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Lots of news from around the league for true hockey fans. Add your thoughts here on this page.

***Congratulations to the goalie than nobody seemed to want, Curtis Joseph. CuJo got his 447th win last night, a shutout over Dallas to tie him for 4th place all-time in the win column. Good move by Calgary to sign him as a backup!

***What were the Sharks thinking last night in New Jersey? San Jose, on a long road trip and losing streak to match replaced steller goalie Evgeni Nakobar with Thomas Greiss (who?) who let slip 3 soft goals for a NJD win. Doesn't coach Ron Wilson know how tight the Eastern Conference race has been?

***The magic is back for the Islanders who rose for their 5th straight win last night, beating the Caps 3-2 in a shootout. The Isls are missing four of their top six defensemen to injury.

***Buffalo rallied late to overcome a Tampa 3-1 lead to win 4-3 in OT. Tampa's stars...Brad Richards, Vinnie LeCavaleir, and Martin St. Louis just haven't been showing up when the money's on the table. Game-goat, defenseman Dan Boyle took a very bad hooking penalty that led to the loss. Boyle's name has been bantered about in a possible trade to Pittsburgh, etc.

***Eastern parity is the new "in thing". Of the 15 Eastern Conference teams, only two have played under .500 in their last 10 games. You might not guess, Ottawa (4-5-1) and those Flyers (2-7-1). Nine of the 15 teams are within 5 points of first place and 13 of the 15 are within 10 points of #1!

***Finally, the young, exciting Chicago Blackhawks are 5-1-1 in their last seven games and are making an unexpected playoff run. The bad news (for me) is that I watched their one regulation loss the other night on Versus against St. Louis, and they really looked baaad! What a great rivalry Chicago/St. Louis has in many sports, and I fondly recall listening to this series on "clear channel" KMOX, fading in and out of my old box radio. Was that the crowd cheering for a goal, or just the static from the station straining to get to me? Those were the days!

Things we might have missed while celebrating the Pens!

***Successful playoff hockey = solid defense, timely offense, great goaltending. Montreal looks to me to have these factors missing. Their defense was loose, they took bad penalties, and their penalty kill is among the worst in the league. They have given up 5 pp goals in two games, and Huet, given the #3 Star for his play in January has now allowed 26 goals in a little over 6 games. Things look bleak for the Habs! Their run-and-gun style won't fly.

***While the Pens continue their fine play without their Captain, so does Carolina which is 4-1-1 since Rod Brind'Amore's injury vs Pittsburgh. Being sort of a fitness freak, I love Brind'Amore and his workout routines!

***Bad-guy Chris Simon returned last night from the longest NHL suspension ever, 30 days, for his stomping on Rutuu near the Islander's bench. Putting handcuffs on him wouldn't have helped. Bet Simon is now unofficially on probation!

***Today is a happy day for me since the Flyers are now on a 9-game losing streak. After being beaten by the road-weary Sharks, they are currently #10 in the East. "If the playoffs started today...!" You sing the rest!

***Perhaps the star of the night was Vancouver's super-goalie Roberto Luongo for stopping 49 shots plus three in the SO as the Canucks beat Nashville at the Sommet Center.

***Final thought for a Friday...How could a Guy Carbonneau-coached team be so weak on the penalty kill? GC was one of the best ever for those Canadien world-beaters of the past! Remember?

Music to my ears

The light NHL action was late on Friday with all games involving the Western Conference. Another good reason to invest in NHLs "Center Ice" package!

***The Red Wings lose another one, this time 1-0 to Calgary on a first period goal by Flames Alex Tanguay. I keep seeing Tanguay's name in print followed by "...would fit really well on Sidney Crosby's line." Like me, just dreamers, I suppose.

***After knotting the score at 2-2 and gaining their point, Phoenix lost 3-2 in a shootout against the Avs that lasted an NHL record 12 rounds! Even so, what a good job The Great One has done with a Phoenix team that was ranked among the poorest at the start of the season!

***Since Teemu Selanne has ended his "retirement" on February 5, the World Champion Ducks have gone 8-1-1. Their serious climb to the top was enhanced last night with a win over the Blues. These mighty Ducks are now just 4 points out of the Pacific lead.

