Latest blog entries about NHL
Welcome to the last road game of the regular season, folks! The B’s are back in Columbus for the second time in two Sundays, the last of which was a wild comeback win in favor of the visitors. Since then, things haven’t gone terribly well for the B’s, but…hey, they’re in the playoffs! That’s what […]
Talk about the game with Pens fans here!
On April 12th in 1960, celebrated sports broadcaster Ronald Joseph Corbett MacLean was born in Zweibrücken, West Germany. Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of all things hockey and a quick wit, MacLean became the host of CBC's coveted Saturday night franchise Hockey Night In Canada. Raised in Red Deer, Alberta, MacLean spent eight years with CKRD before landing the HNIC Western anchor gig
On April 11th in 1989, netminder Ron Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers scored an unassisted empty net goal against the Washington Capitals becoming the first goaltender to score in a NHL playoff game. It was the second time a goalie scored in a NHL game, the first being when Hextall fired the puck into the opposing net on December 8th in 1987. Though New York Islanders backstop Billy Smith was
On April 11th in 1970, Trevor Linden was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Fresh off consecutive Memorial Cup wins, the Canucks selected him second overall in the 1988 NHL Draft. Linden would play 16 of his 19 NHL seasons with the club earning the nickname Captain Canuck for his on-ice efforts and community contributions. In his first season, Linden scored 30 regular season goals and added seven
On April 11th in 1987, the Winnipeg Jets introduced the "White Out" in response to the Calgary Flames "C of Red" employed by fans during the first two games of the first round playoff series at the Saddledome. Winnipeg went on to beat Calgary in six games only to be swept by the Edmonton Oilers in the next round. The playoff attire tradition continued as the club encouraged everyone to "wear
On April 10th in 1982, the Los Angeles Kings completed the largest single game comeback in Stanley Cup playoff history in Game 3 of the Smythe Division Semifinal beating the heavily favored Edmonton Oilers 6-5. Down 5-0, the Kings first goal came 2:16 into the third period from Jay Wells skating 4-on-4. Doug Smith added a powerplay goal less than three minutes later. The next three markers came
On April 10th in 2010, Atlanta Thrashers rookie Evander Kane answered Pittsburgh Penguins pest Matt Cooke's challenge for fisticuffs with a one punch knockout of one of the NHL's most hated players. Kane KO was applauded by Boston Bruins bruiser Milan Lucic who's linemate Marc Savard suffered a severe concussion from Cooke's dirty play. Atlanta went on to beat Pittsburgh that night by a score of
On April 10th in 2010, Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron prevented a third period own goal stopping Blake Wheeler's pass from entering their empty net during a delayed Jerome Samson penalty up 3-2 in a must-win game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Boston added an empty net goal to their three shorthanded markers to beat Carolina that afternoon by a score of 4-2 and clinch a playoff spot.
The Colorado Avalanche have suffered a litany of injuries this season, but I didn’t expect that trend to strike the coaching staff. Here we are, though, as the Avalanche made a concerned comeback effort that fell short in a game where a stray puck caught their lead bench boss up-high. Following the game, the Avalanche […]
On April 8th in 2013, Phoenix Coyotes forward Antoine Vermette fired a pass from the Vancouver Canucks goal line, past its intended recipient Keith Yandle, the entire length of the ice into Phoenix's empty net with one minute remaining in the third period trailing 1-0. The own goal, credited to Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis, came during a two man-advantage thanks to a
On April 6th in 2010, Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Ballard swatted an airborn puck past goaltender Tomas Vokoun and into his own net giving the visiting Ottawa Senators a 3-1 lead midway through the second period.Ballard's own goal was credited to the Senators forward Chris Neil. Ottawa beat Florida that night by a score of 5-2. That's today in NHL history.
On April 5th in 2011, Chicago Blackhawks benched backup goaltender Marty Turco allegedly wagered with a Montreal Canadiens season ticket holder named Robert during a match at the Bell Center after a second period goal by forward Michael Cammalleri put Montreal ahead 1-0. According to Robert's retelling on the sports radio station Team 990, the bet began with a friendly $5 wager that Chicago
On April 5th in 2008, the Calgary Flames displayed the sportsmanship that makes NHL hockey special, putting aside their bitter divisional rivalry to salute Vancouver Canucks legend Trevor Linden in his final NHL game. With fans applauding the Alberta-born center prior to the final period of his career, Calgary players retreated from the faceoff circle allowing players and fans alike to
On April 4th in 2009, New York Rangers agitator Sean Avery slapped Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas in the back of the head with his stick during a television timeout in an attempt to unhinge the 2009 Jennings, Crozier and Vezina winner with 5 minutes to play.Both Avery and Thomas received minor roughing penalties on the play. Boston beat the Rangers that afternoon by a score of 1-0 with
On April 1st in 1992, NHLPA freshman boss Bob Goodenow announced the first player strike in NHL history. The labor strife was resolved after only 10 days largely owing to the assistance of US Federal Mediator John Martin. The settlement provided a one year labor truce between owners and players in the form of a two year deal retroactive to the beginning of the season, resulting in several
On March 31st in 1971, Pavel Vladimirovich Bure was born in Moscow, Russia. Sneakily selected 113th in the 1989 NHL Draft, a year before age eligibility owing to international games played, the Red Army right winger electrified NHL audiences for 12 seasons (VAN 7, FLA 3.5, NYR 1.5) with his speed and scoring prowess. After collecting the Calder (1991), the Russian Rocket posted five 50 goal
On March 31st in 2013, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jakub Kindl directed the puck from his skate to stick before errantly backhanding it over Jimmy Howard's left pad, thanks to a timely slash by Chicago Blackhawks forward Jimmy Hayes, giving Chicago it's third goal in 99 seconds and a 3-0 lead less than five minutes to play. Kindl's own goal, credited to Dave Bolland, came on an
On March 31st in 2009, the 97th pick in the 2007 NHL Draft scored a spectacular shootout goal for Sweden in a friendly with Switzerland. Eight months later, Linus Omark was tapped for a shootout attempt in his NHL debut and beat Tampa Bay Lightning backstop Dan Ellis with a spin-o-rama move, cinching a 4-3 win for the Edmonton Oilers. That's today in NHL history.
On March 30th in 2011, Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf tricked referee Gord Dwyer and the off-ice video review crew when he grabbed a puck that had clearly crossed the goal line and was resting on netminder Ray Emery's arm, and inconspicuously placed it in the crease after the whistle preventing Calgary's tying goal. For his encore, Getzlaf denied allegations relating to his suspect role in
On March 30th in 2012, Calgary Flames blueliner Jay Bouwmeester intercepted a pass from Colorado Avalanche forward Mark Olver and accidentally tucked it past the outstretched right pad of Flames netminder Miikka Kiprusoff for an own goal to open the scoring in a must-win game. Bouwmeester explained, "It was rolling and I tried to play it across my body and put it in the corner. Obviously, it
On March 29th in 2014, Tampa Bay Lightning sniper Steven Stamkos fired a pass past defenseman Michael Kostka which deflected off the boards and ended up in his own empty net during a delayed penalty, putting the Buffalo Sabres up 3-2 midway through the third period. Stamkos' own goal was credited to Cory Conacher, the Sabres skater whistled for hooking prompting Ben Bishop to abandon
On March 29th in 2001, Tie Domi of the Toronto Maple Leafs pummeled Philadelphia Flyers fan Chris Falcone who, upon being sprayed with water by the bruiser, banged his way through the plexiglass into the penalty box. Falcone required stitches in his forehead and Domi received a $1000 fine from the league. Toronto beat Philadelphia that night 2-1. That's today in NHL history. * See also Today
On March 27th in 2010, former first round draft pick Patrick Eaves of the Detroit Red Wings tripped and fell during a 9th round shootout attempt against netminder Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators. Even Eaves enjoyed a laugh about the gaffe afterward the game. The Red Wings eventually sealed a 1-0 shootout win over the Predators that night on the strength of Niklas Kronwall's 11th round
On March 26th in 1996, the Vancouver Canucks acquired Markus Naslund from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Alex Stojanov resulting in each team trading their first round selection from the 1991 NHL Entry Draft (16th for 7th, respectively). Stojanov skated in 45 games for Pittsburgh over the next two seasons amassing six points (2G, 4A) in the process. He spent the remainder of his career