Devils rookie gets called for worst dive ever (VIDEO)

The NHL has been trying to cut down on embellishment over the past couple of years and has even started fining players for flopping as a way to draw penalties.

On Tuesday night, New Jersey Devils rookie Joseph Blandisi ended up earning a two-minute minor for embellishment when he took a dive after he was slashed on the back of the leg by Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Andrew MacDonald — who was about three feet away.

And the ploy was so flagrant, it's funny.

Blandisi regretted what he did afterwards.

"I never got swung at like that before, but I guess I could've done something to avoid that penalty," the young puckster said.

And what would that be?

"Just take it. Think about it before I go to the ground," Blandisi said. "I guess maybe I wanted to make sure the ref saw it and I took it too far."

Hockey. Soccer on skates.

And the award for Worst Flop of All Time goes to Joseph Blandisi of the @NJDevils. pic.twitter.com/bHCAcAIUhm

— 120 Sports (@120Sports) February 17, 2016

Philadelphia Flyers penalty box gets a little crowded (VIDEO)

The foil was out early in Sunday's matchup between the Flyers and Ducks after Philadelphia goaltender Steve Mason and Anaheim right wing Corey Perry got into it five minutes into the first period.

The end result was five — yes five — Flyers stuffed into the penalty box.

This GIF hilariously shows the quintet of teammates looking quite at home inside the box:

Flyers in their natural habitat. (I find the GIF a lot funnier than the picture for some reason.) pic.twitter.com/SmHmkOhCsN

— Becca H (@BeccaH_JR) December 28, 2015

And here's the breakaway that started the chaos:

Ducks went on to a 4-2 win.

Flyers' Mark Streit out six weeks with painful sounding 'pubic plate detachment'

Philadelphia Flyers' Mark Streit is going to be sidelined for at least the next six weeks after he has surgery on Tuesday morning.

And in describing the defenseman's injury, the Flyers decided to be specific. Painfully specific.

The team tweeted on Saturday morning that the 37-year-old Streit is going to be on the mend after he undergoes surgery to repair a "pubic plate detachment." 

That's right. Now, grit your teeth and read it here:

Injury Update: Mark Streit will have surgery on Tuesday morning to repair a pubic plate detachment. He is expected to be out for six weeks.

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) November 14, 2015

If you're wondering what, exactly, a pubic plate is, according to Sports Medicine Imagining "it constitutes a central hub of mechanical linkage between the abdominal wall and the lower limbs."

In 16 games this season Streit is the Flyers' second-leading scorer with nine points (three goals and six assists) while playing more than 22 minutes per night.

On Saturday the team called up defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League.

Flyers' Michael Raffl OK after bench collapse scare (VIDEO)

At first, when Michael Raffl suddenly slumped on the bench 2:58 into the second period of a 3-2 shootout victory over the Rangers, his Flyers teammates thought their left wing was just up to one of his old pranks. After all, the Austrian has been known for trying almost anything to get a laugh.

But it didn't take long before everyone quickly found out this was no joke. Something seemed to be seriously wrong with Raffl.

“I thought he was joking around and I told him to move,” said Flyers captain, Claude Giroux. “And I realized he wasn’t joking around.”

Raffl was woozy after skating into Jarret Stoll’s elbow moments earlier before coming off the ice and, while talking to Giroux, he suddenly passed out.

Michael Raffl leaves the bench in Philadelphia, pretty scary moment. https://t.co/weOSKsQcn7 .. GM Hextall says he's OK

— Bobby (@montrealdesign) October 25, 2015

"I told him to move," Giroux said. "Then I realized he wasn't joking around. Then I started freaking out and started yelling at (athletic trainer) Jimmy (McCrossin). It wasn't a fun moment. The whole team was pretty worried."

Screams could be heard from the Flyers bench as the Rangers began a power play. Players smacked their sticks on the boards and someone threw a glove on the ice to get the attention of officials, which led to a stoppage of play for about five minutes.

Here's the incidental elbow to Raffl's head by Stoll as he checked the New York forward from behind.

Possibly a 'delayed' concussion for Michael Raffl https://t.co/OGRmIorLBX #Flyers

— Bobby (@montrealdesign) October 25, 2015

Happily, for Raffl, he didn't even require a trip to a hospital.

"He's fine," GM Ron Hextall said. "I would not say that if he wasn't fine. Michael's fine."

It's still too early to tell though if Raffl will be good to go for the Flyers' next game, Tuesday night at home against the Devils.

But there was another good sign, claimed Hextall.

"I just talked to him," he said. "He's actually cracking jokes."

Islanders to replace Ice Girls squad with co-ed crew after move to Brooklyn: Report

In a move that reeks more of political correctness than equal opportunity, the New York Islanders said they are thawing out their Ice Girls squad and replacing them with a co-ed ice cleaning crew.

