Hockey

May 16, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand (63) celebrates with teammates Zdeno Chara (33) and Dougie Hamilton (27) after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against the New York Rangers in game one of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Michal Ivins-USA TODAY Sports Bruins coach Claude Julien told the media yesterday that there is a possibility the Bruins might be able to start some of the defensemen who were injured. At the moment, the Black and Gold have been without Dennis Seidenberg, Andrew Ference and Wade Redden. All three of them missed game one of the Eastern Conference semifinals due to unspecified injuries. “It’s a little early to say,” Julien said of his injured defensemen. “It is two days [of rest] and two days in the playoffs makes a big difference as far as getting guys back. So, there’s a possibility, that much I can say. Whether it will or not, too early to say right now.” It’s kind of disappointing for me to be honest. All three of our “rookie” defensemen (Dougie Hamilton, Torey Krug, and Matt Bartkowski) have done right by the team and the Nation in game one.  I know our best chance for victory will be with some of the veterans back in the line up, but those three young players put it all on the line for game one. It was Hamilton’s feed to Krug that got the game tied in the third period. In regards to Hamilton, he knows that with the return of some of the veteran blueliners, it will likely mean a trip back up to the press box. “It’s been more busy than trying because being a scratch every once and a while shouldn’t be trying for him,” Julien said. “He knew that coming in that that would happen. He was more than open to those kinds of suggestions, knowing that it was going to make him a better player down the road. If anything, it’s been a busy season for him.” That is true. He did play in the U20 World Juniors and play in the OHL while the rest of the Bruins were in lockout mode. Even though that Hamilton will see more scratches (and Krug will be sent back to Providence), that in now way diminishes the respect the coach has for Dougie. “If anything, he’s played extremely well for us this year,” Julien said. “We’ve got to remember that he’s 19 years old. What he’s done for us this year is brought a good sized defenseman to our team that moves the puck extremely well and sees the ice well. He’s made some unbelievable plays on some goals; we saw that early when he came in and we seemed in awe of that.  Playoffs is another step and he’s taken that step extremely well, to me. Last night, again, making good decisions, he played with Zee sometimes against their top line. To be able to be put out there against the other team’s top line shows that we do have confidence in him.”

Griffins Rally Past Marlies for 4-1 WinFerraro's game-winner gives Griffins 3-1 series lead...By Jason Kasiorekwww.griffinscentral.comMay 17th, 2013The Marlies got the first goal of the game on a shot that Petr Mrazek would probably like back. The rookie netminder would not let another puck past him and out-dueled Griffins nemesis Drew MacIntyre for a 4-1 win and a 3-1 series lead. Landon Ferraro and Tomas Jurco each added a goal and an assist in the win, while captain Jeff Hoggan and Jan Mursak added empty net goals to seal the win. Grand Rapids put 36 shots on the Marlies net, while Mrazek stopped 17 of 18 for the win. Tatar had a great chance right off the faceoff, sneaking a shot through to MacIntyre. Callahan getting the physical game started early with a big hit in the Marlies zone. Big scrum in the corner on the Marlies powerplay, lots of animosity. Pulkkinen and Grant had an effective shift keeping the puck deep and creating chances. Hoggan found some room to take the puck to the net, but couldn't get a shot off. Ranger ripped a shot, back door, that beat Mrazek but hit the post and stayed out. Toronto taking bad penalties, showing their frustration, and setting up a Griffins 5-on-3 powerplay. Mrazek gave up a softy from the corner that got between him and the post on a bad angle shot from Ashton. Lots of pushing and shoving at the end of the period. Shots on Goal: GR 13 - Tor 4. The 2nd period started out chippy. Great setup by Glendening, Jurco followed Tatar to the net on the powerplay and ripped a shot off his back foot that beat MacIntyre low to tie the game at one. Yeo boarded Grant, stunning the Griffins enforcer and setting up a GR powerplay. Glendening had a poke at a loose puck in the crease and was attacked, setting off a big scrum. The Griffins really took it to MacIntyre with a flurry of shots towards the end of the period. Shots on Goal: GR 14 - Tor 8. Mursak set up Hoggan on the doorstep, but he ripped a shot right into MacIntyre. MacIntyre seeing a lot of rubber as the Griffins have a shooting gallery going on. Ferraro beat MacIntyre to a loose puck behind the net to set up the game winner. The speedy center stayed behind the net and had a couple of tries before a lucky bounce off Yeo found its way into the net to give the Griffins their first lead of the game. Incredible pace to the last 10 minutes. MacIntyre was summoned to the bench with 1:32 on the clock for the extra attacker. Paetsch blocked a shot and the puck bounced to Ferraro who hit Hoggan for a breakaway. Hoggan was taken down, but still managaed to score into the empty net while sliding down the ice on his stomach. Mursak added another empty netter 17 seconds later to cap the win. In the closing seconds, Toronto had a breakaway, and knocked Mrazek into the net with the puck under him. The goal light came on, but it was reviewed and called no goal. Grand Rapids held on for a 4-1 come form behind victory to take a 3-1 lead in the series. Shots on Goal: GR 9 - Tor 6. For the Game: GR 36 - Tor 18. Lines:Hoggan - Glendening - Mursak/JurcoJurco - Ferraro - CallahanTatar - Sheahan - PareGrant - Aubry - PulkkinenPairings:Paetsch - AlmquistSkinner - LashoffEvans - BillinsStarter: MrazekBackup: McCollumScratches:FournierCoetzeeSproulRaedekeNicastroParkesNestrasilJensenOuelletPP:Jurco - Glendening - TatarSkinner - BillinsHoggan - Ferraro - PareAlmquist - PaetschPK:Glendening/Mursak - Callahan/AubryEvans - LashoffFerraro - SheahanAlmquist - PaetschObservations:Great game! Lots of excitement and intensity as the crowd was on the edge of their seats all night. The Griffins played their game all night and never got frustrated or changed their plan. The only time they looked a little back on their heels was after the Marlies goal, but they quickly regrouped.I can't say enough about the leadership on this team, captain Hoggan led by example tonight and just kept pressing the Marlies net. He must have skated 100 miles as he went end to end so many times. the

COMMENTARY: Over the last few weeks, the Los Angeles Kings have been involved in two incidents involving blows to the head of a player. Both times, the player who was hit suffered an injury, and in each case, a player was suspended. Perhaps even worse, both incidents have shined a bright light on the fact […]

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports The May long weekend has finally arrived and after making the long 7 hour drive to my cottage I’m ready to celebrate by watching some more playoff hockey. Of course I’ll leave my couch eventually but for the most part my eyes will be glued to the TV. What do you have planned for your May long weekend? Whatever you have planned make sure you stop by SabreNoise for the daily dashboard. It’s the perfect way to get all caught up on the latest NHL news. Sit back, enjoy your coffee and take a stroll around the NHL world. While fans are still holding out hope that Thomas Vanek will remain with the Buffalo Sabres, let’s take a look at where he could possibly land if his future is not in blue and gold. [The Hockey Writers] Are fans to blame for all the drama around the Buffalo Sabres? [Sabres 101] Feel bad that your team isn’t still in the playoffs? Check out the biggest weakness’ of the final 8 teams so you can exploit them. [Bleacher Report] With his latest suspension will this be the end of Raffi Torres in the NHL? [Puck Stops Here] Could we see Jason Spezza back with the Ottawa Senators for game 3? [Ottawa Sun] See what the New Jersey Devils can use as an excuse for being eliminated. [Down Goes Brown]

One day you’re the hero, the next day you are the goat. From their inception, professional sports have provided countless examples of this phenomenon. In the case of former Dallas Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk, the rise and fall stretched over a span of fourteen years. The organization announced the firing of Nieuwendyk April 28 after a four year tenure marked by questionable trades and head-scratching free agent signings. The move was an unflattering end for the Conn Smythe recipient of the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals. Many players on that team were deserving, but Joe Nieuwendyk’s clutch scoring and leadership (he wore the “C” during the first round due to incumbent Derian Hatcher’s suspension) deemed him the most valuable member of the team’s championship run. Joe Nieuwendyk (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports) Always a classy player, Nieuwendyk endeared himself to Stars fans with his determined play and his courage. He played the ’98-99 season on two reconstructed knees—a testament to the man’s will and team-first mentality. A decade later, Nieuwendyk was hired to be the Stars GM. Fans rejoiced and welcomed the hero’s return to right the course of a franchise in decline. “GM Joe” brought familiarity, a bit of nostalgia and had the fans in his corner from Day 1. It wasn’t the ideal spot for a rookie GM. The franchise was in bankruptcy, hamstringing Nieuwendyk’s ability to maneuver from the get-go. The Good of Nieuwendyk As with any GM of a professional sports team, some decisions prove to be right and some terribly wrong. Joe Nieuwendyk’s signing of Kari Lehtonen amid some skepticism landed the Stars an elite goaltender. GM Joe proved capable of the tough decisions, parting ways with fan favorites Mike Modano, Brendan Morrow and Steve Ott during his tenure. Then the Bad and Ugly However, the majority of his moves and signings proved incomprehensible. Shipping off James Neal and Matt Niskanen to Pittsburgh for Alex Goligoski has been a colossal bust. Gambling that superstar Brad Richards would stay in Dallas when teams with deeper pockets were lining up in the offseason resulted in a non-trade at the deadline and Richards walked in the summer with no return for the Stars. The dearth of playmaking centers meant skilled rookie Jamie Benn was forced to play center instead of his natural wing position. Benn gets by on his talent, but asking a rookie to center the first line puts immense pressure on the player and could have easily resulted in Benn’s implosion. The constant flip-flopping strategy of signing grizzled veterans and injecting youth into the lineup resulted in a team without any semblance of a true identity. Add to that Joe Nieuwendyk’s selection of rookie head coach Glen Gulutzan, and the team never jelled whether it was trying to be an offensively puck-moving juggernaut or a solid defensive grinder. Most nights Gulutzan appeared confused and overwhelmed behind the bench. A team with as many youngsters as the Stars fielded this past season screams for an authoritative presence in the head coach’s role. Four years later, the team still struggles with consistent scoring and a glaringly ineffective defense corps that does not protect the crease, has trouble moving the puck out of its zone and can be pushed around like rag dolls. The team still lacks an identity, and is in just as much disarray as it was when the tenure of Joe Nieuwendyk began. And that’s how a beloved former Star flames out. Author informationmdavisThis article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Good day, Wilderness! As boring as the offseason can be, the Walk still must go on. It's going to be a relatively short one, and most of it will be off the beaten path. Have your hiking boots on? Good. Now, let's take a Walk. Wild News Wild have options in net, but even more questions - FOX Sports North - Will this mean that the Wild finally trade Backstrom? We'll just have to wait and see what happens later in this offseason. Minnesota Wild's Xcel Energy Center Named Best Arena Experience in NHL - Gone Puck Wild - Yeah buddy! While the X has been the only arena that I've gone to (so far) for watching hockey, it sure is something being there. To the energy that goes through the building when a goal is scored (plus the goal horn that sounds awesome in person), to the singing of the Wild anthem, there's a lot of things to love about the Xcel Energy Center. Jason Zucker Has Earned Bigger Role With Minnesota Wild For 2013-14 - Rant Sports - Here's some more perspective about the Wild's best rookie this season. Off the Trail Crosby leads Penguins to NHL playoff win | SBS World News - Go Penguins! Sharks critical of NHL for suspension of Torres | Big News Network - I would have to agree. Here's what GM Doug Wilson had to say about Torres' hit, and I quote: "Upon review of the incident, it is abundantly clear that this was a clean hockey hit. As noted by the NHL, Raffi's initial point of contact was a shoulder-to-shoulder hit on an opponent who was playing the puck. He did not leave his feet or elevate. He kept his shoulder tucked and elbow down at his side, and he was gliding -- not skating or charging." Red Wings need to create goals, not havoc | Canada.com - Yeah they do. This is what they will need to do if they want to have a shot at taking down the big bad Blackhawks. 2013 NHL Draft Spotlight: The Masked Men - The Hockey Writers - Even though the NHL's draft is still a little over a month away, mock drafts are already being created by many. NHL Playoffs: Grades for Night 18 - CBSSports.com - Here's a look at some grades of some key players in the playoffs.

Hi Sharks fans, It's me, Get'r. I know last game was brutal. Trust me, we Kings fans know about crushing defeats to in-state rivals. And while the shoe was on the other foot this time, I feel like I should take the high road regarding game two. Sure, you may be upset now, while two years ago with the Kings' catastrophic collapse you were euphoric and merciless. I'm not going to call out some of you for the role reversal and how "mean" those "L.A. douches" are. I'm not trying to make some subtle little quips. I am 100% sincerely sorry. Now there has been a little bit of talk about Tyler Toffoli diving for the first call (really?) and the idiotic delay of game call that exists, but the truth of the matter is the Kings brought it for the last half of the third period. They drew a call, and got lucky with the second one on Vlasic. Logan Couture failed to clear, goal one, and Joe Pavelski did his best Alex Ovechkin on a back-check impression, goal two. Still, the sun came up this morning, and we all (well, most of us) woke up alive and well. A 2-0 series deficit is surmountable obviously, and the Sharks are very tough at home. Let's look past the rough games we have witnessed, as our teams beat the hell out of each other. It's all a game anyways. Just one that basically consumes all of our waking consciousness. And San Jose did a lot of things well, such as take advantage of the Kings sleeping in the second, and exploiting Colin Fraser while he was filling in for Anze Kopitar. Tyler Toffoli saved the day, and Los Angeles should be stoked they have a 2-0 series lead. It was a pretty gritty performance by both teams, and is bitterly disappointing for the Sharks that God just loves L.A. more. Two goals in twenty-two seconds is just damn frustrating, and having them come in the last few minutes to change the lead...whew, I'm thankful I wasn't on the receiving end of that. But the Sharks are a resilient bunch, and being down 2-0 isn't the end. Though it doesn't help the Sharks haven't won a series when losing the first two games. But have faith. You'll see. Maybe. Kings will continue to be a shitty franchise In a shithole city. Fuck you— KRS1 (@KevyKev92) May 17, 2013 Again, I am really, really sorry. Next Game Los Angeles Kings @ San Jose Sharks Saturday, May 18, 2013, 6:00 PM PDT HP Pavilion Complete Coverage > Los Angeles Kings Tickets The Kings had a crappy start in the first ten minutes, a great next twenty, an atrocious twenty, and then a phenomenal ending ten. Here is a chart: Science. Toffoli has been emerging as the star many predicted he would be, and Trevor Lewis has returned to causing the Sharks problems. Playoff Penner is in full swing, and I'd be hesitant to break that line up. I'd also put Dustin Brown with Richards and Carter just so that he stops hurting Kopitar. But that's just me. Lastly, Jordan Nolan goes to check in on Jarret Stoll, who appears to have suffered a pretty bad head injury following the Raffi Torres hit.

Andrey Makarov stopped 30 of 33 shots Friday as the Saskatoon Blades opened the 2013 Memorial Cup with a 3-2 loss to the London Knights. The Blades, who hadn't played since being eliminated from the WHLplayoffs back on March 27, took a bit to get into a groove but were kept in the game by some excellent saves by Makarov. The score was knotted 2-2 until 2013 draft eligible Nikita Zadorov buried a power play rebound with 5:45 left in the third period to give the Knights the victory. Despite the outcome, the effort earned Makarov the game's number one star. The tournament continues Saturday with the much anticipated match-up between WHL champion Portland and kings of the QMJHL, Halifax. The game features the top three North American skaters in Winterhawks defender Seth Jones and the dynamic Mooseheads duo of Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin, along with Central Scouting's top-rated netminder in Zachary Fucale. Makarov and the Blades return to action Sunday versus Halifax.

Your savory breakfast links: The end of the all-too-brief playoff run for the Caps has many typing away about a few growing trends in Washington - losing too soon and making excuses for it. [WaPo, FanPost] Nicklas Backstrom isn't making excuses for his early season doldrums, however, despite suffering an injury to end his KHL run in Moscow. [RMNB] A look ahead at some key roster decisions facing the Caps next season: The Caps have said they want Mike Ribeiro back, and Ribeiro has said he wants to stay... but does he fit into the team's plans going forward? [CSNW] Another guy who wants to return is impending UFA - and beloved wagon - Matt Hendricks, who his teammates say is irreplaceable. Darn right. [CSNW] But he'll face a challenge from the youngster in the wings, as Tom Wilson got a taste of the NHL at the end of the Rangers series... and liked it. [WaPo] In general the team might want to look to upgrade the blue line... [Spector] ...especially with veteran Tom Poti hitting the open market this summer. [WaPo] Down on the farm: The big news out of Chocolatetown was the departure of head coach Mark French, who leaves after four seasons, 180 wins and a Calder Cup victory behind the Hershey bench. [Pennlive (and again), LDNews (generous contributor to today's title), SHOE] Looking back at French's top ten moments as the Bears' head coach. Guessing #1 goes back to sometime around June 2010... [Pennlive] No decisions have been made on French's replacement, but current assistant coach Troy Mann is in the running for the job. [Pennlive] Meanwhile the Reading Royals prepare to play for the Kelly Cup against a somewhat unexpected opponent. [Reading Eagle] Everything you ever wanted to know about injuries (or at least everything they're telling us): More on Alex Ovechkin's wonky foot, as the team doctor tells all and Ovechkin himself tweets all. [PHT, Bog] The Caps - and the NHL in general - are notoriously cagey about injuries. But when does the right to know trump the right to privacy? (Hint: when gambling on hockey becomes a big deal.) [WaPo] How's this for hilarity: Brooks Laich, noted Blue Jays fan, is scheduled to throw out the first pitch Tuesday night as the Orioles take on another AL East rival, the Yankees. #TeamMeteor, right Brooks? [CSNW] And speaking of hilarity...check out some old school pics of Smokin' Al Koken. There may be some words in there, too, but they are less important than the Greatest. Pictures. Ever. [Bog] Flying from Kuwait City to DC just to watch the Caps isn't just proof of true fan dedication - it's also proof that Caps fans are completely batpoop crazy. And wonderful. [Bog] Great, great work once again by the Caps organization - with some help from SKYDEX Technologies - as they raised over $100,000 for TAPS through this year's Courage Caps campaign. [Ft Mill Times] Adam Oates. John Tortorella. Grudge match to end all grudge matches. Make it happen. [Bog] Finally, happy 54th birthday to Errol Rausse.

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