NHL FanHouse

Knuckle Puck: Why Don't We Know What Refs Intend to Do?

Kevin Schultz — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Ducks, Flames, Maple Leafs, NHL Videos, NHL Discipline

Each and every Saturday this season I'll be taking a look at the random happenings and absurdities that occur in the world of hockey. Feel free to suggest stories, complain or otherwise babble at me via electronic mail.

Seriously. What's with you hockey fans, teams and players? Why don't you know what refs are thinking about doing? Why don't you know what they intend to do? More importantly, you should know why the ref is intending to do what he hasn't done yet but will since he intends to do what he's about to do.

Confused? So am I, and so is the majority of the hockey world.

But the people that aren't confused are the most important segment of all -- the folks in the stripes and in charge of NHL officiating. They think we should know what they intend to do, as Dennis LaRue showed us on Wednesday. A source inside of Starbucks in Manhattan, where the NHL offices are located, spoke to me on condition of anonymity this week. The source spoke about how the folks in the league office get their morning coffee. They don't say a word until a few minutes after the server asks for their order. He or she should know what they're intending to order.**

Now that's got to be a frustrating job.

In order to help the general public (i.e. the rest of us) have a better understanding of the "intent to blow" rule, I've created a helpful guide that you can practice at home. Remember, it may take a while for the people around you to warm up to this rule, but in the long run, it will certainly be beneficial.

-- If you take the train to work, don't buy a ticket. Simply tell the conductor that you intended to buy one and he or she will understand.

-- If you drive to work, don't use your turn signal. You intend to do it but haven't gotten around to it yet. Other drivers should know that.

-- When you get to work, sit in front of the computer and read FanHouse all day. If your boss complains, tell them that they should know you intended to do work.

-- If you are the boss, here's a fun trick for year-end performance reviews. Don't give any promotions or raises. Just keep telling anyone who asks that you intend to do it. You should be able to work that angle until the end of next year.

-- If you have kids and forgot to play with them like you promised, just tell them that you intended to do it. They'll understand.

-- At the supermarket, smash your cart into someone else's. You can get away with it if you tell them that your intent was to politely go around them.

YouTube of the Week

Olli Jokinen fighting. That statement alone should be funny, nevermind the accompanying video.

Knuckle Pucker of the Year Nominee
Each week, we'll nominate someone who deserves to be recognized for their outstanding service and commitment to giving me something to write about. By the end of the year I'll come up with some way to declare a winner. Today's nominee is...

... front row Ducks fans! Thanks to a few bad eggs sitting in the front row Thursday night a nice gesture by Scott Niedermayer turned into an all out brawl. The horrified look on Niedermayer's face -- similar, I would imagine, to a child watching the animals fight at a zoo -- says it all. So, thanks to the folks in the front row of Thursday night's Ducks game for showing us how to turn a great situation into an awful one in less than three seconds.

Jokes I Can't Resist Making
-- Think this is bad? You should see what happens at their houses on Christmas morning.
-- In all fairness, the stick was made of solid gold and coated in bacon.
-- They were just doing what they see George Parros do every night.
-- Come on guys, it isn't even Sidney Crosby's stick.

(**May or may not have actually happened)

Knuckle Puck: Why Don't We Know What Refs Intend to Do? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Theo Fleury Plans Charges Against Former Junior Coach

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:25:00 EST

Filed under: Flames, Junior Hockey

Theo Fleury's ill-fated NHL comeback this past summer opened some opportunities for him. By getting his name back in the hockey mainstream, Fleury was successful in promoting his autobiography, which chronicled his career and life in the sport of hockey.

In that book, Fleury accused his former junior coach, Graham James, of sexual abuse. Getting the story off his chest wasn't enough, as Fleury has apparently decided to press charges against James.

The New York Post says Fleury revealed his decision while in New York to promote his book. He strongly believes the alleged abuse contributed to the problems he encountered as an adult.

"That made me who I was," said Fleury, who is a recovering addict following a lifetime of alcohol, drug and gambling issues.

"You saw the anger on the ice. It was uncontrollable. I cringe when I see it. "Never in my life did I want to be like that but that's the person that the abuse turned me into; an alcoholic, doing drugs and completely out of control."

James was jailed in 1999 for his crimes after former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy spoke out about his experiences. He was sentenced to 42 months behind bars for sexually assaulting players.

Even though it's been close to 30 years since Fleury played junior hockey, one has to hope that his book helps other James victims speak out and try to prevent these horrific acts from happening in the future.

Theo Fleury Plans Charges Against Former Junior Coach originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Curtis Glencross Suspended 3 Games

Adam Gretz — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Flames, Rangers, NHL Videos, NHL Discipline

There was a play early in Saturday's Calgary-New York game that flew under the radar when, just under a minute into the contest, Flames forward Curtis Glencross caught Rangers captain Chris Drury with a blindside, open-ice hit.

Drury suffered a concussion as a result of the play, while Glencross was not penalized. That's not stopping the NHL from stepping in and issuing a three-game suspension to the Flames forward.

Video of the hit after the jump.

The incident occurs at the top of the screen, just on the edge of the faceoff circle.

It's hard to see what exactly happened because the camera angle isn't the best (did he catch him with a shoulder? Elbow? Was it directly to the head?) and the replays aren't much better. It's also impossible to see if Drury even touched the puck prior to getting hit. Bottom line, however, is that Drury has a concussion and Glencross will be losing three game checks.

Curtis Glencross Suspended 3 Games originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Knuckle Puck: What's Wrong With Vaccinating National Treasures?

Kevin Schultz — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Flames, Senators, NHL Fans, NHL Economics

Each and every Saturday this season I'll be taking a look at the random happenings and absurdities that occur in the world of hockey. Feel free to suggest stories, complain or otherwise babble at me via electronic mail.

There's something to be said for Canadians and their level-headedness at least as it compares to us Americans. They always seem so much calmer. But during the past week our neighbors to the North have been in an uproar about Calgary Flames Flu Vaccination Crisis 2009. Sure, they're rightfully up in arms in Alberta that the Flames and their peeps received shots before some of the neediest people in the province but that almost seems like a trivial matter compared to what's going on down here.

While we're duct taping the economy together, bringing machine guns to healthcare debates and desperately trying to figure out if there's a boy in that darned balloon they're worried about flu shots. It must be nice having that as the toughest problem your nation is facing! Now I know, we're kind worried about flu shots too, but it's easily eighth on America's list of Things That Will End the World by 2012 -- right before "zombie apocalypse" and after "iPhones enslave us." So I think the folks up north need to relax a bit. It's like the great Allen Iverson once said, "we're talkin' bout flu shots. Not a plague. Not an epidemic. Flu shots."

And really, what's so wrong with the province of Alberta vaccinating its most precious resource? That's protecting national -- or at least provincial -- interests, I'd say. The chief export of Canada is hockey and vaccinating hockey players is simply insuring and protecting your national treasures. Unless you accidentally give them a super virus that turns them into flesh eating zombies. But ignoring the zombie possibility, I'd say this was a prudent move. Kind of like if we vaccinated some of our national treasures such as the Statue of Liberty, Las Vegas and Tom Cruise. I don't know where we'd be without those three much like Alberta would be in trouble without the Flames or Oilers.

To be fair, it's getting cold and the most at risk in Alberta do need to be vaccinated and that's nothing to joke about. The common flu kills nearly 36,000 people per year in the United States alone. But hey, if you believe the media, Sony Pictures or the Mayans it's all irrelevant because we're screwed anyway.

Famous YouTuber Update of the Week
You've heard all about 5-year old ~~Herb Brooks~~ Josh Sacco but just when you think he's faded out of our consciousness this kid just keeps on bringing it. He's been on Sportscenter, the Ellen DeGeneres Show and is planning on attending the Winter Olympics in a few months. This kid has done more in his fifth year on this planet than most of us do in a lifetime. I, for one, can't wait to see what he has planned for age six.

How to Burn $10,000 in an Hour, Legally
Because actually setting fire to that much money would likely violate any number of laws, the folks at Fenway Park have given us a great solution for when we really just need to get rid of six months' pay really, really fast. Why lose it in a casino or on a super expensive dinner when you can spend it on playing an hour of hockey on the Winter Classic rink at Fenway!

Surprisingly, the folks in charge are claiming that there has been a lot of interest in an hour of ice time that is being sold at rates of $7,500 to $10,000 per hour. Of course most of the interested parties are corporate -- now that's one hell of a holiday party -- so the recession is clearly over if they're spending money on this.

Knuckle Pucker of the Year Nominee

Each week, we'll nominate someone who deserves to be recognized for their outstanding service and commitment to giving me something to write about. By the end of the year I'll come up with some way to declare a winner. Today's nominee is...

... McDonald's Canada! In the midst of a crippling global recession you are on top of your game! Your stock price is at an all time high and you're showing your true colors as apparent Leafs backers by giving this swift kick in the pants to the city of Ottawa: the release of a set of hockey cards that include one Dany Heatley in a Sens sweating declaring him "a hit in Ottawa since joining the team in 2005-06."

Hilariously horrendous timing: I'm lovin' it!

Knuckle Puck: What's Wrong With Vaccinating National Treasures? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Phantom Delay of Game Penalty on Nicklas Grossman Sinks Stars

Adam Gretz — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:50:00 EST

Filed under: Flames, Stars

Jarome Iginla scored two goals in Calgary's 3-2 win in Dallas on Wednesday night, including the game-winner on a power play just 1:25 into overtime. The big story that a lot of people are talking about this morning, however, is how Calgary found itself on the power play to begin with.

Stars defenseman Nicklas Grossman was sent to the box for delay of game for shooting the puck out of play in the defensive zone. The only problem? He wasn't in the defensive zone when he played the puck.

Brandon Worley at Defending Big D refused to blame the loss on the penalty in his recap:

Before anyone goes and blames the penalty call for the loss, this game was filled with missed opportunities by the Stars. Dallas outshot Calgary by a healthy margin, put pressure on the Flames for nearly the entire game but failed to take advantage of the chances they had early to put the game out of reach. The Stars had multiple power play opportunities early, including a lengthy 5 on 3. While they were able to muster some good chances Curtis McElhinney made some great saves early to keep the Stars out of the net. Once that started to happen you could see Dallas start to try and get that perfect cross-ice pass to open up a clear shot; with the defensive corps that Calgary has, that proved to be nearly impossible.

Fair points. And I'm definitely not one to blame referees for losses, especially when the Stars surrendered the game-tying goal to force overtime with just 49 seconds to play in regulation.

But how can officials, right on top of the play, blow such a black-and-white call when the play is unfolding right in front of them? It's not like there's a lot of gray area here.

From the NHL rulebook: When any player or goalkeeper, while in his defending zone, shoots the puck directly (non-deflected) out of the playing surface, except where there is no glass, a penalty shall be assessed for delaying the game. When the puck is shot into the players' bench, the penalty will not apply. When the puck is shot over the glass 'behind' the players' bench, the penalty will be assessed.

He's either in the defensive zone or he's not ... and he's clearly not.

Video: Phantom Delay of Game Penalty on Nicklas Grossman Sinks Stars originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flames' Swine Flu Clinic Not Piggish, Just Celeb Reality

Christopher Botta — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST

Filed under: Flames, NHL Injuries, NHL Media Watch

Don't blame the Calgary Flames for swiping swine flu shots for their players, coaches, staff members and their families. Blame the culture of celebrity. Since most hockey players are big stars north of the border, blame Canada. Blame Alberta Health Services, the agency responsible.

