Doctors advising the NHL and NHL Players’ Association have challenged some of the claims that have been made about the research by the Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy.

Ruben Echemendia is a clinical neuropsychologist and the NHL’s neuropsychological consultant. He chairs the NHL/NHLPA concussion working group.

Jeffrey Kutcher is an associate professor at the University of Michigan and a consultant to the NHLPA. He chairs the Sports Neurology Section of the American Academy of Neurology.

Chris Nowinski co-founded the Sports Legacy Institute to advance the study, treatment and prevention of the effects of brain trauma in athletes and other at-risk groups.
(Getty Images)

Chris Nowinski co-founded the Sports Legacy Institute to advance the study, treatment and prevention of the effects of brain trauma in athletes and other at-risk groups. He is a co-director of the BU CSTE and is pursing his doctorate in behavioral neuroscience.

QUESTION: How does Boston University define chronic traumatic encephalopathy?

From BU’s website: “Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in athletes (and others) with a history of repetitive brain trauma, including symptomatic concussions as well as asymptomatic subconcussive hits to the head.

“CTE has been known to affect boxers since the 1920s. However, recent reports have been published of neuropathologically confirmed CTE in retired professional football players and other athletes who have a history of repetitive brain trauma.

“This trauma triggers progressive degeneration of the brain tissue, including the build-up of an abnormal protein called tau. These changes in the brain can begin months, years, or even decades after the last brain trauma or end of active athletic involvement. The brain degeneration is associated with memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression, and, eventually, progressive dementia.”

[Related: Brain disease claims divide hockey doctors, researchers]

Q: Does everyone agree that repetitive brain trauma causes CTE?

Echemendia: “We don’t know what’s causing that. There is at this point speculation and hypotheses about what’s causing that, but the data do not support any causal statements. For example, the data do not the support a statement at this point in time that repetitive blows to the head cause CTE. What we know is that some players have CTE that have been examined that we don’t know what the cause is. Now it’s possible it’s repetitive blows to the head, but we don’t know that in any scientific sense at this point in time.”

Kutcher: “If we take the first assumption, that multiple head traumas cause long-term brain injury or brain dysfunction, does that happen? Yes. That’s something that has been described for a long time, especially in boxers. That’s not a new concept. … I think we suspect that, and there’s a reasonable sort of anecdotal evidence that trauma causes tau. So far that has not been shown experimentally to be true. But I know there’s some research ongoing.”

[Related: Experts break down chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) debate]

Jeffrey Kutcher is an associate professor at the University of Michigan and a consultant to the NHLPA.
(Getty Images)

Q: Do we know what tau does?

Echemendia: “The presence of CTE and the extent to which that automatically implies behavioral changes, the types of behavioral changes, that link has not been made scientifically at this point in time.”

Kutcher: “Tau, to be clear, is a very common protein … It’s a common problem for many neurological diseases, degenerative brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, where it’s assumed tau deposition in the neurons messes with their ability to work at some point. … Tau is a protein that’s around. It’s in you normally. But we’re talking about sort of conglomerates of tau, kind of stuck together that become a problem. … The short answer is, no. We don’t know what tau does to the brain.”

Nowinski: “There are a lot of diseases with tau deposition. This is a specific disease which to our knowledge after studying 60 brains of it in the last few years – different age groups, different backgrounds – is that it progresses in a specific way [in the brain]. We can define the way it progresses – where it starts, where it goes next. That’s defined. … You cannot control the rate of progression. We do not know the rate of progression.”

Q: What is the risk of an athlete developing CTE?

Echemendia: “We don’t know who is susceptible to this. We don’t know who is not susceptible to this, and we don’t know the combination of factors that then lead to CTE at this point in time. My hope is that we will in the near future, but at this point in time, we don’t have that information.”

Kutcher: “How often does that happen is the question. What’s the risk of that in the average population? What’s the rate of it? There’s a sense that that is an individual number depending on the genetics of the brain and how that brain responds to trauma.”

Nowinski: “It’s an unknown risk. We’re finding it in more athletes who played a long time than we’d like. We’re finding it in young athletes who didn’t play a long time, which is concerning, but we have no idea again what the percentage is. But it’s a real risk, and we should change our behaviors.”

Q: How is CTE different from other brain diseases?

