The Power Play - The interweb's most insightful and delightful hockey blog!

Pop And Lock

2009-01-29T17:08:00.005-05:00

SI.com runs a weekly feature titled Pop Culture Grid, where they ask athletes about all things pop culture. Trying to show that they're just like us and have a life and interests outside of sports. Which is news to me, because I thought that all athletes slept in bunk beds in lower areas of the arena and only came out for games and practices.

In their recent column, SI spoke to Shane Doan of the Phoenix Coyotes, and Ryan Callahan of the New York Rangers, who took some time out of their busy schedules of sleeping in bunk beds at their respective arenas to answer some zany pop culture related questions.

_____ needs to stay away from the Botox.
Callahan: Heidi Montag from The Hills
Doan: Teammate Steve Reinprecht

Person I'd like to make a documentary about?
Doan: Gen. Patton. He's just an incredible guy that you don't know much about
Callahan: Rangers defenseman Paul Mara. He is a very angry man

I have a love/hate relationship with_____
Callahan: Golf. I like playing but not that good at it
Doan: Former teammate Tyson Nash. He's one of those guys you love to hate

Click here for the full list of answers. Yes folks, there's more! You're welcome.

Sidney Crosby Is Talented

2009-01-29T15:11:00.005-05:00

Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby gets a lot of flack from the mainstream media and bloggers a like.

Some accuse him of being a whiner, a cheap shot artist, and a bit over hyped. However there is no denying that The Kid's got the skills to pay the bills, and those skills were on display Wednesday night in a game against the New York Rangers.

With the Pens up 5-2 late in the third period, Crosby netted himself an impressive, amazing, stupendous (enough adjectives?) no look, top shelf, backhanded goal. This after having to skip out on the All-Star weekend festivities due to an injury.

Some were outraged that Crosby was "too injured" to take part in the All-Star weekend and thought that his injury wasn't serious enough and he could've played. And I now agree. Too hurt for the all-star weekend, but after seven days of rest and just three days after the ASG itself he's able to score a highlight reel goal of the year candidate? How dare he.

Maybe the NHL should've forced him to play on the weekend just to make it fair and level out the playing field for everyone else. Actually that's not a bad idea. If you'll excuse me, I have to go give Gary Bettman a call and mention that to him. I also want to talk to him about my glow in the dark/cosmic bowling like idea for hockey games. I think it will really catch on.

Notable Quotable of the Day

2009-01-29T15:03:00.004-05:00

"I've always been a guy that's worn his heart on his sleeve and I'm not going to lie to you - it was hard to leave Toronto. My heart was in the right place when I played there but I'm here in Denver now so I really appreciate the group of guys here."

- Darcy Tucker's thoughts on his former team the Leafs, as he gets set to play against them for the first time as a member of the Colorado Avalanche.

This Day In Hockey History - January 29th Edition

2009-01-29T14:39:00.001-05:00

January 29th...

1978 - Bobby Clarke became the first player in franchise history to score 250 goals as a member of the Flyers. The milestone came when Philadelphia tied 3-3 at Detroit.

1984 - Gil Perreault scored twice and added an assist (in his 1,000th career game) as the Sabres beat the Penguins 7-3 at the Aud, to give them a record of 11-0-2 in the previous 13 games. Perreault became the first to play 1,000 games with Buffalo.

1996 - The Senators beat the Blues 4-2 at the Palladium in Ottawa, to end their NHL record for consecutive winless games at home - 17 (0-15-2). It was also Jacques Martin's first victory with Ottawa.

1998 - Kings' Luc Robitaille picked up two assists to give him 1,000 career points, becoming the 6th left winger in the NHL to reach the milestone. It came in a 5-3 L.A. win over the visiting Calgary Flames.

