Top Line: Chicago's lucky 21, DiPietro's disastrous AHL debut, more links
Brent Seabrook was pumped after scoring in OT to extend the Blackhawks' point streak. (Photo by Nam Y. Huh/AP)
By Allan Muir
A guide to this morning's must-read hockey stories:
• The Blackhawks looked tired on Friday night, but still found a way to extend their record-setting streak to 21 games with an overtime win over Columbus. The most amazing thing about this stretch? All three games they've lost to this point have been in the shootout.
• Life isn't getting any easier for Rick DiPietro. The Islanders' cast-off allowed five goals on 12 shots and was pulled after 20 minutes in his debut for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL.
• Eric Francis wonders if Jay Feaster should be allowed to continue as Calgary's GM in the wake of the Ryan O'Reilly waivers imbroglio.
• Ya say ya like podcasts? Our own Adrian Dater and CBC's Jeff Marek whipped one up to break down the Ryan O'Reilly saga.
• The clip of Sidney Crosby scoring the 2010 Golden Goal has never been shown on an NHL video player of any kind. If the IOC and IIHF want NHL players in Sochi, they'll have to provide the NHL video rights to moments like this.
• The Canucks look like a million bucks in their new sweaters but the only mirror they should be looking in is the rear-view kind because here come the hard-charging Los Angeles Kings.
• Our own Stu Hackel opens up the mail bag to answer reader questions at the New York Times.
• Anaheim beat the Wild 3-2 to claim their eighth in a row at home and pass the 2006-07 Ducks for the for the best start in franchise history.
• It's time for the Boston Bruins to start putting backup goalie Anton Khudobin to work. He's expected to get just his third start of the season today.
• The Penguins are looking forward to renewing acquaintances with ex-coach Michel Therrien and the Montreal Canadiens today.
• Last night's loss gives the Edmonton Oilers something to shoot for.
• Dave Stubbs examines how this week's trade that sent Erik Cole to Dallas impacts the player's day-to-day life.
• The Red Wings lead the league in man-games lost to injury, but Detroit GM Ken Holland sees an upside.
• With their next four games coming against Southeast Division rivals, the Winnipeg Jets are focusing on winning in regulation.
• The Capitals, who will be Winnipeg's first test, face 16 games in the next 30 days. To put themselves back in the playoff hunt, they'll need to be more aggressive than they were in their last game, a dispirited loss to the Flyers.
• Everywhere they go, the Philadelphia Flyers alumni team draws a crowd...and occasionally, a foe who thinks he has something to prove against a former Broad Street Bully.