Kutcher: “Degenerative neurological processes are for the most part predictable. Alzheimer’s is pretty predictable. Parkinson’s, predictable. These are predictable diseases that tend to start in an age group and they go a certain way. Yeah, they’re different patterns, but I can tell you what they are. What is the CTE pattern? There isn’t one. According to people who look at these brains, it’s happening to 17-year-olds, it’s happening to 80-year-olds, it’s causing depression, it’s causing dementia, it’s not [causing dementia]…”

Nowinski: “Well, it’s certainly not defined like other diseases that have been studied by dozens of institutions over decades. [Alzheimer’s is] moderately predictable. I’ve give him that. Not everyone’s Alzheimer’s disease course is the same, by any stretch of the imagination, and again, remember that the drug industry is focused on presymptomatic Alzheimer’s disease, because that’s the best place to intervene. Once tissue is gone, it’s much harder to bring it back than it is to stop a disease progression.”

The Pittsburgh Penguins attempt to overcome an 0-2 deficit to the Detroit Red Wings for the second straight year, as the action in the Stanley Cup Finals moves to the ‘Burgh and to cable television for the NHL. Show us your ‘V’!

Please join us for our raucous, outrageous and sometimes even insightful Stanley Cup Finals live blog tonight beginning at 7:45 p.m. EST. Yours truly will be chatting and Tweeting inside Mellon Arena for Game 3 (Internet accessibility-willing), as the venerable Matt Sussman (whose work can be seen at The Layoff Beard, Deadspin, Blogcritics, and the Toledo Free Press) and the usual cast of characters make hockey better. Tell a friend, and as always, please do bring the funny.

It wouldn’t be the NHL playoffs without a little controversy, and through the first two games there are plenty of arguments from both sides.

Should the NHL have followed its own rulebook and suspended Evgeni Malkin(notes) for his late-game instigator penalty in Game 2? Is Detroit getting away with too much interference? Can a penguin out-swim an octopus?

Henrik Zetterberg’s(notes) actions within the Detroit Red Wings‘ crease have been a hot topic in Pittsburgh after two games; and once again, the handy NHL rulebook is being researched and referenced to prove arguments that two key calls were missed for the Penguins.

The calls in question hail from said bylaw in the NHL rulebook:

“67.4 Penalty Shot – If a player, except a goalkeeper, while play is in progress, falls on the puck, holds the puck, picks up the puck, or gathers the puck into his body or hands from the ice in the goal crease area, the play shall be stopped immediately and a penalty shot shall be awarded to the non-offending team.”

From Game 1:

After the game, TSN’s Darren Dreger received the official ruling on why no penalty shot was called:

“Devorski was there at ice level, and according to the director of officiating Stephen Walkom, he’s assuming that the interpretation was that Zetterberg was simply trying to bat the puck off of Chris Osgood’s(notes) back.

“One thing to remember though is that the crease extends upwards, so if Zetterberg did cover the puck with his glove, then a penalty shot should have been called. It was an interpretation call, and Devorski thought that Zetterberg was trying to bat the puck, not cover it.”

The videos shows Zetterberg covering the puck with his glove for a second and then moving it forward in a motion to get it off Osgood’s back. As the rule states, a call is typically made “immediately” when that situation occurs.

Yet another case of interpreting the hieroglyphics known as the NHL rulebook.

Hey, if the NHL All-Star Game was good enough for Dale Hunter back in 1997, it’s good enough for us. We’re going to be up in Montreal beginning on Friday, applying our particular brand of whimsy to the all-star festivities.

At best, this means interesting interviews and video coverage; snarky on-site observations during the game and the skills competition; and our usual stupid questions interactions with players and fans.

At worst, it’ll mean a cluster-eff of Internet malfunctions that serve as the catalyst for a multi-day descent into a whiskey haze and crying fits (a.k.a. “the draft”).

We’ve got some really fun all-star related stuff planned for the next few days, along with minor league malarkey, puck headlines and an exclusive look at a new film about hockey fans that’ll hit the site on Friday. (Do check it out.)

If you’re up in Montreal for the game, hit me on e-mail and so I can watch you buy me a beer. 

Thanks again for reading, and please join us for what’ll be a memorable weekend … well, unless you’re a Red Wings fan. Or a Sidney Crosby fan, as the Kid is out of the ASG and the Breakaway Challenge. Bummer.

Evening Headlines to follow …

Here are your Evening Puck Headlines and Previews: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

• Due to some timing and Interwebs issues, we won’t have the giant laundry list o’previews in tonight’s Puck Headlines. Check out all the games and their tidbits here.

• On his radio show today, Commission Gary Bettman said the League’s prerogative to have at least one all-star representative from each team is a “soft” rule, and not something the NHL formally mandates. Tell that to Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau, who is miffed that players like Alexander Semin and Mike Green were snubbed: “People would much rather see the best players in the world rather than one representative of every team. … But that’s the way it is for now, so that’s the way we’ll live with it.” [TSN]

• Will Washington Capitals fans boycott the all-star game after getting just one representative on the Eastern Conference squad? [On Frozen Blog]

• To those who believe a guy like New York Islanders defenseman Mark Streit is a charity case that doesn’t belong in the all-star game, Islanders Outsider says think again: “His attendance should not be attributed solely to being the best player on his team or having a decent season on a bad team. Yes, the Islanders have sent that sort to the All-Star Game in the past. Not this time. The numbers and impact are all over the place so I won’t repeat them. If you are an Islanders fan, this is an All-Star selection you should be proud of.” [Islanders Outsider]

• Please reset your Rick DiPietro injury watches to zero. [On the Islanders Beat]

• Super-prospect John Tavares waives his no-trade clause, accepts deal to the London Knights, where Coach Dale Hunter will no doubt put some hair on his chest. Or rip out what’s there. One of the two. [CP]

• The Montreal Canadiens shut down Big Georges Laraque‘s Sportsnet blog. According to William Houston, the “Canadiens have imposed a rule that prohibits players from doing blogs. Something about being ‘fair’ to other media outlets that also request blogs from players, but are turned down.” So not for being candid about fighting, race and the inner working of the NHL player? Uh-huh. [Globe & Mail]

• Jeff Z. Klein has a rather remarkable KHL news update; could expansion plans with the rest of Europe be scuttled because of League sponsor “Gazprom, which has cut off natural gas supplies to much of Europe during a very cold winter on the continent as part of a price dispute with Ukraine?” [Slap Shot Blog]

• The Los Angeles Kings have lost Oscar Moller to a fractured clavicle, which he suffered in World Juniors. So what hurt more: That injury or second place for Sweden? [Inside the Kings]

• Will Alexei Kovalev or Montreal fans be the ones to give Phil Kessel the $212,500 bonus they stole from him for missing the all-star game? [Bruins Blog]

• We’re going to have a lot more about Jordan Staal‘s contract on Friday, but two good reads for you on the big signing: The Sweater Ted and Empty Netters.

I’m not ready to give up on the NHL’s All-Star Game. The starters were a bit of a joke, but really, who cares who starts a hockey game? The game itself, January 25 in Montreal, has turned more into a way for the league to schmooze corporate sponsors than high-end entertainment, but that’s part of running a league.

After the skills competition, the Jonas Brothers, Alyssa Milano, the parties—well, the game has become an afterthought.

But we’re not just going to complain, we’re going to fix it. And we have some help. I’ve asked a few of the most creative people I know to submit one change they’d make to help save the All-Star Game. My sincere thanks goes out to all who participated.

First, my three solutions:

1. Move it permanently to Las Vegas: If the league is serious about one day expanding to Sin City, what better way to see how well it would support hockey than by hosting the All-Star Game there annually? With all due respect to the last two hosts, Dallas and Atlanta, I’m guessing the national media would be more inclined to insist on covering a game in Vegas. I know I would. It would add an element of glamour to the game that you’re just not going to get in Columbus. Maybe, as an olive branch to Canada, I’d alternate between Vegas and Montreal. It would only be fair.

2. Play four-on-four the entire game: One night I was sitting in the press box watching overtime and a veteran writer sitting next to me leaned over and said that, in my lifetime, we’ll see the NHL move permanently to four-on-four in regulation. The play was that much better and more exciting. Now, I don’t know if I’m ready for that jump just yet, but it certainly would work in the All-Star Game.

3. Pay a $1 million bonus to the game-winning-goal scorer: I realize most players competing in the All-Star Game aren’t hurting financially, but many hockey players are tight with their money, and a cool million would be a nice incentive to play a little harder, if only for the third period.

And now, suggestions from our guests (and please, nobody tell George Richards that Alyssa Milano just got engaged):

Rich Hammond, Kings beat writer, L.A. Daily News:

“Playing hockey games outside works. That’s one thing the NHL has managed to do correctly. So cut out the regular-season “classics” and play the All-Star Games outdoors, on international-sized rinks. Put the world’s best players in an exciting environment that actually looks compelling on television.

