(Update 6:45 p.m. EST: The Capitals have released a statement regarding the interview below: "The Washington Capitals dispute the validity of this report.")

Injured Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin was watching Saturday's game against the Florida Panthers with Mike Green (also injured) in one of the rooms of the Verizon Center the press box.

He later met with some young fans outside of the locker room to sign some autographs. That's when I got the chance to ask him a few questions about his "upper body injury" and his journey back from it.

Keep in mind Ovechkin didn't indicate if the following "diagnosis" was from team doctors or his own evaluation.

Q. You're in good mood. Are you getting better?

OVECHKIN: I am better. But I will miss 4-5 weeks.

Are you serious?

I actually plan on starting practice on the ice next week.

I know that you did skate already.

Yes, but after I did that the doctors told me not to do that yet. And not to have a stick in my hands.

Read More »

No. 1 Star: Evgeni Nabokov(notes), San Jose Sharks

The Sharks netminder was solid against the defending champions making 27 saves for his 49th career NHL shutout during a 5-0 San Jose victory. After facing just three shots in the first period, the Penguins tested Nabokov with 24 shots in the final two periods. Having taken a 4-0 lead early in the second period, Nabokov fought off a desperate Penguins team trying to break the shutout.

No. 2 star: Antero Niittymaki(notes), Tampa Bay Lightning

Another game, another solid effort by Niittymaki. His 36 saves silenced the Montreal crowd as the Lightning ended a four-game road trip with a 3-1 win. Niittymaki has now won two of his last three starts and lowered his goals-against average to 1.90 and improved his league-best save-percentage to .940.

No. 3 star: Mike Knuble(notes), Washington Capitals

No Alex Ovechkin(notes) or Mike Green(notes) didn't stop the Capitals offense from exploding for seven goals in a victory over the Florida Panthers with the 37-year old Knuble popping in two goals and adding two assists. Knuble's multi-goal game was the seventh time a Washington player has reached the feat so far this season. 

Honorable mention: Behind Dan Ellis'(notes) 27 saves and Cody Franson's(notes) second goal in the NHL, Nashville downed Los Angeles 3-1 ... Flyers rookie Mika Pyorala(notes) may not have scored his first goal of his young NHL career, but his tally in the shootout was enough to give Philadelphia a 2-1 win over St. Louis ... Jonas Gustavsson(notes) came up big in his third straight start by stopping 35 shots while Phil Kessel(notes) added his first goal in a Toronto jersey along with an assist as the Maple Leafs routed the Detroit Red Wings ... Along with Knuble's pair, Tomas Fleischmann(notes) fourth and fifth goals of the season ... Nigel Dawes(notes) had a hand in all three Calgary goals as the Flames upended the Rangers 3-1 ... In his first game since early October, Joe Pavelski(notes) potted his first goal of the season during San Jose's win over Pittsburgh ... Miikka Kiprusoff's(notes) 32 saves paced Calgary pasted the Rangers ... Despite two goals by Loui Eriksson(notes), Marek Zidlicky's(notes) goal near the end of the second period was the eventual game-winner as Minnesota got by Dallas 3-2 ... New Jersey extended their league-best road record to 8-0-0 ... Milestones on the night: Tim Connolly(notes) and Francois Bouillon playing in their 500th NHL games while Henrik Tallinder(notes) appeared in his 400th. Capitals rookie Mathieu Perreault(notes) scored his first career NHL goal. 

Did you know?: Craig Conroy(notes) is the only Calgary Flames forward without a goal through the team's first 15 games. (AP)

Dishonorable mention: Buffalo Sabres goaltender Jhonas Enroth(notes) didn't have a memory NHL debut allowing a goal on the first shot he saw and losing to Boston 4-2 ... Powerless power-play's tonight included Buffalo (0-for-7) and Detroit (0-for-5) ... Carolina extended their power-play drought to 0-for-30, while the Penguins are now 0-for-21 in their last four games ... Ottawa penalty-kill could have used an extra hand allowing all three goals on the in a 3-2 loss to New Jersey ... Finally, the struggling Carolina Hurricanes took another blow tonight when they lost goaltender Cam Ward(notes) after his thigh was lacerated by Rick Nash's(notes) skate:

(No, the first decade of the 21st century doesn't technically end until 2011. Save your bellyaching. But we've had nine NHL seasons and one stolen from us since 1999-2000, and Yahoo! Sports has decided it's time to rank the best and worst of the last "decade." Enjoy, and snark freely in the comments.)

