Rangers rookie Chris Kreider making it look easy in impressive jump from NCAA title to NHL playoffs (Yahoo! Sports)
NEW YORK – When you make an overnight trip from an NCAA championship to the Stanley Cup playoffs, what do you pack? Seriously. How many pairs of socks? How much underwear?
Rookie Chris Kreider has scored key goals and played in crucial situations for the Rangers. (Reuters)Chris Kreider was unsure. He had just gotten back from Tampa, where he had won his second national title in three years with the Boston College Eagles. He was headed to New York, where he would practice with the Rangers in the morning. He didn’t know what was to come, how long it would last, everything he needed.
As he stood in his room at Voute Hall, a beige brick dorm on the BC campus, suitemate Samson Lee tried to help. Kreider had only one suitcase, but that was OK. He had ripped a pair of pants running around that day, so if Lee’s memory is right, he might have had only one suit. He needed shirts. He needed ties. Hmm.
Anything else?
“You’re playing Ottawa, right?” Lee said.
“Yeah,” Kreider said.
“Make sure you have your passport.”
“Um, probably something good to have.”
That was April 11. Five weeks later, the whirlwind continues. Kreider has appeared in 14 games for the Rangers, playing almost every other day, soaking in new experiences nonstop, without acting like a wide-eyed rookie just happy to be here.
He has celebrated his 21st birthday in an NHL uniform, survived a triple-overtime thriller, won two Game 7s at Madison Square Garden and made headlines in the media capital of the world. He scored game-winners in each of his first two series, and he has scored in each of the first two games of the Eastern Conference final.
By notching four goals and six points before his regular-season debut, he has tied two NHL records. Eddie Mazur scored four goals for the Montreal Canadiens before playing in the regular season, though he needed three playoffs to do it – 1951, ’52 and ’53. George McPhee put up six points for the Rangers in ’83.
The Rangers are already selling shirts with “KREIDER” and No. 20 on the back, and though he has probably (hopefully) bought some new clothes by now, he said he is still living out of the same suitcase in a Manhattan hotel.
“Yeah,” he said with a smile. “It’s a pretty big suitcase, though.”
* * * * *
Many players have made the NHL at a younger age. Others have gone straight from college to the pros, even in the playoffs. But this is unique.
Kreider has embraced the challenge of being thrust into the intensity of the NHL playoffs. (Reuters)The Rangers are a tight-knit group. They added only two players from outside the organization all season. They won the Eastern Conference with a team-first style.
And along came this college kid who hadn’t blocked a shot, hadn’t thrown a hit, hadn’t scored a goal, hadn’t contributed to any of it. Despite a total lack of NHL experience, he took a lineup spot and precious minutes – in the top six, on the power play, in other key situations – at the most important time of year.
It’s a credit to the guys in the dressing room and of course a credit to Kreider, who earned his coach’s trust and his teammates’ respect quickly. On the ice, he made an immediate impact, took a step back and rebounded to make an impact again. Off the ice, he has kept his head down and his mouth shut. Part of it is his personality. Part of it is just being a respectful rookie.
“He has no fear. That’s what I like about him,” said coach John Tortorella after beating the Ottawa Senators in the first round, when he put Kreider, in only his fourth NHL appearance, on the ice to protect a one-goal lead in the final minute of Game 7.
“His biggest thing is his mindset. He’s not here to test the waters. He’s trying to make a difference. You saw where I had him tonight at the end of the game. He was playing, the other guys weren’t, and he deserved to be there.”
Kreider wasn’t your typical college kid, and he wasn’t your typical college player.
He wasn’t one to pull all-nighters. He would make sure he got nine or 10 hours of sleep, especially before games. He needed a lot of food for fuel – “he ate like a little pony,” Lee teased – but loved healthier stuff like sushi.
It doesn’t sound like he was a partier. Asked about spending his 21st birthday playing for the Rangers instead of, well, doing what a lot of people would do, Kreider said: “I’d rather do this any day of the week than go out and destroy my body.” Listed at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, he looks like he has been building his body.
“He’s, like, a creature,” Lee said. “I think he’s just a real mature kid. He knows that whatever he does, he has to earn it. He’s determined. You can tell from the two national championships he won in college, he’s a kid that when he sets his mind on something, he works hard at it. He gets it done.”
Lee is the video coordinator for the Boston College hockey team. He has seen Kreider on screen as much as anyone, and when he watches him now – on the same 32-inch television in the suite they shared, in the same common room where they watched NHL games – he sees the same player he saw at BC. Great skater. Great shooter. “Prototypical power forward,” Lee said. “You can hear him coming down the ice. He’s like an impending force when he’s hounding you on the puck.”
Eagles captain Tommy Cross sees the same thing. “I see the kid that I played with for three years,” Cross said. “He’s so fast and powerful and strong. I see him being pushed. He’s obviously playing in the best league in the world right now. When he’s pushed, he can do special things.”
The Rangers drafted Kreider 19th overall in 2009 and wanted to sign him last year. He turned them down. He was disappointed in how his sophomore season ended, with a loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 seed, and he wanted to come back to get closer to his degree and take another shot at another national title.
The Rangers reportedly refused to include Kreider in a package for Columbus star Rick Nash. (Getty)But he gained valuable experience last spring. A Massachusetts native who twice represented the United States at the World Junior Championship, he played for the U.S. at the worlds for the second straight year, skating with NHLers, learning from them. He skated informally with some of the Rangers before their training camp. And though he was focused on the task at hand at BC with a team-leading 45 points in 44 games – he said it wouldn’t have been fair to anyone, including himself, not to be – he might have had one eye on New York.
How could he not? It was all over the media that Rangers general manager Glen Sather refused to include him in a deal for Columbus Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash before the trade deadline. The playoffs were coming.
“He’s a very humble kid and deflects attention, so he wouldn’t say it, but I think he was watching,” Cross said. “I think he was pretty confident in himself thinking that, ‘Probably a couple months from now, a couple weeks from now, I could be wearing the blue jersey.’
“I think we were more vocal about it. People asked, ‘Why was Boston College a good hockey team this year?’ Well, we had a great coach, we had some players that played really well, and we had an NHL player on the team. So that helps.”
On April 7, the Eagles won the NCAA championship. On April 11, they had a parade on campus. Kreider cut out early. “It was funny, because everyone wanted his autograph,” Lee said. “Everyone was looking for him.” Kreider was busy signing an NHL contract.
“I figured it all out with my parents, faxed the stuff over,” Kreider said. “I got in a car at BC and drove down. Excited. Really excited. I hadn’t come down yet off that high of winning the whole thing.”
On April 12, Kreider practiced with the Rangers. On April 16, he made his NHL debut in Ottawa. He played on a line with stars Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik. Good thing he remembered his passport.
“Kind of a wave of emotions, I guess,” Kreider said. ” ‘Special’ probably doesn’t do it justice. But at the same time, I was obviously locked in and mentally focused. I only had about three or four seconds to kind of take in the fact that I was putting on an NHL jersey before I had to try to do my job.”
The players welcomed him. Several had come from U.S. colleges, just not as quickly. The coaches didn’t overload him. They told him just to have fun and play his game, while stressing a few things in the defensive zone.
Still, it was almost overwhelming – the sights, the sounds, the pace.
“Obviously the environment’s that much more intense, in the locker room, in the arena itself,” Kreider said. “I’ve played in front of some pretty big crowds, but I don’t think it ever gets as loud as it does in some of these games. Obviously it’s a whole different level. It was kind of hard to fathom. I don’t think you can kind of prepare yourself enough for it. It’s a big leap.”
But he made it. Though he got into the lineup because of a suspension to rookie Carl Hagelin – who went from the University of Michigan to the American Hockey League playoffs last season, a more typical path – he didn’t leave the lineup when Hagelin returned. He dropped to the fourth line for a couple of games, then rose to the second line with Derek Stepan and captain Ryan Callahan.
He scored the winning goal in Game 6 against the Senators. He made a key play in Game 7, forcing a turnover that led to a goal. He set up a goal and scored the winner in Game 1 of the second round against the Washington Capitals, earning the Broadway Hat, the too-small black fedora that goes to the player of the game in the Rangers’ room.
That was impressive enough. But this might have been more impressive: After going minus-4 over three games and committing a costly turnover to Alex Ovechkin – his favorite player growing up – his playing time dwindled dramatically. He didn’t crumble.
He set up a goal in Game 1 of the conference final, using that speed to win a race to the puck and feed defenseman Dan Girardi. He scored, using that shot to snap the puck in mid-stride past goaltender Martin Brodeur. He scored in Game 2, too, deflecting a shot in front of the net. Both of those goals were on the power play.
“A lot of guys I think would have been shaken up out there at the end of the Capitals series, not seeing the ice time he would have wanted to because of the turnover to Ovi or whatever,” Cross said. “But he came back the next series with kind of a fresh mind and scored some big goals so far in this new series. I think he’s pretty resilient and focused and can keep his confidence, which is tough to do, especially at that level.”
* * * * *
Back at Boston College, Kreider’s college buddies gather around to watch the NHL, as they always have. Only now Kreider isn’t there watching the television. He’s on the television.
“One of our teammates is freaking playing,” Cross said.
Had Kreider stayed in school, he would have been honored with his teammates at Bruins, Celtics and Red Sox games. He would have gone with them to the statehouse and city hall this week. He would have just finished final exams.
His dad moved him out of the dorm a few days ago, but that’s OK. Even though he left after his junior year, he’s only four courses short of a communications degree, which he said he intends to finish “in the relative future.” We all make tradeoffs in life.
“He’s scoring goals in the NHL,” Lee said, laughing. “He’ll probably take the NHL goals.”
Kreider keeps in touch with his BC teammates, but mostly by text message. They want to support him. They want to ask questions – about the game, about the team, about the big-league life. But they know he’s busy, and they want him to stay focused, and they want him to win. They’ll catch up in the summer.
“Everybody keeps asking me, ‘What’s the secret? How’s he doing it?’ ” Cross said. “When you have the tools he has and you put it all together like he’s doing, it’s pretty special.
“Around here, I think everyone’s surprised, because no one makes that jump like he’s doing. But at the same time, it almost makes sense. He was ready for a challenge, and this is a challenge, and he plays his best on biggest stages. He’s doing that now. He’s making the most of it.”
Top Five Individual Postseason Performances in New Jersey Devils History: A Fan’s Take (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
The New Jersey Devils have won the Stanley Cup three times in their history (1995, 2000 and 2003). Furthermore, they have been to the postseason 21 times in their team history (22 in franchise history). Needless to say, they have had plenty of good postseason performers along the way. So, without any further ado, here are the top five postseason performances in Devils history.
5. Patrik Sundstrom, 1988
1988 was the first time the New Jersey Devils made the postseason. Patrik Sundstrom was a key contributor for the team as they made it all the way to the Conference Finals before losing to the Boston Bruins. Sundstrom is on the list because he recorded 20 points in 18 games that postseason and had 8 points in one game against the Washington Capitals in an earlier round.
4. Scott Niedermayer, 2003
The Devils had a lot of great performers in the 2003 postseason. For example, Jamie Langenbrunner led everyone with 11 goals and Jeff Friesen had 10. Defenseman Scott Niedermayer was at his best that year, though. He led all skaters in assists and tied for the lead in points with Langenbrunner. Last but not least, he had 5 points in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks while playing well over 20 minutes per game.
3. Claude Lemieux, 1995
Claude Lemieux was one of the biggest pests in NHL history. He was also one of the NHL’s best postseason performers, as well. Lemieux hoisted the Stanley Cup four times throughout his career. His best postseason performance came in 1995 when he led all skaters with 13 goals and took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoff MVP.
2. Scott Stevens, 2000
Although he led the Devils to the Stanley Cup in 1995, Scott Stevens faced a bit of criticism as his team was bounced in the first round in 1998 and 1999 despite being heavily favored in both rounds. The captain responded in 2000 as he led his team to the Stanley Cup for the second time in their history. In that postseason, he delivered his most well-known hit of all time against Eric Lindros in the Eastern Conference Finals and won the Conn Smythe Trophy, as well.
1. Martin Brodeur, 2003
Martin Brodeur had his finest moments in the 2003 NHL postseason as he had seven shutouts including three in the Finals alone. While the Devils had a lot of great postseason performers in 2003, Brodeur was the best. He may not have won the Conn Smythe Trophy but the Devils simply do not win that Stanley Cup without him.
Now nine years later, Brodeur may have his last chance at winning that elusive fourth Stanley Cup. New Jersey fans can only hope he has enough left in the tank to do it.
Source: http://www.hockey-reference.com/
Michael Pellegrini has been a fan of the New Jersey Devils since the mid to late 1990s when they had players like Doug Gilmour and Dave Andreychuk in the later stages of their career.
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Penalties in 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Who’s drawing them, and who’s taking them? (Puck Daddy)
Getty ImagesAfter his team took four minor penalties in the third period of their Game 3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes Coach Dave Tippett used his postgame press conference to bemoan the “dishonesty” that’s crept into the NHL when it comes to embellishment.
“When it’s done well, it’s very hard for the referees, because if you fall down near the boards, or you drop your stick or you throw your head back, you’re putting the referee in a very tough situation,” he said.
Before blocked shots became the soapbox topic du jour in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, diving and embellishment were being hotly debated. Brad Marchand’s embellishment earned inspired a lowlight reel on YouTube. Ryan Kesler’s tumbleweed dive against the Kings became a point of ridicule.
Like Tippett said: Every team, including his, attempts to draw penalties. And some players are better at it than others.
Who is drawing the most penalties in the 2012 NHL playoffs? Glad you asked.
All of these numbers are via Behind The Net’s tabulations for the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They’re for players with at least 10 playoff appearances this postseason, and the penalty figures are for even strength.
| Player | TOI at even strength/games in playoffs | Penalties Drawn at 5/5, 2012 Playoffs (per 60 min.) | Penalties Drawn at 5/5, 2012 Reg. Season (per 60 min.) |
| Justin Williams, Kings | 13:32/12 | 2.6 | 1.1 |
| John Mitchell, Rangers | 5:43/16 | 2.6 | 0.7 |
| Dustin Brown, Kings | 14:26/12 | 2.5 | 2.2 |
| Ryan Callahan, Rangers | 16:42/16 | 2.2 | 1.4 |
| Danny Briere, Flyers | 15:01/11 | 1.9 | 1.3 |
| Jarret Stoll, Kings | 10:41/12 | 1.9 | 0.4 |
| Nick Spaling, Predators | 13:00/10 | 1.9 | 0.8 |
| Artem Anisimov, Rangers | 11:53/16 | 1.9 | 0.6 |
| Sean Couturier, Flyers | 11:34/16 | 1.9 | 0.9 |
| Mike Richards, Kings* | 12:45/12 | 1.7 | 0.9 |
* Tied with Kyle Chipchura, Brooks Laich and Brayden Schenn.
Seven of the top 10 are still playing. Last season, five of the top 10 players in postseason penalties drawn appeared in the conference final — Keith Ballard and Ryan Kesler of the Canucks, and Ryan Malone, Dominic Moore and Steven Stamkos of the Lightning.
(Because you’re bound to ask: Shawn Thornton drew the most penalties for the Boston Bruins in the 2011 players at even strength with 1.4; Brad Marchand was eighth at 0.7.)
Back to 2012 — the Kings also have three of the top 10 players in drawing penalties while shorthanded: Dustin Brown (3rd), Trevor Lewis (4th) and Rob Scuderi (6th).
So that’s penalties drawn; now, what about penalties taken at even strength (based on at least 10 games played)?
| Player | TOI at even strength/games in Playoffs | Penalties Taken at 5/5, 2012 Playoffs (per 60 min.) | Penalties Taken at 5/5, 2012 Reg. Season (per 60 min.) |
| Mike Rupp, Rangers | 5:48/16 | 3.2 | 1.1 |
| Dustin Penner, Kings | 11:13/12 | 2.7 | 1.0 |
| Brandon Prust, Rangers | 11:17/16 | 2.7 | 0.9 |
| Jordan Nolan, Kings | 6:30/12 | 2.3 | 1.0 |
| Brandon Yip, Predators | 8:18/10 | 2.2 | 1.0 |
| Martin Hanzal, Coyotes | 13:33/10 | 1.8 | 1.1 |
| Marek Zidlicky, Devils | 19:49/14 | 1.8 | 0.7 |
| Mike Knuble, Capitals | 9:05/11 | 1.8 | 1.0 |
| Kimmo Timonen, Flyers | 13:11/11 | 1.7 | 1.1 |
| Roman Josi, Predators* | 15:13/10 | 1.6 | 0.4 |
* Tied with Steve Bernier, New Jersey Devils.
Obviously, these numbers are greatly affected by ice time. Last year’s leader in penalties taken? Ben Eager (to make his team shorthanded) with 7.4(!) per 60 minutes thanks to his paltry ice time.
Prust of the New York Rangers leads the playoffs with 10 minor penalties, followed by Derek Morris (9) and Zac Rinaldo (9).
On diving: Having watched nearly every game of the postseason, there’s no question that Dustin Brown can get a little Hollywood when someone’s defending him. There’s also no question that Ryan Callahan’s been lighter on his skates in this postseason than I ever recall him being.
That said, both of these players — and others — earn their penalties drawn through hard work in the attacking or defending zones. These are belly-flops at center ice. The “embellishers” frequently force opponents into making borderline plays and then add the exclamation point.
Tippett’s point is taken: There’s a dishonesty to it. But that doesn’t mean it’s incredibly effective as a tactic in the NHL.
Thanks again to Behind The Net for its work.
Boston Bruins at the World Championship Update for May 17: Fan’s Take (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
Boston Bruins fans will get to enjoy a different kind of deep playoff run as the two Bruins in the IIHF World Championship advance to the semifinals and keep their medal hopes alive. Sure, it’s not the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but either Zdeno Chara or David Krejci could very well bring their home country some glory soon.
In a busy day where all four quarterfinal games were played, things kicked off with Slovakia beating Canada 4-3. The Florida Panthers’ Tomas Kopecky started the scoring for the Slovaks about six minutes into the first period and soon former Bruin Miroslav Satan extended the lead to 2-0. However, Canada wasn’t going to give up without a fight. Before the first period ended, Evander Kane of the Winnipeg Jets put Canada on the board and Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes tied it up in the second. Canada also tasted having a lead when the Vancouver Canucks’ Alexandre Burrows made it 3-2 later in the middle act. Slovakia knotted it up this time with a Milan Bartovic goal and this score held for much of the third until an incident involving Ryan Getzlaf from the Anaheim Ducks.
Getzlaf came in alongside Juraj Mikus with the intent of getting the puck from him, but instead kneed him so that he fell to the ice and needed assistance just to get to the tunnel, where he was shown still keeled over in pain. That ended both Mikus’ and Getzlaf’s nights early, and just seconds after Slovakia went on the power play, Michal Handzus of the San Jose Sharks popped in the go-ahead goal. That late goal was all they needed to hold on for the victory.
In this game, Chara took two shots on goal and once again led his team in time on ice with more than 25 minutes.
The Czech Republic beat Sweden, also 4-3, also relying on a late-game goal to do so following a blown lead. While Loui Eriksson from the Dallas Stars opened the scoring for Sweden, Petr Nedved put the Czechs on the board and Jiri Novotny added to the lead before the first period ended. In the second period, while the Czechs were on the power play, Martin Erat from the Nashville Predators scored–with an assist from Krejci. Suddenly, it sounded very quiet inside Stockholm’s Globe Arena.
But the home team started staging a comeback: Henrik Zetterberg from the Detroit Red Wings scored an unassisted goal just before the second period ended, thinning the margin before intermission. Jonathan Ericsson, also of the Red Wings, evened things up at the start of the third. Both Zetterberg and Ericsson’s goals involved 45 seconds: Zetterberg’s was with 45 seconds left to play in a period, Ericsson’s came 45 minutes after the start of another.
Just when it looked like Sweden might be able to force overtime, Milan Michalek from the Ottawa Senators scored for the Czechs with less than a minute in regulation. Sweden angled for their own very late game miracle to match, but to no avail.
Elsewhere, Russia defeated Norway 5-2 and Finland completed their own last-minute upset of America 3-2.
Russia will meet Finland in the semifinals, but the Slovakia-Czech Republic semifinal game will pit one Bruin against another for the chance to win a medal. The Czechs got the bronze last year. On the other hand, Slovakia hasn’t earned any hardware since they won silver in 2000.
As a fan, it’s going to be unusual to see Chara and Krejci playing against one another. I’m sure the commentators will also remind us that they’re usually on the same team. But no matter what happens, it will be fun to see them continue to go for glory.
Both semifinal games will be played on May 19. Click here for more news from the tournament.
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Shawn Gates: Bernie Parent Memorabilia Sale Until May 23rd!!!
As per their release:
To celebrate the Philadelphia Flyers, the 1st expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, SportAuthentix is introducing the Bernie Parent Collection by offering special pricing until May 23rd.
On May 19th, 1974, Game 6 at the Spectrum, the Flyers picked up the lead early when Rick MacLeish scored a first period goal. Late in the game, Orr hauled down Clarke on a breakaway, a penalty which assured the Flyers of victory. Time expired as the Flyers brought the Stanley Cup to Philadelphia for the first time. Having shutout Boston in Game 6, Bernie won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Playoff MVP with 12 wins, 2 shutouts, .933 save percentage and 2.02 GAA.
SportAuthentix has a wide range of autographed pucks, jerseys and photos, and produce original memorabilia showcasing unforgettable moments from Bernie’s career.
Hit this link to the pricing sheet and check out the fantastic array of Bernie Parent merchandise for Flyers (and Leafs & Bruins fans for that matter) on sale now until May 23rd. Great deals to be had by all (including some sweet pucks and Winter Classic prints folks)!!!
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How the Last 13 Stanley Cup Champions Didn’t Repeat, Part 3: Fan’s Take (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
In the past 13 years, all 13 Stanley Cup champions fell short of raising the Cup another consecutive time. The first part of this series looked at how the champions from 1999, 2000 and 2001 failed to repeat. Last week, part two studied how the 2002, 2003 and 2004 champions missed the chance to win again. This week, part three explains how the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 champions were undone the next year.
2006: Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning entered the 2006 playoffs matched up with the Ottawa Senators and starting the series in Canada’s capital city. The hometown team won Game 1, and though the Lightning rebounded to win Game 2 by just one goal, the Senators soon seized control of the series. They won Game 3 by a score of 8-4, added a Game 4 win and then, in another one-goal game, knocked the defending champions out of the playoffs altogether.
Notable Lightning players included Brad Richards, who is with the New York Rangers now, Paul Ranger and Vincent Lecavalier, who is still on the team today.
Meanwhile in the East, the Carolina Hurricanes were storming (pardon the pun) up to the top of the pile. A sometimes chaotic quarterfinal series against the Montreal Canadiens included a decision to let then-rookie Cam Ward see time after Martin Gerber gave up three goals in the first period of Game 2. Ward became the hot hand for much of the playoffs and is the Hurricanes’ workhorse goalie today. It also included a controversial incident in Game 3 where Saku Koivu‘s face was clipped by Carolina‘s Justin Williams. Koivu got an eye injury; Williams got no penalty. The rest of the six-game series was tight, with all of the games decided by just one goal, and Carolina defeated Montreal in six.
In the semifinals, the Hurricanes met the New Jersey Devils. They opened the series with a 6-0 shutout where all but one goal came on the power play, built on the momentum with a 3-2 overtime win and put together another 3-2 victory. Down a very risky three games to nothing in the series, the Devils made a mark in a 5-1 win, but that wasn’t enough and the Hurricanes downed them in the next game.
They then took on the Buffalo Sabres in the conference final. The first three games were all one-goal affairs, Buffalo taking the first, Carolina nabbing the second and Buffalo getting the third. The Hurricanes responded with a 4-0 shutout, but then the series turned tight again. Game 5 was decided by a Carolina overtime goal and Game 6 by a Buffalo overtime goal. But in Game 7, Carolina came from behind to take a 4-2 win and a trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Edmonton Oilers awaited in the Stanley Cup Final, and while the Hurricanes built up a two-game series lead with a hard-fought Game 1 win and a shutout, the series tightened up again. The Oilers avoided a three-nothing deficit via a Game 3 win by a 2-1 score, the Hurricanes got their own 2-1 win and the Oilers took a 4-3 overtime victory. Perhaps tired of suddenly tight series, the Oilers put together a Game 6 shutout and forced a decisive Game 7. Decisive it was-for the Carolina team, who won 3-1 and brought the Stanley Cup to the South again.
2007: Carolina Hurricanes
The 2007 Carolina Hurricanes missed the playoffs altogether. Actually, both teams that were in the 2006 Stanley Cup Final missed the 2007 postseason. So, instead this section will focus on how the Anaheim Ducks made it to the Stanley Cup.
The Ducks began the playoffs against the Minnesota Wild, the team that took them out of the conference final back in 2003. But things were different this time: the Ducks opened the series with a win, added another victory at home and put together a three-game series lead. With the Wild on the brink, they fought to maybe change the tone of the series with a 4-1 win in Game 4. The Ducks replied by beating the Wild by the exact same score in Game 5.
They then faced the Vancouver Canucks in the semifinals, starting things off with a rousing 5-1 win. The Canucks rebounded, though, taking a 2-1 double overtime win to even the series. That would prove to be Vancouver’s only win, though, as the Ducks won Game 3 and Game 4 by a 3-2 score and finished the series with a double overtime victory too.
In the conference final, the Ducks took on perennial playoff team the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings, hoping to repeat the success that came from the last time they made it to the conference final, started things off with a 2-1 win. The Ducks bounced back for a 4-3 overtime win that was followed by the Red Wings putting together a 5-0 win, the biggest playoff loss in Anaheim history. But they used that as inspiration to do better in Game 4, and while one team scored five goals in the 5-3 decision, it was the Ducks notching five this time. They followed up with two tightly-won wins, 2-1 in overtime and then 4-3 to send the Red Wings home.
The Stanley Cup Final was played by two teams without a Cup win to their name: the Ducks and the Ottawa Senators. Anaheim got the 2-0 series lead at home, first with a 3-2 win and then with a razor-thin 1-0 shutout that had the only goal coming in near the end of the third period. Russell Williams, who was in the house when the old Senators won the 1927 Stanley Cup against the Boston Bruins, attended Game 3 in Ottawa. Maybe his presence inspired the home team-they won 5-3. But that would prove to be their only victory in this series. Anaheim extended their series lead by winning 3-2 again and then, in a potentially decisive game at home, they voted out the Senators 6-2 and kept Lord Stanley in a southern city, though this time in the west.
Notable Ducks players included Ryan Getzlaf, current team captain, Corey Perry, who is still a Duck today, and the legendary Teemu Selanne, still a Duck too.
2008: Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks came into the 2008 playoffs matched up against the Dallas Stars, who got things started with a 4-0 shutout that saw every single goal scored on the power play. Anaheim players took 11 different penalties, giving the Stars lots of chances to score on the man advantage. They rode that momentum into Game 2, winning 5-2, though this time only two Dallas goals were on the power play and Anaheim got a PP goal too. The Ducks turned the tide with a 4-2 win, another game with lots of man-advantage scoring, but couldn’t even things up in Game 4, a 3-1 win where their only goal came at 19:52 of the third period. At the risk of elimination, the Ducks did prolong their playoff lives a little more by winning 5-2, but that wasn’t enough and they lost 4-1 in Game 6.
Notable Ducks players this year included Getzlaf, Selanne and Chris Pronger, who is now the captain of the Philadelphia Flyers, though he played just 13 games in 2011-12 and is suffering from post-concussive symptoms, according to his wife Lauren.
Meanwhile, the President’s Trophy-winning Red Wings found themselves facing the Nashville Predators in the quarterfinals. They created a two-game lead at home with a 3-1 and a 4-2 win, but couldn’t go up three games when Nashville beat them 5-3. The Predators proceeded to tie the series with a 3-2 win. However, the pattern of a team winning two in a row continued, this time for Detroit: they beat Nashville 2-1 in overtime and then shut them out 3-0 to advance to the semifinals.
In the semifinals, they met the Colorado Avalanche, but this time the Avs proved to be of little difficulty. The Red Wings won Game 1, Game 2, repeated their Game 1 score and then dominated Game 4 by scoring eight goals to Colorado’s two.
The Stars, who’d dispatched the defending champions, met the Red Wings in the conference final. Detroit continued their winning ways from the previous series, winning Games 1, 2 and 3. But the Stars, maybe not wanting to meet the same fate as the Avalanche, shook things up with a 3-1 win in Game 4. They then kept their hopes alive for one more game by taking a win in Game 5, but their glimmer of hope faded after the Red Wings won Game 6.
Then in the Stanley Cup Final, Detroit opened strong, shutting out the Pittsburgh Penguins in back-to-back games. Pittsburgh replied with a 3-2 win at home, but Detroit answered by winning Game 4. Pittsburgh took Game 5 to the late-night hours, finishing it in triple overtime to make their 4-3 win the fifth longest game in Final history. That wasn’t enough, though, and the Red Wings took home their fourth Stanley Cup in 11 years. Foreshadowing: Mario Lemieux, following the Penguins’ loss, said that his team would know what to do next time.
2009: Detroit Red Wings
In the 2009 playoffs, the Red Wings met the Columbus Blue Jackets in the quarterfinals. This was Columbus’ first trip to the playoffs and it was not a good one for them: Detroit swept the series and put up at least four goals in each game, although Game 4 was harder-fought than the others.
