The Buffalo News: Sabres & NHL

Red Wings keep rolling: ASSOCIATED PRESS; DALLAS — This is how ridiculously good the Detroit Red Wings are playing: They lose the NHL’s top scorer this postseason, Johan Franzen, to concussion-like symptoms, and their regular-season scoring leader steps up with the first hat trick of his entire career while one of his line-mates scores a demoralizing short-handed goal.; complete story >

Predators sign Martin Erat to 7-year, $31.5M deal: The Associated Press
Updated: 05/12/08 6:12 PM; The Nashville Predators have signed forward Martin Erat to a seven-year, $31.5 million contract. Erat ranks third on the team in career scoring (253). He joined Nashville in the 2001-02 season after being selected in the 1999 draft.

Sharks fire coach Ron Wilson after another ouster: By GREG BEACHAM - AP Sports Writer
Updated: 05/12/08 9:17 PM; The San Jose Sharks fired coach Ron Wilson on Monday after his club followed another outstanding regular season with yet another early exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs.

US routs Norway to wrap up qualifying: Associated Press
Updated: 05/13/08 11:09 AM; HALIFAX, Nova Scotia … New York Rangers forward Brandon Dubinsky scored three goals and the Americans scored three times in each period to wrap up their qualifying round at the world hockey championships with a 9-1 win Monday over Norway.

US-Norway box score: Associated Press
Updated: 05/13/08 11:14 AM; United States 9, Norway 1
United States 3 3 3 … 9
Norway 0 1 0 … 1

Briere downplays officiating: Updated: 05/13/08 6:47 AM; VOORHEES, N. J. — Daniel Briere laughed off questions about officiating and whether Pittsburgh Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin get more calls than they deserve.

Sharks fire Wilson: Updated: 05/13/08 6:47 AM; SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Sharks fired coach Ron Wilson after the team’s latest disappointing early ouster from the Stanley Cup playoffs.

US loses game, cool against Finland: Associated Press
Updated: 05/12/08 9:45 AM; HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) … Mikko Koivu scored with less than four minutes remaining to complete Finland's 3-2 come-from-behind win Sunday over the United States at the world hockey championships that was marred by a postgame brawl.

US-Finland box score: Associated Press
Updated: 05/12/08 9:50 AM; Finland 3, U.S. 2
United States 0 2 0…2
Finland 0 0 3…3

It’s business as usual after scuffle: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Updated: 05/12/08 6:36 AM; DALLAS — Really, it’s hard to imagine that Chris Osgood is completely correct in his assessment.

Pens’ Talbot catches break: By Alan Robinson - ASSOCIATED PRESS
Updated: 05/12/08 6:36 AM; PITTSBURGH — Losing on an Evgeni Malkin goal, or Sidney Crosby goal, the Philadelphia Flyers might understand.

Buffalo's Maine Place: By John Vogl NEWS SPORTS REPORTER
Updated: 05/11/08 7:07 AM; PORTLAND, Maine – Walking into the office of Brian Petrovek, managing owner and chief executive officer of the Portland Pirates, a few things stand out. There are team pictures from his time at USA Hockey. There are comfortable director’s chairs, which allow visitors to see the passers-by on Free Street. And there on his computer screen, in all its Blue and Gold glory, blazes the Buffalo Sabres’ Web site.

A sale of Sabres wouldn’t be reason to panic: Bucky Gleason
Updated: 05/11/08 6:46 AM; It was only a telephone call, one rich guy calling another to see how things were going and wondering if he wanted to do business. Jim Balsillie was just poking around, kicking the tires and seeing if a deal fell on his lap during a December conversation with Buffalo Sabres owner Tom Golisano.

Roy scores for Canada: Updated: 05/11/08 6:46 AM; HALIFAX, Nova Scotia — Eric Staal scored four goals to help Canada rout Germany, 10-1, for its fifth straight win at the hockey world championships Saturday.

Red Wings fight it out for victory: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Updated: 05/11/08 6:46 AM; DETROIT — For nearly 60 minutes, the story was the Detroit Red Wings winning without their hottest player.

Penguins getting physical: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Updated: 05/11/08 6:46 AM; PITTSBURGH — Putting two goals into the Philadelphia Flyers’ net in less than five minutes was hardly exceptional for Evgeni Malkin. When he put them on their backsides, well, that was embarrassing for a team with a reputation for being bullies.

The Buffalo News : Sports