notice of Stanley Cup Finals' start...

the Stanley Cup Finals start in Tampa Bay,as the Chicago Blackhawks play the Lightning,next Wednesday... the first two games are there,as Tampa Bay have home ice advantage...

Western Conference Finals' game seven game score...

Blackhawks 5,Ducks 3... Chicago wins Western Conference Finals 4-3,in games... Chicago plays Tampa Bay in Stanley Cup Finals... Anaheim goes to tee times... comments,tomorrow...

commentary...

i really hate to give the Tampa Bay Lightning credit,but i must,and that hurts to say... they played great team defense,and Ben Bishop has shut out two teams(the Red Wings,and the Rangers,both amazingly,by a 2-0 score),in a game seven,in the Stanley Cup playoffs... even though the Rangers played a good series,their lack of team offense in their last three games at Madison Square Garden(three losses,to Tampa,and two straight shutouts)did them in,ultimately... you can not get blood from a stone,and getting no goals in last two games,on team offense(game five,and seven),no goaltender can stop a team from scoring,even the very,very good Henrik Lundqvist... as for the Stanley Cup Finals,as this is written before game seven in the Western Conference Finals,Anaheim,Chicago,or Tampa Bay winning the Stanley Cup makes me want to really vomit,and get violently ill*,because i really do not like any team left in the Stanley Cup tournament... *just kidding,but i do not care who wins...

NHL game,today...

Chicago Blackhawks/Anaheim Ducks,tonight... game seven,Western Conference Finals... winner plays the Tampa Bay Lightning,in the Stanley Cup Finals...

Eastern Conference Finals' game seven game score...

Lightning 2,Rangers 0... Tampa Bay Lightning win Eastern Conference Finals' series 4-3,in games,over the New York Rangers... comments,tomorrow...

NHL game,today...

Tampa Bay Lightning/New York Rangers,tonight... game seven,Eastern Conference Finals... winner goes to Stanley Cup Finals...

blog statement...

no Stanley Cup playoffs' game,today... "Idaho Spud" time...

Western Conference game six game score...

Blackhawks 5,Ducks 2... Blackhawks dominate Ducks throughout game... game seven,Saturday,in Anaheim... note:last time both Conference Finals' series went seven games,was in the year 2000...

commentaries on both Conference Finals' series...

simply,i can not figure out either best of seven series,in the Conference Finals... first,Anaheim/Chicago... this series may be the best of the Stanley Cup playoffs,but after some of the best goaltending that i have seen in years,the last two games have been basic shootouts;last team with the puck wins,if you know what i mean... examples:Anaheim scores three goals in thirty seven seconds(second fastest in NHL history-Toronto Maple Leafs scored three,in twenty three seconds,in 1979,against the Minnesota North Stars),and then loses game four,and Chicago scores two goals,in seventy two seconds to send game five,into overtime,but then Anaheim regroups,and wins game,forty five seconds into overtime... what a series!!! now,second,Tampa Bay/New York... both goaltenders have been spotty... Ben Bishop gives up ten goals,in two games(games three(a 6-5 win),and four),then shuts down the Rangers,in game five,and in game six,gives up five goals,and getting pulled,in a 7-3 loss to the Rangers... Henrik Lundqvist gives up twelve goals in two games(games two and three),and then gives up six goals in last three games... Lundqvist is 18-3,in elimination games,with,1.47 G.A.A.,in those games,playing like his nickname,"the King"... in game sevens,at home,the Rangers are almost unbeatable,recently,winning,at least the last six game sevens,at home... so i do not know what is going to happen,Friday night... which goaltender is going to crumble under the spotlight of a game seven??? i have my opinion,but who knows???

NHL game,today...

Anaheim Ducks/Chicago Blackhawks,tonight... Blackhawks face elimination;win,or go home... Tampa Bay up,3-2,in games...

Eastern Conference Finals' game six game score...

Rangers 7,Lightning 3... series tied at three games apiece... game seven,in New York,Friday... basically,Rangers hammered Lightning with five goals,in third period... note:commentary,on both series,tomorrow...

NHL game,today...

New York Rangers/Tampa Bay Lightning,tonight... game six,Eastern Conference Finals... Rangers have back to wall... win or else,or Tampa Bay goes to Stanley Cup Finals...

Western Conference Finals' game five game score...

Ducks 5,Blackhawks 4,overtime... Ducks up 3-2,in games,in Western Conference Finals... commentary,tomorrow...

Happy Memorial Day!!!!! remembering the sacrifice of the troops on this day...

NHL game,today...

Blackhawks/Ducks,tonight... game five,Western Conference Finals...

Eastern Conference finals' game five game score...

Lightning 2,Rangers 0... can not figure this series out...  one team plays like crud for a game,then the other one who does that... Lightning up,3-2,in games... what happened to the Rangers' team offense??? answer:goaltender Ben Bishop,who gave up ten goals,over the past two games,played his best,most critical game of the Stanley Cup playoffs... it appears that neither goaltender(Henrik Lundqvist,and Bishop)can stop a puck consistently,in this series... OLE' OLE',folks... flash that red cape,and be a revolving gate,goaltenders... this is a series that reminds me of the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals,between the Chicago Blackhawks,and the Philadelphia Flyers,which no one could stop a puck,in that Finals' series... i can not blame Henrik Lundqvist,when Bishop was a stonewall,in goal... my opinion:by the way,that 2010 Finals' series was the ugliest series for both goaltenders,since the 1980's,when the Edmonton Oilers ran roughshod all over the NHL,scoring almost at will,winning five Stanley Cups,in the years of 1980 to 1990...

NHL game,today...

Tampa Bay Lightning/New York Rangers,tonight...  game five,Eastern Conference Finals... series tied at two games apiece...

Western Conference Finals game score...

Blackhawks 5,Ducks 4,double overtime... commentary,tomorrow morning... series tied at two games apiece...

NHL game,today...

Anaheim Ducks/Chicago Blackhawks,tonight...

Eastern Conference Finals' game score,and commentary...

Rangers 5,Lightning 1... Rangers finally win game by more than one goal... basically,the Lightning got steamrolled,and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist finally showed up,for the Rangers,in the second,and third period,stopping 38,of 39 shots,in the process... Rangers out-scored Tampa Bay 4-1,in the second period,and third period... if Lundqvist plays like he did,tonight,in the rest of this series,Tampa Bay is in major trouble... Lundqvist's nickname is "the King",and he played like one tonight... series tied at two games apiece...

my opinion about Babcock...

if you want to know what i think about the "traitor" Mike Babcock... look at that word traitor,and look it up in the dictionary:a person who betrays a friend,country,or principle... a basic sellout... he said in his final news conference that he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs,because of the massive challenge,and for a change of scenery... he thanked everyone,but he said nothing about the true fans of the Red Wings... how about that massive $50 million check,Mike??? that paycheck will help you "heal" from your wounds,from ten years in Detroit... simply hope we(as the Red Wings)bury the Maple Leafs every time we face them in the next eight years,and may Babcock fail big time in Toronto,period... HE WENT TO TORONTO FOR THE MONEY... good riddance to bad garbage....

NHL game,today...

Rangers/Lightning,tonight... game four,Eastern Conference Finals...

commentary...

for two teams that i simply do not like("hate"),the Ducks and Blackhawks are putting a real show of the beautiful game of hockey... except for a steamrolling of the Blackhawks,in game one(4-1 loss),the last two games(game two:a triple overtime,3-2,Blackhawks' win,and game three:a 2-1 Ducks' win) have been pure goaltending clinics,by Frederik Andersen,and Corey Crawford... honestly,i really do not like either team,and really could care less who wins this series... both teams are on my top ten list of teams that i simply "hate",because of their history with the Red Wings,over the years,but folks,both teams are playing lights out hockey,especially both goaltenders,so far... if you want to see two teams grind it out for,maybe,seven games,and see a very good team series,this is the one,because both teams are very capable of winning this series,but,honestly,right now,the Ducks seem to have the edge,in this series,but never count out the Blackhawks,folks...

commentary...

