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The thing about Sidney Crosby is that he became so good, so fast – and handled it all so well -- people forgot how young he was. Even now, people forget how young he … is. Sid turns 21 today. Twenty one. In another life, he might be entering his senior year of college, getting ready to earn his degree and send out resumes, looking for a job to chart his place in the world. Instead, he is on the cusp of his fourth National Hockey League season, captain and leader of the hottest young team in hockey, trailblazing scorer...

'Blackhawks, Red Wings meet in the great outdoors' There will be no talk of curses allowed. Goats aren't welcome. If somebody wants to call his shot, well that's OK, but probably not recommended, because this is hockey and the goalie won't like it too much. Oh yes, Wrigley Field is notorious for some of baseball's legendary -- and spookiest stories -- since it was built in 1914 around Clark and Addison Streets, and Sheffield and Waveland Avenues on the North Side of Chicago. Jan. 1, 2009 figures to be another historic day for the venerable old ballpark when it opens...

PITTSBURGH (Reuters) - The Detroit Red Wings clinched the Stanley Cup with a nail-biting 3-2 Game Six win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. The Red Wings, who were just 35 seconds from securing the Cup in Game Five on Monday, shrugged off the disappointment of the home defeat and hung on to claim the best-of-seven series 4-2 and lift their fourth Cup in 11 years...

Detroit rapper Eminem had a hit on his hands with his 2002 release of the single Superman, but it's another super M&M from Michigan who has raced to the top of the charts. Dallas Stars center Mike Modano from Livonia, Mich. is the Superman of American hockey. By scoring his 1,233th point early this season, Modano became the leader in that category among U.S.-born players. Now that Modano's made history, it also causes pause for discussion. Where does the No. 1 pick from the 1988 NHL entry draft, one of just six Americans to be chosen first overall, rate among...

It's the economy, stupid. Political strategist James Carville made that statement the focal point of Bill Clinton's successful run for the U.S. Presidency in 1992, but those words could also be directed at Hockey Night in Canada's guru of misinformation, Donald S. Cherry. In rants on HNIC and ESPN, Cherry talked about the empty seats at Joe Louis Arena for Game 1 of the Dallas Stars-Detroit Red Wings series and blamed the decline in attendance on the Red Wings' style of play. "The people hate the way the game is being played," Cherry said. "It's a redneck town, they love...

PLAYOFF HOCKEY LIVE THREAD!!!!!!

Posted by George James Malik April 19, 2008 08:29AM According to the Free Press's Helene St. James, the NHL has banned Al Sobotka's classic twirling of octopi at Joe Louis Arena: April 18, Detroit Free Press: Just a little tidbit from Joe Louis Arena: The NHL has decided octopus twirling doesn't fit in with league image, or something to that effect. The Wings have been told by the league that if Al Sobotka (or anyone else) twirls the octopus that's thrown onto the ice before playoff games, it'll cost the team $10,000. I know opposing general managers have complained of...

There's no debate: Pens trump politics tribune-review by salena zito Politics stops at the water's edge -- even if that water's frozen, apparently. About 57,000 more households in the Pittsburgh region tuned in to watch the Penguins beat up on the Ottawa Senators than tuned in to see two senators (Obama and Clinton) beat up on each other in the Democratic presidential debate, according to Nielsen Media Research. The hockey game played in 175,000 – or 23 percent – of all households in the Pittsburgh metro market, while the blame game played in 118,000 households – or 14 percent of...

NEW YORK (April 6, 2008) – The National Hockey League today announced dates, times and national broadcast information for the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoff Conference Quarter-final round, which begins Wednesday, April 9. That night, an Atlantic Division rivalry continues as the New Jersey Devils host the New York Rangers, the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Ottawa Senators, the San Jose Sharks host the Calgary Flames and the Colorado Avalanche visit the Minnesota Wild. Three other series open Thursday, when the defending Stanley Cup champions Anaheim Ducks host the Dallas Stars, the Montreal Canadiens host the Boston Bruins and the Presidents’ Trophy-winning...

