It's Saturday

It's Saturday. Here's what's happening....

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Today is February 22nd, the 53rd day of 2014. There are 312 days left in the year.

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Henrik Sedin hopes to be ready when play resumes.

NHL to host free fan festival in celebration of 2014 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic.

Visit the official league website, http://www.nhl.com/.

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Quadequine introduced popcorn to English colonists at their first Thanksgiving dinner on this date in 1630.

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Tampa, FL. --While Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper's update on Matt Carle, Valtteri Filppula and Tyler Johnson included none of them being ready to practice in Orlando with the team, they all managed to put on skates and take to the ice Friday.

Read the rest here.

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Spain ceded Florida to the United States on this date in 1819.

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Johnstown, PA. – The Wenatchee Wild hit the road for the final time in the regular season, for a Friday night game with the Johnstown Tomahawks at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena and the Tomahawks would come out on top, with a two-goal third period the difference, in a 4-3 win over the Wild in front of 2,865 fans.

Johnstown opened the scoring early in the first period, getting a goal from Jordan Watt. Zach Wallace and Brandon Reinholz assisted at 1:24, giving the Tomahawks a 1-0 lead. Wenatchee tied the game on a blast by Brandon Schrader (Sanborn, New York), assisted by Parker Tuomie (Biemerhaven. Germany) and Alex Bontje (Nobleton, Ontario) at 6:58, knotting the game at 1-1. Tuomie got the lead for the Wild, firing home a spin-around backhander in close. Brenden Harris (Las Vegas, Nevada) and Troy Loggins (Huntington Beach, California) assisted on the power play goal at 11:00, putting the Wild on top, 2-1. Tuomie, camped out front, got another one, off an assist from Loggins at 16:32, putting Wenatchee on top 3-1 after one.

Watt got a power play goal for Johnstown, assisted by Dakoda Menslage and Shane Bednard at 14:42 of the second period, cutting the Wild lead to 3-2.

In the third period, Watt rounded out his hat trick with a 4-on-4 goal for the Tomahawks. The counter, assisted by Bednard at 6:26, tied the game 3-3. Johnstown would then take the lead on a goal by Joe Drabin, unassisted at 12:05, giving the Tomahawks a 4-3 lead. The Wild would go with the extra attacker towards the end of regulation but were unable to get the equalizer as Johnstown would hang on for the 4-3 win. “We were worried about the wrong things tonight” said Wenatchee Wild Head Coach Bliss Littler. “We had our chances. It was unfortunate. We had them in a good spot where we wanted them, then we changed. Have to do better on the road, got to be better. It takes everybody. Got to do better tomorrow. It’ll be a good challenge.”

Wenatchee outshot the Tomahawks 30-23. Chase Perry (Andover, Minnesota) would make 19 saves for the Wild and Alex Okicki made 27 stops for Johnstown. The Wild was 1-for-6 on the power play and 2-of-3 on the penalty kill.

Wenatchee is now 24-20-6; the Tomahawks are now 26-19-3.

The Wild plays at Johnstown again tomorrow (Saturday) night, then returns home to host the Kenai River Brown Bears in a key Midwest Division showdown on Thursday, February 27^th and Saturday and Sunday, March 1^st and 2^nd. The Thursday and Saturday games start at 7:05pm PST and the Sunday game faces off at 3:05pm PST. Individual and group game tickets for all home games are on sale now. Call 509.888.PUCK (7825).

WILD 2.0 UPGRADE

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It's a lazy Saturday morning at my house. What are you up to?

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U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team Falls to Canada, 1-0, in Semifinals of 2014 Olympic Winter Games Team USA will play Finland in bronze-medal game Saturday at 12 p.m. ET SOCHI, Russia – Jonathan Quick (Milford, Conn./Los Angeles Kings) made 36 saves but the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team fell to Canada, 1-0, in the semifinals of the Olympic Winter Games. Team USA will play Finland for the bronze medal tomorrow (Feb. 22) at 10 a.m. ET. "There's huge disappointment with not being able to come up with the victory in this game but it has to be put behind us, we have much to play for," said Dan Bylsma, head coach of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team. "We want to come home with a bronze medal. After we put this loss behind us we'll be back to do that." Quick stood tall in the scoreless first period with 16 saves, including three on quality chances during a Canadian power play. The U.S. tested Canada’s Carey Price with 11 shots. Canada scored the game’s only goal 1:41 into the second period when Jamie Benn redirected a hard diagonal pass from Jay Bouwmeester into the net. Team USA was unable to capitalize on a pair of power plays in the middle frame. Zach Parise(Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Wild) had the best U.S. opportunity, but his redirection at the edge of the crease was kicked away. Five minutes into the third period, James van Riemsdyk’s (Middleton, N.J./Toronto Maple Leafs) sharp-angle shot below the right circle was shut down by Price. In the final minute of play, Joe Pavelski (Plover, Wis./San Jose Sharks) had a wrist shot from the right faceoff dot that was denied. The U.S. plays Finland in the bronze-medal game tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 22). NBC Sports Network will broadcast the game live at 10 a.m. ET. All-time in the Olympics, Team USA is 7-0-0-3-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) vs. Finland. They have never met in the bronze-medal game. NOTES: For today's box score, plus video highlights and photos, click here ... Ryan Suter played a game-high 26:11 ... Zach Parise led the Americans with eight shots on goal ... Phil Kessel, Joe Pavelski and James van Riemsdyk all had multi-game point streaks end ... For the compete Team USA roster, click here ... The 25-man roster for the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team was announced on NBC as part of its coverage of the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 1 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. ... Dan Bylsma, head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, is the head coach of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team. Tony Granato, assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Todd Richards, head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Peter Laviolette, serve as assistant coaches ... USA Hockey's International Council, chaired by Gavin Regan, vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. National Teams. 2014 Olympic Winter Games Game Schedule for U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team  Feb. 13-23 • Sochi, Russia Date Opponent Venue Time (Local/EST)/Result Thurs., Feb. 13 Slovakia Shayba Arena W, 7-1 Sat., Feb. 15 Russia Bolshoy Ice Dome W, 3-2 (SO) Sun., Feb. 16 Slovenia Shayba Arena W, 5-1 Wed., Feb. 19 Czech Republic (Quarterfinals) Shayba Arena W, 5-2 Fri., Feb. 21 Canada (Semifinals) Bolshoy Ice Dome L, 0-1 Sat., Feb. 22 Finland (Bronze-Medal Game) Bolshoy Ice Dome 7:00 p.m./10:00 a.m.

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The U.S. Congress voted to appropriate $200,000 for continuance of the work on the Washington Monument on this date in 1855. The next morning the resolution was tabled and it would be 21 years before the Congress would vote on funds again. Work was continued by the Know-Nothing Party in charge of the project.

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Video: Hall Confident in New-Look Riders D.

Lions extend Marsh, release Jackson.

Please visit the league's official website, cfl.ca.

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On this date in 1859, U.S. President Buchanan approved the Act of February 22, 1859, which incorporated the Washington National Monument Society "for the purpose of completing the erection now in progress of a great National Monument to the memory of Washington at the seat of the Federal Government."

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Tampa, FL. — Continuing our weekly survey of, and reaction to, articles regarding the Buccaneers, including a Yahoo.com ranking of the NFL’s head coaches and an expert take on the team’s logo enhancements.

Read the rest here.

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In the U.S., Tennessee adopted a new constitution that abolished slavery on this date in 1865.

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Happy New Year!

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You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as watching mens' Olympic hockey one more time, isn't it?

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Today in Elvis History

1956 - Elvis Presley entered the music charts for the first time with "Heartbreak Hotel."

1992 - The Elvis Presley album "From The Heart - His Greatest Love Songs" hit #4 in the U.K. 

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In Utica, NY, Frank W. Woolworth opened his first 5 and 10-cent store on this date in 1879.

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Today in Beatles History:

1963 -  The Beatles formed their Northern Music Publishing Company. Michael Jackson eventually purchased it. 

1965 - Filming for the Beatles' second movie, "HELP!" began in the Bahamas.

1992 - Michael Jackson's "Remember The Time" hit #3 in the U.K. The b-side was Jackson's cover of the Beatles' "Come Together."

2003 - Paul McCartney performed a concert as a birthday gift for Wendy Whitworth. Ralph Whitworth offered to pay McCartney $1 million to play a show in San Diego for about 150 guests. McCartney agreed and said he would donate the money to the charity Adopt-A-Minefield.

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The Washington Monument was officially dedicated in Washington, DC on this date in 1885. It opened to the public in 1889.

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Today in Sports History:

1860 - Organized baseball’s first game was played in San Francisco, CA. 

1962 - Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors) attempted 34 free throws in a game against St. Louis.

1969 - Barbara Jo Rubin became the first woman to win a U.S. thoroughbred horse race.

1980 - The U.S. beat the U.S.S.R. 4-3 in Olympic hockey en route to a gold medal.

1985 - George Gervin (San Antonio Spurs) scored his 25,000th career point.

1992 - Don Nelson (Golden State) won his 700th game as a coach.

1993 - Glenn Anderson (Toronto Maple Leafs) became the 36th NHL player to score 1,000 points.

1995 - The NFL and CBS Radio agreed to a new four-year contract for an annual 53-game package of games. 

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The first successful chinchilla farm opened in Los Angeles, CA on this date in 1923. It was the first farm of its kind in the U.S.

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Coming Up:

Tonight --

Nascar Nationwide Series -- Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway 1:15pm EST

NAHL Hockey -- Wenatchee Wild at Johnstown Tomahawks 7:00pm EST

Sunday --

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway 1:00pm EST

Monday -- 

Nothin' Doin'

Tuesday --

Nothin' Doin'

Wednesday --

Nothin' Doin'

Thursday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Nashville Predators 8:00pm EST

NAHL Hockey -- Wenatchee Wild vs Kenai River Brown Bears 10:05pm EST

Friday --

Nothin' Doin'

Saturday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Dallas Stars 3:00pm EST

Nascar Nationwide Series -- Blue Jeans Go Green 200 Presented By Cotton, The Fabric Of Our Lives at Phoenix International Raceway 3:45pm EST

NAHL Hockey -- Wenatchee Wild vs Kenai River Brown Bears 10:05pm EST

Sunday --

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- The Profit On CNBC 500, Presented By Small Business Fueling America at Phoenix International Raceway 3:00pm EST

NAHL Hockey -- Wenatchee Wild vs Kenai River Brown Bears 6:05pm EST

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Colorado Avalanche 8:00pm EST

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That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by, see you tomorrow!