Happy 2008!

Here's wishing a happy, safe and successful 2008 to all friends, readers and hockey fans.

Yes, even the Islander fans. Potvin still sucks.

THREE STARS OF THE NIGHT, DEC. 31

1. Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins: Bounces back after giving up two first=period goals and stops 15 shots in final 40 minutes of 5-2 win over the Atlanta Thrashers, allowing the Bruins to snap a six-game losing streak.

2. Manny Legace, St. Louis Blues: Facing his old team, Legace made 31 saves for his 20th career shutout, and St. Louis snapped a four-game losing streak with a 2-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings

3. Dan Ellis, Nashville Predators: Why not another goaltender? Facing his former team, Ellis made 22 saves and Nashville snapped a seven-game road losing streak to the Dallas Stars with a 1-0 victory.

Lots of pain ... looking for gain

You know that feeling you get when you go the gym and work out for the first time in a few months?

Yeah, I'll be feeling that way later today.

For those who knew me back in the day (an expression that really does want to make me sick into a bucket) when I was approaching four spins, I have indeed changed a lot physically thanks to the wonders of modern medicine, but one thing hasn't changed: I can gain weight when the wind blows.

I'm nowhere near the size I used to be, but I also need to ensure I don't get back to that. So it's back to the gym after a long layoff due to laziness and the holidays.

Pass the Motrin.

I didn't go see the Blackhawks on Sunday night. In fact, I spent most of the weekend catching up on much needed sleep. Thing is, I could use a 48-to-72 hour coma to get truly back to normal.

That being said ...

THREE STARS OF THE NIGHT, DEC. 30

1. Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings: Brown's second goal of the game with 1:29 to play in overtime lifted the Kings to a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Los Angeles has won back-to-back matchups after an eight-game losing streak, but haven't scored more than three goals in 10 consecutive contests.

2. Brendan Shanahan, New York Rangers: Another overtime winner. Shanahan scored 66 seconds into the extra session getting the Rangers past the Montreal Canadiens, 4-3. Shanahan has scored in consecutive games for the first time this season and needs nine goals to become the 11th player in NHL history with 650.

3. Antero Niittymaki, Philadelphia Flyers: The Finn made a season-high 38 saves Sunday in a 1-0 win over the Florida Panthers for his third career shutout. Relegated to backing up Martin Biron, Niittymaki blanked an opponent for the first time since a 1-0 victory over the Boston Bruins on Jan. 2, 2006.

Back on the rink

Face it, I needed a couple months to recharge.

Don't get me wrong: I'm still pretty worn out mentally. But, there are just some things that I cannot stay away from, and I guess this is one of those things.

Well, that and Starbucks Gold Coast coffee made in a French press. Liquid heroin.

So, what have I been doing the last couple of months? In November, I was at the United Center to see the Detroit Red Wings take on the Chicago Blackhawks -- and since I have been living in the Windy City, I have kind of embraced them to a degree. They'll never replace my lifelong fan-dom for the New York Rangers, but Denis Savard's team is fun to watch nonetheless.

The Chicago-Detroit rivalry reminds me much of the hatred between fans of the Rangers and New York Islanders, minus the "Potvin sucks!" chants, of course. What made this game -- a Chicago win -- more fun was that there were more than 20,000 in the building. Since noted tightwad Bill Wirtz died and his son, Rocky, took over, the Blackhawks have started to make every effort to become relavent again. Some home games are being shown on cable, exposing this team -- and more importantly, the game itself -- to a new generation of fans.

As I told STATS queen of the overnight, Laura Medina, earlier this week, Bill Wirtz is spinning in his grave.

I am planning to go to the UC on Sunday to see the Blackhawks take on the Los Angeles Kings and see the latest young star. After cutting ties with the underachieving Sergei Samsonov, the Blackhawks recalled Jack Skille from the AHL. Skille, picked third overall in 2005, is the latest first-round pick to wear the Indian head with Brent Seabrook (14th in 2003), Cam Baker (3rd in 2004), Jonathan Toews (3rd in 2006) and Patrick Kane (1st in 2007).

Need to go off topic here for a moment. One thing, as I sit here watching the end of the Patriots-Giants game that gives New England the first 16-0 season in NFL history, Spygate notwithstanding. Wonderful and historic? Yes. Truly one of the greatest feats in sports ever.

But they need to win three more games to truly be considered the greatest team to take the field. Whoever they face will pull out all the stops -- whether its Indianapolis, Jacksonville, San Diego or Pittsburgh, all of those teams want to be able to say they ended Bill Belichick's perfect season. One of them will.

