Wings Move on Sharks head to the Golf Course

I was actually surprised that the Sharks went down with hardly a whimper last night as the normally high flying San Jose Sharks were shut out by soon to be senior citizen Dominic Hasek, the Red Wings defense was great but the sharks didn't do much to make the Wings work for this game. I have to say that last nights games really didn't keep my attention, I had to struggle to watch this game. I was disappointed and miffed. The Sharks losing in the semis for a second year in a row, I had them penciled in for going to the conference finals.

Ryan Garner touches on a few of the issues that affected the San Jose Sharks during their second round match up with the Red Wings.
Ryan Garner Article

Well, the Sharks aren't the Rangers, and offered up an embarrassing effort on home ice in Game 6. There wasn't any desperation, nobody stepped up, and we saw a performance that only reinforced San Jose's reputation as playoff chumps, lacking heart and determination. Sure, there were spurts of effort. Michalek would flash through the neutral zone or Clowe would press the forecheck at times, but there wasn't any sustained pressure, and nothing close to a flurry down the stretch. I can only remember two quality scoring chances, Grier's empty net and Bernier's breakaway. I think that says it all, the fact San Jose's two best chances came from a third-line penalty-killing grinder and a young fourth-line winger. Forwards on San Jose's top two lines combined for only 7 shots, while the bottom two lines had 18. That's just not right.

I've received several frustrated e-mails tonight calling for heads to roll, and Patrick Marleau is getting the most blame, with Joe Thornton close behind. Marleau went six consecutive games without a point, finishing the series -5. What happened to him?? The captain is the go-to guy for everything, and if he's the worst player on the ice it takes everyone else off the hook. They don't have anything to build on, no example to live up to. It's unfortunate the past 10 days will have a permanent effect on Marleau's career, adding to the pressure and doubt he'll have to overcome next season.

Thornton didn't have a single shot on goal, didn't record a hit, won only 38% of his faceoffs, and finished the night -2. What happened?? Clearly he's one of the most talented players in the world, but if that's the performance you get with the season on the line maybe that $6.66 million salary could be put to better use somewhere else. I'm just throwing it out there.

When your front line center and super star player Joe Thornton isn't a factor on the score sheet and on the board in big games your chances of winning goes way down, frankly you not going to be very good. It seems that yearly big Joe does a disappearing act during the Stanley Cup playoffs. It was such a issue that I believe lead to Thronton going to San Jose. Joe Thornton needs to be hitting every, winning face offs and scoring goals, without doing these things he is 6.6 million dollar anchor. Over on XM-204 today some of the fans in San Jose were calling for the coaches head. I think it is premature but if there are many more tent foldings early in the the playoffs the coaches heads may roll.

Linkorama: Goon's World makes an appearance on RWD's

Goon Steps into the Fray

Here are the questions for the article that I contributed to:
RWD's Article Obviously for editing purposes RWD didn't have room for all of the article. RWD's asked some really good questions that deserve answers. I would also like to thank her for having the opportunity to contribute to her blog, I would never consider it stooping. Besides I have a bad back from my bad golf game so I do as little stooping as possible. Goon's World is a big fan of Donna's RWD blog. Oh by the way; I believe that Red Necks are just missunderstood but also it's a full time job.


Running with the Dogs want my feedback/thoughts on the season that just
finished:

1. Are you satisfied with the season your team had? Why/why not?
Satisfied: I think based on the personnel losses that the Fighting Sioux
suffered during the off-season, the Sioux lost: Drew Stafford, Spirko, Jordan Parise, Matt Smaby and Travis Zajac (two of those guys are playing in the Stanley Cup playoffs). Think about this? Can you imagine how good this team could have been if all of the horses would had been back in the stable for the 2006-2007 season? Sioux fans are probably talking about how good the Sioux were during the 2006-2007 on their way to winning banner number 8. So I don’t think you can say this season was that bad. It wouldn’t have been a shocker if the UND Fighting Sioux had finished in the middle of the WCHA say in 6th place and home for the playoffs.

Based on how the season ended you really have to give credit to Head Coach Dave Hakstol, the man might be one of the better coaches in the league if not the country. It wouldn’t have been an understatement to say that the Sioux started out pretty bad, they were 7-10-1 at the Christmas Break. The rest of the season the Fighting Sioux lost one game in regulation as they finished the second half of the season like 17-4-4. Championships are won in February, March and April so the Sioux managed to turn it around and make a run when it counted the most. It doesn’t matter what you do at the beginning of the season if you can’t play your best at playoff time. So as a Rabid Sioux fan I can’t be disappointed in a season that ends in the
semifinals of a third consecutive trip to the Frozen Four.

2. What does it take for you to be satisfied with your team's season?
To be competitive, to never say die to give 100 percent every night. I think as PCM said over on Sioux Sports; that UND fans are spoiled. In the whole grand Scheme of things UND is comparable in hockey as football is to Florida or Florida State. Our program is that good and we expect it every year and I am not so sure all of the fans appreciate the fact that our team is so good almost year after year, it takes a lot to keep a program at such a high level for so long. Yeah were spoiled rotten, my buddies over in Bemidji say that same thing. Based on what happened this season I am 90 percent satisfied. I want to see the Sioux win another national title in the near
future but losing this season didn’t smart as bad as it did in 2004.

3. What is a great season for your team?

Finishing at or near the top of the league, making the final five and going
to the NCAA playoffs and hopefully to another frozen four.

4. What is do you consider to be a bad season for your team?

Not doing the things that stated in number three.

5. What is an unacceptable season for your team?

I remember going to games at the end of the Gino Gasperini era. This was when I first got to Grand Forks. It was really hard to stay interested in the team, but I still didn’t miss many games, I suppose maybe three games from 1993-1995. During these lean years hard any body went to the games, you could hear a pin drop and it wasn’t uncommon to have one more picture of beer at the Down Under instead of going to the game on time, it was like so what if you miss the drop of the puck. Those years sucked. Then when Blaiser turned the team around the swagger returned and you couldn’t get a ticket. Coach Blais raised the bar and expectations in this town, so there is a very fine line with what is acceptable in this town.

Stafford to sit in Game 5

This sucks

The Buffalo Sabres blogger CUATRO DE MAYOT is reporting that:

Paille and Stafford will sit this one out.

Max and Goose are back in the fold.

Game 5 Lines, in no particular order:


Briere -Connolly -Kotalik

Hecht -Drury -Zubrus

Vanek -Roy -Afinogenov

Mair -Gaustad -Pominville

Lindy Ruff has contemplated his team's bevy of assets, and, he feels like these groupings will give him the best chance to win on Friday night

Personally, I hate that Drew Stafford is the man left standing when the music stops. The NoDak Rookie has been a constant source of inspiration for his teammates, and he has ben playing well.

He's the newbie, and this time, seniority wins out.

Cogliano Leaving School, Chorney Won't

Listen to Andrew Cogliano's Radio interview with Dan Tencer

Here is an interesting article written by Dan Tencer that was posted over on HOCKEYBUZZ

Just got off the phone with Cogs...it was a tough decision for him, but the Oilers made him an offer he couldn't refuse. He was set to be one of the go-to guys with the Wolverines this year, but when an NHL team demonstrates that they want you as much as the Oilers did...well, he wasn't about to turn down the 3-year deal.

Hear the full interview with Andrew by going here:
The Link
Both he and Oilers Assistant GM Scott Howson will be guests in the 1st hour of Inside Sports on 630 CHED tonight for those of you in Edmonton.

As far as Taylor Chorney is concerned, the Oilers expect him to stay with the University of North Dakota for at least another season.

Great news for Sioux fans and nice to see that the Oiler folks know that Taylor is staying in college for at least another year. With Andrew Gogliano getting a contract it will be interesting to see who will be the next college hockey player to forgo their college hockey eligibility and sign a professional contract. It's seems to be only a matter of time before Jonathon Toews forgoes his college hockey eligibility and signs a professional hockey contract.

Blast from the Past: Neely TKO's Ruff.

