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Saturday, April 7, 2007
For a sports fan this time of year is like Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving and a birthday all wrapped into one. With the start of the baseball season, March Madness, and the Masters, Tivo’s and VCR’s (for those still living in the Stone Age) aren’t being given very many nights off. But out of all of this quality television is there any...
This season, Calgary fans have seen two teams. The Flames at home and the Lames on the road. For some reason Calgary sometimes comes out flat in a game, and considering the look of their roster, it is unacceptable. The Flames are completely capable of pulling off an upset against The Detroit Red Wings, barring an appearance by the much dreaded Lames. Their last 4 performan...
Sixteen teams are about to explore uncharted territory. Whatever’s behind them doesn’t matter anymore. All that matters is the treasure ahead – somewhere, to be found. No one has any idea what it will take to get there. Some think they might, but there’s no way of knowing the exact path, knowing what's ahead.
It all starts tonight. The 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs....
My name is David Reddekopp, and I'm a Habs fan. But even more than that, I'm a hockey fan, so while I will talk about my team, I won't always. One thing I can guarantee you though, I am very opinionated and will make my point whether you agree with it or not.
Well, with the introductions out of the way, I'll start my initial blog post with an overview of the first rou...
As a last minute decision I put together a playoff pool together. I invited a solid amount of hockey fanatics to the draft and ended up with enough for a good time. The draft was a very good time as it lasted over an hour and was pretty much solid hockey talk. The contrast in opinions, the intense loyalties, the fake loyalties and indecision were all omnipresent to the par...
In a week, you will choke down wings, drink lots of beer, and scream at your television sets. In a week, you will throw your Wii controllers aside, and watch small animals grow from the faces of your hockey heroes and heels. In a week, the season travails will wash away to a giant magnifying glass and pressure-cooker called the [b]NHL Playoffs[/b].
Our blood will boil, ...
On the eve of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Calgary Flames there are many questions to answer. Can Kipper put this team on his back and take down the mighty Wings in Round 1? Can Jarome Iginla be the superstar he is and light it up against a talented Red Wings Team? Can Calgary outmuscle and outscore the #1 Seed in the West? Can Alex Tanguay be the complim...
As much of a disappointing result the end of the Canes season was, I can honestly say I cannot wait to watch the playoffs and not be as emotionally drained as I was last year...I think the entire post season last year took a couple of years off my life!
Now who would a Canes fan pull for in this years post season?
In the East
Sabres - Not a chance....from the pers...
Welcome fellow hockey/bruins fans. Here I will be posting my thoughts and wishes for the Bruins organization, the NHL and my thoughts on Fantasy Hockey.
I will try to update this a few times a week.
First thought, THE PLAYOFFS start tonight!
Series I am looking forward to most is San Jose vs. Nashville. This could turn out to one great series. I still think the...
What a season for the Buffalo Sabres and fans. They have taken home the President Trophy as the top team in the National Hockey League throughout the regular season. They finished with 53 wins and 113 points.
They will be playing the New York Islanders in the first round of the playoffs on Thursday night puck drops at 7:08pm. This should be an interesting series. Ted N...
I was flipping through the Center Ice channels on Dish Network last night, and didn't find any of the games scheduled for tonight. It appears as though the only games are on Versus. There is a reason I have two TVs in the living room. I wanted to watch both early games and both late games. It's like running to the tree Christmas morning only to find that Santa took a d...
Appeared originally on PredNation.com:
To say that all eyes will be on Nashville in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs wouldn't be an understatement. Games 3 through 7 will be nationally broadcast on the Versus network, marking the first time in team history that consecutive games will be on national TV.
Contrast that schedule with the Anaheim/Minnesota seri...
I try to steer clear of playoff predictions, because anybody who loves this sport knows that you can never accurately assume what's going to happen in a hockey game. Yet, somehow I am magically drawn to articles discussing all facets of the upcoming postseason, as the thirst for playoff excitement that brews in my stomach every April is too much to ignore.
So of course...
Well folks, it finally has arrived! The playoffs are here and I couldn't be more excited. A great slate of games tonight with what will probably be one of the most exciting series being Ottawa V. Pittsburgh. So much speed and talent on the ice between both teams and two young upcoming goaltenders. Ray Emery has a lot to make up for from last year's run when he laid a f...
Friday, April, 6, 2007
Over the past month it has seemed as if the individuals from the NHL office who form the yearly schedule must contain psychic abilities. With one of the greatest play off races the game has ever seen, the league has shown an eyrie ability to place all the teams involved in the race against one another coming down the stretch. Still, throughout m...
Throughout the season, the Sabres haven’t done had much to criticize. One characteristic about their play that has popped up from time to time is that at times they tend to play too cute.
It hasn’t been uncommon to see “the extra pass” from Vanek… after you just saw “the extra pass” from Roy. They are just not a team who likes to pepper the opposing goa...
Yeah, I know, not a very original title, but it's the truth. It all begins tonight, the illustrious challenge for hockey's greatest prize. Enough babble. Onto the games tonight.
I'm a fan, yes, duh, of the Canucks, but sports would never be the same if there was not some fantasy or predictive element. Besides cheering for your team, how many times have you said to y...
Hey all,
I know this has been done to death by everyone who knows just the slightest bit about hockey, but thought I'd get my picks on the record!
[b][u]Eastern Conference[/u][/b]
[u]#1 Buffalo Sabres vs. #8 New York Islanders[/u]
Buffalo should make short work of the Islanders. The Isles showed great grit and determination in making the playoffs but they did it b...
Ditch the razor and hide the shaving cream its playoff time! The time of year when your stomach turns to knots at every odd man rush.
As many players in the Sabres room have said, this is the "Real Season." That is the attitude they have had since dropping Game 7 of the 2006 ECF with a battered blue line.
From training camp to this past Sunday it's been all about ...
Lanny's Moustache writes...
Time to look like an idiot. Here's my fearless hockey picks.
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
WEST
[b]Detroit vs Calgary - Calgary in 6[/b]
I think Detroit is too soft to compete with Calgary if they forecheck hard all series. The older D for the Wings will get banged up early, and Hasek will look for a way out after losing 2 of the first 3 games. I would also take Calgary's Superstar players over Detroit's in a tough series. The one problem Calgary may have is...
RayChamps2001 writes...
'Tis the Season to be Jolly: NHL Playoff Season
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
[b]The following can be found at [url]http://www.nhlnow.com[/url][/b] (with pictures).
[img:right]http://cdn.nhl.com/images/upload/2007/03/questforthecup_325x235.jpg[/img]
It's been a long break, but NHLNow.com is back for the most exciting season of the year: NHL Playoff Season. The battle for Lord Stanley's Cup is on, and with the depth in this year's playoffs, it see...
I'm writing this blog entry on my laptop from the Library at SFU Surrey Campus, having just completed a painfully easy Criminology exam.
I have two tickets to Game 1 of the playoffs tonight, thanks to [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqSMftSKnIg]my entry[/url] in the Ultimate Canucks Search contest. The game is scheduled to start at 7pm, with a tribute to the 82 cup ...
Every week I do a radio show here at Michigan Tech University talking sports with my partner Kevin. The show runs from noon-2pm on 91.9 WMTU FM. This week is obviously our playoff special for the NHL. Talk on the Eastern Conference was heated and exciting with ultimately similar results, and the Western Conference is next up. Below are the results, and if you're interested...
Since the Canes aren't defending the Cup this spring, it's easy for me to make predictions. I think Buffalo and Ottawa are the two best teams in the East, and I hope there's at least one upset (probably the Rangers over the Thrash) that will allow the Sabres and Sens to meet in the East final. I think that would be a great series, and I think Buffalo will win it. So I'm go...
Though I didn't watch the last game of the season against the Avalanche, I noticed that McCarty was in the line-up. Ever since this guy's been injured, most Flames fans have been glad that he's stayed out of the line-up for as long as he has. Perhaps for the regular season, I felt this way as well, but come playoff time, this guy could be the difference maker that no one...
It's been a while since I could sit down and enjoy a nice Canuck playoff game. It's not the same when you're team isn't in the big show. And I'm finding it very difficult to stay focused on my work as I'm anxious to get home to watch the game on the tube.
I suppose I'll watch the Pittsburgh / Ottawa game first. To be honest I'm routing for Crosby. Don't care too much f...
For the first time in years... For the first time ever, the Wachovia center will be without the thrill and rush that is Flyers playoff hockey. It truly is a sad spring in the Philadelphia area. If anything it makes me appreciate just how good we've been for the past 12+ years. The one thing that makes me excited for next fall is not the core of young guys, or the solidifi...
For your reading pleasure:
Western Conference
Detroit over Calgary in 6
Anaheim over Minnesota in 6
Vancouver over Dallas in 5
San Jose over Nashville in 6
Eastern Conference
Buffalo over Islanders in 5 (should go with a sweep...but will throw the Island a bone)
New Jersey over Tampa Bay in 6
Rangers over Atlanta in 5
Ottawa over Pittsburgh in 7
Take t...
In honor of the Flyers 40th Season in the NHL, I decided to research into when Flyers Teams went from a good team to a bad team. The result might surprised you but there is only a four year span from not been in the playoffs and returning to the playoffs. The last time the Flyers missed the playoffs was from 1989-1990 season to 1993-1994 season, in which was the last time ...
Thursday evening at 8pm in front of a packed HSBC Arena the Buffalo Sabres will begin the 1st round of Stanley Cup Playoff action against the #8 seed New York Islanders.
Many storylines come to mind when it comes to this series. From Rick Dipietro's mysterious head injury to the well awaited Jack Adams award winning battle between Nolan and Ruff, as the Replacement look...
Who the hell Anointed the Buffalo Sabres Stanley Cup winners? yeah i picked them in first round but come on Buffalo, stop already!
It amazes how every publication and website has buffalo winning cup and people in Buffalo already going to arena to pick out their spot for indoor parade pep rally. Gee, one year every publication picked flyers win the cup and the got sweep...
Jeremy Roenick was on ESPN's PTI yesterday which was kind of refreshing. While I like Kornheiser and Wilbon a lot, their complete lack on interest in hockey is a huge punch in the gut to me as a sports fan let alone a hockey fan. JR was... well JR, I liked the way he poked fun at the two for actually talking about hockey for once.
The PTI guys said something interesting...
Earlier today I was casually reading the lastest edition of the Heralds Hockey section, when I came across something quite intriguing. all The headliner sports writers in the prediction section, including the ones in Calgary picked Detroit in 6 and one lady from Edmonton had them in 7.
To me this is really shocking, im fine with the Flames just sneaking into...
The new champions are going to be the Minnesota Wild.
There's a reason the Wild is the most underrated team in the playoffs. Gaborik got injured. Have you seen their records with Gaborik in the lineup? They simply don't lose.
They also have the best defensive minded coach in the NHL, if not the best coach period. Any goalie that plays for them just... makes the sa...
The Habs finished off the season looking like they need a major overhaul and bringing in some HUGE pieces.
Let's take a step back and look at what we got(these are the positions they can play at):
LW: Higgins, Plekanec, A.Kostitsyn, S.Kostitsyn, Begin
C: Koivu, Higgins, Plekanec, Bonk, Begin, Lapierre, Chipchura, Grabovski,
...
[img:left]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/48/Flames_1980-1995.gif/150px-Flames_1980-1995.gif[/img]It's not every year you get to see a thrilling 1st vs. 8th series in the Western conference. The majority of the time the 1st place teams tends to take it without feeling any affects of displeasure. But last year, the presidents trophy winner (Detroit) was ups...
It is widely publicized how evenly the Stars and Canucks match up. Excellent defense, not-so-much offense, and top-notch goalies! The series may very well go seven games with multiple overtimes in each. There will be some late nights in Dallas and extremely late nights in Vancouver...at least for us Texans! It is my opinion that in order for the Stars to win this serie...
What is it about this game that gives us all that warm, fuzzy my-favorite-player-just-scored-the-game-winner feeling? Or that cold, dark please-oh-please-let-us-come-back feeling? Really, that feeling you only get from hockey.
Like most of the hockey fans I know, I love this game. I mean love it. We sit around talking about stats, and the state of the game. Or whet...
While neither of these guys will score a goal this post season (yes I know it’s possible but highly improbable) they can, without a doubt, determine how far their teams go.
San Jose will start the series with Evgeni Nabakov between the pipes. The former Calder Trophy winner is one of the top back stops in the NHL and can be a huge difference maker in games.
TSN.CA ...
Great news! [b]YourTeam Online[/b] joins the [b]Buzz[/b] just in time for the playoffs. We are excited to see hockeybuzz making a move into the social network space for hockey. We all need a place to brag about our favourite teams, heckle our opponents and celebrate our victories. MyHockeyBuzz does just that!
[b]YourTeam Online Buzz [/b] doesn't plan on covering...
A complete one-sided game from start to finish for the Ottawa Senators. Game #1 of the Eastern conference quarterfinals was a brutal one to the Pittsburgh Penguins as the sens came out storming, defeating them by a score of 6-3. The Sens outshot them 37-26 and the Penguins' best period was there worst.
One point I have to throw in there was that there were WAY, and i me...
With the playoffs underway, I would love to hear some of your guy's predictions.
Here are mine:
[b]Buffalo Sabers vs. New York islanders[/b]
I feel the Islanders will pull it out, mainly because of Dubielewicz, but it's hard to go against the Sabers. Sorry Buffalo fans but I got to go with the Islanders.
New York in 7
[b]New Jersey Devils vs Tampa Bay Lightning...
As a Canadian I was able to watch Sens-Pens and Preds-Sharks early tonight. I have to say I was very disappointed to see that the referees went back to last fall's calls. I agree that clutching and grabbing needs to go in the game, but a majority of the calls made in those two games tonight were absolutely ridiculous. Tootoo's hit in the first period was not a penalty, Cro...
Hey, this is my first blog. I made these predictions for all of the playoff rounds so I thought I would share them with you. Note that these were made before the games tonight.
[u][b]Eastern Conference Quarterfinals[/b][/u]
[b]1. Buffalo (4-2)[/b] vs. 8. NYI
[b]2. New Jersey (4-1)[/b] vs. 7. Tampa Bay
3. Atlanta vs. [b]6. NYR (4-2)[/b]
4. Ottawa vs. [b]5. Pittsbur...
[b]Pit 3 @ Ott 6[/b] - The score flattered the Penguins, as the Pens were flat for all but maybe the last five minutes of the game. Crosby and Fleury looked jittery, Malkin wa kinda invisible, and there really weren't too many other players that played well for Pittsburgh. Only Jordan Staal, Mark Eaton, and Rob Scuderi stood out for me as positive contributors here. If ...
So, just got home from the 4OT thriller at the garage tonight, WHAT A GAME. I mean, they stopped selling beer after the 2nd intermission, so I wound up paying $4 bucks for Sprite, but that's all good. Go Canucks Go... and chants of TTTUUURRCCOOO filled the evening excitement as I basically lost my voice and drank ice cubes for 2 OT's. Skytrain was reasonable on the way ...
I'm laughing at myself as I type that title. How can I put a Shakespeare quote at the top of my hockey blog!!! It's not as if I quote him on a daily basis...or EVER...or that his world and the hockey world have much in common (hell, I had to look up the spelling of his name make sure it was correct!).
But it really is the only question that the Penguins need to answer r...
It’s okay…it really is. I woke up today disappointed but not despondent. These Preds showed a ton of heart last night in coming back and forcing overtime against the Sharks.
Some things I observed last night:
[b]Evgeni Nabakov is really good[/b]:Sure I knew he was a top goalie but everyone on that team owes him a beer, protein shake or something. He stood on his ...
Wish I could have been at the game to cheer the nucks but I live in Calgary and my best option was CBC HD.
The game seemed tilted Dallas' way for most of the game but the Canucks have a way to score away from the flow and if you're not watching you could miss a great goal. This was the case last night. Lots of scoring and the goalies came into the game late.
Luong...
Can you believe how the Canuck/Star game ended? How many games that go into 3+ overtimes end on a nice goal? I mean really.....Hank is not a very likely hero as he barely scores any goals...but a nice looking goal? Same with the Shark victory over the Preds, great goal in overtime....not common but I am glad it happened.
Lets hope day 2 will be as good!
What do you do when you've invested 4 hours in a game, its 1:30am and a full workday looms 6 hours away?
There is nothing better than a Stanley Cup playoff game going into multiple overtimes. There is nothing worse than that alarm clock going off anything less than 4 hours after finally falling asleep. Vancouver and Dallas kicked of what I love most about the playoff...
I was doing great watching the games downstairs (On the nice TV). Although the Pens vs. Sens early match up wasn't what I thought it would be, the later games really were starting to heat up. I was riveted by the Sharks vs. Preds game late in the 3rd period. I was thrilled when my old buddy J.P. Dumont tied the game to send to overtime. WOW! Funny, because it almost s...
Tonight starts the quest for the Cup
Lord Stanley will come to it's rightful place in BUFFALO, NY
Thomas Vanek will score 2 goals
Other scores: Connolly, Drury, Briere
Tonight starts the Journey that will be finished when Buffalo Wins the Stanely Cup right here in BUFFALO,
Join Sabres fans during the game at [b]www.sabreschat.com/chat.shtml [/b]to talk a...
Well, Game 1 is finally here! The past several days have inched by as I've waited for the playoffs to start. It should be a good game. I think the Islanders will really work hard and battle. The Sabres have waited for this all season, so they better be ready. I expect them to play like they were at the start of the season and during the playoffs last year. At times t...
I'm sorry but to say the Islanders have a good chance of winning tonight, especially being in Buffalo, is completely wrong. Dubielewicz will be nervous and the team it self cannot even come close to matching the Sabres offense. Sabres got the first 2 games besides that the Isles stand a better chance, but not much, of winning at home. Good luck tonight Islanders cause you'...
although it was an awesome night of playoff hockey besides Hartnell's dirty hit and im still waiting for an thought from a real nashville fan instead of the kool-aid drinkers. There is too many 5 on 3's that are determing these games too early. The Sens v Pens game was a prime example. Stop calling these phantom calls like the "Abusive language - bench" against Sens.
10. Don Whittman and his terrible commentary. Bring back Cuthbert, for the love of all that is hockey.
9. The Flames didn't even look like they were that concerned they were being manhandled.
8. As per above, someone did mention to the Flames that they playoffs have started, right?
7. Too many penalties. Way too many. So undisciplined.
6. Simply speaking, th...
As expected, game 1 was another 1-goal game...only this time, quite amazingly, there were nine total goals! I was preparing to get some snacks ready for the 5th overtime when Vancouver finally ended it. The longest playoff game in Canucks history, the second longest playoff game in Stars history, and the sixth longest playoff game in NHL history had finally come to an en...
Sabres are up 2-1 after 2 periods. The Sabres are playing pretty well, but they aren't capitalizing on some chances that they usually would. Roy's giveaway was terrible and led to the Isles only goal so far. If the Sabres can score on the PP at the start of the 3rd, they should be in good shape. Should be a good 3rd period!
Perhaps it's because I'm getting older, but it seems to me the Playoffs get better and better each year. Yet, in the United States... hockey is invisible. It's a scourge on our nation that must be eradicated.
Thankfully, I have a plan.
We all have those friends that are huge sports fans, but that don't follow hockey. These poor souls are the targets. This Saturda...
So time ticked down as I tore the hair out of my head, and somehow the Rangers eeked out a win in Atlanta.
After playing well the first two periods, the Rangers lost their edge and the Thrashers dominated the third period. Still, throughout the entire game whenever the Blueshirts would extend their lead, it was only a matter of time before they let Atlanta get the goal b...
What a game..... 4-1 score. close to the 5-1 prediction
This was a solid strong performance by the Sabres. Nothing more and nothing less.
Brian "I can score in the playoffs" Campbell brings home two goals and 1 assist.
then you have
Chris "I will lead you to the promise land" Drury who played one hell of a game and had 2 goals
and in goal
Ryan "It's Mi...
I've been waiting for this game since the Sabres dropped Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals at the RBC Center in North Carolina last summer.
Little did I know I would BE at this game.
I gambled a bit and bought my first ever Mini Pack last August, with the assumption that the Sabres would be back and have another great season. More than anything, it was good for...
Coming off an outstanding performance Pavel Datsyuk had a goal and added an assist as the Wings doused the Flames 4 - 1. People in the media have really written Datsyuk off, but he is out to prove these naysayers wrong. Some belived that Ken Holland made a huge mistake signing the playoff underachiever to a multi-year multi-million dollar deal. However, the game tonight sh...
[b]Canucks vs. Dallas -- [/b]I was there in Game 1. Dallas pressed hard, Luongo saved the day, but the Canucks did take some bad penalties and looked out of sorts at times. Game 1 jitters? Considering we've played 2 games already now, no more jitters left. The latter OT periods definitely favoured the Canucks. I don't think Dallas can play any better. The Canucks sur...
nickgregory writes...
The Playoffs continued (does CGY know they started?)
Posted Friday | Comments 0
God I love playoff hockey. Right before the playoffs started, my wife gave birth to our first child, a baby daughter named Abby (actually went into labor at the Canes vs. Caps game…I am guessing Abby was a bit annoyed at Johnny Grahame for letting in 3 goals on 6 shots, and wanted to give him a piece of her mind)…well, those that have kids know that the sleep is spora...
The update you have ALL been waiting for...(does anybody even read this thing?). Game 1 was a steam roller of a game for the Sens. There were squashed Pens littering the ice all night long. And yes, this is comming from a LONG TIME Penguins fan. Game 2 presents quite a challenge for our kids...will they be able to respond like we all think they can?
[b]THINGS TO LOOK FO...
I did full-game recaps in the past, so how about bringing it back out for the playoffs?
[b]Notable Statistics:[/b] [url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=270412002]Box Score[/url]
Powerplay: Buffalo 2/6, New York 0/3
Giveaways: Buffalo 7, New York 14
Shots: Buffalo 11-11-13 (35), New York 1-9-11 (21)
[b]J's opinion:[/b]
1. [u]Rockin' the HSBC pre-gam...
What a battle on Wednesday. That one will go down in history as one to remember. It may have put us back on course. There were periods down the stretch of the regular season that the Canucks started getting lazy. This last game was a great start.
Can we now, after losing potentially three players, keep the battle going and build on the successes of game #1? I certainly...
After reading Garth's blog, the Islanders certainly have a problem on their hands. Ricky D, who you'd have to think when healthy, is far and away the better of the two if not a straight up world class goalie. Dubielewicz is a young, upstart guy with a lot of potential: I really like this kid, he's not afraid of anything and challenges the shooter very aggressively. But nev...
Before yesterday's atrocity, Marty Brodeur had played in 153 NHL playoff games. Out of those 153 games, he had 89 victories, and 21 shutouts. Over that time, he had a 1.88 goals against average.
We on the other hand, had Holmqvist, Denis, and Ramo. Before the game began, they had combined for all of 0 NHL playoff games, 0 wins, and 0.00 save percentage.
Very c...
You get an incident like a knee-on-knee hit from Hartnell to Cheechoo and you can figure out very quickly where somebody stands. So Hartnell is headed to jail in San Jose and Cheechoo is getting an Oscar in Nashville.
I don’t have any idea why people are so convinced that the sun rises and sets over their home teams. “Real” hockey fans know that there is ebb and...
what has this guy ever accomplished in the nhl besides to end careers of other players?
this guy is everything wrong with hockey. nashville is playing dirty hockey and dont be surprise if san jose decides to go dirty as the series goes back to the shark tank
(I hate to start the blog with this but c'mon...this is freaking hilarious...Turco was named the #3 star in the building and Henrik #2...LOL!!! What a joke!)
Marty Turco had 35 saves to preserve his 1st career playoff shutout, and the Dallas Stars played a full 60 minutes to win game two, 2-0, and steal the home ice advantage! The series shifts to Dallas for game 3, e...
They always say that rivalries are born and forged in the fiery pits of the playoffs. With the Sharks and the Predators, this is certainly the case.
These two teams, who had no reason to really care one way or the other about each up until last season, are in the midst of forming one of the great new rivalries of the "New NHL." Meeting each other in the 4-5 seed matchup...
I believe that some of us, as Sabre's fans, have been spoiled by the most exciting team in hockey and, quite possibly, all of sports. I actually heard some disgruntled people calling into the local radio sports-talk shows complaining about last night's Sabre's convincing 4-1 victory over the Long Islanders in game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarter finals. Apparently, the...
degroat writes...
St Louis hockey fans getting left in the dark by NBC, KSDK
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
For those of you outside of St. Louis, KSDK, the NBC affliate in St. Louis, has been the top news station in the market for decades. This past summer, they purchased the network TV rights to televise St Louis Cardinals games... and hockey fans (along with golf and tennis fans) are getting collectively screwed over in the process.
Four times during the playoffs NBC's te...
Here are how the options stand. (1) DP stands on his head, steals a game for the Isles, and Ted Nolan comes out a hero. (2) DP stands on his head, but Sabres still overpower the Isles as a team, and it's a huge risk with little reward. (3) DP comes out rusty, Sabres run over the Isles, and it's a huge risk with NO reward. (4) DP gets hurt (long- or short- term) and Ted ...
When I finally became a Hurricanes fan about 6 years ago, I never would have thought that this team would be where it is today. I never would have thought that they would become part of the community. I never would have thought that hockey would even become a sport played by the locals at any level. And I certainly never would have thought that they would ever win a Stan...
The Rangers pulled out a win today in a tightly contested game, beating the Atlanta Thrashers 2-1.
I felt the Rangers had the better of the play for the whole game tonight. The first Sean Avery goal was a fluke, but well deserved by Avery, who was easily the best player of the game. He had more shots than anyone else on the team, assisted on Shanahan's game-winner, and ...
What a game so far.
The Islanders have turned up the heat
But just when you thought they would turn it up higher.....
HERE COME THE SABRES
Sabres score late to come within one goal of the Islanders
remember [url]sabreschat.com/chat.shtml [/url]
Why is it that everyone is underestimating the Canucks. All the media people keep on saying that the Dallas Stars have outworked the Canucks and have deserved to win both games well if they had they would have beta Roberto Loungo but they did not. Why is it that the media people say Lopungo is the only reason vancouver is in it. I mean is a goalie not part of the team. Als...
[b]By D. Smith[/b]:
Remember a couple months ago, way back in the pre-Forsberg dark ages, when media outlets all over North America were calling for the Predators to leave Music City? Supposedly our chronic attendance problems were dooming our franchise, and simply put, our fan support was "lukewarm". We didn't deserve this team. We didn't appreciate the great product t...
As the Canucks wake up in Texas, getting ready for Game 3, I'm sure there's a few itchy chins in the Dallas area. Nobody's really sure how the playoff beard tradition got started, although [i]Wikipedia [/i]suggests it may have began with the New York Islanders.
Hockey players and fans are a superstitious lot. Personally, I'm fascinated by hockey ritual and have a few of...
Enough with the Handringing Rangers' Fans.
Believe it or not guys we are winning 2 games to None, not the other way around. From what I've been hearing from my fellow Rangers fans over the past few days you'd think that the Thrashers ran the Blueshirts out of Atlanta. The reality is our team played the same game they have been playing over the past few months and the re...
Here's the predictions I made on my own blog. Just thought I'd share with you guys.
Well folks, it's that time of year again. Time for the 2007 playoffs. This years match ups are quite interesting and should provide some exciting hockey. Despite the amazing race in the east, the west has to have the tightest match ups. So seeing as I think I'm a know it all of hockey, a...
Here's another blog about the Canucks and their dwindling chances to get past the Stars.
I am an optimist and I feel there have been some good things that came from the last couple of games. I watched both games and for the most part haven't written the Canucks off. I like our offense in game 1 and felt our defense and goaltending came around near the end. As much as I...
I thought the "NEW NHL" is supposed to bring offensive explosion to the NHL but someone forgot to tell the Minnesota Wild.
I looked at the roster of the Minnesota Wild and i found their is great offensive gifted players on that team including names like Demitra, Parrish, Carney, Gaborik and White. These players can score over thirty goals in a season but they are handc...
The heart of this city, the passionate Flames fan, is breaking right now. You can feel the rupture resonating down the red mile, through every basement and every bar, and you can see it in every face.
Kipper is playing beyond human, as we're so accustomed to... yet it is not enough. The forwards are not creating chances, are not forechecking hard, and look as though t...
I predicted a Flames win in 7. Well, for that to happen, there needs to be drastic improvement from, oh, about 18 Flames right now...
Kiprusoff is the only reason either of the games appeared close. This reminds me of that series between Winnipeg and Detroit in 1996 when Nik Khabibulin almost stole the series for the Jets. But as in that series, Detroit has simply be...
first it was Scott Hartnell then it was Alexander Radulov and now it's Colby Armstrong.
Suspend Colby Armstrong for the rest of the series to send the message that the dirty plays wont be accpted in the NHL.
the blows to the head have to stop
NHL isnt do crap until someone is left Paralyzed on the ice......
Yes the refs were horrible but the pens were as well. I really don't have any idea where Gonchar was in this game. I can honestly say that 3 of the goals may have been his fault. He stood around all night. Also he couldn't keep the puck in the zone on the power play the worst pen all night. Malkin couldn't win a faceoff for his life. Recchi just seems like the game is pass...
As a young kid, at any sport, you're taught to always give 110%. You are told to leave everything out on the playing field. It seems that a certain player has forgotten that all season. He has forgotten that he plays for the best team in the Western Conference, and he is looking out of place. I am talking about Robert Lang.
Today, I laughed at him. Sometime during ...
Hey pens fans,
Well, the game started off good with Pens scoring under a minute into the game. Roberts scored and was assisted by Crosby and Armstrong. The Senators came back and scored 4 goals. Late in the third Crosby scored and was assisted by Malkin and Recchi to make it 4-2. Fleury was in goal stopping 21 of 25 shots. Tonight, the Pens were just not with it. They pla...
Yes, I know this is a hockey site and that the title borders on sacrilege. But, stick with me here and you'll understand.
Reason #1: When your team is eliminated from playoff contention, a little piece of you dies. For me being a Hawks fan, that happened sometime in December.
Reason #2: Speaking of the Hawks, watching the games showcases just how far they are fro...
Yestarday when I got the phone call I was extatic. I got in my car and drove six hours back to Anoka to see the family before tonight's game. All day today I lived the pregame hopes and dreams. I imagined how the win would happen tonight, how the pregame festivities would go, how awesome it would be to celebrate.
I did not however imagine the Wild wiffing on at least a ...
[b]By D. Smith:[/b]
Sure I'm a member of the Nashville Loyal Legion, but it doesn't take an expert (which I'm far from) to realize that the Preds/Sharks series has had all the makings of a classic playoff series.
Fights. League reviews. Suspensions. Bad blood. Double overtime. Coaches exchanging words. You name it.
Should we really be surprised? Two 51 game winn...
I have been a fan of sports for a long time, and I have seen my share of bandwagon fans…but outside the current day red sox (they couldn’t get a guy without a boston accent to admit they were a fan until they won…now some chucklehead in Indiana is proclaiming himself a lifelong fan, yet cant remember a manager prior to Francona), nothing touches the current day Sabre...
Is it just me or does this seem like it should be game 6 of this series!? Man the first two games have taken allot out of me as a fan I can only imagine what the players must be feeling.
The war of words continues between Ron Whiner and Barry Trotz. Whiner says he thinks that the suspension to Radulov should have been longer (whoa…what a shock!). Trotz is sticking to ...
So I'm busy AGAIN tonight, and this would mean missing TWO broadcasts in a row, which I don't think I can handle. Does anyone know if a radio station in New York City plays it? Normally, I listen to all the game on internet radio so I can hear Rick Jeanneret's broadcast. If RJ's play-by-play is unavailable, what is the radio station that has the Islanders' broadcast? I...
I didn't author this but I thought some you might enjoy it.
Hockey players...
will do anything just to be able to tell his teammates
a great story in the dressing room. Live the dream until they are 35
then realize they never made it. Ladies love us, guys want to be us, we
are the soul of the universe. You lace up the skates, put on the
gloves, strap on the...
Now with the Pens in a desperate situation it will be up to Michel Therrien. He has been outstanding leeding his troops all year long, but it is the real time. Right now he needs to do a major shake up in the lines and whos getting scratched and whos not. If i were Michel Therrien i would seriously think about playing Joel Kwiatkowski over a guy like Josef Melichar or Rob ...
I'm going to try something different and if people like it maybe I'll do it again in the future. Live updates to tonight's Sabres game...highlighting key plays and my thoughts as the game is going on. I would love to hear feedback, so please leave comments. Enjoy...
[b]10:14 p.m. EST:[/b] And that's it! Not the prettiest ending, but the Sabres hold on. The Isles po...
This edition of [b]In The Net[/b] hockey blog focuses on the Really, Really, Bad; the Really, Really, Good; Shame Shame; Good For You!(nice prices on eBay); Hockey In The Strangest Places; Mother's Day Giveaway. Sponsored by [url]www.SportsGiftNets.com[/url] - [i]In life it really is the little things.. here, they all add up to a great gift for the sports fan![/i]
Than...
The Sabres put forth a much better effort in Game 3, resulting in a 3-2 win and the lead in the series. Finally, the Sabres forwards scored all 3 goals, including goals from Briere and Vanek. Zubrus currently leads the team in points, with 4 (all assists). He was great again tonight, providing good offense and defense along with a strong physical game. Both of the goal...
That distinction belongs to the 2006-2007 Nashville Predators. Of course, there have been teams over the years that have been much worse away from home, but this is different. We were actually led to believe that this was a team built for a serious Stanley Cup run.
No way.
The Preds were 23-15-3 on the road this year. Sure, it doesn't seem too bad at first glance, bu...
One of the things that I always look for in the NHL playoffs is how teams play with the expectations leveled on them. Do the top point getters continue with the style of play that got them into the position they are in, or do they grip their sticks a bit tighter, when they get down a goal? Do the teams that snuck their way in, who may consider themselves to be playing wi...
Beasts. Everywhere. It's a good thing I have my trusty guide with me. We step out of our vehicle and onto the dilapidated lot in Uniondale, Long Island. Nassau Coliseum stands like some archaic ruin, except the ancient Roman and Greek ruins are far better managed. My guide carries our hidden snacks and drinks in her deep-pocketed coat. The rain bleats down like the hammer ...
Game 3, in Calgary, down 2 - 0, does it get any bigger than this? No. It's that simple. The Flames must come out with enerygy tonight. Forcheck hard, win battles, be physical and most importantly get the first goal. Tonight, I'm afraid, is do or die. Win this game and we have a series. Lose, and start thinking about the summer and next year!
43 and 51 SOG in th...
Anytime your team loses I think the first reaction is to look at your team and find fault. While I will do that in a post later today I think I first need to give credit to the Sharks for a well played game.
[b]What They Did:[/b]
[b]Played Physical[/b] - The Sharks played the physical game I expected but they did not take the penalties that I thought would come with ...
0 for 6. Nope, that wasn't the Predators' power play line from Monday night. They wish they'd gotten six power plays.
No, this stat line is far more telling of the Nashville Predators' struggles in the playoffs. The Preds have yet to win a road playoff game. Ever.
Of course, all hyperbole aside, the Preds have only been in three postseasons, but the fact of the matte...
I don't think Red Wings fans could have hoped for a better way to start this series. They have dominated the entire 120 mins of this series so far. They have been the more skilled, but maybe more importantly, the more PHYSICAL team. They are initiating the hits, taking it to the Flames, and making a statement that this years Red Wings team is a PHYSICAL hockey team. Th...
It is unknown if Burtuzzi will play in tonight's game...but if he does who sits. It would be hard to sit Filipula, who would have been the obvious choice had this been Game 1. But Fillipula had scored 2 goals and his line had played extremely well with Franzen and Hudler attacking and crashing the net. Hudler is another option, but he is playing on both that line and h...
mojoworld writes...
Where are we at? + some good playoff lines (unders!) tonight
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Van-Dal: 2-1 Van leads. Good under bet opportunities here for handicappers after game 1. Still say Vancouver will just get it done and win out from here.
Ana-Min: 3-0 Ducks. Wow, really didn't see this coming and I'm not sure why I don't respect the Ducks team play more. In any case, now it's just a matter of if the Wild can make themselves look respectable. Off-season,...
anicecoldrink writes...
Why Playoff Hockey Is Like You and Your Girlfriend
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
One second you're in love, the next you wish you never met.
One week, 4 different possible outcomes.
Some one is always on the powerplay.
Inversely, some one is always killing off a penalty.
No matter how many saves you make, you let one slip through and it's automatically your fault.
Some one is bound to get hurt.
At the end of a hard fought battle, ther...
With the senators in control of this series this is a very important game. If the pens lose today they will be down 3-1 and have no chance to comeback. It is a desperate situation for the pens. It worrys me that during the moring skate the pens looked so relaxed. Maybe it is a tactic that Therrien is using so the pens do not have to think about the pressure they face. The ...
Although the Sabres don't play tonight, there are still 5 games that should be very interesting.
[b]Atlanta/NYR[/b] - [i]Rangers lead series 2-0[/i]
Atlanta must win this game to have any chance. They already gave up both of their home games to start the series. It Atlanta can play well on the road for the next 2 games, they could have a shot at winning. However, I ...
Eggshmeg writes...
The Best the NHL has to Offer, for Non-Hockey Watchers
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
This blog is for those of you who don't follow hockey all that much but have decided to watch some playoff hockey and you want to know the best games that are out there to watch this round. I'm gonna give you my suggestions of games to watch from the east and west, whichever side you're on. The games I post will be the most intriguing ones I think are out there out there. ...
I love read thoughtless articles from writers across the country that know NOTHING about hockey. they try so so hard to write an article or talk hockey and they cant. let's look at a couple of examples. After Todd Fedrouk,"Fridge" know by Flyers Fans, was smoke in a clean fight by Orr, Gary Bettman made appreence on Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia sports news show 'Daily Ne...
There isn't much you can say after winning your first playoff game at home in 10 years by a score of 7-0. The denizens of MSG came ready to cheer on their blueshirts, it does help coming in up 2-0 in the series vs. 0-2 without Jagr like last year, and they weren't dissappointed.
32 seconds into the game Nylander scores his first of 3 on the night and the party was just ...
After watching the Penguins/Senators game tonight one thing was evident. The Penguins had learned what it would take to compete at the level of the Senators, but it wasn't enough as they fell short once again. The Penguins dominated the play for most of the game, and deserved a better fate than a 2-1 loss at home, but that is what played out. This loss is a backbreaker ...
With the win on Tuesday night the New York Rangers are in a position to sweep the Atlanta Thrashers right out of the playoffs.
A Big game from the number 1 line helped put a beating on the Atlanta team who, unlike in the first 2 games, came up flat footed. In game 1 the Thrashers came out fired up. Looking to hit everything in their path. Crashing and banging in an att...
Just looked at the morning paper and to my surprise the Rangers did beat the Thrashers 7-0 last night to take a 3 games to none lead in their opening round series. It had seemed so perfect that I thought I must've dreamt it.
That was one of the most complete wins this team has had in a long time, that it ended a 10 year home playoff win drought only made it that much sw...
Game 4 between the Sabres and Islanders is tonight at 7:30 in New York.
Buffalo currently leads the series 2-1 and could take both away games along with a commanding lead with a win tonight. Games 2 and 3 were very close games, though I thought the Sabres were much better in Game 3 than in 2. If the Sabres come out to play from the start, I don't think they'll have any ...
Now the Penguins are down 3-1 to the Senators. Yea it seems impossible but who knows. This penguins team has done so many unexpected things all year why not. This team wasn't even supposed to make the playoffs but they proved everyone wrong. The Pens may be able to catch the Sens relaxing a bit during game 5. If so look out. If the Pens would manage a way to prevail in gam...
In 2004, a young man (well, if you count 26 as young) got to live a dream of a lifetime and go to a Stanley Cup Finals Game. That young man was me, and being from Newfoundland where the closest NHL team is Boston (it could be Toronto, but I can't stand the Leafs) I never even got close to a pre-season game in my first 25 years of life.
That year, I experienced the grea...
6:44
just got off the train and walked one block to the bus station and now I'm heading to the Coliseum. by the time we got to Hempstead, not many people on the train still remained -- most being SABRES FANS, which was amusing, to say the least. on the bus right now, several more. we are packing the arena!
7:07
just got into the arena ... testing it out AND I HAVE ...
When it's been 10 years since you've won a playoff series you know your fan base is starved and that hunger was fed tonight as the Rangers finished off the Thrashers 4-2 at Madison Square Garden.
The World's Most Famous Arena was buzzing with excitement as the blueshirts looked to finish off their first playoff sweep since that year most dear to all Ranger fans 1994. Th...
Tonight Ranger fans got to see something that hasn't happened in the Garden in ages...a playoff sweep and a date in the second round of the playoffs. It was our first playoff series win in 10 years....and boy did it feel good. The atmosphere at the Garden the past 2 games was sensational and the Rangers fed off of it and played near perfect hockey both games.
What can...
(Trade Day Mishaps)
After last night, the Atlanta Thrashers management team have to be sitting there and wondering; what just happened? After giving up a big part of their future in Glen Metropolit, two first rounder’s (2007,2008), a second rounder (2007) and a third rounder (2008) for Keith Tkachuck, it’s a wonder GM’s chose to give up so much and fail at the gam...
Okay, I just want to make a few things clear. I have now attended three Sabres games in three different arenas: HSBC Arena, Madison Sq Garden, and Nassau Coliseum. Of course, the crowd at HSBC is unbeatable when you're rooting on the home team, so I'll leave that aside. As for the MSG crowd, they were more than friendly and I struck up a good conversation with the guy n...
My evening started typically enough. Stuck in unmoving traffic to get over to JFK. My future brother-in-law was coming in for the game tonight...taking off from work as a chef in a very highly respected restaurant in Florida. I look up, half expecting to see bats, but instead the sky is thickly overcast in the gray fog which has enveloped Long Island since hockey came to t...
The sweep of the Atlanta Thrashers has been completed. New York Rangers move on to the second round and the Garden Faithful can rejoice..... For now.
The Rangers played an Atlanta team who didn't seem nearly as prepared as they should of been. Don't get me wrong. Rangers played a great series. They moved the puck well, they forechecked, they backchecked, [i][b]they shot...
Trotz looked beaten, saying "We're going to have a mourning period for about an hour, and then we'll look forward to the next game."
What? Is this the kind of response you expect from the guy who is supposed to shape the way his team feels and reacts to a loss like this? I don't think so.
The Preds have not played well these past two games of the series and in doing...
To read Part I:
http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?user_id=567&post_id=557
[i]We last left our hero, yours truly, with his trusty guide, her brother (the former Islander fan trumpet player) watching Game 4 of the Islander/Sabres series. A man donned in a Ranger jersey has sat in the seats, and bad vibes are back in the Coliseum.[/i]
"Leave it all on the ice"
...
The Pens have played better in the last game but are still down 3-1. They are looking for a way to get momentum. Well couldn't it be a huge momentum builder if the pens could pull off a dramatic win in overtime. This type of win could shift all the momentum in a penguins favor and bring the series back to the igloo. I know it may sound far fetched but i believe in the pens...
Enough crying about how mean the Isles fans are, you would be pissed if you got screwed out of two games too. However, let's look at those two games. For one, Vanek's goal was not CONCLUSIVELY across the goal line. I know it was, you know it was in. However any camera angle did not show it to be conclusive, it was assumptive. Which it does not say in the rule book. Flash b...
mwiles19 writes...
Dissapointing End, But Still Happy With Overall Result
Posted Friday | Comments 0
The 2006-2007 NHL season came to an abrupt end for the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight, as they were eliminated by the Ottawa Senators. The same Senators team, in name only, who the Penguins recently beat three straight times in the regular season. The reason I say in name only, is because the Senators picked it up a notch for the playoffs and simply dominated this young Pen...
My heart constantly pounds like a drum. My fists are sore from being clenched, and sweat occasionally drips from my brow. My playoff beard is itching like hell and my facepaint is all over my Flames Jersey... I couldnt ask for a better time. For the rabid hockey fans, playoffs are considered a religious event and we put players/teams in the spotlight and on a pedestal. It ...
For those of us STARS faithful that fill the American Airlines Center each home game, that movie clip is engrained in our minds! Numerous times this year, Dallas has been behind the 8-ball...and numerous times this year, they have answered the call. Tonight was no different...Marty Turco was absolutely brilliant, and they found a way to finally solve Luongo. Now, there ...
Before I even get started, I just want to make clear that, even as a Sabre's fan, I feel the Isles got the shaft on wednesday night. Not once, either, but twice; of course, the obvious shaft was the "no-goal" call that, from what I saw immediately, should have been a goal. In all honesty, when they went to the phone, I was sure the referee's call was going to be reversed. ...
Playoff elimination seems so final. Your team is done...there will be no Stanley Cup parade down main street this year.
It's a fact of life for 8 teams after round 1. Then 4 more in round 2. Then 2...then 1...
Yeah, in this crazy cup chase only ONE team gets to raise the hardware at the end of the road...and the other 15 playoff teams get to think about "what might h...
So the Rangers decide to sign a few players to contract extentions. Not big news, yes I know. However with the sweep, it's left nothing for Rangers fans to disscuss about our own team. So I figured let's break the ice with a bit of a news round up.
Rangers sign first round pick Sanguinetti to a pro-contract. Sanguinetti has mostly played in the OHL. This past season he ...
Over the course of the past several days, I have heard several comment made on the radio and in general conversation that the Canucks got the lucky bounce, or the Stars got the lucky bounce etc. I myself have made the mistake, surely the Stars got a lucky bounce in Game 5 when the puck slid eerily close the their gapping net while Turco was on the bench and the Canucks had...
I think the Sharks' intensity level was just higher. San Jose was the better team and it showed. San Jose is deeper than ever before, and they are definitely a team to be feared in these playoffs.
Where Nashville lost this series, however, was with the penalties. San Jose's power play was lousy, but the penalties to Nashville just killed their momentum. Thats one th...
As I am sitting here at 2:00am listening to Baba O'Reilly, I got to thinking. (No smart aleck remarks from a certain Stars fan either! You know who you are!) I have been called a lot of things. Some good some bad. The obvious good ones are husband, father, friend. But, one of my favorite things to be called is "Coach". It is also one of the most powerful things to b...
Though I am a believer in only the one, true, God...thank-you hockey gods (and San Jose Sharks)!!! How fitting that Thugville's third major (non-fighting) penalty and countless game misconduct cost them the game and series! It could not have been more perfect. If you can blame the lack of hockey enthusiasm on any players, it would certainly include the thugs of the game...
The Flames have done themselves no favors as they now head into game 6 on Sunday down a game and on the brink of elimination. The Flames started off game 5 fairly well and even outshot the Red Wings for most of the first period. But, it was a second period special teams disaster that marked the beginning of the end for Calgary. Dan Cleary roofed a penalty shot during a Fla...
The Dallas STARS played their best post-season game in several years, beating Vancouver 2-0, and forcing game 7 Monday night! From a fan's point-of-view, it was the most awesome game I have been to in quite some time. The capacity crowd was rowdy the entire night, and the team played like a contender. Marty Turco finished with 21 saves for his second shutout in a row, a...
Hockey players have an annual tradition where they grow out their beards when the playoffs roll around. No one is quite sure when the "playoff beard" first sprouted roots, but it's as entrenched in the game of hockey as sudden death overtimes and the two pad stack.
Certain diehard fans take their admiration of their favorite players to the next level by mimicking their ...
The second round is set and the Rangers will be facing off with the Buffalo Sabres starting this week. I don't know if either matchup was more beneficial for the Rangers as they had a losing record against both of their potential 2nd round opponents this year.
They were 1-3 against Ottawa and a sterling 0-4 against the Sabres.
To look on the bright side they haven't ...
It always hurts a little (or sometimes a lot depending on your “closeness” to a team) to see your hockey club lose. During the regular season you can soothe the pain by thinking ahead to the next game, but the playoffs hold a certain finality to them. What I mean is, once you have lost 4 games, that is all she wrote for that season, it is over, done, finis...
And with that, the Detroit Red Wings have eliminated the Calgary Flames from contention.
As much as I was pulling for the Flames, the Wings deserved to win this series. Kiprusoff was the only guy on Calgary's roster who was showing up to play every game.
A major surprise was the play of Johan Franzen in this series. I barely knew who he was prior to this series, and...
Well, as hard as this is for me, a Flames fan to say, the better team won. Calgary played this game with grit and heart, but so did the Detroit Red Wings. Half of the problem coming into this series was the fact that many flames fans, among others, had it burned in their minds that #8 seeded Calgary could easily beat the #1 seeded Detroit, as the Red Wings have struggled t...
While I might be a Leaf fan, I'm first and foremost a hockey fan and believe the Senators have the game to win the Cup. After watching the first round they simply look like past teams, with similar chemistry and depth, that have won the Cup. More specifically though:
Leadership
The leader is finally being a leader. After years of justifiably being the fan’s whip...
This Thursday marks the beginning of yet another battle of 100+ point regular season teams. New Jersey finished with 107 and Ottawa with 105, with the season series going the way of the Devils 3-1. Despite holding a 3-1 edge is the regular season series, there’s no doubting who the stronger of the two teams down the stretch was, it’s the Senators. That being said, this...
Eklund has his airline ticket to Nashville for the Sharks and Preds game seven but the problem is there won't be a game seven.
For the second year in a row the Preds were handed a 4 games to 1 series loss at the hands of the San Jose Sharks. Seriously...if I see anything teal right now I might just hurl!
This was a physical series (some might even say dirty...but l...
Flamestr
Dougstr who wins the west
Dougstr
SJ Sharks The best forwards in the west Joe Thorton and Johnathon Cheechoo
and Patrick Marleau . Good players and they can score
Flamestr
So Dougstr who do the Sharks play against ?
Buff
Three of the best forward in the NHL Daniel Brieere and Maxim Afinogenov
and Jason Pominville. Because...
[b]By D. Smith:[/b]
Well, hindsight is always 20/20, but I believe the deal was worth making. Also, you have to remember that injuries played a role that no one saw coming. Bringing in Forsberg was supposed to secure three incredibly talented lines in Nashville. (in no order) the 3 centers were supposed to be Forsberg, Arnott, and Legwand. The 6 surrounding wings were...
It has been said thousands of times...there is nothing like a game 7...win and advance, lose and go home! The Dallas Stars are one win away from pulling off the near impossible. They have finally won in overtime...they have finally won at home...and they have finally figured out how to solve Roberto Luongo. Though Marty Turco has the edge in stats, including THREE shuto...
When the Islanders acquired both Michael Peca and Alexei Yashin on consecutive days surrounding the 2001 entry draft, it signaled the dawning of a new era for the franchise. Despite paying the high price of Zdeno Chara and the draft pick that would eventually be used to select Jason Spezza (as well as throw-in Bill Muckalt) in return for Yashin, initial reactions were posi...
I thought game 7's in the stanley cup playoffs were decided by the players? that third period was an embrassment to nhl. call after call was hooking or holding.
my god, even the Dave Strader was confused if There was a pentaly when Turco was pulled at the end of the game
BTW, Trevor Linden did a nice job on the hook(which was a pentaly) before scoring the game winni...
[b]East
#1 Sabres vs. #7 Rangers[/b]
I hate the sabres with a passion. i hate rangers with a passion. this is the series of picking between two evils. So i will go with a upset. Rangers are playing awesome hockey and Sabres had hiccups with Fishy Sticks.
[b]UPSET: Rangers in 7[/b]
[b]#3 Debbies v #4 Sens[/b]
This series might come down to goalies but i think...
[b]1 Buf vs 8 NYI - Buf in 5[/b] - Bang on, but I expected a better effort out of the Sabres. They'll be in tough against the white-hot Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers. DiPietro came back sooner than I thought and played well enough to keep the Islanders in the games, but could only win the one.
[b]2 NJ vs 7 TB - NJ in 6[/b] - Bang on again. Holmqvist played very we...
Well, we're a few days out from the sad loss in 2OT to the Wings and the pain of that night has certainly dulled which is nice. It helps to still be able to go to games as our Jr team, the Calgary Hitmen, are playing in the Conference finals right now - beyond most expectations of the team this year (unlike the Flames).
My wish list for the Flames now that we're in the ...
Well the players may like the break to help them recharge the batteries, but I sure am chomping on the bit.
I guess when your team beats expectations and sweeps the opening round series the excitement level goes up. I sure can't wait for tomorrow night, I wish they were dropping the puck as I type.
I'm looking forward to a good series and pretty much disregard how th...
nephew23 writes...
I Couldn't Agree More...But I'm So Happy A Canadian Said It!
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Did I say happy?...I meant ecstatic, elated, over-joyed! I really hate to make excuses, or have to include the officiating in any writing...so thank-you so much, Mr. Gallagher, for your article...it is 100%, spot on! In fact, I used the phrase "phantom call" seconds after the penalty, as well as in a comment to my new best friend's blog ([i]What a friggin joke[/i]--Flyer...
Due to your constant comment about our defence killing us, I thought I would actually have a look at some stats to see if the is validity to your tirades about our blueliners:
Vancouver
Name Pts. TOI +/- Pims
Bieksa 0 24 -1 16
Krajeck 0 15 -1 6
Mitchell 1 ...
Well, folks, about 11 1/2 hours until the puck drops to begin game one of the Sabres/Rangers Eastern Conference semi-finals and for two days, already, the poop is being flung with the tenacity of the inhabitants of the primate house at the Buffalo zoo. Sean Avery began the shit slinging with some comments about how his pre-series ritual has included visualizing various (o...
sstrang writes...
Another 2nd Round Prediction Blog...with Chimpanzees
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Okay, I know everyone is tired of predicitions but hey, it's my blog!! And if you don't get the blog title, listen to "Everything to Everyone" by the Barenaked Ladies and you'll get it!
[b]Buffalo vs. New York Rangers[/b]
Buffalo in 6 - they are in playoff mode and I think Miller will be the better goalie.
[b]New Jersey vs. Ottawa[/b]
Ottawa in 6 - They believ...
A blog isn't journalism. However, if you're a professional commenting on an issue in your area of expertise then you should be held to a higher standard, even in a blog. Jim Kelley fails in this respect in his Sportsnet.ca blog "The Dope on Suspensions",
(http://www2.sportsnet.ca/blogs/jim_kelley/2007/04/23/the_dope_on_suspensions/#comments ). I wish he was just being ...
Can someone please notify the Buffalo Sabres and their respected media that they have only won one round so far in the playoffs. Buffalo is a great team and looks destined to continue their current success for many years. Heck, they might even win this year’s Stanley Cup and lay the begining piece of the “New NHL’s” first dynasty. However, heading into game one ...
