The developer and owner of Brooklyn's new Barclays Center believes his facility can hold hockey for more than just a passing game or two. Bruce Ratner, who will welcome the NBA's Nets to Brooklyn next season, is hopeful of the arena's potential NHL prospects as well, perhaps even playing host to the Islanders, who are looking for a new home. "(Barclays Center) was made for hockey and basketball," Ratner told The Associated Press. "It could easily support a hockey team."

Jose Theodore is expected to be the Panthers' starting goalie against New Jersey in Game 7 of their first-round series Thursday night, according to an ESPN.com report. Coach Kevin Dineen made the announcement after Florida's morning skate, saying Theodore "deserves the start if he can go."

Capitals forward Joel Ward, one of the NHL's few black players, was the target of racial slurs on his Twitter page after his overtime goal eliminated the Bruins from the playoffs. But Ward told USA Today that he's never experienced racist remarks in his four seasons in the NHL, and that he wasn't planning to let a few hateful posts ruin what he called the biggest goal of his career. Ward, who was not aware of the racial slurs until teammate Jeff Halpern alerted him to their presence, told USA Today the entries were "shocking to see, but it didn't ruin my day."

Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson isn't sure what set off his tirade during Ottawa's Game 6 loss to the Rangers. Alfredsson said Tuesday he was embarrassed by his conduct and thinks it may have hurt his team, according to an ESPN.com report.

Less than a week after saying "it doesn't matter" if he's on the bench for long stretches, Alex Ovechkin acknowledged Tuesday that "of course, sometimes I get angry I didn't play." The Capitals' captain also said that "if it's good for the team, you have to eat it." Ovechkin played 15½ minutes in Game 5 of Washington's first-round series against the Bruins, a 4-3 Capitals win. The teams are tied at three games apiece heading into Wednesday's Game 7 at Boston. Capitals coach Dale Hunter said circumstances dictate Ovechkin's minutes.

Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist unloaded on the officiating in an uncharacteristic rant that left him seething following his team's win over the Senators on Monday night. Trailing 3-1 late in the third, the Senators pulled within a goal with 38.4 seconds remaining after a review upheld the official's on-ice call of a good goal following a scramble in front. Lundqvist felt Chris Neil interfered with him on the play and attempted to kick the puck past the goal line. Lundqvist called the ruling an "absolute joke."

The Panthers will no longer sell plastic toy rats at their home arena, according to an ESPN.com report on Monday. Fans throwing the rats onto the ice after goals and during play had been a safety concern. The Panthers have encouraged people to throw them only after home victories, even threatening ejections if anyone is caught doing so during play.

With Game 6 looming between the Blackhawks and Coyotes on Monday, the Hawks had an unexpected delay in returning from Game 5 in Phoenix on Sunday. "Not much you can do about it," Jonathan Toews said Sunday evening after arriving at O'Hare airport. "We're not going to complain about that stuff. It's not the end of the world. We'll be in our beds tonight and in our own building and in front of our own fans tomorrow. That's the most important thing."

The Red Wings have slipped from being regarded as an elite team, to getting knocked out of the playoffs in the first round after consecutive second-round exits. Coach Mike Babcock believes a splash-making summer could restore the franchise's glory. "We have tons of money and if we can use our cap space to get high-end free agents, we have a shot to get right back on top," Babcock said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Sunday.

The NHL has not scheduled a hearing for Senators winger Chris Neil, and sources said Sunday that Neil will avoid discipline for his hit Saturday that left the Rangers' Brian Boyle with a concussion. A day after he called Neil's check "a dangerous, dangerous cheap hit," Rangers coach John Tortorella would not comment Sunday on the fact that the NHL has not scheduled a hearing.