Showing posts with label New York Rangers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York Rangers. Show all posts

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Boston Bruins moving.... Take on the Penguins in the Eastern Conference Finals.



There is a new drinking game; every time the Boston Bruins fourth line/Merlot Line is mentioned drink a beer, or take a shot or you can take a drink. You would never make it through the game sober, unless you're drinking water or pop.

That being said, the Pittsburgh Penguins probably aren't going to be as impressed with the Boston Bruins fourth line, because they're a really talented hockey team, but the fact remains you can't discount what they accomplished during the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Here's the stats for the Merlot line Shawn Thornton (0g-3a—3pts), Gregory Campbell (3g-2a—5pts), Daniel Paille (1g-3a—4pts).



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(video) The legend of Torey Krug keeps growing; four goals five games.



The Boston Bruins signed Torey Krug out of Michigan State as a free agent after the 2011-12 season. The move by the Boston Bruins really looks like a smart move. Breaking it down further, Krug has been red hot since getting recalled by the Boston Bruins, scoring (4g-1a—5pts)and in five playoff games. So thank you Michigan State.



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Thursday, May 23, 2013

Torey Krug and Carl Hagelin goals; Rangers vs Bruins game



I have been doing a bi-weekly feature on the former college hockey players, that are currently playing in the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Here's two former college hockey players that had an impact in tonight's game, between the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers. First goal, Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug scored his third goal of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoff on the power play in his seventh NHL game. in four games with the Boston Bruins, Krug has scored (3g-1a—4pts) and in seven career games Krug has scored (3g-3a—6pts), that’s pretty impressive in my book.

Carl Hagelin answers the Torey Krug goal with this interesting goal almost a minute later. I am not sure that Tuukka Rask expected to slip and fall and give up that easy of a goal to the New York Rangers.



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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

(Video) Bruins Merlot line lead B's to a 3-0 Series lead



The Boston Bruins have pushed the New York Rangers to the brink of elimination, with a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers, Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. The Bruins erased a 1-0 Rangers lead in the third period with goals from Johnny Boychuk and Daniel Paille.

I don’t know how you could describe Paille’s miraculous goal, the goal came off a goofy rebound that should have found its way into the net, but had eyes. Seriously, you have to see this goal to believe it. The puck that was shot by Gregory Campbell looked like it came off the face of a sand wedge and had some serious back-spin on it. If I was going to describe it, the puck’s movement looked more like Titleist Pro V1 golf than a hockey puck. The puck was going towards the goal line – hit the goal line and spun back like it was hit by Tiger Woods. The puck never broke the plane until Paille put the puck past Henrik Lundqvist on the rebound, for the game winning goal.

I know some people are sick of hearing about the fourth line, but you can see that the Merlot line had the majority of the points for the Boston Bruins tonight, Shawn Thornton (0g-2a—2pts), Gregory Campbell (0g-1a—1pts), Daniel Paille (1g-1a—2pts). Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk also got his fourth goal of the playoffs tonight as well.


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Zdeno Chara gets hit in the face by Ryan Callahan, no call on the play



The Officiating has been poor in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year, there is no doubt about it. This is an obvious high stick by Rangers forward Ryan Callahan on Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara that went uncalled, that should drawn a double minor penalty. Four officials on the ice and no one saw it. The Officials did manage to call a very weak penalty on Jaromir Jagr that was much less serious than this.
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Sunday, May 19, 2013

John Tortorella speaks after the Rangers Game 2 loss to the Bruins



Video courtesy of our friends at Bruins Daily, stop by and visit their blog, you won't be disappointed. This is one of the longer press conferences you will probably see from New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella. This post game presser lasted a grand total of 02:14, that's pretty impressive if you ask me.
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(Video) Boychuk, Marchand and Lucic goals... Bruins 5 Rangers 2

English: 37 Patrice Bergeron (C, BOS)
English: 37 Patrice Bergeron (C, BOS) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Boston Bruins took the New York Rangers to the woodshed today. It appears that the Bruins might have been a bit off or even worn out from their screwed up schedule in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

One my friends – a great hockey mind – told me that the Boston Bruins were lucky to win their first round series against the Maple Leafs. This is a fact that I agree with.

