Sharks, Preds Game 7; Giroux to have surgery; visit 'Minneflowta' (Puck Headlines)

Here are your Puck Headlines: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media. Have a link you want to submit? Email us at [email protected]. 

• “That’s my defenseman!” [Instagram]

• Down Goes Brown goes over the heartbreaking playoff history of the San Jose Sharks. [Sportsnet] 

• Looking at the Game 7 X-factors for the Sharks. [Blades of Teal]

• “You look around the league, you look at the elimination games going around, the number of Game 7s, how close and how tight the games are. That's this time of year. You have to embrace that. I think our group understands that, and is in a good spot.” [CSN Bay Area] 

• Who will step up for the Nashville Predators in Game 7? [Tennessean] 

• Why the Predators should be optimistic with their season on the line Thursday night. [Predlines]

• Heavy weather in the area caused some St. Louis Blues fans to miss part or all of Game 7. [Post-Dispatch]

• Dan Kelly of the Albany Devils has been suspended 10 games for his hit on Andreas Johnson of the Toronto Marlies during the AHL playoffs. [AHL]

• Phil Kessel has upped his game this postseason for the Pittsburgh Penguins. [Tribune-Review]

• Anton Stralman skated at times with his old partner Victor Hedman on Wednesday, teasing a potential return. [Tampa Bay Times]

• “For teams whose only goal is winning a Cup, this failure compounds every season the trophy doesn't end up in their hands. Falling short of the ultimate prize is the reality of 29 out of 30 teams every year and we shouldn't criticize great teams disproportionately to their failure.” [Fear the Fin]

• Along with Dan Boyle, don’t expect Eric Staal or Dominic Moore to be back with the New York Rangers next season. [NY Post]

• Claude Giroux is expected to undergo hip and hernia surgery next week but is expected to be fine for the World Cup of Hockey and training camp in September. [Broad Street Hockey]

• What does Travis Hamonic’s decision to stay with the New York Islanders do to their chances of upgrading their offense? [Isles Beat]

• Sid vs. Ovi? It’s time to end the player vs. player comparisons. [Vice Sports]

• Do late additions to teams participating in the world championships actually provide a boost? [IIHF]

• What direction will Bob Murray take in deciding on a new head coach for the Anaheim Ducks? [OC Register]

• Former Philadelphia Flyer great Rick MacLeish is currently battling an illness that has left him hospitalized for six weeks. [Inquirer]

• Dan Cleary is still around and helping the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. [The Telegram]

• “ProMedica is teaming up with the family of hockey legend Gordie Howe to launch a human stem cell trial for traumatic brain injuries.” [NBC24]

• Why have so few international players joined the NWHL and CWHL? [Excelle Sports]

• Could Jimmy Vesey land with the Boston Bruins? [Boston Sports Desk]

• A Minnesota beer league team believes they’ve been banned because they’re too good. The league, however, says they’ve had repeated violations of the USA Hockey standards. [FOX9]

• William Nylander is the top fantasy hockey prospect of them all. [Dobber Hockey]

• “The Quebec Court of Appeal has upheld a $8-million settlement for a hockey player who was left paralyzed by an illegal hockey hit.” [CBC] 

• Finally, a great segment going behind the scenes of Minnesota's All-Hockey Hair team:

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