Mike Ribeiro slash will add a little hatred to Western Conference final

henwood — Sun, 11 May 2008 16:23:00 GMT

Looking for a little animosity to be charged into the Western Conference final?

You just got it.

Proving that the he is a lock to be named recipient of this spring's Bonehead Play of the Post-Season Award, Mike Ribeiro played lumberjack as the clock ticked down last night in Game 2 of their Western Conference final, coming over the net to give Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood a two-handed chop across the chest.

Now, for the record, Osgood sold it pretty well, flopping around like he had taken a Dion Phaneuf slapshot between the peepers. Considering how today's NHL goalies are more protected than George Dub, we're giving Ozzie a token Oscar for his little acting job.

And let's also not forget that Osgood provoked Ribeiro with a not-so-subtle butt end that could have been much more dangerous than it looked, something that may be in Ribeiro's favor later today when Colin Campbell kicks his feet up on his desk to take a closer look.

But that doesn't excuse Ribeiro's intent.

It's too bad that, in this impressive Dallas playoff run this spring, a chop is what Ribeiro will be remembered for. As we sit here, he leads the Stars in post-season scoring, but given the probable suspension coupled with the way this series seems to be unfolding in Detroit's favor, he may not get many more chances to pad his totals.

No matter. This series may be over quickly, but it's now guaranteed to have a whole lot of bad blood however long it lasts.

Giddyup. Colorado and Detroit all over again? Well, not quite, much to the chagrin of most hockey fans, but Ribeiro, should he play again this season, and Steve Ott will both have bullseyes on their backs once this series resumes in Big D.

The pending feud between the Red Wings and Stars will, if nothing else, add a little spice to this series.

And that's a good thing for a battle that seems a little one-sided at the moment.

Marty Turco, Stars restore Niskanen’s car for fallen colleague

henwood — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:49:56 GMT

In between writing children's books and, oh yeah, trying to win a Stanley Cup, Marty Turco somehow found some time to fit a little car restoration into his schedule.

And now, the end result may dry a few tears on the face of a two-year-old girl.

With Turco acting as ringleader, the Stars took the had-seen-better-days ride that was defenseman Matt Niskanen's 2001 Pontiac Sunfire — wheels he has owned since he was 15 — and helped give it a $12,000 facelift.

Niskanen's car will now be put up for grabs in an online auction, with proceeds going to the family of Matt McKee, the Stars' Director of Ticket Operations who passed away suddenly earlier this year from cardiac-related causes. McKee, who was just 33, left behind his wife and two-year-old daughter.

Even as the Stars battle the Detroit Red Wings as their Stanley Cup push continues, it's obvious the entire organization still gets it, which may help explain why they have bucked the odds and knocked off both the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks in these playoffs.

Matt McKee never scored a goal, never played on a wonky ankle, never dropped down in front of a slapshot to take one for the team.

But he was one of them.

That is why you'll see the Stars' players with ‘MM' emblazoned on their helmets, the Matt McKee Family Trust the team set up, the moment of silence after he passed away so suddenly.

It is obvious the Dallas Stars' team extends much further than the 20 guys that sit on the bench.

Matt McKee touched a lot of people with the Stars, probably more for the courage he showed in a heroic battle with cancer than for anything he ever did in the ticket office.

There is a two-year-old girl in Dallas who is going to grow up without a Daddy. That in itself, as it is with anyone, is enough to tear at the heartstrings.

The Dallas Stars are doing what they can to help soften that blow.

And that, no matter what happens the rest of this memorable spring, still makes them winners.

Fabian Brunnstrom headed to Dallas Stars

henwood — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:18:11 GMT

The Fabian Brunnstrom drama is over. The highly-touted 23-year-old Swedish prospect, who many feel is the best player not currently in the NHL, will begin his NHL career with the Dallas Stars next season.

Reports indicate Brunnstrom made his choice official Thursday, just hours before the Stars begin the Western Conference final against the Detroit Red Wings. It has been reported that more than half of the National Hockey League's teams showed serious interest in Brunnstrom and that he had narrowed down his choices to Dallas, Montreal, Detroit and Toronto.

Playing in his first season with Farjestad of the Swedish Elite League, Brunnstrom had nine goals and 37 points in 54 games.

Conference finals set to start...just drop the puck!

editor — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:11:19 GMT

Enough of the talking heads — it's time the players do the talking on the ice! I have had it with the predictions, the breakdowns, the insider information.

Do I really need to know, and why should I even care, how many bags of peanuts will be sold, or who has the greatest team-orientated men's room, complete with flashing goal light? Soon I expect an overhead view from the local news chopper chasing a car on the highway that is displaying the home team's flag flapping from the window.

There will soon be pictures plastered on the web of five-year-old kids, with their faces painted, a feature of some guy who mowed the team logo into his lawn, even live broadcasts by a radio station giving away free tickets to anyone who can do the stupidest thing involving worms and raw eggs.

Drop the puck. I am ready for hockey and just hockey.

Please, no more hockey columns from the 'hockey expert' who has actually watched only two or three games this year. Here in Detroit I caught a cab company trying to take advantage of Wings' frenzy. They put the team logo on their cabs—upside down! Even the churches are getting in on the action—how creative. The Virgin Mary rode a Mule, just like the Red Wings!

Ah, even the local morning news is getting in on the action. As I am typing this, they go to a live view of the Joe Louis Arena. Hello, it is 7:30am — there's nobody there!

Please hurry, drop the puck, NOW!

I now look out my window and see kids walking to school — there goes Probert, Yzerman and Shanahan — those names that are plastered on the back of the t-shirts they are wearing. I am going to have to talk with their parents, maybe suggest an update to the kids' wardrobe!

I am closing my blinds, shutting off the TV, clicking off the radio. I have had enough. I will only read the hockey-related stories on the web, because as you know, everything you read on the web is true!

I will live this day in total darkness, waiting for the puck to drop tonight. I am shutting down, forcing myself to avoid the fake excitement. I want the games to generate the hype, the way it should be. I won't stand for the late-arriving bandwagoners forcing me to watch them. Besides, in a couple of weeks, they won't know a hockey puck from a baseball! They follow what they think is popular; we on the other hand, follow our game every minute of every day.

The best of what hockey has to offer is upon us. Enjoy, yell, scream; just don't call him Dats-see-u-ek like the TV guy just did!

Paul Maurice firing expected but timing makes little sense

henwood — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:32:54 GMT

Here we are, set to watch the four best teams in hockey lock horns for the right to play for Lord Staley's ancient urn, and those $@&*$!&$@#! Toronto Maple Leafs — as they are known everywhere outside so-called Leaf Nation — try to upstage the proceedings yet again.

So while we have a few hours to kill before watching some real hockey, I must confess that yes, like you, I am actually as stunned as anyone over the expected-but-not-quite-yet demise of head coach Paul Maurice from the city that Stanley forgot.

So, let's take stock, shall we? With a month and change left before the alleged facelift begins with the seventh pick in the NHL Entry Draft, the ~~Good~~ Sinking Ship TML is minus a full-time GM, a head coach and, for the time being, a captain.

Granted, it was only a matter of time — as in, about 20 minutes after the press conference to announce the new GM — before Maurice found himself on the soup line. But why now?

The timing of the firing is peculiar, to say the least. Fletcher was adamant that the new general manager would make the call on Maurice's future but, somewhere between the end of the season and Wednesday, someone had a change of heart.

Putting one and one together, Fletcher was less than subtle when he said the Board of Directors met the day before he stepped up to the podium. Read between the lines. In other words, thanks for taking this gig, Cliffy, but here's what you are going to do...

On the GM watch, Doug Armstrong, who would have to be considered on the short list as a potential suitor for the full-time gig, hasn't even been contacted yet, although the Leafs have apparently asked the Canucks permission to speak to recently-canned GM David Nonis.