“Here’s one more: fan voting for starters is boring. Let the fans vote for the top 42 players, regardless of conference. The two top vote-getters become team captains, and they alternate in selecting players, one by one, on the ice right before the national anthems. Team Malkin vs. Team Crosby.”

Jay Feaster, a former Stanley Cup-winning G.M. for the Tampa Bay Lightning:

“The first thing the NHL must do to save the All-Star Game is pull the plug on computer-generated voting scams that enable one team’s fans to dominate All-Star voting. Second, let’s make the game relevant. Let’s make it matter. Steal a page from Major League Baseball and grant home-ice advantage in the Stanley Cup finals to the team representing the conference that won the All-Star Game. Imagine: So you recorded 135 regular-season points, San Jose, but the Eastern Conference won the All-Star Game. Boston will have home-ice advantage in the finals!”

James Mirtle, NHL editor at SB Nation:

“I would have all 30 teams hold their own skills competitions a few weeks before the big weekend, and send the top 10 performers league-wide to the hardest shot, fastest skater, trick shot and puckhandling relay drills. Make it a true battle of the best in the NHL—even if those taking part aren’t in the actual game. Hand out awards for each of the competitions—the MacInnis Trophy has a nice ring to it for the hardest shot—along with cash compensation.”

Ben Wright, Blueland Blog:

“The best way to turn the All-Star Game from a made-for-sponsors spectacle into a must-see event happens to be a way to make the real high-point of the second half (trade deadline day) more exciting. In an age where every star worth acquiring has a no-trade clause, what could add more importance to winning the All-Star Game than revoking the NTC of every player on the losing team for six months, freeing them up to be dealt at the deadline or at the draft? While we’re at it, revoke the NTC of any healthy player who declines an invitation to All-Star Weekend.”

Greg Wyshynski, Editor, Puck Daddy, Yahoo! Sports:

“Take all eligible stars and dump them into their respective positions, regardless of conference. Top four goalies, top six defensemen and the top eight forwards voted by the fans make the cut; the rest of the rosters are selected by the league for balanced representation. One week before the game, have some celeb-laden “All-Star Rocks”-type Saturday night TV show to select the teams live; via ping-pong balls or having some toe-headed hockey moppets pick them out of a hat. The next week is filled with line-combo and “friend-vs.-friend” hype. Oh, and play the game on a larger ice surface, too.”

George Richards, Florida Panthers beat writer, Miami Herald:

“I think the NHL All-Star Game is fine and dandy, although I wouldn’t call it a spectacle or even all that entertaining after the first couple of minutes. Can anyone recall how the second period went in Atlanta last year? Or remember much of anything from that weekend aside from Alyssa Milano wandering into media day (and thereby grabbing all the attention for herself, bless her pretty little heart).

“One thing I would like to see in the All-Star Game is the players. That’s what everyone is there for, theoretically. Since no one plays defense, drop the helmets. Only the goalies get to wear masks, and I say each goalie needs to have a special All-Star-Game-only mask made up. They will later be autographed (by the goalie and players who score on him in the game) and auctioned for charity.

“Back to the helmets: There’s no reason for guys to wear them while they skate around, and there is almost no risk of injury during this shinny game. Forwards are going to be moving around at will, so let the television audience get a peek at that mullet or freshly shaved melon. Players in the NBA All-Star Game don’t wear helmets, do they? And look how popular that game is. (Does the NBA still have an All-Star Game?)

“Since no one plays defense anyway, I think the league needs to bring fewer defensemen to the party. Sure, you need the elite guys like Nicklas Lidstrom and Dion Phaneuf, but that’s it. To sum up: More forwards, fewer D-men, no helmets, special goalie masks. And more Alyssa Milano. Hope to see her in Montreal.”

George James Malik, Red Wings Snapshots:

“The one dramatic change I’d make is to give the media and fans group counseling, so everybody could accept the All-Star Game for what it is—an insanely-skilled exhibition game which usually rounds into something resembling competitive-but-fun hockey in the second or third period. Changes? Bring ‘em on by the boatload, sure, but understand that it will remain an All-Star Game, regardless of whatever format it takes. It’s an honor for the players, they have fun, and the game is best enjoyed as “fluffy but fun” highlight-reel fodder. There’s nothing wrong with watching athletes at play once in a while.

