Hype for March 16, 2010

Now that the New Jersey Devils are making a push back to the top of the Atlantic Division they can stop peeking at the standings.

Coach Jacques Lemaire mentioned his club's placement before a key matchup with the playoff-hopeful Boston Bruins, and the Devils responded with a 3-2 victory Monday night. New Jersey climbed within two points of division-leading Pittsburgh and will host the first-place Penguins on Wednesday - five days after the Devils beat them at home.

Tomas Holmstrom made himself right at home in front of the Calgary Flames' goal and gave Detroit's playoff push a huge boost.

Holmstrom's 20th goal of the season on a deflection with 1:19 left in the third period gave the Red Wings an important 2-1 road victory over the Flames on Monday night.

Teemu Selanne of the Anaheim Ducks has a slight left shoulder sprain and teammate Ryan Getzlaf has inflammation in his sprained left ankle.

The team says both players underwent MRIs Monday. They're both listed as day-to-day and questionable for Wednesday's home game against Chicago.

Mike Modano of the Dallas Stars is out indefinitely after the star center underwent surgery to remove his appendix.

The 39-year-old Modano, who holds the NHL career scoring record for U.S.-born players, underwent the surgery on Monday.

Two-time MVP Alex Ovechkin was suspended Monday for the Washington Capitals' next two games because of a reckless hit.

The forward drove Chicago's Brian Campbell into the boards from behind in the first period Sunday and received a major penalty and a game misconduct. With Ovechkin, who is leading the league in points with 96, kicked out of the game, the Capitals later came back from a 3-0 third-period deficit to win 4-3 in overtime.

"There's nothing I can do right now. He just fell and this happens," Ovechkin said after the game.