For me the genesis of the current problem is this: Before 2005 a player was allowed, or more accurately - expected - to get a stick on opposing players who were looking to hammer one of their teammates and by doing so slow them down. This maneuver was called a "holdup" and it was part of them fabric of the game.

But the NHL wanted a more free flowing game coming out of the Lockout, one which the skilled players would be able to more effectively ply their trade.

Ironically it's those same skilled players who are now getting their noggins rattled.

So since teammates can no longer protect the guy skating next to them the onus now falls on the league.

Players expect that.

Owners want it.

General Managers are trying to shape or frame the legislation to govern it.

Kind of Pandora's Box-ish, isn't it?

A what, you say?

A one-bagger. He was forced to on-load one shiny IV bag of nutrients and fluids to combat cramping that had started around shot number 40 during his public peppering at the Verizon Center.

Ya, I walk down to the dressing room area to see friends and family on the Caps side and then wandered into the Stars room on my way out to the bus and there is Marty, on the training table, some Stars suits milling about, the Stars hard-working training staff, and a couple of EMT guys pulling the needle out of his right arm. His teammates were all long gone – watching your goalie save your ass repeatedly doesn’t require much of a shower.

52 shots.

49 saves.

Both personal highs.

And that seems to be what the Stars demand right now – Marty Turco on dextrose, electrolytes and sterile water.

I tracked scoring chances during the tilt and had it at 35-11 Capitals. Being a former goalie I was probably a bit liberal, but not by much. A normal “chance” count would be around the number Washington gave up, and considering who was getting the chances – Ovechkin, the leagues top scorer, finished with ten shots and two goals – 35 real good opportunities to score is a gargantuan number.

I’ll leave you with this: Over his past two road starts Marty has stopped 89 of 92 shots in his shutout win at Phoenix prior to the Olympic break and last night’s shootout triumph in the nation’s capital. They were out shot 40-22 and 52-26 in those two outings. Going forward can he be that heroic enough of the time to get the Stars into the 8th spot in the West? The next 4 ½ weeks will tell, and we’ll all have a front row seat to spectate his brilliance if he does – just like his teammates did last night.

Posted below is some video of the clash that was taking place right infront of The Treasury Department (insert your irony here) and about a hockey rink length away from the front of the White House.

Not once did I hear anyone yell "Car" (Pennsylvania Avenue is blocked off) and I'm pretty sure the Obama's ignored the end to end "action", although I did overhear someone from White House security suggest "If they were playing in his back yard he'd close the curtains".

Perhaps this is a regular Sunday game - like on NBC - or maybe it's just some Washingtonians struck by silver medal hockey fever. (more likely they are Canadian ex-Pats playing the game Canadians own...sort of)

Anyway, it was odd to see yet soul - warmingly familiar.

I wanted to play.

I would have dominated.

President Obama would have cracked a drape.

Prime Minister Harper would have grabbed a stick and his roller skates, and asked to be on my team.

"Segway!"

Ellen says…I think they are working hard, things just aren’t bouncing their way. Maybe some of their choices in coverage could be better and they sometimes fail to work in concert with one another but with a payroll in the bottom five of the league perhaps the fact they are still within a couple of points of a playoff spot at this point in the season is a victory in itself. Look at the other teams on the bubble: Detroit still hasn’t got their act together, and they’re healthy now. Calgary has turned their roster over and now have no identity, Anaheim is better but not a shoe-in, Minnesota moved a couple key veterans at the deadline signaling a partial surrender, and St. Louis fired a coach this season. The Stars are right there. I like you. The home record had been phenomenal until this rough patch lately, and they were starting to believe in themselves on the road again prior to the break – thanks in large part to Turco’s goaltending. I’m cheering for you. Take a few more risks, get the D involved in the attack again, clean up some of the problem areas, and for me it’s a playoff yes.

Simon says…Everything and everyone is out of wack. You’re not going to make the playoffs. Come on, let’s be serious here. The defense is mistake prone at best, feeble and understaffed at worst. The goaltending has been erratic and unable to be the savior it needs to be. The one line that has been left intact – Richards, Neal and Eriksson – has produced most of the offense – for both teams. The others have been a hodge podge which has been reflected in their production, or lack there of. You play with very little structure and are easily torn apart by well-coached opponents. The record in games decided by 3 or more goals is evidence of this. Thanks to the 5-1 and 6-1 defeats this week you’re now 5-12 in such games. That’s 12 of your 23 regulation losses by at least 3 goals, blowouts. What ever happened to “bend don’t break”?! Some key individuals, including your captain, seem frustrated and unhappy with the roles they’ve been assigned while others appear confused, bewildered, browbeat, or overwhelmed. And above all you generally seem uninterested in banding together, or playing for one another. Look, you’re a nice enough team but this isn’t for you. You’re not a playoff team. For me it’s a definite no.

