Kukla's Korner

What can Brown do for you?

Blog: On the Forecheck By Forechecker

01/05/09 at 05:14 PM ET | Comments (0)

Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings is starting to pull away from the field in the latest NHL Penalty Plus/Minus update, pushing his total this week to +27.  Calgary’s Jarome Iginla and Brown’s teammate Patrick O’Sullivan trail at +19.  If you’re looking to back up that “Iginla for the Lady Byng” argument, you could point out that despite drawing 26 fouls from opposing players, Iginla has only taken 7 penalties himself, keeping his cool while taking shots from opponents.  That sure sounds like “the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability”, which are the criteria for the annual award.

For the complete listing, consult the Google Spreadsheet herein…

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Filed in: NHL Statistical Analysis | On the Forecheck | Permalink
  Tags: dustin+brown, jarome+iginla,

Here’s your Penguins trade:  T.J. Kemp to Montreal for 2010 7th round pick

Blog: The Confluence By Tony F

01/05/09 at 05:13 PM ET | Comments (1)

From the Penguins:

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS TRADE T.J. KEMP TO MONTREAL IN EXCHANGE FOR CONDITIONAL 2010 DRAFT PICK

The Pittsburgh Penguins have traded defenseman T.J. Kemp to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a conditional seventh round draft pick in the 2010 Entry Draft, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero.

Kemp, 27, has played 22 games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL) this season.  He has posted nine points (one goal, eight assists) along with 22 penalty minutes.

The 5-11, 197-pound defenseman has split the past four seasons between the Peoria Rivermen, Iowa Stars, Milwaukee Admirals, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Manchester Monarchs, Springfield Falcons and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL.  Kemp has appeared in 174 career games in the AHL, registering 93 points (14 goals, 79 assists) and 126 penalty minutes.

The native of Pickering, Ontario signed with Pittsburgh as a free agent on July 8, 2008.

Filed in: | The Confluence | Permalink
  Tags: Montreal+Canadiens, NHL-Hockey, Pittsburgh+Penguins,

Sundin Commits to Getting on a Plane

Blog: Canucks and Beyond By Alanah McGinley

01/05/09 at 04:48 PM ET | Comments (0)

From Brad Ziemer at the Vancouver Sun:

Mats Sundin will travel to Edmonton with the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, but won’t decide until after Wednesday morning’s game-day skate whether he will play that night against the Oilers.

Sundin participated in his first full practice with the Canucks late this morning and will work out with the team again Tuesday before travelling with the Canucks later in the day to the Alberta capital.

Another step closer to actually playing hockey game this season *knock on wood*.

And in goalie-related news, C. Sanford is ready for bench/net duty, J. LaBraBra is holding up nicely, and C. Schneider has been sent back down to Manitoba. (Although despite all this fairly good news, R. Luongo’s photo has been spotted on milk cartons throughout the lower mainland with the message: “Have You Seen This Goalie? Please call 1-888-HURRYTHEHELLUP”).

If all that news isn’t exciting enough, take a tour of the Canucks locker room, lounge and equipment area. Video below:

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Filed in: vancouver canucks | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
  Tags: cory+schneider, curtis+sanford, jason+labarbera, mats+sundin, roberto+luongo,

Update:  Penguins/Rangers preview - 1/5; Kennedy to top line, Satan to fourth line

Blog: The Confluence By Tony F

01/05/09 at 03:33 PM ET | Comments (0)

Update:  Tyler Kennedy will skate on the first line with Sidney Crosby and Pascal Dupuis. The second line will have Ruslan Fedotenko, Evgeni Malkin and Petr Sykora.  The third line will have Matt Cooke, Jordan Staal and Maxime Talbot.  Miroslav Satan, Dustin Jeffrey and Eric Godard will skate together on the fourth line

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Penguins at Rangers, 7PM ET, Madison Square Garden

Season records: 

Penguins, 19-16-4, 42 pts, 9th in Eastern Conference
Rangers, 23-14-3, 49 pts, T-5th in Eastern Conference

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Filed in: | The Confluence | Permalink
  Tags: New+York+Rangers, NHL-Hockey, Pittsburgh+Penguins,

Five ways to fire up the Nashville offense

Blog: On the Forecheck By Forechecker

01/05/09 at 03:28 PM ET | Comments (0)

Egad!  I head out of town for a New Year’s visit to Chicago, and by the time I get back, the Predators have sunk to 14th in the West, with the worst Goals Per Game figure (2.40) in the conference.

