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Wednesday, 10 November 2010 01:25

Written by Seth Rorabaugh

Penguins

-Mario Lemieux (above) opted out of a class action lawsuit based in Kansas (PG+).

-In other news, that note provided us an easy excuse to post a photo of the 2008 Winter Classic.

-A new book titled "Sidney Crosby: The Story of a Champion" is available (PG+).

-Dan Bylsma speaks:

-The Penguins' are good people:

-Initial plans for re-development of the Civic Arena property were revealed.

-Today would've been the 65th birthday of former Penguins goaltender Al Smith (right). Claimed from the Maple Leafs in the 1969 offseason in an intra-league draft, Smith spent two seasons with the Penguins. As the team's primary starter in 1969-70, Smith appeared in 46 games, had a 15-20-8 records, a 3.03 goals against average and two shutouts. In the 1970 postseason, Smith saw action in three games and went 1-2 with a 3.33 goals against average. Smith once against played in 46 games in 1970-71. His record was 9-22-9, with a 3.11 goals against average and two shutouts.  During that season, he set a franchise mark with 15 consecutive games without a win. In the 1971 offseason, the Red Wings claimed him in an intra-league draft. In 92 regular season games with the Penguins, Smith, the first player in franchise history to wear No. 29, was 24-42-17 with a 3.07 goals against average and four shutouts. Smith passed away Aug. 7, 2002.

-Happy 60th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Bob Stewart. Acquired early in the 1979-80 season in a deal which sent Blair Chapman to the Blues, Stewart's Penguins' career amounted to 65 games and 10 points that campaign. In the 1980 postseason, Stewart appeared in five games and recorded two points. He retired in the following offseason.

Atlantic Division

-Devils goaltender Johan Hedberg is expected to start tonight's game against the Sabres as Martin Brodeur's wonky elbow is still bugging him.

-With forward Zenon Konopka dealing with a wonky foot, the Islanders recalled former Penguins forward Jon Sim from Bridgeport of the AHL.

-Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News makes the case for former Flyers coach Fred Shero, the father of Ray Shero, to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Northeast Division

-Two goals an an assist from Jason Spezza led the Senators to a 5-2 defeat of the Thrashers. Erik Karlsson recorded two assists for Ottawa while Brian Elliott mad 35 saves in the victory.

-Happy times for the Senators. Not so much for Atlanta's Niclas Bergfors:

-Atlanta's Ron Hainsey went all out to block this shot by Ottawa's Mike Fisher:

-Karlsson being good people:

-Atlanta's Eric Boulton and Ottawa's Matt Carkner not being good role models:

-Carey Price made 34 saves for the Canadiens in a 2-0 shutout of the Canucks. Vancouver had a six-game winning streak snapped.

-Check out this save by Price with 15 seconds left in regulation on Vancouver's Jannik Hansen:

-Price kept his eyes on this puck:

-Price and teammate Andrei Markov having a moment:

-Sabres goaltender and former Penguin Patrick Lalime is dealing with what sounds like appendicitis.

-Buffalo's Lindy Ruff is expected to coach his 1,000th career game tonight.

Southeast Division

-Two goals and an assist by Brooks Laich led the Capitals to a 5-3 win against the Rangers. Matt Hendricks added a goal and an assist for Washington while teammates Mike Green and Alex Ovechkin recorded two assists. Michal Neuvirth made 25 saves in the victory. Brian Boyle scored two goals for New York.

-Check out Laich's first goal:

-Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard scored his first goal in 234 games. His last goal came as a member of the Wild against the then Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Jan. 7, 2006:

-Bizarre Fight of the Night: Green and New York's Brandon Dubinsky:

-New York's Michael Sauer and Hendricks had issues:

-Dan Ellis made 28 saves for the Lightning in a 4-0 shutout of the Maple Leafs. Steven Stamkos scored two goals for Tampa Bay. Toronto has lost six consecutive games.

-Four assists from Eric Staal led the Hurricanes to a 7-1 rout of the Oilers. Jeff Skinner added a goal and two assists for Carolina while teammate Joe Corvo scored two goals. Cam Ward made 21 saves in the victory.

-Skinner's goal came off a nifty re-direction:

-With defenseman Joni Pitkanen back from an "upper-body" injury, the Hurricanes demoted defenseman Brett Carson to Charlotte of the AHL.

