Puck Daddy - NHL

Here are your Weekend 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.

Montreal Canadiens forward Tom Kostopoulos received a major for boarding last night, on a hit that will put Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Mike Van Ryn on the shelf for a month with multiple injuries. TSN reports that the NHL is going to look into the hit, and potential additional punishment. Take a look at the hit (video) and decide for yourself. Another nasty play by Andrei Kostitsyn on Luke Schenn had the Leafs angry after their 6-3 win. Violence aside, Toronto Star columnist Damien Cox said last night's tilt was "a game of blinding speed, terrific offensive imagination, heavy hitting and a tinge of bad blood."

• For some reason, Yahoo!'s box score has the Leafs winning 10-3 with five goals in the first period. [Yahoo! Sports]

• The two extremes of Larry Brooks in the NY Post: A sensible discussion of the New York Rangers' pursuit of a compensatory pick for the loss of Alexei Cherepanov, followed by a source-less rumor that the Leafs are trying to trade Jeff Finger. [NY Post]

• Jacques Lemaire laughs at the Vancouver media for not writing about the joy-killing Canucks' trap hockey. [Star Tribune]

• The Florida Panthers are "a mess" and Coach Peter DeBoer looks "more dejected by the day." Good thing we gave away those tickets yesterday ... [On Frozen Pond]

• A must-read column from Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe, in defense of marketing violence and fighting in the NHL. "The Lords of the Boards have a decision to make here in the US, one that the economic recession may finally force them to face. They can keep perpetrating NHL Lite, which is nothing other than a tricked-out and expensive version of US college hockey, right down to pulling out the red line. It sells OK in some US cities, and it plods along on national TV, registering minuscule numbers on Versus and NBC, just as it did on ESPN." Preach on, brother! [Boston Globe]

Marian Hossa discusses his departure from the Pittsburgh Penguins, as his former team comes to visit the Detroit Red Wings this week. "You can see the passion in that town. But on the other hand, when a person has a chance to make his own decision, I was looking for my own decision and I had to make a choice. There was nothing against the fans in Pittsburgh. Hopefully, they understand." (By the way: Live Blog on Tuesday night. Tell a friend.) [Post-Gazette, at bottom]

• The Washington Capitals are planning a video tribute to former goalie Olaf Kolzig when the Tampa Bay Lightning come to town on Monday. Coach Bruce Boudreau: "I hope if he's starting [the fans] give him the round of applause I think he deserves and the recognition he deserves." [Capitals Insider]

• The much-heralded John Tavares is now the No. 3 rated prospect for next year's draft, according to the chief scout for North American Central Scouting. [THN]

• Glenn Anderson and Igor Larionov, on the eve of their Hockey Hall of Fame inductions. Anderson's nickname was "Mork?" [Globe & Mail]

• Puck the Media celebrates Doc Emrick, who will also join the Hall of Fame this week. "There simply aren't many with the man's gift." For screaming "BIG DRIVE!" [Puck the Media]

• Bruce "Malkin to the Kings" Garrioch sees Kari Lehtonen, Ondrej Pavelec and Johan Hedberg sharing time with the Atlanta Thrashers, and assumes one will be traded. And yet the Devils aren't mentioned. Huh. [Ottawa Sun]

Los Angeles Kings blogger Matt Murray takes offense to The Fourth Period's choice of a Kings model for its Ice Girls calendar. "The best they could come up with is a model who looks like she's better equipped standing in front of a hopped-up Mazda with a bad dye job and a lackluster rack?" Yowzer. [Life in Hockeywood]

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Mike Commodore is still answering questions about making it rain on himself. [Sun Media]

• We've been negligent in linking to the awesomely weird Bacon Yada on Pension Plan Puppets. Hockey tribute videos shall never be the same. [PPP]

• Covered in Oil, the blog involved in the infamous dust-up with the Edmonton Oilers, sees another blogger go on an indefinite hiatus. Sad times for one of the first stars of the Oilogosphere. [Covered in Oil]

• Finally, The Sidney Crosby Show had this video of Tyler Kennedy getting cream-pied after the Penguins' shootout win against the Islanders.

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53 Comments

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  1. Byron H
    1. Posted by Byron H Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:56 pm EDT

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    You can clearly see Van Ryan look and see Kostopolous coming, and then you can watch as he does a last second juke back. That's what made it a hit from behind. If he had kept skating forward he wouldn't have gotten hurt. I never understand why no one notices those little last second turns that put a player in a position to be hurt.
  2. Jr.
    2. Posted by Jr. Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:36 pm EDT

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    Until bettman quits catering to the non hockey fan and banishes the instigator rule the severe lack of respect we have seen these past few years will continue to get worse....not better! Kostopoulis has been around the block way too long to deliver such a blatantly dirty hit but it is happening wayy too often. Elbows to head (Gary Roberts intentional shot to eliminate Franzen from last years finals and possibly end his career), last nights cheap shots (plural), Downine, Avery, Pronger, etc., guys that try hard to dirty up games. I guess someone will need to be permanently disabled or killed on the ice before the powers that be realize how important self policing has been. Too bad someone may die (and think of the damage that will do to our great game) before Buttman recognizes catering to the non fan is a dangerous and reckless thing to do!
  3. Death by Leafs
    3. Posted by Death by Leafs Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:16 pm EDT

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    Grabovski was also public enemy #1 for some reason. ive never seen saku koivu get dirty on a guy and then chirp him afterwards. and then sergei kostitsyn tried to run him for no reason...
    keep it up habs, and we'll be glad to beat you for the rest of the season.
  4. Jr.
    4. Posted by Jr. Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:36 pm EDT

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    Oh yea, I am with Matt Murray....that was the best model they could find in LA? Maybe they wanted a girl that represents the way they play most nights....UGLY! Next time make her wear a goalie mask and stuff her top with pucks!
  5. PB
    5. Posted by PB Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:23 pm EDT

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    "For some reason, Yahoo!'s box score has the Leafs winning 10-3 with five goals in the first period."
    the first 4 'goals' were actually shots on net... whoever was doing the input screwed it up and didn't fix it
  6. Fill
    6. Posted by Fill Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:59 pm EDT

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    At least the HNIC announcers were right when they said Kostopoulos knew what had happened after he boarded the guy, and he did indeed looked remorseful. It didn't last very long because some Colaiacovo guy came out of nowhere and tried to pound on him. Definitely worth a few games and some money laundered to the Players Emergency Fund, but I don't think Kostopolous meant to run him through the 2nd row behind the glass.
  7. sleza
    7. Posted by sleza Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:55 pm EDT

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    10-3 or 6-3, what's the difference? it's humiliating anyway
    even more humiliating is to lose 2-6 because some guy called radulov decided to make your defencemen look like retarded five year olds who are trying to learn to skate
  8. carl_vs_mastershake
    8. Posted by carl_vs_mastershake Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    A lesson in creative editing. "You can see the passion FOR MUSTACHES in that town. But on the other hand, when a person has a chance to make his own decision, I was looking for my own decision and I had to make a choice ABOUT GROWING A MUSTACHE. There was nothing against the fans in, THE MUSTACHE CAPITAL OF THE U.S., Pittsburgh. Hopefully, they understand I DON'T WANT A MUSTACHE." (By the way: Live Blog on Tuesday night. Tell a friend OR YOU COULD WATCH LIVE ACTION INSTEAD.)
  9. 5 4 fighting
    9. Posted by 5 4 fighting Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:01 pm EDT

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    Well BryonH if you really look closely Kostopoulous already had him lined up on Van Ryn"s left shoulder-Van Ryn tried to deke him going left while he made a turn to the right(happens all the time) most trailing players will go left to avoid cleaning someones clock unless someone is just a dirty and worthless player like Hollweg or Kostopoulous- its always the fringe (really shouldn't be in the NHL) player doing the hit. But your right-blame it on the hittee instead of the hitter.Clown
  10. gcat
    10. Posted by gcat Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:24 pm EDT

