UPDATE: According to multiple reports, Del Zotto will not face a suspension by the league.
Checked: no hearing scheduled for Michael Del Zotto. Rangers are in Carolina tonight.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 6, 2013
***
The Pittsburgh Penguins, who had dropped two in a row after a 15 game winning streak in March, got back in the win column last night against the New York Rangers, but it may have come with another long-term injury to one of their top players.
Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson takes exception to a Zac Rinaldo hit on Chris Phillips by cross-checking the forward in the face late in the third period of today’s game against the Flyers. On the play, he received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for his actions.
UPDATE: The league has decided not to fine or suspend Max Pacioretty for his hit Saturday night on the Rangers’ Ryan McDonagh.
As others have reported, NHL decides no supplementary discipline for MTL’s Max Pacioretty.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 24, 2013
Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty will have a phone hearing with the league later today due to an incident last night against the New York Rangers.
Pacioretty, who took a big hit earlier in the game up against the boards from a hit by Ryan McDonagh, was called for boarding McDonagh in the second period, who left the game and did not return.
UPDATE: Grabovski’s hearing has been pushed back until Monday.
Mikhail Grabovski’s hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety has been pushed back to tomorrow morning.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 10, 2013
The Toronto Maple Leafs 6-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens was impressive for sure, but it also featured an incident in the third period that may land Maple Leafs forward Mikhail Grabovski in hot water with the league.
Grabovski has a hearing scheduled with the league today after an allegedly biting Canadiens’ forward Max Pacioretty. During a third period scuffle, Pacioretty wrapped his arm around Grabovski’s head, and later claimed Grabovski bit him.
I have my mother’s hands, actually.
That’s how Alex Gibney’s remarkable documentary, “The Last Gladiators,” begins: a tight close-up of a pair of hands that are small, delicate, and fragile looking. The camera stays focussed on those hands as their owner, Chris “Knuckles” Nilan, describes the abuse they took over a 13-year NHL career. Throughout the opening two minutes of the film, the camera doesn’t leave his hands: we get to know his knuckles before we ever see Nilan’s face.
It’s an appropriate opening, as many hockey fans likely know far more about Nilan’s fists than they know about Nilan as a person. “The Last Gladiators” changes that, giving an unprecedented look into the life of an NHL enforcer. Toward the end of the film, while working with a public speaking coach, Nilan seems uncomfortable introducing himself as “Knuckles.” His coach suggests instead, ”I bet some of you in this audience know me as “Knuckles” Nilan. I prefer ‘Chris’.” More than anything, this is a film about Chris.
I’m not exactly sure what people expect from award shows. If you’ve ever seen any, like so much as one in your life, you’re aware they’re not exactly a Louie CK stand-up hour of unadulterated hilarity, and it’s pretty unlikely your favourite band is going to show up and bang out your favourite song - they’re major events meant to appeal to the masses. With that in mind…I thought last night’s NHL Award Show from Las Vegas was just fine, and pretty entertaining. (Daniel Wagner gave his review here.)
I took notes along the way (how sad is that), so let’s mindlessly plow through every one with zero discretion.
For starters, here’s a list of who won the stuff that matters:
It’s become common practice for folks to slough off the NHL all-star game, because let’s face it, it isn’t very good.
That said, that doesn’t mean we should make a mockery of it – being selected to your league’s all-star team is a big deal. It’s nice to reflect on after your career, and more importantly, it’s nice to bring up at contract talks during your career.
Below is the full list of who got selected, followed by my initial reaction.
Jo Innes, Ryan Lambert, Daniel Wagner, Cam Charron, Ellen Etchingham, Jake Goldsbie, Darren Kritzer
