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    Greg Wyshynski

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    Greg Wyshynski is a Hockey blogger for Yahoo! Sports.

    • Lady Byng Finalists: Patrick Kane vs. Matt Moulson vs. Marty St. Louis

      The NHL announced the finalists for the Lady Byng Trophy on Thursday, as right wing Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks, left wing Matt Moulson of the New York Islanders and right wing Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning are up for the award given “to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability” as voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.

      GettyThis is the award given to the highest scorer with the fewest penalty minutes, or at least that’s the way it’s seemed for the last few seasons. As you all remember, defenseman Brian Campbell -- more on that in a second -- won the Lady Byng in 2011-12; alas, he had an elephantine 12 penalty minutes this season, so no repeat.

      It’s a fairly worthless award, although Adam Proteau of The Hockey News made an interesting case on XM Radio the other day: That being a player who takes punishment but doesn’t take penalties in retaliation is a unique brand of toughness for an otherwise delicate award.

      Of course, that speaks directly to why defenseman should be up for this award every season, and yet Campbell was the first D-man to win since 1954. But we digress …

      Who wins the Byng this season?

      Read More »from Lady Byng Finalists: Patrick Kane vs. Matt Moulson vs. Marty St. Louis
    • In the second period of the Chicago Blackhawks’ Game 1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, Niklas Kornwall breathed heavily near the Detroit goal and the sheer force of his lungs knocked Marian Hossa to the ice, drawing a tripping penalty. Or so it would appear:

      Red Wings blogger George Malik called Hossa out for this one, and as you’ll see on the post, so did Detroit coach Mike Babcock.

      But here’s another thought: Hossa did dive … after the puck. He wasn’t necessarily looking to embellish on this play, based on the replays. He was making a lunging stab at the puck with his stick.

      Either way, it was a terrible call, although one that didn’t directly influence the 4-1 final score.

      What’s been your opinion of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs officiating? I’d give it a C-plus thus far, with the acknowledgement that Game 6 between the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals – the Rangers, facing elimination, weren’t shorthanded once in the game – smells the fishiest.

      Read More »from Marian Hossa dive or just another great moment in NHL playoff officiating? (Video)
    • LISTEN HERE!

      It's a Wednesday edition of Marek vs. Wyshynski beginning at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT, and we're talking about the following and more:

      Special Guest Star: Tracey Myers of CSN Chicago joins us to talk Blackhawks vs. Red Wings.

      • Recapping the Game 1s in the semifinals.

      • What's next for the Washington Capitals?

      • Breaking down the Selke.

      Question of the Day: Jeff and Greg are GOING POSTAL! Ask us anything today. And we mean anything. Email puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or hit us on Twitter with the hashtag #MvsW to @wyshynski and @jeffmarek.

      Click here for the Sportsnet live stream or click the play button above! Click here to download podcasts from the show each day. Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or Feedburner.

      Read More »from Marek Vs. Wyshynski Radio: Blackhawks vs. Red Wings; Capitals’ future; Going Postal
    • Mike Ribeiro, coveted free agent, wants long-term deal over money

      Getty ImagesARLINGTON, Va. – According to CapGeek, Mike Ribeiro is the top unrestricted free agent available this summer, after a season that saw the center score 49 points in 48 games for the Washington Capitals.

      Alex Ovechkin said the team’s top priority is bringing Ribeiro back. Which is what you’d expect from a player who resurrected his game on the power play, speaking about a center that had 27 points on the man advantage.

      “To hear it from him is nice,” said Ribeiro.

      “He’s a powerful player. He can score. He’s a young player [who can still] learn a lot about the game, and how to play it.”

      Ribeiro's previous contract was 5 years and $25 million. He made it clear on Tuesday that he’s seeking a four or five-year contract this summer, and that the term outweighs the money as far as importance to him. If Washington meets that term, he’d like to stay in DC.

      “If I can stay in the city and retire here. It’s more about the kids. If I could stay in the city until they go to college,” he said.

      Read More »from Mike Ribeiro, coveted free agent, wants long-term deal over money
    • Selke Trophy Finalists: Patrice Bergeron vs. Pavel Datsyuk vs. Jonathan Toews

      The NHL announced the finalists for the Selke Trophy on Wednesday, as centers Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins, Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings and Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks will contend for the award given "to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game," as voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.

      The Selke Trophy is ripe for application of advanced stats, which would then lead to off the radar choice like Boyd Gordon of the Phoenix Coyotes for example. Alas, it still seems like the "Best faceoff guy" and "Most takeaways" award these days.

      Also, wingers can't win. Ever. Sorry Marian Hossa.

      Who wins the Selke?

