Maggie the Monkey predicts the second round....

This isn't something I would normally consider newsworthy, but let's face it, Maggie's getting a little long in the tooth.

Click the link below and watch and as TSN's chief prognosticator uses her highly scientific methods to predict the NHL's Conference semi-finals winners and losers.

http://watch.tsn.ca/nhl/clip166720#clip166720

Caps, Canes, Wings and Nucks fans beware, Maggie predicted just two of the eight first round series correctly. Also notice Maggie cheat on her Wings/Ducks prediction.

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NHL Announces Conference Semi-Final Schedules

Here are the official line ups rundown and lifted straight from NHL.com this evening.

CBC predictably is taking the Canucks-Hawks and Penguins-Capitals as their two featured series. Somewhat surprisingly, NBC will broadcast just two of a potential twenty-eight second round contests, both this weekend.

All Times Central

SERIES I #1 vs. #6 NETWORK
Friday, May 1 at Boston, 6:30 p.m. VERSUS (JIP), TSN
Sunday, May 3 at Boston, 6:30 p.m. VERSUS, TSN
Wednesday, May 6 at Carolina, 6:30 p.m. VERSUS (JIP), TSN
Friday, May 8 at Carolina, 6:30 p.m. VERSUS (JIP), TSN
*Sunday, May 10 at Boston, 6:30 p.m. VERSUS, TSN
*Tuesday, May 12 at Carolina, 6:00 p.m. VERSUS, TSN
*Thursday, May 14 at Boston, TBD TSN

SERIES J #2 vs. #4 NETWORK
Saturday, May 2 at Washington, 12:00 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS
Monday, May 4 at Washington, 6:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Wednesday, May 6 at Pittsburgh, 6:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Friday, May 8 at Pittsburgh, 6:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
*Saturday, May 9 at Washington, 6:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
*Monday, May 11 at Pittsburgh, TBD VERSUS, CBC, RDS
*Wednesday, May 13 at Washington, 6:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS

SERIES K #2 vs. #8 NETWORK
Friday, May 1 at Detroit, 6:00 p.m. VERSUS, TSN2
Sunday, May 3 at Detroit, 1:00 p.m. NBC, TSN
Tuesday, May 5 at Anaheim, 9:30 p.m. VERSUS, TSN
Thursday, May 7 at Anaheim, 9:30 p.m. VERSUS, TSN
*Sunday, May 10 at Detroit, 6:00 p.m. TSN
*Tuesday, May 12 at Anaheim, TBD VERSUS, TSN
*Thursday, May 14 at Detroit, TBD VERSUS, TSN

SERIES L #3 vs. #4 NETWORK
Thursday, April 30 at Vancouver, 8:00 p.m. CBC, VERSUS
Saturday, May 2 at Vancouver, 8:00 p.m. CBC, VERSUS
Tuesday, May 5 at Chicago, 7:00 p.m. CBC, VERSUS
Thursday, May 7 at Chicago, 7:00 p.m. CBC, VERSUS
*Saturday, May 9 at Vancouver, 9:30 p.m CBC, VERSUS
*Monday, May 11 at Chicago, 8:00 p.m. CBC, VERSUS (JIP)
*Thursday, May 14 at Vancouver, TBD CBC, VERSUS

* - if necessary

-- Schedule by Day --

Thursday, April 30 at Vancouver, 8:00 p.m. CBC, VERSUS

Friday, May 1 at Detroit, 6:00 p.m. VERSUS, TSN2
Friday, May 1 at Boston, 6:30 p.m. VERSUS (JIP), TSN

Saturday, May 2 at Washington, 12:00 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS
Saturday, May 2 at Vancouver, 8:00 p.m. CBC, VERSUS

Sunday, May 3 at Detroit, 1:00 p.m. NBC, TSN
Sunday, May 3 at Boston, 6:30 p.m. VERSUS, TSN

Monday, May 4 at Washington, 6:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS

Tuesday, May 5 at Chicago, 7:00 p.m. CBC, VERSUS
Tuesday, May 5 at Anaheim, 9:30 p.m. VERSUS, TSN

Wednesday, May 6 at Pittsburgh, 6:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Wednesday, May 6 at Carolina, 6:30 p.m. VERSUS (JIP), TSN

Thursday, May 7 at Chicago, 7:00 p.m. CBC, VERSUS
Thursday, May 7 at Anaheim, 9:30 p.m. VERSUS, TSN

Friday, May 8 at Pittsburgh, 6:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Friday, May 8 at Carolina, 6:30 p.m. VERSUS (JIP), TSN

