Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
SAIT Trojans Playoff Update
Curtis Taylor
Polytechnic Press
The SAIT Trojans made quick work of the Grant MacEwan
Griffins in the first round of the ACAC playoffs, but will now have their hands
full with the explosive Augustana Vikings in the semi finals.
The Trojans split their four regular season matchups with
the Vikings, with each team winning twice on home ice.
With MRU facing NAIT in the other semi final, hockey fans
around Calgary are hoping for a rematch of last year’s final between SAIT and
MRU.
But the Trojans know that they will have their hands full
with Augustana, and are focused on the task at hand.
“We are going to have our hands full with them, they are a
highly offensive team and they have home ice advantage,” said Trojans head
coach Ken Babey.
The team played very well defensively in the MacEwan series,
and took only three minor penalties in the two games.
They will need to maintain that type of discipline against
Augustana, who had the league’s highest scoring offence in the regular season.
“We can’t be taking penalties against them, we need to play
them hard between the whistles and stay out of the crap with them,” said
Trojans defenseman Mitch McColm
In the final week of the regular season, Ken Babey named
Andy Williams as his starter for the playoffs.
But in the first game of the Mount Royal series, Williams
was injured when he was run over by Cougars forward Jeremy Roberts. Roberts received a five-minute major
and a game misconduct on the play, but there was no supplemental discipline
from the league.
“Andy was in a vulnerable position, I thought it was a dirty
hit,” said Babey.
Williams remains out indefinitely with nerve damage in his
left leg. He still has no feeling
in the leg, which has left the Trojans medical staff searching for other
options of treatment.
Adam Bartko has done a fine job filling in for Williams
between the pipes, and will remain the team’s starter for the Augustana series.
“You always have to be ready, I go into every game with the
mentality that anything can happen and I am mentally prepared to come off the
bench,” said Bartko, who hails from North Battleford, Saskatchewan.
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| Adam Bartko scrambles to make a great save on Vinny Muchalla. Curtis Taylor photo. |
The Trojans have established an identity this season with
their physical play, always sticking up for each other on the ice.
McColm responded to the Roberts hit in the dying minutes of
the final game of the regular season, as he dropped the gloves with him and
landed about 10 solid uppercuts before the officials broke it up.
“There has to be a price to pay for stuff like that, whether
it was an accident or not I thought something should be done,” said McColm
In two seasons with the Tri City Americans of the WHL,
McColm racked up 215 penalty minutes in 115 games played.
McColm enjoyed playing the role of enforcer in the WHL, but
acknowledges that the ACAC is a different league and there is not as much place
for fighting.
“I feel like some guys in this league try to hide behind
that, but I like to keep guys honest, and I like teams to know that when I am
on the ice they will be held accountable,” said McColm.
The series will get start Thursday March 1, at Augustana’s
home rink in Camrose. Game two
will be played on Saturday at SAIT, with a 6 PM puck drop.
Come out and support your Trojans!
SAIT Trojans Playoff Preview
Curtis Taylor
Polytechnic Press
The ACAC playoffs are right around the corner, and the SAIT
Trojans men’s hockey team is gearing up for what they hope will be a long and
successful playoff run.
The Trojans have four games remaining on the schedule, all
of which are against teams they are looking up at in the standings.
They will play a home and home series with Augustana this
weekend, and wrap up the regular season next weekend against their cross-town
rival the Mount Royal Cougars.
The Trojans currently sit third in the ACAC standings, one
point behind second place Augustana and seven points behind first place Mount
Royal.
The Mount Royal Cougars have only one regulation loss this
season in 24 games played, a 7-1 loss at home to the Trojans.
“It gets us into the playoff atmosphere right away here,
these are two big tests and we know that down the road we are going to see at
least one of them in the playoffs,” said assistant captain Travis Bradshaw.
 |
| Sam Mitchell and Vinny Muchalla battle for the face-off. Curtis Taylor photo |
After missing two months with a shoulder injury, Garret
Watson has suffered another setback with a knee injury and will miss the
remainder of the season, joining forwards Robert Nocera and Craig Eisenhut on
the long term injury list.
“Even with the injuries, we still have a great team. A lot of teams are counting us out
already and I think that is a mistake,” said first year forward and Wolseley,
Saskatchewan native Nolan Souchotte.
The team has missed a total of 44 man games to injury so
far, which is the most during Ken Babey’s 25 years at SAIT.
“We’ve been having to patch some holes, I’m not using it as
an excuse but it’s a reality, and I think it has led to some of our
inconsistent play,” said Babey.
The Trojans currently lead the league in penalty minutes
with 881, and while Babey admits his team needs to be more disciplined, the
physical edge they bring every night will be key to their success in the
playoffs.
“We like to play a physical style, and we can do that
without taking lazy stick penalties like hooking and tripping,” said Babey.
The Trojans did not look very sharp in their past two games,
going winless against Concordia.
Babey thinks his team may have taken their previous opponent too
lightly, but with the playoffs right around the corner the team should have no
trouble getting motivated for their remaining games.
“We are kind of seen as an underdog now, which we are
totally fine with,” said Bradshaw. “We feel confident playing against any team,
and we are going to give it everything we have in the playoffs.”
Curtis Billsten Feature
Curtis Taylor
Polytechnic Press
SAIT Trojans fans will notice a few new faces on the team
this semester. Wearing number 15
for the team, Curtis Billsten, was sought after by Ken Babey in previous years
and the Trojans coach is excited to throw him into the mix.
“He’s a proven player who’s experienced, and he gives us
some much needed depth,” said head coach Ken Babey.
Billsten grew up in Saint Albert, just ten minutes northwest
of the city of Edmonton.
He was introduced to hockey at the young age of four, and has
been hooked ever since.
In cold Saint Albert winters Billsten was out on the pond,
playing hockey every day with his older brother. When summer came along and the city thawed out, the hockey
games shifted from the pond to the street.
“Like every other typical Canadian hockey players, me and my
brother played basically every day,” said Billsten. “From that and through my
parents I grew a love for the game.”
Fast forward to today, at 25 years old Billsten has already
built up quite the resume.
