Tootoo and Bortuzzo Go Twice In One Night

((HT: HockeyFights/MSG))

They went once


And, then, they went again...


Jordin Tootoo and Robert Bortuzzo decided to go after each other as a reminder of the Jarmoir Jagr check from the last time the two teams met.

Admittedly, the thought that two guys would go at it twice in a game is odd in today's NHL, but if it was going to be two guys- the HQ would think that it would be these two.

Carry on...

Canucks Celebrate Pat Quinn The Best Way Possible

((HT: CanucksVid/Sportsnet Pacific))

And, to be honest, if this doesn't touch you... you're a soulless human being...


Well done, Vancouver...

Well done...

Morning Wrap: Seth Griffith With the Best Goal Ever This Week

((ht: nhl.com))

Okay, this is hard to imagine doing moving forward, never mind while skating backwards.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Seth Griffith of the Boston Bruins. Young Mr. Griffith made a play for the ages Monday night in a 4-2 win against the New Jersey Devils.

Griffith steals the puck on one end of the ice, hustles out on a breakaway with two Devils defenders draped all over him.

The puck gets away from him...briefly, then he gets turned around, gets the puck under control and goes 5-hole with the shot.

And scores.

Damn....

Halak Had A Hell Of A Time In Net

((HT: Sportsnet/MSG))

Jaroslav Halak had one of those nights... as did Blues goalie Brian Elliott...

The New Jersey Devils were in the process of blowing out the St. Louis Blues last night 7-1 when Eric Gelinas let this shot go...

“I saw the puck,” Halak told reporters postgame. “I knew the guy was going to dump it in the corner. He shot it and unfortunately it went off Petro’s pants. I tried to get in front of the puck, but it hit my stick and went over me. It just went in.”

Developing: Ilya Kovalchuk Retires and Moves to Russia

Really?

Just 2-years after signing a somewhat controversial 15-year, $100 million contract with the New Jersey Devils, star forward Ilya Kovalchuk has decided to walk away from hockey.

Or at least the NHL.

Kovlachuk, who came to the Devils after beginning his NHL career 11-years ago with the now defunct Atlanta Thrashers is...or was considered one of hockey's elite snipers.

Kovy is also fairly recently married and released a statement saying "This decision was something I have thought about for a long time going back to the lockout and spending the year in Russia" Though I decided to return this past season, Lou was aware of my desire to go back home and have my family there with me. The most difficult thing for me is to leave the New Jersey Devils, a great organization that I have a lot of respect for, and our fans that have been great to me"

The "Lou" he referred to in his statement would be Devils GM Lou Lamoriello who now has to fill a vital roster spot without the benefit of a 1st round pick. That pick would be this upcoming season as the Devils had to forfeit the pick as a penalty for the original long-term contract they tried to sign Kovalchuk to. The NHL did not like the arrangement and imposed heavy penalties on the team.

There are rumors Kovalchuk may end up playing in the KHL, which pays on a par with the NHL, even if the talent level at times is not quite the same.

We covered Kovalchuk during his stint in Atlanta and found him to be quite a fascinating person to talk to. Although rumored to be a bit aloof, we found him as he got older to be a very engaging thoughtful and self-aware person to talk to.

We wish him the best. Though we don't think Devils fans will be quite so understanding.

Marty Brodeur Scores In Return To Ice

((HT: NHL/MSG))

Moose Hedberg got his time between the pipes while Martin Brodeur was out with a back injury that kept him out a month...

So, what do you do to welcome yourself back...???

Score a goal...

Technically, he was credited with a goal since he was the last Devil to touch the puck in an own goal situation.
But, hey, a goal is a goal... and a power play goal is a power play goal...

The first since 2002... and his third in his career...

Here's the breakdown...

In Case You Missed It: Devils bedevil Kings to stay alive

There will be no sweep in the Stanley Cup Finals.

That's because the New Jersey Devils summoned up enough to take down the LA Kings, in Los Angeles, 3-1 late Wednesday night. The 3 goals, were more than the Devils had been able to score the previous 3 games...combined.

Patrick Elias, Adam Henrique and Ilya Kovalchuk all put the biscuit in the basket in the 3rd period and it was more than enough to overcome the single Kings goal by Drew Doughty. Both goalies stopped 21 shots as offense has been tough to find throughout the series.