Sorry for the length of this post but on the eve of the New York Rangers first second round playoff game in a decade, as a Blueshirts fan I can’t help but be excited, and the current success has got me thinking. It’s been a long time since we had a team we could be proud of. But this year’s team has overcome adversity and achieved that respect. Although only time wil...
Without question, the biggest issue surrounding the New York Islanders this off-season will be the efforts to re-sign Ryan Smyth. The Isles, as usual, have many other outstanding issues to resolve before the 2007-08 campaign, including the possible buyout of captain Alexei Yashin, re-signing leading scorer Jason Blake, and whether or not to bring back two suspended players...
[b]1 Buf vs 6 NYR[/b] - The Rangers have a fair bit of talent up front, and a slight goaltending edge, but the Sabres are simply too deep everywhere else. Sabres in 6.
[b]2 NJ vs 4 Ott[/b] - Yeah, I know it's Marty Brodeur, but the Sens will not be denied this year...at least not here. If Emery comes close to matching Brodeur, the Sens win. Ottawa in 6.
[b]1 Det v...
Rangers look so disinterested tonight... Anyways, they don't have enough defensemen to contain the Sabres. I think only the Senators can match. I hope the Rangers win a few games, that way more Sabres players can get more points for my pool :)
The No Walk Rangers had much to say before game one of the Eastern Conference semi-finals, but very little to say after it. The Sabres won the opening game handily, 5-2, with two goals from Tomas Vanek, one each by Ales Kotalik, Jason Pominville, & Drew Stafford, and another solid performance by Ryan Miller. The Rangers were clearly outplayed in every facet of the game; f...
I wish I could kick it back with some old school commentary, but my life schedule has not been kind this playoffs. While I've listened to 90% of the games on internet radio, I had to miss two whole games in the 1st round and I got back in time for the 3rd period, but I fell asleep shortly after Pominville's goal was credited. Hey, what can I say, they took awhile!
So,...
This season has seen nearly every team develop their unsung hero(es). It's time again to evaluate who means the most to their team. I've always felt that the Hart should encompass the regular season AND the playoffs, but the Conn Smythe isn't disappearing anytime soon. So, let's look at the candidates:
[b]1. Roberto Luongo, G, Vancouver[/b]
It's a safe bet to say that ...
It's one game, talk to me after game 2. The first game of a series is the least indicative of what is going to happen in the series and only becomes important if the result of game 2 is the same.
Believe it or not no one is going to give the boys from upstate the Stanley Cup based on winning the opening game of the second round. So enough of the coronating the Sabres an...
Sorry for the long length but this is a topic that has been bugging me a lot lately.
I for one am sick of people making judgments on the New York Rangers captain Jaromir Jagr. Jagr came to New York with a rep most people will never let him live down and I am sick of it. No matter how this guy plays he’s either used as a scapegoat or referred to as a selfish quitter. ...
Desptie the first round being over, not much has been solved in terms of a front runner to walk out of the West. Detroit, San Jose, and anheim all have a legit shot at making it to the Cup finals. Vancouve ris on the outside looking in.
San Jose has been extremely impressive though. Their young players have come through with big goals. The power play wasn't even rea...
Hey guys . . .
[b]Believe it or not[/b] nobody from Toronto is going to come to the HSBC wearing white gloves and carrying the Stanley Cup just because you won the 1st game of the series 5-2.
[b]Believe it or not[/b] the Rangers didn't expect your team to roll over like dogs and aren't demoralized from one loss.
[b]Believe it or not[/b] they actually intend on showin...
Bill Meltzer had an interesting post today regarding the debate over whether or not the NHL should switch to shootouts in the playoffs:
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=7179
I stand with Mr. Meltzer on this, and just want to add a thought I had. The people who are looking for a change in playoff format are clearly not hockey fans, or they would know how rid...
Has Ryan Miller finally come of age as a bonafide post-season goaltender? It's sure starting to look that way after these last two games against the Rangers. I'm certainly not one to count ANYONE'S chickens before they've hatched but, even though the last two Sabre victories were, no doubt, "team wins", Miller is the main reason that the 'bres have come out on top of their...
I get the sense that some of you think the Cup is already in your possession. Believe it or not it's still early in this series and extremely early in the run to the Cup.
Would I rather that the Rangers were up 2-0 coming back to MSG, you bet I would. Would I rather that the Rangers were able to a win a game in HSBC, especially Game 2 in which they out played the Sa...
I know I said I was not going talk about the officiating any longer, BUT...my dearest friend and fellow North American, Luongo07, continues to call me out and accuse me of not researching. (well, at least most of that last sentence is true!) So, as I set out to get the full scoop on the officiating in the Stars/Canucks series, I realized it was a much bigger issue than j...
This is no way a blog meant to bash Nashville fans, because quite honestly, they have more to cheer about than we do in Columbus. But, the lack of hockey knowledge by these people who shell out hundreds to see a playoff game is baffling. Last night, I was watching a tape of Game 5 between San Jose and Nashville. Patrick Marleau's second goal of the game gives the Sharks th...
I could probably write a pretty long blog about how the Rachunek goal was a goal, kicking motion my ass. I could write lettter and verse on how the refs seemed to miss so many calls on the Sabres and none on the Rangers.
Well I could write that blog, but I won't. I will just say [b]Hell Of A Game[/b].
That is what playoff hockey is all about. Same pit in my stomach...
I wished NBC cut into the Rangers-Sabres game to show that Barbaro. that game was god awful. from the miss goal and on top of that the miss hooking call on that play. to phantoms calls
Today was an embrassment for NHL. I cant believe two referees on the ice can't make the correct call on ice.
I never saw a game inwhich the calls were slided to the Gaybres. Sabres are...
The Rangers win. Yes I know, I know. I was jumping for joy too.
However the road is far from over. The impressive showing they brought on against Buffalo was great. They played their game. They came on tough and really left everything out on the ice and in so were rewarded by a great Rozsival shot to finally end the game in the 2nd OT.
This game had everything. Hits,...
nickgregory writes...
The life of a new father, and random hockey thoughts....
Posted Monday | Comments 0
No matter what anyone tells you, you can never fully be prepared for taking care of an infant. My daughter is now 5 ½ weeks old, and as a result, I am sleep deprived, nerves are ragged and I feel like I could snap at any moment, but the good news is I am watching a ton of hockey (while flipping between the damn Yankees proving that they should have bought some pitching i...
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=2854004&type=story
This is this story that brought about this little rant...
Scott Burnside is a good hockey guy, let's get that out of the way. But of course there is a 'but' here. He claims that since players can pass the puck with the skates why not allow them to deflect it with their skates? My first reason on why not ...
Eastern Conference Semi's, Game 3, Madison Square Garden, New York, New York.
The Rangers have jumped out to a surprisingly commanding 1-0 lead over the Buffalo Sabres, who have a 2-0 in the series. Jaromir Jagr put the blueshirts ahead earlier in the game, and now New York continues to dominate the game. Marcel Hossa takes a pass from Jagr and neatly gives it to Karel ...
Since the flyers are out of the playoffs and i love to look at stats after games and after brilliant jobs by the refs in yesterday's games i decided to look at one stat that should be alarming. THe Amount of Pentalies called in a playoff game
[b]27 Power Plays called in Two Playoff Games[/b]
The refs are carrying out buttman's message by continue to call the phantom ...
When the puck drops a little past 7 pm tonight at Madison Square Garden the boys in blue will be looking to hold serve and send the series back to Buffalo all square at 2 games apiece.
The first win against 6 losses this season against the Sabres should give a little boost in the confidence of the Rangers. They have played well the past 2 games, playing the style tha...
Well as most Canadians may know. Especially those who follow hockey religiously.
The Politicians have way-ed into Team Canada Hockey Decisions.
Shane Doan has unproven allegations against him that in 2005 he uttered a racial slur
"F******g Frenchman did a good job" in reference to the all French Officiating staff who were working that night.
Now this is one person...
Here we go off to Buffalo all tied up 2 games apiece. Don't think many Sabres fans thought we'd be looking at a best 2 out of 3 series after game 1.
I'm sure we'll hear lots about how it was a goal, what a difference a few days make. Happen to be listening to Briere being interviewed, I guess he doesn't read the Sabre bloggers on myhockeybuzz, because he thought th...
Boy, i cant argue with the NO-Goal Call against buffalo. that was a goal. this is a disgrace for NHL on so many levels that i cant explain.
NHL needs to replace those overhead camera with HD cameras.
BTW, Lindy Ruff should be embrassed for himself foR that tirade after the game instead of doing infront of the media and make ass of himself he shouyld done infront of...
Did Jagr have a heart transplant or what? Maybe he was possessed! Maybe he sold his soul to the Devil. Whatever he did this guy was moving. Jagr has once again proven that when he wants it, he is almost unstoppable. This guy looked like a work horse the entire game. He back checked, forecheck, moved it well, passed, shot, and scored.He led this team by example. Showing why...
First of all, I'd like to thank the Vancouver Canucks for lending their tv announcers to CBC Sports for game 4! What an incredible gesture towards the people of Canada, and specifically Canucks' fans! I'm so thankful American fans, specifically Ducks fans, got to hear those announcers cheer for their team the entire game...and overtime hasn't even begun yet! I cannot wa...
Since I am from Buffalo and now live in Illinois, you would think I would enjoy the Spring time heat that has finally found its way to the Midwest, but I am feeling the heat due to this playoff season and I am not enjoying it. I am feeling so stressed during these Sabres games, it is incredible. What other Sabres fans feel this? I haven't felt like this in the playoffs unt...
I'm with Briere on the Rachunek no-goal from game 3(if you heard his post game comments, you know what i mean); it shoulda counted. I understand why it was called no-goal but i didn't agree with it. Yeah, the call tonight was crap, too, but it should never have come to that. When an offensive threat like the 'bres are giving up 2 goals a game, the series should be over by ...
When the Ottawa Senators take the ice tonight, not only can they put their opponents up against the wall, but take once step closer to silencing the critics. It is well known how the media and fans (both loyal and of other teams) feel about the Senators, but this is the chance they’ve been waiting for since 2003. In 2003, the last time the Ottawa Senators made it to the ...
Talk about bad calls, when it is assumed Thomas Vanek snuck one around Rick DiPietro it was called a goal, although the video was inconclusive.
Sabres fans: WELCOME TO PLAYING THE RANGERS!
The Sabres are apparently more important than the Isles, and the Rangers are more improtant than the Sabres.
The goal that Briere scored, or "was inconclusive" looked pretty da...
Who would've thought that the New York Rangers would hold the high flying Buffalo Sabres to 2 goals over 8 periods of hockey at Madison Square Garden to even their Eastern Conference semifinal at 2 games apiece.
The Sabres were the highest scoring team in the NHL averaging 3.75 goals/game over the course of the regular season. What many don't realize is the Rangers w...
I just got done reading Damien Cox's piece on ESPN.com , and it made me think. Why can't people just enjoy the playoffs and hockey in general? Everywhere you look, you can find someone complaining about the lack of goals being scored in the playoffs, but what's wrong with a hard fought 2-1 game? Of course goals are going to be at a premium in the post-season because wit...
A few thoughts before I move on to bigger and better issues! And yes, I fully expect the bitterness to flow from Luongo07 and Mojoworld!
(1) Roberto Luongo was absolutely brilliant throughout the playoffs...he is a monster. Without question, he is deserving of the MVP award. He played on his head last night but, as has been the case, could not score and could not ...
[b][i]"Anticipation, it's makin' me wait...it's keepin' me wa-a-a-a-aiting"[/i][/b]
[b][i]"The waiting is the hardest part"[/i][/b]
T minus 2 hours 'til the puck drops and I can't wait, heck I was getting antsy at 9 am this morning. Truth be told I was getting antsy for this game 2 days ago.
I hope that the Rangers are as antsy to get this one started as I am, ...
Here is the phone number for Vs. to get them to the hockey games in HD!
1-877-VERSUS-ON
1-203-407-3613
With every passing year, the Blue Jackets miss the playoffs and I'm forced to shift my focus as a fan. Maybe I'm alone saying this, but I would much rather watch a playoff game with two random teams than watch a regular-season game featuring my own. The passion of each team fighting for the ultimate goal lights a fire in everyone, including myself. This year, I'm especiall...
Yep that sure did hurt.
Since my last blog, I left off where I became a Hurricanes fan rather than just a general hockey fan.
Soon after, I started college a little ways down the road at NC state. A few years later I went to work for the RBC center selling concessions in the stands part time. There were a few games where I made a few bucks, but it was mostly so I could see the games for free....
last night blog was a blog of frustration and being pissed off at the sport i love. plus i had little too much too drink last night in celebatation of cinco de mayo, which explains about everything for last night. Sorry if i oftened anyone.
For now on, im only blogging on the finals, Flyers and Ripping gary bettman to help make a change in this league and I’ll release...
With 7.7 seconds to go Drury rifles a shot over Henrik Lundqvist and pass Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi and into the net, tying the game at one. That shot had eyes. With only a few inches of open net about to be closed off by Girardi's glove Drury launched the Sabres to an OT winner and a 3-2 lead in the series. It brings back memories of Valeri Zelepukin's tying goal wit...
Power forwards...huge, hulking, “whittle-guy” killers that can skate...a goalie’s worst nightmare...and supposedly, the ghost of Christmas past. The new rules adopted my “My NHL” practically sent them to their graves. At the very least, the new rules assured a long, penalty-plagued transition. Many of the typical power forwards became a liability to their team...
The Medicine Hat Tigers even the WHL Championship final with a 3 - 2 win on Saturday night. The win was rather crucial as the series reverts to the 2-3-2 format is was important that the Tigers had at least a split at home before heading to the west coast for three. The Giants now look to close out the series at home with three games at home and the home ice crowd on their...
It is probably too soon to write how it feels after watching my Rangers team go down 5-4 today, but I don't think time will change my opinion of this team.
All I can say is that I'm proud of the 2006-2007 New York Rangers. This team never gave up, not when most counted them out during the regular season and not today down 2 goals to the Sabres.
Jaromir Jagr showe...
Alright, Sharks. The time has come to put Saturday's dull performance behind you and dig deep to keep the dream alive. It's times like these that the hockey world sees leaders emerge in the face of adversity and put their team on their back. Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau - this means you. Joe, let's awake from the dream that told you to seek out the miracle play and put th...
Well another disappointing result for the Sharks. When will I be able to get on board with this team and really consider them a contender? This coming from a Habs fan with obviously no vested interest in this years Stanley Cup Playoffs, for obvious reasons. The Sharks seemingly had the goods to make an extended run, solid defense, good goaltending, #2 PP unit and a number...
Everyone is ripping me for the negative tone about "New NHL" but i want to let the number finally to back up my arugment themselves. these are attendence figures from games this season that are based on number of tickets distributed, not people attending. THe Actual attendance is lower.
Btw the number ever lie......
Mar-6 2007 Col @ Bos - 11,707
F...
In years watching hockey this might be the best final four teams left in the NHL playoffs in YEARS.
So lets start out West
[b]#1 Detriot Red Wings v #3 Anaheim Ducks[/b]
Detriot has been playing great hockey and beat a physical Calgary team and a bottom feeder team in san jose. The ducks beat up on wild and kim johnsson's head. They also had a great series against...
The announcement came down from the IIHF today that an NHL team, the winner of the European Champions Cup and at least one other European club will participate in tournament. The big question is, which NHL team?
The AP quoted Rick Nash as expressing concern over additional toll taken on the body after an already long season.
That said, it wouldn't make much sense fo...
As promised...
[b]1 Buf vs 4 Ott[/b] - Total toss-up. If either team wins, I am not surprised. Buffalo has the speed edge, and they're a bit more spread out in terms of offense. Ottawa has slightly better defensive depth, and their top line has been beastly in these playoffs. Goaltending, imo, is a wash. But I feel the Sens have played better in these playoffs, and...
There's almost 36hrs now till the puck drops on the Conference Finals so it's time for some thoughts on life in the off-season for this Flames fan....
[u]Thought #1[/u]
It was very disappointing to see the end of the Rangers - they were the last dark horse left in the playoffs and while I didn't really expect them to make it past the Sabres, I just really miss there be...
Coming into work this morning I was greeted with warm sunshine, a cool breeze, and the comfort of knowing the Sabres are still playing hockey. All should be right with the world, but hanging in the back of my head is a cloud of doubt. The knowledge that this could be the last couple games I watch, the fear that Ottawa will be too much for us, that again we will come so c...
Following terrible showing in game three the Vancouver Giants bounced back in game four of the WHL Championship series. The league championship is now guaranteed to return to 'the hat' for game six as the Giants are just about to clean up the finishing touches on what appears to be a 4 - 0 victory. The game remained tied heading into the third period as the two teams conti...
It was a rough finish to the rangers seaosn. They blow a 1-0 lead with 7 seconds to go in game 5. Then they lose 5-4 on home ice in game 6. Although there are a lot of "What ifs..." in this series, Rangers should be happy with what they accomplished. They didn't look like they were even in the playoff mix in February.
Bring in some young guns, add a fiesty Sean Avery, ...
This article im about to share proves part of my therory this league is a)this league is in trouble, b) Bettman still doesnt get it and c) proves that causal fan still doesnt care about NHL
Can’t Follow The NHL
http://media.www.thetowerlight.com/media/storage/paper957/news/2007/05/10/Sports/Heatin.It.Up.Without.Espn.Nhl.Playoffs.Become.Distant.Afterthought-2898728.sh...
[img]http://bp1.blogger.com/_oCmYyKF1nYg/RkMyBFMs7FI/AAAAAAAAAKo/2W51rn2Cv0A/s400/detsan.jpg[/img]
[b]
WINGS WIN!! WINGS WIN!![/b]
Game 5 and 6 showed what a champion is supposed to look like.. The Wings never looked liked they were going to lose while the Sharks looked scared.. Really, I can't even say the Sharks looked desperate. That would require SJS to have a pulse...
i love it on VS coverage that they say that buffalo fans invented the idea of having fans partying outside while during game.
Well they are wrong.
If you buy this dvd
http://www.amazon.com/NHL-History-Philadelphia-Flyers/dp/B000M7XR7Y/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-4451391-1782410?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1178840045&sr=8-1
and any flyers fan will tell you that the flyers fans wer...
WILL THE BUFFALO SABRES AND THEIR SPECIAL TEAMS PLEASE REPORT TO THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS...THE BUFFALO SABRES AND THEIR SPECIAL TEAMS TO THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS....THANK YOU
That's what I heard over the HSBC p.a. tonight following an embarassing showing (or lack thereof) by the Sabres in game 1 of the ECF. Bottom line is, if their power play continues to b...
Going to my car Thursday morning I was greeted with the cold, wet blanket that can be Buffalo spring. My initial thoughts were concern about how this was going to affect the ice. I knew it was going to warm up, but would the humidity lift, and if it didn’t were the Sabres going to have problems dealing with slow, choppy ice. No matter I thought, game time was twelve h...
With the Lewiston Maineiacs completion of a four game sweep in the QMJHL Championship series, the attention of the CHL falls squarely on the WHL and OHL finals.
The Sudbury Wolves and Plymouth Whalers face off this evening in game five of the OHL Championship series. The game is just underway and the visiting Wolves scored 1:51 into the first period of play. Plymouth f...
Gee, Lindy Ruff is a brilliant coach after all......
I love youtube. it has everything you want as a hockey fight fan. i want to share my top #10 fights on you tube
#10 Cam Neely TKOs Lindy Ruff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDt8pgmsfV0&mode=related&search=
your're not a hockey fan if you dont like cam neely
There is a choking situation in Buffalo....
[img]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h307/jimmywhite81/choking_1.jpg[/img]
Well Rangers fans, that’s it, another season in the books. It took some time for last week’s loss to finally sink in but what an exciting last few months it’s been for the fans. With the team forced into playing playoff type hockey since March, the intensity made it almost feel like ’94 all over again; well without the Cup of course. Still, looking back, do you ...
Wow! Did the Ducks know what time the game started? I realize it is a seven game series, but they responded to the first period like it was a regular season game? There was very little real pressure throughout the game and it looked to me like they could care less to be there...just like their fans! Their one shining moment was the hit on Holmstrom. I hate the fact th...
One thing I'm not seeing in the Conference Finals series is the geniuine hatred between the teams involved. Its not a requirement for a well-played and entertaining series, but it sure would make watching these games a bit more bearable. Every year there seems to be a series or two that is just a venemous battle between two teams, leaving most of the participants with scar...
I study hard for my test on human reproduction. Golly, how ironic. It is only too bad that the Hurricanes are not reproducing last year's victory in the playoffs. I am sure that Rod Brind'Amour shares my sentiment.
This next summer is going to be extremely boring. We wont have Cup parties, award ceremonies, photogs and other things that come with championships. Thank God ...
The last three games you picked Buffalo and you saw the results. Our city has a curse as it is, your picking jinx doesn't help.
All kidding aside, the Sabres really are in a huge hole.
Let's hope the 3-0 gives them a HUGE wake up call.
Here's to the team showing up tonight....here's to Miller doing his stuff again...here's for lots of shots and some goals (dare I...
Well Rangers fans, that’s it, another season in the books. It took some time for last week’s loss to finally sink in but what an exciting last few months it’s been for the fans. With the team forced into playing playoff type hockey since March, the intensity made it almost feel like ’94 all over again; well without the Cup of course. Still, looking back, do you thi...
That is more like it...much better effort all-around! Both game 4's were two of the most fun and frenetic battles of the playoffs...great to watch! I did not want to go back and count...but aside from missing on the Senators wrapping up their series in game 4, I was spot on every other call I made!
It took Buffalo all of nine seconds to [b]find the net[/b]. [b]Chri...
[img]http://www2.ottawasenators.com/_static/webUpload/265/228_1.jpg[/img]
Growing up as a child in Ottawa, ON and playing minor hockey for years, the one constant thing that remained the same throughout my childhood was the fact Saturday Night was Hockey Night In Canada. A lot has changed since then, which brings me to my point for writing this article.
With NFL, NB...
You have a third period full of questionable penatlies that won't be called in real hockey game and their Network dumps their sorry asses for horse race.
it goes to show how popular NHL is really is and how screwed up this league is.
flyershockey81 writes...
Congrats to Sens...News for my Fellow Flyers Fans
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Congrats to Sens. You deserved to Win. You destory and expose the sissies the buffalo sabres are made of. This series proved that old style hockey still regins in the sport i Love. Someone needs to Bettman that phyiscal play is still apart of hockey......
[b]For my Fellow flyers fans let the debate begin.......[/b]
[img]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h307/jimmywhi...
After reading the passinate blog that TIm Panccio wrote about the hack job by NBC. Maybe TIm and other NHL writers start addressing the real problem in this league..
Gary Bettman
There is only two writers who openly goes after Bettman on his mistakes and that guy is Larry Brooks of New York Post and then Toronto Sun NHL Writer Al Strachan.
Al Strachan knew fr...
This will be a very short post as I am just testing this out. The better team was victorious as much as it hurts to say that but the Sabres will be good for years to come. If you want to read more than go to www.buffalosportstampede.com
From Neil Best from Newsday:
"In an interview with WFAN, commissioner Gary Bettman said the broad audience was worth the risk of overtime, but he left open the possibility of rethinking the Saturday afternoon strategy next year."
"Why not at least move the game to, say, MSNBC, which is in about 20 million fewer homes than NBC but 20 million more than Versus? [b]Becau...
[b]1 Buf vs 4 Ott - Ott in 7[/b] - Didn't take as long as I expected, as the Sabres bowed out in five. I called the goaltending a wash...maybe I said that cuz I was cheering for the Sens. Miller is the better goalie, but not by as much as a lot of people are still thinking. However, Miller was inconsistent in the first two rounds. Of course, in this series, he was the ...
teddye03 writes...
Step1 Is Admitting You Have A Problem (My Blog From The Med)
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Mykonos, Greece. One of the largest party towns in Europe, a beautiful place, and here I am sitting in a tiny cabin room on the ship, sitting here sipping a rye and coke after our late seating dinner in the dining room writing about hockey. I’m no expert, but I think I’ve become what some people could call a hockey addict. Don’t get me wrong, I am enjoying this Medit...
this was proved by sports blog Sports Media Watch
http://sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com/
this tv rating going back to 1995. add this to bettman brilliant work as the Commish. did anyone notice the differnece one final game between two top market teams in 1997 vs. rest of the games of the following years?
[b]1995[/b]
3.2: New Jersey at Detroit, Game 1 (Saturday, Jun...
Mike Rathje. there is a name i havent heard for awhile in flyerland. In all seriousness, i know Mike is trying the hardest he can to come back and play for the orange and black but i think it's time for flyers to buy him out or he has to retire.
I met Rathje once, he is a great guy and a great heart for the game but it's decsion time for him......
Well, we have come to the last 7 games of the 2006-2007 NHL Year. Two teams are on the edge of the top of Mountain.
From the east we have Ottawa Senators and from the west we have Anaheim Ducks.
Both teams defy what Gary Bettman wants the NHL to be a passive, Euro league.
Lets recap how both teams got to the finals
[b]Ottawa Senators[/b]
In the first round, ...
As i am coming home from the jersey shore from the memorial hoilday on monday, i will start to watch the final 7 games of the the 2006-2007 NHL Season.
I finally give NHL credit for something....
i'll give them credit for scheduling the first game of stanley cup finals on memorial day night. the reason i will give them credit for scheduling the first game against b...
What an incredible start to the Stanley Cup Finals! Game 1 had everything but overtime...numerous gigantic hits, acrobatic saves, some pretty goals, and some not so pretty goals. Though there were way too many suspect penalty calls, this game never lacked intensity. It was back and forth most of the game...even during the power plays. Like every other team the Ducks ha...
I'd like to be the first to welcome you all to the REAL Stanley Cup playoffs...they went old-school tonight! From the opening draw to Alfredsson's final hit at the buzzer, bodies were flying...they might as well have been bumper cars! Monster hits were being laid out with the intent to hurt. The game was frenetic and raucous...it easily was as good as game 1...only they...
Well I am going to start off by introducing myself to the hockey world. I am JDawg and a huge hockey fan, and if there is something that I thrive on it is this time of year. Today I want to talk a little bit about the oilers, now just after reading eklunds blog i understand that there might be some big moves made this year for KL, now as much as I at times dont agree with ...
teddye03 writes...
A hockey junky gets his fix (The price is not right)
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Thanks to free wireless internet in my hotel, combined with large quantities of caffeine, I get to do something I have not had the pleasure of doing in three weeks, watch a hockey game. After the depressing event of departing my cruise ship early this morning, the beautiful sights of Barcelona, Spain, combined with the opportunity to view a live stream and chat with my fri...
i wonder if that was buffalo or any usa team in the same exact situation would they called it a goal? dont nhl offical know how easy to revoke a usa passport
if the league is going to be consistant in handing out suspendsion in regarding to blows to head, why wasn't Chris Neil suspended for his head shot in third?
Maybe because Ottawa is a team from Canada or maybe this done to by the league that desperatly needs as much prime time exposure as possible to gain any attraction it can, and is going to do anything it has to to g...
"It's a joke. It's a joke. It's been going on the whole series and the whole playoffs, that's a joke. Not one of those calls whether it was against Anaheim or against Ottawa was a penalty....they were bad calls and it's ridiculous at this point of the season that you have referees making these kind of bad calls....missing dives, making calls that aren't even penalties...Ra...
I cannot believe I even have to say this...but I've just lost all respect for Daniel Alfredsson. In case you think I've always disliked him, simply refer back to almost every playoff blog to see how I've talked about him. What in the world was he thinking? He went completely off the reservation. The shot at Scott Niedermayer was crazy enough...but then he goes and punc...
Game 3, had less than 1 million viewers, with it peaking at a .08 Rating In the Final 30 mins of the game, with only 3 % of TV Viewers watching this game.
[i]Last year's game 3 got a 1.7 Rating. Down big time for a Saturday full of repeats or movies.[/i]
Game 4 on the otherhand had a jump up to a 2.1 Rating (2.3 Million Viewers), with only 4 % of people watching TV...
And, in the end, after making us sweat it out for a couple of months, they got it right!
Alexei Yashin’s tumultuous tenure as captain of the New York Islanders has finally come to an end. Whatever sales pitch Ted Nolan and Garth Snow threw at Charles Wang worked, though it must have been a tough decision for the Islanders owner. Regardless, as I have written in previo...
Congratulations to the Anaheim Ducks. An outstanding organization and a tremendous hockey team. They deserved everything they got.
And now our lives fall back to normalcy. No more puck. At least not on the ice.
It's a terribly sad time of year. At least we have the NBA Finals starting tomorrow, right? Major League Baseball is in full swing. And then football s...
I was just watching the Tonight Show and Jay was doing his stand up bit at the beginning and he made a really asinine comment. He said that there was a research study that was done that showed that people ate more while watching interesting television shows. He said that NBC's new slogan should be "watch more and take off the pounds" and he directly followed that up by sar...
The NHL and NBC can not like this.. The Ratings from game 4 to game 5 went DOWN. A 2.1 for Game 4 went down to a mere 1.8 for the final game is not good for either the NHL or NBC.. The ratings are obviosuly down big time from last years Cup Finals..
nephew23 writes...
Congratulations Anaheim Ducks! Stars Re-Sign Stu Barnes
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
What a series! Easily the best final round in several years...filled with tons of hitting, scoring, saves, and old-school hockey! The Ducks were deserving of the Cup and did not hesitate when they had the opportunity to wrap it up. It was quite an impressive performance and a helluva way to claim the prize...especially in front of the home crowd. Giggy, Selanne, the Ni...
They are both returning for 07-08. Details not known at this time, but they have agreed to new deals with the Sabres. This per WGRZ-Channel 2 in Buffalo, broadcasted during this evening's 5 p.m. news.
WGR-550 is also reporting that Ruff has signed this evening.
The focus of the Sabres can now move STRICTLY to free agency.
Buffalo has not had a captain as heartfelt as Chris Drury since Pat LaFontaine played here. Any interview you watch, you'll hear "us", "team", "we". Also, it's been a long time since I've heard a professional athlete in Buffalo speak about the city in the way Drury has in his time here. Drury said it's great to see those basketball nets vacant, and all the kids playing str...
Buffalo has not had a captain as heartfelt as Chris Drury since Pat LaFontaine played here. Any interview you watch, you'll hear "us", "team", "we". Also, it's been a long time since I've heard a professional athlete in Buffalo speak about the city in the way Drury has in his time here. Drury said it's great to see those basketball nets vacant, and all the kids playing str...
Buffalo has not had a captain as heartfelt as Chris Drury since Pat LaFontaine played here. Any interview you watch, you'll hear "us", "team", "we". Also, it's been a long time since I've heard a professional athlete in Buffalo speak about the city in the way Drury has in his time here. Drury said it's great to see those basketball nets vacant, and all the kids playing str...
So it's about 2 in the morning, I'm suffering from severe insomnia, and what am I to do? Well, I've decided to start a series on the 13 or so (fairly well-spent) years I've had in the game of hockey. Please to enjoy.
I was about 6, 7 years old, living with my family in San Antonio, Texas (where my father had relocated after Southwestern Bell, his then-employer, shifted ...
The day started off very slowly and at 1:48 Bob Mackenzie broke the huge signing of Todd White to the Thrashers, not the start everyone expected but that was one of the few reasonable signings made. I guess everyone decided to go jump into their time machine and go back to July 2002 when big deals were being handed out left right and center, and I am afraid thats where we ...
camp writes...
What are the expectations for the Rangers 2007-2008 season?
Posted Monday | Comments 0
Last years run in the playoffs was cut short by a heart-stopping, gut-wrenching goal by co-captain Chris Drury of the Buffalo Sabres with 7.7 seconds left in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semi's. Scott Gomez was part of the New Jersey Devils team that swept the Rangers two seasons ago in the first round of the playoffs. Now they're both with us. With multiple Stanley Cu...
congratulations NYR you just landed yourself 2 of the top 4 available free agents this year. out of ryan smyth, chris drury, daniel briere, and scott gomez you were able to pick up my favorite chris drury and scott gomez. you have two excellent players who will complement guys like lundqvist, avery, jagr, etc. you have now become in many peoples eyes the new favorite to...
I've often been asking myself whether a hockey fan can be loyal to their team without renewing their season tickets. Half of me says to renew, while my better half says "no". Although I must give respect to the Coyotes for coming out and saying that we're in a rebuilding time, I just don't agree with it. As a business owner, I know that if I don't put out a product that...
[b][u]BUFFALO:CONTENDER OR NOT?[/b][/u]
July 7th, 12:44 AM:
Last season, the Buffalo Sabres, made it to the Eastern Conference final, they faced there newest rival the Ottawa Senators. Will it happen again? By the looks of things..No. The Buffalo Sabres so far in this free agency have basically acquired no one, while losing there two best players IMO, Daniel Briere a...
With the additions of
Briere, Uphsall, Lupul, Hartnell, Timonen, Smith, Kukkonen, Coburn, Biron
since last season, have the Flyers put themselves back into the playoffs?
[b]Gagne-Briere-Knuble[/b]
With the additions of a dynamic player like Briere to take the place of Forsberg, does the Flyers first line have chemisty problems? or does Briere step in and fill...
As most Islanders' fans knew, Snow gambled the Isles future on Ryan Smyth. Not only at the deadline giving up two former 1st rounders along with a future one, but after the season ended with the 8 Year, $40 Million Contract Smyth was reportedly offered. Putting all his eggs in one basket, Snow battled until Ryan signed the dotted line with Colorado missing out on a few key...
Bill Torrey had a difficult job in 1972. He was the General Manager of the expansion New York Islanders, graced with the blessings of several excellent draft years to come. But the difficult part had to be the other 16 GMs burning his ears with trade offers for his early draft choices.
Torrey was smart. He held on to his picks despite the temptations to play "lets make ...
It wasn't long ago when this attachment was thrown my way:
[img]http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3008/nyi2008hr6.jpg[/img]
My reaction was... well... YUCK!
Before believing that Charles Wang had this baby lined up as the next jersey of the New York Islanders when the league-wide "tight fit" jerseys come into play next season I gave it some thought. The #79 right...
I have always looked at this time of the year with mixed emotions. While it is exciting as a hockey fan to see teams retool, rebuild, or reinvent themselves, it is also a time of frustration, anger, and sadness.
I am frustrated that my Blackhawks may still suck for yet another season because the ownership is cheaper than my little Italian Grandfather. And that is damned...
Every year, one of the days that I look forward to more than any other, is that sweet summer day when the NHL releases its schedule. In a way, for me, my personal fall, winter, and early spring are being scheduled "for me" right before my very eyes. But in what I should now come to expect, every year, this "holiday" turns into a nightmare.
This year, the Islan...
NYHockey writes...
With predictions like this, I should be a Contributor!
Posted Friday | Comments 0
I have always thought I had a good head for hockey, but I never knew I should have my own 5 minutes on the MSG network to speculate. Take a look at a collection of my three favorite posts over the past few months. You have to admit, I did pretty well in my statements. My one true errata that I sadly must admit is the fact that Jed Ortmeyer is no longer in the equation, ...
ItsJacketsTime writes...
Scorers Draw Crowds, Goaltending Wins Championships
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Hey guys.
Seeing as this is my first post I think I should introduce myself. My name is Matt and I'm 15 years old. I live in Cincinnati, OH and I'm mainly a Columbus Blue Jackets fan. I've been a hockey fan my entire life, when my parents raised me on the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL and IHL. And ever since, I've been hooked. With that, let's blog.
The one thing the...
Despite the neigh sayers, I firmly believe that up until this point in the off season Glenn Sather and the rest of the New York Rangers management has done an excellent job. Many will argue that Sather has reverted back to his old habits by signing over rated players to lucrative long term big money contracts. Others will even suggest that the Rangers are trying to “bu...
Despite the neigh sayers, I firmly believe that up until this point in the off season Glenn Sather and the rest of the New York Rangers management has done an excellent job. Many will argue that Sather has reverted back to his old habits by signing over rated players to lucrative long term big money contracts. Others will even suggest that the Rangers are trying to “bu...
As I sit back and watch a replay of the 1994 Grey Cup game because the BC Lions game is blacked out, it reminds me of watching that game live and what it meant. For those that don't know or remember, the game was between the BC Lions and the Baltimore Colts, Stallions, CFLers whatever you want to call them. This was an American team in our CFL. This American team was comp...
I think Coyotes fans, more than most, have spent these first few weeks of the Free Agent signing season looking at each other and saying, "Who?"
We realize, naturally, that the Yotes are going to "get to the playoffs" on the cheap this year. Cheap and young. Why, they might even have to have Kool-Aid in the locker room for this bunch. And they certainly are going to hav...
red_avi9 writes...
08 should be a piece of cake for wings...until the playoffs.
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The season of 08 is looking great for the wings as of now.last year the wings came tied for first with buffalo{buf had more wins} in points and the only divisionmate who even contended with them was the predators.i mean, lets face it chicago, the hawks suck and the same goes for the bluejackets.the blues are really on the right track but at most they'll contend for a playo...
I took a casual glance at the roster for the Phoenix Coyotes this morning. I realize, of course, that they still have quite a bit of money to spend to fill out that roster. But I also realize that they won't spend it. So this, my friends, this is the roster that we will be working with come October.
In the "promising, up and coming, youth movement" category we have... ...
For part one of this 10 part series, I will be laying out my projected lines for the upcoming season complete with stats and player bios. This will serve as an introduction for parts 2-9 where I will break down each line and rate it. Enjoy!
Offense:
LINE 1:
Marcel Hossa, 25, Slovakia, 64 gm, 10 g, 8 a
*Scott Gomez, 27, USA, 72 gm, 13 g, 47 a
Jaromir Jagr, 35, Czech...
Retro-Buzz III: Grant Fuhr
With all the negative press about Kevin Lowe and the Edmonton Oilers, why not shed a positive light on the team's history. Grant Fuhr was a spectacular goaltender who was the backbone of the Cup runs in the 1980s.
Pre-NHL
Grant Fuhr was born September 28, 1962 in Spruce Grove, Alberta, outside of Edmonton. In 1979, at the age of 17, Fuhr br...
PART THREE IS DONE! VIEW IT ON: HTTP://MY.HOCKEYBUZZ.COM/RAGS2RICHES.
HOPEFULLY COMING TO THE HOME PAGE SOON
In part 2 of 10, I will break down Offense Line #1, aka, the Jagr line. I will expound upon the strengths and weaknesses of each player and explain why he fits on the line. I appreciate the input recieved from part 1 and will certainly take the feedback into con...
The series is moving along nicely and I want to thank my readers for their support. I have taken the comments from the prior installments into consideration and have therefore altered the second line from how it appeared in part 1. Keep the comments coming. Part 3, Here we go:
Left Wing: #82 Martin Straka
Personal: 34 years old from Plzen, Czech Republic. Stands 5 ft 9...
We are roughly 4 weeks away from the start of training camp and the beginning of the 2007/2008 National Hockey League season. I want to take a look at the teams who finished 9-15 in the Eastern Conference standings for the 06/07 season. Are any of these teams ready to make a playoff run? Lets find out...
#9) Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs finished wit...
If you're expecting something hockey related, read no further. It's not April yet.
As I'm sure many of you know, Madden 2008's release date is August 14th. As usual, I pre-ordered my copy at the closest Best Buy on Old Country Road and waited anxiously for the midnight release. Last year I was 7th in line, arriving at the Best Buy around 10:00 PM. By midnight the line w...
The concept of bringing Michael Peca to the New York Rangers occurred to me for a minute last month, but I figured there would be no way something like that could [img:right]http://mapleleafs.nhl.info.pl/news/data/upimages/Michael_Peca_10.jpg[/img] get done. Not with the Rangers currently over the salary cap and not with the teams' commitment to the youth movement over the...
Ron Guillet writes...
The Wang Enterprise : Projection Of The New York Islanders
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Alrighty, brotha's and sista's. With the Leafs, Habs, Sabres, Bruins and now Sens done in the projection departement, I thought I'd turn my attention to the Islanders. An orginization which has been the peak of many hockey jokes, kind of the like the Spanish News Team but IMO wrongfully so. They fought the odds last season and shut the door on my lovely Leafs and the clima...
Speaking with a few sources in the past day or two, I've been told that the Rangers and Coyotes are talking about a trade that would send Montoya, Malik and Kasper's salary to the Coyotes for Jovo and a top prospect.
At the moment, no one knows which prospects are being talked about, but we know that Rangers are asking for a forward in return.
Folks, I think from th...
If there is one thing this off-season has taught me is that teams, even with a salary cap, won't be afraid to throw big money around to get what they need. That being said the next off-season should be interesting for the New York Rangers. Unless he's signed to an extension at some point this year, Henrik Lundqvist will be a free agent next summer and how embarrassing will...
Ron Guillet writes...
The Big Apple Got Bigger: Projection Of The New York Rangers
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Alrighty my Hockey Buzz brotha's and sista's. With a nice handful of teams and their players predicted by moi, I thought I'd move to a team that I believe will be the powerhouse of the East... a team known as the New York Rangers. With a season under raps, the Rangers were eliminated by a mightier and badass'ier (yes, I make up words) team in the Sabres. But don't fret, th...
[img]http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2001-09/680485.jpg[/img]
I cannot imagine the horror that was felt by those who lived, worked, visited or had family or friends inside the Twin Towers on that fateful day six years ago. My heart can only go out to them on this day of remembrance.
Let us not only morn for those who were lost, but also celebrate the lives of t...
I tend to be pessimistic but hopeful. I can see the Flyers getting off to another bad start but not being non competitive like they were last year. The team made a lot of moves after February, some I like, some I like less, some seem to come with question marks.
[b]The Forwards:[/b]
I wanted them to sign Drury but they ended up with Briere so I was a little disappointe...
Last year the Philadelphia Flyer's were the worst team in the NHL. They went through some major shake ups from the front office to who was on the ice. After a drubbing at the hands of the Buffalo Saber's, Bobby Clarke said he was to burnt out to run the team. When Clarke found the door it did not hit him on the way out, it hit Ken Hitchcock who got fired the same day Clark...
Ever see the movie The Number 23? If you haven't it's about a guy that's obsessed with the number 23. After watching/reading anything I could get my hands on about the Leafs upcoming season I noticed the number [b]13[/b] coming up a lot. Check it out:
The Leafs opened training camp on Thursday, September [b]13[/b]th. That day they unveiled their new Reebok Jerseys ([b]...
All the hype for winger Hugh Jessiman in training camp this year was unwarranted. He hadn’t shown anything in two years of minor league hockey to make anyone believe he could have made the Rangers this year. In the first two preseason games Jessiman was invisible and I don’t know how that’s possible for a guy with a 6’6”, 230 pound frame.
The most emb...
The Coyotes will play in Dallas on Thursday night and then end the pre season in Colorado on Saturday and they have a few young guys you may want to keep your eye on as the roster continues to get down to regulation.
Both Peter Mueller and Martin Hanzel continue to look good and more and more comfortable with each time on the ice. Although Mueller and Hanzel both missed...
sstrang writes...
Another myhockeybuzz predictons blog no one will read...
Posted Friday | Comments 0
Everyone does them and for my own sheer amusement (and to see my name on a website....) here goes:
Western Conference
1. San Jose
2. Detroit
3. Vancouver
4. Anaheim
5. Calgary
6. Colorado
7. Minnesota
8. St. Louis
9. Nashville
10. Dallas
11. Los Angeles
12. Edmonton
13. Chicago
14. Columbus
15. Phoenix
(1) San Jose vs. (8) St. Louis - San Jose in 4
...
So much emphasis was put on the free agent extravaganza over the summer, when the Rangers seemingly signed two players that would put them over the top. Scott Gomez had tormented the team from across the Hudson with the New Jersey Devils and of course Chris Drury who squashed Rangers Stanley Cup hopes with a last second goal in last year's playoff series against the Buffa...
The rest of the NHL teams are about to start their regular season. Hockey is starting tomorrow! So, I decide to get this last blog out of the way so I can focus on enjoying the game we all love. My previous blogs:
http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?user_id=2407&post_id=2473
http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?user_id=2407&post_id=2499
http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php...
The Atlanta Thrashers fan base is small. There it is; no arguments here. The team is second fiddle to several other teams in the Atlanta area including college football teams from Georgia and Georgia Tech, the Braves, and even the Falcons (still!). Hockey has yet to grab the sports fans in Atlanta like the True Blue fans wish it did. Atlanta sports fans wanted to jump on t...
An interesting matchup tonight for the Blue Jackets. Coming off what has to be a disappointing road loss in Minnesota, the Jackets have had time to recharge and focus on their opponents for game 3. Though the season is young, it is not premature to call this a "crucial" game.
Had the Jackets won more games last year against teams beneath them in the standings, they wou...
It's hard not to overlook the ridiculous goaltending of Pascal Leclaire through his first two starts, but 60-for-60 to start the year isn't too shabby.
The Blue Jackets put Saturday's disappointing loss behind them, and moved on to Wednesday's game against the Phoenix Coyotes. Coach Ken Hitchcock was not particularly impressed with the team's play in the final period S...
Sometimes it just isn’t your night. That was the case last night as the Predators suffered their first loss of the year at the hands of the division rival St. Louis Blues 4-1. From the start the Preds seemed to be playing the part of the Washington Generals to the Globetrotting Blues.
They let them get up early, on a pretty goal from Brad Boyes started ...
Three games into the regular season The Phoenix Coyotes are 1-2-0 and have managed 4 total goals while allowing 8. They have yet to score a power play goal and the top line of Doan Kapanen Vrbata has generated 5 points in three games 1-4-5 so where are the signs of progress and optimism moving forward? Perhaps the best sign is the surprising line of Winnik Hanzal Weller wh...
Well the Preds remedied the shots on goal situation that I talked about in yesterday’s post but failed to post a win against a pesky Coyotes team (they out shot the Coyotes 39-24). I felt like the Yotes beat the Preds at their own game last night as they didn’t necessarily play the better game but were bailed out by strong play in net.
Despite getting two goals from...
Well the Preds remedied the shots on goal situation that I talked about in yesterday's post but failed to post a win against a pesky Coyotes team (they outshot the Coyotes 39-24). I felt like the Yotes beat the Preds at their own game last night as they didn't necessarily play the better game but were bailed out by strong play in net.
Despite getting two goals from ...
I had a co-worker come up to me today an ask me if I saw the Tootoo hit last night. I told him that I had not, and he proceeded to get all excited, exclaiming that it was,
"Just like Downie!! Oh man it was the same thing again!!"
So I figured I should take a look myself to see what really happened. So I went to tsn.ca and watched the highlights from the Coyotes-P...
Where is Weller Suspension? that’s right the refs got it wrong giving him an match pentaly
Where’s Tootoo’s Suspension? I didnt happen
nhl still holding a grudge against the flyers all these years.....
Ducks versus Wild tonight at 5pm PST at the Honda Center. I'll be there early for warm ups. Just in case.
"Should be a good old fashioned grudge match, so come on down. Bring the kids. There are still plenty of seats available at the War Memorial."
During game 5 of the Ducks v. Wild playoffs last season, the pregame action was gnarly. First off, the Wild were ...
The 2007-2008 season is only four games old, but a disturbing trend has already settled in with the Blue Jackets.
After a solid team performance in the home opener against Anaheim, Columbus traveled to Minnesota the next night and played another good team game, albeit for 40 minutes.
During the third period of that game, the Jackets diverted from their game plan and...
I've seen the replay of the Weller Tootoo dust up about 15 times at least. Here's my opinion for what it's worth and I've been throwing it around since the Sutton hit and no one's paid me a dime.
The Tootoo hit was at least as bad as the Downie hit. Both hits were against a guy coming around the net and not paying attention but Downie stopped skating at the blue line, ...
First and foremost, this is my first blog and I will hopefully get the hang of this very shortly. I am a sophomore student at Connecticut College and I am a tremendous New York Islanders Fan. Although I attend college in Connecticut, I still have season tickets for the past 5 years (obviously excluding the lockout season), and I attend an average of 36 games at the ...
-As I stated in my last blog, I have some basic predictions for the output we can expect for some of our players this year. I obviously am making these predictions based on what I have seen thus far, and please feel free to leave your own predictions or comment on mine:
-[u]Forwards[/u]:
Comrie: 36 Goals, 35 Assists
Guerin: 27 Goals, 40 Assists
Fedotenko: 2...
Well, as this long week of no Islander's hockey continues because of a terrible NHL schedule as usual, we can definitely take the time to think about our season thus far. Specifically the injuries to Jon Sim, Bryan Berard, and our offense and defense.
-[u]Jon Sim[/u]: I don't know about the rest of you, but this is definitely one of the most dissappo...
Three games, that is what lies in front of the Coyotes beginning Thursday night with the Anaheim Ducks and ending Saturday November 3rd with the same Ducks. Not only three games against division rivals (the Coyotes entertain Dallas on the 27th) but if young rookie Peter Mueller plays in all three games it will bring his total number of NHL regular season games played to ni...
I know it’s still early for any serious evaluations and assessments and for that the Rangers should consider themselves lucky they still have some time to turn things around. However, I’ve decided to give brief evaluations on each of the Rangers players after every ten games throughout the year and track the team’s progress. So here is a brief comment on each playe...
Friday night at the AAC in Dallas there was a pile up much like the ones in NASCAR races. Phoenix piled up 5 goals and the home team went round and round like cars do but could not finish. Had plenty of chances but Tellequist and company stopped all chances. Phoenix looked good and Dallas looked like a team struggling. Poor D Zone coerage at times plus no gaols = 3rd strai...
We all know that as fans it seems like there are only 2 emotions in our fan-lives, a giddy rollercoaster of ups and downs, from supreme and utter glory as our team wins to dark, lonely despair as they fail don't.
In some ways it's easier to be a fan of a really good team, like the Wings, or a fan of a struggling team, like the Blue Jackets.
The Red Wings of the pas...
You read it right. I figured since none of the usual top Pacific Division teams really want to get their games going and take a lead to win the Division, then why not Phoenix? They have a bunch of "no name" kids on the team that can all play the game. Aside from Shane Doan and Jovo, who else is well known? I would love to be in the locker room and experience the new bl...
[img]http://boredplanet.com/img/returnoftheking.jpg[/img]
http://new.wavlist.com/movies/093/aod-hailking.wav
Garth Snow hemmed and hawed when he had to figure out a solution to his horde of defensemen at the start of this season. Bryan Berard sat for days waiting as the season started, and all he could do is practice on his own dollar as the Isles looked f...
The Rangers continue to get better,especially the young players. With Mark Staal ripping a shot past Marty 499 last nite, I expect his offence to take off too. His defensive game is rounding out nicely . Early in the year he was beaten wide now not only does he shut down the oposing foward but steals the puck and takes off up the ice. I attibute his progression to playing ...
Sorry it's been a while. I was on deadline in my glorious job in the world of publishing last week, and then, went away for the weekend.
Check out my newest Battle NY: Sibling Rivalry 2, which is a debate with my Ranger fan brother:
http://islanders.hockeybuzz.com/index.php?post_id=11195
Now, let's get to business . . .
So here we are, upon a Monday night dreary...
Living in Ottawa, it was natural I would become a Senators' fan after years of cheering for Steve Yzerman and the Wings... Heck, finally I could rant and rave about a team in my own backyard! I could randomly run into players from the NHL on nearly a weekly basis (gotta know the right clubs)...
But, a few years back the team took a huge step in the wrong direction for...
Save for the drubbing against the Hurricanes, DiPietro has kepted his head in the game, and most importantly his butt in the net.
Tonight is sure to bring on a heart stopping match up of the east's most prolific Power Play Team(MON 11-6-3 25pts) and the Team(NYI 11-6-0 22pts) with the 2nd best penalty killing in the east. Lets examine some numbers for the game.
So ...
It’s been a rough past couple weeks, well rough season really for the Leafs and after a stretch of six losses in the past seven games which has been capped off by a 5-1 loss to the youthful Phoenix Coyotes it is becoming more and more evident that the time for change is near. There are rumors of the GM John Ferguson being fired, rumors of Paul Maurice being fired…�...
According to reports the local investment group trying to buy the Nashville Predators wants to take possession of the team as quickly as possible. This may mean as early as Monday and before the City Council and Sports Council vote on the measure. I have to think that this means that the group must feel that that approval is a mere formality at this point. Let's say that a...
Would it be Brashear or Pronger or Boll or Godard or Parker or Boogaard or Chara or Neil? None of these guys hold that distinction. Instead, there is Tie Domi incarnate leading the league and his name is Daniel Carcillo. Who.......? What team does he play for......? The Phoenix Coyotes. Those of you in the west may have guessed it right because you've seen this 5'11" ...
[b]CHICAGO BLACK HAWKS
BEST YOUNG GUNS IN THE LEAGUE[/b]
The next team on my league tour is the Black Hawks of Chicago. When I watch this team all I do is smile it is nice to see a team finally grow into a team. The Black Hawks fans deserve this and now its time for these fans to have fun. The Black Hawks time is now simply because they have the players to win and w...
From The Back Row writes...
Why You Should Stop Worrying...and Love the Hawks
Posted Monday | Comments 0
I'm both surprised and disappointed to hear the doom-and-gloom scenarios scuttling through the cyber-community of Blackhawks hockey after their no-show in St. Louis Saturday night. Have expectations really grown that exponentially in the past 2 months? Yes, it was a divisional match-up, yes, second place was on the line, yes, the Hawks were the only team not to show up e...
If at first you don't succeed, try seven more times.
The Penguins powerplay was pretty lousy all night long, while not really generating that many good scoring opportunities in the process.
But the Pens decided eight was enough when right-handed defenseman Kris Letang scored in the left slot on a cross-ice feed from Sidney Crosby for the game-winning goal with about ...
Hey pens fans,
Tonight, the Pens took on Gretzky's Coyotes at the Mellon Arena and were victorious. Yes, we won 3-1. Talbot had the first goal and was assisted by the former coyote Laraque. The Pens' second goal was a power play goal by Letang. He was assisted by Crosby and Malkin. The Pens thrid goal was by Kennedy and he was assisted by Staal and Roberts. Fleury w...
Once again Babcock mixed up the lines, putting the youngsters Filppula and Hudler up with Datsyuk against the Habs, and magic happened.....who does this guy think he is?? Scotty Bowman?? After a short stretch of not-so-stellar performances, and a couple of injuries to key checking-line players, Mike Babcock was basically forced to shuffle the forward lines around to get ...
