Recapping my prognostication for the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, I was 7-for-8 in the first round. The Tampa Bay Lightning upset the perfect record. In round two, I was 3-for-4. The Tampa Bay Lightning upset the perfect record. In the semi-finals, I was obviously 2-for-2 as my pre-playoffs pick for the finals have actually arrived along with a 12-2 post-season picks record, though the Lightning tried their best to undermine me again. Not too shabby.

Boston Bruins vs. Vancouver Canucks

For the finals, everyone is in love with the aging goaltenders who have performed like stalwarts in the prime of their careers. Roberto Luongo has been clutch. Tim Thomas has been steady-as-she-goes this entire season and these two veterans are likely to be the focal point of what I anticipate being a long finals series.

Luongo is following up his 2010 Olympic Gold with a shot at having his name engraved on Lord Stanley’s Cup. Tim Thomas is a former Vezina Trophy winning goaltender with an eye on adding another to his mantle along with his name on The Cup. We’ve watched Roberto Luongo steadily improve throughout the playoffs. We also watched Tim Thomas struggle mightily (at times) against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Of course, several teams struggled against the Lightning. However, only one goalie pitched a shutout in a game 7 against them to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals – and that’s Tim Thomas.

It’s damn near impossible to pick between the two of these guys. If forced to give an edge to one team, I’d give it to the Vancouver Canucks and Roberto Luongo if only because I believe he’s given up fewer “bad goals” than Thomas, particularly in the semi-finals round. There is no shortage of firepower on either side, but I also watched the defense in front of Thomas falter at the most inopportune times, too.

For the Bruins, the embarrassment of the 2010 post-season is long behind them. In their semi-finals series against the Philadelphia Flyers, they embarked on a collapse of epic proportions, coughing up a 3-0 series lead, including a 3-0 goals advantage in game 7 to limp into the post-season. This year, gritty performances and a whole lot of hard work have landed them in the finals.

For the Canucks, well… they’ve come from a virtual no-man’s land to take the President’s Trophy for the best record during the regular season and, for the most part, cruise through the post-season much the way many so-called experts expected.

At even strength, both sides have plenty of star-power, fire-power, power-power, whatever it is you want to call it. Plenty of goal-scoring capability on multiple lines means that our two highly touted goaltenders will see their fair share of rubber blasted their way. Vancouver’s Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik have certainly heated up after a lackluster start to the playoffs. Rookie, Ryan Kessler is among post-season scoring leaders. Alexandre Burrons and Christian Erhoff round out the top scorers for the Canucks. The Boston Bruins bring the likes of David Krejci and Nathan Horton, both Top 6 in scoring during the 2011 post-season to bear on Roberto Luongo. As if that wasn’t enough, four of the top 12 scoring post-season players include Bruins when you throw in Patrice Bergeron and Mighty Joe Thornton.

On the special teams, the Boston Bruins have made this far while having a pathetic power play scoring only 8.2% of the time. It’s truly a wonder that they’ve made it this far without a power play. They could literally double their power play output and still be very near the basement for the entire post-season. On the penalty kill, both teams are right around the 80% mark. What’s the difference-maker here? Vancouver Canucks sporting a lofty 28.3% power play scoring rate.

With things being so close in goaltending and equally close in offensive and even defensive prowess, I keep falling back to the special teams on this one. With both teams committing about the same number of penalties in the same number of games, I can’t help but take a look at the huge difference between the teams on the power play. It’s hard to imagine that the Boston Bruins are suddenly going to find the mark during the hot glare of the Stanley Cup Finals spotlights.

