Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford steps into the Ducks Rickard Rakel

The game is getting feisty. Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford steps into the Ducks forward Rickard Rakel and causes a bit of a dustup.

Got to love NHL playoffs. Mayhem all over including blatant interference by Crawford on Rickard Rakell and faceoff neutral zone.

— Scott Burnside (@ESPN_Burnside) May 20, 2015

Corey Crawford steps out and intentionally bumps into Rickard Riakell on a dump-in. #curiousmove #ANAvsCHI

— ESPN NHL coverage (@ESPN_NHL) May 20, 2015

The Postseason rulebook (followup)/A wrapup of the final four NHL teams/Finals Preview (RW77)

#495445273 / gettyimages.com

The PostSeason Rulebook

Much has been said (and ignored) by the NHL about the postseason rulebook... and sadly most of the issues in round 1 went away in the subsequent rounds.  Why sadly?  Because it gives ammo to the NHL to simply dust it under the rug and ignore what is painfully obvious:

The Rulebook is wrongfully applied in the postseason...or is it the regular season?  Either way the rulebook used during the regular season has been replaced by a new rulebook that allows spearing, embellishment, roughing, boarding, slashing, and randomly allows/disallows interference and tripping.

Diving is a huge problem in professional sports.  HUGE.  It's on the rise in the NHL and NFL, it's pretty entrenched in the NBA, and it's an absolute PLAGUE on soccer/football.

Semifinal Reviews:

Montreal Canadiens

They weren't outplayed by New York.  They fell victim to two things:  Bad luck and Karma.  It was bad luck that Price got injured (for many reasons).  It was bad luck that Dustin Tokarski came in and played very well except for one game and will STILL be remembered as the guy who couldn't pull a Carey Price.  Montreal will be more known for their diving and embellishing than they will for the skill they put on the ice.

Carey Price played out of his mind.  I STILL do not believe that this is the norm.  Price STILL isn't an elite goaltender.  He's VERY good, don't get me wrong.  He had an EPIC postseason this year.  But in the end, PK Subban and Tomas Plekanec (among others) placed BAD KARMA on the Canadiens by flopping like fish when they were touched.

PK Subban is a GREAT fit for Vancouver because, like the Vancouver Candivers, he's EXCEPTIONALLY talented.  He's one of the best puck moving defensemen in the NHL... but he can't let his gameplay do the talking.  He has to showboat and dive.  The guy is the most visible minority hockey player in the NHL right now.  Sure, there are others (Wayne Simmonds, Johnny Oduya, Jerome Iginla, among others) but PK is the most visible.  And he's representing himself POORLY.  He reminds me a lot of Robbie Earl while he was with Wisconsin.  Robbie had a TON of talent.  He was fast, a great stick handler, a finisher... but you breathe on him wrong and he falls to the ice like he's been shot.  And, like Earl, the team representatives defend him (I still remember hearing UW blowhards talk about how Earl skates on the balls of his feet which causes him to be unstable on his skates... whatever...  when it suits him nothing knocks him off of his skates).

Anyways, ethical behavior amongst players in sports is almost dead anyways.

NY Rangers

Have they beaten any opponent outright?  Have they laid the smackdown at all this post season?  The answer is no.  They "got by" every opponent they faced.  Does it matter?  No.  Because, do you know what's the worst thing that could happen to the Rangers if they get by the Kings?  Nothing because they'd still be hoisting the Cup.  The truth is, the fact that they've had to fight through EVERY opponent they've  faced and dominated in the areas of goaltending and capitolizing on the other guys mistakes (they've done little to create their own victories really) means that they will once again have to slog their way through the LA Kings in the finals.  Good thing is that Lundqvist is a beast...well except for that one game where he looked epically awful.

Chicago Blackhawks

Tons of talent and no depth.  Oh, and Corey Crawford joins Marc Andre Fleury in proving that it doesn't take elite goaltending to win the Stanley Cup.  Crawford was singularly AWFUL for most of the series.  Game 7 was astounding to me.  Quick gives up a horrendous softie to Patrick Sharp and they can't win despite it?  If Chicago was all that great wouldn't 4 goals be enough to win a game?

