So you're saying there is a chance - Chara on his injury.

Image via WikipediaThe injury ninja has bitten Zdeno Chara and it's unknown how long he will be out of the line up. Sounds like he is day-to-day but out for tomorrow's game against the Kings in Los Angeles. Chara is an important cog in the Bruins line up and if he is gone for any amount of time it would be bad for the Boston Bruins.

WILMINGTON -- Although he sat out today's practice at Ristuccia Arena in preparation for Tuesday night's game against the Los Angeles Kings at TD Garden, Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, speaking to media for the first time since he sustained a left lower-leg injury in Saturday night's win at Columbus, said he "was feeling better than I expected."

Asked about whether the plan was to take the next week off, Chara replied, "No, the plan is to take it a day at a time, really. You can't really put a time frame on it. You basically have to see how it feels and it feels better than expected.''

Chara, who suffered the injury during a power play in the second period of Saturday's 5-3 road victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, said he wasn't certain how long he would be out of the lineup.

It also looks like Gregory Campbell is questionable as well as the Bruins Blog is reporting that he was hurt blocking a shot in the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Zach Parise's waved off goal.

So did former Fighting Sioux forward Zach Parise score a legitimate goal or not? In reviewing the video it looks like the refs "may" have made the right call.  What do you think? Did the ref make the right call, or not? Why?

Pierre-Marc Bouchard high stick on Matt Calvert

This incident happened during last night's Wild and Blue Jackets games apparently Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Scott Arniel was less than pleased that Pierre-Marc Bouchard only got a double minor. Just for the record  Bouchard has already had a call with the NHL.

It looked like a baseball swing in live action, but the Wild contended Bouchard’s stick was lifted into Calvert’s face.

The Jackets didn’t buy it. Bouchard was given a double-minor, but the Jackets wanted a five-minute major.

“It’s definitely an attempt to injure,” Arniel said. “Our whole bench saw it. Their whole bench saw it." [Blue Jacket Extra]

After looking at this high stick do you think Bouchard's high stick worthy of a suspension? Remember; Bouchard is not some untalented goon and Bouchard doesn't have a reputation of being a dirty player either. My question is, do the fans, players and coaches expect the NHL to suspend each and every major penalty and questionable infraction that happens on the ice? Not every major penalty requires a suspension. While I think this was a blatant high stick but probably "not worthy" of a suspension.

Related articles

• Heatley leads Wild to 4-2 win over Blue Jackets (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Ex-Sharks Heatley, Setoguchi lift Wild in opener (sports.espn.go.com)
• More of the Same: Columbus Blue Jackets Continue to Play Without Passion, Drive (bleacherreport.com)
• Healthy returns: Minnesota Wild will rely on Latendresse, Bouchard, Harding for key depth (thehockeynews.com)

The NHL throws the book at James Wisniewski

I must applaud NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan for suspending Columbus defenseman James Wisniewski, first, this is a senseless move because the game is officially over and there is no reason to make that gutless play. Second, Columbus is a conference opponent so Wisniewski will have ample opportunity to get another crack at Cal Clutterbuck and if he must challenge him to a fight. Third, Wisniewski needs to learn how to take a check and get over it, I am sick and tired of this mentality that if you get hit by someone with a legal check that you need to fight them. Take their number and get them back later. There is no room for these kind of hits in the NHL and they are being dealt with. In reading the Columbus Blue Jackets beat writer blog and the comments of the Columbus fans it would appear that the Columbus Blue Jacket nation does not agree with the ruling.

Related articles

• Wisniewski Suspended For Remainder Of Preseason, Eight Regular Season Games - NHL.com - News (thefrozenpondreport.wordpress.com)
• Wisniewski out preseason, 1st 8 games (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Brendan Shanahan - It's About Time (chrisross91.wordpress.com)
• NHL suspends Staubitz, Wisniewski indefinitely (espn.go.com)

NHL realignment for the 2012-13 season

Image via WikipediaWith the Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg Manitoba, it appears that the Detroit Redwings will be moving to the Eastern Conference like many of the hockey pundits had suggested. I also like the idea of having a home-and-home against teams outside their division.

Bruce Garrioch ,Ottawa Sun - The NHL could be ready to make drastic changes with a major realignment for the 2012-13 season.

Two league executives told QMI Agency Wednesday that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman presented a proposal during Tuesday’s board of governors meetings in New York to scrap the current format used by the league.

Sources say under Bettman’s proposal, the league will have four divisions: Pacific, Midwest, East and South. It’s believed the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets would both get their wish to move to the East conference.

Changes need to be made with the Atlanta Thrashers’ move to Winnipeg now official. The two conferences and six divisions will be kept this year, but Bettman is pushing for a major change.

The realignment is by no means final. It’s still in the discussion stages.

Teams would play a balanced 82-game schedule with home-and-home against teams outside their division.

The top four teams in each division would make the playoffs. The first round would be divisonal play, the teams would then re-seed for conference play. Bettman’s idea would not affect a East-West Stanley Cup final matchup.

Umberger hit on Doughty

Haven't we seen this before? So where are all of the pundits calling for R.J. Umberger's suspension... No I am not, however, I am surprised that some of the hockey Pundits are calling for an 2-4 game suspension R.J. Umberger.

Turf Wars.

I saw this story on line while I was perusing the internet this afternoon. The Columbus Dispatch had this news nugget on it.

Puck Rakers Blog --- It’s commonplace for players to limber up by kicking a soccer ball in a circle, but the teams are usually separated by a considerable distance to avoid conflict. For example, in Nationwide Arena teams play soccer at either end of a 200-foot hallway.

The Blues, however, are the one visiting club with a history of circumnavigating the unwritten code in Columbus, an NHL source said. Last night, Blues players walked around the inside of the building to hold their soccer game within about 100 feet of the Jackets’ players, eyewitnesses added.

Jackets alternate captain R.J. Umberger, who does sprints before every game, apparently ran through or nearby the Blues’ circle sparking a verbal exchange, several eyewitnesses said. Umberger has grown weary of what he perceives as gamesmanship by the Blues, a source said. The Blues certainly have set a physical tone against the Jackets in recent seasons and the local club has not always responded well.

It’s unclear how many players on each team were involved. The skirmish was broken up quickly, but the game featured two fights, multiple scrums, 92 penalty minutes and venomous verbal barbs.

Sounds like the rivalry between the Blue Jackets and the Blues is getting heated. As an NHL fan, you have got to love a near scrum in the building before an NHL game. Nice! I would love to have former Ohio State University Buckeye R.J. Umberger on my team any day.