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    Sean Leahy

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    • Columnist: Matt Cooke confronted me about my manhood

      The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Ottawa Senators 3-1 on "Matt Cooke Hate Fest" night at ScotiaBank Place. No, Cooke did not have to drop his gloves and get beat up as revenge for his hit on Erik Karlsson in February that left the Senators defenseman with an injured Achilles. Cooke did have to take many a question about the incident before and after the game.

      He didn't get one from Don Brennan, a writer for the Ottawa Sun. He's a troll. (Recall what he wrote about Sidney Crosby before the 2008 playoffs.) He was back at it again Sunday going after Cooke and then following Monday's game, Brennan wrote a column with this as the headline:

      Ottawa Sun

      Yes, that's a real headline on a real newspaper website in 2013. Yes, it's the Sun, but still...

      And no, Brennan didn't visit the Penguins locker room on Monday bearing gifts, but he goes on to tell a tale about encountering Cooke after the post-morning skate media availability.

      From the Sun:

      After listening to Cooke answer questions about the Feb. 13 incident in which his skate sliced 70% of the way through Erik Karlsson's Achilles tendon, I went to speak with other players in the room about different matters. Like every other reporter there. On the way out, I found Cooke waiting to have a word in private with me.

      He wanted to tell me I have no balls. At first I think he said "small balls." But by the time he had finished, and knew Penguins GM Ray Shero was listening, he had decided I had none. Oh, and I believe he also mumbled something about me having no penis before disappearing into the players-only room, which I found interesting.

      I will not take this opportunity to, ahem, brag about my manhood.

      Brennan goes on to write that he told Cooke he had no questions for him because one he had in mind had been already asked.

      Cooke was baited a few times during the game by Chris Neil, but he didn't accept. Early on, he ended up drawing a penalty on rookie Eric Gryba. Later, making things further frustrating for the Senators, Cooke won a puck battle behind the Ottawa net and fed Tyler Kennedy for the insurance goal to give the Penguins a 3-1 lead.

      This is how it will be for Matt Cooke for the rest of his career. Despite changing his ways thanks in part to some personal strife, his past will continue to haunt him and he'll never get a fair shake. To his credit, he's been able to ignore the attention and his game has benefited from it, as seen Monday night.

      Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

      Read More »from Columnist: Matt Cooke confronted me about my manhood
    • Jersey Fouls is our ongoing exploration of the rules and etiquette for proper hockey jersey creation and exhibition. If you spot what you think may be a foul in your arena, email a photo to us at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com for inclusion in future installment.

      Hockey-themed weddings aren't anything new. Bridal parties decked out in hockey jerseys; matrimonial face-offs; Rene Rancourt singing the national anthem at a reception. Some creative stuff has been done.

      Then there's these two Chicago Blackhawks fans:

      Pinterest

      This photo was posted on Pinterest Sunday and little information about the couple is available at the moment, except that they got very cute when it came time to walk down the aisle. Be honest: how many times have you used Johnny Oduya's surname as part of a pun?

      When the couple were asked that all-important question at the end of the ceremony, did they just turn around?

      UPDATE: Here's the bride, Gina, with details:

      "It was Saturday, April 20th in Bloomingdale, IL. I would love to say we actually got married in the jerseys, but we didn't. We had a regular ceremony but then surprised everyone at the reception when we played Chelsea Dagger. This pic was taken once the song was over on the dancefloor and everyone wanted us to stop and pose. Everyone loved it. We loved it! We're die hard Blackhawks fans showing our support and having a little fun with it. We hope everyone thinks it was as fun and creative as we did!"

      Stick-tap Pinterest via Rachel G

      Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

      Read More »from Jersey Fouls Extra: Johnny Oduya inspires Blackhawks’ fans wedding attire
    • 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 ImagesLadies...

      Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins at Ottawa Senators, 7:30 p.m. ET. Matt Cooke plays in Ottawa where there still are bitter feelings toward him after Erik Karlsson's February injury. Grudges aside, the Senators have yet to lock up a playoff spot and two points could secure their hopes of playing beyond next weekend. Tomas Vokoun will be in net for Pittsburgh as Marc-Andre Fleury and his wife prepare to welcome their first child. Kris Letang is out with food poisoning. Guillaume Latendresse is in for the Senators.

      Preview: Phoenix Coyotes at Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. ET. The Coyotes still have hopes of making the playoffs, but with four games to go and five points out of the No. 8 seed, those hopes are slim. Detroit is in a similar boat and their chances are quickly fading. With Columbus' win over San Jose Sunday night, the Red Wings are three points behind the No. 8 spot with four to go. Not helping is the fact that they've only won one of their last six games.

      Preview: Chicago Blackhawks at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m. ET. They're comfortably in the playoffs and have already sewn up the Western Conference's No. 1 seed, but on Monday night the Blackhawks can also add a trophy to their mantle. A win over the Canucks, coupled with a Penguins loss in regulation to the Senators would give Chicago their first Presidents' Trophy since the 1990-91 season. The Canucks have something on the line, too, as a point will give them the Northwest Division title.