The last time San Jose and Phoenix met the Sharks delivered the knockout blow with a 6-0 manhandling of the Yotes. For Phoenix it was 3 games in a row against San Jose and was just a disaster. San Jose outscored the Coyotes 15-1 in those three games. The series got chippy and Steve Bernier found himself in the thick of it. It all ended with The Coyotes Nick Boynton getting...
So here we are two weeks removed from the 5-1 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes the Leafs have won 5 of 6 and currently sit in a four way tie for 6th in the conference. Not bad when every Leaf fan wanted the team dismantled from top to bottom and it looked as though the team had finally reached rock bottom. Now let me just say that yes I was one of those that felt that wa...
We are not going to rehash last night's game. Most of us saw it. Otherwise, you read about it. Some articles were less harsh, while the Isles broadcast was plenty harsh. But, that all aside . . .
What I'd like to talk about is Nolan's demeanor after this loss, and the steam coming out his ears.
"We just need more and have to have a better effort."
- Ted Nolan
Ted...
The Islanders came out last night like it was October. I saw hits. I saw chaos. I saw hard-work. I saw effort. And from it, things happened. Comrie worked the puck, causing a ruckus. Bill Guerin sat at the doorstep with his stick on the ice, at the ready. Bergie was pinballing and driving the Yotes nuts. Trent Hunter was hitting like he wanted to start quoting Ezekiel 25:1...
[b]NASHVILLE -- ARE THEY GOOD ENOUGH?[/b]
The next team on my NHL tour is the Nashville Predators, a team that started out slow and has recently picked up. Why have they picked it up? Well I like their speed. They have a terrific coach, and a terrific young defense. The preds also have some very talented vets, and you get a very good mix of vets with young players.
...
Chris Simon and Jarko Rutu are very common names to those who follow hockey, both are well known for being "tough guys", and who have crossed the line on numerous occasions. Chris Simon has been suspended a total of seven times (assuming he gets suspended for this latest incident) in his 15-year career.
1) 1997 - Chris Simon, while a member of the Washington Capitals w...
Last evening the Flyers dropped a 3-2 decision to the Phoenix Coyotes, after leading 2-0 late in the second.
The Flyers had three costly defensive breakdowns that ended up in the back of their net. That is what happened, but it sells the Coyotes short. This is an excellent young team, full of resiliency and they skate like the wind. The most surprising thing was the amo...
Now based on that title you would think dogs can easily beat a fish, well hold on now. The fish have had the dogs swimming in circles 8 games in a row now, dating back to last season. The fish have protected their nets well and have not allowed the dogs in the net in 3 straight games. Have you ever seen a dog on ice? They can't quite keep up and move so well, but if you le...
This past weekend, I was enjoying a snow filled, hockey inspired trip to the city that breathes... Montreal. Myself and three of my friends, one being a Habs fan, were all attending our first game live. What better place then the Bell Centre for a classic match with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens? The game is just oozing with intensity and pre-game gitters....
[b]WHAT MAKES THE BLUES TICK?[/b]
The next team on my 30 team tour is the St. Louis Blues. The Blues are a terrific team to watch, and they are well coached. I really feel that the Blues have one of the best coaches in the league in Andy Murray. Murray has system in place, and more important, the players have bought into it . The Blues have the talent, but what make...
[b]WHAT MAKES THE BLUES TICK?[/b]
The next team on my 30 team tour is the St. Louis Blues. The Blues are a terrific team to watch, and they are well coached. I really feel that the Blues have one of the best coaches in the league in Andy Murray. Murray has system in place, and more important, the players have bought into it . The Blues have the talent, but what make...
Was it when Bob Pulford sent Ed Belfour out of town for Ulf Dahlen, Michal Sykora and Chris Terreri?
Or when Pulford "unloaded" Jeremy Roenick on Phoenix for Alex Zhamnov, Mike Mills (not the bass player from R.E.M.) and a draft pick who turned into the immortal Ty Jones?
Or was it just one (or all) of the many re-emergences of Pulford from the shadows of the Blackha...
[b]RED WINGS
A FORCE, AS ALWAYS[/b]
The Red Wings probably have the best Dman in the League, and two of the best forwards in the league. They are Stanley Cup Contenders. They are the toast of the west. Why? Simple, they are that good; they have a solid defense, and adequate goal-tending which looks better because of their defense. Simply put, this team has no wea...
As I watched a Detroit/Dallas game the other night, the commentators mentioned that there were a couple of former [b]Winnipeg Jets[/b] playing that night (3, in fact). That got me thinking that it won't be too long until the last on-ice connection to the Jets will disappear. It's not nearly as historic as, say, the last helmetless player, but something I feel is worth noti...
Last night the Blue Jackets played their 41st of 82 games, and are now officially halfway through the season. With a record of 19-16-6, 44 points, the jackets are on pace for at least 80-90 points, which may be good enough for a low playoff spot in the Western Conference. Let's reflect back on this up and down season.
A great start
The Jackets got off to a great start ...
Just announced on the Dallas Stars broadcast tonight..... Mike Ribeiro is going to be a dallas stars for a good while! He signed a 5 year 25 million dollar deal today!
Ribeiro is having a career year and is on pace for 80+ points.
Personally, I am very happy with the move. It is a very good deal for both sides!
Turco just annihilated Gaborik on a breakaway!
mo...
DrFeelgood writes...
"Effort" not in the Sharks vocabulary on Tuesday; lose 5-3
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Against a team that you can't give excuses for losing to, the Sharks put in a very lazy game against the Desert Dogs on Tuesday coming up on the losing end, 5-3.
Trust me, the score makes the game look a lot closer than it was.
I'll admit, I did not get to see the first period as the game started at 6:30pm here in California and I was still at work, but less than a m...
Unless you have been living under a rock lately, you might know that the Leafs are in the process of finding a new general manager to replace John Ferguson.
Today we learned that the bright minds and the very skilled researchers of our friends MLSE, found that the Cliff Fletcher was still under contract with the Phoenix Coyotes. Even though they fired him back in April...
Yes, we just lost 4-2 to Toronto, but I'm not speaking on emotion.
I'm speaking as someone who has watched this team closely all year long, their trials, triumphs, and tribulations.
This team is close of being a playoff team, but it's just not there at the moment. [b]It's one or two players short.[/b]
Look at the Sabres' recent losses to Atlanta and the Rangers, w...
[b]I mean no offense[/b] here to the Coyotes or to their fans but I never thought that this pre All Star break game between the Preds and Yotes would be so meaningful to both teams.
[b]Seriously...the Coyotes have been awful[/b]. Last year, for instance, they finished last in the West and the only team with a worse record was the Flyers. Nobody thought that they woudl ...
At the end of last nights game you could almost feel a collective sigh from the team. The All Star Break is here and the Preds can use a break. After playing four game in six nights (including the brutal trip to Denver) the team gets a much needed break. A time to recharge. Time to heal. Time to take a look in the mirror.
[b]Last nights 4-3 OT loss was frustrating[/b] ...
monoxide164 writes...
Young Stars Game the bright spot of 2008 Skills Competition
Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Three years removed from the NHL lockout and the young talent continues to look better and better with every drop of the puck. The 2007 Young Stars Game was a joke, plain and simple. It was boys, not men, floating around the ice and cherry picking at the oppositions blue line looking for a breakaway.
Yawn.
Quite a different scene displayed by the young talent selecte...
I have been looking forward to doing this blog on the Sharks. Mark Freitas and Ryan Garner are very good friends from Hockey Buzz. I hope you don’t compare my blogs to those two awesome bloggers because it will make me look too bad!
The Sharks are a very puzzling team. I truly believe this team has all the talent to take it to the next level. The Sharks have the tal...
Conceptions around the NHL world differ on a newly implemented system – the NHL salary cap. It is a system that guarantees hope, even if it is an illusion to some, for less-talented teams that befall the lower class of the league.
The point of this experiment was too create a more competitive and intense league. So the NHL decided to bring in a system that rewards a p...
The Sabres HAVE to use this weekend off as a method to cleanse thier system of the first half of the season. If they get their act together quickly, they can climb right back in the playoff hunt.
After losing 12 of their last 14 games, they can climb to the 8 spot by THIS FRIDAY if they take care of their own business (at Tampa, florida and Atlanta) and things break ri...
Hello All, I havent posted anything a little over a week, I decided I didnt want to get going about the Sens last week and really, theres not much to say about the All-Star weekend, it is what it is!!! Im also going to stay away from the Ray Emery saga, all I will say is this kid has to get his crap together, act like an adult rather than a spoiled little kid, and frankly ...
S Kaspar Rollins writes...
Flames Come Back From 3 Down, Get Huge Win Over 'Yotes
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
In one of the best and most entertaining games of the year, the Flames came back from a 3-0 deficit at the start of the third period to beat the Coyotes 4-3 in the shootout. Jarome Iginla finally snapped his 10-game goalless streak in dramatic fashion, first wiring home an amazing shot from the left circle over Ilya Bryzgalov's shoulder with just 9 seconds left to tie the ...
Swede writes...
Bruins Playoff Push: The Last 10 Games and Trade Deadline
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I know I am looking ahead, but the next 20 games will go by quickly and then we (as fans) will be looking at the last 10 games to see if Boston can clinch a playoff spot. Lets be honest, it won't happen before this because the race to the playoffs all year has been tighter than (insert joke here).
Here are the last ten games Boston plays, all but 2 against division riva...
Currently the New York Islander's sit in the 13th slot of the Eastern Conference. Fortunately for them, they are only five points out considering how deep they are in the standings..but this only adds to the frustration and confusion of what the Islander's should do.
If you ask me...(and I know that no one has so far, but I'm going to give my two cents anyway), the Isla...
The Buffalo Sabres have one of the best young forwards crops in the league. They are a enigma as to why they don’t have more points in the standings. Their defense is led by super star Mr. Campbell. The goaltending is solid; that will have to continue to improve to help this team make the playoffs.
The Sabres' strengths are their age, speed, and strength. Their for...
mojoworld writes...
Trade this, trade that -- The Canucks won't be trading much.
Posted Sunday | Comments 0
THN has some interesting trade suggestions for the hockey world to see, but at the end of the day, I think they're still long shots. The Nagy trade suggestion for a draft pick is pretty useless. We don't have much to give up right now and it really wouldn't profit us to try and make incremental improvements right now to the team by risking more draft picks.
The Sundin...
The Habs may very well be the most improved team this season. They are the best passing team in the NHL. Their forwards are among the most talented in the League. They have the speed to match their skill in the offensive zone. Their power play is simply awesome, one of the best teams in the League. The Habs have the defense who will and have pitched in for the offense...
[b]The past week has not been the best for the Blue Jackets[/b]. The embarrassment at home to Minnesota, the frustrating loss in OT to the Capitals, the back-to-back solid road efforts in Phoenix and San Jose…the list goes on. The latest in a string of futility was the shootout loss at home to the league-worst Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.
[b]Effort being a common deno...
It is official!
Blueshirts Goalkeeper Henrik Lundqvist has signed a six-year contract extension of $6.875 million per season. No more speculation on free agency after this season, our very own Olympic gold-medal winner can no longer be distracted with contract matters. The Rangers just bought you and we all can now reclaim your old moniker "The King." Or at least, here'...
4-1 Phoenix with 10 minutes left.
With 2 minutes left in the 2nd Dallas was down just 2-1. However Mattias Norstrom, being the human pylon that he is, allowed Niko Kapanen to skate right around him to pick up a rebound. Since when is Niko Kapanen a net crasher? Keep him contained and put him on his ass Norstrom. I thought his reputation was as a solid defender and hi...
Florida Panthers are the next team on my list. There are a lot of positive signs in Florida. The Panthers do have a chance of making the playoffs; we are in the South-East Division, anything can happen. The teams are all equally good, or equally bad, depending on your point of view.
I like the Panthers because they have a good core of young players. They have a solid ...
Have a great week.
http://flyerflies.com/blogs/Buts/
Thanks in advance for any comments and opinions.
[b]When the Dallas Stars come calling tonight[/b] to Nashville it could very well be a preview of a potential first round match up. If the playoffs started today the Predators, as the number seven seed, would find themselves playing the number two Stars. What a series that would be.
While I don't like the idea of going against a world class goalie like Turco for seven g...
NYIsles16 writes...
NYI: Post Deadline Thoughts on the NYI and Other Deals
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
So here we are, February 27th, and the trade-deadline has come and gone. The anticipation is over and we can freely analyze every move that was made, or not made. As always, there is much criticism on Long Island, including some radicals going as far as saying that Garth Snow should be fired and shipped off the Island immediately. Before I analyze the Islanders and why Gar...
Continuing with yesterday’s blog on the Rangers deadline day acquisitions here is my in-depth analysis and opinion on the players the Rangers acquired, gave up and avoided.
TRADE: New York and St. Louis
New York Trades: 2008th 4th Round Draft Choice
- Many people are speculating this year’s draft class is one of the best ever. But even still, by the fourt...
S Kaspar Rollins writes...
Flames Fall To Ducks; Evaluating The Flames' Playoff Chances
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
The Flames' woes against the Ducks in Anaheim continued tonight, as they fell 3-1 in what you might call a valiant effort, although it was in my view a two period effort by the Flames. Mathieu Schneider scored the opening goal only 35 seconds in, getting wide open at the point and wiring a great shot past Kipper's blocker. The Flames never quite recovered from this. Scott ...
So the ceremony begins at 2 o'clock, with a glorious walk of champions. And no, I'm not talking about the bar and grill inside the Marriot. The 17 members that played for all the Islanders' Stanley Cup Championships will walk from the Marriot to the Coliseum, with Lord Stanley's Cup present, in honor of the hard-fought battles they endured during all those playoff years.
...
The Sharks had been on quite a fall, losing five straight games and tetering on the edge of playoff consideration. They were three games into a season long 8-game road trip, with Pittsburgh and Detroit on the horizon. The Sharks were aimlessly following the yellow brick road towards the playoffs, but the road was getting narrower and narrower, and the team was falling asle...
The Sharks had been on quite a fall, losing five straight games and tetering on the edge of playoff consideration. They were three games into a season long 8-game road trip, with Pittsburgh and Detroit on the horizon. The Sharks were aimlessly following the yellow brick road towards the playoffs, but the road was getting narrower and narrower, and the team was falling asle...
Today is March 4th, and the New York Islanders currently sit in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. With a record of 31-29-7 for a total of 69 points, the Islanders are only five points of the final playoff spot. We also sit six points behind the New York Rangers, who have a record that is good enough for sixth in the Eastern Conference. With two games coming up this wee...
Michel Therrien seems to have more in common with the late Rodney Dangerfield than just a few facial expressions or similar gestures would indicate . It appears, from my point of view, that like Dangerfield, Therrien "Don't Get No Respect" either.
I was reading different articles over the past couple of days and there are a number of people that think Therrien needs to ...
I figured a little bit of Phoenix pregame would be in order. Here are a few interesting numbers I checked up on.
Brygalov last 3 years vs Dallas: 2-3 2.25 .927 sv%
at the AAC: 4GP 1.99 GAA .934sv%
Turco vs Phoenix last 3 years: 9-5 2.62 GAA .884sv%
in Phoenix: 4.15 GAA .852sv%
Since 2001
Home: 10-5-2 G...
http://www.eddiesbetter.com/2008/03/ugly-ugly-ugly.html
There were two keys that I pinpointed for this game coming in: Turco had to outplay Bryzgalov and the penalty kill needed to stay off the ice. Dallas didn't give up a powerplay goal, and Turco only gave up 2 goals. The offense was just terrible. The powerplay has been very sloppy lately. Tonight they couldn't ...
I've said it before, and now I am officially saying it. The Canucks can only make the playoffs with 96 points. History proves to be very reliable, especially in the last few years.
Last year the Canucks by this time of year were tearing up the Western Conference with a impressive 2nd half of the season. This year, well... it's not quite the same. We are strug...
Being a fan means never giving up on your team. It also mean kicking 'em in the ass when they deserve it. It definitely does not mean kicking them when they're down.
Many bloggers on this site, including Kevin Lee, have basically thrown in the towel on the Senators after their three losses on the West Coast. I think a little dose of reality is required. In my book, the ...
Xias writes...
An introduction post; Top 3 Picks to come out of the East!
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
First, let me take the time to welcome anyone who happens to click on this post and give me a chance to entertain you through my blog. Although the Rangers are my favorite team and I make no attempt to hide that, my aspirations are to be an objective journalist, not a cheerleader, and I hope my writing will reflect that. Any criticism, constructive or otherwise, is both we...
I will be writing a series of blogs discussing a handful of teams whose expectations were minimal to start the season or even now; within these teams, I believe one will take home the Stanley Cup to their franchise. I am beginning with a team that was doubted from the get-go, the Montreal Canadiens.
After missing the playoffs in the 06/07 campaign, the Habs tweaked some...
As spectators of sporting events we often have the urge to yell, shout, boo, clap or make any other type of noise we deem necessary to let somebody know just how we are feeling. It might be the common double-syllabic, repetitious chant using the opposing goaltenders first or last name in hopes they let in a soft one on the stick side. Perhaps it's the jeering directed to...
WOW! I just watched the end of the Montreal-New Jersey game on Versus, and how about those Habs?
I wish I would've seen this whole game, but ending up with 38 saves, obviously Carey Price had to be sensational. I personally have had some concern about Carey but he stepped up in a big game in a big way and I'd officially like to say I'm on the Carey bandwagon. This gu...
[b]In a game that will be remembered [/b]by some for a controversial goal or a non call that led to said goal I will remember this game as an ugly night for Predators hockey.
[b]Let me explain.[/b] The Preds were, quite simply, outplayed last night by a very good Sharks team. A team that has, for the past two seasons, had our number and dialed it repeatedly. The Ron Wi...
Is it time to start admitting that the Ducks just don't have the firepower to repeat? I don't mean to jump on their backs in the midst of a 1-2-1 slide, but it's looking more and more likely that 5th in the West is the best they're going to be able to achieve. This will more than likely get them a first round date with Dallas, who, to put it mildly, has pretty much owned...
steal_your_faceoff writes...
Trouble ahead, trouble behind - Flyers & Leafs part deux
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
[img]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/thewirewool/Grateful-Dead.jpg[/img]
Jerry and the Boys - 1971 at the Palladium
[i]Trouble ahead
Trouble behind
and you know that notion
just crossed my mind...
[/i]
[b]Trouble Behind:[/b]
Ugh. The notion that crossed my mind with about 11 minutes left in the 3rd period of last nights' Flyers/Leafs tussle in Toronto ...
[b]*NOTE*:[/b] I will be writing a series of blogs discussing a handful of teams whose expectations were minimal to start the season or even now. Within these teams, I believe one will take home the Stanley Cup to their franchise.
The second team I will be writing about is the New York Rangers. They debuted their off-season with a bang last summer, acquiring the likes o...
[b]Obviously at this time of year you want your team to win[/b] but if you are like me I am scoreboard watching like crazy! Right now I am so thankful for my Spring TREO that allows me to continually check the status of games of interest. I wonder if the people at ESPN are seeing my increased use in their bottom line numbers?
"Guys...ummmm...we had ten thousand hits on...
Alliteration is the key to any good blog title and I hope it caught your eye.
I often wonder what it would be like to be a Detroit Red Wing fan. They coast along in the regular season, amassing winning streaks and distancing themselves from the rest of the conference. Really, a Red Wings fan never has to worry. Those of them that show up to the games are really going...
Alright, so with 10 games left in the season and Sundin possibly on the shelf for at least one game, this is how I figure things will come down. I have read the predictions. Everyone thinks the Leafs will miss, all be it slightly, but still miss the playoffs for a franchise first 3rd straight year. I believe the common oppinion is a 9th place finish. CBC is cancellin...
That quote is from the Predators Head Coach Barry Trotz. 94 points has been his prediction for the past two weeks of the number it will take to make the playoffs in the West. That has been the number ingrained into all the Predator players as they make their push. 94 points. 94 points. 94 points.
Let me throw out why I think this type of talk is a problem. Trotz has us...
leafs_slayer writes...
How I think the east will play out, and the meaning of life
Posted Saturday | Comments 2
Hey. Whatsup?
I'm mostly writing this blog as amusment for myself because I am sick today, and my Satelite is broken.
I'm going to predict the standings for the rest of the season, for the whole East, using my magically new-developed formula called guessing with prior knowledge.
Here we go!
Winners in bold
OT loser in italics
[b]Devils [/b]Avalanche
[b]Sa...
It is hard to recognize when good times are past and hard times are coming. It is human nature to ignore the slow but steady transition from success to failure. It is easier to sugarcoat the marginally smaller victories than to worry about a drop productivity. But this naivety and self-deception only lasts until everything collapses and there is nothing to do but accept th...
[b]*NOTE*:[/b] I will be writing a series of blogs discussing a handful of teams whose expectations were minimal to start the season or even now. Within these teams, I believe one will take home the Stanley Cup to their franchise. So far, I've I wrote about two of these clubs, the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers.
The Calgary Flames didn't start off with load...
9 games left in the regular season. Popular opinion among Sabre fans seems to be if they could just play with some conistency in these games they have a shot at finishing 8th, or even 7th. I like what I saw Friday and Saturday. Totally different team than the one who showed up (or didn't) against Pittsburgh. I like the lineup, I hope things keep rolling and Ruff decide...
S Kaspar Rollins writes...
Another Road Disaster; Flames Don't Deserve The Playoffs
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
I have been criticized recently because of my extreme pessimism regarding the Calgary Flames' chances for the rest of this NHL season. Well, I point the optimists in the direction of the Flames' latest disaster, a 3-0 drubbing by the 12th place Columbus Blue Jackets, in which they were outshot by a ridiculous margin of 38-18. There is little that can be said about such a l...
[b]Needing two points to keep their playoff hopes alive [/b]the Predators came up against a team that was just more hungry than they were. The Washington Capitals looked like a desperate team playing in desperate times and wanting desperately to get two points closer to the post season (did I use the word desperate enough in that sentence? ). The Preds on the other han...
After watching tonight's 7-4 win over Tampa Bay, I am convinced of one thing:
The Buffalo Sabres are schizophrenic.
The Sabres managed just two - that's right, two - shots on goal while giving up a pair of second-period goals to one of the worst teams in the league (last in the Eastern Conference with 66 points, or 15 points behind the Sabres). They left the ice fo...
The Philadelphia Flyers head into the final eight games of their '07-'08 season with a 36-28-10 record, good enough for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
For a franchise that finished dead last in the NHL last season, this would seem like an enviable position.
But looks can be deceiving.
Before a mild 3-2 victory over a paltry Thrashers clu...
The world of professional sports is always striving to create a fair, if not equal, playing field for all competitors. The entire concept of sports is for one individual or group to triumph over others who were also capable of winning. Although on a micro level there are teams with more talent than others, the opportunity for an organization to build a strong team is not h...
millertime writes...
Fascinating--If Sabres win out, They're in the Playoffs
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
What does the Boston loss mean tonight?
If the Sabres win out - each of their last 8 games - they are in the playoffs. Period.
Nobody behind them can catch them if they win out and they would leapfrog Boston for a playoff spot, regardless of what currently-eighth-place Philadelphia does.
Buffalo will have tallied 16 points for those 8 wins and would finish with...
[b]It seemed like an easy thing. After an embarrassing 3-1 loss to Minny on Monday I figured the Avs would come out of the gate flying - good rushes, hits, etc. At least there was a fight.
In a CRUCIAL game, the Avs simply did not come to play...AGAIN! They looked a lot better in the third but even then, come on. With a whopping 3 shots in the first, 7 shots in the sec...
[b]*NOTE*[/b]: I am currently writing a series of blogs discussing certain teams who I think have the best chance of winning the Cup. However, these clubs consist of teams whose expectations were low to start the season, or now, right before the playoffs. So far, I've I wrote about three of these clubs, the Montreal Canadiens, the New York Rangers and the Calgary Flames.
...
As I mentioned yesterday I blogged live from the Preds - Red Wings game last night. below is my blow by blow recap as it appeared live on my other blog www.predjoe.wordpress.com.
[b]Pre-Game[/b]
it is early...I tend to get to games early to try and nab one of my special free parking spots. I scored one tonight so I am feeling good!
the Sommet Center has the Duk...
If there is one change that the NHL must it is the point allotment for wins and losses. Otherwise known as the "three-point
game." It is the most idiotic practice to award 2 points in some games and 3 in others. It makes it impossible to catch
teams in the playoff races when some games are offering up more points than others. This also contributes to a more bor...
The NHL has made a cultural shift since the lockout. In a game that was once dominated by players in their early to mid thirties, a youth movement has taken place. Now we have players like Crosby, Ovechkin and Phaneuf among many others who are dominating the game while in their early twenties. It is players like these that every team covets, and if you ask any GM in the...
Here they come lead by their knight in shining armour Vesa Toskala. Maple leafs fans haven't been treated to something like this since Cujo pulled on a blue and white jersey. If JFJ did ANYTHING right in his time as Leafs GM it CERTAINLY would be bringing in Toskala. Even with being saddled with Bell's 2 mil/2yr deal the Toskala aquisition was just what the Leafs needed...
You can bark and scream at the moon all you want...you can debate on websites, appeal to your friends for reason, throw your remote control across the room...all of it. I come onto this site and laugh and laugh at guys who think they can re-invent the wheel or even funnier, appeal for reason and devise gameplans to help their team - my team - the Leafs, run the ship into t...
As I left the AAC Saturday afternoon, (after a ridiculous, disappointing, frustrating, and disheartening 3rd period meltdown) I finally came to this conclusion --
[b]I am a Stars' fan no matter what![/b]
No matter what the final score is or how it happens, [b]I will be rooting for my Dallas Stars.[/b] No more bickering, or complaining about the refs, or hanging my ...
In spite of all the negative attention surrounding the Leafs lately, I thought I'd take a different angle and -- god forbid -- take a look to the future of a possible playoff berth. While the Leafs have their work cut out for them, it’s not impossible for them to attain post-season play. While it may seem improbable considering the teams they must leapfrog, the recent pl...
Well, if there was any doubt on the fate of the Sabres - I called this weeks ago -, they proved tonight why they don't deserve to be one of the 8 Eastern Conference teams left standing for the 2008 NHL postseason.
But beware of the spin! In the coming days and weeks, these are the things you'll be hearing from Sabres management, head coach Lindy Ruff, and general manag...
S Kaspar Rollins writes...
Flames Get Win No. 40 In Style Over Canucks, Take Lead In NW
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Calgary Flames rebounded from an abysmal first period, a terribly soft goal, and a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 tonight at the Saddledome. With the win, Calgary takes the lead in the Northwest Division with 90 points, one more than Minnesota and four more than the Canucks and Colorado Avalanche. This was a huge win for the Flames, who go into a three...
[i]Dan Ellis has unseated Chris Mason as the teams starter. [/i]
[i][b]"I wish I could trust him."[/b][/i]
[b]That's what kept echoing in my brain[/b] last night following the superb performance by Dan Ellis last night in goal. for the second game in a row Ellis has stood on his head and led this team to victory. First it was the 2-1 shootout victory over the Bla...
nephew23 writes...
Believe! (updated with 2007-08 season ending predictions)
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
As I left the AAC Saturday afternoon, (after a ridiculous, disappointing, frustrating, and disheartening 3rd period meltdown) I finally came to this conclusion --
[b]I am a Stars' fan no matter what![/b]
No matter what the final score is or how it happens, [b]I will be rooting for my Dallas Stars.[/b] No more bickering, or complaining about the refs, or hanging my ...
Dominic Moore and Kris Newbury were providing the electric charge but the Leafs failed to capture lightning in a bottle as they watched their playoff hopes fade.. again. [IMG:left]http://i25.tinypic.com/23wguh.jpg[/IMG] The dream is over. Although most true Leafs fans knew in the back of their minds it was a hill that was likely way to steep for the boys in blue to climb...
The regular season has only 5 games remaining.
The (expected) playoff birth has been obtained an now it's really just a question of heading into the post season playing good "playoff hockey" and above all...staying healthy.
I know the team and the fans would like a division championship...at least...and maybe even first place in the conference.
But honestly to me...
fatbrendan writes...
It's been fun, but it'll be the Preds over the Oil and Nucks
Posted Friday | Comments 0
As a devout Oilers fan, let me first say that I came to terms with the Oilers not making the playoffs after they dropped 6 in a row back in December. My only hope for the rest of the season was that they would somehow find a way out of the bottom 5 to not give Anaheim a lottery pick for Penner.
Imagine my surprise over the last 4 or 5 weeks as the Oilers have amazed ev...
The Sabres proved that there is no way that they can be a playoff team last night. Two blown two-goal leads in three games. Pathetic. I don't understand how they can ALWAYS break down when they are GIVEN freebie points by playoff teams. I say, sit Miller down, put in Thibault. Miller has had concistency problems and always chokes come playoff time. How do you know if...
The Rangers and Pens played a hard fought game this afternoon that seemed to turn up in intensity as the game went along.
After scoring first, the Rangers continued to apply pressure in the offensive zone, but (as Ed Olczyk correctly pointed out) allowed Pittsburgh too much space in the high slot and at the points by continually collapsing in front of Lundqvist. Mari...
All year long, Sharks fans lamented over inconsistency. We are not scoring enough. Our offense is hot and cold. Cheechoo and Marleau have disappeared. We need a number one d-man to make the playoffs.
Blah, Blah, Blah.
Living in Columbus, OH, I watched. I listened. I said, "Just be patient."
I got to see Brian Campbell's debut in teal in person in Columbus. I...
C4LL4W4Y writes...
Pens vs. Rangers round 2; Can the East beat the West?
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
The Rangers edged the Penguins in a hard defensive battle last night to pull even with the Devils at 93 points and give themselves from breathing room from the surging Capitals.
Chris Drury scored the game winner in overtime on the power play after the the Penguins had tied it with about 10 minutes to go in the 3rd.
The equalizer came after Jagr gathered some steam...
[i]Not so much a blog as just some random comments...this is getting good people![/i]
With the win last night the Preds put themselves in control of their own destiny...win out and they are guaranteed at least the 8th spot.
[b]Let's take a moment [/b]and ponder the fact that no one thought we would be here at this point...NO ONE! Many of the [i]experts[/i] were pick...
jesus the northwest is crazy - if calgary beats minny tomorrow, then THREE teams can win the division title with their last game remaining
Option 1 - CGY beats MIN, CGY beats VAN, COL Beats MIN (Calgary wins Title)
Option 2 - CGY beats MIN, CGY loses to VAN, COL Beats MIN (Colorado wins Title)
Option 3 - CGY beats MIN, CGY beats VAN, MIN beats COL (Minnesota wins Titl...
[b] My wife and I were in our basement suite busily trying to decorate the place in pro-Avs colors when in walked one of my best friends (and another buddy)... Canuck fans. With Avs jerseys, scarfs, trinkets, mugs, a blanket and two Canuck fans, the stage was set for the pivotal push for the postseason.
I sometimes have a big mouth when it comes to the Avs. Usually, at ...
steal_your_faceoff writes...
You know it's time for playoff hockey when...
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
[img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee162/JHRIV/hanson2.jpg?t=1207231935[/img]
[u][b]You know it's time for playoff hockey when...[/b][/u]
* You've stocked up on enough Molson, Export Ale and Labatts to keep the '84 Oilers feeling no pain for the next year and you remember that the Canadian border is over 1,000 miles away but you figure you could still make it th...
C4LL4W4Y writes...
Rangers clinch playoff spot; The Mystery that is the Sens
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
[b]Rangers win, clinch playoff spot[/b]
The Rangers fought off early pressure from the Islanders through several great Lundqvist saves and took control of the game in the 1st period. Jaromir Jagr converted on two power play one timers, giving the team a 2-0 lead.
I thought they did a great job of shutting down the hustle of a young Islanders squad. Okposo was very...
S Kaspar Rollins writes...
Wild Beat Flames To Win NW; Oilers Let Flames Into Playoffs
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The Calgary Flames' divisional hopes officially died Thursday night with a 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild, who clinch the Northwest with the win. More importantly to Calgary, though, was their failure to get the one point needed to clinch a berth in the playoffs. The Flames remain in 7th place in the West with 92 points, just one above the Nashville Predators and four abov...
No Look Drop Pass writes...
One foot out of the Quicksand; Alfie gets his Bell rung
Posted Friday | Comments 0
I want to start with a rarely-if-ever used phrase -- Double Wow! Uhhhh...is that really how I want to start? Does anyone remember Pierre McGuire (if you don't know him, turn off your computer and never mention the word hockey again) yelling "Double Dion!" during a World Junior championship final when Dion Phaneuf corked two guys at once? The entertainment value of McGuire ...
That's it. Now back to your regularly scheduled heart attack!
Dan Carcillo is a rare commodity in hockey -- a skilled player who LOVES to get his nose dirty. I have heard on several occasions that Gretzky loves the guy, and after last night's hat-trick against Dallas (the game after he fought two Stars in the same game, dropping one with a single shot) how could you not? I'm sure the 'Yotes hope his goals:fights ratio balances out a ...
Well congratulations to all the qualified for the playoffs. As fans this is our favorite time of the year. Forget March Madness. This is the real fun tournament in the spring!
Some final analysis on the season and the unbalanced schedule. Previously I wrote about a plan to play a balanced schedule with 86 total games. 4 (2 home, 2 away) against all teams in the con...
So here it is, the end of a long (or short ;)) 82 game season. If there can be one word attributed to this team throughout the entire course of the year, I think it would be "Surprises". You could, no doubt, tag them with chemistry or hard work, but surprises seems to come to the forefront no matter how you look at the season.
First one should look at the obvious when a...
Right Now, I'm putting this out there...
This team, to a man, all year has played for the crest on the chest, not the names on the back. Win or lose, they fought, hit, and clawed this team into the playoffs. This team stands together, fights together, wins together, and lose together. I do not want to hear any negativity towards any individual players in this playoff se...
[i]Note: This is a repost from this time, last year. Enjoy.[/i]
I try to steer clear of playoff predictions, because anybody who loves this sport knows that you can never accurately assume what's going to happen in a hockey game. Yet, somehow I am magically drawn to articles discussing all facets of the upcoming postseason, as the thirst for playoff excitement that bre...
Sorry couldn't resist! :)
[b](1) Detroit v (8) Nashville[/b]---[i]Nashville in 6[/i]-Detroit had fits with only one group of teams this year, and that was the Central. Detroit needs to get to the final. The Motor City will accept nothing less. They have a lot to play for. Nashville just needed to get to the playoffs and much needed revenue. They have nothing to lose....
Western Conference
1. Detroit vs 8. Nashville
Detroit dominated throughout the season, with a rough patch where many of their key defencemen were injured. Nashville made a comeback to clinch the final playoff spot due to clutch goaltending by Dan Ellis. The main concern for both teams will be in the net. Does Hasek have it in him? I say yes.
[b]Winner: Detroit[/b]
2. S...
We have arrived at my favourite time of year -- the Stanley Cup playoffs. This year's playoff fever in the Nation's Capital can be described as virtually non-existent, as the city's fickle fanbase have completely abandoned the Sens bandwagon, stripped it for parts, and used the money to buy Canadiens paraphernalia. That being said, I still have a sliver of faith, and if on...
Since this is the time of the year when every sports blogger in sight wants to give you their predictions on the playoffs, I'll spare everyone from simply writing a predictions post. Instead, I'll write an analysis and prediction of the series I'm most interested in (duh): (2) San Jose Sharks vs. (7) Calgary Flames, to start on Wednesday night at 8.
The Flames drew the ...
Thoughts heading into the NHL playoffs....
-- Hockey fans should be thankful for the Washington Capitals. Since long-time minor league coach Bruce Boudreau took over on Thanksgiving, the Caps have arguably been the league's most exciting team.
Of course, having Alex Ovechkin helps, but Boudreau allows the Caps to play to their strengths. In a league full of stifling,...
An article in the current (April 8, 2008) issue of [b]The Hockey News[/b] announced that certain officials may very well decline to work this year's playoffs.
[quote][i]"Some veterans, who are winding down their careers, are expected to take a pass on the playoffs to allow younger referees and linesmen to work the post-season."[/i][/quote]
Naturally, the league hasn't re...
I'm going to get my entire bracket set down instead of going round-by-round. Last year, I was 15 for 15 in predicting the Ducks over Sens; but I actually felt last year was easy to pick... this year, I'll be lucky if I get half right.
Nonetheless, I surge forward... unlike last year, I feel EVERY team, 1-8, in both conferences could beat/upset and move to the second ro...
I am not sure how this happened? The Caps did get hot at the end of the season and they do have a great player to watch. But now all the pundits are picking them by a surprising margin to beat Philly. I even read the Hockey News where they gave the edge in defensemen to the Caps because of Green. Now he has had a nice year, but so did Coburn and Jones for the Flyers. ...
Rob McGowan writes...
The Dust Has Settled, So How Do We Clean This Mess?
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
It's been a few days now since the season has ended for our beloved franchise, and once again we are sitting on the outskirts of the playoffs looking in, watching other teams compete. All we had was the draft lottery to look forward too, and the hype faded for me almost immediately. Something about seeing Mike Milbury at a panel near the table that would possibly hold the ...
chipiii writes...
Since everyone's doing it... Here are my predictions lol :)
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Okay sooo here we go...
[b]Eastern Conference[/b]
[u]1.Montreal VS 8.Boston - Montreal in 5[/u]
Why? Bruins will keep playing dead with the Habs.
[u]2.Pittsburgh VS 7.Ottawa - Pittsburg in 6[/u]
Why? Pens are too much and the Sens are sucking big time.
[u]3.Washington VS 6.Philadelphia - Philadelphia in 7[/u]
Why? Flyers played HUGE games at the end of the season...
It’s baaaaaaack! The NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs are scheduled and are ready to blow hockey fans out of the ice yet again this year. Tonight at 7 p.m. the Ottawa Senators and the Pittsburgh Penguins will meet up again in first round live on Versus. Tonight starts the wall-to-wall, double-header charged NHL playoff coverage on Versus that I’ve grown to love over the pa...
[b]When the season began[/b] few expected that the Nashville Predators would be preparing for their fourth straight playoff appearance. Not many teams can lose Tomas Vokoun, Kimmo Timonen, Scott Hartnell, Paul Kariya and Peter Forsberg replace them with Martin Gelinas, Jed Ortmeyer, Radek Bonk and Dan Ellis and expect to complete. Not only did the Preds compete this year b...
Man, I am pumped! The opening round of the playoffs in any sport is usually the most exciting time for fans -- games are on constantly and getting your playoff pools in on time is more important than making sure the cover sheet is on your TPS reports ("Ahhhhh...Yeah. It's just we're putting new coversheets on all the TPS reports before they go out now. So if you could go a...
The playoffs are among us so i thought I would join the train and come out with my predictions for the first round this year.
[b]Montreal (1) vs. Boston (8)[/b]
This series is extremely tough to call as I think the habs do have the upper hand talent wise but if Boston steps it up just a little bit I think they have the potential to take out the habs. What I don't th...
Just want to send out some love to all of the Western Conference teams that are gunning for the Cup. May the best Ducks team win.
The Dallas Way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPmc4dYQpx0&feature=related
The Sharks Way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E81PKj9dTZc&feature=related
The Ducks Way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vIn2gYoLZ0
The Detroit Way
http:...
No Look Drop Pass writes...
Sens Punished; Three keys (plus one) to rebounding in Game 2
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Going into last night's game, my heart and I were talking, and Pumpy said "They can do it! The Sens have had 6 full days off to prepare a new PP scheme, settle their PK, and to establish a gameplan for shutting down the Pens multi-headed attack...Go Sens GO!" My brain, however, had a different opinion -- "Pumpy, you are stupid and should shut your dumb ventricles up! There...
I regulalry read the bloggers blogs. During the playoffs last year and this year, I have paid closer attention to the blogs of our playoff rivals, the Senators.
I enjoy getting into the occasional "discussion" about what the blogger said...and during playoff time it usually ends up being a lot more about "fans" of the teams voicing their opinions about how their team wi...
Ahhh yes...the playoffs...every hockey fans favorite time of year. Where 16 teams are given that chance to win the sports ultimate prize, The Stanley Cup.
Round one has the Predators traveling to Detroit to face the President Trophy winning Red Wings. The Preds typically play the Wings tough and should provide more than enough for the Wings. Instead of doing my typical...
gosharks19 writes...
Flames burning; Can the Sharks douse the fire tonight?
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
I will not get into specifics of last night, everyone knows what happened between the Sharks and Flames.
Calgary came out and played their game I was expecting from Mike Keenan and the Flames. And the result I was afraid of happening did. The Flames looked calm, looked confident, looked loose, and honestly looked tough to beat.
I was quite upset with the game, and wh...
Some quick thoughts before bed (have to get up at 4:45 to work out!):
Preds were out shot 40-20...that cannot happen and we have a chance in this thing.
Dan Ellis is showing the rest of the NHL what we have learned this season...this kid is legit! Solid game for his first playoff start ever. He kept us in it for sure and bailed out the D several times.
There...
Professional athletes make TONS of money.
Compared to the average person, they make more money in one year than we will see in a llifetime.
Like television, movie, and music stars, they often have personas that are larger than life.
We put these people on a pedestal...tell them that they are special...and then tell them that along with being special and making al...
Well the rest was nice, the guys with bumps and bruises had a chance to rest a bit. It has been since Sunday for the Flyers and since Saturday for the Caps. As hot as both teams have been, I am sure both coaches would have liked to start on Wednesday. The long layoff and all the press the Caps and AO are getting might work against them. They are a bunch that really ove...
What a fun and excellent start to the post-season for the Dallas STARS and their fans! I'm quite certain not even the players expected that type of domination in Game 1 against the Stanley Cup Champs; certainly not against a well-rested Pronger, Selanne, and Scotty Niedermayer. But as they did against the Ducks throughout most of the year, the Stars handled the physical ...
nephew23 writes...
STARS Shine Again, Take 2-0 Series Lead Back to Dallas
Posted Sunday | Comments 0
I'll have more tomorrow...but here are a few notes about Game 2 and the series...
Dallas is stacked at center and they all contributed big goals tonight! Ribeiro opened the scoring on a neat break-away goal after stealing a bad pass at the Ducks' blue line; he ended up with a 3-point night. Modano broke the 2-2 tie six minutes into the 3rd, essentially opening the flo...
Brian Burke did nothing at the trade deadline, essentially, for the second straight year. Most people agreed last year and especially this year that the Ducks weakest point was scoring. Supported by an elite caliber defense corps and goaltending trio, the Ducks had a stingy 2.35 GAA, good for 2nd best in the league. There is a saying "Defense wins Cups". That may be true, ...
RJ Umberger publicly vented a bit of frustration before game one in Washington on Friday. He commented about being put on the fourth line.
[img]http://media.philly.com/images/20071011_dn_g1flye11s.jpg[/img]
"I don't know what he thinks because I haven't talked to him," Umberger said, referring to coach John Stevens. "Apparently, he doesn't think I'm good enough. I d...
After spending my entire afternoon at a local outdoor roller hockey rink, soaking in the playoff atmosphere of phlegm and teary eyes combined with the hint of summer break on the horizon, I decided it's time to assess what team I want to make the most out of their playoff opportunity.
In the West I have always liked the Sharks, Ducks, Stars, and Calgary. The Ducks in p...
The Flames won tonight, to take a 2 to 1 series lead over the Sharks. They overcame a 3-0 deficit after just 4 minutes of play. I will leave the play by play to Kaspar, since he has a much better writing style than I do, but as I listen to the honking horns on 17th avenue/The Red Mile, I have but two things to say, and they are quite simple:
Marleau: Do your chin stra...
Playoffs are here, finally. Some tidbits:
-Sean Avery's creative screening of Martin Brodeur certainly crossed some kind of line. I heard Ron MacLean call it "dishonorable" on HNIC, but that would assume Avery had any honorable traits in the first place.
-As the experts stand stunned at the Stars two games to none lead, remember that Anaheim was an inconsistent team...
It's Sens time! After Game two's stunning comeback -- one which saw the Senators claw back into a 3-0 game they had no business getting back into, on goals by Donovan, Stillman and Bass, only to lose on a heart breaker, wrap-around PP goal by Ryan Malone -- the Senators showed a waivering fan base that they are competitors and are not going to mail in the 2008 season. It w...
GoodfellaAnt writes...
1/2 Flyers' fans - 1/2 Caps' fans at the Wachovia Center
Posted Monday | Comments 0
It comes as no surprise that, once again, Pierre McGuire made an appalling and completely ridiculous comment that couldn't be farther from the truth.
During the Flyers/Capitals broadcast yesterday on NBC, McGuire was asked if home-ice advantage would be an evident factor in the series. He answered "no" and then proceeded to say that the Verizon Center contained 1/2 Cap...
The Flyers outplayed the Caps in DC for 5 of 6 periods of hockey. This shows what I was stating in earlier posts. The Flyers are deeper and more talented overall today. But this Caps team is going to be really good in a year or two. As long as the Flyers play 60 minutes, they should win this series in 6 games.
[b]Game 1[/b]
Briere, Prospal and Hartnell dominated th...
Call tonight's game what you want...
"Must win."
"Statement Game."
"Gut Check Time."
"Critical."
[b]Whatever you want to call it[/b] the Predators have no other choice but to win tonight. While it's not win or go home it is win or start looking at where you'll be vacationing next week.
While the Preds find themselves down 2-0 in the best of seven contest...
Some say it is the biggest surprise of the Stanley Cup Playoffs' opening week.
Whenever the defending Stanley Cup champions find themselves going on the road down two games to none in the opening round, it has to be somewhat of a surprise.
Yet five minutes into the opening period of game one, you could see it coming.
Dallas won five of eight games from Anaheim in ...
I went to post my Game 2 thoughts, still in a bit of shock, when I instead found myself trying to figure out what was wrong with my HockeyBuzz profile (I still don't know, by the way). Anywho...I spent too much time fighting with that and finally gave up...forgetting to post at all. That's ok...it's all been said by better writers than myself. Game 2 rocked...the Stars are...
I am still at a loss as to how to describe last nights game. It was electric. It was amped. It was hockey heaven for a Preds fan. I cannot imagine a more gutsy performance or never say die attitude than what the Preds displayed last night.
[b]Some observations:[/b]
[b]Following the two goals in 9 seconds[/b] to give the Preds the lead the place went berserk! For the...
Well, I definately have to eat some crow today. I guess showing loyalty beyond reason on game day is what is great about sports, but it definately makes the day after losing a crucial game in a series that you really have no chance of winning that much tougher. I agree with Penguins fans around the world -- Pittsburgh is definately a 100% better team than the 2008 Ottawa S...
gosharks19 writes...
Do or Die, Sink or Swim, Get burned or Douse the Fire.
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Tonight is Game 4 between the Sharks and Flames with Calgary carrying huge momentum from their game 3 comeback win/Sharks meltdown, depending on how you view the situation.
It doesn't matter whether the hit by Sarich on Marleau was clean or not. (I think it honestly was a clean hit) The Sharks never responded, and let Calgary fight their way for a victory. Complaining a...
I think what we can take away from this is this: The Ducks put themselves in a position to take the wind out of Dallas' sail and steal the momentum. Instead, the Stars outplayed the Ducks in the 3rd period...got back into the game...and regained some much needed confidence. Time to reload for Game 4!
---
4-2...a glimmer of hope!
---
One goal! Well, either it'...
Let me start by saying that this game was much closer than the score led us to believe. Even when the Ducks led 4-0, there was a belief in the AAC that the STARS still had a chance to win this game. Dallas had double the shots and double the scoring chances...but in the end they had half as many goals. Three things happened tonight that led to Anaheim's win...
(1) D...
In game 4, to be played Wednesday night in Ottawa, the Penguins will have a chance to close out their first round playoff series with the Senators.
A simple look at the math involved and we see...the number of the game being played in the series and the number of games required to win the series are both 4. So the Pens are in position to do something special...someth...
Ok will someone outside of Philly give the Flyers some credit. All I read about the series is how the Caps are not playing well. Here is a hint to the cause, the Flyers are playing very well. If not for a strange 3rd period in Game 1, this series could be 3-0 already. The Flyers are playing "Playoff Hockey". They are hitting, killing penalties and scoring on the power...
While I haven't been all that bothered by the loss, would I've liked it to have gone the other way? Well, of course. But in my mind, this was the game I expected in Game 2...an embarrassed and desperate Duck team coming out to save face. Dallas is still in the position I thought they'd be in after Game 3...a 2-1 advantage. The biggest takeaway I have from last night's ga...
A huge win on Tuesday delayed what would have been a steep hill to climb. Being down 3-0 in a series is a death certificate. The winning team goes on to win the series 98.7% of the time. To say the win was crucial would be an understatement. It was necessary.
Not only did the Ducks breathe life into this once dismal series, they gave themselves a huge boost of confidenc...
No Look Drop Pass writes...
07-08 mercifully comes to an end...what now?
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The Sens season came to an end last night after a 3-1 loss to the Penguins. Losing the game/series wasn't unexpected -- at best, Ottawa was picked to lose in 6 games. But the way in which they lost -- swept, at home, while getting virtually no contributions from the big 3 (who, incidentally, may have played their last game together last night) -- put a nice ribbon on one o...
I am going to rant here so take a deep breath and here we go.
I hate fans and media types that only watch the playoffs or select one play to write about. I live in the DC area and read the Washington Post daily yet there is almost no hockey coverage at all during the season. One game summary article is typical. Very little effort. But now the Caps made the playoffs s...
Gosh, it gets tedious to read the hockey reports in the [i]Sporting News[/i]. The title of a current epistle is [i]Ovechkin falling flat in playoff debut.[/i]
Are we watching the same games? Are we reading the same stat sheets? Do the Flyers get no credit for executing well?
Frankly, this type of reportage is more an indictment of the flawed mentality prevailing in ...
When the Penguins traded for Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis at the deadline, a lot of people reacted by saying the Penguins gave up too much for players that have no guarantee of being around past this season's playoffs.
Even the most optimistic of us, myself included, wondered if losing guys like EC and Colby Armstrong, along with a 1st round draft pick, was really wor...
[b]Yet another roller coaster of a game[/b] between the Red Wings and the Preds. Say what you will about either team but one thing is for certain they are giving hockey fans a great series to watch.
[b]Last night the quick strikes continued [/b]as the Preds we able to score 32 seconds apart (first a goal by Hamhuis then by Weber) and followed up Pavel Datsyuk's goal wi...
[b]Just another voice in the crowd...[/b]
This is a personal observation, and in this, my inaugural blog on Hockeybuzz.com, please understand that I in no way speak for everyone. However in response to the listening, reading and observing I do on a daily basis, here's my take on the Nashville Predators' 2007-2008 season.
I've been a Predators season ticket holder si...
Well, it seems to happen at least once per series. Yep, tonight's game is not available outside the local viewing area. Versus is showing one of the other games (too depressed to check which one) but at least we have this series of tubes they call the 'Internets.' Actually, we can pick up WBAP slightly in the evenings, so there's always that if needed...but the web strea...
The Sharks are coming off one of their biggest win's in franchise history, coming from behind Calgary to beat them 3-2. Game 4 will be remembered by all Sharks fans as the game that truly proved the Sharks have heart, character, determination, and any other adjectives to describe a team that can win the Stanley Cup.
However, nothing is over.
There are still 2 more ga...
I actually spent most of the evening listening to weather bulletins on WBAP instead of the game, but I got enough of it. How about Turco, Stu, and that "young, inexperienced" defense corps? Let's end this thing in Anaheim tomorrow, shall we?
And for those keeping track...my lucky Morrow t-shirt is now 5-1. (And Morrow scored two goals in that loss, so I'm still calling ...
The STARS are one step away from advancing to the second round for the first time in way too many years. It certainly is not over...but they have a strangle-hold on this series. Credit the Ducks for finally figuring out the STARS power play...they [u]COMPLETELY[/u] shut it down. On the other hand, Dallas figured out how to beat Anaheim's aggressive 5-on-5 attacks...[b](...
Ok here is Ted's Blog in its entirety for today
[quote]Day 9: Friday, April 18
What a game— a tough OT loss
We arrive at the arena at 5:30 p.m. We mingled with the crowd and then take our seats in the same suite as last game. I note that the fans that were in our face last game are nowhere to be seen this game. And that the Wachovia Center is not playing fight v...
Wow. That was playoff hockey. I watched the game live, then re-watched most off Tivo because I was way too amped up to sleep. That was what I expected from Washington the entire series. I guess the inexperience took them a few games to adjust.
Carter was a beast. Hard to believe that all the offense his group put up while checking Ovechkin. AO got some points, but...
nephew23 writes...
Ducks Stay Alive With 5-2 Win, STARS Lead Series 3-2
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
What an exciting and fun game that was...[b]playoff hockey at its finest![/b] Though they fired [b]42[/b] shots on net, Dallas could not complete the comeback, and the reigning champs salted the game away late. The loss also means the STARS failed to finish off the Ducks and this series, at least for one more game. They could easily have blown the Ducks away tonight if ...
Tonight Chris Drury looked to have scored an icing on the cake goal for the New York Rangers putting them up 4-1 in a series deciding game 5. However, New Jersey didn't die out as it seemed they would, they rallied to come within 1. At 4-3 Dubinsky scored in the empty net to clinch the series and put the Rangers up 5-3 in the game. Also securing Chris Drury's 16th GWG in t...
Happy Saturday Morning
http://flyerflies.com/blogs/Buts/
Enjoy as usual
Go Flyers
Just returned from the Verizon Center for Game 5 Flyers at Caps. I have some problems with the way people treat other fans at sporting events. I grew up in Philadelphia and have watched the Flyers, Phillies and Eagles since I was 5 years old in 1970. I am a lifetime fan and have watched all these teams through thick and thin.
I went to the game today in DC and watch...
Looking at what Danny Briere has done during these playoffs, should we forget about his non-contract worthy regular season?
Briere still had points to make a good season but not the season Philly signed him for. Here are his stats this year and last:
GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW Shots %
2006-2007 Sabres 81 32 63 95 17 89 9 ...
[b]Beating a Dead Horse...Again.[/b]
As expected, Nashville Tennessean columnist David Climer played the [i]'same ol' Predators'[/i] card this morning.
Most local Nashville writers have chosen to take the 'glass half-full' approach regarding the Predators Game Six series-ending loss to Detroit, but of course David wouldn't be David if he didn't demonstrate his fair-w...
Ah, well we are back at square one again.
This merry-go-round of good games, and then bad games is incredibly frustrating. There is a 50/50 chance of which team the Sharks decide to be on Tuesday night. Will it be boys or men? Will it be the Sharks of February or March?
Only the Sharks can decide that, and their fate.....
and their future.
Last night, the Shark...
Wow what a letdown tonight was. For the first 30 minutes the Flyers did everything right. Attack, defend, and goaltending. Then quickly the collapse happened. There was no passion in the last half of the game. The Caps beat the Flyers to every puck and out worked them all over the rink.
Now the Flyers face back to back nights, a situation where Biron has played poo...
ESPN.com currently has a poll on which sport has the best game 7's.
MLB, NBA, or NHL?
Come on, clearly this has to be NHL.
All, please go to [url]www.espn.com[/url] and submit your vote. Let the sports world know what an NHL game 7 means to us. [b]And in the process, let ESPN know that we want them to keep increasing their hockey coverage![/b]
Currently, the ...
Tonight one of the hottest two teams in the East will be eliminated for sure. The Flyers have failed to bury the Caps in the last two games. The Caps have shown alot of character and fight by outhitting the Flyers in Game 5 and then pulling a great comeback in Game 6 to extend the series.
The Flyers must get back to basics. I know it is a cliche, but it is true. Whe...
As the Dallas Stars finished a 4 - 1 victory at the American Airlines Center in Dallas over the defending Stanley Cup Champions, a loud audible sigh of relief was heard around the NHL. It occurred last night around 8:25pm Pacific Standard Time. I'm sure if you were awake, you heard the loud "[b]ahhhhhhh[/b]" from your own lips and from the collective lips of millions of ...
The Penguins clinched their series with the Ottawa Senators early with a sweep.
There hasn't been a Penguins game in an entire week.
All this "down" time has me watching the other series wrap up (GO CAPS and FLAMES in your game 7's) and waiting anxiously for our Round 2 opponent!
It also gave me a chance to catch up on what the Pittsburgh Pirates doing these day...
millertime writes...
Hillary, Philly beat Washington; 2nd Round East Preview
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
I don't mean for politics to enter a hockey website, but did anyone else see the irony in tonight's events?
7 minutes after the Flyers beat the Caps in Overtime, Hillary Clinton - who is fighting for a change in the highest office in D.C. - could be seen on CNN addressing supporters in Philadelphia.
That group Hillary addressed was a rambunctious bunch. I counted at...
What a way to end the series. Lupul who was the only forward that scored for the Flyers all season and didn't have a goal all series long. He looked lost. So tonight he played mostly with Briere and Prospal and saw time on the 1st powerplay unit. The move paid off in the first OT with Lupul tucking in the rebound on the powerplay to win the series.
As a Flyers fan, ...
1st round I predicted:
Montreal in 5
Pittsburgh in 6
Philadelphia in 7
Rangers in 6
Detroit in 6
San Jose in 5
Minnesota in 7
Anaheim in 5
So i got 6/8.. not bad I'd say lol
So, here are my 2nd round predictions:
[b]Eastern Conference[/b]
[u]1.Montreal VS 6.Philadelphia - Philadelphia in 7[/u]
Why? The Habs aren't invincible and Flyers battle like crazy....
Well I went 7-1 in the first round and only missed the Stars knocking off the Ducks. Not too bad. Now time for round 2.
West
[b]Detroit vs Colorado[/b]
The Avs have had a nice rest and they look very good. Detroit won against a division rival which is hard after 8 regular season games and 6 in the playoffs. I think the uncertainty in the net for Detroit will becom...
grapes17 writes...
Round two preview: winning templates, Avery, and NBC
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Thoughts heading into round two.....
-- It's funny how things work out sometimes. The salary cap was supposed to mean every team had a chance of winning every year, and that has been the case.
In the post-lockout NHL, no team that reached the Stanley Cup finals has advanced out of the first round the following season, but look a little deeper.
In the Western Confe...
nephew23 writes...
STARS Advance, Monkeys Forced To Find New Home With Ducks
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
[quote][i]This just in ... STARS and Sharks in round 2 ... game 1 is Friday at 9pm (CST)! I really wanted the Avalanche for some good payback ... but the Sharks are the ones that got Dallas going again on the last day of the regular season, so bring them on! The series could go all 7, but [b]I'm going with 6 again, in Dallas![/b][/i][/quote]------------------------------...
The Season Series
The Habs owned this one in the regular season, taking 8 out of 8 points in 4 games they played. Carey Price recorded his first NHL shutout on the front end of their February home-and-home with the Flyers and stopped 66 of 67 shots over the two games. Philadelphia went 2 for 22 on the power-play in the season series, while Montreal was a better 6 for 25...
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=4704620&page=1
So apparently Sean Avery has decided to work for Vogue. I just keep thinking of him in place of Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada.
Ridiculous.
More to come on the tonight's playoff matches.
The Avalanche team that we'll see in round 2 is far stronger than their regular season showing. Joe Sakic spent most of the year on IR, Forsberg was signed in February, and Adam Foote was acquired at the deadline. With all that Stanley Cup experience (in Colorado nonetheless) it's safe to say that their springtime presence is invaluable. That being said, we should still...
I am so excited to watch the 2nd round. I have a feeling that the Flyers are playing with house money now. Getting into the playoffs and winning a round was a realistic goal for this squad after last season. The rebuild job left over 1/2 the team with new faces and making the playoffs made it a total success.
Montreal overachieved all year. They were not picked to...
These two teams know each other well. After meeting 16 times from 05 to 07, the Penguins and the Rangers again played 8 more regular season tilts this year. The Rangers took 10 out of a possible 16 points with a 5-3 record, while Pittsburgh grabbed 8 points from going 3-3-2 against the Blueshirts.
The Penguins were a squad that saw two of their feature performers mi...
First this is hockey. Calls are made in a split second at real time speed. The penalty on Richards was a clean hit, but the referee was behind Richards, which when seen from that angle, did look like a trip or knee. So that is not what caused the Flyers to lose Game 1. This is no different than the ref losing site of the puck during a goal mouth scramble.
The Canadi...
Once again the STARS felt right at home at the HP Pavilion in San Jose. Though they did not play their best game of the playoffs, and they stood around way too much with a 1-goal lead ... they eventually ended up with one more goal than the Sharks. Ribeiro and Morrow were all over the place ... the Sharks simply had no answer for them. [b]Ribeiro[/b] finished with 2 ass...
I'm already nervous about the game tonight.
http://flyerflies.com/blogs/Buts/
enjoy
Have a great weekend
Wow...what a stressful game to watch. I get the feeling the entire series will be cardiac-driven. Here are a few thoughts:
1) Again, the Stars played a complete team game. While certain players shined more than others in the end, it was a four-line effort.
2) Turco wasn't one of the night's 3 Stars? Take him out of the equation, and Dallas loses this game big time...
Marty...Marty...Marty...Marty. Biron outplayed Price tonight. One guy looked a little timid and one guy was dominate. I don't really want to hear any more about Biron not being a number 1 goalie. He has proven that he is one. Umberger, Carter, and Upshall dominated the play when on ice tonight. They were all over the place with offensive pressure and great defensive...
nephew23 writes...
STARS Score 4 in Third, Win 5-2, Take Series Home Up 2-0!
Posted Monday | Comments 0
WOW! I must point out that I made the call on this one during the second intermission with posts on Josh Lile's in-game live blog ...
[url]http://www.hockeybuzz.com/boards/thread.php?thread_id=40153&page=1[/url][quote]Today @ 10:36 PM ET -- This game is far from over ... it is ours to win![/quote] [quote]Today @ 10:46 PM ET -- Again ... I hope he doesn't cover the po...
The Stars are in a great place right now. With a win tomorrow night, they can drive a stake through the heart of the Shark faithful. (Or would that be a harpoon?) When Dallas beat the Ducks in the first two games of the first round, Anaheim knew they deserved it with their level of play. I'm not so sure San Jose can comfort themselves the same way. The Sharks played well a...
Great game. Flyers outplayed the Habs for the 45 minutes of the game. Then the penalty on Hatcher gave the Habs life. I thought the call was correct on Hatcher but there should have been on Boullion for hitting Umberger on the knee/thigh with his hip prior to the hit OR fighting with Hatcher after the hit. It should have been 5 on Hatcher and 2 on Boullion.
Once agai...
10 years ago, when I was 10 years old at the time, remember quite distinctively the goal from Andrei Zyuzin that tied up the series at 2 games a piece and headed back to Dallas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb91wymw0s0
Watch it.
I remember that goal being one of the biggest in franchise history's lore, but sadly the Sharks went on to lose that series 4 games to ...
After watching game 3 against the Rangers, I'd say pretty good.
But seriously. 7-0. In all likelihood about to be 8-0.
I wouldn't have predicted it, not in a long shot, but the Pens are proving why they're the cream of the crop in the East, and they're rising to the top at precisely the right time.
Their confidence is SKYROCKETING after this win at MSG. Not onl...
[b][i]*STARS have re-signed Steve Ott to a two-year extension![/i][/b]
Once again, the Dallas STARS are one win away from advancing to another round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The clichés are becoming repetitive and redundant, but what else can you say? This team is continuing to defy the odds (and the odds-makers) and make short work of very good teams. Though t...
The Habs are pressing the PANIC BUTTON - Price on the bench tonight.
[b]Gamesmanship[/b]
Guy Carbonneau is really trying to get into the Flyers heads. After game 2 it was "Timonen deserved to get sucker punched for taunting" and now after game 3 he won't say who is in goal for game 4. I think that this game is really ineffective since the the trade of Huet to Washingt...
Last night, the fans and everyone who believed the San Jose Sharks were different than years past, were once again disappointed.
Disappointed the Sharks lost, but more importantly, disappointed by the effort. Now because of last night's effort and a few bad breaks, the Sharks have their backs to the wall.
An 0-3 hole is the worst in sports, and it is nearly impossibl...
Phigment writes...
Flyers vs Habs - Game 4 - Flyers win - Lead series 3-1
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
[b]1st Period:[/b]
Panic button pressed by Carbonneau. Going away from Price could be very bad for the Habs. It shows no confidence. What if Halak stinks? Can you go back to Price with confidence?
WTF was that call on Richards? Briere is horsecollared and no call - but a boarding call when the guy doesn't hit the boards? Are you kidding me?? People say there is...
nephew23 writes...
Handshake Night Delayed, But STARS Still In Driver's Seat
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
There was much disappointment tonight as we filed out of the AAC. Unlike 24 hours earlier, when no one left there seats until Marty was the last one off the ice ... and people were waving their rally towels going down I-35! Tonight was filled with mostly silence, aside from the few Sharks' fans receiving a beating from some irate STARS' fans! (just kidding!) The sad th...
Carbonneau isn't the only person showing no respect to the Flyers. The Capitals, the NHL media, and most fans have downed the way the team plays. The Flyers are a team that will allow you to possess the puck in their end on the perimeter. They will even let you shoot, however when they are on their game, you cannot bring the puck into the slot area without severe punish...
It's all about faith. You gotta have faith. You cannot think the Sharks are out of it. The Sharks can definitly win tonight, and put the pressure on Dallas. The Sharks gotta have faith in each other too.
We, the fans, believe in this team. They need to believe in each other. Wednesday's night game showed that the Sharks can beat the Stars, and if the Sharks get hot toni...
It's all about faith. You gotta have faith. You cannot think the Sharks are out of it. The Sharks can definitly win tonight, and put the pressure on Dallas. The Sharks gotta have faith in each other too.
We, the fans, believe in this team. They need to believe in each other. Wednesday's night game showed that the Sharks can beat the Stars, and if the Sharks get hot toni...
It's all about faith. You gotta have faith. You cannot think the Sharks are out of it. The Sharks can definitly win tonight, and put the pressure on Dallas. The Sharks gotta have faith in each other too.
We, the fans, believe in this team. They need to believe in each other. Wednesday's night game showed that the Sharks can beat the Stars, and if the Sharks get hot toni...
So the tides have apparently turned! Media and Sharks' fans alike have come alive and decided that San Jose is going to become the 3rd team ever to come back from a 0-3 hole. And they just might do so ... but I highly doubt it. The difference in this series is that Dallas has lost the last 2 games after taking a 3-0 lead, where as against Anaheim, they had leads of 2-0 ...
[b]1st Period[/b]
That was a good period. Some random notes.
*Fans are starting to boo Richards now too. They should be booing Umberger! Price made a great save on a 2 on 1 versus Richards.
*Nice tip-in on the Powerplay. Montreal 1-0
*Montreal is playing physically for the first time in the series. They are hitting consistently and taking the puck between the circ...
[code]
[/code] Huet
[code]
[/code] Price
[code]
[/code] Fleury
After the usual gratuitous 2 Habs pp goals donated on bad calls by the refs (seemed like every game this series), the Flyers took the bull by the horns in game 5 and just plain embarassed the #1 top ranked team of the big bad East.
This was a very sweet 6-4 elimination victory against a legacy hockey...
I lost some steam in this round. After going 7-1 (only missing the Stars over Ducks) I set off to predict round 2. Well 2 series are complete in round 2. The Red Wings made me look bad. Not sure when the Avs got so banged up, but the Wings not only beat them, but they humiliated them. These games were blowouts and not even fun to watch. I would venture to guess that ...
This is an open letter to ask the "loyal" fans of the Montreal Canadiens.
How can you fans be confident with Carey Price proclaimed as the future of this storied franchise? Carey was shaky at best in this series. His lack of confidence was shattered that much more by the decision of Jack Adam's Award finalist Guy Carbonneau, to bench him for the service of Halak in ...
This is an open letter to ask the "loyal" fans of the Montreal Canadiens.
How can you fans be confident with Carey Price proclaimed as the future of this storied franchise? Carey was shaky at best in this series. His lack of confidence was shattered that much more by the decision of Jack Adam's Award finalist Guy Carbonneau, to bench him for the service of Halak in game...
It almost seems that every year there is that one team that no one expects to make out of the first round but somehow manages to carry the "Cinderella" title all the way to the Cup finals, and I think we may be seeing that with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Two years ago we saw the Edmonton Oilers accomplish this task; finishing in 8th place in the West at the end of the reg...
1st round I was: 6/8
2nd round: 2/4 (I missed the whole western conference)
So far, i'm at 8/12... not bad.
[b]Eastern Conference Finals[/b]
[u]2.Pittsburgh VS 6.Philadelphia[/u]
WOW! This is going to be a series, whether it's a sweep or goes to Game 7. If the Pens manage to win you have to wonder just how badly they're going to be beaten up before the win and if th...
If there's anything certain in this year's playoffs, it appears to be this: pray you're player didn't do a Stanley Cup promo. If you've watched any hockey this post season, you've undoubtedly seen the spots ending with various NHL stars stating, "and that's how the Cup changes everything." Let's see how these featured players are doing:
Roberto Luongo and his Canucks ...
Well I followed up a 7-1 first round with a 2-2 second round.
[b]Western Conference Finals[/b]
I like the Stars in a mild upset. They are playing great and getting the play in net they need from Turco. I think the Wings have cruised a bit too easily so far and the intensity of the Stars will allow them to jump out early in the series. It will be interesting to see...
Well, I for one was surprised how quick each series ended, and really thought that the Rangers Penguins series would have been a bit closer. The San Jose Dallas series did go 6 games after Dallas got a quick 3-0 series lead, with a record 5 games being decided in the extra frame. Well lets get to what is currently at hand.
[i]Western Conference Finals[/i]
[b]1. Detroit...
[b]Pittsburgh Penguins [/b]
[u]Draft[/u]
2006 #2 overall pick [b]Jordan Staal[/b]
2005 #1 overall pick [b]Sidney Crosby[/b]
2005 #62 [b]Kris Letang[/b]
2004 #2 overall pick [b]Evgeni Malkin[/b]
2003 #1 overall pick [b]Marc-Andre Fleury[/b]
2002 #5 overall pick [b]Ryan Whitney[/b]
2002 #234 [b]Maxim Talbot[/b]
2000 #18 [b]Brooks Orpik [/b]
1999 #115 [b]Ryan Malo...
Tough way to go out if you're a Ranger's fan. After a rough start and numerous highs and lows over the course of the season, the team looked good heading into the playoffs, just like last year. And just like last year, the team is done in the second round. Clearly things have to change to get over the hump and contend: Fortunately (I guess...) turnover in today's NHL is ra...
Where did the Penguins come from? They were awful for a while, so bad that Jagr wanted to leave and was traded in one of the worst trades for both teams in history. Neither team made out well. The only good thing for the Pens in that deal was that they got rid of his salary. So now I am reading what a masterful job of building a team the Pens have done. Ok, I will giv...
grapes17 writes...
Conference finals preview: Wings, Flyers look to advance
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
It is strange how nobody has talked about the Detroit Red Wings as Stanley Cup contenders for most of the season.
You know, the team that won the President's Trophy -- again. The team led by Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, and Norris... err, I mean, Nicklas Lidstrom.
The team coached by coach of the year candidate Mike Babcock. The team with three Stanley Cups in a...
That's a lyric from the Kid Rock song "Wasting Time". Not my favorite song of his (I am a fan though) but a darn good lyric. And one representative of this year's version of the Detroit Red Wings.
Everyone in Detroit remembers Steve Yzerman lifting the Stanley Cup for the first time. Even if they didn't see it live or weren't old enough to really remember it. The image ...
We're down to the final round before the Stanley Cup. The remaining two teams after the Conference Finals will own some minor bragging rights to the East and the West, but the Cup is what defines it all. It defines every injury that was played through; every broken bone, blood gushing wound, any limp or ache: everything. And now we're only 14 games away from it all, at the...
[i]3 hours to go ... anybody else feeling that nervous energy?!?![/i]
There is no better way to sit down at the poker table than to be given chips on the house! There is a freedom that accompanies playing with free money ... no risk to your own bank account allows for uninhibited aggression and generally (for good players) leads to a better overall game. This is the s...
...Kimmo Timmonen out with a blood clot in his foot...and all of a sudden people go from being extremely hopeful to completely defeated. What is wrong with you people!?!
...I love Timmonen, I really do. He is honestly one of the best defenseman I've ever seen and he has been nothing short of spectacular in the playoffs so far. The main factor that AO wasn't on a scor...
Phigment writes...
Flyers vs Penguins - Game 1 - Pens win 4-2 - lead series 1-0
Posted Friday | Comments 0
[b]Pregame:[/b]
Wow what a blow before the series starts. Losing Timonen is devastating blow on the eve of the big matchup. With all the fire power the Pens have, he was going to have to play 25 to 30 minutes to counteract their attack. Now Jason Smith, is going to have to play more meaningful minutes. I hope his ailments that have slowed him since January are healed....
Enjoy
http://flyerflies.com/blogs/Buts/
Have a great.
Phigment writes...
Flyers vs Penguins - Game 2 - Pens win 4-2 - lead series 2-0
Posted Sunday | Comments 0
What an effort by the Flyers tonight. 1 minute into the game their best defenseman goes down with a puck to the face. The other 5 remaining defensemen played hard. They held the top offense around to 0 even strength goals until the costly mistake by 4th line winger Steve Downie costs the Flyers dearly. He had full control of the puck and fumbled it at the blue line, se...
[b]Game Notes[/b]
The loss of the two top defensemen is key for the showing so far. With Timmonen and Coburn, the Flyers were the underdog, but had a chance. Without them, the Pens are just toying with the Flyers. As the remaining 6 move up to play against better competition, they just cannot get the puck out cleanly. The Pens have to puck forever.
I hate to say ...
nephew23 writes...
Missed Opportunities and Credit Where Credit is Due
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Tonight could mark the end of a fantastic season for the Dallas STARS. The fans in Dallas, including myself, and a few others around the world have been more than compensated for our time, money, and energy spent. It has been an awesome run filled with many memorable moments and a great sense of optimism for the future, and specifically the next few years. By no means a...
The [b]NHL[/b] web site has posted the transcript of [b]Gary Bettman's[/b] remarks before the [b]Wings/Stars[/b] game on 05/15/08.
In them we learn that at least one reporter had the ability to ask "a fascinating question" to which no clear answer was ever given, when queried if it is good for the league to have a dominating team like [b]Detroit[/b].
One wonders wh...
Go Habs Go writes...
My interest in the Playoffs have gone away with the Habs
Posted Friday | Comments 0
Is it just me, or is the Stanley Cup Playoffs just boring as hell? The Dallas-Detroit series is a total snooze-fest, and up until last night, so was the Philly-Pittsburgh series. The last time I payed this little of attention to the NHL in the middle of May, was May 2005, the year of the Lockout!
The only entertainment that the NHL has given me over the past 2 weeks, is...
[b][i]Good quote from Mikey-Mo...[/i]
[quote][i]"We've felt if we could get Game 6 at home, it would be a whole different animal," Modano said. "And then, who knows what can happen Wednesday in Detroit? But we don't want to get ahead of ourselves. We knew it would be an uphill battle. Nobody picked us to win this thing from the start. The last couple games, we've found ...
Nothing would have beaten another win, but I could not be more proud of [i]my[/i] Dallas STARS! I hate being on the wrong side of the handshake ... but our boys deserved a great send-off ... and myself and the fans came through nicely! Detroit was no doubt the better team but Dallas gave them a run for their money. After 3 straight first-round exits, the STARS erased so...
I have watched a few of the Western Conference Finals games - including the decisive game 6 - and have come to the conclusion, like many other hockey writers and fans, that the Red Wings are a very tough team to beat.
In a conference believed to be the better of the two in the league (by just about everybody), the Wings have managed to dispatch of 3 opponents while losi...
steal_your_faceoff writes...
HockeyBuzzard in withdrawal-You know you miss hockey when...
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
[img]http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:HQmXbk6cMb30RM:http://fc05.deviantart.com/fs18/f/2007/159/7/2/gasp_by_Grumpylump.jpg[/img]
I have the shakes. You know...the tremors, the horrors, shaking delirium. Not from alcohol or anything that mild, I have the Hockey Shakes and I've got it [b][i]bad[/i][/b].
[img]http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:vZgX20_mEq32CM:http://...
I'll do an introductory blog later. I'm going to have some fun with this first one. I hope you will, too.
Every Playoffs, there is drama. There is no drama in any postseason, IMO, like an overtime goal in a Stanley Cup Playoff game. I was in the crowd for Game 1 of last year's conference quarterfinal between the Sharks and Preds, and I tell you, there's been nothing lik...
I play "adult league" hockey with a good friend who I met back in 1998.
One day back in early 1999, my friend and I were talking before one of our games and he said that he was interested to see who the Pens would take in the upcomming draft. He told me that Greg Malone lived "next door" and he had been trying to find out what the teams draft plans were. My friend told ...
New blog. Old slogan.
This is the [b]Drive for Five[/b].
[img]http://nycya.com/5/images/CupBanners.jpg[/img]
Past, present and future guide to the Islanders
(and their fans) quest for a fifth Stanley Cup.
Stories, tales, lies and exaggerations from an Islanders Country expatriate, living in the heart of arch-enemy territory.
[url]http://my.hockeybuzz.com/5[/url]
...
Yet another UFA day is rapidly approaching, now just a measley week away.
As usual, hockey fans across North America are gaining excitement as this day approaches and the calendar is about to flip July.
And from a personal point of view, I couldn't be more excited - as usual - to see what my beloved team, the Buffalo Sabres, will do.
A year of disappointment, only...
A fellow at YouTube named McKay4429061 (he's a big Randy McKay fan) has an account of 428 videos, dedicated to the Devils' Stanley Cup runs in 1995 and 2000. I'm sure he's working on 2003 as we speak. Here's his page:
http://www.youtube.com/user/McKay4429061
Enjoy!
The New York Islanders announced today the signing of Doug Weight to a one year, $1.75 Million contract. It is a bonus laden contract and could add up to $4.3 Million if he is to trigger every bonus. While many fans are already complaining of Weight being extremely past his prime, I will not argue with them in that light, but I will argue that it is a good signing for many...
For the third summer in a row, the Islanders and Sean Bergenheim continue to be on complete opposite sides when it comes to a contract. Obviously, Sean Bergenheim and his agent Marc Gandler feel that he has proven himself worthy of a long term, lucrative contract, while Garth Snow still feels Bergenheim has some proving to do and should receive either a one or two year, lo...
With the Rangers prospects progressing with the hand of the coaches,they are also gaining much needed mentoring with veteran leadership. That veteran leadership role will need to be filled in Hartford in the crease. The Rangers moved Al Montoya last spring to the Phoenix Coyotes along with Marcel Hossa. In return the club thought they were getting an adequate goaltendi...
the rangers suck markus Naslund is nothin special and the franchise is a waist of money the only good player is Henrick Lungqist he should do is self a favour and ask for a trade
To say I was expecting this would be a tremendous understatement. For the past two weeks I have been saying how we will not be seeing Nolan behind the bench to begin this season. There have been too many problems encompassing our poor Islanders this off-season, and now we've reached the pinnacle.
For a long time now, we have seen this tremendous (and public) debacle th...
It is becoming apparent that Mats really isn't excited about any of the choices being offered. One theory is that he'd really like to take a year off and return to a stronger Maple Leafs team - but after the lockout year, he knows full well the uncomfortable truth about being over 35 and being away from the NHL for a year - if you don't stay in absolute top shape, you fac...
Well, the Yotes certainly do know how to throw a party! 2500+ fans showed up to jobing.com arena on Saturday to welcome Olli Jokinen to the desert & see fan favorites Shane Doan & Peter Mueller. The Yotes were also selling season & half-season tickets at the event. Thank goodness I already got my season tickets!
[IMG]http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g288/scentsofsmell/DS...
I'm relatively new on the hockeybuzz.com blog scene, but I am going to try and write at least one a week with the title above; "Is it just me..."
In this, the first installment, I am going to discuss the current Maple Leafs roster, as it stands today, and how it would fair this upcoming season.
Of course, as stated, this is how it stands today, so I am going to exclu...
Not much hockey to talk about these days???
I'll do my best to keep focused on hockey but my blogs are starting to be very un-hockey related.
Funny how none of the Leafs wanted to move at the trade deadline and now Tucker is gone, McCabe is on his way out and God only knows what's up with Meatball Sundin.
Jose Theodore a Washington Capital, that just doesn't sound...
With the negativity that surrounds the Coyotes on this site (with the exception of Panger, of course). I realize that we've sucked in the past... but believe it or not, there are Coyotes fans out there. Hardcore Coyotes fans who stick by them through thick and thin. We are sometimes considered to be different from other hockey fans and have had to become quite defensive w...
I had the opportunity to attend a day of the Coyotes "Unofficial" Training Camp in Scottsdale this past Monday. Several of the guys were in attendance and looking SPECTACULAR! I was exstatic to get my first look at our Draft & Trade aquisitions in action out on the ice. Jokinen, (or Olli Coyote as he's affectionately been named); had that huge joker grin planted on his fac...
Ok so as before I spin the roulette and give my opinion and run down on the team.Ok and onto the spin.
and it is......
The LA Kings
Well LA fans have been suffering in the dark of the cellar for quite a while . But in my opinion they appear to be coming towards the end of a long tunnel and are able to see a bright light . But onto the run down.
Forwards(Projected...
Well, die-hard Dems that are also hockey fans will now have a tough choice. Gov. Palin is a self-proclaimed hockey mom.
Presumably, all the hockey folk on this list are one-issue voters (hockey) and are clamoring to vote for a ticket where at least one of the nominees actually knows what hockey is.
This merry go round continues with the major question still being: Who will be able to land Mats Sundin? Considered to be the top player in this years free agent pool, Mats Sundin has had not only his agent in a tangle, but the media coming up with all different types of headlines and stories about if and where he might play. In recent rumors that have been stated by TSNs ...
Ok, so I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict the regular season standings before the season actually starts (particulalrly the teams who'll actually make the playoffs). Here we go!
EAST:
1) Pittsburgh*
2) Montreal*
3) Washington*
4) NY Rangers
5) New Jersey
6) Philadelphia
7) Ottawa
8) Tampa Bay
-----
9) Boston
10) Buffalo
11) Carolina
12) Toronto
...
The Coyotes Caravan is in full swing and already made two stops so far. First at Polar Ice in Gilbert where we got our first glimpse this season of Zbynek Michalek and his Cabbage Patch'esque hair do and Steven Reinprecht sporting his new baby glow, welcome to the world little Henning Reinprecht!
Next came an "unofficial" stop at Desert Schools Credit Union to see...
On October 8, 2007, I wrote that the Phoenix Coyotes would win the Pacific Division. The blog is linked below. I really didn't believe it at the time - I wrote it more as a knock against the perennial favorite Sharks, Stars and Ducks. All three of those teams were mired in an early season of mediocrity and it was frustrating to watch these three lose to the Blackhawks, ...
What I have to say might sound crazy to some. But I'm going to pick my top nine teams in each conference to make the play offs. Top nine you say? Well considering that each season one of the divisions always appears a bit weaker than the others and nearly or completely blocks out a team with a better record.
Western Confernce:
Detriot- Though I think the road for ...
I do this every year, just for fun. The so-called hockey experts have their say, and I figure why not have mine? I'm a huge hockey fan, I've been following the league since a youngster - my earliest memories the 93-94 season and the infamous 7-game series between the NY Rangers and Vancouver. So here I go.
[b]Regular Season Predictions[/b]
[b][i]Western Conference[/b...
Hey Everybody,
This is my first time making an NHL prediction, as I do not really like to throw myself out there, because it is almost a certainty to be wrong. However, I will give it a go this time, and I would like to see what everyone thinks about these picks.
[u]Eastern Conference[/u]
1. Montreal Canadiens
2. Philadelphia Flyers
3. Washington Capitals
4. Ne...
With the 2008/2009 NHL hockey season upon us with the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins preparing to take to the ice in Europe I figured it was about time to make my relatively crude predictions for the upcoming season!
Last year I had some misses (Canadiens missing the playoffs) and some hits (Capitals winning the SE) ...
The Sabres are coming off a convincing 7-1 win against a lackluster, DiPietro-less New York Islanders team, though a pro hockey team nonetheless who was embarassed on their home ice and there's no excuse for that.
The Rangers are coming off, well, one of their best starts in franchise history. 5-0 out of the gate ties their best all-time feat, and with a win tomorrow n...
I wanted to know what was the best stat to look for when determining playoff bound teams. I dug up team stats for the last 3 seasons and broke them down. What I found was not surprising but very intriguing. Defense, defense, defense.
Over the last 3 seasons GAA has been the biggest determination of who made the playoffs.
07-08 13/16 lowest GAA made playoffs ...
stljam writes...
Protective netting: focused on fans or just out of focus
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
With the start of a new hockey year and the opening of my hockeybuzz, I thought I would post an old blog of mine from many years ago without any alterations. I think about this blog the first time I walk into an arena during the start of every new season. I welcome everyone's comments on all my blogs and hope that you all find something in my writing. As the demands of...
From: http://capsstop.blogspot.com
For the first time in the Bruce Boudreau era, the Washington Capitals have lost three straight games during the regular season. The Caps travelled to Phoenix on Thursday night and lost 2-1 to Wayne Gretzky and the Phoenix Coyotes. The Coyotes came back from a 1-0 deficit and scored two unanswered goals in third period and held on for t...
airtsabes writes...
If the playoffs started today. Pre-premature playoff picks
Posted Friday | Comments 0
The current playoff teams if the season ended today are:
The Eastern Conference
1. Buffalo
2. NY Rangers
3. Carolina
4. Montreal
5. Pittsburgh
6. New Jersey
7. Washington
8. Boston
The Western Conference.
1. San Jose
2. Minnesota
3. Detroit
4. St. Louis
5. Edmonton
6. Colorado
7. Chicago
8. Calgary
Buffalo over Boston
NY Rangers over Washingto...
If someone was to ask me about the performance from the Calgary Flames, I would have to say it was the most impressive victory of the season. Why? because every aspect of the Flames games was at its best. What do I mean? Well, let me explain.
[b]Power Play[/b]
The Flames scored two powerplay goals, it was nice to see Bert score in the first period and Dion score a...
Oh boy... here we go again.
Another player out with a concussion after a great big shot to the head.
For those who havent seen it yet (which is highly improbable, as it's one of the biggest hits of the past couple seasons)....
[code][/code]
After I had a minute to cool down, as any fan would be upset watching their teams top prospect go down in such a way, I st...
Larry Brooks, of the New York Post is reporting, Brendan Shanahan has apparently told his agent to consider all open offers. Shanahan told his agent he is tired of waiting for a roster spot to open up with the Rangers. It looks like he will probably not be going back to the Rangers then.
Shanahan has always been considered an offensive threat, but as he has aged he has ...
I've been so busy since the season started that I've not had time to write lately. But now its time for my completely maniacal thoughts on the game we all know and love: HOCKEY!!! Specifically Coyotes hockey. Let me start with the two pieces of news we got recently.
* *Lisin to the AHL*: I like Enver. I enjoy watching him play. We had plans for a "City of Enver" poster ...
Well... not really. We needed a win last night more than anything after the loss against Calgary Saturday night. And my boys pulled it off. The highlight of the night was definitely our 5 on 3 penalty kill in the 3rd. But I digress... let's start at the beginning.
After a score-less 1st period, Olli Jokinen got the party started with a goal off of a back-hand feed from ...
I'm a relative neophyte to hockey but I'm also enthusiastic, particularly about my home team - the Phoenix Coyotes. Sadly, my Coyotes don't appear to have much representation in this corner of the blogosphere... which is why I've decided to take some initiative and write. Who knows if I'll make a habit of it - I suppose I'll leave it up to the readers to decide.
Anyway,...
The Coyotes didn't play their best against the Wild, but they didn't play their worst either. They still need to play a full 60 minutes. They came out strong in the 1st and 2nd periods but lost it somehow in the 3rd. My hockey friends and I were late getting to the game, and missed the Joker's first goal. According to the Hockey Friends who did make it in time for the puck...
steal_your_faceoff writes...
Veteran's Day Salute - A Near Frozen River in December, 1776
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
[img]http://www.sar.org/ohssar/AmericanRevolutionaryWar.jpg[/img]
Midnight.
A howling wind screams across a frozen expanse of water. Blinding snow stings the already frostbitten skin as the men stamp their feet to try to stay warm. Heavy, woolen uniforms cake with ice as they ready the boats in bone chilling dampness. No fires. Can't let them know we are comin...
I love these ferry rides from Long Island back to school in Connecticut. They allow me to sit down and write up speculation pieces without worrying about having anything else to do. While most of my blogs usually contains facts or fun opinions, these ferry ride blogs are usually speculation pieces simply because I do not have internet, and I like to write down some fun tho...
I guess a lot of fans in Montreal now miss Mark Streit after his departure via free agency to Long Island.
Montreal had last year’s number one power play in the NHL, but they are now sitting 26th with a poor 14.6% success rate, while the Islanders power play has improved slightly from 29th to 25th overall. Streit has 12 points (he would be the Habs' 5th scorer) in 18 ...
If the season ended today there are 16 teams in position to make the playoffs.
San Jose Sharks
Boston Bruins
Detroit Red Wings
New York Rangers
Montréal Canadiens
Pittsburgh Penguins
Anaheim Ducks
Vancouver Canucks
Minnesota Wild
Philadelphia Flyers
Calgary Flames
Washington Capitals
New Jersey Devils
Chicago Blackhawks
Nashville Predators
...
On more than one occasion I have heard rumblings that the St. Louis Blues may be facing money problems in the very near future. Which begs the question: Do they panic and change course? Will they panic and change course?
The Blues have stressed patience, drafting and developing of a nucleus of young players, many of whom still have not reached the NHL.
How long ca...
We are now 31 games into the season and still struggling to find an identity. Our record is now 15-13-3, tied with Carolina at the 8th spot in the East(we have 15 wins to their 14). It is interesting to know(at least to me) that after 31 games last year we had exactly the same number of points, 33. It seems to me that we almost the same team as last year and it will pro...
Two points. That's the stat that matters here. But, as Harry Neale put it, "The Sabres got two points the hard way, when they should've had them the easy way." Everyone at the HSBC Arena thought that Clarke MacArthur was the hero with his goal in the third period, as it gave Buffalo seeming insurance and a 3-1 lead. Key word: they [b]thought[/b] he was the hero....
The Mismanagement of Rick DiPietro
By: Steve Kotchek
Complete and utter frustration and disgust is the only way I can describe the saga that is Rick DiPietro’s 2008-2009 season. At this point, we all know that him backing up Joey MacDonald for the first few games of the season was a desperate public relations stunt gone horribly wrong. Any player who can sit on a ben...
icedog97 writes...
They Have Lost Their Way...They Have Lost Their Identity
Posted Monday | Comments 0
A couple of seasons ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins were a team filled with potential.
They had young talented players who were learning the ropes in the NHL. What they lacked in experience they made up for in desire and hard work.
Almost every game, you could see them gaining confidence...realizing with each day that they could compete and be successful in the NHL.
...
S Kaspar Rollins writes...
Flames/Yotes: A Big Letdown. Is Kipper Playing Too Much?
Posted Sunday | Comments 0
After their best effort of the season Thursday in San Jose, disappointing can only describe tonight's 4-3 home loss to the Phoenix Coyotes. In a nutshell, the Flames looked completely flat for most of the first 40 minutes, did not get the goaltending they need, and got little luck all night.
The Flames looked flat from after David Hale's opening goal for Phoenix to Mik...
The Dallas Stars are headed to the All-Star break after a solid 2 periods against the Florida Panthers. They finished the first half on a rare Florida road trip - Monday in Tampa Bay and tonight in Sunrise. The Stars had been stringing some wins and points together, but they blew a 2-1 lead late in the 3rd to the Bolts, and lost 4-2. Then tonight they skated out to play...
The NHL All Star game is in need of a major adjustment. While I do enjoy the skills competition and the young stars game, the big show is more of a big disappointment. First of all not all of the games stars are there, albeit some of them are injured and that is understandable. I really dislike the fact that every team needs to be represented and fan balloting system is...
nephew23 writes...
35 for #35 ... is Marty back? Great Start to the 2nd Half
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
[quote][i]I thought this was pretty funny and had to share. From the oh-so-obvious category --- I'm watching the Sabres/Oilers while I type this and after Buffalo scores their NINTH goal, one of the Oilers' announcers proclaims, "I said the lead was commanding [b]but it may be insurmountable at this point.[/b]" Almost as if it is really a question! LOL![/i][/quote]
The...
Part of me is a diehard Pens fan and I will cheer for them until the bitter end.
That part won't let me throw in the towel until the final horn sounds.
But...the other part...the rational one...tells me that this team is simply not good enough to make the playoffs.
Last night's 4-3 loss to the Devils was a crusher. Tonight's loss to the Leafs may have been the na...
After dwelling in the basement of the Western Conference for most of the season, including dead last at #15 only 19 games ago, the Dallas Stars have battled all the way back to the #7 seed. According to the NHL, the Players Association, and the Collective Bargaining Agreement ... that means the Stars are currently a playoff team! With their domination over Detroit this y...
The San Jose Sharks are arguably the best team in the NHL this season (sorry Boston fans). But is this a team that is playoff ready?
Before all the Sharks fans send me hate mail let me just quickly say that I am a Sharks fan too. Pittsburgh has always been my team, but since moving to California 10 years ago I have adopted the Sharks as well.
Now on to the facts.
...
Recently I've seen a lot of questionable calls by officials on some hard hits in the NHL and NCAA. Cal Clutterbuck, for example, was given a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for his hit against Vancouver's Alex Burrows. Watching the game on Fox Sports I cannot help but ask if the NHL is trying to send a message that it wants to be the "No Hit League."
Did Clutterbuc...
Another loss.
2 more points that we can't get back.
Another win by the 8th place Panthers, who have 3 more points than us and two games in hand.
Oh sure, we play the Panthers 3 more times this year, which means we can make up some of those points head to head, right?
At this point, we would have to win all three of those games, just to get 3 points ahead of Flo...
As the regular season trudges on, as teams compete for division supremacy, as the standings continue to change constantly with teams rising and sinking, with each game becoming just as significant and vital as the previous one, the playoffs inch closer and closer as each day passes, which makes the constant playoff race tighter and more tense. This will go on until every t...
nephew23 writes...
Stars Obliterate Rangers, Shut Down Preds, and Serve Notice
Posted Monday | Comments 0
Smoking, blistering, red hot does not even come close to describing the roll the Dallas Stars are on right now. It is amazing and surreal. 30th place in the league for a while and counted down and out by many, the Stars have more than righted the ship and served notice to the entire NHL that their season has just begun!
Dallas, with 4 games in hand on Anaheim, sits 2n...
icedog97 writes...
Penguins Problems...Scoring Goals is NOT the Biggest
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I listen to sports talk shows and read hockey blogs and almost unanimously -- Penguin fans instst we need a scoring winger...or two...to get this team to where it needs to be.
There is no agruing the Pens would be a better team with at least one "more proven" goal scorer on the roster.
But, if you are like the majority of people that think that's why the Pens are h...
Ok lets break down the Isles roster & see what's left for the 2009-10 season starting at the net & work our way out.
Ricky is our starter & lets say either Joey or Yan is our backup at 500,000. Where set in the net.
On defense, we let Hillen & Pock walk, & are left with these 7 signed & bring up a man from the farm when needed. Streit Sutton Witt Martinek Gervais Cam...
nephew23 writes...
Stars Keep Plodding Along - UPDATE - Richards out 6-8 weeks
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
[b][u]UPDATED[/u] --- Ouch! Just as everyone was healthly and really clicking, we have just found out that Brad Richards broke his wrist last night and will miss 6 - 8 weeks. He will most certainly be missed . . . but maybe not as much as it would appear. I'll grant you that he is highly skilled and a necessary piece of the puzzle, but he is not centering the top line a...
Aside from Pittsburgh, I love the San Jose Sharks. Lately though I've become concerned about their playoff chances. Last nights win against Edmonton did more to convince me that the Sharks are in trouble than any of the past two weeks of overtime losses.
It seems that every time I watch or listen to a game the Sharks let themselves get dominated in the third period. Edm...
This year's standings have probably seen a lot of activity in terms of teams moving up and down in their conferences and divisions. Despite the active movement, there are also enormous barriers between certain seedings that give certain teams very comfortable cushions. I think this year's playoffs will be just as unique as the season has been so far. One could say these ar...
Steve Stamkos with the trick last week, welcome to the NHL kid.
Alexi Kovalev sent home for being Alexi Kovalev. Sending him home won't work, Alexi is a flake you just have to deal with it.
Ain't no party like a Kostitsyn brothers party because a Kostitsyn brother party don't stop. Get those two with the Staal brothers and we have trouble.
Have you ever hit black ...
I got a FREE upgrade on my tickets tonight! I'll be sitting on the first row directly behind the Sharks bench tonight at the AAC! Section 118 ... regularly $135 seats! [b][url]http://stars.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&id=8599[/url][/b] I actually dislike sitting down low ... the true fans are up top and I enjoy watching the entire ice. However...
Dir Mr. Sather,
I am further from a New York Rangers fan than Vancouverites in 1994, but fire Tom Renney. [/i][b]Really?
Lets go back to that era when you quoted that if I had the spending abilities the New York Rangers had I would win the Stanley Cup every year. Well you did for seven years until the salary cap, and you sucked! You are probably against the salary ca...
robert08 writes...
Fire the Owner, who Hired the GM, who Fired the Coach
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
How many fans have to suffer at the fault of owners that just don't get it? Can any one name the owner of the Atlanta Thrashers? - Exactly! - Its actually a group (the Atlanta Spirit LLC) who is still fueding... In the meantime, Ilya K and the gang and the fans get to wallow in the mire while the Atlanta Spirit LLC figures it out. I'd never want to call for anyone's head,...
Today's trade of Ryan Whitney for Chris Kunitz and prospect Eric Tangradi may have left some Penguins fans asking the question:
[b]This is the scoring winger we are getting to play with Sid?[/b]
While the initial reaction might be to assume Shero expects Kunitz to play on Sid's wing, in a role similar to what Marian Hossa's was, the comments from both Shero and coach...
Quick Update: [url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/02/27/avery_reentry_waivers/] Avery going on re-entry waivers according to Sportsnet [/url]
2 games. 2 goals scored. And another 2 losses. Anybody expecting the firing of Tom Renney and the addition of John Tortorella to have an immediate impact is sure disappointed. By no means did he do a bad job during his first ...
Check out Saturday's scoreboard...
Panthers...7-2 losers to the Devils
Sabres...2-0 losers to the Islanders
Hurricanes...5-3 losers on 4 goals by the Thrashers in the 3rd period
Aside from the Rangers crushing a reeling Avalanche team 6-1, just about everything that could go right for the Penguins did go right for the Penguins.
Tomorrow the Pens face a Dallas St...
It's really quite simple. The salary cap (and Sather's spending) has ruined this team for the mid-long term. It would be great if the cap was, I dunno, $70 million, but that's not going to happen in this economy, and with 30 teams.
So why Avery? Well, I'm a numbers guy, and Avery's numbers are impressive with his time on the Rangers, both season and post season.
[b...
Darryl Sutter has never been much into the hype of Trade Day. He's known for making all his moves in the post-season and doing a fairly good job of it. On trade deadline days, his past has seen him maybe pick up a depth defenseman, a depth forward, and possibly a back-up goal-tender. He’s said before that the available players are not worth the price teams have to pay. T...
From 1980-2004 the St. Louis Blues were a staple in the NHL playoffs. Now after a 4 year layoff(counting the lockout year of 2004-2005) I like many other Blues fans are hoping the Blues can make the most of their last twenty games, continue their strong play, and win themselves a playoff spot.
It was only a few weeks back that the Blues seemed a lock to finish ...
Its quite a challenge to remain cool, calm and collected as you watch your struggling team score a season high 6 goals. It is nigh impossible to not roam the streets of NYC screaming on the top of your lungs after your teams pounds their opponent, both physically and figuratively, after having won merely three games since the All Star Break. And it takes perfect self restr...
I had prepared to write this blog a few days ago after the Stars had lost their 5th straight game ... the original title was to be [i]Is this the Beginning of the End for the Dallas Stars?[/i] But for some reason I never took the time to sit down and finish it. But I'm glad I didn't, because after the first period at the Shark Tank tonight I've seen enough to tell me tha...
I have to say, when I first read about Upshall (and a 2nd) being traded for Carcillo I was pretty upset. Having given things time to digest, I'm not so upset. While I think the Yotes may have gotten the best of Homer on this one, this [i]could[/i] end up working out ok for the Flyers.
While I really loved what Upshall brought to the team and believe he has a higher ce...
Miller who?
Of course, I say that facetiously. Ryan Miller is the key to the Sabres hopes if they can pull it together to get into the playoffs.
But who would have expected Patrick Lalime to step up the way he has in Miller's absence?
He's done exactly what you want from your backup goaltender - step in and give your team a chance to win every single night he pla...
I fail to understand how a team with its collective backs against the wall can show as little interest in competing as they did tonight.
After their loss at Ottawa on Saturday, where they may have executed poorly but at least battled throughout the game, one would think they would come out fired up for a must win game tonight.
And yet, it looked like the Sabres were ...
It is amazing how one loss can put previous success in such perspective. John Tortorella and the new-look Rangers seem to have what it takes to make noise in the playoffs, but the loss to Carolina on Monday night, a shutout no less, has me wondering if this team has what it takes to make the playoffs. Maybe its caused by being out of a playoff spot and sitting in 9th place...
Obviously not literally......but it kind of feels that way.
This Sabres team that looked to have found themselves last week in wins over the Canadiens and Coyotes has looked nothing like a playoff team in the last two outings. They've fallen to four points out of eighth place, currently held by tonight's opponent, the Florida Panthers. And with each of the teams ahead...
So the Rangers are playing better than they have during the last four months of the season. It is obvious that John Tortorella is the biggest cause of the turnaround; after losing his first two games behind the bench, the new coach has led the Blueshirts to four victories in five games. He is clearly a motivator, as evidenced by the effectiveness of his locker room rant on...
Over the last 3 games, Sean Avery has been the best player on the Rangers. Not all-star goalie Henrik Lundqvist who wrote history by sealing his 4th consecutive 30 win season in his fourth season in the NHL. Not Chris Drury or Scott Gomez who are each earning more than 3 1/2 times the much maligned winger's salary. Not Nik Zherdev. Not Nik Antropov. And certainly not Wade ...
As of right now the Blues have a chance to be in the 8th spot come late Tuesday night.
Tonight:
Need the Ducks to lose.
Monday:
Need the Preds to lose
Tuesday:
Need to win. Need the Wild to lose
Wednesday:
Need the Ducks to beat the Sexual Predators. If the Ducks win tonight this game makes it impossible for us to keep the 8th spot.
The NHL is ridiculousl...
As of right now the Blues have a chance to be in the 8th spot come late Tuesday night.
Sunday
Needed the Ducks to lose. Got it
Monday:
Need the Preds to lose
Tuesday:
Need to win. Need the Wild to lose
Wednesday:
Need the Ducks to beat the Sexual Predators.
Thursday: Need to win to keep the spot or need Oilers(vs AVS) and Predators(vs SJS) to lose. Both...
Having finally let up from their 2001 Seattle Mariners pace, the Sharks have crashed back down to earth. With each loss to a team fighting to make the playoffs, doubt grows stronger for all those who don the teal and orange. Before the season, we were all calling Blake "washed-up", Marleau "terrible", and Lemieux "retired".
Then the Sharks piled up wins in 22 of their...
It is tough to write up much during a postseason run without becoming repetitive. So I am just going throw out my predictions for the final standings in the East. Let me know what you think.
1. Devils- Have been playing great all year and Brodeur has been solid.
2. Bruins- In a controlled free-fall right now and have all the signs of a "one-and-done" team.
3. Capitals...
What had been a battle for the 7th and 8th seeds in the West now looks more like a fight for 8th, as the Oilers have started pulling away from the pack. There's still time for the Stars to make a push for that 7th spot...but it's looking less likely after Edmonton tacked on points 78 and 79 in their shootout win over the 'Hawks.
Do the Stars (at 74 points) have a shot ...
Let's make some big leaps of faith and assume Dallas wins the 8th seed going into the post season. Who would you want to be in that #1 slot for Round One? Here's why I ask: I think most of us would prefer to face San Jose over Detroit, though the Stars have silenced some of those Joe Louis demons this season. So, since that requires the Sharks to overtake the Red Wings...
They say, "It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings." Well, she may not be singing yet, but I saw her warming up backstage.
The Stars season is on life support after a dismal road trip through the Northwest. Tack on Richards' broken hand (the OTHER hand) and you couldn't be faulted for scheduling April tee times for the Dallas crew.
There is hope, though. (Not much, ...
With all of Stars' woes of late, it's amazing that they're still in this hunt at all. But, with a little help from the hockey gods, that eighth seed is still within reach. We've seen this team go on runs this season (both good and bad), so it's not impossible...but it won't be easy.
The obvious question, however, is does this team have enough for one last push? And, ...
EAST
--------------
114 Bruins
106 Devils
105 Caps
101 Flyers
98 Pens
97 Canes
94 Rags
92 Panthers
-----------------
91 Habs
Bruins vs Panthers = Bruins in 6
Devils vs Rangers = Devils in 5
Caps vs Canes = Caps in 5
Flyers vs Penguins = Flyers in 7 (Yens vs Yoos = YOOS WIN!)
Bruins vs Flyers = Flyers in 6
Devils vs Caps = Caps in 7
Fl...
Well its that time of year again and the quest for the postseason is heating up. I have yet to see the infamous Brad Ratgen playoff quest blogs so I decided to chip in with my own picks.
Here are the current standings:
Western Conference
1. Y - San Jose 107
2. X - Detroit 107
3. Calgary 90
4. Chicago 89
5. Vancouver 87
6. Columbus 83
7. Anaheim 80
8. E...
John Tortorella has given new hope to New York City. He has led a team that was once labeled offensively inept to a total of eight victories in 14 games, seven of them coming via a 4+ goal night. He has coached a club that was notorious for falling behind early in games to a +10 goal differential in the first period. The middle frame had been almost as strong with the bulk...
[i]As a quick notation; I’ve never met Keith Primeau, he’s never snubbed me or my child and, as a person, I only know what I’ve seen on TV, read in print and heard on the radio. As far as I’m concerned he may be the most wonderful husband, father, brother, son or in-law on the face of this earth and I have no ground to comment on any of that. This is my view of h...
We have all heard NHL bloggers, announcers, beat writers, and fans refer to the omni-present "HOCKEY GODS". These unseen forces, that protect the integrity and well being of the game as we know it, have been offended! Thats Right fellow Hockey Fans, the same City (Montreal) and its fans, who in the past paid homage to the HOCKEY GODS have sinned against the Gods in 2008-20...
It is not hard to get lost in the circus that is the New York Rangers. After all, the only thing that hockey analysts seem to associate with the Rangers these days is Sean Avery. Of course John Tortorella seems to be at the center of attention as well. And the deadline acquisitions also get some much deserved attention. This is no surprise considering the team followed a 3...
March 10th, 2009
Having played 67 games, the New York Rangers are flirting with the unthinkable yet very real possbility of not making the Stanley Cup Playoffs because despite a solid veteran lineup and the solid goaltending of Henrik Lundqvist this is a team of chronic underachievers (yet again).
Proven Star players and Team leaders Scott Gomez(-5), Chris Drury(...
Gilmore.Tuttle writes...
Briere will be X factor for Flyers in Playoffs
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Its that time of year for Flyers Fans to start the "nail-biting" in regards to our goaltending issues. Biron is INCONSISTENT and cannot be relied upon to stop the puck in the playoffs. When he does make a save he is guilty of kicking the rebounds directly into the slot, resulting in incremental scoring opportunities. Last year Biron was the "X" factor in the Flyers post se...
[b][quote]Right now the Rangers have a 54.3% chance of making the playoffs.
If the Rangers win that changes to 73.7%.
If the Rangers lose that changes to 33.8%[/quote][/b]
[i]-SportsClubStats.com[/i]
Important is the wrong word. Important is back in March when you are hovering around sixth place. Once you get to April and you are tied for the final playoff spot, it i...
The playoffs are upon us and the Stanley Cup is up for grabs. It’s surprising when you think about how many teams are legitimate contenders. It used to be that the Sharks and Bruins were huge favorites, but now I am not too sure. That is why we play the game. It’s a fun time to watch.
[b]
THE EAST
[/b]
When you think of the teams in east that could challenge ...
The first edition of the Battle of California is finally here. No two California teams have faced each other in the modern era (since the [b]Sharks [/b]and [b]Ducks [/b]entered the league). The [b]Oakland Seals [/b]faced the [b]Los Angeles Kings [/b]in 1969, the [b]Kings [/b]were victorious in 7 games.
This is the run down of all possible playoff series that never happe...
