Friday Links: Every Dog...

Lead Story:

• You MUST read this piece by John Scott.  It gives great insight into the mind of a kid who worked his ass off to make the NHL and who plays to make his young daughters proud, and who was bullied by the NHL in their effort to save face in a graceless situation.  You have guys trying to get out of a meaningless game and one guy for whom getting in is a dream come true.  I hope John Scott buries one at some point during the ASG, because it will be like watching magical unicorns humping on a rainbow during a glitter shower. [Players' Tribune]
  

Back to your regularly scheduled links.

Blues News:

• Thieves suck. When someone can come along and turns a wrong into a right, however, magic happens.  Say what you will about our Blues (and I will) but this is classy shit. [STLGT]
• Some lipstick on the pig from the STLPD. [STLPD]
  

Hockey News:

• Former Blue Dennis Wideman ran down a linesman from behind in last night's game in Calgary. At first glance it looks like it was a dirty move meant to hurt an unsuspecting target. But think about it...why?  Why risk your career to hit a random linesman?  Wideman claims he didn't see him until the last second...but his movements toward the linesman look deliberate.  Moments earlier, Wideman got his melon ping-ponged off the glass in a rough hit.  He looked woozy as shit on the bench afterwards. He has been suspended pending a hearing.  I'm thinking Wideman was cloudy as he skated to the bench, saw a body suddenly near the enemy bench and engaged.  Look at him after the hit...he is acting like a guy who just gave a little bit of (inconsequential) business to an opposing player, not like a guy who probably just ended his season by running a guy he had absolutely NO MOTIVE to run. Read the story, watch the video and weigh in below in the poll. [CSN]
  
• B/R's inconsequential mid-season awards. [B/R]
  
• A wild ass guess on how the ASG will turn out. This prediction model factors in some big stars who will NOT be in the game, so take it with a few more grains of salt than usual. [B/R]
• 55 facts about 99. [ESPN]
  
• The "greatest" 3-on-3 line for the NHL from each decade.  Caution: you will probably be irritated at some of the omissions. [B/R]
• Another take on the Wideman situation. [Puck Daddy]
  
• All-star drama that doesn't involve John Scott. [Puck Daddy]
  
• Some all-star merchandising that does involve John Scott. [Puck Daddy]
  

Other Shite:

• From one man's dream to another's.  From a trip to the ASG to a pizza safari. [Bored Panda]
  
• Here is a feeling we know in Blues-land.  So close to victory...but so far away. [College Humor]
  
• In the case of people who don't find farts funny v. the rest of the civilized world, I present to you exhibit A. [Distractify]
  
• Language barriers and offensive t-shirts.  [Distractify]
  
• Your beer of the day is is Old Ruffian by Great Divide in honor of John Scott.  This beer is strong, sweet, epic and smooth.  Guaranteed to kick your ass with its 10.2% ABV it promises not to let you down in the ASG. [Untappd]
  

Song of the Day:

...has its day, indeed.