Hmmm. David Nonis. Brian Burke. The teacher and the prodigy in Vancouver. Connect the dots. Conspiracy theorists unite.

"It's being run as a normal operation," said Fletcher of the Leafs Wednesday.

You can stop laughing right about now.

Well, something is up in Toronto. There has to be.

Nothing else makes sense.

Then again, look who we are talking about.

Paul Maurice fired as head coach of Leafs

henwood — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:24:03 GMT

In a move that caught most hockey observers off-guard simply because of the timing, the Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Paul Maurice.

The Leafs, who are also in the hunt for a general manager to replace interim GM Cliff Fletcher, relieved Maurice of his duties this morning.

Maurice had one year remaining on a three year deal, compiling a 76-66-22 record and missing the playoffs both years. He was promoted from the Toronto Marlies by then-GM John Ferguson, Jr. in 2006. Ferguson was fired in January.

A press conference is scheduled for this afternoon.

MY TAKE: Huh? Wasn't it said that the incoming GM would make the decision on Maurice? What exactly has occurred between the end of the season and now that changed their minds?

As much as a longshot as it might seem, but could this, in any way, be tied to Fabian Brunnstrom? Probably not, of course, but unless the Leafs have a new GM lined up, gassing Maurice now doesn't make a lot of sense from where I am sitting...unless Brian Burke has had a change of heart, and the odds of that are slim and none.

NHL Playoff Predictions – Round 3, Eastern and Western Conference Finals

editor — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:09:45 GMT

Outside of being based in a U.S. city, we know one of these four things will ring true about the eventual Stanley Cup champions.

The Flyers will end a 33-year Cup drought. Or, yikes - Marc Andre Fleury will be the winning goalie on the Stanley Cup champions and most of the Penguins will probably get carded for ID at the bar afterwards. Perhaps we can look forward to at least another year of hearing just how much of a genius Ken Holland is. Or the Dallas Stars will beat the Cowboys to another championship.

Pittsburgh. Philadelphia. Detroit. Dallas. The Bra Size Series (DD) and the Outhouse Series (PP). Yeah, I just made that up. Lucky you.

Here's a sneak peek on how I see things shakin' down in the conference finals of the Stanley Cup playoffs:

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (2) VS PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (6)

WHO THEY BEAT: Philadelphia def. Washington in 7, Montreal in 5
Pittsburgh def. Ottawa in 4, NY Rangers in 5

LAST PLAYOFF MEETING: Philadelphia def. Pittsburgh in six games, 2000 Eastern semi-final

CONN SMYTHE CANDIDATES: PHI: G Martin Biron, C Daniel Briere , F R.J. Umberger PIT: C Evgeni Malkin, C Sidney Crosby, G Marc-Andre Fleury

OUR TAKE: OK, I'll admit the Flyers have bucked me off both times I called them to go meekly and quietly into the playoff night. But have I learned from my mistakes? Am I ready to see Cinderella all the way to the ball? Not a chance. While Marty Biron and Philly held back the potent assaults of both the Capitals and Canadiens, they are about to meet a whole different beast that looks like they can score at will. Crosby, Malkin, Hossa and Company slipped it into cruise control in the first two rounds, although they are about to get a much more resilient fight from the orange and black than they did from Ottawa or the Rangers. The Flyers' balanced attack will keep them in this series, but unless Marc-Andre Fleury pulls a Jose Theodore, the extra home game should be the difference in what could be a classic Battle of Pennsylvania. PENGUINS IN 7.

DETROIT RED WINGS (1) VS DALLAS STARS (5)

WHO THEY BEAT: Detroit def. Nashville in 6, Colorado in 4
Dallas def. Anaheim in 6, San Jose in 6

LAST PLAYOFF MEETING: Detroit def. Dallas in six games, 1998 Western final

CONN SMYTHE CANDIDATES: DAL: G Marty Turco, F Brenden Morrow, F Mike Ribeiro, F Brad Richards DET: F Johan Franzen, F Henrik Zetterberg, F Pavel Datsyuk

OUR TAKE: Just like the Flyers, the Stars found another gear at the ideal time and have knocked out a pair of heavyweights in the Ducks and Sharks. The difference this season other than in years past is that Marty Turco is being the difference-maker for the right reasons rather than performing like a sieve, and shows no sign of being content with merely a berth in the West final. But again, like the Flyers, Dallas is going to have to contend with an explosive unit from Motown that was merciless in a four-game sweep of the Avalanche. Of course, with Brenden Morrow, Mike Ribeiro and Brad Richards leading the charge, the Stars no longer rely on that boring, lull-you-to-sleep style that used to be their trademark. If they can get to Chris Osgood, which is not nearly as tough as it sounds, all bets are off. As tempted as we are to go with the underdog here, there is no way we can go against the Wings after watching that methodical destruction of Colorado. RED WINGS in 7.

Stanley Cup final a lock for Penguins, Red Wings, says Kukla

editor — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:40:39 GMT

Never have I done something like this — as a matter of fact, I despise the prediction side of this business. But this time, I feel it in my bones, in my head and in my heart.

Pens/Wings will meet in the Stanley Cup Final.

I don't want to read the word "homer" in the comments. I don't want to read "you love Crosby" in the comments and I don't want to read about any NHL conspiracy theory either. I know I am opening myself up to the threatening emails from the Flyers fans, The 'Vengeance Now' theme will be prevalent, but I would recommend the 'Serenity Now' theme. It will help you get over the pending loss to the Penguins.

I am ready for your crude emails; my spam and anit-virus filters are on high alert and will probably be working OT. My defenses are up, I am ready to fight back.

It is time to believe the Penguins are the better team and will prevail in a series that will be hyped-up with the beat-down talk from the Flyers' faithful. The Philly caveman mentality is about to end. Get the razor out, shave off the facial hair because this series is all about the Penguins, always cool, even when the heat is at the boiling point.

If you are a Philadelphia fan, you are probably seeing red right about now. Well, you will be seeing a lot more red in the coming days, especially if you focus on the lamp behind the Flyers' goal. Don't say I didn't warn you. Pittsburgh in six.

Detroit Winging It To Cup Final

This morning I heard the Detroit Red Wings will fail against the Dallas Stars due to the fact Wings goaltender Chris Osgood has not been tested. The Stars will force more shots at Osgood and as always, a few bad ones will sneak by him.

One question- have you seen Marty Turco against the Wings? He has yet to win a game against the Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Now that is something to be concerned about. Turco becomes known as "What Happened Marty" when he faces the Wings. His game changes, bounces become bad, the long clearing passes off of his stick end up being intercepted and directed into his goal.

Expect more of the same in this series. The Stars will also have extreme issues trying to figure out how to shut down the Wings offensive lines. Until that happens, Detroit wins in five.

Note to Pittsburgh fans... To get to Detroit, get on the Ohio turnpike, head west to I-75, go north. When the smooth road gets bumpy - very bumpy - you know you are close to Detroit, where you can expect some major bumps in the road. Just warning you ahead of time!

NHL playoff overtime marathons or shootouts? It's a no-brainer...

henwood — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:16:08 GMT

Let's make this clear for the umpteenth time. Listen closely, I'm going to say this again slooooooooooooo-wwwwwwwwwww-ly, seeing how the message is not being heard by everyone.

How many times must it be said that the NHL shootout sucks?

No, I didn't stutter. It sucks, much like a working Hoover. The shootout should go the way of lava lamps, ‘80's hair and Thomas Dolby. Just gone, yesterday's news. Period.

Maybe I'm in the minority, but the shootout just doesn't do it for me. They're bad enough in the regular season.

But don't even get me started if you are one of those who actually believe, while sober, that the league should mandate shootouts in place of these overtime marathons that last three, four, five extra periods.

Thanks to a lack of sleep, ironically enough, from the Sharks-Stars thriller Sunday night, I wasn't in much of a mood to hear my buddy use twisted logic on how a game gets monotonous after an overtime period or two.

