The 10 Best Hockey Saves of 2011

From Puck Daddy over at Yahoo! Sports 

The Ten Best Hockey Saves of 2011

NHL Rewind 12/27/11

NHL Best of the Week 12/26/11

The Ten Biggest Stories in the NHL in 2011

Sidney Crosby's concussion leads top 10 hockey stories of 2011 - Michael Farber - SI.com

Milbury Back with NBC/VS Network

After charges were dropped in the assault case against NBC/VS analyst, Mike Milbury has returned to the set.   He is back on the VS Network on NHL Live and then will return to NBC on January 2nd for the Winter Classic between Philadelphia and the New York Rangers.

Click here for the update on Milbury

Opening Day at the WJC in Alberta

Canada rips Finland to open junior hockey worlds - More Sports - SI.com

Winter Classic time-lapse 12/26/11

NHL Rewind 12/20/11

NHL Rewind 12/19/11

Quebec government protests new Canadiens coach Randy Cunneyworth

Quebec government protests new Canadiens coach Randy Cunneyworth - NHL - SI.com

Report: Darryl Sutter agrees to coach Los Angeles Kings - NHL - SI.com

Report: Darryl Sutter agrees to coach Los Angeles Kings - NHL - SI.com

NHL Rewind 12/16/11

Broadcaster Mike Milbury charged with assault on Pee Wee player - NHL - SI.com

Broadcaster Mike Milbury charged with assault on Pee Wee player - NHL - SI.com

NBC has released a statement saying he will remain off their broadcast until further notice so he can handle his affairs.

NHL Rewind 12/14/11

Stat of the NIght

The Top 10 Goal Scorers for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1997-1998 Season

1 - Mikael Renberg - 16
1 - Alexander Selivanov - 16
3 - Rob Zamuner - 14
4 - Paul Ysebeart - 13
5 - Dino Ciccarelli - 11
6 - Stephane Richer - 9
7 - Jason Wiemer - 8
7 - Daymond Langkow - 8
9 - Mikael Andersson - 6
9 - Darcy Tucker - 6
(honorable mention with 5 goals, former Indianapolis Ice defenseman, Karl Dykhuis)

NHL Rewind 12/9/11

NHL Rewind 12/6/11

NHL Rewind 12/3/11

1982 Norris Trophy Winner

The 1982 Norris Trophy for the NHL's Best Defenseman was awarded to Doug Wilson of the Chicago Blackhawks.   In 1982 Wilson scored 39 goals and 85 total points, which still the Chicago single season record for defenseman goals and points.

Drafted in the first round of the NHL Draft in 1977(6th overall) and he was also picked in the first round of the WHA entry draft (5th overall) by the Indianapolis Racers.   Wilson chose to go with the Blackhawks and spent the next 14 seasons anchoring the blueline.   Wilson holds the Blackhawks defenseman record for points (779), goals (225) and assist (554).  He ranks 5th all time in games played for Chicago with 938.  He led the Blackhawks defense in scoring for 10 consecutive seasons (1980-81 thru 1990-91).

He was acquired in 1991 by the expansion San Jose Sharks and was named the first team captain.  Wilson retired after the 1992-93 season.   In May of 2003 he was hired as the general manager for the Sharks.

NHL Rewind 12/1/11

Preview: HBO 24/7 Flyers/Rangers: Road to the NHL Winter Classic

Stat of the NIght

The Top Ten Players in Points all time for the Washington Capitals

1 - Peter Bondra - 825
2 - Mike Gartner - 789
3 - Alex Ovechkin (Active) - 632
4 - Michal Pivonka - 599
5 - Dale Hunter - 556
6 - Bengt-Ake Gustafsson - 555
7 - Mike Ridley - 547
8 - Calle Johansson - 474
9 - Dennis Maruk - 431
10 - Scott Stevens - 429


and enjoy this little video for the 1989-90 Capitals season

NHL Rewind 11/26/11

1980 Conn Smythe Winner

The winner of the 1980 Conn Smythe trophy as NHL Playoff MVP was Bryan Trottier of the New York Islanders.   The Islanders won the first of 4 consecutive Stanley Cups in 1980.   


