5 Positive Philadelphia Flyers’ Points Amid a Perfect NHL Storm
12 hours ago by Sean O'Brien
There have been some positive contributions made during this Philadelphia Flyers' season
The Philadelphia Flyers aren't having a good season during this unusual hockey year. Yet, some players are clearly performing to the best of their abilities.
A decent chunk of hockey fans don't seem to be able to take the long view. Whether their reactions are steeped in some type of modern group-think, or they are unable to generate rational thought because the game represents a disproportionate part of their personal lives and is unknowable.
A balanced view of this Flyers' season shows that a young core of players are currently developing their talents, while some veterans need to be exchanged for other orange parts. Despite the increasing likelihood that Paul Holmgren's roster won't enable Peter Laviolette to make a playoff push, there are some positive points that can be made about the 2012-13 team.
For his part, Laviolette has done what he can with a limited defensive inventory and reduced offensive depth. A professional analysis of his work should allow for a return engagement next year.
Subtracting Chris Pronger, Matt Carle and Jaromir Jagr, trading Sergei Bobrovsky and James van Riemsdyk has made an impact. Not being able to replace “Prongs” in any significant way, while also trying to fit different (or lesser) pieces into other slots, has caused the current seasonal dilemma.
Considering the perfect storm that began to develop last season, hope for better weather in the relatively near future still does exist.
Holmgren may need more than a full season to remix his roster so that the goaltending crease, blue line pairs and forward line trios are more evenly balanced. He's a very creative thinker, so unexpected outcomes might result sooner than expected.
Cap considerations and an uncertain free agent summer front could push ongoing consequences into next season. As this season begins to wind down, the Flyers' front office will undoubtedly look at the strengths within its roster and then build onto (or leverage from) that base.
Follow Sean on Twitter @SeanyOB, Facebook, Google+ and read his blog Insight.
Schenn's addition has filled one defensive hole
Luke Schenn has produced an average of 20 solid minutes of ice time per game this season.
Simmonds is having another fine Flyers' year
Wayne Simmonds has been one of the team's top forwards again this year.
Timonen is generating his sixth solid Flyers' campaign
Kimmo Timonen has been alive for 38 years. Six of those stellar years have been spent in orange and black.
Zac Rinaldo is evolving into a better all-around player
A thinner, modern version of Bob Kelly continues to emerge on this “Bullies” team.
Voracek is the Flyers' MVP
Jakub Voracek's on-ice contributions have supplanted Jaromir Jagr's offensive efforts. While his presence is obviously different than the Hall of Famer's was last year, “Jake” appears to have a bright future in Philadelphia.
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Boston Bruins Week in Review: Week 8
2 days ago by Emma Harger
A look back at Week Eight
The eighth week of action for the Boston Bruins was a very busy one, to say the least. A road trip with back-to-back stops involved going to see the scrappy Ottawa Senators and the powerhouse Pittsburgh Penguins with two different results: a shootout win in Ottawa, a blown-lead loss in Pittsburgh. The win in Ottawa came at a heavy price, however. Chris Kelly was injured and will be out indefinitely as he nurses a broken tibia.
Back at home against the Florida Panthers, the Bruins built up a lead and were then able to increase it for a victory. When the Washington Capitals came to town for a matinee two days later, the home team used that as a chance to avenge their blown-lead loss from the previous week and keep their matinee record perfect. It was possibly their finest game of the season so far in terms of consistency.
But then they hauled it down to the Steel City again for a matinee on St. Patrick's Day, seen nationwide on NBC, and proceeded to lose 2-1. This is just further proof that it's kind of a sin to have the Bruins play anywhere but TD Garden on March 17.
This past week, the NHL also approved its realignment scheme for next season, which means the Bruins are getting new division mates like the Detroit Red Wings, but keeping the old, like the Montreal Canadiens. The division has yet to be named, though I feel that there's a strong case for christening it after Bobby Orr if the league decides to pay tribute to its storied history again.
Here's a look back at a hectic week for the Bruins.
March 11: Shootout with the Sens
It looked like a potentially bad scenario for Boston as they went down 2-0 to the Senators in the first period and gave first goals in a while to both Guillaume Latendresse and Kyle Turris. But the hardworking Merlot Line redeemed their team: Shawn Thornton scored and Daniel Paille tallied a goal on a breakaway, which is nothing short of a miracle.
However, it took a shootout to settle this one. Turris and Patrice Bergeron both scored in the same round, but that was all and the tiebreaker went to extra rounds. Kaspars Daugavins tried an unorthodox move in an attempt to elude Tuukka Rask and win the game, but Rask denied him by what looked like basically his toenails. Thank goodness he's a tall goalie.
David Krejci then came in and won the game, which was his 400th and Zdeno Chara's 500th as a Bruin.
March 12: The Penguins, Part 1
Resting on your laurels isn't always a good thing, as the Bruins learned when they held a two-goal lead over the Penguins but didn't do much about the idea of extending it. Zdeno Chara's power play goal and Tyler Seguin's goal made it two to nothing in the first period, but then the team got too comfortable. Though Anton Khudobin did the best he could, there's only so much one person can do, especially when another of the league's best teams is firing shot after shot after shot.