The semifinals saw the Red Wings matched up with the Ducks. Detroit won Game 1 and Anaheim answered by taking Game 2 in triple overtime. In Game 3, the Ducks won 2-1, although it could very well have been tied and sent to overtime if not for a referee’s whistle just before Marian Hossa appeared to score near the end of regulation. The Red Wings bounced back from that by winning Game 4, 6-3, and added a Game 5 victory. The Ducks forced a seventh game by winning Game 6, though the Red Wings would make the decision in Game 7 by one goal.
The conference final series between Detroit and the Chicago Blackhawks started off with Detroit taking a 5-2 win and adding a 3-2 overtime victory. Chicago took their own overtime win in Game 3, which the Red Wings replied to by winning 6-1 in Game 4. This series’ flirtation with overtime was not over, though: Detroit’s decisive win in Game 5 came in extra time too.
The Stanley Cup Final ended up being a rematch of the previous year. Against familiar foes, the Red Wings put together a pair of 3-1 wins to start the series. The Penguins, perhaps fans of patterns too, won Games 3 and 4 by the same score of 4-2. Detroit broke the patterns with a 5-0 shutout in Game 5. But then Pittsburgh started another pattern, this one leading to success: Game 6, a 2-1 win, and Game 7, also a 2-1 win. Lemieux’s prediction turned out to be correct.
Notable Red Wings included Nicklas Lidstrom, Kris Draper and Tomas Holmstrom, who were on the team for the 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008 victories but were not able to go for five in 2009.
Next week, in the last part of this series, the three most recent champions will be studied.
John Jaeckel: Rumors And Early Free Agent Outlook
As promised, here’s an early look at the Hawks’ offseason targets (purported, speculated and imagined).
Read carefully. I will try to make clear where I am hearing specifically about actual team interest in a player, versus players they have been interested in previously, versus my own opinions of players they might pursue and different ways they might do that.
First, as originally speculated here, and now being “confirmed” by a variety of sources, the Hawks are likely going to try to be significant players for Ryan Suter.
Leaving that aside, and taking a broader view of the entire league, there are different cap situations and free agent wishes for all 29 teams that might create some really interesting opportunities for the Hawks—whether they land Suter or not.
One UFA I am told the Hawks might look at, aside from Suter on 7/1, is Calgary winger David Moss.
Another forward target could be San Jose UFA Daniel Winnik, who I was told the Hawks had strong interest in prior to the trade deadline.
Two defensemen who the Hawks may pursue, based on trade deadline interest they had, and UFA status (assuming Suter does not pan out) could be Carolina’s Bryan Allen and Colorado’s Shane O’Brien.
Understand, a lot can happen between now and July 1 and there are many other names that might be on the team’s radar, some who might not be terribly high profile, but who, like Moss or Winnik, also fit needs the Hawks have identified.
OK, at this point, please understand, from here on out, I am basically throwing names out that could, on some level and in some situations, make sense.
The following are a few UFA names who I have not head specifically mentioned by my sources, but who might have some interest to Chicago as secondary targets this summer:
Josh Harding, G, Minnesota
Al Montoya, G, New York Islanders
Jonas Gustavsson, G, Toronto
Scott Hannan, D, Calgary
Gregory Campbell, F, Boston
Bryan Allen, D, Carolina.
Jason Garrison, D, Fla
Bryce Salvador, D. NJ
Brad Stuart, D. Detroit
Could a Sami Salo or a Mikael Samuelsson, a couple of long in the tooth veterans whose best days are clearly behind them, nonetheless still provide some power play, limited minutes value?
Again, I’m sure the naysayers have all kinds of reasons to dismiss players like these (as though anyone’s suggesting throwing a lot of money or term at either—which would be insanity). But players like these, if there’s any tread left on their tires at all, could have situational value for a year for a team needing a tweak to get over the top.
Another option that could be out there this summer is the often overlooked possibility of tendering an offer sheet. Specifically, as a fallout of the Suter and possibly Zach Parise sweepstakes (and let’s assume the Hawks aren’t winners in either), then there could be some teams like Nashville, Minnesota or Detroit, who could be vulnerable (as the Hawks were with Antti Niemi and Niklas Hjalmarsson in the summer of 2010) to someone making a run at one of their “lesser” RFAs?
Here are a few names of useful, or high potential players currently making around $ 1 million a year or less who will be RFAs this summer, who could be (conceivably) “under-offered” in terms of their qualifying offer and their ability/potential because of their team’s cap situation:
Darren Helm, W, Detroit
Justin Abdelkader, W, Detroit
Anders Lindback, G, Nashville
Cody Franson, D, Toronto
Alexei Emelin, D, Montreal
Mathieu Perreault, C, Washington
Any of whom could fill needs for the Hawks. Is an offer sheet likely? No. I have also heard that the Hawks might not have the draft picks to give in compensation. I’m not sure. Bear in mind though, RFA rights to players like these can become available in trade.
Trades also are always a consideration (obviously) and I would say a near likelihood for the Hawks this summer, who might be looking to reduce cap commitment prior to the draft or acquire veteran help through dealing some prospect depth.
Another rumor out there i was told this morning, though somewhat cloudy at this point as to the source, is that there could potentially be a Patrick Kane for Rick Nash deal discussed.
What I do know is creative minds start with a broad playing field. They set their sights on who they want, not who the media “insiders” say they can afford or not. And they figure it out.
To my mind, the Hawks have been way too limited in their thinking on acquiring players the last couple of years precisely because they’ve been in a very defined and perhaps defensive mindset.
The winds seem to be blowing the other direction this summer. The Hawks seem to know they need to make some moves and for the first time since 2009, they have the cap room and assets to make some things happen.
I’ll be back with more on this subject as I hear it.
