Stories (1228/0)
Avalanche Game 74 Recap: Ticket Punched
Phase One: complete. The Colorado Avalanche's first attempt to lock in a playoff spot came up short, but the main story of that game was the controversial end of Nathan MacKinnon's home point streak, which remained official after a long review. So MacKinnon had a proverbial axe to grind, and who better to grind it against than the Nashville Predators in the last leg of Colorado's homestand.
By Clyde E. Dawkins18 days ago in Unbalanced
Stars Look to Avenge West Final Loss
Three East teams had chances to clinch playoff spots, and they all did. Three West teams had that same chance: the Dallas Stars, the Vancouver Canucks, and the Colorado Avalanche. All three scenarios involved the St. Louis Blues losing in some fashion, but the Blues won, 5-3, over the Calgary Flames. With that, the Avalanche's scenario was kiboshed, but the Stars and Canucks could still get in with a win. Here's the thing: the two teams faced each other, and it was 1-1 late in the third period.
By Clyde E. Dawkins19 days ago in Unbalanced
Panthers Clinch Playoffs With Hopes to Return to Cup Final
The wild 14-game Thursday evening included so many clinching scenarios, with one of them including the Florida Panthers. The Panthers looked to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a victory, but the New York Islanders had other plans. The Isles looked to move up in the Wild Card ladder, and they did so with a win over the Panthers, a 3-2 win at that. However, the Panthers did have other ways in, and one of them was a Detroit Red Wings loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. As a result of this, not only did the Canes get in, the Panthers did as well.
By Clyde E. Dawkins19 days ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 73 Recap: What Just Happened?!
As a Colorado Avalanche fan, I was entering Game 73 feeling quite confident. Yes, we were facing off against the high-powered New York Rangers. However, the Dallas Stars were facing the Vancouver Canucks...on the road. So I had a good feeling that first place could happen for the Avs again. The first part had to be taken care of: taking down the Rangers. The Avs were coming off the end of a nine-game winning streak, but at least Nathan MacKinnon's points streaks were still a thing.
By Clyde E. Dawkins20 days ago in Unbalanced
Last Chance for Hurricanes?
A loaded day in the NHL saw six teams with a chance to clinch a playoff spot, and the Carolina Hurricanes were one of the teams with that opportunity. This was their second chance to do so, but their first attempt saw the Hurricanes defeated by the Pittsburgh Penguins in what was a homecoming for Carolina's biggest deadline acquisition of the season, Jake Guentzel. Take Two came against the Detroit Red Wings, and all they needed was just two simple points. They would get them behind a Frederik Andersen shutout; a 4-0 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.
By Clyde E. Dawkins20 days ago in Unbalanced
Bruins Clinch (Now, Don't Blow It)
Well, Boston Bruins, you made it. Somehow, you made it. Now what the hell are you going to do with it? The Bruins actually had a chance to clinch a spot on the previous night, needing only one more point in the standings to do so, but they couldn't get it done. Even so, despite the Bruins not being in action on this night, they could still get a spot, needing either a Detroit Red Wings loss or a Philadelphia regulation loss to get it done. Both outcomes came true, but the Philly loss happened first. The Flyers were defeated, 4-1, by the Montréal Canadiens. Yes, that's right. The Montréal Canadiens actually helped the Boston Bruins make the playoffs. What a world.
By Clyde E. Dawkins20 days ago in Unbalanced
Villainess Review: Miss Mitchell (Killing for Extra Credit)
Per usual, when March Madness hits the National Hockey League, Lifetime comes through with some amazing and surprising villainesses in their films. This film, Killing for Extra Credit, was no exception. The central character was Marybeth Morris, and as we see in the introduction, she's gone through a bit of a ringer. Her return to school comes for the first time since she was relentlessly bullied on social media after racy photos of Marybeth were leaked to the public. As the backstory also revealed, the leak came just as Marybeth was running for class president, but she had to drop out due to the embarrassment.
By Clyde E. Dawkins21 days ago in Geeks
Avalanche Game 72 Recap: If It Wasn't for Bad Luck...
As the saying goes, "All good things must come to an end." But this was not the time. The Colorado Avalanche continued to ride high as winners of nine straight, the latest win being against a Pittsburgh Penguins team who led 4-0! With the Vancouver Canucks' home loss on the previous night, the Avs had the chance to move into the #1 spot in the entire Western Conference. The homestand continued, and it was against the Montréal Canadiens. Notice I didn't say the "lowly" Canadiens. I don't consider the Canadiens lowly. Are they going to be in the playoffs? No. But the potential's there. Even so, it did look like the Avs should win.
By Clyde E. Dawkins22 days ago in Unbalanced
Rangers Become 1st Team to Clinch Spot in the 2024 Playoffs
One down, 15 to go. I always love seeing that first playoff spot clinched in any league, but it's always the most special in the National Hockey League. The first official clinching scenario belonged to the Vancouver Canucks on the previous night, but they couldn't get it done. On this day, four Eastern Conference teams had chances to clinch: the New York Rangers, the Boston Bruins, the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Florida Panthers. The Panthers and Bruins faced each other, with Boston winning, 4-3, in regulation. As a result, Florida couldn't clinch yet. The Red Wings/Capitals game was connected to all of the scenarios, but because that game went to OT, Boston couldn't clinch yet. The Canes lost, so they would have to wait, too.
By Clyde E. Dawkins22 days ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 71 Recap: No Surrender
I...love...this...team!!! We did it again, folks! Actually, I should say, we did it yet again! The Colorado Avalanche entered this Sunday matinee game on TNT on an eight game winning streak, and on top of the Central Division. The homestand entered Game #2 and it was against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It's always interesting when Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon get together, and regarding this game, as Cody Rhodes would say, they have a lot to talk about.
By Clyde E. Dawkins24 days ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 70 Recap: Elite 8
The Colorado Avalanche have reached the playoffs for six straight years, and a seventh is very inevitable. The Avs are on a big time roll--winning seven straight games, including sweeping a four game road trip in Western Canada and St. Louis. Following this stretch, the Avs returned to home sweet home--Ball Arena--and our opponents: the Columbus Blue Jackets. This is the first of two meetings against Columbus, and the first time the two teams are facing off on American soil since the 2021-22 season.
By Clyde E. Dawkins26 days ago in Unbalanced
Aaron Rodgers: It's Always Something
You know, I have to say this. I have to. Because if I don't, I'll explode. You know the real reason why I didn't waste time embracing Jordan Love as the Green Bay Packers' new starting QB? There were other reasons, yes--curiosity, a new chapter, and the fact that Love was the first-ever Black starting QB in the Packers' long history. But you want to know the real reason? Because I, like a number of Packers fans, was just sick of the drama. I really was.
By Clyde E. Dawkins28 days ago in The Swamp