Owners welcome union chief
In a symbol of the new NHL, the head of the players’ union spoke to the league’s 30 owners Wednesday night at Scottsdale, Ariz., expressing support for the united effort to rebuild the game after losing an entire season to labor strife.
Ted Saskin, who replaced Bob Goodenow as the union’s executive director, said the invitation to speak was “an opportunity to share thoughts and perspectives and that’s welcomed. It’s why I’m here.”
He joked that the players “are the majority partners in this business.”
Goodenow had a contentious, often bitter, relationship with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, but Saskin is seeking a more professional and cooperative tie with the owners.
With attendance up in most arenas and the new rules speeding up the game, the owners gathered at a Scottsdale resort believing that they are on the right track in rebuilding support for the league.
“The general feeling among the players is that the game is much improved, but there’s obviously some issues on some of the consistency with respect to the officiating,” Saskin said. “And that’s been noted by many players as well as management people. Everyone is doing their best, though it’s a pretty big change.”
The two-day owners meeting concludes today.
It was Bettman’s decision to invite Saskin.
“I thought that in light of the new era that we were ushering in, there would be no better indication of the fact that the players and the league are working together to move things forward that the best indication of that would be to have Ted here,” Bettman said.
On the ice
Martin Biron made 32 saves to win his 11th straight start, and Derek Roy had a goal and an assist in the Buffalo Sabres’ 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars at Buffalo, N.Y.
Biron extended his personal- and franchise-best winning streak and became the first goalie to win 11 in a row since New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur in 2001.
Maxim Afinogenov, Thomas Vanek and Daniel Briere also scored to help the Sabres run their winning streak to four. They have won 13 of their last 16 games.
Mighty Ducks 4, Lightning 2: At Anaheim, Calif., Francois Beauchemin had a goal and two assists to lead Anaheim over Tampa Bay and end the Lightning’s five-game winning streak.
Capitals 3, Kings 2: At Los Angeles, Brian Sutherby scored the tying goal midway through the third period with Washington down a man and Jamie Heward added his second power-play goal of the game with 1:03 left, rallying the Capitals to a victory over Los Angeles.
Hurricanes send Ward to Lowell
The Carolina Hurricanes reassigned goaltender Cam Ward to their American Hockey League affiliate in Lowell, Mass., for a conditioning stint.
The team recalled Kevin Nastiuk to replace Ward on the roster.