As many of you know, each year TSN brings out Maggie the Monkey to make her picks for the playoffs. This year is no different. So who then, did Maggie pick? From TSN:
While the Detroit Red Wings were the most popular pick to be the Stanley Cup champion on the NHL on TSN’s Playoff Preview Show, there was some good news for two of the three Canadian teams in the post-season. The Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks were both picked as first round winners by Maggie the Monkey, TSN’s famous prognosticating primate.
The Montreal Canadiens, on the other hand, did not get a favourable spin of Maggie’s lucky wheel. She predicted the Boston Bruins would beat the Habs in their first round series.
Detroit was the pick for Stanley Cup champion for three of the six hockey experts assembled for the preview show. Pierre McGuire, Bob McKenzie and James Duthie all picked the Red Wings over the Boston Bruins in the Cup Final.
Mike Green of the Washington Capitals says no to the NHL Hall of Fame, who asked for his record setting stick. Green scored goals in 8 consecutive games, an NHL record.
Tampa Bay rookie Steven Stamkos scored his first NHL career hat trick today, but it wasn’t enough as the Lightning went down to the Chicago Blackhawks.
1 year on from the accident that almost ended his NHL career, Richard Zednik put up 2 goals in the Panthers 5-4 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
As predicted, the Dallas Stars waived Sean Avery to the AHL yesterday. The New York Rangers have agreed to take him on in their farm team, the Hartford Wolf Pack. Many believe the Rangers may agree to take Avery off re-entry waivers if he performs well in Hartford.
Andy McDonald returned to the Ice today after a 36 game break due to a fractured leg, and did so with a 2 point outing, putting up a goal and an assist in the Blues 6-4 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.
Boston Bruins lose Petteri Nokelainen and Chuck Kobawew to injuries after todays 5-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks. Nokelainen was high-sticked by Shark’s Dan Boyle and immediate left the ice. Boyle did not receive a penalty on the play. Kobasew left he ice early with an apparent leg injury.
St Louis Blues LW Paul Kariya underwent a second surgery on his hip today. It is unsure if he will return this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs put Mike Van Ryn on IR today. Van Ryn had an MRI Monday, but no major damage was found. The team is purported to be playing it safe.
Video of the day:
Photo of the day: St. Louis Blues‘ Chris Mason, right, shoves Vancouver
Canucks‘ Steve Bernier away from the crease in the
third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Feb. 10,
2009, in St. Louis. The Canucks beat the Blues 6-4.
The Blues tie the game with Boston with a second left thanks to David Backes baseball style goal. Jackman blocks an empty net attempt late which sets up the goal in this MLK Day Thriller.
Christian Ehrhoff scores on the power play in the 2nd period to tie the game up at 3-3. The Sharks go on to win the game 6-5. *goal is at about the 1:50 mark*
Julien / McLellan to coach All-Star Game The Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks are leading the chase for the Presidents’ Trophy at the halfway mark of the season. As a result, their coaches will square off at the NHL’s midseason gala. Claude Julien of the East-leading Bruins and Todd McLellan of the Sharks, who are atop the West, on Saturday were named as coaches for their respective conferences in the 57th All-Star Game at the Bell Centre in Montreal on January 25. (The Full Story on Yahoo)
Shanahan Returns to Devils
Just two weeks shy of his 40th birthday, Brendan Shanahan is headed back to where it all started. The all-but-certain Hall of Fame forward agreed in principle to a deal with the Devils on Saturday that will return him to New Jersey—the team that chose him with the No. 2 pick in the 1987 NHL draft. (Read The Full Story on Yahoo)
Sunday’s 3 Stars
The NHL has announced it’s 3 Stars for Sunday. They were…
#1. Henrik Lundqvist (G – NY Rangers)
#2. Nikita Filatov (LW – Blue Jackers)
#3. Jeff Carter (C – Flyers)
KHL holds outdoor game in Red Square
MOSCOW – Marcel Hossa scored three times as a foreign squad led by former NHL MVP Jaromir Jagr edged an all-Russian team 7-6 in the Continental Hockey League’s all-star game in Red Square on Saturday. (Read The Full Story on TSN)
Transactions & Moves:
Corey Perry (RW – Anaheim) Suspension over.
Jarkko Ruutu (LW – Ottawa) Suspension over.
Rich Peverley (C – Atlanta) Claimed of waivers from Nashville.
Brendan Shanahan (LW – New Jersey) Signed.
Injuries:
Niklas Kronwall (D – Detroit) Flu. Day-to-day.
Marco Sturm (LW – Boston). Set for knee surgery, possibly out for the season.
