Oh, how cute! Rabbits dressed like hockey players, scurrying around a rink like a varmint version of the "Puppy Bowl" and … and …

Oh. My. Gawd.

This ad for the RFSU Power condom from Swedish film makers Koja debuted during the 2011 IIHF World Championships in Sweden, promising a prophylactic that "increases desire and pleasure." You know, one that'll have you and your partner … rabbits, people. We don't need to spell it out for you.

What's that? You want more hockey rabbits selling Swedish condoms?

Clearly there's no "third man in" penalty in rabbit hockey.

And finally, the thrilling climax of hockey rabbits selling Swedish condoms:

Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "puck bunny," huh? Actually, on second thought, it doesn't …

Last year during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, we presented the 10 Most Fascinating Playoff Beards, a player-by-player, before-and-after look at some of the most memorable facial foliage of the postseason.

Some of the faces on the 2010 list reappear on this year's countdown, but there are plenty of new ones as well from teams still vying for the Stanley Cup and ones that have been eliminated. Such as Mr. Shea Weber, whose beard above is undeniably awesome — if a little controversial (we'll explain later).

Now, put the razors away and start celebrating the 10 most fascinating NHL playoff beards of 2011 (so far).

And here … we … go.

10. Raffi Torres, Vancouver Canucks

This could have easily been Joe Pavelski of the San Jose Sharks for his dipped-in-a-bag-of-Sun-Chips beard. But we'll go with Raffi here because he has (a) the most interesting beard on the Canucks and (b) ginger power.

9. Niclas Wallin, San Jose Sharks

A great example of how a few layers of whiskers can turn crazy into (expletive) crazy.

8. Ryan Malone, Tampa Bay Lightning

A slight deduction for already having a solid beard in the regular season, but Malone's bushy 'stache/playoff beard combo has a certain McConaughey'ish charm. AlrightAlrightAlright…

7. Karl Alzner, Washington Capitals

Oh my, the places Alzner's beard could have gone if the Capitals hadn't been swept out of the semifinals. He could have had Mike Commodore's head on his chin by the end of the playoffs.

6. Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning

You have to give it up to him. One look at Stamkos during the regular season, and you're thinking his playoff beard is going to be a patchy mess like Patrick Kane's or undetectable like Valtteri Filppula's. Wrong and wrong: Not only has Stamkos found his scoring touch, he looks the part.

5. Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins

Last postseason, Thomas' '70s-style handlebar mustache was wasted on the bench. Now, the 'stache has been connected to some significant facial foliage for the best goalie beard of the postseason.

4. Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins

Just look at the difference. It's like an angel and a devil. "Good Zdeno holds up on his checks … Bad Zdeno heads right for the turnbuckle!"

3. Todd Bertuzzi, Detroit Red Wings

No. 1 on last year's list of the most fascinating playoff beards, Bertuzzi's remains one of the most unkempt, homeless guy faces of the postseason. (The teeth, or lack thereof, help.) The Red Wings have other winners like Zetterberg, Franzen and even Datsyuk. But Todd Bertuzzi with a burgeoning Unabomber beard must be respected.

Now, at this point, we need to mention that the Top 2 on the list are cheaters. If you don't believe a proper playoff beard should begin to be cultivated in, say, February, then you can obviously disqualify these two.

However, there's no denying the awesome power of …

2. Paul Mara, Montreal Canadiens

The man looks like a human toilet brush.

1. Shea Weber, Nashville Predators

"You started your beard in February! This is blasphemy! This is madness!"

"MADNESS?"

"…"

"THIS. IS. SMASHVILLE!"

[Weber kicks his accuser into a deep well before rejoining the other 300 Pred-torian guards]

Every winter, there's always that one house in the neighborhood that goes completely overboard with the decorations: Thousands of lights, mechanical reindeer, an inflatable Santa dancing near the chimney.

For hockey fans, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are a holiday; and Detroit Red Wings fans Michael and Sarah Tyler of Livonia have the hockey equivalent of that grandiose house.

For the last four years, they've transformed their home into a shrine to the Wings, with lawn ornaments and roof toppers and bright lights — and it's slowly becoming as much a playoff tradition for some fans as an octopus hitting the Joe Louis Arena ice.

How many hockey fan houses have their own Facebook page?

The tradition began during the Red Wings' 2008 Stanley Cup championship run. They attended a tribute night to Wings star Henrik Zetterberg at the arena, and received a large flag with his image on it.

As relayed by the Detroit News, Sarah Tyler suggested they hang it in the window of the house. Her husband came up with the idea to do a 10-foot-tall Styrofoam octopus. The tradition just grew from there.

Mike Tyler told WWJ in Detroit that they begin sketching out plans for the house, found on Farmington Road, about a month before the postseason starts.

Tyler spoke with "Blaine and Allyson in the Morning" on 96.3 WDVD recently about the house:

"Every year, we celebrate. We've got a good 25-foot Red Wings symbol made out of red and white rope lights. We put all the players numbers on the front of the house. We have 11 Stanley Cups on the lawn and then a space for the 12th that says 'vacancy.'"

Here's a little video of the house:

Quite an awesome tradition, with fellow fans making the pilgrimage to the house every year. As Mike Tyler said on the radio: "There's nothing like a playoff game at the Joe, but there's nothing like hearing the honks as [the cars] are going by."

Stick-tap to The Average Sports Fan for the tip.

Alexander Frolov, seen here canoodling with singer Julia Nachalova at Nellos Restaurant in Manhattan, is leaving the New York Rangers after one underwhelming season. In fact, he's leaving the National Hockey League.

Avangard Omsk of the KHL reported in its website that it's reached a deal with Frolov on a three-year contract. He made $3 million last season with the Rangers and is an unrestricted free agent.

Last summer, Frolov left the Los Angeles Kings, with whom he played from 2002-2010 after being drafted No. 20 overall in 2000. His market value dropped in his final year with the Kings, who demoted Frolov to lower lines and also made him a healthy scratch. When Los Angeles focused on trying to secure Ilya Kovalchuk as a free agent, their time with Fro was over.

His agent compared Frolov's deal with the Rangers to the one Maxim Afinogenov signed with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2009, where he recaptured his offensive swagger with 24 goals before leaving for the KHL. "He made a decision that he will play one more year in the NHL," Sergei Isakov told SovSport regarding Frolov, "and then it will be clearer where he will continue his career."

Yeah, apparently so. Frolov's season ended in January after an ACL tear, but it wasn't much of a season to begin with: He had seven goals and nine assists in 43 games, on pace for a 13-goal season. He was brought on to juice Marian Gaborik's offense. It didn't work out.

So off he goes to the KHL, and the optics are as they've been for other defections: a non-North American player finds his numbers down on the stat sheet and in the contract offers, so he takes his disappointing game back home to be an all-star with a long-term deal.

It should have happened last summer.

It's the San Jose Sharks' own damn fault for resurrecting The Choker Label.

It was an afterthought after an impressive run to the conference finals in 2010 and a resilient opening-round series against the Los Angeles Kings this year. They rallied from a 4-0 deficit in Game 3 vs. the Kings. Joe Thornton — JOE THORNTON! — scored a series-winning overtime goal. The Choker was a distant nightmare … and now it's all anyone can talk about before Game 7 against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night:

"The pressure was on the Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Despite their constricting feeling around their throats, the Sharks still could afford one more loss.  But now the noose is firmly pressed against the San Jose collars. The Sharks could become the fourth team in Stanley Cup playoff history to blow a series after taking a 3-0 lead." — Drew Sharp, Detroit Free Press.

"About the only thing the Sharks have going for them is that it'll be a short trip to the first tee if they find a way to finish off this epic choke job before the home crowd." — John Niyo, Detroit News.

"Lives are not on the line. But jobs might be. Certainly, reputations will be forever cast in stone if Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and the rest of the Sharks cannot escape embarrassment with a series-clinching win. Remember, this is not a one-year thing. Two years ago, the Sharks won the Presidents' Trophy as the top team in the regular season and then lost in the first round to Anaheim. Last year, they made it all the way to the conference final, only to be swept in four straight games by Chicago." — Michael Traikos, National Post.

"Win at HP Pavilion on Thursday night against the resurgent Detroit Red Wings, and the Sharks will have validation of newfound character. Lose, and they will complete a historic collapse that only further cements this franchise's reputation for playoff failure and, yes, choking." — Mark Emmons, San Jose Mercury News

The dirty little secret about Game 7 and The Choker Label: Even a Sharks' victory doesn't shake it.

They're still the team which blew a 3-0 lead. This collapse against Detroit will be added to all the other playoff disappointments conveniently placed under that heading. The only thing Thursday night determines is if it becomes the first item on that list or a supporting detail — "…and they blew that 3-0 lead to Detroit, too."

[Related: Cotsonika: Wings on verge of history]

The narrative that this game cements or rejects The Choker Label is faulty. There's one thing that rejects it, ultimately — a Stanley Cup banner in the HP Pavilion rafters, and winning this series puts the San Jose Sharks eight victories away from that paradigm shift for their franchise.

Which players will step up and save their postseason?

The reason so many of us believed, perhaps foolhardily, that this San Jose team was different was because the burden of leadership and scoring were shared between two "generations" (and pay grades) of Sharks players.

Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley, Patrick Marleau and Dan Boyle were the veteran core of star players with big contracts and big minutes. Thornton's the captain; Boyle and Marleau are alternates. They're the backbone of this team.

Ryane Clowe, the Sharks' leading playoff scorer and a game-time decision for Game 7, is another alternate captain. He's part of a group including Joe Pavelski, rookie Logan Couture and goalie Antti Niemi that made up the heart of this team through the season and into the postseason.

Because even when the backbone fails, the heart keeps pumping.

It wasn't just about the Big Three scorers anymore, which made you believe this Sharks team was something special. The last three games have derailed that notion, because no one from either group has stepped up to win the final game.

Some have tried: Niemi's been great, Pavelski and Couture scored in Game 5. But no one's broken through with the game on the line.

Personally, I view Game 7 as the quintessential moment for the heart of this team. What do you expect from Patrick Marleau, after six games and zero points? What do you expect out of Heatley? It's Clowe (if he plays), Pavelski and Couture that are the tone-setters. It's those players that seem the likeliest heroes, along with Niemi.

But Thornton … even with a lack of production, he hasn't been invisible for the last three games. Ask a Sharks fan after Game 4, and Thornton's their Conn Smythe pick for the team.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News believes this is Thornton's moment:

Just three years ago, the Sharks faced their only previous home Game 7 and walloped Calgary 5-3.

Thornton smiled when that game was brought up. "It was a great game -- tough series, another tough series," Thornton said. "And I don't think there's a better feeling in hockey than going seven games, winning it in front of your home fans. That's what we're looking to do."

You were really emotional throughout that game, remember that, Joe? "Was I? I don't remember that," Thornton said. "Three years ago? Don't remember yesterday to be honest with you."

Then the Sharks' leader, and captain, walked from the assembled media. He had a silly grin and a relaxed stride. He already has his name on Game 7, now the rest is figuring out the details and playing out the history.

The last time the Sharks were at home in this series, they won the first 40 minutes. Then the Red Wings turned it on in the third, and not a soul in teal and black stepped up to take the game back.

In Game 7, they could be heroes. Just for one day.

Video via Peter Santangeli.

It's a Thursday edition of Puck Daddy Radio, and we're chatting about the following and much more:

• Special Guest Star Part 1: Raffi Torres of the Vancouver Canucks is scheduled to join us to talk about the 'Nucks Cup run and their possibly opponent.

• Special Guest Star Part 2: Andrew Ference of the Boston Bruins joins us to preview the Eastern Conference Finals.

• Breaking down the Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks in Game 7.

• Question of the day: Describe the game-winning goal in Game 7 tonight.

• Puck Previews.

Email your thoughts to puckdaddyradio@thescore.com.

Puck Daddy Radio is on Monday through Friday, from 1-2 p.m. ET/10-11 a.m. PT on The Score Radio Sirius Channel 158. Featuring Wyshynski and Rob Pizzo, it's your show: Calls, tweets, special guests and a ton of hockey goodness every day.

The call in number is 1-888-942-7326 (1-888-9-HARDCORE). We'll also be reading emails to puckdaddyradio@thescore.com and tweets that you send to @wyshynski and @robpizzo.