“I’d love to see the NHL fix the ballot-stuffing issue with a one-vote-per-IP-and-email-address-per-day solution. I’d love to see the game played outdoors, see the Europe-vs.-North America or Canada-vs.-the-World (AHL) format, maybe a 30-and-over vs. under-30 game, four-on-four, maybe a game where players play for the charities of their choice, with the winning side getting more money instead of giving some guy who already has five cars a Honda truck or something. There are tons of good ideas, and the All-Star Game’s the perfect time to have an open mind.”

Hey Dad,” I said to the old man here in Jersey, where this year’s annual Food Coma will take place this afternoon. “We’re publishing a collection of Things We’re Thankful for in Hockey for Turkey Day. You got anything?”

Stirring his Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, Bob Wyshynski replied, “Yeah, that they haven’t completely screwed up the game with all these rules changes yet.”

And now you know where I get it from.

It’s a time to give thanks, so that’s exactly what we’re doing. We’ve asked ourselves and some Friends of Puck Daddy a rather simple question: What are you thankful for in hockey?

Please answer that for yourselves in the comments, give our answers a read and have a great holiday.

Sean Leahy, Puck Daddy and Going Five Hole

Ice Girls. Because who doesn’t want a free t-shirt?

Alexander Ovechkin‘s wrist shot. You’ll never see it until it’s in the back of the net.

The Toronto media. Able to turn the slowest hockey news day into the busiest by reporting nothing.

One-piece sticks. There’s nothing better than seeing a good one-timer ruined.

Mike Komisarek‘s shot-blocking ability. No matter how much his own general manager would like to limit it.

–

Eric McErlain, NHL FanHouse and The Sporting Blog

NHL on the Fly … For hockey starved Americans who get few highlights from ESPN, it’s the only option on television.

Hockey Night in Canada … Because our neighbors to the North don’t know how good they have it.

–

Paul Kukla of Kukla’s Korner

I am thankful for two NHL games on Thanksgiving Night, they will take my mind off of another Detroit Lions loss.

Thanks go out to the person who invented streaming radio, without it, I would not be able to listen to the Canadian radio stations who actually talk hockey.

Nothing better than HNIC on the NHL Network on Saturday night. From 6:30 p.m. until 1:30 a.m., I am tuned in and watching in glorious HD.

The never-ending Cinderella story that is Bruce Boudreau. His Caps racked up a 48-24-10 record (106 points) in his first 82 games as bench boss, which commenced, incidentally, on Thanksgiving last year, and has already included a Jack Adams Trophy.

–

Raskolnikov, Melt Your Face Off

Bill Wirtz’s Permanent Blackout. Bob Pulford daily removes the maggots from his corpse.

Rick Jeanneret’s Ability to Rise from the Dead. The man exhales his final breath after every Sabres goal, then rises from his grave to continue calling the game.

–

Steve Lepore, Puck the Media

Zach Parise inexplicably being on pace for 50 goals. Because a 50-goal scorer on the Devils would be the truest sign of Hockey-apocalypse.

The Blackhawks’ resurgence. But not the all-out self-promoting whores they’ve become in the wake of their newfound popularity.

Barry Melrose’s firing. Now he can go back to about-facing on inaccurate, vaguely racist statements about the city of Newark, and funny haircuts.

VERSUS. Because you all know it’s this or The Ocho.

–

B.D. Gallof, Hockey Buzz

Garth Snow’s backup goalie assessment. Isles fans were outraged that Dubie was let go, but are they now with Joey MacDonald performances thus far this season? I think not.

The Hockey Blogosphere. Showing day after day that many are the first stop for NHL fans to disseminate or have a chuckle of what is really is going on.

Freddy Meyer the IV. What was a joke of a name two seasons ago is now a respected member of the Isles defense and missed when out.

87 & 71 for another 10 years.

Marian Hossa Leaving. Thanks for letting us breeze through the East.  Without you, we may have to go to a six-game series.

The Toronto Maple Leafs. Because at least we know what rock bottom looks like. 

New York Rangers Fans. They taught us that no matter how old you are, it is okay to cry. 1994 forever.

NHL on The Fly. It is the best thing to happen after midnight since Nick at Nite.

–

Wrap Around Curl

Mats Sundin‘s UFA status: Keeping the Toronto Media employed in these tough economic times.

