Roberts won’t suit up for Game 3

Gary Roberts is ready to return to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup, but the veteran winger will not suit up for Game 3 at Madison Square Garden tonight.

Roberts has missed the last four playoff games with a groin injury. But with the Penguins winning all four of those games, head coach Michel Therrien is reluctant to tinker with a lineup that is clearly firing on all cylanders.

Smyth out for Game 3, Forsberg returns

DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche expect to have centre Peter Forsberg and defenceman Scott Hannan back for Game 3 against the Detroit Red Wings, but forward Ryan Smyth is out with a foot injury.

Carbonneau: Timonen deserved left hook

MONTREAL — Guy Carbonneau watched forward Tom Kostopoulos deck Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Kimmo Timonen with a left hook and wondered what all the fuss was about.

The Montreal Canadiens coach, after taking a second look at the incident on video, called it one more hit in a tough playoff game and a normal reaction to taunting from the Flyers.

“I think he deserved it,” Carbonneau said. “That’s why they didn’t call any (major) penalties on it.”

Ryder remains healthy scratch for Habs

PHILADELPHIA — It has been a challenging year for Montreal Canadiens forward Michael Ryder.

The 28-year-old from Bonavista, N.L., struggled with just 14 goals in the regular season and was a healthy scratch for a fifth straight playoff game Monday.

Rangers-Pens series heats up quickly

PITTSBURGH — Only one game into the NHL’s Eastern Conference semifinal between the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins and already the heat is rising.

Penguins head coach Michel Therrien came out swinging after Saturday’s practice, saying he was tired of hearing from the Rangers camp what he believed were insinuations that Sidney Crosby was diving to draw penalties.

Canada adds Heatley, Spezza for worlds

QUEBEC — Ken Hitchcock doesn’t have to think back very far to remember a time when things weren’t this good.

He was an assistant coach on the Canadian team at the 2002 IIHF World Hockey Championship when more than 60 players declined an invitation to represent their country. GM Lanny McDonald ended up having to turn to European-based players just to field a team at the event in Sweden.

Wings light up Avs, Theodore again

DETROIT — The Mule-led Detroit Red Wings are kicking the Colorado Avalanche when they’re down.

Johan Franzen scored three times to lift Detroit to a 5-1 victory Saturday over the banged-up Avs, giving the NHL’s top-seeded team a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinal.

Doan: Second coming of Captain Canada

QUEBEC — There was no one more qualified to be the Canadian captain at this year’s IIHF World Hockey Championship than Shane Doan.

He proved last year that he can handle intense off-ice pressure while continuing to be a leader on it and will have to again show that resolve over the coming weeks with Canada hosting this event for the first time ever.

Habs grinders gain coach’s confidence

MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens are known for their speed and skill, but for Guy Carbonneau it’s his grinders who have been at their best in the playoffs.

Tom Kostopoulos was the overtime hero in Game 1 after his linemates Bryan Smolinski and Steve Begin worked hard on the forecheck, and the goal was an example of what the Canadiens supposed checking line has been offering the coach on a regular basis.

Jagr expects hostile crowd in Pittsburgh

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Jaromir Jagr sort of knows what to expect from Steel City fans who used to cheer his every move when he starred with Mario Lemieux and the high-flying Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1990s.