I was over on YouTube today when I came across some videos from the past. This is a clip that brings back some really good memories. This was the same NHL hockey player that scored 50 goals in 49 games. That player would be former Boston Bruin Cam Neely, who arguably was one of my favorite NHL hockey players of all time, current Sioux hockey player T.J. Oshie reminds me a little of Cam. Cam Neely was an awesome hockey player, he was the protype right wing, check, fight score. Cam Neely's brillant career was cut short by bush league knee check from the dirty Swede Ulf Samuelsson. Former Bruins coach and CBC legend .Don Cherry weighs in on Ulf Samuelsson.

Here is an awesome tribute to Wham Bam Cam Neely Some great plays, one of them is where Cam drives Claude the Fraud head through the boards during a game between the Bruins and Devils. Tribute .number two

Cam Neely Fight Videos

Neely and Claude Lemieux

Neely and McGill

Neely and McRae

Great Hockey Fight Neil Sauter vs. Mario Lamoureux 05/06

Check out this fight

I found this awesome fight video over on The Matt Wellens NMU Hockey Blog I would have to say that this is a great fight.

Phil's Brother Mario in Action

Is Eaves Leaving Wisconsin?

Rumor has it: Eaves to New Jersey
There was a rumor floating around about the blogsphere of the possibility of Badger Head Coach Mike Eaves going to New Jersey to coach. Rumors well are rumors, they are what they are. Be that it may, however, rumors are fun to discuss and think about.

From the Hockey in Wisconsin Blog Wisconsin Hockey Blog

Today I heard from reliable sources that University of Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves is slated to take over the head coaching duties for the New Jersey Devils next season.

I wish I had more information on it but at this time I don't. Eaves has always ran an NHL type system at Wisconsin and the characteristics between styles of Wisconsin and New Jersey aren't that far off. He seems like the perfect fit with General Manager Lou Lamoriello.

Keep in mind that the sources were quoted as being extremely reliable but at this point it needs to be treated as a rumor and not fact yet.

Edit: If Eaves were to leave there are a few names I would hope are being throw out there...:

Dean Blais (Recently left his job at Columbus I believe)
Mark Johnson (Best player in Wisconsin Hockey history, has won back to back titles with the Wisconsin women)
Mark Osiecki (Current Badger top assistant coach)
Anyone else want to throw any new names out there?

I personally don't think it would be that much of a stretch to see Mike Eaves could be coaching in the NHL. Why not New Jersey? New Jersey would be a perfect fit for his defensive system that the Badgers play. Mike Eaves could take a less talented team and turn them into a Stanley Cup Champion. Seriously, It would be god awful hockey to watch but it would be successful.

For all of those that think Dean Blais is going to coach again; especially for WCHA rivals of his hold team are dreaming. I don't think it is going to happen. Just a hunch. Blais was asked recently on a radio show in Fargo, ND if he would ever coach college hockey again and he said no. Blais said, "he doesn't like the travel associated with recruting."

Men's hockey: Eaves rumors appear unfounded
ANDY BAGGOT
abaggot@madison.com
A hot, but unfounded, rumor making the rounds at the American Hockey Coaches Association Convention in Marco Island, Fla., late this week involves University of Wisconsin men's coach Mike Eaves.

New Jersey is in the market for a new coach and the buzz had general manager Lou Lamoriello -- currently the interm coach after he fired Claude Julien earlier this month -- looking to bring Eaves to the NHL.

It makes some sense. Eaves has a NHL background as a player and assistant coach. The Devils are an organization that features a slew of college players. Even Lamoriello has strong ties to the college game, having coached at Providence.

And while Eaves has a five-year contract and a compensation package in excess of $300,000 at UW -- rewards for leading the Badgers to the 2006 NCAA title -- he has never completely closed the door to returning to the NHL.

Eaves didn't return a message left on his cell phone Sunday night, but multiple sources indicated the rumor is just that.

One source said he didn't know if Eaves had been contacted by Lamoriello, but the source said Eaves was aware of the rumor and dismissed it.

The UW coach who could be on the move is assistant Kevin Patrick, who is among the finalists for the opening at Alaska Fairbanks.

I wouldn't look to far into this rumor either way, but it wouldn't surprise me if it turned out to be true. I am sure an offer came from the New Jersey Devils, Mike Eaves would probably listen to it and weigh his options. I am sure most college coaches would, its an opportunity to go to the next level. Just because a person denies something as being false doesn't always make it ture. All of us that are fans of hockey know that things can change and fast.