Therefore, I will anoint the Vancouver Canucks the 2011 Stanley Cup Champions and believe that they will do it in 6-games.Similar Posts:

• Conference Finals: 2011 Stanley Cup NHL Playoffs
• Western Conference Round 2: 2011 NHL Playoffs
• Eastern Conference Round 2: 2011 NHL Playoffs

Stanley Cup Finals 2011: Boston Bruins vs. Vancouver Canucks is a post from:

The NHL Playoffs Eastern Conference round two games were a completely clean sweep, with the Boston Bruins brushing the hapless Philadelphia Flyers out the door in four games. The Tampa Bay Lightning similarly swept the Washington Capitifuls into a dust pan and unceremoniously dumped them into the off-season without a Stanley Cup bid. These games were hardly competitive, but I suppose that both of them resulting in sweeps were a merciful ending to a round that didn’t live up to the excitement of previous one in the 2011 NHL Playoffs.

The NHL Western Conference, on the other hand, lived up to my expectations. It took to Vancouver Canucks six games to dispatch the Nashville Predators. While Nashville faltered at home, losing all three of their games, they managed to put up a fight in Vancouver where they were 2-1. The Detroit Red Wings looked like they were going to be cut loose by the San Jose Sharks in short order before they surged back to tie the series at three games each before the Sharks knock-out punch in game 7.

The #3 seed Boston Bruins against the #5 seed Tampa Bay Lightning

These two teams have been waiting more than a week to get back to playing the NHL playoffs. If there is an advantage or disadvantage to a long layoff – well neither team has the upper hand in this contest.

Tim Thomas has continued to carry over his outstanding excellent regular season play into the post-season and is a sure to receive the Vezina Trophy for these NHL playoffs from what I’ve seen. Hopefully, my thoughts don’t become a kiss of death for his receiving that award. While Dwayne Roloson is no slouch, I’m giving the edge to Boston.

The Boston Bruins craptastic power play unit is going up against a formidable post-season penalty killing unit in the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are shutting down opponents at a shade over 94%. With Boston’s power play performing at a 5% success rate combined with the loss of Patrice Bergeron – means the special teams play favors the Lightning.

At even strength, I come down on the side of the Boston Bruins. The Tampa Bay Lightning were generally outscored at even strength in both previous series’. Yes, the Bruins did play against the goalie carousel in Philadelphia, but they do have talent and depth. On top of that – they’re tough. Tampa Bay shouldn’t be overlooked, with the likes of Stamkos, LeCavalier, and St. Louis. With Sean Bergenheim and Martin St. Louis in the NHL playoffs top 5 for goal scoring, they’re sure to test Thomas early and often in this one. Boston’s goal scoring has been spread around quite nicely and Roloson will have to have his head on a swivel as the shots come from Nathan Horton, David Krejci, Chris Kelly, and Brad Marchand.

The Boston Bruins are going to the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in 6-games.

The #1 seed Vancouver Canucks against the #2 seed San Jose Sharks

Don’t look now but there is some very good goaltending going on way out west. Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo and – shocker – there’s that Antti Niemi of the San Jose Sharks on the brink of another chance to get his name etched on the Stanley Cup in his second consecutive NHL playoffs appearance. Luongo’s goals-against is nearly a full point better than Niemi’s while their save percentages are nearly identical at just over .900. While I’m one of the few who don’t disrespect Antti Niemi, I still am giving the edge to the Vancouver Canucks.

The special teams are a virtual deadlock. Both teams have demonstrated outstanding penalty killing skills. Further, the Vancouver Canucks never seem to take many penalties, either of the necessary or unnecessary kind.

At even strength, Joe Thornton, Dan Heatley, and Patrick Marleau lead the charge for the San Jose Sharks. Throw in Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture and the Vancouver Canucks are going to have their toughest tests of the 2011 post-season. For Vancouver, the spotlight seems to be shining brightly now on Ryan Kesler. In the mix are the Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik. While Henrik hasn’t been producing as much as the Canucks fans would like, Daniel Sedin has put up six goal and four assists. Defensively, they need to play much better as both are a -8 to go with their 10-points each. I’m going to side with the San Jose Sharks here.

