Tucker was taken off the ice on a backboard and Ruutu, who has a history of dirty play, was assessed a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct, so he was ejected from the game. After a neck brace was placed around Tucker's neck and he was placed on the backboard, a pool of blood could be seen where he had been laying on the ice for over five minutes.

Tucker's Avalanche teammates were not impressed, to say the least. Said Avalanche captain Adam Foote:

"Ruutu's got a history. He hits late, he hits from behind. So I felt like it was probably dirty if your guy is laying there."

Thankfully, it has been reported that Tucker is okay. Well, as okay as a person can be after being taken to the hospital on a stretcher. According to Craig Stancher of the team's official website, "[l]ate in the second period it was announced that Tucker had regained consciousness, was fully alert and was sent to the hospital for further evaluation."

Tucker has been called a dirty player as well, so some may argue that this is simply a guy getting what's coming to him.

Either way, it's nearly a certainty that Ruutu will be facing a suspension for the hit. Like all things hockey-related, I base this on the opinion of the estimable Greg Wyshynski, a/k/a Puck Daddy:

Ruutu's getting a suspension here, no doubt. It was a scary scene that resulted from a completely irresponsible play, and even his coach is hinting at further punishmen. Now it's just a matter of duration: Both Ruutu's time away from the rink and the amount of time Tucker needs to get back on it.

The Avalanche won't get the chance to exact revenge on Ruutu until January 8th, when Colorado travels to Raleigh. Speaking of milkshakes, methinks some player on the Avalanche might just try something that ensures a straw will be the only means through which Ruutu will be able to feed himself.

You know, because hockey is violent and stuff.

Avalanche beat Hurricanes 5-4 [The Associated Press]
Avalanche/Hurricanes Notebook [Avalanche.com]
Colorado's Darcy Tucker taken off ice with a concussion [NHL.com]
30 Dirty Players in 30 Days. The Toronto Maple Leafs [Armchair Pools]
Video: Scary moments for Darcy Tucker after Ruutu cheap shot [Puck Daddy]

Hockey tradition (well, superstition anyway) dictates that players not touch the conference championship trophies for fear of jinxing their shot to lift the Stanley Cup. There's nothing to it really, since several teams—including Mario Lemieux's championship Penguins—have carried both in the same season. And as Crosby himself pointed out, he didn't lay a finger on the trophy last year and look what that got him.

Speaking of last year, a win by the Red Wings tonight will set up a rematch of that Finals, won by the Wings in six games. It's hard to know how much either team has improved since then. Both had slightly worse regular seasons this year than last, but have looked more and more sharp has the playoffs have progressed. One can only hope that the Finals will be more like the thrilling second round of this year's postseason than the snoozer of a third. One thing is certain, however: Whatever Three Rivers bridges Bill Cowher didn't burn are now in worse shape the one on the River Kwai after the stunt he pulled last night. You might have grown up in North Carolina, but dude ... that's not cool.

Penguins' dress rehearsal for trophy display [Pittsburgh Post Gazette]
Some say Pens mightier than they used to be [Detroit Free Press]
Bill Cowher cranks Hurricanes' siren before Game 4 [NHL]
Related: Wings' Hotel Doesn't Carry Versus [Winging It In Motown]

The Hurricanes announced this weekend that Walker's wife, Julie, was diagnosed with cervical cancer during the second-round series against Boston. While that is no excuse, it certainly could be an explanation for why he went loco on Ward's face in Game 5—attacking him while he was engaged with another player then punching him in the mouth, even though Ward had not dropped his gloves or raised a fist. It would also explain why he did not play particularly well in the final games of the series, right up until the moment when he tore the Bruins heart out with his only goal of the playoffs.

Funny, how that made him one of the most dastardly evildoers in hockey ... and now he's its most sentimental hero.

"The last couple [of] games, I don't even really remember playing them," Walker said. "I talked to [Maurice] about that. I played those games, and sometimes I would look up or at the end of the game, I'd be like, 'Wow, we just played a game.' I was trying to do my job and play as hard as I could and try and keep my mind as calm as I could. After that game [Thursday], so much emotion went out of me."

So the headline goes from "Colossal Jerk Stomps On Bruins Playoff Dreams" to "Courageous Do-Gooder Scores Miracle Goal For Dying Wife," all because of that one little twist in the story. (His wife is expected to make a full recovery, by the way.) It's kind of like how Episodes I-III made Darth Vader seem like a bit of a whiny baby.

How playoffs' biggest villain became NHL's sympathetic underdog [Puck Daddy]
Goal released Walker's burden [News & Observer]

Since Walker's one-man fight earned an instigator penalty in the final minutes of the game, he was automatically suspended for one game and his coach was fined $10,000 as mandated by league rules. Except the rule also allows the league to rescind that automatic suspension, which sort of the negates the purpose of the word "automatic." Instead, Ward got a $2,500 fine and will be in the lineup when his team tries to put away Boston at home on Tuesday night. Bruins coach Claude Julien is so put out right now:

"In reviewing what I saw, I just didn't like what happened. I just don't think there was any need for that. He sucker-punched him once coming into the scrum when [Ward] was involved with another player. He dropped his gloves and sucker-punched him. I don't care what people say about Ward should have protected himself. He had no intentions of getting involved. We asked our guys to stay composed and not fall into that trap. He did just that. A guy with Walker's experience should know better than to sucker-punch a guy."

Walker told the league that he thought he was in the middle of the fight, so it doesn't really matter that Ward didn't agree with that assessment and allowed himself to get clocked in the face. Ward will travel to Carolina for Game 6, but will likely be a game-time decision. Head on a swivel, kids! (Preferably a swivel with an airbag.)

Testing continues for Ward [Boston Globe]
Walker states his case, avoids suspension for Ward punch [Puck Daddy]

Unless you're in the growing league of Martin Brodeur haters. In that case, the last minute of the Devils-Hurricanes will give you sweet, sweet dreams. At least three of the four goals that he gave up last night have been labeled as "soft," and letting two slip by you in the last 80 seconds just isn't good for morale. And sorry, folks, but he's not going to take all the blame.

Against a team that luck follows against us, we let them hang around and the puck bounced on their side again. We had our chances to get the puck out on that shift. ... I was in a good position, he made a better shot. Players with that much speed are going to make some shots. We were trying all series to not let him have that much speed."

As for Carolina, they get Boston now, a team that's been sitting on their hands since sweeping Montreal about eight weeks ago. (Oh, and the Capitals beat the Rangers, of course, completing their 3-1 comeback.) That was a pleasant little first-round wasn't it?

SHOCKED BRODEUR KNOWS LOSS WILL BE FROZEN IN TIME [New York Post]
New Jersey Devils' stunning playoff exit against Carolina Hurricanes [Star-Ledger]
Hurricanes manufacture a miracle in 80 seconds [News & Observer]

And on the sixth day, the Lord invented hockey, and saw that it was good. And there was much rejoicing. (By the way, concerning that statuette ... why no helmets? Seems a little irresponsible of the King of Kings). Some thoughts from blogdome:

• Speaking of Christ; with all the beards out on the ice in the Finals, how could Gillette have missed this opportunity? [The Ice Block]
• The case is made that Cam Ward should not have won the Conn Smythe Trophy. Don't tell Denis Leary. [The Puck Stops Here]
• Um, do Oilers fans know they lost? (Includes the self-proclaimed gayest photo ever on a hockey blog). [Covered In Oil]
• More Oilers fan bitterness; this time directed toward the Norse god Crom, naturally. [Four Bad Men]
• Of course, this blog correctly predicted the outcome of the Finals more than two weeks ago, and has the photo to prove it. [Confessions Of A Hockey Fanatic]
• Comparing Brind'Amour's kissing of the Stanley Cup to the smooching of Al and Tipper Gore. Hey, get a room! [American Hockey Fan]
• The only way to describe this day for a Hurricanes fans, of course, is with a quote from The Princess Bride. [Sweet Tea, Barbeque and Bodychecks]

(UPDATE: SporTech Matter has the video.)

Anyway, that's all moot now, because even the most ardent NHL naysayer has to find it difficult to ignore a Stanley Cup Finals Game 7. Despite the small-market matchup, we kind of think it's a perfect contrast: The Edmonton Oilers, a Canadian dinosaur franchise remnant from back when it was possible for a sports league to have a team in Edmonton , against the Carolina Hurricanes, in which the vast history of hockey — or, at least, ice — in North Carolina is revealed as, uh, lacking somewhat.

The real story, of course, is Edmonton's massive comeback from a 3-1 deficit, a result that seemed so preordained that magazines have already put out Hurricanes Win editions, which would be like "Dewey Defeats Truman" if nobody paid attention to presidential elections.

It should be a mighty fun night. What's that? Oh. We lost you at "hockey." All right: Here's a great Len Bias tribute video.