Backstrom to be traded at the Draft?

Tell me it isn't So

EK from Hockey Buzz is reporting this:

The Wild are in a very tough spot with Backstrom and may try to execute a sign and trade at the draft with Backstrom I am told....With money tied up in the competent Fernandez, this Wild team is in a bind with Backstrom a UFA...For Wild fans who don't like this idea, think of the Sharks with Toskala and Nabokov. Any team willing to pick up the Nabokov salary and give up a pretty decent player + a backup could have had Nabokov after Toskala's playoff run last year...This playoffs, Nabokov is in the running for MVP...so could Fernandez next year.

If this rumor of Backstrom being traded during the draft turns out to be true this would be a horrible move, absolutely brutal. I believe that Nicholas Backstrom has more upside than Manny Fernandez. Seriously, we don't even know if Manny can get healthy enough to play next season after suffering a knee injury before the playoffs. Although the playoffs aren't over yet I have to say that I hate the off season.

Zach Parise's pre-game Interview Before game 2.

I have alway thought that Zach Parise was good interview, not only does the kid have skills on the ice but he is smooth with the mike in front of him.

Travis Zajac and his post game interview as he talks about the game winning goal in the second overtime.

J.P. Parise talks about his son Zach Check out the video of Zach 31st goal of the season. Sweet Goal.

Jamie Langenbrunner's 2nd OT Goal

Game two Devils and Senators. Zajac assists on the Game Winner

The 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs have been nothing short than phenomenal; with each game there has been more non-stop action, it’s hard to even leave the room for fear that you miss another great play. While I have never been a Devils fan, I did catch myself cheering for them last night as they played the Senators. Last night. The goal at the end of the first period was unbelievable and wouldn’t you know it that the coach of the Ottawa Senators Brian Murray was complaining about the timekeeper being slow to start the clock. Actually Brian Murray has done a lot of whinning during the NHL playoffs this season. Well, the goal was reviewed by the league office in Toronto; their ruling on the play was that it a a good goal… Count it; and with out question I agree that goal should have counted.

The thing I thought was most interesting about this game was Martin Brodeur was wearing all new goalie pads for this game. According to the television announcers Marty scrapped his goalie equipment after the game one loss. Apparently Marty has ten sets of pads and decided to wear a new pair of leg pad that only had been worn 10 times. Of Course true to form Brodeur and wins the game for the Devils. No Fighting Sioux hockey players scored goals last night but Travis Zajac did assist on the winning goal. Whew, the Devils needed that game to stay in it. Now all they have to do is win one game in Ottawa.

Devils and Sens Game 1.

This wasn't the game I thought it was going to be. The Sens get four goals in the first period and it looked like they were going to run the Devils out of the Building, this was the first time since 2001 playoffs that Brodeur gives up that many goals in one period during the playoffs.

Watch Danney Heatley's goal, he injures his ankle on the play you can see it when he celebrates the goal with his team mates. Zach Parise was huge in this game as he got a goal and an assist during the games. In fact the Four Devils goals were scored by former college hockey players: Parise and Zajac UND, Gionta B.C. and Andy Greene Miami.

Look for the Devils to come out in game team like a wounder animal fighting for its life.

Buffalo's game five win, the Knock out Game. Oh yeah Stafford a goal.

I guess I can't say enough about Buffalo Sabres, they are the real deal and my Pick to win the Stanley Cup this season, so there will be another Fighting Sioux hockey player on the Stanley Cup. This video pretty much shows how they dismantled the Islanders in the knock out game. It's evident that Speed kills. Former Gopher Thomas Vanek and Drew Stafford both get a goal.

Check out this Horrible call on Zajac

Are you kidding me, the ref incorrectly gave Travis Zajac a diving call on his failed break away attempt, I probably would have given Zajac a penalty shot if had been officating the game . Are you kidding me? The ref should get a day off for that bad call. I understand why the league is trying to crack down on diving because there is a lot of it in the game of hockey. In the NCAA Robbie Earl made an art out of diving to try and draw penalties.

