Off Wing Opinion

That mean's next August and September in venues across North America and Europe, as the best hockey players in the world battle it out in a two-week tournament for world hockey supremacy using NHL rules and NHL rinks.

I went to the inaugural World Cup in 1996, and let's just say that it makes the Olympics look like a glorified exhibition. This is the real deal folks, and what might be your last chance to see top flight hockey for a long time if there's a labor stoppage in 2004.

Tickets go on sale this morning at 10:00 a.m. U.S. EST.

For tickets to games in Montreal, click here.

For games in Toronto, click here.

For games in St. Paul, Minnesota, click here.

For info on games in Europe in Cologne, Stockholm, Helsinki and Prague, click here.

UPDATE: See you all in Montreal for USA vs. Team Canada on August 31, 2004.

Mike Knuble had a goal and an assist to lead Boston to a 3-2 win over hapless Washington. The Bruins have won four straight at home, while the Caps remain tied with Pittsburgh for the worst record in the NHL. The Caps have lost five of their last seven games. In other news, Robert Lang extended his 10 game points streak. Yawn.

In Tampa, the Lightning withstood a furious third period charge by the Islanders to hold on for a 3-2 win. Nikolai Khabibulin made 26 saves to improve to 8-2-1 for the Lightning.

In Kanata, the Senators took control early and cruised to a 6-1 win over Carolina. Vaclav Varada scored Ottawa's first even strength goal in four games with 9.6 seconds left in the first period to start the avalanche for Ottawa.

Mark Rechhi had two goal and an assist to lead Philly to a 3-1 win over Minnesota. Tony Amonte had a goal and an assist, while Jeremy Roenick had 2 assists as their line with Rechhi keeps clicking for the Flyers. The Flyers are 7-0-1 in their last eight games, and are unbeaten at home this year.

After getting crushed by the Red Wings in Detroit on Wednesday, the Blue Jackets turned the tables on Manny Legace and company grabbing a 3-0 shutout at home. Dan Fritsche became the first Ohio native to ever score a goal for Columbus, while Marc Denis had 25 saves for the second shutout of his career.

Jose Theodore had 30 saves, but it wasn't enough as visiting Montreal lost 2-1 at Calgary. Veteran Martin Gelinas had the game winning goal in the third period for the Flames. In Edmonton, the Mike Keenan watch continued as the Oilers beat the Maple Leafs 3-2. Ty Conklin, filling in ably for Tommy Salo, had 31 saves for Edmonton.

In Denver, Konwalcuk is fitting right in.

In Denver, Steve Konowalchuk had two goals to lead the Avalanche to 4-3 win over the Rangers. Since being acquired from the Capitals earlier this season, Konowalchuk has scored 8 goals in 14 games for Colorado. Minor league call-up Jason LaBarbera played respectably, grabbing 29 saves for New York.

And in Vancouver, the Canucks overcame a 2-0 deficit (easily the most dangerous lead in hockey) to beat the Blackhawks 3-2 in OT. Sami Salo got the game winner 2:49 into OT. Like the Flyers, the Canucks are unbeaten at home so far this season (9-0-1). Ed Jovanovski had another goal, his third in two games.

On Saturday, I'll be watching Ohio State play Michigan for a shot at another BCS bid. But know this: my heart will be in Edmonton. The TiVo has been programmed.

In the sweater he was meant to wear, just one last time.

UPDATE: The Ontario Hockey League has renamed its annual humanitarian award after Dan Snyder, the Atlanta Thrashers forward who died in a car accident before the start of the season. While he played for the Owen Sound Platers, Snyder won the award twice. Thanks to Ben Wright for the link.

Over at About.com, Jamie Fitzpatrick thinks the NHL is missing a great opportunity to hook American fans:

In short, the NHL Heritage Classic is a perfect opportunity to get the sports world talking about hockey, and attract a few curious folks who wouldn't know the five-hole from a fishing hole.

But when the Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers square off under the prairie night sky on Saturday, only Canada will be watching. The NHL's first outdoor game will not be televised in the United States.

It should be quite a spectacle. Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium, a football bowl, will be iced. About 56,000 seats will be filled, doubling the record for the biggest crowd ever to watch an NHL game. Retired Oilers and Habs begin the day with the so-called "Mega-Stars" game, featuring the likes of Gretzky, Jari Kurri and Guy Lafleur. The latest rumor is that Mark Messier, whose New York Rangers do not play that night, will suit up with his old Edmonton teammates.

While this isn't entirely accurate, as the NHL game between the Canadiens and Oilers will be available via the NHL Center Ice pay-per-view package (though the old timers game will not -- thanks for nothing NHL), Fitzpatrick is spot on when he later writes that the league should have ditched the All-Star Game in favor of the Heritage Classic -- an idea we fronted here at Off Wing some time ago.

Unfortunately, like all other major sports, despite protests to the contrary, the NHL All-Star Game isn't about the fans. Instead, it's about stroking the league's major sponsors (a dwindling number at that), showing them a good time, and giving them a chance to rub elbows with the greatest who have ever played the game. Anything that gets in the way of that goal, and the logistical challenge behind hosting an outdoor game at the All Star break in February isn't inconsiderable, has to settle for second place.

Not that Gary Bettman shouldn't be up for the challenge.

Ben Wright has an idea:

Get rid of the rule that says players can't have more than a 1/2" curve in their stick blades. Let Ilya Kovalchuk, Jaromir Jagr, Joe Sakic and Brendan Shanahan do whatever they want to the curves of their blades and see what happens. I guarantee we'll have a more exciting race for the Maurice Richard Trophy. I'm not the only person that thinks this will improve things. Darren Elliot said it on CNNSI and it's been said on ESPN and TSN too.

Not that we need more goals. I think we're doing just fine.

I've heard this fronted on NHL2Night by Barry Melrose more than a few times, and I don't have a problem with it. I do remember how NHL players complained about how Russian players who toured North America in the 1970s never met a curve they didn't like. That must mean they saw some wicked wrist shots back then, and I'd love to see them again.

Jeremy Roenick said he'll play in the new WHA if there's a lockout next season, and Steve Ovadia thinks it's a great idea:

Is there another player (other than Brett Hull) who's a better fit for the WHA? Roenick is all attitude. He's a jerk, but he's entertaining on and off the ice.

The WHA probably doesn't have a lot of money to sign big NHL stars. And I could be wrong, but I think there may even be rules against teams signing too many stars, but if they're selective about the NHLers they invite into the league, it maybe, maybe, possibly could be a great show.

I'm still having a hard time taking the whole WHA thing seriously, and have to wonder just how close they are to the NHLPA. And no matter how many colorful stars they might attract, it will still be an inferior product.

In Detroit, the revival of the Red Wings continued, as they beat up the Blue Jackets, 5-1. Brett Hull had two goals, and Manny Legace, stepping in for the injured Dominik Hasek, got the win in net for the Red Wings. Columbus is 0-3-2 in their last five games.

In New Jersey, the Devils extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games with a 4-1 win over Buffalo. Scott Stevens had two assists, as Martin Brodeur recorded his 375th victory in goal to move into 10th place all-time. Despite New Jersey's hot streak of late, the game only drew a little more than 10,000 fans.

In Pittsburgh, the Minnesota Wild chased rookie goalie Marc-Andre Fleury with three goals in the first period on their way to a 6-2 victory. Antti Laaksonen scored twice for Minnesota, and Marian Gaborik added another on a penalty shot. The announced crowd in Pittsburgh was a little less than 11,000. The word is the cash-strapped Penguins will probably send Fleury back to his junior team in a cost-cutting move.

Fans got their money's worth in Atlanta last night.

In the game of the night, the Thrashers battled back from a 2-0 deficit in the first period to beat the Bruins 5-4 in OT. Ilya Kovalchuk one-timed a cross-ice pass from Frantisek Kaberle past Boston's Felix Potvin, off the left post and into the net on a rare OT power play.

In Sunrise, Florida, the Islanders took down the Panthers, 4-1. Rookie Trent Hunter continued his hot play of late, getting two goals and an assist. The win was only the second on the road for the Islanders this season. During the broadcast, I finally got a look at the video of Jordin Tootoo's freight train check on Isles defenseman, Radek Martinek, and it was pretty clear Tootoo left his feet before the hit. He deserved a suspension.

Across the Hudson, the Rangers have put Eric Lindros on IR, due to the eye injury he suffered recently against the Penguins.