Some of these all-decade lists are lighthearted, nostalgic compilations of the last 10 years of NHL hockey; and some of them are what you're about to read.

The NHL has seen some truly gruesome moments since 2000. Lives were threatened. Careers were shortened. Reputations were ruined. We wish something a little more whimsical like Matt Walker's mangled finger could have made this list. But it didn't. 

Keep in mind that some of these injuries are ranked based not only on their severity but their impact culturally on hockey. Also keep in mind that the last 10 years have featured so many grisly incidents that the injury commemorated in the photo above is not, in fact, No. 1 overall.

These video highlights have been everywhere for the last 10 years, but please keep in mind that many are distrubing and not for all audiences. Here are the Top 10 Most Brutal NHL Injuries of the Last Decade ...

Read More »

No. 1 Star: Jonas Gustavsson, Toronto Maple Leafs

Congratulations to the Leafs, who are now clearly the 29th-best team in the NHL after defeating fellow cellar-dweller the Carolina Hurricanes, 3-2, with a three-goal rally (video). Gustavsson was outstanding on several of his 34 saves, including 18 he made in the third period against a still-determined Canes team.

No. 2 star: Chris Stewart, Colorado Avalanche

Another marathon shootout for the Avs and the Chicago Blackhawks, who went nine rounds earlier this season. This time, it was an eight-rounder; this time, Colorado skated away with the extra point, as Stewart's blast (video) beat Antti Niemi (19 saves) and Dustin Byfuglien's shot buzzed wide of Craig Anderson (29 saves) to give Colorado the 4-3 win and a 6-0 home record.

No. 3 star: Cory Schneider, Vancouver Canucks

Had the Canucks defeated the Dallas Stars, Schneider would have been the hands-down No. 1 star; alas, the Stars won, 2-1, wasting a 45-save effort from the young netminder in his trading block audition sixth NHL start.

Read More »

Here are your Puck Previews: Spotlighting the key games in NHL action, news and views as well as general frivolity. Make sure to stop back here for the nightly Three Stars when the games are finished.

Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m. EST. Both teams enter the game with seven points, so they're playing for last overall in the NHL. Jonas Gustavsson is in goal against the Staal-less Hurricanes. Chemmy on PPP said it: On Nov. 6, it's a must-win for Toronto.

Preview: Philadelphia Flyers at Buffalo Sabres, 7:30 p.m. EST. The flu has officially joined the Flyers lineup just in time to face the Sabres, who are 8-2-0 in their last 10. Interesting take in the Buffalo News about the Sabres on the draw, after dominating the Islanders by the ridiculous margin of 39-8. Watch The Game Live Via Hockey Night on Y! Sports.

Read More »

Verizon Center in D.C. is considered by some to be the epicenter for fans placing photos of rival players next to men's room urinal cakes. But Staples Center in Los Angeles has experienced its own steady stream, with Anaheim Ducks players the victims in the past.

The Royal Half reports that some enterprising Los Angeles Kings fan decided to once again turn the porcelain spotlight on Sidney Crosby(notes) during last night's 5-2 Kings victory over the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins:

Allusion to diving? Check. Infant iconography? Check. We're always amazed at the level of intense thought that goes into something as frivolous as this; the notion that this guy and D.C.'s infamous propagator of "Pee-Pics" actually take the time to laminate their creations is as laudable as it is disturbing.

(This bicoastal work couldn't be from the same steady hand, could it? Jokes about diving and crying just seem beneath the comic genius that gave the world "I'm Thirsty" at a Washington Capitals home game.)

