I know that some novelty items are pretty cheap but this one is finely-tuned with precise weighting since it features a compression molded graphite shaft with a cast aluminum alloy head.  It’s cool because a former Division I hockey player designed it to be useable on the golf course instead of just being something that is displayed on a wall in his house.

The one pictured above is obviously for a Calgary Flames fan (like me!) but you can get them for any NHL team.  The putters cost $115 and come with a moisture proof putter grip and a stitched head cover with the team’s graphics on it.

To place an order, visit www.hockeystickputters.com.  It could make a really cool gift this holiday season.

image used with permission

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image: TSN

Stamkos is suffering from some sort of upper-body injury while Malone got hurt on his lower body.  They are being listed as “day-to-day” but can I just take this opportunity to say that Vincent Lecavalier needs to wake the hell up.  We’ve got Stamkos and Malone carrying this team while veterans like Vinny and Martin St. Louis (who has one goal in 10 games) fall by the wayside.

Rick Tocchet needs to get his team in check.  He seems to realize it to.  After the loss to the Oilers he said: “Teams go through injuries. It’s our turn and you’ve got to suck it up.  The guys that haven’t played much, the guys that have been asking to play more, here’s your chance. It’s put up or shut up for some of those guys. They want ice time, they’re going to get it. Let’s see what they’ve got.”

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The Philadelphia Flyers winger delivered a sucker punch to Washington Capitals’ Matt Bradley which has ended up costing him 4 days in suspensions plus a whopping 29 minutes in penalties.  What a bad night for Philly since they lost 8-2 on home ice.

image: TSN

Carcillo is “the first player in NHL history to draw 29 minutes in penalties without drawing a single minute from his opponent.”  What an honor!

If this wasn’t this clown’s third suspension, I might be a little more sympathetic but if you’re gonna act like a goon, you gotta learn to take the penalties.

You be the judge – was the punishment excessive?  Puck Daddy points out that Scott Walker got away with a similar punch during the last post-season so there is a valid argument about the continued unfairness in NHL justice.  Either way, here’s the video:

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The deals are pretty frickin’ unbelievable.  Kane and Toews were given five-year deals worth US$31.5 million each while d-man, Keith, was handed a 13-year contract worth $72 million.  That’s even better than that crazy off-season 12-year, $62.8 million contract given to Marian Hossa.

image: TSN

“We are a close group of guys and there’s no individual player who is bigger than the team,” Keith said. “I would certainly rather have these two guys up here at the same time, as well, and take a little of the spotlight off. I don’t mind that at all.”

I think Keith is great and I’m not surprised that they locked him up but those long contracts really make me nervous.  I think it’s too much pressure and security at the same time for a player and a lot of them end up choking.

When someone asked Kane about the deal he said: “You don’t think about that stuff when you are on the ice. You are trying to play for the love of the game and for your team. Obviously there is pressure, but with that comes responsibility. We know we have to pick it up.”

Well, these three are great players so I hope their play doesn’t change as a result.

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image: TSN

The netminder was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure after his heart started racing.  Apparently, the feeling he got was similar to the problems he experienced during training camp.  He underwent a procedure to correct the issue but it is possible that it didn’t work.  I’ve had that same procedure done (ablation) and I had to do it three times before it was truly better.

At least head coach Ron Wilson wasn’t taking any chances and he sent the goalie to the hospital and had Joey MacDonald replace him.  “I’m not going to be responsible for someone keeling over during a game,” said Wilson. “A game is not that important.”

I completely agree.

So, we’re supposed to have some sort of update tomorrow so I am hoping all will be well and he’ll be cleared to play – safely.

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image: TSN

Being on a losing streak has got to suck ass but some people just can’t seem to handle the pressure.  One example is Keith Ballard.  Here’s what happened.

In the first period, Ilya Kovalchuk had a breakaway, took a shot, it rebounded and he found a way to get it past goaltender, Tomas Vokoun.  Nothing too surprising, really.  What shocked everyone watching the game, however, was the fact that Ballard expressed his frustration by swinging his hockey stick and hitting his own goalie in the head with it.

Some people are saying that he was trying to hit the crossbar but there’s no way that I believe that.  If you watch the video (especially from the second angle), you’ll see that Ballard actually moves toward Vokoun and then swings.  If he was trying to hit the crossbar, why would he move away from the net?  I think he was just pissed that Vokoun gave up that rebound.

The lamest part is that this was during the first period when the team had plenty of time to get things together and Vokoun is tied for first place for shutouts.  He’s a good goalie.  He didn’t deserve that.

Watch the video.  I seriously couldn’t believe it.

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image: TSN

The Washington Capitals player appears to have suffered a right knee injury which will be evaluated overnight.  The problem arose from a knee-on-knee collision with Carolina Hurricanes defenceman, Tim Gleason, during the first period.

I know that they are playing it down by saying he’s stiff and sore right now but he had to be helped off the ice after being on the ice for a few minutes.  He was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct (for the second time in three games!).

I’m sure the Caps are hoping their cash cow is okay.  So far this year, Ovie has 18 goals, 30 points and 44 penalty minutes.  You won’t be surprised to learn that he’s leading the team.

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image: TSN

Before you jump all over me, let me just say that I don’t particularly like the Red Wings so I’m not trying to defend their honor or anything.  They did, however, put the puck in the net twice, only to have both goals not count.

First, Dan Cleary scored during a power-play at the end of the first but then the ref ruled that he was in the crease.  Unfortunately, Cleary was denied a second time when he put the puck behind Kipper just as the ref whistled the play dead.

Weirdness… Again, it’s almost like the rumors about a conspiracy against Detroit are actually true.

Still, I don’t want to take the moment from Kiprusoff who made 32 saves in the first two periods alone.  He was really tested and he came up huge for the team.  Let’s hope he keeps this going.

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Ironically, both of the incidents occurred while playing opposite Buffalo at the Verizon Center (last time was after he hit Daniel Briere from behind on December 2, 2006 – almost the exact same time of year too!).

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“I just go take a hit and (Kaleta) just fell into the boards. … Max, it’s got to be 2 minutes,” Ovechkin said.  Uh huh…

In case you missed it, here’s a video of the hit.  Some people want him to get a suspension but I’m not sure it warrants all of that.  I think being ejected was good enough but you can decide for yourselves:

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image: TSN

“It’s one of those injuries that we have to allow him to get better,” coach Claude Julien said. “Yet it could be something that could be cured on a day-to-day basis.”

Fortunately, they’ve got promising rookie, Tuukka Rask, to defend the team between the pipes just in case Thomas is out for a bit.  Rask started for the fifth straight game against the Minnesota Wild last night.  He stopped 28 shots in the 2-1 victory and I’m sure it’s no coincidence that the Bruins have won four in a row.  I gotta say that Boston is pretty lucky to have two good goalies to choose from which should take some pressure off of the team if Thomas is sidelined.

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