Happy Birthday Ron Hextall

Today May 3rd is the 48th birthday of former Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ron Hextall.  Now normally I wouldnt acknowledge a former Flyer since I am a Penguins man but I will make and exception today.   Hextall was no ordinary goalie, he played like a ticked off bull moose and had no problems fighting anyone or slashing anyone with his stick, much like Billy Smith of the Islanders.
Hextall was called by Wayne Gretzky.."the greatest goaltender I have ever played against".


In his rookie year of 1987 Hextall led the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals against Gretzky's Edmonton Oilers and pushed the high scoring Oilers to 7 games.   That effort in goal earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs and became only the 4th player from the losing team to be named MVP.  Later that summer Hextall was awarded the Vezina Trophy as the NHLs top goaltender for the 1986-87 season.
He was also a 3 time winner of the Bobby Clarke Trophy as the Flyers MVP (1987,1988,1989)


Today he is the General Manager of the AHL Manchester Monarchs, the top minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings.

Stanley Cup Playoff Highlights April 30th 2012

St Louis gets pushed around and scored on by the surprise LA Kings in game 2 of their second round series
 The Washington Capitals survive on a great save Henri Crossbar in the wanings seconds of game 2 of their 2nd round series against the New York Rangers.

 

2012 NHL Playoffs 2nd Round

Yesterday April 28th saw 2 more series in the second round of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin

first up was the NY Rangers vs Washington Capitals

 then later in the day the St Louis Blues played host to the LA Kings

New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins 5/11/96 - Game 5

Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semi-finals Pittsburgh won series 4 games to 1.

2012 Rocket Richard Trophy

The winner of the 2011-2012 Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy is Steve Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning with 60 goals.
This is his second Richard Trophy, he won his first in 2010.

John Walton's Joel Ward goal call (Puck Daddy)

The radio call of the series winning goal for the Washington Capitals

Stanley Cup Playoffs Capital vs Bruins Game 7

Bye Bye Bruins!!!!  the defending champs are done and lost a game 7 at home in Boston.  That makes it even sweeter for the Capitals.


Here are the highlights of the Game 7 first round playoff game