PECA LIKELY OUT FOR SEASON

Relaxing on Friday night seemed more important than filing the nightly Hockey Last Night early this a.m., so we missed a chance to comment on Mike Peca's season Hockey Last Night possibly being over due to a knee-on-knee collision with the Blackhawks' Jim Vandermeer in Chicago's 3-1 win.

(UPDATE: The Toronto Star is saying Peca's season is "almost certainly over.")

Vandermeer didn't appear to have his knee out, which might save him from a suspension. There's the rub. It wasn't intentional, Peca was trying to dodge the hit, and he ends up with possibly seeing his season come to an end.

The Leafs were obviously incensed, although as James Mirtle noted, their characterization of Vandermeer as "a guy who can barely play in the league" -- quoth Jeff O'Neill, and isn't that the pot calling the kettle black -- is a bit over the top. It's also ironic that Peca ends up being his ACL blown out in his first year as teammates with Darcy Tucker, who injured his knee with that infamous "low-bridge hit" in the '02 playoffs.

How's this for coincidence? The Sens lose one Italian-Canadian forward, Jason Spezza for an extended period. The night the Leafs lose an Italian-Canadian forward, Peca. Crazy.