Hype for March 25, 2010

In a rivalry dominated by Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, it was left to a player who was 0-for-forever in shootouts to decide the latest tussle between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Mike Knuble was plucked off the bench by coach Bruce Boudreau to give it a try for the Capitals in the fourth round of the shootout, even though he had taken only four attempts - and missed them all - since the tiebreaker was introduced in 2005.

The surging Detroit Red Wings are moving closer to securing a spot in the playoffs.

Valtteri Filppula scored with 6:49 left and added an empty-net goal, lifting Detroit to a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night.

The Buffalo Sabres cut it about as close as possible.

Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek scored in the shootout after Buffalo rallied with two late third-period goals, giving the Sabres a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.

The Edmonton Oilers dynasty will be well represented at the IIHF World Hockey Championship even without The Great One.

Canadian general manager Mark Messier reached into his past and named Craig MacTavish head coach on Tuesday, reuniting the former Oilers teammates for the tournament in Germany.

Messier is keen to work with a guy he's had success with in the past.

The Boston Bruins signed defenceman Andrew Ference to a US$6.75-million, three-year contract extension Wednesday that runs through the 2013-14 NHL season.

Ference, 31, has collected eight assists in 50 games for the Bruins this season.

Henrik Sedin moved closer to a milestone and helped the Vancouver Canucks get back on the winning track Wednesday night.

Sedin had three assists and Vancouver backup Andrew Raycroft made 30 saves as the Canucks beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-1.