NHL Chicago Blackhawks Season Outlook
By Pierre | October 26, 2011
The new 2011-12 NHL season is currently underway. In the National Hocky League there are many teams competing for a chance to win the Stanley Cup. One of the elite teams in hockey over the last couple of years has been the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup two seasons ago during the 2009-10 season. Last year they lost in the first round to the eventual western conference champion and Stanley Cup final runner up Vancouver Canucks. Despite the early playoff exit, the Blackhawks look ot redeem themselves and reach their goal of being champions again.
During the offseason the team traded away two of their key players on draft day. They traded Troy Brouwer to the Washington Capitals for a draft pick and Brian Campbell to the Florida Panthers for Restislav Olesz. The team drafted Mark McNeil and Philip Danault. Last Season the Blackhawks finished with a 44-29-9 record with 97 points as they finished in third place in the Central Division. The team was therefore the 8th seed in the Western Conference playoffs. They got off to a slow start last season and lost in the first round, however they still have enough talent Read the rest of this entry »
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Who Will Win the Stanley Cup This Year?
By Pierre | October 21, 2011
The 2011-2012 NHL season is underway, and it is time to give some predictions for the top three Stanley Cup contenders.
Ever since Alexander Ovechkin entered the NHL with a blistering 106 points (52 goals, 56 assists) during the 2005-2006 season, the Washington Capitals have been reeling for a Stanley Cup. Last year, after finishing off the season at the top of the Eastern Conference, they were swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning. This does not diminish the threat that the Caps still pose this year where they are equipped with most of last year’s lineup. A change in net did occur, however, as the Capitals sent Semyon Varlamov to the Colorado Avalance and grabbed up veteran goaltender Tomas Vokoun from free agency. Vokoun had just experienced a great season posting 2.55 Goals Against Average and .922 Save Percentage behind a weak Florida Panthers team.
The team that surprised the hockey world after beating the Capitals in four games last season come in as another safe bet this season. The Tampa Bay Lightning were able to make some major changes last season with new General Manager Steve Yzerman and former allpro player. They made a heroic run in the playoffs making it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals but losing in seven games to the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins. This was after coming back from a 1-3 deficit to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round and blanking the Capitals in the second. The Lightning were also successful in resigning Steve Stamkos to keep him under contract with the likes of superstars Marty St. Louis and Vincent Lecalavier. The big question this season will be whether or not starting goaltender Dwayne Roloson can produce in the big way he did at the end of last season. At the age of 42, that might be a lot to expect of the 14 year veteran who has bounced around the league playing for the Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers and New York Islanders before ending up in Tampa last season.
Lastly, from the Western Conference comes the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks have been in top shape the past few years having made it to the Western Conference Finals the last two seasons and winning the Presidents’ Trophy during their 2008-2009 campaign. The team made a big change this off-season giving up on the controversial Dany Heatley in a trade with the Minnesota Wild for Martin Havlat. Additionally, they traded Devin Setoguchi and sent two other players packing for the likes of All-Star defensemen Brent Burns. The Sharks are the “Capitals of the Western Conference” – overflowing with star power but in need of a little luck for once.
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The Flyers: No Longer Under The Radar
By Pierre | March 12, 2011
It may not seem like it, but it’s been 35 years since the Philadelphia Flyers last hoisted the Stanley Cup. In a city like Philadelphia, that’s forever. The good news is that if there was ever a time in those 35 years where the cup seems close enough to touch, this is that time.
In 2010, the Flyers came out of nowhere to represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals. After upsetting a listless Devils team in the first round, the Flyers shocked the hockey world by coming back from a 3-0 series deficit to beat the Boston Bruins. Then after dispatching a Candians team that was also a surprise, they ran up against a “team of destiny” in the Chicago Blackhawks who beat them 4-2 for their first championship in over four decades.
Following that miracle year, the Flyers are currently the top top in the Eastern Conference with less then a 1/4 of the season remaining. With a superior offense featuring the likes of Claude Giroux, Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, and a defense anchored by Stanley Cup Champion Chris Pronger, the Flyers are a team that was built for Champion run’s like this one. While Sergei Bobrovsky quietly minds the net, the Flyers are a team that should contend for a Read the rest of this entry »
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The Panthers on the way
By Pierre | January 3, 2011
Thinking about absolutely no greater than 2 Southeast Split groups possess actually produced the playoffs inside a one period, 4th location offers usually already been the Leagues model associated with exile.
Inside a department possibly much deeper compared to it is actually already been, the Carolina Hurricanes are searching fairly great.
The Hurricanes discover on their own only a few factors outdoors from the Eastern Conference image following 3 directly victories, a skills they’ll appear to increase while they attempt to carry on their own house prominence from the Florida Panthers.
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Capitals vs Rangers at MSG
By Pierre | November 9, 2010
The Capitals breezed to a 3rd straight Southeast Division title last year. It is merely the beginning of Nov, however they are currently constructing yet another substantial lead in the division. The Capitals expect to lengthen their winning streak to 5 & carry on their domination of the Rangers on Tuesday evening at MSG. The Capitals (10-4-0) directed the Southeast for the whole season last year , polishing off everyone with an astonishing 38 points in front of 2nd place Thrashers while grabbing their 1st Presidents’ Trophy.
Washington are beginning to create a buffer ahead of the pack once again, as a 4 game streak of wins delivers them a 4 point division lead over the Lightning . Mike Green’s score twenty nine seconds within extra time Sunday provided the Capitals a 3-2 win over the Flyers. Now, the Capitals begins a stretch of five games in eight days, including home matchups with Read the rest of this entry »
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Struggling Northeast Division rivals to meet
By Pierre | October 21, 2010
The Sabres are winless at home , with an 0-3-1 record, but broke a five-game losing streak by toppling the Thrashers in Atlanta, 4-1, on Wednesday night.
The Senators’ last game was a 5-2 loss at Pittsburgh on Monday. Ottawa is mired in last place in the NHL’s Northeast Division in the early going, while the Sabres, the defending division champions, are in fourth place. The Senators will bring an 0-3-1 road record into Friday’s contest.
Senators star center Jason Spezza, who missed a game earlier and has been battling a groin injury, is expected to play on Friday. Goaltender Pascal Leclaire, also recovering from a groin injury, is not expected to be ready for action in the game.
Buffalo right wing Jason Pominville, suffering from a concussion, was out of the lineup for a fourth straight game on Wednesday.
Buffalo enjoys an advantage in goal in most games with star netminder Ryan Miller, regarded by many as the NHL’s top goalie. Despite the team’s struggles so far, Miller has a 2.35 goals-against average, and a save percentage of 0.915.
On the scoring front, Buffalo center Derek Roy is off to fast start with five goals in his first seven games. However, no other Sabres player has more than two goals, and the team’s usual top scorer, left wing Thomas Vanek, has potted just a single goal so far.
Buffalo’s power play is ranked 23rd in the league, clicking just 9.7 percent of the time.
The Senators’ power play has been even worse, connecting at an 8.3 percent rate, good for just 26th in the league. Both teams have fared better in penalty-killing, ranking in the middle of the pack.
Spezza and center Daniel Alfredsson share the scoring lead for the Senators, each with five points. Alfredsson is within three points of recording 1,000 for his career.
The team’s leading goal scorer is left wing Milan Michalek, with three tallies.
The Senators’ major free agent acquisition, defenseman Sergei Gonchar, has no goals and two assists, along with a minus-4 rating.
Buffalo won the previous meeting this season between the two squads, 2-1.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, trying to end a long run of seasons without a playoff appearance, have broken to the early lead in the Northeast Division.
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Whose Is the 2010-11 Hart Memorial Trophy?
By Pierre | October 10, 2010
Chicago’s Jonathon Toews, after a humongous 2009-10 season will be a leading candidate for the Hart Memorial Trophy. Chicago’s plethora of talented scorers takes the pressure off of Toews and allows him to play a more complete game. He will be Chicago’s leading assist man this year, and top three in goals. But the most impressive part of his game will be his blocked shot count. This last fact could be what pushes him into the number one spot.
The fourth leading candidate will be strongly determined by how the season plays out, and who makes the playoffs. Watch for players like Philadelphia’s Danny Briere and Mike Richards to have outstanding seasons. They led the Flyers to an unresolved finish and one of the best finals series we’ve seen in decades. They have nothing to be ashamed of, but rest The Red Wings have a trio of which anyone could win the MVP this year in Pavel Datsyuk, Henrick Zetterberg and Johan Franzen. All three players have a proven track record for scoring when they need to and for back-checking, an extremely underrated attribute in today’s candidate voting. If one of these three is not in the top three by season’s close than we know the voting is rigged.