The Islanders led by hall of famers Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier and head coach Al Arbor beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4 games to 2.  The Isles clinched the cup in game 6 as Bobby Nystrom scored the cup winner in overtime to give the Islanders a 5-4 win.


Trottier was number 6 in scoring for the regular season with 42 goals and 62 assist for 104 points.  Strangely none of the Islanders made the all NHL 1st or 2nd teams for the 1979-80 season.

Here is a link to Bryan Trottier's memories of the 1980 Finals.

NHL Rewind 11/25/11

NHL Rewind 11/23/11

Wayne Gretzky Day

Today November 22nd is really Wayne Gretzky Day in the NHL.


On this date in 1986 Wayne Gretzky scored a hat trick against the Vancouver Canucks to register goals 498, 499 and 500.   He reached 500 goals in his 575th NHL game, the fastest ever to 500 goals.



Then on November 22nd 1999 Wayne Gretzky became the 10th and last player that bypass the 3 year waiting period for induction in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Stat of the NIght

Here are the Top Ten in Points as of today for the NHL 2011-12 regular season

1 - Claude Giroux (PHI) - 26
2 - Phil Kessel (TOR) - 25
3 - Thomas Vanek (BUF) - 24
4 - Anze Kopitar (LAK) - 23
5 - Jason Pominville (BUF) - 23
6 - Daniel Sedin (VAN) - 23
7 - Marian Hossa (CHI) - 22
8 - Patrick Kane (CHI) - 21
9 - Henrik Sedin (VAN) - 21
10 - James Neal (PIT) - 20

The 2011 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductions

Mark Howe




Joe Nieuwendyk




Ed Belfour




Doug Gilmour

Hockey Hall of Fame Inductions for 2011

Highlights for 11/11/11

Here are highlights from Veterans Day 2011

St Louis Blue Fire Head Coach Today

read the story 

Blues fire head coach Davis Payne tonight and replace him with Ken Hitchcock.  Hitchcock last coached in 2010 for the Columbus Blue Jackets.   He has had success wherever he went so this is a step up for the Blues.

Highlights for November 4th 2011

Here are some highlights from the games on November 4th 2011

NHL Rewind 10/28/11

NHL Rewind 10/17/11

Salute

The Ducks salute the 2010-11 NHL MVP and Goal Scoring Champion, Corey Perry

NHL Rewind 10/15/11

NHL Rewind 10/13/11

NHL Rewind 10/12/11

NHL Rewind 10/11/11

NHL Rewind 10/8/11

NHL Rewind 10/6/11

Happy Birthday Mario Lemieux

Today is the 46 birthday of my favorite player, former Pittsburgh Penguin captain and current Penguins owner, Mario Lemieux.

Now you may ask how does a kid in Indiana become a fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Mario Lemieux?  Well in the spring of 1984 I picked up the newest Sports Illustrated and read an article in the hockey section about the chances that the super kid our of Laval could save the Pittsburgh Penguins from shutting their doors.  Well after that article I started checking the papers and magazines for stories on Mario and the Penguins and eventually just became a fan of both because of the remarkable turnaround and of course the super human ability of Mario himself.

Mario Lemieux is current 9th on the NHL's all time goal scoring list with 690 goals (all with the Penguins) and 10th all time in assist with 1033.  This puts him 7th all time in scoring in the NHL with 1723 points.  The amazing part is that among the Top 50 point scorers of all time he has the fewest games played with 915...imagine if he had been healthy his entire career!

He is the owner of 3 Stanley Cup trophies (1991,92 as player and 2008 as owner) and 2 Conn Smythe trophies as playoff MVP in 1991 and 92.   He won 3 Hart trophies as NHL regular season MVP in 1988, 1993 and 1996.   He won 6 Art Ross trophies as the regular season scoring leader and in the process broke Wayne Gretzky's stranglehold on both the Hart and Ross trophies.  To top things off he was part of the Gold medal winning Canadian hockey team in 2002.

And to make things that much better he had the best announcer in all of hockey, Mike Lange, calling everyone of his games!!!