You see, my esteemed pal, who I can only assume needs 12 to 14 hours of sleep to perform basic functions the next day, is of the opinion that the NHL should follow the lead of international hockey and go straight to the shootout after one overtime period to decide playoff games.

Pass the Q-tip, Sparky. I need to clean out the ol' Dumbo flaps.

Following a short, terse retort relating to glue sticks and spare time, our ~~argument~~ discussion went south in a hurry. And since this is a family site, I'll leave the expletives and name-calling out of this space, and just let him know, publically, he's lost it.

Now, if I had to hazard a guess, most would take the mutiple overtime periods over a shootout, so I am not going to go off on some misdirected tangent on the bulk of sane hockey fans.

Those three-plus extra periods Sunday had everything you could want in sudden-death wackiness. End-to-end rushes, tic-tac-toe passes, thundering hits and, as can be expected in a game that had a total of 117 shots, goaltending that kept your idiot box turned on until the wee hours of the morning.

Anyone who would forsake another two and a half periods of that intensity for a laughable circus act that is the shootout needs an afternoon nap and perhaps a late-night bottle of warm milk. You don't need sleep that bad, do you?

As much as I try to beat the drum for anyone that will listen, hockey is a team game, inasmuch as Evgeni Nabokov and Marty Turco tried to prove that theory wrong well into Monday morning.

Can you imagine the Stanley Cup hanging in the balance of a skills competition?

Me neither.

There are too many rule changes to this game as it is, where history seems to get tossed to the curb. Marathon overtime games should not suffer the same fate.

It is part of what makes playoff hockey what it is.

Turco, Nabokov Game 6 duel one of the best ever

henwood — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:01:24 GMT

For a while ~~last night~~ today, it looked as though you would be enjoying your morning ham and eggs with Evgeni and Marty.

If you are like me, there are stifled yawns and bleary eyes scattered all through the office, but damnit, was it not worth it?

To say that was a goaltending duel is like saying Eva Longoria wears awesome shoes.

That wasn't a duel as much as wondering which brick wall would crumble first.

Didn't stay awake until the wee hours of this morning to watch the Dallas Stars send the snake-bitten San Jose Sharks home early yet again? Too bad.

You missed something special.

Evgeni Nabokov and Marty Turco put on a show for more than 129 minutes that will go down as one of the greatest one-night save-for-save battles ever. And after Brenden Morrow, in the fourth overtime period, finally turned out the lights on both the American Airlines Center and the Sharks' 2008 season, we were allowed to exhale, curse Monday mornings and catch a few - very few - winks.

On a night where Dallas and San Jose showed how the game should be played, it was Turco and Nabokov who made sure it went on as long as possible. Turco made 61 of 62 saves, many of the acrobatic, highlight-reel variety, while Nabokov's glove save off Brad Richards in OT quite simply defies both logic and physics.

Just as he was for most of the Calgary/San Jose series, Nabokov looked very ordinary in the opening two games of this set with the Stars before finding his groove and giving the Sharks the chance to, if nothing else, get Dallas thinking about the 1975 Islanders.

In the end, the Sharks couldn't climb out of the hole they dug themselves.

On Sunday night, Nabokov did all he could to get back to San Jose for an improbable deciding game.

Marty Turco made sure one more trip to California wasn't necessary.

Penguins, Red Wings working their way towards “dream final”

henwood — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:32:20 GMT

It is shaping up to be a Battle of the Hockeytowns for the Stanley Cup in a few weeks.

One has a storied history, the other, well, the other was almost a history story.

Although the Dallas Stars or Philadelphia Flyers will have something to say about it, the sexy pick for the Cup final is one step closer to reality after the Penguins worked a little OT to dust off the Rangers Sunday afternoon.

And while the Red Wings run to the Conference final could be viewed as routine, the complete turnaround of the Penguins, who were about a whisper away from being administered last rites not all that long ago, gives a renewed sense of hope to teams like Atlanta, Columbus, Los Angeles and Florida.

On Sunday, just a few short years after the who-the-hell-are-the-Penguins attitude enveloped most of Pittsburgh, they crammed the old barn to rafters with those who couldn't snag tickets hanging outside to watch Game 5 on giant video screens. Along with the Rangers, the Penguins buried a few myths for good at the same time.

Marian Hossa can't score the big one in the playoffs? Yesterday's news.

Marc-Andre Fleury couldn't get the job done when it matters most? Scratch that one off the list.

Fans in Pittsburgh don't care about hockey? Yeah, right.

Pittsburgh is too young, too inexperienced, to do any damage in hockey's second season? Pfft.

Sidney Crosby doesn't dive? Well, uh...well, we had four anyway.

All that stands between the Penguins and a return to glory, so to speak, are their cross-state rival Flyers, who are making headlines of their own this spring as they continue their unlikely run from worst to first.

And so the Penguins, who had to suck an awful long time to build this type of contender, are one step away from playing for it all.

Those Dirty Birds have met every test head-on this spring. Now they are about to face their biggest of all.

Montreal Canadiens fan video? How ‘bout “No, no, no, no, no, no, no…”

couchman — Sat, 03 May 2008 13:56:39 GMT

Think that annoying "Ole, Ole" ballad that rings down from the rafters of the Bell Centre is about the most annoying thing you have ever heard?

You could only be so lucky.

Proving an alarming percentage of today's youth should be banned from using the computer, some wannabe rapper named Slambody - nice name - decided to take his homeboy talent travesty public with a Montreal Canadiens rap video that, doctor's warning, may cause blood to dribble out of your ears. Hey kid, who sings the real version of that tune? Flo Rida? Let's keep it that way, OK?

What's up wif dat?

We found a better version of Low, and SlamBody isn't the guy butchering it.

It doesn't help that most of the video is performed - and I use that term very loosely - in French, meaning 99% of the world has no idea what the hell he is saying, save for the "Go Habs Go" part.

Yeah, Mitsou belted out her tunes in French as well, I know, but at least she was easy on the eyes.

Check out the youngsta's other videos. With lip-synching technique like that, Milli Vanilli - well, at least one of them, anyway - must be cringing somewhere. His mother - or is that mutha? - needs to get her offspring enrolled in sports. As in now.

On his YouTube profile, SlamBody confesses "I Am a Comedian Who Makes Stupid Videos and Music Videos." I'd have to say, wrong on the first part, bang on for the second.

Trying to figure out who Mr. Wannabe reminds me of, and can't quite narrow it down. Somewhere between a starving Eminem, Screech from Head of the Class and Steven Urkel.

Well, the good news is the second coming of Vanilla Ice has made quite the name for himself. The bad? He is the laughingstock of Philadelphia.

Oh, and ol' Slambody may have to change his lyrics lip synching soon.

Go(lf) Go(lf) Go(lf) Go(lf) Go(lf) Habs Go(lf).

Word.

Hockey musings from the NHL playoffs

couchman — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:40:37 GMT

Every so often, hockey topics, tidbits, and side stories pop into my head and I make note of them and store them for future use. Well, the future is now...

Where did all of the 'hockey experts' go who were calling for the head of Michel Therrien? Fire him, he can't coach the youngsters, time to move him out now before the Penguins are out of the playoff race!

Why does the video introduction of the Hot Stove segments on Hockey Night in Canada still say Satellite Hot Stove when everyone is in studio?

On February 18th, Detroit News columnist Vartan Kepelian wrote: It was particularly interesting that Johan Franzen - the Moose - was singled out by coach Mike Babcock for playing an outstanding game against Dallas. Franzen had six of the Wings' 28 shots. Maybe Franzen had a vision of Mark Messier in his head when he read about the 'Moose", dropped his 'Mule' nickname and has been Messier-like ever since.

Browsing the hockey forums across the web yesterday, I was appalled by the 'Karma' talk when reading about Sean Avery and his lacerated spleen. If people think it is some kind of Karma, well, they don't deserve to be hockey fans.