Seacrest out!

Would someone please alert me as to whether it is safe to un-pinch my nostrils yet?

If it works it will add outstanding coverage to the games.

With glass, and boards, and netting creating barriers between fans and the action this is exciting - and overdue.

Do yourself a favor, watch the tilt and be a part of the revolution.

A 17.6 rating, in these United States of America – for hockey. Are you serious?!

That equates to almost 27 million Americans – watching hockey – on a Sunday afternoon in late February.

Did Don Cherry mind-meld you people?

Of course you all probably assume that every passport packing Canuck north of the border was tuned to the epic ice-conflict.

You’re close.

One of every two Canadians, 16.6 million total, watched their team win gold in overtime. (It would have been two of every two but their wives were in the kitchen curing the bacon. I kid of course.). The viewership hit its zenith with 26.8 million watching, that’s 80% of the country!

If you wanna put that first Canadian number into U.S. parlance (call it a conversion rate) the 16.6 rating in the Frozen North would equate to 150,000,000 Americans being glued to Canada – USA, for gold.

Wow!

Everything.

The sport has always been galvanizing for the country, whether it be any day of the week at community rinks that dot the frozen landscape north of the 49th parallel, or Saturday nights on TV from October to June.

They often state that hockey is part of the fabric of Canada and you couldn’t find a truer truism – or a stronger weave.

The biggest stars, the greatest moments, the strongest memories are all tattooed onto the collective Canadian psyche by the sport of hockey.

Paul Henderson and the 72’ Summit Series vs the Soviet Union is a fable – and a postage stamp. Bobby Orr is mentioned in Tragically Hip lyrics, his epic Stanley Cup winning goal for the Bruins instantly recognized. Wayne Gretzky is Canadian royalty, TV pundit Don Cherry is the Pope, and Sidney Crosby just skated into folklore.

Hockey makes Canadians feel good – or lousy – depending on the outcome.

The World under 20 tournament is almost exclusively held in Canada, not because other countries don’t have arenas, because Canadians care about it on par with the NCAA National Championship in football in the States.

The men’s Olympic team was announced live on two networks in Canada and then debated for hours. Swedish Olympians found out they’d been picked to represent their country by surfing the internet.

Hockey is undoubtedly the country’s identity internationally, it’s the logo on their business card and the silhouette against their flag.

As the saying goes, “Canada is Hockey, and Hockey is Canada.”

And when it comes to their game of hockey Canadians believe in a phrase popularized by fictitious NASCAR driver Ricky Bobby – “If you ain’t first, you’re last.” There is no silver, no runner-up, no second best in this sport in that country.

So today they celebrate Crosby, the 2010 team, their double gold performance in the sport at the Vancouver games, and, they celebrate themselves – because across Canada they are just givin’er, swilling Sleeman, Molson and Labbatt products as they rejoice in jubilation, yelling not “they did it”, but “we” did it, all the while doing so with an undercurrent of relief, because if you are going to trumpet your supremacy, you’d better back it up.

Swagger on Can – a – da!

Kim Stallknecht/New York Times

February 27, 2010

Narrating Canada’s Quest for Gold in Men’s Hockey
By KAREN CROUSE

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Like platooning goaltenders, the Canadian hockey announcers Chris Cuthbert and Gord Miller are taking turns behind the microphone, their voices providing the soundtrack for Canada’s Xanadu production.

As broadcasters for TSN (The Sports Network), they are providing an oral history of the men’s competition at these Winter Games that is destined to be passed down to future generations. More than half the country’s population has tuned in to hear Cuthbert and Miller describe Canada’s rocky run to Friday’s semifinal against Slovakia.

Their profiles are rising along with a buoyant host nation’s fevered pitch. Cuthbert was stopped by fans while jogging Thursday morning, the day after he provided the quarterfinals play-by-play of Canada ’s 7-3 victory against Russia.

“You get stopped on the street because you’re a part, a small part, of the moment, and those moments are so indelible for Canadians,” Cuthbert said.

Read the rest here: ARTICLE LINK

After watching you in fits of capitulation for an hours’ worth of nauseating elimination “hockey” against Canada – a game that was lost 8-2 but might as well have been 80-2, I have a question: What happens to you Germans when you slip that national jersey on?

I mean - you play like frightened little frauleins right from the opening face-off.

Why? Why do you cower so?

You’re GERMANY for crying in the beerstein!

You make cars that attack the Autobahn, challenging every curve and testing the engineering from Audi, BMW, Porsche and Mercedes Benz. Yet when you grab a hockey stick you become Yugos with only two gears – neutral and reverse.