The NHL hockey team is dropping the sexy, cheerleader-like team when it moves from Nassau Coliseum to Barclays Center in Brooklyn this fall, according to Sports Illustrated.

“We decided to go in a different direction,” Barry Baum, spokesman for the Barclays Center, told the magazine.

“We’ve spent a lot of time talking with Islanders fans who made it clear they wanted their favorite traditions brought to Brooklyn, and we have listened.”

The Islanders were the first team in the NHL to introduce an all-female ice cleaning squad back in 2001. Besides shoveling loose snow off the ice at stoppages, they performed various promotional duties.

Other teams — such as the Philadelphia Flyers and the Los Angeles Kings — soon followed suit.

But then came the protests from some who felt the female skaters' sometimes revealing attire was both unnecessary and demeaning to female fans.

The Flyers ended up dumping their Ice Girls after bowing to pressure, but later went co-ed  after fans booed the all-male crew at every timeout.

But Islanders fans need not despair as many members of the team will remain on the new co-ed squad.

Baum said the team will be tasked with “helping create the best ice possible as mandated by the NHL.”

Flyers offer free admission, snacks to attract fans during snowstorm

Thursday's constant snowfall and dropping temperatures made conditions for traveling around Philadelphia very difficult for most Flyers fans.

And Mother Nature's wrath left a whole lot of empty seats at Wells Fargo Center for a very important and tough game for the back-in-contention Flyers.

By the opening faceoff, the arena was more than half empty, so quick-thinking management came up with a plan to reward fans who would brave the weather: Free admission!

Use @SEPTA to head down to @WellsFargoCtr & get FREE admission to tonight’s game. Stop by the box office to claim your tickets. #STLvsPHI
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 6, 2015

And then as an added bonus for slogging through the white stuff, the Flyers fed everyone, too, with free pretzels, free hot dogs and free soda refills.

As our way of saying thanks for coming out tonight, enjoy free hot dogs, pretzels, and soda refills! #STLvsPHI pic.twitter.com/FhZWM2uAuX
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 5, 2015

And the freebie offer paid off.

After falling behind in front of the small opening crowd — 12,531 fans ended up showing up, about 9,500 on paid tickets and the other 3,000 getting in for nothing — the Flyers scored three third-period goals to pull out a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Blues to get to within four points of a playoff spot.

"With weather like that, 12,000 is amazing," defenseman Mark Streit said. "They showed up and supported us, and it was still a good atmosphere when we scored those goals. Great fans always in Philadelphia, and I thought it was a great game to watch."

Snow days aren't just for kids.

Flyers' Ryan White rearranges Islanders' Matt Martin's nose (VIDEO)

Islanders tough guy Matt Martin found out the hard way that sometimes being bigger isn't always better after the Flyers' new guy, Ryan White,  turned Martin's nose into a twisted, bloody mess Thursday night.

White, a veteran forward who recently was recalled from the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms, made quite an impression during his fourth appearance with the Flyers — especially on Martin's schnoz.

The two players tussled for 35 seconds 2:22 into the first period of the Islanders' 3-2 shootout win at Wells Fargo Center before both headed to the locker room for medical attention.

Wearing a clear face shield, Martin returned for the start of the second period with his nose back in place.

Flyers lose in final seconds when Braydon Coburn trips own goalie (VIDEO)

The Sharks pulled out a unique 2-1 victory against the struggling Flyers when defenseman Braydon Coburn tripped up his own goalie to set up Matt Nieto's winning goal in the final seconds Tuesday night.

The unintentional empty-netter occurred when Coburn chased after Nieto who was going for a rebound attempt. Flyers goalie Steve Mason came out of the net to defend and his left pad was rammed into by Coburn's left leg.

The result was a Nieto backhander into the unguarded net with 11.5 seconds to go.

Game Winner #SJSharks #PHIvsSJS https://t.co/vPWlUT1j3X
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) December 3, 2014

The slumping  Flyers keep finding different ways to lose. This backbreaker gives them a 1-8-1 record in their last 10 games.

Porn star claims Flyers' Michael Del Zotto is 'constantly pestering her to arrange dates': Report

An angry porn star has publicly named and shamed Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto claiming the NHL player is "constantly pestering her to arrange dates" as his wingman.

Adult film actress and director Lisa Ann posted a string of embarrassing messages on Twitter suggesting the athlete persistently asks her to set up a rendezvous with other women.

She calls him the "most annoying texter in the history of my life'"and adds: "Strange, most guys want to date me, not use me to find other dates."