We're probably not alone in saying that Crosby's performance in the playoffs last season impressed the hell out of us, not only from a numbers perspective but with his toughness in going to the net. Despite that, the mold for mockery has been cast for NHL fans and old memes die hard; perhaps that's why some in the Pittsburgh media are calling for a rebranding of Crosby's nickname.

He may have been golden last night in LA, but he gave Penguins fans the silver last summer -- as The Royal Half was reminded after the Kings' win:

As we exited the Staples Center he said to us... "it's not like the Penguins aren't going to make the playoffs." And as we stood on a street corner with Pens fans, decked out in Penguin wear, a car drove by and said "Screw Pittsburgh!" When I repeated what the car had screamed out... one of the Pens fans looked at me and said "I couldn't hear him because our Stanley Cup rings are clogging my ears." I smiled at the dude and had the horrible pangs of jealousy fill my body. Goddamn I hope I can use that line one day.

Hey, stealing jokes from Patrick Roy isn't a sign of greatness. Finding Anze Kopitar's(notes) face circling a urinal drain ... now that's when you've arrived.

(No, the first decade of the 21st century doesn't technically end until 2011. Save your bellyaching. But we've had nine NHL seasons and one stolen from us since 1999-2000, and Yahoo! Sports has decided it's time to rank the best and worst of the last "decade." Enjoy, and snark freely in the comments.)

It's been an exciting and confusing 10 years for NHL fashion, and not just because hockey fans' Jersey Fouls have become the subject of academic discourse on blogs.

First, the NHL welcomed three expansion franchises with their own distinct looks: The Atlanta Thrashers (1999-2000), the Columbus Blue Jackets (2000-01) and the Minnesota Wild (2000-01). Two of those franchises are represented in the lists below.

In 2007, the Reebok EDGE Uniform System revolutionized the hockey sweater with a sleeker design, less water retention and more flexibility. They've continued to evolve, although not to the point where the hideous piping seen on jerseys like those of the Florida Panthers has been phased out.

The introduction of the RBK Edge sweaters caused a momentary interruption in the League's third jersey program, but it was back in full force later in the decade with a slew of "retro" and "heritage" jerseys. Among the best: The Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders dipping back into the 1980s; and the Winter Classic sweaters of the Penguins and the Blackhawks.

There were plenty of hits ... and while none of them reached the pinnacle of awful that was the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Wild Wing jersey from the 1990s, there were plenty of misses, too.

Here are the 5 Best, followed by the 5 Worst, NHL Jerseys of the Last Decade. Please suggest your own, or debate our picks, in the comments.

Read More »

No. 1 Star: Jarome Iginla(notes), Calgary Flames

The Flames got some breaks against the Dallas Stars, and Iginla made the most of them. His first goal of the game came on a 3-on-1. His second goal, the OT game-winner, came after a borderline delay-of-game penalty on Loui Eriksson(notes), in which he cleared the puck over the glass while outside of the defensive zone. Iginla's blast on the power play beat Marty Turco(notes) (20 saves) for the overtime win, 3-2. He also had the primary assist on Daymond Langkow's(notes) game-tying goal at 19:11 of the third.

No. 2 star: Tomas Vokoun(notes), Florida Panthers

Vokoun weathered a 21-shot salute in the first period by a desperate Carolina Hurricanes team on the road, and ended up making 32 saves in shutting out the Canes, 3-0. Steven Reinprecht's(notes) ninth of the season was the game-winner.

No. 3 star: Ryan Miller(notes), Buffalo Sabres

Four days ago, the New York Islanders shut out the Sabres. Ryan Miller returned the favor with a confident 24-save performance, as Buffalo snapped the Islanders' 4-game winning streak with a 3-0 victory. Derek Roy's(notes) first goal of the season was the game-winner; Thomas Vanek(notes) and Paul Gaustad(notes) had the other tallies.

