Habs assistant coach tears into one-goal Gomez

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In this photo made with a fisheye lens, Pittsburgh Penguins' Eric Tangradi (25) collides with Montreal Canadiens' Scott Gomez (11) in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Friday, Jan. 20, 2012.

BROSSARD, Que. -- A shouting match erupted at the Montreal Canadiens practice Tuesday, with an angry assistant coach tearing a strip off the team's highest paid player.

An argument between forward Scott Gomez and assistant coach Randy Ladouceur was so long and intense that some media observers thought it might turn into a fistfight.

With emotions running high in the stretch run of a difficult season, the assistant coach was apparently upset at what he considered a lack of intensity during a drill, and began shouting at Gomez.

The underperforming centre -- who is among the league's highest-paid players at $7.5 million but has only one goal this year -- responded.

Gomez downplayed the incident at practice; he said he simply messed up an exercise and the coach let him have it. He said things like that happen every day.

"I screwed up on the drill and he (Ladouceur) let me know about it... I'm sure everyone has had their boss yell at them, it's just that mine is in front of a bunch of cameras and that's the way it is," Gomez told a scrum following practice.

"It's not the first time, it's not the last time. It's part of hockey, it happens all the time and right now it just shows you how crucial it is right now."

Mmmm, donuts

VANCOUVER -- Chris Higgins is happy to hear the Vancouver Canucks now have an official team donut.

"I might have to put one or two down," he said Tuesday after his first full practice since he was sidelined for six games while battling the after-effects of foot and hand infections.

A healthier -- and heavier -- Higgins will return to the Vancouver lineup today against the Colorado Avalanche. But he is still looking to put on a few more pounds after losing weight while recovering.

The 28-year-old was sidelined after he suffered an adverse reaction to antibiotics that created flu-like symptoms.

"I think the most (lost) was 11, 12 pounds," said Higgins. "I've only got a couple more to go. A couple more desserts and it should be fine."

The Canucks announced a new partnership with Tim Hortons whereby a long john cream-filled donut with the team's logo will available at more than 150 of the chain's shops within a 100-kilometre radius of Rogers Arena on game days.

Bruins extend Boychuk

BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins have signed defenceman Johnny Boychuk to a three-year contract extension worth US$10.1 million.

"Johnny really wanted to stay here. I think that's the overriding theme," general manager Peter Chiarelli said before Tuesday night's game against the New York Rangers.

"He has obviously been a good performer for us. He's a Bruin type of player -- physical, and yet he can score the shot, and he's a punishing player. He chose not to test the market, which was nice for us, and we have him under contract for three more years."

Boychuk, 28, has three goals and seven assists in 52 games this season and is second among Bruins defencemen with a plus-23 rating. He will earn US$3.1 million, $3.4 million and $3.6 million over the next three years; he also gets a limited no-trade clause.

Ruff back behind bench

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff is back behind the bench for the first time in a week since breaking three ribs during a collision with a player in practice.

Saying he intended to wear a flak jacket to protect his sore ribs, Ruff took his familiar place behind the bench for Buffalo's home game against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. Ruff had spent the team's three previous games watching from the press box and consulting with his assistants on the bench via a headset.

Ruff says he expects to require help from his assistants in delivering his message on the bench because the injury prevents him from raising his voice.

-- From the news services

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 15, 2012 C2