A late third-period comeback by the home team made it the sixth time so far in this shortened season that Boston has blown a lead, losing 3-2.
March 14: Putting Away the Panthers
Captain Zdeno struck again, opening the scoring and giving his team an early lead, and Patrice Bergeron increased that lead to two before the first period against the Panthers was in the books. However, the game after that got a little less than great—Bergeron himself said as much—though Merlot did it big again to keep the Bruins going strong after letting the Panthers into the game. Shawn Thornton cashed in on some excellent work around the net and Bergeron's empty-netter sealed the 4-1 deal.
March 16: Crafty Against the Capitals
This matinee against the Capitals was just what the doctor ordered for the Bruins, especially for some guys in the lineup who hadn't been performing up to their highest potential lately. A two-goal lead in the first period was provided by members of the first line, Nathan Horton and David Krejci. Andrew Ference scored too and Rich Peverley added a power play goal. One unfortunate own-goal kept Anton Khudobin from earning a shutout, but that was the only blemish.
This game was also big for fans of fisticuffs: Brad Marchand took on Mike Ribeiro while Matt Hendricks found two dance partners in Horton and Adam McQuaid. Horton got a Gordie Howe hat trick and was the first recipient of Ference's new player MVP award: a red shirt with a giant rooster face on it.
March 17: The Penguins, Part 2
Though the Bruins took just one penalty in this nationwide matinee against the Penguins, and out-shot the Penguins this time, the first line cooled down and David Krejci got hurt en route to a 2-1 loss. Tyler Seguin was the only goal-scorer for the visitors. By the end of the first period, Pittsburgh had all of the lead they would need for the win. The luck of the Irish just wasn't with the Bruins on this occasion, simple as that.
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Top 5 Ottawa Senators Games This Season
6 days ago by Patrick Trudeau
Ottawa Senators: Best 5 Games This Season
This season has already been a crazy one for the Ottawa Senators. Injuries to veteran have forced Ottawa to call up some rookies, and step up in their place. We look back at the top Sens games so far this season, with a little explanation as to why it is indeed a top game. With just less than half a season remaining, I am sure there are more memorable Senators moments ahead of us, and the Sens Army couldn’t be happier.
From the first game at Scotiabank Place since the lockout, to the first Battle of Ontario game Ottawa won, there are different reasons as to why each game is inside this slideshow. Every game is special for the players, management and fans, so deciding the top 5 was no easy task. Ottawa has played some great games so far this season.
The season started Jan. 19, 2013, and will close this Apr. 27, so there are more games for Ottawa to play. As Ottawa continues a playoff push come early May, I am sure there will be more games to add to this slideshow.
Since the first announcement of a lockout until a new CBA was reached, Ottawa’s fans have been waiting for their boys to hit the ice, and represent the city as proudly as they can. These top five games really show what Ottawa can do on the ice, and don’t be surprised if we see another “Top Five Ottawa Games” especially due to the way they are playing.
March 16, 2013 Against Buffalo Sabres
The Ottawa Senators were able to come back and win the game in overtime against the Buffalo Sabres, showing the league that they are able to win close games, something they are heavily criticized for.
January 19, 2013 — First Win Against Winnipeg Jets
Ottawa got their first win of the season, beating the Winnipeg Jets in a close battle.
February 23, 2013 — First Win In Battle of Ontario
Ottawa lost the first Battle of Ontario game, but were finally able to win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in a very exciting game for both Sens and Leafs fans.
January 21, 2013 — End of Lockout Against Florida Panthers
The end of the lockout saw Ottawa hosting their first game of the season against the Florida Panthers.
March 17, 2013 — Ottawa Crushes Winnipeg Jets
Ottawa came home on St. Patty's day, and crushed the Winnipeg Jets, scoring four goals, and only allowing one.
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Chicago Blackhawks Weeks in Review: March 3 – 16
6 days ago by Krista Golden
Chicago Blackhawks: Weeks Seven and Eight
The streak has ended for the Chicago Blackhawks. They went half the season without a regulation loss before being felled twice in a row, but they rallied in a big way to end their seven game, two week run.
The fortnight started innocently enough with Marian Hossa’s 1000th game played against the Detroit Red Wings. Just when the game was about to be the end of the Blackhawks’ streak, Patrick Kane launched a power play goal to tie the game and later use his patented shootout move to win the game. Hossa was honored at home two days later for his milestone, and Bryan Bickell’s two goals, along with Kane’s game winner, secured the win against the Minnesota Wild.
Then came the Colorado Avalanche. First up was a home game in Chicago, and not only did Daniel Carcillo squeak in a clutch goal to win the game, but Ray Emery’s presence in net gave him an NHL record 10-start win streak. But two nights later, a visibly lagging team was beaten badly by the Avs. It happened again at home against the Edmonton Oilers, although the Blackhawks tried valiantly and fought back only to come up one goal short.
