Jarret Stoll's series winning goal

This was the goal that sent the Vancouver Canucks to the golf course and sent the L.A. Kings to the second round of the NHL playoffs to play the St Louis Blue. Its only fitting that on the game winning goal by Kings forward Jarrett Stoll that there is a Vancouver Canuck defenseman Dan Hamhuis flopping around on the ice as the game winning goal was being scored.

Related articles

• Stoll Sends Kings to 2nd Round With OT Goal
• Stoll scores in OT as L.A. Kings beat Vancouver 2-1 to eliminate Canucks
• Canucks Vs. Kings, 2012 NHL Playoffs Game 5: Henrik Sedin Goal Gives Vancouver 1-0 Lead
• Wharnsby: Vancouver has another playoff failure to deal with

Seth Jones to the Winterhawks?

In perusing the Internet today it would appear that Seth Jones might be going to the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. I don't really think it's that a big shocker to anyone and his chances of playing at UND are probably between slim and none. It had been announced that the highly sought after Jones was going to pick between the WHL and going the NCAA route at UND. Jones actually made a recruiting visit this past season. Here is the press release from the Portland Winterhawks.

Backes, Bergeron and Datsyuk up for the Selke

The National Hockey League announced their year-end awards today and Former MSU-M Mavericks and current St. Louis Blues forward David Backes was named a finalist for the Frank J. Selke trophy. I would think this is another great argument for the NCAA hockey being a great place to develop future talent for the NHL.

TSN.CA --- The National Hockey League has announced more nominees for its year end awards, unveiling the finalists for the Lady Byng and Frank J. Selke trophies.

David Backes of the St. Louis Blues, Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins and Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings are the three finalists for the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward, the league announced Monday.

Backes had the highest average ice time per game among forwards (19 minutes 59 seconds) on a Blues club that allowed the fewest goals in the NHL by a wide margin. The six-foot-three, 225-pound centre was a punishing physical presence, doling out a team-leading 226 hits to join Los Angeles forward Dustin Brown as the only players to record 200 hits or more in each of the past five seasons.

Backes led the Blues in faceoffs, blocked shots and posted a plus-15 rating. The Blues captain is an NHL trophy finalist for first time in his seven-year career and is the first Blues player up for the Selke since Michal Handzus finished second in 2000.

Bergeron led the NHL in plus-minus (plus-36) and posted a plus-18 rating both at home and on the road in helping the Bruins rank second in the Eastern Conference in team defence (2.39 goals-against average).

Tim Thomas not done yet

There are some that want to run the Boston Bruins starting goalie Tim Thomas out of town, these are the same people that have all but blamed the veteran goalie for a for the Bruins loses against the Washington Capitals. I know it's cliche but there is no "I" in team, hockey is a team game and loses don't happen in a vacuum. Pretty tough to win a game if your team is only scoring one to two goals per game.

If you have been watching the series against the Washington Capitals for more than a minute you will know that Tim Thomas has not been the reason the Bruins have been pushed to the brink of elimination in their first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Bruins have looked sluggish and at times disinterested in playing hockey. Offense points from their top six forwards has been the main problem for the Boston Bruins.

It's still easier to blame the goalie for the teams problems. I also got to give credit where credit is due, the Washington Capitals are not an easy out and they have played the Boston Bruins hard and have not given the Bruins much of a chance to get chances from the slot. A lot of the Bruins offensive opportunities have been from the perimeter.

Joe Haggerty, Bruins Insider ---- It would have been difficult for the Bruins to even entertain dealing Thomas heading into next season if he’d repeated his Conn Smythe, Vezina and Stanley Cup efforts again this spring, but that doesn’t appear to be happening. But his average playoff performance after turning Boston’s regular season into his own personal political agenda loosens up their attachment to the veteran goaltender quite a bit.

Thomas’ no-trade clause is gone as of July 1 and his actual 2012-13 salary drops to $3 million while retaining a $5 million cap hit – a wrinkle that will make the veteran netminder attractive to a goalie-starved team looking to hit the cap floor while saving ownership a few bucks.

While it’s clear to those that closely watched the Bruins Thomas wasn’t the same goalie this year once the calendar hit January, there is still enough value associated with the goalie to net the Bruins a few picks and a prospect this summer.

Related articles

• Capitals Vs. Bruins, Game 6: Washington Can Clinch Against The Champs
• Bruins beat Capitals 4-3 in OT to force Game 7

Tyler Seguin extends the series

The Boston Bruins are going to another game seven as Tyler Seguin scored the game winning goal at the 3:17 of overtime to send the series back to Boston. This will be the Bruins fourth game seven in the last fourteen months. Game seven is on Wednesday night (TDB) at TD North Garden. This was the first goal of the playoffs for Seguin (1g-1a-2pts).

