The Hockey Life: Week 8

There are quite a few people upset with Edmonton Oilers rookie Linus Omark after his spin-o-rama move during his game-winning shootout goal against Tampa Bay on Friday night. He crossed a line of professionalism, some say. He didn't respect his opponent, others insist.

To all of them, I'm a big fan of relish on a hot dog.

Sure, the Lightning were on the losing end. No team wants to lose that way. And, I'll admit, it was probably pretty embarrassing to Bolts goalie Dan Ellis that some rookie, playing in his first NHL game, absolutely schooled him on what, ultimately, appeared to be a near-miss of a shot.

What I'm finding hard to believe is that a league in constant search of attention outside traditional hockey markets, as well as a handful of existing NHL locales, wouldn't embrace and promote a breath of fresh air within the game. And, to me, that's exactly what Omark provided.

Let's face it, it was a clever move. He did it far enough away from the net, too, that it really shouldn't have rattled any goalie's cage, especially one within the NHL. I even chuckled when he had to restart his attempt, making a second big loop before picking up the puck at center ice, because the play hadn't officially started.

I think back, too, to Tampa Bay's Marty St. Louis and some of his shootout goals that included a spin-o-rama move, though not nearly as pronounced as Omark's, but pulled off much closer to the net. No one howled then, did they? I didn't. I thought they were great.

Besides, the easiest way to deter future flashes of creativity from any rookie -- not just Omark -- would have been Ellis simply making the save, rather than letting a soft shot in through the 5-hole.

Missing something?

Can someone please tell Darren McCarty he really needs to put in his false teeth anytime he's providing analysis during Versus telecasts. It's one thing to drop your dentures in a glass during a game, but it's another to appear on live TV, working as a professional announcer, with a 2-inch gap in your grill.

I'm sorry, but the guy looked like a slob Thursday night during the Panthers-Capitals game.

Sure, I know it's a badge of honor, but if he's taking the time to get all gussied up and put on a suit, there's no reason he can't complete the picture with a full set of teeth.

Quote of the week

"I celebrated a little, but got right back on defense."
Colin, relating his scoring four goals, including three tip-ins, during a Pinellas P.A.L. Stars end-of-practice scrimmage Friday night.

No spin-o-ramas, I'm told, were involved.