The play of both of these teams has been stellar which is why they are the top two seeds in the Western Conference. Still, I continue to believe that the Vancouver are on a Stanley Cup Finals mission this year and will manage to get there in six games.Similar Posts:

• Stanley Cup Finals 2011: Boston Bruins vs. Vancouver Canucks
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Conference Finals: 2011 Stanley Cup NHL Playoffs is a post from:

THE EASTERN CONFERENCE

The #1 seed Washington Capitals against the #5 seed Tampa Bay Lightning

The Washington Capitals bring their new, somewhat more defensive-minded approach to the second round of their 2011 NHL Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning and they’re going to need it against the likes of Martin St. Louis, Vince Lecavalier, Simon Gagne, and Steve Stamkos. The Capitals have no shortage of firepower in Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin, and a currently ice-cold Nick Backstrom.

Michal Neuvirth could be the difference-maker here. The Rangers weren’t slouches despite their #8 seed, Neuvirth turned them aside time and time again on the way to a 5-game ouster which included a shutout. While Nick Backstrom’s offensive vaporized, the two Alexs (Ovechkin & Semin) picked up the slack for him, each tallying 3 goals in the series. The Capitals made quick work of the Rangers and are well-rested for their matchup against the Lightning.

While Dwayne Roloson is 41-years old, age certainly didn’t stop him from putting up the best save percentage in the 1st-round for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He is also an astounding 6-0 in playoff elimination games, adding a 1-0 shutdown of the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 7 of that series to advance. Unlike the well-rested Capitals, the Lightning have but a mere single day off after a long series which starts tonight. Do they bring tired, battered bodies to the ice or do they bring an “in the groove, no breaks, game-on” mentality to this one?

Despite the offensive prowess on both sides, I believe this boils down to defense and goaltending. Throw in the rest factor with the Washington Capitals coming off of a short series while the Tampa Lightning are coming off of a long, emotional series and you can see why I’m going with the Capitals, figuring it’ll take 6 this time.

The #2 seed Philadelphia Flyers against the #3 seed Boston Bruins

For me, this one is going to come down to two-words: REVENGE FACTOR. For those of you who don’t subscribe to such alleged hocus-pocus, you still have to believe that no one, most especially the Boston Bruins and their fans, have forgotten about last year’s epic, historic NHL playoffs collapse against the Philadelphia Flyers while up 3-0 in the series. The scrappy Flyers club dug deep. Even after having gone down 3-0 in the Game 7, they came back, won, and went onto the Stanley Cup finals before losing to the Chicago Blackhawks. Boston has shown early signs of resolve this post-season already, coming back to win their 1st-round series after dropping the first two games. Faced with a game 7 elimination, the Bruins closed out the Montreal Canadiens.

While I can talk about all of the offensive potential on both teams, there are substantial differences which necessitate that I avoid the usual breakdown and go with simplicity. The erratic play of the Philadelphia Flyers along with the “Keystone Cops” routine at goaltender is troublesome. The revenge factor for the Boston Bruins looms large. Tim Thomas was the best goaltender in the league during the regular season. Those are three big checkmarks that go to the side of the Bruins.   They’re the Buffalo Sabres “grititude” with more talent and the Sabres took the Flyers to 7-games.

As a tried-and-true Philadelphia Flyers fan, my heart says “Flyers in 6.” As an objective viewer of the game play, statistics, and hocus-pocus: my official pick (for those keeping track) is: Boston Bruins win this one in 6-games. I promise that if the Flyers do win the NHL playoffs semifinals series, which is my wish, I will take it as a prognostication loss.Similar Posts:

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Eastern Conference Round 2: 2011 NHL Playoffs is a post from:

After the whirlwind of excitement that was the NHL Playoffs Western Conference quarterfinals round, which included an unbelievable game 7 between the Vancouver Canucks and the Chicago Blackhawks, we’re set with the semi-finals match-ups beginning tonight with…

THE WESTERN CONFERENCE

The #1 seed Vancouver Canucks against the #5 seed Nashville Predators

The Chicago Blackhawks deserve some kudos for making my Canucks “sweep” prediction look foolish. Perhaps this is one of those examples of how the regular season doesn’t matter and professional sports players rise to a higher level of play in the NHL Playoffs.

