Crosby gets a chance to chase gold

Team Canada alternate captain Sidney Crosby has dreamed about playing in a gold-medal game most of his life. Friday night, that dream came true as his Canadians held off a spirited late charge to defeat a Slovakian. With the 3-2 win at Canada Hockey Place, Team Canada booked passage into a dream gold-medal game against Team USA, which is 5-0 in this tournament after a 6-1 pasting of Finland earlier in the day in the other semifinal. Crosby, who had three shots and an even rating Friday night, stopped to talk exclusively to NHL.com after the game.

Morrow finds his role in Team Canada

Team Canada forward Brenden Morrow is one of the foot soldiers that makes any team work. The Dallas Stars winger showed his value to Team Canada on Friday night, scoring the team's second goal in an 3-2 win against Slovakia the Olympic tournament semifinal.

Morrow was also on the ice for the winning goal, by Ryan Getzlaf on a second-period power play. Morrow now has goals in back-to-back games as he and his teammates prepare to play Team USA in Sunday's gold-medal game here at Canada Hockey Place. On Friday night, he played 11:39, managing the goal, two shots and an even rating. Let us put on team usa jerseys and support them!

Maltby's season ends due to the surgery

According to mlive.com, Detroit Red Wings veteran Kirk Maltby will undergo a shoulder surgery next week. As a result, Maltby will be placed on long-term injured serve, solving the Wings' salary-cap problems and also enable defenseman Andreas Lilja to be activated. Lilja said he expects to be in the lineup Monday at Colorado, in the first game following the Olympic break. It seems that Maltby has to take off his red wings jersey and take a rest.

Flyers shut down goaltender Emery

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren announced that goaltender Ray Emery, who has been out with tightness in his hip on Feb. 1, will be kept off of the ice for the next three weeks in the hopes he will recover shortly after the upcoming Olympic break. "Based on what the doctors have told us, we're just going to shut Ray down here for three weeks and give him some time to rehabilitate the hip, and then we'll go from there," Holmgren said Thursday from the Flyers' practice facility. "The idea of taking these three weeks to strengthen that [hip] area and the muscles around that area, we're hoping will be the right way to go."

"It is 16 days where we are not playing games," said Holmgren. "I feel good about what we are doing with Ray. Based on the information we have right now, I think it is the right way to go for both the Flyers and for Ray." It seems that he will take off his flyers jersey and rest for a while.

Rangers lost Gaborik and Zotto due to injuries

The New York Rangers' forward Marian Gaborik and defenseman Michael Del Zotto left in the first period of Friday night's game in Pittsburgh. Neither of them returned. Gaborik, who missed Wednesday's game against Nashville after suffering a 21-stitch cut above his right knee at practice the day before, dressed and started the game.

Del Zotto was injured when he fell on the skate of Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin and sustained a significant laceration to his abdomen and did not return either. “I thought maybe that just my ribs were bruised because I could feel the skate go there,” Del Zotto said after the game. “But I felt that I should take a check with my hand and I felt the blood and knew something was wrong.”Although the team lost both players, the Rangers won the game in the end.

Adam Graves will join NHL Live!

It is reported that former New York Rangers star Adam Graves will appear on Friday's edition of NHL Live! from noon-2 p.m. on NHL Network and NHL.com and broadcast on XM Radio. Also scheduled to appear to speak with co-hosts Deb Placey and E.J. Hradek are NBC hockey analyst Ed Olczyk, a former teammate of Graves, and retired defenseman Teppo Numminen.

Also on the show will be Joseph Bowser of EveryBODY Skates New Jersey, a group of disabled athletes who will make history this weekend by visiting all 54 rinks in the State of New Jersey in just 54 hours.

Dodgers sign deal with pitcher Weaver

The Dodgers announced that the club and free-agent pitcher Jeff Weaver reached agreement on an $800,000 Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League camp. The 33-year-old struck out 64 batters in 79 innings while walking 33. He also signed a Minor League contract with the club last February, but didn't make the team out of Spring Training. Weaver joined the Major League on April 30, when his contract was purchased from Triple-A Albuquerque.

After joining the Dodgers, Weaver post a 3.13 ERA in 31 2/3 innings as a starter and a 3.99 ERA in 47 1/3 innings as a reliever.He also played with the Dodgers in 2004 and '05 with a combined record of 27-24 and a 4.11 ERA in 444 innings pitched. The veteran has a career record of 99-118 and a 4.67 ERA in 312 big league appearances with the Tigers, Yankees, Dodgers, Angels, Cardinals and Mariners.

