You've probably heard of this Danica Patrick individual -- the one who's definitely better than you are at driving a car. She was in attendance for Game 1 of the Chicago Blackhawks' series with the Minnesota Wild, sitting in the front row, right at the glass.

But maybe she should have been sitting on the bench. The Blackhawks' invited Patrick to play "Shoot the Puck" -- the most creatively named intermission game in hockey -- between the second and third periods, and it took just one shot for the auto racing trailblazer/Go Daddy spokesperson to show that she's got the stuff.

No reaction to scoring the goal. Yep, act like you've been there before.

Her secret, if you're wondering: sensible footwear. Look at those tan flats.

Follow Harrison Mooney on Twitter at @HarrisonMooney

The Stanley Cup Playoffs already have a stunning development before the first puck was even dropped.

The Minnesota Wild lost starting goalie Niklas Backstrom to an injury in warm-ups on Tuesday night, as he prepared to face the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center.

Here's the injury:

Most would have agreed that, for the Wild to win this series, Backstrom was going to have to stand on his head. That's tough to do when you're sitting.

This means that Josh Harding, already the front-runner for the Masterton for his determination after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, draws in. An incredible story just became even moreso.

Chicago Tribune video screengrab.

For most NHLers, the advent of the NHL postseason means it's time to put the razor away and get to work on that playoff beard.

But that's because most NHLers can grow beards.

Patrick Kane, on the other hand, is one of a small handful of players that looks like he's perpetually on the verge of turning 18. So Kane has his own tradition. The playoff mullet.

He went without in 2012, but this year, it's back.

What's more, this time around, Kane's brought a friend.

The Anaheim Ducks and the Detroit Red Wings last met in 2009, but while that really isn't that long ago, a lot has changed. Back then, the Ducks' blueline boasted such luminaries as Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger. The Red Wings, meanwhile, were icing a pairing of Nicklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski.

Furthermore, while the Red Wings were the West's second seed in 2009, this time around, that distinction goes to Anaheim. With the Lidstrom era over in Detroit, the Red Wings needed a win in their final game to earn a playoff spot.

Anaheim, on the other hand, won 30 of 48 games in the shortened season, good for 3rd in the NHL. Suffice it to say, that wasn't what most were predicting back in January. The Ducks were one of this year's biggest surprises.

But is the dominant club we saw in the regular-season really who they are? The team showed signs of regression late in the season. Was that simply a good team slowing down once they had sewn up the second seed, or was that a team slowing down because they're not as good as they seemed, a team that might be in trouble against a savvy, veteran club that can still do some serious damage?

I think I'm showing my cards a little early here. Let's get into it.

The return of the Quebec Nordiques isn't exactly a foregone conclusion, but Quebec City moved a little closer to bringing the NHL back to town when they announced plans for their new, $400 million, 18,000-seat hockey arena, slated for completion in September of 2015.

The potential resurrection of the Nordiques also means the potential resurrection of their provincial rivalry with the Montreal Canadiens, a rivalry so heated that round 2 has already begun.

On Tuesday, construction worker Eric Chevest uploaded a Youtube video in which -- hold onto your croissants -- he drops a Montreal Canadiens puck into the foundation of the new arena:

SHOTS FIRED!

"Get me out of here."

It's been a rough weekend for the Philadelphia media. On Saturday, Flyers' GM Paul Holmgren erupted at them, launching into a profanity-laced tirade after one question too many about Peter Laviolette's future.

On Sunday, Ilya Bryzgalov had some choice words for them as well.

Cleaning out his stuff at the team's practice facility in Voorhees, Bryzgalov gave the scrum of reporters gathered around him an impromptu lesson in journalism. His central thesis: you're all bad at it.

When asked if being blamed for the Flyers' struggles this year bothered him, this is what he had to say. From the Courier Post Online:

Not anymore. Not anymore. You guys just here to blame someone. You never look yourselves in the mirror, eh? You’re always good. You never make the mistakes. Your articles are always perfect. In reality, what have you done for this city? If you ask yourself, what have you done besides only criticize? Not much.

But sometimes the media do more than criticize. Sometimes they ask follow-up questions, and this certainly necessitated one.

The Wild celebrate the empty-net goal that assured their trip to the playoffs.

No. 1 Star: Nail Yakupov, Edmonton Oilers

Yakupov erupted in the final frame versus the Vancouver Canucks, scoring three times as part of a six-goal outburst in third to lead the Oilers to a 7-2 win. With 6 points in his final 3 games, Yakupov came from behind to win the rookie scoring race. Justin Schultz added a four-point night and Jordan Eberle scored twice.

No. 2 Star: James Neal, Pittsburgh Penguins

Neal registered a hat trick and an assist as the Penguins beat up on the Carolina Hurricanes, winning 8-3 to close out the season.

Neal's last two goals were the beginnings of the 5-goal third period for Pittsburgh.

The 2013 regular-season is all but over, with just one game left to play, and while that game has some major implications on the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference, the West's four matchups were set Saturday night.

Despite the valiant efforts of the Columbus Blue Jackets, they were left on the outside looking in as both the Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota Wild won their final games. With that, Detroit and Minnesota finished 7th and 8th, respectively. This means that the Wings will be opening the season in Anaheim, and the Wild have earned the pleasure of a trip to Chicago.

Speaking of Chicago, by defeating the Blackhawks Saturday, the Blues managed to stave off both the Kings and the Sharks for the fourth playoff spot and the right to open the playoffs on the road.

That meant that their opponent was the winner of Saturday night's final game, a contest between the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks. The loser got Vancouver, and that turned out to be the Sharks, who closed out the season with a 3-2 loss.

That means that your playoff matchups in the West look like this:

Chicago (1) vs. Minnesota (8)

Anaheim (2) vs. Detroit (7)

Vancouver (3) vs. San Jose (6)

St. Louis (4) vs. Los Angeles (5)

We'll have our full series previews beginning next week, but a few quick observations:

• It's crazy to think that the West will be losing two of Vancouver, San Jose, St. Louis, and Los Angeles in the first round. That's unfortunate, because, apart from the obvious number one in Chicago, those are the conference's four best teams.

• That Vancouver/San Jose series is going to be a lot of fun. Think Ryan Kesler and Joe Thornton fight off the opening faceoff again?

• I'll pick Detroit to upset Anaheim right now. I'm not sold on the Ducks, I don't like the way they closed out the season, and while these aren't the Red Wings of old, I think they're good enough to surprise Anaheim.

• I think every other team in the Western Conference is breathing a sigh of relief that the Blues and the Kings will be beating up on one another. Those are two big, nasty clubs. And I'm sure the Blues are relishing the opportunity for a rematch with a Kings club that made quick work of them last year.

• Minnesota's in trouble.