But don't get all high and mighty about the Flames getting vaccinated while thousands of Alberta residents waited all day or were turned away at clinics throughout the province. The hockey team did not ask for preferential treatment. They only asked for treatment. Why a squad from Alberta Health provided the Flames with their own clinic is something the agency will have to explain. One suggestion for the investigators: start with the team's head physician. Those docs tend to be deeply connected.

If you haven't heard about the controversy, it's all the rage in Canada. The Alberta government is trying to determine how the Flames were vaccinated for the H1N1 virus on Friday. At the same time Calgary's hockey team and its extended family were being taken care of at an undisclosed location, countless citizens waited on endless lines and several clinics were closed as Alberta Health re-focused its vaccination program on high-risk patients. Alberta Health Minister Ron Liepert said the swine flu shots were "inappropriately diverted" to the hockey club.

On Tuesday, Flames president Ken King said the franchise simply contacted Alberta Health Services and followed all guidelines. "Our organization and medical staff felt that our players should receive the vaccination, given the risks associated with frequent physical contact, extreme exertion and onerous domestic and cross-border travel," King said in a statement.

OK, so King did not explain the extra shots provided for the spouses and children of front office executives, but the Flames' request was not illegal. King added, "Our players did not seek to either avoid lineups or get special attention."

Whether he meant to or not, Edmonton Oilers VP Allan Watt took a shot across Alberta at the hated Flames. Responding to a question about the Oilers' plan for vaccination, Watt said, "If a player wants to get a shot, he can go to a clinic just like any person."

And therein lies the argument that has transcended the playing surface and has Western Canada in an uproar. The Alberta government was receiving mounting criticism well before the Flames controversy. The beloved hockey team -- the pride of Calgary win, lose or overtime loss -- is getting some rare heat. "The majority of fans and Albertans are pointing their fingers at Health Services," said Fan590 sports radio host Rob Kerr, "but the Flames have been hit a bit with this notion that they're queue-jumpers."

That's life. If Jarome Iginla wants tickets for a hot concert at the Saddledome, he can score as many as he wants. Although at $6 million a year Dion Phaneuf is the last guy to need anyone's generosity, no doubt his tabs have been picked up by the owners of local restaurants many times.

In the final report, chances are there won't be mention of any pictures taken and autographs signed during the inoculation. But if anyone thinks the Flames were not given the star treatment with these swine flu shots, they're kidding themselves. Just don't kill the franchise for asking. Within the rules, the Flames were only trying to take care of their own.

While the investigation of the Flames' very special clinic is ongoing, Alberta Health Services announced a new vaccination plan favoring pregnant women and young children. There's no truth to the rumor the plan also extends to anyone named Sutter.

Flames' Swine Flu Clinic Not Piggish, Just Celeb Reality originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight of the Week: Heavyweights

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bruins, Canucks, Ducks, Flames, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Stars, Red Wings, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

Every Friday, FanHouse sifts through the rubble and picks the best NHL fight, with the help of HockeyFights.com.

It's no secret what we're looking for in a good fight. It needs to have intensity, some good back-and-forth action, and there is some longevity needed. If two guys trade a flurry of punches for seven seconds, it's not nearly as impressive as a high-quality 30-second fight.

This week's top fight has a little bit of everything.

Beatdown of the Week: Krys Barch vs. D.J. King

King played in just one game last season, but he showed no rust in this quick putaway of Barch. Watch the fight here, but don't blink, because you might miss the action.

Runner-Up: Colton Orr vs. George Parros

While the fight itself was okay, the news happened when Orr shoved the linesman who appeared to be trying to break up the bout prematurely.

(Orr, by the way, is not going to be punished any further for that, beyond the misconduct penalty he got at the time.)

Orr and Parros are experienced at this sort of thing, and it's no surprise they can get together and give the fans a good slugfest. Watch the video here.

Runner-Up: Brad May vs. Tanner Glass

May held a real heavy edge in experience on Glass, so you might think he would control this fight. Instead, the youngster did very well against May, even ducking out of the way as May threw a roundhouse that would have knocked Glass into the middle of the Olympic break. Watch the video here.

Fight of the Week: Steve MacIntyre vs. Brian McGrattan

This was easily the best dance of the week. McGrattan is the better fighter, and he won this one hands-down. But it wasn't just about that. MacIntyre made a good showing of himself by simply competing, and he showed he can hang with one of the league's better fighters.

It's not hard to fathom that these two -- playing on division rivals -- will go again this season.

Fight of the Week: Heavyweights originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Younger Kronwall Wants to Play, Especially Against the Wings

Susan Slusser — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Flames

Staffan Kronwall is a defenseman for the Flames, which is great for the 26-year-old in many respects. He's absorbing things from one of the best defensive units in the game, watching and learning.

The flip side of that: Kronwall doesn't get much ice time. He's been a healthy scratch the past five games after playing the previous five. So he works his tail off in practice and he gets a master class in his position from players such as Dion Phaneuf, Robyn Regehr and Jay Bouwmeester. Regehr has been particularly helpful, Kronwall said, when it comes to sharing tricks off the trade, but all have made the reserve feel welcome.

"These are some of the best defensemen in the world," Kronwall told FanHouse by phone. "I'm trying to see what they're doing, pick up some things. It's little things, but those things make a difference because the game is so fast. You don't have the time and space you have in the minors. Things like positioning, and where to place the puck."

"Obviously, I want to get in and play. We're playing really good hockey right now, and I'm working really hard in practice to push guys. I'm improving, and I'll get in there in time."
-- Staffan Kronwall on the Flames' stacked 'd' Kronwall's other defensive mentor, of course, is his older brother Niklas, who plays for the Red Wings. Nik Kronwall told FanHouse recently that he was eyeing Saturday on the calendar -- the day that Detroit plays the Flames. The Swedish brothers are close and phone each other frequently, but they're also extremely competitive, being just two years apart.

