Sunday, February 28, 2010

Crosby lifts Canada to 3-2 OT win over U.S. for hockey gold - 2010 Olympics - SI.com

Crosby lifts Canada to 3-2 OT win over U.S. for hockey gold - 2010 Olympics - SI.com

This was a tremendous game and probably one of the best we will ever see in the Olympics.
Zach Parisee will get standing ovations wherever he plays for the rest of the season and in Canada Sidney Crosby will be given long standing ovations. Now will Crosby's goal be up there with Paul Henderson's in the annals of Canadian history? Time will tell but the game lived up too and surpassed the hype.

Today in Hockey History

1906 - Stanley Cup: Ottawa Silver 7 sweep Queen's U (Kingston Ont) in 2 games

1929 - Chicago Black Hawks lose record NHL 15th straight game at home


1960 - US wins Olympic hockey gold medal by defeating Czechoslovakia 9-4


1988 - Pat Verbeek (the little ball of hate) becomes 1st New Jersey Devil to score 4 goals in an NHL game

1998 - Vancouver Canucks Mark Messier is 4th NHLer to get 1,600 points

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Team USA enjoys fruits of Finns laugher before gold medal game

Team USA enjoys fruits of Finns laugher before gold medal game - Michael Farber - SI.com

Canada survives scare to reach Gold Medal Game agains US

Canada survives Slovakia, will meet U.S. for gold medal - 2010 Olympics - SI.com

1960 Olympic Hockey Tournament

Today Feb 27th 1960 the US upset the vaunted Soviet Union in Olympic ice hockey 3-2 in Squaw Valley, California.
This win would guarantee at least a silver medal for the US and they would knock off the Czechoslovakian team the next day win the 1960 Gold medal and be declared World Champions by the IIHF.
The 1960 US Hockey team did not lose a game the entire Olympic tournament going 7-0 and beat in succession Sweden, Germany, Canada, USSR and Czechoslovakia for the Gold.
This has been called "The Forgotten Miracle" in relation to the 1980 "Miracle on Ice".

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Today in Hockey History


1904 - Stanley Cup: Ottawa Silver 7 sweep Toronto Marlboroughs in 2 games

1940 - 1st televised (W2XBS, New York City) hockey game (Rangers vs Canadiens)

1941 - Boston Bruins set NHL record of 23-game unbeaten streak (15-0-8)

1981 - NHL most penalized game; Bruins vs Northstars, 84 penalties (392 mins)

1981 - New York Islanders give up their most goals (11) vs Calgary Flames

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Today in Hockey History

2002 - Canada defeats the United States 5-2 to win the men's ice hockey Olympic Gold Medal


1960 - US beats Germany in Olympic hockey finals round, 9-1
Team USA would not lose a game in the Gold Medal Round. This was the second win in the final round. Up next would be the heavy favorite Canada.


1980 - USA Olympic hockey team defeated Finland, 4-2, to win the gold medal

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Olympic Funny


Today in Hockey History


1894 - Stanley Cup: Montreal AAA's awarded cup by trustees as Ottawa refuses to travel to Toronto to play

Support Team USA

Go to the Team USA website and support the great athletes.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

USA 5 Canada 3

Well the much anticipated meeting between team Canada and team USA was a wild and woolly affair with the USA getting a great empty netter to seal the deal.
My first observation on the whole thing is how great the USA and Canada uniforms look...clean, traditional and not at all distracting with strange angled letters and logos.
Rick Nash for Canada was a bull all night and seemed to be willing to throw his body around but team USA seemed faster and ready to do anything to win the game.
Martin Broduer looked old in goal tonight and not his former stone walled self, while Ryan Miller looked tremendous in net for Team USA.
Brian Rafalski had the hot hand tonight for the Americans and Canada really seemed a bit sluggish and caught off guard by the speed of the forwards for team USA. Every time the Canadians got a goal or a good play the Americans came back and seemed to work harder in the corners and were willing to get a bloody nose in the corner to get the puck.
All in all a GREAT game and I hope they meet for the Gold and its goes to OT to send the crowd into a complete frenzy.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Today in Hockey History

1971 - Bruin Phil Esposito is NHL's quickest to score 50 goals in a season

1974 - Gordie Howe comes out of retirement for $1M from Houston Aeros, WHA

1988 - Kelly Hrudy's 5th Islander shut-out win-Hartford 3-0

1993 - New York Islanders retire Billy Smith's number 31

Jagr coming back to the NHL???