Not with the Hawk D and Corey Sieve Crawford.  He looked SO MUCH like Cristobal Huet that I could've SWORE the French Sieve kidnapped the real Corey Crawford and undermined the Hawks.

Nick Leddy, I know you botched a block which resulted in the game winner for the Kings in Game 7, but don't feel bad.  In all likelihood the next shot the Kings would have made would have beaten Crawford anyways.

In the end, the Hawks focus on depth this offseason but they should focus on shut down D, a 2nd line Center, and training Crawford's replacement.

LA Kings

They outlasted the Hawks.  It is evident that they will be the favorites to win the Cup and I hope they do win, but they have a team eerily similar to the NY Rangers.  Good D, Great Goaltending, and mediocre Offense.  It's strange that the Kings boast a 4th line in Pearson/Taffoli/Carter that outscores their first line... or at least the commentators call that line the Kings' 4th line.  It's kindof like calling the Toews line the Hawks checking line.  Call it what you will but we all know that the first line that does almost no scoring isn't the first line and the fourth line that does most of the scoring is usually called the first line.  Whatever.

Prediction:  If LA is going to win it, they'll need to NOT see Game 7.  If Game 7 comes around, Quick's streak ends and the Rangers hoist the Cup.  My prediction:  Kings in 6.

L.A. Kings: game-winning goal, hand shake (No shenanigans)

The goal was originally announced as Alec Martinez's goal, but they reviewed the goal and that could change to Tyler Toffoli. Or I should say, that everyone but NBCSN and the NHL changed the goal.

Nonetheless it was a very good series and only fitting that this game went to overtime. This series could have gone either way.

L.A. Times --- Kings defenseman Alec Martinez shot inside the blue line off a pass from Justin Williams -- who's now 7-0 in Game 7s -- and the puck was deflected through traffic and into the goal by rookie forward Tyler Toffoli, past teammate Jarret Stoll and Chicago goalie Corey Crawford.

(Video) Andrew Shaw and Jonathan Quick mix it up, Crawford and Quick butt heads

Exciting end of the second period of game six. First, it looks like Andrew Shaw is helped into L.A. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick. It was obvious that Quick was still fuming from that incident, butts heads with Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford on the way off of the ice. Checking the box score, there were no penalty assessed.

(Video) Chicago Blackhawks goal that was disallowed (Goalie Interference)

Chicago Blackhawks forward Jonathan Toews thought he had scored Chicago's second goal of the game. The play was ruled goalie interference. Was this the right call or not? Should the goal have counted?  Rule 69.1 states that you can't review goalie interference with the aid of video replay.

So, here's my question, how do we know when the refs didn't didn't use video replay when they called up stairs to make the decision? We don't. This might be one of those plays where the  refs "should" be able to review video to help them make a decision.

Minnesota Wild: Erik Haula scores a sweet goal in game six (Video)

Minnesota Wild forward Erik Haula scored a beautiful goal against the Chicago Blackhawks in game six of the Western Conference Semifinals. The Blackhawks would win the game and series in overtime with a goal from Patrick Kane.

During the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Haula gave us a glimpse of things to come and tells us that the future is very bright for the Minnesota Wild hockey team.

02:29 MIN Erik Haula (4) Wrist shot - ASST: Matt Cooke (3), Clayton Stoner (2)

Tampa Scores on Own Net; Jonathan Toews Gets Credit For Goal

Easy goal for Blackhawks forward Jonathan Toews eh? I would imagine that this flukey goal will create a buzz on the internet in the near future. Unfortunately for the Blackhawks, they still ended up losing in to the Tampa Bay Lightning in overtime.  That was the fourth goal of the season for Toews who seems to have gotten off to a slow start for the Blackhawks scoring (4g-3a—7pts) in 10 games.

