Hype for April 08, 2010

Chicago forward Marian Hossa left the Blackhawks' game against the St. Louis Blues early in the second period Wednesday night because of an unknown injury.

Hossa appeared to have sustained the injury after being hit and knocked to the ice by St. Louis left wing Brad Winchester at 8:07 of the first. Hossa continued to play, but left after one shift in the second period.

Hossa has 24 goals and 26 assists in 50 games this season. He missed the Blackhawks' first 22 games following off-season shoulder surgery.

Tyler Seguin of the Ontario Hockey League's Plymouth Whalers is the No. 1 prospect for the 2010 Entry Draft in rankings released by NHL Central Scouting Wednesday. Seguin earned the nod over Taylor Hall of the OHL's Windsor Spitfires.
 
Seguin, one of 19 players among the top 30 to improve on their midterm ranking, had been No. 2 on Central Scouting's midterm list, which was released in January.

"The confidence I have in this is that, I think they're so close, they could be flip-flopped," Director of Central Scouting E.J. McGuire told NHL.com. "I don't think that's at all being wishy-washy about it, but there may be something that a team sees that may sway them thismuch in order to pick one over the other."

The 2010 Entry Draft is scheduled for June 25-26 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

In 1991, Keith Tkachuk began his promising NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets at age 19. Fast forward to this week, when Tkachuk had his 10-year-old son, Brady, on the ice after Blues practice.

"It goes by fast," Tkachuk said.

Recently, as he tried to help the Blues climb back into the playoff picture, Tkachuk also soaked up each time he pulled on the Blue Note. One of the top American-born players to ever suit up, he knew his trips to the rink were dwindling.

A day after the Blues were eliminated from postseason contention, he announced his retirement from the NHL on Wednesday after 18 seasons.

"It's always tough after you've played that long, but I know it's the right decision," said Tkachuk, who turned 38 last month. "I'm honored that I was able to play that long, and the thing I'm most proud of, I get to retire as a St. Louis Blue. That means the world to me."

Jeff Carter could be back in the line-up for the Philadelphia Flyers by the weekend.

The 25-year-old, who has been out since March 21 due to a fracture in his left foot, has been cleared to skate.

"Jeff had his MRI this morning and he is healing up nicely," said Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren on the team's site. "He completed his off-ice rehab and conditioning today and will practice with the team [on Thursday]."

The Flyers are hoping Carter will be able to play on Friday in New York against the Rangers in the first contest of a season-ending home-and-home series. The two games are of paramount importance with the playoffs on the line for both teams.

 Pat Burns is a "tough Irishman" who still has a lot of fight in him despite his admission to hospital with complications from his terminal lung and colon cancer, a cousin of the ex-NHL coach said Thursday.

Burns was taken to a Tampa Bay hospital on Sunday, the day of his 58th birthday, but Robin Burns said he was feeling better as of Thursday morning.

"I heard a report he's at death's door," Robin Burns told The Canadian Press. "I don't think so.

"He's a tough Irishman. He's not ready to go yet."

The Carolina Hurricanes will host next season's NHL all-star game.

Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement Thursday that the league's decision "is a testimony to the strength of the market, the strength of the franchise and, above all, the enthusiastic support" of the Hurricanes' fans.

The franchise hosted the 2004 NHL draft. It's the second all-star game for one of the four major team sports to be played in North Carolina. Charlotte hosted the 1991 NBA all-star game.

The Predators went in to Wednesday’s game against Phoenix concerned about holding on to fifth place in the Western Conference standings.

They left Phoenix worried about much more.

It was a bad night all the way around for the Predators, who lost 5-2 to the Coyotes, slipped to sixth in the standings and lost forward Patric Hornqvist to an upper-body injury.

The injury to Hornqvist might prove to be the most troubling development; the second-year Swede leads the Predators with 30 goals. He was struck by a Shea Weber slapshot in the second period and did not play in the third, but the extent of the injury wasn’t immediately known.

Adam Foote had so much fun serving as Avalanche captain this season, he wants to do it again.

"Right now, I'd say yeah, I want to play another season," Foote said Wednesday night. "I feel good and feel like I have my legs underneath me still. But first things first; right now, all I'm thinking about is the playoffs."

With the Avs having clinched a playoff spot Tuesday, Foote was one of several players given the night off against Edmonton. In 66 games, Foote has nine assists and a plus-9 — tied with Brett Clark and Kyle Quincey for best on the team.

"I don't want to just contribute as a leader or older and experienced guy. I want to be able to play the game," Foote said.

A cherished playoff berth already in hand, the Avalanche came into Rexall Place on Wednesday night still giddy from the night before and entered into what essentially was a meaningless game against the Edmonton Oilers.

But that didn't mean the Avs felt unconcerned at all after blowing a 3-0 lead and losing 5-4 to the Oilers in overtime before a sellout crowd.

"We got the two points (Tuesday) and we got into the playoffs, but we're professionals and we needed to play better," said Avs winger Matt Hendricks, whose third-period goal with 7:02 left tied the game 4-4.

In the aftermath of the Detroit Red Wings’ 4-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday night, Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard looked at a reporter like he smelled funny.

Howard cocked his head sideways; he didn’t understand the question. Nicklas Lidstrom made a bad pass?

Yes, he did. Not only that, but Blue Jackets forward RJ Umberger intercepted the errant pass and then skated in and around Lidstrom -- untouched -- to score the first goal for Columbus.