Monday Morning Meissnervations

It's Monday. Here's what's happening....

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Today is February 7th, the 38th day of 2011. There are 327 days left in the year.

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Caps cruise to win over Pens.

Devils lose Brodeur in win over Habs.

Lecavalier's overtime goal sends Lightning past Blues.

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Johnny's Super Bowl Review, short, sweet and concise.....

National Anthem: Embarrassing.

Fly-over with roof closed: Non-issue, since it had been announced at least a day in advance that the roof would be closed.

Halftime: As horribly bad as it gets.

Game: Pretty good.

Best thing about the announcing: Joe Buck was paired with Troy Aikman and not Tim McCarver.

Commercials:  Of the ones I actually saw, I liked the Carmax one, others were ho-hum, but the best was the promo for the Fox show House. Very funny.

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Catching up with the commissioner.

Fargo rallies for victory.

Fighting Saints sweep weekend.

Gamblers power play goals topple Sioux City.

Riders win third straight, beat Bucs.

Lumberjacks blank Steel.

Stampede suffer shutout loss in Lincoln.

Stars move up in standings with win.

Bay State honor roll: John McCarthy.

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Today's Birthdays: Garth Brooks is 49; actor/comedian Eddie Izzard is 49; actor/comedian Chris Rock is 46; actor Ashton Kutcher (Valentine's Day, That '70s Show, The Guardian) is 33; actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception, Tommy on 3rd Rock from the Sun) is 30.

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U.S. Men's & Women's National University Teams Close Out 2011 Winter World University games

Team USA Earns Highest Finishes in Tournament History

ERZURUM, Turkey – The U.S. Men's and Women's National University Teams today concluded the 2011 Winter World University Games, which were held from Jan. 27-Feb. 6, in Erzurum, Turkey. Both teams garnered Team USA's highest finishes in tournament history.

The U.S. Men's National University Team dropped a 4-3 decision to Slovakia and finished the tournament in sixth place with a 3-0-0-3 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record. Previously, Team USA's highest finish was seventh place at the 2009 Winter World University Games, in Harbin, China.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Women's National University Team fell to Slovakia, 3-1, in the bronze-medal game and finished the tournament with a 2-0-0-5 record. Team USA's fourth-place finish is tops among all U.S. National University Teams. The 2011 Winter World University Games marked the first time the U.S. sent a women's team after women's ice hockey was added to the tournament in 2009.

Full recaps of today's games can be found below.

NOTES: The U.S. Men's and Women's National University Teams are comprised of players from the American Collegiate Hockey Association ... The Winter World University Games is a biannual multi-sport event organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The international competition is staged in both the summer and the winter, similar to the Olympic Games.
U.S. Men's National University Team Drops 4-3 Decision to Slovakia at 2011 Winter World University Games

Team USA Finishes Tournament in Sixth Place

ERZURUM, Turkey – Team USA scored three goals in the third period to pull within one, but the U.S. Men's National University Team dropped a 4-3 decision to Slovakia here today in its final game of the 2011 Winter World University Games. Team USA captured sixth place and finished the tournament with a 3-0-0-3 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record.

This marks the U.S. Men's National University Team's highest finish at the tournament. In past performaces, Team USA has finished seventh (2009), eighth (2001, 2007), ninth (2005) and eleventh (2003).

Team USA fell behind less than three minutes into the game. Devin Sheehan (Binghamton, N.Y./University of Rhode Island) was then assessed a penalty shot at the 6:05 mark, but failed to convert.

After Slovakia built up a 3-0 lead in the middle frame, the U.S. responded with two power-play goals in the third period. Alan Dionne (North Scituate, R.I./University of Rhode Island) scored at the 8:55 mark and Tim O'Brien (Bethel Park, Pa./Penn State University) notched another power-play tally just 2:05 later to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Slovakia extended its lead to 4-2 only 27 seconds later. Dan Lassik (Garnet Valley, Pa./University of Rhode Island) then scored with 18 seconds remaining in regulation to bring the U.S. within one goal, but Slovakia held on for the victory.

Goaltender Dan Pyne (Warrington, Pa./Drexel University) made 24 saves for the U.S., while Peter Pus stopped 25 shots for Slovakia.