After excelling in junior hockey, Billsten was drafted into
the WHL by the Red Deer Rebels.
Going into his first WHL training camp, Billsten surprised a
lot of people including current Calgary Flames coach Brent Sutter, who was then
the bench boss for the Rebels.
“He was a very physically demanding coach who throws a lot on your shoulders,” he said. “But it was definitely a huge learning step in my career.”
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| Billsten and the Trojans celebrate a late season victory over the Mount Royal Cougars. Curtis Taylor Photo |
The WHL took it’s toll on Billsten, and after playing half a
season he decided to go play Junior A for the Calgary Royals to work on both
the physical and mental aspects of his game.
“It’s a grind, you get into that pro hockey style of life
and you realize that life changes pretty quick when it becomes a job and
somewhat of a career at that age.”
The following summer Billsten got picked up in the expansion
draft by the Everett Silvertips, where he would play for another former NHL
coach in Kevin Constantine.
Though Billsten enjoyed playing for a class organization in
Red Deer, he felt he had an overall better experience playing for the
Silvertips.
“Playing for a first year team in a brand new building, the
fans were absolutely nuts. We sold
out even the majority of our season games,” he said.
That year Everett made it to the WHL finals, a rare feat for
an expansion team. The people of
Everett embraced Billsten and his teammates and they became instant stars in
the town just 45 minutes north of Seattle.
“The way (the fans) treated us, hockey was so new and fresh
to them they thought of us as their pro team, and the city really built up
behind us.”
After his WHL career was over, Billsten attended training
camp for the Ottawa Senators. Though
he felt he did well at camp, Billsten wanted more security in his career and
decided to accept a hockey scholarship to the University of British Columbia.
Billsten surprised himself with his dominant play in the
CIS, and his dream of playing professional hockey had not yet faded.
“I couldn’t see myself getting an arts degree at UBC and
throwing my hockey career away at such a young age.”
Billsten left UBC and bounced around playing for
professional teams in Victoria, B.C,, Laredo, Texas, and even Germany before
deciding to attend SAIT to enroll in the carpentry program and play for the
Trojans.
Billsten has made an instant impact for the Trojans with two
goals and an assist in his first two games, and his hockey experience provides
instant leadership off the ice with this young Trojans squad.
“When a guy like that comes in, if he has something to say
you listen to him,” said first year Trojan and Wolseley, Saskatchewan native
Nolan Souchotte
“He’s great in the dressing room, and he’s a hard worker. He brings a lot of experience to the
lineup.”
Heading into the second half of the season, the Trojans are
looking up at NAIT and Mount Royal in the standings.
With Garret Watson back from injury, he and Billsten will
bring a physical presence to a team in search of their fifth ACAC championship
in six seasons.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Shot Blocking
A recent tragedy in Edmonton has brought local attention to the most dangerous play in hockey; shot blocking.
16-year-old Kyle Fundytus, who played for the Don Wheaton Midget AA team in Edmonton, tragically lost his life on November 13 after being struck in the neck by a shot. He went into cardiac arrest, and died later in the hospital.
It was a tragedy that shook the hockey world, and showed how much damage a puck can really do to someone.
Tributes for Fundytus poured in through social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. This facebook tribute was reposted by many in the hockey world.
Deeply saddened to hear the news of 16 year old, Kyle Fundytus, who played for the Don Wheaton Midget AA team...He passed away last week after taking a blocked shot to the neck, sending him into cardiac arrest...
Only a true hockey player can understand the meaning of "sacrificing the body". It takes a very special type of individual to make this sacrifice. For those of us who understand, we know that Kyle risked his life for the betterment of his team-his brothers in uniform.
I am calling on those who have ever laced up a pair of skates and laid themselves on the line to honor Kyle's memory by re-posting this on their wall...
RIP Kyle you were a true hockey player
Here is a link from the The Province newspaper in Vancouver of the reaction to this tragedy on Twitter
The incident has raised the issue of whether shot blocking should be coached at the youth and amateur levels. Trojans head coach Ken Babey doesn’t seem to think it is necessary.
The incident has raised the issue of whether shot blocking should be coached at the youth and amateur levels. Trojans head coach Ken Babey doesn’t seem to think it is necessary.
“I don’t see the need. Once you start making a decision around 16 and 17 that you are going to play serious hockey, then it becomes a bigger aspect of the game,” said Babey.
With the introduction of composite sticks to the NHL and other levels of hockey, players are shooting the puck harder than ever before. And while no NHL players have died as a result of blocking a shot, there have been a few close calls.
I apologize for the video quality, but this was perhaps the closest there has been to a player dying in the NHL from blocking a shot. Trent McCleary suffered a fractured larynx on the play, and was never able to play hockey again after the incident.
What saved his life was the ambulance and medical crew which are on hand for every NHL game, a luxury that was unfortunately not available for Kyle Fundytus.
Shot blocking takes a lot of courage, but it is very important that it is done properly. There is not much room for error. Here are some tips for proper shot blocking techniques that coaches should be teaching players from the youth level and upwards.
North American players are known for their gritty style of play, and shot blocking is encouraged at the youth level. The majority of players in the NHL are from Canada and the United States. This means that players coming over from European leagues have to adapt to the North American style of play, and shot blocking is expected of them.
Stats are from NHL.com
In terms of shot blocking, no one does it better on the SAIT Trojans than forward Garrett Watson. Watson, who is currently injured, relishes his role for the Trojans and gives his team energy with his shot blocking.
North American players are known for their gritty style of play, and shot blocking is encouraged at the youth level. The majority of players in the NHL are from Canada and the United States. This means that players coming over from European leagues have to adapt to the North American style of play, and shot blocking is expected of them.
| Canadian | 54% | |
| American | 23% | |
| Czech | 4% | |
| Swedish | 6% | |
| Finnish | 2.50% | |
| Russian | 3% | |
| Other | 7.50% |
Stats are from NHL.com
In terms of shot blocking, no one does it better on the SAIT Trojans than forward Garrett Watson. Watson, who is currently injured, relishes his role for the Trojans and gives his team energy with his shot blocking.
“It’s not like scoring a goal, but when you get down and feel that puck hit you, you hear the bench behind you 100 percent, its just as good of a satisfaction,” said Watson.
Watson sees the incident in Edmonton as a tragic accident, but knows that young hockey players will do whatever it takes to win the game.
“It’s tough to tell a guy to avoid that, because at the end of the day you are just trying to do what you can to get two points for your team,” he said.
Shot blocking earns a player respect from his teammates and coaches, as it is a way to sacrifice your body for the team.
“It’s becoming a big aspect of the game and it shows the courage you have to put your body in the line of that puck. It doesn’t feel good when you block that puck but it gives your team a boost,” said Trojans forward Matt Stefanishion.
There is much more to the game of hockey than scoring goals. Each team needs a player like Garrett Watson, someone who will go to the tough areas, win faceoffs, and block shots.
And while most of these stats don’t show up on the score sheet, Watson’s role on the Trojans is just as important as any of the leading scorers.
Always sacrificing his body for the team, Watson has earned a wealth of respect amongst his teammates and coaches.
“I miss Watty every day,” said Babey.
“His leadership on the ice, his commitment to the program, shotblocking, faceoffs, he reminds me of Joel Otto, a big guy who wins faceoffs and blocks shots.”
Friday, October 14, 2011
Brendan Shanahan
Brendan Shanahan is entering his first full season as the NHL's Vice President of Hockey and Business Development and head disciplinarian. And while his job is one of power within the league, it is perhaps the most unenviable job the NHL has to offer these days.
The league is in the middle of a massive crackdown on headshots, and Shanahan is the one who has to enforce the new rules.
He has to walk the fine line of keeping the physical aspect of the game intact, but at the same time protect the players from concussions.
Shanahan has implemented a video system where he gives an explanation for his suspensions. Here is an example.
And while Shanahan has taken a lot of heat since taking his new job, I think the league is going in the right direction with these explanation videos.
As a longtime fan of the game, my biggest concern was seeing a legal body check warrant a suspension based on how hard of a hit it was. But after watching the Leafs and Senators battle it out on CBC the other night, I realized that Shanny and I are on the same page.
Ottawa Senators rookie Stephane De Costa cut across the blue line with his head down, and Dion Phaneuf drilled him with one of his signature hits that has made a name for himself in this league. Here is the hit.
There is no question that Phaneuf caught a piece of his head, as the helmet went flying off right after the hit. But the initial point of contact was at the chest level, and I commend Shanahan for not suspending Dion in this situation.
As for De Costa, he is a rookie who learned a valuable lesson, and he will think twice about doing that again especially with Phaneuf on the ice.
The league is in the middle of a massive crackdown on headshots, and Shanahan is the one who has to enforce the new rules.
He has to walk the fine line of keeping the physical aspect of the game intact, but at the same time protect the players from concussions.
Shanahan has implemented a video system where he gives an explanation for his suspensions. Here is an example.
And while Shanahan has taken a lot of heat since taking his new job, I think the league is going in the right direction with these explanation videos.
As a longtime fan of the game, my biggest concern was seeing a legal body check warrant a suspension based on how hard of a hit it was. But after watching the Leafs and Senators battle it out on CBC the other night, I realized that Shanny and I are on the same page.
Ottawa Senators rookie Stephane De Costa cut across the blue line with his head down, and Dion Phaneuf drilled him with one of his signature hits that has made a name for himself in this league. Here is the hit.
There is no question that Phaneuf caught a piece of his head, as the helmet went flying off right after the hit. But the initial point of contact was at the chest level, and I commend Shanahan for not suspending Dion in this situation.
As for De Costa, he is a rookie who learned a valuable lesson, and he will think twice about doing that again especially with Phaneuf on the ice.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Sidney Crosby cleared for contact
The world's best hockey player is one step closer to returning to game action.
On Thursday, TSN reported that Sidney Crosby had finally been cleared for contact for the first time since his concussion suffered on Jan. 6.
Crosby's concussion has without a doubt been the most highly publicized injury in the NHL's recent memory. But for some, it got too much attention. On Tuesday night, the always outspoken Jeremy Roenick sounded off on the NHL network about the constant updates about basically nothing.
There is still no timetable for his return, but this is positive news for all fans of the sport. Before Crosby got injured, he was playing at a level much higher than any other player in the league.
Despite being out since early January, Crosby was still ranked at the top of the list in TSN's top 50 players in the NHL.
If there's any silver lining in all of this, Crosby's injury raised awareness to an issue that has dominated sports headlines recently. The awareness he raised led to action, and the NHL has implemented a serious crackdown on headshots since. In early September, Crosby spoke out against headshots in the league, and said he wanted them completely taken out. Clearly the league listened to what he had to say.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are still a very good team without Crosby and Evgeni Malkin (who is currently injured), but when these two are in the lineup they are the NHL's best team. The HockeyNews posted their preseason predictions, and had Pittsburgh right at the top.
The hockey community has long awaited the return of Sidney Crosby. And while there is no timetable, fans have to be patient. For someone who has already won a World Junior Championship, Olympic Gold Medal, and a Stanley Cup, the most important thing for Sid now is to stay healthy.
On Thursday, TSN reported that Sidney Crosby had finally been cleared for contact for the first time since his concussion suffered on Jan. 6.
Crosby's concussion has without a doubt been the most highly publicized injury in the NHL's recent memory. But for some, it got too much attention. On Tuesday night, the always outspoken Jeremy Roenick sounded off on the NHL network about the constant updates about basically nothing.
There is still no timetable for his return, but this is positive news for all fans of the sport. Before Crosby got injured, he was playing at a level much higher than any other player in the league.
Despite being out since early January, Crosby was still ranked at the top of the list in TSN's top 50 players in the NHL.
If there's any silver lining in all of this, Crosby's injury raised awareness to an issue that has dominated sports headlines recently. The awareness he raised led to action, and the NHL has implemented a serious crackdown on headshots since. In early September, Crosby spoke out against headshots in the league, and said he wanted them completely taken out. Clearly the league listened to what he had to say.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are still a very good team without Crosby and Evgeni Malkin (who is currently injured), but when these two are in the lineup they are the NHL's best team. The HockeyNews posted their preseason predictions, and had Pittsburgh right at the top.
The hockey community has long awaited the return of Sidney Crosby. And while there is no timetable, fans have to be patient. For someone who has already won a World Junior Championship, Olympic Gold Medal, and a Stanley Cup, the most important thing for Sid now is to stay healthy.
Monday, September 26, 2011
2011/2012 Predictions
Western Conference Playoff Teams
1) Detroit
2) Vancouver
3) San Jose
4) Los Angeles
5) Chicago
6) Anaheim
7) Columbus
8) Colorado
Eastern Conference Playoff Teams
1) Washington
2) Pittsburgh
3) Buffalo
4) Philadelphia
5) Boston
6) Montreal
7) New York Rangers
8) Carolina
MVP: Alex Ovechkin
Vezina: Marc Andre Fleury
Norris: Drew Doughty
Stanley Cup Finals: Washington over San Jose
1) Detroit
2) Vancouver
3) San Jose
4) Los Angeles
5) Chicago
6) Anaheim
7) Columbus
8) Colorado
Eastern Conference Playoff Teams
1) Washington
2) Pittsburgh
3) Buffalo
4) Philadelphia
5) Boston
6) Montreal
7) New York Rangers
8) Carolina
MVP: Alex Ovechkin
Vezina: Marc Andre Fleury
Norris: Drew Doughty
Stanley Cup Finals: Washington over San Jose
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
torres walks
To be completely honest, when I saw the Raffi Torres I thought he would be done for the rest of the playoffs. But to everyone's surprise, Colin Campbell announced he would not be suspended and that the hit was within the rules of the league. People tend to forget that certain checks to the head are still legal in the NHL, and it is only the hits from the blindside that are now illegal. Over the past year, headshots have been the number one topic in the NHL and have everyone in the league ultra-sensitive about any hits to the head. But don't forget, 5 years ago this hit would have had the majority of hockey fans on their feet and supplemental discipline would not even be considered. If the current rules had been in place 20 years ago, Scott Stevens would have been suspended for half his games in the league. The responsibility should be on the players to keep their head up in dangerous areas, such as behind the net where you know forecheckers are coming in hard especially in the playoffs. Also, you have to be aware of who is on the ice. Raffi Torres isn't out there as an offensive threat: his job is to make big hits and separate guys from the puck.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Western Predictions
(1) Vancouver vs. (8) Chicago
This clearly wasn't the most ideal matchup for the Canucks in the first round, but they also have an opportunity to get revenge on the defending champs and build some momentum going into the second round. Last year, Chicago's depth proved to be too much for the Canucks and they bowed out in 6 games. This year, the roles are reversed. Gone from last year's Hawks are Byfuglien, Versteeg, Ladd, Eager, Burish, and Niemi. The Canucks have added depth on the blue line, and fans in VanCity can rest assured that Shane O'Brien will not be killing penalties in the playoffs this time around. For Chicago, the X factor in this series is Marian Hossa. If he can play the way he is capable of playing and provide the Hawks with some secondary scoring, Van could be in trouble. All eyes are on Roberto Luongo as he looks to rebound from the last 2 playoff series against the Hawks. I think he is going to have a big series, as he is rested, and currently at the top of his game. This going to be a tight, hard fought series, but in the end Vancouver's depth will prove too much for the Hawks.
Prediction: Canucks in 6
(2) San Jose vs. (7) Los Angeles
The Kings are banged up coming into this series, as they are missing leading scorer Anze Kopitar and second leading scorer Justin Williams. A team that is already offensively challenged, they will need a lot out of guys like Penner, Smyth, and Brown to have any chance in this series. No one wants to face the Sharks right now, as Heatley, Pavelski, Thornton, and Marleau are all capable of taking a game over. I dont think LA stands a chance, but I would like them to prove me wrong.
Prediction: Sharks in 5
(3) Detroit vs. (6) Phoenix
The Phoenix Coyotes never really seem to get the respect they deserve. In the ultra competitive Western Conference they are always in contention, yet they never have anyone in the top 30 of scoring and play in front of 5,000 fans a night. They took Detroit to 7 games in the first round last year, and I think this series will be a lot closer than some people expect. In the end, I think Detroit's playoff experience will be the deciding factor. More than any other team, the Wings know how to get it done in the playoffs. Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Kronwall, Franzen, etc. always raise their level of play in the postseason, and the Coyotes will have their hands full defensively trying to stop these guys. Bryzgalov will have to be huge for the Coyotes to have a chance, but Detroit is just too good.
Prediction: Red Wings in 6
(4) Anahiem vs. (5) Nashville
I think this will be one of the best series of the opening round. The higher seeds in the West are happy these two are playing each other, because both of these teams will be dangerous to face in the playoffs. Anahiem has arguably the best top line in the league right now, as Getzlaf, Perry, and Ryan have been lighting it up lately. Selanne has had a huge year at age 40, and is still very dangerous on the powerplay. The deciding factor for the Ducks will be their play in net. Jonas Hiller has been out since for the majority of the second half of the season, and if he remains out the Ducks will rotate between Dan Ellis and Ray Emery. In the other crease, Pekka Rinne has been one of the best goalies in the league this year. Nashville plays a very defensive style, and rely heavily on their Vezina candidate. On the blue line they also have a Norris favorite in Shea Weber, and he will see lots of ice time against the Ducks top line. This will be a very physical series, and I expect it to go the distance.
Prediction: Ducks in 7
This clearly wasn't the most ideal matchup for the Canucks in the first round, but they also have an opportunity to get revenge on the defending champs and build some momentum going into the second round. Last year, Chicago's depth proved to be too much for the Canucks and they bowed out in 6 games. This year, the roles are reversed. Gone from last year's Hawks are Byfuglien, Versteeg, Ladd, Eager, Burish, and Niemi. The Canucks have added depth on the blue line, and fans in VanCity can rest assured that Shane O'Brien will not be killing penalties in the playoffs this time around. For Chicago, the X factor in this series is Marian Hossa. If he can play the way he is capable of playing and provide the Hawks with some secondary scoring, Van could be in trouble. All eyes are on Roberto Luongo as he looks to rebound from the last 2 playoff series against the Hawks. I think he is going to have a big series, as he is rested, and currently at the top of his game. This going to be a tight, hard fought series, but in the end Vancouver's depth will prove too much for the Hawks.
