NHL

Hilary Duff and ex-NHL star Mike Comrie have just announced they've separated ... and it's pretty obvious divorce is just a matter of time.

The couple says they "have mutually decided to an amicable separation" and will "remain best friends and will continue to be in each other's lives."

26-year-old Duff and 33-year-old Comrie were married in Aug. 2010 in Santa Barbara ... and Hilary gave birth to a baby boy, Luca, March 20, 2012.

Hilary's mom, Susan Duff, tells TMZ, the couple has already decided on joint custody of Luca. Susan says she loves Mike but sees the breakup this way, "They're better friends than a married couple."

A rep for the couple says they are dedicated to parenting their son together.

Hilary just tweeted saying, "Mike and I are sitting here, we are so appreciative for all of your kindness & well wishes."

She continued, "Not an easy day but we're getting thru it together."

Hilary and Mike were most recently spotted together on New Year's Eve.

Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov showed no mercy during his alleged attack on his girlfriend this week -- his GF not only told police he kicked her ... she says he stomped her, dragged her around by the hair ... then said he'd beat her more if he could.

The alleged domestic violence incident occurred on Monday -- according to the Denver police report, Varlamov came to his girlfriend's house and assaulted her, kicking her in the chest and knocking her down.

Once on the floor, his girlfriend claims he stomped her chest, then grabbed her hair and dragged her out of her bedroom.

Still holding her hair, the GF says Varlamov pushed her face to the floor and told her (in Russian) that if this were Russia, he would have beat her even more. It's unclear what, if anything, provoked the argument.

The GF was interviewed by police yesterday, and the detective observed bruising on the girlfriend's arm and hip.

An arrest warrant was subsequently issued for Varlamov, but he has already turned himself in to authorities. He has since been arrested.

Andy Cohen is setting the record straight about the rumors he's gay-sexin' with his friend, NHL star Sean Avery ... telling TMZ it just ain't happening, but he wishes it was.

Cohen was leaving Highline Stages in NYC last night -- when we asked about the reports that he's engaged to the guy who used to date Elisha Cuthbert.

But Cohen blew off the allegations -- explaining, "Sean Avery is STRAIGHT. Do you understand that? So a gay guy and a straight guy should be able to be friends."

He continued, "Listen, I'd be happy if Sean and I were bangin' ... but it's not [happening]."

Anaheim Ducks star Dustin Penner begged a judge to sign off on his divorce from his hot actress wife ASAP ... claiming the legal war is messing with his head and distracting him from playing like the kind of guy who deserves a FAT contract, TMZ has learned.

We broke the story, Penner -- who killed it for the L.A. Kings during their Stanley Cup run back in 2012 -- was hit with divorce papers from Jessica Welch last year. She's an actress who once appeared in an episode of "Are You Afraid of the Dark."

After splitting in February '12, Penner and Welch banged out a settlement agreement and submitted it to the court -- but the case dragged on for more than a year.

So last month, Penner submitted a plea to the judge ... begging him to sign off on the divorce as soon as possible because the stress from the split could affect his game ... which could ultimately affect his wallet.

In the court docs, filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Penner writes ... "I am 30 years old. It is important for me psychologically to enter the upcoming season with this dissolution finally behind me so I can try to secure a multi-year contract."

He adds, "Training camp starts September 21st and I would like to have this matter completed before then."

The Chicago Blackhawks aren't holding a grudge against Justin Bieber for trampling their beloved logo yesterday -- a crime punishable by death in some fan circles -- telling TMZ, Bieber didn't realize he was violating intergalactic hockey law.

In case you didn't know, Bieber -- who is supposed to be Canadian -- was taking pictures of the Stanley Cup in the Blackhawks locker room when he stood squarely on the team's hallowed Native American head logo.

FYI, not only is it a HUGE Blackhawks superstition not to step on the logo ... it's also an unwritten rule on any hockey team: never tread on the team logo.

But a rep for the Blackhawks says it's water under the bridge -- telling us, Bieber "did accidentally step on the logo but was immediately asked to step off and was extremely sorry as soon as he realized what he did."

Justin Bieber is bringing sports fans together ... IN OUTRAGE -- because he dared to pose with Lord Stanley's trophy in the Chicago Blackhawks locker room!!!

A 'Hawks exec tweeted the pic last night of JB touching the Stanley Cup -- arguably the most revered trophy in sports -- with a customized Bieber jersey in the background.

The response was immediate ... and angry:
- If I see one more picture of bieber touching the cup I might just cut my own jugular #embarrassing

- And this is why I will kick the crap out of Justin Bieber! You do not touch the cup! You don't deserve to touch it!

- Bieber takin a pic w the cup and gettin a personalized blackhawks jersey is complete garbage. Where did your bruins flat brim go?

That last one refers to the night we spotted Bieber in a Boston Bruins cap ... right before they started playing the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Chicago Blackhawks partied hard after their dramatic Stanley Cup victory over the Boston Bruins, and lived by that old adage -- to the victor goes lots and lots of meats!!!

Stanley Cup MVP Patrick Kane and the rest of the team headed straight to the famous Harry Caray's Steakhouse once they arrived back in Chi-town early Tuesday morning -- and our 'hawks sources gave up all the deets on their feast:

- Crab cakes
- Lamb chops
- Mini "holy cow" burgers
- Chicken vesuvio (the house special)

Remember, they were eating all this at ... 4:30 AM!!

