Hi footballers. I'll try to check in often and post relevant info as I encounter it. I'm sure things will be relatively quiet until the end of summer, but here I am.

"Trusting anybody is for that is nuts."

Wow, now the jail is getting philosophical, ha ha ha.

I just watched the witherspoon fight. He looked great. Nice to see hiim coming back and getting some respect. I don't think he can match up with Lewis or either of the Klitschko brothers, but I think he could take Moorer and everone else below him on the rankings.

Stars deliver the goods
February 6, 2003

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Lost amid the late-January hoopla surrounding the Super Bowl and the premiere of Jimmy Kimmel Live was the mid-season meeting of hockey's two best teams.

The matchup between the Dallas Stars, the NHL's highest scoring team, and the Ottawa Senators, third in the League in goals scored, needed no hype. It was the anti-Super Bowl, a game that began without any buildup and ended with a payoff more wildly entertaining than Kimmel's unconventional talkfest.

The Stars scored three third-period goals to overcome Martin Havlat's hat trick and win, 5-3, in a game that could very well have been a primer for this spring's Stanley Cup Finals.

Who better, then, to assess the Western Conference's best team than the Eastern Conference's best team?


Offseason additions like winger Bill Guerin have lifted the Stars to the best record in the NHL through the All-Star break.
"They are an excellent hockey club," Senators coach Jacques Martin said of the Stars. "They have good depth. That's one of their strengths, but with Dallas, it's not just depth. They have excellent players, people like Mike Modano and Bill Guerin, Pierre Turgeon, Scott Young. They've got some great youngsters, too. Brendan Morrow is playing very well. And their defense is very good, too."

The three-goal third period rally left Ottawa impressed by the Stars' firepower.

"When you look at their lineup, right away you see that they've got a lot of players that can put the puck in the net," Ottawa right winger Marian Hossa said. "They've got three strong lines and they've got a defense that is really playing well. It's no surprise that they are having such a great year."

Like most everyone else in the NHL, Senators' defenseman Zdeno Chara believes the Stars success was sown by GM Doug Armstrong during last summer's free-agent signing frenzy.

"They signed a lot of key guys over the summer," Chara said. "It's really paying off for them. They've got a really good, experienced hockey team and they are playing really good right now, they're one of the best teams we have played so far this year."

Related Links

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Eastern Conference notebook
Talk about the NHL


Martin agreed with Chara's assessment.

"The signings they made in the off-season really helped their hockey club," Martin said. "Philippe Boucher was one of the top four defensemen for the L.A. Kings last season, Bill Guerin was a top right winger with Boston last season. So, Dallas went out and got two of the top players available and it shows."

The Stars and Senators appear to be on a collision course, destined to meet in the Stanley Cup Finals, though it's never quite that easy, of course. Especially with Detroit standing in Dallas' way in the West and New Jersey primed for a run in the East behind the play of goalie Martin Brodeur.

A Dallas-Ottawa Cup Final, if it does happen, would be a matchup of two high-powered teams with great goaltending, a pairing of teams that aren't afraid to go end to end. If the Jan. 27 preview in Dallas is any indication, a Stars-Senators Final has a chance to be Super. It might even be more unpredictable than Kimmel's daring talk show. It might run longer, too.

Duck season


New Mighty Ducks defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh is a seven-time All-Star who won a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 1996.
Serious about ending their three-year hiatus from the playoffs, the Mighty Ducks obtained defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh from Florida in exchange for Matt Cullen and Pavel Trnka on Jan. 30. Ozolinsh is a seven-time All-Star who won a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 1996.

"This is a guy who brings something special," Anaheim GM Bryan Murray said. "I think he will add a great deal to our power play."

Murray said Ozolinsh reminds him of Paul Coffey, a player he obtained when he was Detroit's GM back in 1993. Though many thought Coffey to be past his prime at the time of that deal, he made Murray look good by winning a Norris Trophy in Motown in 1995. Ozolinsh made Murray look like Einstein by scoring the game-winning goal at Calgary in his first game as a Duck.

Almost as important as what the deal does for the Ducks is what it says about them. Ozolinsh's presence doesn't guarantee the Ducks a playoff berth in the West, but even if the Ducks come up short this year, the deal makes a statement. In acquiring an All-Star earning $5.5 million per season, Murray sent the message that he and his ownership are committing to winning, and doing so now. At 30, Ozolinsh is still young enough to not only make the Ducks' present better, he should improve their future, too.

