Up and Running

Yes, Petunia Puck is eager for the hockey season to begin again in the Lounge, where she feasts on the mistakes of others, converting turnovers like dropped popcorn into quick snacks.

But until hockey resumes, it is time for the summer reading season, which means daily visits to Puck Daddy, Hockey's Future, Hockey Prospectus, TSN.ca, ESPN.com and CapGeek. Also included in the mix are NHL.com, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, RDS.ca and Le Journal de Montreal.

Still relevant despite the draft, the start of free agency and retirement parties, TSN's off-season reports lift the hood on each team to see what works and what doesn't. And be certain to use it while having another tab on your screen open to CapGeek and the payroll numbers. Consider it a good appetizer before the Hockey Prospectus 12-13 guide is available in September.

And just to keep me on my feet to spot unfounded optimism in every corner, I go back and read the 2011-12 preview magazines and pool books (seven, to be exact) to see who fell short of expectations (players, coaches and GMs)or were just making things up to meet deadline (the preview writer).

And there are the latest copies of Sportsnet Magazine (on the iPad via Zinio) and The Hockey News (iPad/Zinio).

Finally, keep these dates in mind.

Sept. 4: KHL regular season begins.
Sept. 20: QMJHL, OHL and WHL regular seasons begin.
Oct. 6: NCAA Division I regular season begins.
Oct. 11: NHL regular season begins (CBA permitting).

That's right, all hockey all the time. Well, most of the time. First Petunia Puck is asking for an extended shift around the block.

Why the CBC Matters to Hockey

It's called production, and the CBC does the best job around, even when it has more that a few goofs working as talking heads between periods on Hockey Night in Canada.

The level of production is high, and you are amazed when you see what the CBC does when you put it alongside the work of NBC and NBC Sports Channel. And I am a firm believer that the NBC/NBC Sports Channel arrangement is far better place for the NHL than ESPN, SportsChannel America or Fox.

But when the little things matter, the CBC gets the job right. The Stanley Cup finals end, and the CBC stays until the first blood alcohol tests from the winning locker room signal a need for designated drivers.

With NBC, Doc Emrick has barely moved the final vowel from "OH NOOOOOOOOOOOH!" before he turns quiet and says with some note of apology that we can get the rest of the story by switching from NBC to NBC Sports Channel. And on the NBC Sports Channel, we get 30 minutes before it's time to switch to the NHL Network.

Weak.

Strong? The CBC. And here is just a small sampling. It's called setting the stage, and HNIC crew has done a fine job (we've agreed to forget about Ron MacLean's first responder poetry slam).

Here, in a string of six, are the opening segments to the six games of the Stanley Cup Finals, along with the salute to the playoffs.

Do you remember what NBC/NBC Sports Channel did for each game? Neither do I anymore.

Enjoy.

GAME 1



GAME 2



GAME 3



GAME 4



GAME 5



GAME 6



CLOSING SALUTE TO PLAYOFFS



CLOSING CREDITS

Summer Fun Between Periods

The Cup has been awarded. Two hundred eleven young men received various degrees of validation at the Entry Draft.

Yes, this one goes to 211. There was that extra pick in Round 2. Thirty teams, seven rounds, 211 players picked. I did not make this up. Nick Ebert, the defenseman, had the longest wait among those selected on Saturday.

Then the draft was done. And summer began.

Sunday afternoon to do list: battle traffic on the Clearview Expressway; jockey for position on the Grand Central Parkway; look for an escape on the Jackie Robinson Parkway; spot a junkie about to fall off a stoop on Pennsylvania Avenue in East New York, Brooklyn; do a "French Connection" hard turn onto Linden Avenue; glide on to South Conduit Avenue; and join the parade down Cross Bay Boulevard toward the Atlantic.

Not the route I planned to take, but it was the best option on a warm summer Sunday. Rockaway Beach, Queens. You never looked so good.

Small car means easy parking under the A train tracks. Short walk past the small police precinct house, which for some reason requires more parking than you can imagine, two small apartment buildings and three large houses that are a match away from being history.

The air grows fresher. The breeze prompts a smile. The father carrying every beach chair and beach toy imaginable, all with one arm, while stringing together three children hand in hand? That guy prompts a laugh as I stand on Beach 94th Street, ready to cross Shore Front Parkway.

I come with a cooler, a folder of draft notes, a book and an assortment of thoughts about the NHL TwentyTwelvedotThirteen. Until I am told the season will not begin on time, or be played at all, I will be on the beach looking at blue skies. Or I will be turning my back on the Atlantic and walking down the Boardwalk to Beach 109th Street to watch some roller hockey. Either way, I am smiling. I am thinking of the day the leaves start to turn.

Fall cannot come soon enough.

Sunday's Playoff Tab

MEMORIAL CUP
Final
Shawinigan 2, London 1 OT
Summary is here.
Shawinigan Cataractes
Champions

Friday's Playoff Tab

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Third Round
At New Jersey 3, New York 2 OT
(Devils win series, 4-2)
Summary is here.

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Third Round
At Toronto 3, Oklahoma City 1
(Marlies win series, 4-1)
Summary is here.



MEMORIAL CUP
Semifinal
Shawinigan 7, Saint John 4
(Shawinigan advances; Saint John is eliminated
Summary is here.

Thursday's Playoff Tab

MEMORIAL CUP
Tie-breaker game
Shawinigan 6, Edmonton 1
(Cataractes advance; Oil Kings are eliminated)
Summary is here.

Wednesday's Playoff Tab

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Third Round
New Jersey 5, at New York 3
(Devils lead series, 3-2)
Summary is here.

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Third Round
At Toronto 3, Oklahoma City 0
(Marlies lead series, 3-1)
Summary is here.

EAST COAST HOCKEY LEAGUE
Kelly Cup Finals
At Florida 3, Las Vegas 2 OT
(Everblades win series, 4-1)
Summary is here.
Florida Everblades
Champions

UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE
Clark Cup Finals
At Green Bay 5, Waterloo 2
(Gamblers win series, 3-2)
Summary is here.
Green Bay Gamblers
Champions



MEMORIAL CUP
Round Robin
Saint John 4, Shawinigan 1
Summary is here.