It's no real surprise to see Linda Ruff complain about the hit.

Ruff is the biggest whiner coach in hockey.

I'm fine with Ruff complaining about the ref'ing and the hit. What kind of a coach would he be if he didn't? I'm fine with the Buffalo players standing up for their star/captain. What kind of teammates would they be if they didn't? I'm fine with the penalties given to Alex at the time - heck, at the time I thought it was a terrible, dirty hit and couldn't figure out why he would have done something like that. In real time, live, it looked terrible. After seeing the replays though, both real speed and slow-mo, it's not nearly as bad as it could have been or as bad as the Buffalo fans make it out to be.

Alex actually does pull up a bit (not as much as he probably should have) when he saw the puck cleared. Briere is about half Alex's size, so any hit by AO on him would have looked pretty bad. Briere went down like he was shot, though, and it wasn't that hard of a hit. Briere had the potential of causing injury to himself by playing it up more than the hit did. In the replays, you can actually see Briere look up from the ice with a look on his face like "was that called?" He didn't miss a shift, didn't miss a minute.

I try to think of myself as a fair fan - had it been a dirty hit, like I thought it was during the game, I would have been OK with a suspension because Alex would have deserved it. After looking at the replays, it just doesn't seem warrented. Even Briere commented right after the game that he had responsibility himself in keeping aware of what was going on and should have protected himself. Funny, though, how that statement seems to be missing from all Buffalo accounts of the "event."

Dan, don't ever quote Kara Yorio about hockey. Ever. For a "hockey" writer, she knows less about the sport than anyone at the Washington Post. You were better off asking the Post's janitor about the Ovechkin hit, he'd have a more insightful response.

I hate how ALL the non-BCS bowls have become 'Random Corporate Sponsor Bowl', it's time for playoffs in Division I-A

LOUD NOISES

Maybe the Sabres should be more concerned with giving away 7 goals to the previously anemic Caps.

Why has everyone given up on the Redskins playoff hopes this season?

Here's one wild card scenario:

(1) Redskins win all their remaining games.

(2) The Giants, Eagles, and Falcons team charters collide in mid-air.

(3) The fiery wreckage lands on the Carolina team bus.

I haven't worked out the rest of the (admittedly improbable) details, but hey, stranger things have happened!

The whole Ovechkin thing has been blown up by whiny Buffalo fans and media. Ovechkin went to put a shoulder into him. He's a physical player. Briere unexpectedly turned and Ovechkin wasn't able to fully pull up in time. Briere was shaken but NOT injured at all. He didn't miss a shift. The refs mishandled the situation and the entire thing is a nonissue. All the hubub is just more evidence that the NHL is becoming a powder puff league.