The Stanley Cup Playoffs - Goon's Predictions

Who do you like to win Lord Stanley's Cup? I am taking the Boston Bruins to repeat as the Champs? What do you think? Who is your pick to win it all?

Western Division

1 Vancouver Canucks vs. 8. L.A. Kings – 1 Vancouver Canucks

2 St. Louis Blues  vs. 7 SJ Sharks – 2 St Louis Blues

3 Phoenix Coyotes vs. 6 Chicago Blackhawks – 6 Chicago Blackhawks 

4 Nashville Predators vs. 5 Detroit Redwings – 5 Detroit Redwings 

Conference Semis

1 Vancouver Canucks vs. 6 Chicago Blackhawks – Vancouver Canucks

2 St Louis Blues vs. 5 Detroit Redwings – St Louis Blues

Western Conference Finals

Vancouver Canucks vs. St Louis Blues – St Louis Blues.

Eastern Division

1 New York Rangers vs. 8 Ottawa Senators – 1 New York Rangers

2 Boston Bruins vs. 7 Washington Capitals – 2 Boston Bruins

3 Florida Panthers vs. 6 New Jersey Devils – 6 New Jersey Devils

4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 5 Philadelphia Flyers – 4 Pittsburg Penguins

Conference Semi Finals

1 New York Rangers vs. 6 New Jersey Devils – New York Rangers

2 Boston Bruins vs. 4 Pittsburg Penguins – Boston Bruins

Conference Finals

1 New York Rangers vs. 2 Boston Bruins – Boston Bruins

Stanley Cup Finals

St Louis Blues vs. Boston Bruins – Boston Bruins

Speaking of Dirty Hits.... (RW77)

All the talk about hits to the head and from behind has been discussed at length but how about this odd one...

Minnesota Wild bubble player Nate Prosser, a former player with Colorado College, got into a scrum around the Minnesota net with Chicago journeyman Jamal Mayers.... and headbutted him.

WTF?

Here is the link to the story which includes the incident in question (it is at the 1 minute mark or thereabouts).

What a stupid stupid stupid thing for Prosser to do. I mean, right now the Wild is in "see what we've got" mode for future moves, cuts, extensions, and whatever. Prosser was an undrafted free agent. The Wild have very little invested in him. This act won't necessarily end his career with the Wild (or any NHL franchise) but it won't endear him to his teammates and team management either.

He will no doubt face suspension for it but the question is: How many games?

I predict 2 games. Prosser has no NHL history of any negative manner administratively speaking (in other words, he's a first time offender). UPDATE: Turns out he was suspended 1 game. However, to reiterate what I said before:

WTF?

I know those who know me or have read what I've written in the past know that I'm no fan of the Minnesota Wild, but I've never known them to resort to this crap. They've always been a well disciplined team, to my knowledge. I can't even recall off the top of my head the last time a Wild player was suspended.

I'd love to know what he has to say... truthfully. However, with the media like it is and his agent and advisors in his ear, we'll never know what was really going on in his head.

Daniel Sedin hits Duncan Keith in head

Last night there was a lot of outrage about Blackhawks defensemen Duncan Keith's hit on Canucks forward Daniel Sedin.

What I didn't see was a lot of outrage about Daniel Sedins hit on Duncan Keith, and both hits are bad. Being consistent, I think you can see that both players "could be" required to sit a game or two, both hits are bad and unnecessary. I also think that you can't suspend one without suspending the other. It will be interesting to see how the department of player safety handles this case.

Related articles

• Duncan Keith's hit on Daniel Sedin (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Should Duncan Keith be suspended for the hit on Daniel Sedin? (rantsports.com)

Duncan Keith's hit on Daniel Sedin

With Shane Doan getting suspended for three games for elbowing Jamie Benn in the face, you've got to think that the Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith is going to get a game or two suspension for taking out the Canucks star forward Daniel Sedin with this high elbow to the head.

Daniel Sedin also needs to sit as well because he is not innocent in this situation. 

These types of dirty hits are not acceptable and the NHL needs to be more proactive in removing these types of hits from the game of hockey. Dirty hits take out more hockey players than fights do in the NHL.  This is the type of plays that the NHL needs to punish severely and with out apology.

Related articles

• Canucks take on red-hot Blackhawks (cbc.ca)
• Shane Doan hit on Jamie Benn (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Shanny blows up "Car Bomb"

Let's see, Daniel Carcillo has been suspended nine times by the NHL, this is the third time that Carcillo has been suspended this season. Do you see a pattern here? Either the league is picking on Carcillo or he hasn't learned his lesson.

NEW YORK – Chicago Blackhawks forward Daniel Carcillo has been suspended for seven games and will forfeit $66,158.54 in salary for boarding Edmonton Oilers defenseman Tom Gilbert during NHL Game #571 in Chicago on Monday, Jan. 2, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

Carcillo, who was suspended on Nov. 28, 2011, is classified as a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Accordingly, he forfeits his salary based on the number of games in the season (82), rather than the number of days (185). The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 7:23 of the second period. A major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct were assessed on the play.

Carcillo will miss games Jan. 5 at Philadelphia, Jan. 6 vs. Colorado, Jan. 8 vs. Detroit, Jan. 10 vs. Columbus, Jan. 12 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 14 at Detroit and Jan. 15 vs. San Jose. He will be eligible to return Jan. 18 vs. Buffalo.

Carcillo will forfeit in salary what some people don't make in one year. It's not quite clear whether Carcillo will have to be healthy before he can begin to serve is seven game suspension, because Carcillo was severely hurt on the play and was placed on the injured reserve list. In this situation, I must commend Brendan Shanahan for throwing the book at Carcillo.  

Related articles

• Bourque, Carcillo suspended for 'reckless' hits (thestar.com)
• Dan "car bomb" Carcillo suspended indefinitely (mvn.com)
• You can't say dumb with out Carcillo (mvn.com)
• Carcillo to have hearing for dangerous hit on Oilers' Gilbert (tsn.ca)
• Carcillo to be suspended for 6th time (cbc.ca)

Dan "car bomb" Carcillo suspended indefinitely

This is going to be the third suspension of the season for Dan Carcillo, you would think this guy would have learned by now. How long of a suspension would change his on ice behavior? I say throw the book at this buffoon, 5-10 games, if Carcillo is injured he should have to serve his suspension after he comes back from his knee injury.

Jesse Rogers ESPN CHICAGO -- News that Blackhawks forward Dan Carcillo is suspended indefinitely for his boarding of Edmonton defenseman Tom Gilbert can't be a shock to anyone who follows the Hawks or Carcillo. He will be able to state his case to the league at some point and then he'll finish serving his third suspension of the season. And this all happens after he recovers from his injuries.

That's one costly hit.

After talking with hockey people around the league on Tuesday, the consensus is Carcillo will get 4-6 games for the blow. No more.

Related articles

• You can't say dumb with out Carcillo (mvn.com)
• Dan Carcillo gets ejected for hit on Tom Gilbert (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• Carcillo to be suspended for 6th time (cbc.ca)
• Watch Dan Carcillo earn himself a probable date with Mr. Shanahan with this hit on Oilers Tom Gilbert (hubballsbubble.wordpress.com)

You can't say dumb with out Carcillo

There is this saying about "Karma"... Wow!!! If you haven't seen this; check out this moronic move by Chicago Blackhawks dunderhead Daniel Carcillo. Really?!? What the heck is this guy thinking? First, Gilbert didn't touch the puck, second Carcillo wipes out himself and Gilbert and hurts both of them. Like the Hawks announcer said, "that's going to be a suspension."

Edmonton Journal --- To make matters much worse, the Oil then lost top defenceman Tom Gilbert to a reported knee injury after he was grossed out by Hawks’ instigator Daniel Carcillo on a dirty and dangerous hit into the end boards.

