#102

Biscuits and Breezers

   Welcome back to another regular blog of Biscuits and Breezers! Finally, we are able to squeeze one normal blog in during a time where everything is hectic and busy due to playoffs, Nationals, and Championships. I apologize that I haven't put out a normal blog since the end of March, I have been absolutely swamped! The good news is that I have multiple and exciting articles coming up that I think you all will enjoy! For the news preceding the Stanley Cup playoffs and the end of the 2013-2014 NHL Regular season, I have compiled a list of injuries, team updates, and suspensions that have occurred over the past 5 days or so. Starting with the injuries. There were quite a few injured players this week and some of the names you might recognize are Joffrey Lupul,  Andrej Sekera, Nathan Horton, TJ Oshie, Ben Bishop, Alex Galchenyuk, and David Backes. First up is Lupul. The Toronto Maple Leafs forward will require knee surgery on a meniscus injury and is expected to be out at least 3 weeks. Andrej Sekera of the Hurricanes will be out roughly 6 weeks due to having to undergo abdominal surgery. It will be performed by Dr. William C. Meyers in Philadelphia. Columbus Blue Jackets Nathan Horton will also be out 6 weeks after also having to undergo abdominal surgery as well. A scary injury happened to Blues star player TJ Oshie late Thursday night as Mike Rupp high-sticked TJ right in the back of the head. He laid face first on the ice for quite a while before trying to skate off. Oshie fell on the first try but was able to get off the ice and to the team locker rooms on his own power. TJ Oshie is now day to day. Going down to Tampa Bay, the Lightning have lost their key goaltender, Ben Bishop, to an upper body injury. He dove to make a save and hit the ice hard and awkwardly landed on his left wrist. He was assisted off the ice and was in apparent pain. Since then, Bishop has been placed on injured reserve after injuring his right wrist about 3 months before. The Montreal Canadiens can be added to the list of teams plagued with injured players as Alex Galchenyuk is out with a lower body injury. He twisted and injured his right knee after a huge hit from Andrew Shaw and has required a set of crutches.  It is unexpected how long he will be out but he will miss the first round of the playoffs. Last but not least we have David Backes. Captain of the St. Louis Blues, Backes will be day to day after sustaining a lower body injury. He was struck on the inside of the left skate when team mate Alexander Steen's slap shot was deflected off of the skate. Backes has been seen wearing a boot on his injured foot  and there is not time of return set for him yet. Get well soon everyone!! Best of luck to all teams in the playoffs!!

(Credit to Google Images - realtimestl.com)

              

(Incredible fight by Penguins prospect Derrick Pouliot and the Winterhawks vs. Royals. Pouliot has one punch KO at about 1:40. Credit to Hockey Fights)

   Next up we have a few NHL rulings. First off, Mike Rupp. This Minnesota forward has been suspended 1 regular season game and 3 playoff games for the illegal check to the head of TJ Oshie. Rupp will forferit $7,692.31 of his salary. As almost always, the money will go the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund. Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo will also be suspended 4 games for an illegal check to the head of Sabres defenseman Chad Ruhwedel. He will forfeit $15, 384.60 of his salary that will also go to the Player's Emergency Assistance Fund. Last but not least, Brendan Shanahan has been appointed as the new president and alternate governor of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Shanahan will oversee all team operations and will abdicate his place as Senior Vice President of the NHL's Player Safety and Hockey Operations. 

(Credit to Google Images - cbc.ca)

  The last thing we will talk about is the major upset of the Tampa Bay Lightning. At 3:23 a.m. on Saturday morning, Lightning forward Ryan Malone was arrested by Tampa police on Platt Street and Rome Avenue S. Malone was held on a $2,500 bond. What was he arrested you may ask? He was arrested for a DUI and cocaine possession. His blood alcohol content levels were .112 and .116 way above the legal limit in Florida which is .08. He was booked at 5:40 a.m. and released at 9:56 a.m. after meeting the bond price. According to Tampa Tribune Erik Erlendsson's Twitter, an officer saw Malone strike a curb with his vehicle and was then pulled over. Ryan was also found with 1.3 grams of cocaine in his right back pocket. His appearances in future games including the playoffs will be determined by the SABH program and is unknown at this point.

(Credit to Google Images - topsportreport.com)

   Now we have come to the "Players of Today"! For the prospect pick we have Linkoping SHL forward Jakub Vrana. For the Junior player we have New Mexico Renegades defenseman Ross Phipps. For the European pick we have KalPa Liiga captain Jukka Voutilainen.

    Jakub is 6 ft 0 in, 176 lbs, and is from Praha, Czech Republic. In the 2012-2013 season, he had 20 goals in 32 games played, 12 assists, 32 TPs, 49 PIMs, and a +/- of 3. He is expected to get picked in the first or second round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Jakub is the type of player who is extremely driven and determined to be one of the top players in the game. He is constantly trying to improve his game so it is the best of the best and has rounded out all aspects of his game so it is top notch. Vrana has quick skates, great stick-handling skills, and is always there to set up a scoring chance. He knows where to put the puck so that a goal is easily created and plays a good game compared to his size. Jakub is very strong out on the ice but unfortunately isn't very physical. Hopefully that won't be a set back when teams are looking him over at the Draft. He makes up for that with amazing tape to tape passes and puck control. He is a key element in picking up loose pucks and getting it in control favorable for his team. Hopefully he will see him up on that stage in Philly very early into the choosing process. Good luck Jakub with Linkoping and future hockey career!

(Credit to Google Images - eliteprospects.com)

  Ross is 5 ft 11 in, 185 lbs, and is from Kennerdell, Pennsylvania, USA. In the 2012-2013 season, he had 1 goal in 23 games played, 4 assists, 5 TPs, and 56 PIMs. I admire Phipps' style of play because it is clean cut, strong, and well rounded. When Ross plays, he is driven to get the win every game and to be the strongest player out on the ice. Yes, he may not have that many points statistically, but when he is out on shifts, he isn't afraid to work the boards or rough players up to get his team possession of the puck. He is the type of player that is a supporting base for the team in the way that he will do anything to help them out. Ross is there when you need him and he will do exactly what is necessary to make sure his team is leading every period. His is a large player who makes great tape to tape passes that are paired with quick skates and great on ice vision. Good luck Ross with your potential teams and your future hockey career!

(Credit to Facebook - R Suslow Photography)

  Jukka is 5 ft 10 in, 205 lbs, and is from Kuopio, Finland. In the 2012-2013 season, he had 10 goals in 29 games played, 7 assists, 16 PIMs, and a +/- of -3. I very much like the way Voutilainen plays because, even though is on the shorter side of players, he makes up for it strength and confidence. His shifts are full of bone rattling hits, a fierce style of play, and quick wit. He skates very powerfully and his slap shot is even stronger. Jukka has quick skates, an insanely high hockey IQ, and is able to make valuable and critical decisions on the spot. He is very creative on shifts and is a very well rounded player. He will get things done and is there to finish the game until the very end. Voutilainen is a very powerful force on the ice and definitely makes an impact. He is a building block for KalPa and is always there for his team mates. He is the type of player that every team needs because he is a large force that will back up his team 100% of the time. Good luck Jukka with KalPa and your future hockey career!

(Credit to Google Images - kalpa-hockey.fi)

   Thanks for reading another blog of Biscuits and Breezers! Every blog will be filled with updated hockey news, player reviews, and much more! Until next time remember, don't get your breezers in a bunch because hockey is always around the corner. Remember, it's always a great day for hockey and it's a lifestyle not just a sport!