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When you're covering Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, you have a pretty good idea what you're in for — the guy throws zero off-speed pitches. Instead, he steps on the gas and drives his legs, throws the weight of his body onto his stick, and whips a shot toward the goal as hard as he possibly can.

When you're covering a player like Alex Kovalev of the Pittsburgh Penguins, you know what you're in for — sliders, knuckleballs, and change-ups. He's never going to be a drive-wide-and-jam-one-home guy.  He's skill over will — that's not meant to be derogatory, just accurate.

And then there's Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings, flitting about like wisps of smoke, appearing here and there to suffocate offensive players before gusting back with the wind in the opposite direction.

His slapshot could be a slap-pass; his dish could be a look-off. If you go through a box of chocolate, you occasionally do know what you're going to get. Datsyuk's chocolate is all the same shape — and every time you have to guess what's coming.

In sum, he's the toughest player in the NHL to defend because of the breadth of his arsenal, and his ability to conceal which weapon he's going to use next. Defensemen are always guessing.

Try to comprehend how a player puts up point-per-game numbers while racking up some of his accomplishments, one of which is winning two Stanley Cups. After all, a player only gets so much ice time.

He's won the Selke for the league's best defensive forward three times, and is nominated again this year. He's won the Lady Byng for the league's most gentlemanly player four times (twice he won both in the same season). That in itself is mind-blowing.

The incomprehensible duality of being able to defend with ferocity without taking penalties is impressive enough, but to earn the label "gentlemanly" takes it to a whole other level. The best defensive defensemen in the league can certainly make no such claim (think Pronger, Chara, Weber), and his defensively apt peers on forward, if he has any, are more likely to be snarling aggressors like Ryan Kesler.

It's only logical, then, to assume he's not from this planet. It has to be true, what with that ice cream cone shaped head and ability to use a stick made of black matter, I assume. I assume it's made of black matter, because apparently nobody's able to lift it when he has the puck, yet he's able to dictate where every other player's stick goes when he wants what they have.

And to wield that magician's wand and be able to gingerly, surgically massage the puck on zone entries only furthers my conviction. He took the puck into San Jose's zone earlier in this series, into a sea of feeding-frenzied Sharks, and deftly shifted 90 degrees, put the puck behind his own back and picked it up on the other side as to not expose it to defenders.

Even at a near stop, the defenders looked petrified — do we attack?

He changes the pace with a sharp fluidity, if that's possible, and they seem to know — if we go at him because he's stopped, he's going to dish to a linemate flying into the zone and we'd be hosed. If we give him space, well, then we've just given Pavel Datsyuk time and space in the offensive zone, which is just about as petrifying a concept as watching Gretzky with it, the father of the jam-packed arsenal.

He's one of the rare players in the league that nobody has a book on because of that seemingly endless creativity, his inability to get stuck in one mode which so many other forwards succumb to. It's easy to get locked in — "I'm shooting here" — yet he seems to have no lock.

In these playoffs, he's transcended being "one of the league's great players," and joined the upper echelon which once housed only Crosby and Ovechkin. And while Ovy seemed to have one foot out the door this season and Stamkos is still on the long journey to see if the club will someday accept him, it seems that Datsyuk has walked in the back door.

His game has no excess, just artistry. Somehow he's flashy but not showy, confident but not cocky, and along the way he helps folks remember what being a "fan" is supposed to be like.

The way the older generation discusses the greats of the game before us, deifying the heroes that brought them so much joy, I'll tell my kids about watching him at his prime.

I'm impartial on Thursday night's game, but if there were a reason to root for one team, it's to be guaranteed more Datsyuk. His highlight reel is an art gallery, and I'm not through looking yet.

In July 2008, Alex Radulov broke his contract with the Nashville Predators and signed with Salavat Yulaev of the KHL. When asked about a potential return to the NHL one day, he said:

"I think that if I play well I will be taken back without any questions. I will be 25. And also, who knows what will happen in 3 years? Maybe our KHL will be so good that there will be no reason to leave?"

Three years later, the Predators are claiming that Radulov can get out of the three-year contract he signed last October — because, you know, contractual commitments have been so concrete for him in the past — and they're courting him to return to the NHL next season.

From The Tennessean:

[GM David] Poile said he remains in contact with Radulov's agent, Jay Grossman, but the ball remains in the Russian forward's court. Poile said Radulov talked with assistant GM Paul Fenton on Wednesday and said he could get out of his KHL contract.

Said Poile: "What Paul said to him today was very simply, 'You made lots of money. Is money an issue? You're the leading scorer in the league, your team won a championship. You think you're one of the best players in the world. Are you going to come over to the best league and show that? Or are you going to stay in a secondary league.'"

"Secondary league"? Ouch … Alexander Frolov would totally punch someone for saying that if it meant displaying any sort of physicality or emotion.

Radulov had one more year left on his entry-level deal with the Predators when he defected. Revisit the unparalleled joys of that saga with our Alex Radulov Contradiction Timeline.

The timing is right for the Predators to explore this. Radulov is older. Their dressing room, where he felt ostracized as a younger Russian player, has a different group than in 2008. And, perhaps most importantly, he's exactly the type of player they need on this roster as currently constituted.

The great "what if?" for Nashville in its second-round loss to the Vancouver Canucks was "what if they had that one guy who could create his own offense and score a critical goal?" Radulov isn't a star or an MVP-type; but that's the kind of offense he provides. And now the puck's in his end on whether he'll provide it in the NHL again.

Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

• Oh, Jason Trenh, ye of little faith: "Hey Greg - been following your blog for a long time...but not as long as being a die-hard Sharks fan.  Unfortunately, our faith have been toss through the ringer through out these playoffs.  After hearing JR's critique about Marleau, we couldn't help but agree.  So the wife and I decided to alter our jerseys for tonight's Game 7...we're not sure if we're gonna heckled or high-fived but we hope by the end of the game we can tear off these silly monikers."

