Today in Hockey History, Pierre McGuire fired from the Whalers

20 years ago today Pierre McGuire was fired from his coaching position with the Hartford Whalers pic.twitter.com/sNmAxmXqx2
— Goalie Ways (@GoalieWays) May 19, 2014

Now, with any luck, we could get NBC to fire him. In my opinion, it would be a very good start. Pierre McGuire is one of the most annoying hockey analysts in all of hockey.

Jeff Jacobs; Courant columnist--- With one brush of his newly recovered powers Thursday, general manager Paul Holmgren did more to unify the Whalers than anybody in recent team history.

Holmgren fired coach Pierre McGuire after six months.

It was more than a great idea.

It was justice,

(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.

Vote for T.J. Oshie in the TSN Play of the Year

You can vote for former Fighting Sioux and current St. Louis Blues forward T.J. Oshie against Philadelphia Flyer forward Claude Giroux for TSN's Play of the Year. Here's the link for voting.

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L.A. Kings: Matt Greene Smokes Mathieu Perreault

Former UND defenseman and current Los Angeles Kings defenseman Matt Greene lays the wood to Anaheim Ducks forward Mathieu Perreault. You have to love Green's reaction when he realizes that he's been assessed a two-minute minor for interference. "F#ck," Green said.

(Video) Brad Marchand snows Carey Price

Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand was given a two-minute penalty for snowing Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price, seven seconds into the second period. Fortunately for the Bruins, they were able to kill the Montreal power-play.

UND Hockey: Vote for T.J. Oshie for the 2015 EASPORTS NHL Cover Vote

If you're interested in voting. You can vote [by going to this link.]

Wild's Ballard not impressed with Bollig's dirty hit or his text

Minnesota Wild defenseman Keith Ballard is returning to the lineup tonight and weighed in on Brandon Bollig's dirty hit. Classic stuff.

Ballard: "Too much gets made of the whole, ‘Did he text you?’ I don’t give a shit. I honestly don’t. It’s fine. That’s what happens."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) May 13, 2014

All class, Milan Lucic pelted with trash as he leaves the ice in Montreal

The Canadiens fans are unhappy with Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic as is pelted with trash as he leaves the ice. s/t the score.

(Video) Milan Lucic runs over Alexei Emelin

Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic absolutely destroy Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin with a good, hard, legal check. Emelin didn't seem quite right after this hit.

Boston and Montreal: A few GIFS to start game six

Not a real good start to the game between Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens as a puck gets past Tuukka Rask in the early minutes of game six.  The Bruins seemed to pick it up after Montreal tried playing physical against them. The Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask had to be good to start the game.

(Video) Sidney Crosby cup checks Dominic Moore after being mugged by him

First, I am not a fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins by any stretch of the imagination, but in this case I don't blame Sidney Crosby for being upset. Shouldn’t the ref call the penalties as they present themselves? The blatant holding the stick, is a penalty in high school, college and in the NHL.

The treatment that Crosby has been given during the playoffs, that has gone uncalled is ridiculous. Does the NHL want their star players out with injuries or concussions?

Also, what is Crosby supposed to do? Dominic Moore has Sid’s stick and won’t let go, that’s should be a penalty, so Crosby stuck him. While we don't want to see players spearing their opponents, sometimes the opponents should expect "something" in return, especially when they do stuff like this.

You have to give kudos to Chris Kunitz for sticking up for his fellow teammate as well. Can you imagine what former Oilers tough guy Dave Semenko would have done, if someone had done this to Wayne Gretzky? There would have been blood on the ice.

20:00 PIT Chris Kunitz Roughing - 2 min against Dominic Moore
20:00 PIT Sidney Crosby Cross checking - 2 min against Marc Staal
20:00 NYR Brian Boyle Cross checking - 2 min against Sidney Crosby

Boston Bruins: Matt Fraser scores the game winning goal against Montreal in game four (Video)

Boston Bruins forward Matt Fraser was recalled yesterday, and this was only the fourth NHL goal of his career. His first in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. You have to love his quote though.