Thrashers GM is at Devils and Kings game

Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell is in New Jersey taking in the Devils game against Kings from the Prudential Center's press box. The Kings are reportedly high trying to acquire Thrashers' captain Ilya Kovalchuk prior to the March 3 trade deadline. Waddell said that he did not want to do an interview if it centered on Kovalchuk (in the thrashers jersey), but said that he is still trying to sign the Russian sniper who is scheduled to become a free agent on July 1. Waddell added that he is aware of his presence at this game, but he stressed that he's at this game to scout something he rarely gets a chance to do when he's watching his own team play.

The Thrashers played in Philadelphia on Thursday and instead of going with the team to Nashville for Saturday's game, Waddell stayed behind to catch some other games in the area. "When you are watching your own team play, you never get to scout the other team." Waddell said.

Ausmus sign with Dodgers

After re-signing infielder Ronnie Belliard earlier in the day, the Dodgers now are agreeing on a one-year deal worth $850,000 with catcher Brad Ausmus. The deal also includes a mutual option for 2011 worth $1 million. Ausmus hit a career-high .295 as the backup to Russell Martin in 2009, playing in only 36 games.

Ausmus finished the season tied for eighth on the all-time list of games caught with Benito Santiago. This will be his 18th Major League season, and he has never been on the disabled list. Ausmus is considered to be big league manager material and he managed the last regular-season game of the year for the Dodgers. Fans look forward to seeing him playing in the dodgers jersey.

Padres term with Stairs to Minors deal

A source confirmed that the Padres will strengthen their bench by signing veteran outfielder Matt Stairs to a Minor League contract. Stairs hit .194 last season with five home runs and 17 RBIs in 99 games with the Phillies. General manager Jed Hoyer said this offseason that he wanted to add a left-handed for the bench. Stairs will also be available to serve as the Padres' hitter in six road games.

It is reported recently that Stairs has lost 31 pounds in the offseason in order to get himself ready for Spring Training, going from 230 pounds to about 199 pounds. It's the lightest that he's been in 15 years. Stairs is a career .264 hitter with 259 home runs. Hope he can play well in the padres jersey.

Dodger Stadium will host college games

The Dodgers Dream Foundation have announced the inaugural Dodgertown Classic, two collegiate games will include a matchup of cross-town rivals USC and UCLA. The games are scheduled to be played at Dodger Stadium on Feb. 28. The first game will feature Vanderbilt against Oklahoma State.

All proceeds will benefit the Dodgers Dream Foundation and help build Dodgers Dreamfields for children. The Dodgers Dream Foundation will also extend invitations to the Dodgertown Classic to local children and families and provide an interactive forum for children and tournament participants. Tickets for the event will cost $5 and can be purchased in advance and in person at USC and UCLA campus box offices. Each ticket will permit access to both of the day's games. There will be no charge for parking at Dodger Stadium for the event.

Patrick Marleau will join in NHL Live

Patrick Marleau of the San Jose Sharks, the NHL's top goal-scorer this season, will be among the guests on Friday's edition of NHL Live!, scheduled from noon-2 p.m. on NHL Network and NHL.com and broadcast on XM Radio.

Also scheduled to appear with hosts Rob Simpson and E.J. Hradek are Tampa Bay center Steven Stamkos, the No. 1 pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, and TV analyst Ed Olczyk, who will be behind the mike for Sunday's NBC Game of the Week telecast of the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia game.

Carrasco and Pirates agree to Minors deal

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the Pirates agreed to a Minor League deal with reliever D.J. Carrasco, who is set to make $950,000 if he can earn up to $250,000 in performance bonuses. The five-year veteran has a career 20-16 record and a 4.45 ERA in 181 appearances with the Royals and White Sox. Carrasco became a free agent after the White Sox decided not to give him a contract.

Carrasco went 5-1 with a 3.76 ERA in 49 appearances in the white sox jersey in 2009. He struck out 62 batters while walking 29 in 93 1/3 innings.

Astros' Paul feels good after Haiti earthquake

Dieudone Paul, a left-handed pitcher in the Astros' system who was born in Haiti, was in the Dominican Republic with his family and was unharmed during the earthquake. Houston assistant general manager Ricky Bennett said coordinator of player development Allen Rowin contacted Paul on Thursday and was informed his family was unharmed. Paul was signed in June and posted a 1.65 ERA for the Dominican Summer League Astros last year. "He is lucky, obviously, because his family is safe and sound," Bennett said. "It was difficult to find out because of the lack of communication. But the staff located him and he talked with his family and he was fine."

