Daily Cupcakes- February 7th, 2012

Colorado Avalanche 's Chuck Kobasew is a bad boy in Shanny's mind.

Colorado Avalanche forward Chuck Kobasew has been fined $2,500, the maximum allowed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for tripping Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis in NHL Game No. 770 in Colorado on Saturday, Feb. 4, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.

A preview of the Colorado - Chicago game.

Despite putting 46 shots on net, Colorado came up short after the Canucks tied the game with 34.1 seconds remaining in regulation. The Avalanche were denied on three shootout attempts.

"Overall we played pretty well," said forward Jay McClement, who scored his seventh goal of the season in the second period. "We just didn't finish the way we wanted to, but I think we can take some positives from the way we played. ... We need that intensity."

Colorado has had a double-digit advantage in shots on goal in each of its last three games, but it has struggled to convert. The Avalanche lost 1-0 to Minnesota on Thursday, and they've scored two or fewer goals in 10 of their past 12 games while going 3-7-2.

Yesterday wasn't a very good day for coaches. Both the Buffalo Sabres' coach and the Edmonton Oilers' coach were injured.

As if the Buffalo Sabres haven’t endured enough injuries already this season. Add coach Lindy Ruff to the list.

Ruff sustained three broken ribs in what was described as "a freak accident" after he was upended by defenceman Jordan Leopold in practice on Monday. In revealing the extent of the coach’s injuries, the Sabres announced that Ruff is expected to be back at practice Tuesday to "resume his coaching responsibilities."

The incident marked the second time in the last two weeks where an Oilers player or coach was struck in a practice or pre-game warmup. Hall received a multi stitch cut to his forehead when he was struck by a puck during a pre-game warmup.

Hall wasn’t wearing a helmet for the warmup, and that loosely held tradition among NHLers came under scrutiny after the incident.

"You can see why some young coaches wear helmets in practice," Krueger said. "Tom’s a fighter, he’ll be back tonight. His cut is nowhere near as long as Taylor’s was."