More information has been released about Boston Pride player Denna Laing's injury.

Laing suffered a "severe spinal cord injury" in the Women's Outdoor Classic | SCOC
"As of today, Denna has limited movement of her arms and no feeling in her legs. Our prayer going forward is that Denna can be moved from the Intensive Care Unit to a Rehabilitation Center and continue to fight everyday with her trademark grit and resolve."

Tragic Denna Laing Update | THW

Laing sustained severe spinal cord injury before NHL Winter Classic | CBC

Laing ‘suffered a severe spinal cord injury’ at Winter Classic | Sportsnet

Recovering from and living with spinal cord injuries are the work of a lifetime for both the patient and their caregivers. Everything changes, especially the way the injured lives in and with their body. It is sometimes a daily fight against despair knowing that their body can no longer do things the way they remember doing them, and knowing that their caregivers are affected as profoundly as they are. It is also a huge shift in paradigm.

It takes a brave person to learn to live in a body that's different from those around them, and takes a powerful mental shift to know that this new body can still give back as much as any body on the planet. For me, as a caregiver, it was understanding that my father is still my father, paraplegic or not. When I say that my thoughts and prayers are with Denna Laing, oh boy, are they. I'm still finding a way to write about her, and when I do, I will write a longer article.

Anyway, on to hockey, which is less important today than this sheer act of living.

Leafs News

The Leafs end the California road trip tonight @ The Sharks, and the game will be at a reasonable time! A game preview will be up early this afternoon.

Maple Leafs share highlight pack of NHL All-Star Leo Komarov | PPP

Maple Leafs fans, you need to lower your expectations... | PPP

2016 Women's World Juniors Coverage: Recap: USA 6 - Czechs 0 | PPP

Maple Leafs are taking it outside - Pension Plan Puppets
Leafs hosting outdoor practice on Monday morning. Species 1967 will be there in person to cover this event despite what will no doubt be a horrific TTC trip to East York. Build the damn DRL already!

Other Hockey News

What Would Jonathan Drouin Face In St. Louis? | SLGT
"Going from Jon Cooper to Ken Hitchcock would be an interesting scenario for Drouin. He's a former third overall pick with offensive potential. What happens if he winds up taking Jaskin's spot on the fourth line?"

Canadiens: Price out until early February at earliest | Yahoo

Interview with Brooke Ammerman of the New York Riveters | BSB
"A dominant player at Wisconsin, a New Jersey native, and the first player to score a goal as a New York Riveter. Brooke Ammerman is one of the Riveters' most exciting players to watch on the ice and she agreed to do a quick interview with us for Blueshirt Banter."

Lucic recalls junior hockey scrap with Schenn | LA Kings Insider
"I actually had a broken finger at the time, but it was my draft year, so I didn’t tell anyone, and I was still fighting with a broken finger. That’s when I think everyone found out real quick that Luke was a lefty, when he comes in and he throws a couple quick lefts."

Emerson Etem in, Nicklas Jensen Out | Nucks Misconduct

Marcus Johansson Suspended Two Games | Japers Rink

Ovechkin approaches 500-goal milestone in historic fashion | Yahoo

Report: Pittsburgh Penguins getting new jerseys for next season | Pensburgh

Map shows the most popular NHL team in every state | Business Insider

Many mysteries left to uncover in second half of NHL season | ESPN

Capitals working to bring Richards up to speed | NHL
#Phrasing, NHL. #Phrasing.

Recaps

Syracuse Crunch 4, Albany Devils 6
"Drouin was sent to Syracuse of the American Hockey League last weekend and started a stretch of three games in three days with the Crunch on Friday in a 6-4 loss at Albany. The third overall pick in the 2013 draft started things off with a bang on Friday, picking up a pair of first-period goals against Albany, converting on a breakaway and finishing off a 2-on-1 rush with a backhand move late to tie it at 2. It was just his second game played since Dec. 10 because of a nagging lower-body injury."

LOLOILERS!

Brad Malone caught Nick Foligno with a head shot behind the play, leaving the Blue Jackets' captain very groggy after spending some time on the ice. Torts, as usual, declined to update his injury status after the game.

How's that Johansen trade working out so far?

Familiarly Bad Performance in Devils Decisive Loss to Bruins - All About The Jersey
The Devils were out-played, out-shot, and out-attempted again - only tonight the Boston Bruins made the loss decisive with a 1-4 final score.

Hurricanes 4, Blue Jackets 1 - Team Effort Snaps Losing Streak - Canes Country
In the front end of a home-and-home, the Canes played solid from start to finish, taking round one of the Metro basement battle.

Buffalo drops sixth straight, 3-1 - Die By The Blade
A late goal by Blackhawks rookie Phillip Danault sealed the Sabres' fate Friday night in Chicago

Avalanche Take Down Predators 5-3 - Mile High Hockey
Colorado plays 60 minutes of good hockey, beating division rival Nashville and moving into a tie for the second Wild Card spot.

Lightning rally late against Edmonton to win 3-2 in come-from-behind victory - Raw Charge
The Bolts conclude the first half of the season on a high note to bring optimism moving forward after a moderately mediocre last three months.

Comeback Ducks Re-Emerge, Sink St. Louis 4-3 In Shootout - Anaheim Calling
Ryan Kesler scored a pair of goals and Ryan Getzlaf had the shootout winner as the Anaheim Ducks rallied to beat the St. Louis Blues 4-3 in a shootout Friday night at Honda Center.

From The Branches