2010 Stanley Cup Finals Game 1 highlights

2010 Stanley Cup Finals Game 1

Blackhawks defeat the Flyers 6-5 to take 1-0 lead in the Finals.

The goaltenders are trying for the Grant Fuhr trophy for giving up the most goals and still win the game.

No matter who it is, Stanley Cup victor will be worthy

No matter who it is, Stanley Cup victor will be worthy - Sarah Kwak - SI.com

2011 Winter Classic

It was announced today by NHL Commissioner Gary Betteman that the 2011 Winter Classic will be played in Pittsburgh at Heinz Field. The opponent will be the Washington Capitals.
So the NHL will try to showcase the 2 top players in the league on its immensely popular New Years Day game.
here is the press release:

The Pittsburgh Penguins will host the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Saturday, January 1 at Heinz Field, it was announced today by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

“The Winter Classic has become an iconic event in its four years of existence, and the opportunity to host the game here in Pittsburgh, before a packed stadium of 65,000, is a tremendous honor for our organization,” Penguins resident David Morehouse said. “With the cooperation of our friends at the Pittsburgh Steelers and Heinz Field, it will give us an opportunity to showcase the city to an international audience while celebrating Pittsburgh’s reputation as one of the premier sports towns in the United States.”
The 1:00 pm game will be televised nationally by NBC in the United States and CBC and RDS in Canada. Morehouse said the Penguins are in the preliminary stages of planning activities surrounding the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic and will work with the Mayor and County Executive, VisitPittsburgh, the Steelers and officials at Heinz Field to make the 2011 Winter Classic “a truly memorable event with a Pittsburgh touch.”
Details on ticket availability will be released by the NHL at a later date. All Penguins season ticket holders and suite holders will have the opportunity to purchase tickets. Fans can receive Winter Classic ticketing alerts and news updates by visiting nhl.com

1989 Calgary Flames

The 1989 Stanley Cup finals came to a close on this day in 1989 with the Calgary Flames winning Lord Stanley's Cup on the home ice of the Montreal Canadiens with a 4-2 series victory.
The regular season ended with the Calgary Flames as the overall #1 team with 117 points followed closely by the Canadiens with 115.
In the playoffs the Flames met a stiff challenge in the first round going 7 games to move on to the second round. The Flames then beat the Vancouver Canucks in 7 games and swept the LA Kings with their new superstar center Wayne Gretzky in the 2nd round.
In the Campbell Conference finals the Flames dispatched the Chicago BlackHawks 4-1.
The Canadiens swept the Hartford Whalers in the first round and beat the Boston Bruins 4-1 in the second round. In the Prince of Wales Conference Finals they sent the Philadelphia Flyers packing 4-2 to set up an all Canadian Stanley Cup final.
In the Finals the Flames came out and won the first game on home ice but then the Canadiens bounced back with 2 straight wins. Calgary didn't blink and answered with 3 straight wins including the Cup clincher in Montreal by a score of 4-2. Doug Gilmour scored the game and Cup winning goals for the Flames.
The Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP went to Calgary defenseman Al MacInnis who scored 31 points in the playoffs and became the first defenseman to win the award.


Award winners for 1988-89:

Hart Trophy (League MVP) - Wayne Gretzky (LA Kings)
Art Ross (scoring champion) - 199 points - Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Calder Trophy (rookie of the year) - Brian Leetch (NY Rangers)
Selke Trophy (best forward) - Guy Carbonneau (MTL)
Jack Adams (Coach of the Year) - Pat Burns (MTL)
Lady Byng (Gentlemanly Play) - Joe Mullen (Calgary Flames)
Jennings Trophy (team goals against avg) - Patrick Roy/Brian Hayward (MTL)
Vezina Trophy (top Goaltender) - Patrick Roy (MTL)
Norris Trophy (defenseman) - Chris Chelios (MTL)

Quote of the Day

When discussing the tradition of not touching the Conference trophies before winning the Stanley Cup, I got this great quote from my friend Rusty:


Flyers have nothing to lose so why would they care about superstition? They aren't supposed to be here and aren't expected to compete in the finals so who cares? Touch all you want. Chicago is on a mission and don't want to do anything that might interfere so they stick to the tradition.