Whenever the subject of hockey comes up, I'm the pansy who prattles on about how much he likes the European game — the big rinks, the passing, the fast players, and — most importantly, a lack of fighting. The fighting in North American hockey is one of the main reasons I stopped paying any attention to the sport a decade ago. What kind of legitimate sport has "enforcers" — whose mission is to engage other "enforcers" in the sort of activity that would get regular people arrested if they did it outside of a bar? I guess the closest analogy...

During the final 10 minutes of many Rangers home games, the spotlights focus on Section 407 as Larry Goodman, a longtime season-ticket holder, pumps up the crowd with a goofy dance. Kevin Jennings said he stopped attending Rangers games for a month because of homophobic epithets shouted at players. As Goodman’s routine is broadcast on the giant monitors above the ice, a familiar chant picks up momentum. “Ho-mo Lar-ry!” the crowd shouts. “Ho-mo Lar-ry!” The chant is one example of what several gay hockey fans describe as a toxic atmosphere during Rangers games and that Madison Square Garden, which owns...

The days of N.H.L. teams signing players off Russian clubs’ rosters are about to officially end, thanks to Vladimir V. Putin. As Russians prepared to go to the polls for last weekend’s presidential election, Putin signed a labor law that tied athletes to their clubs for the length of their contracts — putting Russian contract law in line with similar laws in North America and Europe. Under the previous Russian law, all a player needed to get out of a contract was to give his club 14 days’ notice that he was leaving. That clause enabled N.H.L. teams to swoop...

The trade deadline has passed for the NHL, and there have been some significant moves that may, or may not, affect the standings and eventually, the playoffs.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2008 – Away from the rigors of combat last night on an evening dedicated to their selfless service, the only shootout troops worried about was between dueling National Hockey League teams. During Military Appreciation Night at the Verizon Center here, the Washington Capitals honored some 5,000 servicemembers and their families with free admission and hosted dozens of wounded warriors from military hospitals. From the giant high-definition screen hanging from the arena's ceiling, shout-outs to servicemembers and videos featuring troops and hockey pros projected onto some 18,000 fans attending the Capitals-New York Islanders contest. At a pre-game...

Move over Alexander The Great, make room for Magical Malkin. With a pair of assists in Tuesday night’s 3-2 comeback win over Florida, Evgeni Malkin took over the NHL scoring lead with 79 points (34+45). He passed countryman Alexander Ovechkin, who has 78 (48+30). “It’s a great feeling to be leading the NHL in scoring,” Malkin said through translator George Birman. “There are still lots of games left and Ovechkin is a good player. He will try to prove he’s the best in the NHL. We’ll see what will happen.” Malkin continues his torrid play. He saw his five-game goal...

Video of incident: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I73WEgTu-XI BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednik underwent surgery to close a deep gash on the right side of his neck and was in stable condition Sunday night after he was cut by a teammate's skate during a game. "The surgery was successful and he's resting comfortably in the hospital," Panthers spokesman Brian Goldman said. Blood gushed from Zednik's neck after he was hurt midway through the third period of Buffalo's 5-3 victory, creating a frightening moment that delayed the game for about 15 minutes. There was also a brief discussion about postponing the...

Panthers forward Richard Zednik was in stable condition at a Buffalo hospital while having surgery to close a deep gash on the right side of his neck, which was sliced by a teammate's skate during a game against the Sabres on Sunday. Blood gushed from Zednik's neck after he was hurt midway through the third period of Buffalo's 5-3 victory, creating a frightening moment that delayed the game for about 15 minutes. Zednik was behind the play and skating into the right corner of the Sabres' zone, when teammate Olli Jokinen was upended by Sabres forward Clarke MacArthur. Jokinen fell...

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Florida Panthers goalie Thomas Vokoun saw fear in Richard Zednik's ashen face when his teammate reached the bench with blood gushing from his throat. "He was very scared," Vokoun said, describing the frightening scene after the right side of Zednik's throat was accidentally sliced by teammate Olli Jokinen's skate during a game at Buffalo on Sunday night. "He was conscious, I guess. His eyes were closed, but he was moving and moaning."