Early favorite to replace Ron MacLean as the HNIC host when or if he ever leaves - Elliotte Friedman

Speaking of TV guys, Ed Olczyk continues to impress with his analytical work. Breaking down a play moments after it has happened is hard to do, but 'Eddie O' is always pointing out key plays during the game.

This coming from a Detroit Red Wings fan, but you almost feel sorry for all the injuries the Colorado Avalanche have had in the recent past. OK, that was long enough to sympathize for the Avs!

I am hoping for a Dallas/Detroit Western Conference Finals series... As long as Modano brings his wife, Willa Ford with him to Detroit.

Why is Brendan Shanahan playing on the 4th line? Shanny, when you least expect it, can get hot, but to get hot, he has to be on the ice!

Versus and NBC just doesn't realize how important it is for us fans to watch the National Anthems being sung. Forget the commercials, we want to watch, it gets us pumped up!

Is there a problem with Derian Hatcher's helmet? The guy is always shaking his head to move the helmet into the proper postion.

It is getting to the point where a coach may call for a 'stick measurement'. It is bound to happen, just wait for it!

If you are like me, you probably have a list of things you have noticed or want to talk about. Leave them in the comments so we can discuss them further.

Sean Avery spleen injury no laughing matter

couchman — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:26:17 GMT

For all those rejoicing in the news of Sean Avery's spleen injury, I've got two words for you.

Grow up.

Try, as hard as it may be for you, to remember this over the next few minutes.

It's just a game.

Shocking news out of the Big Apple Wednesday that Avery, who a majority of fans wouldn't mind seeing under the rear wheels of the team bus most nights - figuratively, of course - is done for the year with a lacerated spleen suffered in Game 3 of the Rangers' series with the Penguins.

Initial media reports erroneously stated that Avery had been rushed to hospital in cardiac arrest which, much like a lacerated spleen, is something you shouldn't wish on your worst enemy.

Or Sean Avery.

It's just a game.

Sean Avery is a hockey player. An agitating one, granted, and nothing short of a pompous jackass on the ice, but a hockey player nonetheless. Nothing more.

And as a player, I can't stand Sean Avery. I think the league would be better off without him - or, at least his antics - and his running feud with Martin Brodeur in the opening round may have helped the Rangers win a series but did nothing to help build up his fan club.

I've had my fun with Sean Avery, and, like most, have never hesitated to call him out for his sideshow routine.

But no one, myself included, should be taking joy in a season-ending, perhaps even a career-threatening, setback. No one deserves that.

It's just a game.

Upon hearing initial reports of the cardiac arrest, I felt a pang of guilt for my less-than-flattering opinion of him in this space. Someone, somewhere, dropped the ball with the heart attack talk, and could be looking for work this morning.

If a lacerated spleen could ever be a good thing, this was one of those times.

And if you were one of those morons laughing and high-fiving the news, maybe, just maybe, you take this game a little too seriously.

Because, no matter how you look at it, yes, it is just that - a game.

Colin Campbell to be named Leafs GM? Something doesn’t add up…

couchman — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:20:36 GMT

If the report out of Windsor is accurate - and really, who knows for sure if it is - suggesting Colin Campbell is about to be named the new General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, one of two things seems fact.

A. That Richard Peddie and MLSE can't learn from their past mistakes, or

B. Something stinks about this whole thing.

Now no one knows for sure what, or who, Bob Duff knows that virtually every guy pushing a pen in Toronto does not, but according to this unnamed NHL source, there seems to be a ring of finality to the pending announcement, at least if you believe Duff's pseudo-source.

Now rewind your memory back to late January, when the noose was tightened once and for all around the throat of John Ferguson, Jr. and Peddie tried to calm the waters on the shores of Lake Ontario.

"The person who fills that job will be a winner," explained Peddie of Ferguson's successor on the day they tied the can to their GM. "Our ideal candidate will be a long-term builder and a short-term fixer who has an established track record of success on the ice."

So if the report is true, MLSE just pulled the wool over a whole lot of eyes in the T-Dot. Or they really have no idea what they are doing, which is probably a lot closer to the truth.

But perhaps the wild card in this entire drama is Brian Burke. Last week, when asked if he planned on being the Anaheim GM in September and fulfilling the final year of his deal, Burke offered a simple "I don't know."

Less than 24 hours later, he knew. And he wasn't going anywhere.

Rumors swirled in the Toronto media that Bettman helped make Burke's decision for him and, while I doubted it at first - and, quite frankly, still do - one can't help but wonder if the Commissioner wasn't, uh, a little persistent in helping fast-track his good buddy Campbell into the plush offices of the Air Canada Centre.

Seeing his right-hand man named the taskmaster for one of the league's flagship franchises - well, at least when they aren't on the ice - isn't the worst news the NHL head office could hear.

No one can say for sure if this is indeed the case, but as a coach Colin Campbell had a career record ten games or so over .500.

Check out his ring finger. As a coach, it is bare.

As a general manager, he has no experience. None. Nada. Not exactly what Peddie told Leaf fans a few months ago.

Right now, Campbell's calling card is being one heck of a Senior Vice-President and league disciplinarian.

Without, it must be said, that proven track record Peddie promised the restless faithful of the Leafs.

One and one doesn't always equal two.

And if Campbell takes over in Toronto, it will be safe to say something just doesn't add up.

Gary Bettman is no Ace at NHL history

editor — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:05:07 GMT

If you happen to hold down an extremely high-profile position — say, for instance, Commissioner of the National Hockey League — should you not know what the hell you are talking about when you go on a radio program in the league's largest market?

So one would think.

And yet again, there was Gary Bettman having to wipe a whole lot of egg off his face a couple weeks back after informing listeners on WFAN in New Yaaaa-wk — incorrectly, I might add — that legendary player Irvine "Ace" Bailey and former NHLer Garnet "Ace" Bailey, who was the Director of Scouting for the Los Angeles Kings when he tragically passed away in the 9/11 attacks seven years ago, were actually the same person.

No wonder hosts Mike and Mad Dog seemed surprised. It's like watching someone staple their eyelids to the carpet. You'd be caught off-guard, too.

Listen to the WFAN clip here

If only I could make this stuff up...

Thankfully, the Bailey chatter never made it to Beetle, so Bettman saved at least a little face. Come to think of it, Beetle Bettman — I like.

And one can only hope that when he was ~~screwing things up~~ working for the NBA, Bettman didn't confuse Larry Bird with this guy.

So, in an effort to give the esteemed Commish a little bit of a helping hand, I am going to put on my "Instant P.R. Guy" cap and throw together this checklist for his next radio gig:

-The Oilers aren't what you smoke with your buddy to make it through geometry class.

-Kane never did play on a line with Abel. No, not even Sid.

-Crosby and Nash never teamed with Stills and Young to form an awesome rock band back in the ‘70s.

-There's not a typo in "Canadiens." That is an actual spelling, as least in Francais (which, Gary, is French).

-Mike Richards is NOT the guy that played Kramer.

-Pavelski and Lupul are players, not diseases.

-Alexander Semin is not...oh, never mind. Some things just can't be taught.

-When someone says "Cheechoo!", there's no need to pass them a Kleenex.

-Kostitsyn isn't that hard to spell if you remember to break down the syllables. Think the second one. Trust me. It works.

-Umberger is not the latest menu item at McDonald's.

-Say Wojtek Wolski five times, really fast. Just because I need a chuckle.

-It sounds rude, but Hamrlik is really not a bad word.

-Neither is Bonk, Pronger, Foote or Johnson.

-Gary Roberts is not hooked up with Julia. Same with Sean O'Donnell and Rosie. I know, that one turned my stomach as well.

-Georges Laraque and Bunny Larocque are not brothers. There are a couple of telltale signs, one being the different spelling of their names. See if you can figure out the other.

-Chris Simon doesn't know Garfunkel.

-Sadly, Derien Hatcher is not doing a new dance — the horizontal be-bop — with Teri.

