropped two straight to the Rangers and New Jersey Devils in subsequent games. The Devils, meanwhile, went 4-0 out of the break, with three wins against some of the East’s top teams — the Rangers, [...]

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NHL.com fantasy insider Pete Jensen has you covered all season long with the weekly Fantasy Hockey Mailbag. The most compelling questions posed each week will be answered in an effort to provide you with the best chance to succeed in your particular league. Submit your best questions for the NHL.com Fantasy Mailbag by contacting PJensen@NHL.com. DANIEL FROM TORONTO has been offered a deal where he would receive Matt Duchene, along with Devin Setoguchi, in exchange for Logan Couture and Dustin Brown. Both Duchene and Couture are keepers in his league. Duchene and Couture (both C/LW eligible) are the long-term centerpieces [...]

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