Entering play, the Jets were just one of three NHL teams without a victory, but this win meant a lot more to the hometown fans than most. Winnipeg had not had a hockey team since the team left for Phoenix in 1996. It wasn’t until the Atlanta Thrashers were relocated prior to this season that the fans once again could cheer for their beloved Jets.

Kyle Wellwood scored just eight seconds into the game and Tanner Glass added a second first-period goal to stake the team to 2-0 lead early. From that point on, goalie Ondrej Pavelecwho, who had never before bested Pittsburgh, turned back all but one shot, preserving the win and sparking a celebration in the stands.

“It was awesome for us,” said Jets captain Andrew Ladd. “It was nice for us to finally deliver a win for these fans who have been waiting so long to have that feeling and excitement about this team.

“I think the feeling in this room after is a little bit of relief and now we can be excited about tomorrow and move on.”

Coach Claude Noel and his young team can now relax a bit and focus on improving over the rest of the 2011-12 season.

Winnipeg Jets Finally Deliver First Win For New Club

Docs have cleared Crosby to return to the ice for full contact practice mode after benching him last January. Other Penguin players aren’t exactly following doctor’s orders though. They’re avoiding hitting, bumping, or tripping Crosby while his recovery continues.

Crosby suffered a concussion in January that left him with damage to his body’s ability to move in crowded situations and to find balance and stability control. Doctors say the issues should clear up on their own over time. For now though, Crosby has not been cleared to return to regular game play, a decision that is just fine with Crosby.

“It’s just one of those things that takes time,” Crosby says, “Even at this point it’s a lot better than it was. And it can get better too.”

Teammates Avoid Hitting Sidney Crosby At Practice

However Crosby isn’t fielding any shoulder checks just yet.

Teammates are going out of their way to avoid hitting or bumping into Crosby while practicing. Crosby also participated in a pre- game skate with the Washington Capitals, but did not make an appearance during the game.

“A few bumps here and there but nothing major,” said Crosby, who hasn’t been told when he can play again.

Crosby has been off the ice since suffering a concussion in January. That concussion left him with a damaged vestibular system, weakening his balance and sense of stability making it difficult to move agilely in crowded situations. He has not been cleared to return to regular competitive game play at this time.

Teammates Avoid Htting Crosby At Practice

After receiving a couple of concussions, Sidney Crosby has been cleared for contact at least in practice.

While there is no exact date for Crosby’s return, this is some promising news for a Pens team that needs him not just now but for years to come. Crosby’s condition is being carefully monitored by all the NHL, too. He has become the face of the NHL during its rebirth over the past few years.

Accordingly, his head troubles have only raised the pressure on the league to address the “concussion issue” more seriously than perhaps in the past.

Crosby has been skating for a few weeks and now being cleared for practice contact bodes well, but this is far from game time situations.

Penguins fans, as doctors of often say, should remain “cautiously optimistic”.

Sidney Crosby Cleared For Contact In Practice

The plane was carrying the Lokomotiv hockey team who were on route to Minsk for a match against Dinamo Minsk.
Both teams are part of the KHL, the Russian equivalent to North America’s National Hockey League, or NHL.

The Russian authorities stated that 43 people were killed, and two others were injured. Among the people killed in the crash were several former NHL players.
The plane involved in the crash was a Russian Y A K-42 aircraft.

Russian officials have stated that the planes were designed in the 1980s, and only 100 are still in service. The Y A K-42 that crashed was built in 1993. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stated that he wants the planes taken out of service entirely. Saying that the Russian air fleet should be replaced with modern Russian built aircraft.

The Russian media showed footage of flaming wreckage with rescue divers entering the river attempting to rescue bodies from the airplane. Weather is not believed to be a factor in this crash, as the conditions were sunny and clear at the time of take off.