Commissioner Bud Selig announced that MLB has pledged an immediate donation of $1 million to support earthquake relief. The donations are aiding victims by providing necessary supplies to assist with recovery efforts, including clean water and sanitation, medical supplies and temporary shelter. This piece of news will comfort Paul's fans and they will see him playing in his astros jersey sooner or later.

Angels avoid arbitration with Weaver

It is reported that the Angels avoided arbitration with Jered Weaver by signing him to a one-year deal worth $4.265 million. Weaver is coming off an outstanding season as the Angels' most dependable starter in 2009. He posted a 16-8 record with a 3.75 ERA, striking out 174 batters in the los angeles angels of anaheim jersey.

Weaver has a career record of 51-27 with a 3.73 ERA, along with 546 strikeouts and 198 walks in 671 2/3 innings pitched. He becomes the second Angels player to avoid arbitration, joining second baseman Howard Kendrick, who agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.75 million earlier in the day.

Alfredsson returns to the lineup

Daniel Alfredsson will be back in the lineup when the Senators face off against the Canadiens at the Bell Centre in Montreal. It's a huge lift for Ottawa heading into a showdown. "It feels good to be back and it feels good to be ready to play," Alfredsson said at the Bell Centre. "I'm confident I'm going to go in there and be able to help the team. I wouldn't be back if I thought there was any risk."

Alfredsson has been sidelined since separating his left shoulder during a Dec. 23 game against the Penguins in Pittsburgh. The original prognosis suggested a 4-to-6 week absence from the lineup. He skated on a line with Nick Foligno and Mike Fisher at the morning skate in the senators jersey.

Ribeiro was placed on injured list

The Dallas Stars announced that center Mike Ribeiro has been placed on injured reserve and is expected to be out for several weeks due to a throat contusion suffered at the New York Rangers. Ribeiro underwent a procedure at St. Vincent's Catholic Medical Center in Manhattan to repair the contusion. He is expected to stay in the hospital for a few days before returning to the team

Ribeiro suffered the injury when he was hit in the neck by the Rangers forward Chris Higgins at the second period. Higgins was assessed a two-minute minor penalty on the play. Ribeiro has appeared in 43 games in his dallas stars jersey this season, scoring 10 goals and 23 assists.

Jovanovski is suspended two games

The NHL announced that Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Ed Jovanovski has been suspended for two games without pay, for hitting New York Islanders center John Tavares. With 17 seconds remaining in the first period of a game, Jovanovski delivered an elbow to Tavares' head and was assessed a major penalty for elbowing and a game misconduct.

Jovanovski now is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. He will forfeit a lot in salary based on the number of games in a season, rather than the number of days. The money goes to the Players’Emergency Assistance Fund. Jovanovski will miss Coyotes' games against San Jose and New Jersey. He will be eligible to return Saturday against Minnesota Wild in the coyotes jersey.

Senators relieved Eli Wilson of his duties

Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray announced that the club has relieved goaltending coach Eli Wilson of his duties. "Performance of the goaltenders in the organization had everything to do with it," said Murray. "I think Eli was a hard worker and paid a lot attention to it, but for some reason, both at the NHL level and American league level, we felt that the goaltenders weren't where we thought they were going to be and where they have shown they can be." Considering a replacement for the balance of the season, Murray noted: "Hopefully, in the next week we'll have someone at least in a consulting capacity. Somebody that can have insight and give direction to our goaltenders and get them back on track to where we think they're capable of being."

Wilson joined the Senators in August 2007. He previously worked with the Western Hockey League's Medicine Hat Tigers, where he spent four seasons.

Rays will host free coaching clinic

It is reported that the Rays will host a free coaches clinic as part of the team's youth baseball training program. The "Learn How to Play the Rays Way" Coaches Clinic will be held on Jan. 16 from 10 a.m. to noon at Tropicana Field. All youth league coaches are invited, each of whom will be afforded a unique opportunity to learn from a Major League coaching staff. The clinic will feature professional advice and instruction from members of the Rays' Major League and Minor League coaching staffs, including third-base coach Tom Foley, pitching coach Jim Hickey and hitting coach Derek Shelton, along with Eckerd College head baseball coach Bill Mathews.

The clinic will consist of six stations, each of which will hold a lecture on techniques and drills. The Rays' coaches will also conduct a question-and-answer session to conclude the day's activities. In addition, representatives from St. Anthony's Sports Medicine will provide instructions on injury prevention.