Zach in Action

This is a great illustration of what hard work does for your team. Zach going hard to the net down low doesn't score but puts his team on the power play after being cross checked from behind.

Check out this video Zach's Goal against the Rangers and post game interview on Feburary 20th against the Rangers. This is a sweet goal. Wow, this kid is impressive. Makes a Sioux fan proud everytime they say Zach Parise former Fighting Sioux hockey player.

Goon's Letter to the WCHA Head of Officials.

Here is a letter that I sent to the head of officials for the WCHA.

Dear Mr Sheppard,

I was woundering if the WCHA is going to install the new NHL rules. After watching hockey this past season I believe that the WCHA is falling behind the NHL and is in a way becoming hard to watch by there being too much obstruction, hooking and holding. Now would be a perfect time to install the new rules all the way and allow the high end talented teams to display their speed and offensive fire power.

Sincerely,

The Goon

Here is the response that I got

Goon,
It is not up to the WCHA about the rules Its up to all the coaches and the coaches are ok with the way the rules are written right now,will they change the who knows can we as officials do a better job maybe we will try. Thanks for your input. Greg Shepherd


Interesting response

Like the Whistler said, Greg must have been drunk when he wrote his reply to me. So are the coaches happy with the officating? So happy they are speaking off record about the calls and state of the reffing. Well it's the offseason so now is a good time to find something to talk about.

ROUND 2 (Ring the Bell) - by SIOUX 7

Well the first round came to an end with Vancouver ending Dallas season with a 2-1 win last night.

Now a look at the 2nd round match-ups.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Buffalo Sabres(1) vs New York Rangers(6)
- This should be another quick series for the Sabres, they easily dispatched the Islanders in 5 games and I think they will do the same to the other New York team. Buffalo has too much depth for the Rangers to handle. Buffalo now has all their players back from various injuries through out the regular season. The only way the Ranger can hope to get past the Sabres is for Henrik Lundqvist to pitch a couple of shut-outs. In the end, the Sabres will slash-up the Rangers in 6.

New Jersey(2) vs Ottawa Senators(4)
- This should be a good tough series, they have met many times in the playoffs, so there is a bit of a rivalry here. This series will go to the goalies, if Brodeur can return to his usually stellar playoff form, i.e. the last two games against Tampa Bay, the Devils will advance to the Eastern Conference Championship Series. If, Brodeur plays like he did in the first games against Tampa, the Devils will find themselves in a big hole, that they will not be able to climb back out of. Ottawa has more offensive power than the Devils and probably a little better set of defense men too. But, we all know that a goalie that can get hot in the playoffs can steal games and then steal the series. This will be another 6-game series, with the Devils vetoing the Senators bid for a Stanley Cup.


WESTERN CONFERENCE

Detroit Red Wings (1) vs San Jose Sharks(5)
- Well Detroit fans finally have some good news, they made it out of the first round for a change. This will be a much harder series for Detroit to win. San Jose has much more offense than Calgary, which will be too much for the Wings to handle over a 7 game series. Hasek is good goalie, he was a great goalie, he has just lost a move or two and the age is showing. That is why I will predict the Sharks to take a big bite out of the Wings in game 6, chomp chomp chomp, mmm tasty.

Anaheim (Mighty) Ducks(2) vs Vancouver Canucks(3)
- Vancouver ended the first round, ending Dallas' bid to try and shake that playoff gorilla off there backs, maybe next year. This too should be a good series, if the Canucks Roberto Loungo is in his world (.950 save percentage) he will be tough to beat. You could steal the old saying, "Only God saves more than Luongo." But if the Ducks find a spicket and Luongo starts to leak, the Canucks hopes could disappear faster than Goon's beer on a Saturday night. The Ducks have a well balanced team from top to bottom. They have arguably the 2 best defense men in the league with Niedemeyer and Pronger, one offensively minded the other a menace to forwards society. With all that balance, I have to go with Anaheim flying over Vancouver in 6-games.