Ministry shows the wreckage of a Yak-42 passenger jet No 42434 that crashed on takeoff near Yaroslavl's city airport, some 300 kilometres (185 miles) northeast of Moscow, killing 44 people. Five foreign hockey players, including former Swedish Olympic champion Stefan Liv were among the dead when the jet carrying Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice hockey team crashed near the site of an annual forum attended by President Dmitry Medvedev. AFP PHOTO / RUSSIA'S EMERGENCY MINISTRY

Crosby has been out of action since early January when he took strong hits in consecutive games.
Rumors since have indicated Crosby considered retirement. On Wednesday, Crosby, 24, denied those reports.
Crosby said his recovery has been arduous, but he’s making continual progress.

The former league MVP said he feels about 90 percent recovered. Doctors said Crosby will not play until he is 100 percent good to go.
Penguins training camp begins Sept. 16. The first regular-season game is set for Oct. 6.

At Wednesday’s press conference, doctors said Crosby’s status for the opener is still up in the air.
Crosby last played Jan. 5.

© Zairbek Mansurov | Dreamstime.com

Wade Belak played for ther Nashville Predators, and was one of the most popular players on the ice. He racked up a total of 1,263 career penalty minutes in his successful run. He began his long-running career in 1996, playing for the Colorado Avalanche. Wade Belak played two consecutive seasons with the Avalanche before moving onto the Calgary Flames.

Belak is not the only NHL player to die this summer. Derek Boogaard and Rick Rypien of the Rangers and Jets respectively were also reported dead. Boogaard’s demise was the result of a deadly concoction of narcotics and alcohol, while the cause of Rypien’s death has not yet been formally announced to the public.

Belak leaves behind his two children Alex and Andie, along with his wife Jennifer. Friends described Belak as an extremely likable person, “Quick to make a joke, often at his own expense. [He] was always upbeat.”
Details regarding Belak’s cause of death and memorial have not been announced.

Retired NHL Enforcer Wade Belak Dead at 35

The downward momentum of such losses threatens to swallow any hope of victory and the achievement of the Stanley Cup just as it has devoured ticket prices, with a loss of over $400 on the cheapest of the tickets for Friday’s game to be hosted in Vancouver.

However, not all hope is lost, the dead heat is sure to create a great deal of tension and therefore excitement to help moderate the price loss. It’s important for the Canucks not to let these losses get under their skin, psychological uncertainly indubitably turns into physical reality when team morale is broken.

If anything these losses should motivate them to try even harder, commit themselves to better teamwork and to giving their fans, themselves and their families something to be proud about. Even better the players should be well acquainted at coming back from such losses as they did with the Chicago Blackhawks once before.

Vancouver Concucks Lose In Game 4

If they do end up winning, ti would be the first time in over 20 years in which a Canadian team would win the title. After the first two games of the series, the Canucks took a 2 games to 0 lead over the Boston Bruins and looked poised to win the series.

After the first two games the series moved from Vancouver to Boston, where the Bruins would be the home team for the next two games. While the Canucks looked strong in the first two games, Game 3 was a completely different story.

The game started slow with a 0-0 score after the first period, but the Bruins took complete control after that. The Bruins scored 4 goals in the second period and 4 in the third to eventually take the game be a score of 8 to 1.

Some of the top performers for Boston were Mark Recchi, who scored 2 goals, and goalie Tim Thomas who had an impressive 40 saves.

The series will continue later this week with Game 4 in Boston.

Vancouver Canucks Lose Game 3

The first game of the Stanley Cup finals was scoreless until late in the third period during an odd-man opportunity. Forward Raffi Torres managed to slip a shot in with only 18.5 seconds left in the game, and the first game ended in a 1-0 win for Vancouver.

Although the Canucks had five odd-man opportunities during the game, they did not score on their first four attempts. The team was unable to pressure the Bruins down low throughout the first and second periods.

However, the Bruins had significant struggles during power plays and managed zero goals on six attempts. Tim Thomas kept the Bruins in the game with a strong performance in the net.

Robert Luongo blocked 36 shots for the night, and he earned his third shutout of the postseason. The 36 saves were the most that Luongo has made for a postseason shutout.

The game was also marked by Vancouver’s Alex Burrows allegedly biting Boston’s Patrice Bergeron. Burrows may face discipline from the NHL as replays appear to prove Bergeron’s allegations.

Vancouver Canucks Take First Game Of The Stanley Cup Finals

The next game will be held on June 4th in Vancouver.