NOTES: The U.S. finished 2-for-10 on the power play, while Slovakia went 1-for-6 with the man advantage ... Michael Macari (Deaborn Heights, Mich./University of MIchigan Dearborn) led Team USA at the tournament with seven points (3-4) through six games. Alan Dionne ranked second with six points (4-2) and Tim O'Brien ranked third with five (4-1).

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

SVK 1 - 2 - 1 - 4
USA 0 - 0 - 3 - 3

First Period - Scoring: 1, SVK, Slavik (Liptak, Volek), 2:46. Penalties: USA, Lassik (tripping), 0:30; USA, Hoffmann (high-sticking), 4:12; SVK, Zosiak (penalty shot, slashing), 6:05; SVK, Liptak (kneeing), 7:44; SVK, Rusnak (tripping), 10:19; SVK, Janisek (elbowing), 12:30; USA, Pilmore (boarding), 16:30; SVK, Cizek (hooking), 19:33.

Second Period - Scoring: 2, SVK, Hanciak (unassisted), 2:01; 3, SVK, Legersky (Cizek), 19:51 (pp). Penalties: USA, Krannich (hooking), 3:12; SVK, Rusnak (hooking), 6:42; SVK, Babic (hooking), 9:49; USA, Kranker (roughing), 12:21; SVK, Zosiak (roughing), 12:21; SVK, Janisek (holding), 13:03; USA, Morrison (cross-checking), 17:25; USA, Lassik (high-sticking), 18:46.

Third Period - Scoring: 4, USA, Dionne (Lassik, Macari), 8:55 (pp); 5, USA, O'Brien (Telfer, Macari), 11:00 (pp); 6, SVK, Volek (Kacer), 11:27; 7, USA, Lassik (O'Brien, Dionne), 19:42. Penalties: SVK, Vaskovic (interference), 5:10; SVK, Rusnak (interference), 7:17; SVK, Zosiak (interference), 10:15; SVK, Legersky (holding), 16:33.

Shots by Period 1 2 3 Total
SVK 12 11 5 28
USA 12 8 8 28

Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 Total
SVK, Pus, 60:00 12-12 8-8 8-5 28-25
USA, Pyne, 60:00 12-11 11-9 5-4 28-24

Power Play: SVK 1-6; USA 2-10
Penalties: SVK 12-24; USA 7-14
Referee: Mike Pearce
Linesmen: Erhan Bulut, Benoit Martineau

2011 Winter World University Games
Men's Team USA Schedule
Jan. 27-Feb. 6 • Cemal Gürsel Sport Complex • Erzurum, Turkey

Date Opponent Result
Fri., Jan 28 Kazakhstan L, 0-5
Sun., Jan. 30 Slovakia W, 7-3
Tue., Feb. 1 Spain W, 4-1
Thu., Feb. 3 Belarus (Quarterfinals) L, 3-6
Fri., Feb. 4 Japan W, 5-3
Sat., Feb. 5 Slovakia (Fifth-Place Game) L, 3-4

U.S. Women's National University Team Falls to Slovakia, 3-1, in Bronze-Medal Game of 2011 Winter World University Games

Team USA Finishes Tournament in Fourth Place

ERZURUM, Turkey – Shea Crawford (Selbyville, Del./Lindenwood University) scored the lone goal for Team USA, as the U.S. Women's National University Team fell to Slovakia, 3-1, here today in the bronze-medal game of the the 2011 Winter World University Games. Team USA finished the tournament with a 2-0-0-5 (W-OTW-OTL-L) overall record.

The 2011 Winter World University Games marked the first time the U.S. sent a women's team after women's ice hockey was added to the tournament in 2009. The U.S. Women's National University Team's fourth-place finish is the highest a U.S. team has placed at the tournament.

"It was a great game today," said Mo Stroemel, head coach of the U.S. Women's National University Team. "We've made history and hopefully paved the way for many future women's teams that will play in this tournament."

Slovakia took a 1-0 lead 9:09 into the game with the first period's lone tally. The U.S. proceeded to have two breakaway opportuntinties, but could not find the back of the net.

