Wild Shootout Finish – Flames vs Canucks

It’s not a goal….or is it?

During a wild shootout between the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night you will see a save by Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo on Alex Tanguay that is initially ruled a ‘no-goal.’ After further review you’ll see that the puck goes under the pads of Luongo and then the pads cross the goal line. Hence the overturn of the call by the reviewers and the point goes to Calgary who wins the shootout.

The problem is that no one knows where the puck is on Luongo. If it’s under his pads, as indicated, then it’s a goal but you can watch this goal over and over and not see where the puck actually is. Most of Luongo’s lower body slides over the red line so it’s a safe bet but inconclusive at best.

Check out the controversial call about 3:00 minutes into the video.

Anyone Blame Him? Evgeni Nabokov Will Not Report to Islanders

Last week the Detroit Red Wings made some headlines for trying to pick up veteran goalie Evgeni Nabokov, who had to clear waivers before being allowed to report to the Red Wings. Many thought that a rival team would grab Nabokov off of waivers in an attempt to either grab a good goalie at a cheap price or just to spite the Red Wings.

The goalie played for San Jose last year but was cut due to salary cap issues with the team. So Evgeni headed to the KHL. Nabokov spent the first half of the NHL season playing in the KHL in Russia and he was released back in December. He then signed a contract with the Red Wings but the League rules state that any player that plays overseas during the season will have to make it through waivers first.

Turns out that the New York Islanders were the spoilers of the bunch. The Isles claimed Nabokov despite being one of the worst teams in the NHL. As expected, Nabokov has refused to report to the Islanders which creates a bit more drama in the story.

The Islanders must suspend him or trade him which puts him back on the waiver wire. Why the Islanders would waste his time is odd and I wish there were a different rule that allows a free agent player to actually play with the team he signs with but the rules are there to keep players from jumping overseas for a few months and then all signing with the teams of their choice when they want.

The rules are in place and Nabokov might have to suck it up if he wants back in the NHL again, even if it’s with the Islanders.

Coyotes Controversial Goal Review

The ruling on the ice is that of a goal. But did the goal actually count. We all watched the replay and thought that it would be called off as a high-sticking call. Guess what? After review the refs stunned the audience and announcers and called it a goal. The home

Each goal in the NHL is streamed to a review group in Toronto for a look over.  After a long delay, the goal stood even though the high-stick is rather evident.

The story kept in the news when L.A. Kings GM Dean Lombardi went to the media to complain:

“When the guy in Toronto making the decisions on the goals, in Ottawa and the one tonight, wanted the G.M.’s job in L.A. and was not happy about not getting it, you have to assume you are going to get those type of calls,” Lombardi said. “However, we have put ourselves in a position where these calls have a monumental effect on our season, and we’re going to have to find a way out of it ourselves.”

Lombardi’s reference to Ottawa was to the Kings’ Nov. 22 game against the Senators in Ottawa, in which on-ice officials waved off Ryan Smyth‘s potential game-tying goal, with three seconds remaining in the third period, and the video-review crew in Toronto did not rule it a good goal.

Martin Hanzal of the Phoenix Coyotes got credit for the goal and the L.A. Kings got the shaft on this one.  In the end the Kings still had half the game to get back into this but it’s a sucky way to get behind.  But it’s not the worst way to let a goal in.  It could be someone kicking the puck into the net during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Weekend Puckdoctor Links

History of NHL Team Names

Ever wanted to know how your favorite, or least favorite, NHL team got its name? Well wonder no more as sportsnet.ca has the answers.

How UPS Deliveries Actually Work

Brett Favre, What Should I Do?

Turns out that Brett Favre retired from making commercials. Then he changed his mind and made this one. It’s dead on. And the Pack plays for the NFC Championship this weekend. Seems like the balance has been restored to the universe.

8 Legendary Drinking Binges Only a Celebrity Could Do

We would examine our society’s two-faced approach to dispensing justice, if only we could stop laughing at drunken celebrities for like one second.

Tips for dominating the NHL All-Star fantasy draft

The NHL is gearing up for the first ever All-Star Game player draft, to be held next Friday in Carolina. The innovative format will see two captains appointed this week who will choose the teams for the skills competition and all-star game in a schoolyard style draft.

Sick Little Girl Fulfills Dream Of Heckling David Wright

Rangers Marian Gaborik Pummels Leafs with 4 Goals

The stumbling Rangers need a fire lit under them if they want to make the playoffs. Currently the team is in 3rd place in the Atlantic Division but we all know the team can surge if they get hot.

