Tim Thomas on NHLPA call; Alex Ovechkin shoots an orange (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.

• From the Awesome Hockey Photography file comes this from Eric Lundquist of the Worcester Sharks: “Look at this cool shot that our photog Alan Sullivan snapped at our game from Dec 8 at DCU Center. Shows the puck go through the net. Red light did not go on… after video replay it was determined goal. Goal was scored by Matt Bartkowski at 17:58 of 3rd period to tie the score at 2-2. Bruins won game in shootout.”

• Joffrey Lupul didn’t think we’d get to this point in the lockout: “To be at this point going on Christmas and now we’re voting on things, lawsuits are being filed, this is not how we saw this going.” [Globe & Mail]

• More Lupes, on Russian hockey culture. [Broad Street Hockey]

• Will the next NHL collective bargaining agreement usher in an era of sign-and-trade deals? [USA Today]

• Kyle Turris says that Globe & Mail article was “just a mischaracterization of my experience” (through his direct, on the record and never disputed quotes). [Sportsnet]

• Sidney Crosby on potentially playing in Europe: “Well at this point I think all the leagues are on break. I don’t think they are playing right now, so we’ve got a few more weeks to decide that and obviously we’ll have a lot better of an idea … what is going to happen with our season. We haven’t really given a lot of thought to it lately, and I think I am more worried about what is happening with us, what it’s looking like and just trying to stay optimistic. It’s not easy, but you gotta find that little bit of hope, because if we do start here, you gotta make sure you’re ready and it’s part of being a professional. Even though we are not actually playing this year, we’ve gotta be ready to go when things start. I think that’s where you try to stay focused as much as you can.” [Sports Radio Interviews]

• We have a Tim Thomas sighting! “According to several sources, the 38-year-old goaltender sat in on one of the NHLPA’s recent conference calls discussing the NHL lockout and related players association business.” [CSNNE]

• More “All I Want For Christmas is You” hockey videos for your holiday pleasure. [NY Mag]

• Shaun Van Allen, who played in the shortened season of 1995, digs the notion of a 48-game season: “I think some of the weaker teams would jump at the chance to play a 48-game season, because maybe they get off to a decent start and they can somehow get in the playoffs.” [Ottawa Sun]

• Stu Hackel’s favorite hockey stories from 2012; the Ken Hitchcock is a good choice. [SI]

• The Atlantic tries to solve the NHL’s many ills. [Atlantic, with Lighthouse Hockey reax]

• Interesting bit on how the Buffalo Sabres are using iPads for player development. [Sabres]

• Loves hockey. Loves the New York Rangers. Hates the NHL. [CBS NY]

• Finally, as part of NIKE Hockey’s new “Hockey Is Ours” campaign, here’s Alex Ovechkin firing an orange into a nice old lady’s shopping bag.