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NHL

Pens deal pricey All-Star

NEW YORK -- The Rangers added another high-priced All-Star, acquiring Alexei Kovalev from the cash-strapped Penguins in an eight-player trade Monday.

The Penguins sent Kovalev, their second-leading scorer with 27 goals and 37 assists, forward Dan LaCouture and defensemen Janne Laukkanen and Mike Wilson to the Rangers for forwards Rico Fata and Mikael Samuelsson, defensemen Richard Lintner and Joel Bouchard and cash.

"I don't think it's a salary dump at all. I think it's a trade," Rangers general manager Glen Sather said. "This is a trade I don't think many teams would turn down."

Dollars mattered most to Pittsburgh. Kovalev rejected an estimated $30-million offer because he wants a deal for about $8-million a year. He is earning $4.6-million this year.

"Our goal is to get to the playoffs," Penguins GM Craig Patrick said. "We believe this is a deal that will help us make the playoffs."

The Penguins also sent defenseman Andrew Ference to the Flames for a conditional draft pick.

Hull scores 700th in Wings' victory

DETROIT -- Brett Hull became the sixth player to score 700 regular-season goals when he beat San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov with a wrist shot during Detroit's 5-4 victory.

Only Wayne Gretzky scored 700 faster than Hull. Hull hit 700 in his 1,157th game. Gretzky, who finished with 894, scored 700 in 886 games. Gordie Howe (801), Marcel Dionne (731), Phil Esposito (717) and Mike Gartner (708) are the only other players to reach 700.

The milestone goal was a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle after a cross-ice pass from Pavel Datsyuk. It gave the Red Wings a 3-2 lead.

"It's a great feeling," Hull said. "And I'm proud to do it in this jersey. To have it here in front of Hockeytown was great."

WILD 1, FLYERS 0: Manny Fernandez, in his first start since missing 13 games with an injured right knee, made 30 saves for visiting Minnesota.

CANUCKS 2, BLACKHAWKS 1: Markus Naslund scored his league-leading 37th goal early in the third and Dan Cloutier made 23 saves as host Vancouver extended its unbeaten streak to seven (4-0-3).

Ottawa sale moves forward

OTTAWA -- Rod Bryden's bid to buy back the bankrupt Senators was accepted by the team's creditors but still must be approved by the court.

Bryden's offer is believed to be worth more than $130-million, and he said he is optimistic the court will agree to the deal. He also said the sale will make the team debt free.

CANADIENS: Defenseman Patrice Brisebois is out indefinitely for more tests on an irregular heartbeat.

KINGS: Defenseman Chris McAlpine had surgery to repair a hernia and is expected to miss eight weeks.

SABRES: Defenseman Henrik Tallinder will be out indefinitely with a sprained right ankle. He was hit along the boards Saturday.

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