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.
• Marty St. Louis was one of several Tampa Bay Lightning players who participated in the 2nd Annual Bright House Networks Cut for a Cure. He now stands at 4-foot-3. [Lightning]
• Tonight marks the first meeting between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum since their brutal, chaotic game on Feb. 11 that led to 346 penalty minutes, three suspensions and Mario Lemieux threatening to leave the NHL. Said Brooks Orpik on what might happen: "We just want a hockey game. …We have the playoffs (coming), so no one needs to break a hand or finger or pop a shoulder out doing something stupid. We have a lot more to lose than they do right now." [Tribune Review]
• From Matt Martin of the New York Islanders: "We took care of what we needed to take care of last game. The ball is kind of in their court now." [Newsday]
• Eric Tangradi, who Trevor Gillies injured in that melee, doesn't want to see retribution: "Not at this point, no. … There's too many important things that are going on besides one incident. I think everyone, including myself, would rather see us leave the building with a win than have anything happen." [Post Gazette]
• Mike Modano tells Craig Custance he'll retire if the Detroit Red Wings make the Stanley Cup Final: "If we got there and we won or lost, I'm done," Modano told Sporting News. "That's my feeling on the whole deal. Hopefully it ends that way one way or another." [TSN]
• Anaheim Calling with a well-reasoned response to our Daniel Sedin for Hart piece last night. Point-by-point debate, and some good stuff, even if a few of his arguments boil down to what two fans see as being relevant to an MVP. Taking 37 minor penalties isn't relevant to Daniel but is to us. Difference of opinion. [Anaheim Calling]
• Remember that photo with Alex Ovechkin and the First Lady? Here's how it happened. [Alex Ovetjkin]
• Chris Pronger isn't sure he'll play in Game 1 of the Philadelphia Flyers' first playoff series. Or he was havin' a laugh at the expense of the media. One of the two. [Inquirer]
• Why we should be upset over the suspension of Raffi Torres for that headshot on Jordan Eberle. [KB]
• Mike Green says he'll "absolutely" play in the Washington Capitals' season finale on Saturday night. [Capitals Insider]
• David Booth gets a well-deserved nomination for the Masterton. [On Frozen Pond]
• Ten reasons why Buffalo is hockey heaven right now. [2 Minutes For Roughing, via Die By The Blade]
• "Red Wings D Niklas Kronwall said he has an upper-body injury. Out last two games. 'Absolutely' will return for playoffs." [Cotsonika]
• The polar bears are fighting the weird financial investment firm logo in the KHL finals. WE HAVE A JAN BULIS SIGHTING! [Puck Worlds]
• "Sher-Wood, the legendary Quebec maker of hockey equipment, is moving what remains of its stick production to China." Great, now we're going to have to complain about composite chopsticks always snapping during play. [CBC]
• Fantastic video from the Los Angeles Kings on the late, great Burger King sweaters.
• Dustin Penner has been underwhelming for the Kings, but Coach Terry Murray liked what he saw from him on Wednesday night. [LA Kings Insider]
• Surgery time for Brendan Morrison. [QMI]
• Damien Cox on the Ottawa Senators retaining Bryan Murray as GM: Find a coach you can live with and then trade Jason Spezza. [The Star]
• Eugene Melnyk on the Senators' play that helped Murray stay: "I hate to think that this was purely a 60-day wonder, but that this is something we can build upon, a foundation that is going to continue bringing (us) a competitive hockey team. If it does turn out that way, then of course it's going to be a positive outlook." [Sens]
• "The Nashville chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association launched a new tradition with the presentation of a Media Recognition Award, and this year, the recipient is Predators defenseman Shane O`Brien." [On The Forecheck]
• Good look at the Anaheim Ducks' goaltending as the team nears the playoffs. [HOTH]
• Razor on tonight's Dallas Stars game: "When the puck drops at the Pepsi Center tonight the Stars will be trying to continue their "win em all and get in" tour, and for their efforts will get a date with those juggernaut Canucks in the opening round, a team they are now 22 points in arrears of. The hapless Avs will try to play spoiler as they reside 5 points up on dead last in the league and a dizzying 49 points behind those boys from Vancouver." [Razor]
• Dave Bolland is nearing a return to the Chicago Blackhawks lineup from his concussion. [ESPN Chicago]
• Finally, check out the pre-game ceremony in Vancouver, as Henrik Sedin and Manny Malhotra accept the President's Trophy. Cool stuff: