Sport-scan daily brief

Captain Ryan Getzlaf had a goal and two assists, and Teemu Selanne scored his 673rd career goal in the Ducks' 5-2 victory over Dallas on Wednesday night.

Viktor Fasth made 23 saves and Radek Dvorak scored his first goal for Anaheim in the second of three straight meetings in five days between the first-place Ducks and the last-place Stars, who lost 4-0 in Dallas on Monday. While the Stars are young and improving, the Ducks are sitting on a double-digit lead atop the division with 11 games to play, closing in on a postseason berth and just their second Pacific title in two decades of existence.

"Teams that make trades and do the sell-off are so tough to play down the stretch," Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Experience tells me when you bring in a lot of new guys, young guys especially, they play with so much energy. ... To beat any team three times in a row is difficult, but we're going to try."

Kyle Palmieri snapped a 13-game goal drought and Andrew Cogliano scored an empty-net goal as the Ducks improved the NHL's third-best record to 25-7-5 and closed within two points of the league-leading Chicago Blackhawks.

Getzlaf had the fourth three-point game in his outstanding season for Anaheim, which is 3-0-1 since a four-game losing streak last month.

Getzlaf briefly left the ice after bending his right leg awkwardly while tied up with Jamie Benn in the third period, but returned to score his 150th career goal on a perfectly placed backhand set up by Corey Perry. Boudreau then gave the rest of the night off to his leading scorer.

"He's one of the best passers in the league," Dvorak said of Getzlaf, who assisted on his first-period goal with a pinpoint pass from the far boards. "As soon as I see he has the puck, I just try to get open. ... We knew it was going to be a tough game. They were coming hard tonight. They made a lot of changes and had a lot of young guys, and they had a lot of energy."

Lane MacDermid scored his first NHL goal in his Dallas debut, and Kari Lehtonen stopped 22 shots in the Stars' first game since trading Jagr to Boston and Roy to Vancouver. Erik Cole also scored for the Stars, who have lost three straight.

With the departures of Jagr and Roy, Alex Chiasson made his NHL debut for Dallas and center Ryan Garbutt returned from a nine-game absence with an injured wrist. High-scoring left wing Loui Eriksson also played center for the Stars.

"It's tough to find the good stuff in a loss like that," Dallas defenseman Stephane Robidas said. "There are a lot of new faces, young guys that had their first experience with us, and I thought they did really well."

Fasth, who shut out Dallas earlier this week, blanked Dallas through the first 42 minutes Wednesday before Cole scored. MacDermid, acquired from the Bruins in the Jagr deal, got his first NHL goal with 1:24 to play.

"I thought all of the guys had a lot of energy and tried to do all the little things right," MacDermid said. "We did that for the most part, but they made some good plays."

After adding veterans Dvorak and David Steckel last month, the Ducks made only two moves at the trade deadline, acquiring center Matthew Lombardi from Phoenix and shipping out third-string goalie Jeff Deslauriers in separate deals.

Anaheim showed little fatigue in its 22nd game in 39 days, controlling early play and going ahead on the goal by Dvorak, a 17-year NHL veteran who signed with Anaheim on March 24. The Czech forward had been playing in Switzerland this winter after scoring 21 points in 73 games for Dallas last season.

Selanne scored his 251st power-play goal in the second period when a drop pass by Getzlaf deflected to him for a nasty wrist shot. Selanne endured a nine-game goal drought in March, but the 42-year-old Finnish Flash has scored at least 10 goals for the 20th consecutive season.

Palmieri added his added his eighth goal of the season five minutes later, easily moving past stationary defenseman Aaron Rome. The Ducks' promising scorer hadn't found the net in his last 13 games since getting a hat trick Feb. 27 against Nashville.

NOTES: The 6-foot-4 Chiasson was a second-round pick in 2009 before playing three seasons at Boston University. Chiasson hit Anaheim's Matt Beleskey squarely in the face with his stick blade early in the third period, but wasn't penalized while Beleskey went to the dressing room. ... The Ducks traded C Brandon McMillan to Phoenix for Lombardi, who wasn't in town to face Dallas. McMillan never solidified a spot in the Ducks' lineup over the past three years despite numerous chances to stick in Anaheim. He played in six games with Anaheim this season, spending most of the last two years in the AHL.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 04.04.2013

667765 Dallas Stars

Ducks fear Stars’ unknown quality, but still roll 5-2

By Greg Beacham

The Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Although the Dallas Stars traded two of their top four scorers in the two days since their last meeting with Anaheim, the Ducks didn’t take them less seriously in the rematch.

The departures of Jaromir Jagr and Derek Roy actually made the Stars look more dangerous to the Ducks, and the Pacific Division leaders responded accordingly.

Captain Ryan Getzlaf had a goal and two assists, and Teemu Selanne scored his 673rd career goal in the Ducks’ 5-2 victory over Dallas on Wednesday night.

Viktor Fasth made 23 saves and Radek Dvorak scored his first goal for Anaheim in the second of three straight meetings in five days between the first-place Ducks and the last-place Stars, who lost 4-0 in Dallas on Monday. While the Stars are young and improving, the Ducks are sitting on a double-digit lead atop the division with 11 games to play, closing in on a postseason berth and just their second Pacific title in two decades of existence.

“Teams that make trades and do the sell-off are so tough to play down the stretch,” Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said. “Experience tells me when you bring in a lot of new guys, young guys especially, they play with so much energy. … To beat any team three times in a row is difficult, but we’re going to try.”

Kyle Palmieri snapped a 13-game goal drought and Andrew Cogliano scored an empty-net goal as the Ducks improved the NHL’s third-best record to 25-7-5 and closed within two points of the league-leading Chicago Blackhawks.

Getzlaf had the fourth three-point game in his outstanding season for Anaheim, which is 3-0-1 since a four-game losing streak last month.

Getzlaf briefly left the ice after bending his right leg awkwardly while tied up with Jamie Benn in the third period, but returned to score his 150th career goal on a perfectly placed backhand set up by Corey Perry. Boudreau then gave the rest of the night off to his leading scorer.

“He’s one of the best passers in the league,” Dvorak said of Getzlaf, who assisted on his first-period goal with a pinpoint pass from the far boards. “As soon as I see he has the puck, I just try to get open. … We knew it was going to be a tough game. They were coming hard tonight. They made a lot of changes and had a lot of young guys, and they had a lot of energy.”

Lane MacDermid scored his first NHL goal in his Dallas debut, and Kari Lehtonen stopped 22 shots in the Stars’ first game since trading Jagr to Boston and Roy to Vancouver. Erik Cole also scored for the Stars, who have lost three straight.

With the departures of Jagr and Roy, Alex Chiasson made his NHL debut for Dallas and center Ryan Garbutt returned from a nine-game absence with an injured wrist. High-scoring left wing Loui Eriksson also played center for the Stars.

“It’s tough to find the good stuff in a loss like that,” Dallas defenseman Stephane Robidas said. “There are a lot of new faces, young guys that had their first experience with us, and I thought they did really well.”

Fasth, who shut out Dallas earlier this week, blanked Dallas through the first 42 minutes Wednesday before Cole scored. MacDermid, acquired from the Bruins in the Jagr deal, got his first NHL goal with 1:24 to play.

“I thought all of the guys had a lot of energy and tried to do all the little things right,” MacDermid said. “We did that for the most part, but they made some good plays.”

After adding veterans Dvorak and David Steckel last month, the Ducks made only two moves at the trade deadline, acquiring center Matthew Lombardi from Phoenix and shipping out third-string goalie Jeff Deslauriers in separate deals.

Anaheim showed little fatigue in its 22nd game in 39 days, controlling early play and going ahead on the goal by Dvorak, a 17-year NHL veteran who signed with Anaheim on March 24. The Czech forward had been playing in Switzerland this winter after scoring 21 points in 73 games for Dallas last season.

Selanne scored his 251st power-play goal in the second period when a drop pass by Getzlaf deflected to him for a nasty wrist shot. Selanne endured a nine-game goal drought in March, but the 42-year-old Finnish Flash has scored at least 10 goals for the 20th consecutive season.