In any event, the regular season meetings between the Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators resulted in a 2-2 split. Like most teams during the regular season, the Canucks top line dominated the Predators. However, don’t be surprised if that fails to occur during tonight’s game 1. The full 7-game stint with the Chicago Blackhawks was physically intense and emotionally draining. With the Nashville Predators being more rested, ready, and a very good team in their own right, I would not be shocked to see the Predators go up 1-game to none in this series. We’ll soon see if the stellar play of Roberto Luongo in these NHL Playoffs can hold off the Nashville Predators.

The Nashville Predators notched their first NHL Playoffs post-season series victory in franchise history after defeating the Anaheim Ducks in six games. The Nashville Predators didn’t surprise me as I expected them to win, mostly due to the shaky goaltending situation in Anaheim. They don’t have the luxury of a shaky goaltender situation with the Vancouver Canucks. Expect this to be a showdown between the Canucks offensive prowess against the Nashville Predators defensive system. Even if the solid play of Ryan Suter and Shea Weber should backslide, the Canucks still have to beat the young and very talented Pekka Rinne.

Despite my fondness for what the Nashville Predators have done this year, I’m going with the Vancouver Canucks again here in round 2. Expect this one to go at least six games.

The #2 seed San Jose Sharks against the #3 seed Detroit Red Wings

While hockey fans everywhere were bathing in the excitement of long, physical series’ – four of which went 7-games, the Detroit Red Wings quietly dispatched the Phoenix Coyotes with broom-swept efficiency. Conversely, the San Jose Sharks took six games to send the Los Angeles Kings packing. During the regular season, the San Jose Sharks defeated the Detroit Red Wings three times out of four.

What does all that mean? Nothing to the rabid fans in “Hockeytown.” The Red Wings looked like the team that completely dominated the league for a very long time. Granted, the Coyotes may have offered a mere warm-up to round two, but the Wings were simply deadly efficient as they walked over them. With Henrik Zetterberg set to return from his knee sprain for this series against the San Jose Sharks, they’re even more threatening.

Don’t let the Red Wings dominant history lull you into a sense that the outcome of this series of already decided. After all, I made that mistake in my first round prediction of a Canucks sweep over the Blackhawks! Let’s also not forget that the Sharks turn aside the Red Wings NHL Playoffs post-season hopes last year in convincing 5-game fashion.

The San Jose Sharks with the likes of Joe Thornton, Dan Heatley, and Patrick Marleau may not be as well-rested as the Red Wings, having taken six games to put down the Los Angeles Kings – but they aren’t as old, either! The Sharks have offensive depth and should keep Wings goaltender, Jimmy Howard, quite busy. Oh, and don’t look now, but the much maligned Antti Niemi is in round two while the team that unceremoniously discarded him after the 2010 Stanley Cup win are home polishing their golf clubs.

Sorry, Hockeytown – I’m going with the San Jose Sharks in another series that should last at least six games.Similar Posts:

• Western Conference Round 1: NHL Playoffs 2011
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Western Conference Round 2: 2011 NHL Playoffs is a post from:

It’s a tale of two seasons. Before the hiring of Peter Laviolette in the middle of last season, the Flyers were deep basement dwellers and there wasn’t a knowledgeable fan alive who believed that they would ever make the post-season in 2010, let alone the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. However, there they were, the Philadelphia Flyers making the NHL Playoffs at as late a period in time during a season as one can – a shootout overtime victory against the New York Rangers to secure the 8th seed in the NHL Eastern Conference. From there, they embarked on a historic post-season run which included a series win against the Boston Bruins after being put down 3 games to 0. Even more amazing was that they had to overcome a 3 goals to 0 deficit in that 7th game of the series to move on.

Oftentimes a lack of expectations can lead to such a whirlwind of professional playoff excitement. Conversely, high expectations can lead to the potential epic letdown, which is what the team risks for its fans tonight.

A couple of months ago, it appeared as though the Flyers were the unstoppable team in the league. It appeared that the President’s Trophy would be a runaway. “The Cup Is Ours” spewed from the lips of Flyers fans everywhere, including my own.

Then the bottom fell out of the regular season. The team plummeted to the #2 seed behind the Washington Capitals. Shakey goaltending and erratic play littered the aftermath of many games down the stretch. It continues into the first round of these 2011 NHL Playoffs. The team has used an unheard three different starting goaltenders in the first six games of the playoff series. The parade of goaltenders. Tonight, it will again be Brian Boucher. Michael Leighton, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Brian Boucher, too – all have turned in woeful performances at points during the series. However, Brian Boucher, with the most experience and who has statistically outplayed even Ryan Miller is going to get the chance to close this one out – whether it is closing out a series win or closing out the epic collapse.

Lindy Ruff is 0-2 in playoff Game 7s. Peter Laviolette is 3-1. Regardless of the outcome of this season – if the Flyers don’t do something to secure a solid goaltender starting next year, the 3+ decade Stanley Cup drought in Philadelphia looks to last well into the future.Similar Posts:

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NHL Playoff Game 7: Philadelphia Flyers – Buffalo Sabres is a post from:

The Eastern Conference

#1 Seed Washington Capitals hosting the #8 Seed New York Rangers

The New York Rangers have enough fire power to hang with the Washington Capitals.  Don’t let the difference in seeding fool anyone here.  In terms of statistical comparisons, call it a draw.  The Rangers scored more goals during the regular season and the difference between them in goals against was exactly one.  Defense and goaltending rule the playoffs and these two teams have a near identical showing in each category.  Throw the seeds out the window in this contest because they simply confuse the issue.  These two teams are about as evenly matched as they get and a Rangers win would be the furthest thing from an “upset” as I will have witnessed in recent years.

Hot Spots: For the Rangers it has to be the 11-shutout goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist.  For the Capitals, it’s no surprise that it’s Alex Ovechkin that led the Caps to a sizzling close to the regular season as the Flyers fell back to the field.

I don’t see the Capitals choking two seasons in a row and pick them to win this series.

#2 Seed Philadelphia Flyers hosting the #7 Seed Buffalo Sabres

As a rabid Philadelphia Flyers fan, it’s important for you to know that I will pick them to win the Stanley Cup, even if they don’t make the playoffs.  That said, here is my truthful assessment of this series.

The Philadelphia Flyers have played pedestrian hockey at best down the stretch.  I watched and waited for them to pull out of a tailspin and it never happened.  Over the course of 2-months, what looked like a runaway in the Eastern Conference and a lock for the President’s Trophy turned into the lamest #2 seeding in recent memory.

The Buffalo Sabres meandered around the regular season and finished with the fewest wins for an Eastern Conference playoff qualifier.  Of those teams in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, they were the 2nd worst in goals against (Tampa Bay is the worst).

Hot Spots: Philadelphia’s offense depth (but will it re-appear?) For the Buffalo Sabres it’s hope, I guess.

Both my heart and my head go with the Philadelphia Flyers in round one over the Buffalo Sabres.

#3 Boston Bruins hosting the #6 Montreal Canadiens

There isn’t a hardcore hockey fan around who isn’t going to refer to the deep history of these two teams when it comes to a post-season run to the Stanley Cup.  The lone “original six” matchup in the post-season, it promises to add to the lore.  Both teams present with top-notch goaltending.  The season had it’s share of hostility between the two teams – nothing unusual there.  I also think that this matchup will be a shade more exciting a series than the Capitals-Rangers series.

Hot Spots: For the Boston Bruins it’s the aggressive physical game (and goaltending).  For the Montreal Canadiens it’s quickness and speed (and goaltending).

