commentary...

when Colorado plays Detroit,October 8th,the Avalanche will retire Peter Forsberg's number 21 sweater... even though,i did not like,and do not like the Avalanche,i truly respected,and admired Forsberg... it is,and was,very unfortunate that his career was cut short,by foot injuries,because he was so very dangerous,when healthy,and that he was one player,that could literally take over,and destroy,an opponent during a game... he showed grit,and class,during his career,and was a leader on those teams that he played on,in his NHL career... Congrats,Peter!!!!!!

cute story...

Pavel Datsyuk,who had won the Lady Byng,four straight years,was kidded by his Red Wings' teammates that he lost the Lady Byng trophy,after the opening game of season last year,when he fought during the 4-0 win over Anaheim.... even he said that,jokingly...

history of Lady Byng trophy...

the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy was named after Marie Evelyn Moreton,wife of the Viscount Byng,of Vimy,who served as Governor General of Canada,from 1921 to 1926... it was given by Lady Byng,to Frank Nighbor,of the Ottawa Senators,in 1925,after a visit to her home,when asked if the NHL would accept the trophy to be given,"to the person who played like a gentleman",in the NHL... he said that the NHL would accept the trophy,so he was handed the trophy,by Lady Byng... after Frank Boucher,of the New York Rangers had won the trophy seven of eight years,she gave him the original trophy to keep... the NHL gave out another Lady Byng trophy after that... in 1949,after Lady Byng had died,the NHL renamed the trophy,"the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy"... in 1962,the original trophy given to Frank Boucher was destroyed in a house fire...

Coyotes' ownership update...

Matthew Hulsizer withdrew from consideration to buy Phoenix Coyotes... however,the city of Glendale,Arizona,and the NHL are optimistic,that a new owner can be found...

So Long,Paul Kariya...

Paul Kariya announced his retirement today... drafted by Anaheim Ducks,in 1993(when i lived in Orange County,i remember him as a rookie),he played 989 games,with Anaheim,Colorado,Nashville,and St. Louis,and scored 402 goals,and 587 assists,for 989 points(a point per game player,exactly;rare for the NHL)... he was three-time first team All Star,and was a Canadian Olympian,in 1994,as an amateur,and was on 2002 Gold Medal winning team... he had two 100 point seasons,and one of 99 points,and he won the Lady Byng Trophy,for gentlemanly play... he graduated from the University of Maine(Black Bears)...

Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2011...

Joe Nieuwendyk:564 goals,and 562 assists,for 1,126 points,in 1,257 games,playing for Calgary,Dallas,New Jersey,Toronto,and Florida,winning three Stanley Cups(Calgary-1989,Dallas,1999,and New Jersey-2003-winning three Stanley Cups,in three different decades)...
Ed Belfour:484 wins,as goaltender,with Chicago,San Jose(a cup of coffee),Dallas,Toronto,and Florida;third most wins in NHL history,behind Patrick Roy(551 wins),and Martin Brodeur(625 wins,and counting);won Calder Trophy,with Chicago,1990-1991,with 43 wins,and Stanley Cup,Dallas-1999...
Doug Gilmour:450 goals,and 964 assists,for 1,414 points,in 1,474 games,with 1,301 penalty minutes,with St. Louis,Calgary,Toronto,New Jersey,Chicago,Buffalo,and Montreal,and signed an one day contract to retire,as a Maple Leaf...
Mark Howe:played for Olympic team,in 1972,at age sixteen,played for Houston Aeros,and New England Whalers,in World Hockey Association,then Hartford,Philadelphia,and Detroit;scored 197 goals,and 545 assists,for 742 points... son of "Mr. Hockey",Gordie Howe... he also played for the Detroit Junior Red Wings,as a junior hockey player

Ahnawake Unger,1938-2008(her birthday would be today,28 jun)

Happy Birthday,Mom!!!!!! you would be 73 years old,today... love you,and miss you,every single day... in my heart,i am hugging you,and giving you kisses... always in my thoughts... you died too young,dearest loved one....

Hockey,anyone?

NHL Network will air replays of every game,of the 2011 playoffs,at 5 pm. over the summer,including every game of the Sharks/Red Wings classic series... this time,i will not get mad,at all... in fact,i will enjoy it... boarding,and body checks,anyone?

NHL news...

Pittsburgh Penguins' coach Dan Bylsma has said that Sidney Crosby(out with concussion)has been on regular summer workouts,for a few days,and Evgeni Malkin could have played in the playoffs,if Pittsburgh advanced past Tampa Bay... he suffered knee injury,February 4th,against Buffalo Sabres,and should be healthy,for puck drop,in the first game(preseason),against Red Wings,on September 21st...

fun facts...

as of today,the Red Wings have eight Canadians,six Swedes,four Americans,two Russians,two Czechs,and one Finn,on their roster... that will change July 1st,when free agency opens...

charming story...

Steve Yzerman,general manager,of the Tampa Bay Lightning,drafted Vladimar Namestnikov with the 27th pick,of the first round of the 2011 NHL entry draft... however,this is not the story that i want to note here...Vladimar is the nephew of former Red Wings' player,Slava Kozlov,and used to play,as a kid,in the Red Wings' locker room,and has known Yzerman for over fifteen years... knowing his bloodline,Namestnikov will be an excellent NHL player,and it is ironic that a kid playing,at one time,in the Red Wings' locker room,was drafted by a Red Wings' legend,and a Hall of Fame member,as the general manager,of the Lightning... small world,is it not...