Yankees agree to terms with Mitre

The Yankees has agreed to term Mitre on a one-year contract. Mitre will earn a base salary of $850,000, plus possible performance incentives. The Yankees officially announced the signing on Thursday morning. Mitre was 3-3 with a 6.79 ERA in 12 games for the Yankees in 2009, returning to the big leagues after undergoing ligament-replacement surgery in July.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that Mitre will enter Spring Training in competition for the fifth starter's role as well as auditioning. If Mitre does not make the team out of Spring Training, he would have to clear waivers to be assigned to the Minor Leagues, but his affordable contract and potential upside could make him attractive to other clubs. Mitre has pitched in parts of six Major League seasons with the Cubs, Marlins and Yankees.

Mets acquire Marshall from Athletics

The New York Mets added to their bullpen with the addition of Jay Marshall from the Oakland Athletics. Marshall was 0-2 with a 14.72 ERA in 10 outings out of the Oakland bullpen, but had been one of Triple-A Sacramento's more effective relievers prior to that, going 5-3 with seven saves and a 3.20 ERA in 50 games with the River Cats.

Originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 25th round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Marshall made his big league debut with Oakland in 2007 as a Rule 5 selection, spending the entire season with the Athletics and posting a 6.43 ERA in 51 games in the athletics jersey. He has a 7.66 ERA, with a 2.85 ERA in 219 Minor League games and 61 big league games.

Verdi is hired as Blackhawks' first Team Historian

The Chicago Blackhawks announced Verdi’s hiring as Team Historian, which is a newly-created position. Verdi will use his five decades of sports journalism for periodical stories on the team’s Web site. "We are privileged to add such a true Chicago sports legend in Bob to our staff," Blackhawks Senior Vice President of Business Operations Jay Blunk said. "As Team Historian, he will give our organization perspective and depth in a number of different roles, which includes contributing on chicagoblackhawks.com. His 40-plus years of sports journalism in Chicago will serve as a great link to our franchise’s rich history."

Verdi served as a writer and columnist for the Chicago Tribune from 1967 to 1997 before writing for the newspaper as a columnist over the last 12 years. He also served as a senior writer for Golf Digest and Golf World. In 2004, Verdi received the PGA of America Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism.

Brave might be D-backs' second baseman

It is reported that Johnson is a guy that the D-backs have discussed with the Braves since Josh Byrnes became GM in the fall of 2005. Johnson hit .224 with eight homers and 29 RBIs last season for Atlanta and was not offered arbitration earlier this month. Johnson has actually hit better against lefties than he has against righties in his career. Based on advanced metrics, it is believed that he is an excellent candidate for a rebound season after struggling last year.

If Johnson gets the starting at second, the D-backs could shift Tony Abreu into a utility infield role. The team learned during the Winter Meetings that there is interest in Ojeda, so moving him would probably not be a problem. The D-backs could also give Abreu more seasoning at the Triple-A level.

Nationals has termed with Whitesell and Bruntlett

According to a report, the Nationals agreed to terms with first baseman Josh Whitesell and infielder Eric Bruntlett on 2010 Minor League contracts. Both of them have been invited to Spring Training. Whitesell, who returns to his original organization, was drafted by the Expos in the sixth round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. He posted a .346 on-base percentage in 46 games with the D-backs last year and has two home runs and 15 RBIs in 53 career games with Arizona.
Whitesell has hit 113 home runs and posted .394 on-base in seven Minor League seasons.

Bruntlett joins Washington after playing the past two seasons with the Phillies. Bruntlett is a .231 hitter with 11 home runs and 72 RBIs in 512 career games in seven seasons with Philadelphia and the Astros. He can play all four infield positions and all three outfield spots. Bruntlett is best known for turning a triple play in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Mets on Aug. 23. Hope both of them can play well in the nationals jersey.

Forward Prospal underwent knee surgery

New York Rangers forward Vinny Prospal underwent knee surgery on Monday morning to repair a lateral tear and will be sidelined several weeks. The injury was sustained during Saturday's game against the Islanders at Madison Square Garden. The procedure was performed this morning at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Westchester by Dr. Anthony Maddalo.

Prospal has scored 8 goals and 24 assists with 22 penalty minutes, in 38 games in his new york rangers jersey this season. He currently leads the Rangers and is tied for 19th in assists. He also ranks second on the team in points and third in goals.