The Dallas Stars/Texas: For making Sean Avery man up. And grow a neckbeard. I take that back. The neckbeard looks fug.

Darude’s Standstorm: For always being played at every single hockey game at least twice. Never has German techno been so familiar and comforting …

CHICAGO (AP)—Patrick Kane and Martin Havlat each had a goal and two assists and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Calgary Flames 6-1 on Sunday night for their fourth straight victory.

Kris Versteeg and Jonathan Toews each added a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks, 6-0-2 at home. Aaron Johnson and Troy Brouwer also scored for Chicago (7-3-3), off to its best start since 2001-02—the last time it made the playoffs.

Toews’ goal was his first in 13 games this season. He had 24 goals and 30 assists last season in 64 games as a rookie.

Blackhawks goalie Cristobal Huet made 22 saves, allowing only Dustin Boyd’s second-period goal. Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 21 shots for Calgary, which lost its second straight game and fourth in its last five.

The Flames skated with several flu-stricken players in their third game in four nights. Kiprusoff made several close-in saves and twice was beaten by shots that hit the post.

Havlat’s power-play goal midway through the first period opened the scoring. After the Blackhawks created a 2-on-1 advantage in front of the net, Havlat ripped in Kris Versteeg’s feed from across the crease.

Johnson scored on a screened drive from the left point with just under a minute left in the first to make it 2-0.

Kane’s goal midway through the second made it 3-0. He lifted in a shot from the right side of the net after taking Havlat’s backhand pass from across the crease.

Boyd cut it to 3-1 with 1:21 left in the second when his weak backhand attempt from the right side of the net bounded in off Huet’s left pad.

Toews and Versteeg scored goals 28 seconds apart early in the third.

Toews shot from the slot hit trickled in between Kiprusoff’s pads 54 second into the third. Versteeg ripped in a screened shot from the slot at 1:22.

Brouwer’s power-play goal with 4:09 left in the third completed the scoring.

Notes

Before he scored in the third period, Toews was was stopped by Kiprusoff on two close-in chances. … Calgary C Matthew Lombardi missed his ninth game because of a shoulder injury. … Chicago D Brent Sopel sat out the game because of an undisclosed injury. … Linesman Andy McElman was struck by a puck late in the third period, but remained in the game after being attended to by Chicago trainer Mike Gapski. … The Blackhawks played their first game following a five-day break.

After two straight late meltdowns at home, the Islanders turned a strong effort by backup goalie Joey MacDonald into a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers on a pair of short-handed goals by rookie Nate Thompson and Richard Park.

“It was a huge morale-lifter for us,” Thompson said after his first NHL point broke up the deadlock in the third period. “I can’t say enough for our team and Joey MacDonald for sticking with the game plan.”

Just 4:42 after Thompson scored, during a different Rangers power play, Park netted the Islanders’ league-leading sixth short-handed tally. The Islanders got out of a frustrated Madison Square Garden with their best win of the season despite being outshot 36-19.

In their previous two games, the Islanders squandered three-goal leads in the third. The first on Saturday resulted in a 5-4 regulation loss to Montreal. On Monday, they recovered to beat Columbus 4-3 in overtime at home.

The Islanders own a two-game winning streak following six straight losses (0-5-1), and they moved out of last-place in the league standings (4-7-1).

“After the second period, we made a point to say, ‘Let’s let them beat themselves. Let’s let them make some mistakes and try to capitalize on some opportunities. If we can do that and sneak two points out of here, then it’s a good win,”’ Park said.

Markus Naslund wrecked MacDonald’s bid for his first NHL shutout when he scored with 1:41 left.

Despite the Rangers having a 29-12 shots advantage through two periods, this one was still too close to call. The Rangers entered with a league-high 21 points, but they ended the night with a more dubious distinction of having allowed an NHL-worst five short-handed goals this season.

The Rangers have dropped two straight after their franchise-best 10-2-1 start. This effort against their biggest rival came on the heels of a disappointing loss at Toronto on Saturday when they led 2-0 in the third period only to fall 5-2.

They went 0-for-4 on the power play, while giving up two goals, after connecting at least once with the advantage in five of the previous six games.

“Unacceptable performance,” Rangers coach Tom Renney said. “The power play let us down. Take responsibility for it. Power play structure, if people are committed to it and work hard at it, it can work. We are playing outside of what we have been teaching our guys.”

