NHL Network-US 2015 WJC live broadcast schedule

Once again, the World Junior Championship will be carried by the NHL Network. Programming note: All time are eastern time.

Merry Christmas from Goon's World

Here's hoping your day is Merry and Bright.

Merry Christmas.... I dont remember the 12 Days of Christmas including Labs. pic.twitter.com/t1WUIEL3Pr
— Eric J. Burton THW (@goon48) December 17, 2014

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)

  ---

John Scott Buttends Tim Jackman, Should Be Suspended

This act of stupidity that should land John Scott a nice long suspension. Keep in mind that Scott is a repeat offender. Seriously, I don't how he's not suspended after this. There's no place in hockey for this kind of crap. There's no way to defend this kind of thuggery. The San Jose Mercury News refers to John Scott as an enforcer. He's an untalented hack that can barely skate and is taking up a roster spot. What's even more shocking is that Mr. Anger Management wasn't even penalized on the play. This played was a blatant attempt by Scott to injure Jackman.

I want to be clear, I am all for playing tough and sticking up for your teammates, I also like fights in hockey. This is just plain ridiculous. I don’t think players like Scott should be taking up a roster spot in the NHL anymore. Feel free to defend this play if you would like.

(Video) Sean Bergenheim Lights up Bobby Farnham

Florida Panthers forward Sean Bergenheim lights up Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bobby Farnham with a stiff, hard, legal hit. This is a text book body check.

Bruins Bartkowski will not face hearing

Bartkowski/Gionta is an example of incidental head contact on an otherwise full body check. pic.twitter.com/iCAyDjRwsN
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) December 22, 2014

I told a friend of mine that if Brian Gionta was taller, he wouldn't have been injuried. This doesn't make Buffalo Sabres fans any happier. Obviously, some fans are unhappy with the move.

Related articles

• Matt Bartkowski hit on Brian Gionta (video)(ndgoon.blogspot.com)

  ---

Matt Bartkowski hit on Brian Gionta (video)

Boston Bruins defenseman Matt Bartkowski was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for this hit on Buffalo Sabres forward Brian Gionta. It will be interesting to see if Bartkowski has a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player safety.

The Box Score will read:

14:08 BOS Matt Bartkowski served by Matt Fraser Fighting (maj) - 5 min against Brian Gionta
14:08 BOS Matt Bartkowski served by Matt Fraser Interference (maj) - 5 min against Marcus Foligno
14:08 BOS Matt Bartkowski Game misconduct - 10 min
14:08 BUF Marcus Foligno served by Mikhail Grigorenko Instigator - 2 min against Matt Bartkowski
14:08 BUF Marcus Foligno Fighting (maj) - 5 min against Matt Bartkowski
14:08 BUF Marcus Foligno Misconduct (10 min) - 10 min against Matt Bartkowski

Boston Bruins: Riley Smith Disallowed Goal (Video)

Doesn't take many views of this video to conclude that this was a blown call. There's no reason that Boston Bruins forward Riley Smith's goal shouldn't have counted. There was no interference with the Buffalo Sabres goalie.

2015 WJC Television Schedule

2015 U.S. Game Schedule

Date	Opponent	Location	Time (ET)
Fri., Dec. 26	Finland	Bell Centre, Montreal	3 p.m. NHL Network/ NHL.com
Sun., Dec. 28	Germany	Bell Centre, Montreal	8 p.m. NHL Network/ NHL.com
Mon., Dec. 29	Slovakia	Bell Centre, Montreal	4 p.m. NHL Network/ NHL.com
Wed., Dec. 31	Canada	Bell Centre, Montreal	4 p.m. NHL Network/ NHL.com
Fri., Jan. 2	Quarterfinals	Montreal or Toronto	TBD
Sun., Jan. 4	Semifinals	Air Canada Centre, Toronto	TBD
Mon., Jan. 5	Finals	Air Canada Centre, Toronto	TBD

 

Good news, the 2015 WJC games will be on the NHL Network.

Pitt's Season Ticket Campaign

This is an interesting way to sell season tickets. Apparently, the school is using the firing of their AD Steve Peterson as a way to sell season tickets.

ESPN.com -- Steve Pederson deftly guided Pittsburgh through conference realignment from the crumbling Big East to the rebuilt ACC. The longtime athletic director could never find stability for the football program.

When Paul Chryst left for Wisconsin on Wednesday to send the Panthers into their fourth coaching search in four years, it cost Pederson his job.

The school parted ways with Pederson in what chancellor Patrick Gallagher called a mutual decision but one necessary for Pitt to move forward following the latest setback for a football program stuck in neutral. Pederson had nearly four years remaining on a contract that ran through 2018.

Are The Boston Bruins shooting for T.J. Oshie?

View image | gettyimages.com

If you believe the rumors on the Internet, the Boston Bruins attempting to trade for T.J. Oshie. As a Boston Bruins fan, I can only hope this rumor is true. The Boston Bruins are struggling offensively and a player like Oshie would give the listless Boston Bruins a nice shot in the arm.

Of course this trade almost seems impossible due to the fact that Bruins salary cap doesn't have any available space. Right now, the Bruins have $912,000.00 in cap space. To acquire Oshie, the Bruins would have to give up some expensive pieces to the Blues.

Greg Wyshynski, Puck Daddy -- The Blues have to look to the future, and Oshie might not be a part of it.

So they’re listening to offers, and Elliotte Friedman says a lot of interest is trickling down from the Boston Bruins.

On Brady and Walker on Friday morning, Friedman said the Bruins have “talked a lot” with the Blues. “They’ve been linked to T.J. Oshie, and the issue there is that he’s got more term,” he said.

And that’s the trick for the Bruins: Their cap situation is even more precarious. They too have over $12 million in space for next season, but only 14 players under contract. Adam McQuaid (UFA), Torey Krug (RFA), Matt Bartkowski (UFA) and Dougie Hamilton (RFA) are all up; so is Reilly Smith (RFA).

(Please recall this cap situation in 2015 was the reason they couldn’t give Jarome Iginla a 2-year deal.)

One assumes any deal for Oshie would be salary for salary. Loui Eriksson, struggling to find his footing in Boston, is signed through 2016 and makes $4.25 million. One-for-one?

With the season approaching the halfway mark, there are going to be teams that are looking to make trade to solidify their lineups for the stretch run. The Boston Bruins are looking for a forward to play with David Krecji and Milan Lucic. Oshie would probably fit that spot nicely.

(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

Goalie Kevin Aldridge Leaves Lake State

Another year, another player leaving their junior program at the semester break. Lake Superior State Freshman goalie Kevin Aldridge has left the Lakers and will return to his former junior team.

Hockey News North --- Lake Superior State University Lakers head coach Damon Whitten has confirmed that freshman goalie Kevin Aldridge has opted to leave the program and return to the Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the North American Hockey League.

A 1994 birth-year, Aldridge backstopped Fairbanks to the NAHL’s Robertson Cup championship last spring.

But Aldridge — a recruit of former Laker head coach Jim Roque — struggled in four appearances with LSSU this season. He had an 0-2 record, .833 save percentage and 4.80 goals-against-average.

“We wish Kevin the best on his return to Fairbanks and in his next steps in his career,” Whitten said.

Very sad to see freshman goaltender @kaldridge30 leave Lake State. However, not seeing much play, I can't blame him. He's a good goalie! ⚓️
— Laker Hockey (@LakeStateHockey) December 18, 2014

Apparently, Whitten had driven @kaldridge30 away by not playing him. It would appear he's playing favs by not giving him much ice time.
— Laker Hockey (@LakeStateHockey) December 18, 2014

“@chelszalewski: @LakeStateHockey he is an amazing goalie who was not given the chance he DESERVED.” Agreed!
— Laker Hockey (@LakeStateHockey) December 18, 2014

(Video) Brett Sutter check on Craig Cunningham

It almost looks like Minnesota Wild forward Brett Sutter caught Cunningham with an elbow in the chops. You make the call. That being said, it didn't look like interference to me.

