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    Sean Leahy

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    Sean Leahy is the associate editor of Puck Daddy since the blog started in April 2008. Having covered Stanley Cup Finals, NHL All-Star Games and NHL Drafts, his highlight might have been getting blown out playing Ryan Kesler in NHL2K11 on Nintendo Wii. That, or coercing an All-Star Game goal judge to let him control the goal light for a period. He currently resides on Long Island.

    • Ducks fans welcomed back Justin, uh, "Shultz" to Anaheim

      No. 1 Star: Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs

      Kessel scored twice and assisted on another as the Maple Leafs edged the New York Rangers 4-3 and moved four points ahead of the Ottawa Senators for the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. His first goal gave Toronto a 3-1 lead in the second period, but the Rangers tied things nine minutes into the third period. Just 39 seconds after Derek Stepan's game-tying goal, Kessel put home his own rebound to give the Maple Leafs the lead for good:

      No. 2 Star: Radek Dvorak, Anaheim Ducks

      On the night Justin Schultz gave Anaheim fans plenty to boo, Dvorak was the reason they would cheer. His pair of goals were enough for the Ducks to double up the Edmonton Oilers 2-1. Jonas Hiller made 27 saves in his first game back after missing four due to the flu. Dvorak has three goals in five games since signing with Anaheim on March 24.

      No. 3 Star: Cory Schneider, Vancouver Canucks

      Needing just 19 saves, Schneider earned his fifth shutout of the season, and second in three starts, with a 2-0 win over the Phoenix Coyotes. He's now tied with Mike Smith and Pekka Rinne for the NHL lead in shutouts. Ryan Kesler scored in his first game back from injury after missing 20 games. This shorthanded goal was credited to Dan Hamhuis, but it was Antoine Vermette who had to watch his pass back to the Coyotes' blue line travel all the way into his own empty net:

      Read More »from NHL Three Stars: Kessel, Dvorak goals power wins; Schneider blanks Coyotes
    • 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.

      Getty Images

      Preview: New York Rangers at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET. There are some valuable Eastern Conference points on the line this week as the Rangers and Maple Leafs play a home-and-home Monday night and Wednesday. The Rangers will feature the same lineup from Saturday's 4-1 win over Carolina, while the Leafs' lineup will see Ryan O'Byrne make his debut since coming over in a trade from Colorado. Toronto will still be without Joffrey Lupul, who suffered an concussion upper-body injury last week. He skated for 10 minutes Monday morning for the second day in a row. There's no timetable set for his return.

      Preview: Carolina Hurricanes at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m. ET. The Tyler Seguin experiment at center is over. The Bruins forward found a grey sweater hanging in his stall on Monday meaning he'll be back on the wing between Brad Marchand and Rich Peverley. The Hurricanes have dropped four in a row, leaving them eight points out of a playoff spot, while the Bruins will try to keep pace with the Montreal Canadiens for Northeast Division supremacy. Things aren't going well in Carolina, as Canes Country sums up: "Third in the Division. 13th in the Eastern Conference. 26th in the League. Seven straight home losses (tying a franchise record). 1-10-1 in the last 12 games. On the outside of the playoff race. Looking good for a high draft pick in the off-season."

      Preview: Edmonton Oilers at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m. ET It's "Boo Justin Schultz Night" at Honda Center as the Oilers defenseman and Duck draft pick visits the team he left as a UFA over the summer after failing to come to terms with them. “I saw an opportunity in Edmonton and I don’t regret that decision,” Schultz told the Edmonton Journal.

      Read More »from Justin Schultz visits Anaheim; Ducks/Kings outdoor game announcement soon? (Puck Previews)
    • St. Cloud StateThis weekend is the NCAA Frozen Four in Pittsburgh. Leading up to this weekend's events, we're chatting with one player from each of the teams involved. Look for interviews through Thursday. Today, it's Ben Hanowski from St. Cloud State.

      The night Jarome Iginla was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Cloud State senior Ben Hanowski was watching the win 6-5 shootout victory of the Montreal Canadiens over the Boston Bruins.

      Like many of us, Hanowski went to bed that night believing the Calgary Flames captain was destined for the Bruins. When he awoke, his phone was jammed with text messages and voicemails about how he was now a member of the Flames after Iginla ended up with the Penguins.

      "It was definitely a unique day," Hanowski said during a phone interview last Monday. "That happening and then us going to the regional and making it to the Frozen Four; the last five day have kind of been a whirlwind. It was a week I'll always remember."

      Hanowski's week began with that trade and ended with St. Cloud State's first ever trip to the Frozen Four this week at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh. The senior captain would score the opening goal in the Huskies' 5-1 victory over Notre Dame in the Midwest Regional semifinal before celebrating a trip to the Steel City with 4-1 win over Miami University the next day.

      "It's still a pretty surreal feeling," said Hanowski. "It hasn't quite sunk in yet. I'm pretty exciting. My voice is gone from a lot of yelling."

      It's been a over a week since the victory and Hanowski and the St. Cloud State have had their eyes set on top-seeded Quinnipiac in the second half of the Frozen Four doubleheader Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.

