The Jean Beliveau Tribute Was As Classy As You'd Expect

((HT: Some Hockey Videos/RDS/NHL))

The sell-out streak was over at the Molson Centre last night when the Montreal Canadiens took the ice.

And it was over on purpose...

The team left one seat empty- Jean Beliveau's

There was a 45-minute tribute for the hockey legend that included his widow, Elise...

And it was as classy and elegant as you would think it would be...

Tim Thompson's Tribute To Jean Beliveau

((HT: Tim Thompson his own self))

For those of you unaware, Tim Thompson is the video conscience of TV hockey presentation in Canada.

He cut the "Hockey Night in Canada" intros and has now transitioned to the new contract...

Here's his ode to the Montreal Canadiens' Jean Beliveau

4, Jean Beliveau from HockeyFilms on Vimeo.

Looks Like Milan Lucic Might Get A Fine (UPDATE: Yep, He Did)

((HT: NESN/NHL))

It's no secret that the Bruins and Canadiens don't like each other...

Last night was another example...

Late in the game, Milan Lucic decided to introduce himself to Alexei Emelin


But only after Emelin got to him first two minutes in...


Which led to this move as Lucic went to the penalty box
((HT: Some Hockey Videos))


So, yeah, we think there's at least a fine coming...

PM UPDATE: The fine ended up being $5,000

The fine money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund

NHL Hockey is Back: Now With Ref Cams

((ht: cbssports.com))

So, one of the many reasons we love hockey is that they are willing to try stuff other major sports may not be willing to do.

And Wednesday night was the official kickoff to the 2014-15 NHL season. Which for us, is cause for celebration.

Check out what the fine folks at the Sportsnet Canada decided to try this season.

Helmet cams on the ref--

Here's the puck drop at the Toronto Maple Leafs/Montreal Canadiens game:



Pretty cool, eh?

Or there's this. Referee Tim Peel brings you into a scuffle between the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames.

Yes...

We like this view.

A lot...

Poor, Poor Youppi: Pays Off Bet With Jimmy Fallon And It Was Sad

Oh, wither poor Youppi...

The Montreal Canadiens mascot finally paid off a bet the good people of Montreal made with NBC Tonight show host and New York Rangers fan Jimmy Fallon.

The bet: Montreal wins their Stanley Cup Playoff series and Fallon wears a Canadiens jersey for a monologue during one of his shows. But if the Rangers won--Youppi had to walk the streets of Montreal in a Rangers jersey.

It was all chronicled by the team...and yeah, it was kinda sad...

Rangers Advance To Stanley Cup Finals For First Time In 20 Years

((HT: NHL.com/NBCSN))

And our man-crush on Doc Emrick manifested itself last night once again...


Now, the Rangers wait for (hopefully for them) a seven-game series between Los Angeles and Chicago.
Game 6 is tonight in Los Angeles

John Moore May Not Be Around For A While

((HT: CBC/NHL))

For this...


The HQ gives PK Subban credit for steering Dale Weise back to the bench since he, probably, couldn't even remember what day of the week it was after the shot to the head...

But John Moore's Dory Funk, Junior impression should get him, at least, a 2-game sit...

What say you...???

Rangers Carcillo Does Something Stupid That Could Cost

((HT: SomeHockeyVideos/CBC))

The New York Rangers Dan Carcillo could be gone for a while...
You, simply, do not do this...


Carcillo, understandably, got an ejection for that from linesman Scott Driscoll. And it will be Driscoll's report to the league office that will determine the length of any suspension. Some people are talking ten games, some twenty games.

Keep an eye on any references to rules 40.2 and/or 40.3
From the league rule book:

40.2 Automatic Suspension – Category I - Any player who deliberately strikes an official and causes injury or who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an official with intent to injure, or who in any manner attempts to injure an official shall be automatically suspended for not less than twenty (20) games. (For the purpose of the rule, “intent to injure” shall mean any physical force which a player or goalkeeper knew or should have known could reasonably be expected to cause injury.)