Already, the "Experts" on the morning sports shows are saying the Devils can still come back and win the series, but it would take an effort of monumental proportions. Teams just don't give up 3-0 series leads and we'd be shocked if the Kings did that.

But at least New Jersey got a win and made things competitive, at least for another night.

Game 5 is Saturday night in New Jersey.

Your highlights from NHL.com:

The Death of Local News...continued: KTLA faux mascot fight

Since we spent the better part of our career...okay,, the longer part of it, in Local TV News, the rash of Local Sports flubs and crap that the News people put on the air continues to get more painful to see.

In today's example of really, really stupid, unfunny "Skits", the morning crew at KTLA went to a local Los Angeles Ice Rink and "allegedly" attempted to interview the LA Kings mascot and the New Jersey Devils mascot as a preview to Wednesday nights game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, led by the Kings, 3 games to none.

We're guessing nobody told Allie McKay that mascots don't speak.

Well, following the interview attempt, supposed "Chaos" ensued and a faux brawl broke out, notice towards the end of her live shot, McKay comes into frame and starts spanking the Devils mascot.

And the hilarity ensued.

Yeah...right.

Here's your video:

In Case You Missed It: Kings crown NJ take 1-0 Cup Lead

Game 1 went to overtime and the game winner was scored by a  center just trying to keep his team in the game.

Anze Kopitar found himself with the puck after a pass from Justin Williams and nothing but clear ice and New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur.

Kopitar deked Broudeur and put the biscuit in the basket giving his L.A Kings a 2-1 overtime win and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Finals.

The battle, which featured the #8 seed in the West and the #6 seed in the East was a physical, slow paced affair that didn't feature a whole lot of shooting. Brodeur had 23 saves, but one go in early in the 1st and failed to stop Kopitar on the breakaway.

Kings goalie Jonathan Quick stopped 17 shots and gave his team the advantage because game 1 was played in New Jersey.

Game 2 is Saturday in New Jersey

Your highlights from NHL.com:

Ain't Nuthin' Better Than A Game 7

Unless it's two Game 7's- spaced about 90 minutes apart for the sake of television...

The last two Eastern Conference spots were locked up with the following wins...
The New York Rangers held on in a 2-1 win over Ottawa...
The last 10 minutes of regulation were must-see TV, and with Doc Emrick calling it the game was what it was...
Electric...
Marc Staal and Dan Girardi scored for the Broadway Blues... and the HQ doubts anyone had them in the pool...
((HT: NHL on NBC))


The other game would have given the Florida Panthers their first series win since their Stanley Cup run in 1996... didn't happen, but the game went into the fifth period before a winner was decided. It was a busy night for Adam Henrique...
((HT: CNBC/NHL Network/NHL))


This sets up the semi-finals with the 5,6, and 7 seeds advancing out of the East with the 8th seeded LA Kings making it from the West first round...

By the way, lower level tickets for the Round 2 opener at MSG are going from $108-$420 per seat... just so ya know...

We asked...

Old Time Hockey: Torts Don't Take No Crap

((HT: Hockey-fights.com))

The HQ knows that the Rangers and the Devils do not like each other...
Green eggs and ham... Sam I am...

The game took a rather large twist at the opening puck drop...
((HT: NBCSN/NHL))


When was the last time that three pairs do-se-do'd...???
And there were some heavyweights involved with Prust, Boulton, Janssen, and Bickel...

Oh, the Rangers won 4-2

Whoa! Ilya Kovalchuk drops Brayden Schenn

Who says scorers can't fight in hockey?

Early Saturday afternoon the Philadelphia Flyers and the New Jersey squared off on the ice, with the Devils winning 6-4.

At one point, there was a fairly big scrum on the ice after Devils forward Zack Parise appears to get tripped by the Flyers Zac Rinaldo.

Lots of square dancing began and at least initially it appeared to just be some wrestling.

But away from the pile, Mr. Schenn and Mr. Kovalchuk ended up dropping the gloves. And well...let's just say, it wasn't the smartest thing Schenn has ever done.

Check out the video from HockeyFights.net: