Canucks' win vs. Pens costly as Luongo injures groin

Pavol Demitra scored twice, Daniel and Henrik Sedin had three points each and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 on Saturday for their third straight win on the road.

Kris Versteeg proving he's for real

Eleven days ago, the lead item in this fantasy blog concerned the Blackhawks and their reliance on a balanced scoring attack coming from both of the t...

Malkin: I'm learning … I'm trying to be better every game

After a disappointing finish to last season, Evgeni Malkin is proving he has no Cup finals hangover. Scott Burnside checks in with the league's best player of this season's first quarter.

Pittsburgh Penguins v New York Islanders UNIONDALE, NY - NOVEMBER 08: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the New York Islanders on November 8, 2008 at...

DETROIT - MAY 23: Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins talks with the media next to Sergei Gonchar during Live at the...

PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 13: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins controls the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers on November 13, 2008...

Quarterly report: Team-by-team grades

Most teams hit the quarter mark in the next week. Here's a breakdown of where teams stand as they make the first turn in what has been a wildly exciting and unpredictable start to the 2008-09 regular season.

There's no T.O. in the NHL, but these quotes make our quarterly list

The NHL doesn't have a Terrell Owens equivalent when it comes to sound bites, but when the words do start flying, they usually are born of real passion and anger. With the schedule at about the quarter mark, here are some memorable quotes so far.

Open Ice: Are you for real?

Sean Allen evaluates more than 20 players whose hot or cold starts to the season have us wondering: Are they for real?

Backstrom bails out Wild

...season after stopping Sidney Crosby, Petr Sykora and Alex Goligoski (why go with NHL scoring leader Evgeni Malkin when you have Goligoski?) in the shootout Tuesday night at Pittsburgh. Backstrom, who is 15-3...

Penguins-Thrashers Preview

Penguins-Thrashers Preview

Penguins' six-game winning streak ends with shootout loss

Marek Zidlicky scored the only goal in the shootout and the Wild benefited from a gift goal that Pittsburgh put into its own net for a 2-1 victory that ended the Penguins' six-game winning streak.

Clearing out my files: Melrose, rankings, MVPs, wrist shots and more

Maybe it's the November stretch that has Bucci contemplating? Either way, he's clearing his mind with his take on a few lingering hockey issues.

Lightning regroup under interim coach Rick Tocchet

...something seems incredibly "off" with him this season. Perhaps it's leaving his hometown team -- and Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby -- or perhaps it's the malaise that can set in when a professional...

Open Ice: Are the big three free agents worth roster slots?

Sean Allen analyzes whether free agents Brendan Shanahan, Mats Sundin and Peter Forsberg deserve roster slots, and more.