Alex Ovechkin stays optimistic; Blackhawks vs. Sharks; struggling NHL players (Puck Headlines)
Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.
• “This is just like that time I appeared as a Superhero on Petr Mrazek’s Grand Rapids Griffins’’ mask …” [DAVEART]
• Alex Ovechkin, feeling optimistic about his offensive game: “Last two games, last three games, I have chances. I have opportunities, especially against Pittsburgh. I feel like I have really good chances to score. Sometimes I have to be more concentrate on the puck … A couple times the rebound right there and my stick was high.” [WaPo]
• The Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals rivalry is not the ratings engine it used to be. [SB Nation]
• Pavel Datsyuk’s suing someone because his intellectual property has been violated. Get your dirty hands off his dream. [Malik Report]
• Jim Rutherford explains how Alex Semin opens up Eric Staal’s game: “They’re watching Semin, which opens [the ice] up a little more for Eric. He’s such a talented player, he can do whatever he wants, quite frankly. If he’s determined to score a goal, he’s gonna get his chances. If he’s going to play a two-way game, he can play it. He can kill penalties, play the power play. He’s been every bit as good as I hoped he’d be.” [CBC]
• Is there a bigger surprise among goal-less players than Mike Cammalleri? [National Post]
• Does Jack Johnson rock the Michigan pride in Buckeyes country? “I’ve got Michigan license plates. I’ll hang my Michigan flag on Football Saturdays. I actually grew up a big Andy Katzenmoyer fan, who was a middle linebacker for Ohio State. I’ve got a huge amount of respect for Ohio State. Everyone’s treated me better than I could’ve asked for.” [LA Kings Insider]
• David Backes on adjusting his style in the “new” NHL with regard to hitting: “I've earned some rope, if you will, to go out there and play hard, play within the rules, and these hits to the head, that is the kind of ban that should be there. There are a lot of needless hits to the head when you're getting concussions and lasting effects that can really hurt a guy long term. For me, as a taller guy, I try to get down, stay compact, hit guys shoulder-to-shoulder. If there are bruised ribs, that's just part of the game. But trying to give a guy a concussion that could potentially affect his quality of life down the road? No, I want no part of that." [NHL.com]
• Matt Calvert is back for the Blue Jackets. [CP]
• Who is the Philadelphia Flyers’ best player? That would be Ilya Bryzgalov, according to Claude Giroux. [Philly.com]
• No Daniel Paille or Shawn Thornton against the Montreal Canadiens for the Boston Bruins. [Bruins Blog]
• Mike Yeo is hoping that demoting big names to the Minnesota Wild’s fourth line gets them going: "I haven't made a big deal talking about it in front of the group, but certainly you'd want to read between the lines. We're committed to winning hockey games and putting the best product on the ice, and we'll do whatever we have to." [Pioneer Press]
• “A Notre Dame hockey player is under arrest after an incident at a bar in South Bend. Junior Jared Beers reportedly was involved in an incident with an employee at Brothers Bar and Grill on Eddy Street. Police say Beers refused to leave when asked and attacked a woman that works at the restaurant.” [Fox 28]
• The Colorado Avalanche have claimed right winger Aaron Palushaj off waivers from the Montreal Canadiens. [CP]
• Finally, here’s Barry Melrose breaking down the San Jose Sharks vs. the Chicago Blackhawks tonight:
