What the hell is wrong with the NHL? All this talk and controversy lately about fixing the rules of hockey and making them clearer to protect the players. It's the playoffs after all, and the NHL finds itself in the mainstream media's spotlight, with major injuries and concussions becoming more and more of a (logical and enlightened) focus. Its no wonder then, that we're left confused and angered at the lack of any call in Game 6 of the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins match-up, with the Stanley Cup itself on the line.
With Game 4 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals only hours away, many hockey fans are still bewildered by the 8-1 Boston Bruins blow-out in game three. The Vancouver Canucks dominated Games 1 and 2, and then got walloped badly. What happened, and what’s going to happen in game four of the Stanley Cup finals?
In Monday night’s Game 3 of the NHL Stanley Cup finals between the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks, defenseman Aaron Rome laid a hit on Nathan Horton that left the Bruins’ forward unconscious on the ice. The hit was late, which warranted a penalty. Tuesday the judgment came down from the league that Rome would be suspended for four games, meaning he’s out for the duration of the playoffs. It’s an unprecedented ruling for that kind of hit. Is the NHL cracking down, or just inconsistent?
The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Boston Bruins 1-0 in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals this week, but all anyone is talking about is “The Bite.” During a scrum at the end of the first period, Vancouver forward Alex Burrows chomped down on the finger of Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron (see video below). The league is expected to speak with Burrows, as both sides await a possible suspension.
Trade deadline day in the NHL ain’t what it used to be. In the past, it seemed like almost every team was making significant moves on that day, but lately the trend has been for big moves to take place over the course of about a week leading up to the deadline. But the art of the last second deal hasn’t flatlined yet as the Washington Capitals, L.A. Kings, and Vancouver Canucks proved on Monday. Here’s a breakdown of what the moves mean for Jason Arnott, Dustin Penner, Dennis Wideman and Chris Higgins, their new teams, their old teams, and the NHL playoff picture.
2010 was an incredible year in sports, especially if you are a basketball, hockey, or MMA fan. But other sports had plenty of drama as well, both good and bad. Phil Mickelson, Serena Williams, Mike Krzyzewski, Sidney Crosby, Manny Pacquiao, Georges St. Pierre, LeBron James and Roy Halladay were all in the headlines for the right reasons. Meanwhile some characters, like Tiger Woods and Reggie Bush were in the headlines for the wrong reasons. All in all, it made for an exciting year in the NFL, PGA, NBA, NCAA, UFC and just about any other league you can name. So without further delay, here’s my list of the best moments of the sports of 2010:
The long-suffering Los Angeles Kings look like they’re finally ready to bump one of hockey’s longest slumps. The Southern California NHL team has a crop of hungry and talented young players including Anze Kopitar, Jack Johnson, Drew Doughty, and Wayne Simmonds, along with stalwart veterans like Dustin Brown and Ryan Smyth. That crew helped them make the playoffs in 2009-10 for the first time in seven years, and they plan to improve on that output in 2010-11.
The New Jersey Devils’ Ilya Kovalchuk is one of today’s most talented NHL players. For nearly his whole career, that talent has been far from the spotlight as the Russian winger has racked up points in the hockey graveyard of Atlanta, where he played for the Thrashers from 2001 until last season. Now he has a chance to make an impact with a competitive team, but it all hinges on the validity of his contract.
The Edmonton Oilers may have been the NHL’s greatest dynasty in their heyday. The Montreal Canadiens of the late ‘60s/early ‘70s and the New York Islanders of the late ‘70s/early ‘80s were great teams as well, but they didn’t have quite the flare of Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey, and company.
With the 2010-11 NHL season underway, it looks like another lackluster outing for the teams in the Sunshine State. Both Miami’s Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning appear to be icing mediocre teams at best, which will do little to draw fans to already sparsely populated arenas.
The NHL 2010 playoffs have been one of the most memorable of the modern era. With the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins both bowing out early, the Eastern Conference now features the two bottom seeds – the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers - in the finals. Out west it’s a showdown between a burgeoning dynasty and a would-be dynasty in the Chicago Blackhawks vs. the San Jose Sharks.
It’s the time of year that all hockey fans wait for – the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. Which of this year’s crop of 16 teams will be crowned champs? The San Jose Sharks earned a #1 seed, but will their legacy of let down plague them again this year?
The Sharks face the #8 seed Colorado Avalanche, who made the playoffs on the strength of their incredible start to the year. But down the stretch, the Avs were underwhelming.
Alexander Ovechkin leads the Washington Capitals into the NHL playoffsIt’s the time of year that all hockey fans wait for – the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. Which of this year’s crop of 16 teams will be crowned champs? The Washington Capitals rolled through the regular season, earning a #1 seed, but it’s a new season and anything can happen.In the Eastern Conference, the top overall seed Washington Capitals face the #8 Montreal Canadiens, who limped into the playoffs after mighty struggles to start the year.
The classic image of the Boston Bruins hockey team is that of a gritty, tough, but talented bunch. The type of team that is just as likely to give you a black eye as light the goal light. For much of the past 20 years, the Bruins seemed to lack what the likes of Terry 0’Reilly, Cam Neely, Eddie Shore, and Phil Esposito brought to the ice in the past. And then Milan Lucic arrived.