NHL Ref Loses Lunch During Game

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((ht: foxsports.com))

Poor NHL ref Mike Leggo.

Leggo was working the Tampa Bay Lightning/Pittsburgh Penguins game Friday night in Pittsburgh when he had um, a bit of an embarrassing problem.

Leggo, let go of his lunch...or dinner on the ice during the 1st period of the game. And while he's become a bit of a punchline this morning, we're guessing he was legitimately sick because he left the game and did not return.

It sucked for the Ice Girls who had to clean it up, but they did and the game resumed with the Penguins winning 6-3.

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...

BREAKING: Bolts Malone Busted On DUI And Possession Charges

((HT: 98.7 The Fan-Tampa/SunSports))

Last night, the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 behind the work of Kristers Gudlevskis in net and Eric Brewer's two goals. Right now, the Bolts are second in the Atlantic Division ahead of Montreal. And the second place team gets home ice in the first round of the playoffs...


It might be done without one of their players...

Around 5:30 this morning, Lightning forward Ryan Malone was arrested on DUI and cocaine possession charges. He is currently being held on $2,500 bond. Malone has only 15 points in 57 games this season as one of the top-five paid guys on the roster with a cap hit of $4.5-million (Stamkos, Filppula, Purcell, Carle, and St. Louis) and he has another year left on his deal.

From Damian Cristodero of the Tampa Bay Times, Lightning GM Steve Yzerman released a statement:

“We are aware of the situation concerning Ryan Malone this morning. Ryan will not travel with the team to Washington today, but beyond that we cannot comment further at this time.”

Here's the arrest report and the beginning of a very long day for a team veteran...

A 13-Round Shootout... Really...

((HT: NHL/SunSports))

The end of the Tampa Bay-Islanders game may have set back the idea of the shootout hundreds of years...

It went 13 rounds before it was settled...
Here's the ending...


Maybe, the international rules in the shootout- namely, having shooters come back in unlimited numbers (remember TJ Oshie over in Sochi...?) is the solution... or, is it 3-on-3...???

You tell us...

Stamkos Has Awesome Hand-Eye Coordination

((HT: Sportsnet))

Just watch what he was able to do last night in putting the puck in the net against Ottawa...

More than anything, the HQ is impressed that he was able to choke up on the bat and make contact...

Nicely done...

Alex Killorn Should Be Getting A Phone Call, Fans Get To Ice In Toronto...

((HT: NHL on TSN/Some Hockey Videos))

This happened at the end of the first period in tonight's Lightning-Maple Leafs game...


Killorn got a match penalty to go with his five-minute major...

Ranger was taken to hospital where he was listed as stable, conscious and alert, but still undergoing precautionary testing...

And security failed to do their job at the Air Canada Centre as this happened...
((HT: Adam Biesenthal))


And people wonder what's wrong these days...???

Oh, for the record, Tampa beat Toronto 5-3

Hockey's Trading Week Ends With a Flurry (not Theo)

Time to wrap up your NHL Trade Deadline deals and as usual, there were quite a few of them. This year though, outside the Martin St. Louis to the Rangers deal, no earth shakers.

Let's start with the aforementioned Mr. St. Louis.

The long-time Tampa Bay Lightning sniper, age 38, leaves sunny Florida for the New York Rangers. In return, the Bolts get Ryan Callahan and a couple of draft picks.

There was friction in Tampa between St. Louis and team G.M Steve Yzerman and Callahan, a soon to be unrestricted free agent, wasn't able to come to a contract extension in New York.

Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars swapped goaltenders. Tim Thomas leaves Florida and Dan Ellis leaves Dallas. The Stars are battling for a playoff berth and believe Thomas gives them some stability along with fellow goalie Kari Lehtonen.

The last "Name" move was Jaroslav Halak moving to his 3rd team this season. Halak, recently acquired by Buffalo in the Ryan Miller trade with St. Louis--not San--louie. The Sabres sent Halak to Washington for a 2015 3rd round pick.

Oh, and Columbus sends former all-star Marion Gaborik to Los Angeles for a couple draft picks and forward Matt Frattin

Those are the biggies--How did your team do? Let us know what you think....

