Okay, it was yesterday. How this is 1) a holiday or 2) occurs without our say-so is a mystery, but it’s never too late to join in the, er, appreciating. Especially on a Friday.

I’ve very scientifically chosen the photos below.  Browse them – and we mean Take. Your. Time. (For example, I haven’t done any other work today.) In the comments, tell us what you love, hate, miss and wish would disappear. I’m sure I’ve left out a few transformations: suggestions are also welcome.

FOXY FRIDAY: Hairstyle Appreciation Day

Jamie Benn: Before vs. After

James Neal: Hedgehog vs. Humbled vs. Hey Ladies

Mike Green: Kombucha vs. Complicated Coffee vs. Wheatgrass vs. Small-Batch Bourbon

Tom Wilson: Boy vs Man

Carl Hagelin: Boy Band vs. Rock Star vs. Singer-Songwriter

Steven Stamkos: Too Short vs. Too Long vs. Just Right

 Claude Giroux: Elmo vs. Fozzie vs. Animal

Kris Letang: Disney Prince vs. Disney Dad

Last but not least, Barry Melrose: Always vs. Forever

The polls are open. Happy Friday, everyone!

1. Carl Hagelin

Former Foxy Friday and Ryan Gosling stun- double Carl Hagelin is not known for throwing elbows and getting dirrrty.  But the playoffs make people do crazy things.  He took out Daniel Alfredsson with a very high hit yesterday.

Alfredsson, the Sens’ captain, did not return to the game.  There’s been no update on Alfredsson’s status.  Hagelin served a five minute major and will be sentenced today.  Tortorella said “wah!” but that’s what he always says.

2. Matt Carkner

This guy is off his anger-management meds.  Boyle had a goal in game 1 and got into it with Karlsson to the tune of matching roughing minors.  It merits the clean check Carkner throws to start this, and probably a fight.  I understand protecting your most valuable asset.  But Carkner doesn’t square off, he jumps Boyle and drags him face-down across the ice under the dogpile.

Carkner got five for fighting, two for instigating and ejected.  Brandon Dubinsky was the third man into the fight and also got himself a game misconduct.  He took his frustration out on the Gatorade cooler.

This series is officially ugly.  I think Shanahan will suspend Hagelin for one game, especially if Alfie can’t play tomorrow.  The hit was directly to the head and otherwise you open it up to chaos.  If Carkner went after Boyle for a play that didn’t result in Karlsson being injured, what will they do to the guy who knocked out their captain?  Hagelin is not Boyle – he may not live to tell the tale.

Carkner definitely gets suspended here.  Fight a guy clean to protect your teammates, that’s hockey.  This is cowardice and can’t be allowed to stand.

3. Andrew Shaw

Goalies are like virgins whose fathers are right inside the front door with a shotgun – don’t touch them, it’s not worth it.  Chicago’s Andrew Shaw collided with Phoenix netminder Mike Smith last night, helmet-to-helmet. Smith went down hard and stayed there for a long time.

Shaw got a five minute charging major, on which the Coyotes scored to take the lead.  He was ejected as well.  Smith eventually got right and stayed in the game… what?  He must have passed whatever on-ice tests are administered immediately following a hit to the head, but this looked like a mandatory trip to the quiet room.  I think a five + game should suffice as Smith wasn’t injured on the play.  The hearing is tomorrow.

What do you think?  More importantly, if they don’t get what the opposition feels they “deserve,” what happens in game three?

It was Carl Hagelin, of course.

Hey there, hockey hair.

The 23-year old Swede has 8 goals/10 assists in 31 games for the Rangers this season.  He was a late addition to the ASG Rookie team when the Devils’ Henrique was injured, then promptly won the Fastest Skater Competition by beating Ottawa rookie Colin Greening.  Yahtzee!

He was adorably excited to be included in the festivities and has excellent media training (says my inner publicist).

Also again, the hair.  Paging Steven Stamkos.

Carl’s 23 is a little old for an NHL Rookie, but he took the time to graduate from the University of Michigan and win quite a few individual honors from the Central Collegiate Hockey Association [link].  Two weeks ago, Carl was profiled by The New York Times [link].  That is a big deal!

I picked this video because 1) the hair, 2) he rips Michigan State to make Gator mad and 3) he eats a banana in the only way appropriate for a guy to ever eat a banana.  Well done, Carl.  Note his excellent English – he credits (in the NYT feature) watching American TV in English with Swedish subtitles.

If you’re not convinced yet, he’s also on Twitter(@CarlHagelin).  Anyone with a Zoolander quote is automatically +25 Foxy around the WUYS offices.

The East-leading Rangers host a Winter Classic re-match vs. the Flyers on Sunday at 1 PM.  You can start your Super Bowl Party early by drinking every time a Foxy Friday touches the puck.  Callahan, Boyle, Giroux, Hagelin… stick to beer, we think.

And just to send you off, here’s Carl holding a baby alligator.