On Saturday, Elliotte Friedman reported on the NHL's proposed realignment plan for next season during Hockey Night in Canada's Hot Stove segment. Now more details are leaking with approvals still needed from the Board of Governors and the Players' Association.

ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun obtained a memo sent to all 30 teams on Tuesday that outlined the NHL's latest realignment plan.

As a refresher, here's how the league -- Eastern Conference and Western Conference -- would look under this proposal, as reported by Friedman:

From LeBrun:

The playoff format as detailed in the league memo Tuesday calls for the top three teams in each division to earn postseason berths. The remaining four spots would go to wild cards, the top two records in each conference. That means there's a possibility five teams make it from one division and only three from another.

The schedule matrix would see each team play teams in the other conference both home and away.

There was talk that a potential play-in game, like what Major League Baseball implemented last season, would come into play, but according to this proposal that is not the case.

Via TSN, here is the playoff situation:

It would be divisional playoffs, not conference playoffs, so 1 vs. 4, 2 vs 3 in the first round. The two fourth seeds would be made up of the wild-card teams. The top division winner based on regular-season points in the standings would face off against the lower-ranked wild-card team. The other division winner would play the higher-ranked wild-card.

First-round winners then meet in second round in the division championship; Third round sees Pacific winner vs. Mid-West winner in Western Conference finals; Central winner versus Atlantic winner in Eastern Conference finals; Eastern and Western Conference champions meet in Stanley Cup finals.

Sixteen teams in one conference and 14 in the other might be an issue for some, but overall this plan limits travel and will make television executives very happy. Also, fans will get to see every team at least once in their building. Under this proposal, the league and PA would meet after three seasons to discuss any issues and potential changes.

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San Jose Sharks forward Ryane Clowe had the opportunity to defend himself for leaving the bench to go after Andrew Shaw of the Chicago Blackhawks in the waning moments of Friday's game. He declined, deciding to speak with the Department of Player Safety via the phone on Monday afternoon.

The issue that needed to be determined was whether or not he left the bench illegally or not to engage Shaw. A potential 10-game suspension hung in the balance. After pleading his case to Brendan Shanahan and company, it was determined that Clowe would be sitting for two games.

Here's Shanahan explaining why:

From the NHL:

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Clowe will forfeit $39,189.18. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

Clowe was assessed a minor penalty for roughing and a game misconduct for leaving the bench on an illegal line change to start an altercation with 8.4 seconds left in regulation – an infraction that calls for an automatic 10-game suspension.

Upon further review of video of the incident and following a hearing conducted today to examine the incident, it was determined that Clowe, in fact, entered the ice on a legal line change. However, upon doing so, he skated directly to Shaw, who was not engaged physically with any other player. Clowe then grabbed Shaw and wrestled him to the ice.

Rule 70.2 states, in part: "A player who has entered play while play is in progress from his own players' bench…who starts an altercation may be subject to discipline in accordance with Rule 28 -- Supplementary Discipline."

The fact that Joe Pavelski was heading off on a line change helped shave games off a potential long-term suspension for Clowe, given that the league deemed it was a legal substitution. Clowe has already sat out one game after being suspended pending a hearing for Saturday's loss to the Dallas Stars and will sit out Tuesday's game against Colorado before being eligible to return.

Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

UPDATE: Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet writes that Pacioretty won't receive any supplemental discipline for the hit.

The New York Rangers not only lost to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night, but two of their blueliners left the game early, adding even more stress to their 8-7-2 start.

Late in the game, Dan Girardi took a P.K. Subban slap shot to the ankle and needed to be helped off the ice. Rangers head coach coach John Tortorella didn't update the media on Girardi's condition after the game, but according to TSN's Bob McKenzie X-rays were negative. But Tortorella did take issue with this Max Pacioretty hit on Ryan McDonagh midway through the second period, which knocked the defenseman from the game:

The NHL announced on Sunday morning that Pacioretty will have a phone hearing at 4 p.m. ET. The Canadiens forward was given a boarding minor, but could end up with more as the Department of Player Safety "will be examining boarding and/or charging infractions as the basis for potential Supplemental Discipline".

