EEK! Ryan Johnson is down!

Last night's game had him loosing his footing and bouncing head/shoulder first off the boards. After being prone on the ice, except for the attempt to lift his head and move his left arm, he was carried off on stretcher to VGH. 1st reports indicate that he is has a concussion but is not seriously further injured. GEEZ!! Please let there be no permanent damage. *virtual hug of support to Ryan*

Bertuzzi's Red Wings ended up taking the game 5-4. Exciting 3rd period with lots of goals.

Aside: Sydney Crosby will be a torch bearer during the Olympic torch moving through Nova Scotia. Just visited Halifax, and boy, is it a small city. Drug problem there too. Very unfortunate. Saw a panhandler facedown on the floor being cuffed by police. Shades of Vancouver's east side..

ASIDE: (GODAMNED bad ice - i think gm place is playing around with the temp of the building in preparation for the olympics and it's affecting the quality of the ice. everyone seems to be falling down a lot)

Mattias Ohlund: "It is a little bit warm for a dog."

I was surprised to read an article on Ohlund in the Vancouver Sun, considering that OHlund isn't a Canuck anymore. Regardless, it was nice to get an update on how he's doing. I guess the Ohlund family isn't minding the heat (except for Eros, their labrador). In Tampa news, I've heard about Victor's giveaways but nothing on Ohlund's play. I guess that's a good thing. I'm sad that I can't watch any of his games.

Anyway, here's the Elliott Pap article on Mattias.

Mattias Ohlund in a sunshine state with Bolts

Former Canuck D-man enjoying new role, and going to the rink in shorts
Mattias Ohlund was trying not to rub it in but it still sounded totally outrageous.

“It’s 91 degrees and sunny here right now,” the ex-Vancouver Canuck announced Monday, happily giving the weather report from his new home in Tampa, Fla. “We had a little bit of rain and lightning when we first got here but it’s been pretty much in the 90s for the last month. So there is nothing to complain about. Actually, our dog might be the only one complaining. It is a little bit warm for a dog.”

After 11 seasons as a Canuck, Ohlund opted for a gigantic leap to the U.S. south and a non-traditional hockey market. A lucrative seven-year deal worth $26.25 million certainly didn’t hurt but Ohlund insisted he wanted something completely different. He has it now. He’s even wearing a new digit on his jersey, No. 5.

“It’s been very good,” he said of the transition. “Obviously we loved Vancouver but it’s been a nice change both on and off the ice. We are really enjoying all the new experiences.”

One of those “new” experiences is driving to the practice rink in shorts and a T-shirt. That, Ohlund noted, is not among the toughest things to take.

“You adjust easily,” he chuckled. “But even though you go to the rink in shorts and a T-shirt, once you get inside, you have no idea what it’s like outside. It feels like you could be anywhere.”

Ohlund, 33, is an integral part of a revamped Lightning blueline. He has four assists and is a plus-1 in nine games — Tampa is 3-3-3 — and he has been partnered with much touted rookie and fellow Swede Victor Hedman since the season began.

It’s no secret Lightning GM Brian Lawton wanted Ohlund to mentor Hedman, just as Ohlund had done in Vancouver with the likes of Brent Sopel and Alex Edler.

Hedman was drafted second overall last June. Not coincidentally, he has four assists and is a plus-1, numbers identical to Ohlund.

“Victor is a very, very talented guy,” Ohlund said. “He still has a lot to learn but, for being 18, he’s very mature and obviously he has a ton of skill. So it’s been fun playing with him.”

The Lightning don’t play in Vancouver this season so Ohlund’s only chance to skate in a meaningful game at GM Place will be during the Olympics. He is hoping to be selected and likely will if he remains healthy.

He was a member of the

2006 gold-medal winning Swedish team although he

didn’t suit up for the final in Turin due to injury.

“Absolutely, I would like to play in the Olympics,” Ohlund stated. “They haven’t picked the team yet but I’m obviously hoping to make it. After playing so many years in Vancouver, that would be a lot of fun. It feels like a long ways away, which it’s not, but it feels like it because we have so many games before that.”

