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Hockey is like religion in Canada, so the most popular celebrity you can bring to Canadian troops in Afghanistan is the Stanley Cup. The NHL Alumni Association, along with a cadre of media celebrities and Canadian music stars, are visiting Kandahar for the second time in two years to help lift the spirits of the soldiers.

"Last year, they were still talking about it at the camp three weeks after we left," said Mark Napier, head of the Alumni Association. "You have to understand what big hockey fans they are. It was May and we'd heard of some soldiers from the Ottawa area who were out on a long night patrol, came in at 3:30 a.m. and instead of going to bed, went right to the TV and stayed up to watch the start of the Sens playoff game."

Staff Gen. Rick Hillier said the visit comes at an important time after the recent death of a Canadian soldier.

"We wrap around each other at times like these," he said. "Hockey and music are our nation's passion, and a gesture like this shows we are not forgotten."

Minnesota Wild defenseman Kurtis Foster broke his leg when he was pushed into the end boards while chasing a puck Wednesday against the Sharks, and that has again sparked the discussion to change the NHL rules on icing. The league has the rule that a defenseman must touch a puck for icing to be called. Just about every other league has switched to automatic icing or no-touch icing (as soon as a puck crosses the goal line, icing is called).

"It's just one of those things that tell you that there should be automatic icing," Sharks coach Ron Wilson said after the incident. "I guess that's a play where the fans want to see a big car wreck like that."

This debate has been raging for some time. Stars defenseman Mark Tinordi was shoved into the boards against the Kings in 1994 and broke his leg. He was never the same afterward, but the league chose to stay with the old rules.

"I've brought in upon myself. I've always been in trouble, having disagreements with referees. I guess I have a little trouble with authority figures."

Phoenix forward Daniel Carcillo who leads the NHL in penalty minutes with 299 in 50 games, including 12 misconduct penalties.

New Jersey at NY Rangers (Thursday): The Devils have battled for the top record in the East, but their kryptonite lay across the Hudson River. The Rangers are 6-0-0 against the Devils, so that should make for a great game.

Jaroslav Modry, Philadelphia: The former Stars defenseman is one of the classiest players in the league. Modry, acquired from Los Angeles on Feb. 20, is minus-13 in his last eight games as Philadelphia has gone 3-3-2.

Nashville Predators: Given every chance to make a run at the playoffs, the Predators have fallen apart down the stretch – going 1-5-0 heading into the weekend. Key to the meltdown: the poor play of goalies Dan Ellis and Chris Mason.