Ilya Bryzgalov typically has a lot of fun with the media. He laughs, he jokes, he says hilarious, nonsensical things. It's a whale of a time.

But Bryz wasn't laughing Thursday night after the Flyers' 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. Not after napgate, when the controversy surrounded a report that Bryzgalov was benched for falling asleep in a team meeting. Asked pointedly about it in the locker room, a frustrated Bryzgalov admonished the 'not professional journalists' that ran what he called an 'embarrassing' report.

Oh, how the tables have turned. For quite some time now, the media has blasted Bryzgalov for not being good enough. Now it's Bryz's turn, and he let those not professional journalists have it:

"You know, guys... I don't know where you get this information, but, be honest, did you read yourself what you're writing, guys? That's embarrassing, guys. You've gotta... I don't know, to prove your sources. That was never happening. You know, like, you became... like a not professional journalist. It's embarrassing, guys, seriously. You've gotta do your job better. I'm only point at guys who was, like, involved in this, because it's really embarrassing. And you've gotta be better. Step up, guys. Prove your information... find reliable sources."

I think Bryzgalov thinks it was embarrassing.

Thing we learned today: Bryzgalov is great as chastising people. He could have just ranted. Instead, he calmly offered constructive criticism, so the people with whom he was upset could improve. Read what you write. Do your job better. Step up. Find better sources. These are all very helpful tips. I was surprised it didn't end with him saying, "Now, let's go get some ice cream."

Bryzgalov wasn't the only one to call into doubt the report that he was catching some zeds (yes, zeds, because Canada forever). On Thursday afternoon, his teammates rose to his defence. From CSN Philly:

“Not unless they’re narcoleptic,” Knuble said, laughing. “You hardly even sat down. I don’t think your [butt] made your spot on the bench warm enough. That’s silly, that’s asinine. You’re sitting in a bright room, in the middle of the day. It’s not like you’re locked into a film session for 45 minutes. Then I might see it. But not for half a cup of coffee meeting. Not even that.”

Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen, who is the longest-tenured member of the team’s leadership group, emphatically denied it, as well.

“That’s not true and I’ll tell you that on the record,” Timonen said. “And that’s it. If you want to ask more, ask Lavy (Peter Laviolette). That’s not my business to tell you what happened and didn’t happen. He wasn’t sleeping. What a scoop! Have you ever seen anyone sleeping in a meeting? In the NHL, have you ever heard of anyone sleeping during a meeting? There’s a scoop.”

Someone needs to re-explain the concept of a scoop to Timonen, but aside from that, this is a pretty strong denial.

Is it horrible to want Bryzgalov to remain in Philadelphia forever? I would like that very much.

The You Can Play Project has made some tremendous strides towards breaking down the institutional homophobia in sports -- most notably hockey, where founder Patrick Burke plies his trade as a scout. On Thursday, they made another leap forward, announcing a new partnership with the NHL and NHLPA to further their effort towards inclusion for LGBT athletes.

Through the work they've already done with YCP, the NHL has staked their claim as one of the most progressive, inclusive sports leagues, and this partnership will allow them to continuing blazing that trail.

It also sets a standard for other leagues to follow. The NHL just became the first of the four major sports leagues to partner with an LGBT advocacy group. One assumes the other three commissioners would prefer that their league isn't the last.

Speaking of commissioners, here's what Gary Bettman had to say:

"Our motto is 'Hockey Is For Everyone,' and our partnership with You Can Play certifies that position in a clear and unequivocal way," he said in the NHL's release. "While we believe that our actions in the past have shown our support for the LGBT community, we are delighted to reaffirm through this joint venture with the NHL Players' Association that the official policy of the NHL is one of inclusion on the ice, in our locker rooms and in the stands."

Bettman can be a divisive figure, but his leadership on this issue is one area where I've been glad to see him running the good ship NHL.

Anton Volchenkov was given a five-minute major and tossed from the Wednesday night's game versus the Boston Bruins after delivering a nasty elbow to the head of Brad Marchand, and on Thursday, the Shanaban-hammer came down on the Devils' defenceman with the force of Mjölnir.

For his actions, Volchenkov has been suspended an additional four games. Here's Brendan Shanahan explaining why, if "he elbowed a guy in the head" doesn't explain it quite thoroughly enough for you.

"Rather than make a full body check, Volchenkov extends his left elbow, making significant contact to the side of Marchand's head."

Yeah, you can't do that.

But it's worse for Volchenkov than just delivering an illegal elbow. As Shanahan explains, Marchand stops and turns away from the hit in an effort to avoid contact. Then he gives us the part that best explains why Volchenkov got four for this:

"If anything," he says, "Marchand's actions prior to contact force Volchenkov to extend his elbow even further."

If there's one thing that's going to get you dinged by the DOPS Cops, it's being caught making the extra effort to dirty up your hit, and that's what Shanahan and co. saw here. Add that damning interpretation of the hit to the fact that Marchand left the game with an injury and four games sounds about right.

It could have been worse, too. Shanahan points out at the end of the video that, despite a 2011 suspension, Volchenkov is not classified as a repeat offender under the new CBA. Had he been, this suspension may have been preceded by an in-person hearing.

Officiating is an inexact science, which is understandable considering it's a job done by humans, and human vision is only okay, relative to other creatures. That said, I'm still trying to figure out how the zebras managed to miss the nasty two-handed slash Taylor Hall delivered to Zbynek Michalek in the third period of the Oilers' 3-1 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes.

Slashes go unnoticed. It happens. But what really gets me is that Hall has the stick raised above his head for a good second before he perpetrates this one. You'd think someone would have spotted the moment he lifted his stick like it was axe pulled from a scabbard, especially since there were two officials behind him at the blueline that could have seen it. But no one did. No call.

Granted, the makeup call quickly followed, as Nail Yakupov was whistled for a penalty shortly thereafter.

But Hall skated away from the incident discipline-free, and I have to wonder if the DOPS might decide to correct that. I don't know if this calls for a suspension, but I could see a fine, especially since Hall has already been suspended once this season for hanging the knee on Cal Clutterbuck. His repeat offender status could be enough to push this into supplemental discipline territory.

It should, in my opinion. You can understand why Hall is frustrated. It's been a rough year. The Oilers needed two points Wednesday night and they didn't get it. Plus, defenders play him very, very aggressively -- infuriatingly so, I would imagine -- and pushing back is important. But this is the second time this year that Hall has utilized a dirty play to do it, and that's the sort of pattern that needs to be snuffed out immediately.

Photo of the night, courtesy the great Bruce Bennett.

No. 1 Star: Gregory Campbell, Boston Bruins

Campbell doubled his goal total on the season, scoring twice in the first period of the Bruins' 5-4 win over the New Jersey Devils. His first goal was the product of some fabulous work by Jaromir Jagr, who fended off four Devils to get a shot on goal before Campbell shovelled home the rebound:

No. 2 Star: Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks

Pressed into action after Cory Schneider came down with the flu (or a poisoning from a frustrated Italian netminder looking to get a rare start), Luongo reminded the Canucks that he's still pretty good, making 40 saves in a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames. Thank goodness he played well. Pulling him wasn't really an option, with university student Dustin Butler on an emergency contract on the bench.

Mired in a seven-game losing streak, the last thing the New Jersey Devils need is to lose one of their top-six defencemen to a suspension. Unfortunately, after Anton Volchenkov's ill-advised elbow to the head of Brad Marchand, they're at risk of exactly that:

It's a tough situation for Volchenkov. It's easy to elbow Marchand in the head, because a) he's so small and b) he really makes you want to. But it goes without saying that you're not allowed to do it, so while applaudable in some circles, it's suspendable in others.

Marchand left the game. Volchenkov did too, after being handed a five-minute major for elbowing and a 10-minute misconduct. But will that be all?

Working in Volchenkov's favour: he didn't leave his feet. While there is a moment when both his skates are off the ice, it comes after impact and not before. He didn't jump into this hit, although Joffrey Lupul reminded us this year that you can still get into trouble for elevating into a dirty hit.

In Volchenkov's case, however, the real issue will be that he appears to lead with his elbow. It's extended for quite awhile before it connects with the side of Marchand's helmet, and that might be enough for the DOPS Cops to call for a little more punishment. Between that and the fact that Volchenkov's a repeat offender under Shanahan, having been suspended three games for a headshot on Zach Boychuk, think one should see a suspension.

Here are your Puck Previews: Spotlighting the key games in NHL action, news and views as well as general frivolity. Make sure to stop back here for the nightly Three Stars when the games are finished.

Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at New York Rangers, 7 p.m. ET

Who'd have thought, going into this season, that this game would feature a Leafs team that looks like a playoff lock and a Rangers team desperate to hold onto eighth place? But here we are in bizarro world.

Preview: Boston Bruins at New Jersey Devils, 7:30 p.m. ET

What an awful time for the Devils to go on a losing streak. They've lost seven straight, and now sit 10th in the East. But all is not lost. A win versus the Bruins and a Rangers loss and New Jersey is back in control of their own destiny. They'll have to hope Boston's six-goal outburst Monday wasn't a sign they've found their offence.

Preview: Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames, 9:30 p.m. ET

Cory Schneider makes his 12th straight start for the Canucks, (Update: he's sick. Luongo starts.) who come into Calgary having won three straight. Calgary is without Jiri Hudler and Matt Stajan. Even worse: the only team Calgary can beat these days is Colorado, who account for both wins in their recent 2-6 stretch, and Vancouver is not Colorado.

(Ed Note: Mike Snee is the Executive Director of College Hockey, Inc., a nonprofit group that promotes Division I men’s college hockey. Among the group’s goals are to encourage schools to consider adding Division I hockey programs. Anyone interested in contributing an article, column or post to the blog can pitch yo stuff here. Now, here's Mike.)

By Mike Snee

The Frozen Four field of UMass Lowell, Quinnipiac, St. Cloud State and Yale may not grab the attention of casual sports fans like it should, and it may not produce the TV ratings those of us who love college hockey feel it deserves.

It should, however, capture the imagination of any forward-thinking university president or athletic director who wants to raise their school’s profile.

As college hockey fans have long maintained, there is tremendous opportunity for schools that want to pursue Division I hockey. With only 59 programs nationwide and the talent pool growing, the chance to compete for national championships has never been better.