On the positive side, however, we actually have word today that Steve Sullivan plans to return to the lineup soon, just short of two years since his last game.  Even in limited ice time, Sully should make a positive impact on the Preds offense, but I’m thinking a few more things need to be done to spark the Nashville attack…

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Filed in: Nashville Predators | On the Forecheck | Permalink
  Tags: antti+pihlstrom, david+legwand, jordin+tootoo, ryan+jones, steve+sullivan,

Report- Tavares Traded

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

01/05/09 at 03:19 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Patrick King of Sportsnet,

John Tavares will soon be a member of the London Knights, sources tell Sportsnet.ca

There has been speculation that Tavares would be traded before the Jan. 10 trade deadline and sources say the deal is done to send the Oshawa Generals forward to London.

continued

Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: John+Tavares,

Bruins Happy With Their Goaltender Rotation

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

01/05/09 at 03:16 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the National Post,

It took some time, but Peter Chiarelli’s unconventional plan is finally starting to pay off.

When the Boston Bruins’ general manager acquired goaltender Manny Fernandez from Minnesota in July, 2007, he envisioned a goaltending tandem - Fernandez and Tim Thomas - that could lead his team to NHL supremacy.

Thomas set career bests in goals-against average (2.44) and save percentage last season - and the Bruins, eighth in the East, made the playoffs for the first time since the lockout - but a knee injury limited Fernandez to just four games.

This year, the goaltenders are making Chiarelli look like a genius.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Boston Bruins | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Survival

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

01/05/09 at 02:55 PM ET | Comments (1)

from Georges Laraque at Sportsnet,

I want first to offer my condolences to Don Sanderson’s family. Don is the 21-year-old man who passed away on Friday after hitting his head on the ice in a hockey fight on Dec. 14....

So this incident brings the first subject that I wanted to talk about and that’s simply that fighting is not just the toughest job in hockey, but in all professional sports. Fighting is not easy, not easy physically nor mentally. During a fight, you pretty much fight for your life because as you know, many things can happen and on top of that, you are being watched by millions of people. And whether or not someone watches your game live, your fight will end up on YouTube forever.

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Montreal Canadiens | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Georges+Laraque,

Foote Out Indefinitely With Tricep Injury

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

01/05/09 at 02:46 PM ET | Comments (1)

via Craig Stancher at ColoradoAvalance.com,

The Avalanche will be without a pair of veterans when the club faces Nashville tomorrow, as defenseman Adam Foote and forward Ian Laperriere will not make the trip to Tennessee.

Foote suffered a tricep injury during Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Wild. The blueliner played briefly in the second period before leaving the game. He did not take part in practice Monday and is out indefinitely.

The Avalanche also played the third period of last night’s game without the services of Laperriere. The winger, who has been playing center of late, skated for just 9:03 before leaving the contest with a back injury.

“Adam has a tricep injury and he’s going to be reevaluated in the next few days,” said Avalanche head coach Tony Granato. “Ian should be day-to-day. He’s got a stiff back but won’t make the trip.”

Filed in: NHL Teams, Colorado Avalanche | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Adam+Foote,

Flyers Injury Update

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

01/05/09 at 02:39 PM ET | Comments (0)

from PhiladelphiaFlyers.com,

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren on Monday updated the team’s injury list.

“Joffrey Lupul has an abdominal pull, so he is probably out for at least 14 days. Right now, he is on I.R..:.

“Simon Gagne is actually doing better. We’ll still say he’s day-to-day, but we’re kind of hoping he’ll play tomorrow.”

“Antero Niittymaki actually feels a little bit better today, but we’re still probably looking at a week to 10 days before he’s able to play.”

Danny Briere also spoke to the media on Monday, and said that he may be a week or two away from returning to game action. Briere has missed the last 14 games with a groin strain.

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Philadelphia Flyers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

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