"I've always been a bigger guy than him and we did get in a few fights when we were kids, but now we're like best friends, really close," said Staffan Kronwall, who is 6-foot-5, 225 pounds to his brother's 6-foot, 189 pounds. "I probably don't look like him on the ice, but we do have similar styles. I've played with him a lot (in Sweden), I've played against him. It would be cool to do that in this league, for sure. "

Kronwall doesn't know if that will happen this Saturday. He understands that the Flames have been on a little bit of a roll, with three wins in a row. They've worked their way right up behind conference-leading Colorado in the Northwest Division, and they're playing the Avalanche tomorrow night before taking on the defending conference champion Red Wings on Saturday.

The highly regarded defense, though, hasn't improved its numbers from a disappointing 2008-2009 season. The Flames are allowing 3.3 goals per game, 24th in the league. Last year, Calgary was 23rd, a primary reason they made an aggressive move for Bouwmeester. So perhaps there is room for some shuffling when it comes to the unit.

"Obviously, I want to get in and play," Kronwall said. "We're playing really good hockey right now, and I'm working really hard in practice to push guys. I'm improving, and I'll get in there in time.

"I would love to play against Detroit -- it's like the Swedish national team nowadays. I'm working my butt off to get in and to help us win."

Nik Kronwall said he always pays attention to how his brother is doing, so he was delighted earlier this month when Staffan scored his first NHL goal, the deciding goal against visiting Montreal.

"I've been waiting quite awhile," said Staffan Kronwall, who has played 148 games in the minors. "I'm happy it came on home ice and was a game-winner. That's something to remember for sure."

Younger Kronwall Wants to Play, Especially Against the Wings originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight of the Week: Pairing Off

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Flames, Hurricanes, Islanders, Oilers, Wild, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

Every Friday, FanHouse sifts through the rubble and picks the best NHL fight, with the help of HockeyFights.com.

Sometimes, one fight just isn't good enough. Such was the case in Calgary recently, as the Flames and Canucks met for one of six matchups between the division rivals this season. It took just 2:32 for two fights to break out. Even though there were two good scraps going on at once, there was a clear winner for our Fight of the Week honors.

Beatdown of the Week: David Koci vs. Derek Boogaard

Boogaard missed the first few games of the season, and he hasn't had many opportunities to drop the gloves. In fact, this fight with Koci was his first of the season. Needless to say, the Wild fan favorite didn't look very rusty, as he quickly and decisively polished off Koci.

Runner Up: Rick Rypien vs. Zack Stortini

If we measured the quality of a fight simply by counting the number of punches thrown, this one would be a solid candidate for the best fight of the season. However, the problem is that Rypien appeared to throw the vast majority of the punches, and Stortini struggled to get any shots in.

Runner Up: Scott Walker vs. Brendan Witt

Walker is a proven tough guy in this league, and this looked like a bit of a mismatch when it started. The heavily-tattooed Witt held his own, however, and helped turn this into a very entertaining fight. In the end, though, it's hard to argue against this being anything but a decisive win for Walker.

Fight(s) of the Week: Darcy Hordichuk vs. Brian McGrattan/Tanner Glass vs. Brandon Prust

The Prust/Glass fight was pretty solid, but it doesn't hold a candle to McGrattan battling Hordichuk. The two exchanged some solid blows right up to the end, which came when McGrattan absolutely leveled Hordichuk with a right. Prust and Glass got off to a fast start, but it quickly turned into a wrestling match on ice. The linesmen broke it up when they were up against the glass for too long.

Fight of the Week: Pairing Off originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight of the Week: Colton Orr Takes Over

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Blue Jackets, Flames, Lightning, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Predators, Senators, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

Every Friday, FanHouse sifts through the rubble and picks the best NHL fight, with the help of HockeyFights.com.

Some weeks, this job is just too easy. Our search for the best hockey fights includes a couple dandies this week, including a classic heavyweight battle in Toronto. It's the kind of bout that makes Brian Burke smile. Check out our runners-up, along with video of this week's best fight, after the jump.

Runner Up: Matt Walker vs. Chris Neil

Video here. Walker got some good early shots in, but Neil had a rally in him. This went from being a one-sided affair to quite competitive very quickly.

Runner Up: Jared Boll vs. Brandon Prust

Boll is one of the more underrated fighters in the league. He's big and strong, and also happens to be tough as nails. Prust brought some intensity to this fight, and he didn't back down after Boll landed an early right that would have staggered a lot of guys. Watch Prust make an impressive comeback here.

Runner Up: Zack Stortini vs. Triston Grant

Last week, we showed you Stortini standing and watching as skilled teammate Sam Gagner got in a scrap. No more of that, as Stortini mixed it up Tuesday, as his Oilers were blowing out the Predators. Stortini is a lot bigger than Grant, but the Nashville youngster held his own, mainly by keeping a strong hold on Stortini and limiting his ability to punch. Watch the video here.

Fight of the Week: David Koci vs. Colton Orr

This is easy. You don't even have to watch the video to know it's awesome, because Koci and Orr have plenty of experience and are more than capable of putting on a show. The heavyweights wore each other down, and there were more than a few punches thrown. Apologies for the lack of sound, but the feed that night had audio issues throughout. It's too bad, because it would be worth money to hear Joe Bowen call a fight this good.