Palmieri added his added his eighth goal of the season five minutes later, easily moving past stationary defenseman Aaron Rome. The Ducks’ promising scorer hadn’t found the net in his last 13 games since getting a hat trick Feb. 27 against Nashville.

NOTE

• The 6-foot-4 Chiasson was a second-round pick in 2009 before playing three seasons at Boston University. Chiasson hit Anaheim’s Matt Beleskey squarely in the face with his stick blade early in the third period, but wasn’t penalized while Beleskey went to the dressing room.

Star-Telegram LOADED: 04.04.2013

667766 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings' Todd Bertuzzi getting closer to return, will go on trip

By Helene St. James

Todd Bertuzzi cracked jokes and laughed at practice -- can a comeback be far away?

For the first time in two months, he appears to be on the horizon.

Bertuzzi hasn't played for the Detroit Red Wings since limping out of St. Louis Feb. 7, hampered by nerve pain that extended from his back down through his right leg. But he has joined practices this week, and he's in contact drills. Most encouraging, maybe, is that he's scheduled to be on this afternoon's flight to Phoenix -- and someone in pain wouldn't sit on a plane for five hours if there were risk of aggravating anything.

Bertuzzi won't play Thursday at Phoenix nor Friday at Colorado, but every day he's on the ice delights teammates, who've missed him.

"He tried to take my spot in front of the net," fellow forward Johan Franzen said, laughing. "I told him to beat it."

Bertuzzi said he's hopeful that he'll feel even better within a week.

Bertuzzi and forward Mikael Samuelsson (upper body) both are practicing, but coach Mike Babcock isn't counting on either until they're cleared. "Him and Sammy are in a spot where we don't really know when they're going to be available," Babcock said. "Some contact today. They seemed to get through it."

Babcock said both Bertuzzi and Samuelsson will go on the Phoenix-Colorado trip.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.04.2013

667767 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings stand pat at trade deadline: 'Didn't get it done'

By Helene St. James

Unwilling to pay the prices demanded, the Detroit Red Wings let the NHL's final sale of the 2013 season come and go.

"There were a couple of players we had interest in," general manager Ken Holland said. "Didn't get it done.

"We made offers. At the end of the day, maybe somebody likes somebody else's players better."

Players in whom the Wings had interest, such as defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, and by whom they were intrigued, such as Jaromir Jagr, went for way above what the Wings deemed reasonable -- Bouwmeester, especially. The St. Louis Blues gave a first-round pick to Calgary in return for Bouwmeester, and the Wings weren't relinquishing that for anybody. Not this year, not after using their 2012 first-rounder to acquire Kyle Quincey.

"We haven't had a top-10 pick since 1993," Holland said. "We traded eight or nine first-round picks from 1995 to 2003. Those players are in the NHL. They were picked by somebody, and those players are in the NHL. Since '05, for the most part, we've tried to be conservative. I think it's part of the reason why we've got some younger players on the roster, some younger players coming through the system."

Holland was only looking to add an impact skater, such as Bouwmeester or Jagr, who went from Dallas to Boston.

"We didn't need depth players," he said. "We've got lots of depth. We've got lots of kids we think can come up and play. We were looking for a top-four D-man; we were looking for a top-six forward. Ultimately, we didn't get it done."

Part of what influenced the Wings was the belief that no trade could be better than getting back even just some of their players currently injured: forwards Darren Helm, Todd Bertuzzi and Mikael Samuelsson, and Quincey.

"Hopefully, we get some of our injured players back," Holland said. "In the meantime, there's been real good opportunity for our kids. I think they've done a good job."

This is an unusual season for the Wings; post-Nicklas Lidstrom, they find themselves far more focused on rebuilding than reloading. Rebuilding comes from within -- with high draft picks and through the development of prospects. The Wings believe they have a lot of good players either just arriving in the pipeline or soon to do so, such as Danny DeKeyser, Joakim Andersson, Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar, Brian Lashoff and Petr Mrazek.

