Linus Omark Embellishment

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Matt Niskanen is given a two-minutes minor penalty for high sticking the Sabres Linus Omark. Wow! Talk about selling it. Thoughts?

T.J. Oshie, where's the puck?

Check this out. St. Louis Blues forward T.J. Oshie shoots the puck into the net and after a review, he's awarded the goal. Oshie is having a great season for the Blues, he’s tied for the team lead in points with (13g-32a—45pts). Oshie is headed to the Olympics this weekend to play for the US Olympic team.

More Outdoor games... Bruins and Habs

Just when you think you've seen enough of the outdoor hockey games, this news tidbit has come up. Looks like the Les Habs and the Boston Bruins are going to play at Gillette Field next year.

NHL is considering Bruins-Canadiens at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro for an upcoming Stadium Series game. Details in @sbjsbd.
— Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL) February 3, 2014

Brendan Gallagher Punched, Hit and Tripped No Call

I saw this over on Kuklas Korner and it's a perfect example of embellishment and why the divers don't get the call sometimes. Someone asked former NHL official Kerry Frazier about the non-call over on TSN and this is what the "ref" had to say.

Players that embellish on a consistent basis run the risk of not receiving the benefit of the doubt when they are legitimately fouled. Brendan Gallagher is too effective and too good a player to develop that unwanted reputation from the refs.

Nazem Kadri boards Cody Ceci and then assists on Toronto Goal

Toronto Leafs forward Nazem Kadri hits the Senators Cody Ceci from behind and then passes the puck out front to forward Joffrey Lupul who scores a goal. However, there should have been no goal on the play. Kadri should have been given a penalty on the play. This goal tied the game 2-2.  The Leafs would go on to win the game 6-3.

(Video) Habs forward Brandon Prust vs Lightning goalie Ben Bishop

The box score will read.
17:02 MTL Brandon Prust Unsportsmanlike conduct - 2 min
17:02 TBL Ben Bishop served by B.J. Crombeen Goalie leave crease - 2 min
17:02 MTL Carey Price served by Daniel Brière Goalie leave crease - 2 min
17:02 MTL George Parros Misconduct (10 min) - 10 min
17:02 TBL Radko Gudas Misconduct (10 min) - 10 min

Looking ahead to the Olympics

Post by Shane Jenkins

Even though every single nation feels as though they have a chance to win the gold medal at the Sochi Olympics in hockey, most experts believe it will come down to the top three. Russia, Canada and The United States all have the depth and star power to make a deep run in the beginning of February. Most of their players will be taking a break from their fantasy hockey production in the NHL to represent their country. So how do the top three squads stack up against each other?

Host Russia had a disappointing 2010 Olympics in Canada. They will be hoping to reverse their fortunes now that they are getting the play on their home soil. They have perhaps the best individual talent in the world in Alex Ovechkin, but they also have some key players at other positions as well. If they can put up quite a few goals to give their defense a cushion, the home team could pull off the victory.

Defending champion Canada figures to be a very formidable opponent for any team that goes up against them. Not only do they have some of the best fantasy hockey players in the NHL, but they have plenty of depth as well. When you have all starts coming off your bench, you know that your team is deep overall. Just like Russia, they are also stacked with forwards who should be able to score quite often. Their defense is a little stronger, as Roberto Luongo will be asked to man the net in most of the important games.

Finally, the United States put up a valiant effort in 2010 only to come up short against Canada. They are considered to be the 3rd best team coming into the Olympics, but when playing well they can compete with anyone. Their goalie situation is a little bit up in air right now, but it appears as though Ryan Miller and Jonathan Quick will share the duties. They will also need some big play from their best goal scorer Patrick Kane.

Minnesota Wild: Jamie McGinn hit on Nate Prosser and then John Mitchell scores a weak goal

Big hit by the Av's Jamie McGinn on Wild defenseman Nate Prosser. To add injury to insult, the Avalanche forward John Mitchell scores a weak goal on Minnesota Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper.

Islanders Brock Nelson scores against the Rangers

Former UND forward Brock Nelson scores his 10th goal of the year against the New York Rangers during the Stadium Series in Yankee Stadium. Former DU Pioneer Matt Donovan also assisted on Nelson's goal.

Florida Panthers: Tim Thomas snaps on Carl Soderberg

Former Boston Bruins and current Florida Panthers goalie Tim Thomas made his return to Boston tonight and Timmy's new team didn't do very well against his old team. In fact the Panthers were shell 6-2 by the Bruins. Check out Thomas, as he goes Paul Bunyan on Boston Bruins forward Carl Soderberg.

The things that on-ice officials say to the players

The on-ice official tells the Penguins Jussi Jokinen and the Maple Leafs Dion Phaneuf "F#ck both of you guys" and then sends them to the penalty box.

Brandon Bollig shot off Darcy Kuemper's mask

s/t @CJZERO Checkout this shot by Chicago Blackhawks forward Brandon Bollig as he puts a snapshot off of Wild goaltender Darcy Kuemper's mask... Ouch!

NHL vs. NFL, this sums it up well...

The difference on how a playoff series/game ends in the NHL and NFL: pic.twitter.com/CMKN1QjdAQ
— Everyday Hockey (@EvrydayHockey) January 20, 2014

I think this picture/tweet sums it up well. Compare and  contrast.  Thoughts?

Vancouver Canucks: head coach John Tortorella suspended 15 days

The NHL has thrown the book at Vancouver Canucks head coach John Tortorella. The interesting part is that Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley has been fined $25,000.00 by the NHL. I guess you could say that the head coaches in the NHL are on notice. 

NEW YORK -– Vancouver Canucks coach John Tortorella has been suspended for 15 days, without pay, for his actions during the first intermission of NHL Game No. 735 in Vancouver on Saturday, Jan. 18, the National Hockey League announced Monday.

"Mr. Tortorella's actions in attempting to enter the Calgary Flames locker room after the first period were both dangerous and an embarrassment to the League," said NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell. "Coaches in the NHL bear the responsibility of providing leadership, even when emotions run high, and Mr. Tortorella failed in his responsibility to the game."

Mr. Tortorella's suspension is effective retroactive to January 19 and runs through Sunday, Feb. 2. He will miss six games. He is not permitted to have any interaction with his club prior to, during or after games.

(Video) John Tortorella on Canucks/Flames line brawl post game presser

Well, Vancouver Canucks coach John Tortorella will have an in person hearing for attempting to confront the  Calgary Flames head coach and for the scrum that erupted in the hall afterwards. You have to think that Torts will be getting a vacation and a hefty fine.

John Tortorella will have an in-person hearing tomorrow in New York. Substantial fine and suspension both possible. #TSN
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) January 19, 2014

(Video) Start to the game Canucks vs Flames

This was the start of the game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Calgary Flames. This brings new meaning to I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out. Eight players were ejected from the game.

Westgarth, Smid, Butler, Blair Jones, Lane, Bieksa, Weise and Garrison all ejected.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 19, 2014

Minnesota Wild: Cooke Check on Nail Yakupov, Leads to Justin Fontaine goal

One of the positive things to come out of this season is the play of rookie forward Justin Fontaine. With the goal last night, Fontaine now has 12 goals on the season. That's third on the Minnesota Wild in goals. That three more than 7.5-Million dollar man Dany Heatley. Check out the beginning of this play, Matt Cooke blows up Nail Yakupov with beautiful, legal check. Apparently,Yakupov is out with a upper body injury.

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Jason Pominville dekes out Edmonton Goalie

Wow! What a nice goal... Jason Pominville is having a decent season for the wild and that was goal 19 on the year. With the goal Pominville now has (19g-14a—33pts) on the season.

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Possible Wild Jersey?

What does everyone think about this possible @mnwild jersey? #mnwild pic.twitter.com/8hXJqQydZS
— Wild About Minny (@WildAboutMinny) January 15, 2014

God I hope not, this would be one ugly Minnesota Wild jersey.

Kings vs. Canucks: Ryan Kesler vs. Dustin Brown

It's about time someone stood up to Dustin Brown. Fellow USA teammate Ryan Kesler pounds Dustin Brown in the second period of tonight's game between the L.A. Kings and Vancouver Canucks.

Great message from Kesler. Much leadership there. Two USA teammates fighting about the CDN goalie
— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) January 14, 2014