I choose the Boston Bruins to take this series in a long one.

#4 Seed Pittsburgh Penguins hosting the #5 Seed Tampa Bay Lightning

I’m trying to muster up some excitement about this series and I can point to the Pittsburgh Penguins staying steadfast in their push to the post-season without several of the league’s top players including Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby.  A good bit of credit goes to Marc-Andre Fluery who is another netminder who had an excellent season.

For the Tampa Bay Lightning, it has to be Steve Stamkos (again).  Last year, he finished tied at the top of the goal scoring race with 51 goals.  And while he follows that up with a 45-goal effort this year, he was ice cold down the stretch, scoring only 8 goals over the course of the last trimester of the season.

Hot Spots: For the Penguins, it’ll be the play of Jordan Stall and Mark Andre-Fluery.  For the Lightning, it will be whether or not Stamkos can get hot under the pressure of his first post-season appearance.  (I don’t think so.)

I go with the Pittsburgh Penguins to wrap this round up in 6 and it will only take that long because of the Penguins penchant for taking too many penalties.

There you have it… my picks coming out of the Eastern Conference NHL Playoffs Round 1:  Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins.Similar Posts:

• Eastern Conference Round 2: 2011 NHL Playoffs
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Eastern Conference Round 1: NHL Playoffs 2011 is a post from:

Western Conference

#1 Seed Vancouver hosting the #8 Seed Chicago Blackhawks

While the defending Stanley Cup Champions from 2010, this team is a far cry from the Chicago Blackhawks from last year. And, they’re about to insert their collective heads into hockey’s equivalent of a wood chipper in the Vancouver Canucks. Wholesale changes have doomed the Blackhawks to a likely quick and embarrassing exit from this round of the playoffs. Long gone are Stanley Cup impact players including Annti Niemi, Dustin Byfuglien, and Andrew Ladd. You can’t jettison that many players from a Stanley Cup crew and expect to make your way back there the following year.

Vancouver was like a runaway freight train en route to the President’s Trophy for 2011 for the best record in the entire NHL with 56 wins. The Canucks don’t appear to have a single “chink” in their proverbial armor. Best in scoring, best in defense, best powerplay. They would have scored the “quadrifecta” if not for finishing a mere third in penalty-killing. If this isn’t an embarrassing broom-fest, I’ll be shocked.

Vancouver Canucks have already swept this series.

#2 Seed San Jose Sharks hosting the #7 Seed Los Angeles Kings

Don’t look now, but the San Jose Sharks have been another sizzler down the stretch in 2011. And while many spoke of the aforementioned Antti Niemi, even during his Stanley Cup 2010 run as if he were unworthy of accolades, 26 wins in a stretch of 34 straight games (4 ties, 4 losses) effectively provides an emphatic punch-in-the-mouth to his detractors.

The loss of both Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams to injury has likely killed any chance the Los Angeles Kings had of defeating the San Jose Sharks. Kopitar is out for the season while Williams could be back as early as next round if they advance. They won’t.

San Jose Sharks take this series.

#3 Seed Detroit Red Wings hosting the # 6 Seed Phoenix Coyotes

The offensive powerhouse Detroit Red Wings (2nd in scoring) should smoke the Phoenix Coyotes. The Coyotes mediocre scoring defense combined with a particularly sucky penalty-killing unit should collapse like a house-of-cards caught in a tornado.

Detroit’s offensive depth, vast playoff experience, and power-play effectiveness spells certain doom for the skaters out in the desert region. While some would point to a suspect goaltending tandem in Jimmy Howard and Joe MacDonald as an achilles’ heel, don’t expect that a punchless Phoenix Coyotes team is going to be the ones to exploit it. Not this round.

Detroit Red Wings will advance to the 2nd round.

#4 Anaheim Ducks hosting the #5 Nashville Predators

This series gets my nod as the most exciting in terms of great hockey play. These two teams provide the closest competition to one another than any other series in the Western Conference.

