To start, I am going to take this opportunity to congratulate the US hockey team on a job well done.  No one had them in the running for a medal at the Olympics, but they stunned a few teams and left with a silver medal.  Good job...no shame in that whatsoever.  Miller was money for the US team.  Good job on the Penguins fan to give him a bit of an ovation.  He deserved it.  I haven't seen too many visiting goalies get that type of attention.    However, if I could have picked anyone off of the Canadian team to score the winning goal, it wouldn't have been this guy. Sorry, I know that there are some Pens fans here, but I am not a big Crosby fan.  Great hockey player though.

If I could have picked anyone on that team to score the game winner, it wouldn't have been him.  Now, the games are over, and he is back to his old tricks.  No, not turning tricks, but taking dives.

The NHL season is back in action, and it looks like Colin Campbell has already gotten back into the swing of things with a prompt suspension on Maxim Lapierre.  Lapierre deserved to sit for his blatant and dangerous hit on Scott Nichol.  Boston fans should remember Lapierre as the guy that earned Lucic a suspension in last years playoffs.  Looch took a seat for a (questionable in my eyes) crosscheck on Lapierre.  Simple scrum in front of the net, and Looch's stick came up high after hitting shoulder pads.  But I digress...Lapierre is a certified class A douchebag.  Sorry if there are any Habs fans here, but there is no room in the game for that type of chickenshit garbage.  Lapierre has no priors, but that didn't stop Campbell from sitting him for 4 games.  Spin the wheel again Colin...big bucks no whammees!!!

Another year, and another bust of a trade deadline day.  With the current salary cap in place, gone are the days of mulitple big name player deals.  I can't believe that sports networks up here dedicate a day of solid coverage to find out that Peter Mueller was traded for Wojtek Wolski.  When it was all said and done, Washington is looking much better.  They didn't really move much, and are the most improved team after all the deals were done.  And yeah, I'm still pissed at Scott Walker, much like I still hate Petr Klima.  The losers at deadline day?  Without a doubt, the leafs.  Brian Burke, who I honestly believe is one of the most overrated GM's in the game, traded away Lee Stempniak for Matt Jones.  That's right...the Matt Jones that is sidelined indefinitely with post concussion symptoms and played 58 games for San Antonio last year, collecting 6 points and a solid -35 rating.  He should fit right in with Toronto's game plan.  And if that plan is to keep sucking, they are on track.

Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli was on the radio earlier this week and stated that he made the Kessel deal with Toronto because he knew he would get a draft pick in the top 10.  Burke shouldn't be insulted by this...that just means that Toronto would only have to stay their course of the last couple of seasons and finish just out of the playoffs for that to happen.  Unfortunately for Burke, Toronto is second last in the league right now.

Washington is making a pitch for the next Winter Classic.  They are hoping the game can be played at either RFK Stadium (46000) or at Nats Park (42000).  I am not sure how the weather will cooperate as you move down the eastern seaboard, but Washington will probably be the lowest south that the NHL will go.  But hey, what do I know.  For all we know, Bettman is talking to the ownership group of the Panthers checking their availability.

Hell has officially frozen over.  The Calgary Flames actually swung a deal with the Edmonton Oilers.  The Sutter brothers are grasping at straws right now.  They should be playing much, much better, but have in fact been shut out 4 x at home since January.  Is there scoring really that anemic?  Adding Matt Stajan and Steve Staios probably won't help much.

Fight of the week

Since the return of hockey from the Olympics, no NHL fights have really caught my eye as much as this one has.  Two boys that just start throwing with everything they have.  Funny thing is, Jeremy Yablonski and Jon Mirasty are actually very good friends off the ice.  So here we go, Yablonski vs Mirasty Round 2.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great week!