Your ancestors were the feared and mighty Saxons. In the 5th century you invaded Britania. Invaded - as in, forechecked the Brits. And you bashed them into submission.

Right now you’re making the Swiss look like the Huns.

So Uwe and Marco and Marcel and any others who will return to future international hockey tournaments, try taking the odd shot and maybe risk a guy up ice a little more often – who knows, you might like it. Or did you really get your Rhineland ya-yas out of getting pummeled 20-5 in your four games in Vancouver?

Here’s a suggestion, over the next four years try to be like those freaky Club Kids in Berlin, open yourselves to some new experiences – then, come 2014 in Russia, try playing to win for once rather than always trying not to lose.

I think that would be absolutely, Wunderbar!

Russia is now the swaggering American. They play a risky, skilled game. Their athletes are part rock star, part showboat, yet TEAM is not their strongest suit – they are individual in mind and in approach.

Canada is now Russia, or the Soviet Union (CCCP baby). They are unrealistically expected to throttle all comers and they have looked joyless in trying to deliver, like it’s a job – not a passion.

And the good old USA has become Canada. They have premier, game-stealing goaltending. They play a bend-don’t-break team game. They have an unbridled pursuit game with a physical edge (always a Canadian strength). And they appear humbly confident.

The Swedes and Finns are…well, they don’t matter. They’re Scandinavian.

The Czechs and Slovaks only matter if they re-unite and become Czechoslovakia again. If that happens, lookout.

The Swiss make a nice bar of chocolate.

Norway is known for fjords, their hockey team is known for padding other country’s win columns.

Germany thinks you can win without ever invading the opponent’s end of the rink. (If the Swiss are neutral the Germans are reverse)

Latvia. Sorry, got nothing for ya.

I watched two games on Sunday, two great games. Russia defeated the Czech Republic then The US defeated host Canada. (That second one was great action, not great result)

Here is my takeaway (That’s a really hip thing to say right now – “my takeaway”)

Czech coach Vadimir Ruzicka hasn’t aged a lick since his playing days in the NHL. He’s the Dick Clark of Czecho.

Russian coach Bykov looks like country singer Kenny Chesney, only with hair and no cowboy hat.

NBC announcer Pierre McGuire stated during one of his hyperbole heavy tirades – which are almost non-stop - that Jaromir Jagr has “tremendous heart”. Really!? Isn’t he the guy who used to play hard only when he felt like it? And Pierre, was that Jagr’s heart that Ovechkin drove through with his own spine and out the other side with an open ice hit in the 3rd period of an afternoon “Ovechkin Show”?

The Russian team is cavalier with their approach to defending – and frightening with their ability at the other end.

Question: Did the U.S. win something back in 1980? I’ve heard some promos about something miraculous that happened in Lake Placid and it’s peaked my interest. I’d like to qualify this at some point. Very intriguing.

Alright, the main game is underway…oops, and it’s 1-0 USA immediately.

Scott Niedermeyer looks casual and arrogant - Brodeur the same.

Not a good sign.

The Americans are using their speed to forecheck and Canada’s D aren’t handling it well.

Brenden is playing hard.

Canada ties it. Look out cakies, the Motherland is starting to roll.

Whoops…

I really hate Brian Rafalski at this point in my viewing (He’s scored twice – fanned on the second one, but it slipped in. 2-1 States.)

Intermission ponderings: Why is this game on MSNBC and not THE NBC?! Let me switch over to channel 5, maybe Jay has a special on or perhaps Lindsay Vonn is speaking, or maybe Tiger had a relapse. Oh, I see, taped delay men’s skiing, pairs skating, and bobsled. Hmmmm….Hope you’re proud of your power Gary. You shut the National Hockey League down for two weeks and the one guaranteed matchup between the two North American teams – the guys with names you can pronounce – and it’s showcased by the Peacock on their minor league channel. Nice.

Canada has come out on the attack. Heatley ties it. Morrow is involved in the goal in typical Morrow fashion - he has nothing to do with shooting or passing.

It looks like it’s 2-2 heading to the 3rd…But wait…Dang! It’s that Rafalski creep again. He cross-corner dumped one and Brodeur got all flailing and flopping in a scramble and Drury jammed one in to put the Americans ahead…again.

Every time Team USA scores Crosby is on the ice – that’s not good – and neither is Syd the Kid tonight.

Intermission ponderings II: Tourism British Columbia is sponsoring this game. “Super, Natural British Columbia” is the slogan. (If you have never been, go. It’s my home, and it’s gorgeous) Because they are the only sponsor and wanted the game brought to the masses with limited interruption NBC’s Ed Olcyk gets to actually explain the game a little, just like back in the old days before Gary and his Time Cops robbed every analyst in the league of their ability to explain How and Why?