40.3 Automatic Suspension – Category II - Any player who deliberately applies physical force to an official in any manner (excluding actions as set out in Category I), which physical force is applied without intent to injure, or who spits on an official, shall be automatically suspended for not less than ten (10) games.

With Montreal now only down a game, it will be interesting to see how much the suspension will impact the Rangers plans from here forward in the rest of the series.

ICYMI: The CBC Does Amazing Opens for Hockey

Okay, we've worked in the TV business for a long, long time and we've seen some amazingly well produced videos. Heck, we've won awards for some of our own well produced videos.

But we can't compete with things like this.

Check out the open produced by the folks at the Canadian Broadcast Corporation to kick off Wednesday nights Game 7 Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage of the Montreal Canadiens/Boston Bruins series.

The song, "Experience the Jewel" by the group Wintersleep. The video, historical and current set up the game, won by the Canadiens, perfectly.

What DID Milan Lucic Say In The Handshake Line...???

((HT: Sportsnet))

The post-series handshake line is one of the coolest things about the sport of hockey.

You try to get the best of your opponent, and at the end of it all, you shake hands as a sign of respect and admiration for the whole process.

But the Boston Bruins' Milan Lucic may have said some unsportsmanlike things in the procession. It has even gone the way of the Zapruder film in trying to interpret what he may have told a few Montreal players after the fact.
((HT: NHL on NBCSN/CBS Sports))


Whatever he may or may not have said, Lucic thinks the Habs Dale Wiese is being a baby

Here's How To End An Interview, Thanks To PK Subban

((HT: NHL on NBCSN/Andy Johnson's Vine))

You think PK Subban was happy...???
Ask Pierre...


And the cleaner, longer version...
((HT: SomeHockeyVideos))

Ron MacLean Apologizes For HNIC Comments

((HT: CBC News))

First... tell the HQ what you think about this segment...


Well, if one of the best in the business offended you, Ron MacLean has apologized...

Coming from a referee like MacLean, the remarks were surprising.
And FOSG Elliotte Friedman was on set with him- and disagreed...

The reaction among French-speaking and separatist Canadians was somewhat expected:
 
An example from the Journal de Montreal op-ed piece by Rejean Tremblay...translated...

Well then, it should be forbidden to have a "Canadian" referee a game Maple Leafs or Canucks? And an American officer should not during a match between a Canadian team to an American team? Or, would be the finest of racial discrimination and prohibit a native referee Minnesota work in a game of Wild? But then, what do we do with an Albertan and Oilers and Flames? You know that in these cases, the question does not arise. 

Because for MacLean, the "Canadian" or Ontarian Dave Jackson or even an English Montreal are part of the superior race. They therefore intelligence and control of their emotions that guarantee the quality of their work. While the poor little French, he is subject to the call of the tribe.

And fan mail was somewhat hot in places...from one such letter in the Montreal Gazette:

Ron MacLean’s comments regarding the inappropriate use of French referees in the Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay game was insulting to all Canadians who respect diversity and who live in a country that claims this as a value. 

To think our so-called national broadcaster allows such divisive rhetoric is deplorable and just reinforces the fact that the CBC should have its funding cut (even though I do not support the political reasons the government uses to justify its cuts).

So, what say you about the comments... faithful reader...???

Just asking...

Coach Interrupts Stamkos Presser With Q-and-A

((HT: Sportsnet))

Tampa Bay Lightning star Steven Stamkos had to answer all those questions about "How ya feelin'?" since the knee in the back of the head he received last night in Game 3 of their playoff series with the Montreal Canadiens.

Stamkos got a special guest in his scrum...


And a "Seinfeld" reference, too...

Not bad...

Carey Price Is Not Afraid Of Anyone

((HT: Sportsnet/TSN))

Much less the Buffalo Sabres...

Actually, there aren't a whole lot of folks afraid of the Sabres...

Carey Price got the shut out tonight against them and things got out of hand in front of his own net...
And he wasn't having any of it...

Linesman Has No Place To Hide...

((HT: NHL))

Winnipeg and Montreal in a matinee this afternoon...

