NHL Three Stars: Kadri, Parise have big nights in wins No. 1 Star: Nazem Kadri, Toronto Maple Leafs  Wait … it’s March 24 and a Leafs player is the first star? What the what?! Yes, in fact Kadri is the No. 1 star, thanks to a four-point night (2 goals, 2 assists) that included the overtime game-winner in Toronto’s 6-5 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Tyler Bozak also had two goals. The Ducks did … [Read more...]

Flyers’ rally stuns Avalanche in third in critical wild card battle The Philadelphia Flyers blew a lead to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the third period on Tuesday night, giving up two goals in 1:04, one of them shorthanded. It was a brutal loss. But at least they picked up a charity point.  The same can’t be said of the Colorado Avalanche, who gave up two goals in 19 seconds in the third … [Read more...]

NHL completely jobs Bruins out of key goal in loss to Panthers (Video) “What is that black thing?”  Jack Edwards, the play-by-play voice of the Boston Bruins, watched the replay of Patrice Bergeron’s shot. Florida Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo slid to his right in attempt to save it. It appeared he didn’t. It appeared, via that replay, that the puck was sitting well behind the goal line, … [Read more...]

Mike Legg, Bill Armstrong and the 'coolest goal ever scored' It was March 24, 1996. It was the NCAA West Regional semifinal. Mike Legg of the Michigan Wolverines took the puck behind the Minnesota net and surveyed the scene. Two Gophers were standing on the other side of the goal, waiting to see what the Michigan forward was going to do.  He was outnumbered. Teammate Bobby Hayes was to his … [Read more...]

Spicing up expansion draft; Kovalev to management; Ottawa's fall (Puck Headlines) Here are your Puck Headlines: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media. Have a link you want to submit? Email us at [email protected]. Great having @Ruleyork at tonight's game! #Isles … [Read more...]

Ilya Kovalchuk will play in China for KHL expansion team: Report When Ilya Kovalchuk was scratched a few times by SKA in the Kontinental Hockey League playoffs, speculation ran wild that he would return to the National Hockey League, to the point where deputy commissioner Bill Daly was answering questions about how the mechanics of such a return would work.  Instead, it appears Kovalchuk … [Read more...]

NHL Playoff Death Watch: Bruins stumble, and wild night ahead in West Since we're down to the final moments of postseason life for teams in contention, Puck Daddy solemnly begins a daily countdown to annihilation.  The New York Rangers’ win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday gave them some much-needed breathing room over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but it could be short-lived: The Penguins … [Read more...]

NHL Three Stars: Lundqvist, Stepan lead Rangers; Berube stops Sens No. 1 Star: Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers Following a five-game losing streak, Lundqvist has now won his last two starts as New York beat the Boston Bruins 5-2. He stopped 39 during Wednesday’s victory, the fifth time in his last 10 starts he’s needed to make 35-plus saves. Lundqvist also picked up an assist on Stepan’s … [Read more...]

Melnyk's spending, Amanda Kessel's return (Puck Daddy Countdown) (Ed. Note: The column formerly known as the Puck Daddy Power Rankings. Ryan Lambert takes a look at some of the biggest issues and stories in the NHL, and counts them down.) 7. Not getting it “I’m looking at all of it. It’s right across the board. There’s nobody safe when you have a year like we just did. No way. The status quo … [Read more...]

P.K. Subban joins Canadiens for first full practice since neck injury When P.K. Subban fell to the ice following his awkward collision with teammate Alexei Emelin on March 10, he made sure to move his hands and legs in order to let any family members watching know that whatever was afflicting him wasn’t dire. “It’s a scary situation. The good thing is there’s no structural damage,” Subban … [Read more...]