Remember Dustin Tokarski?

Yeah, he was pretty good for the Chiefs, bringing a Memorial Cup to Spokane. He's now doing some business for his NHL team, the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Tokarski, 20, is generally regarded as the Lightning’s top prospect in the their minor league system, despite being a late fifth-round draft pick, 122nd overall, in 2008. He has known hockey all his life, but did not seriously consider mastering the position of goaltender until he was 13-years-old, just four years before making his junior league debut in net for the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League. Yet, from an outsider’s viewpoint, consideration of his late decision to man the crease followed by early success only compliments his growing, yet already impressive resume.

Just remember, Tokarski saves.

A hockey fight to start the day

Happy Thursday!

Why you should watch hockey tonight

The Washington Capitals were the best team in hockey this season. Now they're in a Game 7 battle with the Montreal Canadians, an eight seed. Ladies and gentlemen, the Stanley Cup Playoffs! Why is this such a big deal? Because heart break is something that Caps fans are all to familair with, take it away Yahoo Sports blogger Greg Wyshynski.

In 2008, I watched from the press box as the life was slowly sucked out of Washington Capitals fans in the Verizon Center during a tied Game 7 against the No. 6-seeded Philadelphia Flyers; when "Rock The Red" optimism morphed into John Hurt looking down at his stomach in "Spaceballs" and muttering "oh no, not again." (You know, right before the alien burst through his chest and did that ragtime routine.) Their misery ended on Joffrey Lupul's overtime power-play goal.

In 2009, I witnessed the Capitals battle back from an inexplicable 3-1 deficit to the No. 7-seeded New York Rangers, forcing a Game 7 in D.C. There was a moment early in that game when the Rangers and Henrik Lundqvist nearly had a two-goal lead, but the Capitals rallied for a 2-1 victory to advance.

Later in Spring 2009, the Capitals had another Game 7 against the Pittsburgh Penguins and ... well, these memories are etched in the minds of both fan bases. Semyon Varlamov flaming out after shouldering the load for two rounds. Pittsburgh scoring five consecutive goals, including one by noted sniper Craig Adams. Marc-Andre Fleury's critical save on Alex Ovechkin's breakaway in the first period. Penguins won, 6-2, and it wasn't even that close.

Wednesday in D.C. is yet another Game 7 for a Bruce Boudreau playoff team, which is becoming a wearisome and troubling trend for his NHL tenure. This time it's the Montreal Canadiens -- the 16th-best team in the playoffs based on regular-season record -- who have rallied from a 3-1 deficit to make this a one-game series.

And it's not like Washington isn't playing well, they're getting a buttload of shots on net but anytime you get a hot goalie in net - it's a tough order. Tonight. Habs. Caps. Hell on Earth. Game 7. Enjoy.

Video: This is how you get rid of a tooth

Hockey players are tougher than you.

Video: What if Gordon Bombay was played by Charlie Sheen?

Here's a parody of the NHL's current series of playoff commercials. It's a big deal if you're a Mighty Ducks fan.

Video: Ovechkin snows kid on purpose

That's what he gets for being a Canadians fan.

One reason why playoff hockey is cool

Well I mean...  I rest my case.

(Found this on Deadspin)

Worst possible thing that can happen to you in hockey

(Other than getting your neck slashed by a wayward skate, which happened and is extremely gross and horrifying. Here's the link to the fun video ladies and gents!)



Yeah that's Dan Boyle putting it in his own goal to give the 8th-seeded Colorado Avalanche the 2-1 lead over the San Jose Sharks in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Wow that sucks.

Jared Cowen to make NHL debut

Yesterday we reported that Chiefs defenseman Jared Cowen was visiting the Ottawa Senators, but didn't realize that he'd be doing business so quickly.

The 19-year-old defenceman from Allan, Sask., will make his National Hockey League debut tonight, when the Ottawa Senators face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the St. Pete Times Forum (7:30 p.m., Rogers Sportsnet, Team 1200).

Cowen, the Senators' top pick (ninth overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, is being inserted into the lineup in place of Anton Volchenkov, who is being given a night off in preparation for the Stanley Cup playoffs, which begin next week.

While there was a lot of speculation that Cowen wouldn't be back next year, I'm pretty sure this seals the deal for the defenseman not returning to Spokane. Best of luck to him!