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    That's a hit that would make Ryan Hollweg proud
  11. Number31
    11. Posted by Number31 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    And just how is Kostopoulos knows for running guys like Hollweg when the most he does that earns him penalty minutes is lose fights?
  12. The Great One
    12. Posted by The Great One Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

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    Van Ryn clearly turns at the last second. It's hit own fault. I hate saying it because I'm a Van Ryn fan and a Hab hater.
  13. Runnin up on ya !
    13. Posted by Runnin up on ya ! Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:47 pm EDT

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    larry brooks is such a dope. why would the devils trade for khabibulin? last time i checked kevin weeks was no slouch in goal. and clemmenson is a more than servisable backup for the time being.
  14. Costa T
    14. Posted by Costa T Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    On that screwed-up Yahoo boxscore: They screw up the boxes A LOT, especially on the weekend shifts. I don't know if those live stats are fed from AP or some other source, or if it's indeed someone at Y! Sports, but it's frustrating. Someone should be fired -- or at least lose his/her Web privileges...
  15. 5 4 fighting
    15. Posted by 5 4 fighting Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:01 pm EDT

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    @The Great One how does he turn? going face first towards the boards to retrieve the puck and gets creamed-I am not a fan of either team-all I know is that if Kostopoulous is in his car and he hits your car and he gives you the same explanation your giving he gets laughed out of court and the cop probably gives him a ticket at the scene.
    @31 I guess he is known by the latest video.
  16. MikeS
    16. Posted by MikeS Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:20 pm EDT

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    Van Ryn takes a look to see how much time he has to play the puck, which is the correct play for a defenseman in that position. A player does not expect to be driven into the boards from behind like that. Kostopoulous is clearly at fault. That's why he got the boot and the play is being reviewed by the league.
  17. William M
    17. Posted by William M Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:46 pm EDT

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    Leaves are always whiners and babys to try and make people forget they play college hockey
  18. b_jack_city
    18. Posted by b_jack_city Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:16 pm EDT

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    Kudos for Kennedy finishing the interview with a face full of shaving cream. Great stuff.
  19. pensbaby71
    19. Posted by pensbaby71 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:08 pm EDT

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    Aw TK! : ]
    Let's go Pens!
  20. Yvan L
    20. Posted by Yvan L Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:39 pm EDT

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    @Death by Laffs : lol, you really think the Leafs are going to win the rest of the games against the Habs this year?
    I really love the naiveté of Leafs fans.
  21. Derek
    21. Posted by Derek Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:41 pm EDT

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    Buddy, you obviously don't know what you're talking about..he had his back to him all the way and the idiot rammed him from behind. He should get 10+ games.
  22. Tom
    22. Posted by Tom Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

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    yeah well, Yvan L, everybody thought we would suck this season and hey, we've been playing better then most of the teams out there, and last night we certainly played better then the habs.
  23. RickB
    23. Posted by RickB Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:40 pm EDT

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    I see what Matt Murray and Jr. mean about that model. I mean, c'mon - that nail polish does not come close to matching her suit!
  24. sportslinepr...
    24. Posted by sportslinepr... Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:37 pm EDT

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    This is typical play form the Habs and Flyers. Hits from behind. Until the NHL starts giving out major suspentions this will go on. Dmen facing this risk should turn and let them eat lumber and see how they like that.
    AKA Captain Mark
  25. A Yahoo! User
    25. Posted by A Yahoo! User Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:38 pm EDT

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    my comment is to byron h. you clearly must be a canadiens fan or some how related to him(kotsopoulis).even if van ryn did see him coming kots should not have tried to intentionaly hit him like that. To all of the rest of the montreal fans we in toronto know that we will not win the cup this year so keep your little mindless comments to yourself montreal is a good enough team that they dont have to play that dirty. they have one of the toughest players in the league that is not a cheap hitting player in laroucque montreal will not win the cup this year Detroit is the winner

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