Patrice Bergeron's Fluky Goal (VIDEO)

In the box score it will read, Patrice Bergeron (6) Wrist shot - ASST: Brad Marchand (11), Zach Trotman (4). In my opinion, it's God Awful goaltending by Niklas Backstrom.

(Video) Ryan Getzlaf Embelishment Penalty

This is totally unacceptable. Again, I am all for fining, punishing and suspending players that embellish to draw penalties. In my humble opinion, diving cheapens the game of hockey and is bad sportsmanship. In this case, you could probably stop some of the embellishment if you just penalized the player diving.

What I don't understand is why the officials don't just take one player? Is it necessary to penalize Dion Phaneuf? Why not just penalize Ryan Getzlaf in this instance?

02:10 TOR Dion Phaneuf Tripping against Ryan Getzlaf
02:10 ANA Ryan Getzlaf Embellishment against Dion Phaneuf

Nino Niederreiter Penalty Shot

GIFs: reason for penalty shot- http://t.co/6CnmTfBpRK Niederreiter penalty shot goal- http://t.co/SiFM17KzQX
— Steph (@myregularface) December 17, 2014

Nick Bjugstad's Sick Shootout Goal

Former Minnesota Golden Gopher Nick Bjugstad scores a sick game-wining shootout goal for the Florida Panthers against the Washington Capitals. The shootout in question went 20 rounds before the Panthers ended up winning the game.

Jack Eichel: "I'm Spending More Time in the Weight Room"

View image | gettyimages.com

Josh Cooper from Yahoo's Puck Daddy interviewed Boston University freshman Jack Eichel. I found the comment below to be interesting.

Why the NCAA route? What about college enticed you? It had to be more than just taking classes?

I grew up in Boston and watching Hockey East and the Beanpot, so it was always my dream to play at a school like BC or BU. I never dreamed of going to Quebec and playing for a team there, so I guess that’s first and foremost is this is my dream to go here. And then looking at the pros, a lot of people say it’s a disadvantage that I’m not playing as many games.

But I can look at it as an advantage of I’m spending more time in the weight room. There’s a lot more emphasis on each game. Everything is a lot more detailed if you’re playing 40 games in comparison to playing 80 to 100. That’s one thing. And I just thought the college game was better for me. I had played a few years of junior and I didn’t think another year of junior was the best route. I felt I needed to go challenge myself again against older, bigger and stronger competition, where it would challenge me night-in, night-out more than I believe the CHL would. I think on top of all that I was able to get the experience of going to college. Living in Boston. This is everything I’ve wanted, so it was kind of a no-brainer.

One of the benefits of playing college hockey over Major Juniors is you get more time to develop physically and get bigger. There's a lot of weight room time. You're not playing a full 75-80 game schedule.   One of the things that I have noticed since I started covering UND hockey is how a player transforms in four years of hockey.

North Dakota Drops to Second in USCHO Poll

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll

December 15, 2014

	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Boston University	(18)	11- 3-2	930	2
2	North Dakota	(12)	13- 4-2	896	1
3	Minnesota State	( 6)	13- 4-0	869	3
4	Harvard	(11)	9- 1-2	836	5
5	Michigan Tech		13- 3-0	758	4
6	Miami		11- 5-0	720	6
7	Minnesota-Duluth	( 3)	12- 6-0	664	9
8	Minnesota		9- 4-1	650	7
9	Massachusetts-Lowell		10- 3-3	643	8
10	Vermont		13- 3-1	612	10
11	Denver		10- 5-0	510	11
12	Nebraska-Omaha		10- 4-2	496	12
13	Bowling Green		11- 3-2	430	13
14	Quinnipiac		10- 5-1	292	15
15	Boston College		9- 7-1	233	16
16	Providence		9- 6-1	229	18
17	Colgate		9- 6-1	221	14
18	Merrimack		10- 5-2	158	19
19	Robert Morris		11- 2-3	125	17
20	Penn State		9- 4-2	79	NR
Others receiving votes: Union 61, Yale 56, Mercyhurst 10, Northern Michigan 9, Ferris State 8, Dartmouth 3, Holy Cross 1, St. Lawrence 1.