Shaved Ice – Mar. 4

The CCHA playoffs begin for the final time this week.

The CCHA regular season has come to a close for the final time.  After another wild weekend in college hockey, the first-round match-ups are set. In case you haven’t seen them yet…

• Michigan hosts Northern Michigan
• Michigan State travels to Alaska
• Lake Superior hosts Bowling Green

We were at Yost and Munn all weekend long; click on the pictures below to see photo galleries from each game.

We were also at The Joe yesterday to see the Red Wings almost snap the Blackhawks’ streak. Delay-of-game penalties for clearing the puck over the glass tend to ruin parties. Click the picture to see our recap and photo gallery from the Blackhawks’ shootout win…if you really want to.

This Friday is the Griffins’ annual ‘Purple Game’. If you’re out on the west side of the state, we hope you attend. For more information, click here.

Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta has a phone call with Shanny and Co. today. I hope they give him a lengthy, lengthy sentence. Here’s the hit in question.

Wolverines alum Max Pacioretty was named the NHL’s top star of the week. He had a point in all four games the Habs played in, recording four goals and seven assists in the time frame.

Speaking of top stars, we picked Marquette native Justin Florek as our Michi-gamer of the weekend after a four-point night for the Providence Bruins.

Wolverines alum Mike Brown has been traded to the Edmonton Oilers; the Maple Leafs will receive a conditional fourth-round pick at the NHL Draft (Brown has to clear a physical). Brown, also a NTDP alum, has 70 PIM in 12 games this season.

Evgeni Malkin is returning to the Penguins’ line-up after a concussion sustained on Feb. 22.

Cam Ward has a MCL sprain, and he’s out for six to eight weeks.

Perhaps a goalie’s worst nightmare.

See you tomorrow.