Penguins
-So, did Sidney Crosby really get a shot on net in Sunday's game against the Flyers?
-The Penguins unleashed Pizza Hut on some poor unsuspecting construction workers.
(Note: Several of you have e-mailed asking if Pascal Dupuis' hood over his jersey is a jersey foul. By the letter of the "law," yes it is. But we plan on introducting legislation this summer that leaves players exempt from jersey fouls, provided they are wearing their own jersey. They're the reason we all want to buy that jersey. They should be allowed to do what they want with it.)
-What recession? The Penguins are one of eight teams confirmed to be raising ticket prices for next season.
-Bad news for those of you who want the Penguins to re-sign Rob Scuderi (right). The crop of free agent defensemen this summer won't be that deep.
-Janne Pesonen is six points shy of setting a record for most points in an AHL season by a Finnish player.
-The Stockton Thunder claimed forward Bo Cheesman off waivers from the Wheeling Nailers.
Atlantic Division
-Scoreboard Watch for the Penguins: Nikolai Zherdev had a goal and an assist for the Rangers who edged the Wild, 2-1. Minnesota's Marian Gaborik scored his first goal since Dec. 23. The Rangers are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference with 86 points, just as many as the Penguins who are in sixth place. The Penguins have a tiebreaker over the Rangers based on goals in head-to-head games.
-Look at the ridiculous angle Zherdev scored his goal from:
-As if the Flyers couldn't get more lovable, check out what happened to Mike Richards during an in-game interview Monday:
-Also, the Flyers have an ugly hat they all wear during interviews. They're doing everything they can to make everyone like them.
-Also from Monday's game against the Devils, check out this nifty pass Claude Giroux made to set up a goal by Simon Gagne:
-Simon Gagne has rebounded from an injury-filled 2007-08 and hit the 30-goal mark for the fourth time in his career.
-Devils forwards Brian Gionta and John Madden, both scheduled to become free agents this offseason, want to stay in New Jersey.
-The Devils voted forward Zach Parise their MVP for the season.
-Islanders defenseman Mark Streit has proven he can be a full-time blue-liner.
Northeast Division
-Scoreboard Watch for the Penguins: Alex Tanguay had two goals and three assists for the Canadiens who pounded the Thrashers, 6-3. Former Penguins forward Alex Kovalev added two goals and an assist while teammate Saku Koivu recorded a goal and two assists. Fire Craig Patrick. Montreal ended a five-game losing streak. Rich Peverly led Atlanta, which was officially eliminated from playoff consideration, with two assists. The Canadiens are in eighth place with 83 points, three less than the Penguins.
-A shootout goal by Jeff Hamilton gave the Maple Leafs a 3-2 win against the Capitals. Mikhail Grabovski had two assists for Toronto. Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist for Washington.
-Curtis Joseph was forced to take over in net for Toronto with just 56 seconds left. Washington's Brooks Laich had tied the game up on a questionable call. Maple Leafs goaltender Martin Gerber went nuts protesting the goal and pushed referee Mike Leggo then shot a puck at him. The officials booted Gerber and Joseph came in and saved all nine shots he faced in the third period and overtime. He also did not allow a goal in the shootout.
-The goal by Laich and Gerber's protest:
-Gerber is facing a three-game suspension.
-The Sabres need forwards Tim Connolly, Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek to do some scoring if they hope to make the playoffs.
-Forward Daniel Alfredsson has been a big part of the Senators' late-season surge.
-Former Maple Leafs tough guy Dave "Tiger" Williams has no problem with Alex Ovechkin's celebrations.
-Toronto forward Alexei Ponikarovsky has acted as a translator and mentor for fellow Russian teammates Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin.
Southeast Division
-Martin St. Louis' overtime goal gave the Lightning a 2-1 win against the Blue Jackets. Teammate Steven Stamkos added two assists while Mike McKenna made 33 saves in the win.
-The Capitals recalled goaltender Daren Machesney and forward Steve Pinizzotto from Hershey of the AHL and demoted goaltender Simeon Varlamov.
-Capitals foward Alex Ovechkin compared his goal celebration to drinking a lot.
-Ovechkin (right) sure likes his "Coach's Corner."
Central Division
-Johan Franzen and Brian Rafalski each recorded two assists for the Red Wings who claimed a wild 3-2 win at Edmonton. Former Penguin Ty Conklin made 24 saves in the win. In the "life's not fair" department, Dwayne Roloson made 41 saves and lost. The win pushed Detroit back into first place in the Western Conference over the Sharks.
-The Blues are still alive in the Western Conference's playoff race. Chris Mason made 22 saves for St. Louis in a 2-0 shutout of the Kings. Patrik Berglund scored both of the Blues' goals while David Perron assisted on both of them. The Blues are in tenth place with 77 points and are only one point out of eighth place.
-Contract talks between the Red Wings and free agent forwards-to-be Johan Franzen and Marian Hossa are at a standstill.
-Injuries have prompted the Blackhawks to move Dustin Byfuglien from forward to defense.
-Blue Jackets forward Jason Chimera is close to returning from a groin injury.
-Predators forward Jason Arnott is still reeling from a concussion.
Northwest Division
-Two goals and an assist by Henrik Sedin led the Canucks to a 5-2 win at Dallas. Ryan Kesler added two goals for Vancouver while teammate Daniel Sedin recorded a goal and an assist. Roberto Luongon made 35 saves in the win. The Stars have lost four consecutive games.
-Mark Herrmann of Newsday has the scoop of the year and reveals that the Wild is boring.
-For some reason, 93-year-old Owen Nolan decided to fight Rangers goon Colton Orr last night:
-Forward Joe Sakic is a little closer to returning to the Avalanche's lineup.
-Forward Ales Hemsky doesn't think the Oilers are using him correctly.
-With forward Mikko Koivu down and out with a knee injury, the Wild really need Marian Gaborik to lead them if they hope to reach the playoffs.
-The NHLPA isn't happy with Canucks forward Ryan Kesler for suggesting he would take a pay cut to stay with Vancouver.
Pacific Division
-Teemu Selanne's shootout goal gave the Ducks a 2-1 win at Nashville. Jean Sebastien Giguere made 31 saves in the win that pushed Anaheim ahead of the Predators for eighth place in the Western Conference.
-Check out this hip check Dallas' Steve Ott stuck on Vancouver's Taylor Pyatt last night:
-Leave it to Sean Avery to force Stars owner Tom Hicks to issue this edict: "We will never make a free agent signing without doing psychological testing ever again as long as I'm the owner."
-It has come to this for the Coyotes. Buy some vodka and you get free tickets.
-Statistical Oddity of the Day: Despite owning the Ducks' rookie record for points, forward Bobby Ryan doesn't own the club's rookie record for goals or assists.
-Sharks forward Jeremy Roenick is hoping to return to the lineup tonight against his former team, the Blackhawks. He has been sidelined roughly a month due to a shoulder injury.
Norris Division
-Official Don Koharski is about to hang up his whistle. No word yet if he plans on retiring and starting up a donut shop.
-Someone must've tricked NBC into thinking the Blackhawks, Red Wings and Wild are in the Atlantic Division. Because all three will be making an upcoming appearance on the Peacock.
-Youngstown is scrambling to find a tenant for the Chevrolet Centre.
(Photos: Scuderi-Rick Stewart/Getty Images; Ovechkin-Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Posted
Mar 25 2009, 12:02 AM
by
Seth Rorabaugh