Milan Hejduk of the Colorado Avalanche played in his 1,000th game Monday, February 4th. Hejduk, currently 36 years old, entered the NHL in the 1998-1999 season. In his 13 seasons, all of which have been with the Avalanche, he has amassed 372 goals and 426 assists for a total of 798 points. He has been in numerous NHL All-Star games, winner of the Maurice “Rocket” Richard (Goals Leader), won an Olympic Gold and Bronze Medal with the Czech Republic, and has won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in the 2000-2001 season. While the Avalanche ended up losing to the Dallas Stars on his milestone night 3 – 2, he netted the first goal for the Avalanche.
Two of the Western Conference powerhouses squared off on Tuesday, February 5th., as the Chicago Blackhawks visited the San Jose Sharks. Fans were not disappointed as the two teams scored three goals a piece in the first period. From then on however, the Blackhawks came out on top. Scoring one more in each of the remaining two periods, the Blackhawks remained unbeaten, winning 5 – 3.
In the first meeting between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Phoenix Coyotes since Raffi Torres returned from suspension from a hit on Blackhawks Marian Hossa, the game went as expected. Torres answered for his hit as Jamal Mayers of the Blackhawks challenged him to a fight just 2 minutes and 35 seconds in. While both were throwing big punches, none really landed, resulting in a draw. The game continued without any more ifghts as the Blackhawks defeated the Coyotes 6 – 2. I’m not sure who got the last laugh in, but Torres scored the last and only goal in the third period Thursday, February 7, 2013.
Hockey Day In Canada proved to be an enjoyable one as bitter rivals the Montreal Canadiens played host to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Much to everyone’s surprise, the Maple Leafs dominated the Habs, ending in a 6 – 0 victory. Not going down without a fight, the Habs and Leafs accumulated 18 penalties in the third period alone, totaling 3 fights and 69 minutes. The big news surrounded Canadiens’ Max Pacioretty’s claim that he was bitten by Leafs Mikhail Grabovski. A hearing later conducted by Brendan Shannahan found Grabovski clear of the incident without suspension. The league did not have conclusive evidence that Pacioretty had been bitten.