After a scoreless second period, Slovakia scored just 41 seconds into the final frame and then notched a power-play tally at the 11:45 mark.

Down 3-0 heading into the final two minutes of regulation, Crawford gave the U.S. life when she scored on the power play. After Slovakia was called for tripping at 18:16, Emily Nelson (Harper Woods, Mich./University of Michigan) and Megan Winters (Basking Ridge, N.J./Northeastern University) set up Crawford, who sent a shot on net that beat Slovakian goaltender Zuzana Tomcikova with 1:28 remaining in the period.

Thirty-nine seconds later, the U.S. sent an extra skater to the ice, but could not edge closer as Slovakia held on for the 3-1 victory.

Goaltender Katie Vaughan (South Park, Pa./Penn State University) made 18 saves for Team USA, while Tomcikova stopped 27 shots for Slovakia.

NOTES: The U.S. and Slovakia both finished 1-for-6 on the power play ... Justine Ducie (Sandwich, Mass./University of Rhode Island) led Team USA at the tournament with seven points (1-6) through seven games, while Megan Winters (3-3) and Ashley Rumsey (West Olive, Mich./Grand Valley State University/2-4) ranked second with six points each. Winters and Shea Crawford led the U.S. in goals with three each ... During the Games, Team USA faced all five other countries participating in women's ice hockey at the tournament - Slovakia, Turkey, Finland, Canada and Great Britain - in the preliminary round ... Mo Stroemel, who is beginning his fourth season as head coach of the Penn State University Lady Icers, served as head coach of the 2011 U.S. Women's National University Team, while Vince O'Mara, head coach of the Lindenwood University women's ice hockey team, and Cory Whitaker, head coach of the Grand Valley State University women's ice hockey team, served as assistant coaches.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

SVK 1 - 0 - 2 - 3
USA 0 - 0 - 1 - 1

First Period - Scoring: 1, SVK, Velickova (Gapova), 10:51. Penalties: USA, Wynn (hooking), 14:22.

Second Period - Scoring: None. Penalties: SVK, Pravlikova (tripping), 6:01; SVK, Herichova (hooking), 16:08.

Third Period - Scoring: 2, SVK, Culikova (Gapova, Velickova), 0:41; 3, SVK, Velickova (Kezmarska, Culikova), 11:45 (pp); 4, USA, Crawford (Winters, Nelson), 18:32 (pp). Penalties: SVK, Karafiatova (tripping), 2:55; USA, Hoium (holding), 3:04; USA, Hoium (tripping), 11:05; USA, Ducie (body checking), 12:40; USA, Crawford (delay of game), 13:37; SVK, Velickova (delay of game), 15:04; SVK, Stofanikova (tripping), 18:16; SVK, Karafiatova (body checking), 19:40; USA, Arcibal (body checking), 19:51.

Shots by Period 1 2 3 Total
SVK 9 3 9 21
USA 10 9 9 28

Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 Total
SVK, Tomcikova, 60:00 10-10 9-9 9-8 28-27
USA,Vaughan, 59:20 9-8 3-3 9-7 21-18

Power Play: SVK 1-6; USA 1-6
Penalties: SVK 6-12; USA 6-12
Referee: Kaisa Ketonen
Linesmen: Jenni Herranen, Karolin Strom
Attendance: 1247

2011 Winter World University Games
Women's Team USA Schedule
Jan. 27-Feb. 6 • Cemal Gürsel Sport Complex • Erzurum, Turkey

Date Opponent Result
Thu., Jan 27 Slovakia L, 1-5
Fri., Jan. 28 Turkey W, 15-0
Sun., Jan. 30 Finland L, 1-3
Mon., Jan. 30 Canada L, 0-9
Wed., Feb. 2 Great Britain W, 8-1
Fri., Feb. 4 Canada (Semifinals) L, 1-8
Sat., Feb. 5 Slovakia (Bronze-Medal Game) L, 1-3

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It's National Fettuccine Alfredo Day.

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Burrato to lead Rider O-Line in 2011.

Donate to the Tony Proudfoot Fund.

Visit the league's official website, cfl.ca.

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"The Roommate" made $15.6 million in its weekend debut. "Sanctum" came in second with $9.2 million.

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Jimmy with his new friend.

Jimmy, modeling his hockey hat and t-shirt he got at Sunday's Lightning game.







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Here's the NFL Wild Card Round schedule:

At Seattle Seahawks 41 New Orleans Saints 36

New York Jets 17 at Indianapolis Colts 16

Baltimore Ravens 30 at Kansas City Chiefs 7

Green Bay Packers 21 at Philadelphia Eagles 16

Here's the NFL Divisional Round Schedule:

At Pittsburgh Steelers 31 Baltimore Ravens 24

Green Bay Packers 48 at Atlanta Falcons 21

At Chicago Bears 35 Seattle Seahawks 24

New York Jets 28 at New England Patriots 21

Here's the NFL Championship Round Schedule:

Green Bay Packers 21 at Chicago Bears 14

At Pittsburgh Steelers 24 New York Jets 19

Super Bowl XLV:

Green Bay Packers 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 25 at Cowboys Stadium

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Today in Elvis History:

1959 - Elvis Presley attended a Holiday on Ice show in Frankfurt, Germany.

1988 - The TV mini-series "Elvis and Me" (based on Priscilla Presley's book) began on ABC-TV.

2006 - The Elvis Presley collection "Southern Nights" was released in the U.S. It contained 25 tracks.

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A Winter Carnival planned for this past Saturday in Acton, Massachusetts, was canceled due to too much winter. After two back-to-back storms, city officials didn't have the man hours to plow, snow blow and sand the area to make it safe.

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Today in Beatles History:

1964 - The Beatles arrived in New York to begin their first U.S. tour.

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With 2,012 participants, the University of Alberta in Canada on Friday regained the Guinness World Record for the largest dodgeball game. They originally set a record one year ago. That record stood until last September when the University of California, Irvine set a new record with 1,745 players.

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Today in Sports History:

1882 - The last bareknuckle fight for the heavyweight boxing championship took place in Mississippi City.

1949 - Joe DiMaggio signed a contract with the New York Yankees that was worth $100,000. It was the first six-figure contract in major league baseball.

1958 - The Dodgers officially became the Los Angeles Dodgers, Inc.

1965 - Cassius Clay began using the name Muhammed Ali.

1975 - The New Orleans Jaz ended a 28 game road losing streak.

1976 - Darryl Sittler (Toronto Maple Leafs) set a National Hockey League (NHL) record when he scored 10 points in a game against the Boston Bruins. He scored six goals and four assists.

1976 - Dave Reece (Boston Bruins) played his last game in the NHL.

1985 - "Sports Illustrated" released its annual swimsuit edition. It was the largest regular edition in the magazine’s history at 218 pages.

1988 - Mike Tyson and Robin Givens were married.

1989 - The 40th NHL All-Star Game was played.

1992 - Mike Tyson testified at his rape trial in Indianapolis.

1994 - Michael Jordan signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox to play baseball.

1995 - Joe Mullen (Pittsburgh Penguins) became the first American-born player to score 1,000 points in the NHL. Mullen ended his career with 1,063 career points.

1995 - U.S. President Clinton invited the two sides of the major league baseball strike to the White House in an effort to reach an agreement. The two sides did not resolve the issue that day.

1997 - Jim Kelly (Buffalo Bills) announced his retirement from the NFL. He was the only quarterback to date to guide the same team to four losing Super Bowls.

1998 - The Dallas Stars retired Neal Broten's #7.

2002 - The one-hour television show entitled "NBA All-Star Read to Achieve Celebration" aired.

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A 15-year-old boy was arrested in India for making over 350 obscene phone calls to female police officers in two days!

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Coming Up:

Tonight --

Nothin' Doin'

Tuesday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Buffalo Sabres 7:30pm EST

Wednesday --

Nothin' Doin'

Thursday --

Nothin' Doin'

Friday --

Nothin' Doin'

Saturday --

SEJHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Florida Eels 5:15pm EST

MJHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Florida Junior Blades 6:00pm EST

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Carolina Hurricanes 7:30pm EST

Sunday --

SEJHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Florida Eels 10:30am EST

MJHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Florida Junior Blades 12:15pm EST

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That's all for today. See you again tomorrow.