Red Wings' 2011-2012 NHL entry draft picks...

2)Tomas Jurco,Saint John Seas Dogs(Quebec Major Junior Hockey League)
2)Xavier Ouellet,Montreal Junior(QMJHL)
2)Ryan Sproul,Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds(Ontario Hockey League)
3)Alan Quine,Peterborough Petes(OHL)
4)Marek Tvrdon,Vancouver Giants(Western Hockey League)
5)Phillipe Hudon,High School-Connecticut(Choate-Rosemary)
5)Mattihias Backman,Linkoping,Junior(Sweden-Junior)
6)Richard Nedomiel,Swift Current Broncos(WHL)
7)Alexei Marchenko,CSKA(Russia)

NHL draft... 1st round...

1)Edmonton:Ryan Nugent-Hopkins,Red Deer Rebels(Western Hockey League)
2)Colorado:Gabriel Landeskog,Kitchener Rangers(Ontario Hockey League)
3)Florida:Jonathan Huberdeau,Saint John Sea Dogs(Quebec Major Junior Hockey League)
4)New Jersey:Adam Larsson,Sweden,Skelleftea
5)New York Islanders:Ryan Strome,Niagara Ice Dogs(OHL)
6:Ottawa:Mika Zibanejad,Sweden,Djurgarden
7)Winnipeg:Mark Scheifele,Barrie Colts(OHL)
8)Philadelphia:Sean Couturier,Drummondville Voltigeurs(QMJHL)
9)Boston:Dougie Hamilton,Niagara Ice Dogs(OHL)
10)Minnesota:Jonas Brodin,Sweden,Farjestad
11)Colorado:Duncan Siemens,Saskatoon Blades(WHL)
12)Carolina:Ryan Murphy,Kitchener Rangers(OHL)
13)Calgary:Sven Baertschi,Portland Winterhawks(WHL)
14)Dallas:Jamieson Oleksiak,Northeastern University(Hockey East Conference)
15)New York Rangers:Jonathan Miller,US Under-18 Team(United States Hockey League)
16)Buffalo:Joel Armia,Assat,(Finland)
17)Montreal:Nathan Beaulieu,Saint John Sea Dogs(QMJHL)
18)Chicago:Mark McNeill,Prince Albert Cougars(WHL)
19)Edmonton:Oscar Klefbom,Sweden,Farjestad
20)Phoenix:Connor Murphy,US Under-18 Team(United States Hockey League)
21)Ottawa:Stefan Noesen,Plymouth Whalers(OHL)
22)Toronto:Tyler Biggs,US Under-18 Team(United States Hockey League)
23)Pittsburgh:Joseph Morrow,Portland Winterhawks(WHL)
24)Ottawa:Matt Puempel,Peterborough Petes(OHL)*
25)Toronto:Stuart Percy,Mississauga St. Michael's Major's(OHL)
26)Chicago:Phillip Danault,Victoriaville Tigres(QMJHL)
27)Tampa Bay:Vladislav Namestnikov,London Knights(OHL)
28)Minnesota:Zack Phillips,Saint John Sea Dogs(QMJHL)
29)Vancouver:Nicklas Jensen,Oshawa Generals(OHL)
30)Anaheim:Rickard Rakell,Plymouth Whalers(OHL)
*Red Wings traded 24th pick,to Ottawa,for 35th,and 48th pick,in 2nd,of 2011 NHL Draft

Breaking News...

there will be a Winnipeg Jets franchise,in the NHL,this season... the original Jets left for Phoenix,in 1995,to become the Coyotes... it was revealed to the crowd,at the NHL Draft,as they picked seventh,in the first round...

NHL news...

NHL Draft today,rundown on first round tomorrow morning...

Red Wings/Sharks games,this season...

October 28th:San Jose/Detroit...
November 17th:Detroit/San Jose...
February 19th:San Jose/Detroit...
March 17th:Detroit/San Jose...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings open their 2011-2012 home regular season,with Ottawa coming to town,October 7th,with former Red Wings' assistant,Paul MacLean,as new Senators' head coach... i have it from two sources that NHL will release 2011-2012 schedule,later today,instead of mid-July... cross fingers!!!!

Norris Trophy voting,and a correction....

Nicklas Lidstrom won his seventh Norris Trophy,by nine votes(736-727)over Shea Weber,of the Nashville Predators,with 35 first place votes... a correction to an earlier post:can not verify when the 2011-2012 season schedule comes out,one source said today,but will check out,by tonight...

2011-2012 NHL schedule update...

2011-2012 NHL schedule comes out today... will give correct dates on Sharks/Red Wings games,but tickets will not be available for a few weeks... will check on every day i can...

RIP Harvey Hotchkiss...