There's also a realistic assessment that this 2013 team isn't a Stanley Cup contender and wasn't going to become one via what's available now. Management is much more comfortable making a move at the draft, if it comes down to that.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.04.2013

667768 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings' Darren Helm cleared to push harder in rehab

By George Sipple

Detroit Red Wings forward Darren Helm has been given the OK to push harder in his rehab from a back injury that has sidelined him for all but one game this season.

But he will not accompany the team on its two-game trip to play the Phoenix Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche.

“Yeah, I talked to another doctor,” Helm said at Joe Louis Arena today. “He’s kind of confirmed what a few other doctors have said. There’s nothing really structurally wrong with it. I can kind of start pushing things and progress and try to push through that pain that I’m having.

“I’m not going to have any big problems with it. Obviously, if I go too hard too fast, things will get a little messy. If I keep a steady pace and be smart about it, I shouldn’t have any problems.”

Helm said not being able to play has been hard.

“There’s a lot of good things that are happening right now,” Helm said. “Just gotta be happy with that.”

Helm said he has been skating on his own for about a week. Today was the first time he was able to take shots with the goalies before the team practiced. Helm said he’ll continue to skate by himself this week.

Helm already had one setback early in the season.

“We don’t know if it was from pushing it too hard or travel or both,” Helm said. "We’re still going forward. That’s the most important thing.”

Helm is optimistic he could be back before the end of the regular season.

“Hoping to just get back when I get back,” he said. “Hopefully, when I do, there’s some games left where I can play.”

Notes: Forward Henrik Zetterberg (groin) said he expects to play Thursday at Phoenix. … Forward Damien Brunner didn’t practice today and is day-to-day. …Wings coach Mike Babcock said he’ll decide whether defenseman Danny DeKeyser will make his NHL debut against the Coyotes. Babcock said DeKeyser practiced today as if he’d be playing. Babcock also told defenseman Kyle Quincey (fractured cheekbone) to be ready to play against the Avalanche on Friday. ... Forward Todd Bertuzzi (leg, back) said he’s not yet ready to return and probably will need another week of practice. … Jimmy Howard will start in net against the Coyotes, Babcock said. ... Northern Michigan goalie Jared Coreau was signed to a three-year entry level contract. Coreau, 21, started all 38 games for Northern Michigan University (CCHA) this year and finished with a 2.70 goals against average, a .919 save percentage and a 15-19-4 record. … The Wings technically assigned DeKeyser, Joakim Andersson, Gustav Nyquist and Brian Lashoff to the Grand Rapids in order to make them eligible for the AHL playoffs, should the Griffins go further than the Wings. All four players will be with the Wings in Phoenix.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.04.2013

667769 Detroit Red Wings

Star defenseman Jacob Trouba leaves Michigan for Jets

Associated Press

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The Winnipeg Jets signed Michigan defenseman Jacob Trouba to a contract Tuesday.

The 19-year-old from Rochester played 37 games as a freshman for U-M this season. He had 12 goals, 17 assists and 88 penalty minutes.

He was selected to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s all-rookie team, determined by a vote of the conference’s coaches, and also was honored as the best offensive defenseman in the league.

Trouba has won three medals for Team USA during his career, most recently a gold medal at the 2013 world junior championships in Ufa, Russia. He also took home a gold medal in the 2011 world under-18 championships and a silver in the 2010 world under-17 hockey challenge.

He was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round, ninth overall, last June.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.04.2013

667770 Detroit Red Wings

Helene St. James: With no big-money deal, Red Wings GM Ken Holland banks on future

By Helene St. James

The Red Wings committed to their future rather than gamble on their present this week, the result of a realistic assessment of this season's team.

The Wings had interest in some of the bigger names moved before Wednesday's trade deadline, namely defenseman Jay Bouwmeester and forward Jaromir Jagr. Other teams anted up more than what the Wings were willing to throw on the table, so the Wings continue their march toward the playoffs as is.

"Would I have liked to have done a deal? Yeah, I would have liked to have done a deal," general manager Ken Holland said. "You're always looking for a top-six forward and a top-four d-man. Ultimately, we didn't get it done.

