Kukla's Korner

Showdown Out West

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/21/06 at 04:06 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,

For the next five days, Craig MacTavish's Edmonton Oilers will be in the national hockey spotlight, or at least the part of the spotlight that shines on the NHL's Western Conference. It is purely a question of mathematics too. The Oilers play the Vancouver Canucks three games in a row in a mini-playoff series that will go a long way in determining which team actually qualifies for the 2006 NHL playoffs... "Everybody not directly associated with it, is loving it," said MacTavish, "but I think it's a disadvantage right now for both teams. We're both fighting for our playoff lives. The one thing I like to see on the out-of-town scoreboard is when Anaheim's playing San Jose or L.A.'s playing Colorado, so you know you're going to get some help. All the other four teams in this battle are all licking their lips at this, while we cannibalize one another."

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Superstitions

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/21/06 at 03:15 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Charlie Teljeur of the Hockey News,

NHL players are notoriously superstitious people, often having developed a consistent game-day routine that must be strictly adhered to. Breaking from the pattern was tantamount to blasphemy. Take Arnie Boonheffer, who played for the Maple Leafs from 1949-55. One day on his way to a home game against the Bruins, he unfortunately ran over a stray one-eared cat while driving through a back alley in the west end of Toronto. That night Boonheffer had three goals and four assists

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Barret Jackman Suffers Broken Jaw

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/21/06 at 02:00 PM ET | Comments (0)

via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch,

Jackman was acting in response to a hit by Hordichuk on Christian Backman. After Hordichuk ran Backman, he and Jackman hooked up near center ice for a fight. Hordichuk's second punch in the fight was an uppercut that is believed to be the bad blow. The two continued shoving each other with their off hand, but Jackman's body language made it seem as if he knew something was wrong. And there was. Jackman went to a nearby hospital and learned of the break.

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Bruins Add ‘Ruff’-ness

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/21/06 at 01:41 PM ET | Comments (0)

via Dogs in Duds

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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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