Honorable mention: Special stick tap for Curtis McElhinney(notes), as the little-used Flames backup was outstanding in goal (38 saves) in Calgary's win -- including stopping a Brenden Morrow(notes) penalty shot. ... Nicklas Bergfors(notes) scored a pair of power-play goals in the third period, at the New Jersey Devils defeated the Ovechkin-less Washington Capitals, 3-2. ... Milan Hejduk(notes) had a three-point night, including goals to open and close the scoring, in the Colorado Avalanche's 4-1 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes. Peter Budaj(notes) made 28 saves in his first start of the season. Colorado is undefeated (5-0) at home. ...Don't look now, but the San Jose Sharks have won eight of nine after Dan Boyle's(notes) shootout goal gave them a 3-2 SO win at the Columbus Blue Jackets. Joe Thornton(notes) and Dany Heatley(notes) had goals in regulation. Rick Nash(notes) scored his 10th for Columbus. ... Marty Biron stopped 36 of 39 shots in a losing effort for the Isles, and earned a roughing minor for going after Patrick Kaleta(notes). ... Steve Mason(notes) stopped 36 of 38 for the Jackets.

Did you know?: Carolina has seven points through 14 games, matching the worst start in franchise history, set in 1992-93 and 1993-94. (AP)

Dishonorable mention: Missing their star player, the Capitals' taking four penalties in the third period on the road had Coach Bruce Boudreau rightfully steamed after the game. ... Carolina was 0-for-5 on the power play. ... Rob Blake(notes) was injured in the second for the Sharks and didn't return. ... Finally, a record low crowd of 11,012 in Denver watched the Avs pull into a tie with Pittsburgh for the NHL point lead (24).

Here are your Puck Previews: Spotlighting the key games in NHL action, news and views as well as general frivolity. Make sure to stop back here for the nightly Three Stars when the games are finished.

Preview: Phoenix Coyotes at Colorado Avalanche, 9 p.m. EST. In September, claiming that this matchup would be the game of the night on Nov. 4 may have been grounds for institutionalization. Yet here we are, with the Yotes fifth in the West at 18 points and the Avalanche still first in the conference with 22. Colorado is 4-0-0 at home. Peter Budaj gets the start after the battle with swine flu. Watch The Game Live Via Hockey Night on Y!

Read More »

Here are your Puck Headlines: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

• Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL is going after former Colorado Avalanche star Peter Forsberg, and Jeff Klein of the New York Times indicates that Foppa may be charmed by the riches the Russian league can offer him beyond those in a capped NHL. In either case, we just hope to see Forsberg in one more Olympic run for the Swedes, before they lose to the U.S. [Slap Shot and Denver Post]

• Forbes warns the NHLPA not to allow a group of agents to set the agenda for the membership: "By pushing their individual agendas the agents are undermining the majority of players. The players better fix this quickly or the next CBA will be a debacle." [Forbes]

• The Calgary Flames claim did nothing wrong in securing H1N1 vaccinations, which are in short supply in Alberta. Team president Ken King has said the hockey players are "at an elevated infection risk due to their physical contact." We're sure immune deficient children, pregnant women and the elderly are cool with that. [Sun Media]

• Tapeleg on the Flames' line-jumping for the shots: "The Calgary Flames deserved to be at the front of the Swine Flu inoculation line. If the Flames are sick, the entire economy of Calgary would crumble. After the CFL, what do they have? Is there any other excuse for the Red Mile? Bars would close left and right. People would have to read... books. Shudder." [Jerseys And Hockey Love]

• Carolina Hurricanes star Eric Staal: He was Iron Man. [Canes Country]

• Down Goes Brown, who will be joining us for our Rumors Chat at 1 p.m., on Phil Kessel's debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs: "The Leafs' game plan for Kessel is apparently to play every second shift, generally ignore his linemates, and shoot at every opportunity from every angle. And here's the thing: I don't think that's a bad plan." [DGB]

• Pierre LeBrun was also impressed with Kessel, who brings an offensive dimension to "a Leafs lineup essentially devoid of top-six, high-end offensive talent." But he also calls Kessel a "star" on multiple occasions. Is Phil Kessel really a star in the NHL? [ESPN]

Read More »