Puck Daddy - NHL

Here are your Evening 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.

Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. EDT; TV: VS., CBC). The 2007-08 Stanley Cup banner will be presented to Nicklas Lidstrom by, like, 1,000 people and then raised to the rafters of the Joe, which will surely give Johan Franzen another reason to show us his "oh" face. PPP has the Leafs-centric game preview; Bruce MacLeod had an interesting piece today about the Red Wings' power-play. We'd really like to hear something from "Pyromania" from Def Leppard at Face-Off Rocks tonight.

• And the Marian Hossa SI-cover jinx discussion begins. [Snapshots]

• Among the opening night live-bloggers: Melt Your Face Off, Abel To Yzerman and Steve Lepore. 

• But if you're watching on Versus, why not participate in Barry Melrose Rocks' special drinking game for this evening? For example, take a drink "when the Red Wings score. No. Kidding. I don't want to kill you." [BMR]

Preview: Boston Bruins at Colorado Avalanche (10 p.m. EDT; TV: VS.). The Tony Granato Era begins ... well, again for the Avs. Mile High Hockey provides the Colorado context, exhibiting some jersey envy while looking forward to what a Ryan Smyth/Paul Stastny/Milan Hejduk line can do. Hub Hockey has the Bruins' lines, including Michael Ryder skating with Marc Savard. If Ryder's going to get his career rolling again, that's a good start.

• The future Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens will be missing Georges Laraque Christopher Higgins and Francis Bouillon when they open up their season against Buffalo, all due to injuries. [THN]

• The Pittsburgh Penguins acquire Mike Zigomanis from the Phoenix Coyotes. Just in case you need another "Z" for your NHL alphabet drinking game. It's the "I's" that usually kills us. Well, and the "X's." [Penguins]

• The Penguins will not have a formal banner raising for their home opener. Great move: There are no second places; you either win or you lose. [Confluence of the Three Rivers]

• McErlain on Sarah Palin. Not literally. [FanHouse]

Matt Murley, a high-scoring forward for the Albany River Rats, quit the team for Russia. Despite having a valid contract with the Carolina Hurricanes organization. Radulov, Part Deux! [Times Union]

Ondrej Pavelec stopped being a child and has reported to the AHL for the Atlanta Thrashers. [Custance]

Preview: Anaheim Ducks at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. EDT; TV: FSPT). The battle for the Pacific begins! Of course there's only one place to turn for a preview: Battle of California, as Sleek and Mike Chen reveal their inner-most fears about each others' teams. Chen may be the first man to admit to being afraid of Brendan Morrison, in any context.

Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings, when faced with the inevitable, "Hey, people think you guys are going to suck" question: "People can think what they want." [Inside the Kings]

• Sadly, the Jeff Friesen comeback has come to an end in San Jose. [Two for Elbowing]

Preview: Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks (10:30 p.m. EDT; TV: CBC). Todd Bertuzzi once again returns to Vancouver, skating with the Flames for what has to be last chance No. 3. The boys at the Kurtenblog will be doing a live blog of all the action. Make sure to stop by and say hello when either Kesler or Burrows engage in tomfoolery. 

• Finally, before we get this year going, here are the top goals of the 2007-08 season. Montage!

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25 Comments

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  1. knucklehead
    1. Posted by knucklehead Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    Nice job Mule!
  2. Wingsfan2520
    2. Posted by Wingsfan2520 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:47 pm EDT

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    Why Def Leppard? I really think the NHL is trying to kill itself.
    No wait... This was all Hossa's doing!!!
  3. Wingsfan2520
    3. Posted by Wingsfan2520 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:47 pm EDT

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    why def leppard? i really think the nhl is trying to kill itself.
    no wait... this was all hossa's doing!!!
  4. Bubbabanjo
    4. Posted by Bubbabanjo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    Is that Franzens old lady....niiiiiicccccccceeeee my brutha!
    Wyshynski hot babes never stink!! Nice job.
  5. Enemy Of Perfection
    5. Posted by Enemy Of Perfection Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:54 pm EDT

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    Seriously. Seriously. Seriously. This applies to nothing in the above posting. But I was in the middle of saying something when Carrie Milbank came on and made me cringe. On mute, hot. Talking, not so much. Not cause shes dumb or anything. In fact I blame it on the NHL. Can they PLEASE get a little more chessey with their face off rocks bull [profane]. Atlantis Morristee or however the hell you spell her name seemed so thrilled and I just felt plain bad for Milbank. I may be making no sense but the Wings just lost and I am sickened by the NHL and their Marketing. Its very College A/V clubish. Its corny, stupid and appeals to WHO? Candians are watching on CBC, Americans need violence or sex. Or both. I hate the NHL right now, for making me watch this. And yes. They made me. !#@#ers
  6. Joe S
    6. Posted by Joe S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:16 pm EDT