my opinion:folks,i am very sorry... i usually write commentaries right after the game,or the day after,but this commentary is two days after,because i simply forgot to do it... game three of the New York Rangers/Tampa Bay Lightning was a fans' delight... Rangers score the first two goals,and looked in control,but Steven Stamkos and company finally woke up offensively,with four straight goals for a 4-2 lead,but the Rangers tied game at four,with just over seventeen minutes left in the third period,and then both teams alternated goals to send game,into a short overtime,where the Lightning scored about three minutes into overtime,to end the fun(for the fans)game... if you wanted to see team offense,eleven goals would do that,and yet,if you were a defensive fan,the game really sucked,because no goaltender(Henrik Lundqvist,and Ben Bishop)could stop the puck this night... for the beautiful game of hockey,it was a game to remember,except the putrid goaltending,and the game did show one memorable thing:the grit and determination of two goaltenders who simply refused to give up,even when the puck seemed to be like a bouncing ball,instead of a simple fair catch(using body,blocker,and glove to smother the puck for very few rebounds),as the puck bounced every which way,this night...

Western Conference Finals game three game score...

Ducks 2,Blackhawks 1... comments,tomorrow morning...

NHL game,today...

Anaheim Ducks/Chicago Blackhawks,tonight...Western Conference Finals,game three... series tied at one game apiece...

Eastern Conference Finals game three game score...

Lightning 6,Rangers 5,overtime... comments,tomorrow...

correction...

i corrected previous blogpost in saying that the Red Wings will get a third round pick,in one of the next three years in compensation,for the Maple Leafs hiring Mike Babcock,as their next head coach...

Breaking News,and comments...

Mike Babcock has been hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs,as their new head coach;an eight year contract worth approximately $50 million... Red Wings will get a third round draft pick,in one of the next three years,in compensation for hiring Babcock... my opinion:knowing the Red Wings,the way i do,they will,most likely,promote Jeff Blashill from Grand Rapids,to be their next head coach,but General Manager Ken Holland is an enigma,when hiring coaches,and Mike Illtch is an owner who does not like to jumble up things too much...

commentary...

it was a very good game last night,in Anaheim,between the Blackhawks,and the Ducks... the regulation scoring happened in the first two periods... in fact,Chicago scored twice,in first seven minutes of game,for a 2-0 lead,and three of the four goals scored in regulation,were scored in the ten minutes of the first period,and the Ducks tied the game at two,with 2:30 left,in the second period... there were 118 shots,in game(Anaheim had 62,and Chicago had 56),and tell you how good the goaltenders were last night:they stopped 73 straight shots,before the game winning goal(GWG),by the Blackhawks,with 3:48 left,in the third overtime... Andrew Shaw,and Marian Hossa scored power play goals,for Chicago,in the first seven minutes,of the first period,and then Andrew Cogliano,and Corey Perry scored for Anaheim,before the end of the second period,and then probably the best goaltending display that i have seen in months,or even years,until Marcus Kruger tapped in a pass/deflection,past Ducks' goaltender Frederik Andersen,to end the game... there was a disallowed goal of note:Andrew Shaw used his head,in a soccer header,to score a goal,in the second overtime,but was in violation of Rule 78.5 subsection i,that disallowed the goal "that was batted into the goal with anything,but a stick(i.e. foot,hand,skate,or in this case,a head)",paraphrasing the NHL rule book... it was an unique goal,indeed... simply,it was the best game of this year's Stanley Cup playoffs,period...

NHL game,today...

New York Rangers/Tampa Bay Lightning,tonight... game three,Eastern Conference Finals,tonight...

Western Conference Finals game two game score...

Blackhawks 3,Ducks 2,triple overtime... comments,tomorrow morning... note:it was the longest game,in Blackhawks' history...

NHL game,today...

Chicago Blackhawks/Anaheim Ducks,tonight... game two of the Western Conference Finals... Ducks up 1-0 in best of seven series...

commentary...

simply said,the New York Rangers played a very bad game,and basically did not show up,after the first period... Lightning dominated game,and put it to the Rangers... Tyler Johnson,who may be the Conn Smythe candidate(Stanley Cup playoff MVP),for the Lightning,scored a hat trick(three goals),for the Lightning,as Tampa Bay used their overall team speed to out-gun the Rangers,last night...

Eastern Conference Finals' game two game score...

Lightning 6,Rangers 2... comments,tomorrow... series tied at one game piece...

NHL game,today...

Tampa Bay Lightning/New York Rangers,tonight... game two Eastern Conference Finals...