*Saturday, May 9 at Washington, 6:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
*Saturday, May 9 at Vancouver, 9:30 p.m CBC, VERSUS

*Sunday, May 10 at Detroit, 6:00 p.m. TSN
*Sunday, May 10 at Boston, 6:30 p.m. VERSUS, TSN

*Monday, May 11 at Pittsburgh, TBD VERSUS, CBC, RDS
*Monday, May 11 at Chicago, 8:00 p.m. CBC, VERSUS (JIP)

*Tuesday, May 12 at Carolina, 6:00 p.m. VERSUS, TSN
*Tuesday, May 12 at Anaheim, TBD VERSUS, TSN

*Wednesday, May 13 at Washington, 6:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS

*Thursday, May 14 at Boston, TBD TSN
*Thursday, May 14 at Detroit, TBD VERSUS, TSN
*Thursday, May 14 at Vancouver, TBD CBC, VERSUS

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RJ Umberger - Human Crash Test Dummy

In cased you missed Tuesday’s Detroit-Columbus series game three, we’re here to make sure you don’t miss possibly the hit of the playoffs so far.

R.J. Umberger has been on the wrong end of a few of these in his career. He has a reputation for pumping his legs the first few strides with his head down watching the puck. Trouble.

Tip of the hat to Kukla's Korner for the assist here with the video.




Here’s the FSN Detroit feed




Now we rewind almost three years to the day, April 22, 2006, to this near R.J. Umberger destruction video. Brian Campbell, then of the Buffalo Sabres, draws Umberger and unloads on him 12 minutes into overtime of the Flyers and Sabres opening round series game one. Danny Briere would end the game fifteen game minutes later in the second OT in the first of four wins that series for Buffalo. Just as in last night’s game, Umberger, despite appearing pretty rough immediately after the hit, would return to play in all but one game that series. He was officially diagnosed with a stiff neck back in ’06.

RJ Umberger – Brian Campbell – Game 1 – 2006 1st round Flyers vs. Sabres on OLN (Remember the Outdoor Life, VERSUS Network?)



Double ouch!

PuckChatter@gmail.com

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For the record... Block's AHL Calder Cup Playoff Predictions

Atlantic Division Semi-Finals

Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) Atlantic-1: 46-27-3-4 (99pts)
(vs)
Worcester Sharks (SJ) Atlantic-4: 42-35-1-2 (87pts)


Providence Bruins (BOS) Atlantic-2: 43-29-2-6 (94pts)
(vs)
Portland Pirates (BUF) Atlantic-3: 39-31-3-7 (88pts)

---------------------------------
East Division Semi-Finals

Hershey Bears (WAS) East-1: 49-23-2-6 (106pts)
(vs)
Philadelphia Phantoms (PHI) East-4: 43-30-2-5 (93pts)


Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI) East-2: 49-23-3-5 (106pts)
(vs)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) East-3: 49-25-3-3 (104pts)
** Games 1 and 2 of this series will be played at Nassau Coliseum in Hempstead (Uniondale, Long Island), New York

-----------------------------------
North Division Semi-Finals

Manitoba Moose (VAN/DAL) North-1: 50-23-1-6 (107pts)
(vs)
Toronto Marlies (TOR) North-4: 39-29-5-7 (90pts)


Hamilton Bulldogs (MON) North-2: 49-27-4-0 (102pts)
(vs)
Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) North-3: 43-25-6-6 (98pts)

----------------------------------
West Division Semi-Finals

Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) West-1: 49-22-3-6 (107pts)
(vs)
Rockford IceHogs (CHI) West-4: 40-34-0-6 (86pts)


Peoria Rivermen (STL) West-2: 43-31-2-4 (92pts)
(vs)
Houston Aeros (MIN) West-3: 38-31-2-9 (87pts)

----------------------------------

** Block’s Picks **

Hartford Wolf Pack vs. Worcester Sharks -- Hartford in 5

Providence Bruins vs. Portland Pirates -- Providence in 7

Hershey Bears vs. Philadelphia Phantoms – Hershey in 5

Bridgeport Sound Tigers vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton – Bridgeport in 7

