The Ice Storm Cometh: Stars Visit Ducks at the Honda Center
By Zakk | October 21, 2011
As the 2011-12 NHL season kicks into gear, two Pacific Division rivals are getting ready for Friday’s fire on ice throw-down at the Honda Center. The Ducks and the Stars sit atop the Pacific with the Ducks trailing by only two points. An Anaheim win would put the two teams neck and neck in what may prove to be a season long dogfight in one of the tightest divisions in the NHL. Both teams have won their last four games in a row, which will only heighten the intensity of this premiere match-up.
The Ducks will employ the use of Jonas Hiller between the pipes, whose net-minding skills have enabled him to notch three W’s in his first four starts. He seems to have recovered from last year’s vertigo incident, and he’s looking as strong as ever. His save percentage is .931, with a W-L record of 3-1. His only defeat came at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres on October 7th.
The Stars are confident that Helsinki native, Kari Lehtonen, will be able to stave off Anaheim’s offensive attack strategy. His save percentage Read the rest of this entry »
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The Year For The Capitals & the Stanley Cup
By Zakk | March 12, 2011
It seems like every year is going to be the year that the Washington Capitals make their cup run. Ever since Alexander Ovechkin fell into the laps of the Capitals, it’s always been Ovechkin vs. Crosby this, and Ovechkin vs. Crosby that.
While Ovechkin has gotten the best of Crosby and the Penguins in the regular season, the post season has been another story. While Crosby got his cup in 2009, Ovechkin and his Capitals have spent the last three seasons getting upset in the playoffs by lower seeds. This included a 2009 hard fought seven game loss to the Penguins on the way to their championship, and last year’s embarrassing seven game loss to the Montreal Canadians.
So with all of that said, maybe it’s a good thing that the Capitals have been going under the radar all year. Maybe it’s even better that nobody is talking about Ovechkin. He’s having a down year, by his standards, with only 27 goals with 15 games left. And while it’s surprising that the Capitals are in the bottom 1/3 of scoring in the entire NHL, it’s even more surprising that what’s keeping them in the race for a top seed is their goal tending. Using a goaltender by committee model (#1 Michal Neuvirth; #2 Semyon Varlamov; and #3 Braden Holtby), the Capitals have the third best GAA in the league. Plus, because they aren’t getting the goal scoring they usual have, people don’t seem to realize that they are currently a #2 seed in the East.
If there was ever a season for a Washington cup victory, this seems to be it. Without a clear Read the rest of this entry »
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Boston on the winning streak
By Zakk | January 3, 2011
The 1st Boston team just weren’t extremely great protectingly within dropping their own newest sport. They’re going to attempt to steer clear of 3rd directly beat once they encounter the actual last Toronto Maple Leafs, who’re arriving large pungent efficiency.
The actual Northeast Split competition fulfill in Air Canada Heart for that 2nd period this year because the Bruins end upward top of the season five times street journey this evening.
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Joe Thornton pays the price
By Zakk | November 7, 2010
Joe Thornton paid an expensive price tag for what he thought would be a clean check. Thus did the Sharks, who’ve difficulty conjuring up offense nowadays despite their scoring leader skating well on the ice. David Perron has healed from Thornton’s elbow towards the head having a goal that aided the Blues win their 6th consecutively at the Scottrade Center to begin the season in a 2-0 win on Thursday evening. Thornton, having fifteen points in twelve games, did not believe he did anything at all incorrect. Likewise, he missed the final 34:31.
Perron put in his 5th score of the year the later part of of the 2nd period for a 2 goal lead , throwing in a backhander following T.J. Oshie’s shot bounced off a defenseman’s lower-leg. 3rd lin checker Matt D’Agostini received his 5th within the 1st. St Louis expanded their team record to twelve victories overall consecutively at Scottrade Center in spite of playing poorly going for six on the power play. The majority of last year, St. Louis experienced among the worst home records in the league. Alex Pietrangelo aided in both scores for St Louis, who’ve won 5 consecutively & have sixteen points over the 1st ten matchups, the 2nd best start in team history & merely one point behind the 2002-03 season.
San Jose had been held scoreless for the 2nd consecutive online game, kept to a low this year of 25 shots, & have not put a puck in the net in 144 minutes, 43 seconds. San Jose, had made it to the Western Conference Championship last year, may be shutout completly in its last three games away from home. Within the last 5 Read the rest of this entry »
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NHL San Jose at Colorado Oct 21 Preview
By Zakk | October 22, 2010
The last time these two teams met up, San Jose knocked Colorado out of the playoffs in a five game series that included three overtime games. San Jose was bumped off by the Chicago Blackhawks, who went on to win the StanleyCup, in the Western Finals
The Avalanche opened their season strong this year by beating both the Blackhawks and arch rivals the Detroit Red Wing at home.
San Jose has been struggling to find its legs this season and is only 1-1-1 at this writing. In the off-season, the Sharks lost several key players including former Av Rob Blake and goalie Evgeni Nabokov.
Nabokov has been replaced by Antero Nittymaki and Antti Niemi who are co-starters. It will be interesting to see how this works out over the course of the season.
Up front, San Jose’s lines are a mix of veterans like Danny Heatley and younger players like Jamie McGinn and Logan Couture.
Colorado’s playoff run last year surprised a lot of people because it was a team without a lot of star power and a new, young goalie, Craig Anderson. (In fact, most NHL reporters had the Avs lined up for the draft lottery.)
Anderson stepped up with 38-25-7 record last year including 7 shut outs. He also had 51 saves in one game against San Jose in the playoffs.
Special teams have been a major sore spot for the Avalanche this year, allowing three short-handed goals in only five games. If San Jose can take advantage of the power play and catch Anderson off guard, they’ve got a good shot at racking up their second road win of the season.
But Colorado still has a few veterans like Adam Foote to step up when the team needs motivation.
Between Colorado’s thirst for revenge and San Jose’s desperation for a road win, this should be an excellent game. And who knows? It’s very likely that these two teams will see each other again in the 2011 playoffs.
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Oilers vs Flames
By Zakk | October 13, 2010
Neither the Edmonton Oilers nor the Calgary Flames made the playoffs last year, with the Flames finishing 5 points out of the last playoff spot in the Western Conference and the Oilers finishing last in the whole NHL. However, at the start of a new season, every team starts undefeated, so the Flames and the Oilers open the 2010-11 season hoping this year is a bit better than the last. How they fare in the season opener could bode for the teams’ respective success this year.
The youthful Oilers have some hopefully comparing them to last year’s Colorado Avalanche, who unexpectedly made the playoffs after being expected to fare badly in 2009-10. In order to make that comparison stick, the Oilers have lots of areas they’ll have to improve in, with their defense being first and foremost. The Oilers finished dead last in goals allowed last season, giving up 3.4 goals a game. Being able to score goals would be helpful as well, an area that the Oilers could stand to get a boost in after ranking 27th in the NHL with 2.5 goals a game. Left wing Dustin Penner, who led the Oilers in goals, assists, and points last year, will be crucial to improving the Oilers’ offensive attack.
The Flames are in a slightly better position to contend after narrowly missing the playoffs last year. They bring a strong defense to the fray, allowing 2.5 goals per game last season, fifth best in the NHL. However, like the Oilers, scoring goals has been a weak spot, with the Flames ranking worse than the Oilers at 29th worst in the league in goals scored. The key for the Flames will be right wing Jarome Ignila, who, like Penner, led his team in all of the major offensive categories.
If last season is any indication, the match-up doesn’t bode well for the Oilers. The Flames won all five of the meetings between the teams last season. The only encouragement for the Oilers is that three of those games were decided by only 1 goal. Home ice may also be kind to the Oilers, as 19 of their 27 wins came in Edmonton.
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Florida Panthers @ Vancouver Canucks Oct. 11th preview
By Zakk | October 8, 2010
Vancouver receives the initial nod, just because they have been a better team for the past five years, and there is nothing too striking to disturb that thesis this year. Despite only making it to the second round last year, they still played almost four weeks more hockey than Florida. In addition, the two teams made a trade that was completed just this morning swapping left wingers Andrew Peters and Darcy Hordichuk. I call this trade a Vancouver win, because both teams need to improve their physical presence if they want a legitimate chance at winning this year. Vancouver especially needs some bruisers in their lineup. They have the firepower, just not the presence.