“I said earlier today that I have played for the Stanley Cup 100 times,” Fraser said. “On an outdoor rink – on my buddy’s outdoor rinks, but to do it on a place like this is pretty amazing.”

Fraser special night congrats it's a series lets gooooooooo
— marc savard (@MSavvy91) May 9, 2014

Jarome Iginla drills Max Pacioretty hard

Boston Bruins forward Jarome Iginla drills Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty with a clean, hard, legal check. Pacioretty looked like he was a bit woozy after the hit. Pacioretty would return to the game.

Grimaldi Takes Talents to South Beach

#158998636 / gettyimages.com

Ok, I know I am a day late on this on, but I needed to figure out how I wanted to word this post. As it was announced yesterday, UND Junior forward, Rocco Grimaldi signed with the Florida Panthers yesterday. The California native would sign a three year entry level deal worth around $3.2 million. Rocco was drafted 32nd overall, which is the second pick of the second round, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in St. Paul, Minnesota.

I myself have some memories in the two full seasons I was able to see him skate at UND, but my favorite memory is probably when he scored his first goal against Minnesota back in November of 2011. It was a game I was fortunate to be attending while back home for a weekend my freshman year, but what made it most memorable was his celebration. Replicating his idol, Tim Tebow, it possibly was the best celebration in college hockey that season. However, Rocco would miss most of this season due to a knee injury, and was forced to take a medical red shirt for the remainder of the 2011-2012 season.

Rocco was by far the fan favorite in his time at North Dakota, and with good reason. He was fast, and would dazzle the crowd with his great hands. However, his likeness to pull the flashy moves would cost UND at times where taking the shot would be the better option. However, when they did work they were all highlight reel goals that would leave the entire crowd speechless.

Grimaldi would lead UND in points this year with 37 and would make a statement in the NCAA tournament as well. His presence was well felt on the ice greatest in the Wisconsin game when he would earn his first collegiate hat trick, leading UND to a 5-2 victory.

It is hard for me to say if Rocco will have success in the NHL, or even make it into the NHL, but we wish him the best of the luck in whatever his career has in store for him.

Is Milan Lucic playing with fire?

First, Milan Lucic will not be fined, suspended or even slapped by the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety for his latest stick transgression. That being said, the Montreal Canadiens, and their fans were up in arms with the Boston Bruins tough guy and his latest cup check of his favorite dance partner Hab's defenseman Alexei Emelin. Let's just say, those two have a history.

No hearing or fine for Milan Lucic after "spearing" Alexei Emelin in 3rd period last night. #canadiens #bruins #nhl #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) May 7, 2014

Another game, another Lucic cup check. We got quit a history starting to develop here. Emelin isn't going to fight Lucic or anyone else. There's a reason for that, and Taylor Shire from the Bleacher Report tells us why.

During a 2009 playoff game, while playing with Kazan AK-Bars in the Kontinental Hockey League, Emelin got into a fight with Alexander Svitov, who rearranged Emelin’s face. Emelin was left face down, bleeding profusely on the ice after taking a couple solid punches to the face.

Emelin had a concussion, a broken nose and needed facial reconstruction. Now he has several metal plates under his left eye. So, that’s a good enough reason not to fight Malone. Why risk more injury to your already-injured face? There could be long-term effects.

Last night,  at the 12:05 mark of the third period, Lucic again stuck his stick in Emelin's nether region. Like most of us watching, it was so subtle that we didn't see it. For the most part, the play went undetected, even by the television announcers. After the play in question, the two separated without incident and went their separate ways. After the whistle, Looch whispered sweet nothings in Emelin's ear. I am sure they weren't exchanging phone numbers.



I would say that Lucic is starting to develop a nasty reputation of having a way ward stick. This way ward stick, seems to keep connecting with his opponents' testicles. In my opinion, that's bush league, Lucic is better than that.

After reading the book "The Code" - one might say that Lucic has broken the hockey code by doing these types of bush league tactics. Let's not forget, that turnabout is also fair play. Someday, someone is going to catch him with a retaliation type hit. Lucic brought this on himself.



