The Cool List

Cool

1. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins: Fleury was gonna be No. 1 again no matter what, he's just that cool, but he secured the spot with some remarkable clutch saves against Martin Havlat and the Chicago Blackhawks.

With the Pens and Hawks tied 4-4 in overtime, Brent Seabrook carried the puck deep down the left side of the slot and centered a pass to Havlat who had gotten a step on Sidney Crosby to the right post. It looked like Havlat had the winner on his stick until Fleury flashed the yellow, stretching out to block the shot with his left toe. And as Crosby tied up Havlat, Fleury scrambled to freeze the puck with his glove. It literally saved the game.

Fleury kept the good times rolling in the shootout, stoning Havlat and Bryan Smolinski to give the Birds a 5-4 win. Once again, it took another miraculous save to keep Havlat off the board. He faked a shot, getting Fleury to think five-hole, before pulling the puck to his backhand. But the Flower stayed right with it, doing the splits to dramatically glove the puck. There was much rejoicing.

When LCS asked Havlat to comment on our favorite goaltender, the Chicago winger said, "He is a great goalie and will be for years to come."

Well said, Martin. Well said.

2. Martin Havlat, Chicago Blackhawks: Yes, Havlat had a rough night of it in Pittsburgh, but it took a Herculean effort from Fleury to keep him off the board, snapping a six- game goal-scoring streak which saw him stockpile seven goals and 11 points. When healthy, Havlat's been dynamic for the Hawks, scoring some of the season's most beautiful goals and maturing into a legitimate superstar. And when LCS asked him to comment on Fleury, he actually did. Normally people ignore us until we go away... or say they have to wash their hair... or say they have an incurable skin disease and insanity runs in their family. But Havlat answered us. He's cool like that.

3. Dion Phaneuf, Calgary Flames: As always, Phaneuf is phantastic. Normally I'd mention a bunch of stats here, but stats? Phaneuf don't need no stinking stats.

4. Marian Gaborik, Minnesota Wild: Wow, Gaborik actually stayed healthy for two straight Cool Lists. But his coolness quotient definitely got a bump from being reunited with Pavol Demitra. In seven February games, Gabby has seven goals and 12 points, all while keeping Jacques Lemaire happy with a plus-6.

5. Brendan Shanahan, New York Rangers: Shanny's made the cut three times in a row. The first time was for fighting Donald Brashear. The second was for ripping the league's officiating. And now he pulls off the hat trick by showing up in the dressing room to inspire his teammates only one day after getting knocked the (sunshine) out in an accidental collision with Mike Knuble. Shanny was taken off the ice on a stretcher and spent the night in the hospital. But when you're a leader, little things like brain injuries don't matter. Look at George W. Bush.

6. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins: Malkin's goal against the Capitals on Sunday was sick. He was about four feet from the goal line in the right wing corner when he wired a one-timer short-side over Brent Johnson's left shoulder. It was a laser rocket shot.

7. Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning: If not for Sidney Crosby and Martin Brodeur, Lecavalier would be deserving of serious MVP consideration. He's leading the league with 39 goals, and his 80 points are second only to Crosby. Over his last 36 games, Vinny's been as electrifying as the lightning bolts on his pants, ringing up an astounding 29 goals and 54 points. Of course, Crosby has 62 points over that same span, but who's counting?

8. Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings: Who the?!? What the?!? A Red Wing made the Cool List? I'm feeling dizzy. But few players in the league have been as hot as Zetterberg. In his last 10 games, he's got 11 goals and 23 points, including two three-point nights and three four-point efforts. That's a lot of scoring. He's like a Swedish Sam Malone.

9. Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames: Iginla returned to action since the last cool list, collecting five goals and 13 points in nine games. Unfortunately, Calgary is just 4-3-2 since he came back, but the NHL is much cooler when Jarome is on the ice.

10. Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche: Sakic joined the 600-goal club this past week, and he did it in style, recording two goals and five points in a 7-5 win over the Flames. The 37-year- old captain is currently riding an eight-game point streak, totaling five goals and 15 points. Sakic is averaging 1.19 points per game this season, the most since he clicked at 1.43 in his 2000-01 Hart Trophy campaign.

Team Cool

COOLEST TEAMS
We've decided to add a team competition. Bet early, bet often.

1. Pittsburgh Penguins: This isn't even close. Not only do the Penguins have young stars like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Ryan Whitney, and Marc-Andre Fleury, their third and fourth lines are loaded with cool, scrappy role players like Colby Armstrong, Maxime Talbot, and Chris Thorburn. The Penguins are the coolest team... IN THE WORLD!

2. Calgary Flames: Calgary's coolness took a hit when it swapped Andrew Ference and Chuck Kobasew for Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau, but El Scorcho remains the second-coolest team in hockey on the strength of Jarome Iginla, Dion Phaneuf, Robyn Regehr, and Miikka Kiprusoff.

3. Minnesota Wild: It's all about the Slovakian sorcery of Marian Gaborik and Pavol Demitra, not to mention Brian Rolston's supersonic slappers. Petteri Nummelin's shootout mastery doesn't hurt, either. Just pretend Mark Parrish isn't on the team.

4. Atlanta Thrashers: They've got the crazy blue uniforms and three ridiculously cool players in Marian Hossa, Ilya Kovalchuk, and Kari Lehtonen.

5. Buffalo Donald Trumps: This was a tough call, but the Trumps nailed down the fifth and final spot on the strength of Chris Drury, Daniel Briere, Tomas Vanek, Maxim Afinogenov, and Ryan Miller. And don't forget to watch "The Apprentice" Thursdays at 9PM on NBC.

LEAST COOL TEAMS

26. Columbus Blue Jackets: They had the potential to be special until Rick Nash and Nikolai Zherdev decided to retire early. What? Nash and Zherdev are still playing? Well, you certainly got me there.

27. New York Islanders: I'm sorry, but Alexei Yashin? Miroslav Satan? Viktor Kozlov? If the NHL had an AV club, this is it. Their GM is Garth Snow. End of discussion. And it hurts, because Mike Bossy and Pat LaFontaine are two LCS icons.

28. Florida Panthers: Old age, injuries, and a whole lot of suck caught up to the Cats.

29. New Jersey Devils: The hockey equivalent of the SATs... except boring. They're so dull, they make a trip to the DMV seem like a weekend at the Playboy Mansion.

30. Detroit Red Wings: (Sunshine) Detroit!

MYSPACE COOL?
Myspace is lame. Don't let anyone tell you any different. But when you do it ironically, it becomes cool. So don't forget to become our Myspace "friend." The LCS page is a swell time. It's got a chimp playing hockey, lots of Whale logos, and the Brass Bonanza blaring 24-7. Good times, good times.

www.myspace.com/lcshockey

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