Just a game after being benched for large amounts of time in a loss to Philadelphia last Sunday, Marian Gaborik bounced back in a huge way. Marian exploded on the Leafs with 5 points including 4 goals in the Rangers 7-0 win. Gaborik’s scoring drought has given him only three points over his last 10 games entering the game.

And the hot game couldn’t happen at a better time. The Rangers found out they lost their leading scorer Brandon Dubinsky for 4 weeks with a stress fracture in his left. The Rangers left winger Ruslan Fedotenko will also miss a few weeks with a separated shoulder that happened during the Leafs game last night.

Highlights below as Gaborik nets two in the first and two in the second.

Make Olli Dance

Want to see the Flames Olli Jokinen do the Ugly Dance? Not sure what the Ugly Dance is?

Click here to find out. One fan of the Finnish player has created an Ugly Dance to make Olli dance. And why not, he looks like a natural.  He should do this dance next time he scores.

The Ugly Dance is a website in which an animated character dances to a Swedish dance song. You can help pick the dance moves for the animated character from the options at the bottom of the screen. English version here.

NHL Power Rankings

1 Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks are still flying high despite a 0-4 loss to Minnesota.  Keep it up and they will lock in the Western Conference with plenty of time to spare.  However, Dallas and Detroit are very close behind so they can’t afford to rest and with a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 it appears that they are still flying at full speed.

2 Philadelphia Flyers

The talented Flyers has quietly grabbed the top spot in the Eastern Conference despite sending almost no one to the All-Star Game.

3 Detroit Red Wings

The depth of the Red Wings keeps the team churning despite injuries piling up.

4 Tampa Bay Lightning

GM Steve Yzerman made his move to land goalie Dwayne Roloson which will help plug the hole in net that has allowed 148 goals this year so far.  Only the Islanders (148), Atlanta (151) and Oilers (151) are that bad.  But the Lightning have enough offense to stay on top of the Southeast Division just ahead of Washington.

5 Dallas Stars

The Stars landed the Devils captain, Jamie Langenbrunner, last week to help kick start the team and stay atop of the Pacific Division despite the distraction of new ownership for the team and future of star Brad Richards.

6 Washington Capitals

The Caps are riding high after the Winter Classic/HBO 24/7 publicity and keeping neck-and-neck with division leader Tampa.  In the last 10 games the Caps have a 5-2-3 record and solid play in goal keep the team afloat.

7 Pittsburgh Penguins

Sidney Crosby’s concussion seems to be worse than anyone will admit and loss of playing time is concern for the immediate future. The hot Pens have stumbled to a 4-4-2 record over their last 10 games, not that impressive and it has allowed the Flyers to get a nice lead over them in the Atlantic Division.

8 Boston Bruins

The Bruins have a nice jump on Montreal for the NE Division and if their solid goal tending holds up (only 101 Goals Against this season, best overall) they should be able to hold on deep into the playoffs.

9 Phoenix Coyotes

Red-hot Phoenix lost for the first time in regulation this Monday to end their great run.  Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov is the main reason.

10 Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks have come alive offensively over the last 5 games including 2 shutouts with only one loss.

11 Chicago Blackhawks

As the ‘Hawks continue to lift players off the IR their wins and offense get better.  They have 4 wins and 1 OTL in their last five and have outscored their opponents 20-8 in that time.

12 Nashville Predators

The Preds have notched 7 wins in their last 10 games but despite their solid goal tending their offense is going to need a kick start.  Too many 1-goal games.  Of all the teams in serious playoff contention only the Canadians have scored less goals.

13 Montreal Canadians

The Canadians are heating up with 4 wins in their last five games and next up are Buffalo, Calgary and Ottawa to help pad those numbers.

14 New York Rangers

Look for the Rangers to make a second half burst to the playoffs at the expense of the Pens who do not seem to know when Sidney Crosby will return.  The team proved they can hold their own with a great 1-0 win over the Canucks.  But losing their last 2 and going 5-4-1 in their last ten aren’t going to cut it.

15 Carolina Hurricanes

The ‘Canes are on the outside of the playoff hunt right now but a 6-2-2 record over their last 10 helps them stay in the hunt.

16 Colorado Avalanche

Colorado can put up points on the board but suffer from consistency and a lack of solid goal tending.

17 Minnesota Wild

Only Edmonton has scored less goals than the Wild in the Western Conference.  Add in a 11-11-2 home record and it’s hard to imagine the Wild being in the playoff hunt much longer.