• Tell the military to take us down to DEFCON-3. The "Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar's Toy Story 3" ice show has been rescheduled around the Eastern Conference finals in Tampa Bay. [Raw Charge]

• Damian Goddard of Sportsnet was fired after sending out this tweet on the Sean Avery/Uptown Sports gay marriage debate: "I completely and whole-heartedly support Todd Reynolds and his support for the traditional and TRUE meaning of marriage." The network denies a direct correlation. Oh well ... should have stuck to the cue cards. [Outsports]

• From Joe Cahill: "Was Sportsnet justified for firing Damian Goddard?  He was a complete dolt for tweeting he supported that agent no one's ever heard of.  His Twitter picture showed him at the anchor desk, and he identified himself as working at the cable network.  If it was a generic shot (which it is now) and he didn't reference his employer then guess what?  No one would have given a rat's ass, and he might still be working today." [CKTB]

• Goddard stands by his comments: "I'm a devout Roman Catholic. It's not about hate at all." [Toronto Star]

• Ryane Clowe is a game-time decision for the San Jose Sharks for Game 7, as is Johan Frazen for the Detroit Red Wings. [Sharks]

• Good stuff from Kevin Clark on the Stanley Cup Playoffs defying logic. [WSJ]

• FAN 590 host Greg Brady set the world on fire Thursday morning with a report that an Atlanta Thrashers player had heard two weeks ago to "expect to move, but nothing official before end of Cup Finals." [Too Many Men On The Site]

• Good stuff from our old pal Dave Pagnotta here on the Thrash and Winnipeg, including an on-the-record denial from NHL VP Bill Daly on an erroneous rumors regarding a relocation announcement in Winnipeg on Friday. [Fourth Period]

• Jeff Schultz wonders, quite rightfully, where Gary Bettman is to stand with Atlanta Thrashers fans in keeping the team from relocating. "Has Gary Bettman, the commissioner, stood at a pulpit on the corner of Marietta and Centennial Olympic Park Drive the way he did in the desert outpost of Glendale, Ariz., and screamed for hockey's existence in Atlanta (especially given this is a top 10 TV market and Phoenix isn't)?  Is the league coming to the rescue of a franchise in a desperate situation, the way it did in Buffalo and Nashville and Ottawa and Pittsburgh and even Tampa (Atlanta also is bigger than all of them)?" [AJC]

• If the Thrashers are moved to Winnipeg, what might a realigned NHL look like? How do the Southeast Division Columbus Blue Jackets sound to you? [The Hockey Writers]

• Greg Esposito is tired of the Phoenix Coyotes' comedy of errors: "I'm sorry Phoenix Coyotes but after 15 years I think we need to take some time apart. I want to take a break and if in a few weeks, at most a month, if you haven't figured out your stuff I think it's best for the sanity of both of us if we go our separate ways." [Fansided]

• Damien Cox with some quality fear mongering about a lockout. How does one write an entire piece about a potential work stoppage and not mention a $2 billion TV contract with NBC that the ink is still drying on? [Star]

• Great stuff from Tauntr. Check out more from its site.

• A rather caustic Nashville Predators eulogy: "Fittingly, the series ended with a whimper, with the game-winning goal scored by a slumping Sedin twin on a powerplay resulting from a Jordin Tootoo dive. Because That's Predators Hockey, baby!" [Pegasus News]

• Shea Weber reinforces the idea that he's going to remain a member of the Nashville Predators. [Tennessean]

• "If Montreal Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier has his eye on Russian defenceman Alexei Yemelin at the IIHF World Hockey Championship, he's not talking about it." [CP]

• Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron "has yet to resume any physical activities following his concussion last Friday." [Bruins Blog]

• In an incredible development, Manny Malhotra returned to the ice for the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, with GM Mike Gillis saying, "It's basically day-by-day, week-by-week and month-by-month. We're optimistic and just holding our breath about his ability to continue to recover. "[The White Towel]

• Finally, perhaps the best song ever written about Simon Gagne. OK, potentially the only song ever written about Simon Gagne.

On Wednesday night, San Jose Sharks fan Aaron Skilken was in a downtown bar when he spotted some Detroit Red Wings players relaxing on the eve of Game 7. Since these opportunities don't come around too often, his devious puckhead mind set a plan in motion.

"I felt like I had to get them a gift," he told us over email.

So he left the bar and walked over to a sushi place a few blocks away. The takeout order he requested?

Octopus sashimi. Nigiri style.

With a Styrofoam container in hand, he went back to the bar. By the time he arrived, Skilken said there were a few Red Wings still in the main dining area, including Kris Draper and Dan Cleary.

"I got a crayon from my waitress — I thought that made it more funny — and built up the courage to harass several professional athletes," he said.

Here's the video from the encounter, as he makes the presentation, gets a few autographs and engages in awkward banter. (There's nothing wrong with your screen; Aaron said there was a processing issue with the clip, which is why it's postage-stamp size. But the audio's great!)

The Red Wing that handled this the best? Dan Cleary. "When he signed it he just pointed and said, 'Stanley Cup champion,'" said Skilken.

That the first and fourth NHL Winter Classics were more entertaining than the second and third is either a tribute to the Sidney Crosby or the virtues of outdoor hockey inside NFL stadia.

According to Darren Dreger of TSN, neither will be a factor for the 2012 Winter Classic, as it appears like the Philadelphia Flyers will host the New York Rangers — but not in the home of the Eagles:

The NHL hasn't officially signed off on the location, largely because of building availability in Philadelphia. The NHL would love to host the outdoor game at Lincoln Financial Field, but the NFL's schedule is making the football stadium virtually impossible, so Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies, will likely be the venue of choice.

Nothing official yet from the League or the participants. Like Leahy wrote last month, The Linc was out because of the NFL schedule — assuming they actually have a season — and the necessary time the NHL needs to prep for the event.

Dreger mentions the joy of watching John Tortorella on "HBO 24/7", and that'd be an undeniable benefit to this matchup. (As would the Best Supporting Actor Emmy nomination with Larry Brooks' name on it.)

But does this Classic do it for you?

The downers for this matchup, besides seeing the Flyers for the second time in three years, are the sexier options we've all imagined for both teams. Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins at Penn State. Rangers vs. fill-in-the-blank at Yankee Stadium. Instead, it's Eastern Conference (again) teams from the Northeast (again) in a venue that's second to the football stadium next door in desirability.

But hey, it's New York vs. Philly — it's going to be a good time.

It's been a confusing day in Atlanta Thrashers land, with a player squawking about moving preparation and an erroneous rumor about a press conference in Winnipeg on Friday. Many were left wondering: Where's the NHL in all of this?

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly spoke with Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, who wrote a column questioning the NHL's commitment to Atlanta amid the Winnipeg talk.

Daly said he "can't guarantee" that the Thrashers will be in Atlanta next season, and deferred to Atlanta owner Bruce Levenson on several questions about negotiations with potential Winnipeg owner True North.

From the AJC, Schultz and Daly:

Q: You and commissioner Gary Bettman both made frequent trips to Phoenix to speak publicly about the Coyotes staying there, but there has been no similar efforts in Atlanta. Why not?

A: "The situations are very different from a host of perspectives, not the least of which are the bankruptcy issues we had [in Phoenix], the fight in bankruptcy court and the league having to purchase the club. There were a unique set of circumstances that required the league's presence in Glendale. The bottom line is, we owned that club."

Q: I understand that. But does that preclude you or Gary from coming to Atlanta to show support for the franchise and help the process?

A: "No, of course not. If there was some reasonable sense that a public appeal would move the process along, then something would be done. But we're not at that point."

Meanwhile, Gary Bettman addressed the Thrashers situation on his XM Radio show this afternoon.

From NHL.com, here's Bettman:

"With respect to any other franchise, it comes down to ownership. It's the reason we wound up leaving Quebec City and Winnipeg. Those teams moved when nobody wanted to own a club there anymore. If you get to that position, where somebody's not prepared to own the club there anymore and you can't find a new prospective purchaser, then you're really between a rock and a hard place.

"Why did we buy Phoenix? It was an unusual circumstance; again, we were involved in litigation, the team was in bankruptcy, and the important principles of the League having the right to determine who owns the franchise and where they're located needed to be vindicated in court as they were, as the two most important rights that any sports league has.

"So in the final analysis, we know that the current ownership of the Thrashers has been trying for a long period of time to try and sell the franchise, and they haven't been able to do it. OK, so now Tuesday night the Glendale City Council, despite everybody's speculation that the team was moving, says we want to keep the team here, we vote the amount of money needed to keep them here for a year and it's done, and then immediately everybody turns their attention in the media to something else -- 'Well, therefore another club has to be moving.'"

Yep, total media creation this Atlanta ownership situation. Even back in Nov. 2010. Uh-huh.

Meanwhile, someone's having fun on Wikipedia.

"We're a confident group. You have to be borderline arrogant to play this game. You can't win if you don't feel that way. We have to go into this game thinking that we're going to win." — Logan Couture

That's what the San Jose Sharks rookie is thinking entering Game 7 against the Detroit Red Wings, after blowing a 3-0 series lead; are you thinking the Sharks are going to win the grand finale?

Please join your pals at Puck Daddy for our Game 7 live chat for Detroit vs. San Jose. You bring the funny; we bring the abrupt changes in tone and Hamburger Women. That's how it works.

Patrick Marleau didn't tally a point against the Detroit Red Wings through six games. The last time he faced them, it was the nadir of his postseason: An invisible performance that came after he was called out by his fans, his coach and his former teammate Jeremy Roenick, who infamously called him "gutless" after Game 5 on VERSUS.

Game 7 was gut-check time for Marleau. Guess what? He has them when it matters most, and the San Jose Sharks are now four wins away from the Stanley Cup Finals, having survived the Detroit Red Wings in Game 7, 3-2, and after a miraculous three-game comeback in the Western Conference semifinals.

"The job's not finished yet," said Marleau on VERSUS, wearing the same earnest expression he wears no matter the adversity. "But I like the way things ended, that's for sure."

It ended thanks to a game-winning goal by Marleau at 12:13 of the third period:

Dan Boyle was the catalyst for this goal, sending a perfect pass through the legs of Brian Rafalski to Devin Setoguchi, who also scored the opening goal for the Sharks. He fired on Jimmy Howard, who made the save and left a rebound; Marleau, who motored to the crease, was there to cash it into the open net.

As much as Marleau was a non-factor in the previous six games, he was a huge piece of the Sharks' Game 7 win. And all Roenick could do after the Sharks' victory was spin his caustic critique while praising Patrick Marleau.

Marleau played 20:36, had five shots, two shots blocked and two shots missed. He was active in the offensive zone, sometimes physically: hitting Niklas Kronwall to jar a puck loose in the offensive zone during the first period.

Defensively, he was one of the best forwards in the game. He tied up Valtteri Filppula in the slot on a Wings power play to prevent a chance. With 20 seconds left in the game and the Sharks up by a goal, he leveled Patrick Eaves with a hit to prevent another chance.

Then, with the crowd going berserk and the seconds ticking down, he had the final clearing attempt of Game 7, ending the Red Wings' last great rally in a series filled with them.

It was a hell of a performance for Marleau. He proved his critics wrong; I'll freely raise my hand as someone who thought he was such a liability that Todd McLellan should have considered scratching him. So yeah, writing this with egg on my face was a challenge.

But all his most vocal critic, Jeremy Roenick, could do was admit to some "tough love" and lather on the praise.

The Sharks got some breaks in Game 7 with Todd Bertuzzi and Dan Cleary going out with injuries, and Johan Franzen scratched, but make no mistake: They won Game 7 with an inspired effort, through the play of Thornton and Niemi and Setoguchi and Boyle …

… and, as unlikely as it seemed earlier this week, thanks to Marleau.

"I don't think there's one team in the league that wouldn't want him," said Red Wings coach Mike Babcock. "He's a big reason why they're moving on."

No. 1 Star: Antti Niemi, San Jose Sharks

Joe Thornton's forceful performance, Dan Boyle's two assists and Patrick Marleau's gutty game will all get their due. But Niemi was the stealth MVP of their 3-2 Game 7 victory against the Detroit Red Wings, stopping 38 of 40 shots. When Detroit took over the game in the second period, Niemi stopped 16 of 17. Should he have flagged down either backhander by Henrik Zetterberg or Pavel Datsyuk? Perhaps. But otherwise, he was the foundation for the series clincher.

No. 2 Star: Devin Setoguchi, San Jose Sharks

The Sharks winger accomplished two things in the first period: He scored the opening goal to give the Sharks and their crowd a jolt, and he scored on the power play, giving the Sharks their first tally with the man advantage since Game 3 - which to the surprise of no one was their last victory before Game 7. He also converted Boyle's pass for a hard shot that made Jimmy Howard cough up a rebound, leading to Patrick Marleau's game-winner.

No. 3 Star: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings

Datsyuk's inspiring, magical postseason ended with his 15th point of the playoffs on a nasty backhander that beat Niemi. Battling through a hand injury, he competed to the end.

Honorable mention: Henrik Zetterberg scored his third of the playoffs. … Logan Couture scored an unassisted goal to give the Sharks a 2-0 lead. … Boyle had two assists, while Thornton brilliantly set up Setoguchi's first-period goal. … Ryane Clowe returned for the Sharks, skating 19:26 and finishing with 2 shots and 4 hits.

Did you know? Teams losing the first three games of a series failed to force a Game 7 in 112 consecutive series between 1976 and 2010. Beginning with the Philadelphia Flyers breaking that streak last year against Boston, three teams have done it in the past seven opportunities (Philadelphia, vs. Boston; Chicago vs. Vancouver; Detroit vs. San Jose). [NHL]

Dishonorable mention: The Wings had their injury problems. Johan Franzen didn't play because of a lingering injury. Todd Bertuzzi left Game 7 after his head collided with Dany Heatley's helmet. Danny Cleary was accidentally taken out by teammate Jiri Hudler and did not return. … Heatley had one goal in the series. … The Wings were 0-for-4 on the power play.

Conn Smythe Watch: 1. Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks; 2. Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning; 3. Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins; 4. Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks; 5. Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins; 6. Ryane Clowe, San Jose Sharks; 7. Sean Bergenheim, Tampa Bay Lightning; 8. Vinny Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning; 9. Devin Setoguchi, San Jose Sharks; 10. Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks.

On Thursday, the news surfaced that Alexander Radulov may be back in the NHL. The Tennessean quoted Preds GM Dave Poile:

"What Paul said to him today was very simply, 'You made lots of money. Is money an issue? You're the leading scorer in the league, your team won a championship. You think you're one of the best players in the world. Are you going to come over to the best league and show that? Or are you going to stay in a secondary league.'"

For whatever reason the Russian media reported the story as if it was Radulov himself who said he wants to come back. Whether or not it is true, it remains to be seen. But when asked about it after yesterday's win against Canada in the World Championships in Slovakia, Radulov told the Russian media that they should learn English and then "won't be writing BS."

The timing of the Radulov to the NHL commotion is somewhat interesting. And now, more than ever before, it is very likely to be true that the Preds will get their runaway back. And here are my thoughts as to why it is a real possibility.

Alexander Radulov is one of the leading players in the KHL, a leader in his club Salavat Yulaev. Radulov was named KHL's MVP last year. And this year he won KHL's Gagarin Cup with Salavat. Salavat Yulaev is based in the Republic of Bashkortostan, an oil rich region of the Russian Federation. The team has had a strong backing on the local government and the sponsorship money had been rolling in. Salavat Yulaev just may have been KHL's richest club.

But it all will most likely change very soon.

Speaker of the Bashkortostan assembly Konstantin Tolkachev told Sovetsky Sport recently that the financing of the club will be cut considerably. Because most KHL clubs don't generate enough revenue from gate receipts, they rely on sponsorships and other financing. If there is less money coming in, Salavat won't be able to afford certain players.

Even though Tolkachev told Sovetsky Sport that Radulov "is definitely staying," I wouldn't be so sure.

KHL contracts are not guaranteed. Either a club or a player may terminate a contract. Evgeni Nabokov terminated his contract with SKA St. Petersburg last winter. Kyle Wellwood was released by his KHL club. The most popular explanation for contract termination in the KHL is that it is done "by mutual consent."  Or when a club simply "releases" a player.

Last year Dynamo Moscow, one of the most storied Russian teams, died due to lack of financing. Jiri Hudler still had one more year left on his contract at the time it happened. He was effectively released by the club due to the financial situation.

KHL contracts don't contain "out" clauses. And Radulov most likely doesn't have one in his either. But with the financing for Salavat reduced, the team and the player are very likely to reach "amicable" decision to part ways, regardless of what is officially said today. To keep the face.

Eleven Salavat players who won the Gagarin Cup just a few weeks ago will not be returning to the club. Radulov may be the 12th player. The team just may not have the money to keep him, as well as pay his bonuses, which I am sure he has an agreement for.

Another reason, as hard it could be for someone to believe, is that it is time for Radulov to move back to the NHL. He has won everything he could in the KHL. As much as some don't want to believe it, Radulov has in fact become a better player during the time he spent in the KHL. And when he finally comes back to the NHL, he will surely be an asset: he has the skill, the toughness, the speed, the size.

It will be up to the Predators and their fans to either welcome him back and start over without holding the grudge, or reject his return, which will also be understood due to the complicated history.

But Radulov's return to the NHL at this point is a very real possibility.

According to the venerable Elias Sports Bureau, the San Jose Sharks' Western Conference semifinal victory over the Detroit Red Wings marked the first time in NHL history that six games in a playoff series were decided by one goal. They were one empty-netter in Game 6 away from it having been all seven.

So you can, in fact, quantify that the Sharks and Red Wings played one of the most thrilling semifinal series in Stanley Cup Playoff history.

Or you can simply listen to Coach Todd McLellan's non-scientific analysis:

"Hell of a series, hell of a game."

Coming up, a look back at seven reasons why San Jose vs. Detroit was an instant classic; from Datsyuk to Jumbo to Thursday night's 3-2 Game 7 win for the black and teal.

Who the [expletive] is Benn Ferriero?

True story: We were at the Irish Channel in D.C. after a Washington Capitals' home game, watching the end of the third period of Game 1. As should be the case in any quality hockey bar or pub, a pool was formed to pick the player who'd score the game-winning goal. We drafted names in several rounds until everyone had their picks and pooled their cash.

Then this happened at 7:03 of overtime:

Turned out no one actually drafted Benn Ferriero of the Sharks.