Coyote ugly

In most instances, bettering a record held by the storied Montreal Canadiens franchise would be a good thing. Not in Phoenix, however, where the Coyotes are in jeopardy of surpassing the Habs' record for man-games lost in a season.

The Coyotes have lost more than 300 man games this season and are closing in on the dubious record of 535 man games lost, established by Montreal in 1999-2000.


When the season began, Tony Amonte had the NHL's longest consecutive-games-played streak, but that came to end at 453.
The Coyotes rash of injuries has been so severe its even spread to iron man Tony Amonte. When the season began, Amonte had the NHL's longest consecutive-games-played streak, but that came to end at 453.

Presumably, iron man streaks are like diets and budgets in that once they're over, they're over. Amonte, who played all 82 games over the course of five consecutive seasons, has missed seven already this season due to bruised ribs. If the Amonte injury is a clue that this probably isn't the Coyotes' year, the way defenseman Ossi Vaananen was sidelined is a dead giveaway.

Vaananen is out four to six weeks after suffering a knee injury when a vehicle, driven by an elderly driver, struck Vaananen and some friends as they exited a taxi during All-Star Weekend.

Around the Western Conference

Almost a year after Tommy Salo supposedly had his confidence shattered forever when he allowed a fluke goal from center ice while playing for Sweden at the Olympics, the Edmonton goaltender has 18 wins, a .903 save percentage and four shutouts. At the time, the idea that Salo's career would be ruined by a single gaffe made for a great story; it just wasn't a very realistic one. ... Ian Laperriere is the latest King to be sidelined, out four to six weeks after knee surgery. ... The case of Bryan Trottier is a reminder of the capricious nature of coaching success. Had Trottier stayed in Colorado, he likely would have been hired instead of Tony Granato to replace Bob Hartley in taking over a team still talented enough to make a postseason run. Instead, Trottier took the Rangers job, was never welcomed because of his history with the Islanders, didn't have the coaching chops to stir the perennially lethargic Blueshirts and never really had a chance to succeed. Makes you realize how important timing and working for the right people in the right organization are in a coach's success. ... Unlike Trottier, Ron Wilson was smart enough to take a job in San Jose, a place where he's likely to succeed and smarter yet to preach patience in getting the Sharks back on track. ... First-time coaches who are young, hungry and well-prepared still seem like the best bet to succeed as 39-year-old Mike Babcock and 41-year-old Dave Tippett are proving in Anaheim and Dallas, respectively. ... The first-season fade that plagues so many rookies seems to have caught up with L.A.'s Alexander Frolov and Anaheim's Stanislav Chistov, a recent healthy scratch.

Tarnstrom enjoys
triumphant season
By Nancy Koenig / Special to NHL.com
February 7, 2003



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When the New York Islanders placed Dick Tarnstrom on waivers over the summer, there were two ways the Swedish defenseman could have reacted to the latest development in his hockey career.
He could have opted to dwell on the sense of rejection that comes naturally in that type of situation. He could have viewed it as his first NHL team giving up on him before he had much of a chance to prove his worth, despite posting 19 points in 62 games. And the timing wasn't the greatest, as he would have to start thinking about moving his newborn son to a new city.

But Tarnstrom probably wouldn't be enjoying the success he is today had he chosen to take things personally.

"I have no hard feelings toward the Islanders," he said with a tone seeping with sincerity. "It's a business. You've got certain guys that play a lot of minutes and there was no room for me. I understand that. I'm pretty thankful to them for letting me go."

If he was still with the club today, Tarnstrom knows he would be facing a similar situation as he did last year regarding playing time, as the Islanders boast great depth with their skilled and experienced blue line. So while he's appreciative the organization brought him to the NHL, helping him fulfill his childhood dream by selecting him in the 11th round of the 1994 Entry Draft and signing him to his first professional North American contract, he's also grateful they released him as opposed to using him sparingly.

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Pull down to choose a past EuroStar
2002-2003 EuroStars2/4: Richard Zednik1/24: Martin Havlat1/17: Ilya Kovalchuk1/10: Alexei Kovalev1/03: Olli Jokinen



Enter the Penguins, who found the balance of his talent and low price tag appealing.