Manitoba Moose vs. Toronto Marlies – Toronto in 6

Hamilton Bulldogs vs. Grand Rapids Griffins – Grand Rapids in 6

Milwaukee Admirals vs. Rockford IceHogs – Milwaukee in 5

Peoria Rivermen vs. Houston Aeros – Peoria in 7

Division Finals

Hartford vs. Providence – Providence in 5

Hershey vs. Bridgeport – Hershey in 5

Grand Rapids vs. Toronto Marlies – Toronto in 6

Milwaukee vs. Peoria – Milwaukee in 5

AHL Conference Finals

East: Hershey vs. Providence – Providence in 6

West: Milwaukee vs. Toronto – Milwaukee in 6

AHL Calder Cup Final

Milwaukee Admirals vs. Providence Bruins – Milwaukee in 5

Block’s AHL 2009 Calder Cup Champion prediction: Milwaukee Admirals

There aren’t many teams in the AHL as balanced and defensively-sound as the Milwaukee Admirals. Manitoba, yes. But Toronto is a team that’s underachieved all year long and Justin Pogge, with his future in the Maple Leafs’ organization possibly on the line, is poised for a strong run coming off up and down abbreviated NHL stints this year. Providence will be led by Tuukka Rask, quite possibly the best goaltender not in the NHL right now. He’ll be Tim Thomas’s back up next season, but not before he leads Providence on a march to the Calder Cup Finals.

However, Milwaukee is stacked with size and speed up and down their lineup. Cody Franson and Alexander Sulzer are just steps away from patrolling the Predators’ blue line. The addition of Jed Ortmeyer will aid Geoff Peters in leading this group deep into the playoffs. Look for Mike Santorelli and Nick Spaling to have strong postseasons. This should also serve as Ryan Jones and Patric Hornqvist’s coming-out parties. Hugh Jessiman is a giant American-born forward who’ll score some big goals as well.

Peoria is an interesting team to watch out for. They’re unbeaten regulation in their last ten (7-0-0-3) and have NHL veteran Manny Legace and 23-year old Chris Holt (6-3, 221), both very good netminders playing well down the stretch. The addition of 2008 1st rounder Alex Pietrangelo will strengthen a capable, but offensively-lacking defense core.

In the AHL, you also have to factor in the parent clubs having advanced, and still competing in the NHL playoffs. In particular this will affect Grand Rapids early as both Ville Leino and Darren Helm, two of Grand Rapids’ top forwards, are both traveling with the Red Wings at least as of Wednesday. The Griffins are deep, but neither of their goaltenders, Jimmy Howard or Daniel Larsson, is overwhelming between the pipes.

Of the sixteen Calder Cup contenders, only five (Bridgeport, Houston, Milwaukee, Portland and Toronto) are affiliates of NHL teams eliminated from post season play.

PuckChatter@Gmail.com

Below are each team’s projected starting netminders and key players….

--Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Goalie: Peter Mannino, 17-12-2, 2.94, .900 …. Nathan Lawson 19-9-2, 2.16, .927
Top Scorer: Mike Iggulden 72gp, 25g, 40a, 65pts, +3
Key Players: RW-Jon Sim, LW-Jesse Joensuu, C-Jeremy Colliton, D-Joe Callahan, D-Jack Hillen, *Kyle Okposo has been optioned to Bridgeport for this weekend’s game, but will then depart to join Team USA at the World Championships in Switzerland… Bridgeport also recently signed North Dakota graduating senior Ryan Duncan (C, 5-6, 165) to an amateur try-out contract. Duncan was awarded the Hobey Baker Trophy as the NCAA’s top player in his sophomore season at ND….

--Grand Rapids Griffins
Goalie: Jimmy Howard, 21-18-4, 2.54, .916 … Daniel Larsson 22-12-2, 2.76, .907
Top Scorer: Darren Haydar 79gp, 31g, 49a, 80pts, -22
Key Players: LW-Ville Leino, C-Justin Abdelkader, C-Evan McGrath, RW-Francis Pare, C/W-Darren Helm, D-Jakub Kindl, D-Garrett Stafford, D-Jonathan Ericsson, *Darren McCarty and Aaron Downey are also on this roster. ** Leino, Helm and Ericsson are all currently up with the Red Wings….

--Hamilton Bulldogs
Goalie: Marc Denis, 27-18-0, 2.46, .920 … Cedrick Desjardins 16-12-0, 2.55, .919
Top Scorer: Yanick Lehoux 80gp, 19g, 41a, 60pts, +6
Key Players: LW-Max Pacioretty, C-Kyle Chipchura, RW-Mike Glumac, D-Yannick Weber, D-Mathieu Carle, D-Doug Janik, C-Ben Maxwell, *Weber is currently on recall with Montreal….

--Hartford WolfPack
Goalie: Matt Zaba, 25-10-0, 2.33, .920
Top Scorer: Artem Anisimov 80gp, 37g, 44a, 81pts, +12
Key Players: RW-Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, LW-Mark Bell, D-Bobby Sanguinetti, LW-Patrick Rissmiller, D-Corey Potter, D-Brian Fahey, LW-Brodie Dupont….

