Here are your Evening Puck Headlines and Previews: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.
• During last two months, we've covered the highs and lows of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's connection to hockey. The election is over, but there's one more story worth spotlighting: Texas Tech's club hockey team raised money (and its NCAA prospects) by auctioning off jerseys she signed at a rally in New Mexico. Not every association she's had with hockey during the campaign was inherently beneficial to promoting the game; but give this a read (and put politics aside), and you'll come away impressed with her affection for our sport of choice. [NY Daily News]
• OK, one more Palin story: The cases for and against her becoming the next NHL commissioner. Well, considering where the bar is currently set ... [Population Statistic]
Preview: Dallas Stars at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. EST; TV: KDFI, KDOC). Boy, if there's one game to watch on the 'ole Center Ice package tonight, it's this one. Division rivals, two rough teams and a Dallas club that nearly imploded this week. Sergei Zubov and Jere Lehtinen could both be back for the Stars. Ambassador of Fun Brett Hull had to go to bat for Sean Avery and his team's chemistry in an interview this week.
• After hearing George Parros would like to be on "American Gladiators," Melt Your Face Off looks at other NHL player/game show possibilities. We'd take up a collection to see Scott Gomez on "Sabado Gigante." [MYFO]
• There are likely privacy concerns at the heart of this situation, but the New York Rangers have "refused to share the results of medical tests performed on 2007 1st round draft pick Alexei Cherepanov" that were requested by Russian officials. [Beyond the Blueshirts]
Sports Connection
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Preview: Montreal Canadiens at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. EST; TV: RDS, FSOH). Defenseman Rostislav Klesla is still out for the Jackets, so Mike Commodore is going to get some second-unit power-play time. Montreal will start Jaroslav Halak tonight, and Coast to Coast Habs is wondering if this big stretch of games (13 in 23 nights) sets Montreal up for injuries.
• Jim Balsillie has denied every insinuating to Montreal's French-language La Presse newspaper that the Canadiens are for sale. Huh, must have been a translation error or something ... [Sportsnet]
• Meanwhile, The Forechecker believes he's uncovered an NHL team ownership scam, which asks for credit card numbers. [Forechecker]
Preview: Atlanta Thrashers at Buffalo Sabres (7:30 EST; TV: SS, MSG). The Thrash have back-to-back wins, as the Moose will get the start in goal against Ryan Miller. Jochen Hecht was expected back for tonight's game, and Lindy Ruff was being coy about roster moves earlier today.
• Sidney Crosby is questionable for this weekend's game against the New York Islanders. [Post Gazette]
• Rather late to the party, but another take on that whole Edmonton Oilers/blogger kerfuffle. [Tampa Bay Sports Blog]
Preview: Ottawa Senators at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. EST; TV: RSN). Martin Gerber gets the start for the Sens against his old mates in Carolina. Michael Ryan gets a call-up from the AHL for the Hurricanes, which leads Carolina On Ice to celebrate a moral victory against the KHL.
• Finally, Washington Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau remains perhaps the best commercial pitchman in the NHL:
