Luongo leads Team Canada into the biggest game

The perfect finish by the Slovaks on Friday may have taken the Canadians by surprise, but Roberto Luongo came up with the save of his life when he got his catching glove on Pavol Demitra's shot in the waning moments.

The save preserved a 3-2 victory for Canada, setting up a huge continental matchup for the gold medal on Sunday against Team USA. Luongo, who gave up goals to Lubomir Visnovsky and Michal Handzus in the final period to make it interesting, will get to start in the biggest game of his life with the top prize .

McCreary and O’Halloran will work for gold-medal game

NHL referees Bill McCreary and Dan O’Halloran have been assigned to work Sunday’s Olympic gold-medal game between Canada and the United States. It will be the second Canada-USA gold-medal game for McCreary, who worked the 2002 title game in Salt Lake City. McCreary also worked the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan. He is retiring from the NHL after this season.

NHL linesman Jean Morin, also of Canada, will work the game with Finland’s Stefan Fonselius. Two other NHL referees, Paul Devorski and Brad Watson, will work Saturday night’s bronze-medal game between Finland and Slovakia. The linesmen will be Petr Blumel of the Czech Republic and Yuri Oskirko of Russia.

Gormley will appear on NHL Live!

It is reported that top prospect Brandon Gormley will be among the guests on NHL Live! on Tuesday, scheduled 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 Rob Simpson and Bill Clement are NBC's Pierre McGuire and Kevin Allen of USA Today.

Gormley is in his second season with the Moncton Wildcats in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In 49 games, he has 8 goals, 29 assists and 46 penalty minutes in 49 games. The Prince Edward Island native is eligible for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, which will be held this June in Los Angeles.

Blues and Penguins trade their defensemen

In a player trade the Penguins acquired Steve Wagner from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Nate Guenin. Both of them are currently in the American Hockey League. Wagner has not made an appearance with St. Louis this season. In 46 games with the Peoria Rivermen, he has 3 goals and 15 points. In 46 NHL games with the Blues between 2007-2009, he has 4 goals and 12 points.

Guenin has 3 goals and 5 points in 41 games with the Scranton Penguins. He was recalled by Pittsburgh in Nov. and appeared in two games. Guenin has made 14 NHL appearances with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh from 2006 to 2010, recording 2 assists. He was the third Pittsburgh native to play in the pittsburgh penguins jersey in the last three seasons.

Canadiens acquire Dominic Moore from Panthers

The Florida Panthers traded forward Dominic Moore to the Montreal Canadiens for a second-round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Moore has 8 goals and 9 assists for 17 points in 48 games for Florida. He signed with the Panthers as a free agent just before the start of the season.

The Canadiens will be Moore's seventh NHL team, which marks the third year in a row. He was claimed off waivers from Wild by Maple Leafs in 2007-08, and was traded from Toronto to Buffalo at last season's trade deadline. Moore was originally drafted by the New York Rangers in the third round in 2000. Hope he can play well in the canadiens jersey.

Ducks sign Hiller to a four-year deal

The Ducks announced that they have signed goaltender Jonas Hiller to a four-year contract extension through the 2013-14 NHL season. Hiller has posted a 54-37-5 record with a 2.46 goals-against average in 108 career NHL appearances in his anaheim ducks jersey. Since he entered the NHL in 2007, Hiller ranks third among all NHL goaltenders. He has also made 13 career playoff appearances for Anaheim.

"Jonas has proved himself as a starting NHL goaltender," said Executive Vice President and General Manager Bob Murray. "We expect him to only get better and are pleased he’s committed to us for four more seasons." Currently in his third NHL season, he has compiled a 21-15-1 record with a 2.75 GAA in 39 appearances this year. He currently is tied with Roberto Luongo for the league lead in January victories. Next month, Hiller will represent Switzerland at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Giants add pair of relievers

The Giants announced that Right-hander Byung-Hyun Kim and left-hander Horacio Ramirez have signed Minor League deal. Kim owns a 54-60 record, a 4.42 ERA and 86 saves in nine Major League seasons with Arizona, Boston, Colorado and Florida. He has not pitched in the Majors since 2007. Kim retired from baseball after Pittsburgh released him in 2008 during Spring Training. He was a National League All-Star in 2002, when he compiled an 8-3 record with a 2.04 ERA and 36 saves for Arizona.

Ramirez is 39-35 in seven big league seasons with Atlanta, Seattle, Kansas City and the Chicago White Sox. He was at his best as a rookie with Atlanta in 2003, when he finished 12-4 with a 4.00 ERA in 29 starts. Hope both of them can play well in the giants jerseys.

Cammalleri is sidelined for 6 to 8 weeks

According to published reports, Cammalleri suffered an injury in his right knee in a loss to the Senators on Saturday. The Olympic break means the Canadiens will be without their star center for at least 14 games, including the next seven contests prior to the break. Cammalleri was injured on a check by Senators defenseman Anton Volchenkov midway at the third period. He was seen leaving Scotiabank Place and remained stiff as he walked.

"I'm hoping it's not too bad," Cammalleri told the Montreal Gazette after the game. In addition to Cammalleri, who leads the team with 26 goals and a plus-10 rating in his canadiens jersey, forward Andrei Kostitsyn, who suffered a knee injury on Dec. 30, can not come back until after the Olympic game.

Tracy agrees to join in Cubs

The Cubs agreed to a Minor League deal with veteran corner infielder Chad Tracy, who received an invitation to Spring Training camp, and will earn $900,000 if he makes the Major League roster, plus up to an additional $525,000 if he reaches 450 plate appearances. He will also earn $100,000 if he wins the Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Tracy batted .237 with eight home runs and 39 RBIs in 98 games with the D-backs last season, with 66 appearances at first base and eight at third base. The veteran has battled injuries the past three seasons, including a right oblique strain last year, and hasn't played in more than 100 games since 2006. His best season came in 2005, when he batted .308 with 27 home runs, 73 runs scored and 72 RBIs.

Tracy is expected to compete with Micah Hoffpauir as the club's left-handed bat off the bench and can serve as both a backup first baseman and third baseman. The Mets, Orioles and Rockies were also reportedly after Tracy. Hope he can play well in his new cubs jersey.

Nationals add reliever Walker

According to two baseball sources, right-hander Tyler Walker agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Nationals. The club also signed outfielder Chris Duncan and left-hander Chuck James to Minor League deals with an invitation to Spring Training. Walker is expected to be part of the new relief corps which includes Brian Bruney, Matt Capps and Eddie Guardado. He is a seven-year veteran who has played with the Mets, Giants and Rays.

Duncan is coming off one of his poorest seasons in the big leagues, hitting .227 with five home runs and 32 RBIs all in the cardinals jersey. On July 22, St. Louis traded Duncan to the Red Sox for infielder Julio Lugo, but Duncan never saw Major League action with Boston.

As for James, he missed the entire 2009 season due to left shoulder surgery. He was signed by the Nationals on the recommendation of assistant general manager Roy Clark, who was impressed by James when they were with the Braves. James' best season was in 2006.

Nationals and Dunn start extension talk

The Nationals and first baseman Adam Dunn talked about a contract extension on Friday, but Dunn said the talks are at stage zero at this point. "It's something I want to do and it's something, hopefully, they are interested in doing," Dunn said. "We haven't had any talks. It's good to know that we are on the same page as far as me wanting to be here and them wanting me here."

Dunn, who attended the team's second annual Hot Stove Luncheon, said he is pleased that both sides are on the same page. Dunn and Rizzo did not talk about years or dollars. Rizzo just wanted Dunn to know that the team would like to have him this year.Dunn is coming off one better season this career, hitting a career high .267 with 38 home runs and 105 RBIs.

Defenseman Parent is out for six weeks

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ryan Parent will undergo back surgery and miss almost six weeks, the team announced last Saturday. "After running the gamut with Ryan in terms of different things we have tried to relieve the discomfort he was having, we felt this was the way to go for Ryan's overall health," Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said in a statement.

Parent has missed the last 14 games due to the back injury. So far this season, he has registered two assists and 14 penalty minutes in 28 games in his flyers jersey.

Pirates and Donnelly reach a deal

A Major League source confirmed that the Pirates agreed to term on a one-year Major League contract with right-handed reliever Brendan Donnelly on Saturday. ESPN.com reported that the Major League deal gives Donnelly a base salary of $1.5 million. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first reported the signing. They signed D.J. Carrasco to a Minor League deal and are closing on adding Octavio Dotel.

After posting a 1.75 ERA in 24 games with the Astros' Triple-A affiliate at the start of the 2009 season, Donnelly signed as a free agent with the Marlins in July. Over his eight-year career, the right-hander is 29-9 with a 3.02 ERA. Hope he can play well in the pirates jersey.

Red Sox acquire Shouse

According to multiple media, the Red Sox recently signed left-handed reliever Brian Shouse to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training. The club is expected to send out a complete list of Minor League signings by Friday.

Shouse posted a 4.50 ERA in 45 games for the Rays this past season. For his 10-year career, the 41-year-old, who was a member of the Red Sox in 1998, owns a lifetime 3.72 ERA with a 1.97 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Hope he can play well in the red sox jersey.

Rangers ink with Jorge Alfaro

According to industry sources, the Rangers have signed Jorge Alfaro, a highly regarded 16-year-old catcher from Colombia. He is a right-handed hitter known for his raw power and strong arm. He is currently batting .250 with two RBIs in six games for Los Montaneros Del Sur in the Dominican Prospect League. The Phillies, Mariners, Indians, Giants and Yankees also expressed interest in this outfielder.

The Rangers, under the guidance of A.J. Preller, have been among the most aggressive teams in Latin America over the past few years, concentrating much efforts on premium players. Among the organization's top prospects are Tomas Tellis, an 18-year-old catcher from Venezuela who hit .322 in the Arizona Rookie League last summer and catcher Leonel De Los Santos, who hit .272 in 65 games at Class A Hickory last season. Hope Alfaro will put on the rangers jersey and play for the club.

Capitals recall defenseman John Carlson

Vice president and general manager George McPhee announced that The Washington Capitals have recalled defenseman John Carlson from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. Carlson ranks tied for 11th among AHL defensemen with 25 points in 32 games. He is tied for 10th in the league with a +17 rating.

January is a busy month for Carlson. He played in two games for the Capitals last week, represented the Bears in Portland on Tuesday in the AHL All-Star Game and led the U.S. National Junior Team to a gold medal in the World Junior Championship this month, scoring two goals in the gold-medal game. Carlson has played five games for the Capitals this season, averaging 14:34 of ice time with a +4 rating. The Capitals selected Carlson in the first round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft with the 27th overall selection. Hope he can play well in the capitals jersey.

Cujo announces his retirement

According to reports, goaltender Curtis Joseph announced his retirement from the NHL at a press conference at Toronto's Air Canada Centre last week. Joseph hasn't played this season after appearing in 21 games with the Maple Leafs in toronto maple leafs jersey last season. He is fourth on the wins list and was a three-time nominee for the Vezina Trophy, finishing second in the voting in 1999 and 2000.

He played for six NHL teams during his 19-year career with different teams. He had seven seasons of at least 30 victories. He took the Leafs to two Eastern Conference Finals in four seasons, losing to the Buffalo Sabres in five games and falling to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games in 2002. Joseph was a member of Canada's 2002 gold-medal team at the Salt Lake City Olympics.

Vermette and Erat will join in NHL Live!

It is said that Columbus Blue Jackets center Antoine Vermette, who scored his 100th NHL goal last week, will be among the guests on NHL Live! on NHL Network and NHL.com and broadcast on XM Radio.

Also slated to appear with hosts Rob Simpson and Billy Jaffe are Nashville Predators forward Martin Erat, NHL Radio insider Jay Feaster and NHL.com's Shawn Roarke, who will offer a look at the upcoming Olympic hockey competition in Vancouver.

Scott Niedermayer will appear on NHL Live!

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer will be among the guests on NHL Live! on NHL Network and NHL.com and broadcast on XM Radio.