Guess what...It doesn't make a friggin bit of difference if you touch it or not! The best team will win; the team that works harder will win; etc.


Now if you put the wrong glove on first or the wrong sock, you're doomed of course.

2010 Eastern Conference Finals

Your Prince of Wales Trophy winners as Eastern Conference Champions 2010 the Philadelphia Flyers

1990 Stanley Cup Finals

Today in 1990 the last of the Stanley Cup victories and the end of the Edmonton Oilers era in the NHL. They have been back to the finals only once since 1990 and lost to Carolina in the 2006 Finals.
In 1990 the Oilers surprised the league by getting to the Finals against the Boston Bruins. Everyone just figured with the Great One, Wayne Gretzky, gone from Edmonton the days of Stanley Cup victories were over. Mark Messier had different ideas and captained the Oilers to 4-1 Finals win over the Cam Neely, Ray Bourque Boston Bruins.
The first game of the Series was in Boston went 3 Overtimes before Petr Klima scored the game winning goal at 15:13 of the 3rd OT.
Game 2 was a runaway as the Oilers won 7-2 and took a 2-0 lead back to the Northlands Coliseum. Boston managed a victory in Game 3 but would lose the next 2 and give the Oilers their 5th and to date last Stanley Cup.

Bill Ranford, the Oilers goaltender would be named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

The Oilers reached the 1990 Finals by beating the BlackHawks 4 games to 2 in the Campbell Conference Finals. The Bruins swept the Washington Capitals 4-0 for the Price of Wales Conference Championship. The only trouble in the playoffs that either team faced was in their first round series. The Oilers were taken to 7 games by the Winnipeg Jets and the Bruins needed 7 to dispose of the pesky Hartford Whalers. After that both teams rolled as Boston lost only one more game before the finals and the Oilers only 2 (to the Chicago Blackhawks) before capturing the Stanley Cup.

The Award winners for the 1989-90 season:

Art Ross Trophy (scoring) - Wayne Gretzky 142 points
Calder Trophy (rookie) - Sergei Makarov
Selke Trophy (best forward) - Rick Meagher
Hart Trophy (Regular Season MVP) - Mark Messier
Jack Adams Trophy (head coach) - Bob Murdoch -Winnipeg Jets
Norris Trophy (Defenseman) - Ray Bourque
Lady Byng Trophy (gentlemanly play) Brett Hull
Vezina Trophy (goaltender) - Patrick Roy
Jennings Trophy (team goals against average) Andy Moog/Reggie Lemelin (Boston Bruins)

2010 Western Conference Finals Game 4

The BlackHawks sweep the San Jose Sharks 4-0 to win the Western Conference and the Clarence Campbell Bowl.

Your 2010 Western Conference Champions

The Chicago Black Hawks
(click on link for story)

2010 Western Conference Finals

2010 Conference Finals Game 2

Stan Mikita

Today is the 70th birthday of one of the greatest NHL players and arguably the greatest Black Hawk, Stan Mikita.

Here is a great profile of Stan by GreatestHockeyLegends.com.

In 1968 Stan Mikita was the first NHL player to win the Triple Crown of season awards as he took home the Lady Byng, Art Ross Trophy as scoring champ and the Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP. He set the standard for outstanding play with this season.

2010 Conference Finals Game 1

Top Ten Greatest LA Kings of All Time

The LA Times finishes off its list of the 10 Greatest LA Kings players of all time and guess who topped the list? Thats right Wayne Gretzky, see the list right here

2010 Western Conf Finals

With last nights victory over the Canucks, the Blackhawks move on for the second year in a row to the Western Conference Finals.


This year they meet the #1 seeded San Jose Sharks who disposed of the defending Western champ Detroit Redwings.

