Your afternoon hockey notes include folks around the league looking forward to the All-Star break, including Alex Ovechkin - since he was recently suspended for 3 games by the NHL, he's decided to decline his invitation to Ottawa...

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Nashville Predators News

Smashville 24/7: Preds looking forward to break from action
I can't wait for the tweets from @FakeLindback.

Paul McCann - "Trap," Thomas and Travel... Game NIght in Chicago
Paul wasn't thrilled with Tim Thomas' actions the other day, either.

Scott Hartnell = NHL All-Star - Broad Street Hockey
With Jonathon Toews ruled out of the game, the former Pred makes his All-Star debut.

Red Wings hit No. 1 in SI.com's NHL Power Rankings - Adrian Dater - SI.com
Dater digs the Preds in his latest rankings.

Peoria Ruins Milwaukee’s Morning Skate 6-3 | Admirals Roundtable
Morning hockey? I thought that was just for kids...

Nashville Predators face big game vs. Chicago Blackhawks - The Tennessean
Expect The Cube to sit this one out.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Hockey rink roof collapses moments after Richard Zednik, youth players leave ice (Video) | Puck Daddy
Scary stuff here.

Alex Ovechkin isn’t going to play in the All-Star game because the NHL suspended him | Backhand Shelf
Well, this stinks.

Is It Time For Rick DiPietro To Retire? | The Hockey Writers
With many, many years left on a guaranteed contract? He'd be a fool to.

And the most injured hockey player at the White House was….Senator John Kerry - Backhand Shelf
A couple shiners didn't stop this Senator from attending.

Are the Panthers for real? - Puck Drunk Love
They've won 22 games and lost 25, but are atop the SouthLeast Division. Does that mean they're "for real"?

How the NHL's top scorers have been used - CBSSports.com
Those Sedins get all the cushy assignments.

Systems Analyst: The Curious Case of the Missing Staal (and the napping Nodl) - Backhand Shelf
Resolution for 2012: Not to use "The Curious Case Of..." for an article title.

Mario Lemieux Statue to be unveiled March 7th - PensBurgh
Is there anything weird here in the fact that Lemieux is a team owner?

The Quiet Room’s All-Hurt All-Stars: Defencemen - Backhand Shelf
A look at some of the injuries which are afflicting the NHL's prominent blueliners.

It Is Time to End Coach Interviews During the Game " Puck The Media
I'm not a big fan of the in-game bench interviews, myself.

What's Wrong With This Team? - Die By The Blade

Fire the coach? Fire the GM? Gut the team? The questions are sprouting in Buffalo.