From NHL.com. Jaromir Jagr sounds like he is ready for a comeback to the NHL. He left for Europe after the 2008 season and is competing in the 2010 Olympics for the Czech Republic.

Get the article here

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Today in Hockey History

  • 1899 - Stanley Cup: Montreal Shamrocks sweep Queens U (Kingston Ont) in 2 games

  • 1919 - Cy Denneny of NHL Ottawa Senators scores record 52nd goals

  • 1936 - NHL record 32 points scored, New York Americans (28) & Montreal Maroons (24)

  • 1991 - Edmonton Oiler goalie Grant Fuhr returns to NHL after season-long suspension for substance abuse & shuts out New Jersey Devils 4-0

  • 1998 - New York Rangers fire head coach Colin Campbell

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Well isnt this lovely

Oilers goalie facing charges in Arizona
isn't this just great, he doesn't make the Russian olympic team so he drowns his sorrows and then drives!??!
Well no wonder the Oilers are in last place, they have Otis Campbell in goal!


Tuesday, February 16, 2010

ECHL Chiefs to move

The team inspired by "Slapshot" Chiefs is sadly going to leave for Greenville SC after this current season.
Read the article here.

Today in Hockey History




1900 - Stanley Cup: Montreal Shamrocks beat Winnipeg Victorias, 3 games to 1, this was the Shamrocks successful defense of the 1899 Stanley Cup win.

1975 - Washington Capitals 1st NHL shutout, beating Kansas City Scouts 3-0

Monday, February 15, 2010

Happy Birthday Jaromir Jagr

Today is the 38th birthday of Jaromir Jagr or as you will notice if you move the letters around you can call him Mario Jr.
Jágr wore the number 68, which he has worn through his entire career, in honor of the Prague Spring rebellion that occurred in Czechoslovakia in 1968, also the year in which his grandfather died while in prison
Jaromir made his name playing in Pittsburgh with the one of the greatest of all time, Mario Lemeiux. Now he wasnt just hanging on the the coattails of Mario he was truly a great athlete in his own right. After the return of Mario Lemieux from retirment in 2000 there was some friction between the 2 because of Jaormir having been the captain and felt he deserved to keep it but that strained his relationship with the fans and he was demanding even more money to sign a new contract and the Penguins could not afford his asking price. So the team traded him to the Washington Capitals.
The Caps signed him an 7 year 77 million dollar contract, at that time the largest contract ever in the NHL. After 3 contensious seasons with the Caps they decided to unload all the expensive talent they had aquired over the last 3 seasons to try and save money. The team was able to trade him to the New York Rangers for Anson Carter. Eventually after the retirement of Rangers captain Mark Messier, Jagr was named the 34th captain of the the Broadway Blueshirts.
On November 19, 2006, he scored his 600th career NHL goal on Tampa Bay goalie Johan Holmqvist, making him the 16th player in NHL history to do so. Power play linemate Brendan Shanahan had scored his 600th goal almost three weeks earlier, making them the first teammates in NHL history to score their 600th goal in the same season.
On April 5, 2007, against the Montreal Canadiens, Jágr scored his 30th goal of the 2006–07 NHL season to record 15 consecutive seasons of 30 or more goals. This tied the NHL record of consecutive 30-goal seasons held by Mike Gartner.
Jagr left the NHL after the 2008 season and finished his NHL career 13th all-time goals scored (646), 9th all-time in points (1599) and 7th all-time in points per game (1.256).
He also collected some hardware in his stellar NHL career:
Stanley Cup Winner – 1991, 1992 (Pittsburgh)
Hart Trophy (MVP) - 1999
Art Ross Trophy (Leading point scorer) - 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
Lester B. Pearson Award (Players' MVP) - 1999, 2000, 2006

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Today in Hockey History

1896 - Stanley Cup: Winnipeg Victorias beat Montreal Victorias, 2-0
The Battle of the Victorias!

1934 - NHL Ace Bailey Benefit Game: Toronto beats All-Stars 7-3 in Toronto

Boom Boom

Today would have been the 79th birthday of Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion. The 1961 Hart Trophy winner as the NHLs MVP also won the Art Ross trophy as the league top scorer in 1955 and 1961. He won 6 Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens.
After retiring in 1964 he returned in 1966 to play 2 more seasons with the New York Rangers. He retired for good in 1968 and became the coach of the Rangers but quit that position due to stomach problems. He would return to the bench in 1972 as the first head coach of the Atlanta Flames and led them to their first playoff appearance in 1974.
He reached his dream of coaching the Canadiens in 1979 but again his stomach problems forced him to resign the position mid season.
In March of 2005 the Montreal Canadiens announced they would retire his #5 on March 11 2006. In a sad, strange twist Bernie was diagnosed with stomach cancer on March 8th and then on the day of his number retirment ceremony Boom Boom died from cancer.
His most enduring legacy is his "invention" of the slapshot. Up to that time the wrist shot was the most used shot by all players.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Rendez-vous '87 Part 2

Today we see the highlights from the loss the NHL All Stars suffered at the hands of the Soviets in game 2 of Rendez-Vous 87 played Feb 13th 1987.
Played at Le Colisee in Quebec City, Quebec.






Blackhawks trade

Hawks Acquire Johnsson, Leddy From Wild

Hawks Acquire Johnsson, Leddy From Wild The Blackhawks have acquired defensemen Kim Johnsson (right) and Nick Leddy from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for defenseman Cam Barker.

Johnsson, 33, has tallied 14 points (6 G, 8 A) in 52 games for the Wild this season, compiling a +3 plus/minus rating. The Malmo, Sweden native has scored 281 points (66 G, 215 A) in 10 NHL seasons, with a +20 plus/minus rating and 402 PIM.

Leddy was Minnesota's 1st-round draft pick (18th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old defenseman scored 5 points (1 G, 4 A), with a +7 plus/minus in 19 games with the University of Minnesota this season. The Eden Prarie, Minnesota native won Minnesota's "Mr. Hockey" Award last season, tallying 37 points (8 G, 29 A) while leading Eden Prarie to the Minnesota Class 2A Championship.

Olympic Schedule


Here is the schedule for hockey (men's and women's) at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver Canada.
On the mens side the US and Canada play the second game of the last day of the preliminary round, with first game of the day being Russia vs Czech Republic and the last game of the preliminary round Finland vs Sweden. What a great day of hockey that will be.
Of course because of the women's figure skating all of those games will be on MSNBC instead of NBC (the home of hockey???), so mark your schedule.

So this goes out to my hockey friends...are we having a party to watch these games? its a sunday night.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Rendez-vous '87

Today is the anniversary of the 1st game of the 2 game series between the Soviets and NHL All Stars in 1987 called Rendez-vous '87.
Both games took place at Le Colisee in Quebec City,Quebec. This replaced the annual NHL All star game in 1987.
The first of the 2 games was on Feb 11 1987 and saw the NHL All Stars get a 4-3 win. For most of the game it should have been the Edmonton Oilers vs the Soviets as Gretzky, Kurri and Anderson did most of the damage scoring and Grant Fuhr held down the goal crease.
Game 2 took place 2 days later and this time the Soviets brought their "A" game and won 5-3 with the line of Valeri Kamensky, Viacheslav Bykov, and Andrei Khomutov doing most of the scoring with help from Slava Fetisov and Igor Larionov.
In these clips from the ESPN coverage, the announcer is former St Louis Blues play by play man Ken Wilson, who is still one of my very favorite hockey announcers, so its fun to hear him call a big game like this, along with Bill Clement.
The CBC coverage was Don Wittman and John Davidson.
Here are the highlights from Game 1. I will post Game 2 tomorrow.






Wednesday, February 10, 2010

New Carolina Hurricanes minor league team


The Carolina Hurrincanes have announced that the team now known as the Albany RiverRats have been purchased and will move to Charlotte NC starting the 2010-11 season.


Six NHL teams to open 2010-11 season in Europe

Six NHL teams to open 2010-11 season in Europe - NHL - SI.com

33rd Annual NHL All Star Game

Today in 1981 the NHL held its annual All Star game at The Forum in Inglewood CA, home of the Los Angeles Kings.
Complete Summary of the game
The Campbell beat the Wales Conference 4-1 with the MVP award going to Mike Liut of the St Louis Blues.
Watch the team introductions and the game from LA Kings video Vault:

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Highlights

This had the best hit all night

Today in Hockey History

1997 - Scotty Bowman, is 1st NHL coach to win 1,000 games

1982 - 34th NHL All-Star Game: Wales beat Campbell 4-2.
The game was held at the Capital Center in Landover Maryland.
The MVP of the game was Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders who had 2 goals including the game winner in the 2nd period.


1988 - 39th NHL All-Star Game: Wales beat Campbell 6-5 (OT) at St Louis
Pittsburgh Penguins' centremen Mario Lemieux recorded six points (3–3–6) and scored the game-winner in overtime to lead the Wales Conference to a thrilling 6–5 victory. Lemieux's six points broke the previous record for most points in an All-Star Game, which was previously held by six players (four points). Montreal Canadiens' leftwinger Mats Naslund earned an assist on all three of Lemieux's goals and added two more to set an All-Star Game record with five assists. Both records have still to this day have not been broken.

Gene Hart - Wit and Wisdom of Hockey

Gene Hart - Wit and Wisdom of Hockey - Photos - SI.com

this is soooo funny. check out the other quotes, some good stuff

Oilers bring hockey to Oklahoma City


The Hockey News has the story on the Edmonton Oilers moving their minor league affiliate to Oklahoma City starting next season.
Read it here.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Today in Hockey History

Today in 1983 the NHL held its 35th annual All Star game at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale New York. This was marked by the first All Star game MVP award for Wayne Gretzky, who scored all 4 of his goals in the 3rd period. The Campbell conference won this game 9-3.
The only scoring for the Wales conference was Michel Goulet, Ray Borque and Don Maloney.
The winning goaltender was John Garrett of the Vancouver Canucks. Originally voted the All Star MVP before the end of the game but they did a revote after the game and Gretzky was then voted the MVP. Pelle Lindbergh took the loss for the Wales conference.

Highlights

If this game is indication and these 2 teams meet again in the playoffs we are in for a legendary series. I didnt get to see much hockey in the 80s but I think we are seeing a little of that style with these 2 teams and their wide open play.









Sunday, February 7, 2010

Happy Birthday

Peter Bondra is 42 today.
here is his 500th goal from December 2006

Today in Hockey History

1976 - Darryl Sittler, Toronto, sets NHL record with 10 points in a game. He had 6 goals and 4 assist,all scored on Bruins rookie goalie Dave Reece.



1989 - 40th NHL All-Star Game: Campbell beat Wales 9-5 at Edmonton
This was billed as the return of Wayne Gretzky to Edmonton after the earth
shattering trade the previous year that sent "The Great One" to the LA Kings.
Gretzky didnt disappoint with a goal and 2 assist to win the game's MVP Award.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

1993 NHL Allstar Game

Today in 1993 the NHL held its 44th Annual All Star Game at the old Forum in Montreal.
The game's MVP was Mike Gartner who scored 3 goals in the first period and ended up with 4 for the game. He had replaced Mark Messier in the lineup and became the fourth player in history to score 4 goals in an all star game.
The Wales Conference won the game in stunning fashion 16-6.
Here is a full rundown of the scoring.

The game was noted for this crazy play by Ed Belfour.
The commentary is in french but I do think I heard them call Ed Belfour a pussy...hahahahahaha


Here is the NBC Sports intro to the game


This game was also marked by the absence of Mario Lemeiuex who had taken a leave from the Pittsburgh Penguins for treatment of Hodgkins disease. NBC had an interview with Mario and a tribute to his career.

The game's MVP was Mike Gartner who scored 2 goals in the first period and ended up with 4 for the game. He has replaced Mark Messier in the lineup. He became the fourth player in history to score 4 goals in an all star game. The Wales Conference won the game in stunning fashion 16-6.
Here is a full rundown of the scoring.

Details of the accident

Leafs GM Burke's son killed in crash

some details on this tragic accident that sadly happened in Indiana during the big feb snow storm we just had.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Breaking News

The youngest son of Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke died tonight from injuries suffered in a car accident earlier in the day.
Our thoughts and prayers go to the family.

Today in Hockey History

1991 - Los Angeles King Dave Taylor becomes 29th NHLer to score 1000 points
here is a tribute to the Triple Crown line of Dave Taylor, Charlie Simmer and Marcel Dionne.


1980 - 32nd NHL All-Star Game: Wales beat Campbell 6-3 at Detroit


Kovalchuk's parting shot

CANOE -- SLAM! Sports - Hockey NHL - New Jersey- Kovalchuk's parting shot

This is an interesting deal and when Doug sent me the breaking news on this last night my first response was "WOW!" and then I thought "NJ??? Really?!?!" since when did they go after the big trade or free agent? that is usually a NY Rangers thing and it always seems to go bust for them. Well I guess NJ wanted this season to be another big run at the Stanley Cup. Maybe they think this will be their best chance with Martin Broduer edging towards the retirement fringe. I see the Capitals and Penguins being the 1st or 2nd seeds with NJ probably fighting for one of those and maybe ending up 3rd. Its shaping up to be a fun dash to the finish after the Olympics in Vancouver.

Stay tuned boys and girls it will be a bumpy ride.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Happy Birthday


Today is the 66th birthday of former Indianapolis Racers (going 0-10-1) and Chicago Blackhawk goaltender Gary Smith.
He is also the first goaltender of the WHA Winnipeg Jets and while in Chicago he teamed with Tony Esposito to win the 1972 Vezina Trophy.

600 Goal Scorers

In case you are interested here is the list of players to score at least 600 goals in their NHL career.
601- Jari Kurri
608- Dino Ciccarelli
610- Bobby Hull
625- Joe Sakic
640- Dave Andreychuk
646- Jaromir Jagr
656- Brendan Shanahan
668- Luc Robitaille
690- Mario Lemieux (only player with 600 goals and less than 1000 games played)
692- Steve Yzerman
694- Mark Messier
708- Mike Gartner
717- Phil Esposito
731- Marcel Dionne
741- Brett Hull
801- Gordie Howe
894- Wayne Gretzky


Today in Hockey History

* 1903 - Stanley Cup: Montreal AAA beat Winn Victorias, 2 games to 1 & 1 tie

* 1973 - Islanders & Sabres had a penalty free game

* 1977 - 30th NHL All-Star Game: Wales beat Campbell 4-3 at Vancouver

* 1986 - 38th NHL All-Star Game: Wales beat Campbell 4-3 (OT) at Hartford
These introductions were so low key and you actually can hear whats being said and no blaring crappy music. This was a classy way to do it. Now its all fireworks and explosions. Why cant they do this again? and having the announcer of the team hosting the game was such a great idea and got the crowd involved.





* 1997 - Mario Lemieux is 7th NHL player to score 600 goals (bad video quality)

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Today in Hockey History

Dino Ciccarelli scores his 600th goal against the Detroit Red Wings.

Not a fan of Dino and his style of play but I do think he deserves a place in the Hall of Fame thanks to his 600 plus goals.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Highlights 02/01/2010



and of course last night I turned on the Penguins/Sabres game to a 3-1 Sabres lead and before I knew it Sidney Crosby had a hat trick and it was 5-3

Monday, February 1, 2010

Today in Hockey History

1992 - Denis Potvin's #5 becomes 1st number retired by New York Islanders



Happy 41st birthday to the "Recchin Ball" Mark Recchi

Great Goalie mask for the Olympics

Ryan Miller show us his new mask he will wear for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

Check it out here at Yahoo