-That famous saying isn't "Colton Orr, number 4, shoots, scores!"

-That Ryder that plays in Montreal is not Winona. Or the guy that owns all those moving trucks.

Gary, big guy, keep these notes handy. We'll call it a radio interview lifeline. And remember, my name is Marty. If you feel the need to thank me, I'm currently trying to help the Stars win the Stanley Cup.

Never mind a thank you note. Send money.

And call me your Ace in the hole.

Philadelphia Flyers continue to make Hab-it of winning

couchman — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:06:44 GMT

Fist-pumping fans of the Montreal Canadiens were probably guffawing and back-slapping one another after a pair of nimrods took their collective life in their hands videotaping themselves draping a Habs' jersey over the sacred statue of Rocky Balboa in Philadelphia.

Tee hee. They may want to make it last. It could be the only laugh Montreal supporters get for the next few months.

Some, if not most, would say the Canadiens dodged a bullet when the eighth-seeded Boston Bruins took them the distance in the opening round.

They may not be as lucky with the Flyers.

Turns out that Canadiens' fans have travelled en masse down to Cheese Steak Central with two of them managing to pull the prank with the "Yo, Adrian" statue, which in Philly is akin to taking a leak on the Liberty Bell.

And just like they have for most of this series, the Flyers and their fans got the last laugh in the mischievous act, as well.

At the risk of incurring the wrath of the cult-like faithful of Les Glorieux, Montreal, at this point in time, is without doubt the second-best team in this series.

Following a Tom Kostopoulos sucker punch late in Game 2, the Flyers and Canadiens were both in ornery moods Monday, with the Flyers laying out every guy in a red, white and blue jersey for the first two periods and taking advantage of a shaky Carey Price at the same time.

Don't let the score fool you. Only Derian Hatcher's selfish, unforgiveable brain cramp allowed the Canadiens to mount a relentless onslaught in the final period in which they scored twice while outshooting the Flyers 17-2.

The difference was on a night where Price couldn't make the big save, Marty Biron could.

Considering this is a series they should be down three games in, the Canadiens had better not fall asleep at the switch the rest of the way.

The way things appear now, the Canadiens would offer up little resistance to a Pittsburgh Penguins team that is looking to make short work of the Rangers.

Should the current trend continue, they may not even get that chance.

Ron Wilson reporter snub still leaves question unanswered in San Jose

couchman — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:55:26 GMT

Ron Wilson needs to figure out that he gets paid to coach a so-called Stanley Cup contender while television reporters earn a living by asking the tough questions.

So, seeing how the San Jose Sharks are down 2-0 to the Dallas Stars in a West semi-final and TV ratings are peaking over at TSN, let's attempt to connect the dots to figure out who, as we sit here, is better at their job.

In case you missed it, Wilson threw a mini-hissy fit and stormed away Sunday when asked if (paraphrasing) captain Patrick Marleau had any bloody idea that the Sharks were actually involved in a second-round playoff series.

Actually, to be fair, the question wasn't quite that brash. Wilson was simply asked if he should expect more out of his captain.

"No," Wilson stated tersely before storming off.

"It's always frickin' negative," he added. We can only assume he didn't mean what post the black cable goes on when boosting your car battery.

Yeah, and? Judging by the boxscores in this series, there isn't a hell of a lot to be positive about if you are a fan of the teal.

Oh, and did we mention that Marleau was minus-2 with three giveaways in Game 2?

Should the question have been re-phrased with a positive spin?

"You know, Ron, your captain is sucking royally this series but he lit it up against Calgary, huh?"

My, how life has changed in San Jose. When the Sharks were losing just twice in regulation over their final 22 games, every scribe in the league was puckering up to kiss Wilson's backside.

Now the questions, as much as Wilson may not want to hear them, are a little tougher.

Not only is Marleau MIA, but Joe Thornton continues his annual disappearing act. A Vezina Trophy favorite goaltender is putting up a save percentage that could be matched by some Wednesday night beer league retread and a certain high-priced superstar defensemen, at this point, probably looks better in Buffalo.

Things change, of course, but right now, the Sharks don't look like a very good hockey team.

No sense throwing a tantrum when people wonder why.

Stanley Cup playoffs no time for whine party

editor — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:48:25 GMT

Complain about twirling the octopus, whine about the calls, fret over bad ice, scream about anything and everything. Go ahead, knock yourself out!

What to do about whining via parentcenter.com...

Define it. Before you pin on your No Whining button and draw a line in the sand, make sure your child (hockey fan) knows what you're talking about. Adults often assume that children (hockey fans) know what whining is and realize how awful it sounds - but that's not necessarily the case. Explain that whining sounds yucky and makes people stop listening. Practice "good" and "not so good" voices together - hearing you at your whiniest will probably elicit a good laugh from your child (hockey fan).

Getting the picture hockey fans? The whining has to stop. Every hockey fan could be doing it but isn't. Every hockey writer could be doing it, but most don't.

It isn't healthy for you and it isn't healthy for the game! It makes you look bad and when the bounces start going your way, which they normally do, fans of your opponent begin to whine, basically feeling if you could do it, so can they. It continues to gain momentum unless you decide to put an end to it.

Whining has never won a game and never will. Drop the whine line now. It's time to move on and start looking for things to turn around, like it usually does.

2-0

The Wings and Penguins did what was expected of them. By winning their first two home games, they have put themselves in a great position, but winning Game 3 is now their focus. As we have witnessed in recent history, game 3 is key for the road team — win and the momentum is all theirs; lose, and the home team is back in the series and have the much-needed incentive to win Game 4.

Both the Wings and Penguins are on a roll right now, but a Game 3 victory by the Avalanche and Rangers will quickly shift the momentum in their favor. Great teams put away their opponent as quickly as possible. The question is now how great are the teams from Detroit and Pittsburgh?

The real shock of the second round is the play of the Dallas Stars. Lead by goaltender Marty Turco, the series heads back to Dallas with the Stars up 2-0 against the San Jose Sharks. If there was ever a must-win Game 3, this is it. I can't see the Stars losing four games in a row, but I can see the Sharks finding their game again and making a run at the Stars. The Sharks have the players to do it, but every one of them needs to show up for Game 3.

As always, feel free to contact me at pk@kuklaskorner.com with any questions, comments or rants (but no whining) you may have. See you on Thursday!

Paul

Guy Carbonneau defense of Kostopoulos punch may turn series nasty in hurry

couchman — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:14:47 GMT

It may not be the Hatfields and McCoys - at least not yet - but let's just say there is no love lost in this edgy little playoff tussle between the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers.

And if you were looking for someone to throw down the gauntlet to turn up the heat a few more degrees, consider it done.

As if the Flyers needed anything else to pin to their bulletin board, Guy Carbonneau went public condoning the sucker punch/facewash/cheap shot - call it what you will-that Tom Kostopoulos administered on Kimmo Timonen moments after the Flyers guaranteed they would be getting out of Montreal with a split Saturday night.

''I think he deserved it,'' Carbonneau told reporters. ''That's why they didn't call any (major) penalties on it.''

''A lot of things happened during the course of the game. There's one team that shouldn't talk. They had the most suspensions in the league."

A-ha. So Carbonneau has noticed the body count the Flyers have racked up this season. Not exactly the Broad Street Bullies of three-plus decades ago, but you don't want to be turning your back on the Flyers all that often.

Maybe Carbonneau knows his team is fortunate to be heading to Philly on even terms and is looking to throw a spark into his boys.

But on the morning after, to have your coach publically defend a sucker punch as you get ready to head into enemy territory for a few days doesn't seem the wisest of moves. Carbonneau may as well have the team equipment manager paint a big red bullseye on the back of the Canadiens' jerseys.

If you don't think this is a topic of discussion inside the walls of Philly's dressing room, think again. No one is suggesting the Flyers will turn to back-alley tactics, particularly in a series they seem to hold the upper hand in, but if there is a team that could employ this eye-for-an eye mentality, they wear orange and black.

