Great. Two teams that I fucking hate playing each other. I will have ZERO rooting interest. But with HBO 24/7, the game could be between the Blue Jackets and the Panthers and I would tune in with full interest.

FRANKENHALL!

Wow, how lucky is Hall that skate didn't get him an inch lower. In other bizarre injuries Dustin Penner released this statement about his pancake injury last week.

So it seems as though I need to address Pancakegate for those in the sports media world, as well as those following #pennercakes on twitter, in light of the recent phenomenon I've created.

Right off the bat, I'd like to clarify a few things.

For example, they were vegetarian pancakes. The injury happened as I was sitting down to eat, not mid-bite. And yes, I did finish them.

There has been some feedback from the media as a whole regarding the lack of transparency involving injuries. So, I decided to be candid.

First and foremost, I think we can agree that having delicious pancakes that your wife made for breakfast, for a 1pm game, is not out of the norm. Secondly, "SOBS" (Sudden Onset Back Spasms) can occur at any moment, doing just about anything you can think of, and is a very serious issue.

Those who have experienced "SOBS," know it is no laughing matter. I'm a little hurt, to tell you the truth, that the plight of my people isn't being taken seriously.

Frankly, I don't mind the attention and there's no such thing as bad press, right? Apparently, I made it onto ESPN's 'Around the Horn' and joined Kings' ATH alumnus Dustin Brown (see water bottle incident) and have also became a twitter sensation overnight (with hashtag #pennercakes). So, I'm hoping to get an endorsement from IHOP or Denny's.

The main thing here though is that we were able to bring attention to a serious issue like "SOBS" and hopefully find a treatment and unmask the mystery of it all.

In closing, for those who know how to laugh and find humor in life I hope they've enjoyed this as much as I did.

In an effort to end the entire experience on a high note, I'm partnering with MayorsManor to sponsor a 'Pancakes with Penner' breakfast. In the weeks to come we'll be setting up a special raffle. Fans will be able to purchase tickets for $1.00 for a chance to have a pancake breakfast with me. All the money raised will go to charity...while we enjoy some delicious pancakes!

Be on the lookout for more information soon.
Thank you for your time,
Dustin Penner

Nice that he has a sense of humor.
Too bad he has no nose for the net.

Well Ovi was given the shannahammer for 3 games and I'm a little peeved about it. Yeah, it was definitely boarding and yeah may have been worth a game IMO. Nobody was hurt on the play and I thought it was really screwed up that even though the player safety people aren't supposed to take into account past transgressions unless it was within 18 months..his were still brought up and held against him.

On the flip side, Renee Bourque who blatantly elbowed the fuck out of backstrom (who just skated for the first time for 5 minutes yesterday) receives only 5 game suspension?

I mean what kind of message is being sent here?

meh and meh

I never heard about the 18 month window, are you sure about that?

Does Bourque have a history of cheap shots?

I thought the past history played a large part in the number of games they are suspended?

I just did a quick google..

"... the NHL needs to take a stand with regards to headshots/boarding/charging that puts more accountability on the player delivering the illegal check and the team who employs them. For this, there is a simple solution, for all repeat offenders, make their fines count against the cap. Per Exhibit 8 of the current CBA (Section 5, P. 270), suspended players who are considered "repeat offenders" affect a team's salary cap differently from "first-time offenders." A repeat offender is a player whose suspension is the second or more within 18 months."

Borque just had a suspension back in december for boarding brent seabrook.. yeah guys are gonna play on the edge and I'm fine with them trying to clean up the headshots and I'm not even disagreeing with Ovechkin getting a suspension.. but whats being handed out to whom just seems sideways.

