I know it’s more than just a hockey game when my 63 year old father is looking forward to watching, and has been watching most of the hockey games during this Olympics. I know it’s more than just a game when patrons at bars ask to turn the hockey game on, both the men’s and women’s games, as I have seen happen over the last couple weeks. This is about reliving nostalgia for those who were around for the 1980 Gold Medal team‘s “Miracle“ run. And it’s about wanting to experience that same feeling for those of us who were too young or weren’t around then. This is the kind of thing the brings generations of sons and fathers together creating memories that become part of family lore. More importantly, this is a message to the world that hockey isn’t a secondary sport in the United States anymore, but one we can excel at, and even be the best.
It’s almost time for the opening face off, winning twice on enemy territory won’t be easy, but I think if anyone can, it’s this group of relentless young men. No matter what the outcome, they will put forth an effort to be proud of.
My in game thoughts from the penalty box:

According to a report issued Thursday by the Columbus Chamber, the Columbus Blue Jackets could leave central Ohio if the team can't turn around its economic prospects. Currently, the Blue Jackets are operating under an economic model that is causing losses of $12 million per year. A deal to keep the hockey team in Columbus and the area around the arena afloat will likely include asking for public dollars, and is likely to happen soon.

The team and the district around the arena generated $30 million in taxes last year. A loss of that magnitude would be devastating to the city.

Ty D. Marsh, chamber president and CEO says explains that there is a sense of urgency, and that they are "looking for a solution or progress by the end of the year." Already into November, that gives the team less than two months to come up with some kind of workable solution.

Marsh says that the goal would be a financial package that would help the team be rid of some significant costs. Included in that could be $4 million in operational losses and $5 million in arena rent per year.

Cleveland is not known as a hockey hotbed by any stretch of the imagination. It's a football town first, a town that still embraces it's longest sporting resident, the Indians, and a town that supports great basketball. Is there any room for a fourth major league member of the Cleveland sporting community?

A look at the lack of success of minor league hockey in Cleveland would indicate that bringing an NHL team here would be a terrible idea. But the simple problem with that has been the fact that the teams have indeed been minor league. Cleveland has and will always be an major league sports town. Yes, many people enjoy the "love of the game" nature of some minor league teams around the region, but when push comes to shove, this town loves the bright lights of a big league sporting event.

Chicago Blackhawks star player Patrick Kane was charged with attacking a cab driver in his hometown of Buffalo on Sunday. According to police, the beating was triggered when the driver indicated that he did not have 20 cents in change to give the player and his cousin who was in the cab with him.

Police say that Kane, 20, and his cousin James Kane, 21, caught a cab from the city's downtown nightclub district around 4am. The driver says he was punched and hit by both men because he did not have 20 cents in change to give them. The cab driver suffered from cuts to his face, and his glasses were broken.

Both Patrick and James were charged with felony robbery and misdemeanor counts of theft or services and criminal mischief. On Sunday, Patrick Kane pleaded not guilty in City Court. It was not clear whether James Kane would appear in court.

A spokesman for the Blackhawks said that the team was aware of the situation, and stated:

"He is a big part of our organization and a team leader and we stand behind him. As we are still collecting all the facts, it would be premature to comment further at this time."

As every sports fan knows a Game 7 is the pivotal game. Whether baseball, basketball, or hockey. And coming up on Friday June 12 will be one of the most important games played in all of sports. A Game 7 for the Stanley Cup Finals. The best two teams stand, the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The race to four games will end on Friday night.

The Red Wings have always been a dominant team in the National Hockey League dating back to the Original Six. They have won 11 Stanley Cups, which is the most for a United States team, and third most overall. Being a very tight defensive team is why they’ve been able to get to the Finals for a second straight year. Their goalie Chris Osgood has always been a solid goalie and no doubt one of the best in the playoffs. And they do have quite the offense with Henrik Zetterberg, Marian Hossa, and Pavel Datsyuk leading them. But Datsyuk has played only two games so far this series (though he was the turning point in Game 5.) Marian Hossa who has gained far too much attention for playing with the Penguins last year and then going to Detroit hasn’t scored a goal at all this series and only has 6 goals total. Many people say the Red Wings are old and tired but they have been in pressure situations and they are machines. Do not count the Red Wings out but in order for them to win they need their offensive weapons to fire.

San Diego's Winning Streak Continues as They Knock Off Indianapolis and Peyton Manning in Overtime

The San Diego Chargers were counted out as dead just a few weeks ago. Now, the team is just two wins away from a trip the Super Bowl. The Chargers, who entered tonight's contest with the Indianapolis Colts with just an 8-8 record, will play the Tennessee Titans or Pittsburgh Steelers next weekend after winning on the last second tonight against the Colts.

Darren Sproles, subbing for Tomlinson who left with a lingering injury, was a man among boys going for a near playoff record total of total yards and non may have may been more important than a dazzling 3rd and 11 to start the overtime period that started deep in their territory and got the drive started for the Chargers. Sproles picked up more than 300 total yards in the game. Local hero Antiono Gates, who led Kent State University to the Elite 8 in the NCAA Tournament earlier this decade, also picked up a key first down on the winning drive as he bullied his way across the chains with Colts players all over him. A holding call then gave San Diego another first down on a third down and the Colts would unravel with a critical face mask pentalty that set up a Sproles 22 yard touchdown run two plays later that would end it at 23-17.

As the Philadelphia Flyers take on the New York Rangers in their opening season game at the Wachovia Center tonight, they will have a special guest perform the ceremonial puck drop - Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Palin's appearance, however, has drawn criticism from the "City of Brotherly Love" and just how receptive fans will be to her appearance tonight remains to be seen.

In an online poll by the Philadelphia Inquirer, which received responses from 8,323 individuals, 63.8% said they did not like the idea of Palin appearing, while just 36.2% supported it.

The self-described "Hockey Mom" met with team owner Ed Snider last month during a trip to Philadelphia and accepted his invitation to appear at the game, which also ties into a team promotion to find the "Ultimate Hockey Mom." Hockey moms and players submitted posters "showing their hockey mom pride" throughout the last month to the Flyers' web site.

Some have labeled Palin's appearance as politically motivated since Snider is a big GOP backer. According to the Inquirer, Snider has donated $25,000 to the campaign of Republican John McCain and the Republican National Commitee.

A spokesman for the team said that the appearance was in no way "a political event."

Richard Zednik, a striker for the Florida Panthers NHL hockey team, was seriously wounded Sunday night by a skate blade of teammate Olli Jokinen in a game against the Buffalo Sabres.

Check out the video above to see the accident as it occurred. Warning: It is not for the squeamish.

Zednik, who was behind the play and skating into the corner at the Sabres' end of the ice, when teammate Jokinen was upended by Sabres' forward Clarke MacArthur. Jokinen fell headfirst onto the ice, while his right leg flew up and struck Zednick directly on the side of his neck.

Zednik began bleeding heavily, and was taken to the bench. Team doctors soon realized the severity of his wound, and had him transported to a hospital in Buffalo.

After a 15 minute delay, the game resumed. The NHL said the decision to resume the game was made when it was announced that Zednik was in stable condition.