Pens send Malone, Roberts to Lightning for draft pick

by FOXSports.com

The Pittsburgh Penguins just got a little lighter.

Tampa Bay has acquired the rights to Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts in a trade with the Pens in exchange for a conditional 2009 draft pick.

If the Lightning sign Malone, the Pens will get Tampa Bay's third-round pick in 2009. If not, Pittsburgh will get Tampa Bay's fourth-round pick in 2009, which they received from Dallas in a previous deal.

"We said earlier this week we would be aggressive in our pursuit of free agents in order to win and compete," owner Oren Koules said. "This trade today doesn't guarantee anything, but we believe it gives us a leg up in our attempt to sign these two impact players."

Pens send Malone, Roberts to Lightning for draft pick....

Barry Melrose leaves ESPN to coach Tampa Bay Lightning

Many hockey fans know Barry Melrose only as an ESPN analyst, but before he became a broadcaster, he had an undistinguished playing career and coached in the Stanley Cup Finals. A look at Melrose, who will be named the Tampa Bay Lightning's coach today:

Barry Melrose leaves ESPN to coach Tampa Bay Lightning....

Lightning make a move at the top; new coach coming Tuesday

Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Lightning put in place a new ownership group consisting of eight people on Monday and the announcement of a new head coach is scheduled for Tuesday.

Oren Koules, a Hollywood producer, heads up the team which is expected to finalize the sale from Bill Davidson and Palace Sports & Entertainment on June 30. Former NHL player Len Barrie is also part of the group.

"This is a great day for Tampa Bay and for the Lightning," said Koules. "There is a wonderful foundation for hockey in this community; a great fan base and a former Stanley Cup winning team led by Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis. Our group's primary goal is to win hockey games and compete for championships on a regular basis."

The first order of business for the new ownership group will be to introduce a new head coach, and reports have circulated over the past few weeks that Barry Melrose will be the choice.

Lightning make a move at the top; new coach coming Tuesday....

Predators trade Mason to Blues, re-sign Ellis

By John Glennon, The (Nashville) Tennessean

The Predators have traded goalie Chris Mason to St. Louis for a fourth-round pick in this weekend's draft, and the team has also agreed to terms on a new contract with goalie Dan Ellis.

Predators trade Mason to Blues, re-sign Ellis....

NHL threatens to get rid of Rangers' owners

By LARRY NEUMEISTER

NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL is threatening to kick the owners of the New York Rangers out of the league or force them to sell the team as punishment for accusing league officials of violating antitrust laws.

The NHL filed court papers Wednesday that included a draft letter from commissioner Gary Bettman proposing discipline against Madison Square Garden, L.P., that could lead to suspension or termination of its ownership of the Rangers. The Garden responded by accusing the NHL of using "bullying tactics."

In its court filing, the NHL asked a judge to agree Madison Square Garden breached its contract by challenging league rules.

Madison Square Garden sued the NHL in September, saying it violated antitrust laws by monopolizing control of team promotions. A judge ruled in November that the league seemed within its rights to take control of the team's Web site.

Madison Square Garden, which is owned by Cablevision Systems Corp., owns the Rangers, the NBA's New York Knicks, the WNBA's New York Liberty and several venues, including Madison Square Garden — the home of the Rangers, Knicks and Liberty.

MSG spokesman Barry Watkins said Thursday that the league was consistent but wrong in its handling of the dispute.

NHL threatens to get rid of Rangers' owners

Wings' Larionov, Oilers' Anderson elected to Hall of Fame

CBSSports.com wire reports

TORONTO -- It was only a few weeks ago that Igor Larionov and Glenn Anderson were playing exhibition games together in Europe and had a discussion about how nice it would be to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame at the same time.

Turns out it was more than just wishful thinking.

The Russian center and former Edmonton Oilers winger were elected to the Hall on Tuesday along with former linesman Ray Scapinello and junior hockey builder Ed Chynoweth.

Larionov and Anderson were recently in Russia to play during a celebration for Slava Fetisov's 50th birthday and traveled to Belarus to help open an arena on the invitation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

"Igor and I were kind of talking about this," said Anderson. "We were thinking if we do get in, it's going to be -- I don't know if we can compare it to what the party was like over in Moscow and in Belarus.

"We'll try our hardest to make it a good one."

