Surgery puts Flyers Gagne on shelf for 6-8 weeks

Gagne, who missed the past two games, is scheduled for surgery today.

"It's hard to take, but it's still early in the season," Gagne said. "I'll miss close to two months and have time to get back in shape and feel 100 per cent when I'm skating. That's something I wasn't able to do right now."

The 29-year-old Gagne, who has one goal and four assists, has two small hernias in his right groin, the same area that required hernia surgery before the 2007-08 season. He also has had multiple hip operations due to problems linked to the groin.

"He's had repairs in both of those areas before, so the doctor wants to go through those same incisions -- they're just small incisions -- and reinforce and strengthen the area," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. "He will look at the small hernias that we saw in the ultrasound and see if they really are there."

Injured Alex signs with

superstar marketing firm

ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Washington Capitals say Alex Ovechkin is "week-to-week" with an upper-body injury.

The Capitals said Monday that the two-time league MVP suffered an "upper-body strain" in Sunday's overtime loss to Columbus.

Ovechkin had an MRI and will travel with the team while receiving treatment.

Ovechkin has missed only four games -- and just two because of injury -- since coming to the NHL in 2005.

Meanwhile, Ovechkin signed with IMG on Monday, agreeing to a deal that gives the powerful sports marketing company control of his management, sponsorship and licensing opportunities.

Ovechkin is the only hockey player represented by IMG and the company thought he was a natural fit.

Ovechkin's US$124-million, 13-year contract with the Capitals was negotiated primarily by his mother Tatiana. He'll be getting more help with his future sponsorship opportunities with IMG. Among the other athletes represented by IMG are Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

When it rains it Hurricanes

JUST when the Carolina Hurricanes thought things couldn't get worse, they learned Monday that forward Eric Staal will be on the shelf.

The veteran centre suffered an upper-body injury in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks.

While the Canes haven't given an official timetable, it's expected that Staal will miss several games, as the Hurricanes continue to reel from nine straight losses.

Sutter lashes Flames

CALGARY -- It was no secret that the Calgary Flames were in Brent Sutter's doghouse Monday.

During an intense 75-minute practice, the Flames head coach told his players that their effort in back-to-back losses to the Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings at home last week wasn't good enough.

"It's unacceptable," Sutter said. "I'm not going to accept average players, because when you have average players, you have an average hockey team and we're a better group than that."

After playing eight of their first 12 games in the friendly confines of the Pengrowth Saddledome, the Flames (7-4-1) will head out on the road for five of their next six contests. On Wednesday, they'll face off against the Stars in Dallas before heading to St. Louis to play the Blues the next night.

-- From the news services

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 3, 2009 C4