Tarnstrom made an immediate impact in Pittsburgh, well almost. Truth be told, he was a healthy scratch for the Penguins' season opener against the Maple Leafs. Two nights later, he made his team debut against the Rangers, collecting a goal and two assists while logging 27:46 minutes.

As the season progressed, it became evident that Tarnstrom was going to be a bigger factor than anticipated. His precise value was determined when he was sidelined for a month with a fractured foot, suffered by blocking a shot. At the time, Tarnstrom led all NHL defensemen with 25 points and was leading his team in ice time. Beginning with the first game played in his absence, the Penguins lost 10 consecutive matches.

Those who attributed Tarnstrom's success to Pittsburgh's talent up front or chalked up his power play display to a unit that includes Mario Lemieux and Alexei Kovalev were encouraged to see things from a different perspective, a vantage point his teammates have been looking from all along.

"The overall success of the power play has a lot to do with him," said Kovalev. "Because of his skating and stickhandling ability and the way he sees the rink, he's the reason our power play is so good this year. A lot of things he's done have helped the team win hockey games."

Opponents with at least five minutes of NHL experience know that Kovalev likes to carry the puck into the offensive zone. Anticipating his tendencies help them attempt to defend against his mesmerizing moves.

"He can do the same thing," Kovalev said of Tarnstrom. "That makes it far easier for me because he forces the other team to jump on him and he can make a pass while they're doing that. He can also shoot the puck real hard."?


Dick Tarnstrom leads all Penguins players with a plus-6 rating through games played on February 7th.
Pittsburgh's forwards aren't the only ones who have benefited from Tarnstrom's talents.

"He's an easy guy to play with," said defensive partner Ian Moran. "He's always there when you need an out. In terms of X's and O's, if you were getting pressure and were asked where would you like your partner to be, he's usually standing on that X."

While his skating and offensive skills came as advertised, Tarnstrom has also delivered keen, intuitive vision, smart decision-making and the ability to make crisp, clean outlet passes. His plus-6 rating leads all Penguins.

"He has a lot of poise with the puck," said Moran.

Poise and patience are not words typically used to describe second-year NHL defensemen. Then again, most sophomore blueliners can't claim they've spent nine years in the Swedish Elite League. Tarnstrom took his time gaining experience in his native country and arrived in North America with the maturity of a 26-year old.

His first taste of the League involved participating in voluntary workouts the summer before last season. At the time, he joked that the biggest transition he'd have to make would be getting used to the food. "It'll be fine because I like McDonalds."

In Sweden, Tarnstrom set career highs as AIK Solna's top scoring rearguard, collecting 10 goals and 18 assists in 50 games. Aftonbladet, a prominent Swedish newspaper, called him the league's most underrated defensemen and ranked him among the league's best players.

This season, he's averaged just under a point per game in the NHL, with five goals and 31 points in 35 games. When asked how he feels about breaking his own career high in points, he looked as though it was news to him.

"I just want to win the games," Tarnstrom said. "Of course it's fun to get points but it's not everything. I don't really think about it that much."

What he does think about is the fact that he's living his dream. From a young age, Tarnstrom not only knew what he wanted to do, he also believed he would get a chance to do it.


After the New York Islanders wiaved him last summer Dick Tarnstrom found a home with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"Hockey was all I could think about," he said. "I remember that I was pretty young when I first told my mom I was going to be a professional hockey player. I just knew."

Growing up, his vision included NHL aspirations. He didn't know he'd end up playing for and with one of hockey's greatest legends. He only needs one word to describe Lemieux. "Awesome."

It's the same word you might hear him use to describe the time he's spent as a Penguin.

Sure, he could have arrived in Pittsburgh with a bruised ego. He could have used the experience of being placed on waivers as an excuse to feel a little sorry for himself. But Tarnstrom understood he was only the victim of a numbers game and chose to look at the situation as one he could benefit from.

His integrity can be detected by the way he speaks of his former club, the credit he deflects to teammates and coaches on his present one and the fact that he truly appreciates each day he gets to spend as an NHL player.

"I have no complaints at all."

Thrashers getting all the bounces


The Atlanta Thrashers are quickly learning how to make their own luck.

Marc Savard scored into an open net after a fortunate bounce off the glass, sending the streaking Thrashers to a 4-2 road victory over New Jersey on Friday night.

With Atlanta on a third-period power play, defenseman Andy Sutton dumped the puck in hard and high along the boards. Devils goalie Martin Brodeur got caught behind his net trying to play the puck and it came ricocheting wildly out in front to Savard, who snapped a 2-all tie with 6:56 to go.

Sutton credited coach Bob Hartley.

"Bob told us before the game to get everything up on the glass," Sutton said. "With the partitions, you never know what kind of bounce you're going to get. ... Sure enough in the third, we got a lucky bounce."

Vyacheslav Kozlov scored 15 seconds later on a perfect pass from Dany Heatley, and Atlanta handed the Devils their first loss in regulation since Jan. 4.

The Thrashers improved to 7-2-1 since Hartley took over and won their 19th game overall -- matching last season's total. They're 10 points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

"We're on a roll right now," goalie Byron Dafoe said. "We're looking at that eighth spot. The last month or so it's becoming more and more realistic. Guys are believing more and more in each other and in the system and in our coach."

In other NHL games, it was Vancouver 4, Buffalo 2; Washington 3, the New York Islanders 0; Minnesota 4, San Jose 3; Calgary 4, Edmonton 3; Los Angeles 8, Carolina 2; and Anaheim 3, Phoenix 2.

Ilya Kovalchuk and Dan Snyder also scored for Atlanta, and Dafoe made 26 saves in his first game since Jan. 13.

Stephen Guolla and Patrik Elias scored for the Devils, who had earned points in a franchise-record 14 consecutive games. The loss also snapped a franchise record-tying eight-game winning streak at home and cost New Jersey a chance to take over the league's best record.

"It's been a while," defenseman Brian Rafalski said. "It does feel a little weird. But it brings us back to reality quickly. It was bound to happen sooner or later."

Atlanta extended its club-record road winning streak to four games and beat Brodeur for the first time in 13 tries.

Hurricanes deal Kapanen to Philadelphia
Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - The Carolina Hurricanes traded forward Sami Kapanen and minor league defenseman Ryan Bast to Philadelphia on Friday in exchange for forward Pavel Brendl and defenseman Bruno St. Jacques.

Kapanen, who has scored 20 or more goals in five straight seasons, has six goals and 12 assists in 43 games this year. The Finnish winger has a plus- minus rating of minus-17.

"We need more scoring up front and Kapanen is a proven scorer and has played the point on the power play," said Flyers GM Bob Clarke. "He should be a really good addition to our club."

Kapanen was selected by the Carolina/Hartford franchise in the fourth round of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. The 5-10, 180-pound Kapanen, who is 29-years-old, has 145 goals and 203 assists in eight seasons in the NHL.

Brendl had five goals and seven assists in 42 games for the Flyers this season. The 21-year-old from the Czech Republic made his NHL debut last year for the Flyers, scoring one goal in eight games. Brendl, who is still listed as a rookie, has a plus-minus rating of plus-eight this season.

Brendl, 6"1' and 206 pounds, was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 1999 Draft by the New York Rangers. He joined the Flyers' organization prior to the start of last season as part of the trade that sent Eric Lindros to the Big Apple.

"We were able to acquire two very good, young players for our team," said Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford. "Brendl is still in the developing stages of his professional career and he has a big offensive upside."

St. Jacques played in six games for the Flyers this season, spending most the campaign with Philadelphia's affiliate in the American Hockey League.

Bast has played in just two NHL games.

Kapanen and Brendl will face their former teams on February 15 when the Hurricanes visit the First Union Center.

Penguins Team Report: No. 66 blows a gasket
(Sports Network) - Mario Lemieux doesn't lose his cool very often. But when the team he owns is in the process of getting pounded en route to its fourth straight loss, and he feels he's taking cheap shots in the back, enough is enough.

The third period of Thursday's 6-0 loss to Florida was marred by several scrums, one of which involved Lemieux. The Hall of Famer picked up five penalties -- slashing, instigating, fighting, a misconduct and game misconduct -- all during one late third period incident with Florida's Brad Ference. Ference had cross-checked Lemieux in the back during the middle period.

"[Ference] takes a lot of cheap shots out there," Lemieux said. "He's got to expect teams to go after him. Especially when the game's out of hand like that, he's going to pay for it.

"He does that every game. I've been in the league a long time, and I know when people play hard and I know when people are [messing] around. You can't allow that, so we took care of business."

Lemieux had not been ejected from a match since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against Washington on April 24, 1996. He hadn't been called for a fighting major during the regular season game since March 20, 1987 when he tussled with Bobby Gould.

Roberto Luongo made 28 saves for his fifth shutout of the season to back the Panther rout at the Igloo. Kristian Huselius and Matt Cullen each had a goal and two assists for the Cats, who won their fourth straight against Pittsburgh.

Niklas Hagman, Ivan Majesky, Olli Jokinen and Marcus Nilson each found the back of the net for Florida, which rebounded from a 6-0 defeat on Wednesday to Toronto. Florida snapped a six-game road winless streak (0-5-1).

Sebastien Caron made 41 saves for the Penguins, who lost their fourth straight contest.

The Panthers used a three-goal first period to take control of the contest. Florida took the early lead as Majesky's shot from the blue line beat Caron glove-side. Cullen won a faceoff and the puck caromed to Huselius, who sent a pass back to the point for Majesky, who rifled the shot into the net.

VLVT moved up to .037 on a little bit more volume today. A big volume day and this stock could be back to a dime. Guess it is going to have to wait for verified numbers for that to happen though.

That should make it easier for those interested to find the board now.

WTF was that? Uh, who forgot to pay the electricity bill this month?

Very good idea, but as you noted, having the wrong individuals flaunting an affiliation with Ihub could be suicide.

I would suggest an application process for anyone interested in participating, prior to sending them out into the marketplace.

Other than that, it could be a very good thing if done correctly.

Flyers trade McAllister, pick up Warriner
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday picked up winger Todd Warriner from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a conditional pick.

In a separate move, the Flyers traded defenseman Chris McAllister to the Colorado Avalanche for a sixth-round pick in the 2003 Entry Draft.

Warriner had four goals and six assists in 30 games this season for the Canucks. He has accumulated 63 goals and 85 assists in 434 career games with Toronto, Tampa Bay, Phoenix and Vancouver.

The 6-foot-7, 238-pound McAllister was in his third season with the Flyers. He had not recorded a point in 19 games.

Philadelphia Flyers Team Report - February 5th
From The Sports Network

(Sports Network) - The Flyers snapped a four-game losing streak last night with a 2-1 victory over the Islanders. Philadelphia now stands five points behind New Jersey for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. The Flyers have won 11 of their last 16 games, and seven of their last nine road tilts.

Philadelphia ends the five-game season series with the Islanders at 3-1-1, with all three victories coming on the road. The Flyers won three at the Islanders for the first time in a season since 1986-87. Philadelphia has taken four-of-five in the series away from home.

With a record of 16-7-3-1, the Flyers have an NHL best 36 points on the road this season.

Leading scorer Jeremy Roenick scored last night for the first time in five games, and the second in his last 10.

Flyers' Gagne re-injures groin
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Philadelphia Flyers forward Simon Gagne will not make the trip to Ottawa for the game against the Senators on Thursday after he re-injured his groin during Tuesday's contest versus the Islanders.

Gagne had just returned to the lineup after missing three games with a right groin injury. He appeared to re-injure himself late in the third period and skated slowly to the bench.

In 42 games this season, Gagne has tallied seven goals and 17 assists.

The 22-year-old Gagne set career-highs last season for the Flyers with 33 goals and 33 assists in 79 games. He was also a participant in the 2001 All- Star Game.

Kings acquire Greg Koehler from Predators


EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -- The Los Angeles Kings acquired Greg Koehler from the Nashville Predators for future considerations Tuesday and assigned the 27-year-old center to Manchester of the American Hockey League.

Koehler had 16 goals and 10 assists in 43 games for the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL.

The Kings also activated center Brad Chartrand off the injured reserve list; placed center Michael Cammalleri of the injured reserve list, and recalled forwards Jared Aulin, Scott Barney and Ryan Flinn and defenseman Joe Corvo from Manchester.

The Kings have eight players on the injured reserve list: Cammalleri; forwards Ian Laperriere, Eric Belanger, Ken Belanger, Kip Brennan and Adam Deadmarsh, defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky, and goaltender Felix Potvin.

Women hurt by game pucks sue Red Wings, NHL


DETROIT (AP) -- Two women who claim disabling injuries from pucks that flew into the stands at Joe Louis Arena filed suit Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings, the arena's owners and the NHL.

The suits were filed in Wayne County Circuit Court, attorney James Elliott said.

Elizabeth Taylor, 52, from the Flint area, and Sandra Quick, 32, of suburban Detroit, would not have been hurt had the team installed nets to stop pucks from entering the stands during games, Elliott said.

Quick was injured at a playoff game between Detroit and the Colorado Avalanche on May 20, 2002. She lost three teeth and had damage to four others, Elliott said.

Taylor was hurt while watching a Central Collegiate Hockey Association game on March 16, 2001. She sustained permanent nerve damage and required plastic surgery, her lawyer said.

The NHL installed nets behind the goals before this season in the aftermath of the death of the spectator hit by a puck last March in Columbus, Ohio.

"We have yet to see any of the lawsuits," said Red Wings spokesman John Hahn. "Our legal counsel will have to review it before we can comment."

Feb 05, 2003

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS TEAM REPORT

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last result: 2-1 win at NY Islanders, February 4
Record: 28-14-8-2, 66 points
Streak: Won 1
Next game: February 6 at Ottawa

The Flyers exploded for two goals, including RW Mark Recchi's
power-play tally with 9:56 remaining in the third period, to
snap a four-game losing streak and defeat the Islanders, 2-1,
on Tuesday. ... During its slide, Philadelphia scored just
twice, including back-to-back scoreless efforts against Boston
and Tampa Bay. ... The Flyers improved to 18-1-5 when scoring
the first goal of the game. ... Philadelphia won all three of
its visits to Nassau Coliseum this season, marking the first
time the feat has been accomplished since the 1973-74 campaign.
... LW Simon Gagne returned after a three-game absence due to a
strained groin to reunite with former juniors linemate Eric
Chouinard. But in the waning minutes of the game, Gagne
re-injured his groin and will miss Philadelphia's matchup with
Ottawa on Thursday. ... After winning the accuracy shooting
contest at the SuperSkills Competition during All-Star weekend,
C Jeremy Roenick capitalized on a New York turnover 4 1/2
minutes into the game to give the Flyers the early lead.

Jagr reaches 500 goals
Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - Washington Capitals star winger Jaromir Jagr registered a natural hat trick and recorded his 500th career goal in the process on Tuesday night in a 5-1 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Jagr entered the contest with 497 goals and scored the first three of the game to reach the milestone. He became the third player this season to record 500 goals and the 33rd player in NHL history to achieve the mark.

Joe Sakic of Colorado notched his 500th goal in December and New Jersey's Joe Nieuwendyk did it in January.

Jagr scored his first of the night at 7:27 of the first period on a shot from the right circle, then added his second at 3:46 of the second on a wrist shot from the low slot. He ripped a one-timer from the top of the right circle on a power play just over 3 1/2 minutes later for the milestone.

The 30-year-old Czech native scored the first 439 goals of his 13-year NHL career with Pittsburgh. The Penguins traded him before the 2001-02 season to Washington. He scored 31 goals in his first year with the Capitals and has 30 this season.

Jagr has won five Art Ross Trophies as the NHL's leading scorer and was the Hart Trophy winner as league MVP in 1999.

Probert enters treatment program
New York, NY (Sports Network) - The National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players' Association announced Tuesday that Bob Probert has voluntarily entered residential treatment as part of the Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program of the NHLPA and the NHL.

The program's doctors, Dr. Dave Lewis on behalf of the NHL and Dr. Brian Shaw on behalf of the NHLPA, are administering Probert’s care.

Probert has had his share of drug problems. On March 2, 1989, Probert was charged with smuggling cocaine into the United States and was expelled by the league two days later. After serving a jail sentence, Probert was reinstated by the league on March 14, 1990.

In September 2, 1994, Probert was placed on inactive status by the NHL for violating substance abuse policies and ordered into an NHL-supervised treatment center. He was reinstated on April 28, 1995.

Probert, a 17-year NHL veteran, decided to put his hockey playing career on hold after he was unable to catch on with a club after clearing waivers. He then joined the Chicago Blackhawks' radio broadcast team for the 2002-03 season.

The rugged winger played in 61 games last year for the Blackhawks, registering one goal and three assists while accumulating 176 penalty minutes.

The 37-year-old Probert was originally a 1983 third-round draft pick of the Red Wings. He played nine seasons in Detroit before joining the Blackhawks in 1994.

In 935 career games, Probert has totaled 384 points (163 goals, 221 assists) and 3,300 penalty minutes.

Isn't that a strange twist of events

Coyotes' Vaananen injured in car accident
Scottsdale, AZ (Sports Network) - Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Ossi Vaananen will be sidelined four to six weeks after suffering a strained medial collateral ligament in his right knee during an auto accident.

The accident occurred in the Miami area on Saturday night. Vaananen and two reporters from Finland were struck while standing outside a taxi by a car driven by an elderly man.

Vaananen had just played in the Young Guns Game as part of the NHL All-Star weekend and the three men hired the taxi to take them to dinner.

"A car ran me over," Vaananen said at the Coyotes' practice facility Monday. "It's as simple as that. The driver wasn't drinking, but his reactions weren't any good and he couldn't see properly."

Vaananen spent six hours at a hospital and was released, but his knees became increasingly swollen and painful on the flight back to Arizona. He underwent a magnetic resonance imaging exam upon returning.

In 50 games this season, Vaananen has tallied one goal and four assists.


02/04 16:52:32 ET

Car accident injures Colorado's Hinote
Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Colorado Avalanche forward Dan Hinote was injured in a car accident on Sunday in Boston. He is expected to miss up to two games.

The 26-year-old Hinote, who was a passenger in the car, injured his head and leg in the accident. He was treated at a Boston hospital and then flew back to Denver on Monday.

Hinote has five goals and three assists in 40 games this season for Colorado. He is playing in his fourth NHL season, all with the Avalanche.

Colorado plays at Boston on Tuesday and then travels to Detroit for a clash with the Red Wings on Thursday.

I mentioned this once before here but it is still a problem that you might want to take a look at.

The preferred AD, does not open in a new window, instead it rediects the user to the advertised site. All other ads seem to open in a new window except this one. You might want to fix that.

Sounds like some sort of homosexual desire for oral masochism to me. I guess that is allowed here in the jail, so enjoy yourself.

Remember when Matt or Churak bites you to turn the other cheek.

Obviously that is a pig.

ie. a piggy bank, as the slot is evident on it's back into which one inserts coins.

Got an email today from a friend, seems that things are still moving in a positive direction even though it is not reflected in the share price. I don't have any new info of any kind, but am confident that there is an audit taking place of the financials and we will get the results when it is completed, sometime this quarter.

Nah, I just use that site to serve pornography. The school isn't built yet, so there is no sense wasting the space, ha ha ha

I was the first to try it out. I'll let you know if the bling bling arrives, ha ha ha.

I can't get the lipstick off my monitor now?

Hows this?

I don't know, I but out bait but he didn't bite.

bait

I'd like my shirt to be custom fitted and color coordinated to match my eyes.

A little bit of volume crept in and the stock is now 3.4/3.5

very low volume today, but slowly creeping upwards.

On that note, most of the ads open in their own new popup window, however sometimes they do not. They instead direct the ihub member offsite. I'd suggest checking them and not allowing this to happen.

And I go click on the ads every day just like I was told, ha ha ha.

Kings' Laperriere undergoes surgery
El Segundo, CA (Sports Network) - Los Angeles Kings forward Ian Laperriere underwent surgery on his right knee Monday to remove bone chips and scar tissue and is expected to miss four-to-six weeks.

The 6-1, 201-pound Laperriere has two goals, 10 assists and 87 penalty minutes in 46 games this season

In 605 career NHL games with the Kings, New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues, Laperriere has 175 points and 1,149 penalty minutes. His 924 penalty minutes as a King rank fifth on the franchise’s all-time list.

In addition, the Kings have placed Laperriere on the injured reserve list and have recalled goaltender Cristobal Huet from the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League.

Huet, 27, has not played in a game for the Kings this season. In 26 games with the Monarchs this season, he has a 14-7-4 record, a 2.38 goals-against- average, a .918 save percentage and one shutout.