Meanwhile, the nattily dressed Barry Melrose breaks down the St. Louis deal on ESPN:

Espo Rants On St. Louis Rumors (NSFW)

((HT: NextSportsStar TV))

Bill Watters, FOSG Perry Lefko, Jim Tatti, and Phil Esposito were on the NextSportsStar network and discussed the rumors of Martin St. Louis moving to the Rangers from Tampa...

Let's just say that the Larry Brooks entries in the New York Post about what-could-be a deal didn't go over well...
And, yes, it's quite NSFW...


Remember kids, Trade Deadline Day is Wednesday... and it should be fun...

Does St. Louis Want To Head To Broadway...???

((HT: Sportsnet))

Apparently so...

With a wife from Connecticut and a house in Greenwich, he may have asked Lightning GM Steve Yzerman for some movement...

His only requested destination... New York to be with the Rangers...

But the only thing that comes to the HQ's mind is that St. Louis would be the leader of the new round of these guys...


In all reality... it would be an interesting change of address and success...

Chris Simpson, Kyper, and FOSG Jafar discuss...

Trade deadline should be interesting...

DEVELOPING: St. Louis Scores Four In A Row, Still Doesn't Work...

((HT: NHL/SunSports))

The Tampa Bay Lightning's Martin St. Louis scored four goals in a little over 22 minutes in their Saturday afternoon game against San Jose...

The four goals tie the team record by Chris Kontos on October 7, 1992 in Tampa Bay's first-ever game...


St. Louis' four goals gives him 25 for the year. His efforts didn't seem to work in the game as San Jose led 5-4 half-way through the third and one goal in particular was pretty foul...


See...???

Ovi8 Dials Up Four in Shootout Win

((HT: CSNWashington/NHL))

Traditionally, the games between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Washington Capitals are out of their collective minds...

Last night was no different...

Down 3-0, the Caps came back and Alex Ovechkin went off- scoring four in a 6-5, come-from-behind, shootout win...

Otherwise, known as normal behavior...

Stamkos Out Indefinitely After Leg Break

((HT: NHL))

And his status with Team Canada for the Sochi games in February is in serious question...

Here's what happened to create a tibia fracture and have the NHL star out for a while...


"At this point Steven will be out indefinitely," Lightning GM Steve Yzerman said in a statement. "The medical staff in Boston, in consultation with our team physicians, has made the decision to surgically repair the injury. The procedure is expected to take place tomorrow morning. The biggest concern for me, and the rest of the Lightning, is that decisions are made in Steven's best long-term interest, and we feel this is the appropriate course of action."

Here's local coverage from our friends at ABC Action News...

Gudas Ejected For Stick Swinging After Bottle Squirt

After he got sprayed with water blue Gatorade from the Florida Panthers bench...

Just watch... short of getting mad after "fall down go boom..." that's when Gudas came up swinging...
((HT: FS Florida/Sportsnet))

So, Upshall serves a two-minute bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct. Gudas is dealt two minutes for slashing, a 10-minute misconduct, plus a game misconduct...

That'll learn ya...

Your Basic, Every Day Own Goal... In The NHL...

((HT: FS Florida/NHL))

This is, for all intents and purposes, what soccer calls an "own goal..."

In a wild game that finished 6-5 in OT, this was what got them this much closer to overtime in the first place...

Guy Boucher Fired In Tampa

((HT: NHL/Sportsnet))

After starting out 6-1 in the regular season, the Tampa Bay Lightning hit the skids...

And that means that head coach Guy Boucher is no longer the head coach...

Post start, the team went 6-16-1...

"Guy has poured his heart and soul into the Lightning organization for these past three years and we appreciate all the work he has done," said GM Steve Yzerman upon making the announcement. "But ultimately I am not satisfied with the direction we are heading and I believe making a change today is in the best interest of our franchise."

The Lightning are 14th in the Eastern Conference and rumors have former Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff as the leader in the clubhouse to take over full-time. Yzerman hired Ruff as an Assistant Coach for Team Canada's 2010 Olympic Team. Assistants Martin Raymond and Dan Lacroix will share coaching responsibilities in the short-term...

