Redden battles pain

Ottawa defenseman Wade Redden missed Game 2 against Tampa Bay after his mother, Pat, lost a lengthy battle with cancer. Redden returned for Game 3 – an 8-4 Ottawa victory – and played hero with a three-point night. “When you just think about hockey and get out there, it’s a lot easier to focus on the game,” he said. Redden planned to return home to Lloydminster, Sask,. after Game 4 for the funeral April 28. NORTHEAST DIVISION MONTREAL The Habs were without captain Saku Koivu for an undetermined period after he was hit with a stick near his left eye during a Game 3 loss to Carolina. No one with the team was able to speculate on the extent of the injury. More tests were scheduled after swelling subsided. The stick of…

2006 Playoffs

Rockets grounded; Giant rivalry iced

The much-anticipated Battle of B.C. will have to wait for at least another year. The Kelowna Rockets were hoping to face their arch-rival Vancouver Giants in the Western Conference final, but the Everett Silvertips had other notions. Everett needed six games to oust Kelowna. “The expectations were so high for us and Vancouver being able to get after each other,’’ said Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton. “That’s as good a rivalry as I’ve seen for a while. It would have been so good for the province. With the Vancouver Canucks out (of the NHL playoffs), it would have been so good for our league. We would have had total exposure throughout the whole province.” The Rockets won WHL titles in 2003 and ’05, claiming the ’04 Memorial Cup as host team. “I’ve been used to…

Allain back to bench in sunny situation

Rick Allain was living in St. Augustine., Fla., when the Jacksonville Barracudas began looking for a coach to succeed Ron Duguay. The 36-year-old former Boston Bruins draft pick was the logical choice. Allain spent 1997-98 as an assistant for the Memorial Cup champion Storm in his hometown of Guelph, before becoming Peterborough’s coach for six seasons. “After meeting with the leadership, it’s a pretty solid organization,” Allain said. “It gives me a chance to renew my passion for coaching without having to do a major relocation.” Owner Steve Croskrey reshuffled the front office after going 15-39-2 and missing the playoffs. Gilles Richard, who was the team’s business manager the past two years, takes over as GM. Duguay remains as a special advisor.…