The Hangover: Nov. 17

Before plunging into the daily rundown of scores, I wanted to update you on the week that has been nonstop hockey in the Lounge.

Yes, I have not written in a while, but what can you do when you are juggling a home life, a work life, and a nightly package of pro and college hockey that can eat up your time from 7 pm to 2:30 am (live games followed by NHL On the Fly Final)? You can take notes and tape games, but both of those stack up like pizza boxes in a dorm room at some point.

In any event, let's dig in to those stacked up pizza boxes to give you a sampler of what my week has been.

-- You have to like the candor of Bobby Taylor, the color man on the Lightning broadcasts. When Steven Stamkos appeared to take a dive to draw a high-sticking call Monday against the Winnipeg Jets, Taylor did not try to skate around the issue. He watched the replay and then told the viewers that Stamkos was not hit with a stick and explained that is why the Jets fans seemed ready to come over the boards. He later told the audience that the Lightning were playing a soft game against the Jets, who were taking advantage of Tampa Bay's unwillingness to initiate any physical play.

-- Another Tuesday night on Long Island, and the Rangers should have crushed this tomato can. But the Islanders hang on for a few rounds before the Rangers scratch out a victory. Ugly game.

-- Wednesday night is why we live for hockey: Devils/Sabres, Ducks/Kings and Blackhawks/Canucks. Sure, Carolina was at Montreal, but did you see that game. I did. Let's leave it at that. The Devils came in a shoved the Sabres around. There is a lot of talent on the Sabres, but not enough jam, at least, not right now. Maybe the Sabres need a few rule changes to make it safe for them to come out on the ice. Also Wednesday, the Blackhawks put their best effort forward against the Canucks, who were more than game for a battle for two periods. But let's ask that the Blackhawks' TV announcers not get carried away when handing out kudos for, the game. Duncan Keith's game was called flawless, a masterpiece. Well, I guess we can ignore a few bad passes, including one at the blueline that created a breakaway shot on goal for the Canucks. Corey Crawford, now YOU had a masterpiece game. Kings beat the Ducks. I went to bed happy.

-- A little family time and then it's late night in the Lounge with the Kings/Ducks and Red Wings/Sharks. You cannot do better than these two games when it's past 11 Eastern and there is still another day in the work week. But the eyes are going fast. Fortunately, the Kings beat the Ducks again. I fall to sleep quickly.

--There are only three NHL games on Friday night. I've seen too much of Carolina already, so the Sabres/Hurricanes game, 7 pm, is Internet radio only. Stars/Avalanche (9 Eastern) will be on the medium HD screen and the Blackhawks/Flames (9 Eastern) goes on the big HD screen.

-- Small screen, big games. The iPhone will get a workout tonight, with college hockey on tap (no phone calls, please): Boston College/Notre Dame at 7:30 Eastern on CBS College Sports, Minnesota/St. Cloud State at 9 Eastern on Fox College Sports Atlantic, Nebraska-Omaha/Denver at 9:30 Eastern on Fox College Sports Pacific.

-- Just received a note about the AHL online package. Hmm, sounds interesting. Might be trouble.

And now, roll the scores, please:

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Boston 2, Columbus 1 SO
At N.Y. Islanders 4, Montreal 3
At Philadelphia 2, Phoenix 1
At Tampa Bay 4, Pittsburgh 1
At St. Louis 4, Florida 1
At Nashville 4, Toronto 1
At Minnesota 1, Colorado 0
At Winnipeg 4, Washington 1
Ottawa 5, at Edmonton 2
Los Angeles 5, at Anaheim 3
At San Jose 5, Detroit 2
Standings are here
Summaries are here

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Peoria 4, at Lake Erie 3 SO
Standings are here
Summary is here

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Moncton 5, Rouyn-Noranda 2
Standings are here
Summary is here

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Niagara 3, Mississauga 0
Kitchener 3, at Sarnia 2
At Peterborough 4, Belleville 1
Plymouth 5, at Windsor 4 OT
At Saginaw 3, Brampton 2 SO
At Barrie 5, Sudbury 3
Standings are here
Summaries are here

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Russian Selects 7, WHL Selects 5
Summary is here
Video link is here

The Hangover: Nov. 16

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Montreal 4, Carolina 0
New Jersey 5, at Buffalo 3
Chicago 5, at Vancouver 1
At Los Angeles 2, Anaheim 1 SO
Standings are here
Summaries are here

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Springfield 3, Worcester 2 OT
At Rochester 3, Syracuse 2
Oklahoma City 5, at Rockford 4
Standings are here
Summaries are here

EAST COAST HOCKEY LEAGUE
Kalamazoo 4, at Trenton 3
Toledo 4, at Chicago 1
At Ontario 4, Stockton 2
Standings are here
Summaries are here

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Cape Breton 4, Prince Edward Island 3
At Saint John 4, Rouyn-Noranda 3
Rimouski 4, at Acadie-Bathurst 1
Quebec 4, at Baie-Comeau 2
Blainville-Boisbriand 3, at Val-d'Or 2 SO
Standings are here
Summaries are here

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Owen Sound 3, Erie 1
At Belleville 6, Peterborough 3
Standings are here
Summaries are here

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
WHL Selects 5, Russian Selects 2
Summary is here

NCAA DIVISION I
ATLANTIC HOCKEY
At Connecticut 8, Sacred Heart 3
Standings are here
Summary is here

Get Ready for Canada-Russia Tuneup

Last year around this time, Russia sent a touring team of juniors across Canada to face teams from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The Russian touring squad took the bulk of the Super Series challenge games, and then several members of that squad were on the team that defeated Canada for the gold medal at the World Junior Championship tournament in early January in Buffalo.

Canada, which will have the upcoming World Junior tournament in Alberta, wants to get off on the right foot starting tonight when the 2011 Super Series challenge begins in Victoriaville, Quebec, with a team of QMJHL players facing Russia. Russia will face the QMJHL team again on Nov. 9 in Quebec City before moving to Ontario to face an OHL squad on Nov. 10 in Ottawa and Nov. 14 in Sault Ste. Marie. The Russian team will conclude the series with two games against a team Western Hockey League selects in Saskatchewan. Those games will be Nov. 16 in Regina and Nov. 17 in Moose Jaw.

(Update: The QMJHL selects will have to do without Jonathan Huberdeau, the captain of the Saint John Sea Dogs and a Florida Panthers prospect.)

Rosters for the QMJHL, OHL and WHL are on the web site of the Canadian Hockey League, which comprises the three junior leagues that have teams across Canada as well as teams in Oregon, Washington, Michigan and Pennsylvania. The Russian selects roster is here.