Bruins' 2018 draft pick lined up?

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Written by Justin Rice

Sunday, October 18, 2009 00:00

Northeast Division notebook: The Boston Bruins might not be giving fans much to cheer about on the ice — they were 3-3 heading into Saturday night's game in Phoenix — but Oliver Wahlstrom has. The 9-year-old has become a YouTube sensation after he scored a dazzling goal during an Oct. 4 “Mini One-on-One” tournament taped at TD Bank Garden. The goal, in which the Maine resident picks the puck up on the side of his blade, spins and then flicks it into the net, appeared on ESPN. It had received more than 300,000 views on YouTube by Saturday. The boy also appeared on the CBS Early Show on Friday. Wahlstrom told the Boston Globe he modeled the move after University of Michigan’s Mike Legg’s 1996 goal in which he carried the puck on his blade before popping it in the net. “I call it ‘The Michigan,’ ” he said. “I just dreamt it up.” MONTREAL Despite having seven men on the ice in the final moments of a 3-2 loss to Colorado earlier this week, the Canadiens couldn’t net the equalizer. The Habs sent out an extra attacker but, when Hal Gill’s penalty ended in the final minute, Gill remained on the ice and the officials didn’t realize the Canadiens had an extra man. ... A similar situation went down in Game 3 of the Staley Cup Finals last year when Pittsburgh had six skaters on the ice for 21 seconds before beating Detroit 4-2. … It does not appear that the team will discipline Georges Laraque for endorsing an alcoholic energy drink. The Canadiens enforcer appeared in an Internet ad for the drink Octane 7.0 — playing street hockey with scantily clad women — despite the fact the league prohibits players from sponsoring alcoholic beverages other than malt-based beverages, such as beer. The Habs say sanctions will have to come from the NHL, which has not commented on the issue. ... Prime Minister Stephen Harper helped unveil a set of commemorative stamps celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Center on Saturday. He was accompanied by hockey legends Rejean Houle and Guy Lafleur and Habs president Pierre Boivin. TORONTO One of two winless teams as of Friday (the Islanders being the other), the Maple Leafs attempted to lighten things up during Thursday’s practice. Coach Ron Wilson introduced activities such as dodgeball with tennis balls and relay races. He also sent players through a length-of-the-ice gauntlet while the rest of the team shelled them with pucks. ... The Leafs did, however, get some good news this week: Thursday was also Phil Kessel's first day back to practice after an injury. ... And some bad news: defenseman Mike Van Ryn will have major knee surgery in late October, removing him from the lineup for the season and possibly ending his career. OTTAWA Milan Michalek collected a hat trick in the most spectacular fashion Thursday night, not just scoring once in each period of a 7-1 victory against Tampa Bay, but by scoring twice short-handed and once on a power play. ... Head coach Cory Clouston told the Ottawa Sun that defenseman Filip Kuba, who has missed five games with a groin injury, was to skate Saturday with an eye towards returning Thursday when the Senators host the Nashville Predators. ... Defenseman Anton Volchenkov had 18 blocked shots through Friday, tied for fourth in the league. BUFFALO The “upper body injury” sustained by standout winger Thomas Vanek kept him out of back-to-back games Friday and Saturday. Vanek left Wednesday’s 6-2 victory against the Detroit Red Wings with 12:46 to go in the second period and did not return. After the game his coach, Lindy Ruff, said it was possible Vanek would be out for “weeks.” ... Ryan Miller ranked second among all starting goalies in goals-against average (1.58) and third in save percentage (.938) through Saturday. The Sabres' eight goals allowed through Saturday were the fewest in the league.