While the Anaheim Ducks outscored the Nashville Predators by an impressive 20 goals over the course of the season, they also managed to give up a healthy 41 more goals than the Predators. The Ducks have the “hot shot” top line of Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf, and Corey Perry. The Nashville Predators play the classic team game which sees the offense spread around.

At even strength, the Predators do a great job of holding their own and actually perform better than this round’s opponent in Anaheim. It’s on the special teams where they falter in both power-play and penalty-killing. Shockingly, it would seem that the Predators would do well to avoid getting penalties or drawing penalties against this Ducks team.

I would love to give the MIGHTY Ducks the nod in this one, but with their goaltending situation in flux and the Predators anchored by an impressive (in stature and game play) Pekka Rinne – I’m going to err on the side of the Nashville Predators.

My Western Conference Round 1 Final Four: Vancouver Canucks, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators.

Similar Posts:

• Western Conference Round 2: 2011 NHL Playoffs
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Western Conference Round 1: NHL Playoffs 2011 is a post from:

Hockey is known for fights and hard hits, but the head injuries some of these guys are suffering just aren’t worth it. Just how harsh was the hit on McDonagh? Judge for yourself:

I think what made this hit really bad was that McDonagh didn’t see it coming. He was focused on the puck. Besides that, there was no reason for Cooke to use the elbow to smack his head. Excessive.

I love hockey but I can’t stand to see guys injured to the point where lose their cognitive abilities. Ironically, hockey legend Mario Lemieux, who also owns the Penguins, has been vocal about the league cracking down on players who hit to injure. He might want to start with his own team. Although, as many times as Cooke has been punished (with both game suspensions and money) I’m not sure it would do much good. He seems hell-bent on playing whichever way he wants.

The Penguins management has come out in support of the penalty on Cooke. GM Ray Shero said, “‘Head shots have no place in hockey. We’ve told Matt in no uncertain terms that this kind of action on the ice is unacceptable and cannot happen. Head shots must be dealt with severely, and the Pittsburgh Penguins support the NHL in sending this very strong message.”

Cooke’s punishment includes a 14-game suspension and fines up to $219,512.20. This is the fifth suspension for him in his career, but the fourth since 2008.Similar Posts:

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Matt Cooke’s Latest Head Shot is a post from:

Those dudes who play inside? We know they just aren’t as tough as pond hockey players. They can’t take a beating.

Pond hockey pre-dates indoor hockey by at least a hundred years. People filled up a rink or just played on whatever frozen water they could find outside. The game actually goes back to the 1700s, and the whole world championship thing goes back to 1883. That’s a full ten years before the Stanley cup was first played.

Pond hockey is very quick, and you need to be an accurate passer because if you aren’t… you’ll be digging for the puck in the nearby snow pile. Kind of like how I play golf, except that looking for a puck means you are outside with your hands in piles of ice and snow, looking for the puck so your team can play. Not good.

There are no goalies in pond hockey, probably because if you’re outside and not moving, you’ll freeze your butt off. So you’ve gotta work as a team to make sure that the opponent doesn’t get a goal on you. Also, the goal is teeny tiny, barely taller than the puck.

There have been plenty of movies about outdoor hockey, I remember a really bad one with Russell Crow, but to see a championship live would actually be pretty cool. I think some of the Vikings fans, who weathered a crappy season, midseason coaching change, and stadium roof collapse, should drown their sorrows by getting out in the fresh Nordic air and cheering on the pond hockey teams. Viva la pond hockey!Similar Posts:

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Head to the Pond Hockey Championship This Weekend! is a post from:

I don’t think any fan in their right mind would don one of these things, unless it was part of some Halloween ensemble, even the overzealous ones; but then again, we have folks like Fireman Ed, so who knows.

H/t to 96.1 Kiss’ Morning Freak Show blog for the find.Similar Posts:

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