Hype for March 18, 2010

Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Brian Campbell is expected to miss seven to eight weeks with collarbone and rib fractures suffered when he was hit from behind by Alex Ovechkin.

Dr. Michael Terry, the head team physician for the Blackhawks, said in a statement Tuesday that Campbell will likely avoid surgery and is expected to make a full recovery.

Red-hot  Vancouver Canucks winger Mikael Samuelsson will be sidelined two to three weeks with a shoulder injury.

Samuelsson was injured during the third period of Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders and underwent an MRI on Wednesday. The Canucks recalled Michael Grabner from the AHL's Manitoba Moose to take his place.

The NHL playoffs don't start until mid-April, but the desperate Calgary Flames decided to move up their post-season a month.

It paid dividends against the Colorado Avalanche.

Rene Bourque scored two goals, Vesa Toskala made 32 saves and the Flames beat Colorado 3-2 on Wednesday night to keep pace in the Western Conference playoff race.

Flashbulbs popped and children cheered as retired NHL star Ron Ellis cradled it in his hands, which were sheathed in white gloves to prevent fingerprints from being left on what is likely the most adored six-ounce piece of rubber that has ever been welcomed into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

After passing through a series of hands on more than one continent, the puck Sidney Crosby fired to win gold for the Canadian men's hockey team at the Vancouver Olympics reached its new home in Toronto. Ellis, the director of public relations at the Hall of Fame, placed it on display Wednesday.

It’s certainly not on the same scale as the massive Mattel toy recall three years ago, but Bauer Hockey has been put in an embarrassing and potentially expensive predicament for the same reason.

THN.com has learned that on the heels of its recent decision to stop all sales and conduct a total recall of its Nike Bauer One50 Junior sticks, Bauer Hockey has ordered a recall and has halted sales of a total of 13 brands of junior and youth sticks because the paint on them contains dangerously high levels of lead.