***Finally today, just one hour and 45 minutes away from the big Pens/Sens matchup. Ottawa has gotten its big guns healthy and will send out Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, and Dany Heatly to pressure the Pittsburgh defense. Alfredsson currently has 75 points and is scoring on 18.38% of his shots, up from an excellent 12.86% for his career. Don't let him shoot! Spezza with 73 points is a +24 while on the ice. Heatly comes in with 28 goals and 64 points and is a +58! Together, this terrific trio combines for a +101 at even strength! Firepower for sure!

A few happy hockey-thoughts to try to ease the sting of Saturdays OT loss to Ottawa:

** Flyers losing streak contiues as Floriday waits until 3.7 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at one, then get the game-winner in OT. Darn, Philly still gains a point (I'm sure they say the same about us!)!

** A 5-1 Blackhawk lead with 10 minutes left in the third evaporated under the unsteady goaltending of Patrick Lalime but the Hawks saved face by winning in OT over the lowly Kings. Saint Patrick is backing up Nikolai Khabibulin out with back spasms. I watched him get torched by the Blues 4-0 Tuesday night. Thank goodness for backers such as Conklin and Sabourne!

** Who doesn't love Pascal Leclaire? His 30 saves for Columbus shut down shaky Monteal 3-0 and gave him a league-leading 9 shutouts this season. I continue to shake my tv to get the Jackets on FSN-Ohio, as advertised, but it's not going to happen.

** Finally, give some credit to the much-maligned GM of the NJ Devils Lou Lamoriello. His team isn't the powerhouse that they were a couple of years ago, age is catching up on some, but his talent at drafting good players is amazing. Note that the four goals scored last night in their 4-2 win were all homegrown products, playing for only the NJD. Also, note that the Devs are a hot hockey team, gaining 17 points out of a possible 22 in their last 11 games. No one can afford to lose in the East. Within the 10-team bunch there is always a hot squad or two. Let's go Pens!

Pengy...It is great you have your own forum to talk to yourself in.

Before you say "Oh Yeah!" I just want to say I didn't read a single word of any of your posts.
I just wanted to say I really liked you in that Batman movie.

I will go on record to say that I read EVERY post, and I am glad you have your own forum to talk within. Keep 'em coming Penguin, I appreciate your thoughts!

Arch then do not post if you do not like it. Penguin is a more than honorable man and while I am not a huge hockey fan and have not attended a game in years I enjoy his posts. His writings could be about watching grass grow and I would provide him a forum to write about it in. I personally liked the Meredith TV version of Penguin more than the DeVito one. Of course now that Mickey has moved from slapstick crimes to slapstick Oscar winners I can accept just about anything.

PENGUIN, keep them coming. We educated people enjoy them-LOL!!

Please, I apologize for any inclination that I am disrespecting the topic.
I just found it interesting that the dialogue was a monologue.
I used to enjoy hockey...even went in person...but the NHL lost me to the cancelled season and the sky-high prices.

I did think that Burgess was more like the latter day Batman villain of the mid-1960's...
but I was fond of the DeVito version for the amazing depravity...and especially for the belief that he had a chance with Catwoman.

He was my kind of misshapen and misfortunate misanthrope.

Oswald Cobblepot is not a human being...he is an animal.
(allusion and apologies to John Merrick)

Keep em comin penguin, I read them, I just don't respond because my summary of the league's happenings would pale in comparison to yours.

Thanks for the support/criticism. I love hockey and I like to write. Most people here are good sports and fans. So.... It 's not meant to be a monologue. Join in if you please, or sit back and read, or go to another topic if that's your thing. Meanwhile, right here the lockout is over and nearly forgotten, the price of watching, reading, breathing hockey, following it to the hilt can be as low as almost $0 dollars. Don't let life's bumps keep you from enjoying!

Tonight is Philadelphia vs Buffalo...can't wait!

A look at Sunday's action from a guy who just can't get used to Jeremy Roenick all dressed up in a Sharks uniform!

