Top Line: Ovechkin goes for 50-in-50; Luongo's Christmas photo; more links
Alex Ovechkin's revival this year could prove to be of historic proportions. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
By Allan Muir
An annotated guide to this morning's must-read hockey stories:
• Two years after being written off as a shadow of his former self, Alexander Ovechkin is tearing up the league at a near-legendary scoring pace. Here's what it would take for him to become the sixth player in history to score 50 goals in 50 games.
• It took a two-man advantage, but someone finally scored on Martin Jones. The Kings' rookie 'tender was full value again last night, smothering Toronto to earn his fourth straight win ... and a few jabs from his teammates for letting one in.
• Amazingly, one team did not vote to approve the stunning $5.2 billion Canadian TV deal with Rogers at the Board of Governors meeting this week. More amazing: it was a Canadian team .. .partly owned by Rogers. Damien Cox has the story.
• Sidney Crosbyoffers a prediction for the length of the suspension that is waiting for Boston's Shawn Thornton and some advice for injured teammate Brooks Orpik.
• As the great philosopher Linus Van Pelt once observed, "Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you're the Charlie Browniest." In the round-headed kid's honor then, here are 10 reason why the Florida Panthers are the Panthersiest team of all time.
• Eric Duhatschek explains that sharing is the key to the success of the St. Louis Blues.
• The Winnipeg Jets have played in a league-high 19 one-goal games. They've won just seven of them. Here's why.
• Patrick Marleau used this as motivation for his great start this season.
• Here's what Barry Trotz can't believe about 19-year-old prodigy Seth Jones.
• Zack Kassian's warning to any Edmonton Oilers who are looking to avenge his preseason breaking of Sam Gagner's jaw: "The door is open. Go ahead." I'm guessing that the ratings for when the two teams meet on Friday night one will be terrible, what with everyone turning up their nose at fighting and all.
• Here's some fun with numbers. Well, unless you're a Sabres fan.
• The announcers working the Kitchener Rangers' broadcast were not impressed by these sweet moves from London Knight Bo Horvat.
• Brian Costello asks if Jarome Iginla has done enough to earn a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame. I'm guessing that this is a rhetorical question.
• Here it is: the Christmas card of the year:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BbQoaVQIcAAzT51.jpg
• Carey Price's career save percentage is .916 and this season he's at .938. Here's a stat-nerd explanation for his improved ability to stop pucks.
• After watching them post a combined minus-20 during the Flyers' recently completed six-game road trip, Sam Carchidi says it's time to break up the team's underperforming top line.
• John Tavares' willpower and Kevin Poulin standing on his head helped the Isles end their miserable 10-game losing skid, but that's hardly a long-term recipe for success. Getting some offense from brutally snakebitten forwards like Michael Grabner, Josh Bailey and Frans Nielsen might help.
• Alain Vigneault has identified the problem with the New York Rangers: He doesn't have the right players, at least, not the right ones to make the team play the way he wants it to play. I suspect that situation's not going to change any time soon, so the onus falls on him to figure out how to make the meal with the groceries he's got.
• Don Brennan says there are two reasons why the timing of Jared Cowen's suspension couldn't be worse.
• The World Juniors has a history of chewing up underaged players. Canada's 16-year-old wunderkind Connor McDavid will be the exception. Like he always is.
• The Wild released Mathew Dumba to join Team Canada this week, and the prognosis is good that injured forward Jonathan Drouin will be in camp as well. Now, Canada is hoping that good news comes in threes.
• The way Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly played last night in Dion Phaneuf's absence doesn't bode well for his release to Canada's national team.
• Rangers forward Rick Nash might not be too worked up to play against his old team tonight, but one of the guys he was traded for sure is.
• Here's some good news for fans of women's hockey ... well, at least those who have a really comprehensive cable package. I have no idea if I get the Universal Sports Network, but if I do, I'll be watching.