      We spoke with Hanowski last week about his trade to the Flames, scoring big goals, the Huskies' season turnaround, and his charitable efforts. Enjoy.

      Read More »from Puck Daddy chats with St. Cloud State’s Ben Hanowski about Iginla trade, Frozen Four and ‘Locks of Love’
    • Getty ImagesThe worst kept secret in hockey is now official. On Sunday morning during a press conference at Joe Louis Arena, the NHL officially announced (again) that the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs will participate in the next Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium.

      Having already done the "at the venue" press conference last February before the 2013 game was cancelled (thanks, NHL lockout), this was a more low-key affair.

      The leaks have been out there for some time now, but something that wasn't officially revealed until Sunday morning were the jerseys the Red Wings and Maple Leafs would wear.

      @Cotsonika

      About the jerseys, from the NHL:

      Detroit will be wearing iconic red and antique white uniforms featuring a striping pattern and arch Detroit wordmark inspired by the late-1920s Detroit Cougars. The front crest on the jersey will feature an early iteration of the winged wheel from the late 1930s Red Wings.

      There's even a touch of the early 1980s Red Wings with the custom Detroit wordmark and the number system. Both are exclusive to the typeface worn by the Red Wings from 30 years ago.

      ...

      Toronto's uniforms will be royal blue and white and feature the distinct striping configuration inspired by the 1930s Maple Leafs. The front crest of the jersey will feature a distinct wordmark from the inaugural Maple Leafs' logo, revealed in 1927. The neckline design is taken from the sweaters worn by the Leafs throughout the 1960s and the running stitch detail on the numbers is a tribute to the Leafs' sweater from the mid-1950s.

      During the press conference, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman also announced that 24/7: Road to the Winter Classic will return in December. There will also (again) be two alumni games planned because of the large number of potential participants. The alumni games will wear different jerseys for the both the Red Wings and Maple Leafs.

      As was planned for Dec. 2012, Comerica Park will feature various games from high school to minor hockey to junior hockey to sled hockey.

      Back to the jersey: we can't complain about them. The sweaters and their Original Six feel will look great on TV and in front of the 105,000-plus at The Big House.

      This will also be the first Winter Classic featuring both teams wearing colors and no whites. So, what do you think?

      Pass or Fail: The Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs 2014 Winter Classic jerseys

      Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

      Read More »from Pass or Fail: Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs 2014 Winter Classic jerseys
    • Watch bench-clearing brawl in Austrian youth cup final (Video)

      The best-of-three final of the U15 Cup between Austria's EC Red Bull Salzburg and EAC Junior Capitals needed just two games, with Red Bull sweeping the series.In the final game, Red Bull won 4-0 and with the game decidedly in-hand, the two teams were involved in a bench-clearing brawl with 10 minutes remaining in the third period.

      There was a delayed involvement from Red Bull who, as you'll see, didn't really want anything to do with it until the end of things, likely trying to stay out of the penalty box and hold the lead.

      (We suggest hitting the mute button before playing as there is no sound from the rink, only an electronic version of the Benny Hill theme acting as the soundtrack.)

      Two years ago this Red Bull lost the gold medal game when they were U13s, so you can totally understand why they wanted this brawl to end as soon as possible so they could finally begin celebrating a championship.

      Stick-tap Total Pro Sports

      Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

      Read More »from Watch bench-clearing brawl in Austrian youth cup final (Video)
    • @MitchPeacock1That, via CBC's Mitch Peacock, is the aftermath of Zach Redmond's freak injury suffered in February.

      During practice on Feb. 21, one moment almost changed Redmond’s future. After getting cut by Winnipeg Jets teammate Antti Miettinen’s skate at PNC Arena in Raleigh, Redmond was rushed to a local hospital after lacerating the right femoral artery and vein on the inside of his right leg just above the knee.

      "Scary", "shocking" and "gruesome" were the words used by his teammates to describe the scene that saw a large pool of blood remain on the ice as Redmond was on his way to the hospital. The of injury he suffered is very serious, with the potential for death if not treated within minutes. Luckily for Redmond the athletic trainers for the Jets and the Carolina Hurricanes were able to get to him quickly.

      [Also: Sidney Crosby not suffering from concussion-like symptoms, contrary to report]

      After a three-hour surgery and six weeks of recovery, Redmond returned to the ice on Friday to skate with a few of his teammates. It's highly unlikely he'll play again this season, but according to team physician Dr. Peter MacDonald, Redmond's recovery is "miraculous" given the seriousness of the injury.

      From the Winnipeg Free Press:

      "Honestly we thought it was 50-50 that he’d ever play again. To have that major insult to the body, he’s lucky to be alive first of all. You don’t even think about playing again at first. He’s amazed us all," said McDonald. "It’s very high probability that he’ll be in training camp. He’s going to start skating now. We haven’t ruled out, if the Jets were to make the playoffs and go far, we haven’t even ruled out him playing this year."

      MacDonald said that Redmond's leg is working at 75-percent for the moment and that it's "highly probable" he'll be able to participate in training camp come the September. From a 50-50 chance of ever playing again to "highly probable". That's remarkable for Redmond.