Tortorella, never one to be shy, asked the media postgame about Pacioretty leaving his feet to deliver the hit:

Watching the video, you see Pacioretty stop his stride as he approaches McDonagh, but the Rangers defenseman never makes a sudden turn toward the boards, his numbers are always facing the Habs forward. But Pacioretty driving his check (does he get his elbow up, too?) and not tying McDonagh up is likely what ups this to potential supplementary discipline.

Then there's also the possibility that this was potential retaliation for a hit by McDonagh on Pacioretty five minutes earlier, which CBC's Gary Galley referenced:

Pacioretty does have a history with the DOPS having been suspended three games last season for a hit to the head of Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang.

Will Pacioretty receive a Shanaban? If so, how many games?

Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

Getty ImagesWhen the jersey that Canadian hockey hero Paul Henderson wore during the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union sold for a record $1.2 million at auction in 2010, Mike Eruzione got an idea.

Since the 4-3 "Miracle on Ice" victory over the Soviets at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y., the equipment the American captain used had been sitting in a bag in his attic. It wasn't doing anyone any good up there, so Eruzione saw an opportunity to help out his family by auctioning his gear from those Games.

On Saturday in New York City, the jersey that Eruzione wore when he scored the game-winning goal against the Soviets -- along with the stick he used and other memorabilia from the Lake Placid Games -- was sold at auction, via Heritage Auctions.

The winning bid for the "Miracle" jersey was $550,000. Tacking on a buyer's premium, the final total was $657,250. The stick finished at $262,900 (including buyer's premium). Eruzione's jersey worn against Finland in the final game sold for $286,800.

“The ‘Miracle on Ice’ is the greatest American sports moment of the 20th century and a moment that transcended all geo-political boundaries,” said Chris Ivy, Director of Sports at Heritage Auctions. “Tonight we saw collectors show Mike Eruzione, and that entire team, how highly they think of him and of the things he achieved. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer, more giving person.”

Eruzione's "Miracle" gear isn't the first to hit the sports memorabilia auction scene. Ken Morrow's jersey worn during the game against the Soviets sold for over $104,000 last January. In Nov. 2010, via Heritage Auctions, Mark Wells' gold medal sold for over $310,000. Another Team USA gold from those Games was available via Heritage on Saturday night, but Steve Christoff's medal did not reach its reserved price of $350,000 and a private sale between the seller and a buyer will be attempted.

The one piece of "Miracle" memorabilia Eruzione declined to put on auction was his gold medal.

"The gold medal will never be sold as long as I'm alive,"Eruzione told ESPN's John Buccigross in December. "If something happens to me and my kids/grandkids want to do something with it, hopefully it's for the right reasons."

Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

Being the guy who sets up in front of a goaltenders' crease warrants some courage. There's the cross-checks, slashes and all-around abuse that comes with the role; just ask guys like Tomas Holmstrom, who made a career of it.

Ak Bars Kazan forward Alexei Tereshchenko found this out first hand on Friday during their KHL first round playoff series versus Neftekhimik.

Early in the second period, with the game still scoreless, Tereschenko set up in front of Neftekhimik goaltender Matt Dalton during a power play and was minding his own business when Dalton felt he needed to clear his line of sight:

For the slash to the jewels, Dalton was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct.

There's two thoughts here. First, one (like Mr. Dalton) might believe that Tereschenko made a meal out of the slash to help draw a penalty. On the other hand, those of us with the type of equipment that Dalton went after know that it's not the best area on the body to take a goalie stick to.

Ak Bars would win the game 3-0 to take a 2-0 lead in the series over Neftekhimik.

Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

Did you miss the ending of the ECHL game Friday night between the Florida Everblades and Evansville IceMen? If so, you missed a record-tying shootout. Just take a look at the box score:

ECHL

That's right, the teams needed until the twenty-first round to decide the 5-4 win for Evansville.

Florida had built up a 3-1 lead after the first period, but Evansville clawed back with three of their own in the second period to take a one goal advantage. Early in the third period, Everblades forward Mike Merrified tied the game with his second of the night, which would send the game into overtime and eventually the 42-player shootout where Andre Bouvet-Morrissette would end things in the 21st round.