--Hershey Bears
Goalie: Daren Machesney, 19-12-1, 3.24, .876 … Michal Neuvirth, 9-5-2, 2.70, .913
Top Scorer: Alexandre Giroux 69gp, 60g, 37a, 97pts, +23
Key Players: C-Keith Aucoin, LW-Chris Bourque, RW-Graham Mink, D-Sami Lepisto, D-Staffan Kronwall, D-Karl Alzner….

--Houston Aeros
Goalie: Nolan Schaefer, 26-17-5, 2.52, .903
Top Scorer: Corey Locke 77gp, 25g, 54a, 79pts, -16
Key Players: RW-Jesse Schultz, LW-Benoit Pouliot, C/W-Krys Kolanos, D-Tomas Mojzis, D-Maxim Noreau, D-Clayton Stoner, also Chicagoan Robbie Earl and former Blackhawks’ center and recently un-retired Tony Hrkac skate with the Aeros….

--Manitoba Moose
Goalie: Cory Schneider, 28-10-1, 2.04, .928 … Curtis Sanford, 7-3-3, 1.73, .936
Top Scorer: Jason Krog, 74gp, 30g, 56a, 86pts, +25
Key Players: RW-Michael Grabner, RW-Guillaume Desbiens, LW-Michel Oullet, LW-Jason Jaffray, D-Mark Fistric, D-Nolan Baumgartner, D-Shaun Heshka and veteran captain RW-Mike Keane….

--Milwaukee Admirals
Goalie: Drew MacIntryre, 34-15-4, 2.30. .921 … Mark Dekanich, 15-10-2, 2.09, .923
Top Scorer: Mike Santorelli 70gp, 27g, 43a, 70pts, -1
Key Players: LW-Ryan Jones, RW-Patric Hornqvist, C-Cal O’Reilly, RW-Ryan Maki, RW-Jed Ortmeyer, D-Cody Franson, D-Alexander Sulzer….

--Peoria Rivermen
Goalie: Manny Legace, 14-7-1, 2.00, .935 … Chris Holt, 10-6-2, 1.73, .931
Top Scorer: Steve Regier 73gp, 22g, 28a, 50pts, +18
Trent Whitfield 69gp, 20g, 30a, 50pts
Key Players: C/W-Yan Stastny, D-Jonas Junland, D-Alex Pietrangelo, D-Steve Wagner, D-Justin Fletcher, D-Danny Richmond, C-Julian Talbot, LW-Chris Porter, C-Jori Lehtera, RW-Aaron Palushaj, RW-Carl Corazzini….

--Philadelphia Phantoms
Goalie: Scott Munroe, 31-19-4, 2.46, .926
Top Scorer: Jared Ross 64gp, 29g, 40a, 69pts, +17
Key Players: LW-James van Riemsdyk, RW-David Laliberte, RW-Andreas Nodl, C-Jonathan Matsumoto, LW-Boyd Kane, D-Danny Syvret, D-Lasse Kukkonen, D-Sean Curry…. ** Jared Ross is currently on recall with the Philadelphia Flyers….

--Portland Pirates
Goalie: Jhonas Enroth, 26-23-6, 2.75, .914
Top Scorer: Mark Mancari 73gp, 29g, 38a, 67pts, +9
Tim Kennedy 73gp, 18g, 49a, 67pts, -2
Key Players: LW-Mathieu Darche, C-Nathan Gerbe, RW-Colin Fretter, D-Chris Butler, D-Mike Kostka, D-Cliff Loya…..

--Providence Bruins
Goalie: Tuukka Rask, 33-20-4, 2.50, .915
Top Scorer: Martin St. Pierre 61gp, 15g, 51a, 66pts, +10
Key Players: RW-Brad Marchand, C-Vladimir Sobotka, C-Zach Hamill, C/W-Jeremy Reich, LW-Peter Schaefer, RW-Mikko Lehtonen, D-Johnny Boychuk, D-Ryan Stokes, D-Andrew Bodnarchuk….

--Rockford IceHogs
Goalie: Corey Crawford, 22-20-3, 2.59, .917 … Antti Niemi, 18-14-3, 2.43, .913
Top Scorer: Tim Brent 64gp, 20g, 42a, 62pts, -5
Key Players: LW-Pascal Pelletier, RW-Jack Skille, C-Evan Brophey, LW-Bryan Bickell, W-Pete MacArthur, W-Rob Klinkhammer, D-Jordan Hendry, D-Logan Stephenson, D-Tim Hambly, LW-Kyle Beach, RW-Akim Aliu….