The boards were still rattling when the Hawks play-by-play man Tom Foley called it as he saw it. “Oh, that’s gonna be a suspension. Danny Carcillo put Gilbert badly into the end boards, and Dan Carcillo is going to have a meeting with Brendan Shanahan.” Good call, Tom.

It will come as no surprise to hockey observers that Carcillo, a noted cheap shot artist, would be considered a repeat offender. He’s been suspended five times since 2008 including twice in 2011, the last of which was a dangerous hit from behind on Joni Pitkanen that bore more than a passing resemblance to the Gilbert hit.

Related articles

• Schuster: Carcillo Costs His Team Big Time (chicago.cbslocal.com)
• Dan Carcillo gets ejected for hit on Tom Gilbert (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• Oilers win chippy game against Blackhawks (cbc.ca)

Penguins' Goon Engelland suspended for three games

NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan threw the book at Deryk Engelland. I think this is the right decision and yesterday I said, "In my opinion you can expect a 2-4 game suspension would be the proper call." Shanahan had no choice in this case, you can not leave your feet to check a player and hit them in the head.

NEW YORK -- Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Deryk Engelland has been suspended, without pay, for three games for an illegal check to the head of Chicago Blackhawks forward Marcus Kruger during NHL Game #488 in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Dec. 20, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Engelland will forfeit $9,189.18. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 8:55 of the first period. No penalty was assessed on the play.

Engelland will miss games Dec. 23 at Winnipeg, Dec. 27 vs. Carolina and Dec. 29 vs. Philadelphia. He will be eligible to return Dec. 31 at New Jersey.

Related articles

• Penguins' Deryk Engelland Suspended Three Games For Illegal Hit On Blackhawks' Marcus Kruger (tracking.si.com)
• Pens' Engelland handed three-game ban (canada.com)
• Deryk Engelland will get a call from Shanny (mvn.com)

Deryk Engelland will get a call from Shanny

This is why I like the NHL; a player dishes out what I would classify as a dirty bush league check on an opposing player. His teammate who happens to be trailing the play takes issue with the questionable hit and challenges the offending player to a fight.

In this case Blackhawks heavy weight John Scott, reacted appropriately to the questionable hit; Scott came to his teammates aid and immediately challenged the perpetrator Deryk Engelland's to a Fight. per the hockey code, Engelland immediately paid for his dirty check on Markus Kruger by getting the tar beat out of him. 

After watching this display, the Pittsburgh Pengiuns have no room to complain about head shots, while most of us know that the league's top player in on the shelf  with a concussion, one of his teammates is out there hitting other players in the head with a dirty checks like this, which in my opinion is definitely a violation of rule 48.

Per NHL.COM  Pittsburgh's Deryk Engelland faces a supplemental discipline hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety on Thursday morning. In my opinion you can expect a 2-4 game suspension would be the proper call.

Related articles

• Watch: Penguins' Deryk Engelland goes high on Blackhawks' Marcus Kruger (aol.sportingnews.com)
• Deryk Engelland delivers questionable hit, pays the price (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• Blackhawks recall C Pirri, place Carcillo on IR (espn.go.com)

Former Badger Rene Bourque Suspended by the NHL

Calgary Flames forward Rene Bourque became the second player to be suspended by the NHL today.I think the NHL's Senior Vice President of Player Safety made the right decision in this case, because Bourque hit Seabrook with a check that the league is trying to eliminate from the game.

Checking Bourque's player profile from TSN, it would appear that this is the first time that Bourque has been suspended by the NHL. In other words this isn't Matt Cooke we are talking about.

NEW YORK -- Calgary Flames forward Rene Bourque has been suspended, without pay, for two games for checking Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook from behind during NHL Game #479 in Chicago on Sunday, Dec. 18, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Bourque will forfeit $36,036.04. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 15:25 of the first period. A major penalty for checking from behind and a game misconduct was assessed on the play.

