Kukla's Korner

AO Rides The Pine

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/21/06 at 01:35 PM ET | Comments (0)

via the Washington Post (reg req.),

Ovechkin, who skated seven fewer shifts than linemate Dainius Zubrus, remained on the bench for the final three minutes of the middle frame and the first 11 minutes of the third. "He didn't play the first part of the third period," Hanlon said. "It's a decision we made internally that we needed to do. It needs more expanding, but I just feel with respect to everyone involved, it's just better not to." "It was coach's decision," Ovechkin said, wearing a relaxed expression. Asked if he was angry, he said: "No, I'm okay. It's his decision. I don't know [why], ask him."

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Debating The Visor

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/21/06 at 11:42 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the LA Times, ...

If the league had its way, everyone would wear one, said NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly. "Yes, a rule that would mandate the use of visors by players is one that the league supports," he said. "We have had discussions with the players' association about it, and while it was not something they were prepared to do for this season … we're hopeful that might be something we can accomplish by the start of next season." The NHL Players' Assn. and the Professional Hockey Players Assn., which represents minor leaguers, have resisted such a measure for years, arguing that it would infringe on players' rights. Union spokesman Jonathan Weatherdon said the NHLPA discussed the issue with its player representatives and encouraged players to vote in an online survey after the season began. Results were not disclosed, but it is believed a decided majority do not want mandatory visors.

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Sharks Try To Deal With Shootouts

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/21/06 at 11:24 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the Mercury News,

Their 1-7 shootout record -- the worst in the NHL after a 4-3 loss to Dallas on Saturday -- is a sensitive subject. Goalie Vesa Toskala politely yet pointedly solicited ideas on how he could improve when the subject came up in a postgame interview. Later, when a reporter asked Coach Ron Wilson about shootout performance, he bristled -- "I could give a . . . about shootouts" -- then added: "We battled. It's one of those things. You roll the dice and put guys out there capable of scoring. Unfortunately for us, it hasn't worked out, but it's not for lack of effort."

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Canada-Russia ‘72

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/21/06 at 11:21 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the Toronto Star,

There's a scene during the first part of the Canada-Russia `72 miniseries that will resonate with many Canadian hockey fans. Team Canada coach Harry Sinden, played brilliantly by Booth Savage, gets into a cab and hears talk-radio callers berating the team for its poor showing and rough play. He turns to assistant John Ferguson (Mark Owen) and says with some disgust, "This country sure loves to eat its own."

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Too Many Penalties

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/21/06 at 11:06 AM ET | Comments (0)

"Steve Yzerman was there at a faceoff telling me how embarrassing he thinks it is every night with so many calls," Vancouver's Eric Weinrich told the Vancouver Sun. "Does anyone want to see 30 minutes of penalties a night? I guess Gary Bettman does."

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Modano Back On Track

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/21/06 at 10:57 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the Star-Telegram,

It's amazing how big the imagination gets when you see Mike Modano flying around the ice like he is these days. Suddenly, anything seems possible for the Stars. Maybe he needs to tell us exactly how he feels about USA Hockey more often. Any concerns that the controversy that erupted around Modano's parting shots in Turin might put him off his game when he returned to NHL play haven't just been put to rest, they now look silly. If anything, Modano is playing even better than he did in the first half of the season, and he'd already proven that rumors of his demise were greatly exaggerated.

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Rest In Peace Sabrina

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/21/06 at 10:50 AM ET | Comments (0)

If you live in the Detroit area and listen to sports talk radio, you knew of Sabrina. The girl with the fantastic voice and work ethic passed away last night. Sabrina fought to the end, and now is at peace. I am sure Sabrina would want you to celebrate her life, she was one-of-a-kind. A recent story about her appeared in the Detroit News and as her husband Steve said, ""At our worst times we don't look up and say, 'This mountain is so enormous I can't climb it.' We just look for the next rock."

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What Happened To The Leafs

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/21/06 at 10:25 AM ET | Comments (0)

from Al Strachan of the Toronto Sun,

What happened to the Leafs' Stanley Cup aspirations? The last time the National Hockey League staged its annual clambake, the Leafs were considered to be a Stanley Cup contender. If not that year, then the next. They were close and they were building. Or so they told us. Now, all of a sudden, the Leafs are a team trying to convince its fans that making the playoffs and getting drubbed in the first round is a wonderful feat, a heroic achievement of mythic proportion, ranking up there with the labours of Hercules.

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Chicago Greats Willing To Help

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/21/06 at 01:40 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the Chicago Tribune,

Hull said he has not been asked to be around to possibly offer insight or advice to current players. Certainly the game has changed over the years, but not so much that someone with 666 career goals as a Hawk couldn't offer some knowledge. "Maybe Stan (Mikita) and I didn't know enough about the game to be a part of it, I don't know," Hull said, certainly aware that wasn't true.

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Ted Picks The Favorites

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/20/06 at 09:43 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Ted Montgomery of USA TODAY,

I think now that the Carolina Hurricanes are the class of the East. Even though losing Erik Cole is a tremendous blow to the team, the acquisitions of Doug Weight and Mark Recchi will help make up for Cole's absence. In the West, I like Nashville, Dallas, Calgary and Detroit.

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