The Video is up from Brad May Sucker Punch on the Wild's Kim Johnsson

Again I have touched on this before in another blog article; from the video you can see what May did was inexcusable and I don't believe that Johnsson should have to accept May's apology, it was a gutless act and there is no excuse for what May did. I mean I could see if it was Derrick Boogaard or some other know fighter/tough guy but he suckered Kim Johnsson isn't known for being a fighter and only had 64 minutes in penalties on the season while May has appeared in 868 career NHL games, scoring 123-152=275 points with 2,027 penalty minutes (PIM), not exactly Lady Byng numbers.

Here is another clip of that game four on 4-17-07 clip. I have to say that the homer announcers for the Anaheim Duck's are a coupld of clowns if they think that Kim Johnsson was turtling, how can that be when your hit with a sucker punched? This is the same sucker punch that cause Kim to suffer a concussion and miss game five of the series. I am not sure where these two clowns cans say something stupid like that.

The Pen's Sign their own Boogey man

The Pen's Sign the Boogey Man's Brother

I heard about this today on my way to get coffee. Pens Sign Aaron Boogaard

xecutive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero announced Monday that the Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Aaron Boogaard to a three-year NHL Entry Level contract.

The 6-3, 245-pound Boogaard has spent the past five seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL) totaling 54 points (26g, 28a) in 273 games played, while collecting 589 penalty minutes. He tallied 173 penalty minutes while notching career highs in goals (10), assists (11), and points (21) in 69 games with the Tri-City Americans this season. Boogaard also scored his first-career playoff goal when he netted the game-winner in a 2-1 victory in game two of a playoff series vs. the Seattle Thunderbirds.

The native of Regina, Saskatchewan was originally drafted in the sixth round (175th pick overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild. Aaron’s older brother, Derek, is a left wing for the Minnesota Wild.

Aaron Boogaard is currently on an amateur tryout agreement with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Bad Blood Between the Wild and Ducks

Series is over but verbal jabs are not

I found this article in today's Star and Tribune seems that there is a lot of bad blood between the two teams that will probably boil over into next season. I have posted a few of the incidents from the series.

The Western Conference quarterfinals officially ended Thursday when the Anaheim Ducks bid adieu to the Wild in five games, but parting shots took place Saturday between both clubs, particularly the teams' general managers -- the Wild's Doug Risebrough and the Ducks' Brian Burke.

The detonation again had to do with Anaheim's Brad May, who called Kim Johnsson on Friday to apologize for leaving the Wild defenseman concussed with a surprise punch to Johnsson's left eye. It was an apology not accepted, if you read between the lines.

Risebrough, who said, "May's probably made a lot of those calls," insinuated that actions like May's follow Burke around, a subtle reminder that Todd Bertuzzi broke Steve Moore's neck when Burke managed the Canucks.

"They started whining after Game 1, they whined after Game 2 ... after Game 3 ... after Game 4 ... after Game 5," Burke said by phone. "I suspect after Games 6 and 7, we'd be treated to more whining. There's a right way and a wrong way to lose. The right way is to give credit where credit is due and acknowledge that the best team is still playing.

"But this is embarrassing."

Series-long tensions erupted during the Wild's Game 4 victory over Anaheim. Near the end, a scrum broke out. As Johnsson skated, May, claiming to be "defending myself, my space on the ice," skated right to left so that Johnsson couldn't get by. He grabbed the nonpugilist and decked him.

"I'm disappointed ... that stuff like that can happen," said Johnsson, who thought his cheekbone was broken. "I feel that's not the right way to do it. If he wants to fight, at least tell me that he's going to do something so I can protect myself."

Asked if he accepted May's apology, Johnsson said: "He apologized, but let's leave it at that. I don't want to say what he said or what I said."

Johnsson is feeling better, but Risebrough said he wouldn't be able to play in the "near future." Risebrough also has been told that May broke his hand during the incident; Burke denies that.

First off what May did was inexcusable and I don't believe that Johnsson should have to accept May's apology, it was a gutless act and there is no excuse for what May did. I mean I could see if it was Derrick Boogaard or some other know fighter/tough guy but he suckered Kim Johnsson isn't known for being a fighter and only had 64 minutes in penalties on the season while May has appeared in 868 career NHL games, scoring 123-152=275 points with 2,027 penalty minutes (PIM), not exactly Lady Byng numbers.