--Toronto Marlies
Goalie: Justin Pogge, 26-21-5, 2.70, .895 … Adam Munro, 12-11-2, 2.42, .913
Top Scorer: Tim Stapleton 70gp, 28g, 51a, 79pts, +9
Key Players: RW-Jeremy Williams, LW-Bates Battaglia, LW-Jiri Tlusty, LW-Ryan Hollweg, D-Anton Stralman, D-Jaime Sifers…..

--Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Goalie: John Curry, 33-15-1, 2.38, .916
Top Scorer: Janne Pesonen 70gp, 32g, 50a, 82pts, +13
Key Players: C-Jeff Taffe, LW-Luca Caputi, RW-Bill Thomas, LW-Tim Wallace, C-Connor James, D-Ben Lovejoy, D-Alex Goligoski, D-Andy Wozniewski…..

--Worcester Sharks
Goalie: Thomas Greiss, 30-24-2, 2.47, .907
Top Scorer: Ryan Vesce 67gp, 24g, 47a, 71pts, +4
Key Players: LW-Lukas Kaspar, C-Cory Larose, RW-Riley Armstrong, C-Logan Couture, D-Patrick Traverse, D-Kyle McLaren, D-Brett Westgarth, D-Derek Joslin….

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Is this how the Blackhawks prepare for playoff hockey?

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New York Islanders win lottery, right to draft John Tavares

Results from the NHL's 2009 Draft Lottery are in and the league's most futile 2008-09 franchise retained the right to draft atop this summer's amateur draft.

The New York Islanders, for the fourth time in their 37-season history, will draft carry the first overall selection into the NHL Entry Draft when teams conviene on Montreal June 26-27 at Bell Centre.

This year's lottery drawing served to be as anti-climactic as could have been imagined. No team moved up or down from the position their regular season finish positioned them.

Here's how the first fourteen draft positions shook out:

1. New York Islanders
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
3. Colorado Avalanche
4. Atlanta Thrashers
5. Los Angeles Kings
6. Phoenix Coyotes
7. Toronto Maple Leafs
8. Dallas Stars
9. Ottawa Senators
10. Edmonton Oilers
11. Nashville Predators
12. Minnesota Wild
13. Buffalo Sabres
14. Florida Panthers

As stated above, the final order remained unchanged as the Islanders apparently won the secret drawing held in New York City prior to the announcement of the order on a television broadcast tonight at TSN's studios in Toronto.

Of the teams listed above, only the Islanders, Lightning, Avalanche, Thrashers and Kings had a chance at the first overall pick. Since winning the lottery could only propel a team a maximum of four spots, teams listed six through fourteen above could not win the first overall selection regardless of tonight's draft result. Below were each team's chances of winning the lottery, followed by the highest position they could have selected.

Islanders (48.2), Lightning (18.8), Avalanche (14.2), Thrashers (10.7), Kings (8.1), Phoenix (6.2), Maple Leafs (4.7), Stars (3.6), Senators (2.7), Oilers (2.1), Predators (1.5), Wild (1.1), Sabres (0.8), Panthers (0.5)

Islanders (1, no lower than 2), Lightning (1, no lower than 3), Avalanche (1, no lower than 4), Kings (1, no lower than 6).... Had these teams won the lottery; Phoenix could have jumped from 6 to 2, Toronto (7-3), Dallas (8-4), Ottawa (9-5), Edmonton (10-6), Nashville (11-7), Minnesota (12-8), Buffalo (13-9), Florida (14-10).

The consensus number one pick at the moment is the London Knights (OHL) John Tavares. Tampa Bay will take no issue with who'll fall into their laps at number two, six-foot six Swedish born defenseman Victor Hedman has been playing professional hockey for MODO in the Swedish Elite League for the past two seasons and is ready to step into the NHL next season. Hedman boasts Nicklas Lidstrom-like qualities as a calm pace-setter and minimal wasted energy. He doesn't use his body as much as scouts would like consider his frame, which has detered early comparisons to Chris Pronger.

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AHL team seeks to capitalize off Michael Phelps misfortune

Whacky promotions have been present across the American Hockey League and it's former competitor International Hockey League for as long as I can remember, but there's something exceptionally rich in the Milwaukee Admirals' press release highlighting this Thursday's promotion when the Rockford IceHogs visit Bradley Center. Rather dubi-ous you might say.

