When the New Jersey Devils take the ice on Friday night against the Atlanta Thrashers, they will be missing a very familiar face.  A defensive-minded forward who has played 307 consecutive regular season games was knocked out in the third period against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night.  He is Jay Pandolfo.

Pandolfo was skating down the left side with the puck, fell and went hard into the boards.  The Associated Press called it a groin injury even though head coach Brent Sutter said that Pando was unavailable for comment after the game.  In fact, the AP was correct in its assessment.

"I won't be able to play tomorrow," Pandolfo said. "It's disappointing. You never want to be hurt, but, hopefully, it's not that bad. I think it's day to day" (via Tom Gulitti's Fire and Ice Devils Blog).  Gulitti said that the injury is near his pelvic area (private parts for us politically incorrect people).

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's new show aired on XM Radio.  I plan on listening to it sometime this weekend when I have a free hour and then maybe posting my thoughts.  For now, enjoy listening to the broadcast via Puckhead's version on Bettman's favorite fan site (firebettman).

The NHL announced that it's changing the schedule next season.

"The 82-game schedule next season will feature 24 divisional games, 40 against the rest of the conference and 18 versus the other conference - 15 against every single team in the other conference and three wild-card games. The three Western Canadian teams will play a home-and-home with the three Eastern Canadian teams for their wild-card games" (Canadian Press).

I am thrilled that the owners agreed with the assessment that scheduling
pre-lockout was organized well.  The owners needed a two-thirds majority to pass this resolution.  The final tally was 26 to 4 in favor a schedule change.  I want to see Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, and Martin St. Louis  in every NHL arena every season.  They are talented and easier to promote when every fan, youth and adult get to see what they bring to the table.

What's next on the agenda? Enlarging the NHL rink? I believe so. Scoring is down, remember...

Steve Williamson completed his journey around the globe around all 30 NHL arenas in 30 days.  He finished the trip in Tampa where the Devils avenged an earlier season loss.  Williamson's favorite team which he saw eight times over the trip, Tampa Bay, went 1-7.  Yikes.  Anyway, congratulations to Steve and don't forget to refrain from talking on the cell phone while driving on the NJ Turnpike.

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