MacDonald entered the third period with a shot at his first NHL shutout for the second straight night. Subbing for injured No. 1 goalie Rick DiPietro, MacDonald settled for his seventh career NHL win in his 26th game.

He admitted to being a bit disappointed to lose the shutout, but was happy to get out with a victory.

“This time of the year, the wins are more important,” MacDonald said.

Thompson finally solved Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist after Frans Nielsen’s shot hit the post. The puck popped in the air, and Thompson swatted it in with a baseball swing at 3:18.

“I envisioned it going off my shin pad or something like that. Definitely not like that, but it felt great,” Thompson said. “I played baseball for two years. I don’t know what my batting average was, but I don’t think it was too good.”

Park then broke up Michal Rozsival’s cross-ice pass at the blue line and streaked down the left side. His drive eluded Lundqvist at 8:00.

The Rangers dominated on the shot clock in the second period, but couldn’t dent MacDonald. He made 18 saves in the frame, while the Islanders sent only five shots in on Lundqvist.

“We had the momentum on our side, and I take responsibility for having two mistakes on the power play that cost us the game,” Rozsival said. “There’s no excuse for that.”

Gordon used his timeout with 7:57 left after MacDonald reached over his head and behind it to snare Rozsival’s rising drive. At that point, the Rangers held a 14-2 shots advantage in the second and 25-9 overall.

Notes

Islanders LW Sean Bergenheim sat out for the second straight night due to a virus. … The Islanders placed D Freddy Meyer on the injured list. He expected to be sidelined a few weeks following sports hernia surgery. … The Rangers fell to 4-1 against Atlantic Division foes. They had been 4-0-2 in their previous six meetings with the Islanders, including a 4-2 road win Oct. 27. … D Chris Campoli scored a short-handed goal for the Islanders on Monday.

After serving as an executive editor for both ESPN.com and AOL Sports, Neal Scarbrough is now learning the delicate balance between bull riding, extreme cage fighting and professional hockey for the Versus cable network.

“And don’t think we haven’t heard from the hunters about us now being a hockey network,” said Scarbrough, a sports media veteran recently named Versus’ vice president for digital media.

Ask hardcore hockey fans if Versus is indeed a “hockey network,” and the majority would argue against the claim. Since purchasing the NHL’s cable rights in 2005, the Versus network hasn’t exactly endeared itself to die-hard hockey fans in the U.S. Between the silly mistakes and the self-inflicted wounds to its reputation, there isn’t a month that goes by without some impassioned rant about its failings as the NHL’s cable home or some fan-driven effort in support of the NHL reconciling with its abusive former spouse at ESPN.

To many fans, Versus is a punch line; a jigsaw puzzle of unrelated (and fringe) sports that viewers still can’t find in many hotels or sports bars around the U.S. Its hockey talent and coverage are much maligned, with even the most optimistic fans left frustrated by the approach to its most prized asset not named Lance Armstrong.

Not that any of this troubles the NHL’s cable host, which is available in 74 million homes nationwide.

“I don’t think Versus cares about that [criticism],” said Taylor Valentine of Horizon Media, who manages the Versus projects for the global advertising and communications firm. “They’re so up and coming, they let a lot of that roll off their back. Versus knows they’re not perfect. But everything they’re doing is aiming to get there.”

Valentine, whose firm is working with Scarbrough on some dramatic changes for Versus.com, said the goal of the network is to bring “people who aren’t the core fans” to the NHL, but at the same time “to engage those core fans” of hockey. 

So how will Versus cater to the hardcore hockey fan and convert the critics? Scarbrough indicated that, like so much other successful PR efforts for the NHL, it begins with the cultivation and assimilation of both hockey writers and bloggers.

Horizon Media is a vendor working with the network’s marketing department, doing everything from research to buying billboards to “organic marketing,” which is a more viral approach to promotion within the media.

“[They] reach out to folks we know in the media business to write about it,” said Scarbrough. “I think they’ve had much more success with blogs than calling up a reporter.”

As Horizon had been marketing Versus to hockey blogs, through viral videos and the occasional dispersal of swag, it had indentified a few hockey bloggers that showed an interest in some sort of relationship with Versus.com, and wanted to use those blogs as promotional outlets.

