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Notes at Noon: Checkers, IIHF, and Playoff Tidbits

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Here are some recent and some not-so-recent links, you may find of interest:

Checkers News

The Charlotte Checkers playoff series against the Wilkes/Barre-Scranton Pens resumes tonight.  The Checkers hold a 2-1 lead in the series.  For a preview and more info, check out GoCheckers.com.

Checkers thriving in Carolina - WRALSportsFan.com
WRAL's Jason Jennings shows why the Checkers are thriving after their first season as the Hurricanes affiliate in Charlotte.

Youngest Staal is only brother still playing this postseason - WRALSportsFan.com

Odd Couple not at Odds - News and ObserverMike Murphy and Justin Pogge make a great team.

IIHF in Slovakia

Of course Jeff Skinner and Tuomo Ruutu, as well as prospects Justin Krueger and Frederik Andersen are representing the Hurricanes in the World Championships.  At one time, Skinner was leading the tournament in scoring.

Will "Skinnermania" take hold, like it did during the All Star Weekend?  More and more people are starting to realize just how good this kid is. 

(Some of these links are a few days old)

 

TSN Team Canada Hockey Roster | Junior Championship Scores, Pictures | Highlights & News

 

Link to Skinner's interview after game 2 http://watch.tsn.ca/featured/clip459248#clip459248

 

Scoring leaders at IIHF
Skinner leading all players on all teams after 2 games

 

Meet the 1990s: Youth will be served at 2011 WM – for some teams
Jeff Skinner of Canada, for instance, is not only the youngest player at the tournament, he is proving quickly to be among the team’s best forwards. He is still only 18, but he already has one full season of NHL hockey under his belt, and in two games with Team Canada has proved able to play at top speed against a higher level of skill on the international ice. In fact, his three goals and five points leads all players.

PICTURES from Finland's win over Denmark
Mikael Granlund and Frederik Andersen were players of the match.

IIHF - Denmark put to the test
However, in the first game against Finland, it was Fredrik Andersen who stopped the Finns, making 36 saves en route to 4-1 win. The second-generation goaltender – just like Galbraith – was Carolina’s seventh round pick last summer, and has signed with Frölunda in the Swedish Elitserien next season. This season, he was elected Denmarks Player of the Year as his Frerikshavn White Hawks finished second in the Danish league.

Canada v Belarus Highlights Video - NHL VideoCenter - Carolina Hurricanes

Aamujää: Tuomo Ruutu | Ice Hockey World Championships 2011 | Play | YLE Areena | yle.fi
Lions first chain-opening World Cup against Denmark speeding Mikko Koivu, Tuomo Ruutu and Juha Matti Aaltonen. Busy taklaajana screen is characterized by the trio known as a versatile mix

TSN Video Player
Watch videos on TSN Video Player

International Hockey : Ken Hitchcock 1-on-1
Ken Hitchcock talks about how Canada overcame early nerves to defeat Belarus in its opener.

2011 IIHF World Championship : Preliminary Round: Canada vs. Belarus
Canada kicks off its drive for World Hockey Championship Gold when it takes on Belarus.

Canadian Press Recap: Canada defeats Belarus in world championship opener

Under pressure: A medal a must for head coach Jukka Jalonen: IIHF.com
Mikko Koivu is doing double duty for his country as the 28-year-old center recently reported for the Army to do his compulsory military service. Returning to base camp with a medal around his neck would surely earn him a leave or two. By his side, he will have Tuomo Ruutu, 28, like in some many tournaments before. Without Koivu and Ruutu playing their best game, Finland won’t have a chance, as the depth drops dramatically after the top line.

Canada enters world hockey championship seeking redemption - The Globe and Mail
Rick Nash captains team looking to bounce back from seventh place finish last spring

VERSUS Covers World Championship, Featuring Guest Analyst Zach Parise " Puck The Media

 

NHL Playoffs

The Caps are down 3-0 to the Lightning and there is plenty of reaction around the league. 

Bruce Boudreau must go?

Boudreau not whining, just explaining.... ESPN Burnside

Boudreau on hot seat in must win game - James Mirtle, Globe and Mail

Boudreau - last goal should not have counted - TBO.com

Boudreau's future murky at best? Pro Hockey Talk

Barry Melrose says Tampa is the better team - Washington Post

Caps primed for another postseason letdown