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.
NHL 2021-22 Metropolitan Division Preview
The NHL has used geographical names for their conferences and divisions since the 1993-94 season. For five seasons, the Western Conference (formerly the Campbell Conference) had the Pacific and Central Divisions, while the Eastern Conference (formerly the Wales Conference) had the Atlantic and Northeast Divisions. When the divisions were realigned in the 1998-99 season, two more were created: the Northwest and Southeast Divisions. The league went back to four divisions in 2013-14, and among the division names was one that stood out the most: Metropolitan. That's not exactly geographical, but it fits the division because of the cities represented. So for the last eight years, we've had the Metropolitan Division (nicknamed "Metro" for short), and it's a pretty fun division to watch.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
NHL 2021-22 Atlantic Division Preview
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, hockey fans of all ages: the NHL that we know is back. 82 games, an October-April stretch, an All-Star break, and yes, normal divisions. The localized divisions from the abbreviated 2020-21 campaign were fun to watch, but I am happy that the normal divisions and conferences are back, because each of the four divisions have a historical connection. Each of these divisions were formed in the 2013-14 season, with the NHL realigning the divisions for the first time since the 1998-99 season--the year that kicked off the NHL's six-division format.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
Evander Kane: It's Always Something
Stop me if you've heard this before. Evander Kane is in the news. The reasons why aren't positive. It's connected to his past gambling. To say that Evander Kane is a controversial figure in the NHL would be an understatement. It is always something with Kane; he has been in a cloud of controversy for, pretty much, his entire NHL career.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
Game Five: Lightning Strikes in the Same Place Twice
Those who say lightning never strikes in the same place twice...they haven't watched the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning only needed Ross Colton's 2nd period goal, and Andrei Vasilevskiy being a brick wall yet again to capture their third Stanley Cup in franchise history, and their second straight. Vasilevskiy captured the Conn Smythe Trophy, and it was definitely earned. His numbers in this year's playoffs: 16-7, five shutouts (three of them in the Stanley Cup Semifinals and Final), a .930 save percentage, and a GAA of 1.90. WOW! That's supernatural goaltending!
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
Game Four: Brooms Broken
The Tampa Bay Lightning entered this game knowing that a win would give them their second straight Stanley Cup. Their game plan was to dominate and take this game so they can hoist the Cup once again. While the Stanley Cup was at the Bell Center, however, the hometown Montréal Canadiens had other plans. The game did not start well for the Habs, as it was all Lightning when it came to shots on goal. Despite this, it remained scoreless until Josh Anderson's wrister beat Andrei Vasilevskiy 15:39 into the first period, and for the first time in the entire series, the Canadiens had the lead.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
Game Three: One Win Away
June 9, 1993. The Montréal Canadiens defeat the Los Angeles Kings by a score of 4-1 in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final, earning them their NHL-record 24th Stanley Cup. Not only did that day mark the last time a Canadian franchise won the Stanley Cup, but it was also the last time a Stanley Cup Final game was played in Montréal, until Game Three of this year's affair. For the first time in this year's playoffs, the Canadiens' backs were up against the wall. With no answer for Andrei Vasilevskiy, the Canadiens find themselves in a 2-0 hole for the first time in this year's playoffs, and they were looking to bounce back in front of their home crowd.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
Game Two: Vasilevskiy Takes Over
Game Two of this year's Stanley Cup Final was a milestone: it was the final NHL game for the NBC Sports Network, known to us puckheads as NBCSN. This year's Stanley Cup Final will mark the end of NBC's relationship with the NHL, which began in the 2005-06 season--the first season back from a season crippling lockout. The coverage included games on what was then known as the Outdoor Life Network (OLN), which later changed its name to Versus until converting to the NBC Sports Network on January 2, 2012. The cable channel aired games on Mondays and Tuesdays, and later added Wednesdays and Sundays as part of their schedule beginning in 2012. NBCSN also aired Stanley Cup Playoff games along with NBC's other networks, and always shared coverage of the Stanley Cup Final with NBC, who will air the rest of the Final from this point on.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
Game One: Defending Champs Win Big
I absolutely love the Stanley Cup Final, no matter who is in it. My reasons are many, but among them is the prestige of the event. While I always know that the Stanley Cup Final means the end of another hockey season, it is a spectacular end. It is the end result of a long and grueling season played out by 31 teams (32 starting next season), with only two left standing facing each other in a best-of-seven series to determine who will hoist Lord Stanley's Cup. After all was said and done, the two teams left standing were the Tampa Bay Lightning (the defending Stanley Cup Champions) and the Montréal Canadiens, who are actually in the same division.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
What Went Wrong: One Game
The Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Islanders played a very thrilling and very captivating seven game Stanley Cup Semifinal series. It was close, nail-biting, and productive in many, many ways, but when the dust finally settled, it was the Lightning who emerged victorious. For the Islanders, this marked the second straight year that they were ousted by the Lightning in Round 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but it took everything the Bolts had to defeat the Islanders.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
Two Perspectives of What Went Wrong: What Golden Knights Fans Will Say vs The Truth
The Vegas Golden Knights, for the second straight year, were eliminated in the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This time, it was the Montréal Canadiens who ousted them, a six game elimination that was sealed with a 3-2 overtime loss. This also marks the third straight season where the Golden Knights were eliminated in an overtime game, and the second straight year that they were ousted by a team with Corey Perry on it (Perry was with the Dallas Stars last season).
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
An Address to Any and All Avalanche Fans
What was supposed to be a dream season for the Colorado Avalanche came to an abrupt end, as the team was ousted in six games by the Vegas Golden Knights in the West Division Final. The Avalanche, who captured the Presidents' Trophy this season, won the first six games of the playoffs, but Game Two saw the Avalanche win despite the Golden Knights starting to take over the remainder of the game. Colorado's next two games would see them lose complete momentum against the Knights, resulting in back-to-back road losses, and while Game Five saw them go up 2-0 entering the third period, the Knights came back in the third and won in overtime. Game Six? The Avalanche tried, but mistakes and miscues were the team's downfall.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
What Went Wrong: Is the Bruins' Window Closed?
The Boston Bruins suffered a blowout loss--6-2--against the New York Islanders in Game Six of the East Division Final, handing the team their 2nd-straight second round elimination since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2019. The loss and elimination means that the Bruins have now gone a full decade since winning the Stanley Cup in the 2010-11 season--a drought that has seen the Bruins reach the Final twice, losing to the Chicago Blackhawks (six games) in 2013, and losing to the St. Louis Blues (seven games) in 2019.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
