The Ice Sheet: Return of the Kid - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

Every day from Monday to Saturday, The Ice Sheet will take a look at the biggest stories in the league that happened on the ice and elsewhere the night before.

In what was a considerably ho-hum night (if you can call a night during the playoff push ho-hum) around the NHL, probably the biggest story was Sid the Kid's return to the lineup in Pittsburgh. Playing for the first time since March 9th and only the fourth time since January 18th, he helped the Penguins get past the Islanders. Well, as much as 0 points can help the team. I keed. I keed. With the win, the Pens jumped over the idle Canadiens and captured first place in the Eastern Conference.

Now you're probably thinking that this is going to turn into some kind of Crosby love fest for another 200 or so words. Well, it's not. That's because the star of the show wasn't Crosby or newly acquired Marian Hossa. While the pair did play together for the first time as Penguins, it was Jarkko Ruutu who notched a point on each Penguins goal. Ruutu finished the night with a goal and two assists, a career high, and probably summed up his achievement better than anyone else:

"Some nights, it's someone you don't expect," Ruutu said after posting his career high in points. "Tonight I was the guy. You play 400-some games, and get three points for the first time."

Sometimes, you know, hell just happens to freeze over. But all kidding aside, it was certainly a heck of a night for Ruutu and mad props to him for that (as the kids would say). FINAL: Pittsburgh 3, NY Islanders 1.

But Ruutu wasn't the only one getting some action on Thursday night. No, there was plenty more going on around the NHL. Robin, to the jump mobile!

After we jump gracefully to the otherside: The Leafs set a franchise record, the Canucks playoff hopes are dealt a blow and if the Kings and Coyotes play a meaningless game, does it really happen?

Not the kind of record that they had in mind. Tonight the Leafs lost to the Bruins and in doing so, they set a record that no franchise ever wants to set. The Leafs have officially missed the playoffs for the third straight season, which ties a franchise record for a playoff drought. The last time Toronto missed the playoffs three years in a row was from 1926-28. While tying this sort of record is always a bad thing, Leafs Nation can take solace in the fact that in the grand scheme of things, three years out of the playoffs isn't all that much. Just ask Chicago, Florida or Columbus. FINAL: Boston 4, Toronto 2.

Boom! Double whammy! The Canucks were hit hard today even though they weren't in action. The team announced that center Brendan Morrison is done for the rest of the season thanks to a torn ACL. Morrison was injured in Wednesday night's loss to Colorado. Goalie Roberto Luongo has also left the team to be with his pregnant wife but if all goes as planned, he should be able to rejoin the team today for their game in Minnesota. Nonetheless, the Canucks are still in a very tight spot. They're currently only two points ahead of the Predators for 8th place in the Western Conference, or the spot also known as 'who wants to lose to Detroit?'

Believe me, the game does in fact count. In the most meaningless game of the night, only because both teams are completely out of playoff contention, the Coyotes and Kings faced off in Los Angeles. Contrary to popular belief the game did count. Contrary to their best interests (i.e. a #1 overall pick in the June draft) the Kings won the game. FINAL: Los Angeles 4, Phoenix 0.

Other scores that you might want to digest with your morning coffee:
NY Rangers 3, New Jersey 2. The Rangers are 7-0 against the Devils on the season. Again, I am not making this stuff up folks!
Buffalo 4, Ottawa 3 (SO). The Sabres keeps pace, but five points is still quite a gap.
Washington 4, Tampa Bay 3 (OT). Alex Ovechkin held goalless? Has the world gone completely mad?
Atlanta 3, Florida 2. Bobby freaking Holik had two goals in this one. I completely forgot he was still in the league.
San Jose 3, Dallas 2 (OT). The Stars earn their third point of the month. For comparative purposes the Sharks earned their 23rd and 24th points of the month.


The Derek Zoolander picture of the night for kids who can't read good:
It's the newest Olympic sport -- competitive ice diving!



Your obligatory YouTube video:
Just because I'm an Islander fan, here are the top five Pat LaFontaine goals as an Islander. You'll thank me after you watch #2 because it's completely ridiculous.