Posted by admin on 30th, 2008
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Losing 8 of the last 9 games is never a good thing, especially in the month of March. That’s exactly the position the Dallas Stars were in going into todays battle with division rivals, the Los Angeles Kings. Fresh in the minds of the Stars was the devastating and embarrassing 4-2 loss to the Kings last week. In that game, the Stars led 2-1 right up to the last minutes, and then went on to give up 3 quick goals. Also fresh in their minds was the knowledge that with just 5 games left in the season, more losses could easily mean not making the playoffs.
After a few minutes and a goal by Dallman to put the Kings up 1-0 it looked as those this game could end up like other recent ones. That, fortunately for the Stars was not the case, and this was the closest the Kings ever got to competing with the Stars. At the 13th minute point, Stars defenseman Stephan Robidas tied the game, taking the 1-1 score to the first break.
During the second and third periods the Stars shone bright. The second period saw 4 goals by the Stars, including goals by Stu Barnes, Brenden Morrow and a duo by Loui Eriksson. The third perid blasted away with Jere Lehtinen, and then Niklas Hagman net a goal each. Kings forward Michael Cammalleri slipped one past Turco in the closing minutes, but the damage was already done.
“This is something to build on, and we need more of the same. We’re in a lockdown mode,” goaltender Marty Turco said. “The beauty of the whole game was not the score, but how the game went down—just the relentlessness of every period and every facet of the game. It’s great to see. But that’s what we expect, really. Today was a great example of what we need to do every shift from now on.”
- Yahoo! Sports
The Stars ended the game with a very convincing 7-2 victory, with 3 points games from Mike Ribeiro (3A) and Stephan Robidas (1G 2A) and go into tomorrows game against division rivals the Anaheim Ducks brimming with confidence.
* Photo courtesy of Dallas Stars
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Posted by admin on 21st, 2008
It’s that time of year again. The NHL Playoffs are just around the corner, and teams are already starting to prepare for the post-season. In the West it’s highly possible that the 8 Playoff teams will be made up of 4 from the Northwest Division, 3 from the Pacific and 1 from the Central. In the East it’s possible that there will be 4 from the Atlantic, 3 from the Northeast and just 1 from the Southeast.
One could argue that the Southeast and Central Divisions are the weakest in their respective divisions, and the current NHL schedule could be seen as biased towards strong teams from those divisions. That is a topic for another day.
Today I want to touch on something that can make or break a game in the NHL, or in fact in any hockey league; Refereeing.
Bad calls are something we learn to live with in professional sports. We must remember of course that the people in the black and white stripes don’t always see things the way we do. There are times however when bad calls have influenced the result of a game. Just this week referees made a bad call and caused a 2 minute minor on a team, then just 30 seconds later failed to pull up a goalie interference call on the opposition team, which resulted in a Powerplay Goal.
The Playoffs however are the be all and end all of NHL hockey. Teams battle it out all season to make the Playoffs and the last thing they want or need are referees not doing their jobs properly.
We can only hope then that we will have a relatively clean Playoff Series, not just from the teams, but also the Referees.
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Posted by admin on 20th, 2008
It was like something out of a hockey spoof movie. The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the Power Play and Rob Davison clears the puck out of his zone. It bounces like a tennis ball down the ice to a ready and waiting Vesa Toskala…
and bounces right past him into the net.
The announcer screams, the crowd don’t know if they should laugh or cry and Vesa, who just realized what happened, collapses in shock.
If this sound too good to be true, here’s the clip…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osh7lz7NEUU
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Posted by admin on 16th, 2008
NHL Disciplinarian Colin Campbell announced today that Chris Pronger of the Anaheim Ducks will receive an 8 game suspension after stomping on the calf of Vancouver Canuck Ryan Kesler.
“In attempting to free himself, Pronger carelessly and recklessly brought his foot down,” Campbell said in a statement.
- Yahoo! Sport
The suspension has raised an outcry among the public who are shocked to yet again see a double standard from the NHL when it comes to handing out discipline to players.
Earlier this season the NHL suspended Chris Simon for 30 games after he was found guilty of stomping on the ankle of Pittsburgh Penguin Jarkko Ruutu. Does it not seem odd then that Chris Pronger would only receive 8 games?
The Chris Simon suspension was long because Simon was considered a “repeat offender”, and someone that needed to learn the hard way.
What does that make Pronger, who now has been suspended 8 times in his career. Surely we don’t need to remind you of last season where he received 2 suspensions during the playoffs for rough / dirty play, including that elbow to the head of Dean McAmmond in the Stanley Cup Finals.
The answer is there, if you look hard enough. Chris Simon is not an all star player, nor a big point scorer, or a crowd drawing player. Chris Pronger is. Chris Simon is not a Norris quality player. Chris Pronger is.
Is the NHL too scared, maybe even gutless to come down hard on an all star player? Chris Pronger has shown that these stupidly small suspensions do nothing to encourage him to clean up his game, so why don’t Gary Bettman and the NHL do something about him?
Something to think about.
Pronger will be able to play again on the last day of the regular season, meaning he will be free to throw his weight around in the playoffs. Let’s hope, for the sake of the opposition players that he learns to control himself before then.
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Posted by admin on 16th, 2008
102 New Videos Added Today
Total Videos: 1888 (in 18 categories)
We had a large update today, with over 100 new videos added. Included in the update are game highlight reels from todays NHL games, a large list of hockey fights, both new and old, a few interviews and a classic clip of Howler from the Phoenix Coyotes beating up on an inflatable Sharkie at a Coyotes home game.
Marty McSorley Vs Jeff Odgers
Mcsorley Of The Kings Takes On Odgers Of The Sharks
Category: Hockey Fights
Detroit Red Wings Vs Chicago Blackhawks - Brawl
Darren McCarty Vs Cam Russell And Other Players Wrestling With Each Other
Category: Hockey Fights
Godard vs Boulton Mar 13, 2008
Eric Godard vs Eric Boulton from the Calgary Flames at Atlanta Thrashers game on Mar 13, 2008. via http://www.hockeyfights.com
Category: Hockey Fights
Clarkson vs Simon Mar 13, 2008
David Clarkson vs Chris Simon from the New Jersey Devils at Minnesota Wild game on Mar 13, 2008. via http://www.hockeyfights.com
Category: Hockey Fights
Burrows vs Carcillo Mar 13, 2008
Alexandre Burrows vs Daniel Carcillo from the Vancouver Canucks at Phoenix Coyotes game on Mar 13, 2008. via http://www.hockeyfights.com
Category: Hockey Fights
Dominic Leveille vs Travis Banga
hockey fight 03-13-08 RGV Killer Bees vs Odessa Jackalopes
Category: Hockey Fights
McGrattan vs. Peters Fight
10/10!
Category: Hockey Fights
Brett Motherwell vs Max Taylor
Syracuse Crunch at Toronto Marlies March 9, 2008
Category: Hockey Fights
Miller vs Zemlak 87-88
Great fight.
Category: Hockey Fights
Smith vs Murzyn 87-88 playoffs
In this brawl, Steve Smith and dickhead Dana Murzyn go at it.
Category: Hockey Fights
Tochett vs Poeschek, Pilon vs Lou 88-89
A couple of fights for you guys.
Category: Hockey Fights
Sharks - Stars melee (Zyuzin) 97-98 playoffs
Was a big fan of Zyuzin’s. Didn’t like anybody on the Stars though.
Category: Hockey Fights
Caputi Vs McGurk Mar 14, 2008
March 14 2008 Niagara IceDogs at Mississauga Majors Luca Caputi vs Michael McGurk
Category: Hockey Fights
Traccitto Vs Gaunce Mar 14, 2008
March 14 2008 Niagara IceDogs at Mississauga Majors Reggie Traccitto vs Cameron Gaunce
Category: Hockey Fights
Burrows vs Carcillo Mar 13, 2008
Burrows vs Carcillo Mar 13, 2008
Category: Hockey Fights
Kyle Clifford vs Luke VanMoerkerke
Barrie Colts at Brampton Battalion March 14, 2008
Category: Hockey Fights
Mario Lemieux Fights
Mario Lemieux NHL Fights
Category: Hockey Fights
Vopat vs. Kankaanpera
Vopat 2+OR, Kankaanperä 5+PRK
Category: Hockey Fights
Marc Cantin vs Ryan Baldwin
Belleville Bulls at Oshawa Generals March 14, 2008
Category: Hockey Fights
Ducks vs. Devils fight
a hockey fight between ducks and devils
Category: Hockey Fights
Aaron Downey
Aaron downey fight
Category: Hockey Fights
Walker vs Gaustad Mar 14, 2008
Scott Walker vs Paul Gaustad from the Carolina Hurricanes at Buffalo Sabres game on Mar 14, 2008. via http://www.hockeyfights.com
Category: Hockey Fights
Conboy vs Mair Mar 14, 2008
Tim Conboy vs Adam Mair from the Carolina Hurricanes at Buffalo Sabres game on Mar 14, 2008. via http://www.hockeyfights.com
Category: Hockey Fights
Full Story →
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Posted by admin on 25th, 2008
Those who had hopes of their NHL team picking up veteran scorer, Mats Sundin will have to wait til possibly next year after the Maple Leaf Forward today refused to waive his no trade clause.
Sundin, a Maple Leaf all his professional hockey career does not want to leave the team he has dedicated his life to for the last 13 seasons.
“I have always believed I would finish my career as a Toronto Maple Leaf so the actual request was still a very difficult one for me to contemplate,” Sundin said in a statement released by his agent J.P. Barry on Sunday night. “I have spoken to and listened to my family and those closest to me about this issue. In the end, there is no right decision in a situation like this one.”
- NHL @ Yahoo
The Toronto media has not been easy on Sundin over recent weeks, with some sources claiming his refusal to waive his no trade clause will damage the team in the future. The fact is, while the media and fans may complain about his refusal to be traded, they are forgetting that Mats Sundin IS the face of that franchise, and he has more than earned his right to stay in Toronto.
Due to his age, a trade would have put Sundin as a rental player, something Sundin himself completely disagrees with.
“I have never believed in the concept of a rental player. It is my belief that winning the Stanley Cup is the greatest thing you can achieve in hockey but for me, in order to appreciate it you have to have been part of the entire journey and that means October through June. I hope everyone will understand and respect my decision.”
- NHL @ Yahoo
The club now faces a major decision to make during the upcoming off-season. Do they opt to re-sign Sundin, or let him go into the Free agent market? Realistically, the best option for the Leafs would be to sign him for another year and let him finish out his career with the team he knows and loves.
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Posted by admin on 19th, 2008
We finally have an end to the ongoing Peter Forsberg saga.
Today it was announced by Forsberg’s agent, Don Baizley, that Forsberg has chosen not to return to the NHL this season, due to him not having enough confidence that his ankle / foot injuries are up to NHL standards.
To quote Yahoo Sports;
His agent, Don Baizley, told teams Forsberg did not have enough confidence in the strength of his surgically repaired right foot to play this season.
“He’s been hopeful that he would get the level of confidence that he needed, but he can’t,” Baizley said by phone. “I don’t know how close or how far away he feels. He was hopeful up until this weekend that he would be able to do it.”
- Yahoo Sports
As one who never shy’s away from controversy, i have to ask the question; is this the real reason Forsberg has chosen not to return to the NHL?
Numerous news sources have reported that there was a big race on to sign Forsberg, and that at least 8 different teams were trying to get him signed. Dallas, Detroit, Calgary, Ottawa, Colorado, Philadelphia & Nashville to name just a few.
We know that Forsberg turned down offers from Dallas and Nashville recently, the reason is rumoured to be that they did not offer enough money. In fact, sources claim that Forsberg, who is a high-risk injury player was asking for $5 million for next year and $2 million for the remainder of this year. In the world of the Salary cap, that kind of money for a semi-broken, often injured player is, in a word, crazy.
Is there a chance then, that due to offers from NHL teams being “less than desirable” for Forsberg, he has chosen to wait out the rest of the year and try his hand at the Free Agent market during the off season.
This hockey fan definitely thinks this is something to ponder.
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Posted by admin on 17th, 2008
All teams go through patches of wins and losses and it takes something dramatic before the word “slump” can truly be used. The Detroit Red Wings, who absolutely dominated the league until recently lost it’s 5th straight game yesterday. For some teams this could be considered a bad streak. For the Red Wings however, 5 losses marks a slump. Chris Osgood, who was reliably solid for most the season has been chased from the net a few times lately, a sign that the Red Wings are not invincible.
The challenge to face the Red Wings now is the surging Dallas Stars, whom they face today in the nationally televised game. Marty Turco and the Stars, who have a loosing history against the Red Wings will be looking to benefit from the Detroit team strugging to not just win, but also score and offer solid defense. Rumour has it Jimmy Howard will be starting in net for the Red Wings, giving both Osgood and Dominic Hasek a break.
The Stars, who have won 8 of their last 10 will be looking to strike early and keep the pressure on the very dangerous Red Wings team. The game starts at 2:3o central, catch it if you can.
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