The question that comes to mind is does that definition of "repeat offender" carry over onto the other aspects of the disciplineary actions, such as suspensions, fines, etc. I seem to recall someone that was punished, maybe last year, that had gotten suspended several seasons prior for some illegal stuff, and I thought it weighed on the outcome. Can't remember the details though.
I think it comes down to each case looked at individually. Look at Zetterberg recently: no action taken when he guided Nikiten into the boards, despite being given a major and a game at the time. And Nikiten is still out of the lineup. But I think that's due to the individual situation and the outcome, as well as Zetterberg's reputation as a clean player. Ovechkin has a track record of dirty hits, although the media calls them something else(reckless?) and he definitely left his feet on that hit. 3 games isn't bad though, I don't get why these guys can't get it through their heads to curtail the headshots though. Maybe doing away with the instigator rule would help out, as many have said. I dunno, didn't seem to matter to Chris Stewart last night when he left the bench and went after Brad Stewart.

Borque absolutely has a history of ill-advised hits.

i also agree that it's odd how suspensions are doled out, but i think shannahan is trying....
Zetterberg not getting a couple days off is just mystifying, though- history or not.
that being said, the on ice officiating has never been so poor. it's as though they're not interested in making calls, or afraid of making big calls. ive seen numerous games that have just been laughable, and Toronto doesnt seem to get alot of calls right either.

Regardless, Donald Fehr is involved with the NHLPA now, and he signals death for the next season.
I'll take the warts the sport has now over no hockey next year, though i wish both could be fixed.

No hockey next year is pure madness.

yes, but that is donald fehr. that's what he does.

the nhl has already scrapped the new alignment due to the nhlpa's complaints...and the nhlpa didnt have to approve. worried about travel, and ease of making the playoffs, instead of the concussion issue(which is a PLAYER created problem)

there are plenty of smart (and maybe easy) solutions to the problems the league faces, but this will not go well or smoothly.

there is a very good chance of a work stoppage.

I'm calling bullshit on any chance of there being a hockey lockout next year.

The last time they did it, they crippled the game. ESPN didn't pick them up again, and they were relegated to fucking Versus (still OLN at the time), and like 1-2 games a week. It's taken them this long just to claw their way back out of total obscurity, and while you may think I'm being overly-optimistic, I think they know better than to try that shit again, unless they want the sport to die. The contracts now (as far as yearly salary) are still not back up to the levels they were before the last strike, if memory serves me correctly.

Red Wings, 17 straight wins at home. This move/backhander by Datsyuk last night was sweeeeet.

6-0 deficit halfway through the second period. Doesn't look like the Red Wings ate their Wheaties today.

Yeah, this is brutal. Worst game I've seen them play all year...they look like they just don't give a shit.

Gotta love those Habs :) .

Careful now, you're gonna have black aspirin scoff and rub it your nose about Detroits home record or Datsyuks backhand or going to the playoffs. ;)

In regards to the work stoppage, I think that's a lot of speculation. Some of it is valid, but I think the NHLPA's rejection of the proposed conference structure being seen as anything but posturing is a bit reactionary. Everyone loses with a work stoppage.

Granted, I don't really know what's been reported on the matter...

LULZ

Now begins the All Star Game. Congratulations NHL, for a weekend you make me not care about hockey.

Nah, I pretty much save that stuff for you. ;)

Habs win last night was due to them really playing hard, and the Wings really not...so good for them. Babcock's quote was pretty funny, though.

I was really looking forward to a quiet evening relaxing and watching the Wings last night. Figured Original Six matchup, both teams would be up for this one, etc. What a disappointment. Switched over to the Mecum Auto Auction before the end of the first.
Can't blame it all on Lidstrom's absence, but it looked like he keeps them focused, which they weren't last night. I saw a couple of cut-aways to Babcock, he just had that look on the bench, pretty funny. And his quote was good too.

I agree. The players, owners, and league know that the last strike killed alot of the momentum that they'd gained in the US, and that the salaries were too high and weren't in line with what the teams and league were actually making. In about 1991-1993, I consider that to be the pinnacle of signing based incentives that weren't based on results--rookies that had never played a day in the league yet (Daigle), and guys like Garth Butcher making fucking ridiculous amounts of dough that they had no right earning. What happened was that it caused a "well, that guy is getting _____ so I should get more than that" type of scenario, and it was never reality to begin with.

DATSYUK! Don't worry, I'm not gonna post another highlight video, Crutch. ;)

Hmm...Datsyuk....

Here are the rosters for the All Star game. Team Chara's forward are nasty.



http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=613905