Glenn Hall

Today is the 80th birthday of the man they call Mr. Goalie, winner of the 1956 Calder trophy as NHL Rookie of  the year.  He also won 3 Stanley Cup trophies (2 as a player with Detroit in 1951, Chicago in 1961 and as goalie coach in 1989 with Calgary).   He won 3 Vezina trophies as the NHL's best goaltender in 1963, 1967 and 1969 (playing with the St. Louis Blues he shared the trophy with  future fellow Hall of Famer, Jacques Plante).   He won the Conn Smythe trophy as NHL Playoff MVP in 1968 even though his St Louis Blues were swept in 4 straight, it was his remarkable play that kept all 4 games 1 goal victories.    He owns the record for most consecutive starts in goal with 502 and he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975.

Top 10 Game 7s in Stanley Cup Finals History

This will tide you over until the regular season starts

Stat of the NIght

Tonight is really a Stat as much as it is a list.

The Top 10 Draft picks in  the 1977 WHA amateur draft

1 - Scott Campbell   (Houston Aeros)
2 - Barry Beck         (Calgary Cowboys)
3 - Ron Duguay        (Winnipeg Jets
4 - Mike Crombeen  (Edmonton Oilers)
5 - Doug Wilson       (Indianapolis Racers)
6 - Rod Langway     (Birmingham Bulls)
7 - Jere Gillis            (Cincinnati Stingers)
8 - Miles Zaharko    (Winnipeg Jets)
9 - Lucien DeBlois   (Quebec Nordiques)
10 - Dwight Foster   (Houston Aeros)

2011-2012 NHL Television Schedule Released

Here is the full schedule from NHL.com

Happy Birthday Bobby Clarke

Today is the 62nd birthday of Philadelphia Flyers legend Bobby Clarke.
 He retired from active on ice play after the 1983-84 season and at the time was 4th all time in assist and 11th in points scored, he has since moved down to 24th in assist and 42nd in points.  His plus/minus rating is still 5th all time with +506.

He was the NHL MVP (Hart Trophy) in 1973,1975 and 1976 and he won the Frank Selke Trophy for best defensive forward in 1983.
He is biggest on ice triumph came in 1974 and 1975 as he led the Philadelphia Flyers to back to back Stanley Cup Championships.
He holds the Flyers record for most assist in a season with 89, which he did in 1974-75 and 1975-76 seasons.

Philadelphia retired his #16 in 1984 and named the trophy for the MVP of the Flyers, the Bobby Clarke Trophy.
In 1987 he was a first ballot inductee in to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

1994 Art Ross Trophy Winner

The winner of the 1993-94 Art Ross Trophy as the regular season leader in points scored was Wayne Gretzky.


This would be the last of 10 Art Ross wins for the Great One.   He lead the NHL with 130 points as a member of the Los Angeles Kings.   He had 38 goals and 92 assist but his Kings couldn't put together a winning season as they finished 5th in the Pacific division and 10th overall in the western conference.


Sergei Federov was second in points with 120 (56 goals and 64 assist) and that helped him win the Hart Trophy as 1993-94 NHL MVP.

News and Notes August 2nd 2011

Versus is no longer and we now have NBC Sports Network.


Dave Strader to join NBC/Vs hockey team full time


Chelios, Tkachuk and Gary Suter among players named to the US Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2011


Voter reject referendum for new Islanders arena in NYC.  Does leave the future of the Islanders in doubt?

Stat of the NIght

The Top 5 players in career NHL Power Play Goals

1 - Dave Andreychuk   274

2 - Brett Hull   265

3 - Phil Esposito  249

4 - Luc Robitaille   247

5 - Brendan Shanahan   237

2010-2011 ECHL Kelly Cup Champions

The winner of the ECHL Kelly Cup as the Champions of the League:


The Alaska Aces


They defeated the Kalamazoo Wings 4 games to 1 to win the Kelly Cup.
Scott Howes LW for the ACES was named MVP of the Playoffs.