The teams meet again Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET, where they probably hope to wrap things up sooner.

According to the ECHL, the last shootout that went 21 rounds happened on Oct. 16, 1992 when the Birmingham Bulls beat the Hampton Roads Admirals 7-6. In 2008, the Fresno Falcons and Phoenix RoadRunners reached 20 rounds before a winner was determined.

The longest shootout in NHL history came on Nov. 26, 2005 when the Marek Malik's trick shot in the 15th round gave the New York Rangers the win over the Washington Capitals.

Stick-tap Bob McKenzie

Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

APNo. 1 Star: Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks

A goal by Dale Weise midway through the third period was all the Canucks needed to shutout the Nashville Predators 1-0. Luongo made 23 saves for his 62nd career shutout and fifth win in six starts.

No. 2 Star: Brandon Saad, Chicago Blackhawks

As Brent Seabrook sat in the penalty box early in the third period, Saad came in on Brent Burns, wasn't challenged and netted the insurance tally to help the Blackhawks beat the San Jose Sharks 2-1 and set an NHL record to start a season with their 17th straight game with a point.

No. 3 Star: Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins bounced back from their loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night with a 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers. Fleury won his fourth straight start making 22 saves. He's now won seven of his last eight starts.

AP"That's what our whole team is about. We're not a team that relies on three or six guys. It's going to be a team effort every night. Some guys put the puck in the net one night and it's going to be picked up by other guys another night." - Barret Jackman, Jan. 31., via the Associated Press.

Two weeks ago things were chugging along as usual for the St. Louis Blues. When Barret Jackman championed the Blues' balanced contributions on Jan. 31, it came after a 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, improving St. Louis' record to 6-1-0. Rookie Vladimir Tarasenko was finding himself atop early Calder Trophy lists; Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott were again a strong tandem in the crease; Alex Pietrangelo and Kevin Shattenkirk were playing Norris Trophy level hockey out of the back. Everything was in alignment. Life was good.

After a disappointing second round sweep at the hands of the No. 8-seeded and eventual Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings, the Blues entered this season with a bitter taste in their mouths. Their 109-point season went to waste and head coach Ken Hitchcock was going to use that as motivation and force his players to prove that their turnaround was no fluke.

But when Halak was injured on Feb. 1 against the Detroit Red Wings, the Blues' equilibrium was thrown off and Elliott was given the reigns with no one next to him to offer a push. He and the Blues have faltered since. Five straight losses was cause enough for Captain Backes to unleash a wakeup call after Monday's 4-1 defeat to the Kings.

From Lou Korac of NHL.com:

"We've got too many guys out there looking at the stat sheet wondering how many goals and assists, cookies they've got rather than taking a hit to make a play and getting run over so we can get a puck out so that your teammates can have a 3-on-2," Backes said. "Or so you can block a shot or kill a penalty when you really need it so we can stay in a game. We just don't have that desperation, that accountability, that responsibility to each other.

"The talking's done. We've said everything that needs to be said, gone over game plans and talked about strategy and ideology. It's time to put the boots on and go do it or else pack your bags and go home because it's slowly slipping, but there's time left where we can right the ship and play our hockey. When we play our hockey, we love our chances against anyone."

That's the complete opposite of how Scott Nichol described the identity of the team before the season began. "[T]here’s no selfishness, nobody cares about individual stats."

The Blues currently have the No. 1 ranked power play in the NHL (34.8 percent), and over this losing stretch have played well, capitalizing at a 39 percent clip. But as that's been their strength, it's also what has carried them. Of St. Louis' 38 goals 15 have come with the man advantage. Just 18 via even strength. Their top five goal scorers -- Patrik Berglund, Chris Stewart, T.J. Oshie and David Perron -- have each tallied just once in five games, while Tarasenko hasn't scored since their win over Columbus.

If Backes is suggesting there are guys in the room who are looking at their stat sheets, many aren't going to find much on them at the moment.