Miroslav Satan, From Practice Rink to Playoff Hero

The setting, appropriately enough for the head-scratching transaction, was Fenway Park on New Year's Day. The Bruins and Flyers had wrapped up the NHL Winter Classic about 90 minutes earlier, and then the United States Olympic Hockey team was introduced. The hockey writers in the Fenway press box were, to put it mildly, a little dazed -- as if we just sat through a 20-inning baseball game. That's when it got really confusing.

"Hey, didja hear this?" said one Boston scribe to no one in particular. "The Bruins are signing Satan."

Yeah, right. Miroslav Satan. The 35-year-old former big-time goal scorer who seemed to have lost his fastball a few years ago?

The Miro Satan who Pittsburgh signed a year ago, maybe to play with Crosby, and instead spent a portion of the season playing for the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League? (He ended the year holding the Stanley Cup over his head).

The Miro Satan who had spent the last six months skating at the Islanders' practice facility near his home on Long Island, sometimes shooting on rehabilitating goaltender Rick DiPietro, often skating all by himself?

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Yes, that Miroslav Satan. In a league where offensive talent is at a premium -- he did score 35 goals for the New York Islanders just four seasons ago -- Satan did not receive a contract offer to his liking. Then again, in a league where offensive talent is at a premium, Satan is a pretty good guy to be able to call after Christmas and add to your lineup. Especially at a half-season rate.

Money was not an issue for Satan. He just wanted to play hockey again in the NHL. All Satan requested was a one-way contract and a no-move clause, guaranteeing that he would not be sent to the minors. If it didn't work out, it didn't work out.

On Wednesday night, at 7:41 into the second overtime, it officially worked out for Satan and the Bruins. The always-smooth left wing took a pass from Michael Ryder, showed a classic goal scorer's patience, went to his backhand and slid the puck past Ryan Miller. The Bruins, who won 3-2, hold a 3-1 lead in their first-round series over the Sabres, the team Satan had his best years with.

The veteran forward almost ended the game in the first overtime, but Miller -- locked in an astonishing goaltenders' dual with Tuukka Rask -- robbed him.

"He made a save on me in the first period that maybe two goalies in the league -- and they both played tonight -- could have made that save," Satan said after the game. "Eventually, I got him."

The Bruins got Satan in that out-of-nowhere, fine-print transaction on New Year's Day. He scored nine goals for Boston in 38 regular-season games, but on Wednesday all those laps and puck drills by himself for months on Long Island paid off. Miro Satan scored one of the biggest goals of his NHL career.