Florida’s lineup is one to two inches smaller than that of Vancouver’s all across the board. Even though size doesn’t matter, in the National Hockey League, it does help. The area that this size difference will come into play the most is in the Vancouver defensive zone. Up front the two teams are practically identical, it is their blue liners that vary. Vancouver has three starting defensemen over 6’3”, and Florida has only two players on their entire roster over 6’3”, excluding goaltenders. If Vancouver can establish a dominating physical presence in the defensive zone, they will give themselves a good chance of winning.
In terms of goaltenders the nod must be given to Roberto Luongo. The ex-panther is one of the most creative and talented net-minders in the league. In comparison to either Scott Clemmensen or Tomas Vokoun he is the consistent bet. Both teams will be coming off games on the 10th, Vancouver hosting the Kings. and the Panthers going to Edmonton. This again leans in Vancouver’s favor as the play an easier team at home, than Florida plays on the road.
Vancouver will win this game 4-2, only if they can score first, preferably in the first period. Florida will need to weather the inevitable storms that Vancouver will shower them with. But if the Panthers remain focused and encouraged they can easily capitalize on an inevitable lull in the Canucks focus.
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Blackhawks Season Preview
By Zakk | October 3, 2010
For the Blackhawks to repeat they will have to have each part of the team to step up and do what they do best. The defense, one of the best in the NHL, must limit the shots on goal which will definitately make the job for Turco easier. Even with the new players on the roster you can’t count them out. Key players must stay healthy and play up to their talented potential. Although they may not be the favorite this season to repeat, they are the favorite to win the Central Division. Detroit and St. Louis are the main rivals for the Blackhawks and this year will be no different. Vancouver seems to be the favorite for the cup.
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Who Are The Top Hockey Clubs
By Zakk | September 22, 2010
The National Hockey League has been around a long time. Since 1967, the NHL has grown from six teams to thrity teams. When thinking about the top hockey clubs, the Original Six comes to mind. These are the six founding NHL teams. The Original Six consists of the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, and Detroit Red Wings. Since expansion, some of these franchises have tapered off while others have risen to great heights. Here is a look at the top hockey clubs around.
One measuring stick when determining the best hockey clubs is to look at the Stanley Cup. The Stanley Cup predates the National Hockey League by twenty years, but the NHL association with the trophy began in 1915. No team has won the trophy more than the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal has hoisted the Stanley Cup 24 times. They have also appeared in the Finals 34 times, also the most of any NHL team. No team has come close to those numbers. However, Montreal hasn’t won the Stanley Cup since 1993, and their status is a top hockey club isn’t as secure as it used to be.
Toronto has the second most Stanley Cup wins, with 13. But Toronto has not even reached the Stanley Cup Finals since the league expanded in 1967. The past decade has been especially unkind to the Maple Leafs, as they regularly finish near the bottom of the standings.
The Detroit Red Wings are considered by most to be the top team in the modern era. Detroit has won 11 Stanley Cups, including four since 1997. They are playoff regulars, often finishing near the top of the NHL standings. The popularity of the Red Wings has helped earn Detroit the moniker of Hockey Town. Detroit is a good measuring stick for NHL contenders.
Among the expansion teams, the Philadelphia Flyers have the most appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals with eight, including in 2010. The Flyers have a rabid fan base in Philadelphia and rarely miss the playoffs. The Pittsburgh Penguins have taken three Stanley Cup championships and have featured two of the greatest stars in the game over the years in Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby. The Washington Capitals currently have Alex Ovechkin, one of the game’s best players. They finished with the best record in the NHL last season but flopped in the playoffs. Another top hockey club is the San Jose Sharks, who have been among the best regular season teams of the decade but have yet to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.
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How to use Hockey Tactics to Succeed
By Zakk | September 17, 2010
As with any sport, hockey has nuances that are specific to each player. Defensive and offensive players in hockey have different tactics that work to make them either a mediocre player or the one who scores, or saves the puck from going into the goal. Tactics in hockey are more than just skating well and hitting the puck. The players have to be sure that they learn the game and the opponents as well.
Offensive tactics: learn to read your defender. They may be limited to how they skate, they may favor their left side and only go right. The offensive player needs to ensure that if they have the puck it gets to the net and makes a score for his team. By watching from the sidelines the good offensive player can learn the limitations of his opponent and thus improving his own success at scoring. Be sure to keep yourself watchful. Practically develop eyes in the back of your head to anticipate the actions of the defender. In this way the puck will stay in your possession and potentially get you or your teammates to the goal.
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