Bourque will miss games Dec. 20 vs. Minnesota and Dec. 22 vs. Detroit. He will be eligible to return Dec. 23 at Vancouver.

Chicago's Bolland rips the Sedins

Chicago's BlackhawksDave Bolland rips into the Sedin twins during a radio show and really has nothing nice to say about the Vancouver Canucks, no offense but I can't stand the Canucks either and I have said in the past, "that the Vancouver Canucks are one of the most unlikable teams in the NHL next to the Montreal Canadians."

SportsDirect ---- Chicago Blackhawks center Dave Bolland didn't have too many complimentary things to say about Henrik and Daniel Sedin - or the city of Vancouver, for that matter.

In fact, he referred to the Sedin Twins as "sisters" on two occasions on a recent appearance on Chicago-based WGN Radio.

When asked if he'd welcome them on the Blackhawks - should a deal arise - Bolland was fairly blunt with his response.
Related Info

"Well, they'll never become 'Hawks," he said. "I don't think we'd let them on our team. We'd be sure not to let them on our team. And, yeah, they probably still would be sisters.

Dan Carcillo suspended for two games...

Ironicall, this is the first time that Chicago forward Dan aka "Car Bomb"Carcillo  has never been suspended by the National Hockey League for an "illegal hit" during his NHL career. It seems like the 2 game suspension is a standard suspension NHL nowadays.

Dustin Byfuglien arrested on drunk boating allegation

Winnipeg Jets Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien was arrested in Minnesota for boating while intoxicated. As of this afternoon Byfuglien has yet to be charged.

WINNIPEG - Authorities in Minnesota say Winnipeg Jets star Dustin Byfuglien(notes) has been arrested on suspicion of boating while intoxicated.

The sheriff's jail roster in Hennepin County says the 26-year-old defenseman was brought in just before midnight Wednesday night and released shortly after 2 a.m.

An employee with the county sheriff's office says he was arrested on probable cause and officers have 36 hours to determine if he will actually be charged.

During that time, blood or urine tests will confirm if he was intoxicated.

Another jail official said a mug shot of Byfuglien was taken but a decision was made not to release it to the media.

In the U.S., it is an offense to operate a motorboat with a blood-alcohol limit higher than .08. A conviction carries a maximum $1,000 fine, possible jail time and loss of a boating licence. The offense is raised to a gross misdemeanour, increasing the fine and jail time, if the driver's blood-alcohol level is more than .20, he has similar past convictions or there were children on the boat.

Related articles

• Dustin Byfuglien's arrest for BWI not most shocking part of arrest report (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• Jets' Byfuglien arrested in Minnesota incident (espn.go.com)
• Jets defenceman charged with drunk boating in U.S. (ctv.ca)
• Jets' Byfuglien charged for drunk boating (cbc.ca)

Whatcha gonna do Daniel Carcillo?

So the Chicago Blackhawks have added known NHL pest Daniel “Car Bomb” Carcillo during the off-season to help keep the opposition players in check.  So my next question is; does that include getting beat up by players like current Winnipeg Jet and former Colorado College Tiger defenseman Mark Stewart?

I mean what is Daniel Carcillo going to bring to the table for the Chicago Blackhawks? Is Daniel Carcillo going to be a pain in the ass on ice and take stupid penalties for the Chicago Blackhawks? Doesn’t take a lot of talent to do that… I suppose Carcillo he can punch out star players like the Sedin twins (Ala Marian Gaborik) and play the same role that Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kevin Beiksa does. I mean it doesn't really take that much talent to beat up on skilled players that aren't known for dropping the gloves and fighting.

Tim Sassone; Daily Herald --- Like him or not (I like him), the Blackhawks aren't going to be dull with Daniel Carcillo on the ice and in the dressing room.

Carcillo met the media for the first time on Monday since signing with the Hawks as a free agent and said all the right things, particularly how he already has a dislike for the Vancouver Canucks.

