Update: Ducks Chris Stewart Fights Bruins Tory Krug

That being said, props to Boston Bruins defenseman Tory Krug for taking on the Anaheim Ducks Nethanderal Chris Stewart. Apparently, Stewart didn't want to fight Krug.

Krug told the Boston media after the game, however, that he was the one who initiated the scrap, which followed a late hit by Ducks winger David Perron on Bruins D-man Kevan Miller. Stewart, he said, wanted no part of it.

Big scrum after Goose makes a stop, and then Krug & Chris Stewart drop 'em. Torey heads to the box to a loud chorus of KRUUUUUUG

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) January 27, 2016

Chris Stewart having words with Chara after that last whistle. Feeling his oats after his fight with Krug? #NHLBruins #Ducks

— Rhonda R. McClure (@HockeyMaven1917) January 27, 2016

Stanley Cup Finals Schedule Released

If the Stanley Cup Finals go to game seven, we will be watching hockey deep into June.  The only questions we left to answer, who's going to be the two teams in the finals? 

Game 1 Wednesday, June 3
Game 2 Saturday, June 6
Game 3 Monday, June 8
Game 4 Wednesday, June 10
Game 5 * Saturday, June 13
Game 6 * Monday, June 15
Game 7 * Wednesday, June 17

* if necessary

Video: And the Academy Award goes to Andrew Shaw for Embellishment

Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf is assessed a two-minutes minor penalty for high-sticking Chicago Blachkawks forward/pest Andrew Shaw. I think you could make the argument for embellishment by Shaw. If you count the seconds after the infraction in question it's almost a two full seconds before Shaw reacts.

Here's a gif of the play in question. Looks like Shaw wasn't even touched by Getzlaf. You make the call, you be the judge.

Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford steps into the Ducks Rickard Rakel

The game is getting feisty. Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford steps into the Ducks forward Rickard Rakel and causes a bit of a dustup.

Got to love NHL playoffs. Mayhem all over including blatant interference by Crawford on Rickard Rakell and faceoff neutral zone.

— Scott Burnside (@ESPN_Burnside) May 20, 2015

Corey Crawford steps out and intentionally bumps into Rickard Riakell on a dump-in. #curiousmove #ANAvsCHI

— ESPN NHL coverage (@ESPN_NHL) May 20, 2015

Clayton Stoner Cross-Checks Andrew Shaw in the Face

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Clayton Stoner was very lucky that he's still in the game. Stoner cross-checks Marcus Kruger from behind, causing him to slide face first into the end boards. Kruger suffered a minor cut for his efforts.

But Stoner wasn't done. The Ducks defender goes on to perform oral surgery on Andrew Shaw.

To quote Brendan Shanahan, "this was a blatant attempt to injure an opponent." In other words, this was an egregious act that deserved a penalty. Also, I think that Shaw has an expectation to not be cross-checked in the face. The play is basically over.

If I was the commissioner of the NHL, these are the types of plays that would be highly punished. My question is, would this hit be worthy of a call from the Department of Player Safety. Is this suspension worthy?

Odds for the Stanley Cup

Odds to win the 2015 Stanley Cup

New York Rangers                     13/4 

Chicago Blackhawks                 4/1 

Anaheim Ducks                         9/2 

Minnesota Wild                         11/2 

Montreal Canadiens                   13/2 

Tampa Bay Lightning                 15/2 

Washington Capitals                  9/1 

Calgary Flames                         12/1 

The odds to win the Stanley Cup come from Bovada,

WTH: Dustin Byfuglien Punches Corey Perry After he Scores (Video)

At the 03:08 mark of the second period, Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien punched Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry after he had scored a goal against the Jets. Not a very classy act and I'm sure the league will take a look at this incident, but I don't see a suspension coming.

Redwing77's Bracket

by Redwing77

Redwing77's Stanley Cup Bracket

Goon posted his Bracket Challenge and I'm going to post mine.  I admit to being a bit homer with my Wings and I did post a major upset in the first round.  Sorry Habs fans.  Carey Price seems to actually be a good goaltender and he has chilled from his early career chumpiness.  However, the Habs have had abysmal luck against Ottawa this year.  And, quite honestly, I'd like to throw out a small bone to former Bowling Green State University goaltender, Andrew Hammond.

