Quick hits: Could 3D coverage give us Hockey-tar?

Calgary Flames goalie Curtis McElhinney (1) stops a shot deflected by St. Louis Blues’ Keith Tkachuk (7) in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009 in St. Louis.(AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

AP

Let’s take a look at some other stories around the NHL today.

• Not to be outdone by coach Randy Carlyle and the culprit himself James Wisniewski, Anaheim Ducks GM “Barstool” Bob Murray had his own head-scratching reaction to the situation. On the bright side, Murray admitted that Wisniewski did “cross the line” when he made the hit. Unfortunately, Murray didn’t take the high road for too long though. According to ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun, Murray took a shot at Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville.

Ducks GM Bob Murray just now on Quenneville: ``I strongly suggest Joel worries about his goaltending and stops trying to run the NHL.”

Seems kind of odd that Murray would point out Chicago’s perceived flaws when, you know, his team is almost certain to miss the playoffs. Not that I’m complaining ... these catty comments are awfully entertaining.

• St. Louis Blues winger Keith Tkachuk is apparently pondering retirement according to Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

“I’ve got some thoughts running through my mind,” said Tkachuk, who will turn 38 on March 28. “You get older and you’re just not the same way you used to be. It gets a lot harder . . . guys are bigger, faster, stronger. But I know I can compete every night and go out and try to help out in different ways ...

“I know that I can still play, but it’s been a long time . . . a lot of hard games, a lot of hard years. I’ll talk to my wife and take to Larry (Pleau) and we’ll make a decision.”

• Finally, did you watch “Avatar” and think, what would it be like if hockey tried something in 3D? (Perhaps because the lead actor looks exactly like Sean Avery.) Well, the MSG Network is basically doing that, only they’re replacing blue savages and vague environmental messages with one mediocre hockey team and one terrible one.

A regional TV network will broadcast next week’s Islanders-Rangers game in 3-D, joining a worldwide trend that affects few viewers now but could eventually change the way people watch sports.

Wednesday’s hockey game on MSG is the first 3-D sports event on TV in the U.S. But hardly any viewers now have the 3-D capable sets that would allow them to see it.

Hopefully the added dimension won’t give anyone concussions.