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.
• Everything was going so well for the San Antonio Rampage … until the Plushie Flash Mob happened. (Anyone else spying that creepy-ass thing in the pink dress?)
• Via Shelly Anderson of the Post-Gazette: "Sidney Crosby ruled out for Penguins Thursday at Tampa but traveling with club." Will he face the Florida Panthers? Does he return against the New York Islanders to kick off a 3-game homestand next week? If only there was someone around who could help ensure no one takes any liberties with Sidney Crosby oh hi Steve MacIntyre. [@pgshelly]
• Ilya Kovalchuk is back tonight for the New Jersey Devils against the Buffalo Sabres. [NJ.com]
• An American equity firm owning the Toronto Maple Leafs? Finally, our Canadian Bacon-like infiltration plan begins! [The Star]
• Mikhail Grabovski will be out up to two weeks with a lower body injury, joining roughly 100 injured Toronto players at the moment (though not Tim Connolly, oddly). [National Post]
• Dallas Stars forward Adam Burish is out 4-to-6 weeks with a broken hand. [ESPN Dallas]
• Story of the day by Steve Whyno of the Washington Times about Alex Ovechkin's offensive decline, in which he asks Ovie's opponents — rather than just speculating — about his game. Said Teemu Selanne on Ovechkin: "You want to be a better all-around player and do the things right — whatever you can help the team most, you have to do. Obviously Alex, he knows he'd rather have 35 goals and his linemates have 30 goals also instead of one guy having 60. … He doesn't care that much about numbers anymore. I think he [reached] those numbers, which [are] unbelievable, and now he just wants to be as good as he can all around and help the team win." [Washington Times]
• Speaking of struggling stars, a great look at Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets. [The Cannon]
• Why goalies need more protection … from their own teammates. [Puck Update]
• We find the lack of Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks on American television disturbing. [Puck The Media]
• The Abel To Yzerman reaction to the Detroit Red Wings' loss to the St. Louis Blues last night: "So…Tick Tock. We look to you once again. Allllllll that cap space. All that money. All that angst as the last Cup gets smaller in the mirror. Who's it gonna be? Who you gonna bring us Kenny? Huh? Oh, I know. I know. It's tough to deal in Gary's NHL because parity dictates that every team thinks they have a shot. No one wants to trade in November." [A2Y]
• Damien Cox defends the Toronto Star calling James Riemer's mother for an injury update, despite the Toronto Maple Leafs' absurd criticism of it. And he only mentions the Toronto Star by name six times; hope you took the under. [Cox]
• W. Brett Wilson, who used to appear on the Canadian version of "Dragon's Den," is officially a part owner of the Nashville Predators. [Preds On the Glass]
• Huzzah! It's Episode 4 of "Fake Henrik Zetterberg," this time with character actor extraordinaire Austin Pendleton! (Think: Stuttering lawyer, "My Cousin Vinny.")
• The Florida Panthers are simply rolling right now. [Litter Box Cats]
• Why are they so good on the road but not so good at home, Stephen Weiss? "For whatever reason we're more relaxed on the road and play too cute at home. Maybe it's because we have a lot of new guys and want to put on a show for the fans. We have the best intentions, but sometimes, you have to keep it simple and do what works. We just have to find this formula at home.'' [On Frozen Pond]
• In praise of the Edmonton Oilers' rebuilt Bulin Wall. [The Good Point]
• Brayden Schenn is skating again for the Philadelphia Flyers. [Philly.com]
• Ken Hitchcock on his amazing start with the Blues: "I'm a pretty talkative guy, (but) I've kind of enjoyed the quiet time, to be honest with you. You get time to think and everything like that, and reflect and kind of visualize. Now I have to just start talking again. That's the toughest thing for me, the time constraint and the talking. The coaching part and going with the players and going over systems and looking at tape, I enjoy that, that's the easy part. That is the simple easy part. The constant verbiage and having to be on time for everything is tough. I miss my coffee and relaxing sometimes. I'll get used to it." [STLToday.com]
• Is Nikita Filatov KHL bound? [Silver Sevens]
• Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier announced today that forward Corey Tropp has been recalled from the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League. [Sabres]
• The Ryan Suter watch is on for the Nashville Predators. [THN]
• Finally, St. Louis Blues fans really need to coordinate their celebrations better. Although, in fairness, they're probably out of practice.