Lastly, I am a Boston Bruins fan, for that I make no apologies, but I must say that these incidents are starting to become a regular occurrence. This is disappointing. Again, Lucic is better than this, he doesn't need to resort to these types of dirty, cheap hits.

At what point does the NHL step in and sanction him a punishment that more teeth to it, it's not like he hasn't been warned. Before we go there, the Hab's aren't a bunch of saints and they don’t hold the moral high ground, either. Last night, Zdeno Chara was caught with a vicious slash by a Hab’s player as well.

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• (Video) Bruins Milan Lucic cup checks the Habs Alexei Emelin, again

Rocco Grimaldi signs with NHL’s Florida Panthers

#159977402 / gettyimages.com

Rocco Grimaldi was an absolute gem to cover, and I am going to miss him. Grimaldi is an electrifying player that can change a game with his speed and offensive imagination. Good luck to him.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota sophomore forward Rocco Grimaldi has signed an entry level contract with the National Hockey League’s Florida Panthers and will forgo his final two years of collegiate eligibility. The Panthers selected Grimaldi in the second round (33d overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Grimaldi led North Dakota in points (39) and goals (17) in 42 games in 2013-14, establishing career highs in both categories. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2014 NCAA Midwest Regional in Cincinnati after recording his first collegiate hat trick in UND’s semifinal win over Wisconsin. His performance helped lead UND to its 20th appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four.

The 5-foot-6, 172-pound Grimaldi also earned Academic All-NCHC honors in 2013-14 and won the team’s Virg Foss 3-Star Award for accumulating the most 3-star voting points during the regular season.

In 2012-13, Grimaldi was named to the All-WCHA Rookie Team and was voted UND’s Rookie of the Year after leading all WCHA rookies in points (36) and assists (23), while also topping the nation’s rookies with 147 shots on goal. That same season, Grimaldi helped lead the United States to a gold medal at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship in Russia. He was named U.S. Player of the Game in the gold medal win over Sweden after scoring both the game-tying and game-winning goals.

Grimaldi’s initial freshman season at UND in 2011-12 was cut short after just four games due to a season-ending knee injury. He finished his collegiate career with 31 goals and 46 assists and a plus-22 rating in 86 games.

A native of Rossmoor, Calif., Grimaldi is UND’s second player to sign an NHL contract since the end of the 2013-14 season, joining senior defenseman Dillon Simpson, who signed with the Edmonton Oilers.

.@RGrimaldi23 Agrees to Entry-Level Contract with #FlaPanthers http://t.co/r6H0hW61kF
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) May 7, 2014

Two Former UND Hockey players among 2014 Playoffs Points Leaders

You can check out all of the stats at the hockey-reference. It's a wonderful site.

Wild F Zach Parise (Bloomington, MN/@UNDMHockey) is second in points (13) and in assists (9) in the NHL Playoffs.
— Let's Play Hockey (@LetsPlay_Hockey) May 7, 2014

Ryan Suter Injuiry (GIF)

Hopefully, it's only a stinger and not a separated shoulder. But Wild defenseman Ryan Suter seemed to land awkwardly on his shoulder. Suter went to the locker room after the play.

Vote for T.J. Oshie for the EA Sports NHL 2015 Cover

You can vote for former Fighting Sioux and current St. Louis Blues forward T.J. Oshie by going to this link. I would have to think that there hasn't been too many UND hockey players on the cover of EA Sports NHL Hockey.

Note to the NHL Officials, Cross-Checking is a Penalty

#becauseitsthecup ... Even thought it's the playoffs, cross-checking your opponent in the head is still a penalty, right? It should be. This should be called, this is a dirty hit and should be a five-minute major in my opinion. Thoughts?

Let me clear, I am not a dove by any stretch of the imagination, and this is coming from a guy that has the nickname Goon, but this could be classified a deliberate attempt to injure your opponent. This is why the NHL players are suffering from concussions in high numbers.