Top Line: Brad Marchand trolls internet; Kings near breakup?; more links
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEI9Mt5la_k
By Allan Muir
An annotated guide to this morning's must-read hockey stories:
• The internet was not kind to Brad Marchand of the Bruins last night, accusing the demonstrative forward of faking an injury. He offered an amusing rebuttal.
• It's not over for the Red Wings after last night's 3-0 loss to Boston, but it might as well be according to Eric Wilbur.
• The core of the Kings has been together for half a decade, but the team's struggles against the Sharks suggest that L.A. could be heading for a postseason breakup. If GM Dean Lombardi needs inspiration, he need look no further than across the ice. San Jose made a bold call to drop some of their thump in exchange for speed two years ago. Don't think their GM, Doug Wilson, has spent a moment regretting that decision.
• They're ready to string up Matt Cooke in Minnesota, which doesn't bode well for his chances with the Department of Player Safety on Wednesday.
• The Wild's Darcy Kuemper earned a shutout in his first NHL playoff start. That deserves a song, right?
• In a rare interview Matt Duchene hints that he could be close to returning to the lineup for the Colorado Avalanche.
• A 2010 first rounder whose career was all but written off after a series of concussions could make his NHL debut tonight in Minnesota.
• Worried that Sidney Crosby hasn't scored yet against the Blue Jackets? Don't be. Advanced stats suggest he'll break out of his slump soon.
• Unless this changes for the Blackhawks, they're going to have a hard time coming back in their series against the Blues.
• Injury-riddled St. Louis could get a big boost ahead of Wednesday night's Game 4.
• Richard Durrett says that the Ducks and the Stars need to shut up and play hockey. Clearly he was not allowed to have any fun as a child.
• The Lightning didn't come into their playoff series with the Canadiens looking for experience, but that's all they left with.
• With nothing but a week of rest ahead of them, the Habs' thoughts turn to their potential second-round opponents.
• Was that no-goal call made by Francis Charron in Game 3 of the Montreal-Tampa Bay series the work of an inexperienced official ... or, as Ron MacLean suggested, was it the result of some home-province cooking?
• MacLean had to apologize for that very hot sports opinion. Kukla's Korner has a look at that, as well as the video of his original comments.
• So Steve Mason was well enough to dress, but not well enough to start last night? Sounds like the Flyers are playing fast and loose with his health.
• Claude Giroux isn't doing much leading in his first playoff series as captain of the Flyers.
• Even if you've seen this clip of Daniel Carcillo's celly a few times, it's worth another look. Look at all that support he's getting from the fans!
• Meet Val Fonteyne, the cleanest player in NHL history.