Top Line: Canucks, Flames wage old-fashioned line brawl; more links

Kellan Lain (left) was ejected two seconds into his NHL debut after his role in Saturday's line brawl. (Jeff Vinnick/Getty)

By Allan Muir

An annotated guide to this morning's must-read hockey stories:

• If you missed last night's game between the Flames and Canucks, you missed a testosterone-fueled match-up that will go down as one of the most memorable of the season. In Vancouver, Tony Gallagher argues this was the real Heritage Classic, capturing old-time hockey at its best...or worst.

• Jason Botchford has the scene from the hallway during the first intermission scuffle that earned John Tortorella a hearing on Monday with the league.

• Here's how the game started:

• This is what the penalty box looked like at the two-second mark.

• "That was my biggest mistake, and I'll kick myself forever for not having someone else there." Hear what else Torts had to say in his post-game press conference.

• The Boston Bruins made news last week by announcing they would allow captain Zdeno Chara to miss two league games in order to carry Slovakia's flag in the Olympic opening ceremonies. Steve Simmons says the Penguins are open to doing the same if Canada wants Sidney Crosby to be its standard bearer.

• Jim Jamieson explains how some contending teams will be affected more than others as a result of star players participating at the Olympics.

• Bruce Garrioch considers the trade deadline fates of Mike Cammalleri, Ryan Miller and Joe Thornton, among others, in his Sunday column.

• A four-goal afternoon from Martin St. Louis reignited talk of his Team Canada snub.

• Sam Carchidi argues that Steve Mason's new three-year, $12.3 million extension is as good for the team as it is the goalie.

• Don Cherry ripped P.K. Subban for his OT goal celebration and says Vancouver "will be in the Final." I'm guessing we won't see that quote brought up again in June.

• Subban dodged the media after last night's loss in Toronto, prompting another look at the most polarizing talent in the game today.

• The Bruins say they've moved on from that crushing defeat in Game 6 of the Final, but today's return to Chicago is dredging up all that old pain.

• The salary forfeited by players under suspension doesn't remain in the pockets of the owners. It goes to the NHL's Player Assistance Fund. Fluto Shinzawa explains how it works and talks to a player who was helped by it.

• Evgeny Kuznetsov says he will join the Washington Capitals after this season, no matter what he is offered to stay in the KHL. Washington fans roll their eyes and ask to be woken up when he actually signs a deal.

• Lindy Ruff finally came to grips with the fact that Valeri Nichushkin has been an empty sweater all month and benched the rookie for last night's game against the Wild.

• Larry Brooks considers the value of power play practice in New York and ponders the state of the NHL trade market in his Sunday column. And yes, the Marek Malik bit is a joke.

• Some tinkering by new goalie coach Mike Bales has Marc-Andre Fleury at the top of his game. Yes, it's just the regular season, but the confidence he's gaining as a result of these changes could positively impact his mental approach to the postseason as well.

• You won't see many calls blown quite as badly as the one that led to Niklas Kronwall's goal last night against the Kings.