"You've got to look at your moment in time, and find out if the trade fits, do you have the assets, is it worth it? We're trying to compete. We're on the bubble."

The Wings are not an elite team, not a prime Stanley Cup contender, and weren't going to turn into one even with Bouwmeester or Jagr. Jarome Iginla sent that message last week, when he left Detroit off a list of acceptable destinations for being traded from Calgary.

The hope now for the Wings rests on getting back some of the injured guys: Mikael Samuelsson and Kyle Quincey are close, Todd Bertuzzi is on the horizon, Darren Helm may even resurface one of these weeks.

Criticizing the Wings for not pulling off a trade is to overlook their history: They freely handed out first-round picks for nearly a decade between 1995-2003, but that's when they had defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom in his prime, had a core of elite talent up front and no salary cap. Since the cap was instituted in 2005, the Wings have had to consider the future as well as the present -- especially this year after using their first-round pick last year to acquire Quincey.

"I think you have to look at what teams have got and the age of their best players, and the position they are in for the next five or six years," Holland said. "We're trying to compete, we're trying to rebuild.

"I can't look at the moment in time. I have to look at what we've got and where I think we can go over the next few years. The age of the roster. Who's going to be here for a while."

Their best players, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall, are in their early-to-mid-30s.

The next generation lies in the numerous talented 20-somethings the Wings either already are using or will integrate into the lineup: Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar, Joakim Andersson, Danny DeKeyser, Brian Lashoff and Petr Mrazek, as well as Riley Sheahan. Brendan Smith has shown growth this season, as has Jakub Kindl.

"I like the direction we've got going," coach Mike Babcock said. "We've got some kids that I think are really coming. We're trying to figure out which are the best kids to help us be successful."

The fact is, the first year after Lidstrom retired always was going to be brutal. Then came injuries so numerous that "we haven't even had a full game with everyone playing," Jimmy Howard said. "I think just getting some guys back healthy would be a great addition for us."

The Wings take satisfaction in continuing to hang onto a spot within the eight-team playoff picture despite not having had someone like Helm, for example, for more than one game. They take pride in having gone 3-1 on a recent swing through California and Arizona. And before last Sunday's disaster against Chicago, the Wings were eighth in the NHL in goals-against.

"I think our players are better than people give them credit for," Holland said. "We've got a lot of kids on defense, and a lot of injuries up front. Hopefully we'll get some of our injured players back, in the meantime, there's been real good opportunity for some of our kids, and I think they've done a good job.

"If we can get those guys in the lineup in two weeks, I couldn't do any better moves than getting those guys back in the lineup. And if they don't come back, it probably doesn't matter what moves you make. You need your players."

Other teams in the West made moves, most notably the Blues in acquiring Bouwmeester, and the Blue Jackets trading for Marian Gaborik, who didn't interest the Wings. Minnesota traded four building blocks for forward Jason Pominville.

Those teams did what the Wings used to do, back when those teams were acquiring top-10 picks because they weren't making the playoffs.

The Wings looked around this week, made some offers, but the mind-set didn't alter: Let this group, maybe with some fresh legs if some of the injured guys can return, see what they can do.

This never looked like the Wings' year to win the Cup, so, better to bank for a bright future.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.04.2013

667771 Detroit Red Wings

It's a quiet deadline day for Wings, but they're happy with their team

By Ted Kulfan

Detroit — There was nothing brewing on the trade front for the Red Wings as the 3 p.m. Wednesday deadline approached.

And that was just fine with the Red Wings and coach Mike Babcock.

The believe that with the group they have — and the fact that some injured players are close to returning — the Wings are in good position heading into the final quarter of the season.

"Absolutely, 100 percent," said Babcock, when asked if he'd be comfortable with his roster going forward. "I've never felt like we were going to do anything (trades), to be honest with you.

"I kind of like what we have going and the direction we're going. We think we have kids that are really coming and we're trying to figure out which are the best kids to help us be successful.

"We have a few more kids in the minors — in particular (center Riley) Sheahan — I'd like to take a look at as well, and we're just going to keep doing what we can as players and coaches."