Admirals Present "Don't Be Like Mike" Night
All DARE Graduates Get in for Just $2

Milwaukee, WI—Michael Phelps has done a lot of things in his life that he is proud of. Eight Olympic Gold Medals from last year’s summer games is just the start of a long list of accomplishments that anyone would want to emulate.

Unfortunately, the limelight that currently shines on him is not for any of his athletic achievements, but for an act that is a bit more dubious. Thus, the Milwaukee Admirals present “Don’t Be Like Mike” Night at their game on Thursday, February 19th at 7:00 pm versus the Rockford IceHogs.

All fans who are graduates of a DARE program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) can get into the game for just $2 by bringing their DARE graduation certificate to the Admirals’ office or the Bradley Center box office. In addition, anyone with the name Michael, Phelps, Mary Jane, Cheech, Chong, Weed (Wied) or anyone who has won an Olympic Gold Medal can also get their ticket for only $2.

“I, along with Nancy Reagan, want to encourage people to not do drugs,” said Admirals President Jon Greenberg. “As an organization the Milwaukee Admirals don’t condone or encourage the use of illegal drugs, including, but not limited to marijuana, or anabolic steroids for that matter.”

The Ads will also be giving away a weed wacker, courtesy of National Ace Hardware, that will be signed by the team and if the Admirals score with 4:20 left on the clock in any period one lucky fan will win a season ticket for the 2009-10 season. The number 420 is often known as the police code for illegal drug use.

Plus, to ensure that no one ends up in the same predicament as Michael Phelps, the team will provide a document shredder at the DigiCopy Information Table outside section 225 so fans can bring any embarrassing or incriminating photos to be destroyed.

Fans can order tickets for the 19th, or any Admirals game, by calling Ticketmaster at (414) 276-4545 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Groups of ten or more people receive a minimum of $2 off of each ticket. For more information or to order group tickets call the Admirals office at (414) 227-0550.

http://www.milwaukeeadmirals.com/home/news/0209mike.html

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Team USA announces 2010 orientation camp for August in Chicago

USA Hockey announced officially on Thursday it will be hosting it’s 2010 Winter Olympic Games Team USA hockey orientation camp at Seven Bridges Ice Arena in west suburban Chicago this summer.

The three day competition camp comprised of the United States’ premier hockey players will take place on August 17-19th at Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodbridge, IL. The camp will go a long way to determining the final roster for the 2010 Winter Games next February in Vancouver, British Columbia.

This squad that does skate next February won’t resemble the Turin 2006 Olympic Team much. Only three (Rafalski, Liles, Drury) figure to be sure-bets to return from the ’06 team. Gone will be Chris Chelios, Derian Hatcher, Mathieu Schneider, Bret Hedican, and likely Bill Guerin and Doug Weight. If Mike Modano continues his current play into next season, I’d expect he’ll be a part of the team as the resident Olympic veteran and team captain. Others from 2006 who will contend for next year’s spots are Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez, Mike Knuble, Brian Rolston, Craig Conroy, Erik Cole, Jason Blake and Rick DiPietro. While Guerin, Weight, Keith Tkachuk and Robert Esche figure to be long-shots.

Below is the unofficial pool of sixty-five, U.S. officials, which include Thrashers’ GM Don Waddell, Toronto boss Brian Burke as well as coach Ron Wilson, will have to choose from.

LW: Zach Parise, David Booth, Ryan Malone, Patrick O’Sullivan, Erik Cole, Brian Rolston, Chris Higgins, Paul Gaustad, Drew Stafford, Keith Tkachuk, R.J. Umberger

C: Paul Stastny, Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Mike Modano, Brandon Dubinsky, Joe Pavelski, Craig Conroy, Ryan Kesler, Tim Connolly, Jeff Halpern, David Legwand, Matt Cullen

RW: Patrick Kane, Phil Kessel, Brian Gionta, Dustin Brown, Jamie Langenbrunner, David Backes, Jason Pominville, Mike Knuble, Blake Wheeler, Bobby Ryan, Bill Guerin, Peter Mueller, Lee Stempniak, Mark Parrish, Jason Blake

LD: Paul Martin, John-Michael Liles, Ryan Suter, Ron Hainsey, Tim Gleason, Brooks Orpik, Alex Goligoski, Jack Johnson, Brett Lebda, Keith Yandle

RD: Brian Rafalski, Ryan Whitney, Mike Komisarek, Mark Stuart, Tom Gilbert, Jordan Leopold, Jeff Finger, Paul Mara, Erik Johnson

G: Ryan Miller, Tim Thomas, Rick DiPietro, Ty Conklin, Craig Anderson, Scott Clemmensen, Jonathan Quick, Brent Johnson, Robert Esche

The team will carry three goalies, seven defenseman, thirteen forwards plus three alternates in case of injury.

