The Portland Trail Blazers named Chris McGowan
as the new president and chief executive officer of the team on Monday.

NHL owners and players are set to meet Tuesday
without commissioner Gary Bettman or union chief Donald Fehr in attendance.

Vancouver opted to add depth at the trade deadline rather
than go after a big scorer. If Mason Raymond can start getting hot, it will be
just as beneficial.

The Pittsburgh Penguins tied a season-high for goals in a
game on Saturday and will try to carry some of that offense into tonight's
contest when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning at Consol Energy Center.

The Buffalo Sabres will try to avoid losing consecutive
games for the first time in over two weeks when they visit the struggling
Carolina Hurricanes tonight at RBC Center.

The Buffalo Sabres needed very little offense to pick up a
win on Friday night and the Northeast Division leaders will be right back at
it when they host the Phoenix Coyotes tonight at First Niagara Center.

The rebuilding Edmonton Oilers will kick off a new season
on home ice tonight, as they welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins for a clash at
Rexall Place.

The Carolina Hurricanes may be tied for the fewest points
in the Eastern Conference, but they showed again on Thursday that they can
still hang with the best the NHL has to offer.

A pair of division rivals will meet for the opener of the
best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals tonight, when the top-seeded
Washington Capitals welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning for a battle at Verizon
Center.

The Atlanta Thrashers hope to kick off their post-All-Star
schedule with a victory when they welcome the sliding New York Islanders for
tonight's clash at Philips Arena.

After a solid start to the season, the Ducks are in danger
of posting their longest losing streak in six years. Having to go up against
the Canucks' suddenly-blazing power play is probably the last thing the
slumping club wants to do.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will try to avoid their first
three-game losing streak since October when they welcome the Boston Bruins for
tonight's battle at CONSOL Energy Center.

The Wild weren't able to carry recent road success into
their own arena last time out. They may find getting their offense re-
established away from Minnesota this evening a tough task.

The Anaheim Ducks had their chance at team history thwarted
on Monday and they'll be aiming for a bounce-back effort when they host the
Nashville Predators in Wednesday's test at Honda Center.

The lockout may have robbed us of nearly
half a regular season, but thankfully the playoffs remain intact.