HNIC - Order Is Restored
Oct 12, 2008 NHL
Now, THAT was the Leafs team we expected to see this year, am I right? Does this mean our PK is otherworldly (to keep Montreal off the board) or just that Toronto is so bad that they can’t stop anybody’s power play? We’ll find out.
Don Cherry was in mid-season form last night. He called out Ron Wilson for having his young defensemen keep two hands on the stick at all times, and showed a couple of times where skilled players in front of the net could spin off of that and get a point-blank shot. He also mentioned that Steve Bernier got 2, 5 and 10 for trying to protect one of the Sedin twins…what the fuck? I watched part of that game but missed all the extra penalties. Skilled players are getting slew-footed, punched and speared and the league is doing the discipline in the wrong direction. Think about everything the NFL does to try and protect QBs, and compare that with the beatdown Sid the Kid gets every game.
He finished up railing against John Tavares dropping out of the 1 spot for prospects, believing that he is being watched too critically after he got put in that spot. It went off in a tangent about the Leafs ignoring Ontario prospects. I love that Ron MacLean used the point against him, as the last all-North American team won the Cup, against his Bruins.
Tags: calgary, Canadiens, canucks, don cherry, flames, Hockey, maple leafs, Montreal, NFL, NHL, no the other sedin, sedin, Steve Bernier, toronto, vancouver, wilson
It’s Finally Here!
Oct 9, 2008 NHL
The ‘North American portion’ of the NHL schedule gets underway tonight, with four games. Your only 7pm option is the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Detroit Red Wings, a game which will be seen on Versus or CBC depending on where you are. The Wings are raising their Stanley Cup banner, but I doubt Versus viewers will see it, as there is a special 3 hour Sidney Crosby interview they need to get through (I kid, I kid!). The schedule is rounded out with three late games: Boston at Colorado (VS), Calgary at Vancouver (CBC) and Anaheim at San Jose (local coverage as far as I can tell). I wish all teams a good season, and may no superstars get Tom Brady’d on the opening weekend, unless it’s Sean Avery.
Tags: anaheim, avalanche, boston, bruins, calgary, canucks, colorado, crosby, detroit, ducks, flames, Hockey, maple leafs, NHL, red wings, san jose, sharks, stanley cup, toronto, vancouver
NHL Playoff Picture
Apr 21, 2008 NHL
A few more team advanced to the next round of the playoffs over the weekend, but not the defending champs. The Dallas Stars took out the Ducks in 6 games, and join the Avalanche and the Red Wings coming out of the West. Kipper forced game 7 for Calgary as the Flames shut out the Sharks 2-0.
The Rangers took out the Devils in 5, joining the Pens in the next round. Boston has won 2 straight games to force game 7 up in Montreal, and Washington staved off elimination on Saturday but play in Philly tonight. No late game tonight, which sucks as that’s the one I’m more likely to see.
Tags: anaheim, avalanche, boston, bruins, calgary, Canadiens, colorado, dallas, detroit, devils, ducks, flames, Hockey, Montreal, new jersey, new york, NHL, playoffs, rangers, red wings, san jose, sharks, stars
Random NHL Thoughts
Apr 14, 2008 NHL
I watched a fair bit of the games last night, except for the part of the Calgary/San Jose game where I fell asleep (stupid late games). The Rangers/Devils game helped me come to a decision on which team I want to win…the Devils, as I don’t ever want Sean Avery to win another game in his life. His little stick waving dance in front of Brodeur was very bush league. I was watching on CBC, and Ron MacLean and Kelly Hrudey pointed out a rule about inciting a penalty where the ref (who did warn Avery) could’ve given him a 10 minute misconduct. You also saw Chris Drury skate over to Avery and say something to him after the warning, maybe to tell him to cut that out? I’d love to know.
Calgary/San Jose was CRAZY. San Jose gets a PP 30 seconds in, and within minutes it’s 3-0 and Kipper is storming off the ice. Curtis Joseph came off the bench and slammed the door…and the momentum shifted back to Calgary after Cory Sarich slammed Patrick Marleau to the ice on a monster hit along the boards. Marleau had already been bloodied once by Dion Phaneuf so he was having a rough night. Brian Campbell was instrumental in the Calgary win, as he didn’t take anybody on the winning goal, just kinda standing between Owen Nolan and Nabokov, being a great screen for the Calgary vet.
Montreal and Boston had quite a goaltending duel, as Carey Price was great, Tim Thomas outdid him though. Martin Biron got his first playoff win to get Philly back into things there, and he is going to be a dad again today, congratulations Marty!
Tags: boston, brodeur, bruins, calgary, campbell, cbc, devils, drury, flames, flyers, hnic, Hockey, joseph, kiprusoff, marleau, Martin Biron, nabokov, new jersey, new york, NHL, nolan, phaneuf, philadelphia, price, rangers, san jose, sarich, Sean Avery, sharks, thomas
Playoff Update
Apr 11, 2008 NHL
Three series are underway in the East, with Montreal, Pittsburgh and the New York Rangers all holding a 1-0 lead. Montreal scored twice in the first two minutes (one each from the Kostitsyns) and took the body on the supposedly more physical Bruins. I’d vote the Bruins most likely team to get swept if the Sens didn’t look so terrible right now. The Rangers took advantage of an off-his-game Brodeur, and Devils fans are hoping that was a one game let down or they have no shot. Washington and Philly get started tonight.
All four Western Conference series are underway, with Detroit, Colorado and Dallas holding 1-0 leads. Calagary/San Jose is 1-1. I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve been able to stay up and see of the Flames and Sharks (especially Iginla ripping it from Campbell and scoring). A little shocked that Anaheim got shut out. Should be some fun stuff tonight.
Tags: avalanche, boston, bruins, calgary, campbell, Canadiens, colorado, dallas, detroit, devils, flames, Hockey, iginla, Montreal, new jersey, new york, NHL, ottawa, penguins, pittsburgh, playoffs, rangers, red wings, san jose, senators, sharks, stars
Stanley Cup Playoffs Start Tonight!
Apr 9, 2008 NHL
Dave posted a good breakdown of the matchups over at BfloBlog, but I thought I’d put my two cents in. I pretty much agree with all of his ‘wants’ - I want the Sens to get owned, I like the Flames and Iginla, and the NYR/NJ series should end in a bus accident where both teams are incapacitated. Montreal’s postseason hinges on Carey Price staying hot, if that happens, they’ve got a great shot. It’ll be nice to see some hockey again.
Tags: calgary, Canadiens, devils, flames, Hockey, iginla, Montreal, new jersey, new york, NHL, ottawa, playoffs, price, rangers, senators
Sekera Staves Off Elimination
Mar 31, 2008 NHL
For at least one more day. Buffalo got the win in OT, but the loser point for Boston takes some of the margin for error that the Sabres have. They HAVE to win all their games, and hope that the teams ahead of them start losing in regulation. For the full playoff scenario, go here.
I was a little disappointed, I didn’t get to see the whole game, but I was really expecting something that more resembled the Calgary/Vancouver game of last night. Those teams were so amped up that there was rough stuff after every whistle it seemed like (and the litany of roughing penalties and 10 minute misconducts bears that out). I wish I hadn’t felt so sick and could’ve stayed up to see that whole game.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, boston, bruins, calgary, canucks, flames, Hockey, NHL, sabres, sekera, vancouver
