The PIttsburgh Penguins won an improbably Game Seven on the road versus the Detroit Red Wings.  Beforehand, there has been a 38-year-old road jjnx Game Sevens of the Stanley Cup Finals.  Yet, the Pens did it and they did it with their two best scorers, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, hitting the net for a goal in the past three games, as well as overcoming series deficits of 2-0 and 3-2.  This was a rematch of last year’s Cup when the Red Wings took it all and added to their championship pedigree.  This year, however, was different and Crosby, the wunderkind and iconic torchbearer in the mold of Wayne Gretzky and Pens’ owner Mario Lemieux, has tasted his first title as the youngest captain to ever lead a Pens’ team to a championship.  Before that the record was held by Lemieux.  The postseason couldn’t have gone more according to fate than last night.

It was announced on Monday that the Montreal Canadiens have come to terms on a multi-year coaching contract with Florida Panthers general manager Jacques Martin. Just one year into a four-year deal he signed to manage the Panthers, Martin will replace interim coach (and Habs GM) Bob Gainey on the bench.

Prior to signing with the Florida Panthers, Martin legitimized himself as a significant Canadian hockey figure as the head coach of the Ottawa Senators where a once formidable crop of Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza were amongst the league’s best. Credit Martin with helping develop current NHL stars Zdeno Chara and Martin Havlat as well.

Last season, the Canadiens 100th as a franchise, the team disappointed before bowing out in the first round of the playoffs to the upstart Boston Bruins. Martin himself, as coach of the Sens, is no stranger to first-round exits, but his impact on the Ottawa record books (games coached, wins, etc.) speaks to his credibility.

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Though nothing is official just yet, Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs is convinced that the third installment of the annual NHL Winter Classic will be held at Boston’s Fenway Park.

“Everything I’ve seen acts like, looks like, smells like it’s going to be in Boston,” Jacobs said in an Associated Press interview. “I don’t know of anybody else that’s gone through all of the search and process” to prepare for the game.

An official announcement is not expected until July. No word has been given as to a possible opponenet for the Bruins who finished last season with their highest win total since winning the Stanley Cup in 1972.

Previously the outdoor game has been held in Buffalo and Chicago at Ralph Wilson Stadium and Wrigley Field respectively.

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Don’t look now, but Pittsburgh Penguins defensemen Sergei Gonchar looks poised to suit up for tonight’s Game 1 Eastern Conference Final match up with the Carolina Hurricanes.

After suffering a pretty violent knee-on-knee collision in Game 4, Gonchar sat out Games 5 and 6 before returning to suffer through bits of Game 7. Now, with a few more days rest, Gonchar looks to be pretty optimistic regarding his health for this most recent series.

Gonchar is currently third on the team in playoff scoring despite the injury and will no doubt play a significant role in dictating the Pens’ power play if healthy enough to suit up.

According to the Denver Post the Colorado Avalanche have offered their available head coaching spot to former goaltender Patrick Roy. Though it has been confirmed that Roy has met with Avs GM Pierre Lacroix, no decision is said to have been made.

After spending the first half of his career in net for the Montreal Canadiens, Roy led the Colorado Avalanche to Stanley Cup victories in 1996 and 2001. The legendary goalie retired in 2003 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

Though Roy’s playing portfolio is beyond impressive, his coaching experience is relatively lacking. Roy has spent the past four seasons coaching the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Many recall January 2007 when Roy allegedly threw punches at the owner of another QMJHL team, or March 2008 when he was seen cheering as his son, Remparts goaltender Jonathan Roy, sucker punched an opposing team’s goalie during a brawl.

Obviously this is the person you want coaching your professional team.

Remember your youth? Collecting hockey cards and aspiring to one day be as slick with a hockey stick as Sergei Fedorov? I do.

The best part about this it is that kids even still can grow up idolizing the Russian icon. After 19 years in the NHL, Fedorov has expressed interest in coming back to add yet another season to his impressive portfolio.

Though 12 years have passed since Fedorov last topped the triple-digit mark in points, his presence on the ice is significant. On April 28, 2009 the 39-year-old potted a Game 7 overtime winner for the Capitals against their first round rival New York Rangers.

As an unrestricted free agent this summer Fedorov will no doubt see a pay cut, but has stated that he would like to be back with the same club following their second round loss to Pittsburgh last week.

Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray has found his name in the news recently after reacting negatively following his team’s loss in Game 7 of their quarterfinal matchup to the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.

Murray is said to have swung a chair that connected with a woman in the Joe Louis Arena press box. The woman has declined to take legal action against Murray or the team.

Murray denies having thrown the chair, referring to it instead as a “complete accident”.

In other words, yes, that just happened.

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The Anaheim Ducks, fresh off of yet another considerable playoff run, will wait patiently for the status of veterans Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne who, at 35 and 38 respectively, both face possible retirement.

As the Ducks continue to develop with elite level forwards Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan, the need for the vets is lessened but still quite welcome. The Ducks have been fortunate to have enjoyed three significant postseason runs in the past four seasons, thanks largely in part to their veterans and ever-improving young core.

Both Selanne and Niedermayer have previously mentioned interest in playing in the 2010 Olympic Games which would carry over well into the 2009-10 NHL season.

The Phoenix Coyotes’ relocation fiasco took another turn Wednesday when the NHL filed motions in an Arizona bankruptcy court. The hearing, between the league and the franchise, will take place Tuesday, May 19 to determine whether or not the franchise is to be considered legally bankrupt.