The Aces were also the winners of the Brabham Cup as champions of the ECHL regular season. They finished the year with 47 wins for 97 points.
Aces head coach Brent Thompson was the winner of the John Brophy award as coach of the year, while Gerald Coleman won the Reebok Goaltender of the year award.
Aces forward Wes Goldie was named the ECHL MVP.  He led the league with 46 goals and became the first player in league history with 5 consecutive seasons with 40 or more goals.

Scott Burt accepts the Kelly Cup.

In Case You Missed (College Hockey Edition)

In a joint statement released yesterday several top college hockey programs announced they will leave their current conference to form a new conference for the 2012-2013 season.

The teams included are Denver, Colorado College, North Dakota, Omaha-Nebraska and reigning NCAA champions Minnesota-Duluth.  No word on the name of the conference or how it will affect the other conferences.  

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

Stat of the NIght

Here are the Top 5 Scoring leaders of all time for the Buffalo Sabres

1 - Gilbert Perrault - 1326 points

2 - Dave Andreychuk - 804 points

3 - Richard Martin - 695 points

4 - Craig Ramsay - 672 points

5 - Philip Housley - 558 points

2011-2012 World Junior Championships Schedule

This year from December 26th through January 5th Edmonton and Calgary will host the World Junior Hockey Championships.
Here is the story and schedule

2012 WJC SCHEDULE

PRELIMINARY ROUND

Dec. 26
Finland vs. Canada in Edmonton
Denmark vs. USA in Edmonton
Latvia vs. Sweden in Calgary
Switzerland vs. Russia in Calgary

Dec. 27
Czech Republic vs. Denmark in Edmonton
Slovakia vs. Latvia in Calgary

Dec. 28
USA vs. Finland in Edmonton
Canada vs. Czech Republic in Edmonton
Sweden vs. Switzerland in Calgary
Russia vs. Slovakia in Calgary

Dec. 29
Denmark vs. Canada in Edmonton
Latvia vs. Russia in Calgary

Dec. 30
USA vs. Czech Republic in Edmonton
Finland vs. Denmark in Edmonton
Sweden vs. Slovakia in Calgary
Switzerland vs. Latvia in Calgary

Dec. 31
Czech Republic vs. Finland in Edmonton
Canada vs. USA in Edmonton
Slovakia vs. Switzerland in Calgary
Russia vs. Sweden in Calgary

Bobby Hull

This week in hockey history - 1972 - Bobby Hull signed a 10-year hockey contract for $2,500,000, as he became a player and coach of the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association.

Bobby Hull was fittingly named the World Hockey Association's first Most Valuable Player following the upstart league's first season in 1972-73. The signing of the NHL's most visible superstar by the Winnipeg Jets in June of 1972 ensured the survival of the fledging WHA. Although he had to sit out Winnipeg's first 14 games because of court action, Hull cranked things up once he was cleared and hit the ice, scoring 51 goals and 52 assists. At the conclusion of the WHA's first season, Bobby was awarded the Gary L. Davidson Trophy.
The engraved metal plaque reads "Gary L. Davidson Trophy awarded to Robert M. Hull for being selected Most Valuable Player in the World Hockey Association 1972-73". 

Paul Kariya Retires

Sadly a great goal scorer has had to retire due to post concussion syndrome.
Sidelined for the entire 2010-2011 season, St Louis Blues winger Paul Kariya announced his retirement today.


He currently ranks 82nd alltime with 402 career goals and 79th all time in points with 989.


Drafted 4th overall in 1993 by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks he spent 9 season with the Ducks and led them to the Stanley Cup finals in 2003 against the New Jersey Devils. The series went the full 7 games with NJ winning game 7 on home ice, 3-0.


His last good season was his first of 2 with the Nashville Predators where he had 31 goals and 54 assist.  He signed with St Louis for the 2007-2008 season.

New Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees

Today the Hockey Hall of Fame announced its 2011 class to be inducted November 14th


Ed Belfour
Mark Howe
Doug Gilmour
Joe Nieuwendyk

Read the full article

The Jets Are Back!

