Pierre McGuire interviews Devils forward Travis Zajac

NBC's Pierre McGuire interviews New Jersey Devils forward Travis Zajac. The Former UND forward gives the University of North Dakota  hockey team some love going into the Frozen Four.

(Video) Brooks Orpik hit on Jonathan Toews

I am not a fan of Brooks Orpik, not at all. He will lay people out with huge hits that seem to always be in the grey area. He'll layout a star player and not answer the bell when challenged. That's my biggest problem with this guy. This hit is right on the edge. It could go either way. I am not a fan of either team. I have no dog in this fight.

But look at it this way. If someone hit Wayne Gretzky or Sidney Crosby this way, what would happen to that player in question. It Wild forward Matt Cooke hit Jonathan Toews with this hit, would he be getting a call from the Department of Player Safety?

Still not convinced?

Let me put it to you this way. I am sure that if the Bruins forward Milan Lucic hit Sidney Crosby like that Penguins fan's would be fine with that hit, right? I am sure they would be.... Right? They wouldn't be screaming for a suspension, right? Of course not. I am not saying that Brooks deserves to be suspended by the NHL. He won't be. The next time someone takes a run at Crosby, remember this hit.

@tjmcaloon the suspension train is pulling in the station. pic.twitter.com/KSjZlakOt9
— Michael Keating (@KeatingSports) March 31, 2014

NCAA Hockey: Jonathan Turk knees Shane Gostisbehere (Video)

Vermont’s Jonathan Turk was given a two minute minor penalty for Charging. To me, this looks like Turk hit the Union defenseman Shayne Gotisbehere with a knee on the back of the knee hit. Union wasn’t happy with the hit. Gotisbehere did return to play in the second period.

Related articles

• College Hockey: The NCAA Playoffs Take Center Stage

NHL Players Safety, 'No Hearing for Nino Neiderreiter for his check on Alex Burrows

(1 of 5) Niederreiter makes full body contact. While there is contact to head, refer to rule 48 points (i) & (ii).. pic.twitter.com/ta3lqfGDgi
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 27, 2014

I told the Canucks fans that were chirping me on twitter last night that his hit was not a suspendable hit. I was told to re-read Rule 48. Yet, I was right… I wonder where those Vancouver Canucks fans are today?

@goon48 go watch the replay again and take off your team coloured glasses
— Scotia (@Scottkanold) March 27, 2014

Minnesota Wild forward Nino Niederreiter will not have a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player safety for his check on Vancouver Canucks forward Alex Burrows. Nor should he.

(2 of 5) (i) In spite of some head contact, NN hits squarely thru the body. He does not "pick" the head.. pic.twitter.com/024CC92yyS
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 27, 2014

(3 of 5) ..as a result of poor timing, poor angle of approach, or unnecessary extension upward or outward.. pic.twitter.com/YBDcArYVX6
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 27, 2014

(4 of 5) (ii) We believe that some head contact on this otherwise full bodycheck was unavoidable. pic.twitter.com/AenUwn3Ve4
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 27, 2014

(5 of 5) The reverse angle shows this most clearly. pic.twitter.com/ASF9sqUBYY
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 27, 2014

Tale of two GIFS Patrice Bergeron's goal

Check this out. We have both sides of Dougie Hamilton shot and the redirect goal by Patrice Bergeron. It was the game tying goal for the Boston Bruins. The Bruins would lose the game in a shootout. 

Martin Brodeur goalie with his eye on the puck.

Photographed the #NJDevils vs #nyrangers tonight in Jersey. Nice building. Photo : #brodeur eyes the puck #NHL pic.twitter.com/yIgswySTRL
— Brian Babineau (@babsphoto) March 23, 2014

New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur eyes the puck, literally. Awesome picture.

Minnesota Wild: Jason Zucker done for the season

It's been a tough season for the former DU Pioneer forward Jason Zucker and his season with the Minnesota Wild is probably over after having knee surgery.

Michael Russo, Star Tribune --- Zucker probably out for year.

Winger Jason Zucker is likely out for the season, General Manager Chuck Fletcher said. He will likely need additional knee surgery after aggravating his injury while training.

“It’s gone from something minor to not,” Fletcher said.

#mnwild GM Chuck Fletcher says Jason Zucker is likely out for season. Reaggravated knee injury. "Gone from something minor to not."
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) March 18, 2014

Jason Zucker is likely out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. He said he'll comment on the injury at a later time.
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) March 18, 2014

A look at "Jason Zucker's Lost Season", and what the future may hold for Zucker with the #mnwild. http://t.co/2ATGHW1fWX
— Hockey Wilderness (@hockeywildernes) March 19, 2014

ISS Draft Rankings: Top 30 prospects for the 2014

Three college hockey prospects in the Top-30 ISS Draft Rankings for forwards and defensemen.

.@ISSHockey ranks the Top 30 prospects for the 2014 #NHLDraft - http://t.co/oFcfpt2Nn8
— Hockey's Future (@HockeysFuture) March 17, 2014

Related articles

• NHL Draft War Room: Nick Schmaltz (thehockeywriters.com)

Clayton Stoner's first goal of the year - GIF

s/t to cjzero... Who would have thought that Minnesota Wild defenseman Clayton Stoner has moves like this? That's his first goal of the year.

Jarome Iginla Knuckle Puck - GIF

Boston Bruins forward Jarome Iginla scores a knuckle puck goal against Minnesota Wild goalie That was goal 553 of Iggy's career. Darcy Kuemper had no chance on that goal.