I have said on a couple occasion that I think that the Boston Bruins slept walked through the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Bruins looked tired and didn't have any energy in their step, that all seems to have changed now. I don't know if the Bruins are  more rested or of they have found a second gear. I am not sure what is going on here, but the Boston Bruins are playing better.

In the second round so far, the Bruins top six forwards have been absolutely awesome. In the first round, many of us were ready to send out a search party for them.

Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand had another two point game (1g-1a—2pts) and now has five points in his last three games (2g-3a—5pts) after only scoring two points in the first round against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Patrice Bergeron is starting to find his game as well and has been red hot as of late as well… Bergy has (2g-4a—6pts) in the last three games after scoring just a single point in the first five games that he played in.


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(Video) Torey Krug scores his second goal in two games for the Bruins



Make that two goals in two games for Boston Bruins rookie defenseman, Torey Krug. The Livonia, Michigan product has played in a grand total of five NHL games and has two NHL goals, both in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs.

05:28 BOS T. KRUG (2) SNAP - ASST: N. HORTON (5) AND D. KREJCI (10)


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Thursday, May 16, 2013

Brad Marchand wins it in O.T. for the Bruins... 3-2



The Boston Bruins were lucky to get the win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, the Boston Bruins outshot the New York Rangers 48-35 and had a 16-5 edge in shots in the overtime period. New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist kept the Rangers in the game by stopping 45/48 shots.

Brad Marchand had two points in the first six games that he played in during the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, now has three point in two games and (1g-4a—5pts) in eight games. Patrice Bergeron had two points in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, now has four points in last two games and has been a big part of the Bruins turn around.
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NHL plans to "overdo" the outdoor game experience

Wow! Just for the record, I do think overdo is appropriate word in this case by definition. Per the dictionary - overdo to do too much, or to excess Remember when one outdoor game a season used to be sufficient? Now there is going to be two games alone at Yankee Stadium and the Rangers are going to play in two of the games in one season.
Pat Leonard, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS – The Bronx is freezing.

The NHL is planning an outdoor Stadium Series for next season headlined by two Rangers games at Yankee Stadium, one against the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 26 and another against the Islanders on Jan. 29, the Daily News has confirmed.

TSN first reported the planned series, which is not yet contractually finalized but would include six outdoor games total, beginning with the Jan. 1 Winter Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings at Michigan Stadium.
I am not really a fan of the outdoor game. But like a good car accident, I like to take look. I can imagine that beer sales will be very good for the two game event. I mean what next? Do we have a block of 10 outdoor games?

Monday, May 13, 2013

(Video) Patrice Bergeron wins Game 7 in OT



What an exciting night of hockey... The Boston Bruins scored two goals by Milan Lucic and Patrice Bergeron 31 seconds in the waning minutes of the third period to force the overtime period. At one point in the third period, the Boston Bruins were down 4-1 and it looked like Boston's season was over.

You could tell by the body language of Maple Leafs that the game tying goal was a back breaker and I had a feeling that the Bruins were going to take the game in the overtime period. And they did. Patrice Bergeron took the team on his back and at the 06:05 mark of the overtime period he scored the game winning goal sending the TD North Garden into a frenzy.

The game winning goal was Bergeron's second goal of the game and the third goal of the series. Bergeron's series clinching goal sends the Boston Bruins to the second round of the playoffs to face the New York Rangers. This is the first time the Rangers and the Boston Bruins will meet in the  Stanley Cup Playoffs in forty years (1972-1973).




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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

NHL plans six outdoor games next season, report says

This morning on my way to work, I was listening to SiriusXM NHL Center Ice. Apparently, there’s going to be six outdoor games, including the Winter Classic next season.

Seriously!

There are going to be a grand total of six outdoor games. Talk about an overkill.

Personally, I think there comes a time when the NHL has overdone the outdoor game, this might be an instance of this. How many outdoor games do we need to have during the course of a season? I also think the outdoor game can be a bit of a crap shoot with the weather, one of these game is almost assured of having disastrous ice conditions. Lastly, I think that the outdoor games are a gimmick as well. Really, the frozen pond in California? Make sure to throw the palm trees in for good measure.
Kevin Cusick, Pioneer Press --- TSN, Canada's version of ESPN, is reporting that the league is planning five outdoor games in addition to the Jan. 1 Winter Classic previously announced for the University of Michigan's Big House."

