St. Louis is a nice city

Having traveled to St. Louis a couple years ago, I'm pretty certain that Hannu Toivonen will enjoy his move. In some ways, baseball in particular, it will remind him of Boston. It's more quiet, though. Not so much hustle and bustle. And there's always the Mississippi and the Gateway Arch. Besides, Brad Boyes, another ex-Bruin, plays for the Blues.

Definitely worth the trip

Sometimes it’s fun to be humbled. All I was proud of myself for getting Boston’s Hannu Toivonen ("the backup goalie" was how Tampa's dealers referred to him) to sign these four cards.

Then I noticed Toivonen happily signing nine cards for a Bruins fan and autograph collector visiting from Hershey, Pa.

Despite the bumpy ride he’s had this season, Toivonen has always been a class act.

Sunday morning homily II

Between buying a frame, coaxing my voice back from hockey-induced hoarseness, developing a hunger to indulge later today at St. Petersburg's Ribfest and preparing for the first of two talks with journalism students at the University of South Florida, I'm quite proud of my wife, Lisa.

Not only does she have to tolerate me (quite a feat in and of itself), but she's developing a hockey awareness:

Deep into the 2001-02 season, on a bitter cold morning, she accompanied me into Boston to get some autographs from the Atlanta Thrashers. Nelson Emerson, one of her favorite players, was still in the league and she wanted to get another autograph.

What caught her eye that morning, though, was a very young Ilya Kovalchuk.

"There he was, a young kid, all pimply-faced and wide-eyed, taking in everything," she told me this morning. "He looked like a little boy."

Fast forward, nearly five years later, to a picture-perfect Florida afternoon. Lisa's become part of the regular Saturday game-time hounding crowd and Atlanta's in town.

"Now, when I look at Kovalchuk, he's looks so different. He knows what he's doing. He's acting so cool. It's like he knows he's The Man," she said. "It's fun watching him grow up."

~ Speaking of the Thrashers, Kari Lehtonen might be a pretty good goalie, but he's got some growing up to do. After the Lightning took a 4-0 lead during the second period last night, Lehtonen, in a show of frustration, shot one of his water bottles down the ice toward a referee.

Unfortunately, the on-ice officials (a truly bumbling group, consisting of referees Dan Marouelli and Chris Rooney and linesmen Pierre Racicot and Vaughan Rody) missed the childish indiscretion. The crowd didn't, though, screaming for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and, possibly, a game misconduct.

The officials, however, must have received a call from Toronto during the intermission. The start of the third period was delayed as Marouelli gave Lehtonen a good, old-fashioned finger-wagging tongue-lashing.

~ Daniel Briere is not just a co-captain of the Buffalo Sabres, he's becoming the team's savior. Trailing 4-3 to the hapless Philadelphia Flyers, Briere scored with less than three minutes remaining in the game to force overtime. His goal 21 seconds into overtime sent the Flyers to their fifth straight loss. It was the Sabres' third-straight win in overtime, too.

~ Patrice Bergeron, a favorite here at Hound Central 2.0, helped his Bruins escape another embarrassing loss last night. After blowing a two-goal lead -- yet again -- and allowing the disappointing Ottawa Senators back into the game, Bergeron's tip-in late in the third period proved to be the game-winner.

With all of the trade talk swirling around 100 Legends Way these days, especially since goalie Hannu Toivonen sustained a mild sprain of his left ankle last night in Worcester, Mass., let's hope that Colin's best buddy remains untouchable.

~ Finally, fans of Patrick Roy (myself included) shall allow themselves a St. Patrick-like smirk as the game's greatest goalie -- ever -- will be inducted in hockey's hallowed hall tomorrow. Joining Roy will be Dick Duff, the late Herb Brooks, Harley Hotchkiss and media wingers Peter Maher and Scott Morrison.

We're with you, Hannu

Hey Hannu:

I heard the news that you’re headed down to Providence. Hopefully, it’ll be a short stay.

While you’re down there, though, take some time for yourself. Head out to the ocean. Feed some seagulls. Grab a cup of coffee (Avoid Starbucks, though, if you know what I mean) and walk along the river or around the neighborhoods near Brown. If you’re up for it, take a ride out to T.F. Green and watch the jets.

Either way, buddy, go clear your head.

Stop thinking about injuries. Stop thinking about bad goals. Stop thinking about breaking in new pads. Stop thinking about changing numbers. Though I know it’s easier said than done, you’ve got to stop thinking about, well, thinking.

And, if you have sustained a concussion (or two) recently, as some have suggested, it wouldn’t hurt to talk to a doctor. Remember, it takes more of a man to admit pain than it does to hide it.

You must know, too, that you have a ton of support. The truest fans, including a young one down here in Florida where your signed goalie stick dominates a bedroom wall, know that you haven’t forgotten how to play the position. It’s good, too, that you’re young. We know a bright future lies ahead of you.

Playing goal is about two things –- positioning and reflexes. Sure, positioning does take some initial thought. In time, though, it becomes intuitive. As for your reflexes, buddy, there are no doubts.

None whatsoever.

We’ll see you soon.