Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Unbalanced.
What Went Wrong: Blues Swept Out of Stanley Cup Playoffs
On Sunday, the St. Louis Blues lost Game Four of their West Division Semifinal series against the Colorado Avalanche, becoming the first team to be eliminated from the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This first round exit continues a downward spiral for the Blues, which began with last year's disappointing playoff performance in the Edmonton bubble. That year, the Blues lost every game in the Round Robin, finishing with the #4 seed, and later losing in six games to the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
What Went Wrong: Capitals Eliminated in Five Games by Bruins
On Sunday, the Washington Capitals lost Game Five of their East Division Semifinal series against the Boston Bruins, doing so by a score of 3-1. The loss gave the Capitals their third straight first round exit since winning the Stanley Cup in 2018, following a seven-game loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2019, and a five-game loss to the New York Islanders in 2020.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Is Jordynne Grace Turning Heel?
Is Jordynne Grace on the verge of a heel turn? The signs, IMO, are there. I've wanted a heel turn for Jordynne for a number of months now. I think she can really excel as a villainess in Impact, especially with her physique, which would allow her to play the villainous powerhouse role. Jordynne has been wrestling for a decade, but she joined Impact Wrestling back in 2018. It was in February of 2020 that Jordynne captured the Knockouts Championship from Taya Valkyrie, ending Valkyrie's record 377-day reign, and held the title for 182 days before losing to Deonna Purrazzo at Slammiversary.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
A Look at the Atlanta Braves' Division Title Streak
One of the most memorable streaks in sports history (especially in my lifetime) was the Atlanta Braves' 14 straight division championships, finishing first from 1991 until 2005. Since then, the Braves' postseasons have been scarce, but once upon a time, they were one of the constants throughout the 1990s. Here's an at-a-glance look at the Braves' streak.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
The Vast Decline of the Golden Knights' Fanbase
On Thursday, the Vegas Golden Knights lost the West Division and the Presidents' Trophy when the Colorado Avalanche won 5-1 over the Los Angeles Kings. As an Avalanche fan since the team's final two years as the Quebec Nordiques, I was in an immensely celebratory mood over the Avalanche finishing the season with the league's best record, and I went on YouTube to watch the highlights. As I scrolled through the comments, I found a couple from fans of the Golden Knights saying that the Avalanche "didn't deserve" to win the Presidents' Trophy, and mocking the Avalanche for "letting 15 skaters dominate them," a reference to Monday's head-to-head game, which the Avalanche won, 2-1. Another comment actually blamed Robin Lehner, the backup to Marc-Andre Fleury, for Monday's loss, stating that he "let in a pair of softies." Oh boy.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
North Division Semifinal Series Are Officially Set
The North Division will be the last of the four divisions to have all of its teams play the full 56 games, but they join the East and Central in officially locking in their Division Semifinal series. The Winnipeg Jets needed one point to clinch 3rd place in the North, and their 5-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks did just that, locking in third place and cementing the Montréal Canadiens in fourth. The Jets will face off against the Edmonton Oilers in the North Division Semifinals, while the other semifinal series will feature the Toronto Maple Leafs against the aforementioned Canadiens. With this divisional format back for the first time since the 1992-93 season (for this season only), it will assure us that a Canadian team will advance to the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
West Division & Presidents' Trophy Race Down to the Wire
Wow! I knew when this season started and the format was announced that this would be immensely thrilling. I knew this not just as a hockey fan, but as a Colorado Avalanche fan as well. The Avalanche were placed in the West Division along with the three California teams (Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks), the Arizona Coyotes, the St. Louis Blues, the Minnesota Wild, and most importantly, the Vegas Golden Knights. This is the first and only time that the Avalanche and Golden Knights serve as division rivals, and the rivalry has been very intense and entertaining. It really is a shame that come next season, these two teams will be placed back in their respective divisions; the Golden Knights will be back in the Pacific Division, while the Avalanche will return to the Central Division.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Pros and Cons: Charlotte Flair
Without question, there is an immense duality when it comes to being a fan of Charlotte Flair--a highly talented star in WWE's Women's Division. It's no doubt that Charlotte is one of the most passionate and determined workers in not just WWE, but wrestling overall, and she does get rewarded for it handsomely. However, that's where the duality comes in, as the accolades she receives just happen to be immense, leaving fans wondering if she's in the picture just a bit too much. Here are the pros and cons regarding Charlotte Flair.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Battle of Florida in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs
On Friday, the Tampa Bay Lightning lost to the Dallas Stars by a score of 5-2, which gave the Central Division title to the Carolina Hurricanes. Why is that important? Because Carolina clinching first place officially locks in the first Stanley Cup Playoff series of this season, and for the first time ever, the Tampa Bay Lightning will face off against the Florida Panthers in a best-of-seven playoff series. These two teams have co-existed together for 28 years; the Lightning debuted in 1992, while the Panthers joined the league a year later in 1993. Though even then, the Lightning had a leg up on their in-state rivals, as their debut was the big story of the 1992-93 season, while the Panthers were pretty much overshadowed in the 1993-94 season, by the relocation of the Minnesota North Stars to Dallas, and the debut of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
30 Years: A Look at the San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks have always fascinated me as a hockey fan. They debuted in the NHL in 1991, becoming Northern California's second and most successful attempt at an NHL franchise, after the failure of the Oakland Seals/California Golden Seals. This season, the Sharks are currently celebrating 30 years as a franchise, but this is actually their 29th season of play--their 30th playing season will occur next year. This team has been good for their entire existence, but can't seem to go far. Here's a look at their complete history.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
#EvaLution: Eva Marie Returns to WWE
On the latest edition of Monday Night Raw, fans saw the surprise return of Eva Marie to WWE, as she was featured in a promo posing near a flashy car and stating that the "Eva-Lution" had begun, while asking if she had our attention. It had been heavily speculated and rumored for several months that Eva Marie would return to WWE for the first time since 2016, and after months of anticipation and rumors, she is finally back!
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
East Division Playoff Field Complete With Bruins Playoff Clinch
On Monday, the Boston Bruins defeated the New Jersey Devils, 3-0, to lock up the last remaining playoff spot in the NHL's makeshift East Division. For the Bruins, this is their fifth straight postseason, and they are two years removed from falling one win short of winning the Stanley Cup, while also coming off capturing the Presidents' Trophy last season. The playoff clinch comes mainly due to the efforts of the famed "Perfection Line," consisting of Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, and Patrice Bergeron; however, they have finally managed to get production from other lines, mainly thanks to acquiring Taylor Hall at the trade deadline this season. Vezina winning goalie Tuukka Rask has also played a role, though with his long injury hiatus, backups Jaroslav Halak and Jeremy Swayman have picked up the slack and racked up the key saves needed to keep Boston in the thick of things.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