The most annoying texter in the history of my life has been.., hands down @MichaelDelZotto ... Shocker right!
— Lisa Ann (@thereallisaann) November 2, 2014

The 42-year old adult film star recently made news after she was photographed with a Notre Dame football player, Justin Brent, at a New York Knicks game.

The 24-year-old Del Zotto was a New York Rangers first-round draft choice in 2008 and played in there from 2009 until 2014, when the Blueshirts traded him to the Nashville Predators. 

But Nashville wouldn't re-sign him, and Del Zotto, known for his off-ice reputation, became a free agent until Philadelphia Flyers signed him this summer on a one-year contract.

Lisa Ann has been in the adult film industry for more than 20 years - while also making mainstream appearances on the the Howard Stern Show and in a music video for rapper Eminem.

As well as posting the revelations about Del Zotto's questionable dating methods, the porn star also told her 750,000 followers the story of how they became acquainted.

She wrote: "(S)hort story... It all started about 2 years ago when I was hosting an event @MichaelDelZotto reached out to the promoter to meet me.

"I looked him up, he was with the Rangers at the time, looked cute, I thought ok, Pro Athlete, he won't try to kill or rob me, so sure I will.

"So, we go on a date, its nice, hang out- yada yada yada... about a week later he started asking if could hook him up with girls on the road.

"I say NO... I say YO, you are a cute kid, you can pull tail, if not have your agent do it.. just don't ask me....

"After 4 months of going to games and explaining that to him, I finally gave up.. so about a year goes by and we don't talk..

"We reconnect and start talking and we get right back to this before we even had another date our selves.. I did warn him of this outcome."

I guess she has high standards.

Flyers bringing back 'Ice Girls,' dumping dudes: Report

There was more booing at Wells Fargo Center when the Flyers’ new all-male ice cleaners skated out with shovels during a first-period stoppage of Tuesday night's preseason game.

And then a message on the Jumbotron led to cheers. And no, Sidney Crosby didn't retire.

Bowing to pressure from the fickle fans, the team announced on the scoreboard that the Flyers Ice Girls, who were fired after last season amid reported complaints, would return for the Oct. 9 regular-season home opener against the Devils.

This apparently puts an end to the short-lived all-male sweeper era — although the team will likely mix in a few Ice Dudes with the Ice Girls when the season starts.

A new team of 10 Ice Girls will be hired from a tryout that will be held at noon on Sunday, Oct. 5 at the Flyers Skate Zone practice rink.

It seems the constant booing whenever the ice guys appeared during the Flyers’ first two preseason games led to a change of heart.

“When Flyers fans voice their concerns, we listen, because they are undeniably the most passionate and knowledgeable fans in all of sports,” Flyers COO of Business Operations Shawn Tilger said. 

And Philly fans never boo anything.

Zack Stortini fights Tanner Glass in epic preseason brawl (VIDEO)

The regular season doesn't begin for a couple of weeks but it looks like two rival NHL teams are already putting on the foil.

The first-period fight between Flyers tough guy Zack Stortini and new Rangers enforcer Tanner Glass Monday night at Madison Square Garden was 55-seconds of classic hockey brawling.

“It was a good fight,” Stortini told NJ.com. “I got him a few times. He’s a tough competitor as well.”

The fight took place at 11:04 of the first period shortly after the Rangers took a 3-0 lead.

“It’s my job to stand up to teammates and create energy out there,” said Stortini.

The fight was pretty even despite Stortini being the bigger guy at 6-4, 220 pounds. Glass, who played for Pittsburgh the last two seasons, is 6-1, 210.

“It’s something I enjoy doing and something I’m good at,” Stortini said afterwards.

Stortini-Glass. Sounds like it should be shaken and stirred.

Flyers fans boo 'Ice Guys' who replaced 'Ice Girls' at Wells Fargo Center (VIDEO)

The boo-birds were tuned and ready for the Philadelphia Flyers' first preseason game at Wells Fargo Center Monday night. But most of the noise wasn't directed at any skaters during the game — it was for the dudes on the ice during game stoppages.

It became very clear early in the game that the crowd's hostility was reserved for the new all-male ice clearing crew who replaced the "Ice Girls" this season.

Wearing black pants and orange fleece jackets, the 12 young men skated out for their appointed jobs — only to be booed louder than Sidney Crosby until they left the ice — three times in the first period alone.

The change in personnel happened after the Ice Girls were replaced amid reports that they were unhappy with work conditions and pay.

A familiar lament surrounding sports these days.

Meanwhile, in San Jose, the Sharks altered the uniform for their "Ice Crew" this offseason with the girls now in skimpy outfits, while the guys remained in regular track suits. 

That move prompted protest and outrage among Sharks fans who feel the uniforms serve no purpose but to objectify women.

I don't remember any such problems when there was only the asexual Zamboni.