This series may get ugly yet and if it does, the Canadiens will have no one to blame but themselves.

They've started the schoolhouse scrap. Now they're heading into the neighborhood bully's stomping grounds where they'll have to back it up.

The Canadiens may want to make sure that medical coverage is up to date. With the Flyers in a nasty mood, they may need it before long.

Sidney Crosby diving, whining causing quite the splash in New York

henwood — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 15:12:06 GMT

Sunday morning pop quiz: if someone happens to be moaning like a schoolgirl that Sidney Crosby, for instance, is a whiner, what exactly does that make whinee?

Granted, that is not a grammatically correct term - heck, it isn't even a word - but stick with me. It's for effect only.

Case in point, New York Rangers coach Tom Renney and pretty well every pro-Blueshirts' scribe in the metropolitan New York area bellyaching that ~~Greg Louganis~~ Crosby may have taken a dive for the team in Pittsburgh's series-opening win Friday night.

Which, even if it constitutes one a diver, would strike me as being a pretty intelligent maneuver at the same time, no?

Let's not forget, this is a league where officials reward players who drop like they've been shot every ten minutes or so. Don't blame the ~~actor~~ competitor for doing nothing more than taking advantage of a titanic loophole in the rulebook.

I've got an idea, and that only happens once every six or seven months. Set up a committee, and I mean pronto, to look into this unsportsmanlike flopping travesty in pro hockey.

Let's call it the Diving Board. Get it?

OK, let's not get off track here. Back to Sid. The NHL is in its most critical stretch of their year, and Crosby's team now has the first of the four necessary wins under their belts. If I'm Crosby, three more of those little babies and you can call me whatever you want, as long as I can call you on the golf course in a week or so.

Does Sidney Crosby dive? Perhaps, but he only follows the instructions in the NHL "How To Win" manual.

Get hit, fall down, go on power play, score goal, win game. Simple stuff.

While it is a matter of perception anyway, maybe the Rangers should focus less on Crosby's diving and more on protecting three-goal leads.

Crosby is far from the only offender.

And, so it seems, the only whiner.

New York Rangers defensive struggles will lead to march of Penguins

henwood — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:30:31 GMT

Now that looked like a little pond hockey down where the three rivers meet last evening, but something was still missing.

Well, besides defense.

Just in case it was somehow overlooked, Sean Avery wasn't acting like a complete ass as the Rangers and Penguins popped the cork in their playoff series. Need proof? Well, this morning, the welts from Georges Laraque's knuckles aren't visible on Avery's face and the peskiest shift disturber around, to the chagrin of many, is not eating his steak dinner through a straw.

Granted, I've already done the Avery thing in this space, but it's kind of like a cross-eyed lap dancer, isn't it? No matter how hard you try, you just can't look away...

So I guess we'll have to wait until Sunday's pre-game warmup for Avery to start hitting on Crosby's squeeze or pleading with Laraque to pull his finger before the real fireworks can start. Until then, this last-goal-wins approach will have to do.

Oh, and a quick memo to the Rangers. When they say "defense wins championships", they generally mean for a game or, even better, an entire playoff run. Shutting the opposition down for 23 and a half minutes is what is known as a good start but is lost when you decide to pack it in to get a front-row seat for an up-close-and-real-personal look at the apparent sequel to March of the Penguins.

Let's keep this simple and give the Rangers a quick lesson in layman's terms. Give up five goals a night to the Penguins, the only cup in their sights will be the one they see lining up a six-foot putt for par.

If Henrik Lundqvist of the next few games resembles anything like the Henrik Lundqvist of Friday night, the Rangers may as well call for their tee times right now. Sure, the Blueshirts may match up well with the Penguins, but they don't have an answer for their firepower. Trading scoring chances with Pittsburgh means nothing more than an early spring.

As for the bottom line? Simple. If the Rangers don't learn how to play defense, this march will be more of a blitzkrieg.

Jeremy Roenick could get the ring after years of giving the finger

henwood — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:14:38 GMT

Close to three decades ago, my mother, like every other woman in North America, was caught up in finding out "Who Shot J.R.?"

Too bad that cheesy soap opera got their man back in 1980. I'm sure there were more than a few Calgary Flames fans looking for a little vigilante justice a few nights back.

In case you've been living in a cave - or Atlanta - the deciding game in the Sharks and Flames series was center stage for hockey's own gunslinging J.R. and did he ever stick the dagger into the heart of the Red Mile Tuesday night.

Seems Jeremy Roenick is pretty desperate to finally get fitted for a Cup ring.

In my diatribe a few weeks back, I was of the opinion that the rallying cry for Roenick to get that long-overdue Stanley Cup would not be as loud as those reserved for Steve Yzerman and Ray Bourque, thanks in no small part to the number of people Roenick has pissed off over the years.

Not so fast. Looks like Roenick is gaining himself a healthy little fan club this spring.

Obviously not content with playing a fourth-line role in San Jose, all Roencik did in the pivotal Game 7 for the Sharks, a team with a questionable playoff history, was jump down straight from the press box to put together a four-point night, allowing the Sharks to see another day.

Jeremy Roenick's loose lips have often seen him in hot water with the league and put him on front pages of sports sections everywhere.

Something has changed this spring. Roenick still carries the wit, the candor, but the focus is now on chasing, and catching, a guy named Stanley.

And that chase is gaining momentum in the hockey world.

Maybe, these days, it's more about the ring than giving the finger.

Paul Sobotka octopus ban proof something is fishy in Motown

henwood — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:16:14 GMT

Just because it's Friday and I am looking for any way to screw up the climactic day to your week, let me break it to you that, yes, there is a new provision in the NHL rulebook than bans the twirling of an octopus — or, in its plural forum, octopi — over one's head.

Really, would I jest? This story, uh, has legs to it. It's right there, in ~~black and white~~ blood.

Any slimy act by Red Wings' rink rat Al Sobotka to rev up the crowd in his legendary way will cost Sobotka $10,000 out of his own pocket.

No word what swinging around a grouper or mackerel will set you back, but octopi are a no-no.

Now, we're not suggesting an octopus is actually a fish — I failed Marine Biology 101 — but it hangs out in the water, so I put two and two (and two and two) together.

Oh, and I wanted to save you the hassle of having to pronounce cephalopod.

Can't you just feel your IQ plummeting as you read this? Hey, it's your NHL.

Anyway, back to the point at hand — who the hell does that Sobotka think he is, getting the paying crowd jacked up for a game and giving the home team, dare I say, a subtle advantage? This is the post-lockout NHL. It's all about parity and a level playing field for all, right? Screw your tradition, Detroit.

This coming from an outfit that changes the NHL rulebook as it sees fit in the middle of a playoff series because, well, because they can, damnit.

Wonder how long it took the NHL's head flounder — that being Gary Bettman — to actually figure this was even an issue. And if he went out for a tuna sandwich afterwards.

Someone, anyone, give him a kick in the tentacles. Eight times, for effect.

We're all for whoever waving whatever over their head if it gets the crowd rattlin' the rafters. Poutine and the nudie bar feature in Montreal. Sean Avery in New York. Over in Buffalo, fling around wings and blue cheese. Let Craig MacTavish give Harvey the Hound a few spins in Calgary. Smelling salts in Toronto, to wake them up if nothing else. Twirl ‘em, wave ‘em, but, as Elmer Fudd would say, be very wary.

Gary Bettman and the Charlie Tuna Police are watching.

Fishy, I tell ya. It stinks.

Red Wings, Avalanche set to renew playoff hostilities

editor — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:32:16 GMT

Detroit and Colorado again! Colorado media taking shots at Detroit, again! Detroit bloggers responding again and that puck hasn't even dropped yet!

My memories of the Wings/Avs battles are just that, a memory. I tend to reflect on them every so often before looking forward to the games yet to be played. That is what is important to me today: games yet to be played and new memories to be made.

