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: Hurricanes Ousted in Five by Defending Champions
The Carolina Hurricanes boasted a loaded lineup that got them first place in the makeshift Central Division this season, and while it was enough to beat the Nashville Predators, it wasn't enough against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Central Division Final. The Hurricanes' 2-0 shutout loss to the defending Stanley Cup Champions on Tuesday ended their season; a five-game loss to the Lightning that saw the Hurricanes suffer three of their losses on home ice. This is their third straight postseason following a drought of nine seasons; 2019 saw them reach the Eastern Conference Final and get swept by the Bruins, and 2020 saw the Hurricanes sweep the Rangers in the Qualifying Round, only to lose to the Bruins in Round 1 in the Toronto bubble.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
What Went Wrong: Jets Swept Out of Elite Eight
The North Division was the last to complete the opening round of this year's playoffs, but they were the first to crown a playoff division champion, as the Winnipeg Jets ended up swept by the Montréal Canadiens in the North Division Final. The Jets swept the Edmonton Oilers to advance, but when it came to the Canadiens, the Jets couldn't handle the team who was coming off a comeback series win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. While this is still an improvement over last year, and also exceeded expectations for them in the playoffs, it is still a disappointing end for a strong team.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
A Heartfelt Message to Maple Leafs Fans
To any and all fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs: I am sorry. I am so, so very sorry. I am sorry that you have to suffer so much heartbreak year after year after year. I'm sorry that a team as amazingly talented as the Leafs seem to get snakebit in the playoffs on a perennial basis. I'm sorry that fans of teams who aren't half as good as the Leafs have the temerity to make jokes at their expense and mockingly say "1967," even though their teams haven't won anything at all. And most of all, I am so sorry that you had to witness yet another playoff disappointment, especially since this year's team was the best in the last 20 years.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
What Went Wrong: Wild Lose Seven-Game Thriller to Golden Knights
The Minnesota Wild's series with the Vegas Golden Knights began with a 1-0 overtime win for the Wild in Game One. They lost the next three, but with their backs to the wall, they took Games Five and Six, getting a shutout in the latter, but when it came to the pivotal Game Seven, the Wild stayed in it as long as they could, but they couldn't stop the Knights' onslaught. The Wild's season came to an end, but look at their three wins. Two of them (Games One and Five) were in Vegas, two of them (Games One and Six) were shutout, and the Game Five win came despite being outshot by a near 3-1 disadvantage (40-14).
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
What Went Wrong: Predators Eliminated by Hurricanes
The Nashville Predators put up an amazing effort in their series against the Carolina Hurricanes, but it still wasn't enough, as Sebastian Aho's overtime goal in Game Six ended the Predators' season. This was a series that was very close after the first two games were dominated by the Hurricanes, as the next four saw a combined 74:13 of overtime played. Nashville's two wins came in double overtime, leading the Hurricanes to score quickly in the last two extra frames to finish off the Predators.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
What Went Wrong: Panthers Eliminated by Defending Champions
After co-existing together since 1993, Florida's two NHL teams finally faced each other in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The end result was a hard-fought and bitter series, which saw the Florida Panthers ousted in six games by the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Panthers' 4-0 loss in Game Six sealed their fate, and extended their playoff series victory drought for another season; having not won a series since the 1996 Eastern Conference Final.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
What Went Wrong: Another Early Exit for Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins' 15th straight playoff appearance did not last long; their 5-3 defeat in Game Six of their series against the New York Islanders brought an end to their season. For the Penguins, this marks the third straight season that they have failed to win a series, and in two of those occasions, they were defeated by the Islanders. Their 2019 and 2021 losses to the Islanders sandwich their stunning Qualifying Round loss to the Montréal Canadiens in the Toronto bubble in 2020. In fact, the Penguins have won only one playoff series since winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, and in three of their last four seasons, they were defeated by teams coached by Barry Trotz.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
What Went Wrong: Oilers Swept Out of Playoffs by Jets
On Monday, three teams faced elimination from this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs, but the proverbial axe only fell on the Edmonton Oilers, as they lost a triple overtime thriller by a score of 4-3 to the Winnipeg Jets. Kyle Connor's goal in the seventh minute of the sixth period completed a four-game sweep for the Jets--the first in franchise history--while bring an end to the Oilers' season. So to recap, Kyle Connor advanced, Connor Hellebuyck advance, but the biggest Connor in this series--McDavid--didn't.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago 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. Dawkins12 months 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. Dawkins12 months 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. Dawkins12 months 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. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