-Lightning forward Steve Downie is dealing with an "upper-body" injury.

Central Division

-Do yourself a favor and read this solid story about Blues goaltender and former Penguin Ty Conklin by Dan O'Neill of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Northwest Division

-Two goals from Curtis Glencross led the Flames to a 4-2 win at Colorado. David Moss added a goal and an assist for Calgary while teammates Rene Bourque and Niklas Hagman each recorded two assists. Miikka Kiprusoff (above, with Glencross) made 29 saves in the victory.

-We're not goaltending experts, but we're pretty sure Colorado's Peter Budaj played the wrong angle on this:

-Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis returned to the line up after missing eight games due to a foot injury.

-Avalanche defenseman Kyle Quincey is dealing with a concussion.

Pacific Division

-Lubomir Visnovsky's overtime goal led the Ducks to a 3-2 win against the rival Sharks. Teammate Saku Koivu recorded two assists. Jonas Hiller made 39 saves in the victory. Devin Setoguchi had a goal and an assist for San Jose.

-Check out this save by Hiller on San Jose's Joe Pavelski in overtime:

-Fight of the Night: Ducks forward and Washington, Pa. native George Parros versus San Jose's Frazer McLaren:

-Cool Photo of the Night: Pavelski kicking up some snow on Hiller:

Smythe Division

-The NHL is considering some radical changes to spice up the All-Star Game. Essentially, fans would vote on starters and a captain. That captain would draft the rest of his team from a pool of players provided by the NHL. Additionally, there would not be any sort of Eastern or Western Conference format. Sidney Crosby could draft Nicklas Lidstrom or vice versa theoretically.

-Rant: We applaud any sort of innovation or anyone willing to think outside the box, but this will do little to make the All-Star Lame Game anything worth watching. The biggest thing this game is missing is passion. Don't expect Chris Pronger to plaster Joe Thornton into the corner boards. This game means nothing and the players aren't going to exert themselves. Hockey is horrible to watch when the players don't care.

-One idea which did get shot down at the general managers' meetings was Panthers general manager Dale Tallon's proposal for a challenge system for coaches in regards to video review.

-With "The Daily Line" cancelled, Versus will replace it with some sort of late-night hockey show.

(Photos: Lemieux-Dave Sandford/Getty Images; Smith-Penguins Hockey Cards; Thrashers/Senators-Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press and Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images; Canucks/Canadiens-Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press and Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images; Capitals/Rangers-Nick Laham/Getty Images; Flames/Avalanche-Jack Dempsey/Associated Press; Ducks/Sharks-Ezra Shaw/Getty Images; Evgeni Malkin-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Comments (3)

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written by newellcr, November 10, 2010 - 01:53 PM

The whiny rant about the All Star game lacking passion is tiresome. The all star game is what it is - don't expect it to change. If you don't like the all star game don't watch it. If you want Pronger to plaster someone, play a video game. Imagine the howling if Pronger plastered a star during the all star game and the player was out for an extended period. It's entertainment. Would it make folks feel better if it wasn't called 'hockey'? Call it Shinny. Make it even more entertaining and remove the blue lines.

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written by Disgruntled Goat, November 10, 2010 - 05:10 PM

The whiny rant about the All Star game lacking passion is tiresome.

So newellcr decided to respond with another whiny rant.

The all star game is what it is

Lame.

don't expect it to change.

Bummer.

If you don't like the all star game

We don't.

don't watch it.

We don't.

If you want Pronger to plaster someone,

I'd rather he just retire.

play a video game.

Because reality bites.

Imagine the howling

Pina Coladas at Trader Vic's

if Pronger plastered a star during the all star game and the player was out for an extended period.

Pete Rose? Um, nevermind.

It's entertainment.

But not entertaining.

Would it make folks feel better if it wasn't called 'hockey'?

I'd feel better if it was hockey.

Call it Shinny.

Call it lame.

Make it even more entertaining

Can't possibly be less entertaining.

and remove the blue lines.

Remove the All Star Game.

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written by newellcr, November 10, 2010 - 10:01 PM

DG,

Cute, but not your post isn't as entertaining as the all star game, whatever the rules are.

Cheers,

Chris

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