I found this on Tumblr. If any of you are hockey fans, you know about Darryl Sutter, coach of the LA Kings. He has a penchant for unintentionally funny press conferences and is well-known for his demeanour. Check this out for a good chuckle.
Field Guide To Darryl Sutter Facial Expressions.
Boston Bruin fans will appreciate this one. Well worth the fine.
Adrian Alverstein likes winning. Victory dance performed after a league game in Norway. Question: Will this catch on in North America? Two minutes for excessive celebration?
In a continuing series on the trials and tribulations of Canucks goalie, Roberto Luongo, we have one of the strangest goals in recent memory. Former Boston Bruin (our hero’s nemesis team), and current San José Shark (our hero’s most recent nemesis) Joe Thornton shoots one into the Canuck’s zone and the rest is history.
Is this guy snake-bit or what.
I was watching (as Canadians do) an NHL game from Chicago between the Blackhawks and the Winnipeg Jets. During the game, something happened that I had never seen before. No, not the hit, or the glass popping out or the beer being thrown at the opposition player. Believe it or not, a fairly inebriated fan reached in and ripped the helmet off Adam Pardy‘s head (I’ve also seen fans grab equipment before) and, this is the crazy part, put the helmet on. As the announcer says, if you’re going to steal something, don’t wear it. A classic NHL moment that will play on sport shows for years.
A lot of you don’t know hockey, but we Canadians do. Over the past few years there has been a lot of talk about Vancouver Canucks goalie, Roberto Luongo. Personally (even though I love to tweak my my Canuck fan friends about him), I think he is a marvellous, highly skilled goaltender, one that has led Canada to Olympic gold, and will again this winter. Having said that, he appears to be completely snake bit. To set this up, Hockey Night in Canada (61 seasons on CBC TV) to a nation wide audience, playing the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal is short-handed as they have a penalty. they move the puck into Vancouver’s zone and the entire group head for the bench for a change, then……
As I understand, the rest of the world does not celebrate ice hockey as we Canadians do, so I figured a quick primer for the rest of the world would be required. This primer is specifically geared to the teams that made the playoffs and focuses on the Canadian based teams that qualified. Vancouver fans may not like this very much so avert our eyes and move on. Please ask your questions in the comments and I will do my best to enlighten you.
Lets see how I did and then predict the second round.
New York Rangers vs Ottawa Senators
I called Rangers in 5. The series went seven and I came away impressed with the Senators. I think they are back and must be considered a budding force in the future.
Boston Bruins vs Washington Capitals
Once again the Bruins were Drydened. Braden Holtby, a 22-year-old rookie goalie, picked up the Capitals, put them on his back and defeated the reigning cup champs in 7 games. A notable event, all 7 games were decided by 1 goal, the first time that has ever happened. The Bruins lost with class, the Caps won with class. Kudos t both teams for an entertaining series.
Florida Panthers vs New Jersey Devils
Florida wasn’t a mirage. They extended the devils to 7 games before losing to a better team. The devils move on.
Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins
It was the best series. A wild one with records set for goals scored and both teams showed a complete lack of defense. Not to mention the obvious dislike between the teams. I call Pittsburgh in 6, I was close. Philadelphia won in 6.
Vancouver Canucks vs Los Angeles Kings
I am happy to report that, as I expected, the Kings easily won this series. The Canucks are a team in complete disarray. And for those Canuck fans clinging to the skilled team getting beat up by the inferior team, I have 3 things to refute that. How many “skilled” players are on the team. I count 2. LA won because they could roll 4 lines, the Canucks, on any night, had 1, maybe 2 decent lines. Their depth on the skill side does not exist. Second, in last years playoffs, they were the 2nd most penalized team in the league, following Anaheim, who only played 6 games. In the series against LA, Vancouver averaged 18.8 penalty minutes per game, whereas LA only had 10.6. One of two conclusions, they are as dirty as I say, or the refs hate them too. Expect Vancouver to be gutted in the off-season.
St Louis Blues vs San Jose Sharks
Gooaltending was the difference as the Blues cruised into the 2nd round, and they did so with number 2 goalie Brian Elliott. Number 1, Halak went down with an injury. He will be back in round 2.
Phoenix Coyotes vs Chicago Blackhawks
Phoenix defeated the Hawks in a close series. The Coyotes are in the second round for the first time in their post-Winnipeg history.
Nashville Predators vs Detroit Red Wings
Nashville moves on as expected. The Predators could go all the way this year.
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Now for the second round predictions.
If Holtby continues his magic, the Capitals will win. If the Rangers solve him early, the it could be a sweep for New York. I think Holtby is for real, the Caps will win in a tough 6 game series.
I pulled a number out of my hat and Philadelphia will win in 5.
Despite last nights loss, the Predators will prove to much for the Coyotes. It will go 6 games.
Potentially a great series. I am picking the Kings only because I want to thank them for taking down the Canuckleheads.
The season is over, the seedings are done and now we begin the craziest 2 months in sports, the Stanley Cup playoffs. In order to become champion, a team must win 4 straight best of seven series, each one more intense than the previous. Players will be tired, bruised and battered, yet will carry on as if nothing was wrong to have a shot to carry the holy grail of sports. This coveted trophy was first handed out in 1893. yes 1893. The cup has been the exclusive domain of the NHL since 1926. This would make it the oldest trophy in North America. On to the predictions.
New York Rangers vs Ottawa Senators
Ottawa is Canada’s only team this year (I refuse to acknowledge the Vancouver Canucks as a Canadian team) but they are in tough against the East’s 1st seed, the Rangers. I have to give the nod to the Rangers based on overall depth and goaltending. Rangers in 5.
Boston Bruins vs Washington Capitals
Last years champs, the Bruins are in tough against a recently hot Washington team. Sorry T, but the Bruins overall depth and Tim Thomas will prove to much for the perennial under achievers. Maybe next year for Ovechikin and crew.
Florida Panthers vs New Jersey Devils
Florida is a mirage, Devils in 4.
Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Potentially the best series of the first round. It is to bad that one of these teams will be gone from the show early. Since Sidney Crosby returned, the Penguins have to be favoured to win it all. I call the Penguins in a tough 6 game victory.
Vancouver Canucks vs Los Angeles Kings
Vancouver won the trophy for most points in the league for the second year in a row. Unfortunately, that doesn’t win the cup, but it does look pretty. I really believe that the Kings will win this, but I will predict that Vancouver will take it in 7 as they figure out that Cory Schneider is the answer in goal and move Burrows to the minors. Also, I can’t bash this bunch of losers if they aren’t in it anymore.
St Louis Blues vs San Jose Sharks
The Blues in 5. Goaltending will be the difference in this series and the Sharks move closer to dismantling a team that once had so much potential.
Phoenix Coyotes vs Chicago Blackhawks
Another good series. The other Jets may just pull this off. The Hawks are hurting, but do have the firepower needed to win this one. Phoenix has depth and have played well all year. Tough to call, but Hawks in 7.
Nashville Predators vs Detroit Red Wings
Another 4 vs 5 match-up that will send a very good team to the golf course before their time. Either team here could easily win the cup. The Red Wings have the experience and talent, the Predators got a taste of going deep into the playoffs last year and will want to go even deeper this year. Nashville will take this series in 6.