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Most recently published stories in Unbalanced.
What Went Wrong: Kaprizov Can't Do It Alone
The Minnesota Wild became the next team to get the boot from the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, though it didn't look like it was going to be the case. After being shut out on home ice in Game One of their series against the St. Louis Blues, the Wild bounced back with dominant victories in Games Two and Three; the latter taking place in St. Louis. After that, however, things went south big time. Three straight losses--all against Jordan Binnington, who hadn't won a playoff start since June 12, 2019, the very night that the Blues won the Stanley Cup.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
What Went Wrong: Predators Swept Out of Playoffs in Dominant Fashion
Since 1980, the postseason chase to the Stanley Cup has consisted of 16 teams, meaning that in order for a team to win the coveted trophy, 15 teams have to be eliminated. Out of those 15 teams, someone has to have the indignity of being the very first team to fall, a terrible cross to bear. In this go-around, that terrible burden ended up going to the Nashville Predators, who were swept out of the opening round by the Colorado Avalanche.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
AEW Women's World Championship Match Set for Double or Nothing
It is hard to believe that All Elite Wrestling's first ever major event, Double or Nothing, took place almost three years ago. The company's launch in 2019 saw four pay-per-views take place before their flagship show, AEW Dynamite, premiered on October 2, 2019. Since then, AEW has become an absolute phenomenon, and fans find themselves getting ready for AEW's fourth annual Double or Nothing event. Part of the event's festivities include an absolute clash for the AEW Women's World Championship between fighting champion Thunder Rosa and ambitious challenger Serena Deeb.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
A Villainous Alliance Brewing Between Doudrop and Nikki A.S.H.?
I cannot help but be stuck on that brief moment that occurred backstage on the latest edition of Raw. A wild and crazy episode saw, among other things, Nikki A.S.H. capture the 24/7 Championship from Dana Brooke backstage, making Nikki the first to have held the Raw Women's Championship, the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship, and the 24/7 title. An angry Dana Brooke ordered her new husband, Reggie, to get her a rematch, which he does, and Dana regains her title once again, after which Dana demanded a divorce after Reggie (yet again) tried to win the title from her.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Top 3 Reasons to Love the Stanley Cup Playoffs
We all really enjoy and drink in the phenomenal late spring/early summer festival known as the Stanley Cup Playoffs, don't we? There are many reasons why we should. The National Hockey League's perennial tournament is the best period of sports on the calendar; it's high-paced, it's chaotic, and most of all, it's nail biting. It's an amazing journey all the way--from the first puck drop of the opening games, to the final moment where the Stanley Cup is awarded.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
MLB April 2022 Review
Hard to believe that earlier this year, there was a possibility that we wouldn't have baseball in April. A lockout had enveloped the sport for over three months until things ended up settled, leading to the season starting only a week later than originally planned. The return also brought new wrinkles to the sport: the permanent universal DH, the "ghost runner" extra inning rule ending after this season, nine-inning doubleheader games, and an expanded playoff format that features 12 teams (six in each league) and the best of three Wild Card Series opening the postseason.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
2022 Division Semifinals Preview
It's here! The greatest quest in all of professional sports has arrived: the Stanley Cup Playoffs! Be prepared for high levels of excitement, clutch moment, and most of all, high blood pressure! In all seriousness, the Stanley Cup Playoffs never fail to incite all sorts of emotion, and it's a guarantee that this year will be no different.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Dakota Kai and Persia Pirotta Among WWE's 1st Batch of Releases in 2022
Wrestling fans were hit with another batch of heartbreaking and infuriating releases this weekend, with 10 talents being cut from WWE, and all from the NXT brand. The two that really have me up in arms: Dakota Kai and Persia Pirotta. Oh boy.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Dallas Stars Complete Sweet 16 in Dramatic Fashion
Five games took place on the evening of Wednesday, April 27, 2022, but to hockey fans all over the continent, only two took place. One of them featured the Vegas Golden Knights and the Chicago Blackhawks, and the other featured the Arizona Coyotes and the Dallas Stars. One playoff spot remained, and the scenario was a simple one: if Dallas earned so much as a point, they were in the playoffs. It seemed like Dallas would get two points; they had a 3-0 lead over the lowly Coyotes, while Vegas was in a back and forth game against Chicago. Dallas could also get in with a Vegas loss, but Vegas was in a 3-3 tie, and somehow, so was Dallas.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Kings Clinch 1st Playoff Spot in Four Seasons
The evening of Tuesday, April 26, 2022 saw 26 teams playing, but the Los Angeles Kings were one of the six who took that evening off. Despite this, the Kings were one point away from locking in a playoff spot, and that opportunity was connected to the game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Dallas Stars. The game went to overtime tied at 2, and then went to a seven-round shootout, which Dallas finally won with Miro Heiskanen's goal, followed by a stop by Jake Oettinger. The Vegas loss not only placed the Nashville Predators in the playoffs, but it gave a spot to the Kings as well.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
5 Years Removed From Cup Final Appearance, Predators Return to Playoffs
A wild Tuesday evening in the National Hockey League saw 13 games played, and so much to be decided. This included all of the final three playoff spots--all in the Western Conference. The Nashville Predators entered Tuesday's action with many ways to get in the playoffs, but the simplest way was a regulation win. Their game against the Calgary Flames was back and forth, but the Preds were up 4-3 late, and it looked like victory was going to come in the minimum 60 minutes.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
A Pair of Burning Questions as Oilers Clinch Playoff Spot
On Friday, April 22, the Edmonton Oilers joined the playoff party with their 6-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. This is their third straight playoff appearance, and their fourth with their young star, Connor McDavid. The Oilers are one of four teams to crossover from the World Hockey Association in 1979, and they are the most successful of the four, having won five Stanley Cups in a seven-season span from 1984 to 1990. They have not won since then, and they haven't been to the Stanley Cup Final since 2006. In fact, after falling one win short of the Cup in 2006 (losing to fellow WHA crossovers, the Carolina Hurricanes--formerly the Hartford Whalers), they went 11 years without a postseason.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