True Sports made it official tonight at the NHL Entry Draft in Minneapolis, that the Winnipeg team will once again be the JETS

2011 NHL Awards Winners

2011 Hart Trophy - NHL MVP - Corey Perry (Anaheim)

2011 Richard Trophy - NHL Top Goal Scorer - Corey Perry (Anaheim)

2011 Ross Trophy - NHL Leading Scorer - Daniel Sedin (Vancouver)

2011 Ted Lindsay Award - Players Choice MVP - Daniel Sedin (Vancouver)

2011 Vezina Trophy - NHL Top Goaltender - Tim Thomas (Boston)

2011 Conn Smythe Trophy - Stanley Cup Playoffs MVP - Tim Thomas (Boston)

2011 Norris Trophy - NHL Top Defenseman - Nicholas Lidstrom (Detroit)

2011 Selke Trophy Trophy - NHL Defensive Forward - Ryan Kesler (Vancouver)

2011 Lady Byng Trophy - NHL Most Gentlemanly Player - Martin St Louis (Tampa Bay)

2011 Jack Adams Trophy - NHL Coach of the Year - Dan Bylsma (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Stanley Cup Fact of the Day

The last 2 seasons before 2010 (Chicago Blackhawks) and 2011 (Boston Bruins) that 2 different Original 6 teams won the Stanley Cup in consecutive years was 1972 (Boston Bruins) and 1973 (Montreal Canadiens).

1996 Stanley Cup Finals

June of 1996 saw the first Stanley Cup in the "Modern Era" of the Finals (since 1927 when the NHL gained full control over the Cup) in which 2 franchises were in their first Stanley Cup finals appearance.
The Colorado Avalanche faced off against the Florida Panthers in a 4 games finals that saw the Avalanche sweep but game 4 quickly became a classic as it went 3 overtime periods before being decided.


The Avalanche were in their first season in Colorado after moving from Quebec the previous off season, while the  Florida Panthers in their 3rd season had knocked the heavy favorite Mario Lemieux led Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Finals.  The Panthers had beaten the #1 seeded Philadelphia Flyers in the conference semi finals.
Colorado beat the regular season champion Detroit Red Wings in the wicked and rough Western Conference finals to make their first Stanley Cup finals appearance.


The first 2 games of the Finals weren't even close as Colorado took both games at home by 3-1 and 8-1 scores.  Patrick Roy early making a case for the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP.  He was challenging teammate and team captain Joe Sakic.
Sakic would win the MVP award with 18 goals, 16 assist and 34 points.


Defenseman Uwe Krupp would become a hero for the Avalanche fans as he scored the Cup winning goal.

2 Stats of the Night

The first Stat

The Most Stanley Cup playoff points by a USA-born players 
(The Top 5)

1 - Brett Hull (202 games) = 190 
2 - Mike Modano (176) = 146
3 - Chris Chelios (266) = 144
4 - Jeremy Roenick (122) = 122
5 - Craig Janney (120) = 110

2nd Stat
There have only been 2 Stanley Cup final series since 1927(when the NHL took sole possession of the Stanley Cup Trophy) that featured 2 teams/franchises that were in their first finals appearance.  


1996 - Colorado Avalanche vs Florida Panthers
2007 - Anaheim Ducks vs Ottawa Senators (expansion franchise with no connection to the original)

The Sad Demise of a Hockey Team

Congratulations to the Bossier-Sherevport Mudbugs on winning the 2010-2011 President's Cup as the Champions of the Central Hockey League.

That was the good new, now the bad news.  Less than a week later the Mudbugs ceased operations.

Read about the sad demise of a championship team.


More about the fans and friends of the Mudbugs.

Stanley Cup Finals Game 5 6/10/11

2011 Stanley Cup Finals Game 4

Today in NHL History

1967 - New franchises in the National Hockey League were awarded to the Minnesota North Stars, the California Golden Seals and the Los Angeles Kings. 

Stanley Cup Fact of the Day

Alex Burrows OT goal at 11 seconds is 2nd-shortest in Stanley Cup Final history (shorter: 9 sec. by Skrudland in '86: MTL 3, CGY 2 in Game 


From ELIAS Sports Bureau : Mark Recchi is oldest player with a goal in Stanley Cup Final history (43, 123 days). Previous oldest: Igor Larionov (41, 189 days)

Stanley Cup Finals 2011 Game 1

What is a Canuck?

here from Yahoo! Sports is a great article on the origins of "Canuck"

read on here

Announcement Coming Soon

The NHL is expected to make an announcement on Tuesday regarding the sale of the Atlanta Thrashers to True North Sports and then the movement of the team to Winnipeg Manitoba for the 2011-12 season.

