Blue Tongues Clutch Victory

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With a huge win over The Bears in their season home opener, the pressure was on the Blue Tongues to once again prevail over the league leaders. Having been introduced to the smaller rink and hard checking style of play produced by Gold Coast, The Bears were expected to hit back, and fast, against the Blue Tongues in their second game of the double header.

The Bears did not disappoint, coming at the Blue Tongues early in the game and changing their tactics to not only start playing a physical game, but also stamping their authority over the control of the game. Both teams seemed to lack the energy they had during Saturday’s game, and some simple rookie errors caused a line change for the Gold Coast team, starting to run two lines instead of three. Despite The Bears claiming control of the puck for majority of the first period however, it was Dave Upton of the Blue Tongues who netted the only goal of the first.

Tempers flared in the second, with roughing calls on both teams, and it was clear that neither team were giving up on their race to be the next to pot a goal. Both Sydney’s goaltender John Daugulis and Gold Coast’s Simo Mustonen had their work cut out for them in net as each team made shot after shot on goal. However, once again the Blue Tongues made some silly mistakes, costing them dearly on the penalty kill. It was The Bears that led going into the third, winning the period 3 goals to the Gold Coast’s lone goal, ending the period 3-2.

Excitement ruled the third, as the Blue Tongues tied up the scores on 3 a piece, before The Bears took advantage of a lapse in concentration and took the lead once more at 4-3 with little more than 8 minutes left in the game. The Blue Tongues never gave up, and with just under 2 minutes left, tied the game 4-4.

Anticipation was high in the stands as the teams took to the face off after a penalty was called on The Bears, giving the Blue Tongues a powerplay with a minute left in the third. Their fans behind them, Gold Coast focused on the job at hand and with 46 seconds left in the game, defenseman Ross Howell netted the game winning goal. The Bears failed to even up the scores in the dying seconds of the game, giving the Blue Tongues their third victory in the last three games.

The first star of the game was Blue Tongues Captain and centre, Billy Crumm. Second star of the game was Blue Tongues Defenseman, Don Burke and third star of the game was Bears’ Roberto Franchini.

Next weekend, the Blue Tongues face the Newcastle North Stars on June 21 & 22 at Gold Coast Iceland, Bundall. Games start at 3.30pm.

Article Source: Gold Coast Blue Tongues

Tags: IceHockey, AIHL, Blue Tongues, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney Bears, Gaetan Royer, Brian Lachance

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Sharks hire Detroit assistant as new coach

The San Jose Sharks have hired a new head coach.  Todd McLellan, formerly an assistant coach with the Stanley Cup winning Detroit Red Wings will be formerly announced as the new head coach on Thursday.

“It’s a very good feeling,” McLellan said in a statement released by the team. “From the first moment Doug called to the moment he offered the job, I felt comfortable. I think the Sharks have done a tremendous job. You don’t get that close to 50 wins for a number of years in a row without a lot of talent. It’s a matter of getting over the hump. There are some real parallels between the Wings and the Sharks.”
- NHL - Yahoo! Sports

The Sharks hope that McLellan, who has experience with cup winning teams will help take the Sharks all the way.

Tags: sanjose sharks, detroit red wings, todd mclellan, ron wilson

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Kings Fire Coach Crawford

After a conference low 71 points last season, the Los Angeles Kings have given head coach Marc Crawford his marching orders.

Crawford, who’s record over his 2 seasons with the Kings is a dismal 59-84-21.  Last season the Kings tied with Eastern Conference bottom feeders, the Tampa Bay Lightning on points.

In a division that includes strong teams such as the Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks, the Kings need to do far better to compete.

Tags: losangeles kings, dallas stars, anaheim ducks, san jose sharks, marc crawford, dean lombardi

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Ron Wilson to coach the Toronto Maple Leafs

A month after being fired from the San Jose Sharks, Ron Wilson has a new job, one that to many, could be considered a promotion.

It was announced today that Ron Wilson has been hired as the new head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“I’m the happiest person in the National Hockey League today,” Wilson said. “I’m fulfilling a dream.

“Obviously if you lose your job in the league you often wonder if you’ll get another opportunity,” he said. “The furthest thing from my mind at any point in my hockey career was that I would have an opportunity—ever—to coach a team like the Toronto Maple Leafs with their incredible history.”
- NHL - Yahoo! Sports

When talking about the Maple Leafs as a team, Ron Wilson was quoted as saying;

Ron Wilson, who’s coaching career in the NHL stands at 518-446-127 has coached for the Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks before heading to his last post in San Jose.

Tags: sanjose sharks, toronto maple leafs, ron wilson, nhl, national hockey league, head coach, coach

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Tortorella fired as coach of Tampa Bay Lightning

Tortorella fired as coach of Tampa Bay Lightning - NHL - Yahoo! Sports

It comes as not surprise to those who have been watching the Tampa Bay Lightning over the last few weeks.  Now, it’s officially confirmed.  Tortorella has been fired as head coach of the Lightning, opening up yet another head coach position around the NHL.

It is rumored that former LA Kings coach Barry Melrose is interested in the job.

Tags: Tortorella, tampa bay lightning, head coach, nhl, barry melrose, fired, la kings, bolts

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McKeon on Richards and the Stars

Todays article by Ross McKeon of Yahoo! Sports is all about the Brad Richards trade to the Dallas Stars, and talks about how Richards shines during the post season.  Richards fit into the Dallas system didn’t come easy however.  After a career best 5pt game in his first appearance for the Stars, the star forward went the next 11 games with only a handful of points.

“It was a lot tougher than I ever imagined,” Richards said in preparation for Saturday’s Game 2 of a best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series the Stars lead over the Anaheim Ducks. “The last couple of weeks I wasn’t doing anything wrong but I wasn’t doing anything right either. I had clogged my head with too many things. It’s tough when you get traded and your new team loses. It’s a new experience for me.”
- Yahoo! Sports

And then there was 2 days ago in Anaheim, in the Dallas Stars post season opener against the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Anaheim Ducks.  A game that saw the Stars, with Richards assistance win by a convincing 4-0 shutout.

…Tippett said it was Richards’ best game as a member of the team, and that includes the Feb. 28 score-a-thon against the Chicago Blackhawks.

“It’s like when a traded player finishes up and comes back the next season. Everything comes easier, and that’s what we’re looking for right now,” Tippett said. “And (Game 1) was a byproduct of that transition from one phase to another.”
- Yahoo! Sports

Anaheim Ducks players and coaches alike had nothing but praise for Richards after his impact on Game 1 of the series.

“You’re talking about an MVP of the playoffs, we’re not talking about a player who doesn’t know how to get around the rink,” Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said.

“He’s one of those guys who can cause everyone a lot of headaches when they’re on the ice because it’s up to everybody to play smart and be in position to protect breakout passes and stuff like that,” Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer added.
- Yahoo! Sports

Game 2 between the 2 clubs starts this evening, and the Stars can be sure to see a much more physical and determined Ducks team than they did in game 1.

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