In Dallas, the Stars squandered a two-goal lead, and had to settle for a 2-2 tie with the Ducks. Andy McDonald had two goals, and Martin Gerber 26 saves for the visitors. Jon Klemm, just acquired the other day from the Blackhawks, had his first goal with Dallas. In Phoenix, Shane Doan and Brian Savage both had two goals, as the Coyotes beat the visiting Blues, 5-4.

And at the Staples Center, Roman Cechmanek got the 100th win of his NHL career, stopping 30 shots for the LA Kings in a 3-0 win over the Predators. Despite a rash of injuries, the Kings sit atop the Pacific Division.

And back East in Philadelphia, journeyman Craig Berube has been signed to a contract with the minor league Philadelphia Phantoms. At the start of this season, Berube ranked seventh all-time in penalty minutes with 3,149 -- or about 3 weeks, if you prefer.

In Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes came back from a 2-0 deficit in the third period to tie the Philadelphia Flyers, 2-2. Defenseman Nic Wallin got the tying goal -- his third in two games with the Flyers this year -- with only 2:19 remaining in the game. But the real star for Carolina was goalie Kevin Weekes, who had 41 saves. The tie stopped Philly's win streak at six games.

Teemu Selanne got an OT game winning goal against the Mighty Ducks in Denver, giving the Avalanche a 2-1 victory. It was just a week ago that Selanne got a game winning goal against another ex-employer, the San Jose Sharks. Though the Ducks lost, don't blame goalie J.S. Giguere, who had 38 saves for Anaheim.

In Edmonton, Radek Dvorak had two goals and an assist to lead the Oilers to a 5-2 win over Chicago. Ty Conklin, who seems to have displaced Tommy Salo as the starter in goal for Edmonton, had 33 saves in the win. Raffi Torres had another goal for Edmonton, giving him four goals and an assist in his last five games. The recently signed Adam Oates did not suit up for the Oilers.

Toni Lydman slipped a puck past Ed Belfour 1:24 into OT to give the Flames a 3-2 win over the Maple Leafs. Jarome Iginla had three assists, as the Flames extended Toronto's winless streak to four games.

In San Jose, the Rangers blew another third period lead, yielding two third period goals to the Sharks in a 2-2 tie. The Sharks, who have eight ties already this season, remain winless in nine home games (0-3-5-1). Bobby Holik and Chris Simon scored for the Rangers, Alex Korolyuk and Marco Sturm for the Sharks.

Check out the retro duds on Trevor Linden.

And in Vancouver, the Canucks and Canadiens delivered the most exciting game of the evening in a 5-4 OT thriller. Ed Jovanovski had two goals and a crushing open ice hit on Richard Zednik to lead the Canucks to victory on a night that featured throwback jerseys for both teams. Mattias Ohlund got the OT game winning goal. Besides getting decked by "Jovocop," Zednik hadd two goals of his own for Montreal, sent Canucks defenseman Brent Sopel face first into the boards, and was also flattened by Canucks center Matt Cooke.

Tom Benjamin has some other thoughts on Jovanowski's performance last night.

In other news from around the league, Nashville rookie Jordin Tootoo won't be sanctioned for the hit he delivered to Islanders defenseman Radek Martinek on Saturday night in Nashville. As for Martinek, he's back practicing with the Islanders after suffering a concussion, and can't remember anything about the hit.

In the Washington Capitals locker room, things are looking pretty gloomy, at least according to this AP report. Meanwhile, panic is setting in up in Ottawa.

In an interview with Canada's TSN, Hall of Famer Guy LaFleur said the fun has gone out of the game.

And with all the Maple Leafs bashing going on, maybe we should thank the team for reviving their annual charity skating event with Easter Seals -- even if they only did it in response to a public outcry after initially cancelling the event.

UPDATE: On The Wings dissects LaFleur's comments on the state of the game.

In New York, it appears the Devils PR guy convinced both the NY Times and the NY Post to put together dueling profiles of Devils winger Jamie Langenbrunner. Congrats to the Devils flak.

Boston is on top of the NHL, and the Boston Globe thinks Sergei Samsonov's return is the reason why. In Denver, they love ex-Capital Steve Konowalchuck. In Detroit, vagabond Steve Thomas is feeling the love.

And in Dallas, everyone is breathing easier now that Jere Lehtinen is returning to the lineup.

OT UPDATE: The latest from John Buccigross is up on ESPN.com.