+ 0 - 1 | § ¶By Popular Demand
I've actually gotten mail regarding an offhand comment I made about Kovalev's colored past in a previous article. Comments vary from unprintable to inquisitive, but it's readily apparent most people don't know what I'm referring to.
So gather around, kids, and let me tell you a story.
(more)+ 0 - 1 | § ¶No Comment
I had a great article all lined up for today (just for a change of pace), but I was totally derailed after reading Woody Paige's column in the Denver Post today. It's nice to see that he doesn't let anything get in the way of his blind devotion to Peter Forsberg. Keep a bucket nearby while you read this one:Whiner.com
+ 1 - 0 | § ¶Phrases I haven't heard in a while
You know what formerly common phrases I don't hear much anymore?- Did you see Friends last night? It was hilarious!
- I don't have a cell phone.
- Belfour just doesn't have it anymore.
+ 1 - 0 | § ¶Around the world in two minutes
Two and a half minutes of game time. That's all it took to show the world everything you need to know about hockey. Hope, anxiety, desperation, anger, fear, elation, and finally despair, all condensed into an amount of time no longer than a commercial break.Go ahead, tell me hockey is not the greatest sport on earth. I won't listen, not while I'm still basking in the afterglow of last night's game. (more)
+ 0 - 1 | § ¶Tense moments past, more to come...
Overtime playoff hockey is the greatest thing professional sports can offer. Sudden death format and the knowledge that any shot could end the game. Everybody on the ice knowing that their season could be reduced to one mistake. The elation of an almost certain goal, followed by that sinking feeling as you watch your opponent's goalie make an absurd save and set up an odd-man rush the other direction.And sometimes it gets even more excruciating; sometimes one of the teams is facing elimination. Like they were last night... and the night before... and the night before. (more)
+ 1 - 0 | § ¶One down - fourteen to go
Last night, the St. Louis Blues became the first team to wash out of the tournament. Well, at least they made it - for the 25th straight time, no less.Fourteen more teams will curse, whine, and moan their way back to their couches and teeboxes between now and the end of June... possibly starting tonight, when the New York Islanders face elimination on the road. Will they respond like the Canadiens and force another revenue-generating home game? Or will they join the Blues on the sidelines? (more)
+ 1 - 0 | § ¶It's Tax Day
And U.S. taxpayers aren't the only ones facing the music. Today is the first day of the ultimate do-or-die games. Today, two teams face elimination. (more)+ 0 - 1 | § ¶Double OT exposes Kovalev
The playoffs have been underway for a week now, and there's a lot of exciting stories out there, as usual. Sadly, the one story that caught my attention yesterday was a disappointing end to a great game.
(more)+ 1 - 0 | § ¶Day One - the Underdogs
Looking over my predictions this morning, I noticed that I picked the higher seed in every matchup but one - Dallas at Colorado. Didn't exactly go out on a limb, did I?One day into the playoffs and we have four victories for four favorites. But it's not time for the underdogs to panic. Not yet. There's still another game to steal home ice advantage before coming home for two games. (more)
+ 0 - 1 | § ¶Eastern Conference playoff preview
I know, I know. Here it is, mere hours before faceoff, and you still don't know who to pick in the East?Neither does anyone else. The West picks are a cakewalk compared to the East. I'll eat those words by missing all four of my Western Conference picks, I know, but I don't think anyone wants to pick a winner in Philly-New Jersey or Toronto-Ottawa. But I'll go out on a limb anyway. (more)
+ 1 - 0 | § ¶Western Conference playoff preview
I know that there are hundreds of people out there wondering what my picks for the playoffs are. Well, wait no longer! Today I unveil the surefire winners of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.A quick side note before I begin: last year, I came in 28th out of 30 people in my office playoff pool. And I think some of the people that beat me were people with bad eyesight trying to fill out an NCAA men's basketball bracket. (more)
+ 1 - 0 | § ¶Masterton remembered
All of the teams have supplied the names of their Masterton nominees, and in the lull before the playoff storm I thought it would be worthwhile to take a second and remember Bill Masterton himself. (more)+ 1 - 0 | § ¶Does goalie experience matter?
A lot of teams better hope not. This year, six of the 16 goalies starting in the playoffs have no practical playoff experience at all, and only three (Belfour, Brodeur, and Osgood) can be considered seasoned playoff veterans. Of the remaining 13, Lalime and Khabibulin are the most experienced, and could easily be considered experienced.Belfour and Brodeur actually have more experience between them than the other 14 goalies combined - and that's including Chris Osgood, who has played twice as many games as any of the others. So does that give Toronto and New Jersey the edge when it comes to the playoffs? Based on goalie playoff experience, your Stanley Cup Finals will feature the Maple Leafs versus the Blues. Does anyone really believe that? (more)