      Skating is the first step in Redmond's road to recovery. Between now and training camp is the time for him to rebuild strength in the leg and get back to playing in the NHL.

      Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

      Read More »from After vicious skate cut, Jets’ Zach Redmond makes ‘miracle’ recovery
    • When the NHL introduced its "Because It's the Cup" campaign ahead of last year's playoffs, its goal was to court the casual fan, but also try to play to the diehards. It was a switch from the "History Will Be Made" spots that touched on the great NHL moments.

      "It was nothing short of spectacular. But if you weren't kind of 'in the know', then it wasn't the most welcoming entry point for someone at that time of year," said Brian Jennings, executive VP of marketing for the NHL told Puck Daddy last year.

      "History was great, but the word 'history' was limiting," Jennings said. "The word 'because' gave us more room to move."

      In the first spot of their 2013 "Because It's the Cup" campaign, which debuted Monday night, the colorful fans found in every NHL rink are the focus:

      What, no Ottawa Spartan?

      I think we were able to check off every box in our "crazy fan B-I-N-G-O". It was the appearance of The Green Men that clinched it for us.

      The second spot shows some of the pre-game jittery behavior of players, ending with the payoff of victory:

      Sadly, unlike the "History is Made" spots, these aren't ripe for parody it seems.

      Three more are expected to be released in April all leading up to the April 30 start of the the Stanley Cup playoffs, which will once again see every single game broadcast live in U.S. on NBC, NBC Sports Network, CNBC and NHL Network.

      What do you think of the new spots? Better or worse than "History is Made"?

      Pass or Fail: NHL's new 'Because Its the Cup' playoff commercials

      Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

      Read More »from Pass or Fail: NHL’s new ‘Because It’s the Cup’ playoff commercials
    • Canadian PressNo. 1 Star: Taylor Hall, Edmonton Oilers

      After falling behind 2-0 early in the first period the Oilers powered back. Hall continued his hot run with a goal and four assists as Edmonton scored eight straight in an 8-2 rout of the Calgary Flames. The 21-year old now has 15 points in his last six games, helping the Oilers into the No. 8 seed in the West for the moment. Jordan Eberle and Nail Yakupov each netted a pair and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins chipped in four points. The Oilers scored on three of their five power play chances.

      No. 2 Star: Ryane Clowe, New York Rangers

      It was quite the debut for the Rangers' trio of acquisitions. At least one of the three had a hand in each of New York's goals in their 6-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. John Moore had a goal; Derick Brassard had a goal and three assists; and Clowe finally scored this season. Through 28 games with the San Jose, Clowe had a zero in the goal category. In just under 31 minutes as a Ranger, he potted two. Clowe would assist on Ryan McDonagh's goal in the first period as part of a three-point debut. Brian Boyle also recorded four points for the New York.

      No. 3 Star: Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks

      The Ducks captain led the way with a goal and two assists in their 4-2 win over the Dallas Stars. After setting up two of Anaheim's three goals giving them a a 3-0 lead, Getzlaf would quickly return from tweaking his leg to pot his 15th of the season. After the game Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau said Getzlaf should be "OK". Speaking of OK, how about the pass from Corey Perry to set up Getzlaf's goal?

      Read More »from NHL Three Stars: Taylor Hall leads Oiler rout; Ryane Clowe finally scores
    • How did Dan Boyle celebrate not being traded by the San Jose Sharks after weeks of intense speculation? By schooling the Norris Trophy front-runner and providing us with a goal of the year candidate:

      That power play goal gave the Sharks a 2-0 lead, just under four minutes after Martin Havlat opened the scoring. It came on a 5-on-3, so Boyle had plenty of ice to work with, making Ryan Suter leave his ankles at the blue line for that beauty. Oh, he also made Niklas Backstrom look pretty silly, too.

      As ESPN's John Buccigross Tweeted, Boyle is now the class president at the University of Danglefornia.

      Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

      Read More »from Watch Dan Boyle go coast-to-coast vs. Wild for goal of the year candidate (Video)
    • Getty ImagesIn 2007, Patrice Bergeron suffered a concussion after taking a hit from behind from then-Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Randy Jones. Jones was given a two-game suspension and Bergeron would miss almost a calendar year. Two more concussions would sideline Bergeron over the next three seasons, but none as long as the one after the Jones hit.

      On Tuesday night, Bergeron took an inadvertent elbow to the head from Colin Greening of the Ottawa Senators while battling for a loose puck:

      The Bruins had no update after the game, but Wednesday afternoon as he met with the media, GM Peter Chiarelli confirmed that indeed Bergeron had suffered a concussion. Chiarelli called it a "moderate" one, but a concussion is a concussion, and given Bergeron's history, there's concern for how much time he'll miss.

      "I don't know when you'll see him again," Chiarelli said, who added Bergeron was in good spirits when he spoke with him. The team has no timetable on his return.

      Bergeron is currently the Bruins leading scoring with 31 points and has an NHL-best 61.5% success rate on faceoffs.

      Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

      Read More »from Bruins’ Patrice Bergeron suffered ‘moderate’ concussion, timetable for return unknown

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