A three day break is what the team needed, and afterward they traveled to Ohio to face the Columbus Blue Jackets in what would be their last meeting as divisional and conference rivals. The game was held to one goal each, one of which was Johnny Oduya’s first of the season, and once again Kane deked his way to a shootout winner. Their last game of the fortnight was against the Dallas Stars, and it became a game of who would score next, with six players scoring eight goals.
What will the future hold for the Blackhawks in these last few weeks? No one knows. For now, just strap yourself in and enjoy the ride.
Kane Ties the Game
There were only a few minutes left in regulation when Jonathan Ericsson flipped the puck over the glass, causing a delay of game penalty. On the ensuing power play, Viktor Stalberg grabbed the puck and fired it to Patrick Kane, who sent it sailing past Jimmy Howard to tie the game.
The Deke Wins Again
There’s a reason why Patrick Kane is one of the Blackhawks’ go-to guys on the shootout, and he showed everyone why against the Red Wings. With a double kick and some stickhandling, Kane faked out Howard and potted the winning shootout goal.
Crawford Stops Detroit’s Best
It’s hard enough to stop Pavel Datsyuk in regulation, and it’s probably intimidating to see one of the best players in the league coming at you in a shootout. But Corey Crawford didn’t flinch, stopping Datsyuk, Damien Brunner and Henrik Zetterberg to help the Blackhawks win the game.
Team of Hossas
Marian Hossa played his 1000th game in Detroit, so the Blackhawks honored him at their next home game two days later. During warm-ups, the team wore his jersey on the ice. In a pregame ceremony, he was given a silver hockey stick and a portrait of him hoisting the Stanley Cup.
Bickell Doubles His Fun
Bryan Bickell’s not known for his playmaking prowess, but when the time’s right, he’ll get a point or two. In their game against the Wild, Bickell scored a pair of goals, one a rebound and the other a left circle shot from a Brandon Saad pass.
Kane Secures the Win
With the Wild scoring and bringing the score within one goal in the third, Patrick Kane extended the Blackhawks’ lead a minute later, sending his shot past backup goaltender Darcy Kuemper. It was enough to give the Hawks another win.
Emery Makes History
It wasn’t enough for the Blackhawks to make it to the halfway mark without a regulation loss and earn a franchise record 11th straight win. Lost in those stats was the fact that Ray Emery had become the first goaltender in NHL history to win his first 10 games of the season.
Carcillo’s Clutch Goal
The game with the Avs was tied at two in the last minute of the third period. Just when it looked like overtime was in store, Daniel Carcillo scored his first goal of the season with a backhand shot off a rebound and over a sprawled Semyon Varlamov. It was the perfect end to the last winning game of their 24-game streak.
Toews Strikes First
The second game against the Avs began on a good note, with Jonathan Toews scoring the first goal after a turnover. It was their first shot of the game, but it only signaled the Avalanche’s scoring deluge.
Not Crawford’s Night
Compounding to the Blackhawks’ woes was their goaltending. Corey Crawford tried, but he allowed five goals on 19 shots and was replaced by Emery at the beginning of the third period. It was the first sign of shakiness and uncertainty he’d shown in the season.
Kane’s Bookend Goals
The Blackhawks found themselves down by four goals to the Oilers after the first period. They came roaring back in the second, with Patrick Kane starting the four-goal scoring rush. His power play goal in the third period pulled them to within one goal, but they couldn’t tie the game.
Emery’s Effort
Like Crawford in Denver, Ray Emery started in net for the game, and like Crawford, he was pulled after allowing three goals in the first eight minutes of the game. Crawford fared the same, allowing another goal in the first period and two in the second.
Oduya’s First Goal of the Season
Johnny Oduya is a sleeper on the Blackhawks. Since coming to the team in February 2012, he’s been an integral part of the team, especially on the penalty kill. His first goal of the season came against the Columbus Blue Jackets after a nice seam pass from Patrick Kane. Kane’s assist on the goal was his 400th career point.
Another Notch on the Shootout Belt
Sergei Bobrovsky was a beast in net, holding the Blackhawks to only one goal for the game and frustrating everyone who fired the puck at him. But it was Kane's patented shootout slowdown move that finally got the best of Bobrovsky.
The Spin-O-Rama in Action
Patrick Kane says he decided to “have a little fun” with the goal he scored to give the Blackhawks their eighth goal of the evening in Dallas. His spin-o-rama move before firing the puck backhanded was reminiscent of former Blackhawk player and coach Denis Savard. That’s because Savard himself taught Kane that move.
Leddy’s Goal
In a rush to the net, it took three chances to get the puck past Kari Lehtonen. First was Viktor Stalberg, then Andrew Shaw, but it was Nick Leddy who tipped the puck in for the goal. It would’ve been Leddy’s second of the night had Jonathan Toews not deflected the puck into the net on the Blackhawks’ first goal.
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New Jersey Devils’ Five Most Useless Players of the 2013 NHL Season
6 days ago by Mark Donatiello
The Five Most Useless New Jersey Devils of the 2013 NHL Season
The New Jersey Devils are off to an inconsistent start to the 2013 NHL season. The lockout-shortened campaign has seen New Jersey climb to the top of the Eastern Conference, only to lose nine of their next ten games and then rebound just in time to stay in the top eight.