Last but not least is the Shark’s all-stars. Patrick Marleau, Dany Heatley and Joe Thornton are each capable of dominating any game they play. If any of these three plays some real hockey this year watch-out because they could lead the Sharks across the entire league.
The New Jersey Devils have a pair of early MVP candidates in Ilya Kovulchuk and Zach Parise. Both of these players are offensive powerhouses the likes of which most teams cannot shut-down. If either of these two players can score consistently the Devils will win another cup.
Let the voting for the receiver of the Hart Memorial Trophy, commence!
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Calgary Flames Preview 2010-2011
By Pierre | October 3, 2010
The Calgary Flames enter the 2010-2011 NHL season looking to duplicate the first half of their 2009-2010 NHL campaign and forget about the rest of their dismal season. The stars of the Calgary Flames are another year older but they should also be another wiser.
Jarome Iginla, the Calgary Flames center piece and best scorer suffered through his worst scoring season since the 2000-2001 NHL season. Iginla is not accustomed to failure and he should be counted on to increase production.
One aspect of the offense that may have contributed to Iginla’s down numbers was his line mate Ollie Jokinen. Jokinen did not provide the spark on offense that he was expected to provide and it was evident Iginla was handcuffed on offense with the handicap of an under performing Jokinen. Jokinen was traded away from the Flames in February and it is curious that they brought him back after his apparent lack of chemistry with Iginla.
Alex Tanguay is another former Calgary Flame that will return this season and the Calgary Flames may be disappointed if they expect big numbers out of the aging forward. Tanguay had only 37 points with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season. Tanguay has never scored less than 40 in his career and it could be the beginning of the end for the new Calgary Flames forward.
Daymond Langkow suffering from a neck issue and Matt Stajan, who has a separated shoulder will not be available opening day and this should cause some temporary line creations that may not mesh well. The Calgary Flames are encouraged by the progress of Rene Bourque. Bourque’s 27 goals, 31 assists and 58 points were second only to Jarome Iginla on the team last season. This also may explain what kind of shape Calgary is in heading into the season.
Defensively Robyn Regehr could be the best defenseman standing up the offense at the blue line but the Flames have not had much luck with defenseman over the last season. Dion Phaneuf was traded after disappointing last season. Also one of the Calgary Flames highest paid defeseman, Jay Bouwmeester has been player that has not played up to the level of a number one defenseman.
Goaltending should be steady with the Calgary Flames featuring Miikka Kiprusoff in net once again this season. Kiprusoff is solid in between the pipes and he should be backed up by Henrik Karlsson.
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History of the NHL
By Pierre | September 22, 2010
The National Hockey League, or NHL, was formed in November, 1917. Starting out with just four Canadian teams, many thought that this newest additional to professional hockey leagues was doomed from the beginning. With World War I consuming many of the players for the first couple of years, the continuation of the league was definitely in doubt. When the Montreal Arena burned in January of 1918, it was thought this was the end of the newly formed league.
However, while the Wanderer’s were forced to abandon their involvement in professional hockey, the Canadiens who had been sharing the arena with the Wanderers found a new arena and continued with their involvement. The league continued with only three teams until Quebec rejoined the league in 1919.
In 1918, the first Stanley Cup was awarded to the Toronto team. The second in 1919 was technically won by the Canadiens, however the final was canceled due to an epidemic of the Spanish Flu. In 1924, the first American team joined the league, the Boston Bruins. The New York Americans followed shortly after and several more American teams quickly joined in.
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Guide To The Typical NHL Season
By Pierre | September 17, 2010
The National Hockey League is regaining popularity it lost over the years. Since the NHL lost the 2004-05 season due to labor issues, the NHL has worked hard to regain some popularity. The league has modified rules to increase scoring and capitalized on the popularity of young stars like Sidney Crosby. Coming off a great Olympics in 2010 as well as a Stanley Cup Finals series that featured great hockey towns in Chicago and Philadelphia, the NHL is getting there.
A typical NHL season plays a lot of emphasis on divisional matches. Each team plays their divisional opponents six times each, for a total of 24 games in the division. They also play the other ten conference teams four times each. That means that 64 of the 82 games are played in the conference, which creates a clear picture when it comes to seeding in the playoffs. The rest of the regular season games consist of each team playing three teams from the other conference twice each and the remaining twelve teams once each.
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