It's hard to blame them. They each had to wait.

Wings' Larionov, Oilers' Anderson elected to Hall of Fame....

Senators select Hartsburg as new coach

OTTAWA (AP) — Craig Hartsburg is the new coach of the Ottawa Senators, the third time he has led an NHL team.

Hartsburg takes over from Senators general manager Bryan Murray, who finished the season behind the Ottawa bench after coach John Paddock was fired in late February.

Hartsburg, who signed a three-year contract, also has coached in Anaheim and Chicago, and was an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Flyers from 2002 to 2004. The 48-year-old Hartsburg has been coach of the Ontario Hockey League's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds for the past four seasons.

"I know it's a great challenge and I can't wait," Hartsburg said at a Friday news conference. "I love challenges."

STORY....

Caps' Ovechkin Wins MVP; Boudreau Is Coach of Year

By Tarik El-Bashir
Washington Post Staff Writer

TORONTO, June 12 -- When Alex Ovechkin accepted the Lester B. Pearson Award, given to the most outstanding player as voted by his peers, the Washington Capitals' left wing apologized to the crowd for stumbling during his acceptance speech.

He said, "Sorry, I'm nervous," before smiling, tugging at his lapel and taking a deep breath. But as it turned out, there was no reason for Ovechkin's nerves to be frayed Thursday night at the NHL Awards Show. He later captured the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP -- in a landslide.

Ovechkin is the first Capital to win either award, beating out Calgary's Jarome Iginla and Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin for both honors. Ovechkin also became the first player to win the Hart and Pearson awards along with the Art Ross and Maurice "Rocket" Richard trophies, given for leading the league with 112 points and 65 goals, respectively.

"I wanted to win everything," Ovechkin said. "Maybe next year the Stanley Cup."

MORE....

Detroit's Stanley Cup win nets viewers for NBC

Daily News Wire Services

Television ratings for the decisive game of the Stanley Cup finals were double the last Game 6 in 2006.
The Detroit Red Wings' clinching 3-2 victory Wednesday night over the Pittsburgh Penguins drew a 4.4 overnight rating and a 7 share on NBC, the network said yesterday. The Game 6 between Edmonton and Carolina 2 years ago earned a 2.2.

MORE....

Wings Take Stanley Cup

It's been a six year wait, but for the Red Wings and their fans, it's worth it as Stanley is back where he belongs in Michigan. After a triple overtime heartbreaker Monday, the Detroit Red Wings took care of business Wednesday in Pittsburgh. The Red Wings end another dream season with a championship. It was an unbelievable season and even more unbelievable playoff run by the Red Wings, who had 10 Stanley Cups in their glorious past, but none in the last 6 years, so the hunger to tote the cup was clearly back, and what a thrilling finish to game 6 in Pittsburgh.

Henrik Zetterburg rushes the net in the 3rd period with the wings up 2-1. It appears as though the puck is frozen under the goalie. The Wings say it's in. Goalie Marc Andre Flurry never froze it. It counted, 3-1 Red Wings. It was 3-2 and a save by Chris Osgood at the buzzer. That would have tied it, but Osgood kicked it away and the Wings win the 11th Stanley Cup in their history.

STORY....

Day After, Penguins Smile Through Pain

By LYNN ZINSER

PITTSBURGH — When the Penguins arrived at Mellon Arena for a meeting Tuesday morning, their incredulous smiles had not faded in the hours since their season-saving victory over the Detroit Red Wings in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals. Neither had their bruises.

The Penguins wore those like badges of pride, the cost of competing for a Cup that was nearly awarded to the Red Wings in Joe Louis Arena — until the Penguins tied the game in the final seconds of regulation. They then snatched the victory after 49 minutes 37 seconds of overtime, ending an epic game that will be followed by Game 6 on Wednesday night in Pittsburgh. The Penguins trail the best-of-seven series, 3-2.

ARTICLE....

Pens keep Wings from hoisting Cup in 3OT

The pizza was perfect for Petr Sykora and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Deep in overtime and the season hanging in the balance, Sykora scored a power-play goal 9:57 into the third extra session to give the Penguins a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night and send the Stanley Cup finals back to the Steel City for Game 6. "We basically just had to keep the fluids going, get some food in you," Sykora said. "We had some pizza coming.

STORY....