Here's Boucher's last game behind the bench...

Canes look to take home opener against the Bolts

Ward defending against FLA's Jonathan Huberdeau (AP)

RALEIGH – The Carolina Hurricanes are looking to erase an “Opening Day” loss to Florida in their home opener.

The Canes take on the Tampa Bay Lightning at PNC Arena Tuesday night. Puck drops at 7:00pm. This will be the first of five meetings between the Southeast Division rivals in the 48-game, 2012-13 regular season. 

In the first game back from a tremendously long 113-day lockout, it’s hard to believe that any team would automatically be in Stanley Cup-contender form. Most of the Canes roster stayed active during the lockout, but playing against your teammates and playing against the defending Southern Division champions are two different things.

“First game, it’s tough to get real crisp right off the bat,” Eric Staal told the (Raleigh) News & Observer after the Panthers’ game.

Canes goalie Cam Ward gave up four goals on the first eleven shots, and backup goalie Dan Ellis made his Carolina debut (came from Anaheim) just after the first intermission. Many fans wondered if Ellis would start against the Bolts.

“Cam’s in, he’s in tomorrow. He’s the starter. After watching the games over the weekend, there’s gotta be a good six or seven goalies that have been pulled already – good goalies, All-Star goalies. It’s the toughest from what it appears so far on the goaltenders more than anybody,” said Canes’ head coach KirkMuller after Monday’s practice. “I think what’s important is he bounces back mentally, rolls up his sleeves, gets ready, and works through this like the other goalies. I said forget about it, it’s done, and just focus on the opener.”

Two questions - can Eric Staal finally get on track for the Canes, and can Carolina's defense stop Steven Stamkos?

One cool thing that the Storm Squad and Stormy are doing on Opening Night though, every fan in attendance will receive a Carolina Hurricanes 2’x3’ house flag, presented by PNC. 

There's a storm coming...hopefully...

GAME DETAILS:

WHAT: Carolina Hurricanes 0-1-0 (0 pts.) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning 1-1-0 (2 pts.)

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 22, 7 p.m. ET

WHERE: PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC

TV: SportSouth HD – Time Warner Cable: 520(SD)/1520(HD); DirecTV – Eastern NC: 647/647-1; DirecTV – SC, Western/Central NC: 650/650-1; Dish Network: 452; AT&T U-Verse: 729/1729; Mediacom: 19; Atlantic Telephone: 260

RADIO: Hurricanes Radio Network: WCMC 99.9 FM The Fan (Raleigh – flagship); WWNB 1490AM/105.7FM (New Bern, NC); WAVQ 1400 (Jacksonville, NC); WMFD 630AM (Wilmington, NC)

INTERNET: www.CarolinaHurricanes.com

Stamkos Nets 60th

((HT: CBC/NHL))

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Steven Stamkos joined very exclusive company getting the 60th goal of the year against Winnipeg...


He's the first player to reach 60 since Alex Ovechkin did it four years ago.

Stamkos is the 20th player in NHL history to score 60 or more goals in a season. He and Ovechkin are the only ones to get there since Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr both did it in the 1995-96 season.

Staring Contest Between Flyers And Lightning, Milbury Walks Off In Protest

((HT: NHL on NBC/Versus/youtube))

Keith Jones admits that Tampa head coach Guy Boucher should "be embarrassed" after Philadelphia Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette responded with a trap with a trap- standing still...

Peacock studio host Liam McHugh said the game reminded him of Indiana high school basketball during the 1950's. Coaches are revealing a flaw in the system where Boucher's 1-3-1 trap approach is killing offenses everywhere...

Laviolette threw it in his face by standing still on the ice...
Literally...

And Mike Milbury walked off the set in protest...


In an interview with Pierre McGuire, Laviolette denied his approach was in retaliation to Boucher's boring game tactics...

the only part that wasn't boring was the Downie-Coburn tilt in the third period where two things were evident... 1) Coburn wears a shield and Downie does not. Coburn made the effort to take off his helmet before the scrap. 2) Coburn rediscovered the lost art of the upper cut...

Nicely played...