“I watched that (playoff) series and I'm actually pretty excited to play them because there's a few guys there that played a little bit outside their shoes and I think I can keep most of those guys in check when we play them this year,” Carcillo said. “Lapierre, Glass and Torres. Lapierre's at the top of the list.”

Who cares if Torres and Glass are no longer with the Canucks, Carcillo's point was those three players he felt took liberties with the Hawks in the playoffs, no doubt remembering Torres' head shot on Brent Seabrook. And from the sound of it, those are the things Carcillo won't let happen this season.

“I think after the team won the Stanley Cup they lost some of their grit, and I think everybody realized that,” Carcillo said. “Stan has brought me in and brought Jamal (Mayers) in and brought Steve (Montador) in to get that back and to get that attitude and swagger back they had when they won the Cup that year.

“This team has always had that attitude and swagger to it. It's going to be exciting to bring that back. The biggest thing that me and Stan have talked about is just to get that attitude back and that push back and that (bleep) you attitude, you know what I mean?”

Carcillo will start the season with a two-game suspension from an incident in the playoffs but said it comes with the territory.

Related articles

• Chicago Blackhawks Countdown to Camp: Competition at the Remaining Forward Spots (bleacherreport.com)
• NHL suspends Flyers' Dan Carcillo for 2 games (sports.espn.go.com)
• NHL Chicago Blackhawks 2011: Adding Muscle to Their Core During Offseason (bleacherreport.com)

Chicago Blackhawks thugster Daniel Carcillo introduced to the Chicago fans.

This article was just too good to pass up, I was very disappointed to say the least when a storied and respectable organization like the Chicago Blackhawks decided to sign this clown to a free agent deal. Let's not kid ourselves; Daniel Carcillo is one of most despised players around the NHL. I hold him in the same light as a Max Lapierre, Alex Burrows, insert your hated player here________.

Tracey Myers; CSNChicago.com --- Daniel Carcillo is ready to take on Vancouver Canucks, past and present.

“A few guys there play a little outside of their shoes," said Carcillo, who threw out Max Lapierre as well as former Canucks Raffi Torres (now in Phoenix) and Tanner Glass (Winnipeg). “And I think I can keep most of these guys in check when we play them this year.”

The Chicago Blackhawks forward said Monday’s press conference was the first of his career, but he certainly knew how to win over the new crowd. In two months his focus is going to be back to what he knows best: irritating everyone not wearing the same sweater he is.

Carcillo, Car Bomb, it doesn’t matter the name: he knows he isn’t the most liked guy out there. Plenty of Blackhawks fans voiced and tweeted their displeasure when the team signed him on July 1. Carcillo isn’t here to be Mr. Popular, but he figures walking that fine line and keeping teammates protected should win over some.

“I wasn’t very liked when I got to Philadelphia; they traded away a well-liked player for me (Scottie Upshall). And wherever I play I try to play with emotion. Sometimes emotions get the best of me,” he said. “But with time I’ve learned to hone it and I’ll have to do the same thing here. Everything I do I try to do as hard as I can and with a lot of passion. Hopefully fans embrace it.”

Related articles

• Chicago Blackhawks Countdown to Camp: Competition at the Remaining Forward Spots (bleacherreport.com)
• Blackhawks convention brings laughs, some insight regarding Daniel Carcillo's addition (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• NHL Chicago Blackhawks 2011: Adding Muscle to Their Core During Offseason (bleacherreport.com)

Bruins set up to repeat?

Locker Smash

In looking at the Boston Bruins roster for next season, one could make the argument that the Boston Bruins are set up to make another run at the Stanley Cup... The Boston Bruins are going to have most of their team back from this past season. Also, unlike the Chicago Blackhawks the Boston Bruins don’t “salary cap” issues. There will not be a fire sale to start the season off.

Scott Cullen; TSN --- After winning their first Stanley Cup since 1972, the Boston Bruins don't need a whole lot more good news, but they have some nevertheless.