In my opinion May violated the Code: Like Johnsson said he was sucker punched and not even given a chance to respond to May. Sucker punching him proves nothing, he one of the Wild's cleaner players. Brad May has never been anything more than a second rate goon so his gutless action are no surprise to me at all.

"It's probably worthwhile for the league to find out how accurate it is," Risebrough said. "As an ex-player, I know if a guy hit me and he broke his hand, he hit me pretty hard. It does tell you the impact, and it certainly does tell you, which is contrary to what Anaheim broadcaster [Brian Hayward] said, that Johnsson didn't turtle. He was knocked out."

A skirmish between the teams broke out during Game 5 warmups, after Derek Boogaard admittedly elbowed defenseman Chris Pronger.

"Yeah, I did," Boogaard said. "He crossed over the red line, so I got in his way just on their side of the ice and then he shot a puck at me. And then [George] Parros came flying over the line. It just escalated from there."

After the game, when both teams lined up to shake hands, Risebrough kept Boogaard from joining, because "I did not trust what they were going to do." Wild coach Jacques Lemaire and his assistants also didn't shake hands with the Ducks coaches, which angered Burke.

"The reason is very simple," Lemaire said. "[Burke] started first to say his team is bigger, tougher, they had more fights and all that [stuff] before the playoffs, and I didn't appreciate it. Then ... what May did, that's the reason I didn't shake."

Risebrough said that it's time "to hold general managers accountable for how their teams play. Some of these things follow general managers around."I'm at a loss of how to respond," Burke said. "I don't even know what that means. This was a warriors' series. I have not heard one person from Minnesota praise how hard my team worked, how good our special teams were. It's certainly an ungracious way to lose. When they came back from 3-1 [to beat Vancouver in 2003], go back and see if I bellyached like this."

Again when I read this article I got quite the chuckle out of all this, it sounds like whinning by a couple of school girls. Almost as bad as WCHA fans whinning about one teams fans not giving another team props for winning. Lets not be confused; this was a hard fought series that could have gone either way. The best team won in my opinion and the Wild are now off to the golf course. During this series there was a lot of rough and tough action, it was playoff hockey. That being said; blatant cheap shots and acts of goonery toward skilled pacifist players, is unacceptable, especially when one of the combatants is a one-dimensional goon that adds little if anything to the score sheet except PIMS. Rightfully so the league suspended Brad May for three games.

Don't get me wrong I love playoff hockey. During the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs rivalries develop and the fan are entertained, watching acts of thugery are not entertainment. All I can say is boo hoo, do you want a Kleenex Burke?

The Slash that cost Jamie Mclennan 5 games.

In this video you will see Jamie Mclennan slash Detroit forward Johan Franzen of the Red Wings. The Detroit Red Wings had been in Calgary's goalies crease all game, while I don't approve of this action, I do believe something had to be done to send a message. From watching a lot of hockey over the years, I think it was safe to say that Playfair sent McLennan out to send a message. I am not sure this was the intended result. Stay tuned for tonight's game as it should be interesting. I would be willing to bet that the league office will be talking to both teams before tonight's games to remind them of the consequences if things get out of hand.

It's things like this that give hockey a bad name, almost on cue the national sports media was playing this incident on their highlights today. While not a regular part of the NHL acts like this do happen. The league acted quickly giving McClennan a 5 game suspension.
Story on the NHL Site

NEW YORK (AP)-The NHL came down hard Sunday on Calgary, suspending goalie Jamie McLennan for five games and fining coach Jim Playfair $25,000 and the team $100,000 for actions late in Game 5 of the Flames' first-round series against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

McLennan was given a match penalty for slashing Detroit's Johan Franzen in the midsection at 17:01 of the third period, one of four penalties the Flames were assessed for aggressive and illegal use of the stick (slashing or cross-checking) in the closing minutes of the Red Wings' 5-1 victory.

"In our pre-playoff conference calls with the coaches and general managers of the respective organizations, we addressed a number of topics and one of them was actions late in the game when the score was out of hand," NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell said. "The coach and the organization must be held accountable for the players' actions."

McLennan's suspension was to begin with Game 6 Sunday night in Calgary. Detroit led the series 3-2.