Since there will be a lack of true top-echelon talent, expect U.S. execs to go with speed and checking. Team USA won’t have the guns to compete with Canada, Russia or even Sweden, so they’ll have to strategically form a roster aimed at countering those teams’ offenses with tight defense and strong forechecking. Because of that, players like David Backes, Patrick O’Sullivan and either Joe Pavelski or Brandon Dubinsky likely have spots to lose. Backes has been a terrific perfomer for the U.S. during the IIHF World Championship tournaments of late. It’s also the reason for the inclusion of Buffalo Sabres’ forward Paul Gaustad, who could be spotted as a utility-player of sorts. Gaustad is a reliable two-way forward who can play all three forward positions and win face-offs.

The only “for-sures” from a forward standpoint are Zach Parise (undisputedly the best U.S.-born NHLer right now), Paul Stastny, Patrick Kane, Dustin Brown, Chris Drury, Phil Kessel, David Booth and perhaps Jamie Langenbrunner. Everyone else will have to win their spot.

Defensively, at this point, I’d expect Paul Martin to be paired with Brian Rafalski; Ryan Whitney with Ryan Suter and John-Michael Liles with Mike Komisarek. One thing the U.S will have going for them is a mobile defense, but so will four other countries.

Paul Stastny, Mike Knuble and Jason Pominville are all Canadian-born players with dual-citizenship who’ve represented the U.S. in the past. Knuble at the ’06 Olympics and Stastny and Pominville at the World Championships.

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Blues hang in for SO win over depleted B's

Monday matinees have been a lot of fun this season and yesterday was no exception.

It didn't look particularly good for Boston during the first forty minutes and Bruins fans I'm sure would rather forget minutes fifty-eight and fifty-nine, but the finish was spectacular.

Missing six key components; Milan Lucic (shoulder), Aaron Ward (bruised left leg), Patrice Bergeron (concussion), Andrew Ference (fractured right tibia), Phil Kessel (mononucleosis) and Marco Sturm (reconstructive left acl/meniscus surgery) the Bruins are certainly playing short-handed but they uncharacteristically skated the first two periods like they were feeling sorry for themselves.

St. Louis picked up on that and carried the action through forty minutes. So much so that Bruins' analyst, former coach and player Mike Milbury chastised the team during both first and second intermissions on the NESN broadcast.

Blues' forward Brad Winchester found his scoring touch Monday, just in time as far as the Chicago Blackhawks are concerned. Winchester missed a glorious scoring opportunity in Saturday's game versus Chicago when he couldn't settle a puck an inch off the ice to pot a goal with Cristobal Huet fallen at one side of the crease.

Missed chances were the story on Saturday for the Blues but Monday would tell a different tale.

Keith Tkachuk returned to the Blues' line up for the first time since getting his bell rung in Calgary last Tuesday night. He assisted on David Backes' controversial game-tying goal as regulation time expired.

Backes swatted an airborn puck into the net past Bruins' netminder Tim Thomas to the dismay of a Martin Luther King Day matinee crowd at TD Banknorth Garden anticipating a victory celebration. Two different replay angles would've led you to believe Backes's stick was above the crossbar when making contact with the puck, but the NHL's 'war room' in Toronto decided the goal would stand, sending the game into overtime.



That move by Boyes in the shootout was sick. Blake Wheeler beat Chris Mason but also hit the post. P.J. Axelsson missed on the backhand.

Manny Legace started, but left the game after ten minutes with what the team is calling a 'lower body injury.' The Blues are saying it's minor but they will likely have to recall Ben Bishop for Wednesday's game in Chicago. After the game Blues' coach Andy Murray told the media Legace simply said he couldn't continue. Murray added, "It's happened a lot."

Boston coach Claude Julien seperated what had been his team's best line for over a month. David Krejci, Michael Ryder and rookie-ace Blake Wheeler had seen opposing team's top checkers each night in absence of Kessel from Marc Savard's line. Julien felt Savard's line needed a spark so he moved Wheeler up to his line with Chuck Kobasew on the left while Krejci kept Ryder and P.J. Axelsson moved up to replace Wheeler.

It was Krejci's line on the ice for all three Bruins' third period tallies, though Savard replaced Axelsson for the power-play goal at 15:16 of the period.

I can't help but feel bad for Chris Mason. Once the main guy in Nashville, two rough seasons have Mason facing NHL obscurity this summer. He's still looking for Zdeno's sixty-footer. And how about that Tim Thomas save? In the highlights the sequence begins at 1:44. Thomas on his belly and back to the play turns his head and gets a piece of a Brad Winchester scoring attempt with his left glove.

Lucic, Ference and Ward should return just after the All-Star game and Bergeron won't be out too much longer as his latest concussion wasn't as bad as originally feared. Kessel is out for a month and Sturm is done for the year. Dennis Wideman did play yesterday, with limited effects after taking a knee-on-knee hit from Alex Ovechkin Saturday in Washington.

Wideman and team captain Zdeno Chara have been the driving force behind the Bruins' Eastern Conference dominance so far this year as much as scorers like Kessel, Ryder and Savard. Aaron Ward and rookie Matt Hunwick don't get much credit outside of Beantown, but they've also had a lot to due with this team's success.

The B's own the league's worst record when trailing after two periods; now 0-6-2.

St. Louis's B's have taken five out of a possible six points in the past five days against Colorado, Chicago and Boston.

Boston's lone game before the All-Star break takes place at Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Wednesday night.

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Rick Nash impacts in return, Sundin's catching up

I'm not usually big on high-scoring affairs unless I'm the one doing the scoring, but the Blue Jackets visit to General Motors Place Sunday night was decidedly the best of the four Sunday NHL features.

Rick Nash's return was kept somewhat quiet (at least to me which resulted in me failing to start Nash on my fantasy team) but the results were anything but.

The Blue Jackets captain looked understandably fresh and dominant throughout last night's game. He finished the game with a goal and two assists in nearly twenty-four minutes of ice time.

Nash clinched the game in the shootout beating Roberto Luongo easily on the stick side. Recently acquired from Atlanta (for blue liner Clay Wilson), Jason Williams did the same in Columbus's first shootout attempt.

Scott Howson made a great move acquiring Williams who can only help the league's worst power play. He's already fitting in nicely and since he only got a one-year deal from Atlanta, Williams is playing for both the postseason and his next contract.



As for the Canucks, they quickly rebounded from giving up two early third period goals to tie the game with two unanswered tallies of their own, off the sticks of Henrik Sedin and defenseman Kevin Bieksa.

For one night anyway both Roberto Luongo and super-rookie Steve Mason each looked human.

Bieksa appears fatigued both physically and mentally. He had an awful night in spite of the two-point performance.

Mats Sundin, who looks bottom-heavy in his new uni, was the best he's been since debuting as a Canuck two weeks ago.

Vancouver next plays in San Jose on Tuesday. Columbus visits Edmonton tomorrow night and travel to Calgary for a game with the Flames before the break as well. The Jackets will have to take another swing through western Canada at the end of next month.

We are now 33 days from Mats Sundin's return to Toronto. On CBC's Hockey Day in Canada no less.

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com

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Saturday's Best

Detroit at San Jose

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Friday night's best

'Original' Six matchup: New York Rangers 3 - Chicago Blackhawks 2, OT

Admittedly biased because its the only game I saw, being there in person, but a great game nonetheless.

The Blueshirts did their best to give the game away affording the Hawks FOUR five-on-three opportunities. Chicago capitalized finally on chance number four, tying the contest with 4:29 to play in regulation.

Chris Drury scored twice (numbers 14,15) including the deciding deflection of Wade Redden's overtime shot from the point that eluded Nikolai Khabibulin.




The Blackhawks announced a crowd of 22,624. It was their 20th sellout of the year at the United Center. Chicago has now played 21 home games, though one was at Wrigley Field. They're averaging 21,648 in 'announced' attendance at the UC this season. I use the term announced because the Blackhawks have taken to the practice of exaggerating their attendance numbers slightly all season for the purpose of ensuring they'll remain atop the attendance standings. It's a marketing thing.

They've twice this season (10/25 vs. Detroit and 12/26 vs. Philadelphia) claimed to have broken the single-game attendance record at the United Center when in fact the largest crowd ever at a Blackhawks game inside the UC came on February 15, 1997, a Saturday game against the New York Rangers which drew 22,819 fans, or 107 more people than the recent Boxing Day matchup with the Flyers.

Friday night's game with the Rangers currently ranks 9th all-time attendance-wise in Hawks' games played at the United Center. That figures in both regular season and playoffs, a number that now totals 554, just 18 of which have been postseason features. The United Center began hosting Blackhawks games in January of 1995. The all-time United Center average attendance is currently 16,632. Yes, there were a lot of lean years. And yes, I do keep those kind of statistics.

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