Keeping It Current

In trying to keep highly-useful articles current, I've gone back today and updated the "Patch It Up" articles with new patches. This trend doesn't seem to be slowing down either, especially when you consider that the Hockey Hall of Fame Game and the NHL All-Star Game are played yearly. Add that to the number of retirement ceremonies, arena openings, and other various causes that the NHL allows its teams to celebrate and it makes for constant upkeep. However, I have started to delve deeper into team histories, and will now try to update all of the teams with any old patches they may have worn during a game.

In updating the series of articles, Patch It Up - Part Two has additions to the Atlanta Thrashers, the Edmonton Oilers, the Los Angeles Kings, and Minnesota Wild. Patch It Up - Part Three has additions to the Montreal Canadiens, the New York Islanders, and the Hockey Hall of Fame Game sections.

Also, my warning about deleting blogs that aren't updated more than once per week will begin as of Friday. Is it really that hard to make ten minutes available twice a week? I understand people are busy, but dedication is everything to a sport that needs some help from its most important marketing staff - its fans. Show your support for hockey teams and hockey in general by making ten minutes just to post something about hockey. After all, it is a great sport to follow.

Paul (Ohlund) Bunyan: On a more serious note, good for the NHL in giving Mattias Ohlund four games to sit out for his violent wood-chopping slash to Mikko Koivu's leg. The slash resulted in a broken tibia for Koivu. Ohlund says he regrets his reaction to Koivu's elbow to the face.

"The elbow to the face, I don't think it was a very good play from his part, but looking back I wish I would have done something different than I did," said Ohlund.

Ohlund will be eligible to return on November 25 when the Canucks face off against the Blackhawks at home. Ohlund will forfeit almost $75,000 in salary with his time off. Koivu is expected to miss up to two weeks with his injury.

Minor Deals: A couple of minor deals were swung in the last couple of days via trades. The Anaheim Ducks picked up centerman Brian Sutherby from the Washington Capitals for a second-round pick in 2009. The Dallas Stars, meanwhile, picked up defenceman Bryce Lampman from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for defenceman Mario Scalzo.

Personally, I like the Ducks' move in picking up Sutherby. He's another hard-working young forward that the Ducks can mold into another solid young player along the lines of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Chris Kunitz. The 25 year-old should be another good addition to the youthful Ducks lineup.

Welcome To The Big Show: It has been a little bit of a winding road for goaltender Tuukka Rask to finally stand between the pipes in the NHL, but, on Tuesday night, he'll face the team that traded him to Boston when the Bruins visit the Air Canada Centre to take on the Maple Leafs tonight.

Starring with Providence of the AHL, Rask has compiled a 7-2-0 record with a stingy 2.10 GAA. Last season with Tampere of the Finnish Elite league, Rask posted a .928 save percentage and a 2.38 GAA in 49 games. Meanwhile, the man he was traded for, Andrew Raycroft, has been a target for the Toronto media, blaming him for everything from a lost game to missing the playoffs last season.

This should be a good game. Boston is looking to rebound after a nasty 7-4 loss to Montreal on Saturday while the Leafs look to win back-to-back games for the first time since October 25 and 27. And you know that Rask wants to show the Maple Leafs' brass that they were wrong to trade him, especially since he appears to be rounding into NHL form.

That's all for today! Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!