Harley Hotchkiss,one of original owners,of the Calgary Flames,died today,of prostate cancer,at age of 83... he was inducted,in Hockey Hall of Fame,as a builder,in 2006,and was chairman,of the NHL Board of Governors,from 1995,to 2007... he,as owner,won the Stanley Cup,with the Calgary Flames in 1989,beating Montreal,in three appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals(1986,and 2004,being their other appearances,losing to Montreal-1986,and Carolina-2004)... the Calgary Brain Institute was renamed the Hotchkiss Brain Institute,in 2004...

Red Wings' news...

Detroit plays Pittsburgh,in Pittsburgh,to open pre-season,September 21st...

NHL awards...

Daniel Sedin,Vancouver Canucks-Art Ross Trophy-regular season scoring champion...
Ryan Kesler,Vancouver Canucks-Selke Trophy-best defensive forward(beating Pavel Datsyuk,really,no complaints,expected it)...
Zdeno Chara,Boston Bruins-Mark Messier Leadership Foundation Award...
Dan Bylsma,Pittsburgh Penguins-Jack Adams Trophy-coach of the year...
Jeff Skinner,Carolina Hurricanes-Calder Memorial Trophy-rookie of the year...
Roberto Luongo,and Corey Schneider-Vancouver Canucks-Jennings Trophy-fewest goals allowed,in regular season...
Mike Gillis,Vancouver Canucks-General Manager of the year...
Corey Perry,Anaheim Ducks,Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy-most goals(only player to score 50+goals,this season)...
Daniel Sedin,Vancouver Canucks-Ted Lindsay Award-most outstanding player(as voted by players)...
Ian Laperriere,Philadelphia Flyers-Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy-perseverance,and dedication to hockey...
Doug Weight,New York Islanders-King Clancy Memorial Trophy-leadership,on and off the ice...
Martin St. Louis,Tampa Bay Lightning-Lady Byng Memorial Trophy-sportsmanship...
Dustin Brown,Los Angeles Kings-NHL Foundation Award-community service...
Tim Thomas,Boston Bruins-Georges Vezina Memorial Trophy-best goaltender...
Corey Perry,Anaheim Ducks-Hart Memorial Trophy-most valuable player(in a real shock)...

NHL awards surprise...

Nicklas Lidstrom won his seventh Norris Memorial Trophy,tied with Doug Harvey,for second,behind Bobby Orr,for best defenseman,in NHL,who won eight Norris trophies,in his career... rundown on awards,later on...

NHL news...

NHL Awards this evening,Las Vegas,will give rundown on awards given... Pavel Datsyuk,and Nicklas Lidstrom among those nominated,for awards...

NHL rules amended...

targeted head shots from any direction will be a two minute minor penalty,under an expanded Rule 48,and under an expanded Rule 41-Boarding,any hit near the boards leaving player "defenseless",will be a penalty,now...

Thrashers franchise move to Winnipeg official...

unanimous approval of the move of the Atlanta Thrashers' franchise,to Winnipeg,by NHL Board of Governors....

Lidstrom signing one year deal...

Nicklas Lidstrom has signed an one year deal worth,reportedly,$6.2 million dollars,with Detroit...

Pacioretty signing with Montreal...

Max Pacioretty has signed a two year deal,with Montreal...

Red Wings' news...

Nicklas Lidstrom will return for his 20th season,as captain,of the Red Wings... biggest news so far for the Red Wings,this off-season... that surely means that Tomas Holmstrom will,most likely ,return ,to the Red Wings,because they are very close friends,and enjoy playing with each other... that is only my opinion,but an educated opinion...

Boston series winners...

Boston 4,Montreal 3*,overtime-Nathan Horton**
Boston 5,Philadelphia 1-Johnny Boychuk**(game four)
Boston 1,Tampa Bay 0*-Nathan Horton**,and Tim Thomas shutout
Boston 4,Vancouver 0*-Patrice Bergeron**,and Tim Thomas shutout
*game sevens
**series winning goals

NHL news...

Dallas Stars hire Glen Gulutzan,who was at their AHL(American Hockey League) affiliate,the Texas Stars,for the last two years,as their coach...

Jagr to NHL???

according to Jaromir Jagr's agent,Petr Svobda,Jagr have interest in returning to the NHL,after three years in Kontinential Hockey League(KHL),with Avengard Omsk... he has contacted five teams(Pittsburgh,Washington,New York Rangers,Montreal,and Detroit)... chances of him playing in NHL are good,but playing in Pittsburgh,Washington,or New York,are better than playing,in Montreal,or Detroit,because he has played in those cities,and has roots in each city... my guess is that he will end up in Pittsburgh,or New York,but do not count Washington... he played 17 years,in NHL,scoring 646 goals(12th,in NHL all-time),and had 1,599 points(ninth,in NHL hIstory),with Pittsburgh,Washington,and New York Rangers,winning Stanley Cups,in 1991,and 1992,with Pittsburgh...

NHL news...

