Some quick hits around the NHL.
1) Peter Forsberg announced his retirement again from the NHL after a two game comeback with the Colorado Avalanche. Forsberg really didn’t look good in his attempted comeback. It’s no slight against him, he’s one of the most skilled players to ever play the game but after three years away from the NHL, he looked like he was a step behind other players. I wish Peter the best in all his future conquests.
2) The Toronto Maple Leafs traded forward Kris Versteeg to the Flyers for a pair of draft picks including a first round pick and a third round pick in the upcoming 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
3) Mario LemIeux is complaining yet again about how the NHL dropped the ball in discipling the Islanders. 13 games of suspensions and $100,000 isn’t enough for Mario who shows how much of a hypocrite he is every time he signs a paycheck for Matt Cooke.
I’ll try to update with some quick hits a few times a week. Any Rangers news will have it’s own page.
The Rangers powerplay led them to victory this afternoon over the Penguins. The same powerplay that failed them against Detroit and Atlanta came through today.
The Pens jumped out to an early lead scoring twice in the first five minutes and change after Deryk Engelland and Nick Johnson tallied.
The Rangers responded 37 seconds later with a goal by Brian Boyle. After a Pittsburgh penalty, Dan Giradi’s shot from the point was deflected by Ryan Callahan. The game would remain tied for the remainder of the first period.
In the second the Rangers came out with a bang when Vinny Prospal scored his second of the season making it 3-2 Rangers. Ryan Callahan and Artem Anisimov added powerplay tallies against the number one ranked penalty kill. After 2 periods, it was 5-2 Rangers.
In the third, Brett Sterling added a powerplay goal to make it 5-3 and try as the Pens did, they couldn’t score against Lundqvist and the Rangers won the game 5-3.
Callahan was the games first star with 2 goals and an assist. Staal was the second star with 2 assists. Brian Boyle finished out the clean sweep as the third star with a goal.
The NHL handed out 23 games worth of suspensions after the brawls that occured during the Islanders and Penguins game Friday night.
Forward Matt Martin of the Islanders was suspended for 4 games for his suckerpunch from behind on the Penguins Max Talbot.
Forward Trevor Gilles of the Islanders was suspended for 9 games for his elbow and subsequent punches to Eric Tangradi who was diagnosed with a concussion.
Forward Eric Godard of the Penguins was automatically suspended for 10 games after jumping off the bench during a brawl when an Islander went after goalie. Brent Johnson.
The three combined players will surreneder a combined $100,000+ in salary and the Islanders as a team were also fined $100,000 dollars.
The start of the 2011 Winter Classic between the Pens and the Caps has been delayed until 8pm.
The NHL has deemed the weather forescasted for the original start time of 1pm to be to dangerous to play the game.
The weather is predicted to be better in the evening so the NHL has decided to make this years Winter Classic the first one to be held at night.
I think this will have a pretty cool effect on how the game looks on TV as well as in Heinz Field.
Should the weather not subside by the start of the game, the game could be rescheduled to a later date, but it would move inside to the Consol Energy Center where the Pens call home.
