Eye on Hockey : CBSSports.com Blogs

Eye On Hockey has moved

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 19:48:14 EST

Hello dear Eye On Hockey readers,

We've had a bit of a renovation around these parts and as a result, the Eye On Hockey page has moved to a brand spankin' new location.

You can now find us right here: http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/blog/eye-on-hockey

So there you go. Be sure to update your bookmarks and keep checking back in throughout the day, as you always do, to find the latest news, analysis and rumors from around the NHL and the world of hockey.

Pregame Skate: Southeast slug race crawls on

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 9:48:17 EST

Florida just looked behind and saw the rest of the division on its heels. (Getty Images)

By Brian Stubits

The Pregame Skate is back. Every morning for the rest of the season we're going to take a look at the games that have the greatest significance in the push for the postseason for you to digest while you drink your java. We'll throw in some miscellany for the fun of it.

7 ET, Florida at Pittsburgh

Winners & Losers: Stars steal one from Sharks

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 0:10:33 EST

By: Adam Gretz

There's always a winner and a loser in the NHL, and this is a new nightly look at some of the winners and losers in the biggest games and biggest situations across the league.

Winners

Tomas Vincour and the Dallas Stars: Dallas went into Thursday's game against San Jose holding a three-point lead in the Pacific Division over the suddenly slumping -- and fading -- Sharks. The one thing the Sharks had going for them was the fact that they had games in hand, as wel as three remaining meetings with the Stars. All of that only matters, of course, if the Sharks find a way to get into the win column again, and they fell short of that once again as the Stars found a way to scratch and claw out another win, beating San Jose in a shootout, 4-3.

Blues take over top spot in NHL

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:20:02 EST

By: Adam Gretz

One of the most incredible stories of the NHL has seen has been the rapid development of the St. Louis Blues, especially since Ken Hitchcock took over for Davis Payne behind the bench earlier in the year.

Thanks to their 3-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night, combined with the New York Rangers 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators, the Blues took over sole possession of the top spot in the NHL standings with 93 points, and it's not a stretch to say that nobody saw them coming at any point this season.

Entering this season there weren't many expectations for the Blues, and they had made the playoffs just once in the previous six years, getting swept in the first round of the 2008-09 season by the Vancouver Canucks. And now they're in a position to be contending for the Presidents Trophy (which goes to the team with the best record at the end of the regular season), something they've won just one other team in their existence, taking it during the 1999-00 season.

Video: Mike Green elbows Brett Connolly in head

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 8:56:20 EDT

By: Adam Gretz

There haven't been many suspensions in the NHL over the past couple of months, but Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green may have given Brendan Shanahan a reason to fire up another one of his (now rare) disciplinary videos.

Late in the second period of Thursday's game against Tampa Bay, a pretty important game in the Eastern Conference playoff race, Green delivered an elbow to the head of Lightning forward Brett Connolly (as he was being held up by Dmitry Orlov), dropping him to the ice.

There was no penalty called on the play, but Green has been suspended previously in his NHL career, missing three games for elbowing Michael Frolik in the head last season.

Blue Jackets offer to fix your Jeff Carter jersey

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 23:22:41 EST

By: Adam Gretz

The biggest drawback to purchasing a jersey with a player name on the back is the inevitable fact that one day that player, for one reason or another, will no longer play for your favorite team. Trades, free agency, cuts, or any other sort of roster move will result in you owning a jersey with a name and number that is no longer relevant to the current team on the ice (or field, or court, depending on the sport).

That's kind of what Columbus Blue Jackets fans that bought into the Jeff Carter excitement over the summer are feeling right now after he was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings prior to the trade deadline in exchange for Jack Johnson.

But good news! The Blue Jackets announced on Thursday, ahead of their home game against the Kings, that fans can take their Jeff Carter No. 7 jersey to the team store at Nationwide arena before the end of the first period on Thursday (yes, it's a one night deal) and have the name plate changed to add Jack Johnson's name (who wears the same No. 7 that Carter wore in Columbus) free of charge. And that is a pretty cool gesture on their part.

Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson on Kings' kiss, dance cams

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:11:21 EST

By Brian Stubits

The camera has always liked Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson. They're obviously both accomplished actors and in the case of Hanks, I'd say one of the best of the last 25 years. I'm a Big fan.

Turns out they like the camera too. Or at least Wilson does. Hanks seems to go along with it. No really, check out Wilson's reaction when she and Hanks were featured on the Kiss Cam at a recent Kings game in Los Angeles (they show up at the :52 mark).

She was sitting there waiting oh so patiently and then was so excited that she was multi-tasking, giving the camera a very enthusiastic thumbs up while planting a big smooch on Hanks. It's like a lifelong dream come true for Wilson.

NHL Award Races: Breaking down coaches, GMs

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:24:25 EST

Hitchcock has pointed St. Louis in the right direction at each and every turn. (Getty Images)

By Brian Stubits

Welcome to Award Races. For every week the remainder of the season, we will break down two of the awards races at a time and see how they are stacking up as the NHL season hits the home stretch.

When it comes to coaches, it feels like nearly half lost their jobs at some point this season. Truth is, it's actually one shy of a 1/3, which is still an astronomically high number.

Avs' Duchene out 3-4 weeks with ankle injury

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:17:37 EST

By Brian Stubits

Right back in the thick of things out West, the Colorado Avalanche shared some bad news on Thursday when they announced that Matt Duchene is going to miss the next 3-4 weeks after suffering an ankle injury. The good news? At least it doesn't require surgery.

Have a look at the play that caused the injury as the puck slipped between his feet and a pokecheck came. The best word to describe it is awkward.

Pregame Skate: Jeff Carter back in Columbus

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 9:51:55 EST

Carter returns to Columbus, just in black. I guess that's fitting. (Getty Images)

By Brian Stubits

7 ET, Los Angeles at Columbus

Injuries starting to build for the Maple Leafs

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 16:34:01 EST

By: Adam Gretz

PITTSBURGH -- The Toronto Maple Leafs are losing ground in the playoff race, and they're also starting to lose bodies on the ice.

Just one night after losing forwards Joffrey Lupul and Colby Armstrong, Toronto lost two more players on Wednesday night in Pittsburgh when defenseman Cody Franson and forward Mike Brown went down on their first shifts of the night and did not return during a 3-2 loss to the Penguins, a game that saw the Maple Leafs blow a two-goal lead, losing for the 11th time in their past 13 games.

Franson did not return after getting hit in the eye with a stick, and Brown left with what was described as a lower body injury.

Winners & Losers: Pominville keeps Sabres in race

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 22:49:14 EST

By: Adam Gretz

There's always a winner and a loser in the NHL, and this is a new nightly look at some of the winners and losers in the biggest games and biggest situations across the league.

Winners

Buffalo Sabres: Thanks to Jason Pominville's overtime goal (as seen above) the Buffalo Sabres managed to gain a little more ground in the Eastern Conference playoff race on Wednesday night.

Avery not on AHL playoff roster; is career done?

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:02:37 EST

Avery played 15 games this season with New York, scoring three goals. (Getty Images)

By Brian Stubits

Is this it? Have we seen the end of Sean Avery the professional hockey player?

The AHL Connecticut Whale put together their playoff roster and Avery wasn't on it. What's more, they even told him he no longer needs to report to the rink for practices or games according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post. Sounds like a complete excommunication to me.

Kris Letang: the missing piece for the Penguins

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:31:24 EST

By: Adam Gretz

Pucks and Numbers: a weekly statistical look at what's happening around the NHL. This week: A look at the importance of Kris Letang to the Penguins' postseason chances.

When it was announced on Tuesday afternoon that Sidney Crosby has been cleared for contact, the next major step in his latest attempt return to the lineup, it sent a wave of excitement and optimism through the Penguins fan base.

It's not hard to see why. He is, after all, their captain, their best player, and the best player in the league when he's healthy. With him in the lineup the Penguins should go from being a Stanley Cup contender to, perhaps, one of the top two or three favorites -- if not the favorite -- in the NHL ... if their lineup remains intact.

Leafs' Lupul separates shoulder, out 3-4 weeks

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 8:14:32 EST

Lupul is right behind Kessel for the team lead in points. (Getty Images)

By Brian Stubits

When it rains it pours, which is what is happening to the Toronto Maple Leafs right now. On Wednesday they announced that All-Star winger Joffrey Lupul is going to miss the next 3-4 weeks after separating his shoulder.

In the process, the Leafs also announced that Colby Armstrong is day to day after breaking his nose and the team called up Ashton Carter to fill in. Carter was the return from Tampa Bay in the Keith Aulie trade.

Penguins honor Mario Lemieux with statue

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 7:57:01 EST

The new statue up close. (Kevin McGran)

By Brian Stubits

The Pittsburgh Penguins honored one of the all-time greats and the multi-time savior of their franchise on Thursday, unveiling a statue of Le Magnifique, Mario Lemieux.

The ceremoney, held on a warm, 66-degree day (so perfect) in Pittsburgh was attended by a large amount of Penguins fans who came to not only honor Lemieux as a great player, but thank him for saving the franchise on multiple occassions.

Lightning G Garon out 3-4 weeks with torn groin

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:00:29 EST

Garon is 23-16-3 with a 2.85 GAA, .901 save percentage. (Getty Images)

By Brian Stubits

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced on Wednesday that goaltender Mathieu Garon will miss the next 3-4 weeks after tearing a groin muscle in Tuesday's home loss to the Ottawa Senators.

Just when you thought the Lightning might have it in them to come roaring back (see what I did there?) this happens.

Orlov, Tootoo given misconducts for pushing refs

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:40:20 EST

By Brian Stubits

Players know that one of the cardinal sins in hockey -- and sports -- is touching officials in an aggressive manner. You just don't do it, it spells trouble every time.

As a result, we don't see it happen often. But it happened on Tuesday night. Twice.

One incident involved Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov after he and his teammates felt like he was slew-footed by Jeff Skinner of the Hurricanes. Tensions were high when the whistle blew and the scrum ensued, eventually Orlov shoves linesman Jean Morin who was trying to restrain Orlov.

Pregame Skate: Sabres, Leafs continue push

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 10:09:28 EST

Lindy Ruff and Buffalo return home. (Getty Images)

By Brian Stubits

7 ET, Carolina at Buffalo

Winners & Losers: Big night for Kings offense

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 0:54:38 EST

Adam Gretz

There's always a winner and a loser in the NHL, and this is a new nightly look at some of the winners and losers in the biggest games and biggest situations across the league.

Winners

Los Angeles Kings: Entering Tuesday's game in Nashville it had been nearly three full months since the Los Angeles Kings scored five goals in a single game, and they managed to do it for the first time since January 9 in a 5-4 win against the Predators thanks in part to a pair of first period goals from Justin Williams.

Milan Michalek's bizarre hat trick

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 23:00:46 EST

By: Adam Gretz

Milan Michalek recorded his second career hat trick on Tuesday night during the Senators 7-3 win in Tampa Bay, and it was pretty much a gift from Lightning coach Guy Boucher.

All three goals were scored in succession during the third period, making it a natural hat trick, and it was also one of the more, let's say ... interesting, hat tricks that you will see, scoring his first goal on the power play, giving the Senators a 5-3 lead, and then completing the trick by adding not one, but two empty net goals as Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher kept pulling his goalie in a desperate attempt to get his team back into the game.

You don't always see coaches pulling their goalie with a minute to play in a game their team is down by three goals, as the Lightning were when Boucher lifted Dwayne Roloson allowing Michalek to score his third goal, but Tampa Bay is in desperate need of points as it attempts to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff race (and, amazingly, the Southeast Division race) and it was a last ditch effort to spark a late rally.

Jakub Voracek gets crushed by Niklas Kronwall

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:15:04 EST

By: Adam Gretz

Midway through the second period of Tuesday's game between Detroit and Philadelphia, Flyers forward Jakub Voracek was on the receiving end of this crushing hit from Niklas Kronwall, one of the biggest hitters in the NHL (his resume is all over the Internet).

It's pretty clear right away that Voracek was in some trouble, and that's Flyers analyst -- and former Flyers player -- Bill Clement asking where the freakin' whistle was as Voracek was on the ice trying to figure out what just happened to him.

There was no penalty called on the play, but it's pretty obvious that the head is the principal point of contact, which means it's definitely going to get a look from the NHL, especially since Voracek appeared to be injured as a result of the hit.

Nicklas Grossman is now Nicklas ... Grossmann

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:45:00 EST

By: Adam Gretz

Our bizarre NHL story of the day comes out of Philadelphia and involves new Flyers defenseman Nicklas Grossmann. The second "N" at the end being the key, as it never existed on any of his official NHL gear or paperwork throughout his career, even though it was the actual way to spell his name.

Grossmann just never said anything. Until now.

According to Tim Pannaccio of CSN Philadelphia, the mistake was finally noticed by Flyers director of team services Bryan Hardenberg when he saw Grossmann's passport and spotted that the spelling did not match up with what is on the back of the defenseman's jersey, which has been spelled incorrectly since his NHL career began with the Dallas Stars.

The Playoffs have already started for Coyotes

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:32:43 EST

By: Adam Gretz

PITTSBURGH -- After cruising through the month of February without a loss in regulation or overtime, the Phoenix Coyotes have hit a rut at the beginning of March, losing three consecutive games, including Monday's 2-1 decision in Pittsburgh.

For a team that's already in what it considers to be playoff mode, needing every win it can get along the way in what is a completely unpredictable and constantly changing playoff race, that's a tough, and potentially costly, stretch of games.

The Western Conference race is so close right now that the Coyotes dropped from the No. 3 seed, and the top spot in the Pacific Division, all the way down to the No. 7 seed, losing the top spot in the division due to a tiebreaker to the Dallas Stars -- a team that didn't even play on Monday night. Entering Tuesday's game in Columbus the Coyotes are just three points ahead of the ninth seeded Avalanche, and one of four teams, along with Dallas, San Jose and Los Angeles, fighting for the Pacific Division crown.

Crosby cleared for contact, could play on Sunday

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 8:36:53 EST

Crosby has two goals and 10 assists in eight games this season. (Getty Images)

By Brian Stubits

Sidney Crosby has one again been cleared for contact and could be returning very soon. How soon? Perhaps as soon as Sunday.

"I'll give myself days with contact," Crosby said. "We have two more practices this week. No sooner than Sunday, I would say, but I'm not going to sit here and put a date on it. It would be total guesswork. I just want to make sure I get through these days fine and that would be a great decision to make if I get to that point.

Most miserable city? Post-Thrashers Atlanta

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:29:51 EST

The fans pleaded to no avail in Atlanta. (Getty Images)

By Brian Stubits

To the city of Atlanta and the sports fans there, I'm sorry, this feels a bit like piling on. But your city has been named the Most Miserable Sports City in America by Forbes, usurping Seattle for that dubious title.

Of course the biggest contribution to Atlanta's rise (fall?) to the top (bottom?) of the rankings was the loss of a franchise, the Thrashers leaving the city for the greener (or whiter with all that snow) pastures that were Winnipeg.

Leafs re-sign Mikhail Grabovski for five seasons

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:09:45 EST

Grabovski has 20 goals this season for Toronto. (Getty Images)

By Brian Stubits

The Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed center Mikhail Grabovski to a five-year contract, ensuring that their talented centerman won't hit the free-agent market this summer.

The cost? Well it's going to be a little expensive for the Leafs.

Pregame Skate: Big night for all in playoff push

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 9:45:27 EST

Jumbo Joe and San Jose enter the night eighth in the West. (Getty Images)

By Brian Stubits

10:30 ET, Edmonton at San Jose

Winners & Losers: Jets win to finish homestand

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 0:27:42 EST

By Brian Stubits

There's always a winner and a loser in the NHL, and this is a new nightly look at some of the winners and losers in the biggest games and biggest situations across the league.

Winners

Winnipeg: Not the Jets -- although they fit too -- but the city of Winnipeg. Its support of the Jets in their return season has been spectacular and it seemed as amped up as ever at MTS Centre on Monday night with the Sabres in town. Winner earned the right to hold the eighth seed.

Bruins sign Marty Turco after Rask injury

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:47:13 EST

Turco spent 2010-11 in Chicago. (Getty Images)

By Brian Stubits

Not even an hour after the Boston Bruins announced that backup goaltender Tuukka Rask was going to miss the next 4-6 weeks with an abdomen strain/groin strain, they found their new (and temporary) backup by signing veteran Marty Turco.

Turco, who most recently played in the NHL with the Blackhawks last season, has spent time this year playing in Austria's First Division. In six postseason starts, he had a 3.16 GAA and .911 save percentage.