Edmonton Ready For Game 7 [Canada.com]

So maybe, just for a day or two, we can put away all the talk about the Quite Frankly-esque television ratings, the small market teams, the fact that very few people care... and just appreciate the beauty, goodness, and purity of a Game Seven. Seven's the key number here. Think about it. 7-Elevens. Seven dwarves. Seven, man, that's the number. It's like you're dreamin' about Gorgonzola cheese when it's clearly Brie time, baby.

Erik Cole returned to the Carolina line-up last night, despite not having played since he suffered a broken vertebrae in his neck back in March. I bet 'Canes coach Peter Laviolette was expecting it to be an emotional lift for his team. Instead, everyone seemed to be preoccupied with thoughts of, "Geez, I hope Cole doesn't die tonight." Shots were 34-16 Edmonton.

Game Seven is back in Carolina on Monday night. 8:00. On NBC.

And here's how Rod Brind'Amour's pre-game pep-talk is likely to sound. From my-nhl.com, where there are seven more of these brilliant little bits.

It Will Be Seven [HockeyBird.com]
2006 Stanley Cup Final, Game 6 [james mirtle]

An eagle-eyed reader — that is to say, by "eagle-eyed," we mean to say "actually watching hockey" — pointed out this angry fan directly after Edmonton's sudden death goal to win Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals last night over Carolina.

Considering the Hurricanes were just one overtime goal from winning the Stanley Cup, we would understand the fan's sentiment, except for one thing: If you look close, you can see headphones the fan is wearing. Yep: Actually listening to an interview with Jeff Gordon, and that California freak just don't get what stock car racing's all about. Eff you, Gordon!

Suddenly I'm Glad To Be Alive [Covered In Oil]

• Puck Update postulates that one reason the Oilers are trailing is that they overpractice behind-the-back passes. We have to admit that we never would have thought of that in a million years; and are even somewhat surprised that such a manuever is possible. Puck Update also gives us this amusing public service announcement, which we think somehow might be relevant to hockey.

• Off Wing Opinion reminds us that, despite the latest round of testing indicating that the NHL is totally clean on the banned substances front, there are those who aren't buying the results. One is World Anti-Doping Agency head Dick Pound.

• It has been mentioned in several blogs, but cannot be stressed enough in our opinion: One of the Stanley Cup Finals refs is named Mr. Magoo. It's actually spelled McGeough, but pronounced the same as the nearly-sightless cartoon character. Come on, Oilers fans! Your're down 3-1, and one of the officials is named Mr. Magoo! If you can't work with that, there's no hope for you.

• Have we mentioned that GoonBlog has one of our favorite logos of all time? No? Well, remind us to do that sometime.

• Hey, the NHL draft is only 10 days from now, as the folks at The Ice Block kindly remind us. They have a pretty good rundown of draft articles over there, so you hosers should probably check it out. We probably don't have to point out that the St. Louis Blues have the No. 1 pick.

• So, Game 5, Edmonton at Carolina, NBC, 8 p.m. eastern, tonight. It's impossible not to like hockey right now (unless you play for the Danbury Thrashers, that is). Anyway, there'll be more scoring than France-Switzerland, we're pretty sure.

There are two ways to look at it. 1) All Carolina has done is protect their home ice, and the crowd in Edmonton will be all the way live, so the Oil isn't in bad shape, really, or 2) If Edmonton can't lure Grant Fuhr out of retirement, this one's done, because their goalie situation right now is as stable and confident as the Boom Goes The Dynamite Guy.

Between the pipes on the other side of the ice is rookie Cam Ward, the rookie sensation who will likely be your series MVP if it ends as quickly as Carolina would like. He's already the first rookie to post a shutout in the Stanley Cup Finals in 20 years and has become more famous in Carolina than a few Busch series NASCAR drivers. Okay, maybe not.

* = Courtesy Bob Uecker, Major League

Oilers regrouping [newsobserver.com]
See? Highlights Are Harder Than They Look [Deadspin]

We have felt somewhat guilty around these parts for our almost total lack of Stanley Cup coverage. We have meant no offense; we just don't get a particularly strong "Holy crap, the Stanley Cup finals are starting tonight! Gooooo Hurricanes!" vibe. In fact, since the NHL playoffs started, we've received exactly one "where's your Stanley Cup coverage?" email, and that one might have been from Mike Myers.

Nevertheless, the finals do start tonight — it's Edmonton vs. Carolina, by the way — and we are a sports site, so here you go. Here's your Stanley Cup finals preview. Your definitive source on all things NHL is, as always, Off Wing Opinion, and he'll be all over this for the next week or so. As we said: It's Oil against Water. What a matchup!

If you're into such matters, you can make your predictions in the comments, we guess.

Stanley Cup Finals Preview, Game One [Off Wing Opinion]