[u][b]Eastern Conference[/b][/u]
[b]Boston vs Montreal[/b]
The Bruins are too good and Montreal is not stable in goal. Bruins win in 5.
[b]Washington vs NY Rangers[/b]
Too much Ovechkin and Greene for Lundqvist to steal the series. Caps in 6.
[b]New Jersey vs Carolina[/b]
This one is tough. Jersey sort of limped in before the playoffs and Carolina was hot! Both ...
Much is made regarding the importance of being hot going into the playoffs, but how often does good play late in the regular season translate to playoff success?
First we have to establish a definition of 'good play'. Unfortunately there are many intangibles that go into a team's performance on any given night that make good play very difficult to measure. For simplic...
I know, everyone and their mother (or in some cases, dog) have predictions but here we go anyway:
[b][u]Eastern Conference[/u]
[/b]
[b]Boston vs. Montreal[/b] - Boston will ride Timmy Thomas as long as they can - Bruins in 6
[b]Washington vs. New York Rangers[/b] - Alex the Great and that cannon from Greene on the point should carry them - Caps in 5
[b]New Jersey vs...
[u]EAST:[/u]
[b]BOS over MON in 5[/b] (Price has a playoff meltdown while BOS defence flourish)
[b]NYR over WAS in 7[/b] (a hard-faught battle with Lundqvist besting Theodore)
[b]PHI over PIT in 6[/b] (Philly's toughness gets the best of Crosby & Fleury)
[b]NJD over CAR in 6[/b] (Brodeur is back to post-season form, but CAR puts in four solid one-goal games)
[u]WEST...
While the majority of Leafs fans wrote the team off in the summer, it wasn’t until the New Year that the teams first true season of rebuilding began the inevitable grind into early year golf tournaments.
As Leafs nation pencilled in dates for the draft and free agency into their diaries both the Eastern and Western conferences were enjoying (or enduring) one of the mos...
I was sitting and talking with a few friends about the NHL yesterday. One thing we could all agree on was that the Sharks, Red Wings and Boston all were the most consistant teams through the course of the season.
All were legitimate contenders for the Presidents Trophy for most, if not the entire year.
But that was it....thats all we agreed upon...the rest ...
[b]Western Conference:
San Jose Sharks (1) vs Anaheim Ducks (8)
Preseason odds: Sharks 10/1 Ducks 12/1
Last 10: Bruins 5-4-1, Ducks 7-2-1
Season Series: Sharks win 4-2-0
Overview:[/b]
Perennial cup hopefuls San Jose enter the playoffs with their franchise first Presidents trophy. Anaheim, cup winners just two seasons ago, were talking in terms of team gutting prior...
In my previous blog ([url]http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?user_id=24712&post_id=7562[/url]), I applied what I called the '15 Game Test' to the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs' first round matchups. Simply put, in each series I predicted a winner based on the amount of points each team obtained in its last 15 regular season games.
At the suggestion of another writer, I ha...
Last year Philly came into the playoff series against the Penguins with the intention of pounding them into the boards on every shift - and it the process - they hoped to pound the life out of Pittsburgh.
The result...Pens won the series in 5 games.
A couple of years earlier, in a regular season match-up in Philly, Derrian Hatcher pounded on the face of, then rookie,...
EASTERN CONFERENCE
#1 Boston Bruins vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens
Boston thoroughly dominated the season series 5-1. Montreal is quite banged up. Top defensemen Alexei Markov is going to miss at least the first 3 games of the series for the Habs and no one knows how much they are going to get out of offensive minded Mathieu Schneider. Boston has some young unproven talen...
As we have moved through the season, I've had an eye toward the playoffs with my Flyers and have noticed a few shortcomings which I felt would prevent them from being able to get out of the conference to challenge for the Stanley Cup to be real contenders; [i]not [/i]pretenders as they are now.
Don't get me wrong. Coming off of a season where the home team couldn't eve...
Here is my opinion for all eight first round matchups.
[b][u]EASTERN CONFERENCE[/u][/b]
[i]Boston vs Montreal[/i]
Boston takes on the ghosts of the old forum and wins this one in seven. Carey Price has been too unstable in goal this year, and Bob Gainey just hasn't been able to get this team playing any better with him than they were with Guy Carbonneau. I say it ...
Okay I'll admit right away that I have not been able to watch all the games of the post season, but I have seen enough to make me want to write this.
We all know by now that the post season is a time when things get ridiculous in the National Hockey League. Emotions are running high, play gets more physical and tempers start to flare. If you thought the officials had a ...
I apologize to anyone who reads this, as i do not have enough time to say everything i need to say right now, but i will say this:
The Bad
--Big Joes fist shot on goal came with about 1 minute left in the entire game
-- Little Joe did not seem to do enough...neither did his line
-- there was nothing special about our special teams
-- i canno...
[img]http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2009/04/17/01/530Ducks_Sharks_Hockey.sff.embedded.prod_affiliate.138.jpg[/img]
[b]The Same Old Sharks[/b]
What is it that the Sharks have been accused of being for the past few seasons (besides chokers)? The answer: [b]Soft.[/b] All year long members of the Sharks organization have been claiming that this is a different ...
After watching the NHL playoffs, I am seeing a disturbing trend that is rewarding players for unsportsmanlike conduct. This trend is players fabricating penalties. This is just as bad as players diving. During game 2 in Pittsburgh, there were 2 blatant unsportsmanlike plays performed by Pittsburgh players that lead directly to powerplays. The first call was a high stic...
No, not that one. I'm not anonymous by choice, just don't have much to say that hasn't been already said or adds any value. But I started a blog to mostly discuss/share my music interests, but wrote down some thoughts and since it was hockey related, I thought I'd post it here. Long time listener, first time caller here.
General Thoughts:
Overall the playoffs hav...
I didn’t need the first few playoff games to learn that the NHL needs some officiating changes and a better policy on disciplining players. I have said numerous times going back through past instances whether it be Todd Bertuzzi or Alexander Perezhogin, that we need consistent strict rules on suspensions. The memo sent out this postseason was that the NHL did not want ...
It is much more than just a loss. All of the confidence the Rangers seemed to have after taking two games in Washington is gone. All of the frustrations experienced by the Capitals have dissipated. Look at the players and at the coaches and it is obvious which team is believes and expects to win, and which team is just hoping. Despite being up 2-1 in the series, the backs ...
Just finished watching the Sharks/Ducks game, and all I can say is wow! It is so nice watching the other teams play where you can enjoy it to it's fullest, but later on tonight will not be the case. The all important Game 4 between New York and Washington. The Rangers have had a couple days to recover from their 4-0 loss in Game 3. Now all Rangers fans can do is ask the sa...
Crosby or Flyer Fans?
Just for fun, I like to read the opposing team's blog and comments during the playoffs. It helps me to get a true hatred for the other team's fans going!
I am kidding of course.
I have been alive too long to HATE any other team's fans or even any of the other teams at this point...although as players go...Scott Hartnell is tough to like...whe...
A few things occured to me while I was gnawing on my Devils "terrible towel" during game 4 of this Devils/Canes series.
First off, this is best series being played in the NHL right now. You've got 2 former Stanley Cup champs battling it out with a Hall of Fame goaltender vs probably the best young, most underrated goaltender in the NHL. Stanley Cup rookie MVP anyone?? 3 o...
That was the worst finish I've ever seen in my life for a series-clinching game in the NHL playoffs. What a joke! All the many calls let go and the linesman decides to make that ridiculous call at that critical moment of the game. Pathetic! The Blue Jackets deserved better. The linesmen should be embarrassed ... the refs should be embarrassed ... and the league should...
Game 5 proved to be the pinnacle of goaltending in the playoffs so far. Ward was better than Marty in my opinion, but what do i know, Ive only been a goalie since I was 6. 86 shots, 1 goal. And that goal by Clarkson was maybe his best goal of the year. Clarkson 2 goals, Staal 2 goals, hold on wait, what? Marty made a statement tonight with a career high 44 save shutoot, a...
The story is known around the league. A team left for dead at the halfway point by bloggers, journalists, and insiders alike. A team depleted by injuries mid way through their rebuild. Fans are talking Tavares vs. Hedman and if the Western Conference cellar dwellers will play as bad as the East to get a shot at the Canadian Sniper or the Swedish Pronger.
Enter the Manny...
That word about sums up the Flyers season. That is the reason why they got the 5th seed when they could have achieved more, and ultimately why they lost this series. They look like Stanley Cup contenders one game, scrubs the next.
Jeff Carter. 46 goals in the regular season, 1 in the postseason. The successor to John LeClair, I suppose. They say he was playing hurt, but...
This isn't sarcasm. I truly am a Penguins fan congratulating my hated rivals. The Flyers had a good season and they battled hard in the playoffs. They deserved far better than a first round playoff exit.
I hope Martin Biron stays in net next year, and that they can at least keep their blue line intact. Flyer fans may disagree with me, but I think that a little stability...
Just a quick observation:
It seems to me that the Rangers' series against the Caps has been somewhat of a microcosm of their entire season.
Part A: The fast start. The Rangers jumped out 2-0 on the caps, away from home, much as they seemed unstoppable for the first month of the regular season.
Part B: The slow down/collapse. Despite the huge advantage, the Rangers...
There is not much else to say about this series. The Capitals are far superior to the Rangers. The edge held by the Rangers has disappeared. The decisive Game 7 is in Washington. And the Rangers are going to lose.
Game 7. The thing about these games is that any team can win on any night and that holds true for the ultimate game of the playoffs series. The Rangers aren'...
Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton were reunited on the top line for San Jose in game five, and it worked! Thornton had a goal and two assists and Marleau, who already had an assist, added the game-winning goal on Thornton's overtime wraparound attempt that playoff rookie Jonas Hiller couldn't cover.
It has been pointed out in the media that Todd McLellan called his two s...
nephew23 writes...
Hope Ducks are prepared to defeat the Sharks and the Refs
Posted Monday | Comments 0
Gonna be a long night since its obvious the league is really "hoping" for a game 7. Three penalties in the first 10 minutes. The directive has been issued! Ducks better really play smart and strong.
Make that 4 -2 . . .
Oops! Looks like the Ducks were prepared. But its far from over. I can hear Bettman screaming from here!
After embarassing themselves yet again in post-season play the question on the table now is what do you change in San Jose. Here are my answers:
[i]1.) Trade Evgeni Nabokov[/i]
Sharks fans will hate me for saying this, and I agree with their love for Nabby. The problem is he just doesn't steal games in the playoffs. In game five he allowed the Ducks back into the gam...
Its eerily quiet in Newark this morning as I walk past the arena to work. Im not going to lie to you, I got a little chill thinking what was going to take place later on. A lot of nervous energy.
Game 7 of round 1, who thought there could be this much drama in the 1st round? The Devils need to get straight, quick. Game 7's are about Captains, and Langenbrunner has to hav...
You may recall that, last spring, Capitals owner [b]Ted Leonsis[/b], who gets full marks for enthusiasm and accessibility, used the platform of his blog on USAToday.com to post his "Take" on the fans of Philadelphia:
=====
[i][b]Day 6: Tuesday, April 15 (Flyers 6, Capitals 3)[/b]
My family and partners traveled to Philadelphia —the city of brotherly love. After ...
Well, the inevitable finally occurred. After dropping the first two games at home, we were all almost certain it was over. Another playoff, another disappointment. I promise this is the last time I'll talk about this Sharks season, but humor me and follow along to the biggest heartbreaks (yes, I consider myself lucky to have a game be the source of my biggest let-downs)...
I have never seen that in my life! 2 goals in the final 1:20 to advance to the next round instead of the golf course. Crazy! What effort by Gleason to keep the puck in for Jokinen to tie it ... and Staal has been simply incredible the entire series. TWO teams come back from 3-1 series deficits to win the series. That should change some percentages a bit.
GREAT NIGH...
So I was 7 for 8 in 1st round predictions (Sharks....tsk tsk tsk). Not only did they screw up my predictions but my playoff pools are done!
On to Round 2:
[b]Boston (1) vs. Carolina (6) -[/b] This will be a great series. I like Carolina but Boston, after disposing of the Canadiens in 4 straight are riding high with confidence - I'll go [b]Bruins in 6[/b].
[b]Was...
MichaelBernard writes...
Worst Loss in Devil's Playoff History, What a Disgrace.
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Now that Ive had time to digest last night’s loss to Carolina, I can say this. Worst loss in Devil’s playoff history. No you say? You think the loss to Colorado was worse, you’re wrong. After a great season of chasing Boston for the top spot in the east with a backup goalie in net for most of the season, and records being shattered, it wasn’t supposed to end like t...
First, and foremost, please do not judge this article as coming from the opinion of an Islanders fan. I am as unbiased as humanly possible in this aspect, and I truly tell it how it is. It is for this reason that I felt obligated to put together a little piece on the Rangers, and how the toughest part for them, and their management, actually begins now. Granted, they just ...
If your interested in tickets for the Wings/Ducks match up in So Cal!!! Go to Stubhub.com. There are thousands of tickets for sale on the site. Most of them are good seats. Looks like a wings home game in So Cal!!!
I just sold mine...I'm out of town..Going to Pittsburg.
Joining the rest of my fellow hockey buzz enthusiasts, here are my predictions for Round Two as well as a review of Round One.
[b]Round One[/b]
I'll take a 6-1-1 record into the second round. I correctly predicted wins for Boston, Washington, Pittsburgh (even got the games right), Detroit, Vancouver, and Chicago. San Jose let me down, just like pretty much everyone e...
Before the season began I had these teams making the playoffs: Stars, [b]Red Wings[/b], [b]Sharks[/b], [b]Ducks[/b], [b]Flames[/b], Oilers, [b]Blackhawks[/b], Wild, [b]Penguins[/b], [b]Capitals[/b], [b]Devils[/b], [b]Rangers[/b], [b]Canadiens[/b], [b]Flyers[/b], Lightening, and Sabres. I didn't even have the Bruins making the playoffs ... LOL!
Before the playoffs star...
What a crazy start to the second round for the Ducks and Wings. The game featured some great hockey action, and some controversial calls and non-calls.
In particular, I am referring to the huge open ice hit on Jiri Hudler by Mike Brown. In my opinion (and also the league), it was a clean hit that ended with Hudler being cut over the eye. It also ended with Brown assesse...
After losing 4-3 and falling into a 2-0 hole to the Washington Capitals many may think it is time to panic for the Pittsburgh Penguins. I disagree. Watching the game tonight I saw exactly what I expected to see: Ovechkin versus Crosby in a fast-paced, hard hitting matchup. Both teams controlled the puck well in the offensive zone and at times it seemed like the ice was tit...
I don't know why, but it seems like in every playoff game this year I've seen at least one goal called off because the referee was not in position to make the call or seen a team called offsides by a line judge trying to catch up or who got in the way of a clearing attempt.
Tonight it was Detroit's Marian Hossa who scored the game-tying-goal with just over a minute left...
After the Penguins fell into a 2-0 series hole to the Washington Capitals, I wrote a blog about how it wasn't time to panic yet for the birds. Crosby had been spectacular, and they were getting scoring from stay-at-home defenseman Mark Eaton (who?). But there were things the Penguins needed to work on.
One of those things was puck posession. The Pens had not been good o...
Is anybody really surprised this series is tied at 3 and heading toward a game 7 thriller Wednesday night in DC?
I'm not.
In fact, through 6 games we have seen just about everything we expected to see.
Great offensive playmaking and goals.
Great skill and determination by the 3 best forwards in the league.
Key contributions from 2nd, 3rd and 4th line players...
I've been following the never ending quest of Jim Basille to beg, borrow or steal an NHL franchise to bring back to his hideout in Hamilton. Now I don't really have a vested interest in this soap opera since I'm not a fan of the Coyotes (although it seems that that wouldn't put me in the minority in Arizona), nor am I partial to ensuring a team relocates to Hamilton, Ont....
BryanM writes...
League Needs to Assert Itself Now or Lose Control Forever
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Versus showed the aftermath of the Detroit Red Wings-Anaheim Ducks Game 6 during the first intermission of tonight's game 7 between Pittsburgh and Washington. After watching it I can't help but think that the NHL has lost control of these playoffs. Maybe it's just because they have two of the dirtiest teams in the league playing each other, or maybe it's because Colin Camb...
Another successful [i]regular season[/i], another abrupt [i]playoff[/i] exit. Anyone seeing a trend here? Ever since the Devils won their last Stanley Cup in 2003, the dry New Jersey Devil fan base (which I must say did show up for the playoffs this year), has been treated to the same redundant pattern year in and year out. This year was no exception. The only difference s...
As has been pointed out numberous times by NHL.com, the Associated Press, ESPN and some of the bloggers here on Hockeybuzz.com, Pittsburgh's 6-2 rout of their playoff rival Washington Capitals was an anticlimatic end to an otherwise amazing series.
Looking at the series by the numbers we could not have asked for anything more from the leauges brightest stars - Alexande...
This NHL post-season must be a dream come true for Gary Bettman. His marketing team hasn't had to do any real work to sell these playoffs; they've sold themselves. Look at the excitement of the first round where we watched Boston against Montreal in an original six rivalry match, Pittsburgh against their hated rival Philadelphia, San Jose and archrival Anaheim in the first...
After an exciting second round of playoff action that saw three series go the distance and pitted the league’s top young stars - Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby - against each other. Many thought there would be a let-down after the excitement of the Conference Semifinals, but the four teams that advanced have offered enough storylines to at least keep us mildly inte...
Sorry to all the fans of the Wings and Penguins. I have been slightly under 500 this year on picks.
I am taking the Wings and Penguins to replay the finals from last year. So there is a great chance of an upset now!
With all the talk about what the fate of the Coyotes will be after today's hearing and the likely appeals on any decisions, I decided to put my two cents in on the argument.
With or without Jim Balsillie, the NHL will not be successful with a team in Hamilton, Ontario. This is not an attack on the dedicated hockey fans of Canada. In my honest opinion the league should a...
so here is what i don't get...i understand both the pros and cons for moving the coyotes, but to ontario? just won't happen.
since the lock-out, the league has sky rocketed in popularity...the fan base has exploded tremendously. fans are coming into something great now, and to move a team like the coyotes to ontario would be a bad idea.
why? well now you have to re-d...
Listen up all you Penguin-haters! This blog is for you!
It hasn't even been 12 hours since the game ended, and already I've seen multiple stories suggesting that this series is a repeat of last year's Cup Finals. That the result will be the same and there is nothing the Penguins can do about it. They can't win four out of five against Detroit.
It's time for all of us...
Lets look into this a bit. The Jets had pitiful attendance figures that declined right up until they moved to Phoenix. In their last season, the Jets averaged just over 11,000 fans per game.
Generally, Corporate ticket sales make up around 60-70% of total ticket sales, on average. The remaining tickets are ones bought by you and me, Individuals. The Jets were the third ...
As this is my first blog post on this site, allow me to briefly introduce myself. I am Glen and I am a die hard Rangers fan from Southern California who has never even been to Manhattan. As a kid I fell in love with the play of "THE CAPTAIN," (and yes all caps are neccessary when typing that). I've been hooked ever since. I shell out the cash every year for the NHL Center ...
The title that I wanted to put for this was too long so I had to shorten it. I don't mean to cause any kind of hatred or anything with it. The original title was to be: "Why the NHL is better off in Phoenix than in Winnipeg - Part 2: The Rebuttals".
Alright, so I promised to write a blog to counter the 18 comments on my last blog. Close to half of those comments didn't ...
There is no doubt that John Tavares is offensively gifted and has the hands of a magician. But for a team that is in serious rebuild mode, is Tavares the wisest selection for the Islanders to make? As time goes on I'm becoming less sure.
I've always believed the standard for a winner is building from the net out. And with DiPietro lock up for the next 30+ years, it only...
As I've bemoaned in a previous blog and something that is an acknowledged belief of all Rangers fans, Glen Sather has painted the team into a real corner as it pertains to the salary cap. With the UFA additions and/or re-signings of Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Wade Redden, Michal Rozsival and Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers have approximately $32.78 million dollars per year ag...
Tonight at approximately 7:17 Eastern time, the Coliseum erupted. That was because Islanders GM Garth Snow announced to the world that the Islanders were selecting John Tavares first overall in the 2009 NHL Draft. The 10,000 people at the Coliseum shook the Coliseum like it hasnt been shaken in years. However, that was just the first step.
Now its time to get John to th...
The Flyers mad a big splash today and landed Chris Pronger in a trade.
Smart move for the Flyers.
Flyer fans will start salivating the moment they hear of this news...visions of Crobsy getting crunched by Pronger along the boards...or Malkin getting hip checked as he tries to cruise through the middle of the ice.
Yep...they certainly have reason to think he will m...
The 2009 NHL Entry Draft has the possibility of going down in the record books as a major turning point the turning point for the New York Islanders franchise. For a franchise who’s tank has been running on empty for quite some time, this draft brought along several things that the Islanders needed so direly: excitement, possibility, and relevance. Excitement, in the sen...
Three seasons ago, it seemed pretty obvious where the best teams in the NHL lived...the Western Conference.
The Ducks had just beaten the Senators in 5 games to win their first cup. They appeared to be a team that could easily repeat. They were physical...mean even...and could score goals to boot.
While the Ducks did not repeat as champions, the Detroit Red Wings fin...
Hey everybody, i've been on hockeybuzz for a while but rarely post. But after reading EVERYWHERE about all these "offseason plans" that people are coming up with its just ridiculous. Lets get real. We have no money to spend. The odds of trading Drury, Gomez, Redden and/or Rozsival are very slim to say the least. The only realistic one that could be moved may be Rozsival. D...
Now I'm going to ask you guys, due to the harsh questions on my last blog. Okay, first you have to understand that I am NOT Glen Sather, a GM, or a hockey analyst. I am only a 12 year old kid, so no harsh comments on ANY blogs. Secondly, I have to ask you guys. Now the question is.... What would you do with the free agency for the Rangers?
Please post your comments belo...
As I was preparing to write up part two for the Islanders draft recap, I received an email from one of the readers of New York Islanders Net who knows our sixth round pick, Anders Lee, personally. Instead of keeping the draft recap a three part series, I decided to make it a four part series, with this entry focusing only on Anders Lee, and then picking up from there. Here...
Now that the Fourth of July weekend has come and gone, and what a great weekend it was all around, it is time to settle back into the work week, and more importantly, some Islander talk. That being said, let’s take a look at Part III of our Draft Recap: the goaltenders. Part I covered John Tavares and Calvin de Haan, while Part II focused solely on 6th Round Pick Anders ...
Montreal trades Christopher Higgins, Ryan McDonagh, Pavel Valentenko & Doug Janik to New York for Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt and Mike Busto.
Montreal landed their long sought-after #1 Centre on Tuesday, but it wasn't the Flying Frenchman that everyone expected. GM Bob Gainey felt the price was too high for Vincent Lecavalier and instead settled for an overpaid, underac...
Finally, part four of a four part series that has seen us recap the Islanders 2009 NHL Entry Draft. While it was somewhat successful for the most part, the two players we will look at today were somewhat off the charts for the Islanders and many other teams, however, they apparently have tremendous upside. Doesn’t it always seem as if the Islanders are taking the flyer p...
As expected, the John Tavares Press Conference today went rather smoothly and involved very little Q and A with the press. A very pleasing crowd of 350 fans arrived for the first free press conference the Islanders have held, while there was also a fairly large number of media and photographers. Situated right next to the opposing team's bench were Greg Logan of Newsday an...
Although I did enjoy watching the Blackhawks have a great run this year, especially considering I am a huge fan of Patrick Kane, I was still keeping a close eye on the RFA situation that has been playing out over the past several days in hopes that it could benefit the Islanders. I am sure many of you have been doing the same as well. Yes, call me selfish all you want for ...
I tend to be a very stubborn guy typically, one who has trouble reconsidering my opinion once I feel strongly enough about something to have one. Imagine my surprise as that is precisely what I’ve found myself doing over the last couple of days; I’m reconsidering my take on Nik Zherdev. As recently as 3 days ago I was ready to watch Little Nikky leave town with his tai...
When we look at the projected Islanders line-up for next season, we are able to notice two things: several important overall changes and several gaping holes that still remain. Obviously the addition of John Tavares will be a pleasant change to an offensively starved lineup, as long as he can transcend his OHL scoring abilities to the NHL level. Besides his marketability, ...
I apologize for being away from the site all weekend. It was a very nice weekend here on Long Island, and I made sure to take advantage of it to the fullest. While I was gone, I did receive a decent number of emails asking for some opinions on some things related to the Islanders, so I figured instead of answering each one individually; I would answer them through the blog...
By Glen Miller
Today I thought it would be fun to look at some of this week’s UFA signings and how they may impact this coming season. Granted, most of the top signings occurred in the first 3 – 4 days of unrestricted free agency, but there were some interesting signings this week; some that affect the Rangers....
To read the rest of this article, please go to Ne...
Garth Snow and the New York Islanders entered the offseason with quite a bang. The anticipation and excitement leading up to the draft party, the draft party itself, the selection of John Tavares, and the signing of a quality netminder in Dwayne Roloson all helped to give Islander fans a sense of rejuvenation and renaissance. However, since then, all has been pretty quiet ...
Terms of deal are unknown but he has re-signed with the team. Good news finally for us Ranger fans.
By Glen Miller
Today the New Jersey Devils have announced the hiring of Jacques Lemaire to take over the reins of the club that he originally led to their first Stanley Cup, which was won in 1995. This was long rumored since Lemaire left the Wild organization after coaching that program since its inception in 2000 and also since Brent Sutter left his post as Devils head...
Hey guys! Just wondering what you guys would think about bringing back Brendan Shanahan. Maybe 1 year 1 million. Tell me what you think.
LW C RW
Higgins Dubinsky Gaborik
Callahan Drury Kotalik
Grachev Anisimov Avery
Lisin Boyle Brashear
D D
Staal Girardi
Roszival Redden
Gilroy Del Zotto
This ...
LW C RW
Higgins Dubinsky Gaborik
Callahan Drury Kotalik
Grachev Anisimov Avery
Lisin Boyle Brashear
D D
Staal Girardi
Roszival Redden
Gilroy Del Zotto
This ...
LW C RW
Higgins Dubinsky Gaborik
Callahan Drury Kotalik
Grachev Anisimov Avery
Lisin Boyle Brashear
D D
Staal Girardi
Roszival Redden
Gilroy Del Zotto
This ...
http://islesnet.blogspot.com
As you can tell, it has been quite the confusing day or two for Islanders fans in terms of the Alex Tanguay race. As of yesterday morning, there were about ten different opinions floating around the hockey blogosphere as to which teams were still in contact with Tanguay and his agent. I figured it would be an appropriate time to organize the...
Article taken from:
New York Islanders Net - http://islesnet.blogspot.com
Although the dog days of summer are here, it has been quite easy to continue the hockey talk considering the number of free agents that are still available, and the numerous trade winds that all seem to be blowing in the New York Islanders direction. Obviously, as I mentioned in a previous articl...
This is from my blog at hfboards......
"I don't know why the Rangers aren't considering this...... How about Derek Roy? The dude puts up 30 goals a year and has a set of wheels. How about this....
Rozsival, Zherdev, Anisimov, Sauer to the Sabres for Derek Roy(4 mil) and Nathan (1 mil)Paetsch. The Rags shed about $7 million and take $5 million, leaving $6million to si...
Rebuilding, back stepping, reloading, call it what you want. It is evident the Devils approached this off season with the intentions of instilling a youth movement and seem to be going through with it. Fans were outraged as players like Brian Gionta and John Madden signed elsewhere, while the Devils stood pat since July 1st. After realizing Lou Lamoriello's plans for the t...
Last year, the Islanders led the National Hockey League with more than 500 man games lost to injury. That is a pretty obscene number, taking into consideration the fact that these human beings are professional athletes, and they should be physically prepared for a grueling 82-game season. I will not begin to point fingers at the Islanders strength and conditioning staff, a...
What if the Rangers were to land Dany Heatley? Who would they give up? Ryan McDonaugh was aquired from Montreal because Murray wanted him in exchange for Heatley. Rozsival and Zherdev are the two biggest trade bait as of now and one of them is expected to be dealt. I feel that maybe a three way trade may be going down between the Rangers, Sharks, and Senators. This could b...
Here are 3 deals that will help out the Rangers.....
1. Rangers get: Patrick Sharp, Kris Versteeg
Blackhawks get: Michal Rozsival, Nikolai Zherdev, Brodie Dupont
2. Rangers get: Matt Stajan, Ian White
MapleLeafs get: Nikolai Zherdev, Dan Girardi, 2nd round pick
The last one is a three way
3. Rangers get: Mikko Koivu, Antti Miettenen
Senators get:...
BUFFALO — This October the cold, brisk air will surround HSBC Arena. The 2009-10 Buffalo Sabres will be on the ice in front of their typical sold-out crowd. All 18,690 will be in their seats while viewers across Western New York and beyond will be tuning in to Rick Jeanneret. The whistle will blow, the puck will drop and Sabres hockey will begin again!
But not yet.
...
[b]By Glen Miller[/b]
New York Islanders Net
Compared to most teams, the Islanders’ off-season has been very quiet. While that might upset some Islanders fans and would certainly upset the fans of most every other NHL club, this is certainly the best move for the team. After several years of losing and trying to bring in veteran players to boost the club’s fortunes...
So as it turns out, Martin Biron was indeed able to find a home before the end of the off season.....
Unfortunately, he found his home with one of the worst clubs in the NHL...
Yes, the Islanders are in the middle of a "rebuilding phase," but I, for one, am having a tough time trying to reason the signing of a THIRD veteran goaltender to a team that has less than ade...
- Former Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators goaltender Martin Gerber has signed with Atlant Mytischi of the KHL, the team has reported.
Gerber supposedly spurned an offer from the Pittsburgh Penguins at being their backup goalie this season, hours before the Penguins signed Brent Johnson. Gerber said that he wanted to play in the KHL to prove that he "still had it...
It feels good to talk about how well run the Redwings are as an organization. You'll find no shortage of praise for Ken Holland or Brian Burke and the like. It's much more fun to rip apart the organizations that just don't seem to get it. So in the spirit of being cruel (summer is tough on a hockey fanatic), here are the Top 5 Worst run NHL franchises.
#5 - NY Ranger...
After quite the busy and hectic weekend, I am very happy to be sitting down and just getting back to what I love to do: discussing hockey.
The hockey world seems to have come to quite the standstill over the past few days, with media outlets and bloggers alike scratching their heads for an idea to write about. These are the days when we begin to see prospect articles on...
New York Islanders Net
http://islesnet.blogspot.com
Do you recall about two to three years ago when a simple look at the Islanders prospects would bring about a nauseating feeling? Between lack of depth and lack of quality, the Islanders were truly a team without any hope to compete in the future. After his first two seasons as general manager were quite unsuccessful...
Since my car decided to die on me last night I'm stuck at my computer instead of enjoying my wonderful California summer. So here are some thoughts based on stories I've read on ESPN.com the last two days:
[u]Phoenix Coyotes Staying in the Desert?[/u]
I'm not sure I believe Gary Bettman's argument that hockey can succeed in the desert, but if someone is willing to tr...
August is usually a quiet time in the NHL. Most of the relevant free agents have been signed, the big trades have been made and teams are just gearing up for training camp. There are still some interesting story lines out there and I've decided to take a closer look at a few of them. In no particular order:
Heatley to San Jose?
First, confirming a rumor I initially...
New York Hockey Net
(http://islesnet.blogspot.com)
Commissioner Gary Bettman stepped to the podium yesterday at the Adam’s Playhouse, received a tremendous ovation from the 1,150 citizens in attendance, thanked the good officiating from the night before for the ovation (a joke, obviously), and then he proceeded to deliver a well-articulated speech. In his speech, Bet...
mapleleafsforever writes...
Balsillie Blah Blah Blah... Coyotes Blah Blah Blah...
Posted Friday | Comments 0
Did I get your attention? Great.
I've been reading some pretty hilarious stuff since the ruling by Judge Redfield T. Baum regarding the September 10th auction for the Phoenix Coyotes Franchise. If you haven't heard the ruling you must tell me how you fit your computer under that rock which you must surely reside beneath. Essentially, the Judge has declared that all b...
I've always thought about blogging. Then I thought, who could really care about my inane thoughts about hockey...or anything else for that matter. Really, aren't bloggers just enthusiasts without press credentials? Perhaps. I do know that I visit this site several times each day. What I've come to realize about bloggers is that, although they may not have access to the...
There's really no way this can end well.
The drama surrounding the Phoenix Coyotes has been going on for months. It's almost certainly hurt the morale of the team, and it's been terrible publicity for a league that already struggles to maintain credibility outside of the Canadian market.
Part of establishing that credibility has been trying to prove that hockey is a...
The movie Jerry Maguire started this phrase, and it even won an Oscar for Cuba Gooding Jr., but should it apply to someone trying to sell a hockey team or better a bankrupt team? Sure there have been some offers made to buy the team, but none that come close to the Balsillie offer. This decision shouldn't come down to just money, but because it is in the courtroom, it prob...
New York Hockey Net
http://islesnet.blogspot.com
With the great success of the Lighthouse Conference past us, it’s time for the speculative fun to begin. Here at New York Hockey Net, I can tell you that the minds are drying with topics to write about as the hottest days of August arrive. Here, and everywhere around the league, it is a sure-fire bet that you will star...
Idk if I want Heatley anymore but he sure as hell would make a fine addition to the team! Let me know if this deal is fair......
To OTT
Rozsival
Higgins
Sanguinetti
1st round pick and 5th round pick
To NYR
Heatley
We would have killer lines if this was made. We sign Francis Bouillon at 1.2 for 2 years and Brandon Dubinsky at 2 years, 2 million and we are ri...
The more posts and reliable news outlets I read there is a common theme. The NHL is anti Canada. Now, I know I may not be the most educated man on the planet or the most business savy, but there were some basic lessons in economics and business. There will be some people who may have a degree or more experience in the field I am about to talk about and I will take critici...
With the great success of the Lighthouse Conference past us, it’s time for the speculative fun to begin. Here at New York Hockey Net, I can tell you that the minds are drying with topics to write about as the hottest days of August arrive. Here, and everywhere around the league, it is a sure-fire bet that you will start seeing speculative pieces about the thirty respecti...
An amazing insider interview by James Mirtle wrt to the Phoenix Coyotes situation.
[i][b]"The view from Phoenix: An interview with 12 News reporter Brahm Resnik (and why he thinks Reinsdorf will win)"[/b][/i]
A completely different point of view, and an important read.
See James Mirtle's Blog at [b]'fromtherink.com'[/b]
JC
landsharkhockey writes...
Eastern Conference Playoff Bubble - Who's In and Out in 2010
Posted Friday | Comments 0
There's bound to be some turnover in playoff teams in 2010. There is every year. So, who's in and who's out next spring? Let's break it down in the Eastern Conference.
• Penguins, Capitals, Flyers, and Bruins are locks.
• Devils and Hurricanes are good bets.
• Islanders, Lightning and Thrashers are extreme long shots at best
• That leaves 6 teams to sc...
landsharkhockey writes...
Western Conference Playoff Bubble - Who's In and Out in 2010
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Last season, 14 teams had a legitimate go at the post-season up through the final month of the season. With so much parity in the West, we could be looking at a huge turnover in playoff participants, or we could be looking at the same 8 again next year. Even the Avalanche can't be written off. Here's our best guess at what to expect when it all shakes down next April:
...
East
1-Washington- Ovechkin, Semin, Backstom, Green, Poti..... Amazing 5... Nuff Said
2-Pittsburgh- Stanley Cup Champs, with two franchise players who easily break 100 pts.
3-Boston- Savard, Bergeron, and others will all score 20 goals, and their all-star defense will lift them to home ice advantage.
4-NY Rangers- Gaborik is coming off surgery and will be healt...
The Atlantic Division proved to be one of the toughest divisions in hockey last year, with four of five teams making the playoffs and one winning the Stanley Cup. This year things don't look any easier for the New York Rangers, with division rivals adding key assets to their teams. Here are my predictions for the Atlantic Division.
1. [b]Philadelphia Flyers[/b]
After...
Why can't people understand that the Coyote franchise is on the hook for $750+ Million in lease dues for the arena under the financing of the arena. The league cannot move the team to the Eastern Conference at this late date. Image a trip for the LA Kings to Dallas, Phoenix, and then Denver. Now that trip would be to Dallas, Toronto, and Colorado. Not very fair to team...
With more than a half dozen teams falling further down the hole and a few others making marginal improvements this is what I see happening this year.
1. Washington is going to make a big push this year and become the dominant team of the East and NHL. They have the pieces in place and also have a couple of good runs and are prepared to make the push. In my opinion they...
hplayer11389 writes...
My Keys to the Sabres Success and Making the Playoffs
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
I know many people disagree with this statement, but I fully believe it, and will vehemently defend it; the Buffalo Sabres are a playoff team. They have the scoring depth, they have the goaltending, and they have right system. Again, many people do not agree, and see the Sabres as a two player team depending on the success of Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek. This is an uneduc...
Due the the popularity of Eric Engels weekly question list, I decided to write my own :) Answer in comments...
1.Who wins the Stanley Cup this year?
2. Will the Habs make the Playoffs?
3. How will Ray Emery's NHL return play out?
4. Does Carey Price make a remarkable turn around?
5. Will the Pheonix Coyotes re-locate by 2011?
6.With a new contract, how does Roberto...
I’m always talking about this new up-tempo style Tortorella will provide. John Tortorella has a proven style of hockey, after all he lead the Lighting to the 2004 Stanley Cup Championship. In an interview by Newsday.com Vinny Prospal said, “ I always played my best hockey under him”. Hearing this I’m very confident that his coaching will help this team. This year I...
A few thoughts…
It was actually Brian Burke, the proverbial King of controversy, that said the sooner this Coyotes Bankruptcy saga is all squared away the better it will be for everybody. Burke hit the nail on the head. If this mess is not resolved within the next three weeks than it will drag out over the entire season and not only distract the Coyotes players from c...
gkmkiller writes...
Dubinsky Re-signs finally - 2 Years, $3.7 million though!?!?
Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Call me confused. Don’t get me wrong; I am stoked that the Rangers and Glen Sather finally came to their senses and gave Dubinsky enough money to entice him to re-sign. The problem I have is with the money they gave him, especially if the reports I have read are true.
We know that pressure had been building on Dubinsky’s side to get the player into camp. John Tortor...
When asked what the keys to the Rangers upcoming season are, most fans would point to the obvious: the health of both Marian Gaborik and Henrik Lundqvist; a return to form by Michal Rozsival and Wade Redden; and the ability of coach John Tortorella to implement the up-tempo playing style and the high-level conditioning he favors are answers I would expect to hear.
There...
As a DirecTV subscriber, I was all set to see the Wings Swedish opener this Friday on Versus. But, because of the cut-throat, in-bred telecommunications world, I have to make other plans.
So I miss my team's opener. Too bad for me. Too bad for Wings fans. Really too bad for hockey. However, I have no intention of calling up DirecTV to complain or rearrange my life by...
The Iceman writes...
The Games They Play: What Happens If The Islanders Move?
Posted Sunday | Comments 0
This is the 1st time I have ever written a blog on this site so bare with me. Being an Islanders fan since I was 4 years old (that being 18 years) I have seen some crazy and stupid things when in regards to what has happened to this once great and feared franchise. Like many of us, we have been increasingly frustrated with what the previous powers that be in the front offi...
[i]"The Coyotes managed a sellout in their home opener when all tickets were sold for $25 or less. The team's second home game on Thursday night drew an announced crowd of just 6,899."[/i]
- The Canadian Press
Here it goes: Give the team to Balsillie, move them to Hamilton and make some money in a healthy location.
[b]Phoenix, I'm sure you are a nice city but as an ...
Finally this season, I was able to get to a Buffalo Sabres game. What's even more incredible is that I talked my girlfriend into going to two games, back to back. I'm not sure she liked me taking notes on my cell phone. SO, here is a recap of two very different games played at HSBC arena this weekend.
New York Islanders, 10/16/2009
This was a great effort by the Buff...
Here's a new look:
Canadian franchises are in danger, not because they aren't drawing enough crowds or making enough money. No, Canadian franchises are in danger because the game as a whole is struggling.
When 80% of the league is based in either a non-hockey market (boy have we heard that phrase a lot this summer) or in a struggling economy (sorry neighbors to the s...
Ever since Alexei Semenov backed out of an agreement with the Rangers to be their 7th defenseman, it was thought that the team would pursue another veteran blue liner to fill that role; whether by trade or free agency. Salary cap restrictions and the lack of quality UFA’s on the market made it a difficult task for Glen Sather and his staff to find the right kind of fit f...
landsharkhockey writes...
Top 10 Unforgettable Playoff Moments of the Decade
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
As we continue with the decade in review, it's time to look back at most memorable moments from the Stanley Cup playoffs over the past 10 years. Here are the plays and incidents that will be remembered for years to come.
10. (2006) - In game 1 of the Cup finals between the Hurricanes and Oilers, the Canes overcame a 3 goal deficit to win the game. Towards the end of t...
Much has been made about Bob Gainey's changes this off-season. From optimistic to apocalyptic predictions about the team, it's all fairly inconsequential until game 82. But who are the Montreal Canadiens?
Currently holding an 8-10-0 record, having played as many or more games than any other team in the East we sit in a pretty dissapointing 11th place, and as much as I l...
I received an interesting email today from the Columbus Blue Jackets. I’ve been on their mailing list for a couple of years after buying tickets from their website, but haven’t unsubscribed as I enjoy getting some of their offers. For example, last month, I received an offer of a lower bowl ticket, a pre-game buffet in the club section and a beer in their in-arena pu...
The Flames needed a win at home, and they did exactly that; gaining a decisive 2-1 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes. Not the prettiest game in the world to watch but a win is a win anyway you slice it.
With two of the better goaltenders going head to head, one could have guessed that this would have been a low scoring affair. Let’s compare their stats after tonight�...
Unfortunately, the amazing run away from home ice had to end sometime. With tonight’s 2-1 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes, the Flames failed to pick up a point on the road for the first time since October 13th, when they fell 2-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Another streak ended tonight as Miikka Kiprusoff allowed a goal for the first time in 159 minutes and 10 seconds aft...
[i]The following is completely ficticious and is meant only for your amusement. I don't actually believe anything that follows and neither should you.[/i]
The Phoenix Coyotes will win the Stanley Cup this year. It's not because they are the best team, or because they are built for the playoffs, or even because Ilya Bryzgalov is the best goaltender in the world this year...
Jean Charest, Premier of Quebec, said this week that after talking with Gary Bettman, he is confident NHL hockey will return to Quebec City. “It is going to happen,” said the Premier, citing plans to build a new arena to lure the NHL back to Quebec’s capital city.
Cela est une grande idée Jean. But here’s why it ain’t gonna happen.
1. Population of Quebec ...
[IMG:left]http://i49.tinypic.com/b62ecn.png[/IMG] So a little bit of the progress made was erased last night in the dismantling at the hands of the desert dogs. I can honestly say I don't think I've seen the Leafs look so disorganized. Not even in the early season slide was it as apparent they weren't ready for their opponent as it was in last nights contest. At times t...
Some thoughts I needed to share. Panic looms with every loss especially the ones at home. The Rangers are constantly under pressure even if they win. Look at them now instead of looking at our 6-2-2 record in the past ten games as pretty good. The constant woes of lack of scoring and home ice advantage seem to take center ice. Which I think falls heavily on the team....
tml1967 writes...
The Leafs waddling through their worst month since lockout
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Toronto Maple Leafs continue on their waddling days of January which has been the teams worst month statistically since the lockout, if the team is to succeed in its quest to make the playoffs again then they need to come to grips with one of the coldest months of the year in Canada. The team is 1-5-0 so far this month and continue to struggle in their penalty kill and...
Kamal Panesar writes...
Win 1, Lose 1 Habs back at .500 - Habs system explained
Posted Monday | Comments 0
It is Monday morning in the frozen city of Montreal. After a week of decent (for January) weather, it has been colder the last few days, in this city, and not just because of the temperature. After two back-to-back 4 point games this weekend, that Habs are no better in the standings. Two games, two losses, two bad efforts - the second worse than the 1st - and your beloved ...
Hey ladies and Gentlemen its been forever since i have written my last article. I have been very busy with academics but considering that this is a make or break season for the san jose sharks i think i should comment on the last couple of games and what the sharks need to do looking forward.
considering that i along with many other fans in the nhl have noticed the infl...
While I haven't used this blog as much as i would like its definitely time to post again. Tonight the Caps enter the Garden on a 11 game win streak. The Rangers however are coming off of a 1 and 2 west coast trip. What's the goal ?
As far as the trade goes I was on board. To me there is no point having a player who just gets scratched every night. I t...
eklund before posted in a blog that the new york rangers and the florida panthers supposedly have a mega deal going on. unless the rangers are looking to make a deal with the panthers to dump one of the r&r boys salary than they cannot make a move because of there salary cap space of only 356,000. unless the rangers somehow dump one of the r&r boys salary than th...
dannyrad writes...
The Fall of an Empire that never existed in the first place
Posted Friday | Comments 0
Anyone with NHL Center Ice could clearly see 41 times a year that the franchises in Atlanta, Florida, and Phoenix are dieing.
Old News right?
Yeah, but with the swirling rumours of the NHL returning to Winnipeg, and the constant dismay of those who say "this again?", lets look at the situation a bit closer.
On any given night, except maybe when the Leafs are in t...
Back to work.
It has been a most enjoyable two weeks of Olympic hockey. But now, it's time to get back to the NHL. With roughly 20 games to go in the season, the first few strokes have been painted on the playoff picture. So let's take a look ahead and who's going to be dancing in April on the East Coast:
[u]Who's In: [/u]
[b]Washington, New Jersey, Ottawa, Pittsbu...
We tackled the East on Saturday, so let's take a look at how things will shake down in the mighty West over the next six weeks.
[u]Who's In:[/u]
[b]San Jose and Chicago [/b]- Only two teams have enough breathing room to look over their shoulder at this point.
[u]Who's Out:[/u]
[b]Edmonton and Columbus [/b]- Let the firesale begin for the Oilers and Jackets as they ...
So now that the trade deadline is over and there's no more hope for getting any better, the focus now comes on making the playoffs. Most everyone who will read this will know how important making the playoffs is for the Flames, they lack draft picks in the upcoming draft and have essentially put their eggs into the basket of "win today".
Currently the Flames are 13 poin...
8-5-3.
That is what it takes as of today for the Flames to make the playoffs as far as I can tell. I've stated that 94 points historically will get you in so in keeping with that the flames need 19 points however anything less than that could be disastrous. For instance a .500 record here on out would give them a straight 16 points and even though it's just a three poi...
Not many people are expecting the Sabres to go far in the playoffs, unless you are quite an optimistic fan. Buffalo’s chances do not look good going up against Washington or Pittsburgh, which is why winning the Northeast Division is a must.
The Sabres have been slumping for a while now, and Ottawa and Montreal are coming closer with each win. Buffalo has lost 16 of it...
This time of year everyone is ranking teams and trying to handicap the most productive teams in the playoffs. I have been watching a stat that might be as good an indicator as any. Here I will rank the teams in each conference based on goal differential. This stat is a good indicator because it shows how many easy games a team has had during the season. Too many easy g...
Continuing with my belief that the New York Rangers’ season is over, today I am going to look at a change the organization should make though most of us as fans don’t believe it will. Glen Sather has had nearly 10 years to set this team straight. He has failed for the most part. Sure, the Rangers are one of only two teams to qualify for the postseason every year since ...
THE FACTS
The Penguins currently sit 2 points ahead of the New Jersey Devils for first place in the Atlantic Division.
The Devils have a game in hand on the Penguins.
Without getting into specific scenarios (and assuming the teams play to the same W/L records the rest of the way), if the Devils win that "game in hand" they will win the division based on the NHL ti...
So I spent about 4 hours today (seriously) obsessing over the playoffs and clinching scenarios, etc. and thought it would be an even worse waste of time if I didn't post a summary of my conclusions.
Here's the dealio, Sabres are at 88 points with 11 games left and can possibly achieve 110 points with a clean sweep of the rest of the season.
Ottawa, 81 points, 9 games ...
Last night's 4-3 shootout loss to the league leading Washington Capitals was, oddly enough, a welcomed sight to many Pens fans.
Of course, after the "sleepwalking" effort they put forth Monday night against the Red Wings, anything resembling a "conscious" attempt to compete last night would have been a marked improvement.
Even so, and without question, last night's g...
Shhhh, don’t tell anyone in Rangers’ management about this. I happened across this top secret document on Craig’s List and traded my old Sega Genesis for it. I’ve done some research and I believe this is the only confirmed copy to escape the tight clutches of the personnel at 2 Pennsylvania Plaza.
For those of you that want to know the secret to Rangers’ legen...
According to Sportsclubstats.com the Calgary Flames have a 4.7% chance of making the postseason. A slim, faint, flicker of hope, but hope nonetheless.
The schedule is not very easy but the Flames have no other options than to run the table for the rest of the season, and even then they need help to get into the tournament.
If they win all six remaining games then ...
The Flames won 2-1.
The Avs lost 5-2.
“So you’re telling me there’s a chance!”
With the events of tonight, the Flames now sit only two points behind Colorado with a colossal, gigantic, enormous match-up against those same Avs on Friday night in the Mile High City.
Miikka Kiprusoff single-handedly won yet another game for the Flames, who have leaned on...
According to Dictionary.com a ‘nemesis’ is defined as an opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.
Well, the Blackhawks are, by definition, the nemesis of the Calgary Flames.
A team they have not beaten, in the regular season, since the 2007-08 campaign. A team that ousted the Flames in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs last year, and...
Tuesday...Pens and Caps at the Igloo...7:30
The Caps have to play the Bruins tonight...the Pens will be fresh tomorrow, a couple of days after a come from behind win against the Thrashers.
The Pens should win easily...ok...kidding...
The Capitals have had a GREAT regular season...and they are the President's Trophy winners. They have won 51 games (to date) and wil...
The Sabres currently sit third in the Eastern Conference, although they are not far behind New Jersey for second, who they trail by just a point. Buffalo is well on its way to the playoffs, but some people don’t expect them to go very far.
Is there room for improvement on the Sabres team? Normally, a team that finishes third in the Conference would seem to be a good b...
The stage was set and everything was in place Tuesday night for the Sabres to clinch the Northeast Division. Buffalo had taken two out of the first three meetings this season, but the Rangers were expected to be desperate for points.
Buffalo gave New York a severe blow by defeating them 5-2, making it look easy. The Rangers tied the game at two, but that was all they co...
After weeks of uncertainty the Calgary Flames are officially eliminated from Stanley Cup playoff contention. This ends days, weeks and months of faint hope and un-needed stress for most Flames fans who still wanted to believe this team was destined for the big dance.
It was the 3rd overall pick in the 2009 draft, Matt Duchene, who officially eliminated the Flames, when...
Last night was another example of the Penguins NOT "getting to their game" against a quality opponent.
Against division leaders this year the Pens have routinely not gotten to "their game", going a remarkable 3-11-3 in those contests (all 3 wins vs the Sabres).
That's the record of LAST YEAR'S Stanley Cup Champions against THIS YEAR'S Stanley Cup Finals favorites.
...
The days of the Penguins playing in the Igloo are numbered.
3 games for sure...1 in the regular season...beyond that, we won't know until we see what kind of playoff team we have this year.
Tonight IS the last regular season game in the "old barn".
Mellon Arena, formerly, the Civic Arena, has been around since 1961. In 1967 the Penguins started playing there, and ...
You just can't win in fantasy hockey if you don't draft strong goaltending. That rule is doubled when it comes to playoff pools. More than any position, you really have to do your homework and make sure you're picking the right guys to protect the net. To make things more interesting this season, it seems that about half of the potential starters out there have little t...
The Sabres have passed the 100 point threshold, and that is truly a remarkable accomplishment. I've ragged on this team all season long. I, more than anyone else, have been very critical of this Sabres squad. Yet, I'll be the first to admit that I'm truly impressed at what this team has done.
They're bringing playoff hockey back to Buffalo after all these years. Finally...
All season long, hockey writers and commentators have been bad-mouthing the East and praising the West. They've joked about how the battle for a playoff spot out West was so tight, while there are so many weak teams in the East. Now that the standings have been decided and we're faced with the top 8 on each side, the balance of power does not seem so slanted. The East b...
While the Eastern Conference matchups seem to be a bit predictable, good luck making any sense out of the situation in the West. There are some impressive favorites at the top, but you could make a case for any team out West to go far, and you wouldn't get much argument from me. Any one of these 8 teams could ultimately find themselves in the finals without surprising to...
[u][i][b]HEY, IT'S YOU KNOW WHO!!! JUST TRYING OUT THIS BLOG THING SINCE I'VE BEEN GONE FOR A WHILE!!! FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, ALL MY ACCOUNTS EITHER NEED A NEW CELL PHONE NUMBER OR HAVE BEEN BANNED TIL 2012!!! IT JUST SEEMS THAT A CERTAIN MASKED "ANONYMOUS" BLOGGER AND HIS CRONIES CAN'T HANDLE MY TRUTH SPEAKING!!! I CAN'T SAY IF I WILL BE BACK BEFORE MY BANS ARE UP...
Hey if you're in a pool please, for the love of god, do not talk to me about it unless we're in it together. Do not be fooled, no one wants to hear you talk about your pool, it ranks right behind hearing your warcraft dungeon raid stories and right before your high school football stories.
****
Playoff predictions are impossible and annoying. I heard this mornin...
Wednesday night...4/14/2010...the alarm sounds at 7pm.
The playoffs started for the Penguins and the team woke up from what seems like a season long slumber.
Well...for about 10 minutes.
That's about how long they "got to their game" on Wednesday.
Long enough to bang some bodies...draw a penalty...and score an early power play goal to go up 1-0 in game one.
...
With credit to Damian Cox of the Toronto Star, TSN.ca reported last night that the New York Rangers have agreed to a deal with, what some consider the under sized Mats Zuccarello-Aasen. Zuccarello-Aasen hails from Norway, and in the 2010 Olympic Games he lead his nation in scoring in their four games in the tournament.
In 55 games for Modo in the Swedish Elite League t...
Is it just me or are there a lot of people in Calgary cheering for the Phoenix Coyotes?
Case in point, I was out on Friday night at a bar on 17th avenue grabbing a couple of beverages after the Hitmen game, while catching glimpses of the Yotes Wings game on the screen behind me. And to my amazement, and less than the time it took for me to order a beer an enormous cheer...
I am writing this post in the obvious glow of having the Flyers dispatch the Devils in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Even though the Devils were the #2 seed and had home ice, I felt the Flyers were the favorites going into the series. I picked the Flyers to win the series and didn’t consider it a risky or homer pick. In the last 16 games versus Marty Brodeur a...
For the first few games of the Sabres-Bruins series (besides on NESN, man those guys can't say anything positive about other teams) things were relatively quiet when it came to coaches, players, and commentators taking shots back and forth at each other over scrums and other things that hockey players tend to be involved in. Then, game 4 happened. Yes, officiating was horr...
The first round of the playoffs is complete and it was full of surprises. This is what makes the NHL playoffs so exciting to watch because you never know what can happen.
This year’s playoffs have shocked many fans, especially those in the Eastern Conference. Here at SHC, we already discussed whether the Sabres/Bruins series was an upset or not (you can view that arti...
With the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs entering its second leg tomorrow night, I thought it would be interesting to look at some former Calgary Flames that are thriving in this years big dance.
The obvious one, right off the bat, is Montreal forward Mike Cammalleri. He signed in Montreal for 5 years at $6 million per season, after leading the Flames in goals last season wi...
As always, the first round of the playoffs featured plenty of surprises. In the East, the lower seeds provided a greater challenge than expected and came through with a couple of upsets. In the West, it was surprisingly predictable, as the general favorites all came through to the second round. We'll start with the West as we try to make sense out of what's to come over...
The path has certainly been plowed for the Penguins to make a third straight trip to the Stanley Cup finals. All three of the division winners have been eliminated, leaving Pittsburgh as the clear favorite to move on.
[u]Pittsburgh Penguins (4) -vs- Montreal Canadiens (8)[/u]
Can lightning strike twice? Montreal pulled off one of the biggest upsets of all time by t...
Here are my picks for the second round, which kicks off tonight in Pittsburgh. The fourth seeded Penguins will host eight seeded Montreal. Boston, the six seed, and Philadelphia, the seven seed, will meet in the other Eastern Conference duel. Out west, the top seeded Sharks will host the Detroit Red Wings, and the Canucks (3 seed) will travel to Chicago to face the Blackha...
KnucklePuck writes...
Bruins vs. Flyers Series Preview/Player Comparison
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Here is a quick player by player breakdown of how the Flyers and Bruins will match up in the second round of the 2010 stanley cup playoffs.
[b]Defense:[/b]
[img]http://cdn.nhl.com/photos/mugs/8459424.jpg[/img] vs. [img]http://cdn.nhl.com/photos/mugs/8465009.jpg[/img]
[u]Chris Pronger vs. Zdeno Chara[/u]
Breakdown: Even in their mid-thirties, Pronger and Chara are...
At the start of the playoffs, you might have figured that the player with the most points would be a superstar like Sidney Crosby, and you wouldn’t have been wrong with that assertion. What many people did not see coming were the two players that follow Crosby in that category: Joe Pavelski and Mike Cammalleri.
The San Jose Sharks have been desperately searching over...
So now it's a best of 3.
After dominating the first two periods of game 4, and leading 2-1 to start the third, the Penguins did the unthinkable: They lost control of the game, and maybe the series, by surrendering 2 goals in the third period to the Canadiens.
If you had fallen asleep at the end of the second period and woke up at the end of the game, you might not ha...
with the playoffs coming near to the end the off-season will begin.the rangers have many decisions to make this year.1.resign prospal?2.bring back the whole 4th line?attempt to move r&r?bring back zherdev?..knowing sather he will do none of these and instead sign or trade for vets that have a yr or 2 left in them...also do you sign sergei gonchar or let him slip away ...
I was going to call this blog..."Just Not As Good As Last Year" when describing what I thought of the Penguins after last night's 4-3 loss in Game 6 to the Canadiens.
But then I looked back over the first two rounds from last year again...and realized that sometimes our minds play tricks on us.
We remember watching the raising of the Cup in Detroit...and then we kind...
gkmkiller writes...
Time To Make Your Move, Gary: An Open Letter To Gary Bettman
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Dear Mr. Bettman,
I’m going to be blunt with you Gary; I’m not going to sugar-coat anything. Look around you, Gary. You’ve got ownership problems with a number of franchises. Every time you seem to get one squared away, like Tampa, another one or two crop up (Los Angeles and Phoenix for example). It’s time to make some hard choices my friend.
No one wants to ...
The 2010 playoffs have shocked the NHL, and there are still two rounds remaining. The saying “anything can happen in playoffs” has certainly been proved once again this year, especially in the Eastern Conference.
All three division winners in the East were knocked out in the first round. Even with earning the home-ice advantage, they still were unable to win the ser...
lonerogue writes...
Canada has no team in the NHL, not even the Canadiens
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
By Aaron Wrotkowski
With the Conferences Finals for the Stanley Cup set to begin on Sunday, it seems that NHL viewers have been captivated by the Cinderella run of the Montreal Canadiens. Defeating the President’s Trophy winner and the defending Stanley Cup champions with a game strategy that seemed to put most of the pressure on a hot goaltender and well instructed ...
Who could have predicted this? The top two teams in the West will meet for the rights to tower over the remnants of the East, where the bottom two seeds are set to do battle.
[u]
San Jose Sharks (1) -vs- Chicago Blackhawks (2)[/u]
With all of the chaos that the Stanley Cup playoffs have delivered, it's almost surprising to see the top two teams actually advancing to ...
The Philadelphia Flyers are going to be the toughest opponents that the Montreal Canadiens have faced thus far in this year’s playoffs. That’s not only because Peter Laviolette’s 2010 squad is somewhat reminiscent of the old school Broad Street Bullies, but because they are a team that wins by out-working their opponents and doesn’t rely on raw talents like Ovechki...
After the disappointing last day failure against the flyers. As a Rangers fan I need to find some sort of hope for a better season. So I turned to two things, the draft lottery and a potential Winter Classic appearance. For a while it looked as if things might turn our way. We got a top 10-pick draft pick. The Capitols and Pittsburgh were knocked out early and the playoffs...
Watching the Flyers play the Canadiens in the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals has made sick.
Every goal that has been scored, every save that has been made, each shift that has been played...has taken me one step closer to wanting to "hurl" on my living room floor.
As a lifelong Penguins fan, isn't that the natural reaction you would expect from watc...
History has been made in the 2010 Playoffs, and we might not have seen it all yet.
The East has had its share of surprises and has been nothing short of terrific hockey. Whether it’s the third ever 3-0 series comeback by the Flyers, or the surprising Canadiens - eliminating both the President’s Trophy winning Capitals and defending Stanley Cup Champion, Penguins,...
Killing It
The NHL has beaten the Crosby v Ovechkin “rivalry” to the end. Now they look to do the same with the Winter Classic. To me the Winter Classic was taking on a persona as the rare meeting of two teams in a unique enviorment. Something no other sport really does. As a fan I felt that if I have to wait a few years just to see my team in the classic that’s...
The Calgary Flames have, for better or worse, decided to stay the ship. And staying the ship means keeping Daryl Sutter. They have decided that radical changes are not needed. In their infinite wisdom, they are not going to trade any of the top players or prospects to get a number one pick. Unless, of course, Mr. Sutter can hypnotize one of the general managers into tak...
Traditions are important. The names of the Conferences and Divisions should have been left alone. But that was done only to try and draw in and keep fans. The NHL will do anything to try and woo Americans into not just loving their home team but to want to watch hockey in general. For example: Fox and their 'glowing' puck experiment; or the over explanation of what all the...
As of an 6:45 pm mst Scottie upshall has signed a 1 yr deal with coyotes.
Dwayne Roloson answered any question that lingered about who would be the Isles starter by the end of the 2009-2010 season. During last year's off-season, the Islanders signed Roly to a two-year deal to be Rick DiPietro's 1-A back-up that could handle a heavy work load if he were to injure himself for the umpteenth time. However it became clear that Rick wouldn't be ready ...
Annotated Mock NHL Draft 2010
V-3.0
11. DALLAS STARS MIKAEL GRANLUND - F
*A young Saku Koivu*
Intelligent and quick, with exceptional skills and great vision, this kid will juice up the stars offence for years to come.
There was some concern that Granlund might be smaller than his stats listed, and if he turned out to be 5’8” or 5’9” he would hav...
Been a little more then 8 months since I last wrote a blog, and since we are just under 24 hours from the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. I have been keeping tabs on many of the mock drafts and many bloggers predictions on what the 1st round will look like. Most especially the top 10. We all know Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin will be the 1st 2 players selected come friday night, but...
Check out my post at The Hockey Writers talking about the newest addition to the New York Islanders, 2010 5th overall pick, Nino Niederreiter!
http://thehockeywriters.com/el-nino-storms-into-long-island/
-Rob McGowan
Follow me on Twitter!
http://twitter.com/IslesRM
Rob McGowan writes...
Isles Create Roster Space, Changes Coming July 1st?
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
The Islanders have decided to not tend qualifying offers to Sean Bergenheim and Jeff Tambellini, making them set to become Unrestricted Free Agents on July 1st. Nathan Lawson, Dylan Reese, Dustin Kohn, Rob Schremp and Matt Moulson were tendered their offers, extending the Islanders rights to keep them with the big club. You can expect that they are likely to accept their o...
New post at The Hockey Writers discussing the rumors of Ilya Kovalchuk and a 10-year $100-million deal.
Check it out!
http://thehockeywriters.com/is-kovalchuk-island-bound/
and please, feel free to leave comments there too!
-Rob McGowan
Follow me on Twitter!
http://twitter.com/IslesRM
Check out my article at The Hockey Writers with quotes from the future stars of Long Island including Nino Niederreiter, Travis Hamonic, Brock Nelson and Kirill Kabanov!
Here's the link: http://thehockeywriters.com/isles-prospects-shine-in-summer-scrimmage/
-Rob McGowan
Follow me on Twitter!
http://twitter.com/IslesRM
Given my relative age the guys I saw play over the years or read about that really showed me toughness were the following guys:
1. Wendel Clark - he could score lead and fight the best all around player.
2. Doug Gilmour- he would never back down never give up never allowed himself to be beat up.
3. Darryl Sittler- he could score fight and lead both by example and ...
The winds of change have finally caught up with the NJ Devils and they have caught the mother of all storms. After years of watching a franchise buck the trend and be successful at playing their game and their system and not succumbing to the ways of the NHL. Captain Lou has finally lost his mind and took the plunge into the abyss and followed the great example of Charles ...
Hello ranger fans and well hockey fans in general. My name is Ian and when it comes to hockey especially the rangers i have a lot to say.
Lets get started with talking about the insanely ridiculous contract of Wade Redden. As if giving him 6.5 million dollars a year isn't bad enough, (when watching him 82+ games a year he is clearly worth 1.5-2.4 million area), Sather...
Rob McGowan writes...
Whom Should The Isles Target? Are The Isles Finished?
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Check out my post at The Checking Line, talking about the Isles current roster and how I see them producing! Register and leave comments!
http://thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/your-2011-new-york-islanders
And also, check out my post at The Hockey Writers, taking a look at the remaining NHL Free Agents and whom I think the Isles should target!...
I have been bored out of my mind over the last two weeks, the entry draft is far behind us, free agency has slowed to a crawl, arbitration hearings are the last exiting thing that remains. And we all know how boring arbitration is. Case-48 hours-decision-48hours-another decision. kill me now! So while this summer drags on I have been thinking of how Pierre Gauthier seems t...
Check out my post at The Checking Line regarding the New York Islanders most recent trade acquisition in James Wisniewski! Please register and leave comments! It's a great site with a new fan base that could use a few Isles fans that could share their thoughts with hockey fans around the globe!
http://thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/wizzing-isles...
wangzhiyuan writes...
If you often drive to unfamiliar places for business or plea
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
If you often drive to unfamiliar places for business or pleasure then you should make sure you get a top of the range system.
This means all you have to [url=http://www.dunkshoes100.com]dunk shoes[/url] do is follow the audio instructions given from the system and you will be taken to the postcode or destination you input into the Sat Nav at the beginning of the journe...
Check out my blog over at The Checking Line discussing Jon Sim's contract renewal with the New York Islanders! Register and leave comments!! They are ALWAYS appreciated, whether positive or negative!
http://thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/isles-take-simple-route
-Rob McGowan
Follow me on Twitter!
http://twitter.com/IslesRM
This article gives you tips on how to cope.Rely On Others - When there is a new arrival in the family, family should be there to help you out and make sure things are easier.When having a new baby, you really [url=http://www.dunkshoes100.com]nike sb shoes[/url] do not realise how much work it is until they arrive.If your family offer to clean for you or cook for you - acc...
wangzhiyuan writes...
Contact your local DIY store for more information on these
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Contact your local DIY store for more information on these.All you need to do next is to make a little investment in something called draft excluders.The first step is to go outside and take a walk around your home and [url=http://www.airjordanssale.com]air jordan shoes[/url] pay attention to the details of your home's construction work.Areas needing improvements are usual...
Check out my interview with Josh Bailey over at The Hockey Writers! Please feel free to leave comments!
http://thehockeywriters.com/one-on-one-with-josh-bailey/
-Rob McGowan
Follow me on Twitter!
http://twitter.com/IslesRM
Ok !!!! To start off with yes is says rainBRO because I didn't want to give off the wrong impression.
Secondly i am posting mostly because for some odd reason it won't let me make comments on other posts although you can clearly see i am logged in it still says you have to log in to make a comment.Ugggg Back to over the rainbro.
I am a a life long oilers fan. My paren...
Check out my new post at The Hockey Writers discussing the teams' contract issues as many of the players on the current roster will be looking for long-term contracts after next season!
http://thehockeywriters.com/garth-snows-toughest-job-lies-ahead/
Please feel free to leave comments!
-Rob McGowan
Follow me on Twitter!
http://twitter.com/IslesRM
Rob McGowan writes...
Rob Hisey: Potential Goal Scorer Finds Way To Isles
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Check out my recent post at The Hockey Writers, taking a look at Rob Hisey and his value to the New York Islanders line-up! Leave comments!
http://thehockeywriters.com/rob-hisey-potential-goal-scorer-finds-way-to-isles/
Also check out islanders.nhl.com to see featured articles from the Blog Box that were recently written by Dee Karl, Ken Dick and myself!
-Rob McGo...
Check out my new post at The Checking Line discussing who may be the likely candidate to have a breakout season in 2010-2011! Register and leave comments, feedback is always appreciated!
http://thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/who-will-be-next-unsung-hero-isles
-Rob McGowan
Follow me on Twitter!
http://twitter.com/IslesRM
I've also start...
Check out my recent article at The Hockey Writers as Doug Weight's contract is finalized for the 2010-2011 season! Leave comments under the blog, it's always appreciated!
http://thehockeywriters.com/isles-keep-on-the-weight/
P.S. Check out my Facebook fan page for my blogs and add it to one of your pages!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rob-McGowans-Islanders-Blogs/13...
With the recent off season waives, trades and signings, the acquisition of Hall and pulling up two other good (supposedly phenomenal) rookies via Eberle and Paajarvi, it looks like the rebuilding of the Oiler’s may be close to complete.
Are they going to be able to go from Dead Last in the league to 8th or higher in the West?
Right now. I’m going to say no .
...
New post up over at The Hockey Writers looking for YOUR predictions as the Islanders head into the 2011 season. Will they make the playoffs? Will they get better production from their offense? What are your thoughts on Rick DiPietro continuing his come back?
http://thehockeywriters.com/nyi-2011-a-playoff-team/
Leave comments under the blog, they are always appreciate...
Just a small town girl
Living in a lonely world
She took the midnight train going anywhere
Just a city boy
Born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train going anywhere
A singer in a smoky room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on
Strangers, waiting, up and down the boulevard
Thei...
Eastern Conference
1. Washington Capitals - Similar situation as last year, scary-good offense, young and developing defensemen, questonable goaltending. Look for 1 or both of young blueliners John Carlson and Karl Alzner to step up and help carry the load on defense.
2. Boston Bruins - Last season they couldn't score, they addressed that in the offseason with the trade...
In just under a week the Islanders went from a team feeling optimistic about their chances of making a serious run at a playoff spot, to a non playoff team and then finally what fans are starting to call a "count the days to the april draft lottery team". Top defenseman Mark Striet will be out till march at the very least with a torn rotator cuff, and a torn labrum in his ...
Another highly anticipated NHL season is just a couple of days away, and once again, the Buffalo Sabres are not favored to win the division. The Sabres haven’t changed too much from last year. A few players came and left, but for the most part, they are relatively the same.
Many experts have already submitted their predictions for the 2010-2011 season, and many have f...
Tonight the Islanders open their season at home against the Dallas Stars in what starts year 3 of the slow painful rebuild and also year 1 of the remaining 5 years on the lease at the once glorious Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. As we all know owner Charles Wang stated at the Islanders media day last month that he will no longer be silent or keep the media and fans in ...
My son is in his third season playing ice hockey. We live is Southeastern Pennsylvania. He started in 5th grade playing Middle School Hockey. While this is the lowest level of organized hockey outside of house leagues it may also be the most dangerous as 5th graders often find themselves lined up against 8th graders. They can find themselves facing competitors four years t...
You can't help but think there is just something special happening with the Blues.
This isn't the same team that would cough up third-period leads last year, or would get caught watching the play, getting pushed off the puck, or getting pushed around physically.
No, this is a Blues team that has flipped last year's script and are doing to opponents what they fell vic...
Rob McGowan writes...
Looking For Help From Within; Isles Call Up Joensuu
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Check out my latest post at The Hockey Writers as the Isles have called up Jesse Joensuu in search for offense as they face the Florida Panthers tonight at the Nassau Coliseum!
http://bit.ly/bTtcJa
Also be sure to stop by The Checking Line tonight as I will be contributing to the live blog George Prax will be hosting with updates from the press box at Nassau Coliseum...
Check out my latest post at The Hockey Writers as the Islanders have loaned Josh Bailey to their AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers...
http://bit.ly/dIGra8
Leave comments!
-Rob McGowan
Follow me on Twitter!
http://twitter.com/IslesRM
The Iceman writes...
Islanders Lack Offensive Attack, And Protection In Own Zone.
Posted Friday | Comments 0
With the Isles set to concluded there home and home mini series with the Rangers tonight at MSG, they are once again trying to dig themselves out of a hole that they themselves have dug. A sloppy yet gut wrenching 6-5 loss last night at the coliseum can be blamed on turnovers, countless defensive lapses, failure to clear the puck, failure to protect the puck, failure to cl...
Check out my latest post at The Hockey Writers as the Isles have completed their home-and-home series with the New York Rangers!
http://bit.ly/eJz3u7
Leave comments!
-Rob McGowan
Follow me on Twitter!
http://twitter.com/IslesRM
Thursday, December 16, 2010, New York Rangers vs. Phoenix Coyotes:
Yesterday evening, the New York Rangers came back to the Garden in search for their third straight win. After their impressive wins over NHL powerhouses, Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins, respectively, the Rangers were coming home with all the momentum. All that stood in their way was, Western...
Stop by tonight around 7PM as I will be hosting a live blog for the Isles/Coyotes game live from the Nassau Coliseum press-box with George Prax from The Checking Line!
www.thecheckingline.com
Don't miss it!
-Rob McGowan
Check out my latest post at The Hockey Writers discussing the trade rumors that surrounded Dwayne Roloson as the Isles lost in the shootout to the Phoenix Coyotes
http://bit.ly/gtSp18
Leave comments!
-Rob McGowan
Follow me on Twitter!
http://twitter.com/IslesRM
There is no doubt in my mind, and in the minds of all Islanders fans, that Dwayne Roloson is playing like an all-star lately. He has had to carry the team for the past few years, and has always been a great fit for this team. What might be very troubling to the fans is the fact that rumors have been surfacing of a possible trade for Rolie. In my honest opinion, trading him...
The New York Islanders have became a little younger as Islanders GM Garth Snow sent veteran goaltender Dwayne Roloson to Tampa Bay for 22 year old D-man Ty Wishart.
This deal provides the Lightning with some goaltending stability which the club very much needs. So far Tampa Bay has gone with Mike Smith and Dan Ellis, both of whom have not been able to claim the number o...
41 games down, 41 games to go – and they are going to be long 41 games at that.
Sitting 14th in the Western Conference, six points back of 8th place, hopes for a miracle run are fading in a hurry. It doesn’t help the situation when a majority of teams ahead of the Flames have played fewer games than them, making it doubly hard to gain any sort of ground.
Did I...
A very small percentage of making the playoffs, yet the team must still charge forward. Head on over to the Sports Roundup for the latest musings as the Flames look forward to playing the Sens and the Leafs this weekend.
http://www.thesportsroundup.com/2011/01/dwindling-playoff-hopes-for-flames.html
Also check out why a certain blogger at TSR dislikes the Toronto Ma...
The Sabres are on the outside looking in. They sit 10th in the East; 8 points out of 8th place. They have lost Derek Roy for the season.
Tyler Myers and Ryan Miller are having disappointing seasons and the veteran leadership has been deemed unfit to play. How can the Sabres possibly make the playoffs? There is a way, but it isn’t pretty.
A start with the look at th...
The past two games may have been the Avs worst combined performances all year. Colorado is now outside the playoff race at No. 9 with 54 points, 1 back of No. 8 San Jose, and 2 back of No. 7 Chicago.
With a 5-1 and 6-2 lose to the Preds and Bruins respectively, it appeared that the Avs were sloppy and defeated at every position on the ice. With the exception of Matt Du...
The last bunch of games have been a roller coaster for this young Avs roster. The boys in Burgundy and Blue simply have to be better and more consistent if they would like to stay in the playoff picture.
Goaltending has been extremely shaky. Anderson had a solid game, followed by complete disasters. The one game vs. the Wild, he was poised, controlled and making those s...
The Flames are rolling into the All Star break with four straight wins and now sit only two points out of a playoff spot. Head on over to the Sports Roundup to read more about the Flames impressive string of play.
http://www.thesportsroundup.com/2011/01/flames-roll-into-break.html
Newman
@TSRNewman
www.thesportsroundup.com
www.thecheckingline.com
So after listening to all the feedback from last nights game I have thought long and hard about what I would say on here today.
I realize a little extra caution is necessary since I am the new kid on the block. So allow me to express my opinion and not use a single vulgar word in the process.......this time.
I am as big of an Islanders fan as anyone out there. I am a...
The New York Rangers have entered into unfamiliar territory after dropping their 4th game in a row. During a time that was supposed to be one where the Rangers thrived after getting 4 regulars back into the lineup, they have instead played the inconsistent hockey that has plagued them the past few seasons. It's too quick to jump to conclusions and say that this team is the...
Here is why the NY Rangers should not panic and make a trade they will regret later to try to save this season:
This is another rebuilding year. We cannot lose sight of that fact. They have played better than most thought they would this year and we should be glad about that and enjoy it. Yes, they are slumping. Yes, it is hard to watch at times. Finally, yes, we sh...
Isles suffered yet another goaltender injury, with Kevin Poulin hurting himself during warmups. He will have an MRI tomorrow, and will likely miss the opportunity to play in his hometown, Montreal when the Islanders take on the Canadiens Thursday night. AHLer Mikko Koskinen was forced into the starting role, and if there were any questions about whether this kid was NHL re...
The Flames can't be stopped. They roll past the Sens 5-2 to keep pace in the Western Conference playoff race. Come over to the Sports Roundup to read the latest on the home town heroes.
http://www.thesportsroundup.com/2011/02/different-strokes-flames-and-sens.html
Newman
twitter.com/TSRNewman
www.thesportsroundup.com
www.thecheckingline.com
Head over to The Checking Line for my latest post as the Islanders have acquired Al Montoya from the Phoenix Coyotes in the absence of Rick DiPietro and Kevin Poulin
http://thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/ring-around-goalie
-Rob McGowan
Follow me on Twitter!
http://twitter.com/IslesRM
My son’s world is covered with ice. There’s no doubt about where he really belongs. His happiness and sense of self are tied to his time on ice. Nowhere does he show as much aptitude or love. The cold, the skates, the ice, the wind in his hair, the smile on his face… his place is there, on the frozen water with the containing wooden boards.
There, he’s more. Mo...
I am not a fan of brawls. Never have been. They are the ultimate way for a lesser team to equalize themselves with a better team.
But why all the blame on the Islanders? Are they not just another team that has had to compete in a league that is so uncoodinated with discipline and suspensions that it encourages teams to handle things themselves?
After all, the...
Yesterday Spector stated that several teams were at the Oilers game presumably scouting out Oilers players. Assuming that’s the case, the teams being mentioned were the Wild, Lightening, Kings, Bruins, and Coyotes... Here are some potential deals that could be on the table.
[u][b]Los Angeles Kings[/b][/u]
Wayne Simmonds $0.8M + 1st Round Pick (current offer)
For
...
Sens lost again. Buffalo wins against the AHL-Senators. Four Sens players picked up points today. Yay offensive depth. Marek Svatos played his first with the Sens after being picked up on waivers. He didn't do anything. Good old Sens.
Interesting thought for tonight. Notice any writings, projections, articles, blogs, or other works about the Boston Bruins playoff chance...
The Flames hit a speed bump Wednesday night as they fell to the Chicago Blackhawks. Come on over to the Sports Roundup to read more:
http://www.thesportsroundup.com/2011/03/calgary-flames-hit-speed-bump-in-chi.html#more
Newman
twitter.com/TSRNewman
www.thesportsroundup.com
www.thecheckingline.com
With the Sabres’ overtime loss Thursday night, coupled with a New York Rangers loss, the Buffalo Sabres not only have recorded at least a point in their last five games, but they remain two points out of eighth.
Don’t worry, the news gets better from there. The New York Rangers currently sit eighth with 70 points and they have played three more games than the Sabres...
Come on over to the Sports Roundup to listen in on TSR's inaugural podcast. We talk about Morrison, Iginla's hall of fame chances and the flames post-season chances. Come check it out!
http://www.thesportsroundup.com/2011/03/inaugural-podcast-march-4-2011.html
Newman
twitter.com/TSRNewman
www.thesportsroundup.com
hi all,
i just have something to get off my chest. facebook.com is supposed to be a place where you are can speak your mind about everything and anything. not so! i was an admin for a page called addicted hockey fans united. as i said in my introduction, i am anti-bettman, always have been and always will be. i spoke my mind about him, the coyotes and hockey in the so...
thanx to tsn.ca for this
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/jetsmeter/
When I was nine the Flyers won the Stanley Cup. People bought shirts, bumper stickers, soda cans, anything with the Flyer's logo on it. We didn't have a lot of money then. My father was a steel worker and money wasn't just pinched, it was wrung, but I had my eye on something. A glass. It wasn't empty, it was filled by some company with some milk product my father wouldn't ...
Many Sabres fans, including myself, were a bit premature after Buffalo moved into 7th place last week. I was already thinking about who the Sabres should play in the first round. Well, after a 1-0 loss to Carolina, Buffalo is the team that everyone is looking to beat.
It’s not over until it’s over. New Jersey knows a little something about that this season. Former S...
As the NHL playoffs are approaching, many teams are still in playoff contention and are battling to move up in the rankings. 16 of the 30 teams will make the postseason, but is it better to be battling for one of the lower spots?
Sabres fans saw what happened during the President’s Trophy-winning season in 2006-2007. Although they had a great team, they were upset by ...
The Flames playoff chances were severely hurt this past week with three straight losses. Come on over and check out my first ever exclusive TCL(The Checking Line) blog.
http://thecheckingline.com/blog/newman/calgary-flames/flames-playoff-hopes-fading#comments
Also be sure to head over to The Sports Roundup to here the latest podcast! We talk mostly Flames and throw ...
The last time Ray Emery was in the Ponda Center, June 6th 2007, I was standing on my seat serenading Emery and laughing my head off when he scored on himself playing for the Ottawa Senators. (http://videosift.com/video/Stanely-Cup-Game-5-Chris-Phillips-Own-Goal)
We (Anaheim fans atleast) knew that the Ducks were going to with the cup much earlier then this. With Teemus ...
It’s that time of year again. The snow begins to melt, the leavesbegin to grow and in the NHL the dash for the final few playoff spots intensifies as teams look to scrap together as many points as they can in the few remaining games of the NHL regular season and the Buffalo Sabres are no exception.
With Sabres up by two points over the Hurricanes for 8th place the Sab...
Raise you hand if you figured the Sabres were dead in the water by the end of December. Excuse me while remove my hand from the air, as I find that many fans are probably eating their words right now, as the Sabres are just a good 12-game stretch from making the playoffs.
Watching the team before January 1st was a maddening experience. Cruising to a record of 14-19-4 i...
According to sportclubstats the Kings chance of making the playoffs is at 96.1%. Calgary is 5 pts behind them while Dallas is now 6. Only 7 games remain - 2 against the Ducks, 1 in van, ed, and sj, then phx and stars at home. but then this happened...
http://video.kings.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=729&id=105080
This is brutal. Your #1 goal scorer (who only has ...
With a playoff berth all but locked up for the New York Rangers, we look forward toward potential playoff match-ups. Of course, we have mostly forgotten our bold proclamations that expectations would be met and thirsts quenched with nothing more than a playoff appearance. But as is human nature, greed follows accumulation of wealth and we all want more; some are even bold ...
[b][i]Watched the Chicago and Detroit game last night[/i][/b]...that was fun. Those teams really went at one another and the result was hockey like it's meant to be played. The points were important to both teams, moreso the Hawks than the Wings, but it never really seemed like either was playing for the point/points. It was more about beating the "rival"...and that's the ...
The Calgary Flames playoff hopes are cooked. After an impressive run, they will fall short for the second consecutive year. come over to the Sports Roundup to read more.
http://www.thesportsroundup.com/2011/04/flames-are-cooked.html
Newman
twitter.com/TSRNewman
gkmkiller writes...
The Morning After: One Fan's Day Following a Horrific Loss
Posted Friday | Comments 0
Hey, I'm sure I'm not the only one that's gone through something similar. But for those of you that may not know what I am talking about, please continue reading. Every one of us probably handles it differently when our team loses in embarrassing fashion as the Rangers did last night to the Islanders. Not to take anything away from an Islanders team playing pretty good hoc...
As many know, no NHL franchise has faced more adversity on and off the ice in the past years than the Phoenix Coyotes. Riddled with financial loss, poor ownership and a poor on ice product, many wondered when the Winnipeg/Los Vegas Coyotes would exist. The past two years however have shown a remarkable turn around in the franchise by two great men, GM Don Maloney and Head ...
Having watched the Penguins "transform" from a team that was likely to beat you 5-4 to one that's more likely to win by a score of 1-0...I find myself asking the question: [b]Is This Team Playoff Ready?[/b]
Last year's team headed into the post season, never quite achieving that level of play that many people thought they needed to defend their Stanley Cup championship....
The common myth around the NHL fan these days is that the only way to rebuild is to tank as low as you can for as long as you can to gain top-5 picks and young star prospects. Well I ask you, why is this not the case for current teams like the Coyotes, Kings, Islanders and Blue Jackets to name a few? There is usually only two answers. One, you picked the wrong player in th...
This weekend I cant count how many fictional articles I wrote in my head. How the ducks and kings would clinch playoff spots for the first time in history. how the stars where the only team in the pacific to not make the playoffs. while all this still may happen.. we are going to have to wait.
Saturday saw the Kings face the Stars while the Ducks were in San Jose, I al...
The follow up to my first prospect blog where I judged the top-20 1st round prospects drafted during the Gretzky era in their development. This will be a short piece because of Maloney only drafting three guys in the first round so far.
2009: New management in place and a new outlook on drafting. Or was there? Maloney once again took a risky pick so early by drafting Ol...
What am I? Nuts? So the Flames aren't totally out of it yet. Yes there is little to no hope, but there is still a little which has a lot of fans grasping at straws to cheer this team to the bitter end. Come to the Sports Roundup to read on.
http://www.thesportsroundup.com/2011/04/hope-its-horrible-thing.html
Newman
twitter.com/TSRNewman
This season has seen a resurgence in elite goaltenders, many with great stories. Tim Thomas has gone from the most overpaid one hit wonder, to the top statistical goaltender in the league. Pierre Gauthier was five seconds away from being hanged for trading playoff hero Jaroslav Halak and retaining Carey Price. Price has put together an all-star season and is the reason why...
Who is the favorite to win it all this year?
In the last 5 years the cup has been raised by, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Anaheim, and Carolina. What do all these teams have in common?
Defense:
GA (reg season) for these teams ranged from 184(Detroit) to 260(Carolina)
Offense:
GF (reg season) for these teams ranged from 257(Detroit) to 294(Carolina)
With the ...
JohnFergusonJr writes...
Game Day Phoenix Coyotes : 80, The Pacific War
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
As the season wraps down for these two clubs both are fairly secure in their hopes for a playoff berth. Both the Coyotes and Kings are tied for 5th/6th in the West with 96 points apiece. A win for the Coyotes will seal their playoff dreams and guarantee them a spot. This will be a big game for the Desert Dogs as they will be facing a beaten up LA squad missing their supers...
In case you missed it I was on the CBC Homestretch this afternoon talking about the Flames playoff chances. Come to The Sports Roundup to have a listen.
http://www.thesportsroundup.com/2011/04/tsr-talks-to-cbcs-homestretch.html
Newman
Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/TSRNewman
I've been watching Corey Perry since '05, the post lock out Mighty Ducks of Anaheim but I was much more fixated on watching Scott Neidermayer and his mighty beard dance around the ice.
Year after year I would watch Teemu, Penner, Getzlaf, Kunitz, McDonald, Beauch, Pronger, Pahlsson, Giguere, Bryz, the list goes on (seriously how unreal was the '07 group?) and Perry was...
Sometime last september the hockey gods (or the old guys who plan the complex NHL schedule) thought it would be a good idea to have the Ducks and Kings play a home and home for the final weekend of the regular season. Usually this hasn't meant much. In the 17 years since the incarnation of the Duck the two teams have never made the playoffs together. We'll its finally happ...
So what does it take to be a NY Rangers fan? What sets us apart from every other fan in the universe? Anyone can say they are a dedicated fan…its easy to sit on the couch and watch 70+ games a season, and if you have a DVR u can actually watch every minute and every play from the entire season just like I have for the past 13+ years. So what makes that different...
The Detroit Red Wings finished up their regular season with a win over the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center yesterday, solidifying their place as the number 3 seed. Next up will be the Phoenix Coyotes, a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Quarterfinals. The season series between these two clubs was split down the middle, with both teams grabbing two out o...
Well, after a last game collapse by Carolina, then Chicago, then Dallas the playoffs are set. Time for predictions!
QUARTERFINALS
WASHINGTON over NY Rangers in 6
BUFFALO over Philadelphia in 7
BOSTON over Montreal in 6
TAMPA BAY over Pittsburgh in 7
VANCOUVER over Chicago in 5
SAN JOSE over Los Angeles in 6
DETROIT over Phoenix in 7
ANAHEIM over Nashville in ...
If you followed March Madness this spring, you know that this year was a wide open field and resulted in some big time surprises all the way to the Finals. Looking at the field for this year's NHL Stanley Cup Finals, you get the sense that maybe there's a theme for 2011. Consider the following:
• Last year's champs defaulted into the final spot in the West
• The...
TSR makes our first round predictions and I'm thinking I might have been hopped up on something when I made mine. I think a couple of first round upsets are in order in the east. Maybe I'm way off, but this is more fun!
http://www.thesportsroundup.com/2011/04/first-round-nhl-playoff-predictions.html#more
Newman
twitter.com/TSRNewman
The Detroit Red Wings put to rest any doubts of their ability to perform in the post-season with a convincing win over the Phoenix Coyotes at Joe Louis Arena last night. It seems that the regular season woes are definitely behind not only the Red Wings players, but also the fans as well. The team has been booed off the ice on more than one occasion for the first time in ...
If there was ever a time for Ryan Miller to come back from injury and earn a shutout, this was the perfect night for it. Miller looked liked the Vezina winner he was a year ago, as he led the Sabres to a 1-0 shutout victory.
Patrick Kaleta scored the lone goal of the game and it was all the Sabres would need as they were able to keep the powerful offense of the Flyers o...
April 22nd, 2006 was one to remember in the history of the Buffalo Sabres. After three losing seasons by the Sabres and a year-long lockout, HSBC Arena finally hosted an NHL playoff game.
18,690 fans sold out the building in downtown Buffalo to see the Sabres take on the Philadelphia Flyers in the first game of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
They would get the...
Here are some thoughts on the 1st game of the playoffs:
The Sabres should not have won this game. There were several factors that gave them the edge they needed to capture home ice advantage in this series.
Ryan Miller is back, I missed him. He was the goaltender we saw last season and in the olympics. He was a stablizing presence, coving his angles and not letting r...
All of Buffalo woke up this morning elated after the Sabres stole Game one away from the Philadelphia Flyers last night in the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals series.
It was a game in which Philadelphia dictated much of the tempo for the majority of the game, forcing Ryan Miller to stand on his head time and time again in front of a typically raucous, sold out crowd a...
Game 1 of Buffalo and Philadelphia in the 2011 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals was pretty tedious. In fact, it got downright boring at times.
Game 2 was neither. It began as exhilarating, and, at least for Sabres fans, eventually degenerated into something infuriating.
The first period took over 51 minutes to complete between a bevy of scrums, ten minor penalties an...
Two nights after a tough 5-4 loss in Philadelphia, the Buffalo Sabres will be taking the ice at the HSBC Arena, looking to take a 2-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Here are four keys to victory for tonight's game in Buffalo:
- The Sabres must play better defensive hockey.
Sabres' goaltender Ryan Miller has faced...
The good news is there is plenty of hockey to be played in this series. The earlier you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up.
The bad news is the Flyers have taken control of the series, and have regained their home ice advantage. It was the first home playoff game in the Pegula era and the Sabres had a chance to go up 2-1.
Despite the home fans rockin’ ...
I, like many other Sabres’ fans, was disappointed with the result of the team’s playoff game against the Flyers.
I was not expecting a 4-2 loss in the third game of a playoff series, especially after the Sabres stole one of the first two games in Philadelphia, bringing home a split.
The atmosphere in and outside of HSBC Arena was great. Fans inside were excited f...
Remember when Ryan Miller had a dominant 35 save shutout to steal game one? Well, his performance on Wednesday night may have even been better as the Sabres tied the series at two game apiece.
It was a must win for Buffalo and they came through. Even though it looked like the Flyers were going to tie it, the Sabres found a way to survive, with Miller doing most of the w...
The Detroit Red Wings completed their sweep of the Phoenix Coyotes last night in Glendale by a score of 6-3.
A team on the ropes is always known to put their best foot forward, in desperation or otherwise, and the Coyotes did just that. Despite what has come to be a customary early lead by the Red Wings, Phoenix kept the score tied for the majority of the night, and ...
HSBC Arena erupted Wednesday night as 18,690 fans rose out of their seats in complete unison, awestruck by Ryan Miller’s phenomenal performance.
Chants of “Ry-an Mil-ler, Ry-an Mil-ler” rang out amongst the electric crowd who had once again witnessed brilliance as their franchise goalie stood on his head right before their very eyes.
The sound that roared throu...
PickDaddy writes...
Is The NHL Going to Fine this Clown? - Bryzgalov on Winnipeg
Posted Friday | Comments 0
Ilya Bryzgalov has once again opened his big mouth an insulted the entire country of Canada.
For those who didn't see this guys interview with regards to Edmonton, please see this link:
[url]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8531230620351334232#[/url]
That was a few years back when he was in Anaheim. This time around he has now picked on Winnipeg. Saying ...
...
The Sabres came out and controlled the first half of the opening period, and Tyler Ennis began the scoring spree with a shot that he banked off Philadelphia goaltender Brian Boucher.
Just a couple minutes later, Thomas Vanek did the same thing from behind the Flyers’ net and Buffalo were out to a fast 2-0 lead. Fans in Philly were already beginning to turn on their te...
"Sorry Mom, I won't be able to make it this Sunday."
A sentence that has today become all too familiar for the mothers of hockey fans all over Western New York.
Today is a very special Saturday, not because it is Easter Eve, but because Buffalo Sabres fans are ecstatic following a Game 5 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers -- a huge win which puts the Sabres up thre...
I saw a joke the other day on the internet; a bar graph titled: WHEN AN ATHEIST BELIEVES IN GOD. And it showed bars with various categories like: in an argument, running late to work, didn't study, etc... with various percentages. The only category with 100% was 'Watching a Sporting Event'...
I feel like, as far as jokes go, this couldn't be truer.
I won't get into ...
There’s no reason you shouldn’t be excited for Game seven on Tuesday in Philadelphia. Yes, the Sabres had a chance to finish off the Flyers Sunday afternoon in Buffalo, but blew yet a another two goal lead this season.
Flashback to December, when the Sabres were 10 points out of a playoff spot and struggling to string together wins. If you would have told me that th...
I write this article, as an unbiased fan. I write this, as someone who loves the sport of hockey. This first-round of the 2011 playoffs has been exciting, and nothing but dull. 6 of the 8 playoff series have gone at least 6 games. However, there is something amiss in the NHL.
I plan on using 3 examples in this situation.
First: Game 3 of the Vancouver vs Chicago se...
The Penguins are [b]TOAST[/b].
I'm as big a fan as anyone...and I desperately want them to win Game 7 on Wednesday night...but my gut tells me this series is [b]OVER[/b].
After watching them get outscored 12-4 and outplayed by almost the same amount in games 5 and 6, there is nothing I see that tells me this team will win game 7.
Without Sid and Geno...with a rece...
It’s 2010 all over again as the Detroit Red Wings will meet the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference Semifinals. The seeding remains the same too, as the Sharks secured home ice advantage once again for this series.
The Red Wings have been resting up for over a week after sweeping the Phoenix Coyotes last Wednesday, and have been able to mend their bumps and bru...
I imagine a giant map on a wall in a secret NHL room, probably somewhere near the "War Room" in Toronto where the geniuses gather to review goals (seemingly without the aid of HD).
On this map is a representation of a recent national broadcast's viewership. The brighter spots on the map represent high viewership, and you can guess where they are. In between are thousan...
The first round was epic. Can the second round provide the same drama? Come over to TSR for our second round thoughts and predictions.
http://www.thesportsroundup.com/2011/04/round-two-2011-nhl-playoff-predictions.html
Newman
twitter.com/TSRNewman
Most people will look back at the 2010-11 Penguins season and think the season was a success.
Given the well documented injuries to Crosby, Malkin and other important players on this team (Staal missing the first ½ of the season) I would have to agree that finishing the regular season with one of the highest point totals in the team’s history was a true success. I do...
The Detroit Red Wings dropped their first game of the Western Conference Semifinals to the San Jose Sharks in overtime by a score of 2-1.
They also answered a few questions which have been flying around the last week. “Will 8 days of rest be too much for the Red Wings?” Not in the end. The Wings started slow, almost sloppy, and it took a penalty kill which allowe...
The Detroit Red Wings head back to Joe Louis Arena down 2 games to the San Jose Sharks after losing 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.
The loss was catalyzed by a complete lack of discipline by one of the least penalized teams in the regular season. The San Jose Sharks must have taken notice of Jimmy Howard’s reaction to Joe Pavelski’s snow shower in Game 1 and decided to tr...
During the 2009-10 playoffs we saw the emergence of Philadelphia Flyers forward [b]Claude Giroux[/b].
Giroux scored 21 points in 23 playoff games after scoring just 47 points in 82 games during the regular season.
[b]Seeing a player jump from .57 points per game to .913 during the playoffs, when scoring is usually at a premium, is like a red light going on behind the...
Not only is it frustrating, but it’s getting a little eerie too. Exactly like 2010, the Detroit Red Wings enter their two home games down to the San Jose Sharks, and they lose a third period lead and drop Game 3 in overtime. This, of course, after beating the Phoenix Coyotes in the Quarterfinals.
And that’s not all…elsewhere in the League, the Boston Bruins take...
TheSabresTaco writes...
Taco Time - Adding double meat to the offseason!
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Well, it was inevitable. Any legit Sabres fan knew our biggest flaws running into these playoffs. Sure, we didn't have our "#1" center in Derek Roy, we had an injured Tim Connolly, Brad Boyes; who shouldn't ever play center, Robbie Neidermeyer, and Paul Gaustad up the middle. Compare that to Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Danny Briere, and Blaire Betts (a less talented Goose)...
Friday night was a big night for the Detroit Red Wings, as they force a Game 5 by besting the San Jose Sharks by a score of 4-3. The bounces went their way. That's about it. The same reason the Sharks have won the previous three games.
There isn't a whole lot to say besides rehashing the same factors over and over again. Good goaltending, fowards were better on the ...
The Detroit Red Wings clawed their way back from a 2-goal deficit to force a Game 6 in Detroit with a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night.
Through a stellar third period, the Red Wings scored 3 unanswered goals and left the Sharks shocked and shaken. The Sharks dominated play from the opening face-off right up until the start of the third period. Go...
The Detroit Red Wings, at one point down 3-0 in its series against San Jose, have forced a decisive Game 7 with a 3-1 victory last night at Joe Louis Arena.
Finally…the Red Wings were able to put together 60 full minutes of solid play from all ends of the ice. Jimmy Howard was solid in goaltending again, only letting in one fluky goal between the pads from Logan Cout...
I've been reading just about all the articles I can find regarding tonight's Game 7 between the Sharks and the Wings and I'm seeing a pattern here that makes me wonder.
Most every article mentions how the odds are very long indeed against the Red Wings mounting this historic comeback and winning tonight.
To me, that mountian has already been climbed. Detroit already...
The Detroit Red Wings ended their season with a 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks at HP Pavilion last night. It was a very exciting game to watch and both teams played well. The Sharks just played that much better. It seems that the best players from each team stepped up. Just look at the scoresheet…Setoguchi, Couture, Marleau, Zetterberg, Datsyuk. Several articles f...
Now that two rounds are complete and we're off and running with the Conference Finals, it seems an opportune time to start mapping out the early favorites for this season's Conn Smythe Trophy winner. This year may be one of the most challenging to predict in the early going. Many of the best individual performers so far have already been eliminated, while many of the to...
[b]The Refs[/b]
Eric Engels wrote about the differences in officiating between the regular season and the playoffs.
He made a good point about how the refs seemed to have put their whistles away during some of these playoff games.
I know that some people have an issue with this...and rightfully so to some degree...but from my point of view...if the competition lev...
On Tuesday, (May 31st, 2011) the NHL announced that the Atlanta Thrashers were being bought by True North and that the new owners would be relocating the franchise to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
As someone who has enjoyed NHL hockey for more than three decades, having a franchise in Winnipeg is something I am strongly in favor of. But will it work this time?
Like a lot of ot...
icedog97 writes...
2012 Realignment: Detroit, Nashville, Columbus...Phoenix?
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Yesterday Gary Bettman indicated he expects realignment for the 2012-13 NHL season.
With the new Winnipeg franchise playing in the Southeast during 2011-12, a distance of almost 1,300 miles from where the Thrashers played, realignment of this franchise is a necessity.
Since we aren't even finished with the Stanley Cup Finals for 2010-11 yet, I am a little surprised t...
The Philadelphia Flyers have started the summer a little early. As Per CSNPhilly.com the Flyers on Tuesday acquired the rights to goalie Ilya Bryzgalov from Phoenix for forward Matt Clackson, a third-round pick in 2012 and a conditional draft pick.
Bryzgalov went 36-20-10 for the Coyotes last season with a 2.48 goals against average a .921 save percentage and seven shut...
johnkriegs writes...
Chris Drury bought out by Rags? Sabres look to improve.
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Richards...
Well, as many of you know, Drury will likely be bought out by the Rangers to make room for Richards. And yes, the Rangers are the team that will sign Richards. I say there is 90% chance that that will happen. So good for the Rangers, another soon to be overpaid player on their team.
On the Sabres...
Now that means that Drury would beco...
As you read you will see that I kind of get "tuned" up and no matter how hard I try not to be just a "homer", I just can't agree with the way some of the calls and non calls go. Sometimes I watch the game and get cr@p from my da for criticizing the Nuck players for penalties not called against them, but by and large the most obvious non calls are quite often replayed by th...
In the 2009-2010 season, Tampa Bay Lightning was having a hard time. After their magical cup run in 03-04 they just never found their magic again. Making it once to the playoffs but losing in the first round, then missing the playoffs for the next three seasons. Finishing in last, 2nd last, and 6th last in the following three seasons. Something had to be done. Owner...
In all likelihood, the Rangers will sign Brad Richards. I am very disappointed about this because the Rangers were on the right track. They have a nice young core, have built the team through the draft and have good players on the horizon. Now the cap space is gone. We have another buyout in waiting.
Does Brad Richards make the Rangers better for the next couple of year...
So, it feels good. I've been debating for a good part of two years now to start a blog, and here I am, finally starting. Ah, it's a good day. So let me fill all you readers in on personal info. I will be covering the Montreal Canadiens. I live in Hamilton, Ontario and am a season ticket holder for the Hamilton Bulldogs. I love playing, watching, and doing anything involvin...
In the Western Conference this year there are no guarantees, but I am going to make some. There are only eight playoff spots for 15 teams in a RIDICULOUSLY competitive Western Conference. If the Edmonton Oilers played in the Eastern Conference I would say their chances at the playoffs are significantly better. Alas, this is not the case.
Back to the West. With eight...
I have compiled a list of comeback players and break out candidates for the 2011-2012 season. These guys should help any fantasy pool, especially down the stretch.
Don't call it a comeback this is a throwback and a showdown!
1. Alex Ovechkin - 85 pts is a bad season when your the GR 8. Expect him to win the Art Ross this year 115pts.
2. Nicklas Backstrom - 65pts i...
I have compiled a list of comeback players and break out candidates for the 2011-2012 season. These guys should help any fantasy pool, especially down the stretch.
Don't call it a comeback this is a throwback and a showdown!
1. Alex Ovechkin - 85 pts is a bad season when your the GR 8. Expect him to win the Art Ross this year 115pts.
2. Nicklas Backstrom - 65pts i...
Last week saw another long time Flame being traded away. This time the name heading out was the veteran center, Daymond Langkow. After a successful comeback to hockey, Langkow finds himself on the Coyotes, being traded by the Flames for Lee Stempniak.
Langkow, one of the leaders in Calgary's locker room, recovered from a freak injury which saw him out of action for ...
Last week saw another long time Flame being traded away. This time the name heading out was the veteran center, Daymond Langkow. After a successful comeback to hockey, Langkow finds himself on the Coyotes, being traded by the Flames for Lee Stempniak.
Langkow, one of the leaders in Calgary's locker room, recovered from a freak injury which saw him out of action for ...
Josh Bailey is the last impending RFA for the New York Islanders that still is without a contract for next season. Will he be reporting to training camp? Or will he be without a job in 2012? Check out my report at The Checking Line.
http://thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/baileys-clock-ticking
-Rob McGowan
Follow me on Twitter!
http://twitt...
The New Jersey Devils are still looking to rebound from one of their toughest seasons in franchise history. Aside from having their fifteen year playoff streak come to an end, the Devils came to realize a devastating reality: Marty Brodeur is getting old. Though he played well in the latter part of this past season, the all-time winningest goalie was shaken by various in...
The 2012 season is just around the corner as the Islanders prepare to embark on the year that will hopefully be different than the previous three of the rebuild. Check out my post at The Checking Line that provides an insightful look at the upcoming season.
http://thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/and-islanders-will-finish
The 2012 season is just around the corner as the Islanders prepare to embark on the year that will hopefully be different than the previous three of the rebuild. Check out my post at The Checking Line that provides an insightful look at the upcoming season.
http://thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/and-islanders-will-finish
-Rob McGowan
Follow...
Yesterday the Islanders announced the new captain of the team, but there was also something else to report: a new proposal for the Nassau Coliseum. Head over to The Checking Line to read more:
http://thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/isles-files-new-captain-new-arena-proposal
-Rob McGowan
Follow me on Twitter!
http://twitter.com/IslesRM
Can't make it to the game? Be sure to head over to The Checking Line for a live blog coming to you straight from the Nassau Coliseum press-box at 8 PM, covering the Islanders home opener against the Florida Panthers!
Both Panthers and Islanders fans are welcome, as well as all fans from any team!
www.thecheckingline.com
I will also be on Blog Talk Radio tonight fo...
Okay.........so is it too early to call this a must-win game for the Jets ? I know its a long season but I just have this sneaky suspicion that the Jets really need to win this game. If they are able to pull off a win, they should have some confidence heading back home to post a sure loss to the Pens.
[b]The whole new Jets vs old Jets thing[/b]
This has absolutely ...
Hmmm.......where do I begin ?
Well, lets start with Bryan Little shall we ? He was.....well......brutal. He was eventually replaced on the top line with Mark Scheifele who was better tonight than he has been in the last two games. Still, there was absolutely no chemistry between any line tonight and although the entire team wasn't very good, some of them were just pl...
RickDixon writes...
Upon further review..........they were still really bad
Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Okay, so I thought a good night's sleep might change my attitude towards the way the Jets played last night. I got a solid 7 hours of shuteye and watched the game again, all while doing my best to remain completely and utterly emotionless.
That lasted less than a minute.
Despite the fact the Jets had quite a contingent of home-town fans who had travelled all the way...
The Islanders top line has started to click with Moulson, Tavares and Parenteau finding the back of the net. But will the rest of the team be able to keep up? Head to The Checking Line for a look at the team's offensive depth.
http://thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/where-isles-second-act
-Rob McGowan
Follow me on Twitter!
http://twitter.co...
Hey everyone...if you like reading my work at TCL, make sure you like the new official page on Facebook! "The Checking Line - Isles Edition"!
Here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Checking-Line-Isles-Edition/189290674480375
Liking the page will bring my work as well as Brian Bock's, Evan Pivnick's and John Madonia's right to your news feed with all your...
To make the playoffs, someone has to score goals for the Predators. Kyle Turris should be that man. Find out why.
http://www.centericereport.com/news_article/show/109976?referrer_id=352791
The Islanders have fallen to .500 after losing two straight in Florida. Is it time for head coach Jack Capuano to shuffle up the lines? Rob McGowan takes a look at the Islanders' play over the past six games.
http://thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/are-isles-better-500
-Rob McGowan
Follow me on Twitter!
http://twitter.com/IslesRM
Like us...
Most of the time I think a young player is pulling some serious BS by holding out and demanding a trade. I tend to think they've been getting bad advice or have egos the size of Manhattan.
In this case, I think Phoenix is really dropping the ball. Ever since Gretzky benched Turris for his first game in Vancouver even though he'd played up until that point, I kept an eye...
The Iceman writes...
Could the rebuild be failing? Was the 08 draft good overall?