Off-Season Game Plan looks at the Bruins' roster and what GM Peter Chiarelli might do to give the Bruins a shot at back-to-back titles.

The good news for the Bruins, unlike the 2010-champion Chicago Blackhawks, is that the Bruins are in a favourable financial position with respect to the salary cap.

Through Chiarelli's savvy, the Bruins should not only have the room to bring back any or all of the players from their championship team, they should still have the wherewithal to address some needs.

Of course, coming off a Stanley Cup win, it's not like the Bruins have massive holes to fill.

They could use more skilled offensive players, whether on the wing or on defence, in the hopes that might help fix a power play that was an albatross down the stretch and throughout the playoffs. It's almost unbelievable that the Bruins could win the Stanley Cup tournament while struggling for so long with the man advantage, yet that actually happened.

A factor that is already in the Bruins' favour is that they have room for internal improvement, with young players like Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin the most likely to play more significant roles going forward

Former Sioux Toews on Vancouver riots: 'I kind of expected that'

Web Pro News

This was just too good to not pass on. Former Fighting Sioux star and current Blackhawk forward Jonathan Toews wasn't surprised by the Rioting in Vancouver. Seriously, I can't say that I am all that shocked either; especially after there was a riot in the city of Vancouver after the Vancouver Canucks lost in 1994 Stanley Cup Finals to the New York Rangers. What a bunch of morons, they tore up their city after the lost in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Chris Kuc; Tribune reporter --- After getting up close and personal with Canucks fans the past three seasons, Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews wasn't surprised at the rioting in Vancouver after Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Shortly after the Canucks fell to the Bruins last week to give Boston its first Stanley Cup since 1972, the British Columbia city erupted in violence, causing multiple injuries and extensive damage.

"I kind of expected that," said Toews, who was scheduled to leave Chicago on Tuesday to head to Las Vegas for the NHL Awards. "Those fans are crazy. When we beat them the last couple of years they were throwing stuff on the ice. They're crazy fans and obviously passionate about their team. I kind of expected a reaction one way or another."

Bolland: Canucks Are ‘Like A Little Girl’

Image via WikipediaLooks like the War of Words is continuing between the Blackhawks and the Canucks; I also have to say that I agree with Chicago Blackhawks Center Dave Bolland and what he had to say about the Vancouver Canucks, “Typical, pulling hair and biting people. Sort of like a little girl.”

CBS Chicago ---- “It does get pretty painful watching and seeing that team in it,” Bolland told Fred Mitchel, of the Chicago Tribune.

“It sucks seeing them there.”

The Canucks took the first game of the Stanley Cup Finals with a goal by Raffi Torres with 18.5 seconds remaining in regulation. Torres was the same player who delivered a hit to Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook’s head. It was a hit that kept Seabrook out of two games of the Blackhawks-Canucks first round series.

And the fact that Vancouver’s Alex Burrows appeared to bite the finger of Bruins center Patrice Bergeron in the first period didn’t take Bolland by surprise.

“Typical, pulling hair and biting people. Sort of like a little girl,” Bolland said. “But things happen during games. Stuff like that isn’t meant for hockey. So some of those things have to be taken care of.”

Michael Frolik penalty shot...

I have never seen a goalie get hurt on a penalty shot before. I hope that Canucks goalie Cory Schneider is ok. Schneider was playing well until he was pulled from the game due to this injury.

Edler's elbow smash to-the-head of Brouwer

Another game, another dirty head shot, seems like the players are not getting the message one bit, it also looks like the Colin Campbell Wheel of Justice will be spinning again today. What the hell is wrong with Alex Edler, who basically started a line brawl at the end of the second period with a dirty unneeded elbow to the face of Troy Brouwer’s... Come on! There is no excuse for that hit, it's unacceptable and there is no way anyone can defend that dirty hit, even the Canucks fans… Whatever happened to playing the game straight up and taking a number?