"They're still ironing out a few of the wrinkles," reporter Darren Dreger said on TSN's "Insider Trading" program. "Contracts haven't been signed. But that's the grand plan."
Here's the schedule that the NHL is proposing for the 2013-14 season.

Jan. 1: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings at Michigan Stadium.

Jan. 25: Anaheim Ducks vs. Los Angeles Kings at Dodger Stadium.

Jan. 26: New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers at Yankee Stadium.

Jan. 29: New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers at Yankee Stadium.

March 1: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Chicago Blackhawks at Soldier Field.

March 2: Ottawa Senators vs. Vancouver Canucks at BC Place (It apparently has a retractable roof now. Who knew?).
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Saturday, April 13, 2013

Sabres Patrick Kaleta and Flyers Oliver Lauridsen fight



That was former Saint Cloud State Husky defenseman Oliver Lauridsen's first NHL fight, I suppose, he would have liked to have done beter. Nice to see that Lauridsen take on one of the biggest pukes in the NHL.

As you probably know, I don't hold Kaleta in very high regards, at all, he's a reckless players that has been suspended numerous times, by the NHL. Earlier this season, Kaleta was suspended for five games, without pay, for boarding New York Rangers forward Brad Richards

In March,  Kaleta was also called out by teammate All-World Goalie Ryan Miller, and told to grow up, Miller has since apologized.

I checked out Oliver Lauridsen's Hockey Fight's page and he did have a fight against former Fighting Sioux forward Darcy Zajac on 1-18-13. [click on the link for the video]
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Monday, March 04, 2013

Patrick Kaleta gets five games for this cheap shot on Brad Richards



I could have predicted that Brendan Shanahan and the Department of Player Safety was going to throw the book at Patrick Kaleta for this dirty hit on the Rangers forward Brad Richards. If I am not mistaken, this is the longest suspension in the NHL so far this year. Kaleta has now been suspended three times for a total of 11 games by the NHL, he's starting to develop quite a name for himself. Personally, I think he's a puke, a Matt Cooke or Raffi Torres type player.

NEW YORK -- Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta has been suspended for five games, without pay, for boarding New York Rangers forward Brad Richards during NHL Game No. 317 in New York on Sunday, March 3, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.

Kaleta is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Based on his average annual salary, he will forfeit $76,219.25. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 3:28 of the third period. Kaleta was assessed a major penalty for checking from behind and game misconduct.
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Thursday, February 21, 2013

Joe Finley vs. Brandon Prust



Wow! Big Joe Finley is becoming a much better fighter and not leading with his chin any more as he did in his first professional fight. Actually, I would say that Finley did pretty well in this fight. Brandon Prust was in 20 fights last season and has been in 6 already this season, so I tip my hat to the former fighting Sioux defenseman Joe Finley.
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Thursday, January 24, 2013

Rangers Stu Bickel vs. Flyers Tom Sestito



As a Boston Bruins hockey fan, this is one fight that I was very happy to see. In my opinion, Tom Sestito is waste of skin and if the Flyers want waste roster spot on this guy more power to him. Making a case for Stu Bickel, at least he can be used in the third defensive paring if need be.

Lastly, in this case, I am glad that the fourth line forward Sestito was able to pull off the legal check this time. The guy is an absolute mountain of a man, and you have to keep your head on a swivel when he is on the ice.

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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Adam McQuaid pounds Brian Boyle



Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid and New York Rangers forward Brian Boyle are two big boys and this was a pretty good fight in my opinion. This is one thing that I like about the NHL, something happens on the ice and it's settled the players on the ice and not the officials. I score the fight a win by McQuaid. Unfortunately, the Boston Bruins are losing 2-0 after one period of hockey.
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Sunday, August 26, 2012

Bruins 2, Wild 8th in 2012 Uni Watch rankings

So the Montreal Canadians have been ranked first in the 2012 NHL Uni Watch Rankings - the Boston Bruins were ranked second and the Wild were ranked eighth. Below is how the NHL rankings shook out.

1. Montreal
2. Boston
3. NY Rangers
4. Detroit
5. Philadelphia
6. Toronto
7. Pittsburgh
8. Minnesota
9. Columbus
10. New Jersey
11. Chicago
12. Buffalo
13. NY Islanders
14. San Jose
15. Florida
16. Winnipeg
17. Vancouver
18. Phoenix
19. Calgary
20. Tampa Bay
21. Carolina
22. Nashville
23. Anaheim
24. Ottawa
25. St. Louis
26. Edmonton
27. Washington
28. Los Angeles
29. Dallas
30. Colorado
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Friday, August 17, 2012

Friday at the Links

Sounds like the NHLPA led by Donald Fehr is less than impressed with Gary Bettman and the NHL Owners response to their proposal that they put forth in good faith.

One casualty of the impending lockout is that the Detroit Redwings have cancelled their prospects tourney that they hold every summer in Traverse City Michigan.
Helene St. James, Freepress.com --- General manager Ken Holland told the Free Press that, "we had a conference call with all the teams involved. Due to the uncertainty of CBA negotiations and teams having to make commitments for hotel rooms and travel plans -- the biggest thing is the hotel rooms. The people Up North needed to know if the rooms would be used or not. So we made the decision to cancel for 2012. We plan to be back next year."

Games among prospects for the Wings, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues were to have run Sept. 15-19 at Centre Ice Arena.
Mike Brohy of Sportsnet.CA says not so fast don’t shoot the messenger. [Sportsnet.CA]

Not Lockout related but former Fighting Sioux forward Brad Malone is ranked 5th on the Av’s prospects.
5. Brad Malone, C: After he was taken with the 105th pick in the 2007 draft, Malone spent the next four years at the University of North Dakota. There he developed into an NHL-ready power forward. The Miriamichi, New Brunswick native turned pro prior to last season and made an immediate impact. That's not surprising -- Malone's size (6-foot-2, 207 pounds) and fearless attitude make him a valuable lower-line presence for any organization. He's also got some offensive pop, with 11 goals and 25 assists in 67 games for Lake Erie. When the Avalanche forward lines were hampered by injuries in December, Malone performed well in a nine-game tryout, averaging 10 minutes a game and notching two assists. If his development stays on schedule, look for him to make a breakthrough with Colorado sometime next season. "He's just a big strong guy who plays the center and the wing," Billington said. "He's got good hockey sense, and he's not afraid."
The labor impasse and the prospects of an impending lockout is holding up the signing of free agent deals. Phoenix Coyotes unrestricted free agent forward Shane Doan seems to be a casualty of this as well.
Sarah McLellan, Arizona Republic --– The Coyotes have been among the more conservative operators this offseason, waiting for potential buyer Greg Jamison and long-term captain Shane Doan to decide their futures with the team before the front office could further retool the roster.

But in the weeks leading up to the scheduled open of training camps in mid-September, the pulse around the league has copied that of the Coyotes, slowing as uncertainty picks up with the approaching expiration date of the collective bargaining agreement.

"Everybody is in a holding pattern in regards to the deals they can potentially make," Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said. "The last number of years, August is a quiet month anyway, but this CBA makes it a little quieter than normal."
Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News expects a work stoppage to happen but doesn’t think the lockout will go on very long. I agree as well, because I have a really hard time believing that the NHL would take a chance at losing their money maker the Winter Classic.
The players are thinking globally for the good of the game, allowing the salary cap to stay and proposing ideas like luxury taxes, trading of salary cap space and broader revenue sharing. Bettman and many owners are seemingly thinking only about their pockets. In a rarity for sports labor disputes, most fans are on the players' side.

My sense is we're not going to have an 82-game season but this won't go on too long. I find it hard to believe the league would blow off all the exposure HBO will be again providing with its 24/7 series in advance of the Winter Classic. And let's not forget the expected world record crowd in the 115,000 range likely to pack the Big House at the University of Michigan for the Red Wings and Leafs on New Year's Day.

