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Puck Headlines: ‘Crochkin’ Jersey Foul; NHL playoff alternative; Red Wings vs. Avs brawl anniversary

Greg Wyshynski

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.

• Reader Tolu (a.k.a. DarkMeatHook) alerted us to this Shirsey Foul over the weekend, and Suzanne Kang captured the clearest image of it via Russian Machine Never Breaks: The Crochkin Sidney Crosby/Alex Ovechkin Frankenjersey Shirt. From RMNB: "In one way, it makes sense. This is a fan at a Bears game in Pennsylvania. The Bears are the farm team for Ovechkin's Capitals, and Hershey is only few hours away from Crosby's Penguins. These are the two stars of the two big teams that matter to this person. It's almost defensible. But no."

• Ted Leonsis puts over an ESPN feature on Ovechkin, and jabs at that damning take from the Washington Post because apparently Ovechkin doesn't live in a gated community. [Ted's Take]

• Lindy Ruff on the Buffalo Sabres vs. the Capitals: "It's not the end of our world." Dale Hunter on Sabres vs. Capitals: "It's like the seventh game of the playoffs." [Capitals Insider]

• Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller and Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the week ending March 25. [NHL]

• Ken Campbell thinks that division champions are pointless, and argues for a full 1-through-16 seeding of the NHL. "A move to a points-for-seeding format would make things more equitable and stop giving a free pass to teams that don't deserve to get it. And it might prevent sixth place from developing into the most desired spot in the conference." [THN]

• Down Goes Brown on the Masterton nominees, including Jaromir Jagr: "Needed to be recognized for finding the will to succeed despite being like a hundred times better than everybody else at hockey, we guess." [DGB]

• On Patrick Roy and the Quebec City NHL dream. [Buzzing The Net]

• A "a new Nanos/Toronto Sun poll" finds that 47 percent of 501 people in Toronto are "unsure" what track the Toronto Maple Leafs are on and 30 percent think they're on the wrong track under GM Brain Burke. In a related story, you needed a [expletive] poll to tell you this? [Slam]

• The Pensblog's dual Sidney Crosby schooling Marek Zidlicky .gif is hypnotic. [Pensblog]

• Jay Bouwmeester could set an NHL record next season for most games played without a playoff appearance. Cam Charron calls this "tragic." We call it "limiting your free agent options to Alberta." [Backhand Shelf]

• "All 30 National Hockey League clubs have pledged their commitment to World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) Earth Hour, the world's largest annual public action for the environment. On Saturday, March 31st, all NHL arenas will join hundreds of millions of homes and businesses worldwide, switching-off non-essential lighting for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 PM local time." What the hell is considered "non-essential lightning" during a home game? The Minnesota Wild's goal light? [NHL]

• So the Winnipeg Jets still have a shot at the postseason? [QMI]

• Is Matt Gilroy terrible or just unlucky for the Ottawa Senators? [Silver Sevens]

• "Ilya Bryzgalov has allowed two or fewer goals in 11 consecutive starts. The Elias Sports Bureau says that he is the first Flyer to do that since Bernie Parent in 1974-75." [Philly.com]

• Kent Basky on the good news/bad news for the Vancouver Canucks. [Nucks Misconduct]

• Al Cimaglia on the Chicago Blackhawks' loss to the Nashville Predators: "The Chicago power play can be best described as abysmal. There is now a lack of depth due to the injuries no doubt, but the Hawks have had a poor power play for most of the season. Not enough shots are generated and when they do get through to the net there isn't enough traffic to disrupt opposing goalkeepers. Without Toews, not having another center who can consistently win faceoffs further diminishes the chances of power play success." [My Fox Chicago]

• Speaking of Jonathan Toews, he's getting closer to a return, skating for a seventh straight day; Steve Montador, meanwhile, could be back against the Devils on Tuesday. [CSN Chicago]

• The San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche are playing their first game since the big deadline deal (OK, big for that sorry deadline). Here's TJ Galiardi on the role reversal. [All Things Avs]

• Said Logan Couture on McGinn's success with the Avs: "I'm happy for him. He's one of my better friends. It's good to see him be successful, obviously. We're battling those guys to get in the playoffs, so it is a little tough to see him do well, but I'm still really happy for him." [CSN Bay Area]

• The Blades of Steel shirt is pretty sweet. [Homage]

• Finally, via Eye on Hockey, happy 15th anniversary massive Detroit Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche brawl. Vernon and Roy!