SUNDAY STUFF

Have you noticed that virtually every NHL suspension this season has been two games in length? They mustn't be much into decorating. Every stager worth his or her mettle knows that you display things in 3s, 5s, or 7s. I guess public shamings don't count as displays...

If you are handicapping or pooling OT goal scorers here is a stat you need (including Tom Wandell's goal last night): Centers have stuck each of the last 7 overtime winners while Centers and D-men have combined for each of the past 12. The full breakdown of the 35 game winning goals scored in OT is: Centers 12, Defensemen 12, Wingers 11...

The Hurricanes just allowed 5 goals in each of the last two third periods they played. The last team to capitulate that drastically in back to back third periods was the Canucks in 1998, and here's the kicker, they both fell on exactly the same dates: Nov 27th and 28th. Weird huh?...

Here's a stat I'd like to know. What is the average height of today's NHL goalies? They almost all seem to be 6-2 or taller...

Do you know what an NHL stick budget is now days? Around $500,000. Those composite sticks that every 4 minute fourth liner has to have cost $130 a piece. When wood sticks were en vogue trainers could buy a dozen for a little more than they now pay for a single twig. This is why managers are pushing for players to pay for their own sticks (or at least some of them) in the next CBA...

Question: Why don't rinks haves uniform glass height all around the playing surface?...

The current NHL television availability situation in the US is just a bit disconcerting isn't it? Versus, the national cable rights holder in the US, and DirectTV are at odds and some local cable outlets (including us at FSSW) are in a spat with Dish Network. Pawns in a power game, that's what we, the passionate hockey viewed are...

I counted 18 people in the entire section behind the Stars bench in Phoenix the other night. They had the stones to announce over 10,000 in attendance. Must have been counting ears or eyeballs. Truth be told the Stars effort that night was equally vacant...

And finally, in recent memory has there been a better, more bizzarrely respectful, ongoing series of fights than Barch vs May?