Canada's 2013-14 National Men's Team Orientation Camp Roster

Former Fighting Sioux forward Jonathan Toews  has made the team Canada Orientation Camp Roster. Also, three Boston Bruins Milan Lucic, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand have made the roster as well. Team Canada's camp will be on 25-28 August, 2013. 

Goaltenders
Corey Crawford	L/G	6'2"	208	12/31/84	Montreal, Que.	Chicago Blackhawks(NHL)
Braden Holtby	L/G	6'2"	203	09/16/89	Lloydminster, Sask.	Washington Capitals (NHL)
*#Roberto Luongo	L/G	6'3"	217	04/04/79	Montreal, Que.	Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
Carey Price	L/G	6'3"	209	08/16/87	Anahim Lake, B.C.	Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
Mike Smith	L/G	6'4"	215	03/22/82	Kingston, Ont.	Phoenix Coyotes (NHL)
Defense
Karl Alzner	L/G	6'3"	217	09/24/88	Burnaby, B.C.	Washington Capitals (NHL)
#Jay Bouwmeester	L/G	6'4"	212	09/27/83	Edmonton, Alta.	St. Louis Blues (NHL)
*Dan Boyle	R/D	5'11"	190	07/12/76	Ottawa, Ont.	San Jose Sharks (NHL)
*Drew Doughty	R/D	6'1"	208	12/08/89	London, Ont.	Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
Mike Green	R/D	6'1"	207	10/12/85	Calgary, Alta.	Washington Capitals (NHL)
Dan Hamhuis	L/G	6'1"	209	12/13/82	Smithers, B.C.	Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
Travis Hamonic	R/D	6'1"	206	08/16/90	St. Malo, Man.	New York Islanders (NHL)
*Duncan Keith	L/G	6'1"	200	07/16/83	Penticton, B.C.	Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Kristopher Letang	R/D	6'0"	201	04/24/87	Ste-Julie, Que.	Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Marc Methot	L/G	6'3"	231	06/21/85	Ottawa, Ont.	Ottawa Senators (NHL)
Dion Phaneuf	L/G	6'3"	214	04/10/85	Edmonton, Alta.	Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
Alex Pietrangelo	R/D	6'3"	201	01/18/90	King City, Ont.	St. Louis Blues (NHL)
*Brent Seabrook	R/D	6'3"	221	04/20/85	Tsawwassen, B.C.	Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Marc Staal	L/G	6'4"	207	01/13/87	Thunder Bay, Ont.	New York Rangers (NHL)
PK Subban	R/D	6'0"	216	05/13/89	Toronto, Ont.	Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
Marc-Édouard Vlasic	L/G	6'1"	205	03/30/87	Montreal, Que.	San Jose Sharks (NHL)
*Shea Weber	R/D	6'4"	233	08/14/85	Sicamous, B.C.	Nashville Predators (NHL)
Forwards
*Patrice Bergeron	R/D	6'2"	194	07/24/85	Sillery, Que.	Boston Bruins (NHL)
Jeff Carter	R/D	6'4"	210	01/01/85	London, Ont.	Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
Logan Couture	L/G	6'1"	200	03/28/89	London, Ont.	San Jose Sharks (NHL)
*Sidney Crosby	L/G	5'11"	200	08/07/87	Cole Harbour, N.S.	Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Matt Duchene	L/G	5'11"	200	01/16/91	Haliburton, Ont.	Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
Jordan Eberle	R/D	5'10"	184	05/15/90	Regina, Sask.	Edmonton Oilers (NHL)
*Ryan Getzlaf	R/D	6'4"	221	05/10/85	Regina, Sask.	Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
Claude Giroux	R/D	5'11"	172	01/12/88	Ottawa, Ont.	Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
Taylor Hall	L/G	6'1"	194	11/14/91	Kingston, Ont.	Edmonton Oilers (NHL)
Chris Kunitz	L/G	6'0"	193	09/26/79	Regina, Sask.	Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Andrew Ladd	L/G	6'2"	205	12/12/85	Maple Ridge, B.C.	Winnipeg Jets (NHL)
Milan Lucic	L/G	6'4"	220	06/07/88	Vancouver, B.C.	Boston Bruins (NHL)
Brad Marchand	L/G	5'9"	183	05/11/88	Hammonds Plains, N.S.	Boston Bruins (NHL)
*#Rick Nash	L/G	6'4"	213	06/16/84	Brampton, Ont.	New York Rangers (NHL)
James Neal	L/G	6'2"	208	09/03/87	Whitby, Ont.	Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
*Corey Perry	R/D	6'3"	210	05/16/85	Peterborough, Ont.	Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
*Michael Richards	L/G	5'11"	200	02/11/85	Kenora, Ont.	Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
Patrick Sharp	R/D	6'1"	199	12/27/81	Thunder Bay, Ont.	Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
*#Eric Staal	L/G	6'4"	205	10/29/84	Thunder Bay, Ont.	Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
Jordan Staal	L/G	6'4"	220	09/10/88	Thunder Bay, Ont.	Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
#Martin St. Louis	R/D	5'9"	185	06/18/75	Laval, Que.	Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)
Steven Stamkos	R/D	6'0"	190	02/07/90	Unionville, Ont.	Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)
John Tavares	L/G	6'0"	199	09/20/90	Oakville, Ont.	New York Islanders (NHL)
*#Joe Thornton	L/G	6'4"	225	07/02/79	St. Thomas, Ont.	San Jose Sharks (NHL)
*Jonathan Toews	L/G	6'2"	210	04/29/88	Winnipeg, Man.	Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)