IIHF World Hockey Championships...

1:Canada,2:Russia,3:USA(United States)...

Western Conference Finals game one game score...

Anaheim Ducks 4,Chicago Blackhawks 1... Blackhawks got steamrolled by Ducks,in opening game of the Western Conference Finals... Ducks have won nine of the ten games that they have played,in the Stanley Cup playoffs... i do not like either team,so(laughing)who cares???

Eastern Conference Finals' game one game score,and comments...

Rangers 2,Lightning 1... actually listened to the game on SiriusXM radio,instead of watching game on television(and have not watched any television,since i woke up today)... two late goals by Rangers(one apiece,in second period,and in third period)made the difference,in this game... this was the fifteenth straight one goal game by the Rangers,so they are used to grit-filled games... Rangers up 1-0,in games,in their best of seven series,with the Lightning...

NHL game,today...

Tampa Bay Lightning/New York Rangers,today... game one of Eastern Conference Finals...

blog statement...

day off... listening to the late B.B. King... blues time today...

blog statement...

day off... "Idaho Spud" time... note:both conference finals over the weekend...

NHL game seven...

Rangers 2,Capitals 1,overtime... Rangers come back from a 3-1 deficit to win series in seven games... what a series!!!!!! Rangers meet Tampa Bay Lightning in Eastern Conference Finals,and have home ice... Rangers' goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has won his last six game sevens(a NHL record),with going into game seven(5-0,0.80 G.A.A.,in his last five game sevens)... a great fact:in the first time in NHL history,every game in a best of seven game series were decided by one goal... what a series,like i said earlier!!!!!!

Eastern Conference semi-finals' game seven...

Washington Capitals/New York Rangers,tonight... winner goes to Eastern Conference Finals,against Tampa Bay Lightning...

NHL game score,and comments...

Lightning 4,Canadiens 1... Tampa Bay close out series four games to two games;they face the New York Rangers or the Washington Capitals,in the Eastern Conference Finals... note:both conference finals do not start until both conference semi-finals are over... Anaheim Ducks play the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Finals... game seven of the Capitals/Rangers series is tomorrow...

NHL game...

Montreal Canadiens/Tampa Bay Lightning,tonight... game six-Lightning lead 3-2,in games...

blog statement...

day off... "Idaho Spud" time...

NHL game scores,today...

New York Rangers 4,Washington Capitals 3... series tied at three games apiece... game seven,Wednesday,Madison Square Garden... Anaheim Ducks 3,Calgary Flames 2,overtime... Anaheim Ducks win series,four games to one game... the Ducks play the Chicago Blackhawks,in the Western Conference Finals...

NHL games today...

the Anaheim Ducks,and the Washington Capitals can end their series,against the Calgary Flames,and the New York Rangers,respectively,by winning(game five-Anaheim/Calgary),and(game six-Washington/New York),today...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!!!!

NHL news...

the Chicago Blackhawks(BOO!!!!!)are in the Western Conference Finals... they swept the Minnesota Wild... they will face the Anaheim Ducks,or the Calgary Flames;the Ducks lead the Flames two games to one,game four in that series is tonight...

blog statement...

it has been a very strange week,and month,so far... need a few more days off from blogging... will blog the Eastern Conference,and Western Conference finals,in detail,but until then,i will take some "Idaho Spud" time off...

blog statement...

just need to relax... "Idaho Spud" time...

blog statement...

have had a couple days off,and need a couple days more... "Idaho Spud" time...

comments...

who cares about the Stanley Cup playoffs??? i do care,but i am simply worn out,so it will take a few days to recuperate,for the end of the Stanley Cup playoffs...

commentary...

i am taking a few days off,in reporting on the Stanley Cup playoffs... my heart is not into it right now... i really do not care who wins the Stanley Cup,after the Red Wings lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning... i do love the beautiful game of hockey,but,right now,i need a couple of days to recuperate from the Red Wings' loss,because simply i thought the Red Wings had a real chance to advance... i feel basically the same way i felt about the Red Wings' loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins,in the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals,in which they had a 3-2 lead in that series,but scored two goals in the last two games,and lost both games 2-1(game seven,that year,was in Detroit)... sound familiar??? it does to me... UGH!!!!!!!