Hype for January 13, 2010

FSN Pittsburgh has indefinitely suspended a longtime hockey producer for not quickly showing a replay that could have proved Flyers forward Simon Gagne scored a short-handed goal against the Penguins on Thursday.

The producer, Lowell MacDonald Jr., is the one-time lead hockey producer at ESPN and is the son of former Penguins forward Lowell MacDonald.

Gagne's shot appeared to cross the goal-line while Penguins goalie Brent Johnson was covering it during the second period of the Flyers' 7-4 victory, but the on-ice officials did not signal a goal. TV replays made available to NHL officials in Toronto were inconclusive.

Moments after play resumed, FSN Pittsburgh aired a replay from an overhead camera that showed the puck crossing the goal-line. A call cannot be reversed by use of replay once play has started.

A former NHL player convicted of conspiracy to commit murder who wants to play hockey for a Halifax university is awaiting permission from correctional officials to move from Toronto to Nova Scotia.

The Correctional Service of Canada said while it won't comment on specific cases such as Mike Danton's, it is generally supportive of anyone trying to reintegrate into society by returning to school.

"If you have an offender who is trying to reintegrate, CSC would typically take a position to support that," said Holly Knowles, a spokeswoman for the agency.

But Knowles said public safety still has to be the primary focus before offenders would be allowed to make such a move.

Martin Brodeur was flawless for the New Jersey Devils on a night when Henrik Lundqvist, his counterpart for the New York Rangers, threatened to match him save for save.

Patrik Elias scored the only goal in the shootout, Brodeur earned his fourth shutout in the last 10 games, and the Devils beat the Rangers 1-0 on Tuesday.

"It was a fun game," Brodeur said. "Both goalies had to be excellent to push it to overtime.

Thrashers coach John Anderson believes he got his players' attention with a difficult, unannounced practice two days ago.

"As a coaching staff, it helps us teach because they were doing the things that we were asking," Anderson said. "When you get a few bounces here and there, that's what creates confidence."

The practice apparently paid off as Ilya Kovalchuk had a goal and two assists and the Thrashers beat Ottawa 6-1 Tuesday night for their first regulation victory in 21 games.

A couple of early goals was all it took for the Nashville Predators to shake the confidence of the struggling Edmonton Oilers.

Nashville scored two goals 28 seconds apart five minutes into the game, Ryan Jones had a goal and two assists and the Predators won for the second night in a row, beating Edmonton 5-3 on Tuesday night.

Vancouver Canucks forward Alexandre Burrows was hit with a fine but avoided a suspension after accusing referee Stephane Auger of slapping him with spiteful penalties.

A source close to the situation told The Canadian Press on Tuesday night that Burrows was fined $2,500 US after the NHL reviewed the incident. That's the most the league could fine Burrows under league rules, as the NHL Players Association did not have a representative present at the review.

It was not known if the league will announce any disciplinary action against Auger in one of the stickier on-ice incidents the NHL has had to deal with this season.

There was also no immediate word from the NHL Officials Association, which would likely be called on to defend Auger against any disciplinary action.

With freshly retired fan favourite Curtis Joseph in attendance at the Air Canada Centre on Tuesday night, it was fitting that Toronto Maple Leafs fans saw a vintage goaltending performance.

Unfortunately, it came from the visiting end of the ice.

Carolina goalie Cam Ward stole one for his last-place Hurricanes, stopping 38 shots on the way to a 4-2 win over the second-last place Leafs.