Seriously. Douglas Murray and Ruslan Salei were picked, but Ferriero wasn't.

Refunds all around.

The Jumbo Effect

The difference for Joe Thornton in this series than in previous postseason: When he didn't hit the score sheet, he wasn't invisible. He made a difference on the forecheck, and especially on defense. He was a presence in a way some of his other well-known teammates (Heatley, Marleau) were not during stretches of the series.

When he did hit the score sheet, it was dramatic. His three assists in Game 3 gave Devin Setoguchi his first playoff hat trick, and Thornton made a hell of a play on the OT winner:

In Game 7, Thornton again found Setoguchi for a first-period power-play goal that gave the Sharks some vital momentum on home ice.

The level of adulation directed at Jumbo from the media and peers was palpable. He's having an MVP-level postseason.

Game 4 and The Comeback

At the time, the Red Wings' roller-coaster Game 4 victory was seen as a dramatic way to stave off elimination.

Perhaps, instead, it was the Hockey Gods calling their shot: If Detroit can blow a 3-0 lead in a game, San Jose can blow one in the series, too.

Nicklas Lidstrom scored two goals with the Wings' playoff life, and potentially his career, hanging in the balance. Zetterberg stepped up. Cleary stepped up. And then, with overtime looming, Darren Helm (!) did this:

That set the comeback in motion, as the Wings would win the third period of Game 5, kick ass in Game 6 and force a dramatic Game 7 that was in question until the final buzzer. They nearly became only the fourth team in NHL history to rally from a 3-0 deficit to win a series.And they fought like hell to nearly pull it off.

A championship effort in the last four games from a locker room that has more than a few rings.

Roenick vs. Marleau

After Game 5, we found out why VERSUS pays Jeremy Roenick, as the former Sharks forward torched his ex-teammate Patrick Marleau's "gutless" performance in Game 5:

After Game 7, we found out why the San Jose Sharks pay Patrick Marleau, as the former Sharks captain scored a goal and played stellar defense in the third period to win the series — and inspire Roenick to heap praise on him after it:

In a series that didn't have many moments of on-ice controversy — headshots, War Room reviews gone awry — Roenick provided a compelling storyline for the final two games. Ultimately, he was the antagonist in Marleau's redemption story.

Mr. Howard and Mr. Hockey

If there's one player in the series whose stock rose immeasurably, it's Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard.

There were concerns about him being a liability; he wasn't. There were concerns he couldn't be a difference-maker in a game; look at the first 40 minutes of Game 5, and you'll know he can. There were concerns the Sharks could rattle him; even when they were piling more snow on his face than Mr. Plow, Howard remained steady throughout the series.

Well, almost the entire series:

Read Nick Cotsonika's piece for more.

Datsyuk, The Magician

Sometimes we take greatness for granted. Sometimes the conditions have to change for us to appreciate that greatness.

Pavel Datsyuk has been a main cog in the Red Wings' championship machine for a decade. He wins Selke Trophies and Lady Byngs. His dangles pepper YouTube with clips. His subtle and sublime sense of humor amuses us.

But in this series, with the Red Wings facing a formidable foe and series deficit, Datsyuk's incredible play earned the spotlight it was given — especially when a sprained wrist he suffered on a Game 3 slash by Joe Thornton limited him. He was electrifying on every shift, exhibiting a will to win that matched his ridiculous skill-set.

The Best All-Around Player In Hockey is like the Best Pound-for-Pound Fighter In Boxing: Few can make the claim, and there's always going to be a passionate, reasoned debate about the title. Datsyuk's performance in this series makes a case; but there's a gentleman named Sidney Crosby that also makes a compelling one.

Who ya got?

Finally …

Game 7

Not to prolong the boxing metaphor, but the final game of this series was like watching the two best fighters in the world go toe-to-toe. The Sharks and Red Wings brought it: San Jose in the first, Detroit in the second, and then a delirious battle in the final 20 minutes. The kind of hockey where you can't remember the last time you blinked.

It didn't go to overtime, which is probably a good thing, considering the heights of blood pressure for the players and those watching around the world.

The Vancouver Canucks' and Chicago Blackhawks' seven-game first-round series also featured at 3-0 comeback. It definitely had more soap operatic storylines than this. But it also had some unsightly blowout victories that increased the drama but decreased the quality of play.

Not so for the Red Wings and Sharks. Every game was the epitome of what playoff hockey should be: Entertaining, close, intense and with the best athletes in the world elevating their performances to a championship level.

Thanks, boys.

On Wednesday a $400 million plan for a new arena was announced. On Friday, the Calder Trophy nominated rookie sensation was locked up for five years.

Whoa ... almost had positive news for the New York Islanders on consecutive days, which would have broken some kind of cosmic rule, we think.

Michael Grabner attended the press conference announcing the arena complex deal, which was a decent clue that the restricted free agent winger wasn't going anywhere. He announced the following on his Twitter feed on Friday morning:

"I am happy to announce that I will be an Islander for the next five years. New building, new contract and new baby. What a great year!!!!!"

Five exclamation points is an indication he really means it.

The 5-year, $15 million deal with the Islanders will pay him $1 million next season, $2 million in 2012-13, $3 million in 2013-14, $4 million in 2014-15 and — wait for it — $5 million in 2015-16, for an annual cap hit of $3 million, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. That last year may be when the Islanders are getting new revenue streams from a new building.

Here's Grabner on the deal:

Grabner's is a redemption story, as he was unable to latch on with the Vancouver Canucks, was traded to the Florida Panthers, was unceremoniously placed on waivers after training camp and then snatched up by the Islanders. He led all rookies with 34 goals, which were also the best on the Islanders, and also led rookies with six shorthanded goals.

Any long-term deal with a player that has one fabulous season to his credit — and in a contract year, no less — is a risk. But at the same time, it's inspiring to see both player and team make this commitment. It's a message to the fans: We're building something here, both on the ground (depending on the voters) and in our dressing room.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly have offered the League's reaction to rampant speculation that the Atlanta Thrashers are nearing a relocation to Winnipeg.

