image: TSN

“The players will have to raise their game to try to make up for it,” coach Jacques Martin said. “It opens a door for someone. We’ve been waiting for that since the start of the season.”

Gionta is tied with fellow newcomer, Mike Cammalleri, for the most goals on the team (8) and was signed to a five-year, $25 million contract.  He’s got 13 points in 19 games so I’m sure he’s going to be missed on the ice.

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The Detroit Red Wings were looking for a game-tying goal and they got it.  The only problem was that it was deemed a non-goal and I can’t understand how anyone could make this call.  It’s clearly in the net, fricking Alex Auld has to scoop in and dig it out and they still claim it wasn’t conclusive?  It’s pretty obvious that it was a goal but the Red Wings ended up losing 3-1 and I totally believe this is the reason for it.

Maybe there’s something to all the chatter about there being a conspiracy against Detroit?  This just seems unbelievably crazy to me.  Watch the video:

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image: TSN

The Washington Capitals did not elaborate on what is going on with Theodore but, considering how much he’s been through over the years, it really could be anything.   Let’s review:

• His dad and brothers pleaded guilty a few years ago on loansharking charges, among other things.
• His father-in-law, a well-known Quebec music producer, was convicted on serious child molestation charges
• Theo tested positive for the banned substance Propecia (but claimed he was taking it for hair loss…)
• He was accused of having an affair with Paris Hilton while his girlfriend took care of their sick baby
• He’s been sucky as a goaltender and it looks like Varlamov could easily replace him as #1
• His two-month baby died suddenly this year

Hopefully, this is something relatively minor and he’ll be back with the team.  It’s terrible since I can remember feeling like he had so much potential back when he was with the Montreal Canadiens and now it just seems like one bad thing after another for this guy.

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image: TSN

It would appear that Peter Forsberg’s announcement about playing for Modo was a motivator for Naslund who said: “I will do anything to get in shape and hope I can add something on the ice, but as everybody understands it’s not just to get on the ice and perform.  I’m really looking forward to play with Modo again and the fact that Peter and I will do it together is of course something really special.”

Incredibly, 36-year-old Forsberg is hoping to perform well enough to earn a spot on Team Sweden’s Olympic team.  Naslund was a little more realistic and didn’t even mention that.

After spending most of his NHL career with the Vancouver Canucks, he played briefly for the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers.

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Last night, the winner was crowned and, apparently, it was no surprise to the show’s many viewers (it did so well that CBC is ordering up a second season!).

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image: TSN

He and his twin brother, Henrik, have spent their careers with the Canucks and have consistently put up almost identical stats so when Daniel got knocked out of the lineup, a lot of people wondered what would happen to Henrik.  They usually work in tandem with Henrik setting up good plays and Daniel scoring but now Henrik is stepping up and celebrated his first NHL hat trick last night in the Canucks’ massive 8-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche.  It’s amazing to me that after 667 games he hadn’t accomplished this feat but it doesn’t matter now anyway.

Of course, I’m sure Henrik got a little help from the craptacular way Colorado has been playing.  The Avs are suddenly sucking after having such a good start (10-1-2) to the season.  They are now 2-4-1 over their last seven games.

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Among the topics, of course, was her love life.  She has dated NFL star Tony Romo and actor Chace Crawford while under the microscope of the media but she’s really done a good job of keeping her relationship with Fisher under wraps.

Carrie explained that they have been able to stay under the radar because they like to stay in and are not big party-goers so they don’t go to events together.

She affirmed that she’s very happy in every aspect of her life but was able to avoid answering Robin Roberts’ question about whether she wants to get married and have kids any time soon.

Watch the interview:

image: Zuma Press

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The 23-year-old center had to have surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back.  In 13 games this season, he had two goals and four assists.  He wasn’t exactly on fire but you never know how someone’s game is going to progress through a season and now we just won’t know.

image: TSN

I’m surprised he waited this long, though, since he’s complained with back issues for a couple years and has been taking cortisone injections in order to keep playing.  This is one of those things that could have been planned for over the summer months so that he wouldn’t miss too much of the season.  He also rested during the preseason so he could have started the surgical process at that point as well.  It’s not only bad for the team but it’s also just a bad idea to let an injury linger and get worse.

Hopefully, this will resolve the issue and he’ll be back in the expected amount of time but it’s likely that he will be rejoining his team during their final push for the playoffs, and I completely expect them to make it.

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image: TSN

When they announced that Brent Sutter would be coming over from the New Jersey Devils, I was mostly happy but I was particularly relieved for Kiprusoff.  He responded very well to Daryl Sutter’s coaching style and Brent has a somewhat similar philosophy and I also figured he’d work well with older brother, Daryl, who is now the team’s GM.  So far, Kip seems to be slowly returning to his former self and I’m growing confident about his record this season.

I grew up in Montreal so I have a real allegiance to both teams and I really love when they play against each other, particularly since it happens so rarely.  When the Montreal Canadiens hosted the Flames last night, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  They battled here in Calgary back on October 6, 2009 and the Flames handed the Habs a 4-3 loss with Jaroslav Halak between the pipes.

Halak was backstopping the Habs again and, although he made 30 saves, he was the losing goaltender while Kiprusoff got to enjoy his first shutout this season.  It was a low-scoring game, 1-0, and I know that some people complain about those but I found it very exciting.

Calgary captain, Jarome Iginla, scored the lone goal and has scored in the last four games.  The Flames have also won the last four consecutive contests.  If Iggy and Kipper can find a rhythm, who knows how this season will end?

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image: TSN

“I’d rather retire than be a backup goalie,” Giguere said. “Something needs to happen. You get a guy like (Hiller) that’s going to be a free agent at the end of the year and myself, making the money I’m making, either I’m leaving or he’s leaving.  I want to play, that’s when I have fun. Right now, this is not fun.”

In case you’re not familiar with his deal, Giguere will make $13 million over the next two seasons with the Anaheim Ducks.  Hiller, on the other hand, is set to earn $1.3 million in the final year of his deal.

I don’t know about you but that sort of smack talk just screams immaturity to me.  It’s great to see someone who wants to be on top of his game but for crap’s sake, we’re talking about six games WHILE HE WAS INJURED.  Is someone feeling a little insecure?  How about focusing on making sure he’s better than Hiller and actually earning that ridiculous contract that the Ducks gave him?

Honestly, if he’s going to act like this, I saw trade him.  He’s obviously got his own best interests at heart instead of the team’s and a player like that is dangerous.  If he keeps yapping, I say dump him.

Has no one learned from the whole Dany Heatley saga?

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