With the season seemingly back under control, it’s time to take a look at who isn’t contributing to the success of this team.
The Devils are anchored by veteran leadership and scoring. Patrik Elias is having another phenomenal season after leading the Devils in points last year. Ilya Kovalchuk, despite a revolving door of linemates this year, has also performed well. The two forwards have been able to provide a semblance of stability to the New Jersey Devils’ 2013 season.
Unfortunately, many of the other contributors in the lineup have been unable to find consistency. After a hot start, David Clarkson is mired in a lengthy scoring slump. Adam Henrique is producing, but only recently did he start finding the back of the net. On defense, Andy Greene has cooled off considerably after a great start, and Adam Larsson may be the most inconsistent Devil on the roster as he continues to learn on the fly.
In a season marked by slumping scorers, sloppy defense, ineffective enforcers, and poor coaching, the Devils have failed to find the consistency that made them Stanley Cup finalists last year. Here is a look at the five most useless New Jersey Devils of the 2013 season so far.
#5: The Under-Performing Captain Bryce Salvador
It’s hard to call the captain of the team useless, but Bryce Salvador is proving to be less of a contributor on the ice than anticipated when the Devils made him captain. He has posted a -5 +/- rating, but that may be due in part to playing with Marek Zidlicky. Still, Salvador has produced just two points while playing more than 20 minutes a night.
As a captain, Salvador is a respected leader and a wonderful locker room personality. On the ice, however, Salvador is not helping the New Jersey Devils win games. He’s not scoring, and he’s not playing well defensively either.
#4: The Rarely Used Henrik Tallinder
Though some of Henrik Tallinder’s rusty play is the result of Peter DeBoer sitting him far too long before finally getting him on the ice, Tallinder’s performance this season has been dreadful. Of the eight-man defensive rotation the New Jersey Devils utilize, Tallinder appears to be the most expendable, but also the most overpaid and difficult to move. Untimely penalties and sloppy play have kept Tallinder scratched from the majority of Devils games this year.
Still, his numbers on the ice actually aren’t that bad. In 14 games, he’s produced three points – one more than Bryce Salvador on the year. He has a positive +/- rating and is averaging more than 16 minutes per game.
#3: The Defensively-Challenged Marek Zidlicky
Marek Zidlicky is a four-million-dollar defenseman that hasn’t posted a positive +/- since 2007. He has decent offensive production at times, but Zidlicky is a clear detriment to a shaky defensive group. Poorly timed pinches, bad passes, and careless play results in countless two-on-one breaks and goals against. Because of the mediocrity of the rest of the defensive corps, the New Jersey Devils are unable to make up for Zidlicky’s over-aggression.
While Zidlicky does serve a purpose as a tepid offensive threat from the point, particularly on the power play, his offensive upside is not worth his total abandonment of defensive commitment.
#2: The Slumping Johan Hedberg - Or the Stubborn Peter DeBoer
It’s hard to blame Johan Hedberg for the six-game skid the New Jersey Devils went on once he took over for an injured Martin Brodeur. Hedberg was a long-time backup, used to frequent rest and favorable matchups. The play in front of Moose dropped off dramatically when he became the starting goaltender, and many of the goals he allowed were not necessarily his fault. Still, it would have been nice to see Hedberg make a big save that turned a game around, and he failed to do that – often allowing soft goals that lost games instead.
Since I don’t want to call Hedberg useless, particularly given how valuable he was to the New Jersey Devils last season, I am going to blame Head Coach Peter DeBoer for running a struggling goaltender into the ground. Moose needed a break, and none of the moves DeBoer made worked over the course of the Devils’ skid.
#1: The Punchless Enforcer Krys Barch
To say Krys Barch does not serve a purpose on this team certainly makes me a hypocrite, but I was wrong about his role with the New Jersey Devils. Barch could be the enforcer that the Devils desperately need, but instead he’s simply a forward that lacks the ability to contribute offensively.
Barch does indeed occasionally start fights, but he rarely wins them. He fails to set the tone physically and is a detriment to offensive production. While the Devils, as a finesse team, could certainly use a player to step in and defend their offensive weapons, Barch has proven time and time again that he is not the guy to do the job.
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New Jersey Devils: Examining the Near-Historic, Six-Game Losing Streak without Martin Brodeur
10 days ago by Mark Donatiello
A Look Back at New Jersey Devils Losing Streak without Martin Brodeur
Martin Brodeur was on the bench in a scheduled day off for the New Jersey Devils goaltender after a win in Washington two nights before. As scheduled, Johan Hedberg started game two of rare, back-to-back road games against the same team. With the Winnipeg Jets looming the following night, the New Jersey Devils’ near-historic, six-game losing streak started innocently enough when they collapsed during the third period of a 1-1 game against an underachieving Washington Capitals team.
Instead of rebounding from an unsurprising loss to the Capitals, the Devils spiraled. In their third game in four nights, the Devils faced a suddenly hot Jets team at home. Brodeur was pulled from the starting lineup due to a surprising pre-game injury and Hedberg was thrust back between the pipes after struggling the night before. Suddenly, the Devils were slumping and without their Hall of Fame goalie for an unknown stretch of games.
New Jersey's offense slumped, the defense broke down, line changes failed and every facet of the New Jersey Devils system fell apart.
Then, just as suddenly as their struggles started, they began to win again. Brodeur’s return seems imminent and the Devils have won three of four. Hedberg is playing better and the offense is finally clicking. The New Jersey Devils are back and playing like a playoff team again.
Because New Jersey is playing better, maybe it’s time to look back and laugh at the losing streak that almost destroyed the season. Here’s a look at the near-historic stretch of futility that came within a game of reaching a 27-year team record.
Third Period Collapse Dooms New Jersey Devils Vs Washington Capitals
The New Jersey Devils collapsed very suddenly in the third period of a 1-1 game, quickly allowing four unanswered goals in what had been a grinding hockey game to that point. A hot Washington Capitals goaltender shut down the Devils offense that had carried them to the top seed in the Eastern Conference. It was easy to forgive New Jersey, however, shrugging off a blowout loss to a slew of strange factors.
The backup goaltender lost on the road to a desperate team and the Devils played well for most of the game. New Jersey just beat the Washington Capitals in Washington and a scheduling anomaly forced the Devils to play the Caps in Washington again just two nights later. It’s very difficult to beat the same team two times in a row, particularly when on the road for both games.The first loss didn’t even begin to hint at the string of hockey that lay ahead.
New Jersey Devils Drop Back to Back Games Against Winnipeg Jets
The New Jersey Devils' losing streak continued as Johan Hedberg’s struggles worsened. In consecutive games with the Winnipeg Jets over a five-day period, the Devils fell twice more to a middling hockey team. Winnipeg was heating up, but the Devils played poorly in both games.
Winnipeg goaltender Ondrej Pavelec outplayed Hedberg and shut down the Devils offense. They had chances, but Pavelec was able to keep his team on top. The Devils squandered a lead in the first game after Winnipeg erupted late. In the third period of the second game with the Jets, the Devils collapsed in the third period of another tied game.
New Jersey Devils Lose Heartbreaking, Chippy Game Against Buffalo Sabres
The New Jersey Devils nearly ended their losing streak when they played a slumping Buffalo Sabres team. After the Sabres made a series of offseason moves to make their roster tougher at the expense of offensive skill, they fell from the middle of the Eastern Conference pack. They fired their coach after losing several games and the year has been something of a rebuilding effort.
The Devils failed to capitalize on a weaker spot in their schedule. Soft goals from an overworked Hedberg squandered a winning effort from the Devils offense. Ryan Miller closed out the Devils in a shootout and chippy play marked another Devils loss. The two would meet later in the week and the Devils got revenge, ending their losing streak one game short of team history.
New Jersey Devils and Johan Hedberg Fail to Close Another Win
The Toronto Maple Leafs have surprised people this year. After firing their general manager because they didn’t like the way he built his team, the Leafs look like they can end their playoff drought. The goaltenders that likely cost Brian Burke his job have carried the Leafs.
The New Jersey Devils blew another third-period lead, failing to score in the third after taking a 2-1 lead into the final stanza. An inability to finish games continued to mark their play, while the offense lacked the timely scoring to make up for a string of untimely goals. When the Leafs tied this one up, it felt like it was already over.
New Jersey Devils Pull Moose, Show Third Period Life, Lay Foundation for Win
The final game of New Jersey’s six-game skid was against another slumping hockey team. The Tampa Bay Lightning, plagued by a lack of defense and poor goaltending play, limped into their game with the Devils. Their offense, as expected, exploded for five goals against the Devils, including the empty-netter that sealed the game. Hedberg was pulled at last, finally ending a stretch where he was clearly overworked.
The Devils made a game of it, however. Special teams produced late goals in the third period and New Jersey was in striking distance. The continuity the offense found in the third period of their game with the Lightning carried over as a third-period comeback snapped a losing streak that threatened to tie team history. Adam Henrique and Patrick Elias finally broke their scoring droughts, leading the Devils past the Sabres in a shootout victory - a mere two weeks after their last win.
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Boston Bruins Week in Review: Week 7
10 days ago by Emma Harger
A look back at Week Seven
The seventh week of the 2013 NHL season didn’t begin so well for the Boston Bruins. Upon traveling to the nation’s capital, they found a way to score three first-period goals against the Washington Capitals, but then they found a way to let the home team back in the game—and tie it up—and win in overtime on March 5. Following the loss to the Montreal Canadiens previously, this was definitely an inauspicious start to the week.
But just as they did in all six games last season, the Toronto Maple Leafs provided a healing balm for the Bruins’ woes two days later. The second line produced en masse, but so did David Krejci on the way to a 4-2 win, getting the victory for Anton Khudobin.
Whereas Boston struggled in matinee games last season, they have been a lot better at winning 1 p.m. games this year, remaining perfect in their matinees so far. That includes when they met the Philadelphia Flyers for the first time in this campaign on March 9. Once again, they scored all three of their goals in the first period, but unlike when Washington was on the other side of things, they managed to actually hold and keep their lead. The day before his birthday, Tuukka Rask earned his 13th career shutout.
Also, on a day between games, newcomer Dougie Hamilton donned St. Patrick's Day head gear to spread some joy at Boston Children's Hospital.
Here's a look back at week seven for the Bruins.
Woes in Washington
How did it all start so well and go so wrong? Brad Marchand scored on a shorthanded penalty shot early in the first and then two defensemen put up goals within about a minute: Zdeno Chara and then Dougie Hamilton on the power play.
It looked like the Bruins were on the way to wrapping this one up with a shutout win. But then the Capitals exploited their weaknesses and just steadily got back into the game, eventually tying it up at three apiece before the end of regulation. Not long into overtime, Eric Fehr completed the shocking comeback.
Thank You, Toronto
A nice visit with Toronto is lately a nice way for the Bruins to get over some bad times preceding it. That happened again this time, though not by a huge eight to nothing margin or anything. Instead, Patrice Bergeron got the scoring started with a sneaky goal past Ben Scrivens. He and his linemate Tyler Seguin each had three-point evenings and Brad Marchand had two separate assists to make the second line the most productive in this outing.
But David Krejci scored too, helped out by Andrew Ference and Milan Lucic, as just another part of the 4-2 victory. Plus, with Milt Schmidt in the house to celebrate his 95th birthday, how could the home team lose?
Leprechaun Hamilton
This time last year, an injured Tuukka Rask was the one making the community outreach rounds, putting on the fun costumes and having photo ops. But as the new kid in town, Dougie Hamilton was the one to put on festive green hats for an early St. Patrick’s Day celebration at Boston’s Children’s Hospital.
He said he always liked seeing athletes doing things like these when he was a kid, so he decided to pay it forward. At one point, he even had a hat with a big fake beard attached, which might be the extent of his ability to grow facial fuzz by the looks of it.
“It’s pretty exciting to be able to do this and give back,” he said about the good times spent with kids who can always use a little fun.
Flattening the Flyers
Is a three-goal lead safe? That’s what Bruins fans were wondering when Tyler Seguin, Chris Kelly and Daniel Paille had all put the team up 3-0 in the first period against the Flyers. These three goals came within a period of less than five minutes and created a cozy lead, but was it safe?
Yes, it was. Maybe it was because this was Tuukka Rask’s first time seeing the Flyers since the disastrous 2010 playoffs and the team wanted to get a win for him. Maybe they just wanted to prove that they can lead by three and actually get the victory by that margin too. No matter what inspired it, the Bruins got the big win—in the matinee game. (No, they weren’t wearing their third jerseys.)
Two Us, Two Ks, 26 Candles
Fun fact: both of Boston's goaltenders are now 26 years old. That's a pretty youthful tandem, even if you choose to add their ages together.
Tuukka Rask turned 26 on March 10, one day after earning that shutout win against Philadelphia, which was made easy for him because he could see most of the pucks--and Tyler Seguin subbed in as a goalie at one point too.
But as he adds another candle onto his cake and another number onto his age, has he proven he can work as the Bruins' top goalie without Tim Thomas anywhere nearby? Yes, he has. Look for him to earn a nice new contract in the coming months as his tryout one-year deal starts to go stale.
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Edmonton Oilers: Examining the Goaltending Depth
11 days ago by Carl Maloney
What's Behind Dubnyk on the Depth Chart?
The Edmonton Oilers have had the same question marks surrounding their goaltending it seems for the last few years. Is Devan Dubnyk a No. 1 NHL starting goalie? Can Nikolai Khabibulin stay healthy? Where is the depth outside the NHL?
All legitimate questions and still not necessarily answered. Dubnyk has been much better this season carrying the load, but he's been good not great. Khabibulin has been spectacular in limited starts, but is once again injured. AHLer Yann Danis has been serviceable in callup duty, but he's hardly more than that.
The other issue is that the Oilers have a stable of goaltending prospects, none of which could be considered blue chip. A few have the potential for an NHL career, but it's far too early to say that with any certainty.
Unlike the other positions, it is the one where there does not appear to be help on the way. There's no big time prospect waiting in the wings to be a difference maker. Even if Dubnyk does establish himself as the starter for years, there still needs to be some depth and a competent backup.
That's looking big picture and the future of the position in Edmonton. Even right now, where the Oilers want desperately for this season to be the one they make a playoff push, there are still question marks. Dubnyk is the unquestioned starter for now, but after watching him leave the other night with injury and Khabibulin still out, what's the next option? What is Plan B? Or C?
Here's a look at the Oilers goaltending depth chart and who some of the future options may be.
6. Tyler Bunz
Of all the guys on this list, he may have the most potential, and at 20, he is the youngest. He's also playing in the ECHL for the Stockton Thunder and hasn't lit the world on fire in his pro debut. A former WHL Goaltender of the Year, he's a positionally sound, mentally tough goaltender. He has the potential to be a solid NHL goaltender, but it will be some time before he is ready.
