Top Line: Canucks-Flames line brawl raises Code questions; more links
Canucks coach John Tortorella will sit for attempting to enter the Flames' locker room. (Getty Images)
By Allan Muir
An annotated guide to this morning's must-read hockey stories:
• Cam Cole says the 15-day suspension handed to Canucks coach John Tortorella proves the NHL only endorses on-ice mayhem, but some provocative questions were raised regarding The Code.
• It'll now be the Sully and Gully Show for Torts-less Vancouver.
• Flames coach Bob Hartley took a $25,000 haircut for his decision to start Kevin Westgarth at center against the Canucks. Apparently, the league found that to be "provocative."
• Lost in all the post-brawl agitation: Vancouver captain Henrik Sedinwill miss his first game in nearly 10 years tonight. That's a 679-game iron-man streak coming to an end.
• No surprise that Sidney Crosby would like to see Steven Stamkos healthy in time to skate for Canada in Sochi. What's eye-catching about this piece is Sid's take on why Stamkos has become so successful. Crosby's thoughts on the snub of Martin St. Louis are interesting, too.
• After last night's 4-2 decision in Phoenix, the Maple Leafs have run their winning streak to five games, their longest in seven years. James Mirtle explains what's going on.
• The Ducks' equipment manager is prepared for the worst at Saturday's Stadium Series game in Los Angeles. With temperatures set to soar near 80 degrees, he has a plan for sharpening skates to deal with the conditions.
• Martin Brodeur has a new mask for Sunday's outdoor game at Yankee Stadium ... but does he have the starting job? You have to believe that his stature gives him the inside track, but with two points on the line, no one should blame coach Pete DeBoer for tapping Cory Schneider as the starter.
• John Vogl says Ville Leino might be the worst free-agent signing in NHL history. Apparently, Sabres coach Ted Nolan is inclined to agree.
• Forget the morning coffee. If you need to get your blood moving this morning, just sit back and watch Antoine Roussel and Kevin Klein "feed each other the meat candy."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7oJJQ77j5s
• Blackhawks veteran Marian Hossatalks retirement.
• Will Hossa stick around long enough to see Chicago actually trade for the No. 2 center it has needed for the last three seasons?
• Remember how we all had a good laugh when Senators owner Eugene Melnyk said he would hire a CSI team to prove that Matt Cooke intentionally injured Erik Karlsson last season? It turns out he wasn't joking. I know the guy is the boss, but can't someone in the organization gently let him know that he's embarrassing himself?
• It's been a long road back from a mysterious ailment for Coyotes captain Shane Doan.
• Goalie Jimmy Howard re-injured his knee last night. The Red Wingssay he's day-to-day, but with a Team USA roster spot potentially in play, this thing will be watched extra closely.
• Oilers owner Daryl Katz wrote an open letter to the team's fans yesterday, saying that Edmonton is on the right track. David Staples is unswayed by this gesture.
• Mike Heika calls last night's loss to the Predators"an amalgamation of frustration" for the Stars and says it might signal the death knell of Dallas' season. Big game at home tonight against the Wild. Lose this one and it's time to start focusing on the trade deadline.
• Ken Campbell argues that the NHL needs to expand its use of video review to prevent a recurrence of Niklas Kronwall's off-the-netting goal on Saturday. If the league is committed to getting the call right, this seems like a smart move -- even if it only comes into use a couple of times each season.
• Finnish rookies Aleksander Barkov and Olli Maata took a few minutes to pump each other's tires ahead of the Panthers' 5-1 win over the Penguins last night.
• The demotion of Philipp Grubauer puts an end to the Capitals' three-headed goalie monster, but was it enough to convince Michal Neuvirth to withdraw his trade request? I'm gonna guess no ... but that doesn't mean Washington is in any hurry to accommodate him.
• You really should watch Brad Marchand score this shorthanded goal. Four Kings did.