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Latest NHL news from ESPN.com

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• Burnside: Team-by-team grades at the quarter mark

  Most teams hit the quarter mark in the next week. Here's a breakdown of where teams stand as they make the first turn in what has been a wildly exciting and unpredictable start to the 2008-09 regular season.

  
  

• Ducks' Beauchemin sidelined for six months

  Anaheim Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin underwent surgery Thursday to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

  
  

• Blues D Johnson has surgery on knee ligament

  St. Louis Blues defenseman Erik Johnson, out for the season after injuring his knee during a preseason team golf outing in September, had surgery to repair a damaged ligament.

  
  

• Senators' Fisher, Neil sidelined by knee injuries

  Forwards Mike Fisher and Chris Neil each will be out of the slumping Ottawa Senators lineup for several weeks because of injuries.

  
  

• Avs sign All-Star Stastny to five-year extension

  The Avalanche signed 22-year-old center Paul Stastny to a five-year contract extension through the 2013-2014 season.

  
  

• Blues center McDonald to miss at least 8 weeks

  St. Louis center Andy McDonald will miss a minimum of eight weeks after breaking his left leg during a 3-2 shootout loss to the Habs on Sunday.
  
  

  
  

• Pens acquire Boucher, send Sydor back to Stars

  Darryl Sydor returned to the Dallas Stars on Sunday in a trade of veteran defensemen that sent Philippe Boucher to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

  
  

• Lightning fire Melrose as coach after 16 games

  The Tampa Bay Lightning have fired Barry Melrose after just 16 games in his return behind the bench, and associate coach Rick Tocchet will take over as interim head coach.

  
  

• Ducks clear way for teams to talk to ex-GM Burke

  The Anaheim Ducks filed paperwork with the NHL on Friday that freed all other NHL teams to speak with Brian Burke, sources told ESPN.com.

  
  

• Russian report mum on cause of prospect's death

  Initial findings from a Russian police investigation indicated the quality of medical treatment did not cause the death of New York Rangers prospect and Continental Hockey League player Alexei Cherepanov.

  
  

• Islanders' Pock suspended five games for elbow

  New York Islanders defenseman Thomas Pock was suspended for five games without pay Friday for elbowing Ottawa forward Ryan Shannon the previous night.

  
  

• Canucks' Bieksa out two weeks with broken foot

  Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa is expected to miss two weeks with a broken foot.

  
  

• Wild activate RW Nolan, send C Kolanos to AHL

  The Wild activated right winger Owen Nolan from injured reserve.

  
  

• Not just yet: Blues return D Pietrangelo to juniors

  The St. Louis Blues returned promising rookie defenseman Alex Pietrangelo to his junior team.

  
  

• Tests find 5 of 49 KHL players have heart defects

  Heart defects have been found in five players in the Russian ice hockey league since the death of rising star Alexei Cherepanov, an official said Wednesday.

  
  

• Savard rejoining Blackhawks as team ambassador

  Former coach Denis Savard is back with the Chicago Blackhawks.