Anthony Peluso of the Winnipeg Jets delivers a body check to Alexei Emelin of the Canadiens, but the check takes out an unintended third party...


But you gotta give the Habs bench credit for sending the linesman back in the game just as quickly as he left...

Montreal-Ottawa Was One Of The Year's Best... And That's Just In The Stands...

((HT: Sportsnet))

It was, probably, one of the best games of the year to date in the National Hockey League- and it, pretty much, featured everything. Long runs, lead changes, own goals, nationalism, and the fans getting involved...

For those not familiar with the geography of the situation, the nation's capital of Canada is on the riverside of the border of Ontario and Quebec province. And that river separates English-speaking majority from Quebec and their French-speaking nationalists on the other bank.

And the HQ would love to know how Habs fans bought seats in the lower bowl at Ottawa last night...

But, here's what happened on the ice...
((HT: RDS/TSN))


And it even carried over into the stands in the battle of French and English-speaking Canada...


Here's the Sportsnet version...

Roberto Luongo Gave Up An Own Goal, Except When He Didn't...

((HT: Sportsnet))

Let's face it...

The HQ has no idea what is up with Roberto Luongo, but it seems like he's gone all Schleprock on us...

The dark cloud seems to follow- regardless of how much effort he seems to make to the contrary...

Your new round of evidence is below...
Lars Eller, technically, gets credit for a short-handed, game-winning goal... But, then, we have standard denial... “I didn’t see it. I didn’t see it,” Luongo said postgame. “They didn’t show it on the Jumbotron, I didn’t see it. You guys tell me what happened.” The follow-up question was if he’d ever given up a more bizarre game winner, and Luongo said: “I didn’t give that up, so I can’t tell you.”
And it's weird responses like that that give Canucks fans fits with their starting goaltender... and make them wonder why he's still there...

Orr-Parros Scrap Ends Badly (UPDATED)

((HT: NHL on CBC))

The Montreal Canadiens brought in George Parros for muscle and he ended up squaring off against Colton Orr, for what seems like the elevendy billonth time on the ice.

The guys know each other. They know the styles...
Just sometimes it doesn't end well...
Like tonight...

This was their first scrap...


But the rematch ended this way at 2:34 of the third...


Parros was taken to hospital for further examination, and the Canadiens announced following the game that he was alert and conscious. It was part of 115 total minutes of penalties on the night...

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Parros was diagnosed with a concussion, and thankfully, that's it...

Christine Simpson anchors postgame coverage
((HT: Sportsnet))


Here's CBC's take with Ron McLean anchoring. It's a good healthy debate on player safety and the role of fighting in the NHL. ((HT: CBC Sports))

Game 3: Sens-Habs Degrades Into Line Brawls

((HT: CBC/NHL))

Not that there was anything wrong with it for the sake of television, rivalry, and the post-season...

But after Ottawa took a 4-1 lead in the third, the game completely went sideways...
((HT: HockeyVideoHD))


That particular fight had 152 minutes in penalties doled out and sent 9 guys to the dressing room...
The third period, on it's own, had another 58 minutes put on top of it.
210 minutes, one period, ten misconducts...
236 minutes total in penalties...

Jean-Gabriel Pageau, the local kid, gets his first career hat trick...

Andrei Markov made a point to tell the Sens that they were full of s*** after the whistle since Ottawa made a point to call a time out and run a power play in the final minute up 6-1. Before the game went final, Josh Gorges fired the puck at Kyle Turris after the time out in protest.

And we have all that to look forward to for Game 4 as the Sens have a 2-1 series lead at present...

Paul MacLean Is Husky, Not Fat...

((HT: Sportsnet))

Leave it to the Canadiens-Sens series to have all the barbs you need to move the storyline along...

The Habs Brandon Prust claimed that the Senators head coach reminded him of a "fat, bug-eyed walrus."

Today was MacLean's response...

When the HQ thinks of "husky" all we think of are those jeans that we got from Wrangler when we were growing up...

Man, they were thick and we weren't fat, either...
At least, as far as you know...