No word on how much the celebration meal cost -- but the team picked up the tab. We're told this is the exact same menu the Blackhawks had when they last won the cup in 2010.

Porn star Taylor Stevens knows ... if the L.A. Kings are going to come back from an 0-2 deficit in the Western Conference finals, they're gonna need her boobs to distract the Chicago Blackhawks -- and tonight, she's READY TO STEP UP!!!

FYI -- Taylor has become a master distractor at the Kings games ... strategically sitting behind the opposing team's bench (with cans in full view) in the hopes of taking the players' minds off the game ... and it's worked in the past.

So, with the Kings' championship hopes on the line ... Taylor tells TMZ she's carefully selected her battle threads for Game 3 in L.A. tonight ... and judging from the pics, it's clear she means business.

It was Team Cruise vs. Team Beckham at the L.A. Kings game last night.

Wearing father and son leathers, Tom Cruise and Connor Cruise watched the Kings beat the San Jose Sharks sitting alongside David and Victoria Beckham and their kids Romeo, Cruz, Brooklyn and adorable little Harper Beckham.

While the two A-list broods have no rivalry and have been good friends since back when Katie Holmes was still in the picture, Team Cruise clearly had the better seats in the house.

Everyone watches hockey for the fights ... and last night, the L.A. Kings announcer did his part to set up Keyshawn vs. Bieber by calling out JB during the live broadcast.

Right before the 3rd period, the camera found Bieber and some pals sitting rinkside at last night's Game 7 between the Kings and the Sharks (Go Kings Go!).

The announcer -- clearly abreast of the whole "Keyshawn Johnson vs. Justin Bieber Showdown in Calabasas" -- had a personal message for Key ... come and get him, HE'S RIGHT HERE!!!!

File this under, "EPIC FAILURE BY A SIDELINE REPORTER!"

Here's the setup ... reporter spots Matthew Perry at the L.A. Kings game on Friday night, hours after NBC made a huge announcement about Perry's show, "Go On."

Reporter decides to CONGRATULATE Perry on the announcement, LIVE on the air.

Problem is ... the announcement was that NBC had CANCELLED the show (whoops!).

What ensues is nothing short of HILARITY.

"You know, the show that I was doing was really getting in the way of Kings games," Perry deadpanned.

Brilliant.

Good thing body checking's legal in hockey ... because Wayne Gretzky's smoking hot daughter Paulina showed off her overflowing bosom last night in L.A. ... and everyone was looking.

24-year-old Paulina's breasts made their appearance at Bootsy Bellows nightclub -- somehow strapped inside a tiny red dress.

Remind us ... what's the penalty for high-sticking?

Jerry Buss -- owner of the Los Angeles Lakers -- died early this morning at the age of 80.

Buss had been hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in L.A. for the past few months due to a previously undisclosed intestinal problem ... though it was revealed yesterday he'd been battling cancer the entire time.

After starting his career as a chemist, Buss soon found his true calling in the real estate biz ... snapping up properties all over L.A. before moving on to the sporting world.

In 1979, Buss made history when he purchased the Lakers, the L.A. Kings and The Forum for $67.5 million -- at that time, the largest transaction in sports.

Under his ownership, Buss watched dozens of all-time greats -- including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant -- win the Lakers 10 NBA Championships. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.

Buss was also an avid poker player ... and appeared on several TV shows, including "High Stakes Poker" and "Poker After Dark."

He is survived by his six children.

Manti Te'o has been the butt of jokes since the fake-dead-girlfriend hoax was revealed this week ... but now even an NHL team is getting in on the act.

The Dallas Stars flashed an empty seat on the big screen during their opening night game on Saturday, with the caption, "Manti Te'o's girlfriend -- Welcome to the game!"

Wayne Gretzky tells TMZ ... the NHL has GOT to figure out a way to end the lockout and bring hockey back ASAP.

He also made it clear that we can't date his daughter.

Wayne was out in L.A. yesterday ... and told us he doesn't have any solutions to get pro hockey up and running again ... but says, "Hopefully they get it worked out though ... we need hockey back."

"It's disappointing for everybody," Wayne added.

And while he was there, our photog asked for permission to date Wayne's super hot daughter Paulina. Permission was not granted.

And if you're not familiar with her work, enjoy the photo below ...

Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler might officially be the most hated man in the Windy City -- because last night, one of Chicago's most storied sports legends turned his back on the guy ... TORCHING Cutler's jersey inside a bar.

The video was shot inside Stanley's Kitchen and Tap in Downtown Chicago -- showing Chicago Blackhawks legend Chris Chelios lighting Jay's jersey on fire while some hot chick dangles it from her fingers.

One source inside the bar tells us Chris lit the jersey then said, Cutler's "nothing but a bitch."

FYI -- Cutler has been under heavy fire in Chicago from Bears fans who think he's not just a terrible QB ... but a cancer in the locker room who's bringing down the team.

Cutler's performance on Sunday didn't do much to win over his critics -- Jay had a very underwhelming performance in the Bears victory over the Rams ... throwing an interception and ZERO touchdowns.