Scores & Schedule

2009-01-29T14:34:00.002-05:00

NHL Scores - Jan. 28/09
Rangers 2 @ Penguins 6
Sabres 2 @ Flames 5
Blackhawks 3 @ Ducks 2
Predators 5 @ Canucks 3

NHL Schedule and Predictions - Jan. 29/09
Home team in ALL CAPS
BRUINS over Devils - 7pm
HURRICANES over Lightning - 7pm
THRASHERS over Islanders - 7pm
Canadiens over PANTHERS - 7pm
RED WINGS over Stars - 730pm
Senators over BLUES - 830pm
AVALANCHE over Maple Leafs - 930pm
Blackhawks over KINGS - 1030pm
SHARKS over Coyotes - 1030pm

Ray's Russian Rage

2009-01-28T18:44:00.004-05:00

Former Ottawa Senators goalie Ray Emery is playing in Russia this year to try and improve his image from a hot head goalie who's weak in net and really just likes to get in fights. Though it doesn't look like much has changed in his time overseas.

That's because a video has surfaced on YouTube which shows Emery getting into a fight with a team official beside the player's bench.

The unidentified man tries to put a baseball cap on Emery, then the two exchange words and Emery responds with a solid left hook to the guy's face. The man is chased down the hallway by Emery where more punches are thrown, until Rayzer is finally restrained.

When asked about the incident by Rogers Sportsnet, Emery's agent J.P. Barry said he hadn’t heard of any problems with Emery in Russia, adding that his client was happy playing there.

Look Ray, can we talk? I hate wearing extra clothes as much as the next guy (pants especially) but you can't go around punching people because of it. That's the sort of reason why nobody wants anything to do with you in the NHL. So just simmer down, and put on the hat. Okay? Good talk.

Take a look at the video down below. Does that look like a guy happy to be there to you? Or maybe he just has a really strong anti-hat policy. That could be it too.

Ovie Is Okie

2009-01-28T14:47:00.003-05:00

It was a scary sight for Capitals fans as Alex Ovechkin was left lying on his back after taking a hard shoulder-first slide into the boards on Tuesday night.

The incident occurred late in the second frame when Ovechkin and Bruins d-man Zdeno Chara were chasing after a loose puck, when Ovie lost his balance while trying to get around Chara and then slid into the end boards.

Caps training staff immediately came to the aid of Ovechkin, but after a few seconds he got up and went to the locker room. He would miss the rest of the second period but did return for the third.

News comes today from the Washington Post that there's nothing to worry about and that Ovechkin is as healthy as an Ox. Healthier than an ox? No, that's just ridiculous.

"It was just a hockey moment -- it is OK," Ovechkin told the Post.

Bruce Boudreau, head coach of the Caps also tried to downplay the accident, saying to NHL.com, "As far as I know, he's OK. He's a pretty tough kid."

So to recap, Alex Ovechkin slams into the boards shoulder-first, an incident that would have separated the shoulders of most, but he doesn't have to leave the game, is not injured, and won't miss anytime at all. Has anybody checked to make sure that Ovechkin isn't actually some sort of Russian super robot? Because I'm beginning to have my doubts.

[Source]

Court Is In Session

2009-01-28T13:58:00.005-05:00

Three stars from the Nashville Predators recently showed up to a Belmont University basketball game for what looked like a not at all thrilling half-time promotion.

The Preds players who took part were Shea Weber, Ryan Suter, and Jordin Tootoo, and it mainly involved them going out and awkwardly shooting some basketballs. Or b-balls as the kids call it.

When I first saw that this video existed I kind of cringed as hockey players aren't well known for their basketball skills. Nor are basketball players known for their hockey skills. Have you ever seen Lebron James on skates? No, I haven't either. Case in point.

But it really wasn't as bad as it could've been. In one sequence, Shea Weber even sinks some free throws and a couple of three pointers.

Wow, Barack Obama becomes president and all sorts of stereotypes and barriers are being broken. A black man can be president, and white guys can sort of, somewhat play basketball. I never thought I'd live to see this day. *wipes single tear from eye*

Notable Quotable of the Day

2009-01-28T13:31:00.004-05:00

"He's a guy we want to build around and we feel that between Henrik and Pavel (Datsyuk), we have two of the best two-way forwards in the game. He's in his prime, he's won a Stanley Cup and a Conn Smythe Trophy. He plays at both ends of the rink and goes to all the hard areas. He can play left wing and score and play the middle and be just as effective. He gives us flexibility and is a leader, a guy who, when Nick Lidstrom retires, is certainly someone we'll have to consider as the next captain for the Red Wings."

- Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland praising the many talents of Henrik Zetterberg after signing him to a 12 year, $72 million contract extension on Wednesday.

This Day In Hockey History - January 28th Edition

2009-01-28T13:06:00.002-05:00

January 28th...

1918 - Montreal's Joe Malone extended his goal scoring streak to 11 straight games (which began with the NHL's inaugural game six weeks earlier) when he scored his 25th of the season in a 5-1 Canadiens' loss at Toronto.

1937 - Montreal's Howie Morenz suffered a broken leg during a 6-5 win over Chicago. He died six weeks later from complications.

1987 - Washington's Mike Gartner scored his 300th career NHL goal in a 2-1 win at Detroit. Gartner became the first player to score 300 goals as a member of the Washington Capitals.

1990 - Mario Lemieux scored a third period goal to give him 100 points on the season for the 6th straight year, and tied the NHL's second longest consecutive game scoring streak at 39, in a 7-2 Penguins' loss at Buffalo.

Scores & Schedule

2009-01-28T12:57:00.002-05:00

NHL Scores - Jan. 27/09
Hurricanes 2 @ Rangers 3
Capitals 2 @ Bruins 3 (OT)
Red Wings 2 @ Blue Jackets 3 (OT)
Canadiens 3 @ Lightning 5
Flyers 2 @ Panthers 3
Devils 4 @ Senators 1
Maple Leafs 1 @ Wild 6
Thrashers 0 @ Stars 2
Ducks 7 @ Coyotes 3
Sharks 3 @ Avalanche 0
Sabres 10 @ Oilers 2

NHL Schedule and Predictions - Jan. 28/09
Home team in ALL CAPS
Rangers over PENGUINS - 730pm
FLAMES over Sabres - 8pm
Blackhawks over DUCKS - 10pm
CANUCKS over Predators - 1030pm

The Ultimate Canadiens Team

2009-01-22T17:56:00.006-05:00

Everybody is getting in on the Montreal Canadiens Centennial Celebration. On Friday the CBC will air a documentary on the all-time greatest Habs. The Hockey News and Sports Illustrated have both released special edition Canadiens retrospectives, and now you can through TSN into the fray as they have just released their "Ultimate Canadiens Team."

When you think of an all time, ultimate team, you immediately think of names like Lafleur, Richard, Roy, and Beliveau. But those guys have honoured so much and everybody will remember them anyhow. They don't all need TSN's respect too.

What TSN did was build an all-time lineup along the lines of a real team, featuring starting and backup goalies, three defence pairs, plus first and second scoring lines, a checking line and an energy line. On top of that, a couple of stipulations were put in place. No more than eight Hall of Famers (one goaltender, three defencemen and four forwards) could be on this team and players had to be in the natural position they actually played.

By this time tomorrow, everybody on the interwebs will be giving their two cents on this list. Even people who have no business doing so. People who have never watched a Habs game unless they happened to be playing against their favourite team. So I thought I'd beat them to the punch and give my expert and well respected around the hockey community opinion. Stop laughing. Plus I've happened to have been watching Montreal Canadiens games since my mom popped me out. I think there was even a Habs game in on the hospital room while she was giving birth.

So without further adieu, here is TSN's "Ultimate Canadiens Team." My analysis which is the real reason why you stopped by (let's be honest), is right underneath. Also, the years beside each player's name is not when they were born and died, but rather the years the played for the Canadiens. If it was the other way, then all these guys would be around 12 years old. Which would maybe make them even more legendary. Playing for the Habs at the tender age of 12? What an inspiration.

Goalies

Starter: Jacques Plante (1952-63)
Backup: Michel "Bunny" Larocque (1973-81)

Analysis: Oh hell no! They did not just choose Jacques Plante over Patrick Roy! I've had this argument with Habs fans all the time on who's the better goalie, and let's face it, they've both got some pretty great stats. But Roy played in a much harder time, revolutionized a whole new way of goaltending which is still used to this day, and has more career wins. Plante came up with the goalie mask. Conversation over. As for "Bunny" Larocque as the backup, sure why not. He backed up Ken Dryden over four straight Stanley Cups in the 70's. And with a nickname like "Bunny", how can you go wrong?

Defense

First Pair: Doug Harvey (1947-61) and Mike Komisarek (2002-Present)

Analysis: Doug Harvey's a no brainer, he was rock solid on defense. He even won seven consecutive Norris trophies! Definitely the best defenseman in Montreal Canadiens history. Though Patrice Brisebois is a close second. As for Komisarek, hopefully this will now put to rest the position that some have that Komi is the most overrated defenseman in history. Actually this will probably only add to their argument.

Second Pair: Larry Robinson (1972-89) and Serge Savard (1966-81)

Analysis: This tandem could easily be the first pair, they were that great. Strong defensively and both had a great knowledge of hockey which led to post playing careers. Savard was the long time GM of the Habs in the late 90's to the mid-2000's, and Robinson won a Stanley Cup as head coach of the New Jersey Devils in the 1999-00 season.

Third Pair: Ted Harris (1963-70) and Craig Ludwig (1982-90)

Analysis: TSN really should've had Guy Lapointe on this line. The only way I understand him not being named is due to their ridiculous rule about only allowing a certain number of Hall of Famers. Because you know, that's how real teams are. I can just imagine a GM meeting with the Owner when they're trying to decide who to sign or trade, and the Owner telling the general manager that they can't have too many Hall of Famers on the team. Oh wait, no I can't imagine that, because that would never happen.

Forwards

First Line: LW Dickie Moore (1951-63), C Jean Beliveau (1950-71), RW Maurice "Rocket" Richard (1942-60)

Analysis: No complaints here. You could even make the argument that this might be the ultimate first line in hockey history. And it would definitely be an argument, as somebody would surely bring up the names Gretzky or Lemieux.

Second Line: LW John Ferguson (1963-71), C Saku Koivu (1995-Present), RW Bobby Rousseau (1960-70)

Analysis: This should be a line of Yvan Cournoyer, Henri "The Pocket Rocket" Richard, and Guy Lafleur, no question. But the TSN HoF/Actual Lines rule strikes again! I will say that I'm happy to see Captain Koivu named to the team. Even if "The Pocket Rocket" technically is the better second line centre with 10 Stanley Cups compared to Koivu's no Stanley Cups. I've always thought that Koivu doesn't get enough credit, and history will look back on him as one of the all-time greatest Habs. And I'm sure he appreciates me saying so. I've even heard it helps him sleep better at night.

Checking Line: LW Bob Gainey (1973-89), C Guy Carbonneau (1980-94), RW Claude Provost (1955-70)

Analysis: I wonder if the current GM (Gainey) and coach (Carbonneau) made TSN name them to this line, or else they would cut off all access to the team. Probably not as they are definitely deserving of these spots anyhow. And when you throw in Provost, imagine what an amazing shutdown line this would be in today's game. This is the reason why I wish cloning and time machines were actually possible.

Energy Line: Andre Pronovost (1956-61), Brian Skrudland (1985-93), Jimmy Roberts (1963-67, 72-77)

Analysis: They really dug deep for this one didn't they? As fourth lines go, this is a pretty good fourth line. Still to this day, the Brian Skrudland cover of Les Canadiens magazine from 1989 remains one of my all-time favourites...

It honestly looks like a cheesy profile picture from a terrible dating site for golden retriever lovers. And look at those monsterous glasses! Though to be fair, everybody in the 80's was rocking the extra large frames.

So there you have it. That is TSN's "Ultimate Canadiens Team" and my thoughts on the matter. There are some glaring omissions from the great teams of the 70's as I've pointed out above, and the snubbing of Patrick Roy is unforgiveable. Quite frankly TSN, I don't know if you and I can be friends anymore after that. Oh, who am I kidding? I can't stay mad at you! Come here, and let's hug it out!

[Source]

Oh Captain, My Captain

2009-01-22T13:15:00.003-05:00

Both the East and West have their captains for the All-Star game, as earlier Thursday the NHL announced the men who will lead their respective conferences.