18 Atlanta Thrashers

Atlanta has lost their last four games as the club continues to slide and make Carolina look good.  Goal tending is horrendous lately as the team has been outscored  9-24 in those 4 games.

19 St. Louis Blues

The rough year of the Blues continues as they have lost 6 of their 7 games in 2011.

20 Florida Panthers

The Panthers are just above .500 despite being in last place of the Southeast Division.  The are riding a 3-game win streak at the moment.

21 Buffalo Sabres

Lost 3 in a row.  The Panthers keep coming close but can’t get over that hump.  Halfway through the season and something, or someone, needs to light a fire to get this team into the playoffs.

22 San Jose Sharks

The struggling Sharks snapped a 6-game losing streak which may have done enough damage to keep them out of the playoffs.

23 Toronto Maple Leafs

Rookie goalie James Reimer has helped the Leafs beat up some lesser teams like Atlanta, LA and San Jose this month but it’s too little, too late.

24 Los Angeles Kings

The Kings may be the biggest disappointment of the season and continue to struggle.  3 wins in their last 10 sums up where they are at right now.  2 of those wins are against Columbus and Edmonton.

25 Calgary Flames.

The Flames have quietly gone 6-2-2 over their last 10 games but the hopes of a playoff run might be too far fetched.  I’m more curious who they will trade before the deadline to  salvage some draft picks and talents.

26 Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets sit in the bottom of the Central Division at the moment and 4 loses in their last five games explain why.  Well that and the fact they are one of the lowest scoring offenses in the Western Conference.

27 New York Islanders

The Islanders hot streak is over.  After finishing off 2010 with a good run, the Isles are back to their usual ways after Rick DiPietro’s injury and the trade of Dwayne Roloson and have lost 4 of their last 5 games.

28 Ottawa Senators

Ohh….Ottawa.  What happened this year?  The Sens are the second worst team in the Eastern Conference (see Devils for the worst) and show no signs of improving.  The struggling Senators did beat the lowly Islanders last week but other than that they only have 1 win in this new year.

29 New Jersey Devils

The horrible Devils are showing signs of life.  Not playoff-worthy signs of life but the worst team in the NHL did notch a nice 2-game series win against the Lightning.   Don’t look now but the team that has only 13 wins on the season has not lost in regulation in the last 4 games.

30 Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers are making the Devils look good with only 2 wins in their last 13 games.  Look for them to fill this spot next week.  It’s just that bad.

Zdeno Chara Nets First Hat Trick

If I had to wager that the Bruins Zdeno Chara would get a hat trick before he retired I would have gone out of my way to avoid that bet. 

Chara is the 6′ 9″ monolith for the Boston Bruins and known for being a huge wall that opponents cannot get around and not his offense skills. That’s why when the Bruins beat up the Hurricanes on Monday and news came out that Chara was the offensive juggernaut responsible I had to do a double take.

Chara got his first hat trick on Monday and goalie Tim Thomas stopped all 31 shots for his seventh shutout to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 7-0 win. The epic achievement by Chara did not go unnoticed by the crowd. You can hear them revving up when Chara gets the puck with a chance to score about 4:50 into the highlight video below.

Predators Shane O’Brien Suspended Two Games

The NHL handed down a two-game suspension to Nashville Predators Shane O’Brien Friday for a high-sticking incident that left the Panthers Stephen Weiss bloody on Thursday night. So if you were wondering where the guy was this weekend during their games with the Chicago Blackhawks you now know.

The high-sticking occurred in the first period near the Predators net after O’Brien smacked Weiss deliberately in the face which resulted in a cut to Weiss’ face. Oddly enough no penalty was called on the play but after the event the league reviewed the incident and handed down the suspension.

O’Brien has been suspended before and is considered a repeat offender under league rules That means this incident will get Shane suspended and fined his salary for those games. Those two days alone come to a total of just over $39,000. Here’s the video of the hit that I like to call “How To Not Handle A Stick.”

40-year old Selanne Nets 1300th Point

Anaheim Ducks forward Teemu Selanne is steadily adding to his Hall of Fame application with two goals during the Ducks 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Teemu went over the 1,300-point mark for his NHL career and which includes 620 goals, five behind Joe Sakic for 14th all-time. He also slipped past Bobby Smith into 55th place on the NHL’s all-time list with 681 assists.

The stellar career of Selanne keeps on going after he came out his rookie year with 76 goals while playing for Winnipeg. He never came close to that number again (next highest is 52) but over his NHL span he has averaged more than 1 point a game to become a lock for the Hall of Fame.

Congrats to the “Finnish Flash” for all his hard work and here’s the video of his milestone.

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