The sound of complete indifference from Atlanta is deafening

Read the article courtesy of Slam Sports!

2011 Eastern Conference Finals - Game 7

Well this blogger was very disappointed that the Tampa Bay Lightning did not beat the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals this year.   Now I will have to cheer and hope the Vancouver Canucks have it to win their first Stanley Cup

2011 Playoffs - Stat of the Night

Here are the leaders in goals scored in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs

(as of today May 27)

1 - Martin St Louis (TB) - 10 


1 - David Krejci (Bos) - 10


3 - Sean Bergenheim (TB) - 9


4 - Daniel Sedin (Van) - 8


5 - Nine Players tied with 7 goals   

Bruins @ Lightning Game 4 5/21/11

Eastern Conference Finals Game 4

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Boston Bruins

Canucks @ Sharks Game 4 5/22/11

Western Conference Finals Game 4

San Jose Sharks vs Vancouver Canucks

NHL Western Conference Finals Game 3

Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals

San Jose Sharks vs Vancouver Canucks

NHL Plays of the Night 5/17/11

Eastern Conference Finals

Tampa Bay vs Boston

Game 2

2011 Western Conference Finals

Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals

San Jose Sharks  vs  Vancouver Canucks

Lightning @ Bruins Game 1 5/14/11

Game 1 of the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Boston Bruins

Happy Birthday

1929 - Gump (Lorne John) Worsley
Hockey Hall of Famer: goaltender: New York [Calder Trophy as NHL’s top rookie: 1953], Montreal Canadians [Stanley Cup: 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969/Vezina Trophy winner: 1964, 1966], Minnesota North Stars: consented to wear a mask during his last season in NHL; physical resemblance to a popular comic strip character earned him the nickname

Today in Stanley Cup History

1977 -  Montreal Canadiens sweep Boston Bruins in 4 games

Game 1 TONIGHT on VERSUS: Lightning vs. Bruins 8PM ET

The Eastern conference finals get started tonight in Boston

NHL Plays of the Night 5/12/11

1994 Conn Smythe Award Winner

The 1994 Conn Smythe Award winner as Stanley Cup Playoff MVP was NY Ranger Brian Leetch.  He has the distinction of being the only American born winner of this award.  He totaled 34 points on 11 goals and 23 assist in the playoffs, ending with a 7 game Finals victory over the Vancouver Canucks.
Leetch was  inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009.

NHL Plays of the Night 5/8/11

NHL Plays of the Night 5/7/11

NHL Plays of the Night 5/6/11

2011 Eastern Conference Finals

The 2011 Eastern Conference Finals are now set

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Boston Bruins

The Ted Lindsay Award

The Ted Lindsay Award is in its 2nd year with the NHLPA and NHL.  Formerly the Lester B Pearson Award since its beginning in 1971, this was changed in 2010 to reflect the contribution to the founding of the NHL Players Association Union by Ted Lindsay, the legendary Detroit Red Wings player Ted Lindsay.  

The winner of this award is National Hockey League's outstanding player in the regular season as judged by the members of the NHL Players Association

The Award has been won the last 3 years by Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.  Wayne Gretzky has won it the most times (5) followed by Mario Lemieux (4).

This year the nominees for the award are:

Corey Perry (Anaheim) - The 2011 Rocket Richard Trophy winner for league leader in goals
Daniel Sedin (Vancouver) - The 2011 Art Ross Trophy winner for league leader in points
Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay) -2010 winner of the Hart Trophy as the league MVP.

NHL Plays of the Night 5/4/11

Stat of the Night

Only 2 players have won back to back Conn Smythe Trophies as Stanley Cup Playoff MVP:

Bernie Parent (Philadelphia Flyers) 1974 and 1975

Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) 1991 and 1992