Niedermayer is in the midst of his 17th NHL season. He has 4 goals and 22 assists in 46 games with the Ducks this season and has won four Stanley Cup championships between Anaheim Ducks and New Jersey Devils. Also slated to appear with hosts Rob Simpson and Stan Fischler are top amateur prospects Taylor Hall and Cam Fowler, as well as USA Today's Kevin Allen and Bob Harwood of Versus.

Negron will miss 50 games after positive substance test

The Commissioner's Office announced last weekend that Miguel Negron, a Minor League outfielder in the White Sox, was one of three players to receive 50-game suspensions after tested positive for substances in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Negron has been suspended for a second positive test for a drug of abuse. The left-handed hitter batted .279 with four home runs, 38 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 103 games for Triple-A Charlotte during the 2009 season. He played for Double-A Birmingham as part of the White Sox organization in white sox jersey in 2008.

Pitcher Rony Bautista of the New York Yankees organization was suspended after testing positive for a metabolite of Boldenone. Pitcher Roberto Toribio of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization tested positive for metabolites of Stanozolol.

Braves come to terms with Hinske

After introducing Troy Glaus as his new first baseman last week, Braves general manager Frank Wren indicated that he was close to a deal that would essentially end his offseason roster reconstruction. It seems that the process has been completed with the signing of Eric Hinske, who is expected to primarily be used off the bench. A Major League source confirmed that Hinske has agreed to term on a one-year contract with the Braves.

Hinske combined to hit .242 with eight homers in 190 at-bats with the Pirates and Yankees this past season. The veteran has been a member of each of the past three American League teams that competed in the World Series. While hitting .247 with 20 homers for the Rays in 2008, Hinske made 84 of his 115 starts as an outfielder. He hit .300 with three doubles and seven walks in 38 appearances in 2009. Hope he can still play well in the braves jersey.

Brian Wolfe signs with Ham Fighters in Japan

According to an article in the Kyodo News, former Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Brian Wolfe has signed with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan. Wolfe becomes the third U.S. Major League pitcher to sign in Japan this offseason and the second player in the last 24 hours.

In 2009 Wolfe posted an 8.22 ERA in 14 games with the Jays and had a 5.05 ERA in 34 games at Triple-A Las Vegas. He also pitched in the big leagues with Toronto in 2007 and 2008 in the blue jays jersey, giving him a lifetime Major League ERA in 72 games.

Hurricanes' Eric Staal will be absent for a period

President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes Jim Rutherford announced that the club has agreed on forward Eric Staal (in hurricanes jersey) a leave of absence because of the death of his wife Tanya’s sister, Tamara Stephenson.

Stephenson, who was only 26, passed away in Thunder Bay on Tuesday after a long fight with cancer. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Tanya and Eric during this difficult time for their family," said Jim Rutherford.

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 jerseys.

Tigers' Laird brothers were arrested

According to Phoenix police, Tigers catcher Gerald Laird and his younger brother, Brandon were arrested on suspicion of assault and disorderly conduct last Wednesday in Phoenix. The two ballplayers, plus another man, were arrested after a Phoenix Suns game at U.S. Airways Arena. Gerald Laird was cited for assault, while Brandon was cited for disorderly conduct. Also arrested was Gregory Scott Collins on suspicion of assault after the Suns beat the Boston Celtics.

"While security guards were trying to arrest the suspect for disorderly conduct, the Laird brothers interfered and assaulted the security guards," Phoenix police Sgt. Andy Hill said. Brandon Laird is an infield prospect with the Yankees. He played for the Surprise Rafters in the Arizona Fall League. It seems that Gerald Laird will take off his tigers jersey for a while because of this incident.

Howe gave us a surprise in Olympic torch relay

It is said that the Olympic torch relay through southwestern Ontario had a surprise runner -- Gordie Howe. Hundreds of revelers cheered on the torch in Amherstburg, where cannons were fired when it arrived at historic Fort Malden. The crowd lining in LaSalle went wild when Howe arrived with the torch.

Howe, who was born in Floral, played 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, leading them to four Stanley Cup victories. He retired at age 52 after playing the 1979-80 season with the Hartford Whalers. Howe is one of 12,000 Canadians who will help carry the flame to Vancouver, where the 2010 Games will be held in February.