Monday Morning Meissnervations

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

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Today is February 4th, the 35th day of 2013. There are 330 days left in the year.

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Pacioretty returns eight days after appendectomy.

February sees Hockey is for Everyone mark 15 years.

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

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Today's Birthdays: Former U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle is 66; Alice Cooper is 65; Gabrielle Anwar (The Tudors, Fiona Glenanne on TV's Burn Notice) is 42; Rob Corddry (The Daily Show, Hot Tub Time Machine) is 42.

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Tampa, FL. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning didn’t allow a single loss to discredit what was otherwise a very successful homestand.

With the Lightning playing in the finale of a season-high five-game stint on home ice Saturday night, Steven Stamkos scored two goals, Matt Carle recorded two assists and Mathieu Garon made 27 saves, but as the Bolts fell to the New York Rangers by a 3-2 score in front of a sixth consecutive sellout crowd of 19,204 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

Read the rest here.

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About 60 Harvard students have been forced to leave school after being caught cheating on the final exam of the class Introduction to Congress. [They now actually qualify to run for congress.]

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U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams Set to Compete in Five Nations Tournaments

U17s Head to Finland; U18s Travel to Sweden

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams -- part of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program -- will join teams from the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Sweden in Five Nations Tournaments this week. The U17 Five Nations Tournament will take place in Jarvenpaa, Finland, while the U18 Five Nations event will be stated in Jonkoping, Sweden. Schedules for both tournaments are below. NOTES: The U.S. National Under-17 Team is competing in the Five Nations Tournament for the first time. In previous years, the Under-17 Team competed in the Vlad Dzurilla Under-18 Tournament in Piestany, Slovakia. The U.S. claimed first place seven times, including the last three years (2010-12) and four straight from 2005-08 ... The U.S. is looking to reclaim the title at the U18 Five Nations Tournament after its four-year streak (2008-11) was snapped last year ... Follow @USAHockeyScores on Twitter for live scoring updates during the Five Nations Tournaments. Scores will be designated with the #5NationsU17 and #5nationsU18 tags ... For the official U17 Five Nations Tournament page, including links to live stats, click here ... For the official U18 Five Nations Tournament page, click here ... For additional coverage, visit USA Hockey's National Team Development Program website andFacebook page ... The U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams train with The Hockey IntelliGym, a revolutionary new software program released on October 1, 2010 that trains hockey sense. To learn more, visitUSAHockeyIntelliGym.com ... For the complete U.S. National Under-18 Team roster, click here ... For the complete U.S. National Under-17 Team roster, click here. 2013 U.S. National Under-17 Team Five Nations Tournament ScheduleFeb. 6-10, 2013 • Jarvenpaa, Finland Date Opponent Location Time (EST) Wed., Feb. 6 Russia Kellokoski 10 a.m. Fri., Feb. 8 Sweden Jarvenpaa 6 a.m. Sat., Feb. 9 Czech Republic Jarvenpaa 6 a.m. Sun., Feb. 10 Finland Jarvenpaa 8:30 a.m. 2013 U.S. National Under-18 Team Five Nations Tournament ScheduleFeb. 6-10, 2012 • Jonkoping, Sweden Date Opponent Location Time (EST) Wed., Feb. 6 Finland Jonkoping 9:30 a.m. Fri., Feb. 8 Czech Republic Jonkoping 1 p.m. Sat., Feb. 9 Russia Jonkoping 6:30 a.m. Sun., Feb. 10 Sweden Jonkoping 9:30 a.m. ABOUT THE NTDP: In 1996, USA Hockey launched a revolutionary new initiative called the National Team Development Program, based in Ann Arbor, Mich. Celebrating its 16th season of play in 2012-13, the goal of this full-time development program is to prepare student-athletes under the age of 18 for participation on U.S. National Teams and success in their future hockey careers. Its efforts focus not only on high-caliber participation on the ice, but creating well-rounded individuals of the ice. ************************************************ The inventor of the Etch A Sketch has died. It was revealed over the weekend that Andre Cassagne had died in France on January 16. ************************************************ Hervey excited for QB competition in Edmonton. Guiding eye: Durant eager to work with Cortez. Visit the league's official website at cfl.ca. ************************************************ Is it the improving economy or just a desire to stay out of the doghouse that is making us spend more on our sweetie this Valentine's Day? Valentine's Day, believe it or not, is the second largest consumer spending holiday, second only to Christmas. This year the average guy will spend $168.74, and the average women will dish out $85.76. ************************************************ Tampa, FL. — On Saturday, former Buccaneer great Warren Sapp was one of seven people selected for enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2013, marking one of the most momentous occasions in franchise history. Read the rest here. ************************************************ A Scottish man called police after he said workers at a McDonald's were ignoring him. The man called 911 (999), telling a dispatcher he'd had a disagreement with the staff. After they refused to address the man's concerns inside the restaurant he got in his car and went into the drive-thru -- and was still ignored. The dispatcher scolded the man for wasting what could be valuable resources. ************************************************ Jimmy and his Chica plush. ************************************************ You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as watching Super Bowl commercials isn't it? ************************************************ Today in Elvis History 1956 - Elvis Presley appeared on "Stage Show" for the second time. He perfomred Authur Gunter's "Baby Let's Play House" and Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti." 1976 - Elvis Presley recorded the song "Moody Blue". ************************************************ Warm Bodies, the zombie romantic comedy, topped the box office on Super Bowl weekend with $20 million in ticket sales. Last week's winner Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters came in second with $9.2 million. ... In theaters Friday: Identity Thief, Side Effects and Top Gun IMAX 3D. ************************************************ Today in Beatles History: 1968 - The Beatles recorded "Across the Universe" at Abbey Road. Paul McCartney invited some fans to contribute harmonies which was the only time the Beatles used fans on a record. 1969 - The day after the other three Beatles appointed Allen Klein as business manager, Paul McCartney hired the law firm of Eastman & Eastman as Apple's general legal counsel. The father of his girlfriend Linda Eastman ran the law firm. 1970 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono gave a Michael X a bag of their cut hair in return for a pair of genuine Muhammad Ali boxing shorts. 1972 - South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond suggested to U.S. Attorney General John Mitchell in a memo that John Lennon be deported. 1974 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono temporarily seperated. 2002 - It was announced that Paul McCartney would tour the United States for the first time in almost 10 years. 2005 - Paul McCartney posted a message on Heather Mills McCartney's official Web site. He was responding to several reports that stated Heather made decisions for him, told him to dye his hair and that she didn't get along with his kids. ************************************************ IT'S ON CRAIGSLIST - Wanted: Cake Farter. ************************************************ Today in Sports History: 1924 - The first Olympic Winter Games opened in Chamonix, France. 1932 - The first Winter Olympics in the United States opened at Lake Placid, NY. The games were opened by New York Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt. 1952 - Jackie Robinson was named Director of Communication for NBC. He was the first black executive of a major radio-TV network. 1969 - John Madden was named the head coach of the NFL's Oakland Raiders. 1970 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono gave a Michael X a bag of their cut hair in return for a pair of genuine Muhammad Ali boxing shorts. 1973 - The New York Islanders and the Buffalo Sabres played an entire game with no penalties called. 1993 - The Boston Celtics retired Larry Bird's #33. 1997 - A civil jury in California found O.J. Simpson liable in the death of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. Goldman's parents were awarded $8.5 million in compensatory damages. 1997 - Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) scored his 600th National Hockey League (NHL) goal during his 719th game. Lemieux reached the milestone second fastest in history. Gretzky had reached the plateau during his 718th game. 2001 - Jimmy Buffet was ordered by NBA referee Joe Forte to give up his courtside seat due to the use of profanity. After a several-minute delay, the game between the Miami Heat and the visiting New York Knicks continued. 2002 - Minnesota's Supreme Court refused to consider an appeal by the Minnesota Twins of an injunction that would force the Twins to fulfill their lease at the Metrodome. 2003 - Jaromir Jagr (Washington Capitals) scored his 500th career goal. He also got his 11th career hat trick in the game.  ************************************************ The Administrator of General Services announced that the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution had been ratified on this date in 1964. The amendment banned the poll tax. ************************************************ Coming Up: Tonight -- Nothin' Doin' Monday -- Nothin' Doin' Tuesday -- NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Philadelphia Flyers 7:30pm EST Wednesday -- Nothin' Doin' Thursday -- NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at New Jersey Devils 7:00pm EST Friday -- Nothin' Doin' Saturday -- NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins 1:00pm EST EJHL South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Space Coast Hurricanes 5:00pm EST Empire South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Florida Junior Blades 5:15pm EST Sunday -- EJHL South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Space Coast Hurricanes 11:30am EST Empire South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Florida Junior Blades 12:00pm EST NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Rangers 7:30pm EST ************************************************ That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by, see you tomorrow!