The Bruins have stuggled to get scoring from their top two lines, David Krejci (1g-2a-3pts), Milan Lucic (0g-3a-3pts), Patrice Bergeron (0g-2a-2pts), Brad Marchand (1g-1a-2pts). Krecji also scored his first goal of the playoffs today. Brad Marchand got his first goal of the playoffs yesterday.

Richard Peverley (3g-2a-5pts), Milan Lucic, Tyler Seguin, Andrew Ference and David Krejci all had 2 points in today's win against the Washington Capitals. 

The best line for the Bruins through the first five games of the Stanley Cup playoffs has been the line of Benoit Pouliot (1g-1a-2pts), Brian Rolston (1g-2a-3pts), Chris Kelly (1g-2a-3pts).

Related articles

• Bruins beat Capitals in OT to force Game 7
• Seguin Sinks Capitals; Forces Series To Seven

Chimera hit on Marchand

I apologize for the quality of the video, I do not have a steady hand, nor do I have a video recorder to tape the plays that I would like. This was the hit in question by Washington Capitals forward Jason Chimera on Boston Bruins forward Bard Marchand as you can seen by the video that the Little Ball of Hate was not hit in the head. What caused the cut to Marchand's face is unknown.

Related articles

• Marchand Not Happy With Chimera's 'Cheap Shot'
• Boston Bruins not panicking over Game 5 against Washington Capitals
• Boston Bruins Win Big Physical Game Against Washington Capitals, 4-3
• Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand could be moved down depth chart in Game 5 against Washington Capitals

Kesler and Lapierre told to zip it.

Vancouver Canucks center Maxim Lapierre during a game against the Colorado Avalanche on March 16, 2011. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I couldn't resist with this one. The most unlikable team in the NHL has told a few of their players to quit yapping. You can't make this stuff up. I guess the coaching staff for the Vancouver Canucks figured out that the rest of the NHL was tired of the Canucks antics.

Mark Spector, Sports Net --- "Ryan and Alex rarely at any point have shown that aspect -- they toned it down last year and that’s externally driven," said head coach Alain Vigneault.

Translation: "We told them to quit yapping and they have complied."

On the other hand ...

"Max has done it on a couple of occasions and has been told to shut up and play. And that's what we expect from him," said Vigneault.

Vigneault’s count of "a couple of times" is generous. Lapierre is truly the mouth that roared, seemingly unable to skate to the bench at shifts end without jabbering at an opponent.

Why this line combo, at this point in the series?

Derek Stepan hits Chris Neil

This was from yesterday's Rangers and Senators game. Very nice check by the former Wisconsin Badger and Rangers forward Derek Stepan on the Senators forward and tough guy Chris Neil. It's a text book body check.

Related articles

• Chris Neil will not meet the Shanahammer
• Anderson Blanks Rangers, Ottawa Takes Series Lead
• Kyle Turris helps Sens tie series with Rangers
• Chris Neil concussed Brian Boyle on hit that followed 'Raffi Torres blueprint' according to Rangers coach

Chris Neil will not meet the Shanahammer

I think this is the right decision, it looked like a good hit, Boyle had just released the puck and Neil kept his elbows down and didn't leave his feet to lung at the Rangers forward. In my opinion, the Chris Neil hit on Brian Boyle was a good legal red light hit. The New York Rangers coach John Tortorella was not happy with the hit last night and compared Neil’s hit on Boyle to the Raffi Torres hit on Marian Hossa.

Katie Strang, ESPN --- Well they have the blueprint," Tortorella said in his postgame news conference. "It's the exact same hit as Torres' -- a different part of the ice -- but he launches himself, head shot, (the) puck's at the goal line, and he's hit. So, the blueprint's there.

I'm sure he's a repeat offender, too. Not much research to be done there."Neil is not a repeat offender, however, a critical distinction between Neil and Torres. But Boyle suffered what could potentially be a very serious injury, a fact that will be taken into consideration when the league review the play. 

Related articles

• Senators top Rangers 2-0, take 3-2 series lead
• Chris Neil concussed Brian Boyle on hit that followed 'Raffi Torres blueprint' according to Rangers coach
• Rangers' Boyle concussed after hit from Neil
• NHL Playoffs: Senators shut out Rangers to take 3-2 series lead

(Video) Chris Neil's Hit on Brian Boyle

This is the hit that has everyone buzzing tonight. Senators tough guy Chris Neil hit the Rangers forward Brian Boyle with this hard hit. Rangers head coach John Tortorella was unhappy with the check after the game and said that Boyle is concussed.