Bruins Bergeron Suffers Re-Concussion Patrice Bergeron has been diagnosed with a concussion and placed on injured reserve. He was released from Massachusetts General Hospital on Sunday. The Bruins’ centre left in the second period of Saturday’s game against the Hurricanes after a collision with the Canes’ Dennis Seidenberg. (The Full Story on TSN)
Crosby sets new NHL record for All-Star votes, passes Jagr
With almost two weeks of voting remaining, Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby surpassed Jaromir Jagr’s record for the most votes ever received by a player in NHL all-star game fan balloting on Sunday. (The Full Story on TSN)
Suspensions:
None
Signings & Extensions:
Penguins centre Maxime Talbot has signed a two-year extension with the team. The extension will see Talbot earn $1,050,000 per season.
Trades & Transactions:
Montreal Canadiens re-assigned G Marc Denis to AHL.
Philadelphia Flyers recalled Randy Jones from a conditioning stint in the AHL.
Injuries:
Patrice Bergeron (C – Boston) IR. Concussion.
Tyler Bozak (FA) Out of WCHA Playoffs with leg injury.
Vesa Toskala (G – Toronto) Sore Groin / Leg.
Teemu Selanne (RW – Anaheim) Out 4-6 weeks with a quad muscle injury.
Marco Sturm (LW – Boston) Long-term IR.
Sami Salo (D – Vancouver) Out 4 weeks with broken rib.
It’s rumored the Atlanta Thrashers and Minnesota Wild could be working on a blockbuster trade that would go down following the Christmas trade freeze, which would see the Wild ship Marian Gaborik and Kim Johnsson to the Thrashers for Ilya Kovalchuk and Colby Armstrong.
Ross McKeon of Yahoo! Sports has released the weeks power rankings, this week based on the people between the pipes, the netminders. While it’s no surprise who leads the pack with regards to rankings, you might be surprised to ended up quite a way down the list.
The San Jose Sharks lead the pack with the Evgeni Nabokov / Brian Boucher combination. Boucher actually has a better GAA and SV% than Nabokov.
Coming in at #2 are the Boston Bruins who are led by the Tim Thomas / Manny Fernandez combination.
Third place belongs to the annual-cup-contenders, the Detroit Red Wings who have managed to get by with Chris Osgood actually being off his game. Backup Ty Conklin has been solid at his role.
The surprises?
For me, no bigger surprise than to see the Tampa Bay Lightning at #30. Mike Smith is the only reason that team hasn’t been beaten back into the 1700’s! Just ahead of the Lightning are the Islanders who, fair enough, have suffered from medical issues for starter Rick DiPietro. Backup Joey MacDonald has been spectacular and is starting to show he’s ready to challenge for DiPietro’s starter role. Right in the middle of the pack see’s the Vancouver Canucks sitting in spot #15. The Canucks have what is considered by many the best netminder in the league, Roberto Luongo.
View the full Power Rankings by visiting Ross McKeon’s column on Yahoo! Sports.
The Chicago Tribune visits with legendary Blackhawks organist Frank Pellico, who has been entertaining hockey fans at both the Chicago Stadium and the United Center for almost 20 years.
Vinny Lecavalier makes a nice move, sliding the puck past Toskala with one hand. http://www.nowhockey.com Visit our site for uncompressed video downloads and fantasy gambling via our forum.
Now in the 3rd, over 5 minutes gone by, Grant Marshall centers to Patrik Elias who makes a great move around the Duck defender. Elias gets a backhander off that Jean-Sebastien Giguere stops. But Giguere doesn\’t realize the rebound is still loose, and Elias grabs that rebound and centers back to Marshall for the slam dunk into the empty net, Devils ahead, 2-0! Clip is (c) ESPN and the NHL and no copyright infringement is intended against them. [More] [Less]
Brandon Prust of the Flames fights with Cody McLeod of the Avalanche. http://www.nowhockey.com Visit our site for uncompressed video downloads and fantasy gambling via our forum.
The last 1:06 of play which includes Jeff Friesen\’s 2nd goal of the game into the empty net, which sealed the Devils 3-0 win and Martin Brodeur\’s first Stanley Cup Final shutout! Clip is (c) ESPN and the NHL and no copyright infringement is intended against them.
Another Stanley Cup Commercial using clips of the Stanley Cup Finalists! Clip is (c) ESPN and the NHL and no copyright infringement is intended against them.
Entire shootout between the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes from October 28th, 2008. http://www.nowhockey.com Visit our site for uncompressed video downloads and fantasy gambling via our forum.
