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By Gerald Herbert (AP)

Sarah Palin's next faceoff will come at center ice at an NHL arena, not at a debate. The GOP vice presidential nominee will drop the ceremonial first puck when the Philadelphia Flyers open the regular season against the New York Rangers on Saturday. Palin, the Alaska governor and self-described "hockey mom," will join the winner of a team promotion for the "Ultimate Hockey Mom" to drop the puck.

Last month, Palin visited a Philadelphia bar with Flyers owner Ed Snider, who has donated money to Republican presidential nominee John McCain's campaign.

"Because of the tremendo...

By Alan Diaz (AP)

New York Islanders defenseman Chris Lee was cleared to fly back to New York, a day after he was carried off the ice on a stretcher during a game in Florida.

The Islanders said in a statement Tuesday that Lee stayed overnight at a South Florida hospital and underwent tests.

Lee was checked into the boards from behind during a preseason game against the Florida Panthers on Monday night. He remained on the ice for several minutes after being hit.

Lee, who has never played in an NHL game, was signed as a free agent in July.

By (AP)

Saturday nights in Canada in the winter will now have a note of gold in them.

After receiving nearly 15,000 entries, the song "Canadian Gold," written by an elementary school teacher from Alberta has been voted as the new anthem for CBC's "Hockey Night in Canada."

Colin Oberst's winning composition was up against "Sticks to the Ice," a piece by 13-year-old Toronto composer Robert Fraser Burke.

Oberst and Burke stood side-by-side as Don Cherry announced the Anthem Challenge winner to a live studio audience in Toronto. The song was then played to start the network's...

By (AP)

New York Islanders defenseman Radek Martinek left with an undisclosed injury in the first period, following a hard hit behind the net, and didn't return to the home opener Saturday night.

An Islanders spokesman said Martinek was being evaluated by doctors, but declined to give any information about the injury.

Martinek was skating along the end boards behind the New York goal and crumpled after being crunched by St. Louis center David Backes with 3:10 left in the period. He remained down on the ice for a few moments before skating without assistance toward the tunnel to the...

By (AP)

Columbus Blue Jackets center Michael Peca has been suspended indefinitely by the NHL for making contact with an on-ice official.

The team and league announced the suspension on Saturday. Peca was automatically suspended per Rule 41, Physical Abuse of Officials, Category 2.

He was assessed a game misconduct penalty at 5:21 of the second period of the Blue Jackets' season opener on Friday night at Dallas, which they went on to win 5-4 on Rick Nash's goal in overtime.

Peca, an alternate captain, has appealed but will remain suspended pending a hearing to be scheduled next...

By (AP)

Florida Panthers defenseman Bryan McCabe is expected to miss two weeks because of a back injury sustained in Friday night's season opener at Carolina.

McCabe had an MRI on Saturday, and it revealed a contusion and lower back strain.

"There's no fracture," Florida general manager Jacques Martin said. "So that's good news for us. He's probably going to need probably a couple of weeks, but that's encouraging."

McCabe was injured in the second period of Florida's 6-4 loss at Carolina when he collided with Hurricanes defenseman Dennis Seidenberg along the boards.

By (AP)

The Columbus Blue Jackets have placed center Manny Malhotra on injured reserve and recalled right wing Derek Dorsett from their American Hockey League affiliate in Syracuse.

Malhotra was put on injured reserve Thursday retroactive to Oct. 5 with what the team termed a "lower body" injury.

Dorsett was one of the last cuts from training camp. He was sent to Syracuse on Wednesday.

The Blue Jackets open the 2008-09 season with a three-game road trip, beginning Friday in Dallas and continuing in Phoenix and San Jose.

By (AP)

Veteran Vancouver Canucks forwards Matt Pettinger, Jeff Cowan and Jason Krog were sent down to the American Hockey League after clearing waivers on Wednesday.

Pettinger, who has played 354 NHL games over seven seasons and is making $1.1 million this season and Krog were both sent to Vancouver's AHL affiliate in Manitoba.

Cowan, a tough guy who has played more than 400 NHL games since 2000, was sent to Peoria, the affiliate of the St. Louis Blues.

All three players are on one-way contracts, meaning they must be paid the full amount in the minor leagues but it won't count...

By (AP)

In just one season as coach of the Boston Bruins, Claude Julien has brought stability to a struggling franchise. They made the playoffs but now their goals are greater.

They want to win a postseason series.

"Our young players developed probably above expectations because of the circumstances that we had last year, because of the injuries," Julien said. "We're looking forward to taking steps in the right direction again. We need to be better than we were last year. That's a must."

The Bruins open their season with a four-game road trip starting Thursday night at the C...

By (AP)

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Ben Eager was suspended for three games without pay by the NHL on Wednesday for swinging his stick at Dallas Stars left wing Sean Avery during a game last week.

Eager was sitting on the bench in the third period last Thursday when he tried to swing his stick in the direction of Avery, who was on the ice.

Eager was assessed a match penalty for attempt to injure and will miss the Blackhawks' first three regular-season games, beginning Friday night against the New York Rangers. He will be eligible to return Oct. 15 against the Phoenix...

By (AP)

Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin is expected to start the regular season with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The 35-year-old Khabibulin had seemed destined to be sent to the minors, traded or opt to play in his native Russia by the time the Blackhawks open their regular season Friday night in New York against the Rangers.

But on Tuesday, Khabibulin was on Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon's final roster heading into the regular season.

NHL teams must submit rosters to the league by 3 p.m. EDT Wednesday.

The goalie, who did not appear in any of Chicago's eight preseason...

By (AP)

Alex Ovechkin left practice early Tuesday, but the reigning NHL MVP is expected to play in the Washington Capitals' season opener Friday at Atlanta.

Ovechkin skated off the ice at the team's home arena after less than 15 minutes.

"He'll be OK. He'll be playing Friday," coach Bruce Boudreau said at the Capitals' annual media day event. "You know, it's nothing serious at all, but, I mean, it would be prudent for me not to say why he went off."

Another Capitals forward, Alexander Semin, also missed practice time Wednesday _ and also is in the team's plans for Game ...

By (AP)

The San Jose Sharks put defenseman Kyle McLaren on waivers Tuesday, possibly ending the oft-injured veteran's 4 1/2-year tenure with the club.

McLaren, a 12-year NHL veteran, had three goals and eight assists while battling constant knee injuries last season, undergoing surgery in January. He appeared in two preseason games with the Sharks, who didn't even allow him to skate in intrasquad scrimmages while attempting to move him.

"Kyle has been a tremendous professional through this," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said. "We're trying to do what's right for him, so we...

By (AP)

The Washington Capitals sent 2007 first-round draft pick Karl Alzner and Chris Bourque to Hershey of the American Hockey League on Monday.

Chris Bourque is the son of Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque.

The Capitals also put Quintin Laing on waivers, and if no other team claims the forward, he will go to Hershey.

Monday's moves trimmed Washington's season-opening roster to 22, one below the maximum.

The Capitals begin the regular season at Atlanta on Friday.

By (AP)

Maple Leafs left wing Ryan Hollweg received an automatic two-game suspension Monday after collecting his third boarding or checking from behind major in a 41-game span.

The third penalty came in last Wednesday's 7-3 preseason loss at St. Louis, when Hollweg was assessed a boarding major and game misconduct.

Last season with the New York Rangers, Hollweg received checking from behind majors and game misconducts on Jan. 5 against Edmonton and Feb. 3 against Montreal.

Hollweg will miss Toronto's season-opener Thursday at Detroit and Saturday's home-opener against Montreal....