5. Niko Hovinen
Hovinen is in his first pro season in North America, playing the previous six in the Finnish Elite League. The Oilers acquired him early in the season for added depth. Another large goaltender at 6'7", the 24-year-old is an imposing target. His numbers haven't been great in OKC and he will likely not be more than a depth goaltender, but he has the potential for a very good AHL career.
4. Olivier Roy
Another goaltender coming from a very successful junior career, Roy is in his second pro season. He spent most of last season in the ECHL and started there this season before being quickly recalled. He has gotten better as the year has gone on, and with Yann Danis with the Oilers, he's been get more time between the pipes. The 21-year-old is very quick and athletic with all the tools. His downfall has always been inconsistency and keeping focus for the full 60 minutes. If he can improve on that, he may have a shot at the next level.
3. Yann Danis
Danis has been one of those players constantly on the OKC to Edmonton shuttle. With injuries to Nikolai Khabibulin, he has been summoned again to be the Oilers back-up. Danis has been a reliable depth piece for the Oilers and has been serviceable when pressed into action. He's the kind of goaltender every organization needs, but will not be the long term NHL answer for anyone. He's a great depth guy, has had a very successful AHL career and will continue to help when needed in the NHL, but will not see much action.
2. Nikolai Khabibulin
At 40 years old, Khabibulin has been a revelation in 2013 with his stellar play in limited minutes. However, as predicted, he is back on the injured list with. A pending UFA, it's very unlikely he will be back with the Oilers next season. He can still provide value to the team this year though, whether with his continued strong play as Dubnyk's back-up or as a trade piece to possibly bring a future asset into the organization.
1. Devan Dubnyk
Dubnyk is the top guy on the Oilers depth chart and carrying the bulk of the load, especially with Khabibulin out. Dubnyk has played well this year, at times spectacularly, however he has also had moments where he was not so good.
He has all the tools and certainly the size to be a frontline starter. He will have the rest of the year to prove he can backstop the Oilers into the playoffs and be the goalie they hoped for when they drafted him in the first round in 2004.
Final Thoughts
Devan Dubnyk is a solid NHL goaltender and still has the potential to get better. It's not certain yet whether he can be a No. 1 goaltender that can take a team to through a playoff run, a very competent back-up or somewhere in between. I believe he has the capability to be the first one, but he has to show more consistency and do it for a whole season.
Dubnyk is not the issue with the Oilers goaltending, though. The fact is there is nothing behind him. Khabibulin's numbers in 2013 have been great, but he will not be in Edmonton after this season and may even be gone sooner. The team needs to upgrade at the position in general. That's not to say they need to bring in a big ticket, big money goaltender, but at the very least the Oilers need to find a competent running mate for Dubnyk: someone who will push him and can battle for starter's minutes. Yann Danis is not the answer in any form at the NHL level and any of those behind him in the depth chart aren't going to be ready for at least a couple of years.
The Oilers need to target young, potentially available goaltenders like Jonathan Bernier, Ben Bishop or Michal Neuvirth to name a couple. That way they have depth in case of poor play or injury and two young, legitimate NHL goaltenders on the roster is never a bad thing.
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The Top Five Players in the NHL From New Jersey
14 days ago by dawnmiller
The Five Best NHL Players from New Jersey
It shouldn’t come as any surprise that hockey-mad Minnesota is the state where the majority of American-born NHL players come from.
Over 200 residents of the Gopher state have pulled on jerseys for NHL teams over the years with Massachusetts as the next highest.
However, New Jersey, yes New Jersey, has produced its fair share of professional players and like hockey in the Garden State that number is on the rise.
While the whole state doesn’t shut down for the high school championship like they do in Minnesota, New Jersey hockey has been growing in leaps and bounds over the years.
More and more youngsters are learning the game at an early age. There are more ice rinks available as well as development programs.
Not every high school is able to field varsity ice hockey teams, but the amount has increased with more public, private and parochial schools putting together teams. The state has also recently opened the New Jersey High School Hockey Hall of Fame.
In addition to rinks offering in-house recreation hockey for children and adults of all ages, there are also several very competitive travel programs at the double and triple A level from mites to midgets as well as junior programs.
The New Jersey Devils have also been a strong supporter of high school as well as youth hockey throughout the state. For the past few years, the championship for each division has been held at the Devils home ice, the Prudential Center.
This summer, the Prudential Center will be hosting the NHL Entry Draft in Newark, putting New Jersey hockey front and center. It will be the first time a hockey draft has been held in the tri-state area which is nice since more and more Jersey boys have been getting picked in the draft.
Four out of the five players who made the list were first round draft picks.
While cover boy, Bobby Sanguinetti did not make the top five, the Trenton native was a first round pick of the New York Rangers in 2006 and is quickly becoming a vital part of the Carolina Hurricanes' offense.
Number 5-George Parros of the Florida Panthers
Tough guy George Parros of the Florida Panthers leads off the list at number five. Parros was born in Pennsylvania, but grew up in Randolph, New Jersey. The Princeton University graduate won a cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 and is a member of the New Jersey High School Hockey Hall of Fame.
Number 4-Kyle Palmieri of the Anaheim Ducks
Kyle Palmieri of the Anaheim Ducks grabs the number four spot. He was born in New York, but considers Montvale, New Jersey and the Garden State home. The right wing attended Notre Dame University for one year before being selected in the first round of the 2009 draft by the Ducks.
Number 3-Bobby Ryan of the Anaheim Ducks
Number three honors go to forward Bobby Ryan of the Anaheim Ducks. The talented twenty-five-year old was born in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and grew up in Collingswood. Ryan was the number one pick of the Ducks in the 2005 Entry Draft and was a member of the 2010 Olympic Hockey team that took home the silver medal in the Vancouver games.
Number 2-John Carlson of the Washington Capitals
Defenseman John Carlson of the Washington Capitals grabs the number two slot. The twenty-three-year old grew up in Colonia, New Jersey and played travel hockey for the New Jersey Rockets. He also played high school hockey for Saint Joseph’s of Metuchen for three years before transferring to a school in Indianapolis. The youngster was a first round pick of the Capitals in the 2008 draft and is rapidly becoming one of the team’s best blueliners.
Number 1-James van Riemsdyk of the Toronto Maple Leafs
The number one spot belongs to James van Riemsdyk of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The twenty-three-year old hails from Middletown, New Jersey and played high school hockey for Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, New Jersey before entering the US National Team Developmental Program in Ann Arbor Michigan. Van Riemsdyk was originally a first round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers. He was the second player chosen behind Patrick Kane in the 2007 draft. After being traded to the Leafs this summer after an injury-prone season with the Flyers, van Riemsdyk has found new life. The young forward has been on fire for the Leafs this season. He is also a member of the New Jersey High School Hockey Hall of Fame.
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2013 NHL Playoffs: 5 Reasons Los Angeles Kings Won’t Repeat
15 days ago by Justin Söderberg
5 Reasons Los Angeles Kings Won't Repeat
The Los Angeles Kings won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history last season. The Kings won the series against the New Jersey Devils, 4-2 becoming the only eighth seeded team in North American sports to win a championship.
Founded in 1967, the Kings have only won their division twice and made one appearance in the Stanley, prior to the 2011-12 season. In their first appearance in 1992-93, the Kings lost in five games to the Montreal Canadiens.
It was an obvious surprise for most NHL fans that the Kings even made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. On Dec. 12, the Kings fired Terry Murray after four seasons as the team's head coach. A week later, Darryl Sutter was was hired to replace Murray. It isn’t common that a team which replaced a head coach during the season goes on to win the Stanley Cup.
The Kings Stanley Cup win was definitely a Cinderella story, coming from down in the regular season to put on a clinic during playoffs. They finished the regular season in eighth place, however fought all the way to the finals and went on to win the whole thing. It is something that sports fans world wide love to see, unless they beat your team.
After taking 45-years (44 playing seasons, due to cancelled 2004-05 season) to win the team's first Stanley Cup, it will be difficult to repeat the success the following year. It is not often in any sport to repeat, but even more difficult in the great game of hockey.
Justin Soderberg is a Boston Red Sox writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, "Like" him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google.
Penalty Kill
During the 2011-12 Stanley Cup run for the Los Angeles Kings, they posted an 87% penalty kill, good for fourth in the NHL. This season’s 81.6% is a considerable drop and have only tallied a single shorthanded goal. In order to be successful, a great penalty kill is a must.
Jonathan Quick is Human
One of the keys to the success of last season Los Angeles Kings team was the outstanding play of goaltender, Jonathan Quick. The former UMass Minuteman, posted a 1.95 GAA and a .929 save percentage in 69 regular season games. While in the playoffs he managed to be even better, posting a 1.41 GAA and .946 save percentage.
In 2012-13, the Stanley Cup ‘hangover’ seems to be effecting Quick or he is just showing that he is actually human. This season the net-minder has posted a 2.59 GAA and a .895 save percentage, a below par season so far in 17 games.
Chicago Blackhawks and the Western Conference
The Los Angeles Kings would have to complete another underdog win, in order to repeat in 2012-13. The Chicago Blackhawks are playing outstanding hockey at the moment and are far ahead in the standings over every other Western Conference team. Other teams, including the Vancouver Canucks will also be tough to get through.
Only four-points separate third from 11th place in the West, a small losing streak can put a team from the top five to out of the playoffs all together. In the lockout shortened season, the Kings will have to be even better than last season.
The Eastern Conference
When and if the Los Angeles Kings get through the Western Conference, the Eastern Conference will be sitting there wait for them.
The Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins are not going to be easy teams to beat, if the Kings seem to get to the Stanley Cup Finals. The East has been a battle all season and in order for the Kings to win it all, they need to beat some tough competition.
It Hasn’t Been Done in 15 Years
Finally, a team hasn’t repeated as Stanley Cup Champions in 15 years. The Detroit Red Wings were the last team to win in consecutive years, in 1996-97 and 1997-98.
It took the Los Angeles Kings 45-years to be able to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup over their heads and now they are going to do it two-years in a row; highly unlikely.
Justin Soderberg is a Boston Red Sox writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, "Like" him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google.
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