Here are your Evening Puck Headlines and Previews: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.
• There are five games tonight, and they're going to have to be pretty damn good to top today's matinee between the St. Louis Blues and the Boston Bruins. Boston scores three in the third for a 4-2 lead; the Blues rally with two goals in 1:19, as David Perron scored on the power play and David Backes tips in a rebound with 0.8 seconds left. St. Louis wins in the shootout. Check out the Backes goal at the 3:20 mark of this video. As you'll hear, this is what happens when Jack Edwards calls for a miracle.
• Goal or no goal? Stanley Cup of Chowder, a Bruins blog (duh), offers this fair assessment: "It appeared as though the puck was played with a high stick on Backes' game-tying goal, but it was definitely close. Since it was called a goal on the ice, conclusive evidence was needed to overturn the call and I'm not sure you could call that evidence conclusive, especially with the camera angles that were available." [SCoC]
• We really like what Bruins Blog is doing with video these days for The Boston Globe. Check out the great Kevin Paul Dupont on the controversial goal. [Globe]
• Meanwhile, Alexander Ovechkin scores twice including the game-winner in overtime to lead the Washington Capitals over the New York Islanders. But honestly, doesn't that pale in comparison with the next that he's on Twitter? [Twitter]
• Now that Claude Lemieux's back, here are nine other players one hopes to see return from retirement. If only we could have one more day together, Jeff Beukeboom. [Bangin Panger]
Sports
Preview: Dallas Stars at Tampa Bay Lightning (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: FSSW, SUN). For all the hype about Brad Richards's return to the Tampa, there's another rather important storyline to consider: How much better would Dallas be with Mike Smith between the pipes instead of Marty Turco this season?
Preview: Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks (8 p.m. EST; TV: VS). Your Versus game of the night means a link to the "Show Me Your V" gallery. Outside of the dog in the hockey sweater, we're pretty sure those are all stock images.
• Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens says he's healthy and ready to start in this weekend's NHL All-Star Game. In a related story, Ryan Miller begins work on a crack about Carey Price's mother that will make "Yo Momma-Ween" look like a Hallmark card by comparison. [Sportsnet]
• Because Canada defeated Sweden in the world juniors finals, Daniel Alfredsson had to shovel out teammate Shean Donovan's backyard rink. And despite playing for the Ottawa Senators this season, it appears Alfredsson didn't tear his rotator cuff doing it. Small miracles. [Senators]
Preview: Carolina Hurricanes at Toronto Maple Leafs (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: RSN). Paul Maurice and the Cans visit Toronto, which expect to get Mike Van Ryn back in the lineup tonight. Meanwhile, Jason Blake admits he's finally having fun. Which is kind of nice to hear for a guy who's battled leukemia, been publically flogged for being overpaid and had to watch the Leafs implode over the last year.
Preview: New Jersey Devils at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. EST; TV: FSS). Wait ... a goaltending controversy on a Barry Trotz team? Surely can't be serious. (Waiting for the ZAZ retort in the comments in 3 ... 2 ...)
• On the one hand, Jay Pandolfo isn't having the best season for the New Jersey Devils. On the other, he didn't sign a three-year free-agent contract to be a healthy scratch for Brendan Shanahan. [Fire & Ice]
• Is the crappy economy catching up to travel hockey? [News 10]
• The New York Times profiles the late Don Sanderson, putting a human face on a tragedy with the clear (it would seem) intention to argue against fighting in the NHL. [NYT]
• Speaking shots to the head, Eric Lindros takes part in a panel discussion on concussions in hockey. [CBC Sports]
• Blog naval gazing alert: M.L. of the Islanders Opiner takes aim at the hockey media and hockey bloggers in the fallout of the recent B.D. Gallof situation. It's scattershot and scathing, and a really good, venomous read. [Islanders Opiner, via Kukla's]
Preview: Buffalo Sabres at Florida Panthers (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: MSG, FSFL). Defenseman Cory Murphy goes from the Panthers to the Lightning after getting claimed in waivers. Remember when players would be happy about that?
• Finally, here's a rather strange video. This gentleman would like to offer his services to NHL teams, because he's got it all figured out. You see, 20 percent of the goals are scored in 80 percent of the net space. And 80 percent of the goals are scored in 20 percent of the net space. Or something like that. Anyhoo, Fantasy Hockey Scouts takes him to the woodshed. Watch this, and then read that.