All in all, however, I think the entire bracket is irrelevant because I truly believe the Rangers are simply going to steamroll anyone they meet and take it all.  I put Chicago in the Finals because Crawford seems to actually play like an elite goaltender when he gets into the playoffs....sometimes anyways.  I believe Dubnyk's insane run ends vs. Oshie and the Blues.  Halak's stumbling continues in the playoffs.  Fleury sieves hardcore before the buzzsaw known as the Rangers.  Honestly, whoever wins the Detroit vs. Tampa series will face the Rangers in the EC Finals.

If my bracket holds together (which any betting man would bet against it), the series to watch will be the Blues vs. Wild, Chicago vs. Nashville (goaltending vs. offense really), and ALL of the Rangers games.  I think the entire Anaheim subbracket is the most boring bracket.

Original Six wins again.

John Scott Has a Hearing Today

It will be interesting to see how many games will San Jose Sharks pugilist John Scott gets for his latest transgression. There's no defending this type of thuggery.

What's your prediction? Also, I have read where some fans think that Tim Jackman was embellishing. According to all of the posts and articles that I read, Jackman was actually knocked out.

San Jose's John Scott will have a phone hearing tomorrow afternoon for punching an unsuspecting opponent, Anaheim's Tim Jackman.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) December 24, 2014

#sjsharks Are the Days of the Enforcer Numbered in the NHL? - After watching San Jose Sharks forward John Scott pe... http://t.co/pbPzWkS1MZ
— THW_Sharks (@THW_Sharks) December 24, 2014

Related articles

• Sharks' John Scott knocks out Tim Jackman(cbc.ca)

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(Video) Clayton Stoner Hit On Max Pacioretty

I was watching the video on this play and I am still wondering why Anaheim Ducks defenseman Clayton Stoner wasn't given a major penalty for this hit on Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty? You can break a guys neck with a hit like this. Should this have been a major penalty?

Clean hit. Period. - Canadiens' Pacioretty hospitalized after Clayton Stoner hit - NHL on CBC Sports http://t.co/2PIDaYg6Yu
— TheBieser (@thebieser) December 19, 2014

Keith Ballard hits Corey Perry with a Legal Hit, Fights Nate Thompson

If you haven't seen this, it's worth a look. Minnesota Wild defenseman Keith Ballard hits Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry with a clean, hard, hip check. Unfortunately for Perry, he was knocked out of the game with a knee injury. Below is the embedded video of the fight in question.

Just for the record, last time the Ducks and Wild played, the Ducks were taking runs at the Wild players. So, they really have no room to complain about this hit.

Women's Olympic Star Hilary Knight to practice with Anaheim Ducks

#452213842 / gettyimages.com

Here's a story that caught my eye this morning. US Women's Olympic hockey player Hilary Knight is going to practice with the Anaheim Ducks. If anyone can do it, it's Knight. This past winter Knight said in an interview that she would like to play men's hockey.

"I have aspirations of pushing the bar and showing people that a pony tail can't stop me from competing as a hockey player in a men's professional league, Knight said. "If you know of a skilled men's team looking for a forward, 5'11, 185lbs, let me know!"

NHL.COM -- U.S. Olympic women's ice hockey player Hilary Knight will practice with the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, the team announced.

Knight, a forward, is believed to be the first female non-goalie to practice with an NHL team, the Ducks said. Her participation is part of World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend.

Knight, 25, won a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and 2014 Sochi Olympics. She had seven assists in 2010, and three goals and three assists in 2014.

According to her website, she was named MVP of the Canadian Women's Professional Hockey League in 2012, and participated in the NCAA final four four times at the University of Wisconsin, winning the national championship twice.

Saku Koivu Retires After 18 Years

Just announced today, Former Montreal Canadian, and current Anaheim Ducks center, Saku Koivu, has retired after 18 seasons in the NHL.

The Finnish center was well loved throughout the league and is the older brother to current Minnesota Wild captain Mikko Koivu. Saku would spend 14 seasons with Montreal, 10 of which he served as their captain, and is the only European captain in Montreal team history. His 10 seasons as captain are also tied for the longest tenure as a captain in team history with the famed Jean Beliveau.

Although he never won a Stanley Cup, Koivu has four Olympic medals, four world championship medals, including a gold in 1995, and a silver in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Koivu will go down as one of the top Finnish players to ever play in the NHL and his tough, injury battled, and cancer battled career will be one fans can talk about for years to come.

Stay in School part three, Louis Leblanc

#457461089 / gettyimages.com

I am an advocate of college hockey. According to College Hockey Inc., 31 percent of the players in the NHL came from the college ranks. Recently, I have been profiling college hockey players that have left their college teams early, for the lure of the big money in the NHL/professional ranks.

Here’s another example of a player that could have benefited from a couple more years at Harvard. Louis Leblanc was drafted in the first round, 18th overall by the Montreal Canadiens. Last week, Leblanc signed a one-year deal with the Anaheim Ducks.

In 50 NHL games with the Habs, Leblanc scored (5g-5a—10pts). In 163 AHL games, Leblanc scored (34g-34—68pts). In hind sight, I wonder if Leblanc wished he had spent a few more seasons in college? Maybe not!

More Heatley, 'I can still play this game'

#488448689 / gettyimages.com

Former Minnesota forward Dany Heatley thinks that he still has something left in the tank. I think you're going to find the former Wisconsin Badgers comments interesting. I do like how Heatley has taken this in stride.  

Lisa Dillman, L.A. Times -- "I feel good," Heatley said. "I feel leaner. I know the knock on me is that I'm not quick enough anymore. I disagree with that. I can still play this game. I'm still quick enough, fast enough, and I can score goals.

"As far as Minnesota, I think they had a lot of great young players. As an older player, sometimes you get pushed to the side a little bit to let the younger guys develop. But at the same time, I feel like I was a good guy to the young kids. I mentored them a little bit. I enjoyed my time there. I just want another chance to show I can play and I think I still can play."

Dany Healtey signed by the Ducks

#490231783 / gettyimages.com

The Ducks have signed former Wisconsin Badgers and Minnesota Wild forward Dany Heatley to a one year contract. According to Darren Dreger , it's for 1 million dollars. The former Wild forward is coming off a tough season, where he spent time in the press box and on the fourth line.  

NHL.COM -- The Ducks have signed left wing Dany Heatley to a one-year contract through the 2014-15 NHL season. Per club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Heatley, 33 (1/21/81), has recorded 372-419=791 points with a +41 rating in 863 career NHL games with Atlanta, Ottawa, San Jose and Minnesota. A two-time 50-goal scorer, Heatley has been named to the NHL All-Star Game four times, named a First Team All-Star in 2007, a Second Team All-Star in 2006 and winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 2002.

"Over the years, he’s been a guy I’ve always liked," said Executive Vice President and General Manager Bob Murray. "He’s intriguing because he’s a pure goal scorer, and he’s actually much better away from the puck than people think he is. He struggled the last couple years for different reasons. A great opportunity presented itself. It was a good match."

NHL Records That Will Never be Broken

NHL Records That May Never Be Broken http://t.co/xVYpHGaH7c 3). 76 goals in a rookie season pic.twitter.com/CtWFAe4YHw
— Goalie Humor (@GoalieHumor) June 3, 2014

I don't seen anyone breaking this record. "The Finnish Flash" Teemu Selanne was a special player.

L.A. Kings: Matt Greene Smokes Mathieu Perreault

Former UND defenseman and current Los Angeles Kings defenseman Matt Greene lays the wood to Anaheim Ducks forward Mathieu Perreault. You have to love Green's reaction when he realizes that he's been assessed a two-minute minor for interference. "F#ck," Green said.

(Video) Matt Beleskey flips Doughty over the boards into the bench

Anaheim Ducks forward Matt Beleskey absolutely destroys L.A. Kings defenseman Drew Doughty. The Kings defenseman goes over the boards into the Ducks players' bench. I have been in awe as I have watched this series. I can't get over how physical these two teams have played against each other. Whoever wins this series, is going to be very beat up. One of the questions that I asked myself, would a college hockey be able to be this physical without spending all game in the penalty box? Definitely the Ducks and the Kings are hard to play against.

L.A. Kings Humor, Duck Season

Ha! This is funny.