Still, I wouldn't be making downtown dinner reservations prior to a hockey game thinking you're going to be seeing the Sabres against the Penguins (Oct. 13), Red Wings (Oct. 16) or Rangers (Oct. 19). Under the current schedule, in fact, seven of the Sabres' first 10 games through Nov. 3 are at home. They all seem in jeopardy now.
Jeff Z Klein of the New York’s Slap Shot Blog has two really good blog post this week. How to Share the Revenue Could Be Stumbling Block in N.H.L. Negotiations. [Click to open]

In N.H.L. Negotiation, the Union’s Good Ideas May Not Matter. [Click to open]

NHLers planning a European odyssey in case of a lockout may be in tough. [Winnipeg Sun]

NHL is headed for a lockout but it won't last into 2013, according to a national hockey writer. [Mlive.com]
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Sabres Pylon Scott was not brought to the Buffalo for his defensive skills

The North East Division teams got tougher this off-season, the much maligned Buffalo Sabres signed former Dallas Star uber punk Steve Ott and former New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks pylon John Scott – not to be out done – the Montreal Canadians signed former New York Rangers tough guy Brandon Prust, who shared the NHL’s league lead in fighting majors with the Boston Bruins tough guy Shawn Thornton.

By signing these players – some have said that the North Eastern division teams are playing right into the Boston Bruins hands – last season when the Boston Bruins have at least one fighting major they have a winning record. When the Boston Bruins don't record at least one fighting major last season they had a losing record.

I do predict that these teams are not going to beat the Boston Bruins at their own game. These aforementioned teams were better off to let sleeping bears slumber.

Boston Bruins forward/tough guy Shawn Thornton led the Bruins and tied Brandon Prust for the league lead with 20 fighting majors – thirteen of Thornton’s fellow teams mates dropped the gloves as well. According to Hockeyfights.com, the Boston Bruins were second in the league in fighting majors and held a record of 37-16-8 when they recorded at least one fighting major.
James Cook, Record-Eagle --- A bruising blueliner brought in by the Sabres to contend with fiesty teams such as the Boston Bruins, Scott makes a living as an enforcer. And that role often includes fighting.

"I tell him the only thing uglier than an MMA fight is a hockey fight," Bustance joked. "He's got a good nature. But he's patient like a boxer. He's got a good eye. We can even work with the same foot position so he can do it on skates."

The 270-pound Scott isn't out there for his deft scoring touch. In 146 career NHL games, he's scored just one goal and added four assists. But he's piled up 236 penalty minutes over four seasons with the Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers before signing a one-year contract with the Sabres this off-season.

Scott is ranked as one of the top 10 fighters in the NHL as a result of several vicious beatdowns he's handed out in his four seasons in the NHL.

His most infamous fight came when he was with the Blackhawks. It was Nov. 27, 2010, and Scott destroyed Kevin Westgarth, who is no small man himself.

Even at 6-5, 241, Westgarth appeared dwarfed by Scott, who heaped punishment on the Los Angeles Kings forward. Westgarth tapped out to end the fight, which is somewhat unusual because both participants were still on their feet.
The first thing that the Buffalo Sabres should try to do is teach former MTU defenseman John Scott how to skate, so he can take a regular shift on the ice and not just take up a roster spot. I couldn’t resist when I read this article.

The Rangers valued John Scott so much that they made John Scott a healthy scratch during the Rangers “entire” playoff run, because his former head coach John Tortorella felt he was a defensive liability and beating the crap out of people is not a desired trade that you need in the Stanely Cup Playoffs. For whatever reason, the New York Rangers also failed to resign Brandon Prust in the offseason as well.

Just for the record, I am a big fan of fighting in hockey and I relish a good fight between two willing combatants and would never be an advocate for eliminating fighting in the junior or professional ranks. That being said, let’s not kid ourselves – John Scott has one role in the NHL and that’s to beat the tar out of the opposition but let’s call it as we see it – he can’t skate or play hockey very well at all.

Finally, while the Boston Bruins might have been second in the league in fighting majors last season – all of their tough guys can skate and play a regular shift and a vital role on their team. There aren’t any one dimensional goons taking up a roster spot on their team. So while the Sabres employed Scott to dance with a few Bruins in six league games, the Sabres are still wasting a roster spot on a one dimensional player that has a hard time staying in the lineup.
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