Fight of the Week: Colton Orr Takes Over originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vanek Scores 2, Likely Out 'Weeks' With Upper Body Injury

Adam Gretz — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jackets, Flames, Sabres, Red Wings, NHL Injuries

Newsmakers in the NHL: During the regular season it's our Weekday look at the previous night's action and some of the storylines taking place around the league. Have a tip or something you want linked? Send it in to nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

Sabres 6, Red Wings 2: The Sabres scored four goals in seven minutes during the second period of their 6-2 win against the Red Wings on Tuesday, chasing Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood after he surrendered five goals on just 22 shots. Leading the way for Buffalo was Thomas Vanek with two goals, including what turned out to be a costly score when he was injured falling into the boards after poking in a rebound. He left the game and did not return with an "upper body injury" that appears to be fairly serious.

After the jump: Vanek's status, hit of the day, and more

Following the game, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said his All-Star winger could be out "weeks" with the injury.

Vanek missed nine games a season ago, which played a big role in the Sabres missing the playoffs as they went 3-5-1 in his absence and fell short of the postseason by just two points.

Drew Stafford, Patrick Kaleta, Clarke MacArthur and Paul Gaustad also scored for Buffalo, while Ryan Miller stopped 23 shots.

Blue Jackets 2, Flames 1: Columbus continued its fast start with a 2-1 win over Calgary on Tuesday. Anton Stralman scored his first goal as a member of the Blue Jackets, while Kristian Huselius' marker two minutes later proved to be the game-winner. Steve Mason turned aside 22-of-23 shots for Columbus as Calgary dropped its third game in a row, ending what turned out to be a disappointing -- and at times embarrassing -- two-game road trip.

Tuesday's Other Game

Toronto continues its early season struggles. [Box Score, Recap]

Loose Pucks

-- Go Green Nights return in Tampa Bay. Own a bike? Have a phone book you're looking to get rid of? Then you can see some free (or discounted) hockey on October 22 against the San Jose Sharks.

-- Gabriel Desjardins takes a look at Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Vesa Toskala and asks the question we're all asking after his first four starts: does he really suck this much? [Behind The Net]

Video Of The Day

Patrick Kaleta, meet Niklas Kronwall.

Wednesday's Key Games

Pittsburgh vs. Carolina: The Penguins are unbeaten away from Mellon Arena this season and look to go a perfect a 4-0 on their current road trip. It's a rematch of last year's Eastern Conference Final. No word on whether or not Bill Cowher will be sounding the Hurricane warning siren.

Edmonton vs. Chicago: Chicago returns to the ice after its record-tying come-from-behind win against Calgary on Monday. The Blackhawks will be taking on their former goaltender, Nikolai Khabibulin, as they host the Edmonton Oilers.

Los Angeles vs. New York: The Kings enter Madison Square Garden riding a four-game winning streak, including three-straight one-goal games. Ryan Smyth looks to be rejuvenated in Los Angeles with eight points (four goals, four assists) in his first five games.

Vanek Scores 2, Likely Out 'Weeks' With Upper Body Injury originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Incredible Comeback or Epic Choke Job?

Adam Gretz — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:15:00 EST

Filed under: Blackhawks, Flames

That is the question you have to be asking yourself after watching Monday's Calgary vs. Chicago game.

Twelve minutes into the first period, it appeared as if the Flames were going to embarrass the Blackhawks on their home ice, scoring five goals on their first eight shots, including a 53-second span where Calgary lit the lamp three times. Chicago goaltender Cristobal Huet was pulled in favor of Antti Niemi after giving up three goals on five shots, and the game appeared to be well in hand; you could chalk up a "W" for the Flames.

Not so fast.

What followed over the final 48 minutes of regulation was completely unexpected, as the Blackhawks rallied to tie the game at five, before winning 26 seconds into overtime on a goal from defenseman Brent Seabrook. The 'Hawks also received goals from John Madden, Patrick Kane, Dustin Byfuglien, Dave Bolland, and Patrick Sharp, while Mikka Kiprusoff was the goaltender on the hook for all six goals (on 33 shots) for Calgary.

It's tied for the largest comeback win in NHL history according to the Elias Sports Bureau. For the most recent 5-0 comeback, you just have to go back to February 19, 2007, and the Montreal Canadiens rallying to defeat the New York Rangers. Though, they didn't get the win until that game went to a shootout (back in the day, it would have simply ended in a tie).

So we go back to the original question: Does this get remembered as a great comeback by Chicago, a choke job by Calgary, or a happy medium that involves a little from column A and a little from column B?

On one hand, you have to give Chicago credit for not packing it in and starting to look ahead to Wednesday's game against Edmonton when it was 5-0 in the first period. But you also have to look at the Flames and wonder how a 5-0 lead turns into a 6-5 loss.

The good news for the Flames is they won't have much time to dwell on this one as their next game is Tuesday night in Columbus.

Incredible Comeback or Epic Choke Job? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL Discipline: No Punishment for Hartnell, Pat Quinn Fined $10,000

Adam Gretz — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: Flames, Flyers, Oilers, Penguins

We already talked about the ending to Thursday's Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia game and the Penguins claim that Flyers forward Scott Hartnell took a bite out of Kris Letang's finger. After a conference call with league disciplinary czar Colin Campbell on Friday, it was determined that Hartnell will not face any additional discipline due to a lack of evidence.

Video of the incident, including a new nickname for Hartnell, after the jump.

Neither player would say for sure what happened. Letang insisted that the media ask Hartnell, and when asked, Hartnell said "a lot of stuff happens on the bottom of the pile. He had his hands in my face doing the facewash and we're rolling around. I can't say what happened."

And there's the problem. You can't see what's happening at the bottom of the scrum. All we know is both players went down to the ice and Letang came up with a cut on his hand. Just another chapter in a bitter rivalry that's sure to be a must-watch the rest of the season.

Both players received two-minute minors for roughing.

Meanwhile, Edmonton Oilers head coach Pat Quinn was quite heated following his team's shootout loss to the Calgary Flames when discussing an incident involving Sheldon Souray and Jarome Iginla.

Following the game, Quinn advocated some Marty McSorley-style vigilante justice.

"I don't understand the players of today," Quinn said on Thursday. "If that had happened in the old days he would have got hit over the head with a stick right after. It was a pretty dirty play in my opinion. He poked his feet out and then piled on top of him. Somehow they never deal with that crap and they won't let the vigilante stuff happen to deal with it. It's disappointing."

Emphasis mine, as I'm assuming that's the specific comment that the league took notice of. The NHL, not amused by such comments, slapped him with a $10,000 fine on Friday.

NHL Discipline: No Punishment for Hartnell, Pat Quinn Fined $10,000 originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight of the Week: Long, Competitive Southeast Division Scrap

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bruins, Flames, Hurricanes, Kings, Lightning, Oilers, Sharks, Thrashers, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

Every Friday, FanHouse sifts through the rubble and picks the best NHL fight, with the help of HockeyFights.com.

Fighting will always be controversial. Many fans say that it's as much a part of hockey as the ice is. Others would rather it went away, even if they may secretly enjoy it. However, it seems that fighting is here to stay in the NHL. This week's card included a few heavyweight bouts, an unlikely matchup in Alberta, and a rather long, intense fight between division rivals.

Honorable Mention: Craig Conroy vs. Sam Gagner

Video can be found here. No, the Oilers haven't signed an enforcer named Sam Gagner. The young, dynamic center apparently thought it was his job to use his fists to ignite his team. CBC's Mark Lee was almost incredulous. The best part? Big Zach Stortini of Edmonton was a spectator.

Runner-Up: Jay Harrison vs. Milan Lucic

The video is here. Sometimes, a fight's quality is hurt because it doesn't last long enough. Harrison had good intentions here, but he was completely overmatched, and he ended up wearing the ol' crimson mask because of his decision to try to fight Lucic. Quality visual on this one, and great work by Lucic, but it was too much of a mismatch to climb atop the list for this week.

Runner-Up: Jody Shelley vs. Raitis Ivanans

Watch the video here. Shelley's teammate looked to throw an unnecessary hit on an icing play, and Ivanans did his job, going after the heavyweight and sticking up for a teammate. Good scrap between fighters who share space in the Pacific Division, so they're probably familiar with each other's work.

Fight of the Week: Zenon Konopka vs. Chris Thorburn

Konopka has never played more than 23 games in an NHL season. He was up against a slightly bigger and more experienced Thorburn in this fight from Saturday's Thrasher home opener. The two combined for one of the longer fights of the week, and there was some serious intensity from both sides.

Fight of the Week: Long, Competitive Southeast Division Scrap originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hats Off to Mike Richards, Happy Birthday Danny Briere

Adam Gretz — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Canadiens, Capitals, Flames, Flyers, Maple Leafs, Senators

Newsmakers in the NHL: During the regular season it's our Weekday look at the previous night's action and some of the storylines taking place around the league. Have a tip or something you want linked? Send it in to nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

Flyers 6, Capitals 5: After a scoreless first period in Philadelphia, the final 40 minutes of regulation -- and the overtime period -- of the Capitals-Flyers game turned into a defense optional contest.

The two teams pumped in 11 goals during Philadelphia's 6-5 overtime win, including a second period hat trick from Flyers center Mike Richards, giving him five goals in his first three games of the season. Such a number would have given him the early season lead in goals scored, had it not been for Alex Ovechkin continuing his white-hot start by adding a pair of his own, also giving him five on the young season.

After the jump: Video of the day, an unlikely hat trick, Ottawa tops 'The Monster'

The game-winning tally came from Danny Briere at the 3:52 mark of the overtime period on the same day he celebrated his 33rd birthday. Some of the other offensive highlights from the night: Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom registered three more assists ... Flyers defenseman Matt Carle had four assists of his own - in the second period ... Capitals winger Alexander Semin scored two more goals ... Through three games, the line of Ovechkin, Backstrom and Semin has combined for nine goals, 15 assists and 24 points.

Flames 4, Canadiens 3: Entering play on Tuesday, former No. 10 overall pick (2002) Eric Nystrom had played 124 games in the NHL and scored eight goals. During Calgary's 4-3 win against Montreal, the 26-year-old winger scored three goals on three shots for the first multiple-goal game of his career. Scott Gomez scored his first goal as a member of the Canadiens in the loss.

Senators 2, Maple Leafs 1: The Maple Leafs dropped their third in a row to start the season, falling to their Provincial rivals. Daniel Alfredsson and Shean Donovan provided the offense for the Senators, while Pascal Leclaire stopped 26 of 27 shots in net. Matt Stajan provided the lone goal for Toronto (his third of the season) and Jonas Gustavsson stopped 26 shots in his first career start. For 59 minutes and 23 seconds, Gustavsson pitched a shutout for the Leafs only to surrender both goals in a 37-second span early in the second period.

Tuesday's Other Games

Carolina tops Tampa Bay in a shootout. [Box Score, Recap]

Minnesota comes back for overtime win. [Box Score, Recap]

Edmonton wins in a shootout. [Box Score, Recap]

Los Angeles takes on San Jose [Box Score, Recap]

Loose Pucks

-- With Andrei Markov on the shelf for a few months, Montreal addressed its power play and depth on the blue line by adding free agent defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeon. He scored 14 goals for Minnesota a year ago. [TSN]

-- Good news for the New Jersey Devils as winger Patrik Elias has returned to the ice. [Fire & Ice]

-- Bad news for the Colorado Avalanche as goaltender Craig Anderson, the man leading their surprising start, missed practice on Tuesday with a "minor groin strain." According to Adrian Dater, the Avs believe he will return to practice on Wednesday. [All Things Avs]

Video Of The Day

Mike Richards pounces on a loose puck and scores his third goal of the game.

Wednesday's Key Games

Another slow night on the schedule as only four teams are in action.