Minnesota Wild hire Mike Yeo as head coach... he was the Houston Aeros AHL(American Hockey League)coach,this year,leading team to the Calder Cup Finals,against the Binghamton Senators,who won the AHL Championship,and was an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins,from 2006-2010,and has name on the Stanley Cup,from being with the Penguins,as a coach,in 2009

commentary...

if you go back to April 13th blog,about Montreal,and Boston,i said that it would be old-time Original Six hockey,first round:it went seven games,of a war,and Boston winning!!!!!! then,on April 29th,i gave a blog on the Bruins/Flyers series,saying the edge would be in goal,for the Bruins,and the Bruins swept their most-hated rival,after last year's historic collapse,of losing a series,after being up 3-0,in games,and then losing a 3-0 lead in game seven,last year,to the Flyers... then,on May 14th,i said the series between Boston and Tampa Bay,would be a battle between Tampa Bay's offense,and Boston's defense,and game seven was won by Boston,by a 1-0 score,without giving a power play,to Tampa Bay,in that game... then,on May 31st,i said Boston was dangerous,because they were a team who would dig for goals,and try to irritate Roberto Luongo,to knock him off his mental game,and they did a heck of a job of doing that,to win Stanley Cup,for 2011...

NHL news...

Boston Bruins' Mark Recchi announced retirement,last night,after game seven,and made it official today... he won Stanley Cup,three times,in three decades(1991 Pittsburgh Penguins,2006 Carolina Hurricanes,and 2011 Boston Bruins)... class act,and great character player,on many teams...

history,and slight correction...

Tim Thomas,of the Boston Bruins,stopped 238,of 246 shots,in this Stanley Cup Finals series... a .9674 save percentage(even better than i thought,OMG,unbelievable!!!!!!!!) Conn Smythe winner(playoff MVP)... Boston became first team to win three game sevens,in one playoff year,in NHL history...

commentary...

when your team have out-scored your opposition,23-8,and have a goaltender,with a goals against average(G.A.A.),of 1.15,and a save percentage,of just over .963,stopping 230 of 238 shots,in the Finals,you are supposed to win... when your team were 2-33,on the power play,have scored only eight goals,in seven games,and the other team has more short-handed goals,than you have power play goals(Boston had three short-handed goals,in series),you are supposed to lose... Vancouver never played like they should have,in entire series... they played like goons the first three games,and disrespected the Bruins,in the press,and even Roberto Luongo made Tim Thomas furious(in private),about how he would have stopped Vancouver's game winning goal,in game five,in a 1-0 loss,for Boston,the day before game six(puck bounced off him at a weird angle,and the bounce went off his stomach padding,as he tried to stop puck)... when Vancouver won the first two games,the fans,in Vancouver,even thought they had won the Stanley Cup,even though they had scored only four goals,in both games,and won 1-0,nineteen seconds left,in game one,and won 3-2,eleven seconds into overtime,but Bruins had out-played the Canucks most of first two games,or even played the Canucks,to a standstill,in first two games of Finals... honestly,i had the same feeling that the Bruins were playing much better,and that it reminded me of the Sharks/Red Wings series,and the Sharks had been out-played most of first three games,except for game two,against the Red Wings,but in that case,the Sharks won three games,because of a single defensive breakdown,in each game,and were the better team... however,Vancouver won both games,but really did not impress me at all,because Boston was playing very good defense,and unlike Jimmy Howard,the difference was Tim Thomas with those outstanding overall playoff numbers... Thomas made only two mistakes in series,and both were game winning goals,for Vancouver,by being over-anxious,at end of game one,and in first eleven seconds,of overtime,in game two,when Vancouver's Alexandre(correct spelling)Burrows scored on the second fastest overtime goal,in NHL history,but that was high point in the series,for the Canucks,and turning point of series was when Aaron Rome pounded Nathan Horton,into ice,with late hit,in first period(at 5:07),of game three,and left him,with a concussion... that was rallying cry,for Bruins,"let us win it for Nathan...",and Canucks were out of sync,after that game,in series...

true childhood story....

my first hockey memory was listening to radio sports reports,before school,on small school bus,was about the 1970 Stanley Cup Playoffs,and the first team i actually heard about was the Boston Bruins,so this day is quite special,and my childhood floods back to me...

BRUINS NUMBER ONE...

BOSTON BRUINS 2011 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS-4-0 VICTORY OVER THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS...

comment...

final game of season:game seven,Stanley Cup Finals,tonight... winner gets Stanley Cup;loser gets bad taste in mouth... enough said,until after game...

Bruins' history...

Boston Bruins will play their first game seven,in the Stanley Cup Finals,in their 87 year history... no team has ever won three game sevens in a playoff year,in NHL history... if Boston wins tomorrow(Wednesday),they will be first team to do that(they beat Montreal,and Tampa Bay,both in seven games,this year)...

injury update...

Vancouver Canucks' Mason Raymond suffered vertebrae compression fracture,in first thirty seconds,of game six,last night,and will miss three to four months... he fell bent back first,during hit into the boards... hope he comes back healthy,as a horse...

game score,and commentary...

Bruins 5,Canucks 2... only two garbage goals made this respectable,on scoreboard,because Canucks never showed up,tonight,and played a horrible first period,and did not score their first goal,on their power play,22 seconds into third period,and they did not score their second goal of the night,until 2:26 was left,in game,and Boston up,5-1... so Boston has the momentum,going into the seventh game,and even though Vancouver is going home... on Wednesday night,game seven looms,and they better solve Tim Thomas,or they will lose,and i believe that the Bruins have Roberto Luongo's number,and they can win,because game seven is a different game than any other game,because the winner gets the Stanley Cup,and the loser,grumbles,and basically feels like crud... more later

game in progress...

Bruins 4,Canucks 0... four goals,in 4:14,of first period,for Boston... it is still early,but the way that Thomas is playing this series,who knows? Roberto Luongo has been pulled,after the third goal...

commentary...

going into game six tonight,Tim Thomas has a overall playoff goals against average(G.A.A.),of 2.07,and a save percentage,just short of his season-long save percentage(.938),which is all time record for a season(.971,in the Stanley Cup Finals)... he is favorite on Boston's side of the ledger,for the Conn Smythe Trophy(playoff MVP)... Alexandre Burrows is the favorite,for the same trophy,for Vancouver...

commentary...

Vancouver has scored only six goals,in this series... the fewest goals scored by a Stanley Cup winner,is nine,by Toronto,in 1945... they beat the Red Wings,who also scored nine goals,but Red Wings went down,3-0,in games,by being shutout the first three games(1-0,2-0,and 1-0)... they then forced a seventh game,by winning a 5-3 game,along with two shutouts(2-0,and 1-0,in overtime),before losing game seven,2-1,to almost complete a sweep,of games four,to seven,to Toronto,that beat Detroit,three years earlier,in 1942(first time a team came back from a 0-3 deficit to win series,4 game to three)...

NHL news...

Vancouver/Boston,game six,Stanley Cup Finals,tonight... Stanley Cup will be in the building...

for love of the game...

Roberto Luongo has not played badly... his statistics are 3 wins,2 losses... 2.96 goals against average/game(G.A.A),with a .910 save percentage,with two shutouts,in the Stanley Cup Finals,but with Tim Thomas having a historic series(in this series),with a G.A.A.,of 1.25,and a save percentage,of .971,you just think that Vancouver has played horribly,which is not true,but they are not the same team that they have portrayed throughout this season... they are a very good team,and were expected to win Stanley Cup,after dominating the regular season,winning the President's Trophy,by ten points,over the Washington Capitals,but honestly,the way that they treated the Bruins over the first three games just turned my stomach,because that is not the way that you played the true game of hockey,and if you can classify me,i am a true fan of the game,and the game is the most important thing to me,not Wayne Gretzky's 893 goals,or Gordie Howe playing some 35 years,of professional hockey... it is just as beautiful seeing a kid skating on ice shooting the puck,into the net,on a pond,or being in a crowd of 15,000-22,000,watching Nicklas Lidstrom,and Pavel Datsyuk play,for the Red Wings...

commentary...

this is a very strange Stanley Cup Finals,so far... Vancouver has scored only six goals,in series... they are 1-25,on power play(0 for last 17)... Boston has scored two short-handed goals,in series... you would think that Boston would be up 3-2,in games,but it is Vancouver up 3-2,in games... Tim Thomas has save percentage of .971(unbelievable!),but Bruins have scored only two goals outside of Boston,and has been shut out in two games(both 1-0 games)... Vancouver has only won eight times,in their forty year team history,in Boston... hard to believe,if Vancouver gets a weird puck bounce to go their way,they could be Stanley Cup Champions,in game six,despite being,for the most part,out-played in this series,by Boston... both goaltenders are Vezina Trophy finalists(best goaltender of year,in NHL),along with Pekka Rinne,of the Nashville Predators... Stanley Cup will be in the building,tomorrow night... if Vancouver wins,they will parade the Stanley Cup,in Boston,around the TD Garden,and amazingly,win for only the ninth time,in their forty year history,in Boston...

commentary...

the game,last night,was very defensive... both goaltenders deserved to win the game... Tim Thomas has given up only six goals,in five games,and going into the game,had a save percentage of .966,and stopped 24 of 25 shots,in the game last night(.960),but has lost three of five games... Roberto Luongo basically stole the game,in shutting out,and down,Boston,last night... now,can Vancouver win for only the ninth time,in,unbelievably,forty years,in Boston,to win Stanley Cup? the last time the home team won every game,was 2003,when the New Jersey Devils beat the Anaheim Ducks,in seven games... i believe the last time that the Conn Smythe Trophy went to a player,on a losing team,was 2003,when J.S. Giguere won it,while in goal,for the Ducks... he set a NHL record,when he allowed only one goal,in four games,against Minnesota,in that playoff year... can Boston win Stanley Cup,for the first time,since 1972,when Bobby Orr scored Stanley Cup winning goal... in fact,in 1970,and in 1972,he scored the goal,to win Stanley Cup... there is a statue of Orr,outside the TD Garden,flying through the air,after scoring the Stanley Cup winner,in 1970... there is a similar picture of Bill Barilko doing the same thing in 1951 Stanley Cup Finals,when he flew through the air,on April 21,1951... on August 26,1951,Barilko died on a flight,while on a fishing trip,and the wreckage of the plane was not found,until June 7,1962,about sixty miles north of Cochrane,Ontario,about 35 miles off course... amazingly,the Maple Leafs had won the Stanley Cup,that year,for the first time,since April 21,1951,when Barilko scored Stanley Cup winner,for the Maple Leafs,in 1951

game score...

Vancouver 1,Boston 0... Roberto Luongo went toe-to-toe with Tim Thomas... good game,for defense...

comment...

this will come as a shock to you,but i really believe that the referees assigned to the Stanley Cup Finals,so far,have done a fabulous job in doing the games...

commentary...

Vancouver is up against a very good team,in the Bruins,and history should be noted,here... in 1978,Boston lost the first two games to Montreal,then won the two games,in Boston,but Montreal won,4-1,in game five,in Montreal,and then went back to Boston,and blasted the Bruins,4-1,again... it(1978)was the third consecutive Stanley Cup Championship,of four straight years,of domination,by Montreal,and the last years of a Canadiens' dynasty that had run for years... in other words,it was the last of the Canadiens' great teams... Scotty Bowman,later of Penguins and Red Wings,as coach,was coach of that Canadiens' team..

a strange fact,and an update on fourth goal...

including both games of this Stanley Cup Finals,in Boston,the Vancouver Canucks have only won eight times,in Boston,in their history(forty years)... the goal we talked about this morning(the fourth goal)went off Rich Peverly's hand,but was not batted in,to disallow the goal...i have watched the game again,on NHL Network...

story after game four,of Stanley Cup Finals..

as Bruins celebrated,after game 4,they had a surprise visitor,who walked in unannounced,and the players cheered... it was the injured Nathan Horton,who was not supposed to be there at the arena,and was reportedly resting at home... only the owner,and general manager knew he was in arena... the Bruins had an old-time style jacket,given to the player of the game,and it was in Horton's locker,after game three,and he wanted to give it to another player,in person,and unannounced,and he gave it to Rich Peverly,who had two goals,in game four...

corrections...

the last win,for the Bruins,at home,before game 3 happened,was game four of the 1978 Stanley Cup Finals,and an overtime,4-3,win,over Montreal Canadiens,was May 21st,1978... the last shutout,by the Bruins,was a 4-0 win,backstopped by Gerry Cheevers,on May 18th,1978(game three)...

game score...

Boston 4,Vancouver 0... Canucks out-scored,in Boston,12-1,in two games...

NHL news...

Vancouver/Boston,tonight,game four...

class story...

when Vancouver Canucks' Manny Malhotra got hit in face,by puck,against Colorado,and had two operations on left eye,a old teammate helped him through the process of dealing with problems,and doubts of coming back... Bryan Berard got hit by a accidental high-stick,by Marian Hossa,in Ottawa,while playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs,IN 2000,slicing his right eye wide open(a stomach-churning event that i did see on television)... Berard played for the New York Rangers,with Malhotra,when he staged a comeback,in 2001-2002... he was a true friend,when Malhotra suffered the eye injury,by just saying that when he needed to talk,he was there for him,and not forcing the issue... courtesy:New York Daily News,for the facts...

ruling update on Nathan Horton hit...

the actual rule that Aaron Rome got suspended for a violation of NHL Rule 56.1-interference,because he did not leave his feet,when he pounded Nathan Horton,onto the ice,with what i,and many other pundits,call a blindside hit,to Horton's head,but he should have,and could have,been suspended for Rule 48,too...

history of the NHL formation,Calder Trophy,and Calder Cup...

the Calder Cup,and the Calder Trophy(NHL rookie of year)are named for Frank Calder,first president of NHL(1917-1943)... he also was the last president of the National Hockey Association,and was very key,in forming the NHL,in 1917, when NHA decided to dissolve the Toronto Blueshirts in a power dispute,with the club's owner,Eddie Livingstone,whose club was a member of the NHA,whose two presidents of the league,before Calder,felt they were running into a brick wall,and,at least,one resigned,making Calder president,who was the secretary of the NHA,at time... Calder forced Livingstone,with help of the other owners,out,and dissolved team,and took his players,dispersed the players,and formed the NHL,in 1917...

Calder Cup Champions,Binghamton Senators...

the Binghamton Senators beat the Houston Aeros,3-2,to win the Calder Cup,for the American Hockey League championship...

three worst hits to head,that i have ever seen...

1)the hit to Eric Lindros,from Scott Stevens during a series between the New Jersey Devils,and the Philadelphia Flyers;Lindros never played for the Flyers,missed rest of playoffs,and the whole next year,and was traded,by Bobby Clarke(then Flyers' GM),and after a major argument,with his father,who wanted him traded to Toronto,but was traded to New York Rangers,but Lindros did play for Toronto,after contract was up,at that time...
2)the hit to Nathan Horton,last night...
3)the hit on the Red Wings' Brad Stuart,by Tom Kostopoulos,this season,which broke Stuart's jaw...

hockey notes...

the Canucks disagree on the suspension of Aaron Rome,and they are disrespectful of the fans,and of the NHL,because of their whining,because they think of the hit,as being legal... what crybabies,and what hooey,and i think that they are still arrogant...

NHL history...

the last team to allow 7+ goals in a game twice,in Stanley Cup playoffs,and still win Stanley Cup,were the 1980 New York Islanders... Vancouver got beat,by Chicago,7-2,April 19th,2011,and,8-1,by Boston,last night...

son of,"THE GREAT ONE",drafted by Cubs...

Trevor Gretzky,son of NHL Hall of Fame member,Wayne Gretzky,has been drafted by the Chicago Cubs,with eighth pick,of the seventh round(number 219)...

NHL news...

Aaron Rome has suspended four games,by NHL... if series ends,before seven games,he will be suspended for regular season games.. Nathan Horton will be out of the rest of playoffs,with severe concussion,and perhaps beyond that...

commentary...

simply put,the game,last night,was fun to watch,because Vancouver really did not look like they respected,and underestimated Boston,and Bruins were upset,with their arrogance,and disrespect,by the Canucks... every pundit that i have listened,or read,do not give Bruins much respect,or even a chance to win,but Claude Julien(Bruins' coach)is one the best coaches in NHL,and i believe that he may use the underdog claim to propel his team,to victory,and they are the hungrier team,of the two,and Tim Thomas has made only two mistakes,in goal,but both were game winners,and yet,has outplayed Roberto Luongo,in this series.. Canucks may say that it is only one game,and it is,but if Vancouver loses the series,the turning point will be 5:07,into the first period,when Aaron Rome pounded Nathan Horton,into a motionless heap of bones,for over a minute,with his arms,and hands,up in air like a begging dog,onto the ice... after minor slights that Vancouver may have gotten away,that may have gotten Boston mad,and given momentum,to the Bruins,and Vancouver may live to regret it(the blindside hit,to Horton),because the Bruins may leave up to the NHL,for supplemental discipline,for Rome,but it may have ignited the Bruins' fire,and the Bruins,and NHL,will never forget this game,because they already had a player(Marc Savard),who suffered a major concussion,and its effects,last year,that caused the NHL,to pass Rule 48,last pre-season... Savard played a few games in playoffs,after the hit,and tried to play a few games this season,and may be retired,as i speak... by the way,Sidney Crosby,of the Pittsburgh Penguins,another concussion victim,has been cleared to resume workouts,but is a far way from playing next season... let us hope that is best-case,and Nathan Horton plays again,this series... he is in hospital,moving all his limps,and doing all right....

correction...

Boston beat Montreal,4-0,on May 21st,1978,their last Stanley Cup Finals' win,at home,before tonight...

NHL history...

tonight's game had the most penalty minutes,in a Stanley Cup Finals' game,since 1990... both teams combined for 145 penalty minutes,and it was the most goals,by one team,since the 1990 Stanley Cup Finals,between the Minnesota North Stars,and the Pittsburgh Penguins,when the Penguins scored eight goals,in a 8-0 shutout in game six... the only bigger rout,by Boston,in a playoff game,was a 9-0 rout,of Buffalo,on April 20.1983...

funny fact...

tonight was the first Stanley Cup Finals' win,at home,by the Bruins,since May 21, 1978,when i was in high school...

Bruins stomp Canucks,8-1...

Boston 8,Vancouver 1... Message sent...

commentary...

Boston Bruins are upset about the non suspended Alexandre Burrows biting Patrice Bergeron,in first game,and Maxim Lepierre taunting the whole Bruins' team,in game two,and the blindside hit by Aaron Rome,on Nathan Horton.... it seems like Vancouver is playing with arrogance...

comments...

Boston is not taking any stuff from Vancouver... the two teams do not like each other,period... Bruins' goaltender Tim Thomas just leveled Henrik Sedin with a high body shot,as Sedin went to reach for puck,as he tried to shoot puck... it is rather nasty,period...

game in progress---2nd intermission

Boston 4,Vancouver 0... Vancouver will be on power play,during a double minor high-sticking penalty,at beginning of third period-about 1:40 left,in penalty...

game in progress...

Boston 2,Vancouver 0,in second period... second goal actually went off Ryan Kesler's stick through the pads of Roberto Luongo... Rich Peverley was besides Kesler,and goal should go to Mark Recchi...

notes of game...

Boston Bruins' Nathan Horton got pounded to ice,by Vancouver Canucks' Aaron Rome(five minute major-interference,and game misconduct)... classic rule 48,blindside head shot... expect supplemental discipline...

hockey game,in 1977...

you may not believe this,but i found out about the World Hockey Association game that i went with the grandparents,in Houston,in 1977(the game that i saw Gordie Howe play)... it was on April 5,1977,and against the San Diego Mariners,and a 3-1 victory,for the Houston Aeros,who won two WHA titles,in their existence...

commentary...

this is a corrected post:earlier,it was reported that Winnipeg sold their goal of 13,000 season tickets,in seventeen minutes,after public sale was open... not true,it took four minutes,to reach goal... there was a pre-sale for season ticket holders,for the AHL's Manitoba Moose,who will be moved this year,by Vancouver,their parent team,most likely to St. John's,Newfoundland,Canada,who wants an AHL team to replace the St. John's Maple Leafs,who left St. John's to go to Toronto,in 2005,to become the Marlies... at that time,they were the AHL team,for the Toronto Maple Leafs...

NHL news...

Montreal Canadiens' Hall of Fame member Jean Beliveau is to undergo abdominal aneurysmal surgery...

AHL championship final series update...

Binghamton Senators went up 3,games to 2,over the Houston Aeros,4-2,tonight...
here are the other four games:Houston 3,Binghamton 1...
Binghamton 2,Houston 1,overtime...
Houston 2,Binghamton 1...
Binghamton 3,Houston 0...
winner gets Calder Cup;game six is Tuesday,in Houston...
Calder Cup is for the American Hockey League Championship...

NHL history...

Alexandre Burrows' goal,eleven seconds into overtime,was the second fastest overtime goal,in NHL history... Brian Skrudland,of the Montreal Canadiens,scored nine seconds of overtime,for a 3-2 win,against Calgary Flames,in game two,of the 1986 Stanley Cup Finals...

game score,and commentary...

Vancouver 3,Boston 2... Alexandre Burrows scored at eleven seconds,of overtime... difference in series is that Vancouver has taken advantage of a very over-anxious Tim Thomas on both winning goals,in the opening two games,and Thomas has let two soft goals-being out of position,on both Canucks' game winning goals,and he has not played well,overall,in both games,at critical times... even the winning goal happened because of one great keep-in,by Ryan Kesler,and two great passes,a tic-tac-toe play,when Thomas tried to wait for a shot,and was out of position,when Jannik Hansen received a pass,from Kesler,and then quickly passed the puck,to Raffi Torres,for winning goal,with nineteen seconds left,in game one... as for game two,the Canucks were outplayed,by the Bruins,and were behind 2-1,at end of forty minutes,but Vancouver played the third period with desperation,and tied game,at two,with a goal,by Daniel Sedin,at 9:34,of third period,who chipped puck,over a outstretched Tim Thomas,into net... Alexandre Burrows had a beautiful wrap-around,and puck crossed goal line,with a twisting shot,as Burrows was going away from net,and Tim Thomas tried to chip on Burrows,as he went around net,and left an empty net,when he could not scramble back into goal... what a gorgeous shot,for a game winner,and puts Boston into an position,of trying to win four of the next five games-a hole that 13.4%,of teams have dug themselves out of that,to win series... however,Boston is one of those teams who have done just that,against Montreal,this playoff season,in opening round... the pundits say the series really starts,when a team loses a game,at home,and both teams now go back to Boston,for next two games... can Boston win both games,at home,to force a best of three series of games for the Stanley Cup? Boston has not played badly,but Thomas has broken down,at critical times,in both games,to allow Vancouver,to basically steal both games...

NHL news...

Boston/Vancouver tonight,game two,Stanley Cup Finals... let us hope the local NBC affiliate does not pre-empt half the game....

NHL news...

let me tell you how bonkers the fans are in Winnipeg:the public sale of season tickets went off today for their new NHL team... they set a goal of selling 13,000 season tickets... they reached that goal,in seventeen minutes... Manny Malhotra is a game time decision,for the Canucks,tonight,and because of the major injury to his left eye,he will wear a full helmet face mask,like NCAA players do,in college hockey...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings' play by play announcer Mickey Redmond will be inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame,as winner of the Foster Hewett Award,for contributions to broadcasting... Redmond played for the Canadiens,and Red Wings,from 1967-1968,to 1975-1976,scoring 42 goals,in 1971-1972,52 goals,in 1972-1973,and 51 goals,in 1972-1973,for the Red Wings... the most goals that he scored for the Canadiens,were the 27 that he scored,in 1969-1970... he scored seven game-winning goals,in 1972-1973,and nine game-winning goals,in 1973-1974...

hockey history...

only game to go without a goal longer than last night,in NHL history,was the first game,of the 1927 Stanley Cup Finals,between the Boston Bruins,and the original Ottawa Senators,which ended in a 0-0 tie,after sixty minutes,and one twenty minute overtime period... the 1927 Stanley Cup Finals ended with Ottawa winning two games,with two ties... it was the first year of operation,of NHL... Bonus:in 1947,NHL reached an agreement,with the original trustees,P.D. Ross,and Cooper Smeaton,of the Stanley Cup,granting ownership and control,and not allowing challenges,from other leagues,for the Stanley Cup... a 2006 Ontario Superior Court case found the original trustees had gone against Lord Stanley's conditions,in the 1947 settlement...

NHL news...

Brendan Shanahan is replacing Colin Campbell,as dean of discipline,of NHL... his new title will be NHL senior vice-president of player safety,and hockey operations... Colin Campbell will remain senior vice president of NHL hockey operations... even though Shanahan played for the Red Wings,he also played for New Jersey Devils(twice),St. Louis Blues,Hartford Whalers,and New York Rangers... being the dean of supplemental discipline is a thankless job... i will probably think,at times,next season that he may be a jerk,but honestly,he has to be better than Colin Campbell,who no matter what the NHL said,had a inherent conflict of interest with his son,Gregory,playing for the Boston Bruins... Campbell was the worst at his old job-supplemental discipline-because he literally favored the top-tier talent(name players),over the grunts(the middle of the pack NHL player)... i am not saying that any player in NHL is not gifted... they are the best hockey players in the world,and perhaps the best athletes,overall,but Campbell favored stars,over the regular NHL player,which was wrong then,and is now... good luck Mr.Shanahan,you will need it...

game score...

Vancouver 1,Boston 0... Raffi Torres scored with nineteen seconds,left,in third period...

NHL news...

Boston at Vancouver,Stanley Cup Finals,game one,tonight... analysis tonight,or tomorrow morning...