The magical tale of the hockey hero and the sick little boy came to an end on a warm spring day in Detroit in 2006. Braxton Davis, the sick little boy, stood silently inside the Red Wings' locker room as the players streamed out, the day before a first-round game against Edmonton. The room was empty, save for one man, Steve Yzerman, who lingered in khakis and a long-sleeved shirt. The Captain, holding a stick in his hand, walked over to Braxton. The boy reached up, took the stick, held it tight. He looked so happy, so blissfully unaware. Maybe...

Ronan Tynan gave a beautiful tribute to our troops a few minutes ago during the opening ceremonies of today's nationally televised hockey game. He sang God Bless America, and the crowd went wild. I certainly hope this dedication and song show up on YouTube soon.

At first blush, the idea of trying to pit hockey head-to-head with college football on New Year's Day seems ill-advised. But the closer the Amp Energy Winter Classic gets, the more it seems to make sense. When the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres play an outdoor game Tuesday before 70,000 fans at the Buffalo Bills' Ralph Wilson Stadium, the NHL will truly have a novelty on a day when most sports fans are content to sit on the couch. Yes, hockey will take on the likes of Michigan vs. Florida and Texas Tech vs. Virginia when the puck drops at...

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - Gary Roberts pulled his 41-year-old legs out of his skates in the warmth of the visitors dressing room at Madison Square Garden. The mere thought of playing a real NHL game outside in the elements of Western New York on New Year's Day suddenly shook him from his comfort zone. The "Winter Classic" is just days away, and the longtime veteran's list of preparations consists of one. "Yeah, how I'm going to get out of it," he said, causing an eruption of laughter from his Pittsburgh Penguins teammates. Come Tuesday, the Penguins will hit the...

Think you’re busy during the holiday season? Well, it probably isn’t as hectic as what Don Renzulli and the rest of the people in charge of arranging the Amp Energy NHL Winter Classic between the Penguins and Sabres outdoors at Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson Stadium on New Year’s Day are experiencing. They’ve been going non-stop since Dec. 23 – and months before it, actually, to stage the NHL’s first regular-season game played outdoors in the United States. “We probably got involved with this in June. It was talked long before that,” said Renzulli, the NHL’s Senior Vice President of Events and...

PRISTINA, Kosovo, Dec. 12, 2007 – Just after the Dec. 10 deadline for the conclusion of negotiating the status of Kosovo, servicemembers assigned to NATO’s Kosovo Force sat back in their chairs and enjoyed the fighting and shooting. Servicemembers gathered at Camp Film City’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation Center in Kosovo on Dec. 12, 2007, to watch a live National Hockey League telecast on the American Forces Network that featured their pictures. Versus, the U.S. cable home of the NHL, arranged to show the servicemembers’ pictures during the game after network officials heard they’d gathered to watch a previous...

If Detroit isn't Hockeytown anymore, then what is? First off, let's make this perfectly clear: We're talking south of the Canadian border. The six most passionate NHL hockey markets include – in no particular order – Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. Hockey is a religion and then some in the Great White North, and there's nothing wrong with that in our book. We just wish there were more NHL outposts in Canada. If you've never taken in a game there, put it on your to-do list. All six markets are different, and a trip to any of them...

PRISTINA, Kosovo, Nov. 29, 2007 – Versus, the U.S. cable television home of the National Hockey League, has partnered with some troops deployed to Kosovo to give an early Christmas present to the peacekeepers there and their families at home. At 7 p.m. EST on Dec. 11 , everyone watching the Pittsburgh Penguins battle the Philadelphia Flyers on Versus will get to see some pictures of the American soldiers, airmen and sailors who are serving at Camps Film City and Bondsteel, Kosovo. At the same time their pictures are being shown on television in the United States, the troops will...

This promises to be an awesome game. Although I will be glued to the TV, I will try to keep all you freepers updated

The hockey season has finally arrived! "It's a great day for hockey!"

The Pittsburgh Penguins benefited from going to West Point last year. They hope it pays off again this season. The Penguins returned home to Pittsburgh on Wednesday night after spending two and a half days at the United States Military Academy at West Point for some team building and practice. “It’s always a fun time to go to West Point. You never know what to expect,” Maxime Talbot said. “It’s really fun for the guys and great for team chemistry, team building and leadership. It was a great experience again.” The routine was altered a little from last year’s trip....