Penguins vs. Coyotes: Phoenix continues its season-opening three-game road trip in Pittsburgh against the Stanley Cup Champions who are looking to win their third in a row.

Canadiens vs. Canucks: Vancouver looks to get in the "W" column for the first time this season against Montreal, while everyone asks what's wrong with Roberto Luongo?

Hats Off to Mike Richards, Happy Birthday Danny Briere originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nikolai Khabibulin's Costly Turnover

Adam Gretz — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:50:00 EST

Filed under: Flames, Oilers, NHL Videos

That picture looks like it was designed for a create-a-caption contest.

Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin made his debut in Edmonton on Saturday night, and it couldn't have gone any worse for the veteran netminder. Just seconds after Oilers forward Patrick O'Sullivan missed the net on a wide open shot at the opposite end of the ice, Khabibulin came out of his crease to play a loose puck, only to turn it over to Calgary's David Moss who directed it into the open net, giving the Flames a 4-3 lead with just 47 seconds to play in The Battle Of Alberta.

Video after the jump.

Benjamin Massey at The Copper & Blue sums it up perfectly for Oilers fans. On the bright side, the Oilers looked absolutely fantastic in their throwback uniforms. So, at least they had that going for them.

Nikolai Khabibulin's Costly Turnover originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fleury Announces Retirement; Allison's Comeback Bid Falls Short

Adam Gretz — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Flames, Maple Leafs

After being cut by the Calgary Flames on Friday and mulling his options over the weekend, 41-year-old Theoren Fleury announced his retirement on Monday saying, "I could not sign with another team ... I retire a Calgary Flame." And with that, a 15-year NHL career comes to a close that saw the speedy forward tally 1,088 points.

A former eighth-round pick in 1987, Fleury spent parts of 11 seasons as a member of the Flames, scoring 364 of his 455 career goals. He was a member of the Flames only Stanley Cup winning team in 1988-89, and last played in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2003.

Meanwhile, in Toronto, another comeback attempt has fallen short, this time involving former No. 17 overall pick Jason Allison.

Allison, 34, was in camp with the Maple Leafs on a tryout contract, and made highlights for a skirmish with Flyers forward Darroll Powe that included Allison ripping his helmet in half (turns out, it was simply a loose screw). Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson said, via TSN, that "he's out of the plans."

Still no word on whether or not Allison will look to catch on with another club, but he last played with Toronto during the 2005-06 campaign, scoring 17 goals. In 552 career games he has 154 goals and 331 assists, and twice finished in the top-10 in scoring.

Fleury Announces Retirement; Allison's Comeback Bid Falls Short originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The NHL's Top Goal Horns

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Blackhawks, Capitals, Flames, Oilers, Rangers, NHL Fans

In recent years, goal horns have become all the rage at hockey arenas. Most junior, college, minor league, and professional arenas have a horn of some sort. It blares at a usually high volume whenever the home team scores. At some rinks, the horn also goes off when the home team takes the ice, or when they win a game.

Since the goal horn has become as much a part of the arena atmosphere as the organ used to be, it seems like a good time to rank the best of the best around the NHL. The top five, with obligatory YouTubes, are after the jump.

Honorable Mention

Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators

No. 5: New York Rangers

We tend to lean toward cool sounds, but this is also about tradition. No matter what other arenas sound like, there is one goal horn that is probably familiar to even people who don't follow hockey.

With apologies to all fans who feel nothing but general annoyance when the Rangers score, we can't pass up the old horn at Madison Square Garden.

No. 4: Washington Capitals

Some might call it loud and irritating. However, there are two better descriptions for the horn at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

Unique and cool.

It sounds more like a remix than a goal horn, but it's played every time the Capitals score. Lately, that means it's played a lot for the league's best player (well, he's at least in the top three).

No. 3: Chicago Blackhawks

After what he experienced in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals last season, Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo probably disagrees. It's reasonable to think he goes to sleep with this sound in his head, and he probably wakes up to it, too.

Patrick Kane scored a hat trick that night, part of a seven-goal Chicago barrage that ended Luongo's season. Even without that, the United Center is home to one of the older horns in the game, one that simply has to be on a list like this.

No. 2: Calgary Flames

It's hard to say what the Flames' horn sounds like, which is a good thing. It's one of a kind in the NHL. It's not ear-piercing (at least on television), and it sounds really good when you mix it with 20,000 happy Flames fans.

No. 1: Edmonton Oilers

In a way, it's fitting that the best goal horns come from Canada. At virtually every turn, those folks treat this great game the right way.

They might not win the Battle of Alberta on the ice, but they win it with their ambience. Not only are the fans at Rexall Place fully capable of singing the national anthem on their own, but they have easily the coolest-sounding goal horn in the league.

Hockey fans in America heard plenty of it in 2006, as the Oilers went on their magical run to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The NHL's Top Goal Horns originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flames Release Theo Fleury

Adam Gretz — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:20:00 EST

Filed under: Flames

Theoren Fleury's improbable comeback attempt with the Calgary Flames has come to an end, it appears, as the team has released the 41-year-old forward.

Fleury, who hasn't played an NHL regular season since the 2003 season, thanked the Flames in a statement released by the team for giving him the opportunity to resurrect his career, and has yet to decide if he will hang up the skates for good, telling TSN, "I need a couple of days."

Flames general manager Darryl Sutter also released the following statement:

"I believe Theoren did a great job and should be proud, especially considering all the factors including age, time away from the game and lifestyle change ... This is not a hockey story; it's a life story. Our agreement with Theoren was that he had to be one of our top six wingers and there were never any intentions of assigning him to the American Hockey League."

During the preseason with the Flames, Fleury registered a goal and three assists to go with a plus-four rating, while he also scored the game-winning goal in a shootout against the New York Islanders in his debut on September 17.