There is one key to this series and that is the play of the goaltenders. Both starting goalies, Chris Osgood and Jose Theodore, have had ups and downs in their respective careers. Osgood has won two Stanley Cups, one as a starting goalie, and Theodore has been the league's MVP.

Both have been near or at the top of the mountain, both have been called back-up goalies, both have something to prove.

Both are only as good as their last game. Both know a few bad goals may place them on the bench. Both are playing to keep playing.

It will be very interesting to see how Game 1 of this series plays out. Will we be talking about the great stops, the goalie stood on his head type hype, or will we be asking for better goaltending, and maybe getting it? Hasek and Budaj, be ready, your name may be called quickly!

Others may disagree with my assessment that goaltending is key for this series. You may be correct and if the history of this series holds true, look for an unexpected name to become the center of attention.

Yes, Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Holmstrom are the main players for Detroit and Sakic, Smyth and Forsberg are in the same position for Colorado. My choices for players to keep an eye on are Mikael Samuelsson and Kris Draper for the Wings and Wojtek Wolski and Andrew Brunette for the Avalanche. The middle-tier player has been the hero in the past and look for a player that fits into that category to be center-stage again as this series plays out.

Who wins, that is up to you to decide. I am too close to the Wings to say anything other than the Wings in five. My feeling is the overall team defense the Wings play will shut down the Avs offense, but what do I know, I pick the Wings to win every game they play!

All I know is this Western Conference semi-final matchup will be played on the ice and not in the media arena.

The media shouting stops tonight and the real games begin.

Brian Burke decision proves he is loyal…and smart

henwood — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:08:00 GMT

Remember the motto "everyone has a price?" Forget about it.

Brian Burke just proved it to be a crock.

If loyalty were a suit, Burke would be looking pretty dapper right about now after rebuffing the obvious free-spending advances of the Toronto Maple Leafs to stay with Ducks owner Henry Samueli in Anaheim for at least another year.

Some would argue that it is Burke's obligation to honor the terms of a contract, but he wouldn't be the first, or the last, to blow town for a fistful of greenbacks.

"I have a great gig here," Burke said Wednesday. "These people are special. They've been absolutely wonderful to me and my wife, and we've put together a pretty special front-office staff and group of players."

Not exactly the words of a man that seems greedy or discontent, now is it? And we all know Burke has never been a man short of words and has rarely been scared to speak his mind.

When the Ducks dropped the first two games in their opening round series with Dallas, I hinted that Burke may have found his excuse to leave Anaheim for Toronto.

Nothing factual, just a hunch and if the money the Leafs were rumored to be throwing around was anything close to accurate, not many could blame Burke for reneging on the final year of his deal.

It was widely speculated, at least from those who actually believe they have inside knowledge on this kind of stuff, that Burke was a phone call away from hopping aboard a Toronto-bound jet for a press conference and photo op introducing him as the new head honcho for the Leafs.

But a year removed from a Stanley Cup in California, Burke either came to his senses or had no intention of taking that call begging him to take over in Toronto. Seeing the ground-up restoration the Leafs are set to undergo, that makes Burke pretty intelligent at the same time.

If you believe the hype, Burke was in line to make up to $5 million a year in Toronto which proves money doesn't always buy happiness. Or even a playoff spot.

And that makes Brian Burke not only one of the best executives in the league, but a pretty damn loyal employee as well.

NHL Playoff Predictions – Round 2, Conference Semi Finals

henwood — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:16:41 GMT

So, altogether now, what did we learn after the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs?

Dominik Hasek is done, Jose Theodore is anything but. That Brad Richards trade is looking pretty good for the Stars after all and the Sharks are quite giddy they didn't move Patrick Marleau at the deadline. The Flyers figured out a way to stop Alex Ovechkin, while the Canadiens just about figured out a way to cough up a 3-1 series lead against the eighth-seeded Bruins. The Penguins proved that the Senators do indeed suck, and Sean Avery is, well, still Sean Avery.

Strap yourself back in and get set for another wild ride in the second round.

The matchups are identical in each conference, with both top seeds, a fifth and a sixth left standing from the East and West.

A couple of weeks from now, only four will remain. Let's break down what we see happening in the second round as the chase for the Cup continues.

Remember, do not try this at home. We do not accept responsibility for any cash, wives, children or homes lost in a friendly wager:

COLORADO AVALANCHE (6) vs DETROIT RED WINGS (1)

Season series: Detroit 4-0-0, Colorado 0-4-0

OUR TAKE: What, is this the mid-1990's again? These two rivals waged some wars back then and while these squads will probably play somewhat nicer, there is still a lot of bad blood brewing between the Avalanche and Red Wings. Colorado is coming off an upset win over the Wild and now the Presidents' Cup champions are squarely in their crosshairs. Detroit looked anything like a powerhouse in their opening-round struggle against Nashville and you can bet the Avalanche will offer a little bit more resistance. With Jose Theodore looking a lot like he did when he won the Hart Trophy, the Wings will need to keep the pedal down if they are to advance to the West final. We think they will but they'll have to work for it. DETROIT IN SEVEN.

DALLAS STARS (5) vs SAN JOSE SHARKS (2)

Season series: Dallas 4-2-2, San Jose-4-4-0

OUR TAKE: The Stars, who won the season series against the Jabberjaws thanks to a couple of wins in extra time, may be able to catch San Jose off-guard following a long, seven-game marathon with Calgary. Early in that series, the ghosts of playoffs past were whispering in the Sharks' ear and Joe Thornton seemed to be AWOL yet again. Still, the Sharkies found a way to dig deep and take out an extremely tough Flames squad. Dallas is fresh off a knockout of the defending champion Ducks and there will be no shortage of confidence in Texas. Then again, Marty Turco could go back to being Marty Turco of playoffs prior before long and that is the biggest wild card in this series. SAN JOSE IN SIX.

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (6) vs MONTREAL CANADIENS (1)

Season series: Montreal 4-0-0, Philadelphia 0-4-0

OUR TAKE: Written off by most, myself included, a few weeks ago, the Flyers pulled off a mild upset of a Washington team that quite simply ran out of gas. Philly did a textbook job containing Alex Ovechkin and will need much of the same shutting down the Habs' top trio that could suddenly be comprised of Saku Koivu, Alex Kovalev and Chris Higgins. The edge in goal is basically a coin flip between Carey Price and Martin Biron and both teams could be tired from going the distance in the opening round. In these cases, the better team usually finds a way to get it done. MONTREAL IN SIX.

NEW YORK RANGERS (5) vs PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (2)

Season series: Rangers 5-3-0, Pittsburgh 3-3-2

OUR TAKE: The Rangers, thanks in large part to Henrik Lundqvist, were the sleeper pick of many prior to the start of the playoffs. Their somewhat easy dismantling of Martin Brodeur and the Devils have a few more hopping aboard that bandwagon, but Lundqvist will now have to withstand an offensive assault from the loaded Penguins. Oh, and if Sean Avery decides to play games with Marc Andre Fleury, he will now have to answer to Georges Laraque. That could get entertaining. The Rangers are game but the Pittsburgh offense may be too much for them to overcome. Unlike the Ottawa series, the Penguins will have to break a sweat in this one. PITTSBURGH IN SEVEN.

Montreal fans getting bad rap for idiocy of few

henwood — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:37:18 GMT

So a few drunken idiots decide to stagger out of Chez Paree, or wherever they were pounding back more than their share of pints Monday night, go on an alcohol-induced vandalism spree and all of a sudden all Montreal supporters are idiots.

Wow, you'd think we'd never seen over-zealous, liquored-up celebrations before.

As my colleague Rick Couchman pointed out in his own space yesterday, most of the idiots using police cars as firewood after the elimination of the Boston Bruins weren't your prototypical Montreal Canadiens fans rather than drunken jackasses who were just looking for something to do burn.