For the West it will be Joe Thornton of the San Jose Sharks. This is Thornton's sixth consecutive all-star appearance, his first as captain. Though he has struggled at the ASG, going pointless in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007. He was finally able to get on the score sheet last year in Atlanta when he recorded an assist.

"I'm shocked and excited," said Thornton. "It's a big honor to be named captain of an All-Star Team. Unbelievable. There are so many good players on the team. They must have picked me because I'm getting old."

Thankfully Joe said what we were all thinking with that getting old comment. Speaking of getting old, Alex Kovalev will be the guy to wear the "C" for the Eastern Conference in front of the hometown Montreal fans. I'm a master of transitions aren't I.

This will mark Kovalev's third all-star appearance, and first as captain. Though Kovy has worn the "C" much of this season for the Montreal Canadiens while regular captain Saku Koivu has been out with a mysterious lower body injury.

Those the worst, when you're whole lower body is injured. Like how do you even get around. I guess that's what servants are for. And for feeding you grapes. They do that too. I need to get me one of those lower body injuries. Here I am moving around and feeding grapes to myself like a sucker.

[Source]

Breakaway Challenge Looks Challenging

2009-01-22T11:13:00.004-05:00

At last year's All-Star game in Atlanta, the NHL introduced the Breakaway Challenge to to the Skills Competition. A chance for the league's most skilled players to show off their best moves and then have them voted on by a panel of d-list celebrities. It didn't go over so great.

This year the NHL has made some adjustments including giving the players a time limit, and instead of no-name actors and washed up former sports stars, fans will have the chance to vote for their favourite player. I think I speak for everyone when I say that I hope Montreal and Pittsburgh fans are well behaved that night, and no ballot stuffing occurs. But just to be safe, maybe the networks should tape delay the breakaway challenge and show it about an hour later in those two cities.

The participants in the Breakaway Challenge are:
Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
Alex Kovalev, Montreal Canadiens
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks

Bragging rights are on the line and all 5 players are taking it seriously. According to the NHL anyhow who have just released a video of the players practicing their moves for the competition. Well I should say that Getzlaf, Ovechkin, and Kane appear to be taking it seriously and practicing as neither Crosby or Kovalev are anywhere to be seen in the video.

But who's to say, maybe they're practicing extra hard and don't want anybody to see it. Perhaps they've assembled a team of scientists and physics experts to help them develop the greatest move that's ever been seen which will completely blow our minds. Or perhaps they just know that Habs and Pens fans will vote like crazy for them anyhow, so really what's the point.

Here's the video of the three players practicing. Personally my favourite part of it has nothing to do with any of the moves, but rather when Ryan Getzlaf shows up some kid who's parents probably paid a buttload of money to get him on the ice to meet Getzlaf. That'll show you for having an advantage in life, you spoiled brat.

Notable Quotable of the Day

2009-01-22T10:20:00.003-05:00

"Pucks were supposed to be bouncing in more than they were bouncing out and I don't know, I kind of found it the other way around. It all depends on the angle that you shoot it on. The posts and the crossbar all funnel in towards the net but you have to be kind of shooting straight on from the net in order for it to work."

- Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Mitchell on the NHL's failed attempt to increase scoring with a new slimmer, angled post design. Read more about the net experiment in Toronto here.

This Day In Hockey History - January 22nd Edition

2009-01-22T10:15:00.002-05:00

January 22nd...

1938 - Boston Bruins recorded their biggest road win in team history (up to that time) a 9-1 victory over Toronto, at Maple Leaf Gardens.

1961 - Chicago's Glenn Hall became the third goaltender in franchise history to record 100 wins as a member of the Blackhawks. The milestone came in an 8-3 win over the visiting Boston Bruins. Stan Mikita led the scoring with four assists.

1986 - Penguins had their first win in Edmonton, when Mike Bullard scored his 5th career hat trick and Mario Lemieux added 4 assists in a 7-4 victory over the Oilers. The Pens snapped their 10 game winless streak (0-9-1) at Edmonton, since Feb. 1980.