So read it here first: the New England Patriots will NOT win the Super Bowl.

Oh, and Paul Kariya just completed a hat trick with 10.7 seconds left, lifting the St. Louis Blues into a 4-4 tie with the Dallas Stars heading into overtime. Kariya made me look like a genius (grin!)

Kariya stoned with a high glove-side grab by Dallas' Mike Smith in the shootout. Nice. Mike Modano follows by beating St. Louis Hannu Toivinen.

Smith saved by a goalpost -- the best sound in hockey -- Stars win what analyst Darryl Reaugh called "a daffy one." Thanks to the NHL package, I can see most games on cable. I don't know why I didn't do this years ago.

THREE STARS OF THE NIGHT

1. Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals: In his first game after getting stitches for a cut left leg, Ovechkin scores a career-high four goals and added an assist in the Caps' 8-6 win over the Ottawa Senators. The five-point game is the first for the top overall pick in the 2004 NHL draft.

2. Nikolai Zherdev, Columbus Blue Jackets: He scored twice and added two assists in the Blue Jackets' 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. With 15 goals, Zherdev needs 13 more for a new career high.

3. Petteri Nummelin, Minnesota Wild: His goal 1:50 into overtime helped Minnesota cap a comeback from three goals down in a 5-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers.

New Jersey(s) ... Part V

The season gets under way tomorrow afternoon, so I think I had better finish these uni critiques now.

First, I want to announce the second annual steak dinner bet with Gurnee-based blogstatician and lunatic marathoner Christopher Marvin Altruda.

To refresh your memories, gentle readers, last year’s bet resulted in dinner at the Chicago Chop House … and me forever cursing defenseman Lasse Kukonnen, then with the Blackhawks, now in Philadelphia.

The bet was this: I said the Blackhawks wouldn’t win six games in the first six weeks of the season. If they did, I would be on the hook for the check, After six games, Chicago was off to a 4-2 start, but these are the Blackhawks – now free from the clutches of Bill Wirtz, praise God – and it would be possible for them to go on a long losing streak.

As if on cue, the ‘Hawks went 0-7-1 in a three-week span and managed only 11 goals. It looked like I would be enjoying a free dinner. After beating St. Louis for their fifth win, the ‘Hawks played host to Columbus. Surely, Chicago could lose.

Though they were outshot 28-19, Kukonnen scored midway through the second period and Nikolai Khabibulin made it stick. Blackhawks 1, Blue Jackets 0.

Shockingly, Altruda and I have agreed on one thing this season: the Phoenix Coyotes will be the worst team in the Western Conference. All you need to do is look at that roster and ask who’s scoring – Steve Reinprecht? Daniel Carcillo? Daniel Winnik? – and that the goaltenders will be a combination of Alex Auld, David Aebischer and Mikael Tellqvist.

So, the number to watch for with them will be 62. If they finish the season with fewer than 62 points, I will enjoy a dinner at Morton’s. More than 62, Altruda goes for the surf-and-turf.

Now, back to the uniforms …

DALLAS STARS – B: Before this season, the Stars had one of the most unique uniforms of all time with the striping forming a star, but in this new Reebok-ified age, that apparently was impossible to duplicate.

The road whites clearly are the better ones. Cleanly designed, with none of that insipid apron striping on the front, it’s a sweet look. As for the home blacks – that’s right, no longer the home greens – it will take some getting used to.

With ‘DALLAS” and the player’s number taking the front of the jersey, it’s clearly a nod to some college programs. The use of a wordmark rather than a logo is not new: it’s worked quite well for the New York Rangers for decades, the Pittsburgh Penguins did the same for a while as did the Colorado Avalanche with their third jerseys.

Not horrible, just different.

NEW YORK RANGERS – B+: As a die-hard fan, even here in Chicago, I am glad to see that no radical design changes were made here, save one.

Right now, as I am waiting for my laundry to dry, I am wearing a New York Rangers player T-shirt (bonus points if you can guess who’s name and number is on the back – STATS, LLC employees not eligible), and the wordmark essentially goes from 10 o’clock to 4 o’clock.

If you look at these new duds, the wordmark is more – what would you call it … vertical? Seems to go from 11 o’clock to 5 o’clock. A subtle change, and again not horrible, but hockey fans are used to tradition and change is not always welcome.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – A: The best thing about this 1) Nothing’s changed and 2) there won’t be a black third jersey at least for this season.

Though some consider the use of a native American’s profile insensitive, this truly is on the of the classic looks in the league. With the recent passing of longtime tightwad … er, owner … Bill Wirtz, I hope the ‘Hawks now take the opportunity to move the franchise into the 21st Century and back into relevancy in this city.