Alexander Ovechkin elbows Patrice Bergeron in the head

The Washington Capitals star forward Alexander Ovechkin's is known for playing on the edge and there is nothing wrong with that. Unfortunately, Ovechkin is also know for his questionable and sometimes dirty hits and in today's game Ovechkin was able to connect with a sneaky dirty elbow on  Patrice Bergeron's head.

Edit: If you go back and watch this video, you will see that Ovechkin hit Bergeron twice in the head.

Ovechkin's elbow caused Bergeron to miss most of the third period. With his previous concussion history, one has to wonder if Bergeron is suffering from another concussion. Don't expect the league to look at the Ovechkin elbow on Bergeron because Ovechkin is a star player.

Just for the record Alexander Ovechkin is a repeat offender and he has been suspended three times by the National Hockey League for hits that were deemed dangerous.

Related articles

• 
  
• Caps Practice Recap: Michal Neuvirth Returns In Back-up Role
• Pratfall alert: Alex Ovechkin falls backwards over the boards (VIDEO)
• Bergeron With Gresh & Zo: 'Doesn't Really Matter Who You're Put Out There With'

The Coyotes response to the Torres Suspension

Phoenix Coyotes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is what the GM of the Phoenix Coyotes had to say about his player Raffi Torres being suspended.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA --- Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney has issued the following statement regarding Coyotes forward Raffi Torres’ 25 game suspension that was announced today by the National Hockey League.

“I want to thank Brendan Shanahan and his staff for their thorough review of this incident," said Maloney. “The ruling is very severe for Raffi and our Hockey Club. Raffi plays a hard, physical game yet this contact crossed the line on what is acceptable in our game today. We hope Marian Hossa makes a full and speedy recovery as we all enjoy watching him perform. The Club accepts the NHL's decision and will focus on our game tonight.”

Related articles

• Raffi Torres suspended 25 games for hit on Marian Hossa (with video)
• Raffi Torres Suspension: Coyotes Agree Hit 'Crossed The Line'
• VIDEO: Raffi Torres Suspended 25 Games For Hit On Marian Hossa
• Raffi Torres suspended 25 games by NHL for Hossa hit
• Coyotes' Torres Suspended 25 Games for Hossa Hit

Raffi Torres Shanahammered - suspended 25 games

The NHL has spoken, they have made an example out of Raffi Torres, they have thrown the book at him. The NHL has also set a precedence, the question is, will the NHL be consistent in their ruling?. While I think that Torres deserved at least a 5-10 suspension this suspension is almost to the point of being excessive. My first question is, would the NHL give the same suspension for a star player? I am going to say not.

NEW YORK -- Following are statements from National Hockey League Senior Vice President of Player Safety and Hockey Operations Brendan Shanahan in announcing the 25-game suspension assessed to Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres:

"This is a violation of three NHL rules – interference, charging and illegal check to the head."

"In addition to the fact that three separate NHL rules were violated with this one hit, two other factors were critical in determining the appropriate length of suspension:

"First, this violent and dangerous hit caused a severe injury.

"Second, Torres not only is a repeat offender as defined by the CBA, his extensive Supplemental Discipline history consists mainly of acts very similar to this one – including two this season."

"Despite knowing that Hossa no longer has the puck, Torres decides to finish his check past the amount of time when Hossa is eligible to be bodychecked. That is a violation of the Interference rule."

"While we acknowledge the circumstances of certain hits may cause a player's skates to come off the ice, on this hit, Torres launches himself into the air before making contact. This is a violation of the Charging rule."

"The position of Hossa's head does not change just prior to or simultaneous with this hit. The onus, therefore, is on Torres not to make it the principal point of contact. By leaping, Torres makes Hossa's head the principal point of contact. That is a violation of the Illegal Check to the Head rule."

Related articles

• Raffi Torres Suspension: Ruling From NHL Will Come On Saturday
• Raffi Torres Suspension Decision Coming Saturday; Marian Hossa To Miss Game 5
• Raffi Torres: NHL Won't Reach Verdict on Coyotes Star's Punishment Yet
• Raffi Torres decision on Saturday, as NHL mulls 'whether to assess further supplemental discipline'
• Raffi Torres Suspension: NHL Needs to Make an Example Out of Coyotes Winger