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    @ Garrett B.
    I always thought it was just a team problem that Paul Steigerwald broadcasts Pens games like he's addressing an audience of first graders, but it is a league wide problem.
    Sometimes NHL = Imagination Land
  7. Almost Lewboski
    7. Posted by Almost Lewboski Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:46 pm EDT

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    Way to go Detroit, raise the banner, turn over the puck 19 times and lose. Toskala owns the Wings!
  8. Che for Prez
    8. Posted by Che for Prez Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:34 pm EDT

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    leafs beat the defending champs? hmmm....
  9. Max Hunter
    9. Posted by Max Hunter Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:50 pm EDT

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    OH MAN WHO JUST SAW JOE ELLIOT PUT THE CUP DOWN UPSIDE DOWN????!!!!!
    On man that was the most Spinal Tap moment I've seen in ages!!! *LOL*
    Max
  10. Max Hunter
    10. Posted by Max Hunter Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:50 pm EDT

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    and then he's like -What do I know about hockey, I'm English! F***kin' CLASSIC!!!!
  11. powerhouse
    11. Posted by powerhouse Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    wings lose opener, oh how i love it so. gp toronto, yaaaaaaaay! beat the mighty goliath!!!yaaaay!
  12. Cookie
    12. Posted by Cookie Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

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    Lol, and here I thought the Laughs were going to get Tavares this year XD
  13. mr bbb
    13. Posted by mr bbb Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:06 pm EDT

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    I love it. The Wings lose on opening night to the so called worst team in the league.
  14. billywa
    14. Posted by billywa Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    Let's see, we want to attract that desired male, 25-demographic in the U.S., right? Then by all means, let's hire a band that's 20 years past their prime to tell the whole world (or at least that miniscule percentage who can actually get Versus) that "DUUUUUUUDDDDE! THE NHL ROCKS!" Oh yea, this will have them turning off that next UFC PPV....
  15. INeedALover
    15. Posted by INeedALover Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:57 pm EDT

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    peppy
    It doesn't matter much if you win the first game of the season. It only matters most if you win the LAST game of the season. I don't think Toronto has had a chance in many many years to do that.
  16. ziggyny
    16. Posted by ziggyny Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:00 pm EDT

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    You know, Detroit lost to Toronto last year as well, and it worked out pretty well for them in the long run...
  17. Zipdryve
    17. Posted by Zipdryve Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:01 pm EDT

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    You want to make the statement that the NHL rocks, then get past that old arena rock stuff and feature Killswitch Engage & All That Remains. You can even through in Shadows Fall! That's just scraping the surface of the great bands out today! Then they could freshen up the tag and say the NHL IS METAL! Raise your horns & drop the puck!
  18. d0M #39
    18. Posted by d0M #39 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:06 pm EDT

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    Yeah wow the Wings lost ONE game, the first one of the season...the Wings will be fine...but oh my gosh the Ducks lost to San Jose...the Ducks are done along with the Avs...please give me a break with that [profane]t...Wings will be right there while the Leafs are dead...i would look in to this if i were hockey fans...
    GO WINGS
  19. N. Y. NIGHTMARE
    19. Posted by N. Y. NIGHTMARE Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:06 pm EDT

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    franzen is a extremely pasty white man off the ice, Wysh is it ok for him to be in the sunlight like that?? his girl has some saggy bags, but god bless.
  20. Brian S (brianguy)
    20. Posted by Brian S (brianguy) Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    Kopi rules... he is one bad "A"
    by the way, the Kings will surprise a lot of people this season... they'll still fade and not make the playoffs without any true #1, and there will be some growing pains, but boy it'll be a fun ride to say the least.
  21. Brian S (brianguy)
    21. Posted by Brian S (brianguy) Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    I agree Franzen can do better, she's a bit thick around the middle. I mean even if you're "just" Johan Franzen, you're still Johan Franzen. but God Bless him for sticking with what got him there. and if those are artificial funbags, my are they low. I guess that's what cheap Swedish plastic surgery will do for you?
  22. Brian S (brianguy)
    22. Posted by Brian S (brianguy) Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    p.s. DUCKS SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    (there, I spared Red Wings fans for once)
  23. puck it dano
    23. Posted by puck it dano Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm EDT

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    Yeah, the SI Hossa cover was nice. Too bad "See Manny Run" was what we got on the left coast.....
  24. riverdragon37
    24. Posted by riverdragon37 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:42 pm EDT

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    zipdryve... Amen brother!!... Put a bit of Iced Earth in there.... and for our European contigents league wide, some Tristania and Nightwish...
  25. Bubbabanjo
    25. Posted by Bubbabanjo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    That Mike Lange does not announce Pens games is a travesty. The man is the Pens. FOX I hate you even more you scum!
    Wyshynski Fox Sports stinks forever!

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