By James A. Lyons
By arming the rebels, we're aiding al Qaeda
They walked into a Manhattan hotel, knowing they were running out of time to save their season.

John Carlson, as recently as Tuesday, insisted he didn't want to think about a potential NHL lockout. He didn't have any plans beyond this weekend, when the collective bargaining agreement expires and owners can shut the doors to team facilities.
As hockey prepared for its first work stoppage since the 2004-05 season was wiped out, the NHL Players Association planned to challenge a lockout before the labor board in Quebec.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman expects negotiations with the players' association on a new collective bargaining agreement to begin in a couple of weeks.
Former NHL player Wade Belak hanged himself, according to a person familiar with the case.

The New Jersey Devils did more than sign Ilya Kovalchuk to a $100 million contract.

The NHL has signed off on Ilya Kovalchuk's latest contract with the New Jersey Devils.
The NHL has signed off on Ilya Kovalchuk's latest contract with the New Jersey Devils.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly says the New Jersey Devils have submitted a new contract to the league for Russian star Ilya Kovalchuk.

Ilya Kovalchuk is back on the free-agent market, and talking already. An arbitrator ruled Monday that the NHL acted correctly in voiding Kovalchuk's landmark $102 million contract with the Devils.