The NHL Evening Skate for Dec. 13

Heading into this evening’s action, here are the day’s top NHL storylines:

Retired ref Paul Stewart’s goal is to help women officials reach the NHL

Paul Stewart knows what it takes to referee a game in the National Hockey League. He did it for more than 1,600 of them: 1,010 NHL regular-season games, 49 Stanley Cup postseason games and two NHL All-Star games. He knows that while the profession is dominated by men, it’s not because women can’t do it. His next goal in life is to help make that happen. [Here’s how]

Texas teenager banned indefinitely after brutal stick attack

A high school hockey player has been suspended indefinitely after going absolutely bananas and brutally attacking an opponent with his stick. The Texas teenager was caught on video heinously two-hand slashing the defenseless player multiple times in the back following a collision behind the net before an official came charging in to the rescue. [Watch]

Lamp-lighters

Pierre McGuire delivers another all-time awkward interview with Jonathan Toews

One of the most divisive broadcasters in the world of hockey is, without question, NBC’s Pierre McGuire. The former NHL coach turned analyst has a very unique, enthusiastic approach to his job that some love and others, well, do not. On Wednesday night, the struggling Chicago Blackhawks picked themselves up a nice 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins to snap an eight-game losing streak. That earned a member of the Blackhawks some one-on-one time with McGuire and Jonathan Toews, the team’s captain, must have pulled the short straw. [Check this out]

Luc Robitaille on L.A.’s struggles, LeBron effect and what could have been without hockey

Luc Robitaille steps off the stage after a guest-speaking appearance at a business summit in Toronto at the esteemed Royal Fairmont Hotel and ducks into a meeting room. It’s nice, but it’s lined with carpet and wallpaper that have to predate his legendary NHL career. These weren’t necessarily the trappings nor the circumstances with which Justin Cuthbert expected to first meet and interview the current president of the Los Angeles Kings and highest-scoring left winger in NHL history. [But, hey]

Social media became a tool for athletes to raise political awareness in 2018

For nearly a decade social media has helped athletes and sports teams interact with their fans or make major announcements. But according to Mike Naraine, a professor who studies the connection between sports and social media, that relationship evolved in 2018. Whether it was then-Raptors superstar DeMar DeRozan opening up about his mental health struggles, former NHLer Daniel Carcillo speaking out on better safety protocols on and off the ice, or lawyer Rachael Denhollander blowing the whistle on disgraced USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, current and former athletes used Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to shed light on social issues. [More]

NHL Mailbag: Will Ovechkin pass Gretzky for the all-time goals mark?

Brodie asks: “Will Ovi pass Gretzky in all time goals?”

This question comes up because Ovechkin has opened the season scoring at his fastest pace ever: 25 goals in 30 games, albeit through more than one in every five shots he takes going in the net. What you have to keep in mind is that a lot of people are saying he could pass Gretzky is that he’s 33 years old and 262 goals behind Gretzky. He’s also got a lot of goals so far this season but is shooting the puck at a lower rate than any season of his career except his age-31 campaign. [Full Mailbag]

Game of the night

Edmonton Oilers at Winnipeg Jets

With the way the Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers have been playing lately, there’s a good chance the 1980s could break out at Bell MTS Place Thursday night. All that will be missing will be the classic battles between Wayne Gretzky and Dale Hawerchuk. The Jets have won six of their past seven games, including a 6-3 triumph over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. They have scored 13 goals in the past two games, including none from sniper Patrik Laine. The Oilers, meanwhile, come to town having won seven of their past eight games, including an impressive 6-4 road victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. [Full preview] [Follow on Yahoo Sports]

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