Travis

Such awesome news, unfortunately - I won't be able to make it to Friday or Saturday's game (). I am happy that he's on the road back, though.

Boom. Roasted.

Sorry, couldn't help it. Awesome photo of Mr. Hockey, though.

As a DirecTV customer, I have fought with them so many times about their crappy NHL coverage. I get the MLB, NBA, and NFL Network but not the NHL Network. Or Versus, or TSN, or CBC, or FSN+. I digress, that's another gripe for another thread.

Like I mentioned previously, I lived there for a good chunk of 08/09 and I thought it was great. I lived in the Oakland area and it was nice, clean, friendly, etc. Someone tried to warn me about muggings that were supposedly taking place before I walked home one night and I couldn't help but laugh. I felt safer there than I do even in Grand Rapids, which is saying a lot.

His stick handling has improved so much from where it once was, I agree that - once he becomes a better finisher - he'll be great.

I completely agree. I see Filppula as improving all the time, even if slightly. I'd say it's pretty unfair to assume he's done growing.

I agree that it's exciting, but it does sort of seem like a novelty after awhile. Even my girlfriend commented after yesterday's game that, essentially, it wasn't Pittsburgh beating us - but they're SO shooters beating ours. Not any real revelation there but, when you think about it, it's a somewhat bitter pill to swallow.

*shrug* I lived there for a large portion of 08/09 (moved back to MI after Game 2, thank goodness!) and never had an issue. Having said that, I never attended a game at the Igloo - but I had a fair amount of good natured chatter with some Pittsburghers. One guy even booed me from his car as I walked down the street in my Lids shirt. Too bad his window was rolled up. Either way, that really sucks about Helm's girlfriend and I'm glad those "fans" got thrown out. I just have a hard time labeling the fanbase as classess or sh*theads because I had nothing but good times in the city.

We can always hope that it takes the new Flames awhile to adjust.

Yeah, everyone has off games. It doesn't do us much to laugh at someone else.

I like Pittsburgh (the city) a lot. At last night's Griffins game I sat next to a Pens fan from Pittsburgh who jumped over and into the seats in front of him. When he did - he kicked the chair and dislodged the beer of someone else who was at the game with a girl in a Thrashers jersey. I like that he upset her.

3-0 Wolves final. The Griffins played relatively solid last night, they outshot the Wolves 32-24 and held the puck for much of the night. I will say, though, that the Wolves (obviously) had more legitimate scoring chances. For as much as the Grifs held the zone, I feel like they could've had 8-10 more shots. Lots of passing it around and tossing it into traffic.

I agree with this, as well as one of the posts in the Chinese knock off thread. If you're only looking to buy a jersey or maybe two and you can't justify spending a couple hundred dollars, then China is probably your best bet. If you're going to buy 5 or 10 knock offs, then why not get quality over quantity? That seems like a true waste of money to me. To each their own, though.

Gotcha. In a way, that's what I was getting at. (That Abdelkader could be sent down without going through waivers) Even though I misunderstood the general idea. I apologize for not having read up on it during one of those million occurrences.

Leino's contract isn't two-way anymore, is it? It's just May, Miller, and Abdelkader that we have the option of sending down, I think.

Great news! I'll be seeing Abby tonight, then.

That, coupled with the fact that tons of pucks would hit him in all the fat that his pads wouldn't cover.

That's the point I was going to make. In its current state it's a special jersey that represents a special game and I think that's why so many people love them.

Boom. Roasted.

Sorry if this was already posted. FRISCO, Texas -- The NHL fined Dallas Stars defenseman Mark Fistric $2,500 for punching Calgary forward Eric Nystrom with Nystrom's helmet during a fight in the first period of Wednesday's 4-3 Stars win over Calgary. The league did not suspend Fistric, who pleaded his case with Colin Campbell, NHL executive VP and director of hockey operations in a conference call Thursday. "When I look at the tape, it's obviously not the way that I felt it was," Fistric said. "The helmet got caught in my hand and I went to swing and the helmet was still there. I dropped it right away once I realized it was still there. Anyone that knows me knows that not only was it my first fight in a long time, but I haven't had any history of being a dirty player or anything like that. "It was heat of the moment and you lose track of stuff. When adrenaline is going, you lose track of things. It's not what I wanted to do. I meant no harm to Eric and I was glad that he came back and he was fine and there was nothing wrong with him. I just have to move on from it." Fistric was given a match penalty about eight minutes into the game after Nystrom's helmet came off on Fistric's hand and Fistric then punched Nystrom with it as the two fought. A match penalty is, by rule, given when the officials feel there was an "intent to injure." Fistric, 23, has seven points -- six of them assists -- in 44 games. His plus-12 rating is a team-high. The Stars face Colorado on Friday at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Per ESPN.com

This. Though, the Hawks have their share of dudes I don't care for - I still feel generally the same way.

I love their jerseys and they're better off without Thomas Vokoun.

Despite Huet and Niemi's showings thus far, I'd still worry about goaltending if I were a Hawks fan. It still feels more like a pleasant surprise than a statement that their duo has played strongly to this point. Probably due largely to the fact that I still don't regard Huet as an elite goaltender in the league.

I have thought this so many times in the past few weeks. I honestly have nothing against Hossa and want to support him (mancrush), but I have a hard time with the idea of wearing anything hawks related. edit: I saw someone on a Hawks board claiming it was Photoshopped. Apparently Madden has a wife and kids. Too bad it's not. Chicago Blackhawks try to move past limousine photo embarrassment. - ESPN.com