Prediction: Canucks in 6
(2) San Jose vs. (7) Los Angeles
The Kings are banged up coming into this series, as they are missing leading scorer Anze Kopitar and second leading scorer Justin Williams. A team that is already offensively challenged, they will need a lot out of guys like Penner, Smyth, and Brown to have any chance in this series. No one wants to face the Sharks right now, as Heatley, Pavelski, Thornton, and Marleau are all capable of taking a game over. I dont think LA stands a chance, but I would like them to prove me wrong.
Prediction: Sharks in 5
(3) Detroit vs. (6) Phoenix
The Phoenix Coyotes never really seem to get the respect they deserve. In the ultra competitive Western Conference they are always in contention, yet they never have anyone in the top 30 of scoring and play in front of 5,000 fans a night. They took Detroit to 7 games in the first round last year, and I think this series will be a lot closer than some people expect. In the end, I think Detroit's playoff experience will be the deciding factor. More than any other team, the Wings know how to get it done in the playoffs. Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Kronwall, Franzen, etc. always raise their level of play in the postseason, and the Coyotes will have their hands full defensively trying to stop these guys. Bryzgalov will have to be huge for the Coyotes to have a chance, but Detroit is just too good.
Prediction: Red Wings in 6
(4) Anahiem vs. (5) Nashville
I think this will be one of the best series of the opening round. The higher seeds in the West are happy these two are playing each other, because both of these teams will be dangerous to face in the playoffs. Anahiem has arguably the best top line in the league right now, as Getzlaf, Perry, and Ryan have been lighting it up lately. Selanne has had a huge year at age 40, and is still very dangerous on the powerplay. The deciding factor for the Ducks will be their play in net. Jonas Hiller has been out since for the majority of the second half of the season, and if he remains out the Ducks will rotate between Dan Ellis and Ray Emery. In the other crease, Pekka Rinne has been one of the best goalies in the league this year. Nashville plays a very defensive style, and rely heavily on their Vezina candidate. On the blue line they also have a Norris favorite in Shea Weber, and he will see lots of ice time against the Ducks top line. This will be a very physical series, and I expect it to go the distance.
Prediction: Ducks in 7
Monday, April 11, 2011
Eastern Predictions
The playoff matchups are finally set, and today I will preview the Eastern Conference first round series...
(1) Washington vs. (8) New York
-This isn't the best possible matchup for the Capitals, as they have struggled against the Rangers this season. That being said, the Caps have been one of the hottest teams in the league of late and are a different squad than the one who lost 7-0 at MSG earlier in the season when Ovi dropped the gloves with Dubinsky. These teams went the distance in the first round two years ago, when the Caps came back from a 3-1 deficit to win in 7 games. New York definitely has the edge in goaltending, and Lundqvist will have to be at the top of his game if the Rangers are going to compete in this series. The pressure is all on Washington, as this team can't afford to lose to an eighth seed in the first round for the second year in a row.
Prediction: Washington in 6
(2) Philadelphia vs. (7) Buffalo
-The Flyers struggled down the stretch in the regular season, and eventually lost their number one seed to Washington. Up front, the Flyers may very well be the deepest team in the league. Their biggest question mark is in net, but don't read too much into this as they made it all the way to the finals last year with Michael Leighton between the pipes. On the other side, Ryan Miller has proven to be among the NHL's elite in net over the last couple of seasons. In my mind, he is the key to this series and I think he is going to have a big performance.
Prediction: Buffalo in 7
(3) Boston vs. (6) Montreal
-This is the series all hockey fans were hoping to see. It is no secret that these original 6 rivals do not like each other one bit. These two teams seriously went at it in the regular season, and played in some high scoring games filled with brawls. This could be one of the most entertaining series of the first round. As both teams play different styles, it will come down to who can impose their style on their opponent the most. For Boston to be successful, they need to play a physical game and use their size to their advantage. The line of Lucic, Horton, and Krejci will have to keep up their solid play for Boston to be successful. For Montreal, the key to winning this series will be playing a disciplined game and capitalizing on their powerplay. The Habs PP went 9/28 against the Bruins this season, and it is one of their greatest strengths. As Boston has the size advantage, Montreal has an advantage in skill and speed, and will try to use that to their advantage. Both goaltenders are key in this sries, and whoever outplays the other will go a long way in deciding this matchup. Though I would like to see Montreal advance, the big bad Bruins are designed to win in the postseason.
Prediction: Boston in 6
(4) Pittsburgh vs. (5) Tampa Bay
-The Penguins proved to everyone that they are a much deeper team than everyone thought, as they locked up the 4th seed with 106 points, tied with Philly for the division lead and only 1 point out of first place in the conference. And they did this without their two superstars, Crosby and Malkin. Though Malkin is done for the season, Crosby could return in this series but it still remains unclear. The Lightning are a streaky team, but if they can get Lecavalier going he would provide some much needed secondary scoring behind St. Louis and Stamkos. In my mind Marc Andre Fleury is one of the most underrated goaltenders in the league, and is the main reason they are sitting where they are today. Pittsburgh's edge in depth, playoff experience, and goaltending will be the deciding factors in this series.
Prediction: Pittsburgh in 5
Western Conference predictions tomorrow....
(1) Washington vs. (8) New York
-This isn't the best possible matchup for the Capitals, as they have struggled against the Rangers this season. That being said, the Caps have been one of the hottest teams in the league of late and are a different squad than the one who lost 7-0 at MSG earlier in the season when Ovi dropped the gloves with Dubinsky. These teams went the distance in the first round two years ago, when the Caps came back from a 3-1 deficit to win in 7 games. New York definitely has the edge in goaltending, and Lundqvist will have to be at the top of his game if the Rangers are going to compete in this series. The pressure is all on Washington, as this team can't afford to lose to an eighth seed in the first round for the second year in a row.