      Check out previews and updated scores for all of today's games on the Y! Sports NHL scores and scheds page. For tonight's starting goalies, check out Goalie Post.

      Read More »from Matt Cooke visits Ottawa; Blackhawks try for Presidents’ Trophy (Puck Previews)
    • Matt Cooke Hate Fest time in Ottawa

      @RedScarfUnion“I’ve committed to not saying anything about it until we’ve completed everything we need to do and speak to the League about it … But it will take a few months before anything comes out.”

      Those were Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk’s words during Friday’s “Skate for Kids” event in regards to his “investigation” into the February collision between Erik Karlsson and Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke that left the defenseman with an injured Achilles that was believed to have ended his season. Karlsson resumed skating this week and the chances he miraculously returns to the Senators’ lineup for the playoffs are high.

      Two months have passed and the Senators and their fans have not forgotten what happened. Was it intentional? Was it an accident? The answer will depend on what city you’re from and your opinion of Matt Cooke.

      The Senators host the Penguins Monday night and the fans that will pack ScotiaBank Place are eager to give Cooke an earful, while hoping their players will seek retribution for injuring their young star.

      Read More »from Matt Cooke Hate Fest time in Ottawa
    • Despite all NHL rinks being the same size, some have a home-ice advantage: the boards. You see it all the time, especially at Joe Louis Arena, where the Red Wings know exactly how to work the boards to their favor and get the right bounces.

      And sometimes the home team doesn’t need to do anything to be on the fortunate side of a lucky board bounce. Sometimes they can just sit back and watch the visiting find that right spot and see the puck go into their own net. Wait, what?

      That’s what happened in the opening game of the MHL’s (KHL’s major junior league) Kharlamov Cup between Spartak and Omsk:

      You have to feel bad for Spartak defenseman Daniil Arefyev. He helps provide some pressure to force a turnover and then when he tries to wing the puck around to the other side of the ice, the puck bounces around like Plinko chip and eventually ends up in Spartak’s net.

      Read More »from Evil boards lead to embarrassing own-goal in Russia junior league (Video)
    • Flames fans say to goodbye to Miikka Kiprusoff (Video)

      Getty ImagesThe Calgary Flames played their final home game of the 2013 NHL season Friday night, but it was more than your typical finale. In net for likely the final time in front of the ScotiaBank Saddledome faithful was Miikka Kiprusoff, whose future is up in the air despite having another year left on his contract.

      Given how much love there is in Calgary for Kipper, he was more than likely going to be the honorary No. 1 star against the Anaheim Ducks, no matter the result; except that the 36-year old netminder earned the honor with a 32-save performance in a 3-1 win.

      As time wound down in the third period, the crowd chanted KIP-PER! KIP-PER! as they said goodbye to their last remaining "face of the franchise", now that Jarome Iginla is a Pittsburgh Penguin:

      "It was an unbelievable feeling," said Kiprusoff after improving upon his franchise record with his 305th win as a Flame.

      Not only a crowd favorite, Kiprusoff is also beloved inside the Flames' locker room. "They won't let me go," he said when asked if his teammates have been trying to convince him to come back next season.

      "Let's hope it's not his last one," said Brian McGrattan, who's goal early in the third period gave the Flames a 2-0 lead. "He's been the heart and soul of this team for many years. I think most of us had goosebumps on the bench. Let's hope he's back."

      Kiprusoff hasn't confirmed his future plans, saying he'll evaluate things after the season; but his reaction to the cheers from Flames fans was a pretty good indication he will hang them up after a 12-year NHL career.

      "If you look at other Canadian cities, it can be tough times for goalies," said Kiprusoff.

      "The crowd can be tough on them. I've been lucky. I have a feeling always they're behind me."

      Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

      Read More »from Flames fans say to goodbye to Miikka Kiprusoff (Video)
    • Bruins’ game vs. Penguins postponed due to Boston police manhunt

      APAs the search continues for one the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, the Boston Bruins/Pittsburgh Penguins game scheduled for Friday night has been postponed, the NHL announced.

      At 3 p.m. ET, it was announced that the Boston Red Sox game against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park would be postponed. Not long after that, the NHL confirmed Bruins/Penguins would also not be played Friday.

      From the NHL:

      The game has been tentatively rescheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, April 20, at TD Garden beginning at 12:30 p.m., Eastern time. The game's status will be formalized no later than 8:30 a.m.

      The game between the Penguins and Buffalo Sabres, scheduled for Saturday night in Pittsburgh, has been moved to Tuesday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m., ET.

      (UPDATE: With the suspect now in custody, the NHL announced that the game will be played Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET.)

      Both teams' morning skates had been canceled early Friday as the city went into an unprecedented lockdown.

      This is the second Bruins game to be affected by the tragic events in Boston. Their game originally scheduled for last Tuesday vs the Ottawa Senators was postponed and is now set for April 28, the day after the NHL's regular season was originally set to end.

      Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

      Read More »from Bruins’ game vs. Penguins postponed due to Boston police manhunt
    • Poor Jack Johnson. First, he gets traded from the Los Angeles Kings to the Columbus Blue Jackets last season and then has to watch his former teammates go on and win the Stanley Cup.

      Then, in his return to Los Angeles for the first time on Thursday night, he has the opportunity to meet legendary baseball manager Tommy Lasorda during the ceremonial puck drop ... and gets snubbed for the handshake:

      Poor Johnson didn't even get a shake from Kings captain Dustin Brown.

      Oh, and the Kings would win 2-1.

      It was Los Angeles Dodgers Pride Night at Staples center, which is why the baseball Hall of Famer was in attendance and the Kings wore Dodgers-themed jerseys in warmups that will be auctioned off for charity.

      Unknown to the Blue Jackets defenseman, it was also "Ignore Jack Johnson Night."

      The 85-year old Lasorda later explained to FS West's Patrick O'Neal, "You do not talk to the opposition."

      Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

      Read More »from Tommy Lasorda snubs Jack Johnson during LA Kings’ puck drop vs. Columbus (Video)
    • APNo. 1 Star: Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks

      Couture's 4-point night led the way as the Sharks defeated the Minnesota Wild 6-1. Martin Havlat scored twice and added an assist against his former team and goaltender Antti Niemi made 27 saves. The Sharks have won three in a row and are tied with the Kings for the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. They're also 16-1-5 at HP Pavilion this year. One of Couture's assists came on a Havlat goal thanks to the young forwards' leaping abilities:

      No. 2 Star: John Tavares, New York Islanders

      Continuing to help the Islanders make a playoff push, while at the same time making a case for Hart Trophy consideration, Tavares scored twice and assisted on another as New York downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3. After finding themselves down 2-0 early in the game, the Islanders responded with five straight to move within two points of the Leafs for the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. Brad Boyes chipped in three points, while Lubomir Visnovsky and Matt Moulson each recorded two.

      No. 3 Star: Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils

      The Devils netminder earned his 121st career shutout with a 23-save performance during a 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Ryan Carter, Matt D'Agostini and Adam Henrique all scored for New Jersey. The victory was the 667th of Brodeur's career and snapped the Devils' 10-game winless streak.

      Read More »from NHL Three Stars: Couture’s 4-point night; Brodeur records 121st shutout
    • Maple Leafs host Islanders; Slovakian lacrosse goal (Puck Previews)

      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

      There's so much going on in this photo.

      Preview: New York Islanders at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET. OK, let's try this again: Here go the Maple Leafs attempting for a second game in a row to clinch a playoff berth. After failing to do so on Tuesday, they'll look to accomplish the feat against an Islander team coming into Thursday night 7-1-2 in their last 10 and fighting for a playoff spot of their own. The Leafs need to beat the Islanders in regulation or overtime and hope the Carolina Hurricanes can dispatch the Winnipeg Jets. Should they need a shootout, the Canes must beat the Jets in regulation.

      Preview: Vancouver Canucks at Dallas Stars, 8:30 p.m. ET. The Stars' loss to the Blackhawks on Monday night set them back four points of the eighth spot in the Western Conference's No. 8 seed. After winning five in a row, Dallas can't afford another loss while trying to catch the Red Wings and Blue Jackets. Kari Lehtonen will return in goal for the Stars, while Cory Schneider gets the nod in goal for Vancouver.

      Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m. ET. The Kings will welcome Matt Greene back to the lineup Thursday night after the defenseman injured his back on Jan. 19. Columbus will attempt to win their sixth in a row, which would match a team record set in 2006. For their sake, they'd love to do so in regulation or overtime, so as to now allow former GM Scott Howson's rule change to hurt them in the end.

      Check out previews and updated scores for all of today's games on the Y! Sports NHL scores and scheds page. For tonight's starting goalies, check out Goalie Post.

      Evening Reading

      • Here's today's Marek Vs. Wyshynski podcast featuring Andrew Ference of the Boston Bruins.

      • Remember the young San Jose Sharks fan whose YouTube video of him crying after the Ryane Clowe trade went viral? Well, the Sharks gave him a tour of their locker room today and the kid wondered why Dan Boyle hadn't won a Stanley Cup with them yet. [Mercury News]

      • We've discovered the reason for brain injuries in hockey: the media! [LA Times]

      • Finally, here's Jan Sykora pulling off the lacrosse move for Slovakia against the Czech Republic during a tuneup for the World Championships:

      Puck Daddy Reader Comment of the Day: "CL" on a potential color scheme change for the Islanders when they move to Brooklyn:

      "The current jerseys are simple, classic, and great to look at. Don't change a thing."

      Yup.

      Bold Prediction: Islanders delay the playoff celebrations in Toronto with a 3-2 win.

      Read More »from Maple Leafs host Islanders; Slovakian lacrosse goal (Puck Previews)

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