It's Wednesday

It's Wednesday. Here's what's happening....

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Today is February 2nd, the 33rd day of 2011. There are 332 days left in the year.

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Toronto beats Florida in shootout.

Devils top slumping Senators.

Bruins top Hurricanes.

Okposo's pair leads Islanders past Atlanta.

Blackhawks pound Blue Jackets.

Pittsburgh rallys to beat Rangers in shootout.

Canadiens rally to beat Capitals in shootout.

Lightning keep rolling by blanking Flyers.

Flames beat Predators in shootout.

Wild blanks Kings in shootout.

Canucks whip Stars.

Sharks rally to beat Coyotes.

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Today's Birthdays: Gossip columnist Liz Smith is 88; TV and film executive Barry Diller is 69; musician Graham Nash (Crosby, Stills and Nash) is 69; Brent Spiner (Lieutenant Commander Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation) is 62; bounty hunter and TV personality Duane "Dog" Chapman is 58; model Christie Brinkley is 57.

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University of Wisconsin Remains No. 1 in USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women's College Hockey Poll

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The University of Wisconsin remains No. 1 in this week's USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women's College Hockey Poll after posting a 1-0-1 record against No. 5 University of Minnesota last weekend. The Badgers, who boast a 24-2-2 record, accumulated 180 points and 11 first-place votes to earn the top spot for the fifth week in a row.

Cornell University sits at No. 2 with 179 points and eight first-place votes after defeating Union College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, while Boston University remains at No. 3 with 152 points following a weekend sweep of the University of Connecticut. Mercyhurst College (129) is No. 4 after twice defeating Niagara University, while the University of Minnesota (117) rounds out the top five.

Harvard University returns to the poll for the first time in 10 weeks at No. 10, following wins over Brown University and Yale University.

This weekend features one top-10 match-up, with No. 7 Boston College traveling to No. 9 Providence College on Sunday (Feb. 6).

NOTES: The Western Collegiate Hockey Association leads all conferences with four ranked programs, while Hockey East boasts three, ECAC Hockey has two ranked teams and College Hockey America has one ... A total of 14 teams received votes.

ABOUT THE POLL: The 14th annual USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women’s College Hockey Poll is conducted each week in conjunction with the American Hockey Coaches Association. The poll includes input from coaches and journalists representing each of the four NCAA Division I ice hockey conferences, as well as composite votes from officers of the AHCA and USA Hockey Magazine, the most widely distributed hockey magazine in the world.

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine
Women's College Hockey Poll - #17
(first-place votes in parentheses)
Rank School Last Week's Ranking 2010-11 Record Weeks in Top 10
1 University of Wisconsin, 180 (11) 1 24-2-2 17
2 Cornell University, 179 (8) 2 22-1-0 17
3 Boston University, 152 3 21-2-3 17
4 Mercyhurst College, 129 4 22-5-0 17
5 University of Minnesota, 117 5 18-7-2 16
6 University of Minnesota Duluth, 95 6 14-7-3 17
7 Boston College, 77 8 16-5-4 17
8 University of North Dakota, 60 7 15-8-3 17
9 Providence College, 15 9 17-10-1 7
10 Harvard University, 12 NR 12-7-2 5

Others receiving votes: Bemidji State University, 10; Northeastern University, 9; Quinnipiac University, 8; The Ohio State University, 2.

U.S. Men's National University Team Tops Spain, 4-1, at 2011 Winter World University Games

Team USA Advances to Quarterfinal Round Thursday

ERZURUM, Turkey – Alan Dionne (North Scituate, R.I./University of Rhode Island) scored the game-winning goal in the third period, as the U.S. Men's National University Team topped Spain, 4-1, here today in its final preliminary-round game of the 2011 Winter World University Games. With the win, Team USA improved to 2-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) and advanced to the quarterfinal round on Thursday (Feb. 3).

"When the game was scoreless after two periods, we just kept pressing and, sure enough, the puck started going in for us," said Dave Debol, head coach of the U.S. Men's National University Team. "If you stick to your gameplan, sooner or later you are going to get opportunities."

The game remained scoreless through the first period, as Team USA killed off a 5-on-3 power-play opportunity for Spain. The U.S. then outshot Spain in the middle frame, 19-3, but the game remained tied, 0-0, after two.

Team USA opened the scoring 2:47 into the third period, when Devin Sheehan (Binghamton, N.Y./University of Rhode Island) tipped a shot from Dan Lassik (Garnet Valley, Pa./University of Rhode Island) into the net on the right side.

Spain tied the game at the 3:51 mark, but the U.S. answered with a goal just 15 seconds later to gain a 2-1 edge. Dionne fired a shot from the top of the left faceoff circle that beat Spanish goaltender Ander Alcaine for the eventual game-winner.

Four minutes after, Bob Collar (Brighton, Mich./Davenport University) extended Team USA's lead to 3-1, when he stickhandled at the top of the crease and pushed the puck past Alcaine.

Kyle Krannich (Randolph, N.J./University of Rhode Island) then scored off a backhanded shot from the right side with 7:22 remaining in regulation to secure the U.S. victory.

Team USA goaltender Dan Pyne (Warrington, Pa./Drexel University) made 15 saves in the win, while Spanish goalie Alcaine Val stopped 49 shots in the loss.

NOTES: The U.S. outshot Spain, 53-16 ... Michael Macari (Dearborn Heights, Mich./University of Michigan Dearborn) leads the U.S. with four points (2-2) through three games and Kyle Krannich ranks second on the team with three points (2-1). Macari, Krannich and Bob Collar are all tied in scoring with two goals each ... The 2011 Winter World University Games features the U.S. Men's National University Team competing in Pool C alongside Kazakhstan, Slovakia and Spain. The Czech Republic, Japan, Russia and Turkey comprise Pool A, while Belarus, Canada, Slovenia and South Korea comprise Pool B. After the preliminary round, six teams will advance to the qualifying round and six teams will advance to the relegation round ... The complete U.S. roster can be found here and information on the schools and states represented can be found here ... Dave Debol, head men's ice hockey coach at the University of Michigan Dearborn, is serving as head coach of the 2011 U.S. Men's National University Team after having served as an assistant coach for the squad in 2007 and 2009. He is assisted by Scott Balboni, head men's ice hockey coach at Penn State University, andhttp://twitter.com/#!/search/#WUG Dan Phelps, head men's ice hockey coach at Adrian College ... USA Hockey coverage of the U.S. Men's and Women's National University Teams throughout the 2011 Winter World University Games can be found on the tournament homepage; on the Team USA - World University Games blog; on USA Hockey's Facebook page; and by following #WUG on Twitter ... 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. For more information, click here.


GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

USA 0 0 4 4
ESP 0 0 1 1

First Period - Scoring: None. Penalties: USA, Steinour (boarding), 4:00; USA, Dionne (kneeing), 5:38; ESP, Munoz (tripping), 10:56.

Second Period - Scoring: None. Penalties: ESP, Michelena (elbowing), 13:04.

Third Period - Scoring: 1, USA, Sheehan (Lassik), 2:47; 2, ESP, Munoz (Puyuel, Betran), 3:51; 3, Dionne (unassisted), 4:06; 4, USA, Collar (Macari), 8:04; 5, Krannich (Contratto), 12:38. Penalties: ESP, Betran (tripping), 16:42; USA, Steinour (tripping), 19:12.

Shots by Period 1 2 3 Total
USA 13 19 21 53
ESP 6 3 7 16

Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 Total
USA, Pyne, 60:00 6-6 3-3 7-6 16-15
ESP, Alcaine, 58:16 13-13 19-19 21-17 53-49
ESP, Solorzano, 1:44 -- -- 0-0 0-0

Power Play: USA 0-3; ESP 0-3
Penalties: USA 3-6; ESP 3-6
Referee: Cinar Seki Kuntel
Linesmen: Michael Orolin, Timucin Ozbukucu
Attendance: 1,918

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

Date Opponent Time (Local/EST)/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 Quarterfinals TBD
Sat., Feb. 5 Semifinals TBD
Sun., Feb. 6 First-Place Game 3 p.m./8 a.m.

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Today is Groundhog Day. (Little rodent is too busy shoveling snow to worry about his shadow.)

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Waterloo Black Hawks lose another pair of games.

Dubuque Fighting Saints renew reputation.

Back to hockey roots.

Phantoms' recap and preview: Week #18.

Musketeers host first sellout in eight years.

USHL Honors: Week #18.

Patients get teddy bears from Gamblers.

Balisy and Tennyson earn CCHA player of the week honors.

Stampede Weekly Update.

Q & A with Rocco Grimaldi.

USHL Power Rankings.

Off the ice: Alex Carpenter.

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Today is also National Tater Tot Day.

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Craig Dickenson takes over special teams for Riders.

Riders officially welcome back Richie Hall as defensive coordinator.

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The Steelers will win Super Bowl 45 according to EA's Madden NFL '11. The video game says it'll be Steelers 24 - Packers 20.

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The CFL celebrates Black History Month.

Cahoon named receivers coach at BYU.

Donate to the Tony Proudfoot Fund.

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

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Minneapolis Police are investigating an animal cruelty case where a woman tried to send a puppy through the mail. Postal workers noticed the box moving and rescued the puppy.


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Daddy reads Dinosaur Train book to Jimmy.

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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:

Sunday, February 6th 6:30pm Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packers at Cowboys Stadium

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Today in Elvis History:

1977 - Elvis Presly did not show up for an RCA recording session.

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Today is Sled Dog Day. (More appropriate than the Groundhog, considering the weather.)

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Today in Beatles History:

1963 - The Beatles began their first British tour supporting Helen Shapiro.

1969 - Yoko Ono obtained a divorce from her first husband, Tony Cox, and gained custody of her daughter, Kyoko.

1970 - "Look" magazine used "I read the news today, oh boy" as the headline to its '60s retrospective.

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The Russians have lost control of their new satellite. (Well, just as long as it doesn't crash into the one that's broadcasting the Super Bowl.)

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Today in Sports History:

1876 - The National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs was formed in New York.

1949 - Golfer Ben Hogan was seriously injured in an auto accident in Van Horn, TX.

1967 - The American Basketball Association was formed by representatives of the NBA.

2003 - Dany Heatly (Atlanta Thrashers) became the fifth player to score four goals in the NHL's All-Star game.

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Today is Groundhog Job Shadow Day. (The Groundhog has a job? Well, at least someone in this country does.)

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Coming Up:

Tonight --

Nothin' Doin'

Thursday --

Nothin' Doin'  

Friday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Washington Capitals 7:30pm EST

Saturday --

SEJHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Florida Eels 3:30pm EST

MJHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Florida Eels 8:00pm EST

Sunday --

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

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

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs St. Louis Blues 3:00pm EST

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