Prediction: Washington in 6
(2) Philadelphia vs. (7) Buffalo
-The Flyers struggled down the stretch in the regular season, and eventually lost their number one seed to Washington. Up front, the Flyers may very well be the deepest team in the league. Their biggest question mark is in net, but don't read too much into this as they made it all the way to the finals last year with Michael Leighton between the pipes. On the other side, Ryan Miller has proven to be among the NHL's elite in net over the last couple of seasons. In my mind, he is the key to this series and I think he is going to have a big performance.
Prediction: Buffalo in 7
(3) Boston vs. (6) Montreal
-This is the series all hockey fans were hoping to see. It is no secret that these original 6 rivals do not like each other one bit. These two teams seriously went at it in the regular season, and played in some high scoring games filled with brawls. This could be one of the most entertaining series of the first round. As both teams play different styles, it will come down to who can impose their style on their opponent the most. For Boston to be successful, they need to play a physical game and use their size to their advantage. The line of Lucic, Horton, and Krejci will have to keep up their solid play for Boston to be successful. For Montreal, the key to winning this series will be playing a disciplined game and capitalizing on their powerplay. The Habs PP went 9/28 against the Bruins this season, and it is one of their greatest strengths. As Boston has the size advantage, Montreal has an advantage in skill and speed, and will try to use that to their advantage. Both goaltenders are key in this sries, and whoever outplays the other will go a long way in deciding this matchup. Though I would like to see Montreal advance, the big bad Bruins are designed to win in the postseason.
Prediction: Boston in 6
(4) Pittsburgh vs. (5) Tampa Bay
-The Penguins proved to everyone that they are a much deeper team than everyone thought, as they locked up the 4th seed with 106 points, tied with Philly for the division lead and only 1 point out of first place in the conference. And they did this without their two superstars, Crosby and Malkin. Though Malkin is done for the season, Crosby could return in this series but it still remains unclear. The Lightning are a streaky team, but if they can get Lecavalier going he would provide some much needed secondary scoring behind St. Louis and Stamkos. In my mind Marc Andre Fleury is one of the most underrated goaltenders in the league, and is the main reason they are sitting where they are today. Pittsburgh's edge in depth, playoff experience, and goaltending will be the deciding factors in this series.
Prediction: Pittsburgh in 5
Western Conference predictions tomorrow....
Thursday, March 24, 2011
final playoff push
The NHL playoffs are right around the corner, and there are currently plenty of close races that are certain to end in a photo finish.
With their loss last night, the Calgary Flames all but ended their playoff hopes. All the teams ahead of them have games in hand, and the Flames have the fewest regulation wins amongst them which is the first tiebreaker. The team has cooled off after a post-christmas surge, and it seems they dug too big of a hole for themselves at the start of the season.
4 thru 9 in the Western Conference looks like this: Phoenix, Chicago, LA, Nashville, Anahiem, Dallas. Any of these teams could swap places over the next couple of weeks, and teams like Vancouver, Detroit and SJ will likely have to wait until the last day of the season until they know their first round matchup.
In the East, the Capitals have been absolutely on fire of late and find themselves only 1 point behind the Flyers for the conference lead. If they can get the goaltending, this team will be very tough to beat in the playoffs.
Big game tonight in Boston as with a win the Habs can move within one point of the division lead. This is the final meeting between the two teams and Boston has only beat Montreal once this season. Don't expect any retribution for the Chara hit, as that is not Montreal's game. The Habs have dominated the Bruins this season with their speed and skill, and Boston will have to come up with a better game plan other than trying to physically run their opponents out of the building.
Without their two superstars, the Penguins have kept themselves in the thick of things in the Eastern conference and are still within striking distance of the Flyers for their division title. With Crosby back on skates and Fleury at the top of his game, no one wants to face this team in the playoffs either.
This is the best time of the year to be a hockey fan. With so much more on the line, games are much more intense and the quality of hockey is rapidly increasing. Teams are now resting banged up players in hopes they will be fresh for a long playoff run. So grab some beers, sit back, and enjoy.
With their loss last night, the Calgary Flames all but ended their playoff hopes. All the teams ahead of them have games in hand, and the Flames have the fewest regulation wins amongst them which is the first tiebreaker. The team has cooled off after a post-christmas surge, and it seems they dug too big of a hole for themselves at the start of the season.
4 thru 9 in the Western Conference looks like this: Phoenix, Chicago, LA, Nashville, Anahiem, Dallas. Any of these teams could swap places over the next couple of weeks, and teams like Vancouver, Detroit and SJ will likely have to wait until the last day of the season until they know their first round matchup.
In the East, the Capitals have been absolutely on fire of late and find themselves only 1 point behind the Flyers for the conference lead. If they can get the goaltending, this team will be very tough to beat in the playoffs.
Big game tonight in Boston as with a win the Habs can move within one point of the division lead. This is the final meeting between the two teams and Boston has only beat Montreal once this season. Don't expect any retribution for the Chara hit, as that is not Montreal's game. The Habs have dominated the Bruins this season with their speed and skill, and Boston will have to come up with a better game plan other than trying to physically run their opponents out of the building.
Without their two superstars, the Penguins have kept themselves in the thick of things in the Eastern conference and are still within striking distance of the Flyers for their division title. With Crosby back on skates and Fleury at the top of his game, no one wants to face this team in the playoffs either.
