-- Towering Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger leaned over and gave some input to NHL ice guru Dan Craig as Philly's players headed to the team bus. "Chris and I have been having ongoing conversations for many, many years," Craig said. "He's one of the guys around the league that always gives me information. He sees me, he comes up and gives an honest evaluation." As far as the ice here at the United Center, Craig said the ice was just "OK" on Friday considering it was a practice day and a lot of doors around the arena were opened and closed as crews prepared for Game 1. "We need to tighten up a couple things going into gameday tomorrow and we'll be fine," Craig added.
-- Kevin Weekes, making a seamless transition from goaltender to broadcaster, is covering the Stanley Cup Final for CBC and NHL Network. He has a surprising admission for FanHouse when asked how often he still plays goal. "I haven't played a single second," said Weekes, who retired last season after more than a decade in the NHL. "Even if I wanted to, there hasn't been any time."
-- As a point shot late in practice Friday from teammate Kimmo Timonen whizzed by his head, Ian Laperriere breathed a sigh of relief and then laughed out loud. "You never know with Kimmo," Laperriere told FanHouse. "Maybe he's testing me." Laperriere suffered lacerations and a concussion when he took a slap shot in the face in the Flyers' Game 5 clincher over New Jersey in the first round. He now wears a special helmet with a full shield. Laperriere said that after these playoffs, he will wear a half-shield for the remainder of his playing career.
-- Flyers coach Peter Laviolette is hanging out with some colleagues from Canadian sport network TSN, which employed him as an analyst before he took the job in Philly. "I had the good fortune of working with some great people up at TSN and it was . . .," Laviolette said before he coughed and smiled widely.
-- Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller spent about 30 minutes on the ice with NBC's Pierre McGuire to tape an on-ice segment that will run with tomorrow's broadcast. "We are just going over some element of the game a goaltender might face," Miller said. "I'll also be talking to the fans during pre-game and between periods."
-- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the Olympics continue to be a mixed bag for the league and said participation in the 2014 Sochi Games is "up in the air." Bettman said the All-Star Game won't be going anywhere, although league officials "are looking at a variety of alternatives" to spice up the exhibition.
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