(Video) End of the Wild and Sharks game

Since when is it now permissible to cross-check your opponent multiple times in the NHL? The refs in this game should be punished the NHL’s head of officials for their performance at the end of this game. After re-watching this video, I am more upset because the NHL officials are supposed to be the best in the world and should be held to a higher standard. This is kind of bushleague officiating is unacceptable, and their not calling penalties led to this ugly incident.

If you don't believe me, go back and watch the video again.

I included the play leading up to the exchange between Heatley and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. If the refs were doing their job, you might not have the play leading up to the slashes in question, because the players in question might have already been sitting in the penalty box. I am also not opposed to the NHL’s Department of Players Safety giving  Minnesota's Heatley a fine as well, after re-watching the video a few times, because if he connects with Vlasic, he could have done a lot of damage as well.

San Jose’s Marc-Edouard Vlasic sticks the Wild’s Dany Heatley

First off, Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic needs to be suspended for a very long time by the Department of Player Safety for his vicious attack on Wild forward Dany Heatley. There is no way you can justify this attack. Sounds like Heatley could be out of the line-up for a while. Michael Russo does a pretty good job of drawing this up. S/t for the video by Andy Johnson.

Vlasic slashed Heatley across the top of the back. Heatley got up and tried to connect with his stick and missed. Vlasic then two-handed Heatley across the forearm and jumped him. Vlasic got the shirt over top Heatley’s head, lifted him and then violently one-last time drove him down to the ice. That appears to be when Heatley got hurt. He skated to the exit in pain.

Jonathan Toews Short Handed Goal vs. Anaheim Ducks

Beautiful goal by former Fighting Sioux forward Jonathan Toews as he makes Aniheim Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller look sick. The Blackhawks ended up losing the game 4-2.

Jonathan Toews vs Joe Thornton fight. Feb 15th 2013

With that tilt, former Fighting Sioux forward Jonathan Toews has been in three fights during his professional career. I guess that's why he wears the "C" and I have to tip my hat the Blackhawks center. Joe Thornton has been known to drop the gloves a little more frequently.

He looks upset. #Blackhawks twitter.com/MarkLazerus/st…
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) February 16, 2013

Brad Stuart rocks Gabriel Landeskog

This was the hit that everyone was talking about yesterday. The Sharks defenseman Brad Stuart absolutely destorys the Av's forward Gabriel Landeskog with what appears to be a legal hit. I don't think it's a violation of rule 48. Or is it?

Rule 48 - Illegal Check to the Head

48.1 Illegal Check to the Head – A hit resulting in contact with an opponent's head where the head is targeted and the principal point of contact is not permitted. However, in determining whether such a hit should have been permitted, the circumstances of the hit, including whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit or the head contact on an otherwise legal body check was avoidable, can be considered.

Glendale rejects petitions to oppose Coyotes' arena deal

Finally!!! In the never ending saga that is the Phoenix Coyotes there is finally some good news for the Yotes fans. Ken Jones and Joe Cobb effort to put a referendum on the November ballot has failed when they missed the July ninth deadline to turn in 1800+ signatures.

The Associated Press --- The Glendale City Clerk's Office has rejected petitions that sought to put a referendum on the November ballot about the Phoenix Coyotes' pending arena management deal.

City officials said Monday that the petitions missed the July 9 deadline by three days and lacked the required 1,862 signatures.

The two Glendale residents who spearheaded the referendum turned in 1,568 signatures last Thursday.

Ken Jones and Joe Cobb said they wanted to give voters a chance to decide whether to overturn Glendale's 20-year, $324 US million lease agreement with potential Coyotes buyer Greg Jamison. The City Council approved the deal last month.

The NHL has yet to finalize the sale to Jamison, a former San Jose Sharks chief executive. But league officials say the deal still is being worked on.

Apparently the referendum organizers don't want to go away quitely into the night. One of the lead organizers of the petition drive Ken Jones, told the Republic's Lisa Halverstadt.

"I am one of the two originators of the referendum. We still expect a public vote on Glendale's expensive lease with Jamison, the potential owner of the Coyotes hockey team.

"We are determined to force fans to pay for their hockey. If the public doesn't get to vote on the Jamison lease, we have two backup plans.

"First, if it becomes necessary, a ground roots effort will be made to add a $30.00 surcharge or special use tax to every future ticket sold for regular season and playoff games. If this does not work, we will go to a Plan B and then continue until hockey costs are removed from Glendale's taxpayers

Coyotes staying in Phoenix?

Phoenix Coyotes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For those that think the Coyotes might end up in Quebec City or somewhere else. Think again, it looks like the Coyotes might be staying in Glendale AZ.

Lisa Halverstadt, AZCENTRAL.COM --- This comes at a time when the city has seen its reserves depleted and faces a $35 million shortfall in next year's operating budget. As fans celebrated the Coyotes' most successful season in Arizona, four of seven Glendale council members directed staff to move forward with a deal that could include the city paying a future Coyotes owner $17 million next year to manage the city-owned arena. Any negotiated deal would have to return to the council for a formal vote. Beasley previously said he expected such a deal by the end of the month. The team's on-ice success and former San Jose Sharks President Greg Jamison's bid to buy the team have buoyed hopes that a deal to keep the team will finally get done. City staff say Jamison's reported 20-year deal would be crucial for Glendale, which counts on hockey visitors to generate sales-tax revenue that helps pay its arena debt. It's not the deal the city originally envisioned.

Related articles

• Round 2 Series Preview: Predators vs. Coyotes
• The Coyotes response to the Torres Suspension
• Jamison to Buy Phoenix Coyotes
• Potential Coyotes buyer cautiously optimistic about landing the franchise

The Stanley Cup Playoffs - Goon's Predictions

Who do you like to win Lord Stanley's Cup? I am taking the Boston Bruins to repeat as the Champs? What do you think? Who is your pick to win it all?

Western Division

1 Vancouver Canucks vs. 8. L.A. Kings – 1 Vancouver Canucks

2 St. Louis Blues  vs. 7 SJ Sharks – 2 St Louis Blues

3 Phoenix Coyotes vs. 6 Chicago Blackhawks – 6 Chicago Blackhawks 

4 Nashville Predators vs. 5 Detroit Redwings – 5 Detroit Redwings 

Conference Semis

1 Vancouver Canucks vs. 6 Chicago Blackhawks – Vancouver Canucks

2 St Louis Blues vs. 5 Detroit Redwings – St Louis Blues

Western Conference Finals

Vancouver Canucks vs. St Louis Blues – St Louis Blues.

Eastern Division

1 New York Rangers vs. 8 Ottawa Senators – 1 New York Rangers

2 Boston Bruins vs. 7 Washington Capitals – 2 Boston Bruins

3 Florida Panthers vs. 6 New Jersey Devils – 6 New Jersey Devils

4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 5 Philadelphia Flyers – 4 Pittsburg Penguins

Conference Semi Finals

1 New York Rangers vs. 6 New Jersey Devils – New York Rangers

2 Boston Bruins vs. 4 Pittsburg Penguins – Boston Bruins

Conference Finals

1 New York Rangers vs. 2 Boston Bruins – Boston Bruins

Stanley Cup Finals

St Louis Blues vs. Boston Bruins – Boston Bruins

Visa Hockey Love Hurts

A person sent me this in an email today and I found this commercial to be very funny. Watching your favorite team either not make the playoffs or lose in the playoffs is tough to handle and sometimes it takes a few days to get over the sting of losing.

As a fan of the NHL's Boston Bruins, I had this same feeling for a very long time until they won it all last season.  Enjoy the video.

Brian Elliott's sick save against the Sharks.

Check out this really sick goalies save by former Badger goalie Brian Elliott on San Jose Shark Dan Boyle. I am sure that will probably be a candidate to be on of the top ten saves of the week. Elliot was making his season debut for the Blues and stopped 34/36 shots to give the Blues the win.

Jason Blake's arm cut in game against Sharks

This isn't pretty and I hope that former Fighting Sioux forward Jason Blake isn't hurt too bad. Let's hope that Jason makes a speedy recovery and will be back in the Duck's line up soon.

Los Angeles Times --- Ducks forward Jason Blake was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange and was in need of sutures Friday night after suffering what was described as a severe cut on his left forearm late in the team’s 1-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks at Honda Center.

Blake, 38, was injured almost midway through the final period of the Ducks’ home opener. He was taken out of the arena on a special stretcher that allowed him to keep his arm upright as he was sitting, not lying on his back, a team spokesman said.

There is a God; Wild trade James Sheppard.

Image via WikipediaWow! This summer has turned out to be pretty good for the Minnesota Wild, they have made another note worthy trade, the Minnesota Wild finally unloaded Wild waste of a serviceable uniform James Sheppard.

Sheppard once labeled untouchable by former GM buffoon Doug Risebrough has been nothing less than an utter disappointment with the Minnesota Wild.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose and Minnesota have made their third trade of the off-season, with centre James Sheppard going from the Wild to the Sharks on Sunday for a third-round draft pick in 2013.

Sheppard was the ninth overall pick in the 2006 draft, but the native of Lower Sackville, N.S., never performed up to his first-round potential. He missed all of last season after breaking his left kneecap in an off-ice accident. Sheppard has 11 goals and 38 assists in 224 career games.

Sheppard was a restricted free agent, but he has already a signed contract with the Sharks.

In June, San Jose sent Devin Setoguchi as part of a package to Minnesota for all-star defenceman Brent Burns. Last month, the Sharks traded Dany Heatley to the Wild for Martin Havlat.

Related articles

• Sharks acquire centre James Sheppard from Wild for a 2013 draft pick (thehockeynews.com)
• Sharks acquire centre James Sheppard from Wild (theglobeandmail.com)
• Sharks acquire C James Sheppard from Wild (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Sharks Acquire C James Sheppard From Wild (abcnews.go.com)
• Sharks Acquire C James Sheppard From Wild (nytimes.com)

Wild Trade Martin Havlat for Ex-Badger Dany Heatley

Image via WikipediaWe don't need no stinking Badgers... I have to say that I am still in a state of shock, the Minnesota Wild pull off their second major block buster trade of the offseason in less than two weeks. Just 9 days ago the Minnesota Wild traded defenseman Brent Burns to the Sharks for forward Devin Setoguchi.

The Minnesota Wild have traded for ex-Wisconsin Badgers star and San Jose Shark Dany Heatley in exchange the Sharks get much injured and soft Martin Havlat. This could be a great trade because the Wild get their much need offensive threat after losing Marian Gaborik to the New York Rangers.

Carly Peters - Digital Media Coordinator “We are excited to add Dany Heatley, one of the top goal scorers in the NHL, to our team,” said Fletcher. “He is a quality player who has averaged more than a point a game in his nine-year career.”

Heatley recorded 64 points (26-38=64) in 80 games last season with the Sharks. The 30-year-old native of Freiburg, Germany ranked tied for 12th in the NHL with 11 power-play goals and added five game-winning goals. Heatley added nine points (3-6=9) in 18 playoff games. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound winger ranks first in the NHL in power-play goals (128) and game-winning goals (58), third in goals and fifth in points since he entered the league in 2001. He has has collected 689 points (325-364=689) in 669 career contests in nine seasons with Atlanta, Ottawa and San Jose. He was the winner of the 2002 Calder Memorial Trophy, named to the 2006 NHL Second All-Star Team, the 2007 First All-Star Team and has been named to the NHL All-Star Game four times.

Heatley is familiar with the midwest, having played two seasons (1999-2001) at the University of Wisconsin, where he notched 113 points (52-61=113) in 77 games and was named the 2000 WCHA Rookie of the Year and to the 2001 NCAA West First All-American Team. He was originally selected by the Thrashers with the second overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

Havlat tallied 116 points (40-76=116) in 151 games in two seasons with Minnesota. The 30-year-old has recorded 512 points (209-303=512) in 621 career NHL games with Ottawa, Chicago and the Wild.

You have to wonder if the Wild are done making moves? This could turn out being a very exciting summer. The Wild have some exciting young talent waiting in the wings as well in Zucker, Larsson, and Granlund.

San Jose Sharks hosed...

It would appear that the San Jose Sharks were hosed by a controversial icing call in the final seconds of regulation during the third period of Game 5. If you watch the video you will see that the puck hit Daniel Sedin in the shoulder and there shouldn't have been an icing call. Because of the blown icing call the Vancouver Canucks were able to score off of the face off to tie the game and send the game to overtime. The Canucks would go on to win in the second over time off of a goal by Canucks hack defenseman Kevin Bieksa.

Canucks wait the winner of Bruins and Bolts...

What a horrible way to end a terrific game. I think this game was an instant classic, unfortunately the Vancouver Canucks won... Don't get me wrong the best team won. Honestly, I really thought the San Jose Sharks were going to win tonight and return the series to San Jose, but it wasn't to be. I don't think we can tag the Canucks as a team of destiny, just yet. There is a lot of hockey left.

On the Vancouver Canucks, they are the most unlikeable hockey team in the NHL next to the "Les Habitants," personally, I can't stand them, they're extremely cocky, they run their mouths continuously, and some hockey fans and media pundits have already penciled them in as the Stanley Cup Champions.You shouldn't, they haven't won nothing yet. If the Canucks want to be Stanley Cup Champions they are going to have to earn Lord Stanley's Cup, because whoever wins the Eastern Conference final is going to bring it, both Tampa Bay and Boston are going to give the Canucks everything they can handle.


That being said, the Vancouver Canucks are a pretty  very good hockey team, they have decent defensive corps; just think, Keith Ballard is their 7th defenseman, that's how deep they are. They Canucks are deep up front and the Sedin Twins are very dangerous and you must be aware where they are on the ice at all times. 


Jumbo Joe one tough guy.

It was revealed after the game tonight that San Jose Forward Joe Thornton was playing with a separated shoulder in game five. Ouch.... I can't imagine playing a contact sport like hockey with a separated shoulders, Joe Thornton must have a high pain threshold to be able to play with that injury.

Ryane Clowe tap on Ryan Kessler...

Holy Cow! Are you kidding me? The dive by Canucks forward Ryan Kessler was worse than I had originally thought it was... If you watch the video you will see that San Jose Sharks forward Ryan Clowe barely touched Ryan Kessler who then flops to the ice like he has been shot.... If you noticed the announcers didn't spend a lot of time talking about the Clowe love tap either, also look how concerned Kessler's teammates were as well, they knew. What a fraud!!! This Vancouver Canucks team is a bunch of phonies that looked like they spent last summer taking acting and drama classes. These clown Vancouver Canucks throw their head back any time they are touched by the San Jose Sharks. 

Keith Ballard check on Jamie McGinn

Wow!!! I have to say, what a beautiful old style hip check by former Minnesota Gopher and Vancouver Defenseman Keith Ballard. Ballard had been a healthy scratch for most of the Stanley Cup Playoffs; Ballard's benching went back to game two of  the first round of the NHL playoffs against the Blackhawks where he was replaced in the line up by Canucks rookie defenseman Aaron Rome. Ballard was given a second chance today when Aaron Rome was injured in game three on a check by Jamie McGinn.

Sharks Joe Thornton is hit by the Canucks' Raffi Torres

This is the hit that injured Sharks star forward Joe Thornton... Not much you can say about the hit, it was a clean shoulder to shoulder check by Canucks' hack Raffi Torres. According to the Sharks head Coach Todd McLellan there is no update on Joe Thornton at this time. Being it’s a knock out game for the San Jose Sharks, you have to think that unless something is broken, Joe Thornton will probably be in the line up for game five.

Sharks' McGinn will not be suspended for hit on Rome.

Vancouver Sun Image

I believe that is the right decision by the NHL. Seriously, watching the game in time I thought the hit was barely worthy on a penalty. Just my humble opinion… In fact I was watching this game with my buddy and after the McGinn hit Rome he said, “play that hit back again” in watching the hit, I don’t think it warranted a five minute penalty. What do you think? I am sure there are Canucks fans that are upset with the hit, so what? The fact that the league reviewed this hit is a puzzler to me because there were worse hits that went un-penalized by the NHL Wheel of Justice during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. If you want to take a look at the hit you can click on the hit [on this link]

TSN.CA STAFF ---- There will be no supplementary discipline against San Jose forward Jamie McGinn, who received a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct in the third period of Friday's Western Conference final.

McGinn had a hearing Saturday with NHL hockey operations, and learned he did not face a suspension after a review of the incident.

McGinn, who drew into the lineup after watching Games 1 and 2, received a five-minute boarding call for his hit on Vancouver Canucks defenceman Aaron Rome. Rome had to be helped off the ice after the hit and didn't return.

The Sharks trail the series 2-1 after winning a Conference Final game on home ice for the first time in franchise history.

Game 4 is Sunday in San Jose.

Jamie McGinn boards Aaron Rome hearing today from NHL

San Jose Sharks leftwinger Jamie McGinn has a hearing with the NHL for this hit on Vancouver Canucks defenseman Aaron Rome according to @TSNBobMcKenzie.

SJS Jamie McGinn has disciplinary hearing with NHL this afternoon for hit on VAN's Aaron Rome.

So in your opinion is this hit worthy of a suspension? Based on what the NHL has let go in the playoffs I wouldn't be surprised if no suspension is giving on the hit.