JJ
The 10 best Sports Illustrated Stanley Cup Playoff covers (Puck Daddy)
Not a Real SI CoverThe National Hockey League has appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated — either the main mag or on a commemorative issue — 114 times, according to the SI Vault archive. Sometimes, it was a quick mention on a cover story dedicated to Tiger Woods another sports story. Other times, hockey was given the spotlight.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs have been featured around 35 times, including Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers on a striking cover from April 2012. While some weren’t exactly iconic, they all had their charms.
Here are the 10 best Sports Illustrated Stanley Cup Playoff covers.
Check out our year-by-year coverage of how SI treated different Cup champs. And here … we … go.
SI10. Montreal Canadiens vs. Los Angeles Kings (6/14/93)
“In the Stanley Cup” indicates the editor thinks it’s like the World Cup, but that’s OK. This cover is notable for having the most Canadian of Canadian teams — the Montreal Canadiens — given the spotlight over Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan; and also for featuring Tomas Sandstrom with that face, in which he looks like someone hit his how-do-you-do with a taser. (Buy Reprint Here)
SI9. Henrik Lundqvist (4/15/12)
An image from all the way back in the NHL Premiere series game in Stockholm, but one hell of an image. Hank giving an intense look to the puck as it approaches him, as if he’s worried the rubber disc may attempt to use his conditioner. Loses some points for depicting a shot that actually reaches Lundqvist, which has yet to happen in the 2012 Playoffs. (Buy Reprint)
SI8. Chicago Blackhawks, Cup Champions (6/20/10)
This was the regional cover for the Blackhawks’ drought-ending Cup victory, as Stephen Strasburg was given the national cover. Any cover featuring Jonathan Toews’ playoff foliage is a good one, but “AT LAST! BLACKHAWKS” is about as memorable as the befuddled goal calls when Patrick Kane ended the series. (Buy Reprint)
SI7. Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers (5/24/76)
The best sports photos tell a story, and Larry Robinson bruising his way through a Flyers’ face is all you need to know about the Sweep of ’76. (Buy Reprint)
SI6. Boston Bruins, Cup Champs (6/17/11)
A commemorative edition for the good people of Boston, with the Conn Smythe winner featured at the center (instead of the far right). Very solid celebration shot that earned a few extra points for the incredible Bro-hug happening around Patrice Bergeron, right before what we imagine was a slow dance to a Lionel Richie song playing in their heads. (Buy Reprint)
SI
5. Bobby Clarke (5/6/74)
Mayhem on the ice! How can you not love that? This SI cover perfectly captures the Broad Street Bullies aesthetic, as Bobby Clarke puts his stick on Pete Stemkowski’s taint and offers a Jack O’Lantern smile in the process. (Buy Reprint)
SI4. Ray Bourque (6/18/2001)
One of the NHL’s most compelling Stanley Cup Final storylines gets its due, as Raymond Bourque face shows elation and relief in finally capturing the Cup. A great image, although the Mission 16W book from the Sporting News might have it beat. (Buy Reprint)
SI3. Sidney Crosby (6/21/09)
Love him or hate him, just an iconic cover for Sidney Crosby after winning the Cup in 2009. The Kid looks smaller than the Cup thanks to the perspective in the photo, underscoring the enormity of the achievement. Plus, Michael Farber gets top billing, and this is never a bad thing. (Buy Reprint)
SI2. NHL Hot, NBA Not (6/20/1994)
One of the most significant moments for NHL fans in the early 1990s was this endorsement from SI after the New York Rangers’ Cup win. My god, it was like the hottest cheerleader in the school asking you to prom. That was the impact. If you read the stories, it wasn’t exactly “the NHL is surpassing the NBA in popularity!” as the cover might have teased. But it remains our Roswell Crash of 1990s sportswriting — we want to believe. (Buy Reprint)
SI1. Detroit Red Wings (6/14/08)
Just awesome. All the smiling faces, the enthusiasm, Kris Draper’s playoff beard … just that perfect moment in time when a team comes together to celebrate an accomplishment. Sadly lacking a Mike Babcock death stare to balance it all out, or a Red Wing popping Chipper Jones’s bubble with his finger. (Buy Reprint)
Posted in Boston Bruins | Tags: Best, covers, Daddy, illustrated, Playoff, Puck, Sports, Stanley | Comments Closed
NHL questions: Can the Rangers go all the way? (The Associated Press)
The NHL‘s conference finals opened over the weekend without some of the top teams and big stars that highlighted the regular season.
Long gone are Pittsburgh‘s powerful point producers – Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. With them went the Presidents’ Trophy winners, the Vancouver Canucks, the No. 1 seed in the West, who were trying to return to the Stanley Cup Finals for a second season.
The team that defeated the Canucks last June – the Boston Bruins – also are gone, guaranteeing there will be a new champion.
But don’t fret. There is still plenty of glitz and glamour left in the postseason, and ultimately, the possibility of a Broadway-Hollywood championship round. So, as we gaze ahead, let’s look at some questions and offer a few predictions:
—–
- WHERE’S THE BEEFS?
Remember all those nasty fights and crippling suspensions that came out of the first two rounds? Yeah, seems long ago. Teams are keeping the peace in the semifinals, with a shot at playing for the Stanley Cup at stake. So did teams just go to their neutral corners and decide to lay low? Somewhat. But mostly the teams that decided to win with their fists – like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia – were simply eliminated. Ratings are up and the NHL wants to keep the numbers growing. Teams fighting for the Cup, instead of against each other, will have to spark the interest through the finals.
—
- CAN THE RANGERS SURVIVE THEIR EARLY WORKLOAD?
No team has ever played 14 games in the first two rounds and gone on to win the Stanley Cup. New York will have to do that – thanks to grueling tests provided by Ottawa and Washington – if it wants to win its first championship since 1994. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and company looked awfully sharp on Monday night en route to a 3-0 win over New Jersey in Game 1 of the East Finals, so maybe history will be made.
—
- IS THIS MARTIN BRODEUR’S FAREWELL POSTSEASON?