3rd Jersey (Part 1)

Earlier this week I stumbled on a picture of the St Louis Blues 3rd jersey that they never did get to wear and for good reason it was horrible.
It might have made a good jersey to sell to the fans but not for a professional team to wear in competition. See below.

Now speaking of 3rd Jersey's there were some nice ones that year but the "alternate" jersey didnt really get a good upgrade until the last few years, like the LA Kings of recent seasons.

However, the Kings did try this little design in 1995

Then there were the 1980s Vancouver Canucks who decided this would be a good look and not as an "Alternate" but as the regular road sweater. Well at least it got them to the Finals.

Then they modified the look in the 1990s and made the finals again.
As we neared the end of the 90s the Canucks had new ownership, who owned a company called Orca Bay, they made a drastic change to the entire logo and jersey colors and brought in high priced talent and did not make it to the finals.

As we move into the 2010-11 season the Canucks have gone back to the future with the color scheme from the original Canucks jerseys. The have added an alternate jersey that is a replica of the first ones worn as an expansion team in the 1970s with the simple sleek hockey stick logo.

1970 Stanley Cup Finals

Today in 1970 game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals saw the Boston Bruins sweep the St Louis Blues and win the Cup .


Bobby Orr scored what is arguably the most famous goal in Stanley Cup history in Overtime to bring the Cup to Boston.
The fourth game of the finals was the closest of the four games since Boston had won the first 2 games 6-1 and 6-2, the third game 4-1 and the final game in OT was 4-3.

Phil Esposito led all players with 27 points (13 goals,14 assist)which set a new playoff record for points, but Bobby Orr would win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Finals MVP.
On their way to the finals the Bruins swept the regular season champion Chicago BlackHawks in the Eastern Division finals. The Blues beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in a close series, 4 games to 2 in the Western Division Finals.

The regular season awards were dominated by Bruins superstar defenseman Bobby Orr, he took home the Art Ross Trophy (a first for a defenseman), the Hart Trophy as league MVP and the Norris Trophy as well as leading the league in Plus/Minus rating.

The Calder Trophy for the Rookie of the year and the Vezina for the top goaltender went to the Blackhawks Tony Esposito as he backstopped the Hawks to the leagues best record of 45-22-9, giving up only 170 goals.

The Lady Byng Trophy went to St Louis center Phil Goyette. He career highs with 29 goals, 49 assist for 78 points.
He was soon to be named the first head coach of the expansion New York Islanders, even though he would be replaced midway through the first season after a 6-38-4 start. He would never coach in the NHL again.

Penguins vs Canadiens Game 5

Today in Hockey History - 1982

Today in 1982 was game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the 2 time defending cup champion New York Islanders and the Vancouver Canucks in their first Stanley Cup finals.

At the end of the 1981-82 regular season it seemed a foregone conclusion the Islanders would face the Edmonton Oilers and their record setting captain Wayne Gretzky for the Stanley Cup. Gretzky had set new records for goals (92), assist (120) and total points (212). His closest challenger was Islanders captain Mike Bossy who had 147 points.
The LA Kings had other ideas about the Finals, they came into the playoffs the 8th out of 8 playoff teams and were given little hope to stop the scoring juggernaut in Edmonton. However the Oilers got overconfident and on April 10th it was game 3 of the first round best of 5 between the host LA Kings and Oilers. In what became known as the Miracle on Manchester the Kings went down 5-0 before launching the greatest comeback in NHL playoff history. The Oilers ran roughshod over the seemingly outmatched Kings all season but in game 1 the Kings outgunned them 10-8 before dropping a 3-2 game 2. The series moved to LA for game 3 and Edmonton jumped all over the Kings and went into the 3rd period up 5-0 and then it happened, the Kings started to find the back of then and with only 5 seconds on the clock Steve Bozak tied the game at 5 and sent it into overtime. In that OT forward Daryl Evans sent a slapshot that just eluded the glove of Oiler goalie Grant Fuhr and sent the LA crowd into hysterics and a roar that nearly tore the roof off the Forum. With the Kings up 2-1 the Oilers fought back to win game 4 but just ran out of steam and lost game 5 to complete the biggest upset in playoffs history.

After that win the Kings fell 4 games to one against the Vancouver team on its way to the finals. Vancouver then dispatched the Chicago Blackhawks 4 games to 1 for the Campbell Conference Title.

The Islanders also struggled in their opening series against the 8th place Pittsburgh Penguins. The easily won games 1 and 2 before stumbling in Pittsburgh and losing games 3 and 4. They had score 2 goals to force OT in game 5 and finally dispatched the Penguins 3-2. This was the only misstep for the defending champs as they cruised past the Rangers 4-2, and beat the Quebec Nordiques 4-0 for the Prince of Wales Conference Title. In the Finals they outmanned the Vancouver Canucks to sweep to them 4-0 and win their 3rd consecutive Stanley Cup Championship.



Mike Bossy won the Conn Smythe Trophy as Finals MVP with 7 goals in the four games.

Conn Smythe Trophy

The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded each year to the MVP of the NHL Playoffs. First handed out at the end of 1964-65 Stanley Cup Finals. Each year it is given out just before the presentation of the Stanley Cup to the winning team by the NHL commissioner.

The only 3 time winner of the award is goaltender Partick Roy who won in 1986 and 1993 with the Montreal Canadiens and in 2001 with the Colorado Avalanche. The only 2 players to win in back to back years were Bernie Parent for the Philadelphia Flyers in 1974/1975 and Mario Lemeiuex with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991/1992.

The 2009 Conn Smythe winner was Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin for leading all players in scoring during the 2009 playoffs with 36 points (14 goals 22 assist). This was the highest point total since 1993 when Wayne Gretzky had 40 points.

2010 Playoff Highlights

Today in Hockey History

1973 - 1st WHA championship, New England Whalers beat Winnipeg Jets, 4 games to 1 and win the Avco World Trophy.

This was the culmination of the first WHA regular season and playoffs. The 2 best teams in the regular season were the Whalers, who won the Eastern division with 94 points and the Winnipeg Jets who won the Western Division with 90 points.

The playoffs saw the Whalers lose only 2 games on the way to the WHA Finals series and the Jets lost only one. The Whalers disposed of the Ottawa Nationals 4-1 and then the Cleveland Crusaders 4-1 while the Jets whipped Minnesota Fighting Saints 4-1 and romped over the Houston Aeros with a sweep 4-0.

The finals continued a trend as the Whalers took the series and the Avco World Trophy 4 games to 1. The 5th and deciding game was a 9-6 win for the Whalers with Larry Pleau getting a hat trick for the champs.

The Jets had come into the playoffs with 3 of the leagues top 10 scorers in Bobby Hull, Norm Beaudin and Chris Bordeleau. The Whalers had Tom Webster and Terry Caffery in the top ten of the leading point getters.

2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Well I posed this question yesterday, when was the last time the Detroit Red Wings were down 3-0 in the playoffs? Well today I have the answer, 2003! They were swept by the 7th seeded and eventual Western Conference Champion Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Losing by scores of 2-1 (games 1-3) 3-2 (games 2-4) the Red Wings were swept out of the playoffs one year after beating Carolina for the 2002 Stanley Cup.
The Ducks would go on to beat the Dallas Stars in the Western semi-finals and then the upstart #6 seeded Minnesota Wild in the Conference finals before falling to the New Jersey Devils in 7 games in the Finals. In some consolation J.S. Giguere would win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Finals MVP for helping push the Devils to 7 games. Suprisingly Martin Broduer did not win the MVP even though the 4 games the Devils won were all shut outs in the Finals.

Today in Hockey History

Today in 1969 the Montreal Canadiens wrapped up a sweep of the St Louis Blues to win the 1968-69 Stanley Cup Finals.
Serge Sevard of the Canadiens was the winner of the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP.

Broadstreet Bullies

Well HBO has a one hour documentary on the 1974 & 1975 Stanley Cup Champion Philadelphia Flyers. I really dislike the Flyers but its a hockey show and those are rare so I will take what I can get.