** The slumping Ranger Captain, Jaramire Jagr for a moment returned to what we remember in our mind's eye as he scored a picturesque goal yesterday in a 5-0 laugher over Florida. Jags swooped in drawing the Panther goalie out of net, then calmly slide the backhander softly behind him. I rushed to the calander to check that we didn't go back to the 1990s!

** The thought the other day about Teemu Selanne was but a preview of Sunday's heroics for the Duck. Tee scored three goals for the natural hat trick, and also added two assists for a terrific 5-point night. Being unretired fits the guy!

** Also, those Phoenix Coyotes continue to impress this writer. Goalie Iija Bryzgalov (a guy the Pens considered picking up earlier in the season) shut out St. Louis 2-0. Are the Coyotes playoff-bound?

** Finally, did you kind of cringe, like I did, when the Pens announcers mentioned that Roenick had gone scoreless for 17 games? Wouldn't you know it, his score in the SO won it for the Sharks. Rule: Do not awaken a man sleeping on 1192 career points! Actually, Roenick is among the league-leaders this year in Game-Winning Goals with 6. Not bad for the high scoring, versitile, very emotional 38-year old! Shades of Blackhawk Days Gone By!

I swear Errey and Steiggy are the kings of the curse.
Early in the year against the Devils, I forget who they commented on the guy not scoring in 30 games or so, and he went off for 2 goals that night...it was the night the Pens lost in OT at NJ a little bit ago.
And the "Ole wreckin ball" killed us in the shootout.
when he mentioned Roenick's scoreless drought I new it was coming.
Keep your mouth shut Steiggy!!!

Right on, krs! It happens every time, or so it seems. Guess the boys have pages of stats and material at hand, and when the action drags a bit, as it did yesterday in an ultra defensive struggle, they come out with those things. It's like hollering in the 8th inning, "Hey, this guy's got a no-hitter going." Or when the games on the line and your ace is at the foul line saying, "He's made 17 in a row"! The Roenick comment flipped me only because I was just looking prior to gametime at his career and season's stats and hoping we would slide by him.

Thanks for the heads-up, krs, to that website. I'll mosey on over to see what they are thinking.

Peter "Foppa" Forsberg has signed with the Avalanche...

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=230555&hubname=

Seems like he's lucky he didn't sign with the Flyers a couple weeks ago.
Another reason why there should be a December deadline for players to decide to retire or not.
This is getting a little ridiculous, with Neidermayer, Selanne, and now Foppa.

Just some thoughts on a night that the lowly Maple Leafs trashed Ottawa 5-0. Hmmmm. That itself should cause some thinking in the Burgh!

Watched the Flyers rebound from a 0-3 deficit to beat the Sabres 4-3 in a shootout. Buffalo became ultra-complacent with there first period lead. Both teams were very careless time after time in their own zone, and if it weren't for Miller/Biron heroics the score could have been high. With the lack of checking, poor puck handling, etc it was like watching a different sport than Sunday's Pens/Sharks affair.

Two players that interest me gathered much of my attention. I've been a fan of the oft-injured Tim Connolly of the Sabres since he broke in with the Erie Otters. Tim is a great one-on-one player with ultra-quick moves. Concussions and various other ailments (groin pulls, of late) have slowed him but he continues to throw himself totally into the fray. Connolly is a winner.

The other guy to watch is Pittsburgh native R.J. Umberger. How does the Pens-killer do against other opponents? Well, last night, pretty well. He tied the game at three on a power play goal midway through period 3. He was walking in from Miller's left. the defense didn't rotate to him, instead keeping closer tabs on dangerous Daniel Briere. Umberger, the former Ohio State Buckeye, snapped a shot high to Miller's right...a perfectly placed bullet. You would have thought the Flyers were playing the Pens! R.J. is a very confident player, has good size, and is a good shooter. His flaws are in the defensive zone where his play often hurts his team. Still, the guy can score when its needed most.

Finally, I see that the Flyers have reaquired sharpshooter Vaclav Prospel. In need of forwards since Richards is hurt, Prospels potential with 57 points in 62 games will give them a lift. I recall how great a rookie season he had, then poor work habits caused Philly to send him to Ottawa for Alexandre Daigle, a piece of work himself! Anyway, don't count the Flyers out. Recall they were in first place in the East on Feb 6 and still are capable of a good run.