hockey
We talk pucks and objects of that kind. We yell, complain, and analyze in the language of hockey fandom. Gretzky can do no wrong.
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. Dawkins12 months 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. Dawkins12 months 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. Dawkins12 months 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. Dawkins12 months 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. Dawkins12 months 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. Dawkins12 months 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. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
The Elite History of the Conn Smythe Trophy
One of the many things that makes the NHL stand out over other leagues is their collection of individual trophies, mainly the prestigious Conn Smythe Trophy. It's an MVP trophy, but it's different from the other leagues. The NBA's trophy only covers the Finals, the NFL has the Super Bowl MVP, and while MLB is a bit more well-rounded, they only award MVPs in their two League Championship Series and the World Series. Regarding the NHL, the Conn Smythe Trophy goes to the MVP of the entire Stanley Cup Playoffs. Not just the Stanley Cup Final--the full playoffs; from Round 1 to the finish. The reason is simple: it is most grueling to go through four rounds and get 16 wins in order to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup, and the NHL awards the player who did the most during that difficult quest.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
Capitals Return to Playoffs; East Playoff Field Complete. Top Story - April 2022.
The eight playoff teams in the NHL's Eastern Conference had actually been set for months, but it finally became official on Sunday, April 17. On that evening, the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the New York Islanders, 4-2, and with that result, the Islanders were eliminated, and the Washington Capitals (who were idle) received the Eastern Conference's last remaining playoff spot. For Washington, this is their eighth straight playoff appearance, which is the 2nd-longest current streak in the NHL, with the Pittsburgh Penguins' streak being twice as long.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
Wild Clinch Playoff Spot For 3rd Straight Season
On Saturday, April 16, the Minnesota Wild had the opportunity to lock in a playoff spot, and after coming back from a 4-1 deficit to force overtime, it looked like they would get it done, but the St. Louis Blues (especially Brayden Schenn) had other plans. With the overtime loss, the Wild entered Sunday's game against the San Jose Sharks needing only one point to earn a spot in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They would get it when regulation ended in a 4-4 tie, and they picked up a bonus when Jared Spurgeon's tip-in goal won it for Minnesota.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
Flames Clinch Playoff Spot With Help from an Unlikely Ally
Hours before the Calgary Flames took the ice for their game against the Arizona Coyotes, they received the good news that they are in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs! The Flames entered Saturday's action needing one point to clinch, but one of the other scenarios also involved the Vegas Golden Knights. Sure enough, that's exactly what happened. The Vegas Golden Knights lost 4-0 to the Edmonton Oilers, and with that, the Flames are playoff bound for the 3rd time in four seasons. Yes, you read that right. The Edmonton Oilers actually helped the Calgary Flames get into the playoffs. Isn't hockey wonderful?
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
Blues Clinch Playoff Spot Against Potential Playoff Opponent
Eleven days after the Colorado Avalanche locked in a playoff spot, the NHL's Western Conference finally has another spot sealed. The St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild faced each other in a Central Division battle where both teams entered with chances to clinch spots. The Blues had their destiny in full control; all they had to do was win. However, the Blues went from leading 4-1 to being tied at 5 after regulation, but Brayden Schenn's OT goal not only gave the Blues their 100th point of the season, it also gave them their fourth straight playoff appearance.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
