Matt Cooke Wears a Ronaldo Jersey

You can kick a goal in on this playing surface, sir. (Photo kinda via cbc,ca)

Defense! Where have you gone? I know you don't like hanging out in Ottawa but I wish you would live here permanently.

Here are a few things you might like about Ottawa:

- Beaver Tails: I know that you have a sweet tooth Big D. This pastry delight will satisfy your needs.

- the Byward Market: the epicenter of the Nation's Capital. You can enjoy shopping, eating and the Parliament is but a hop and skip away. Will lead to the perfect opportunity to lobby the Harper Government the Conservatives Rising Stevie and the Harperites the Government of Canada to make them understand that headshots and blindside hits are regular every game hockey plays. Concussions are a myth.

- Empty Streets: no one is on the streets after 8 PM from Sunday to Thursday. A perfect haven for street hockey.

So there you have it, dear Defense. Ottawa is a city of choice.

Coaching Ain't Easy (Unless Your Name is Bylsma)

Bylsma should get the Jack Adams. Disco Dan is icing a team without 2 offensive juggernauts (who happen to be All-Stars) and the Pens consistently win. How is this possible? Dude can coach. His players have totally commited to his system. As we've seen on 24/7, he's a new school manager. It's easy to Boudreau the shit out of your players, but he doesn't (btw Boudreau should stop talking to the Media and eliminate the Joe Louis/twinkies/gravy on a Kaiser snack from his diet).

The way I saw it streamed last night, Clouston was outcoached from the jump. So much for that last change advantage.

Kickin' It

Here's what the rule book says about using your skate to score a goal:

Rule 49 - Kicking

49.1 Kicking – The action of a player deliberately using his skate(s) with a kicking motion to propel the puck or to contact an opponent.

49.2 Goals - Kicking the puck shall be permitted in all zones. A goal cannot be scored by an attacking player who uses a distinct kicking motion to propel the puck into the net. A goal cannot be scored by an attacking player who kicks a puck that deflects into the net off any player, goalkeeper or official.

A puck that deflects into the net off an attacking player’s skate who does not use a distinct kicking motion is a legitimate goal. A puck that is directed into the net by an attacking player’s skate shall be a legitimate goal as long as no distinct kicking motion is evident.

Let me start by saying that this rule is dumb. Whether its a redirection or a kicking motion I believe it should count. I can see how a "skate kick" can lead to injuries with that blade, all sharp and all. Safety first, right?
Most NHL teams kick around a soccer ball as a pre game warm up. They sometimes use their skates as a scoring method which might happen by instinct. In the end, rules are rules and the Cooke goal should not have counted. According to what I saw, that was a distinct kicking motion that resulted in a goal (that deflected off Anderson). The goal gave the Pens a 3 goal lead and that was it. Not saying that this is the reason they lost the game (they played a poor game...really poor game). It certainly didn't help.

Red Card

The more the press, Goverment and NHL sponsors talk about headshots, the more they are happening. Heatley (puke in mouth), Murray and Marchand all decided to get in on the fun last night. Heatley got 2 games for his headshot. The others...who knows? The NHL Wheel of Justice will decide.

I can talk about this for days. In the end, the responsibility falls on the players. You can have new rules, fancy new league approved gear, gym mattresses pasted along the board...the players are accountable for their actions and that's it. The League should be more aggressive on this hot subject...or the NHLPA should create a board to deal with their members. Justice can be served, unless the head hunter plays for the Bruins.

PS I hate Kuba

-Marc P