At the Atlanta Hawks' playoff game with the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night, Atlanta Spirit owner Bruce Levenson had his say with a reporter from WXIA. And if you wanted to know how dire things are for the Thrashers, check out his message to the fans:

"If you know anybody who is interested, have them get in touch with us." Oh, that's a bit cloudy. The full transcript is here.

According to the Atlanta Business Journal, WXIA has cited an undisclosed source that the team could be sold as early as this weekend. Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that a deal with True North Sports and Entertainment of Winnipeg is "unlikely" to get done this weekend, but adds:

There is also no timetable on the possible completion of a deal with True North. It is also not known if such an agreement could be reached in time for next season. The structure for a deal could be in place as True North had first hoped to acquire the Phoenix Coyotes, owned by the NHL, until a resolution was reached to kept the team in Arizona for another season earlier this week. The Glendale City Council voted to pay $25 million to the NHL for operating expenses to keep the team at least for next season.

NHL bylaws require that an owner seeking to relocate a team submit a written application to the commissioner by Jan. 1 of the year preceding the proposed move — "unless a majority of the [clubs] consents to a later filing date." That clause and caveat leave open the question of whether a move, if a deal is reached, would be for the 2011-12 or 2012-13 season.

Well, at the very least, we hope someone tells the Carolina Hurricanes when all this stuff is settled, because they're planning on facing the Thrash on Sept. 25.

(Warning: this post talks about things like whether same-sex marriage is "wrong" or "a political issue." If you think the whole concept is icky, there are probably some really funny poop jokes you can read elsewhere.)

It takes a hell of a lot of work to get the whole hockey world on Sean Avery's side, but then those who would side against progress have historically worked really hard to maintain the status quo.

Earlier this week, as you are all aware by now, an agent no one had ever heard of tweeted on the official Twitter feed of a completely unknown agency, representing players no one cares about. He called Sean Avery's support of same-sex marriage in New York "misguided" and the entire concept — with marriage in quotation marks, by the way — "wrong."

Later in the day, the head of the agency, and the father of the original tweeter, said that he would agree with the general intent of the message: that marriage can only be between a man and a woman. He also drew a parallel between homosexuality and bestiality, saying without a hint of irony that if a man can marry another man, what is to stop a man from marrying a horse?

From the National Post:

"But the majority, I think, of Canadians would say that they don't agree with gay marriage — that man and woman were created to be married, not man and man or man and horse, you know?"

The condemnation of these messages from the hockey community was swift, thorough and nearly universal. Several other agents spoke out in favor of Avery's position on same-sex marriage, as did typically controversial-but-benign Coyotes enforcer Paul Bissonnette. And by then, the agent in question had already embarrassed himself on national radio, defending a tweet or three that he claims to have thought about in advance with spurious statements he believed to be facts.

So the takeaway from all seemed is simple enough: you can't position your company as being against what many view as essentially a basic civil right. Bad for business and all that, at least in the public's eyes.

But the fact is that many, and probably most, hockey players don't care about the issue one way or another — anyone who's spent any amount of time around professional athletes knows how casually gay slurs are used as insults because, in the lexicon, "gay" equals "bad" — or are outright against it. Plus, most people know that sports fan culture does little to denounce or discourage misogyny or homophobia because SPORTS are for MEN and all that.

Of course, maybe that overexplains things.

After all, the agents made a careful point to distinguish between condemning same-sex marriage and homosexuals themselves. Hate the sin, not the sinner type stuff. And in doing so, perhaps Uptown Hockey attempted to position itself — because remember, the agent claims to have considered the tweet in advance — as The Anti-Gay Marriage Agency, which, in a world as noninclusive as professional sports, could just fill up the coffers.

People also argued that this wouldn't have been a big deal if a no-name agent had posted the exact same statement on his own personal Twitter account. But that proved not to be the case either, because a no-name Sportsnet anchor tweeted his support for the agency's message, got the crap kicked out of him for it, and was out of a job within the space of 24 hours.

These parties chose to line up on the side of an issue that history, as it so often does with intolerance and hatred, will view poorly. The same-sex marriage debate is, at its core, as fundamental a dispute about civil rights. Should one group of human beings have the same right as another, larger group of human beings just because they are different? The answer, always, is going to end up being yes, no matter how long it takes.

Some say opposing same-sex marriage is not hatred, or even based on it. But what we can infer from the comments of those associated with the agency — that same-sex marriage will lead to a man marrying a horse — is that it, in fact, is. To draw a line between the two is to imply, however indirectly, that homosexuals are somehow less than a "normal" human who likes people from the opposite sex.

In his radio interview, the agent said that he was unhappy with being painted as a hatemongering, intolerant bigot, and the microscopic minority on Twitter that supported him parroted the same. That people are well within their rights to have that belief. And sure, that's true. People can think whatever the tapdancing hell they want.

They also think it's a political issue. It's not. People try to make it one, just as they did with segregation in the 1960s. Hell, George Wallace ran for president of the United States on a platform in favor of continuing segregation and against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. A whole bunch of idiots voted for Wallace, too. And that doesn't make the opinion any less wrong or based on fear and hatred. Most likely believed that they, too, were not racists who hated those of other races. It was just the way things were.

What it is in reality is an institutionalized effort to deny people basic rights that it extends to others on the basis that they are in some way different from the majority.

People are obviously going to disagree with the above. Some will do so vociferously. But no one today, apart from the exceptionally and unabashedly hateful, will say they support denying anyone the right to do anything based on the color of their skin. And 50 years from now, people are going to look back on a time when people openly said same-sex marriage was "wrong" with a combination of horror, disbelief and shame.

It's almost stunning that it took Sean Avery of all people to spark this kind of debate, but because the hockey fan community and even "insiders" like players and agents came out on the side of being inclusive and accepting shows that things are changing.

And hockey will ultimately be better for it.

Pearls of Biz-dom

We all know that there isn't a better Twitter account out there than that of Paul Bissonnette. So why not find his best bit of advice on love, life and lappers from the last week?

BizNasty on tolerance: "For all the gay couples now tweeting back inviting me to there weddings, I'll only consider if its an open bar at the reception. #Veteran."

If you've got something for Trending Topics, holla at Lambert on Twitter or via e-mail. He'll even credit you so you get a thousand followers in one day and you'll become the most popular person on the Internet! You can also visit his blog if you're so inclined.