Only 52 more, to be exact, and the 49th will be a home game against the Canucks. Ohlund admits he is keeping a keen eye on his ex-mates and talks regularly to a few of the boys.

“I watch the highlights and I watched a little bit of their game against Edmonton,” he said. “I know they had a rough start to the season but they’ve played a lot better lately. They have a great team there.

“Our team? We’ve had some good games and some not-so good games. This is a team here that’s been close to the worst record in the league the last two years so we have a long way to go. But I do feel we’re going to be able to compete for a playoff spot.”

Whatever the case, Ohlund is clearly happy to be feeling the heat, not the rain, during an NHL season.

Tampa Bay related: strip shootout?

So being on vacation away from BC doesn't allow for any NHL following apparently. I knew the Canucks weren't doing well, Daniel and Sami were out on IR and that Tampa Bay wasn't doing so hot either.

What I didn't expect was to see some video about St. Louis shedding articles of clothing in consequence to not scoring on shootout. Martin St. Louis shooting vid. Here's the full youtube: No, it wasn't anything indecent but definitely cute. Apparently, when it came time for shootout, Ohlie got called before him, which surprised some TB fans. Go Ohlie!

Pub appearance for Ohlund and Walker

I guess the Lightning have a lot of public appearances for the players, which is no different than here, although the venues and public reaction is. In Vancouver, Mattias would be mobbed by hundreds of fans wanting an autograph and photos. In Tampa, maybe a 100 would show to have a drink with him. Haha! The TB vibe sounds good to me!
Look at how chill Ohlie is while answering questions. He looks happy and less stressed. Good for you Mattias! We miss you here.

Oh Ohlie.. =(

I missed the first game for Tampa Bay. Chuckle. Actually, I'll miss pretty much all of them, I figure. Once again, if anyone who's a Tampa Bay fan wants to take on keeping us up to date about Mattias Ohlund and his play, let me know..

As for what I can find on the net, I liked this cheeky psuedo letter to Mattias Ohlund in the form of a blog post by D. Vanspall:

Sorry I missed it back on Sept 9, but I've been thinking of writing you for a while.

I still have your jersey hanging on the wall in my bedroom. You are still awesome. I'm happy that you'll get to spend your final years in sunny Tampa Bay, collecting millions of dollars that you deserve, with virtually no pressure at all. I hope your son Viktor is doing great and wish you and the rest of your family all the best. And I hope you enjoy and relish working the next few seasons beside your countryman Victor Hedman, you will make a formidable duo on the blueline for both the Lightning and Team Sweden.

I wish you could have stayed in Vancouver. When we decided we couldn't pay you anymore we went out and attempted to replace you with someone presumably younger and cheaper. I think we've managed to replace you but in pieces. We signed 40 yr old Mathieu Schneider for $1.5mil to replace you on the point on the powerplay. I think Christian Ehrhoff is supposed to replace your skating and puck moving for $3.1mil. And I think Brad Lukowich is going to replace your toughness for another $1.5mil, but if he can't handle the load I guess we still have Lawrence Nycholat, Nolan Baumgartner, Ossi Vaananen, and some guy named Aaron Rome to fill in.

Of course with the other top six D-men from last year still in town, that means we have to play eight defencemen a game and pay them roughly $2mil more than we would have had to pay you (did I mention we're having salary cap problems?). But oh well. Happy Belated Birthday!

Mattias still has the "A"

Although he was already skating with the "A" on his jersey, they announced that Mattias Ohlund was going to get the other alternate captain position joining Marty St. Louis.

Rick Tocchet: "I wanted to have a defenseman leadership guy in that role.. I didn't like having three forwards. But any time we have a leadership meeting, Jeff Halpern will be in that meeting."

"It's a tremendous honor to wear a letter in this league," Jeff Halpern (the previous holder of the alternate title) said. "But I don't feel it changes the role I have. I didn't have a letter in Dallas, and I felt like I acted the same way when I was captain in Washington. And having an A here last year, I don't think it will change how I act with the guys this year."

In Vancouver, Henrik Sedin was announced as the new other alternate captain.