2003 - Detroit's Brett Hull became just the second player in NHL history to score 20 goals in each of his first 16 NHL seasons, when he connected for the 699th of his career in the Red Wings 4-3 loss in overtime against the Oilers at Edmonton.

Scores & Schedule

2009-01-22T10:07:00.002-05:00

NHL Scores - Jan. 21/09
Canadiens 2 @ Devils 5
Ducks 1 @ Islanders 2
Thrashers 3 @ Flyers 5
Bruins 4 @ Maple Leafs 3 (SO)
Sabres 3 @ Lightning 5
Stars 4 @ Panthers 1
Blues 2 @ Blackhawks 0
Kings 6 @ Avalanche 5
Blue Jackets 4 @ Flames 5 (SO)

There are no games scheduled for the next two days due to the All-Star break. Two days without hockey? How will I survive? Plenty of booze, that's how.

How About Hemsky

2009-01-21T13:52:00.003-05:00

This may be a surprise to you, but Ales Hemsky is one of the hottest players in the NHL right now. Not many people seem to know about that. Why that is, it's anyone's guess. Probably because he plays in Edmonton. Wait, let me clarify. That's not a knock on the "City of Champions" at all. So please, I don't want to see my mailbox stuffed with hate mail from Edmontonians. Only phone numbers from foxy ladies.

What I mean by that, is the Oilers usually play pretty late at night. Most of their games start at 10pm, and by that time most are sleeping. Or in my case, romancing international super models. So sometimes it can be pretty hard to catch their games.

If you have been able to catch some Oilers coverage, then you don't need me to tell you how on fire Ales Hemsky has been as of late. The Czech has 10 points in his last 5 games, which included an amazing four point night on Tuesday against Columbus.

So consider this as your heads up. The next time an Oilers game is on, knock back a Beaver Buzz or two (my favourite Canadian energy drink) and stay up and watch how talented Hemsky is. And in my case, I'll try and move my romancing of international super models to the afternoon. "Sky rockets in flight, afternoon delight," as Ron Burgundy and the Channel 4 News Team once sang. Afternoon delight indeed.

Here are Hemsky's two highlight reel goals from Wednesday night against the Blue Jackets...

Parlez-vous Francais?

2009-01-21T11:12:00.002-05:00

The All-Star festivities in Montreal are fast approaching as everything is set to get underway this Saturday at the Bell Centre.

This year's ASG will mark the 13th time the game has been played in Montreal. All of the games have been previous played in the Montreal Forum, this is the first time it will be held at the Bell Centre. Ah your first time. You never forget your first time! Well that is unless you get blackout drunk and wake up in a drunken haze with your wallet missing and your arms tied to the bed. Not sure how you got there or why you're in the predicament that you are. Not that I'd know about that from experience... What. Why are you looking at me like that?

To get you excited for you All-Star weekend, the NHL has released an ad with some french sayings in it. Because the game is in Montreal, and they speak french there you see. You can't get anything past thse geniuses in the NHL marketing department.

Most of the french phrases are pretty straight forward and if you even remotely paid attention in elementary school french class or have watched a Gerard Depardieu movie, then you should know them all.

Notable Quotable of the Day

2009-01-21T10:18:00.003-05:00

"It's almost a bad time for a break because we're playing as well as we have in a long time... We've really come a long way here."

- Phoenix Coyotes bench boss Wayne Gretzky on how hot the Coyotes have been going into the All-Star break. Phoenix now sits 5th overall in the Western Conference.

This Day In Hockey History - January 21st Edition

2009-01-21T10:13:00.002-05:00

January 21st...

1930 - Boston became the first team in NHL history to score 100 goals in a season, in a 5-1 win over Chicago, at Boston Garden. Cooney Weiland scored the Bruins' 100th goal of the season in their 26th game of the year.

1989 - Wayne Gretzky had a goal and three assists in a 5-4 Kings loss to the Whalers, at Hartford and moved past Marcel Dionne as the NHL's #2 all time leading scorer, with 1,771 points (in 743 games). Dionne had 1,770 points in 1,343 games at the time.

2001 - Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Blackhawks 4-0 in the first-ever NHL game featuring two European trained coaches. Ivan Hlinka was behind the bench for the Penguins, and Alpo Suhonen was the man behind the bench for the Blackhawks.

2004 - Minnesota Wild set an NHL record for two fastest goals, when Jim Dowd and Richard Park scored goals just three seconds apart in the final 15 seconds of the game, in a 4-2 win over the visiting Blakckhawks. Park's goal was into an empty net.

Scores & Schedule

2009-01-21T10:05:00.003-05:00

NHL Scores - Jan. 20/09
Ducks 2 @ Rangers 4
Canadiens 2 @ Thrashers 4
Capitals 2 @ Senators 3
Hurricanes 2 @ Penguins 1
Kings 5 @ Wild 2
Blue Jackets 3 @ Oilers 4
Red Wings 3 @ Coyotes 6
Canucks 1 @ Sharks 2 (OT)

NHL Schedule and Predictions - Jan. 21/09
Home team in ALL CAPS
Canadiens over DEVILS - 7pm
Ducks over ISLANDERS - 7pm
FLYERS over Thrashers - 7pm
Bruins over MAPLE LEAFS - 730pm
Sabres over LIGHTNING - 730pm
PANTHERS over Stars - 730pm
BLACKHAWKS over Blues - 830pm
Kings over AVALANCHE - 9pm
FLAMES over Blue Jackets - 10pm

Why So Serious?

2009-01-20T14:43:00.005-05:00

With the Academy Awards coming up, there's alot of buzz surrounding the late Heath Ledger's portrayal as The Joker in The Dark Knight. Many believe that he should be nominated and win for Best Supporting Actor. And it looks like you can count Atlanta Thrashers goalie Kari Lehtonen amongst those who think Ledger should win the Oscar.

That's because in practice Lehtonen has been showing off a brand new mask with a picture of Ledger as The Joker on the side, as seen above.

This isn't the first time that Lehtonen has put something pop culture related/nerdy on his mask. Previous themes included Transformers, Final Fantasy X, and Kill Bill.

I'm sure this will definitely sway Academy voters to vote for Ledger. Here's how I imagine that discussion might go.

Voter #1: I'm really not too sure about voting for Heath Ledger as The Joker. I think there are some other pretty good performances that are deserving too.
Voter #2: Yeah but Kari Lehtonen of the Atlanta Thrashers thinks he should win.
Voter #1: Well then! Give that man the Oscar!
Voter #2: Give it to his family or whomever is accepting it for him you mean.
Voter #1: Oh yeah...
*Awkward, sad silence*

[Source]

Blackhawks and Headlocks

2009-01-20T14:12:00.005-05:00

If you missed Monday Night Raw on Monday (what other night would it be on) then you missed a shout out to the Chicago Blackhawks by WWE diva Kelly Kelly.

Raw was being held at Allstate Arena in Chi-town, and Kelly Kelly had a match against Women's Champion Beth Phoenix. In the match Kelly donned a very small and very tight Blackhawks jersey with Jonathan Toews' name and number on the back. I didn't even know they made hockey jerseys that doubled as belly shirts. You learn something new everyday.

This isn't the first time Kelly Kelly has worn a hockey jersey to the ring. Back in November she sported a Tampa Bay Lightning sweater in a 16 Diva tag team match. All those divas in one ring at once...must focus... must stop day dreaming... and drooling.

I think it's safe to say that Kelly Kelly is now officially the best looking person to ever wear a Blackhawks jersey. Sorry Jeremy Roenick.

Anyhoo, here's video of last night's match because that picture doesn't do Kelly Kelly justice. Or do the skin tight Blackhawks jersey justice for that matter.

Notable Quotable of the Day

2009-01-20T10:26:00.004-05:00

“I didn’t know if things would come back right away. I probably played a little more than I expected. I still think I have a lot of work to do. This is a game that has a lot of adrenaline. It is just one game. There is a long way for me to go and a lot of building for me yet.”

- Brendan Shanahan on how it felt to play in his first game since May 4th, 2008. Shanahan scored a power play goal in his return with the New Jersey Devils, leading them to a 3-1 victory over the Nashville Predators monday night.