“As we were looking at the NHL season, they came to us and said, ‘Hey, we’ve got some bloggers who really want to be a part of Versus and really want to reference what you guys are doing. We can sell your stuff through the bloggers,’” said Scarbrough. “And I was like, ‘Hold it. You don’t know who you’re talking to. You’re talking to, like, the Blogfather here.’”

Where Horizon saw a PR coup, Scarbrough saw the chance to beef up his Web site’s content in a radical way. There were already three beat writers — Chuck Gormley of the Courier Post (NJ), Adrian Dater of the Denver Post and Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News — getting paid to churn out exclusive content for the Web site. Scarbrough felt the bloggers would add a different element.

“I don’t want to use these guys for a campaign. I want to cultivate these guys for voices on Versus and for the NHL. If there’s a headline that says, ‘Bloggers are going to have a pretty comfortable home at Versus,’ I think that’s correct,” he said.

“Believe you me, a year from now you won’t have to look for bloggers who are writing for Versus, who want to write for Versus or who have written for Versus. We will have pushed all those levers.”

According to Valentine, the following bloggers are contributing content to Versus.com: Jon Swenson of Sharkspage; Mike Chen of Fox Sports and Kukla’s Korner; Reasonable Doubt from Melt Your Face Off; the bloggers from Hockey’s Ladies of Greatness; and Bryan Thiel from the Bleacher Report.

None of the bloggers are paid, but that wasn’t a deal-breaker for Chen. “It was basically presented to me as a once-a-month thing for goodies,” he said, pointing to tickets, jerseys, memorabilia and the chance for press credentials.

There are also other perks, including interview opportunities for exclusive podcasts with players like Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks. “It’s a fairly minimal commitment in exchange for some cool stuff, so I had no problem signing on,” said Chen.

When it comes to making Versus.com a destination for hardcore hockey fans, adding a few familiar bloggers is just a small step, said Chen.

“In order for Versus to become a successful hockey destination, I think they’ve gotta offer something unique. Tapping into the blogosphere is a way to create hardcore interest, but I’m not sure how much traffic it’ll generate,” he said.

Which is why Scarbrough has other plans on tap for the NHL page on Versus.com, which should undergo a redesign in early 2009. One major improvement, he said, will be to the depth and access to video content. Scarbrough wants to make NHL content easier to find: “So if you’re trying to find hockey video, you don’t have to go through seven bull bucks and three cycling videos.”

Also, he said there’s been some talk about adding a major component to the Web site’s editorial roster: The on-air talent at Versus. Currently, only color commentator Darren Eliot has a regular column on the Web site; getting Versus analysts like Keith Jones and Brian Engblom involved on the site is the hope. And there’s always the chance talent on the Web site could one day be featured on the TV side.

“We just flat out have to do a stronger integration job. It’s right there in front of us,” he said. “We actually have an active broadcast arm. We have studio shows, and we have talent. We have to perpetuate that brand online,” said Scarbrough.

There’s also some talk about adding an NHL “insider” to the site so Versus can get into the business of breaking some news on the air. “The best way to do that is to find someone on the Versus.com NHL section, and if that person does his or her job the right way then the TV stuff will follow,” said Scarbrough.

“We’re really not going to chase down NHL.com or ESPN, but we’re covering the League and we’re the only network covering the League,” said Scarbrough. “Our mission should be that when people come to our site for anything related to hockey, there should be some reason to stay and there should be people who know what they’re talking about.”

One challenge for Scarbrough is giving fans a reason to stay beyond the sports Versus covers.

“They have to decide what they want to be,” said Chen. “If they want to be a true sports site, then they’ve gotta invest big-time in a site redesign that incorporates MLB, NFL, etc.”

There are plans to begin coverage of sports Versus doesn’t broadcast, according to Scarbrough, and the potential to grow communities around those sports like Versus hopes to grow around hockey.

“We really need to pull the site even with everyone else in the 21st century. What you see now is trying to get a little bit of traction,” he said.

Versus has the rights to NHL games through the 2010-11 season. Ratings grew during last season’s playoffs and this season’s opener with the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs set a new standard for most-watched regular season game.

Clearly, there is positive momentum for the network.

But can that momentum, coupled with the aggressive reinvention of Versus’ Web site, make the network essential and cool for die-hard hockey fans that have openly mocked it in the past?

Is Versus destined to remain a punchline for everyone from hockey fans to IRL fans? Or can a smartly written and enticing NHL home page reach hardcore puckheads in a way “Hockey Central” never has?