chockster

Former Lightning Defenseman Michael McBain was sentenced in Las Vegas Wednesday to four to 15 years for sexually assaulting a girl over a four-year period. The abuse started since she was 12. He was drafted in 1995 by the Lightning and played for the team from 1997-99.

Lightning Vice President of Fans Dave Andreychuk and former Bolts Darcey Tucker and Wendel Clark will suit up for the Toronto Maple Leafs while Dino Ciccarelli will play for the Red Wings in one of two alumni games between the Wings and Leafs alumni at Comerica Park in Detroit. ... No Stevie Y yet.

Great story on a new hockey shop that sells used gear in Palm Harbor, including nuggets about Florida hockey and this tidbit about the owners and the Beaudins working to build a new ice rink: "Our ultimate goal is to franchise this, but our real ultimate goal is to open a rink with three sheets of ice," Sciandra says as he displays blueprints of his plans. "We have locations that we’re hot on the trail of."

"But even without starting defenseman David Fischer, who left the team late Monday to tend to his ailing mother in Minnesota, the Blades found a way to overpower the Las Vegas Wranglers, winning 3-1. The victory puts the Everblades on the verge of winning the Kelly Cup championship for the first time in the team’s 14-year history. Florida now leads the best-of-seven Kelly Cup Finals 3-1 and can clinch the title tonight [Wednesday] in Game 5 at Germain Arena."

He sings at LA Kings games, has a recording contract and plays hockey in his spare time, and because he grew up in D.C., he's a Caps fan ... kind of until you reach the seventh paragraph.

"For the last several years, the [Laurel Gardens] Ice House has hosted Zamboni driving schools around the holidays. This year, the ice rink is holding two sessions, at 9:40 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Tom Hendrix, general manager and owner of the Ice House, said that the rink teaches Zamboni classes on a fairly regular basis. People give Zamboni lessons for birthday presents, for example." The cost, $200 per person, funds programs for the Tri-City Eagles travel team and Fighting Falcons in the community league at the Laurel ice rink.

We're here to help support a good cause," Bondra said. "I think we are doing the right thing. Besides, we play hockey. What else would we do to help?

The Florida Panthers will partner with Party City "to enhance the overall fan experience and party atmosphere" at Panthers home games by Party City sponsoring tarps that will cover sections of seats that nobody will watch a hockey game from. ... Probably could have covered the entire upper bowl.

More ribbing on the Capitals' early playoff exit courtesy of ESPN.com's Page 2. Though I wish we all knew what really was going on inside the team's heads.

"That confidence stems from the fact that the Canadiens had a 2-1-1 edge over the Capitals in the regular season." Which, I believe if I can do math and look at the kinds of losses, means that the Capitals are also 2-1-1. Or if you're a SO/OT point hater, 2-2. There's no edge. Must be a Canadian conversion error.

"The Prince William Ice Center on Dale Boulevard began sagging under the weight of heavy snow Saturday, with skaters inside. The building at 5180 Dale Blvd. [Dale City, Va.] is a total loss, owner Bill Hutzler said. Skaters practicing inside had been evacuated before the collapse and no one was injured."

Capitals season ticket holder Pat Sajak talks with NHL.com about attending his third Winter Classic, his love of hockey, the Capitals and the LA Kings.

"New York Islanders defenceman Brendan Witt was hit by a car in Philadelphia on Tuesday, according to Newsday. But Witt reportedly picked himself up off the road and, after a few profanities, assured everyone he was all right before continuing on his way, prompting one witness to say, "it was like seeing Clint Eastwood, but in hockey." — TSN

Nylander led the Grand Rapid Griffins to start a third-period comeback against the Houston Aeros, 3-1. Friday's game was the final game of Nylander's conditioning stint, finishing with one goal, five power-play assists and a plus-one rating in five games. The Griffins were undefeated in the Nylander era. Your move, comrades.

Grand Rapids Griffins won 2-0 against the Houston Aeros with Michael Nylander starring as a non-factor, at least according to the scoresheet. Let's hope his defensive play shined as we're without video highlights. Hey, anything to sell him to Russia.