This is the best time of the year to be a hockey fan. With so much more on the line, games are much more intense and the quality of hockey is rapidly increasing. Teams are now resting banged up players in hopes they will be fresh for a long playoff run. So grab some beers, sit back, and enjoy.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
no suspension for chara
The Chara hit on Pacioretty has been a big topic for the last couple of days, and so it should be. Max Pacioretty is still in a Montreal hospital suffering with a severe concussion and a fractured vertebrae. Chara received a 5 minute major for interference and a game misconduct for the hit, but was given no supplemental discipline from the league. A report out of Quebec today stated that the Montreal police are investigating the incident, but to me this is a waste of time. Yes it was a brutal hit, which probably deserved a suspension, but in no way can anyone prove this was intentional. Only Zdeno Chara knows what was running through his mind at the time. In my mind there are a few flaws in the NHL's discipline system. Firstly, they base way too much of it on reputation. If that was Steve Downie making the hit, he would have received a minimum of 5 games. Also, the league stated that they didn't think there was malicious intent from Chara during the hit, the key word there being intent. How do you define intent? No one will ever know if Chara meant to do it or not, as there was a bit of a history between the two players as I have mentioned in a previous post, but for someone in the front office in the league to look at the play and write it off as an accident is just wrong. The bottom line is that Chara made a careless play at a very dangerous part of the ice, which resulted in a player being severely injured. How is this any different from the countless headshots and hits from behind we have seen this season? An open ice headshot is usually not the intended result of the player making the hit, but the game moves so fast now and a split second can turn a big hit into a devastating one. The league has made a point of it this year to make players accountable for their actions, and I think they really dropped the ball on the Chara incident. Enough of this intent garbage, if you make a careless play like that you should pay the price. Pacioretty could have been killed from that hit. Chara is an 11 year veteran of the league, has played countless games at the Bell Center playing with both Ottawa and Boston, so don't try to tell me he didn't know where he was on the ice. The league really needs to get some ground rules on hits like this, as the suspensions we have seen handed out this season have been all over the map. I mean honestly, if a little Trevor Gillies forearm to the head of Clutterbuck warrants a 10 game suspension and this gets nothing, shouldn't the league reconsider their discipline policy?
Monday, February 28, 2011
deadline day
The NHL's trading deadline passed today, and with all the hype TSN puts up it turned out to be pretty boring and uneventful. For anyone who was brave enough to watch it, they saw Bob Mckenzie playing brickbreaker on his Blackberry more than he was talking to his sources.
The biggest deal of the day was Dustin Penner going to the Kings, who gave up quite a bit in Teubert a first and a third. Edmonton keeps getting younger, but the playoffs may be a few more years away.
The Florida Panthers held their annual yard sale making four separate trades. It seems every year this team is trading away all their players without getting any better in return. Maybe this is why Florida is such a shitty team: the players know if they start to play well their stock will rise and they will be dealt out of sunny Miami to a place like Calgary where it is currently -30. Trust me it sucks.
The Canucks added some depth up front without losing any current roster players, and if Chris Higgins can figure it out maybe he'll pressure Mason Raymond for his spot on the second line. Lapierre adds a bit of grit and playoff experience as well.
All in all, the trade deadline is not as big of a deal as its made up to be. Teams often ask way too much for rental players, and sometimes its just best to add depth rather than overhaul your roster. A big trade can mess with a team's chemistry. I think we are seeing the decline of deadline day, and now more moves will be made at the draft and on free agency day July 1.
The biggest deal of the day was Dustin Penner going to the Kings, who gave up quite a bit in Teubert a first and a third. Edmonton keeps getting younger, but the playoffs may be a few more years away.
The Florida Panthers held their annual yard sale making four separate trades. It seems every year this team is trading away all their players without getting any better in return. Maybe this is why Florida is such a shitty team: the players know if they start to play well their stock will rise and they will be dealt out of sunny Miami to a place like Calgary where it is currently -30. Trust me it sucks.
The Canucks added some depth up front without losing any current roster players, and if Chris Higgins can figure it out maybe he'll pressure Mason Raymond for his spot on the second line. Lapierre adds a bit of grit and playoff experience as well.
All in all, the trade deadline is not as big of a deal as its made up to be. Teams often ask way too much for rental players, and sometimes its just best to add depth rather than overhaul your roster. A big trade can mess with a team's chemistry. I think we are seeing the decline of deadline day, and now more moves will be made at the draft and on free agency day July 1.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
MVP
Over the past 30 years, the NHL MVP award has followed somewhat of a similar pattern. The Wayne Gretzky era started in 1980 and he pretty much owned the award until the 1990's. From there you have a mixture of Lemieux, Messier, Hull, Lindros, Jagr, etc. From 2000 and on we have guys like Forsberg, St Louis, Thornton, Crosby, Ovechkin x2, and Henrik Sedin. The trend here is that all of these guys had huge offensive seasons, either winning the scoring race or coming very close to doing so. But every now and then the NHL goes off the map such as Jose Theodore in 2002, Chris Pronger in 2000, or Dominik Hasek back to back in '97 and '98. I feel like this is going to be one of those years. Crosby would have run away with this trophy had he not been injured. Stamkos has had a big year and should definitely be considered. Daniel Sedin leads in points right now with his brother right behind him, but dont expect the league to split the trophy in half and hand it to the twins. Tim Thomas could draw some votes, but my nomination is Ryan Kesler. Before you Flames fans start calling me biased and a homer, just hear me out. At the moment he sits 12th in the league in points with 57, and 2nd in goals with 33. His +23 rating is currently 5th in the league. The Canucks power play is ranked first in the league, and much of this can be credited to having Kesler on the first unit. There is no one better in the league at screening the goaltender, and this is something that doesn't show up on the stat sheet. He worked on his wrist shot in the offseason, and it has paid off big time. I have never seen someone cover as much ice as Kesler, as he is aggressive on the attack but is still always the first guy back on the backcheck. But don't let Kesler's offensive numbers fool you; he made a name for himself in this league as a checker and the defensive aspect of his game is perhaps the best part. He is without question Vancouver's best penalty killer, and is very dangerous shorthanded. He was nominated for the Selke award for the past 2 seasons, and is certainly playing at the same level defensively this year. Although he is not the captain, he is the emotional leader of the Canucks who are currently at the top of the Western Conference. He really does it all, and is truly a complete player. Right now I cannot think of anyone who is more valuable to his team than Ryan Kesler, which is what the MVP award is supposed to be all about.
