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.
• Look, not to bring the room down here, but there's an underreported aspect to the Phoenix Coyotes' relocation story, and you can read it in this poor kid's face at the end of Game 4. Via Tricia Harvey: "I was able to snap the kid behind us in the stands with about a minute left. Poor kid couldn't keep it together. He is showing everything all of us felt in that arena, sadness for the loss and worry it is the last game of NHL hockey we will ever see in Phoenix."
• Tim Panaccio's sources tell him that Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger won't play in Game 5 against the Buffalo Sabres: "Pronger is still experiencing pain in the fractured area around the right hand, the source said, adding he is still unable to take sufficient contact on the hand to defend himself on the ice." [CSN Philly]
• Patrick Kaleta claims he didn't intentionally open a bench door to make Nik Zherdev fall through it in Game 4 against the Flyers: "I didn't expect anyone to be in our bench but it was kind of funny. Just because I did it, people think I did it on purpose but I was there and flipped it up and whatever." [QMI]
• Five myths about ESPN and the NHL. Myth No. 6: Barry Melrose's head actually resembles that of Michael Chiklis. [Fangs Bites]
• Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen will be ready for the Detroit Red Wings in Round 2. And then you will witness the firepower power of this fully armed and operational battle station. [Detroit News]
• Why Tom Glavine's interest in keeping the Atlanta Thrashers from relocating is huge for the franchise. [Thrashing the Blues]
• The nine obnoxious people you might see at a Stanley Cup Playoff game. Not a perfect list, but No. 2 "The SIT DOWN!" Guy is just about perfect: "This guy has season tickets and buries his head in the program. He might listen to the radio broadcast on headphones. He will exhibit no sign that he is enjoying himself in the least. He is at least 45 years old, and his wife will sit next to him, though he will never speak to her. He will definitely not drink beer. And he will give the 'ole stink eye to anyone who makes any effort to enjoy the game, including, but not limited to: cheering, smiling, laughing, doing anything for a 'Kiss-Cam,' standing, drinking a beer, acknowledging the existence of a child, or singing 'YMCA' when it comes on." [Total Pro Sports]
• Andrew Ference has inspired a predictable, but still rather awesome, T-shirt. [Barstool, via Dave McBrayer]
• With Mike Kunble out for Game 5 of the Washington Capitals' series vs. the New York Rangers, Brooks Laich is expected to see some time on the Caps' top line. [Capitals Insider]
• Alex Ovechkin sounds giddy. [Alex Ovetjkin]
• The Rangers loss in Game 4, Derp'd. [Tehsuck, via Chief]
• Mats Zuccarello broke his hand Thursday night in the Connecticut Whale's loss in Game 5 of the first round of the AHL playoffs. Dude, don't be afraid to use your Hobbit Wizard powers to heal thyself. We all know you can. [NYDN]
• One year ago today, Ian Laperriere had his face broken while blocking a shot. [NHL.com]
• According to The Tennessean (via Ducks Blog), Shane O'Brien made a diving motion with his hands as he was sent to the penalty box during Game 4. And that's why he's our favorite S.O.B. [Tennessean]
• There have been many "History Will Be Made" videos that have been underwhelming this postseason. This is not one of them. Witness the Andrew Ference edition via HockeyWebCaster.
• If the Blackhawks win or lose to the Vancouver Canucks in this series, Ryan Kennedy thinks they're going to be OK: "Because this team wasn't designed to win this year. They were designed to win last year, which is exactly what happened, so mission accomplished." [THN]
• Tom Benjamin on the potential collapse for Vancouver: "I don't know whether I would be able to stand it." [Canucks Corner]
• Jonathan Willis looks at winning and losing as a team: "The point here is that no player, no matter how phenomenal a leader or skilled a scorer, can singlehandedly propel a team to success. They might be able to take over a single game, or change the course of a series, or give their team that added 'oomph' that gets them over the hump, but no one player can make a bad team good or a good team bad. The Pittsburgh Penguins have been a great example of that this season." [Houses of the Hockey]
• Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma knows that he's never closed out a series on home ice. And he knows this because his son chirped him about it. [Lightning Strikes]
• The Tampa Bay Rays have the Bolts' backs. [Lightning]
• Mark Purdy strikes again against Staples Center: "(Also, not to rattle any more cages, but Staples Center indeed turned out to be as intimidating a place to visit as Randy's Donut stand. In the Sharks' two games here, they managed to score 12 total goals, rally for one of the largest comebacks in NHL playoff history and romp to a three-goal victory and return to San Jose with a chance to close out the series Saturday night. Well done, Kings ticket-buyers.)" [Mercury News, via Kevin]
• Finally, the mercurial Joe Thornton blows kisses to some San Jose Sharks fans attending the game at Staples Center Thursday night.
Just kisses? Well, it's not like he had a ring to give them …