Stanley Cup viewer ratings drop in Canada, tops in U.S.
It was the top-rated show on American television on Saturday night but in Canada Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals drew the fewest number of viewers of any game in the series.
NBC’s broadcast of the Detroit Red Wings’ 5-0 trouncing of the Pittsburgh Penguins was taken in by an average of 4.28 million people, down only slightly from its Game 1 telecast the previous Saturday night, though the small drop-off was expected because of the one-sided score.
Stanley Cup: playing through pain
Detroit Red Wings players said the return of Pavel Datsyuk in Game 5 from a foot injury was key in the team’s 5-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. (Paul Sancya/Associated Press)
Pavel Datsyuk came back from a seven-game injury absence in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final with two assists in Detroit’s 5-0 romp over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Sabres backup Lalime on the mend
Buffalo Sabres goalie Patrick Lalime, left, makes a save during a game against Montreal in March.(Dean Duprey/Associated Press)
Veteran Buffalo goaltender Patrick Lalime underwent two surgical procedures recently and will be ready to resume training in about a month.
YOUR VIEW: Who’s your Stanley Cup MVP?
Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood has 15 wins and a .927 save percentage in this year’s playoffs. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)
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Reasoner re-signs with Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers centre Marty Reasoner celebrates one of two game-winning goals this season, against the Edmonton on March 12. (Jimmy Jeong/Canadian Press)
Veteran forward Marty Reasoner signed a new two-year deal with the Atlanta Thrashers, the club announced on Monday.
Sabre rattling: Buffalo wary of Hamilton team
Young Buffalo Sabres fans look up at the scoreboard during a game in January. (Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
The Buffalo Sabres in their history have twice been edged out of a championship by American clubs, but the possibility of a new Ontario club could be their greatest NHL challenge.
Judgment looming in Coyotes case
Jim Balsillie is seen arriving at the Asper School of Business in Winnipeg last week. Balsillie has been upbeat since agreeing to purchase the Coyotes, but will he be smiling when Judge Baum issues his ruling.(Joe Bryksa/Winnipeg Free Press/Canadian Press)Story ContentThe main partiesOwnership questionRelocation questionIf the NHL winsIf Moyes prevailsTerritorial rightsThe 2009-10 seasonCopps Coliseum
Lower-body injury slows Red Wings’ Cleary
Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock downplayed Daniel Cleary’s absence from Saturday’s morning skate, suggesting the forward would be in the lineup on against Pittsburgh later in the evening (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 7:30 p.m. ET).
The 30-year-old native of Carbonear, N.L., is said to be suffering from a lower-body injury.
Red Wings defenceman Brian Rafalski and rookie centre Justin Abdelkader also missed Saturday’s workout, while centre Pavel Datsyuk skated alongside Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen. He will make his series debut after suffering a foot injury.
Several bids to stay in Phoenix: Bettman
David Cynamon, left, and Howard Sokolowski were named by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman as parties interested in buying the Phoenix Coyotes. (Aaron Harris/Canadian Press)
Men’s gold-medal Olympic hockey tickets sell in mere minutes
Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games mascots Quatchi (left) and Miga hold mockups of what the Olympic tickets will look like following a news conference in Vancouver on Thursday. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)