blockbusters
Two massive deals in the NHL over the weekend. Firstly, the Colorado Avalanche sent Chris Stewart, Kevin Shattenkirk and a second rounder to the St Louis Blues for Erik Johnson, Jay Mclement and a first rounder. This was a huge trade for both teams, as each traded away what seemed to be key pieces to their future. Erik Johnson is no doubt a solid defenseman, but if the Blues could go back in time to the 2006 draft they most certainly would select Jonathan Toews. That being said, he is quite young and is still developing while playing at a high level. In Chris Stewart the Blues are getting a 23 year old power forward who racks up points and PIMs, and is coming off a breakout season in which he scored 28 goals. Shattenkirk is a promising young defenceman and I am very surprised Colorado gave him up this easily. Im my mind, the Blues win this trade in a landslide. Peter Stastny, hall of fame father of Colorado's Paul Stastny, also thought so and ripped the team saying the trade impeded their progress by 3-4 years. In another blockbuster deal, the Dallas Stars shipped James Neal and Matt Niskanen to Pittsburgh for Alex Goligoski. It has been no secret for the past 2 years Sidney Crosby has been urging the Pittsburgh front office to go out and get him a scoring winger, and now he finally has his wish. You can bet his headache felt a bit better after hearing about this deal, as in Neal Pittsbugh gets a 23 year old winger with a heavy shot, and a lot of potential. Playing on a line with Sid this guy could easily score 40 goals next year. You can bet each of these players were scouted heavily by the organizations they now play for, and with the amount of youth involved it will take 3-4 years for us to figure out which of these teams benefit the most from the trades.
Friday, February 18, 2011
trading day
Big day for trades in the NHL today, and with 10 days until the trade deadline we have already seen a ton of action. After hearing speculation about a Tomas Kaberle trade to Boston almost daily for the past year, the deal is finally done and Kaberle is finally a Bruin. Kaberle will provide some depth for Boston's blue line, but deals like this can be risky. If Boston makes a deep playoff run and resigns Kaberle in the offseason, it is a big success for the Bruins. But if Boston coasts into the playoffs, get upset in the first round and watch Kaberle bolt off to another team the prospect and a first rounder they gave up for him is pretty expensive for 2 months of work. In another deal Boston sent Blake Wheeler and Mark Stuart to Atlanta, which I thought was a pretty steep price to pay. Tampa Bay traded for Eric Brewer today, which gave them some much needed depth on the blueline. If they can get consistent goaltending, they look like a team that can make a deep playoff run. Kris Versteeg never really worked out in Toronto, and now Philly hopes he can repeat his playoff performance from a year ago. There have been a bunch of minor deals that I won't get into, but this year it seems like the action is starting a lot earlier than usual. But the NHL trading season really does have a domino effect, as with each trade teams start to get more desperate and GM's are much quicker to pull the trigger on a deal.
Monday, February 14, 2011
grabner
Islanders forward Michael Grabner has been absolutely on fire of late, and thrown his name into the mix for rookie of the year. With his OT winner last night he capped off his second career hat trick, giving him 24 goals on the season which ties him with Logan Couture for the rookie lead. What makes this even more surprising is how the Islanders picked up Grabner for absolutely nothing after he was cut by the Florida Panthers in the preseason. Florida acquired Grabner from Vancouver along with salary dump Steve Bernier and a 1st round pick in exchange for Keith Ballard. A lot of Canucks fans were upset to get rid of Grabner, as she showed flashes of brilliance in some of the few games he played for them last year. The Canucks also have a lot of depth up front and at the time needed help on the blue line, so he was an asset they could afford to lose. But is he an asset Florida can afford to lose? What were they thinking? If you can put up 24 goals playing for the Islanders you can pretty much do it anywhere. Grabner showcased his speed at the NHL allstar game beating Taylor Hall twice to win the fastest skater. But speed was never the question with him, it was more about his hands and his play with the puck. He is now starting to show he can finish around the net, and he certainly creates a lot of chances with his speed. This year's rookie class has been one of the best in recent memory, with Grabner, PK Subban, Jeff Skinner, and Logan Couture all playing big roles for their respective teams, and it will be interesting to see which of these guys takes the ROY award at the end of the season.
old time hockey
How rowdy has the NHL been the past couple of weeks? Line brawls, goalie fights, guys hoppin off the bench to scrap, it feels like the 1970's all over again! While there has been a lot of talk of how this has brought negative attention to the league, I personally love it. The two games that really boiled over were Boston Montreal, and Pittsburgh New York. In both cases we have division rivals who clearly don't like each other, and incidents in the previous games played carried over. In the previous Bruins Habs game Max Pacioretty took a shot at Zdeno Chara which sparked a melee with no time left on the clock. Pacioretty now knows that Chara is a giant that is probably better off left asleep. Boston is a big, physical team, and Montreal is one of the smaller teams in the league. While the Habs can't afford to play many games against the Bruins like this, I love how the team stood up for one another and didn't back down. In the other game, the Islanders were upset about a Maxime Talbot's hit (which I thought was clean) that left Blake Comeau concussed, and a Brent Johnson one punch that left Rick DiPietro with a broken face. The Islanders responded by rallying every single goon within their organization and sent them out to cause havoc against the Pens. The game turned into a blowout fast, which certainly didn't help. I thought Matt Martin's sucker punch on Talbot deserved more than a 4 game suspension, as luckily Talbot wasn't hurt but it was shockingly similar to the Bertuzzi incident on Steve Moore and I thought the NHL would have taken a tougher stand against such a play. Islanders rookie Michael Haley, who had 27 PIMs in the game, will almost certainly be jumped the next time these two teams play. You need to earn a little bit of respect in this league before you start running around like a mad man and picking fights with goalies.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
beauchemin back to the ducks
The first domino of the NHL's trading season fell today, with the Toronto Maple Leafs shipping D-man Francois Beauchemin to the Anahiem Ducks for Joffrey Lupul, prospect Jake Gardiner and a 4th round pick. This is a good deal for both teams. Beauchemin was a big part of the Ducks' success when they won the cup in 2007, but didn't really raise his game playing in Toronto. In return Toronto got a 3 time 20 goal scorer who is coming off two injury plagued seasons, but he will provide some much needed offense. More importantly Toronto got some youth, and lets hope for Leafs fans this is the first step in the right direction for the team. Beauchemin was certainly drawing attention from other teams, and with him being dealt we may see a few more trades sooner rather than later. A D-man with playoff experience is one of the biggest assets a team can have this time of the year, and look for Chris Phillips to be traded before the deadline. Washington, Boston, and San Jose would love to beef up their blue lines, and the deal today may sweeten the offers for the Ottawa defenseman.
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