      Read More »from Selke Trophy Finalists: Patrice Bergeron vs. Pavel Datsyuk vs. Jonathan Toews
    • Pass or Fail: Penguins fan shaves support for team into his chest hair

      Some fans scream at the game. Some fans express themselves with a sign. Others paint their faces or, in David Puddy’s case, their chests.

      And then there’s this Pittsburgh Penguins fan captured by Seth Rorabaugh of Empty Netters at Game 1 vs. the Ottawa Senators, who shaved “LETS GO PENS” into his chest hair:

      @emptynettersWhat, no apostrophe?

      Wow. That is … wow. We’re mostly impressed that all the letters face the right direction, which speaks to either his impressive mastery of mirror reflections or the creepy implication that he has an accomplice in his man-scaping.

      When we spotted this photo on Twitter, we had a sense of hair-story repeating.

      Was this guy the same guy who spotted this hirsute billboard during the Penguins vs. Washington Capitals series back in May 2009? Based on these strands of evidence, we think so:

      DC Sports BogAs Dan Steinberg of the DC Sports Bog wrote:

      This guy cancels everything else out. This guy rules. I'd proudly sit next to this guy for 60 minutes, or as long as it takes, really.

      But what say you about using your chest fur to support the team?

      Pass or Fail: The shaven chest NHL fan tribute.

      Read More »from Pass or Fail: Penguins fan shaves support for team into his chest hair
    • NHL Three Stars: Penguins, Kings take Game 1 wins

      Getty ImagesNo. 1 Star: Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings

      The Kings’ Conn Smythe winner kept rolling, winning his fifth straight game and posting his second shutout of the postseason with a 2-0 win over the San Jose Sharks. Quick made 16 of his 35 saves in the third period to secure the Game 1 victory.

      No. 2 Star: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins

      The Penguins’ leading scorer in the playoffs assisted on Paul Martin’s power-play goal and scored the eventual game-winner just under 10 minutes later in the first period. The Penguins took Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators, 4-1.

      Read More »from NHL Three Stars: Penguins, Kings take Game 1 wins
    • Raffi Torres of the San Jose Sharks has been on his best behavior since coming back from his suspension for that head shot on Marian Hossa last postseason. Meaning that he successfully pushed the limits on his aggressive hits but didn’t cross the line.

      But in Game 1 against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night, Torres may have slipped up … and Jarret Stoll paid the price.

      Torres was given a 2-minute minor for charging at 19:02 of the second. Stoll didn’t return to the game after that shift. The Kings took Game 1, 2-0.

      The NHL will take a look at this one, especially with Torres’s track record.

      What did you think of the hit? Did he get the shoulder first or was the head the principle point of contact?

      Read More »from Raffi Torres takes out Jarret Stoll with controversial hit; suspension coming? (Video)
    • Puck Daddy’s 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 2 staff prognostications

      Getty ImagesIn which your friends at Puck Daddy attempt to pick the winners of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Our first-round picks are here.

      Greg Wyshynski, Editor

      Penguins in 6
      Rangers in 6

      The Penguins’ goaltending situation scares the bejesus out of me. So does Craig Anderson’s goalie prowess. So does the fact that Ottawa is one of those teams piling up compelling storylines – Karlsson’s comeback, Spezza’s potential one, Paul MacLean-as-walrus, a ton of unsung heroes – that sometimes lead to a team of destiny vibe. But the Penguins are too good and too deep to lose this series.

      The Rangers and Bruins is going to be a slobber-knocker. I give the Rangers the advantage in goal with Lundqvist and their scoring depth is a bit better than expected. That said, it’s time for Nash to become a force, and I think this is the spot for it. The Bruins were exposed a bit in the Leafs series, miracle comeback be damned.

      Blackhawks in 6
      Sharks in 7

      If Detroit plays as it did in Game 7 against the Ducks, this is going to be a very tight series. But I think Chicago knows it played average hockey against the Wild and will course correct. Plus, they’ll exploit the Wings’ defense in ways the Ducks did not.

      The Sharks and Los Angeles Kings are the series of the semifinals. Two teams at the top of their games. Can the Sharks crack the Kings’ defense? Can the Kings solve a locked-in Antti Niemi. This could be a classic, but in the end, it’s the Sharks. Who seem like a team of desti … I can’t even finish that yet.

      Read More »from Puck Daddy’s 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 2 staff prognostications
    • The opening round had its share of weirdness for both the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators. The former was nearly pushed to the brink by the New York Islanders. The latter saw a grown man compared to a walrus by an opponent.

      Now, the No. 1 and No. 7 seeds meet in the Eastern Conference semifinals, with a little playoff history between them.

      Who wins this second-round battle?

      Read More »from Pittsburgh Penguins (1) vs. Ottawa Senators (7): Puck Daddy’s NHL 2013 Stanley Cup Playoff Preview

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