On any given Wednesday . . .

~ U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska, shown at left, becomes the leading candidate for the Penguins' most valuable player when she rejects a claim by Metallurg Magnitogorsk, of the Russian Super League, that Evgeni Malkin shouldn't be playing in the NHL.

~ the Philadelphia Flyers, sporting the NHL's worst record, can spank the Anaheim Ducks, owners of the NHL's second-best record (yeah, my Sabres are No. 1), 7-4 to end a six-game losing streak. The Ducks outshot the Flyers 41-16, too.

~ New York's Jaromir Jagr moves to within one goal of 600 in his career in the Rangers' 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The milestone could come Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

~ Colin's buddy, Patrice Bergeron, plays the hero again for the Bruins, notching Boston's only goal in a 3-2 shootout victory over the Washington Capitals.

~ San Jose's Rob Davison and Colorado's Ian Laperriere find that coincidental roughing minors don't settle an on-ice squabble. Four seconds after their minors expired, the pair got into another dustup, this time each earning five-minute majors for fighting.