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
When I look at teams who have gone through the task of tearing it all down and going into the 3-5 year rebuilding program there should be noticeable strides by year 3 and 4. When teams go through the 3 year plan they usually have acquired numerous picks, prospects and other pieces along the way and are usually a top 5 pick or two from being ready to play into late april an...
With a number of teams struggling between the pipes I thought it would be fun to take a look at the goaltender market. I will look at each potentially available goaltender and the possibilities of them being moved this season. First up in a series of articles is...
Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames
We start off in Calgary where the Flames are struggling mightily and ...
Blake Comeau was the subject of several trade rumors for the Islanders this summer and has been struggling offensively this season. With certain prospects pushing for roster spots, will Blake Comeau make it to the end of the year as a New York Islander? Rob McGowan reports.
http://thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/comeau-gonna-go
Want a chance t...
Rob McGowan writes...
Their Worst Game Of The Season, Isles Lose 6-0 To The Bruins
Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Rob McGowan provides the post-game report at The Checking Line as the Islanders were victimized in an effortless 6-0 loss to the defending Stanley Cup champs, the Boston Bruins.
http://thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/their-worst-game-season-isles-lose-6-0-bruins
-Rob McGowan
Follow me on Twitter!
http://twitter.com/IslesRM
http://twitter....
Let's re-enact the plot from the seminal classic "Trading Places" with Eddie Murphy and Dan Akroyd. I have a full day ahead of me as the Sabres new head honcho and while the very confused Darcy Regier spends the next 8 hours trying to find my car keys and navigate the rough and tumble Jersey neighborhoods, I have some phone calls to make.
[b]8am- [/b]I just entered the...
Rob McGowan takes a look at the current state of the New York Islanders as well as providing some suggestions as to what needs to be done for both the long and short term benefits of this hockey team.
http://thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/where-have-isles-gone
-Rob McGowan
http://twitter.com/IslesRM
http://twitter.com/TCLIsles
www.faceboo...
The Chicago Blackhawks will look to rebound tonight from their previous 4-1 trouncing by the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes when they get ready to face the struggling New York Islanders at the United Center. This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season.
Corey Crawford, who is expected to get the start tonight, has somewhat unfortunate statistics i...
Michael_Stuart writes...
10 Bold Predictions for Rangers vs. Lightning Game
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Last time John Tortorella and Brad Richards were at the St. Pete Times Forum it was a very happy time for the Lightning. Fresh off winning the Stanley Cup and heading into the lock-out, things looked good for the franchise moving forward. That was until the dreaded SALARY CAP…..ugh…..took hold of this team and forced Jay Feaster to rip the team apart. Richards was o...
Michael_Stuart writes...
Lightning Lose to Rangers: My Prediction Round Up
Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Well, the Ranger game is now over and I suppose it’s time to go over my downright dreadful predictions. Without further ado, my post-game recap.
1. Lightning dominate the game but the score is close until the final buzzer. The Rangers are red hot but the Lightning have all the intangibles necessary to beat this team. The final score? 5-4 Lightning. [b]Okay, so I didn...
We have some big news to deliver to our readers at The Checking Line. Make sure to read this letter as you won't want to miss what is in store for you!
http://thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/letter-our-readers
-Rob McGowan
http://twitter.com/IslesRM
http://twitter.com/TCLIsles
www.facebook.com/TCLIsles
Matt Moulson has been named the NHL's First Star of the Week. Rob McGowan reports for The Checking Line: Islanders Edition with that and more!
http://islanders.thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/moulson-seeing-stars
-Rob McGowan
http://twitter.com/IslesRM
http://twitter.com/TCLIsles
http://islanders.thecheckingline.com
www.facebook.com/TCLIsl...
Rob McGowan writes...
Drawing The Line: Isles Will Move To "Conference D" Next Sea
Posted Tuesday | Comments 1
The NHL Board of Governors voted in favor of a very dramatic change to the set up of the NHL's Conferences for next season. Rob McGowan reports for The Checking Line on how this may effect the New York Islanders and the rest of the league.
http://islanders.thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/drawing-line-isles-will-move-conference-d-next-season
-R...
This story is becoming more and more familiar.
Despite rallying to erase a 3-0 deficit to tie the game late in the second period, the Chicago Blackhawks were unable to finish off a hard-working Phoenix Coyotes club in the shootout, losing 4-3.
Both Oliver Ekman-Larsson and former Blackhawk Radim Vrbata scored for Phoenix in the shootout, while red-hot Blackhawks ...
The NHL and the Board of Governors has approved a plan that will dramatically change the landscape of the NHL regular season and playoffs. With any new plan there are going to be pros and cons. Unfortunately for me I feel that the cons dominate the pros in the new setup.
Here is some of the fallout from the changes:
[b]Creating divisional rivalries:[/b] The sche...
Rob McGowan writes...
Hit On Nino Warrants Suspension For Stars Defenseman
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Islanders won a hard fought 5-4 victory over the Dallas Stars on Saturday night, and it can be termed hard fought for many reasons; the Isles saw a three-goal lead get washed away to a tie in the second period; Rick DiPietro pulled his groin, forcing Al Montoya to start the third period; the Stars kept coming back on the score board; and last but not least, Nino Nieder...
Michael_Stuart writes...
Lightning Beat Rangers to End Losing Streak - Mixed Bag
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
So who would have thought that the second Marty St. Louis gets injured, the Lightning win a game? Show of hands? Well safe to say that I wasn’t expecting the result we got tonight. The game was an interesting display of emotion from two teams with high expectations on them. Lots of penalties and a different game than I was expecting.
After 5 straight losses, the L...
Last night was one of the few games of late this season when Blackhawks' team captain Jonathan Toews was not responsible for carrying his team on his shoulder in an effort to come away with two points.
Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa both had a goal and 2 assists a piece en route to a 3-2 overtime win for Chicago over the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum.
Ray...
Hello all,
Most of you have known me on here for quite some time as one of the Islanders bloggers on the site, via My Hockeybuzz. I have very much enjoyed my time posting here, getting to know some of you and exchanging thoughts about the New York Islanders, whatever the topic might be.
However, most of my posts will not be showing up on the main page anymore as I a...
Brian Rolston, Jay Pandolfo, Marty Reasoner and Steve Staios were added to this Islanders team during the off-season to provide veteran stability throughout the line-up; Rolston was acquired for cap room and an added offensive punch over Trent Hunter, Pandolfo and Reasoner were brought in for defensive support on the bottom line, and Staios added grit and experience to a r...
So been bored and decided to browse what some of the recently built arena's cost to be built and what they would cost to build now. As we all know the arena referendum would've given the isles $350 million to build a new arena. And that raises a question. Why that much cash for a arena? Now I was all for the referendum as any die hard would've been, but looking back did we...
Rob McGowan reports on the recent accusation against former Islanders GM Mike Milbury; assault and battery on a twelve-year old child
http://islanders.thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/former-isles-gm-mike-milbury-accused-assault
-Rob McGowan
http://twitter.com/IslesRM
http://twitter.com/TCLIsles
www.facebook.com/TCLIsles
Michael_Stuart writes...
Why the Lightning WILL make the Playoffs This Season
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Over the past few days I’ve been reading a lot of hockey coverage, listening to a lot of hockey talk, and watching a lot of hockey. Not a bad way to spend a few days if you ask me. Now, the consensus I’ve heard from most people is that the Lightning don’t have much of a shot to make the playoffs this season. I thought about of myself, and I think those people are ...
Michael_Stuart writes...
Next 6 Games Vital for Lightning + My Predictions
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
For teams in the playoff picture, the stretch run starts somewhere in that last month or so of the season. For teams that are not fortunate enough to be in one of the elusive top 8 spots, the stretch is never ending. In my mind, the next weeks, which contain 6 games, are the most important weeks of the season for this Lightning club. Success is vital in these 6 games if...
Yellowknife, NT
[img:left]http://nyrnation.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/sean_avery-300x3001.jpg[/img]
Welcome to the first rendition of the Broadway Blueshirt Blogger. You will have to forgive me as I am not a professional writer or journalist. I am simply a die hard New York Rangers fan. I signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent fan on July 21, 1996 alon...
The Isles would go on to win 4-1 over the Edmonton Oilers on Ken Morrow night. The Checking Line - Isles Edition provides you with the post-game coverage.
http://islanders.thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/isles-strike-oil-4-1-win-over-edmonton
-Rob McGowan
http://twitter.com/IslesRM
http://twitter.com/TCLIsles
www.facebook.com/TCLIsles
RickDixon writes...
What to expect from the Jets for the rest of the season
Posted Monday | Comments 0
So the Jets finished the year on a positive note with a 3-2 win over the Leafs. A great win to say the least as the Jets are in the thick of the battle for a playoff spot in the very tight Eastern Conference.
Yes the Jets are currently holding a playoff berth in their hands, but many have stated that this is due to the fact that they played a sickening amount of games ...
Yellowknife, NT
[img:left]http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/p/sp/getty/aa/fullj.62fe0168591164499a23e1265e45da05/62fe0168591164499a23e1265e45da05-getty-136322072.jpg[/img]
The New York Rangers have long been known for their deep wallet and infamous free agent signings. Some of the worst Ranger signings in history include the likes of Bobby Holik, Darius Kasparitus, Theoren...
Dear New York Islanders Players, Organization and Fans-
First, I want to congratulate you on your victory against the Detroit Red Wings last night. A 5-1 score is very respectable against any team in today’s NHL. Also, it’s a great feeling to garner a solid victory at home after a disappointing road trip. Your goaltender seems to have shaken the cobwebs away. Yo...
When a team endures a poor stretch of play...and the subsequent losses that are the result of that play...things can start to unravel in a hurry.
Heading into last night's game against the Ottawa Senators, the Penguins were spiraling down the Eastern Conference standings...thanks to a 4 game losing streak...and in desperate need of some positive results.
Injuries hav...
After readings the comments to my last post, it’s now clear to me that the impression I intended to make was not translated to those who read it. It was never my intention to “bash” the New York Islanders. I was actually “bashing” the Detroit Red Wings. I did not wish to insinuate that, had they played with the intensity they normally do, the Red Wings would h...
The Penguins lost their 6th game in a row last night, this time at the hands of the Washington Capitals by a score of 1-0.
It was a physical game filled with lots of hits:
79 to the body, according to the official stats
several punches landed between Craig Adams and Matt Hendricks
a few pucks off of goal posts
one puck that managed to hit the back of either net
...
After dropping a 2-1 decision to the Devils the Winnipeg Jets brass has to look at their team and decide whether or not they are going to address the issues that currently plague this line up. Namely offense and effort.
For the entire game this team looked absolutely useless offensively. he Jets lone goal was scored by Andrew Ladd on a shot that martin Brodeur is goin...
Game two of this Western Conference back-to-back road trip is tonight with the Bolts taking on the Phoenix Coyotes. As a result of the quick turnaround time, the Bolts will probably be a little bit tired in Phoenix. The key for the Bolts is to remain disciplined as they search for their 3rd win in a row. If history means anything, the Bolts come into this one having won...
Michael_Stuart writes...
Lightning Hold Off Coyotes for Huge 4-3 Victory
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
The Lightning won back-to-back road games for the first time this season. It was a welcome change for a team that is just trying to claw its way back into the playoff race. Tonight’s two points will go a long way in ensuring the Bolts have a chance at the post-season. Roloson was superb, the offense did what it had to and the defense held its own for the most part. I...
Well the All-Star Game is upon us this weekend. Does anyone else think it would be wildly successful if it took place in Las Vegas?
It's hard to tell if the Coyotes have overachieved or underachieved to this point of the season. A mixture of both seems fitting. Rather than analyze the first 50 games, let's look at the future of what the Coyotes need for the playoff p...
Well the All-Star Game is upon us this weekend. Does anyone else think it would be wildly successful if it took place in Las Vegas?
It's hard to tell if the Coyotes have overachieved or underachieved to this point of the season. A mixture of both seems fitting. Rather than analyze the first 50 games, let's look at the future of what the Coyotes need for the playoff p...
So the Winnipeg Sun has gone ahead and predicted that the Jets WILL in fact make the playoffs. They have stated that the team will go 21-8-3 after the All-Star break to reach the neccessary point total.
I am not sure what the hell they are trying to do, but I know I don't like it.
The city already has fallen in love with this group of players (save Evander Kane), so...
Well, here we are with the most important month for the habs only a day away. This is it. Right here, right now. I think they have what it takes, all hands on deck and they could do some serious damage. Remember 2009? They fought hard just to make it in, they played playoff hockey for the last two months of the season and just kept it going right to the conference finals. ...
Well, here we are with the most important month for the habs only a day away. This is it. Right here, right now. I think they have what it takes, all hands on deck and they could do some serious damage. Remember 2009? They fought hard just to make it in, they played playoff hockey for the last two months of the season and just kept it going right to the conference finals. ...
mcefalu writes...
Blackhawks Still Looking to Right Sinking Ship in Phoenix
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
It seems like eons since the Chicago Blackhawks have won a game, particularly on the road. They will hope to add a much needed two points to their total in the standings tonight when they're hosted by the Phoenix Coyotes.
After last night's defeat to the San Jose Sharks, the Blackhawks are now winless in their last seven games. A slump such as this comes at possibly the...
Every January, February, and March is painful for Flyers fans like myself. It seems like after every Christmas, this team self-destruct and stumble into the playoffs. Every year they have us folk who bleed orange and black biting our nails, hoping the team holds on to a playoff spot. Every year it's the same case. The goalie is worn out and easily beaten, and the team...
Michael_Stuart writes...
Bolts Head to Winnipeg for Game of the Season vs. Jets
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
All season, bloggers like myself have been preaching about “big games”. Well, tomorrow’s game against the Jets is the epitome of a big game. Playoff spots are on the line for the manager, ticket revenues are on the line for owners and jobs are on the line for players. This is a key time of a year; this game is shaping up to be the biggest of the season for the Tam...
Something that seems lacking in this day and age is accountability. Maybe because it is getting harder and harder to make a buck. The average Joe does his perceived best day in and day out with the odd mistake along the way. Dinging the car beside him...oh, they won't notice. Missing the trash can...the cleaner will get that. They gave me back too much change...that b...
All this talk about Rick Nash in NY is driving me nuts. There is no need for a Nash in NY. Why not settle for a Derek Roy or a P.A Parenteau for less? No need to bust up our system with either of them. Roy (4 Million) needs a new place to play hockey and get back on track and produce like he's known to. Parenteau (1.25 Million) is playing well and would probably play bette...
I kept hearing all abound today by mass intelligence that is Toronto sports radio, how tough the leafs last 18 games are.
So I decided to look at the schedule and to my surprise it's not even bad, it's actually exactly what you would ask for if you could ask for it. Keeping in mind of course this is the NHL and you have to play different teams throughout the year. Clear...
I kept hearing all abound today by mass intelligence that is Toronto sports radio, how tough the leafs last 18 games are.
So I decided to look at the schedule and to my surprise it's not even bad, it's actually exactly what you would ask for if you could ask for it. Keeping in mind of course this is the NHL and you have to play different teams throughout the year. Clear...
I kept hearing all abound today by mass intelligence that is Toronto sports radio, how tough the leafs last 18 games are.
So I decided to look at the schedule and to my surprise it's not even bad, it's actually exactly what you would ask for if you could ask for it. Keeping in mind of course this is the NHL and you have to play different teams throughout the year. Clear...
I kept hearing all abound today by mass intelligence that is Toronto sports radio, how tough the leafs last 18 games are.
So I decided to look at the schedule and to my surprise it's not even bad, it's actually exactly what you would ask for if you could ask for it. Keeping in mind of course this is the NHL and you have to play different teams throughout the year. Clear...
I kept hearing all abound today by mass intelligence that is Toronto sports radio, how tough the leafs last 18 games are.
So I decided to look at the schedule and to my surprise it's not even bad, it's actually exactly what you would ask for if you could ask for it. Keeping in mind of course this is the NHL and you have to play different teams throughout the year. Clear...
I kept hearing all abound today by mass intelligence that is Toronto sports radio, how tough the leafs last 18 games are.
So I decided to look at the schedule and to my surprise it's not even bad, it's actually exactly what you would ask for if you could ask for it. Keeping in mind of course this is the NHL and you have to play different teams throughout the year. Clear...
Michael_Stuart writes...
Lightning Steal Two Points from Conference Leading Rangers
Posted Friday | Comments 0
It didn’t take long for tonight’s game against the New York Rangers to have a playoff feel added to it. If the Bolts are to make the playoffs this season, there is a great chance that their first round opponent would be the Rangers. Based on what we’ve been treated to over the course of the season series, this blogger can’t complain. The Rangers are one of the t...
Michael_Stuart writes...
Bolts Continue Playoff Push with Comeback Victory Over Canes
Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Back-to-back games are never easy for a team in the National Hockey League. After beating the Rangers on Friday, the Bolts found themselves with another daunting challenge in Carolina. Less than 24 hours later, the Bolts were tasked with taking down a Hurricanes team that had been playing very well as of late. The big guys came in tired, Garon was playing for the second...
It's difficult to remember that it's understandable for a team to lose an important game against a significant divisional opponent at this point in the regular season, as everyone is vying for playoff position and overall points in the standings.
What might be more disconcerting is who the loss are coming against. The Blackhawks previous dismantling at the hand of the ...
Michael_Stuart writes...
Lightning Playoff Dreams Shattered with Brutal Loss to Canes
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
If that’s the best performance the Tampa Bay Lightning are going to be able to turn out on this home stand, fans better be prepared for a wealth of disappointment. Tonight, the Hurricanes proved that you don’t need the most talented roster to win in the National Hockey League; all it takes is a little hard work and a good system. The Bolts had their playoff hopes das...
When reading The Hockey News’ preview for the 2011-2012 NHL season back in October, I laughed when they predicted the New York Rangers to finish first in the Atlantic Division. With the division being dominated by the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers in the late 1990s and early 2000s, along with the emergence of the Pittsburgh Penguins this past half decade, it...
megamind writes...
Young Flyers gain valuable experience in playoffstyle hockey
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
For much of the season, fans of the Philadelphia Flyers have grown accustomed to high scoring games.
With a team loaded with offensive firepower in the form of 10 double-digit goal scorers and four 20 goal or more scorers, it hasn’t been uncommon for the team to unload a barrage of offensive firepower against their opponents.
However, those days appear to be in the...
In a 30-team league where 16 teams make the playoffs, the policy of guaranteeing top-3 seeds (or even playoff spots, really) to division winners has always been stupid. But this season, more than any in recent memory, really drives the point home.
I’m writing this on Tuesday, March 22, 2012, with the regular season about 90 percent finished. Here’s the NHL top 10 by...
Michael_Stuart writes...
Lightning Beat Islanders: Worth Much More than Two Points
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
It’s tough to measure the impact that one win can have on an NHL franchise. Still, last night’s Lightning win against the New York Islanders should be counted as a big one. It’s not a big one because it keeps the Bolts mathematically alive in the Eastern Conference playoff race; it’s a big one because it showed heart and resiliency from a group that could have ea...
Buffalo has finally done it. They are finally in a position that a lot of us would like to see them in. They’re in that spot that I have been anxious about them getting into. With 5 games left in the season, Buffalo is now in charge.
As of right now, Buffalo is in complete control over whether they make the playoffs. Buffalo and Washington each have 5 games left. Buf...
Last June I wrote the following blog about realignment. In it I included some comments concerning the Coyotes and a move to Quebec. I thought I would re-post it now because it seems that it's relevant given the news about the new arena being built in Quebec....and I think only 4 people read the original posting of it...
__________________________________________________...
When the Penguins face the Sabres tonight (3/30/2012), there's a lot on the line. And due to a couple of stinkers against the Islanders, the Penguins have more at stake in this game than some may realize.
For the Sabres, a win keeps them in the 8th playoff spot in the East (at least) and moves them 2 points ahead of the Capitals with both teams having 4 games remaining...
I’m not ok with this loss. Buffalo needed this win, and needed to stay ahead of the Capitals. With a loss, Buffalo goes back into a “tie” for 8th. I’ll hit on what’s wrong with calling it a “tie” later.
Buffalo had a great game plan early in the game. Buffalo played Pittsburgh with a phenomenal physical manner. They attacked them hard, fought them in the ...
Holy cow. I mean, who saw this happening after the 1st period?? What a game and what a motivation booster for the Sabres going into the final 2 games.
After the first period, down 3-0. I had Buffalo pegged for going down, but then after 2 quick ones for the Sabres, I started to think that they had another chance. Then, Buffalo went to sleep, Leaf’s capitalized again,...
Crawfish77 writes...
Buffalo's EPIC comeback via the hands of the Maple Leafs
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Who is ready for the NHL Playoffs? Although I think the, "Because its the cup" slogan for this years playoffs is a complete miss compared to the prior, "History Will Be Made" edition. The NHL playoffs are still very easy to get geared up for regardless. If you haven't seen the highlights or watched the Buffalo/Toronto game from last night, do it now! For my boy @Brimau5, a...
Now that my team has been eliminated from the playoffs (as predicted) I can look at the playoffs objectively. Here's my take on the quarterfinal match ups in this years NHL playoffs.
I'm writing on this site, click on the link below to read the whole article.
http://betweenthebenches.com/?p=1103
I have grown fed up with the nonsense of this league. While I complain I will also offer some suggestions:
Refs rotate; they do not ref more than 2 playoff games in one series. This can be done; I hear computers are pretty good at making schedules. Who cares about the travel schedule.
Toronto should be able to call a specific game and overturn a bad call: the icing c...
For those in the hockey world currently in their offices watching the playoffs. Which is, currently being seen on a international stage, they must be a little cautious with the use of the phrase "This is just playoff hockey". To be clear I am not the type of fan who believes that checking should be banned or that the players cannot defend themselves. You could define me a...
The two obvious choices to meet in the cup finals this year were, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Vancouver Canucks (sorry TSN, the monkey is looking way better now). Yet, both are less than 24 hours away from a trip to the golf course and to be quite honestly they deserve to be. Both team have 3 glaring reasons why they are now looking like the lower seed in their series'...
I watched the Flyers vs Penguins series the most this year. I also was one of the few individuals who said that the Flyers would win this series, despite what was said on nhl.com, on here, in Sports Illustrated, everywhere pretty much. However, I stood by my pick, Flyers in 6.
http://betweenthebenches.com/?p=1517
RobSkorochocki writes...
HOLY HENRIK! CONTROVERSIAL GOAL OVERSHADOWS RANGERS WIN
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Once again, with just under a minute remaining in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Series between the top seeded New York Rangers and eighth seeded Ottawa Senators, we had some controversy in a game which already included a few questionable calls on both sides.
The Rangers were leading the Senators 3-1 when agitator Chris Neil (who faked being injured jus...
Wow, that was an exciting first round with numerous upsets, and plenty of teams having some very close calls over the past 2 weeks. Like you, I’m surprised about several of the teams that are still alive and kicking in the NHL playoffs. Here’s my take on the 2nd round, and predictions as to who is moving on to the Conference Finals.
http://betweenthebenches.com/?p...
What makes a Cup Champion? It's no longer what one may think. Just because someone has a super star, or 1 All-Star caliber line doesn't guarantee a Cup.
http://betweenthebenches.com/?p=1708
Conference Final Observations
-Let the 1994 comparisons between the Rangers and the Devils begin. Martin Brodeur is the only remaining player from either of those squads still on the same team. Officially dubbing the Eastern Conference Finals the Penn Station Showdown, but Ghosts of Matteau works too.
-Much is going to be made of Henrik Lundqvist’s dominance agains...
"Diving." When you think of diving in the NHL, you think of the Vancouver Canucks. Now, in watching the Western Conference finals, Phoenix goalie Mike Smith has been acting like he has been shot whenever someone comes near his net. Smith's play has been outstanding in the first two rounds, and is the only reason Phoenix has made it this far, but the way he is acting in the...
With my local home team out of the playoffs after a mostly successful season, you can understand how attention has turned to the completed sale of the team and toward potential moves the team may make for next season. There have been many articles written about the financial struggles and questionable long-term profitability of teams like the Blues and Coyotes. Articles ...
I was reading comments idly on a blog today, and I read the most ridiculous thing: a Calgary fan claiming Justin Schultz was basically there's. Wrong. Justin Schultz quite simply is going to a place where he can be successful, play, and play on a good team soon. Which rules out Calgary. He is going to sign with a. a team where he already knows one or several players (Toron...
So, with the NHL 2012 Draft now officially over the week-long wait til free agency begins. The Rangers did not make any real noise at the draft and the rumors of a Rick Nash trade continue to swirl overhead. One potential suitor for Nash, or Bobby Ryan, has been very active, as the Flyers traded away both James van Riemsdyk and Sergei Bobrovsky in separate deals. Whether H...
What a day for the Minnesota Wild.
On the fourth day of the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter chase, and America's birthday, the Wild completely transformed their franchise. Both Parise and Suter, who are childhood friends, decided to accept matching 13 year/$98M contracts to play in the "state of hockey." Instantly the Wild emerge as a viable playoff team in the West.
At...
It seems that the NY Rangers were mentioned as contenders in every big prize during the lead up to the Draft and the FA period. But it seems between the huge moves made by the Penguins and the Wild, the Rangers (along with most the rest of the NHL) were left debating on making passes at Shane Doan, rolling the dice on Alexander Semin and recently seem to have let the idea...
It seems that the NY Rangers were mentioned as contenders in every big prize during the lead up to the Draft and the FA period. But it seems between the huge moves made by the Penguins and the Wild, the Rangers (along with most the rest of the NHL) were left debating on making passes at Shane Doan, rolling the dice on Alexander Semin and recently seem to have let the idea...
It seems that the NY Rangers were mentioned as contenders in every big prize during the lead up to the Draft and the FA period. But it seems between the huge moves made by the Penguins and the Wild, the Rangers (along with most the rest of the NHL) were left debating on making passes at Shane Doan, rolling the dice on Alexander Semin and recently seem to have let the idea...
It seems that the NY Rangers were mentioned as contenders in every big prize during the lead up to the Draft and the FA period. But it seems between the huge moves made by the Penguins and the Wild, the Rangers (along with most the rest of the NHL) were left debating on making passes at Shane Doan, rolling the dice on Alexander Semin and recently seem to have let the idea...
[b]For everything hockey - 24/7 news updates, scores, humour, blogs, and everything else in between, please follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/DailyNHLGrind.[/b]
We are now currently just a few days into the most horrifying month of the year for the entire hockey world. Seriously now, August definitely is the worst time to be a hockey fan. Free agency has die...
The ideology that Canadian players are responsible for the success of any given team is common. Farm-born Saskatchewan kids can elevate their game and play clutch hockey when it really matters. But do local boys offer any discernable advantage over American or European players to a teams success? That's what this blog is going to be about. I'm going to find out.
To star...
In the minds of many it seems a foregone conclusion that the Flames will miss the playoffs again if there is a 2012-2013 season. The reasons range from ‘lack of scoring’ to ‘an aging core’ to ‘the Flames will suck until they rebuild’ and pretty much everything in between.
Not so fast. Until the season begins it is impossible to accurately assess a team’s c...
With the NHL lockout pushing into its fourth week and having already wiped out the first two weeks of the season, I wanted to mention another victim of this sad, frustrating process. I have grown weary of reading, day after day, how badly both the players and the owners want the lockout to end and get back to playing hockey. Despite this lip service, days go by with n...
[i]Since I plan on watching every Sound Tigers game I can, even after the lockout (hopefully) ends this season, I thought I’d write about the games here and give my severely amateur views on some of the Isles’ top prospects for Isles fans who are not able to follow the Bridgeport squad. I haven’t watched much AHL hockey before, so bear with me if my observations see...
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers put forth a solid team effort from the net out to earn a 4-2 win in their home opener, battling from behind for the second straight night.
Nino Niederreiter scored his second goal in as many nights, and now leads the Sound Tigers with four points. Brock Nelson sits one point behind him after contributing an assist in the game on a shorthande...
The visiting Bridgeport Sound Tigers never trailed in a game they could have easily lost if not for strong play from goaltender Kevin Poulin and some fortunate bounces at both ends of the ice.
Nino Niederreiter picked up his third goal and team-leading fifth point of the season in the 3-2 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and Poulin turned aside 34 shots ...
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers sandwiched a hard-fought shootout win against the Springfield Falcons in between two forgettable losses against the Worcester Sharks this past weekend.
Kirill Kabanov had surgery on his wrist due to an injury sustained in Friday’s 5-1 loss in Worcester. The AHL Live video feed never really showed what happened aside from a brief shot of Ka...
Storm-stricken Bridgeport Sound Tigers fans took some time off from assessing damage, waiting in line for gas and assisting loved ones, friends and even strangers to take advantage of a thoughtful gesture by the organization: free tickets to last night’s game against the Hershey Bears. And the team rewarded the sellout crowd with a solid effort and a victory that includ...
I’ll indulge in some Ilya Bryzgalov-like philosophizing and say that today’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers game against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins was perhaps the universe seeking balance.
Last time these two teams met, the Penguins controlled the majority of play, but lost the game due to stellar goaltending from Bridgeport’s Kevin Poulin and some fortunate b...
UIF writes...
Bridgeport Earns 4-2 Win Over Norfolk in Wednesday Matinee
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Nino Niederreiter and Brock Nelson both scored as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers put forth a solid effort in a 4-2 victory over the Norfolk Admirals in a game that began in Wednesday’s a.m. hours.
The contest also saw its share of scraps, with enforcer Brett Gallant getting a fighting hat trick, sandwiching a close loss to former Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Jay Rosehill...
UIF writes...
Nilsson Comes Up Big in Bridgeport's 5-2 Win over Manchester
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
For two periods, last night’s game between the visiting Bridgeport Sound Tigers and the Manchester Monarchs came down to an impressive goaltender duel between Anders Nilsson and Martin Jones. But in the third, the Sound Tigers scored three of the period’s four goals to give Nilsson a 5-2 victory in his first start of the season.
Nino Niederreiter and Brock Nelson s...
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers scored three unanswered goals to complete a comeback against the rival Connecticut Whale, overcoming an early deficit caused in large part by former Sound Tiger Michael Haley.
Bridgeport played much of the home game with just 10 forwards, as Casey Cizikas left the ice hurt in the first period and did not return, and Colin McDonald received a ...
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers entered last night’s game against the Adirondack Phantoms second in the league in penalties. They did all they could to take first place in that category, and paid for it by surrendering three power-play goals in a lopsided 5-1 loss in Glens Falls.
Bridgeport took seven minor penalties and added three fighting majors on the night. This is...
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers head into a three-game weekend in the midst of a three-game losing streak -- their first losing streak of the season.
The team will look for answers beginning tonight when it visits the Hershey Bears, a team Bridgeport beat 3-2 on Nov. 3 in an entertaining game that storm-stricken Bridgeport fans got to see for free thanks to a nice gesture...
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers were unable to end their first losing streak of the season this past weekend, dropping all three of their games by a combined score of 13-6.
The team’s skid now stands at six games, although they earned a point in a shootout loss on Saturday to maintain possession of second place in the Northeast Division.
Winger David Ullstrom was injur...
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers dropped their seventh straight game 4-2 last night against the Connecticut Whale, but anyone tuning in via AHL Live experienced only a choppy video feed and audio that cut in and out before it got so bad it virtually stopped working entirely.
I consider this another nail in the coffin for my AHL Live experience; dealing with a service that ch...
With three minutes left in the first period of last night’s game in Albany against the Devils, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers were trailing 1-0 and had mustered a measly one shot on goal. They ended the first period with three shots, and at the 10-minute mark of the second period, they still had just six shots on net.
[i]See latest entry with better news on yesterday's ...
If you’re going to end a long and ugly losing streak, you might as well do it with an exclamation mark.
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers beat the East Division-leading Syracuse Crunch at home 7-2 and put a stop to their first losing streak of the season at eight games. Recently-announced captain Colin McDonald led the way with four points, and his linemates, Nino Niederre...
Through the first two periods in Portland last night against the Pirates, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers did everything right but score. They finally broke through Portland goaltender Chad Johnson in the third, but that was only good enough to tie the contest after they had yielded a goal earlier in the frame. And in overtime, a familiar foe -- ill-timed penalties -- struck...
UIF writes...
Bridgeport Takes 3 of 4 Points Against Norfolk; Nelson Hurt
Posted Sunday | Comments 0
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers never trailed the Norfolk Admirals in the two games the teams played this weekend, but both teams exit action with three of a possible four points, with Bridgeport taking Friday's game in overtime and Norfolk taking Saturday's in the shootout.
Bridgeport’s second-leading scorer Brock Nelson picked up a goal and an assist Friday night in Nor...
Two Islanders’ prospects that might have cracked the big club this season had there not been a lockout scored two goals apiece as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers defeated the Albany Devils last night 4-3.
Casey Cizikas scored Bridgeport’s first and third goals while Matt Donovan scored the team’s second goal and game-winning fourth goal. Johan Sundstrom also had a ...
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers were sharp Saturday evening in their 4-1 victory over the Manchester Monarchs, building off of home-and-home wins over the rival Connecticut Whale earlier in the week.
Sean Backman scored twice for the Sound Tigers on Saturday, Casey Cizikas put in his ninth goal of the year, and Nino Niederreiter capped off the scoring in his first game back...
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers blew a three-goal lead on New Year’s Eve, but managed to skate out of Glens Falls, N.Y. with two points thanks to stellar goaltending by Kevin Poulin and three shootout goals.
In the team’s previous three games -- two wins against the Connecticut Whale and one against the Manchester Monarchs -- the Sound Tigers started early, scoring with...
Imagine you are the crew chief of an Indy Car team, and you were just informed that this year’s Indianapolis 500 has been rescheduled as the “Indy 275”. That’s pretty much the challenge that has been put in front of NHL GMs, coaches, and players. With a 48 game schedule, this season will have a unique character. A hot streak will give that much more of an advantage...
UIF writes...
Bridgeport Notes: A Look at the Prospects as Lockout Ends
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
As the NHL lockout mercifully comes to an end, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers have hit another bump in the road, dropping their first three games of 2013. Furthermore, they stand to lose some key parts of their club to the parent New York Islanders as the NHL season gets underway.
Monday night, the Sound Tigers got a point, but let two separate leads slip away, losing 4-3...
I don't know Evander Kane. I don't pretend to. I have never met the man. That of course has not kept me from forming an opinion of the young forward during his brief stint as a member of the Winnipeg Jets. This opinion I have formed has come from watching him play a full season on the ice, as well as witnessing his antics on Twitter and hearing rumours (some unfounded,...
How is it that there could be a player making so much money that he couldn’t play in the NHL, and needed to be sent to the minors, and at the same time there could be a player making so much money, that he couldn’t be sent to the minors, and needed to play in the NHL? Well, that’s essentially the description of the more than slightly odd circumstances that Wade Redde...
That sound you may have heard over the last few days, as NHL teams have hosted their first games, is the collective sigh of relief coming from all associated with the League, as it appears that the fan interest (so far) is fully intact. The threats of boycotts, both physical and financial, have to this point been just that, threats, and haven't translated into reality. Hoc...
We're five games into the NHL season, and it's fair to say that the Islanders do look better than many, including myself, were expecting. I believe that if Capuano wants them to make a serious push for a playoff spot, which is still quite the task, the lines need to be shuffled slightly. The Isles cannot afford to blow games with dead weight taking up a roster spot.
Wi...
We're five games into the NHL season, and it's fair to say that the Islanders do look better than many, including myself, were expecting. I believe that if Capuano wants them to make a serious push for a playoff spot, which is still quite the task, the lines need to be shuffled slightly. The Isles cannot afford to blow games with dead weight taking up a roster spot.
Wi...
The Rangers face off against the big bad Bruins at 7:30 tonight. To be honest, I always look forward to playing the B's. Original Six matchup aside, Rangers vs. Bruins games promise to be a hard fought, close checking spectacle. On this night, though, I am particularly excited.rn I feel like the Rangers have really started to click since their 3-2 win at Tampa Bay te...
Hello there! So this is my first attempt ever at writing a blog about anything. Let's see how it goes.
Perhaps an introduction is in order? I've been watching the Coyotes play hockey since I moved to Phoenix in 1998. The first hockey game I ever went to was a playoff game the Coyotes were hosting against the San Jose Sharks. I had never been to any game with so much inten...
The Coyotes were defeated today by the Nashville Predators 3-0.
It was the kind of game through the first 2 periods that both teams would be comfortable playing any day. It was very defensive with almost no real big threats on goal. There really is not much to say about those first two periods because neither team really grabbed the momentum and a lot of back and forth...
It's the quarter mark of the Nhl shortened season, so here is my prediction.
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Bruins
2. New Jersey Devils
3. Carolina Hurricanes
4. Pittsburgh Penguins
5. New York Rangers
6. Toronto Maple Leafs
7. Montreal Canadiens
8. Philadelphia Flyers
9. Washington Capitals
10. Tampa Bay Lightning
11. Winnipeg Jets
12. Ottawa Senators
13. ...
If we look at the New York Rangers roster since the start of the season we have seen the likes of Ferriero, Bickel, Eminger, Newbury, Segal, and Kreider. All are now either riding the pine or the bus back to Connecticut. With all these move with the Rangers squad, I feel, has finally settled into a roster that Tortorella is confident with. The Rangers have been experimenti...
If we look at the New York Rangers roster since the start of the season we have seen the likes of Ferriero, Bickel, Eminger, Newbury, Segal, and Kreider. All are now either riding the pine or the bus back to Connecticut. With all these move with the Rangers squad, I feel, has finally settled into a roster that Tortorella is confident with. The Rangers have been experimenti...
If we look at the New York Rangers roster since the start of the season we have seen the likes of Ferriero, Bickel, Eminger, Newbury, Segal, and Kreider. All are now either riding the pine or the bus back to Connecticut. With all these move with the Rangers squad, I feel, has finally settled into a roster that Tortorella is confident with. The Rangers have been experimenti...
Tonight the Coyotes hosted the Calgary Flames, who just came of a hard fought come from behind victory last night against the Dallas Stars.
The Coyotes were looking to take advantage of that fact when they were coming into this game… and take advantage they did. In less than a minute they grabbed the lead with a rebound goal by Keith Yandle. I got to feel for Calgary...
This is a good opportunity to look at the Coyote’s season thus far and what I perceive as their playoff chances. They are currently on a 4 day rest before taking on the Edmonton Oilers tomorrow.
As it stands, they have played 16 games and 18 points to stand at 7th in the Western Conference as I write this. So how does this compare to a full season and the pace of las...
The Phoenix Coyotes took on the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames on back to back nights this weekend. I will be pretty brief in my explanations of the games because I did not see enough of them to give what I believe to be a high-quality analysis. Also, I am not a huge fan of writing a lot after losses because sometimes there is not much positive to say.
First off, t...
[b]Tale of the Tape[/b]
BOS 11-2-2 NYI 8-10-1
Goals For: BOS 2.87 NYI 2.90
Goals Against: BOS 2.20 NYI 3.37
Special Teams BOS: PP 14.9%(23rd) PK 94.8%(1st)
Special Teams NYI: PP 24.4% (5th) PK 84.1% (9th)
Bruins Road Record 7-1-1
Islanders Home Record 2-7-0
Season Series: 1-0 Boston (4-2 January 25th)
Currently Riding: BOS 3W NYI 1L
[b]Pr...
The score does not do this game justice. It’s not too often you can sit down and enjoy a 4-1 loss, but this was the exception.
The first period saw both teams come out physical early on, trading hits and matching each other’s physical agenda. Isles head coach Jack Capuano did his best at the beginning of the frame to avoid the Tavares-Chara match-up that, apparently...
HBDean writes...
The Woeful Rangers and Why Their Woes Are No Surprise
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Coming into this season as Stantley Cup favorites in many eyes, the New York Rangers have been a disappointment thus far. Are they just in a funk? Are they not as good as we thought? Was last season just a tease? What are they missing?
Offense - Check: well... at least on paper. With Richards, Nash, Gaborik, Callahan, and Del Zotto from the point, things look solid, add...
It's an off day, so why not talk about Charles Wang? He's always worth a few words.
Two weeks ago the NY Post came out with a story regarding Charles Wang and his interest in selling the Islanders.
It’s been no secret for the past few seasons that Wang was entertaining the thought of selling the storied franchise, but it’s also been no secret that he’s asking f...
[b]Update[/b]
[i]Boulton IN, Ullstrom OUT
Cizikas/McDonald to 3rd Line
Reasoner/Boulton to 4th Line
Martinek OUT, Finley IN[/i]
[b]Tale of the Tape[/b]
TOR 12-9-0 NYI 8-11-1
Goals For: TOR 2.81 NYI 2.80
Goals Against: TOR 2.43 NYI 3.40
Special Teams TOR: PP 16.5%(19th) PK 81.7%(15th)
Special Teams NYI: PP 23.5% (6th) PK 84.9% (7th)
Leafs Road R...
The Phoenix Coyotes are a team that have earned the label as a low scoring trap team by many people’s standards. However, there is more than what meets the eye when it comes to the Coyotes.
Looking at the standings right now before they take on the Wild, they sit 9th with 21 points. What is surprising to some though may be that they have 54 goals for and 51 against ...
Tonight, the Phoenix Coyotes played against the Minnesota Wild and fell short of trying to tie up the game late on. With a final score of 4-3 for the Wild.
The first period, the possession and play was dictated by the Coyotes. However, the Wild scored 2 goals on 4 shots to give them a 2-0 lead going into the second period. The first goal was a defensive breakdown by th...
After fighting back from a two goal deficit, the Islanders came away with a point after Dion Phaneuf scored in overtime to win it for the Leafs.
Both teams came out very physical in the first period, with hits totalling 16-13 in favour of the Maple Leafs. For comparison, hits were 21-16 at the end of the Boston game and that was a physical one.
Kyle Okposo made a sli...
Rick DiPietro probably couldn't imagine a worse way to begin his AHL stint.
In his first start this season for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, he yielded two goals on the first two shots he faced from the Connecticut Whale. Before the first period was 11 minutes old, the score was 3-0. And by the time the opening frame was over, the Sound Tigers were down 5-0 and DiPietr...
Tonight, the Phoenix Coyotes played against the Anaheim Ducks in the first of three consecutive games against the Ducks. Anaheim played last night so the Coyotes had that advantage going into the game.
The first period started off poorly for the Yotes when the Ducks scored less than a minute into the game. Andrew Cogiliano scored from the slot when the Yotes lost a boar...
[b]Tale of the Tape[/b]
OTT 12-7-3 NYI 8-11-2
Goals For: OTT 2.14 NYI 2.86
Goals Against: OTT 1.82 NYI 3.48
Special Teams: OTT PP 15.8%(20th) OTT PK 89.2%(3rd)
NYI PP 23.5% (5th) NYI PK 84.9% (7th)
Senators Road Record 3-6-1
Islanders Home Record 2-8-1
Season Series: 1-0 Ottawa (3-1 February 21st)
Currently Riding: OTT 1L NYI 3L
[b]Projected Lines[/b]
[i...
It looked like it was going to be another rough night for Rick DiPietro and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
The home crowd was restless. Fans grumbled when DiPietro took a delay of game penalty a little over four minutes in for playing the puck outside the trapezoid. At 8:30 of the first period, the visiting Adirondack Phantoms scored their first goal, and it was not the...
Yesterday the Islanders were able to stop a three game skid by beating the Ottawa Senators on home ice. No, it’s not a typo. The Islanders actually won a game on home ice. I caught only bits and pieces of the game. Afternoon games are not made for people with kids, unless you’re at the game.
Brad Boyes got the Islanders on the board first with a nice shot over the g...
Tonight, the Phoenix Coyotes played against the Anaheim Ducks again for the second out of three consecutive meetings. It was déjà vu all over again… so to speak.
I will not recap the game in the same manner as last time because it pretty much went the same way. The Coyotes gave up a lead to the Ducks, then battle back for a lead of their own. THEN, they give up the ...
[b]Tale of the Tape[/b]
MTL 14-4-4 NYI 9-11-2
Goals For: MTL 3.04 NYI 2.82
Goals Against: MTL 2.32 NYI 3.41
Special Teams: MTL PP 19.0%(11th) MTL PK 82.6%(15th)
NYI PP 22.1% (5th) NYI PK 84.2% (10th)
Canadiens Road Record 6-1-2
Islanders Home Record 3-8-1
Season Series: 1-0 New York (4-3(OT) February 21st)
Currently Riding: MTL 1W NYI 1W
[b]Projected Lines[...
The Islanders kept up with the Canadiens and battled their way to a 6-3 victory, their second win in as many games at home. A more balanced attack by Capuano and Co. led to fresh legs that were able to keep up with the speedy Canadiens. The Islanders offense is scoring at a rate that keeps them in the tops in the league, possibly something that Montreal didn't consider and...
[b]Tale of the Tape[/b]
NYR 11-8-2 NYI 10-11-2
Goals For: NYR 2.52 NYI 2.96
Goals Against: NYR 2.43 NYI 3.39
Special Teams: NYR PP 14.7%(24th) NYR PK 83.3%(11th)
NYI PP 23.1% (5th) NYI PK 82.7% (14th)
Rangers Road Record 2-4-1
Islanders Home Record 4-8-1
Season Series: 1-1 (4-1(NYR) February 7th , 4-3(SO)(NYI) February 14th)
Currently Riding: NY...
The Phoenix Coyotes played the Anaheim Ducks in their third and final game of a three game series last night. Overall it was not a good performance by the Yotes. They seemed to lack any heart in the game and looked slow and sloppy. Now for a quick recap!
The first period was all about the Ducks. They dominated the play while the Coyotes got absolutely no offensive press...
Last night, the Phoenix Coyotes played against the St. Louis Blues in their second game in as many nights. After losing to Anaheim 2-0 the previous game, the Yotes were looking to have a solid rebound game against a banged up Blues squad. Unfortunately for Coyotes fans, the Blues had their way with the Coyotes last night. The final was 6-3, but it wasn’t even that close ...
The Phoenix Coyotes looked to start off the second half of their season well tonight in a meeting against the Dallas Stars. Coming into the game, the Stars have had a couple of good games and great offensive numbers since February. The Coyotes came into the game having dropped 2 games in regulation.
The first period showed that the Coyotes players took the coaching mes...
With the New York Islanders just past the midpoint of their lockout-shortened season, it’s as good a time as any to evaluate the three Bridgeport Sound Tigers that made the jump to the big club this season (four if you count Kevin Poulin) -- and to talk about some who might be ready for a quick look sooner than later.
Back when the lockout was just coming to a close, ...
The Phoenix Coyotes took on the Los Angeles Kings last night at Jobing.com Arena in the second math up between the two teams this season. The Kings were coming off a victory over the Flames the night before.
The first period was all Coyotes pretty much. It was clear that they took advantage of their two day rest while the Kings suffered from their back to back game. Th...
MintEdition writes...
This year the Leafs won’t fall like it’s the autumn…
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
I actually think that the Leafs could finally make the playoff!
Yes I said it, it seems like on an odd or sometimes even day they come thru in some fashion. I my mind thou there isn’t any reason to spill time on pondering if whether they could escape first round or even (god is laughing) make it further.
[b]So do I have any kind of claim for this kind of thesis?[/b...
The Phoenix Coyotes took on the Columbus Blue Jackets looking to try to improve their standing in the Western Conference and stop the Blue Jackets point streak.
This will be a quick recap as there was NO scoring in this game. The game was a back and forth affair with good team defense from both sides. The Coyotes managed to get more shots on the Blue Jackets… but many...
The flyers have had a rocky season the whole year, currently in 23rd place and most teams have games in hand on them don't look like they are going in the right direction. They have been poor on defense the whole season, offense has been inconsistent, and 5 on 5 of late has been a struggle. Teams have succeed against the flyers when they played a 5 on 5 game against them. ...
Could the NHL Compliance Buyout redefine the term Rent-A-Player? The latest CBA allows NHL teams two player buyouts before the beginning of the 2013-14 NHL season. The buyouts will not count toward the salary cap. Could this cause the rich NHL teams to acquire a bad contract before the deadline with the intentions of buying it out this summer?
It is far fetched to belie...
TheHockeyDaily writes...
Does Anyone Care About The Columbus Blue Jackets?
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
There are about nine teams in the Western Conference that certainly care about the Columbus Blue Jackets right now. Perennial losers they may be but CBJ are not letting their past stop them from making a serious push for the playoffs this season. Since February 26 the Jackets have gone 6-0-5, earning points in eleven straight games.
The streak has allowed the Jackets t...
So…The Coyotes have had a five game losing streak dating back to the start of their road trip on Thursday the 14th. There are a couple of reasons this team has started to struggle besides the tight schedule and lack of practice time that I see. The three main reasons are their desperation, execution, and accountability.
Desperation- The Coyotes have shown a lack of d...
Upon writing this, the Flyers just won their fourth game in a row and sit only two points out of the final playoff spot in the East. Somehow, despite key injury after key injury, this team has been finding ways to win hockey games and very well could find themselves in one of the final playoff spots in a few weeks. With that being said, I want to spend this blog analyzing ...
At the beginning of the season there were a lot of experts, and people in general tagging the Rangers as the eastern champs and advancing to the cup finals. Some even had the Blueshirts winning the cup. And for those who put money on it... well they are probably sweating more than a fat girl chasing a cupcake. BUT!! It might not be too late for the Rangers as they had a v...
How many times have we seen the Buffalo Sabres do what they’ve done this week?
The Sabres came up with 3 great wins against the Penguins, Senators, and Devils. They pulled themselves into a great position, having gotten within 4 points of the elusive 8th place seed in the Eastern Conference. Hope, for the fans of Buffalo, had been restored.
Heading into Tuesday ni...
When the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres meet at First Niagara Center Friday Night the Buffalo Sabres will look to do something they have attempted three times so far this season and have failed to accomplish. That which has eluded them all season is four wins in a row. This team may not make the playoffs, but one has to believe that they may have turned a corner. Afte...
Kiks52 writes...
Maple Leafs Finish Regular Season With Disappointing Loss
Posted Sunday | Comments 0
[img:right]http://i.imgur.com/k6DlcxF.png[/img]When the Toronto Maple Leafs skated on to the ice at Air Canada Centre before an ecstatic, jam-packed crowd of 19,730, the largest crowd of the shortened season, it was a monumental moment in the history of the franchise. After all, after eight straight seasons of falling short, the Leafs had managed to earn a hard-fought fift...
It's that time of the year...Stanley Cup Playoffs. Also a perfect time to write my first blog.
I may be a penguins fan but I am going to attack this from a non-biased approach. There are a couple teams this year that I believe have a legitimate chance at winning the cup and also a couple who have little to no shot of getting anywhere close to lord Stanley's cup. So ...
After watching Game 1 between the Penguins and Islanders, every Islanders has the right to be a bit nervous about how the team will play in Game 2 and the rest of this series. I'm hoping the team only needed one game to try and adjust themselves to playoff hockey and be comfortable. Not only did they seem nervous, but like an entirely different team compared to the one tha...
I am an optimistic person at heart.
I usually look for the good in a situation and believe all things are possible...with the right determination and effort.
I'll keep fighting to the end if the cause is right.
But...I am also a realistic person.
I can look at a situation and see it for what it is (most of the time).
When I watch the Penguins play...playoff ...
[i]Ryan Leong filling in for Cam Gore who is on assignment. Cam will be back for Game 4.[/i]rnrnLogan Couture is coming of age.rnrnCouture has been mentioned numerous times on this blog how important he is to this team and this game only punctuates how he is the unquestioned 'leader' now. Sure the Sharks still have Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau but even the fans are awa...
[i]Ryan Leong filling in for Cam Gore who is on assignment. Cam will be back for Game 4.[/i]
Logan Couture is coming of age.
Couture has been mentioned numerous times on this blog how important he is to this team and this game only punctuates how he is the unquestioned 'leader' now. Sure the Sharks still have Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau but even the fans are awa...
In my last blog (http://my.hockeybuzz.com/...&user_id=183597I) I partially talked about the possibility of Nino Neiderreiter being traded to the Oilers this summer to bring more size to the top 6 (6' 2'') and to get a more legitimate top six left winger. Granted, Paajarvi is bigger than Nino (6'3'' vs. 6'2'') but this past year Paajarvi has become a good power forward and ...
I was thinking about the President's Trophy and its curse. Past winners and losers, etc., so I decided to do some research and figure out what each Cup winners' (since 1986) regular season final ranking was. There are two lists of rankings. One by final conference rank, one by overall.
Regular season final ranking (Overall NHL standings) and number of Cup winners p...
The rest of the hockey world is laughing at you, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
They say that the ALL STAR team assembled in Pittsburgh, stock full of Hall of Fame like talent is an elite bunch of brats and when crunch time comes, they fold like an old picnic table.
After watching the first two games of the series against the Bruins, where it seems like the Penguins are mo...
I'd like to see if the Leafs can move up but only time will tell with rumors swirling that in taking a bad contract they may land a late first round pick it'd be intriguing if they did that my hope is that they get a couple of pieces to there puzzle. The Leafs are young and lets see if some of the guys they have now can develop.
I've seen many different mock drafts an...
I'd like to see if the Leafs can move up but only time will tell with rumors swirling that in taking a bad contract they may land a late first round pick it'd be intriguing if they did that my hope is that they get a couple of pieces to there puzzle. The Leafs are young and lets see if some of the guys they have now can develop.
I've seen many different mock drafts an...
I'd like to see if the Leafs can move up but only time will tell with rumors swirling that in taking a bad contract they may land a late first round pick it'd be intriguing if they did that my hope is that they get a couple of pieces to there puzzle. The Leafs are young and lets see if some of the guys they have now can develop.
I've seen many different mock drafts an...
[b]Ilya Bryzgalov, 33 - Philadelphia[/b]
Contract: $51.0m/9yrs
Buyout: $23.0m/14yrs
This contract is the definition of what the power of having a union can do for you. For most people who are fired or let go they are lucky to get severance and even if they do, that severance is almost nothing to kick back on and retire early with. Meet Ilya Bryzgalov.
The epitome o...
It’s been a while since I have put up a blog post. Mostly because there was not much news on the Coyotes during the playoffs and I wanted to wait until the lease agreement was settled with Glendale. Now that the whole deal is done (for now), here is a little review on the Yotes’ draft and start to free agency!
This is going to be a long blog. Each of these deserves t...
Last season marks the 1st time the Flyers have missed the playoffs under GM Paul Holmgren (Not Counting his half season after Bob Clarke Resigned). Now we will start off on things that went wrong in the 2012-2013 that lead them to missing the playoffs. The most obvious issue was Defense.