He last played in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2002-03 season, scoring 12 goals in 54 games.

He's tallied 455 goals -- including a 50-goal campaign during the 1990-91 season -- and 633 assists in his 15-year career, most of which came as a member of the Flames

Flames Release Theo Fleury originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How Much Is Too Much in Preseason?

Adam Gretz — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Flames, Islanders, NHL Fans, NHL Videos

One of the initial reactions that's been floating around in the wake of Dion Phaneuf's crushing hit on Kyle Okposo Thursday night has been something along the lines of: what in the name of all that is holy was Dion Phaneuf doing dishing out a hit like that in a preseason game? The NHL FanHouse staff instantly starting debating how much is too much when it comes to physical play during games that don't count in the standings.

Botta: Phaneuf Must Phace Music

Adam Gretz: I think it's a touchy subject. On one hand, I understand the argument that it's a preseason game, it doens't count, and in the overall grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter in the standings. That said, all of these guys are athletes and competitors, and from the first time they step on the ice they're trained -- programmed, if you will -- to win and destroy. Can you flip that switch when you step on the ice and say, "OK, this game doesn't count so I'm not going to light this guy up if he comes into my area like I would in December?"

On the other hand, it's not a meaningless game to every player on the ice. There are some guys out there fighting for roster spots and careers. Hell, in the Islanders-Flames game Theo Fleury, 41 years old, is fighting for a comeback. That's not just another preseason game to him.

Susan Slusser: It's reasonable to expect limited playing time for the big names, especially this early, and for maybe a little less heavy hitting -- again, especially this early. But Adam is right: flipping a switch can't be that easy. It's like guys with injuries who are told to go half-speed, then they go all-out and reaggravate the injury. It's tough to do.

That said, it's tough to see someone get smoked in a game that doesn't count. Injuries are going to happen in NHL and NFL preseason games, but you'd like to think most guys are playing with some awareness that the fellows on the other side aren'ts mortal enemies -- yet -- and no one needs to leave on a stretcher.

I don't want anyone to leave on a stretcher in the regular season, either, but at least you understand that the intensity is going to be higher. Bring it down a notch for the exhibition games. Even if someone's trying to win a roster spot, coaches are perfectly capable of judging performance without anyone landing in the hospital.

Christopher Botta: Full ticket prices are charged. NHL mainstays and wannabes are competing. I don't know how you tell a hockey player to turn down the dial a bit. Dion Phaneuf made the same hit last night that he would have made if the game against the Islanders was three weeks later. Whether you think his hit was dirty or not, it doesn't matter that it was in a preseason game. It only makes Kyle Okposo's injury more unfortunate.

Exhibition games are traditionally wilder, more gooned up. The only thing the league could do -- and they won't -- is have fewer of them. The Islanders have played three games in the last four nights. The only thing the fans will remember about them, and the coaches will take out of them, is Doug Weight and Sean Bergenheim suffering groin injuries and Kyle Okposo getting carried off the ice on a stretcher.

Gretz: The "preseason is too long argument" comes up every year in the NFL, as well, and likewise, it's never going to change because there's a buck to made (major bucks, actually). I'm a season-ticket holder for an NFL team and this season I had to spend a grand total of $248 for two exhibition games. And I have to do that every year. It sucks, but there's nothing you can do about it but hand over the money. It's the biggest ripoff in sports. The only way to approach them with any sort of rooting interest, as a fan, is to say "I don't care if my team wins this meaningless game, but just don't get hurt."

Obviously, you never want to see guys get hurt in any game, especially to the point where they're carted off. If I'm a coach, or a GM -- or, hell, the guy sitting in the nosebleed seats -- I imagine that I'd want to see Dion Phaneuf playing the same way he would play in December or January as long as he's on the ice ... but I'd also be seriously limiting his, and any other established veteran that has his spot and role set in stone, time on ice.

Kevin Schultz: I understand that we're in the heat of the game and we can't just say, "Well, it's preseason so don't hit so hard, shoot so hard, etc." I think there's a certain level of discretion players can have. Just because they're professional athletes and are trained to hit and hit hard doesn't mean they are incapable of pulling up or avoiding contact. These guys are professionals and have professional body control and skating ability. We can only dream what that's like.

However, I am not asking anyone to pull up or change how they play despite my given distaste for what happened to Okposo. You can't schedule preseason games, sell tickets, have the whole circus come to town and ask these guys to play at half speed -- especially the ones competing for a roster spot. What could eventually happen is that coaches take another look at how they approach these games. Or at least within the Islanders organization. Let's face it. Most coaches know who 80-90 percent of the opening roster is going to be comprised of. Now add to that the epic injury problems the Islanders faced last year (exactly two players who finished the season on the roster suited up for more than 70 games. Two.). Maybe coaches need to be thinking about what's more important, sending out a star player for an extra shift and risk injury or get another look at a guy desperate to crack the lineup.

Botta: Here's another aspect you can't do anything about. Calgary and the Islanders play again on Saturday night in Saskatoon. There is no way Dion Phaneuf dresses for that game.

Bruce Ciskie: I think the preseason is important. Sure, there are teams that have no major personnel changeover, and training camp is nothing but a glorified tryout for like four guys who have a realistic chance of cracking the NHL roster. Then, you have a team like Minnesota, where every minute of ice time in training camp has a great value because of the changes that have been made to the system. Pretty hard to tell Todd Richards that he can't have a full preseason to get his guys ready, along with figuring out who's going to make the team.

It sucks when guys get hurt, but Phaneuf's hit was not at all dirty. If we're going to charge normal ticket prices and not label the games non-contact, we can't complain when someone does his job and throws a hit. If you're going to ask that guys like Dion Phaneuf not do their job, then you better stop charging full admission for the games. Hitting's as much a part of the game as goals for some people.

How Much Is Too Much in Preseason? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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