Stars center Mike Modano and pop star Willa Ford will be married Saturday in a small ceremony in Athens, Texas, a team spokesman said Monday. The couple announced their engagement in November. They dated on and off for more than four years.

Who, in your opinion is or was the dirtiest player in the NHL? Looking at ESPN and hockey boards, names that stand out are Ulf "The Career Killer" Samuelsson, Claude "The Girl" Lemeuix, Gordie "Face Wash" Howe, Bobby "Ankle Slash" Clarke, and Dale "I didn't know the play was over" Hunter. Notably absent were people like Bob Probert, who was more of an enforcer or "goon", that a dirty player. Some also mentioned agressive players like Darius "The Giant Killer" Kaspiritus.

Today's the big day--all the GMs sign the best UFAs to their teams. So far Briere has signed with the Flyers (see my rant about that below), the Wings were negociating with Hasek, the Preds re-signed Nichols, the Bruins got Fernandez, the Ducks got Schneider (they are REALLY stacked now), Buffalo signed Mair, and more. Here's the free-agent signing tracker: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=4965

NHL DRAFT taking place live now! JUNE 22-23, 2007 Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH Live round by round picks - http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&page=DraftStats

2007 NHL AWARDS SHOW Thursday, June 14, 2007 Elgin Theatre, Toronto 7:30 p.m. ET, CBC, Versus

End of the first period, still 0 to 0

Shane Doan's revenge National Post: Lead Editorial Published: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 Despite more than a week of lunatic political grandstanding earlier this month over his selection as captain of Team Canada at the World Hockey Championships in Moscow, Shane Doan got the last laugh (or make that the last broad, beaming smile) Sunday, when he was handed the championship cup at Moscow's Khodynka Arena. After piloting Canada to a solid 4-2 victory over Finland in the gold medal match -- and after leading our national team to an undefeated 9-0 record for the first time in the championship's...

Hillier takes Stanley Cup, former NHLers to Afghanistan CBC News Wednesday, May 2, 2007 Temperatures may be pushing 40 C, but all thoughts are on hockey in Kandahar Wednesday as Canada's chief of defence staff arrived with 19 former NHL players and the Stanley Cup. Gen. Rick Hiller arrived at the main Kandahar base with the former pros, who included Bob Probert, Dave (Tiger) Williams, Ron Tugnutt, Rejean Houle and Yvon Lambert. Along with showing off the Stanley Cup, the group plans to play a couple of ball hockey games with some of the more than 2,000 Canadian soldiers...

Tonight is the start of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoff games. Tonight - EASTERN CONFERENCE - Buffalo Sabres versus New York Rangers - 7 PM WESTERN CONFERENCE - Vancouver Canucks versus Anaheim Ducks - 10 PM GAME ON!!

Cherry takes his act south Toronto red Star April 11, 2007 Chris Zelkovich sports media columnist The CBC and NBC are preparing to foist Don Cherry on an unsuspecting American public. The Coach's Corner star and NBC analyst Brett Hull will make joint appearances on the networks during this year's Stanley Cup final. Details are still being worked on, but Cherry is looking forward to his NBC debut and doesn't plan to change a thing. "I'll just go and do what I have to do," he said yesterday in a conference call. Though he wouldn't divulge his choice of...

The National Hockey League today announced the dates, times and national broadcast information for the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoff Conference Quarterfinal round, which begins Wednesday, April 11. That night, League scoring champion Sidney Crosby makes his NHL postseason debut when the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Ottawa Senators; the Anaheim Ducks host the Minnesota Wild; the Vancouver Canucks host the Dallas Stars and the San Jose Sharks visit the Nashville Predators. The other series open Thursday, when the Presidents' Trophy-winning Buffalo Sabres host the New York Islanders; the New Jersey Devils host the Tampa Bay Lightning; the Atlanta Thrashers play the...

