Top Line: No record for Winter Classic; Capitals in crisis; more links
The game time temperature at the Winter Classic was 13 degrees with a zero wind chill. (Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images)
By Allan Muir
An annotated guide to this morning's must-read hockey stories:
• Nick Cotsonika reported late Friday that Guinness officials would not certify the attendance at the Winter Classic as a new world record. Enough tickets were sold to break the mark, but bad weather kept just enough people away from the Big House to scuttle the league's chances at the mark.
• Too many mistakes, too many penalties and an impotent offense have the Washington Capitals mired in a potentially season-defining losing streak.
• A seventh straight loss should have the Caps considering the option of breaking up a failed nucleus. The player who should be on the move? According to Mike Wise, it is Mike Green.
• It was another milestone night for Jaromir Jagr, who is leaving his old buddy Mario Lemieux to eat his dust.
• The Lightning needed somebody to step up Steven Stamkos went down. This unheralded rookie answered the call, and now looks to be a legitimate Calder candidate.
• The strong play of Anton Khudobinis forcing the Hurricanes to re-consider their long-term goalie plans. Here's the problem: even if they go with the newcomer, how do they divest themselves of veteran Cam Ward?
• Chris Johnston talks Olympic security concerns, Shane Doan's dance with death and the biggest difference in Winnipeg in this excellent weekly wrap-up column.
• Nick Lidstrom says Sweden has a clear advantage heading into Sochi. In a short tournament like this, it's hard to argue with his logic.
• Keeping the same shoulder and elbow pads since your junior days is one thing, but this is pretty disgusting.
• Tonight's game in Dallas reminds the Penguins how lucky they were to steal James Neal from the Stars.
• You say your team needs a puck-moving defenseman but doesn't have a Mike Green budget? Here's a cheaper alternative who might be available soon.
• The Rangers will share the glamour with the Isles and Devils as they take to the outdoor rink set up in Yankee Stadium.
• This 30-year old contract stipulation explains why the Rangers will play as the road team for both outdoor games.
• Cory Schneider's recent play suggests he should get the starting gig for Sunday's game at Yankee Stadium, but he knows it's not going to work out that way.
• In the wake of yet another effortless performance, Terry Jones writes that the Edmonton Oilers need a head coach to go along with their head coach. It'll make sense when you read it.
• It was a franchise first for Nashville's Eric Nystrom, but even his heroic effort couldn't keep the Preds from another frustrating loss.
• Did you grab one of those controversial "Free Torts" t-shirts? Looks like they're about to become a collector's item.