Hardly grounds for labeling an entire city, or at the very least a fanbase, as a bunch of thugs.

Then you get a writer from Alberta denouncing the faithful of the bleu, blanc and rouge, throwing them off the moral platform while singing the praises of Calgary's infamous Red Mile.

Go figure, the guy isn't even from Calgary.

Having someone from ~~Calgary~~ Red Deer give victory celebration pointers to Montreal is like Roseanne Barr giving beauty hints to Jessica Alba.

Let's just say the championship scale is tilted a little in Montreal's favor when it comes to city bragging rights.

Calgary, as great a town as it is, is hardly the blueprint for the world's best fans. Of course, "real hockey fans celebrate their team's victories by cheering loudly, singing in the streets, waving flags, or drinking themselves stupid." Real fans, like, I don't know, those in Calgary, huh?

Or, as what was conveniently omitted, having inebriated young ladies show their junk with Girls-Gone-Wild-like candor, or beating an Edmonton Oilers fan senseless for, well, for having the audacity to be an Edmonton Oilers fan.

Hoodlums are hoodlums and will look for any excuse, including a hockey game, to act like delinquents. Not exactly reason to call out an entire fanbase, is it?

Talking to a buddy of mine in Montreal, it was nothing short of a raucous atmosphere in town Monday night. The Bell Centre and downtown bars were rocking, and I'd be willing to bet very few, if any, of these "real fans" played a role in the chaos that followed. Take it for what it is.

And yet, Montreal supporters, as a whole, are getting the bad rap.

No matter who you cheer for, what city you live in, here's a novel concept.

Check your better-than-thou attitude at the door, just shut up and be a fan.

Riots in Montreal give hockey fans bad name

couchman — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:51:40 GMT

Police cars set ablaze, store windows smashed, and assaults on police.

Hardly a way to celebrate a series win, now is it?

Last night in Montreal, 16 police vehicles were badly damaged, 6 of them torched by hoodlums with no other intent than to cause problems right from the start.

It all came on the heels of a pivotal game seven victory by the Habs over the Bruins.

And let it be known right here, right now - most of the troublemakers were not Montreal Canadiens fans. And that's usually the case whenever you read a story on rioting after a sports event, in any city.

Most of these punks wouldn't know a hockey puck from horse dung, unless they were hurling it at a police car.

We're talking about derelicts of society, people congregating just to cause havoc amidst a crowd of people.

They're nothing more than thugs who find joy in violence. And they care not that it's giving good Montreal hockey fans a black eye.

By most accounts, Habs fans peacefully spilled out of the Molson Centre celebrating the victory, high-fiving and shouting amongst themselves.

The jovial crowd sang and enjoyed the big win. A fairly normal celebration that's reminiscent of most NHL cities right after an important series victory.

As that crowd slowly started to break away and head home, that's when the losers came out of the woodwork.

Unfortunately, some media reports today make the assumption that it was Habs fans that were rioting, smashing windows, and tossing lit pieces of cardboard through cruiser windows.

Too bad that Habs fans were painted with such a wide brush. A good hockey city enjoys a great sporting event, joining together in celebration. And in the end it's all tarnished.

Tarnished by the few, who have little to do with the game, but seem intent on spoiling it for everyone.

Stanley Cup playoff upsets prove David can knock out Goliath

couchman — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:54:10 GMT

Every once in a while, David catches Goliath off guard.

Nothing captures the imagination of hockey fans like a Cinderella story in the spring, when an underdog will try to hold off midnight as long as possible.

As the Stanley Cup playoffs get to set to move into the second round, we here at Hockey.com thought we would take a look back at some of the biggest upsets in Stanley Cup history:

8. 1951, Montreal defeats Detroit
The Canadiens finished 36 points back of the league-leading Red Wings but had their number in the semi-final, winning the opening game in Motown in quadruple overtime before following that up with a triple-OT decision in Game 2. The Habs would upset the Wings in six before losing the Cup final to Toronto.

7. 1986, Calgary defeats Edmonton
Just a few words needed here. Edmonton 119 points. Calgary 89 points. Game 7. Steve Smith. Grant Fuhr. Enough said.

6. 1991, Minnesota defeats Chicago
The North Stars upset the league-leading Blackhawks, a team they finished 38 points behind in the regular season. Minnesota followed that up by beating the Blues, who were 37 points better than the North Stars. The underdog North Stars couldn't clear the final hurdle, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup final.

5. 1945, Toronto defeats Montreal
The Canadiens were 38-8-4 and 28 points better than the Leafs over a 50-game schedule. None of that mattered in the opening round, as Toronto bounced back from a 10-3 loss in Game 5 to oust the Habs out in Game 6 at Maple Leaf Gardens.

4. 1994, San Jose defeats Detroit
Late in Game 7 in Detroit, the Wings and upstart Sharks are tied when Motown goalie Chris Osgood, thinking he is Steve Yzerman, wanders out of his net and puts one right on the tape of Jamie Baker. Unfortunately, Baker is a Shark. Series over.

3. 1993, NY Islanders defeat Pittsburgh
The two-time defending champion Penguins, led by Mario Lemieux, were the best team in the league and heavy favorites to three-peat. Someone forgot to tell that to David Volek and the Islanders. Volek's OT winner in Game 7 of the division final sent the Penguins waddling out of the post-season.

2. 1971, Montreal defeats Boston
In the opening round, the 57-14-7 Bruins took on the third-place Canadiens, who finished 24 points back in the East Division. That didn't matter to some rookie goaltender named Ken Dryden, who backstopped the Habs to a seven-game series triumph. Montreal went on to win it all with Dryden getting Conn Smythe honors.

1. 1982, Los Angeles defeats Edmonton
The Oilers were are their way up and expected to roll over the Kings, and the 48-point difference made this series a formality. Or so it was thought. The Kings won the best-of-five series in five games, including a thrilling Game 3 win which they trailed 5-0 in the third before storming back to win 6-5 in OT in what is still known as the Miracle on Manchester.

Ready for more of the same NHL playoff action

couchman — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:30:28 GMT

It looks as if the NHL will be dark in a few days, meaning no games will be scheduled for a day or two as we prepare for the conference semi-final round to begin. We could all use this little lull in the action, just to collect our thoughts, pay some bills and get away from the TV!

My life may be a bit different than yours since I do hockey for a living. 24/7, that's me and although you may not have the schedule I do, you probably have been following the conference quarter-finals and have been impressed by the pace and action of the games.

We have hard hard hits, battles along the boards, grit and determination is the norm and most games have kept us tuned-in until the final horn. The officiating on a whole has been great, letting the boys play is much better than calling every little infraction. As long as the pattern continues, we cannot ask for anything more from the on-ice officials.

I am full of anticipation as we move deeper into the 2008 NHL playoffs and expect the hockey on the ice to be both intriguing and gut wrenching, just the way we want it. We have had very few lopsided games and those types of games have gone out the window with the old CBA. Teams are so close in the talent level and many games now come down to who wants it more, just the way we want it.

I really can't see the games getting more exciting than they are now, but somehow, they will. More is at stake, every shift means something, the action contiues and we will be watching!

Justice Served

I must admit, I have been very concerned with more players going the Teemu Selanne and Scott Niedermayer route and taking a few months off away from the game, then deciding to make a comeback and put their team in a position for a long playoff run.

Call it whatever you wish to, but something was just not right about it. Hopefully, it will get the attention of both the playes and general managers and we won't see it again. Bad for the game, bad for the league, just bad all around and somehow, justice was served.

No More Excuses

Frst off, this is not meant to be harsh or looked at as being writen by a Detroit Red Wings fan, but it is time the Nashville Predators win a playoff series. The wait for next year theme has to be forgotten, the injury excuse is old and tired and other teams could use the same reasoning, but they don't.

No more hampered by the cap excuse, no more we are still looked at as a non-hockey market. There is only one way to change that perception, start winning in the playoffs!