The 3rd period opens with a flurry of powerplays.

Those two delinquents from the Ducks are killing me. Perry just took this penalty. Too many penalties Canada!

Oh, what a shock, the cake eaters score on their 3rd powerplay of the 3rd…and who else, Rafalski is the guy who shoots the puck. I think it went off of Langenbrunner.

Midway through the third period and it’s really evident that the Americans have the better goalie on this night. I want Luongo in the pipes in the future. After all, he shutout the Norwegians! Ya, clean sheeted the Vikings!!!! Get him back in there Babcock.

OOOOhhhh. Hold on here. Canada gets a powerplay…and…two minutes later the score is still 4-2.

5 minutes to go, and another Canadian powerplay…Miller just stoned Iginla with 43 seconds to go in the PP…Crosby scores!!!!!!! This time for Canada.

4-3 with 3 minutes to go in regulation.

Canada is all over the Americans.

Iginla, who has been invisible, goes offside and kills the onslaught.

Off the ensuing faceoff Thornton, who tonight looks like that Joe Thornton who always disappears in the playoffs, loses a battle on the boards.

Kesler, who I love, beats that useless Duck Corey Perry to a loose puck and hacks one into the empty net.

5-3 USA

Six seconds to go. Canada is gonna lose this one, and those 40 or so maple leaf shaped sphincters are puckering up mighty tight now.

Final thought of the night: Who plays Team USA coach Ron Wilson in the movie?

Anyway, I was gonna stay up for Sweden – Finland but depression is setting into my maple syrup soaked loins. Looks like Loui and Jere get the DVR treatment tonight.

Do I believe in the miracle pill called Ambien? Yes!

With the Olympic Break trade freeze in effect today, the next pressure point for trades is March 3rd and there are a host of netminders “available”.

The Stars are one of three teams carrying 3 goalies (the Flyers and Islanders are the others) and the Marty Turco situation is now well documented. But there are a lot of other clubs that seem unsettled with their goaltender position too.

The days of the domination in goal seem to be fading – it’s become a scorer’s league. However, that said, you still need timely saves and above all - if you are a Cup contender - you need a goaltender who won’t “lose you the game.”

So who are the targets that could be stopping rubber elsewhere in early March?

Marty Turco

Martin Biron

Dwayne Roloson

Brian Boucher

Antti Niemi

Tim Thomas

Jaraslav Halak

Carey Price

Mike Smith

Josh Harding

Pekka Rinne

Cory Schneider

And what teams need an upgrade or an off-load the most?

UPGRADE LIST

Chicago – How would you entrust a bulging payroll and a heap of expectations to the two they have in the pipes? Especially “Tough to Hit Huet”

Philadelphia – They haven’t solved their goaltending since Ron Hextall left, and Ray Emery is no Ron Hextall.

Washington – The Caps have firepower in spades but they have an injury battling sophomore in Varlamov and Jose “3 or More” Theodore to guard their own net.

St. Louis – The Blues have a lot of excellent young skaters but lack a young stud in the crease. Expect Canuck prospect Cory Schneider to walk through the Arch any day.

OFF-LOAD LIST

Tampa Bay – Niitymaki has become the guy, so new ownership in Tampa may want to dump Mike Smith to fill a need elsewhere.

Minnesota – It’s probably trade him or lose him time for Josh Harding.

Boston – Tuukka Rask is proving he can be their #1 guy, so erratic reigning Vezina winner Tim Thomas can probably be had.

NY Islanders – Does former goalie turned G.M. Garth Snow have the goalie- sized cup to trust that his 15 year commitment in net will stay healthy any time soon? If so, he has two veterans to peddle

Nashville – The Predators usually shudder when they have to ponder paying a goalie and that’s what they’ll have to do with Rinne this summer.

Montreal – The Habs have two number ones. That sounds great, but isn’t. I think new G.M. Pierre Gauthier has a conundrum to solve.

Dallas – I don’t think an explanation is needed.

With Kari Lehtonen's departure to Dallas, the Thrashers have parted ways with their top pick in each of their first five drafts.

Patrick Stefan (former Dallas Star), the top pick in 1999, is no longer playing hockey and is a player agent living in Laguna Beach, Ca.

Dany Heatley, pick second overall in 2000, was traded away in 2005 to Ottawa and now plays in San Jose.

Ilya Kovalchuk, 2001's overall number one, was dealt away last week to New Jersey.

Kari Lehtonen, second overall in 2002, is off to Big D.

Braydon Coburn, the eighth overall draft pick in 2003, was shipped off to Philadelphia in 2006 in exchange for Alexei Zhitnik.

And the GM who has overseen all of this is still in charge of the Thrashers. Really.

Apparently “draft and develop” is a dirty phrase in Hotlanta.