Calgary Flames: Corban Knight wins it for Calgary in the Shootout

GOOD KNIGHT!
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) March 15, 2014

Former Fighting Sioux forward Corban Knight has played six games in his NHL career and he's starting to make an impact, albeit playing fourth-line minutes. Tonight, Knight scored the winning shootout goal for the Flames

“@NHLFlames: Didn't catch the #CGYDAL shootout? Have no fear, we've got your back (VIDEO) ~ http://t.co/DeGcwKBaa1”
— Kai (superman) (@KaiKnightTurcan) March 15, 2014

Getty Images are now free - T.J. Oshie

Recently, Getty Images recently made their pictures free. I was searching around and found this gem. It's T.J. Oshie practicing at the Frozen Four.

Corban Knight Post Game Interview

.@CorbanKnight talks about scoring his 1st @NHL goal (VIDEO) ~ http://t.co/8fXBNpI3FX #CGYANA
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) March 13, 2014

Corban Knight talks about his first NHL goal and about the Flames 7-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks.

Related articles

• Calgary Flames: Corban Knight scores is first NHL Goal. (Video) (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Corban Knight is still smiling... Scores first NHL goal with Flames

.@CorbanKnight, ladies and gentlemen. pic.twitter.com/0HuqQCvIkT
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) March 13, 2014

Former UND forward Corban Knight smiles a lot... Last night we was smiling as scored the first goal of his NHL career.

Calgary Flames: Corban Knight scores is first NHL Goal. (Video)

Congratulation to Former Fighting Sioux forward Corban Knight, who scored his first NHL goal of his career, in his fifth NHL game. Knight played on the Flames fourth line logging a total of 9:39 tonight. If you look at the Flames roster, you will see a nice representation of former college hockey players. 

Related articles

• Top Ten Calgary Flames Prospects, Winter 2014 Edition (thehockeywriters.com)

Blake Comeau hit on Brendan Smith

 
Columbus forward Blake Comeau is going to have a phone hearing with the NHL's Department of player safety for this hit. I have to think, he's going to get a couple of games for this one. Thoughts?

Columbus forward Blake Comeau to have phone hearing tomorrow for boarding Detroit's Brendan Smith.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 12, 2014

New Jersey Devils: Martin Brodeur's amazing save

What an amazing save by New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur. Looks like he wasn't even looking. The Devils would beat the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1.

NHL considering video review

Sportsnet (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Awesome idea. I wish the NCAA would consider doing this as well. Refs are human and make mistakes. As long as they don't slow the game down, I am all for it.

Mark Spector, Sports Net -- Here’s the deal on NHL refs: They get 95 percent of the calls right. And on the five percent they don’t, they know 95 percent of the time that they might be wrong.

You’ve heard of the referee who goes into the dressing room in between periods to watch a replay of a certain call? Why do you think he’s looking at it again? Because he thinks he might have screwed it up.

“The guys on the ice have a real sense of when something doesn’t smell right,” Director of Officiating Stephen Walkom told Sportsnet Monday, after he took part in a discussion on whether the on-ice officials should be able to initiate video reviews or not. “There are just certain times where a referee calls a penalty. He thinks he has a (number) six but it’s really 16. Guys come to him and say, ‘You sure you have the right number?’ It doesn’t stop the game. It just gets the right guy.”

NHL suspends Jordan Nolan for Sucker Punching Jesse Joensuu

This should have been more than a one-game suspension. This is ridiculous. There's no sense to this crap. You can't just punch an unsuspecting player like this. It's a violation of the hockey code. A one-game suspension for this barbaric act is absolute joke. Unacceptable! I don't care what the Oilers defenseman Jesse Jensuu did, if you want to fight him, challenge him to a fight.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The NHL has suspended Los Angeles Kings forward Jordan Nolan has been suspended for one game for punching an unsuspecting opponent.

The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings' 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum.

Joensuu's arms were tied up by a linesman and the scrum was dissipating when Nolan threw his punch.

Nolan was assessed a double-minor penalty for roughing on the play. He will forfeit US$3,589.74 in salary.

Crazy OT Thought for the NHL...and maybe other leagues (RW77)

Overtime Power Play Face Off (Photo credit: clydeorama)

I was driving around, listening to the Boston Bruins vs. Florida Panthers game on SiriusXM and the Florida commentators (never got their names) were talking about the upcoming considerations regarding Overtime and the Shootout.

The growing opinion is that the shootouts are not popular among players and coaches because it takes away the team aspect of winning among other things.  Aside from the commentator having a ridiculous reason (airports close so their private jets cannot take off if the game ends, say, 10 minutes later than it would normally.  Ok, nothing prohibits the aircraft from taking off first thing in the morning?), they brought up a few ideas such as 3 on 3s or lengthening OT to 8 or 10 minutes.

I got a crazy idea.  And yeah, it's crazy.  Instead of doing a shootout, why not solve the game outside of OT via the powerplay?  If OT ends and it is still a tie, they resurface the ice and put two minutes up on the clock.  The home team starts off with a 4 on 3 powerplay for 2 minutes.  If the home team scores, the visiting team gets a 4 on 3 powerplay to tie it up.  If they don't score, game over.  If they do, they reset and move to 5 on 3 powerplay for 2 minutes.  I should say:  Shorthanded goals end the game immediately (sort of sudden death).  It's sortof a restating of the college football OT rules.

My original idea, which is you play 10 minute OT periods until someone scores, seems to no longer be ok, so what about this crazy idea?

Can you come up with a better idea?