The Chicago Blackhawks have named Antti Niemi as their starting goalie for Tuesday night’s showdown with the Dallas Stars. Niemi had 34 saves on Saturday to help the ‘Hawks break a three-game losing streak and beat the St. Louis Blues 2-1. The last time Niemi started back to back games? He got pulled in the first period after giving up three goals.
“I just have to make sure it [getting pulled] doesn’t happen again,” Niemi said after Monday’s practice.
Cristobal Huet was in goal as the team lost three in a row, but he says he understands the decision to go with Niemi.
Photo Caption:Niemi does his Ray LeBlanc impression.
“The end result the last three games [wasn't good],” Huet said. “I can only blame myself for not getting the job done. I didn’t get any bounces, but I felt pretty good those games to give the team a chance but it didn’t happen.”
When the Colts arrived at Indianapolis International Airport on Monday, following their 31-17 loss to the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV, they were greeted by a grand total of 11 fans. That’s impressive.
The group of fans huddled together in the snow outside the closed Express Mail sorting facility at the airport, where the planes arrived in the afternoon.
If the Colts had won the Super Bowl, airport security guards were expecting crowds of at least two times that amount.
Peyton’s younger brother Eli (one of the 11) was seen chucking snowballs at the team, but his throws were sailing over the players’ heads. Apparently, Eli isn’t good at throwing anything in cold weather.
Over the weekend, NFL Network’s Warren Sapp was arrested and charged for domestic battery after being accused of choking his girlfriend at The Shore Club, a hotel in Miami.
Keep in mind this former NFL player is 6-2 and probably tips the scales around 300 pounds when you read the following…
According to the police affidavit, Sapp tried to choke the woman and pushed her down on a couch. The argument continued and Sapp grabbed her by her shirt and neck and threw her down again, giving the victim bruises on her neck and a swollen knee.
If this is the truth, Sapp’s career in NFL broadcasting will be over. And there are reports that the allegations are false, so for now…
…let’s just have fun with Warren Sapp’s mugshot.
PHOTO CAPTION: Warren, do you wear a tight necklace or is that your neck fat?
Seattle Mariners stud Cliff Lee underwent a minor procedure on his foot, according to some dude on Twitter that gets press releases from the Mariners.
“Cliff Lee had successful surgery to remove a loose spur in his left foot, according to M’s release,” Ryan Divish tweets.
Lee pitched deep into the 2009 season and there were never reports of any foot issues, so this is probably a non-issue. He was a stud last year for the Phillies and will probably improve upon his 3.22 ERA in the pitcher-friendly Seattle stadium.
The Phillies, meanwhile, got the better end of the Cliff Lee trade by getting a tall Candian dude who is being groomed as a reliever and already has arm trouble.
Montreal Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey quit his job on Monday, the team announced. He’ll remain with Montreal’s front office in an advisory role and will be replaced by Pierre Gauthier.
PHOTO CAPTION: Canada had their own version of Superman and his name was Bob Gainey
“I’ve done my best and now it’s time for me to pass the torch,” Gainey said on Monday. “I believe that the general manager position requires a long-term vision and a long-term commitment. At this point, I’m not prepared to make a commitment of four or five or six more years in this position.
“If I had to choose between leaving a little earlier, or a little later, I’d prefer (to go) earlier.”
During Gainey’s reign, after being hired in 2003, the Canadiens haven’t been a legitimate threat to win it all. Their best season was in 2007-08 when they finished atop the Eastern Conference, but the Philadelphia Flyers took care of them in five games during the Conference Semifinals.
Gainey was more productive as a player for the Canadiens. He was drafted 8th overall in 1973 and played in 16 seasons (all with Montreal), winning four consecutive Frank J. Selke Trophies and five Stanley Cups (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1986).
Gainey was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992.
We think the Manning Face is hilarious and we decided to post some examples. But if you want true, full-on hilarity you have to go to ManningFace.com. Awesome stuff. These guys are annoying.
It’s funny how all of Philadelphia is up in arms over the Eagles allowing Donovan McNabb to enter the final year of his contract, yet no one noticed that the New England Patriots are in a similar situation with Tom Brady. Obviously, there are differences. No one thinks Brady is going anywhere while the Eagles are going to give McNabb one more chance (at best) to prove he should stay.
But yes, it’s true, Brady is set to earn a $3 million roster bonus in March as he enters the final year of his deal. Mike Reiss of ESPN thinks that this will accelerate talks of a long-term extension for Brady, who the Pats would rather get locked up before the bonus. Reiss estimates that Brady will fetch between $15-$18 million per year with a contract that’s about five years in length.
In a move that should surprise no one, the Cleveland Browns have released troubled wide receiver Donte Stallworth. Stallworth was due a $1 million roster bonus in March and you just knew that wasn’t going to happen. He’s only 29 and can still contribute, but the Browns clearly don’t want the PR nightmare around.
Look for a team like the Baltimore Ravens to kick his tires. They have a young QB with a laser gun of an arm, but no one that can get deep. Stallworth hasn’t played in a year, but most likely still has the jets.
Stallworth was recently reinstated by commissioner Roger Goodell who insists that Stallworth is “in a better place than he was.”
The Philadelphia Flyers are going to start Michael Leighton in goal tonight despite the fact that they’ve lost his last two starts. Still, he was pretty good in those starts and it’s not like the Flyers have Pelle Linbergh in his prime sitting on the bench. Tonight, look for the Flyers to take on the New Jersey Devils at home tonight as they take on the New Jersey Devils at home.
Leighton has a 9-7-1 record with a 2.89 GAA and .902 save percentage in 21 games this season
The Chicago Blackhawks have named Antti Niemi as their starting goalie for Tuesday night’s showdown with the Dallas Stars. Niemi had 34 saves on Saturday to help the ‘Hawks break a three-game losing streak and beat the St. Louis Blues 2-1. The last time Niemi started back to back games? He got pulled in the first period after giving up three goals.