On one side you have Moyes and the Coyotes. From Moyes’ perspective, the Phoenix Coyotes are a losing investment with which he wants no part. If bankrupt, Moyes can then part with the team with less complication because they will not need to undergo the traditional owner application process. The noted offer of $212.5 million is Research in Motion co-CEO Jim Balsillie’s attempt to take the struggling franchise off Moyes’ hands. It is, however, conditional on the franchise moving to southern Ontario.

The NHL on the other hand contests that since Moyes received financial support from the league last season (which according to the Arizona Republic he did, in order to pay stadium rent), that he no longer holds the right to put the team into bankruptcy.

On Sunday evening Martin Brodeur notched his 100th career shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Goals were scored by Jamie Langenbrunner, Brian Gionta, and Johnny Oduya.

On Friday the Ottawa Senators acquired a familiar face, Mike Comrie, in addition to Defenceman Chris Campoli from the New York Islanders for veteran left winger Dean McAmmond and the rights to a first round draft pick. Comrie has long been rumored to be the subject of a possible trade; his contract expires after the end of the 2008-2009 NHL season, and his uninspired play this season hasn’t made him a popular figure among Islander fans.

“It’s an exciting place to play and a great group of guys and I’m obviously thrilled about the opportunity to play on a great team,” said Comrie upon hearing of the trade.

Sean Avery has always been known to be a pesky, perhaps even annoying, presence in the NHL. However, after making a snide, backhanded remark to the press on Tuesday, Avery may find himself in deeper trouble than he’s been in at any point in his career. Avery was meant to discuss his earlier remarks about Jarome Iginla with the press (in which Avery said, “nobody cares about Jarome Iginla.”), when he instead said, “I’m just going to say one thing. I’m really happy to be back in Calgary; I love Canada, I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my (former girlfriends). I don’t know what that’s about, but enjoy the game tonight.”

Marty Reasoner helped the Atlanta Thrashers lay down a 5-2 beating at the expense of the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. Rod Brind’Amour and Ray Whitney scored goals to help out the Carolina effort, but it was still no match for the red hot Thrashers; a team that has now won four consecutive games.

“Our team, we feel if we keep playing hard and don’t get too crazy taking chances, we know we will get our own chances,” Marty Reasoner said after the game. “We’ve been able to come back from some deficits the last few games and we are believing in ourselves.”

The New York Rangers topped the Colombus Blue Jackets by a score of 3-1 on Friday night, thanks in part to goals from Daniel Girardi, Brandon Dubinsky, and Nikolai Zherdev. Henrik Lundqvist turned in a stellar performance on Friday as well. He allowed a first period goal to Jakub Voracek (Voracek’s third goal of the season), but shut down the Jackets for the remainder of the game.

“The key for us was that we didn’t change anything even though they got that goal,” said Lundqvist, who had 25 saves. “We just kept playing the same way and for us it was a perfect road game.”

Just days after being demoted to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL, Columbus Blue Jackets rookie Nikita Filatov is getting his chance to debut in the NHL.

After an impressive pre-season, the Russian prospect was sent down to Syracuse as he overcame the effects of a leg injury.

Peter Budaj allowed a goal to Dustin Penner with 5.4 seconds remaining in the 3rd period to cap off an exhilarating 3-2 victory for the Edmonton Oilers, and deliver a tough luck loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The goal was Penner’s second of that period (Penner scored 5 minutes and 57 seconds into the period). Colorado Avalanche goalie Peter Budaj has now allowed 8 goals in his team’s first two regular season games.

Before I go any further, let me clarify. This, in the grand scheme of things, means nothing. Alright, now that we got that out of the way, let’s continue.

With a Friday night victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, the New York Rangers won their third game of the season to start 3-0 for the first time since 1989. Yes, for the first time since the John Ogrodnick era. In other words, for the first time in Steven Stamkos’ entire life.

The New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Islanders on Friday night by a score of 2-1, thanks in part to goals from Zach Parise and Patrick Elias. The Isles managed 26 shots on goal, but like many teams, had no answer for Martin Brodeur. Marty made 25 saves on the night, getting off to a fast start in a potential 2009/2009 Vezina Trophy bid.

“Marty is Marty. He is the best goalie of all-time,” said center Brian Rolston, acquired by the Devils over the off-season. “He was awesome again tonight and unfortunately that is what everyone is expecting of him.”

Much to the chagrin of fantasy owners, the Columbus Blue Jackets sent 2008 No. 6 overall draft pick Nikita Filatov to go hone his skills with the Syracuse Crunch.

As a result, the young phenom will miss the Jacket’s debut performance against the Dallas Stars on Friday night.

Get ready, because here come Ice Hype’s own 2008/2009 NHL season predictions! Which teams will wind up making the post-season? Which team will be the unexpected bust? Which team will win the Stanley Cup? Read my predictions on all of these subjects inside!

Veteran defenseman Kyle McLaren was placed on waivers on Tuesday, possibly ending his 4 ½ year tenure with the San Jose Sharks. In his time with the Sharks, McLaren spent 301 minutes in the penalty box, scored 12 goals, and landed 71 assists. If McLaren, who was frequently injured during his time with San Jose, isn’t claimed by any other NHL team, he will be assigned to Worcester, the location of San Jose’s top minor league team.

The New York Islanders are stumbling to the starting gate of the 2008/2009 NHL season. Last night they endured a 6-0 loss to the Florida Panthers. Florida goalie Tomas Vokoun looked to be in mid-season form, blocking each one of the 29 attempted shots on goal. Goals for the Panthers were scored by Anthony Stewart, Kamil Kreps, Rostislav Olesz , Jay Bouwmeester, Brett McLean and Nathan Horton. Left winger Ville Peltonen pitched in as well, notching three assists.