When was the last time you saw a standing ovation for a penalty kill?

Coyotes Update

So in case you didn't hear, Judge Redfield Baum has sent the NHL and Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes to mediation to figure out where the team's going to be next season. While the Coyotes still do face the chance of being moved before the 2009-10 season, the likelihood of it happening is becoming slimmer as the days go on. The team may essentially operate the 2009-10 season here, but whether or not it's a long term solution remains to be seen.

I can only hope they stick around here.

2009 Stanley Cup Western Conference Finals

Game 2: Detroit 3, Chicago 2 In Overtime
Detroit leads the series 2-0

The Blackhawks are a good team, but I'm not surprised by how this has been turning out. Detroit's experience is absolutely the difference here, and while Chicago has made stars from their young talent, they're showing to need more experience than what they have in order to beat the Wings.

Chris Osgood was absolutely tested tonight and made 37 saves to bring his team to victory. The line of Mikael Samuelsson, Jiri Hudler, and Valtteri Filppula were once again dominate for a third line and generated the game winner. Dan Cleary got the go-ahead goal in regulation while Brian Rafalski converted on a power play, quite possibly getting his first goal since coming back from injury.

To his credit, Jonathan Toews did everything in his power to keep the team in the hunt while Nikolai Khabibulin had an otherwise remarkable 35 saves. But it wasn't enough though, and not only did Dan Cleary once again get an unassisted goal on a turnover, but the Brian Campbell turnover in overtime ultimately lead to Detroit's game winner. Chicago's gonna have to tighten it up if they want to even have a chance to be competitive this series.

This game generated another "Ouch!" moment, as Brent Seabrook took a slap shot off the hairy gumdrops. I don't care if you're wearing a cup; that stuff still hurts!



Game 3 is Friday at 8PM EST in Chicago. It'll be broadcast on... you guessed it, versus.

2009 Eastern Conference Finals

Game One: Pittsburgh 3, Carolina 2
Pittsburgh leads the series 1-0

Sonuvagun, I really thought Carolina would have pulled it off once they scored with a minute and a half left. But the Penguins held on long enough to secure the victory.

Well, give Evgeni Malkin and Phillipe Boucher some credit with their play, as they notched both a goal and an assist. Miro Satan, the same guy who was in the minors a month ago, also contributed to the Penguins attack.

You can't fault Cam Ward or Carolina really for this one; Pittsburgh just wanted it more and were able to outcompete the Hurricanes. I don't believe this series is over by a long shot, so stay tuned as Game 2 will be on Thursday, 7:30 PM EST on Versus/TSN.

2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Western Conference Finals

Game One: Detroit Red Wings 5, Chicago Blackhawks 2
Detroit leads the series 1-0

Wow, what a contest for the Red Wings. Even better, two guys who were one the team's fourth line during the 2005-06 season are the team's most dynamic during the playoffs. In 12 playoff games, Johan Franzen has 18 points with a +10 rating while Dan Cleary has 11 points with a +13 rating. Outstanding.

Chicago did alright all things considered, but the Wings had Khabibulin's number, and were able to solve him.

The scary moment happened when Adam Burish took a skate to the throat. It wasn't Clint Malarchuk or Richard Zednik bad, but still makes you wonder why throat protection isn't mandatory...

We Interrupt Your Regulalry Scheduled Program To Bring You The Following...

Well folks, it happened. Jerry Moyes filed for bankruptcy and is attempting to sell the team to Jim Balsille, who in no uncertain terms is hellbent on bringing the team to a city in southern Ontario (Hamilton has been touted numerous times.) Apparently, neither the NHL nor the city of Glendale were expecting this to happen or were pleased to see this happen. In fact, the NHL has removed Moyes from acting on behalf of the club any longer.

Stay tuned and I'll do my best to bring you as much up-to-date news as possible. I know I've been absent for these past few days, but I've been sick as a mothafoo.

2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Day 12

Hey everyone. Family was in town and I got busy. Now I'm sick and don't feel like writing much. That said, I'm going to subsitute the typical commentary with an AP sports feed.

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Game 6: Chicago 4, Calgary 1
Calgary wins the series 4-2

The Chicago Blackhawks won their first playoff series in 13 years, eliminating Calgary by beating the Flames 4-1 in Game 6 of their first-round Western Conference matchup Monday night.

Chicago’s previous playoff series win was a four-game sweep of Calgary in 1996.

Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist for Chicago, with Adam Burish and Brian Campbell also scoring. Dustin Byfuglien added an empty-net goal and had two assists. Rookie Kris Versteeg, a Calder Trophy nominee, also contributed two assists.

Todd Bertuzzi scored the lone goal for the Flames, who managed just two goals in the final two games of the series. They were ousted in the first round for a fourth straight season.

Nikolai Khabibulin played a stellar game in net for the Blackhawks with 43 saves. He robbed Calgary’s Olli Jokinen on scoring chances in the first and second periods.

The Blackhawks will play Vancouver in the next round.

With 14 players under the age of 25, the Blackhawks are the youngest team in the NHL. Their lack of playoff experience was thought to be a disadvantage heading into the series, but the Hawks were poised and tenacious against the more-experienced Flames.

They were quicker out of their end, faster on the forecheck and weren’t afraid to engage Calgary physically. Chicago was also the healthier team through the series, too.

The Flames pressed for goals in the third period and pulled Kiprusoff with more than 2 minutes remaining. But the injury-riddled club didn’t have the depth to push past the youthful Blackhawks and send the series back to Chicago for a Game 7.

Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf was scratched because of a hard check and helmet-to-helmet contact from Chicago’s Troy Brouwer in Game 5. Without Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr, who missed this series because of a knee injury, the Flames’ defense couldn’t contain Byfuglien, who assisted on Chicago’s two goals in the first period.

The Flames ended the regular season scoreless on their last 45 power-play chances. They were only marginally better during the postseason with two goals on 18 opportunities while a man up.

With Bertuzzi in the penalty box, Kane made it 1-0 just 2:20 in. From the bottom of the circle, Versteeg tried to connect with Byfuglien in front of the net for a tip-in, but the puck deflected out front for Kane.

Byfuglien lugged the puck and circled behind the net to the half-boards before passing to Burish, who beat Kiprusoff midway in the opening period.

Defenseman Campbell’s slap shot from the point through traffic was deflected and beat Kiprusoff to the glove side for a 3-0 edge in the second period.

Bertuzzi skated deep down the wing and beat Khabibulin with a sharp-angled shot over the Russian’s shoulder 54 seconds into the third session.

Notes: Chicago outscored Calgary 10-5 in the second periods in the series . . . With the exception of their run to the Stanley Cup final in 2004, the Flames haven’t made it out of the first round of playoffs since winning the Cup in 1989.

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Game 6: Anaheim 4, San Jose 1
Anaheim wins the series 4-2

(Okay, this one's gonna be a quick article from us.)
Ryan Getzlaf got the "Gordie Howe" hat trick in a very nasty game between San Jose and Anaheim that saw President's Trophy Champion San Jose Sharks eliminated by 8th seeded Anaheim. Anaheim will now face the Red Wings in the next round.

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Thanks for checking in! Stay tuned for more Stanley Cup coverage!!