Just don’t change the uniforms.

MINNESOTA WILD – A-: Since hockey returned to the Northland, the Wild have taken great pains to please their fans. The St. Paul Civic Center, where I used to watch the IHL’s Moose years ago, was transformed into a gleaming jewel known as the Xcel Energy Center and enjoys continual sellouts.

The uniforms were wonderful from the moment they were unveiled. Gone though are the home greens, replaced by their third jerseys. The reds were always seen as the most popular of the three. I like them, but I don’t see the uproar. Nice crest, sure, but I would have preferred the dark green body instead.

If they can only find a way to Marian Gaborik on the ice for more than 50 games a season. Wishful thinking, I know.

ANAHEIM DUCKS – C: No, sir. I don’t like it.

Last season, the Ducks got rid of the Disney duds for a more classic look, and it worked: Anaheim became the first Stanley Cup winner from California. The striping, though, is bizarre, and with the new Reebok template, it looks like the wordmark got smaller.

Don’t get me wrong – I am glad the era of jade and eggplant are gone – but this has swung completely the other way. Perhaps there can be a common ground by 2008-09.

BUFFALO SABRES – B-: Like the Ducks, the Sabres introduced this new look last season … and thus was born the “Buffaslug.”

Look at it one way, it’s a slug. Look at it another way, it’s Barney Rubble’s hair. They’re not horrible, but they don’t really scream, “Holy shit, these suck” either. Since teams like the Rangers, Blackhawks and Canadiens were able to retain their identities with these new unis, longtime Sabres fans would be salivating to see the round logo with the charging Buffalo and crossed swords come back full-time.

A wonderful idea sure, but how else will they pay Thomas Vanek $50 million over seven years outside of merchandise sales?

EDMONTON OILERS – D: Oh, no.

No. No. No. No. No.

Stripes on the inside of the sleeves? Bad. Apron-string piping? Bad. Removal of the secondary logo of the oil worker? Bad.

OK – something good? The main logo didn’t change. Other than that … FEH!

NEW JERSEY DEVILS – A: I’m indifferent when it comes to this team. I like that they’re moving from the swamps of East Rutherford to revitalized Newark.

I like that they pretty much left the uniform alone. No logo or color changes to go with the new building. Another case of leaving well enough alone.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS – A: See above. No bells. No whistles. No issues.

Now, wins a Stanley Cup for the first time since 1967.

New Jersey(s) IV

Like a bad Star Trek movie sequel ... we continue with post No. 200.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS – D: After a 108-point season in 2006-07, this is a team in turmoil.

Canadian carpetbagger Jim Balsillie – rebuffed in his attempt to buy the Penguins – tried to buy the Preds and hijack them to Hamilton, Ontario. Vokoun. Kariya. Timonen. Forsberg. All gone, off too Miami, St. Louis, Philadelphia … and possible retirement.

This team has a chance to be one of the league’s worst – and they’ll be dressed like one of them. Despite the insipid piping, I can deal with the home blues. The road whites, though – why Nashville across the top in letters so small that you’d think you were taking an eye test at the DMV?

But wait, readers may say, ‘You liked it when Vancouver did it. What’s the difference?’ With the Canucks, there was an element of history there from the old WHL teams. The Predators barely have a history, as this will be their 10th season.

Oh, yellow piping on a white jersey? Nice choice … as I roll one eye in the back of my head.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS – A-: Having lived in the ‘Burgh for a year, I can tell you that the residents of that dump have an unhealthy obsession with black and gold. Except on Friday nights at PNC Park when the Pirates break out the red Heinz 57 vests.

Let me say this: I don’t care if he runs the bases, sinks the 3 or skates the length of the ice – Jack Lambert no longer plays there. Neither do Jack Ham, Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier. And Mike Webster, Justin Strelczyk and Steve Courson will not be walking out of Primanti’s any time soon.

With that, I am glad to see that Penguins resisted the opportunity to change the current Vegas Gold back to the French’s mustard yellow that Lemieux and Jagr wore back in the day when they won back-to-back Stanley Cups. To me, it means that they want to continue carving out their own identity with the likes of Crosby, Malkin and Staal and with a slight nod to city’s other great teams.

Keeping the skating penguin – very cool, too.

DETROIT RED WINGS – A: Once again – simple and classic are GOOD. No changes to the winged wheel. No addition of black or silver as an “accent color.”

The only thing that keeps this from being and A+ is that the ‘C’ and ‘A’ for the captain and assistant will be on the upper left side – it will be different and odd, but they could have done far, far worse.