The veteran goaltender turned 40 years old during the second round against Philadelphia, and has shown some wear and tear at certain points this season. But let’s face it, the Devils are back in the NHL‘s semifinals and to think he hasn’t had a good bit to do with it would be naive. A year after missing the postseason for the first time since 1996, Brodeur, a three-time Cup winner, has eight playoff wins and one shutout. He’s been quite sharp, and it’s unlikely that he’d walk away after a series against his team’s biggest rival, the Rangers.
—
- HAVE THE KINGS CAPTURED LOS ANGELES?
The Lakers and Clippers are both alive in the NBA, and we all know that Los Angeles is a basketball town. But the Kings, the darlings of the postseason, are on a run for the ages, and the stars are coming out to the games much like they did when Wayne Gretzky donned the silver and black. It shouldn’t be a surprise. Hollywood loves a good (success) story, and goaltender Jonathan Quick and coach Darryl Sutter have been scripting one for a month now. Ask the Canucks and Blues, who went a combined 1-8 against the Kings.
—
- DO THE COYOTES MISS ILYA BRYZGALOV?
Certainly, there was cause for concern last summer when the financially strapped Coyotes had to let All-Star goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov walk away to Philadelphia. It was a business decision that had to be made, and Phoenix was going to have to find a way to move on. Well, consider that done. The Coyotes snared Mike Smith instead, and all he’s done is backstop the franchise’s most memorable playoff run. The Coyotes defeated the Blackhawks and Predators en route to the West Finals, and with whiteouts in the crowd and a new ownership group on the way, all is well in Phoenix. Meanwhile, Bryzgalov posted a 3.46 goals-against average in two rounds for the Flyers, and is home for the summer, as a result.
—
- WHO WINS IT ALL?
The crystal ball is still foggy at this point. Flyers fans would rather renounce the cheese steak as their favorite sandwich rather than have to stomach watching ex-stars Mike Richards and Jeff Carter hoist the Cup in Los Angeles. Martin Brodeur just might call it a career with the New Jersey Devils if he wins that fourth ring. But it says here, start planning a parade for the Big Apple. All signs point to the Rangers as the team set to win their first Stanley Cup since Mark Messier took them to the promised land in 1994. Unlike the former captain’s bold boast during that run, however, we will not guarantee it.
NHL questions: Can the Rangers go all the way? (The Associated Press)
The NHL‘s conference finals opened over the weekend without some of the top teams and big stars that highlighted the regular season.
Long gone are Pittsburgh‘s powerful point producers – Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. With them went the Presidents’ Trophy winners, the Vancouver Canucks, the No. 1 seed in the West, who were trying to return to the Stanley Cup Finals for a second season.
The team that defeated the Canucks last June – the Boston Bruins – also are gone, guaranteeing there will be a new champion.
But don’t fret. There is still plenty of glitz and glamour left in the postseason, and ultimately, the possibility of a Broadway-Hollywood championship round. So, as we gaze ahead, let’s look at some questions and offer a few predictions:
—–
- WHERE’S THE BEEFS?
Remember all those nasty fights and crippling suspensions that came out of the first two rounds? Yeah, seems long ago. Teams are keeping the peace in the semifinals, with a shot at playing for the Stanley Cup at stake. So did teams just go to their neutral corners and decide to lay low? Somewhat. But mostly the teams that decided to win with their fists – like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia – were simply eliminated. Ratings are up and the NHL wants to keep the numbers growing. Teams fighting for the Cup, instead of against each other, will have to spark the interest through the finals.
—
- CAN THE RANGERS SURVIVE THEIR EARLY WORKLOAD?
No team has ever played 14 games in the first two rounds and gone on to win the Stanley Cup. New York will have to do that – thanks to grueling tests provided by Ottawa and Washington – if it wants to win its first championship since 1994. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and company looked awfully sharp on Monday night en route to a 3-0 win over New Jersey in Game 1 of the East Finals, so maybe history will be made.
—
- IS THIS MARTIN BRODEUR’S FAREWELL POSTSEASON?
The veteran goaltender turned 40 years old during the second round against Philadelphia, and has shown some wear and tear at certain points this season. But let’s face it, the Devils are back in the NHL‘s semifinals and to think he hasn’t had a good bit to do with it would be naive. A year after missing the postseason for the first time since 1996, Brodeur, a three-time Cup winner, has eight playoff wins and one shutout. He’s been quite sharp, and it’s unlikely that he’d walk away after a series against his team’s biggest rival, the Rangers.
—
- HAVE THE KINGS CAPTURED LOS ANGELES?
The Lakers and Clippers are both alive in the NBA, and we all know that Los Angeles is a basketball town. But the Kings, the darlings of the postseason, are on a run for the ages, and the stars are coming out to the games much like they did when Wayne Gretzky donned the silver and black. It shouldn’t be a surprise. Hollywood loves a good (success) story, and goaltender Jonathan Quick and coach Darryl Sutter have been scripting one for a month now. Ask the Canucks and Blues, who went a combined 1-8 against the Kings.
—
- DO THE COYOTES MISS ILYA BRYZGALOV?
Certainly, there was cause for concern last summer when the financially strapped Coyotes had to let All-Star goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov walk away to Philadelphia. It was a business decision that had to be made, and Phoenix was going to have to find a way to move on. Well, consider that done. The Coyotes snared Mike Smith instead, and all he’s done is backstop the franchise’s most memorable playoff run. The Coyotes defeated the Blackhawks and Predators en route to the West Finals, and with whiteouts in the crowd and a new ownership group on the way, all is well in Phoenix. Meanwhile, Bryzgalov posted a 3.46 goals-against average in two rounds for the Flyers, and is home for the summer, as a result.
—
- WHO WINS IT ALL?
The crystal ball is still foggy at this point. Flyers fans would rather renounce the cheese steak as their favorite sandwich rather than have to stomach watching ex-stars Mike Richards and Jeff Carter hoist the Cup in Los Angeles. Martin Brodeur just might call it a career with the New Jersey Devils if he wins that fourth ring. But it says here, start planning a parade for the Big Apple. All signs point to the Rangers as the team set to win their first Stanley Cup since Mark Messier took them to the promised land in 1994. Unlike the former captain’s bold boast during that run, however, we will not guarantee it.