First thing is the Defense Core all struggled last season. On most nights you woul...
This past season in the KHL a format was introduced to non-playoff teams vying for top spot in the KHL Draft. The teams that failed to reach the post season would do battle in a consolation tournament, with the winner being awarded the first overall pick.
What if the NHL did that?
It would almost certainly increase competition and avoid “tanking” during the regul...
Time to re-cast another hockey movie using current NHL players and coaches. Today were going to take a swing at the 1986 junior hockey, coming of age tale, Youngblood, which featured Patrick Swayze and Rob Lowe. Oh and how could we forget the bumbling French Canadian goalie portrayed by Keeanu Reeves.
Time to drop the puck on this:
[b]Dean Youngblood[/b]
who from t...
Expectations. We are closing in on the end of August here in Alberta and with that hockey has become a topic of conversation because the cool wind is a reminder that training camps is just around the corner. Now being an Oiler fan has not been easy the last couple years, this time every year it has been the same thing. Hockey fans have all been saying the same thing about ...
The Edmonton Oilers enter the coming season with high, but measured, expectations. The sky is the limit for this young squad, but putting it all together is easier said than done. Both Hall and Eberle are proving to be star talents in the league with Yakupov not far behind them. Questions surround RNH's health and size, however nobody will second guess the pure skill and v...
Devan Dubynk, the Big Easy as some would like to call him or Dubey as I like to call him. The big goalie that has never seemed to get the complete trust from fans to take the team to the next level. He always seems to let in that one goal that can deflate the whole team. But he is capable of making that big save but at times it always seemed too late. Every year he has bee...
The Penguins have made some changes in their coaching staff during this off season and based on last years sweep by the Bruins, we expect to see some of those changes reflected in how they play the game on the ice.
I think it's pretty clear the hiring of Jacques Martin is a sign that Ray Shero wants his team to be able to respond better in situations where their origina...
Hello! I figured since I loved Hockey so much, and the NY Rangers, i'd try my hand at writing a few things about the game when i had the motivation. Thanks to John Marzan for turning me on to this site.
I'm pretty excited about the upcoming season. There's a lot of changes in the Rangers camp but most of them are for the better. I think they did well 2 seasons ago and mi...
Recently I read a post on Hockey Buzz suggesting the New York Rangers require a "culture change" within that dressing room.... Is it just me or has this team witnessed more changes than any team in the league?
Firstly, the biggest change is they have moved on from John Tortorella who in my opinion ran this team right into the ground.
Secondly, they have already made ...
By Tony Lynch (@tonylynchsaid)
The Rangers' preseason officially kicks off tonight when the Rags take the ice against the Devils in Newark. Before they take the ice, here's a recap of how the Rangers prospects fared in the annual Traverse City Prospect Tournament. Though the team did not fare well in the standings at the tournament, finishing 1-2-1, a number of players ...
The Ducks have started their 5 game homestand with a 2-0 record. They absolutely destroyed the New York Rangers 6-0 in their home opener and followed that up with a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on a night that saw the Mighty Ducks fly again.
I won't say much about the game against the Rangers. For whatever reason, that team was a mess this week. Between losing to th...
In defeating both the Calgary Flames and Phoenix Coyotes, the Ducks improved to 4-0 at home and 6-1 overall this season. While neither game was the blowout of the previous 2 games, both were hard fought victories for a Ducks team that won't quit.
I was only able to watch parts of the Ducks-Coyotes game (yes, I do have a social life outside of hockey, yes, a part of me w...
JasonHarrison writes...
Misery Loves Company - Everybody Sucks Sometimes ...
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
I was just sitting here at work on a dreary Saturday morning doing everything but working, lamenting my beloved Oilers and wondering if things will ever get better. As there is nothing in the near future suggesting that it will, I decided to do some research into just how bad things have been for the Edmonton Oilers in the historical context of how all teams have faired s...
CaseyPSH writes...
Phoenix Coyotes Prevail On The Road Over Colorado Avalanche
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
[b]By Casey Gagnon, Phoenix Sports Hub
E-Mail: CaseyPSH at yahoo dot com
Twitter: @CaseyPSH
PhoenixSportsHub.Blogspot.com[/b]
The Phoenix Coyotes needed players to step up Tuesday night in Denver to fill voids in the lineup. Forward Antoine Vermette and goaltender Thomas Greiss received the message loud and clear. Both played as solid a game one could ask for, an...
CaseyPSH writes...
Coyotes Resume Winning Ways at Home By Defeating Islanders
Posted Friday | Comments 0
[b]Coyotes Resume Winning Ways at Home With Victory Over Islanders
By Casey Gagnon, Phoenix Sports Hub[/b]
[b]E-Mail: [email protected]
Twitter: @CaseyPSH[/b]
[b]PhoenixSportsHub.Blogspot.com[/b]
Shane Doan felt well enough to make a brief appearance at practice on Thursday morning. He probably felt even better after watching his Coyotes teammates play that sa...
Always Mighty writes...
Ducks win 10th in a row, extend home points streak to 16
Posted Sunday | Comments 0
After 3 days off, the Ducks were taking on the Phoenix Coyotes coming out of the Christmas break. It was a game that easily could have turned into a loss. The Ducks were 3-0 against Phoenix coming into the game, and earlier this season the Ducks handed the Coyotes their 1st regulation home loss this season. The Coyotes clearly wanted to exact revenge against the Ducks and ...
Last night the Winnipeg Jets lost 6-3 at home to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Watching the game it was pretty clear that there is little to no direction as to where this team is or where it's going. They were getting beat in every aspect in the game, whether it be a 1 on1 battle on the wall or just a race to open space and was really difficult to watch. The Jets are know 10...
For every resounding fact that proves Dave Bolland is the heart of this team and a difference maker, there are opposites stats that prove otherwise about David Clarkson. Now I am not attempting to bash Clarkson, nor am I admitting he was a bad signing just yet. However, it's strange that with Clarkson in the lineup the Leafs seem to be a less productive team.
There are...
The Philadelphia Flyers are 28 games away from the end of the regular season, and as it stands, their record is 26-22-6 in 54 games (58P), which is good enough for 3rd place in the Metropolitan Division, given they have played 1 more game than the Carolina Hurricanes (57P), and the Columbus Blue Jackets (56P). While they currently sit in a playoff spot, the two aforementio...
It seems as if the perfect storm is building in New York (no pun intended). The Rangers have traded away Del Zotto, are having trouble signing Callahan and seemingly will be unable to lock up Dan Girardi.
Enter the Maple Leafs, the Leafs have been looking to bolster their defence with a solid defensive minded defenceman and Girardi fits the bill. He is a top pairing d-m...
With the trade deadline firmly in the rear-view mirror and the dust settling after a flurry of activity, we are left with a handful of NHL rosters looking significantly different than the day just days earlier. One of the rosters to go through a shake-up is that of the Montreal Canadiens, who made one of the larger splashes of the day in their acquisition of Thomas Vanek. ...
Those Penguins fans expecting to plan a parade route later this year will likely be sorely disappointed. The Penguins got a severe taste of reality following the Olympic break, running into Chicago, Anaheim and San Jose. They were not very successful, although Marc Andre Fleury--a favorite lightning rod of mine--was able to steal 2 points for them from Anaheim.
This ...
cove48 writes...
Minnesota's Playoff Push: Why it will work... This year.
Posted Monday | Comments 0
Good evening Wild fans. I would like to re-introduce myself to the hockeybuzz community, given I have been extremely busy of late and am here to make my second blog of my tenure here.
The Lowdown:
The last two contests the Wild have played in have given them extreme confidence. If you have only seen the results of these two games, you might think otherwise. Thanks t...
Boy, that cushion disappeared fast.
Once considered near locks for the playoffs, Montreal now find itself in one of the two wild card spots after a single win in their last five games. Over that stretch, backup Peter Budaj and AHL starter Dustin Tokarski have allowed eighteen goals, or 3.6 per game. At the time of year when playoff teams look to gain home ice and bubble...
Always Mighty writes...
Anaheim Ducks qualify for Stanley Cup Playoffs!
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Back on October 2nd, the Anaheim Ducks started out on a journey that is still far from over. The goal of that journey was a simple one. Over the course of an 82 game schedule where they would face every single team in the NHL, win enough games to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. And with Dallas losing tonight, that goal was finally realized, and the Ducks still have 1...
The Phoenix Coyotes sent a major message to the rest of the league on Tuesday - don't count us out. Most analysts had already stamped the Coyote's ticket to the offseason. Why wouldn't they? The Coyotes have been playing with fire lately, particularly with their inability to play a full 60 minutes of hockey. After blowing leads to both Boston and New York, not to mention l...
Wild Fans, and NHL fans!
Stay tuned, I will be posting a pregame with thoughts about the Wild and their recent struggles and successes before the 9:00 p.m. central time start!
Go Wild!
Wild Fans!
It is game night in the city of Angels, and the Wild need to have a game like the had in the third period against the Coyotes on Friday. This game is key for the Wild to win to keep a comfortable lead on the Coyotes and Stars in the Western Conference Wild Card race.
A story for the ages.
The Wild can't seem to catch a break this year, which is Goalten...
Yeah, I get it, the Pens are the most injured team in the NHL, and that continued with the news that Olli Maata and Jussi Jokinen joined the ranked of injured Penguins players. I also fully understand that the Penguins are post season bound, locked into the #2 seed in east, winning the ridiculously-named Metropolitan division.
BUT..... There is absolutely no excuse for ...
Yeah, I get it, the Pens are the most injured team in the NHL, and that continued with the news that Olli Maata and Jussi Jokinen joined the ranked of injured Penguins players. I also fully understand that the Penguins are post season bound, locked into the #2 seed in east, winning the ridiculously-named Metropolitan division.
BUT..... There is absolutely no excuse for ...
Thursday April 10th 2014rnrnBreathe in, Breathe out.rnA Senators fan’s thoughts on what many are calling a disappointing Season.rnrn On Sunday, the 2013/2014 campaign will come to an end for the Ottawa Senators. This season came with great expectations, many of which were not met. From my perspective as a Sens fan, this season was Agony. We were constantly taunted with f...
The NHL Playoffs are back again! Wednesday night kicks off the start of the playoffs once again in the NHL. The new NHL format has created some very good match ups in the first round of the playoffs, and are likely to create more great match ups as the playoffs move on.
Sixteen teams have earned their spot in the playoffs with one goal in mind: to win the Stanley Cup. H...
In anticipation of tonight PIVOTAL matchup between the Rangers and the Flyers I browsed the internet on various views of people leading into tonight's game..
For some reason I kept finding a RESOUNDING notion that the Flyers huge question mark now was ONCE again goaltending and were now at a deeper disadvantage having to rely on the services of Ray Emery....
Are you ...
Welcome to the National Hockey League! Where our inconsistencies make our league a laughing stock in sports!
The NHL are up to their usual antics of throwing random suspensions at players for their illegal actions during hockey games. It has been a reoccurring event for the NHL to be doing this ever since the Department of Player Safety was created.
The latest string...
Senate_Speaker writes...
Why Matt Cooke Deserves To Be Suspended Indefinitely
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
As the hockey world awaits the fate of Matt Cooke for his knee-on-knee hit on Colorado's Tyson Barrie, it is perhaps worth taking a minute to think about the legacy that Cooke's career has shaped over the past decade or so. Upon doing so, one may discern certain obvious patterns - the object of this post. Think for a minute about what that word 'pattern' really means, for ...
The Los Angeles Kings were down 3 games to 0, in the first round of the playoffs to the San Jose Sharks. Last night they managed to climb all the way back to even the series at 3 games apiece. [code]rnrn[/code]The question is how? What changed? [code]rnrn[/code]After the first three games the Sharks looked not only superior, but dominant. They won the first three games...
Game One in Boston did not disappoint. The former Northeast (now Atlantic) division rivals traded blows with the Canadiens opening up a two-goal lead early in the second period on Rene Bourque's team leading fourth goal of the playoffs. The home-town Bruins roared back in the third, dominating the puck and out-shooting their opponents by a startling margin. This play e...
Game One in Boston did not disappoint. The former Northeast (now Atlantic) division rivals traded blows with the Canadiens opening up a two-goal lead early in the second period on Rene Bourque's team leading fourth goal of the playoffs. The home-town Bruins roared back in the third, dominating the puck and out-shooting their opponents by a startling margin. This play e...
Round 1 has officially come to a close, thus inaugurating the annual first wave of NHL Playoff MVP speculation. Undoubtedly, there are those who will claim that it’s simply to early to judge, but we’re pretty sure that even such purists secretly guess-timate as to which first round fire will keep burning. What can we say, we simply can’t help ourselves. With that, he...
You can check out this post and more Dallas Stars content on http://victorygreen.wordpress.com
[b]What’s next for the Dallas Stars?[/b]
Game 6 didn't end the way any of us thought it would after the Stars maintained a 2 goal lead in one way or another through 58 minutes of the game. Then the final two minutes happened and a few gaffs and some youthful inexperience...
When the Penguins lost game four of their first round series to the Blue Jackets - in about as ugly a fashion as most fans of the team could imagine - I made the comment to several different people that I thought it was a good thing and maybe the best thing (in the long run) for the team would be to lose the series and exit the playoffs early.
I got the "Are you really...
The final four teams remain in the National Hockey League Playoffs with the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs coming to an end in early to mid June.
On June 15th, or 48 hours after the Stanley Cup has been awarded, the NHL compliance buyout period begins. All 30 NHL teams will have until June 30th to use a compliance buyout on up to two players on its roster. These buyouts wil...
Senate_Speaker writes...
2014 Stanley Cup Final Breakdown: Who Has The Edge?
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Day of Reckoning in the National Hockey League has arrived as Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Los Angeles Kings and the New York Rangers kicks off tonight. And it must be said again: what a dream match-up for the NHL, as its two biggest markets get set to do battle on its biggest stage. The league’s growth-and-revenue train just seems to keep on chugging....
I just wanted to toss this out there, but what would one think of the Colorado Avalanche signing Marty Brodeur to a 1 year deal? When he and Patrick Roy were younger Marty lived in Roy's basement. As history played out, Roy became the NHL's all-time winner in regular and post-season, followed by much more. Game 7 - Roy and Marty went toe to toe for the cup, which we all re...
The title really isn't as far fetched as you may think. Many, ok most, think we are a bottom 5 team. It is hard to not agree based on what last year brought. Hell the past couple years of decline. But this year has the potential to be different, and by different I mean not as bleak as everyone thinks. Here's why:
-New management +/- 0 call it a wash
-New Coach with the...
A lot of questions remain for many including Colorado Avalanche fans after the unexpected off-season turned in by Executive Vice President's Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy.
Everyone right now are looking at the Avs and wondering and even publicly stating, "After this off-season, will the Avalanche even make the Playoffs?" It is a fair question and with-out any hesitation, a...
This will be the 4th season for the Jets 2.0 and the only roster moves made since the draft and free agency were letting Olli Jokinen walk and signing Mathieu Perreault. The Perreault signing IMO was a great move, but not enough of a significant impact to change their fortunes for the upcoming season. When you play in a division with Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, Minnesota, ...
.................................................................................................................................. Here are my playoff predictions or better yet guesses for the upcoming season. I’ve also included some forecasts or guesses for some individual players. For general context, my idea for someone who will have a big year is an increase of say 1...
[b]Follow me on Twitter @DailyNHLGRIND
A Glance Back[/b]
I don’t think anybody could have predicted the outcome of the brutally nicknamed metro-terrible division last season. Columbus impressed while the Capitals faltered. The Penguins took a dip in the playoffs while the Rangers surprised many after a rough start. Other teams sort of slotted right into their right...
AarifDeen writes...
‘Cardiac Kids’ are here to stay—Avs erase three goal deficit
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
[b]Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DailyNHLGrind[/b]
It was Déjà vu in the desert Tuesday night for the Avalanche. Colorado won for the second straight game after Reto Berra was pulled and replaced by Calvin Pickard in the first period. They beat Arizona 4-3 in overtime despite surrendering three goals in the opening 10:53 of tonight’s game.
As miraculo...
Buffalo, NY
The Buffalo Sabres, currently 8th in the Atlantic Division with a record of 14-26-3 are down but certainly not out. At roughly the halfway point of the 2014-2015 season, Buffalo center Tyler Ennis and Coach Ted Nolan are confident that the team can still turn things around and make a run for the Cup this spring. Despite a seven game skid, the team's scorin...
[b]Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DailyNHLGrind[/b]
There are plenty of words that could describe the Avs’ recent five-game road trip. The simplest way to put it is ‘not good enough.’
Colorado went 1-2-2 in the five-game swing away from home with both OT losses coming in the shootout where they had won five straight coming in.
“Looking back at t...
February 26, 2015 grabo84
As the trade deadline approaches, every team is assessing their wants and needs. Despite reports, the Islanders are no different. Many cup contending teams will tinker with their depth chart at the trade deadline. This Islanders team is built for the future, but there is no need to wait on taking a serious run at the cup. Many rumors around...
It wasn’t exactly how the coach drew it up, but the Penguins managed to earn a 3-1 victory over the Coyotes. They came back form a 1-0 deficit with two goals in the second period, from Brandon Sutter and Daniel Winnik. The Sutter goal may be one of the weirdest the Penguins have scored this season.
It occurred on a Penguins power-play. After defenseman Ian Cole rattle...
HarrisonHamm writes...
Penguins earn an important victory against the Coyotes 3-2
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Evgeni Malkin and Patric Hornqvist were back in the lineup for a game that was important for two reasons: One was that the Pens had been playing horribly (losing to terrible Carolina on Thursday), and they needed a victory. They got it against another lowly team, the Arizona Coyotes.
Despite not scoring until 7:16 of the third period, when Daniel Winnik scored, the Peng...
As a reward for winning the Atlantic Division and claiming home ice advantage for at least the first 2 rounds the Canadians get to face one of, if not, the hottest teams in the NHL. The Senators have been on a tear and against insurmountable odds completed an historic comeback claiming a spot in the 2015 playoffs. This alone is a tremendous story and everyone who loves spo...
By now, in the myriad of news articles and videos; we can all see the damage done and we'll all fall on one side of the fence or another.
Here's an idea: Suspend Subban - not the league, but the team.
Sure, it's a little bit of a wild notion but it might help clear the air, focus on hockey and show the Senators just how strong the Habs are.
1) The Habs are very...
Wow, the last 3 seasons have really flown by. It's hard to believe that four seasons ago this team was almost dead last. Words like "rebuild" and "developmental" were commonly seen on the Oiler threads. In the last three seasons we've seen this team narrowly miss out on a second round appearance, watch an exciting Western Conference final with the Winnipeg Jets, and of cou...
I have no basis on these trades other than what I think should happen.
I also believe it would make a very fun draft day. I will explain the bigger trades, some just don't really need explaining.
Trade 1
Edmonton receives
3rd overall pick (Hanifin)
29th/30th pick (Chicago)
63rd overall pick (Arizona)
Arizona receives
Leon Draisaitl
16th overall pick (Pitts...
Finally, the playoffs are over. Thank goodness. The drudgery!
Who cares? Make fun of me if you would like. I was bored to tears after the first round of the playoffs and I didn't watch many games thereafter. I've been bored after the first round of the playoffs for a long time. Truth be told, the three most exciting playoff teams I've ever watched were Toronto, Phi...
The most hyped NHL draft since 2005, and the deepest draft since arguably 2003 is two days away, the New York Rangers aren't scheduled to make a first round selection. They are however in the market for a first round pick. GM Glen Sather and his staff has been holding out hoping goaltender Cam Talbot can net them a late first round pick. But there is a rumor floating aroun...
I have a dream.... that the Oilers can get impact young d-men to help with their cause now...rnrnSeem like a bit of a stretch? Maybe, but there might be a few trade scenarios that could work well for both sides, therefor making it a viable deal, even in this cap-crazy world we call the NHL.rnrnFirst off, let me just say that I love all the Oilers young forwards. I believe ...
What is wrong with Glen Sather? Many Trades occuring on draft day and all around now. Good trades or bad trades? Sather, in my opinion made a huge mistake. ...
The Rangers have made some big moves in the past 2 days. Viktor Stalberg 1.1 million dollar contract and bringing back Diaz with a 700K salary. Both great pickups and great players. Talks between the Rangers and Joel Ward continue... I hope he signs with the Rangers. Big, tall, standup team player that could potentially replace Tanner Glass' role on the team. This wou...
Zak MacMillan writes...
Game No. 7- Columbus Blue Jackets v New York Islanders
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
In a quest for their first win of the young regular season, the Columbus Blue Jackets will try to do so at home against the New York Islanders.
The Jackets are going with a different lineup for the third straight game. Alex Wennberg is back in the lineup after suffering a concussion on the first game of the season. Rene Borque is also expected to be in after being a la...
Close but no Cigar.
Until the third period.
After a very good game last night played in Nationwide, the Columbus Blue Jackets left the ice in defeat. The New York Islanders shut out the Columbus Blue Jackets by a final score of 4-0.
For the Islanders, Nikolay Kulemin Thomas Hickey, Cal Clutterbuck, and John Tavares scored. Nikolay's goal came off poor defensive...
Zak MacMillan writes...
CBJ Game No. 18- Columbus Blue Jackets v. Arizona Coyotes
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
In the second game of a back-to-back, the Columbus Blue Jackets are back on home ice and are set to battle the Arizona Coyotes.
This is the first time these teams are meeting this season, and the Coyotes made some light changes. They lost Sam Gagner in a trade to the Philadelphia Flyers. They added Nicklas Grossmann and the contract of Chris Pronger from the Philad...
The Columbus Blue Jackets have successfully conquered a back-to-back stint against two different organizations,
Improving their record to 6-12-0.
On Friday night, the Jackets defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins by a final score of 2-1 in regulation. For the Pens, fiesty winger Patric Hornqvist scored their only goal in the final minute of the game. For the Jackets, B...
Over the weekend, it was discussed in a rumor blog that the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Islanders were in serious trade discussions. The apparent rumor is Ryan Johansen and a second round pick for Kyle Okposo, a first round pick, and Travis Hamonic (who would then be dealt to Calgary).
For the pieces the Islanders are giving up, that is a lot to give up...
l
On Saturday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets battled the New York Islanders in Nationwide Arena. The final score was a close one, 3-2 overtime.
The Islanders got goals from Kyle Okposo (2), and Frans Nielsen. They also got points from Nick Leddy and Josh Bailey. Jaroslav Halak stopped 28 of 30 Blue Jackets' shots for a 0.933 save percentage (93.3%)
For the Jac...
Zak MacMillan writes...
CBJ Game No. 34- Columbus Blue Jackets @ Arizona Coyotes
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
What a turn of events for Columbus in the past couple of hours. John Tortorella has scratched Ryan Johansen; and Jack Johnson is a question mark for tonight, resulting in an emergency call-up of Justin Falk. And David Savard is injured. With those events said, they are playing an injured Arizona Coyotes team, that has recently lost their starting goaltender, Mike Smit...
What a turn of events in Arizona. On Thursday, Columbus scored goals a plenty against the Coyotes in a 7-5 onslaught. This marks Columbus' second win in December.
Arizona got goals from Tobias Reider (2), Antoine Vermette, Viktor Tikhnov, and Jordan Martinook. Other players with points include Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Shane Doan, Michael Stone, Nicklas Grossmann, and ...
CBJ- Still Last, Trade or Keep 1st Overall Pick?
The Columbus Blue Jackets remain dead last in the entire league as they are nearing the halfway mark of the regular season, almost where they were last year before a turnaround that got them to eighth worst in the NHL. Without any lottery, and to my reference earlier, the Jackets would have the first overall pick in the 2...
Zak MacMillan writes...
CBJ Game No. 55- New York Islanders v. Columbus Blue Jackets
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
After a couple days off from game action, the Columbus Blue Jackets are back on the ice tonight where they are taking on the New York Islanders. The Islanders last played Sunday in a dominating 8-1 performance against the West's worse team- the Edmonton Oilers.
On January 12, the last time these teams played each other, the Blue Jackets fell to the Islanders in their a...
As it stands, the Florida Panthers have an 8 point lead in the Atlantic division. The Panthers have been playing great hockey and have been scoring a ton (4th most in the east, and only 2 goals back of being in second behind the Caps!). Shocking for anyone, let alone a Panthers fan. On top of that, they have the second lowest goals against thanks to a stellar season thu...
Last night, the Islanders struck early, late, and in extra time to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets by a final score of 3-2 in a shootout.
The Islanders got a goal from Ryan Strome (my player to watch) 56 seconds into the game. Three minutes into the final frame, Andres Lee ties the score on a power play goal. Other players with points were John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, a...
Zak MacMillan writes...
CBJ Game No. 64- Columbus Blue Jackets @ New York Rangers
Posted Monday | Comments 0
A quiet day for both Columbus and the Rangers on deadline day; however, the Blue Jackets are first up to challenge Eric Staal in a blue sweater. My blog will be out on that soon though, and the rest of the trades.
To the Garden tonight are the Jackets to take on the Rangers who are without Rick Nash, but are with Eric Staal. The Jackets send Kerby Rychel to the AHL; Re...
The Columbus Blue Jackets were defeated by the New York Rangers in the Garden by a final score of 2-1, in regulation.
The Rangers scored with 2:19 left in the first period, and it came from Mats Zuccarello. The goal was Zucc's 21st of the season. Dan Boyle got a helper on the goal. With 2:48 remaining in the game, Derek Stepan scored a highlight reel goal on Joonas Kor...
The short answer yes, the real answer no. Now why do I say this. Well it's simple if all goes well leafs have a competitive shot. So here is a scenario to play out.
A. Leafs get Matthews and he plays lil Mcdavid or they sign stamens and get Matthews
B. Nylander's gets close to 60points same as Kadri and Jvr
C. bernier has a consistent straight thru solid year
D. zaitse...
Do I think the leafs will make the playoffs next year, no. That being said here is what I think the lineup could look like.
Forwards:
Komarov - Kadri - Soshnikov
Nylander - Matthews - Van Riemsdyke
Parenteau - Bozak - Brown
Michalek - Laich - Greening
Defense:
Rielly - Marincin
Zaitsev - Gardiner
Hunwick - Carrick
Extra - Corrado
Goalies:
Bernier
Gustavs...
Zak MacMillan writes...
Looking at OHL Playoffs + Predictions & Prospects
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Eastern Conference
1 KINGSTON FRONTENACS (46-17-5) vs
8 OSHAWA GENERALS (27-33-8)
Top Prospects
Kingston: LW Michael Dal Colle (NYI), LW Lawson Crouse (FLA), D Ronald McKeown (CAR), RW Spencer Watson (LA), Lucas Peressini
Oshawa: C Anthony Cirelli (TBL)
2 BARRIE COLTS (43-22-3) vs
7 MISSISSAUGA STEELHEADS (33-30-5)
Top Prospects
Barrie: RW Kevin ...
Zak MacMillan writes...
CBJ Post-Game No. 77- Brooklyn Blasts Through Blue Jackets
Posted Friday | Comments 0
The New York Islanders defeated the Cooumbus Blue Jackets to sweep them, 4-3.
The Islanders got the upper hand early on, scoring three goals in the first period. John Tavares scored his 28th of the season (7:25); Ryan Strome and Josh Bailey had the assists. Later on, Thomas Hickey scored his 5th of the season (17:51); Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen had the assists. 32 s...
Zak MacMillan writes...
CBJ Post Game No. 79- Empire State of Postseason; NYR Clinch
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The New York Rangers defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets by a final score of 4-2. With this win, the Rangers have earned a playoff spot.
The Rangers scored early and often. In the first frame, Chris Kreider scored his 20th of the season (16:17); Derek Stepan and Henrik Lundqvist got the helpers. At 5:28 of the second, Dan Boyle scored his 9th of the season. Late in the ...
rebel_deucer writes...
Ranking all 30 NHL coaches... A statistical review
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The rankings will give a point 1 gets 30, and 30th gets point
Enhanced Stats: SAT
1. LA Kings, 2. Pittsburgh Penguins, 3. Anaheim Ducks, 4. Nashville, 5. Dallas, 6. Tampa, 7. St Louis, 8. Detroit, 9. Toronto, 10. San Jose, 11. Carolina, 12. Winnipeg, 13. Montreal, 14. Washington, 15. Chicago, 16, Philadelphia, 17. NYI, 18. Boston, 19. Edmonton, 20. Florida, 21. Calgary, ...
So Boston, a team with 42 wins, doesn't make the playoffs while other teams with 41 wins do because they've made the most of the consolation point. Especially disgusting among those three teams is Minnesota, with a meager 38 wins on the season.
Let's just change the point system... no 3 -2 -1, no 2 - 1. Wins are worth 1 point. Shootout losses and OT losses = 0 poin...
Eastern Conference:
Washington X-Factor - Kuznetsov, Why Ovechkin alone cannot carry a team, hes great always showed character in the playoffs and wants that cup, he needs the other Russian to prove that Russia can dominate in the playoffs and rise to the occasion for Washinton. Two .9 + pts per game over the playoffs is always better than 1.
Florida - Jagr - He is the...
Zak MacMillan writes...
NHL Playoff Thoughts: Politics, Fights, and Comebacks Coming
Posted Friday | Comments 0
The 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs have been intense and physical thus far. There are multiple series that are three games to one, followed up with pushing, shoving, name-calling, and fist-flying. However, this blog will discuss the dominating issues in the game that have been trending over the past several days.
The major issue has come from the Chicago Blackhawks - St...
Match Ups: Round One
Hershey Bears v. Portland Pirates
Toronto Marlies v. Bridgeport Sound Tigers
San Diego Gulls v. Texas Stars
Ontario Reign v. San Jose Barracuda
Lake Erie Monsters v. Rockford Ice Hogs
Millauawke v. Grand Rapids Griffins
Providence Bruins v. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Albany Devils v. Utica Comets
Predictions
Hershey i...
Zak MacMillan writes...
NHL Playoff Thoughts: Round Two Predictions and More
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
The first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs will draw to a close on Wednesday night, the same time the second round of the playoffs commences.
On Wednesday, the round one matchup (game 7) is between the Pacific Division winning Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and the first wild card team Nashville Predators. The series has been a sea saw battle as these teams are on the sa...
In the NHL, the largest reason team consistently lose games, sign bad contracts and overpay for players, is the massive gap between player’s perceived value and their actual value. This is a major issue in the NHL. In days of the past, there were excuses for making decisions based on the “eye test”. But in reality, the eye test is not only useless, but also actually ...
So the current format has had some very good teams play against each other in the first round, while some of the weaker playoff teams played each other. It appears there needs to be some sort of re-formatting necessary. We found an interesting article on line with a pretty good proposal, along with changes to the lottery draft. You can read it all here: http://franchis...
AHL:
Eastern Conference
Hershey Bears v. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Prediction: Bears in 6
Toronto Marlies v. Albany Devils
Prediction: Marlies in 5
Western Conference
Ontario Reign v. San Diego Gulls
Prediction: Gulls in 7
Lake Erie Monsters v. Grand Rapids Griffins
Prediction: Monsters in 7
OHL
London Knights v. Niagara Ice Dogs
...
Aside from the draft lottery occurring at the end of April, there is still hockey in session in early May.
In the Stanley Cup Playoffs:
San Jose leads Nashville 2-0
St. Louis and Dallas are tied 1-1
Pittsburgh and Washington are tied 1-1
Tampa Bay and New York are tied 1-1
In the CHL:
Seattle and Brandon are facing off for the WHL Championship, and mo...
The Iceman writes...
Lack of scoring, killer instinct among what dooms Isles
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Frustrating, soul crushing, disappointing are just a few words that can be used to describe the feeling among all in Islander country after a 2-1 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in game 4 of this eastern conference semi-final matchup. The lightning now have a commanding 3-1 lead in this best of 7 series with a chance to close it out Sunday back in Tampa Bay. The I...
Zak MacMillan writes...
NHL Playoff Thoughts: Management Changes; Conference Finals
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Welcome to my NHL Playoff Thoughts blog, the second round edition. Thus far, there has been plenty of changes in management, and we have our Conference Final matchups.
As for the management changes, there have been changes of guard in six teams- Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Ottawa, Anaheim, and Calgary.
The Coyotes made a gutsy move in promoting assistant general m...
Travis Yost posted an article on TSN's webpage trying to answer a question many of us have... What is the value of a top pick these days?
For those that missed it is here:
[url]http://www.tsn.ca/examining-the-true-value-of-toronto-s-first-overall-pick-1.491169[/url]
The article is by Travis Yost and he is not as bad as many when it comes to these things. I thi...
According to Hockeybuzz's very own John Jaeckel, the Chicago Blackhawks were pursuing KHL star Vadim Shipachyov as a free agent. Sadly, even if it was a serious consideration for Chicago, the chance has vanished into thin air. Multiple sources reported today that Shipachyov has resigned with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL. Reports from habseyesontheprize.com say that talks ...
Zak MacMillan writes...
Detailed History of the 3rd Overall Pick- 2010-2015
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Looking around at summer ideas for blogging, Peter Tessier's idea of reviewing the history of top draft picks is one that got. Besides being a hockey fan, history is something I enjoy almost as much.
Since the Columbus Blue Jackets draft third in the 2016 NHL Draft, I will be looking back in the past to see who was draft in this spot in previous drafts.
Today, it w...
dizzleskill writes...
leafs future 16/17 , 17/18 playoffs, stamkos? Dman?
Posted Sunday | Comments 0
so looking through my blue and white goggles ive come up with a few scenarios that the leafs could take from now to the next season and see if maybe this team could be a playoff team/contender in 1-2 or 3 years down the road.
the most glaring need for this leafs team after the trade and signing of freddy anderson (G) is a top defender to go along side morgan rielly if w...
One thing is for sure. July 1st in hockey season and the Rangers go together like peanut butter and jelly. The Rangers have always had a history of striking and landing the big fish on hockey's Christmas, Free Agency day one. This year is different. There is Steven Stamkos, a 26 year old franchise center on the market and he will have no shortage of teams looking to land ...
It took roughly 5 days for Islanders general manager (buffoon is more like it) garth snow to fail the team and his franchise center in John Tavares. Wednesday June 29th was ruled by a number of trades. Yet none stuck out more for the frustrated Islanders fan base than the trade of now former Edmonton Oilers winger Taylor Hall. The 1st overall pick in the 2010 entry draft w...
07/19/2016
Welcome to my first ever blog, I hope you enjoy.
I remember a sense of relief coming over me when the Leafs won the draft lottery. Excitement and anticipation have taken over since, but at that time it was simply relief. Relief in sports is the worst; it usually means even though you can always sink lower, rock bottom is so very close!
Hockey fans l...
09/04/2016
Once in a while we will be fortunate enough to witness a goalkeeper such as Matt Murray arrive in the NHL at a very young age and make an incredible impact, circumstances can instantly create hockey heroes.
All players start to hit their stride at different points in their career; a good poolie watches closely to recognize indicators. I have been intere...
[b][b]
Match-up – Philadelphia Flyers (3-5-1 )@ Carolina Hurricanes (2-3-1)
Road/Home records – 1-2-1 -------------------- 1-0-0
TV –TCN, FSCR
Puck drop - 8:00 PM ET
Season series - 1-0 Philadelphia; 6-3 in Philadelphia on October 22nd
Projected starting goalies –Mason/Neuvirth (PHI) –Unconfirmed v. Cam Ward (CAR) – Confirmed
Goals for/against per gam...
Zak MacMillan writes...
CBJ Game No. 15: Columbus Blue Jackets v. New York Rangers
Posted Friday | Comments 0
The battle in the Metropolitan Division continues for the Jackets where they take on the high scoring New York Rangers tonight. The Rangers have been an absolutely dominate team all season long, dominating puck possession, which means more plays and more goals (+34).
The Rangers made the playoffs last year as an older club, but cap issues made them change to be younger...
Zak MacMillan writes...
CBJ Post-Game No. 15: Columbus Continues Streak
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
The defense of the home streak reigns supreme over one of the hottest teams in the NHL. Last night, the Blue Jackets defeated the New York Rangers by the final score of 4-2.
A JT Miller turnover in center ice results in a William Karlsson slap shot beating Henrik Lundqvist in between the legs for a 1-0 Columbus lead. Wild Bill's goal was his third of the season.
A ...
Buffalo--Sabres writes...
The Great Divide - Playoffs vs None. What does it mean?
Posted Friday | Comments 0
Last evening the Sabres won what I consider their most exciting game in close to 10 years with a 3rd period comeback win over a very good NY Rangers team. I felt a level of excitement I haven't felt about the Sabres in about just as long and I know I'm not the only one. Through the TV could hear the crowd roar at the Key Bank Center(aka downtown arena) like they had in the...
Zak MacMillan writes...
CBJ Game No. 24- Columbus Blue Jackets v. Arizona Coyotes
Posted Monday | Comments 0
I know the game is in progress but I am a bit behind yet again. The Jackets are wrapping up their series finale against the Arizona Coyotes tonight.
The Coyotes lost to the Jackets badly over the weekend. The score doesn't show it, but the other stats do. If your starting goalie is facing 60 shots in a game, the goalie is getting tired and the defense is weak. In Arizo...
Zak MacMillan writes...
CBJ Game No. 24- Columbus Blue Jackets v. Arizona Coyotes
Posted Monday | Comments 0
I know the game is in progress but I am a bit behind yet again. The Jackets are wrapping up their series finale against the Arizona Coyotes tonight.
The Coyotes lost to the Jackets badly over the weekend. The score doesn't show it, but the other stats do. If your starting goalie is facing 60 shots in a game, the goalie is getting tired and the defense is weak. In Arizo...
Zak MacMillan writes...
CBJ Game No. 24- Columbus Blue Jackets v. Arizona Coyotes
Posted Monday | Comments 0
I know the game is in progress but I am a bit behind yet again. The Jackets are wrapping up their series finale against the Arizona Coyotes tonight.
The Coyotes lost to the Jackets badly over the weekend. The score doesn't show it, but the other stats do. If your starting goalie is facing 60 shots in a game, the goalie is getting tired and the defense is weak. In Arizo...
Zak MacMillan writes...
CBJ Game No. 24- Columbus Blue Jackets v. Arizona Coyotes
Posted Monday | Comments 0
I know the game is in progress but I am a bit behind yet again. The Jackets are wrapping up their series finale against the Arizona Coyotes tonight.
The Coyotes lost to the Jackets badly over the weekend. The score doesn't show it, but the other stats do. If your starting goalie is facing 60 shots in a game, the goalie is getting tired and the defense is weak. In Arizo...
Did I mean the player or the term "to win"?? Last night, the former Coyote center led his current team in front of Nationwide Arena to a 4-1 victory over Arizona.
Tobias Reider opened the scoring midway through the first period for a 1-0 Arizona lead. On the breakin from the power play, Alex Goligoski passed the puck to Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who found Reider open on a ...
Did I mean the player or the term "to win"?? Last night, the former Coyote center led his current team in front of Nationwide Arena to a 4-1 victory over Arizona.
Tobias Reider opened the scoring midway through the first period for a 1-0 Arizona lead. On the breakin from the power play, Alex Goligoski passed the puck to Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who found Reider open on a ...
The Isles needed four points last weekend, and they ran into slumping teams. The Islanders scored two goals in two games this weekend (one in each) and both were back-to-back 2-1 losses to the Avs and the Coyotes. Johnny Boychuk had a goal on Friday and an assist on Alan Quine's goal on Saturday. Thomas Greiss played both games and was brilliant in both. Staying discipline...
The Islanders’ owners are “committed” to New York but are keeping their options open with regard to Barclays Center, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said during his news conference during the league’s All-Star Weekend.
“They’re committed to the franchise, they’re committed to New York and the great fan base that has followed the Islanders,” Bettman said, r...
Zak MacMillan writes...
CBJ Game No. 55-- Columbus Blue Jackets v. New York Rangers
Posted Monday | Comments 0
The Blue Jackets home stand continues tonight with a battle with the Blue Shirts. For the fourth time this season, the Blue Jackets take on the New York Rangers live from the Nationwide Arena.
The Jackets have won two of three meetings so far. The first contest was the one where Matt Calvert left the game and came back with stitches to score the game winning shorthande...
Zak MacMillan writes...
CBJ Post-Game No. 55- Vessey Vessels Rangers Past Jackets
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
The New York Rangers hold on to defeat the Blue Jackets by the narrow margin of 3-2 in regulation.
In the first period, the Blue Jackets' power play went to work. Brandon Saad found Brandon Dubinsky, and he beat Antti Raanta down below the shoulder to fire the cannon. Dubinsky's goal was his eighth this season. Seth Jones and Brandon Saad were credited with the assists...
Zak MacMillan writes...
Pre-Game No.59: Columbus Blue Jackets v. New York Islanders
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
The home stand for the Blue Jackets continues in a final matchup tonight with a battle with Brooklyn. The Blue Jackets are fresh off their mandatory five day bye week, and the team prepares itself to take on one of the hottest teams in the NHL. The Islanders switched head coaches from Jack Capuono to Doug Weight, and the team has benefited greatly from the change. The Isla...
FreshIce writes...
Sharks Round one -- Who's Really the Worst Match-up?
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
I need to say I'm confused lately about all the talk out there that the Sharks would be so much better off against the Oilers than the Ducks, Kings or any of the other hopefuls they might meet in round one. I don't know if people haven't been watching the Oilers in recent months, or if they didn't notice the last game the Sharks played against them, or if they're thin...
If we’ve learned anything over the years, you never count out Getzlaf and Perry; and to the Ducks’ daunting d-corps, add in forwards the likes of Silfverberg, Rakell, and Eaves, and it’s only a matter of time until they start paddling – or is it swimming? – their way up the standings. I would expect no less of the Kings, although time is quickly running out on th...
The 2nd stop in “Big ‘D’” on the same road trip – rather than redeeming the Sharks – spelled only double-trouble, double the pain and double the shame. I’ll be posting a piece on Marc Edouard Vlasic soon and I’m going to have to pre-empt myself by suggesting that if the Sharks are going to play like this, they might as well let him rest up for the playoffs ...
The 2nd stop in “Big ‘D’” on the same road trip – rather than redeeming the Sharks – spelled only double-trouble, double the pain and double the shame. I’ll be posting a piece on Marc Edouard Vlasic soon and I’m going to have to pre-empt myself by suggesting that if the Sharks are going to play like this, they might as well let him rest up for the playoffs ...
The 2nd stop in “Big ‘D’” on the same road trip – rather than redeeming the Sharks – spelled only double-trouble, double the pain and double the shame. I’ll be posting a piece on Marc Edouard Vlasic soon and I’m going to have to pre-empt myself by suggesting that if the Sharks are going to play like this, they might as well let him rest up for the playoffs ...
The 2nd stop in “Big ‘D’” on the same road trip – rather than redeeming the Sharks – spelled only double-trouble, double the pain and double the shame. I’ll be posting a piece on Marc Edouard Vlasic soon and I’m going to have to pre-empt myself by suggesting that if the Sharks are going to play like this, they might as well let him rest up for the playoffs ...
After the last two games – giving up 13 goals while scoring only a couple – there’s really not much to say about the Sharks right now. I half-joked about bringing the Barracuda up en masse in my last post, but now I say, what can it hurt?
I’ll be posting a piece on Marc Edouard Vlasic soon but I’m going to have to pre-empt myself by suggesting that if the Shar...
Leafs got blown uo by buffalo but not only did they lose a crucial 2 points but they lost Mr Andersen down he went with what looked like a possible neck or back injury is this the end of the buds? Sparks has been recalled ranking 3rd in the AHL with an impressive. 927 sv % can he hold the fort or will mcelhinny be the man of the hour well just havr to wait and see
Every year the media comes up with all these story-lines for the teams that eventually do succeed as if everyone should have known all along that they were going to. During Anaheim's miraculous 2003 run, it was that they won a lot of one goal games so they were used to playing under pressure. Some of the biggest miracle runs was not that one, but rather the Kings in 2012...
5-3 in the first round decent predictions. Best one is predicting the leafs to make a series with the caps but still ultimately lose.
Western
Preds Over Blues in 5
This was a toss up but the blues are not paying to their capabilities and the preds have decent forward and the BEST defense in all of the playoffs and a streaky goaltender.
Oilers Over Ducks in 6
I a...
Travis Yost wrote a very revealing article a couple days ago. The link to it can be found here:
[url]https://www.tsn.ca/oilers-hampered-by-weakness-on-the-wing-1.963104[/url]
Here is the short and skinny; the Oilers wingers are really really bad. I know most people don't think an article needed to be written to know that but Yost delves much further. Looking at G/60 (g...
I have been a casual fan of New Jersey Devils (NJD) since the 2011-2012 Stanley Cup Finals push and like to run small analysis on the team every now and then. I also am the fan that argues with friends trying to prove how NJD is better as a team than other teams.
Enough about me, lets dive into the reason why I have this Blog. The Final Push for playoffs. NJD have 15 g...
INSIDEEDGEHOCKE writes...
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 21 Rule Controversy
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 21
Rule Controversy, Serious Cup Contenders, and Playoff Format
Debate 1 | Offsides/Goalie Interference solutions – General Managers Meetings.
Debate 2 |Serious Stanley Cup Contenders
Debate 3 |NHL Stanley Cup Playoff formats – What system do you like?
Brad Burud and Blake Friars discuss offside controversy, and go...
This year's playoff hunt has now hit boiling point. In both conferences, x teams are vying for x - 1 spots, so two teams are going to lose their respective games of musical chairs.
I think what irritates me about this scenario is that both of these teams that fail to make the playoffs will quite likely end up with a higher than true 500 stat (that is 41+ wins) and es...
INSIDEEDGEHOCKE writes...
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 22 Hart Trophy Race,
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 22
Hart Trophy Race, Burning ELC Contracts, and In or Out of Playoffs?
Debate 1 | The race for the Hart Trophy.
Debate 2 | Should teams burn a year on an entry level contract by having players play games after their college season ends.
Debate 3 | In or Out? The Playoff Race is on.
Brad Burud and Blake Friars discuss t...
INSIDEEDGEHOCKE writes...
The Instigator |Episode 11 GOAL! Are you Kidding Me!
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The Instigator |Episode 11
GOAL! Are you Kidding Me!
Cam Ward allowed one of the weirdest goals ever last week. The puck was rung around the boards by Arizona Coyotes Alex Goligoski. Ward exited his net to stop the puck. The puck stuck in his skate, and Ward (not knowing where the puck was) slid to the front of the net in order to defend his foot slid into the net. T...
I've written about this a few times because I hate the one thing that improves your team the most comes down to lottery balls without rhyme or reason except for teams improving their odds through something that can be about 50% arbitrary (see the Avs from last year to this year, who doubled their points with basically one less player).
This year, some of those perennial...
INSIDEEDGEHOCKE writes...
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 23 2018 Stanley Cup P
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 23
2018 Stanley Cup Preview and Predictions
Debate 1 |2017-2018 Regular Season Prediction Recap
Debate 2 |2018 Western Conference Stanley Cup Playoff Preview/Predictions
Debate 3 |2018 Eastern Conference Stanley Cup Playoff Preview/Predictions
Brad Burud and Blake Friars are pumped and ready to get the Stanley Cup Playof...
INSIDEEDGEHOCKE writes...
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast - Stanley Cup Incidents and 2-0
Posted Monday | Comments 0
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 24
Stanley Cup Incidents and 2-0 Series Leads
Debate 1 |Stanley Cup incidents – We review five incidents that took place in week one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs
Debate 2 |Eastern Conference Series Recap
Debate 3 |Western Conference Series Recap
Brad Burud and Blake Friars are all fired up about week one of the Stanle...
INSIDEEDGEHOCKE writes...
THE DEBATE - Hockey Podcast -Stanley Cup Round Disappontment
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 25
Stanley Cup Round One Disappointment and NHL Coaches Shuffle
Debate 1 |NHL Coaches Shuffle
Debate 2 |Western Conference Round One Recap and Round Two Preview
Debate 3 |Eastern Conference Round One Recap and Round Two Preview
Brad Burud and Blake Friars debate the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Was it what ...
INSIDEEDGEHOCKE writes...
The Instigator |Episode 13 High Scoring = Boring Hockey
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The Instigator |Episode 13
High Scoring = Boring Hockey
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are off and running and goal scoring is at break neck pace. Is this good for the game? Does it make for more exciting games? Or does it make for really, really boring hockey? Fans have been screaming for more goals for years and years. Well you got that in round one of the Stanley Cup Pl...
INSIDEEDGEHOCKE writes...
Caps Hoist Cup, Island of the Unknown, and Draft Talk
Posted Saturday | Comments 0
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 27
Caps Hoist Cup, Island of the Unknown, and Draft Talk
Debate 1 |The Washington Capitals win the Stanley Cup
Debate 2 |New Management for the New York Islanders
Debate 3 |Will the NHL Draft be an active trade day
The Washington Capitals have won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. How did they do it? Brad Bur...
After a crazy ride of a year where two teams many predicted to not come close to a cup were in the final; it is time to follow that up with more predictions.
Western Conference:
Central:
1. Nashville Predators - 115 pts
A slight dip just because it can be difficult to maintain, but this is the team to beat in the Central.
2. Winnipeg Jets - 113 pts
A closer figh...
Kevinmay7 writes...
The Sharks Better Than I Expected Now? Erik Karlsson To SJ
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
A few days ago, I predicted the sharks would miss the playoffs in 2019. I felt that Chicago would push up and have a comeback season after a disaster 2018 and that Colorado would have the other spot due to their young guys stepping up and Grubauer taking half the starts with Colorado's current starter Semyon Varlamov.
But as off today, Multiple reports have said that th...
Many hockey insiders believe American Thanksgiving to be the time of year where NHL General Managers sit down, take a hard look at their rosters, and evaluate where they are and where their season could be headed. Most teams have played roughly 20 games by this point, so by this time many GMs have developed a solid understanding of what is working for their club, and what ...
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 56
Playoff Format and Playoff Ready Goalies
It is very close to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Brad Burud and Blake Friars talk playoff format. Should it be 1-8 in the conference? Should it be choose your opponent? or Should it stay as is? They definitely have their opinions on this one. Then it is time to argue what goalies ar...
A lot of rabble rousing has occurred this season with Toronto and Boston headed on a third date, and know what third dates mean. It means Toronto fans get really unhappy because their team gets ... again.
So when the Toronto fan base is angry, it causes a rumble in the hockey world, largely because they have the greatest influence over the network that arguably still h...
The Red and White game yesterday was fun (ish) to watch. Guys working hard to get jobs. Noticeably absent were Dylan Larkin and Mike Green. Andreas Athanasiou left about halfway through and didn’t return. Coach Blashill is calling it “tweaks” and “precautionary measures”. It leaves a bad feeling in the stomach all around.
So far, we’ve seen injuries to Alec...
Michael OConnor writes...
Best Available Defenceman: Potential Winnipeg Jet?
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
There is no question that the Winnipeg Jets have been lucky to find themselves in playoff contention given the multiple missing pieces on their blue line. It was no surprise that the big man, Tyler Myers left town in pursuit of a lucrative deal with the Canucks. However, the loss of Dustin Byfuglien was a bit more surprising. Despite having a number of good seasons with...
After tonight, there is no reason why the Sharks could not make a push into the playoffs. Sure, the division has many competitive teams, but none are taking control of their destiny. The Canucks lost to an outdated Minnesota roster, and to make things worse, Pettersson missed the game due to a lower body injury. Jay Beagle and Jake Virtanen were injured as well, but cam...
GMPM writes...
From the Desk of GMPM: The Catastrophic Cost of Cancellation
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
With the United States’ Center for Disease Control issuing a recommendation of a nationwide eight-week moratorium on gatherings of 50 or more people (and just to clarify, you need more than 50 people, even at minimum, to run empty-arena games), rumors abound of what the NHL can do, if anything, to save some form of 2019-2020 season while still remaining compliant with th...
1. Cancel the NHL draft (picks would just all move back a year, so if you have 3 1sts this year, you get them next year instead).
There was an opportunity in 2005 absolutely wasted. They could have simply cancelled the draft and changed the minimum draft age to 19*
*Every year, up to three to five players at 18 are NHL ready. Sometimes none are ready. Perhaps if y...
The regular season kicks off tonight for the Columbus Blue Jackets where they do battle with the Nashville Predators at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee with a empty crowd. This is the how the season will go for the most part. Empty. Fanless. Temporarily. Talk is that may change in Tennessee. Tune into Fox Sports Ohio or Fox Sports TN for game feed and covera...
It is truly a painful year to be a Boston Bruins fan, but that doesn't mean you leave your team in hard times. However, I have some displeasures with how this team has ended up.
Bruce Cassidy and his Bruins have played three games, ending up with the current record of 1 win, 1 loss, and 1 overtime loss. This team needs a serious shake-up, they do not have a single even-...
Avalanche, Golden Knights and Lightning are extremely strong. Likely end of story. In the first round I predict two upsets. They will be Nashville over Carolina and Montreal over Toronto. Nashville over Carolina will be the result of playoff experience prevailing. Nashville still have some extremely talented players with a ton of playoff experience. Still will go 7 games. ...
NOTE: This blog was written after game 5. Though just now made the home screen.
Sorry, but not sorry.
Dominique Ducharme still needs to go. His failure to play the kids in lieu of veterans who will have no bearing on this team after the season is beyond crazy.
From game one he had fans collectively scratching their heads at him holding out Kotkaniemi, Romanov an...
Earlier today Brendan Shanahan stated that the Leafs "are going to get this done, with this group that we have." While as a fan of the team and a huge supporter of Marner and Matthews to say that is a possibility, here lies the issue. Albert Einstein once said "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results." The duo makes a combined $22,...
The year was 2012 and Galchenyuk was selected No.3 overall by the Montreal Canadiens. Recognized as an offensive threat dating back to his days with the Sarnia Sting, Galchenyuk's ability to get on the scoresheet was undeniable. Defensively not as strong of a player, but sometimes the risk is worth the reward.
[u][b]OHL[/b][/u]
In 101 games with the Sting Galchenyuk p...
Another year and yet another loss. Every year it becomes more excuses. So here comes every leaf fan's favourite part. How to fix the leafs? To solve this problem, lets look at what happened.
The leafs had a great regular season of more consistency than usual. But throughout the season, small items looked to become bigger. Thornton was showing his age each day. Near the ...
Since the Leafs season ended in disappointment in a round one loss to the Montreal Canadiens, it has left many fans and management wondering and questioning what can be done to improve this roster? With the cap constraints as a result of the flat-cap, and the star forwards of this team, it will be interesting to see how the Leafs tackle on signing free agents of the team o...