Ice Girls want Rangers called for slashing, spitting Hostile behavior is expected whenever the Islanders and Rangers clash in one of the NHL's fiercest rivalries, but now the Islanders' Ice Girls are involved. According to two of the women, the Rangers should be penalized for slashing, spitting and verbal abuse during television timeouts in the first period of Tuesday night's game at Nassau Coliseum, won by the Islanders, 3-2, in a shootout. During commercial breaks, teams of three Ice Girls clean loose ice known as "snow" in the goal and the blue-painted goaltender's crease in front of the goal line....

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) -- New York Islanders forward Chris Simon was suspended indefinitely by the NHL on Friday for his stick-swinging hit to the face of Rangers center Ryan Hollweg. Simon was given a match penalty for deliberate attempt to injure late in Thursday night's 2-1 loss to the Rangers. The length of the suspension won't be determined until after a disciplinary hearing. That hasn't been scheduled but is expected to take place next week, likely in Toronto.

Penguins declare impasse in arena talks Will pursue other offers aggressively, letter says The Penguins have declared an impasse in negotiations with government officials over construction of a new arena and will aggressively explore relocating the team to a new city. Penguins co-owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle notified Gov. Ed Rendell, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl about their decision in a letter today. The team is declaring an impasse even though it has agreed to pay $3.6 million a year in rent, plus another $400,000 a year in capital expenses, for an annual...

The Penguins and public officials have agreed to borrow up to $290 million for an arena, but must figure out how to make payments on that much debt, Gov. Ed Rendell said Friday. "We've agreed on the concept; we just have to agree on how to get there," Rendell said. "Everyone has to pay a little more." National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman has joined the negotiations as a mediator. "He would like to see this thing brought to a head, and so would I," Rendell said.

The NHL trade deadline has ended, and there are a great many interesting developments.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2007 – Servicemembers in the national capital region were honored by the Washington Capitals hockey team last night during a “Salute to the Military Night” at the Verizon Center. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England thanks Washington Capitals ownership, players and corporate sponsors of the "Salute to the Military Night" at the Verizon Center, Feb. 8. Photo by Carmen L. Gleason   '(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The National Hockey League’s Capitals, along with 10 corporate sponsors, donated more than 6,000 tickets to troops and their families for the team’s match-up against the Los Angeles Kings,...

At this rate, the Penguins might need a new Uptown arena for no other reason than to meet fans' desire to watch the upstart hockey club. The Penguins, in the thick of a playoff race after finishing with the league's second-worst record last year, played before their 17th sellout of this season Saturday at Mellon Arena. The Penguins have sold out all but 10 home games this season. The capacity crowd that watched the showdown between the Penguins' Sidney Crosby and Washington's Alexander Ovechkin, the league's top two scorers, represented the team's 10th sellout in the past 11 home games....

HARRISBURG - The Penguins apparently have cut a deal with public officials to finance an Uptown arena that would keep the team in Pittsburgh, a state senator said Wednesday. "I'm hearing that a deal could be made any day, which makes me suspect it's all about crossing the t's and dotting the i's," said Sen. Wayne Fontana, a Brookline Democrat who serves on the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority, which would own the arena. "I don't know that there are any major hurdles left. It's all just little things." Fontana said he expects officials to announce a deal today or...

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell says the arena deal that state, city and county officials are putting together for the Pittsburgh Penguins is the best offered to any National Hockey League Team in recent years. "It's also by far the best of any offer made to any Pennsylvania professional sports team for a new stadium," Rendell told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as he left a hotel Friday. Rendell stayed in the city overnight after meeting late Thursday with Penguins officials and local politicians to negotiate a new arena deal. No deal was struck, but Rendell aide Chuck Ardo said he...

PITTSBURGH (AP) _ An Oklahoma City business group is no longer interested in trying to bring the Pittsburgh Penguins to Oklahoma. Brad Lund of Express Sports says his group can't meet the team's timetable to work out a new arena deal. The Penguins and owner Mario Lemieux have been seeking a new arena in Pittsburgh and have already visited Kansas City and have an offer to move there. Ford Center in Oklahoma City opened in 2003 and is the part time home of the New Orleans Hornets of the NBA. Lund says his group will focus on trying to land...