Stanley Cup Final game six: Lucic goal

This was the goal by Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic scored at the 12:11 mark of the third period. Of course the Blackhawks weren't done as they scored two goals, 17 seconds apart to win the 3-2 and the Stanley Cup Series 4-2.

2013 Stanley Cup Finals Game Three: Bergy Scores 2-0 Boston after two...

The box score will read, Zdeno Chara pass to Jaromir Jagr who fed Patrice Bergeron with a beautiful cross ice pass. Bergy waited until he saw an opening and then shot and then shot the puck past Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford.

#Bruins lead faceoff battle 29-13. Bergeron/Kelly a combined 24-5. Handzus/Kruger/Bolland a combined 1-20.
— Nicholas W. Goss (@NicholasGoss35) June 18, 2013

Awesome Corey Crawford save

VIDEO: How 'bout Crow with this two-pad slide to save a goal? video.blackhawks.nhl.com/videocenter/co…
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 3, 2013

Going into the Stanley Cup Playoffs one of the question marks for the Chicago Blackhawks was the goaltending. I think the questions have been answered. This is the line for Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford, 14 games, 10-4, .938 save percentage and a 1.67 goals against average.

Chicago Blackhawks twitter pictures

I have a feeling a lot of people will be framing this one twitter.com/HawksTalkCSN/s…
— Blackhawks Talk (@HawksTalkCSN) June 3, 2013

Here are some interesting pictures that were posted on twitter right after the game. This has been an interesting and intense series so far, very rough and very hard hitting. Tonight, there were 82 hits in this game, with L.A. dishing out 46 hits.

You know your favorite hockey team is screwed when Jon Toews is smiling. twitter.com/theroyalhalf/s…
— The Royal Half (@theroyalhalf) June 3, 2013

Bryan Bickell hits Tom Gilbert

In football we used to have a saying, it's better to be the hammer, than the nail. Ouch! Check out this big time hit by Chicago Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell puts on Minnesota Wild Defenseman Tom Gilbert.

Jason Zucker game winner against the Blackhawks

For the most part I thought that the Minnesota Wild were the better team today, except for the two-four  minute period of time where the Minnesota Wild tried to sit on the lead and it came back to bite them in the back side.

Zucker: On the game winning goal "I Just tried to get it to the net and tried to go up high cause it was open and it did." #mnwild
— KFAN1003 (@KFAN1003) May 5, 2013

Zucker: "That crowd was unbelievable and you feed on that stuff."
— KFAN1003 (@KFAN1003) May 5, 2013

What a save... Crawford stones Bouchard

What a save by the Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford on Minnesota Wild forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard, words really can't describe it.