Mason out for Game 1; Murray on MacLean; another NHL concussion lawsuit (Puck Headlines)
Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.
• Jonas Hiller prepares for Round 1 by rocking out.
• Ray Emery will start Thursday's Game 1 for the Philadelphia Flyers as Steve Mason nurses an upper-body injury. [Broad Street Hockey]
• Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray on Paul MacLean's job this season: "The players like the old Paul, they liked the guy who sat and talked to them and treated them in a more easygoing fashion. That talked, not confronted. There were some mistakes, obviously." Meow. [Ottawa Citizen]
• Here are your referees and linesmen chosen to work the Stanley Cup Playoffs. [NHL Officials]
• Another concussion lawsuit has been filed against the NHL, led by Dave Christian, Reed Larson and William Bennett. [AP via Yahoo]
• The first round will feature a brother vs. brother match-up with Brendan Smith's Red Wings facing off against brother Reilly's Bruins. [Freep]
• Claude Julien apparently has a thing against shorts. [Days of Y'Orr]
• The Buffalo Sabres have cleaned house behind their bench with assistants Joe Sacco and Jerry Forton reassigned within the organization; Teppo Numminen sees his contract not get renewed; and goalie coach Jim Corsi will not return. [Sabres]
• The anthem signing during the playoffs is always the best. [Wall Street Journal]
• Why defenseman Aaron Ekblad and the Florida Panthers make perfect sense with the no. 1 overall pick. [Buzzing the Net]
• Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray on his discussions about officiating with the NHL head office: “I’ve had some talks with people in the league. We’ve had our pee-pee slapped once here so I got to be careful with what I say." [Buffalo Hockey Beat]
• The LA Kings and Colorado Avalanche will be playing a preseason game in Colorado Springs in September. [Mayors Manor]
• Here are five reasons why the Pittsburgh Penguins have a possession problem. [The Hockey Writers]
• The next head coach of the Nashville Predators hasn't been named yet, but whoever he is he faces a few challenges. [On the Forecheck]
• Seth Jones will join the U.S. contingent at the World Championships. [Color of Hockey]
• Tuukka Rask's "Boston Strong" goalie mask is up for auction benefiting One Fund Boston. [In Goal Mag]
• Anton Belov will be leaving the Edmonton Oilers for the KHL and SKA St. Petersburg. [R-Sport]
• In a match-up of fantasy hockey defensemen, who do you choose: Dougie Hamilton or Jacob Trouba? [Dobber Hockey]
• Digging deep and examining the New York Islanders' 2013-14 season. [Islanders Insight]
• Looking at why good hockey teams lose. [National Hockey Link]
• Finally, here's T.J. Oshie promoting Enterprise Rent-a-Car: