Maybe the misadventures of the excitable Alex Ovechkin are becoming contagious among his fellow European pucksters.
While Martin Gerber was going positively apoplectic (or as positively apoplectic as a Swiss can become) in disputing a Washington Capitals goal, former Maple Leafs prospect Tuukka Rask went totally Finn-sane in an AHL game.
Rask took the ref to task after a questionable call went against his Providence Bruins in a shootout.
The goaltender showed potential to be a whack-a-mole star, with some impressive stick-smashing, followed by a milk-crate toss.
Rask wasn't suspended -- maybe because he was right.
The Leafs' Gerber was no less right, but not so lucky in escaping a three-game suspension.
(Check out the episode of Rask rage on youtube.com)
GREAT ONE AGAIN?
The Phoenix Coyotes' fortunes have sunk -- both literally and figuratively.
The money-losing Coyotes haven't made the playoffs since 2002 and will miss them again this season.
Yet, coach Wayne Gretzky remains positive the team will rebound, and the franchise will survive.
"Going into the all-star break, it was pretty exciting and there was a real strong buzz," Gretzky tells Lisa Dillman at versus.com, reflecting on a strong opening half of the season.
"Not to make any excuses but (the financial instability) sort of seeped into the locker room."
Gretzky says he expects the financial situation to be resolved within "three to four weeks" and that new ownership could add free-agent help to supplement the Coyotes' youth movement.
For those who think his time is up in the desert, Gretzky says: "I love it. I'm not going anywhere."
HAVIN' MY BABIES
Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Jose Tabata says he was "shocked" as well as "hurt, frustrated, and confused" to find out his wife was accused of kidnapping a two-month-old baby.
Hey, Jose, you should have known your wife, Amalia, might be a cradle robber.
After all, she's 43 and you're 20.
FACE THE MUSIC
Sure, the Blue Jays will have an inexperienced pitching rotation. But you have to have some Purcey faith.
SAY WHAT?
Commenting on the Tigers scheduling their home opener at the same time as the afternoon holy hours of Good Friday, the Rev. Ed Vilkauskas of Detroit's St. Mary's Catholic Church said the game will keep people from attending services.
"Nobody is saying baseball isn't big, but Good Friday is really big," Vilkauskas said.
"It's 2,000 years old."
Even older than Tiger Stadium.
GARY.LOEWEN@SUNMEDIA.CA
