hockey
We talk pucks and objects of that kind. We yell, complain, and analyze in the language of hockey fandom. Gretzky can do no wrong.
What Went Wrong: From Wild to Mild
It's hard to believe that 20 years have passed since the Minnesota Wild had their only legit playoff run. It was their first time in the playoffs, and it was their third season of play. They won back-to-back seven-game thrillers over the Colorado Avalanche (in what would be Patrick Roy's final playoff series) and the Vancouver Canucks, but their trip to the Western Conference Final saw them run into the Great Wall of Giguere. Even so, it seemed like we would see more of this from the Wild as the years went by.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished about a year ago in UnbalancedWhat Went Wrong: No Goalie is an Island
April 28, 2023 had to be a historic day in playoff hockey. Four Game 6s took place. Four elimination games. One of them took place in Long Island, as the New York Islanders managed to stave off elimination two nights prior with a win in Game Five of their series against the Carolina Hurricanes. The road 3-2 win earned them one more chance on home ice, and it did look good for the Isles. They did score first, and that 1-0 score held up after the first 50+ minutes. However, Sebastian Aho tied it up on a crazy backhand, and overtime would see Paul Stastny squeak one past Ilya Sorokin, and that squib ended the Islanders' season.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished about a year ago in UnbalancedWhat Went Wrong: Jets Grounded by Golden Knights in Familiar Fashion
This has to be the longest that the first round has surpassed before finally getting its very first elimination. It looked like we would see all eight Division Semifinal series go at least six games. This was the 11th day of this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the third straight to feature at least one elimination game. The New York Islanders were the first to face elimination, avoided it on Tuesday. Next up was the Florida Panthers, they avoided it on Wednesday. The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Winnipeg Jets both faced elimination tonight, and while the Bolts stayed alive for one more game, the Jets couldn't, as they were taken down easily by the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Pacific Division Semifinals.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished about a year ago in UnbalancedJohn Jay Beats Brewster 11-0
After showing little mercy to Fox Lane on Saturday, March 25, John Jay was no more obliging to Brewster on Monday. The Wolves scored an 11-0 victory, and while there was plenty of status quo with a large returning contingent of players, the draw position had a new look and didn’t disappoint.
Rich MonettiPublished about a year ago in UnbalancedLightning Strikes 7 Times
The 2022-2023 playoffs didn't start out the way Leafs nor their fans had hoped. They fell to the lightning 7-3 in a first game that can really just be described as embarrassing.
Anna KerrPublished about a year ago in UnbalancedWinter Warriors
In September of 2022, I had a very strange experience: I was teaching a class and I suddenly lost my balance and bounced off the white board at the front of the room like an insect ricocheting off of a windshield. I recovered my equilibrium, finished the lecture and made my way (rather unsteadily) to the Emergency Room. Given the fact that the pandemic was still in progress, I was not surprised to wait seven hours for some medical attention. I am Canadian, and therefore I am grateful that patience is the only cost of treatment. During my wait, a fellow human who was clearly suffering from an acute psychological malady of some kind made several attempts to disrobe in the waiting area. Each time, a security guard, who appeared to know him by name, gently admonished him to desist. For the purposes of this tale, I will call him Jake. After I was admitted, I was given a series of tests, in the course of which I asked a physician to contact the department for which I teach, to let my students know that I would not be released in time to teach classes the following morning. I also asked her about Jake. “Oh, Jake!” she replied, “He’s a regular here. Did he get his pants off this time?” Human beings can adapt to virtually any circumstances, no matter how strange; they can also become rooted in communities under the most unusual conditions.
D. J. ReddallPublished about a year ago in Unbalanced2023 Division Semifinals Preview
The ultimate madness begins! The greatest championship chase in all of professional sports is all set! For the next two months, we will bear witness to a chaotic, thrilling, and fantastic journey to the holy grail known as the Stanley Cup. For the first time in nine years, the Nashville Predators and the Washington Capitals won't be involved. Even more shocking, for the first time in 17 years, the Pittsburgh Penguins won't be involved.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished about a year ago in UnbalancedIslanders Complete 2023 Stanley Cup Playoff Field
The field of 16 is complete! Only three games took place on this Wednesday, April 12, but the main one was the only one not aired on TNT: the meeting between the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Islanders. The Islanders were looking to nab the 16th and last playoff spot left on the board; it was between them and the Pittsburgh Penguins, who had been playoff bound for 16 straight years. For the Islanders, this was their 82nd and last game of the regular season, and they had an easy scenario: all they needed was one point, just get to overtime. It was a close affair; the Isles led 2-1 after the first 2o minutes. Brock Nelson had a goal in the first, and added one in the second to make it 3-1. It was 3-2 after 40, but Anders Lee's power play goal with 4:00 left in regulation started the countdown, and New York knows a thing about countdowns.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished about a year ago in UnbalancedJets Land on the West's Final Playoff Spot
I had a lot of faith in the Winnipeg Jets this season, so much so that I picked them to be part of the Central Division's Top 3. They were in that position for a while, but the Jets started to descend into an apparent free fall after the All-Star Break. It really looked like the Jets would actually end up out of the playoffs for the second straight season, which would have been absolutely disappointing given their amazing start. But they managed to get back upright and start flying at the right time, while the main teams below them--the Calgary Flames and the Nashville Predators--fell off.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished about a year ago in UnbalancedPanthers Claw Their Way to Playoffs as Wild Card
Hockey is a funny thing at times. When the Florida Panthers made that trade for Matthew Tkachuk, I said--on a loop, mind you--that they fleeced the Calgary Flames. I had the Panthers as one of the top teams in the Atlantic Division (and maybe the Eastern Conference overall), while the Flames would either miss the playoffs or barely squeak in. By the midpoint, however, both teams were sputtering big time. However, the Panthers managed to get over the hump just a bit, while Calgary hung on and stayed alive for several weeks.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished about a year ago in UnbalancedHugh "Hobby" Barndollar Lists the Top Athletes of All Time in Different Sports
Athletics is a field that has brought us some of the most iconic and memorable moments in history. From the grace and skill of gymnastics to the brute strength of weightlifting, athletes from all kinds of sports have been celebrated for their incredible feats of athleticism. These athletes have inspired us with their remarkable achievements and taught us valuable lessons about discipline, perseverance, and the power of the human spirit.
Hugh "Hobby" BarndollarPublished about a year ago in UnbalancedThe Unforgettable Olympics
The 2020 Summer Olympics, which were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were held in Tokyo, Japan from July 23 to August 8, 2021. The games were a testament to the resilience and determination of athletes and organizers alike, as they navigated the challenges of hosting an international sporting event during a global pandemic.
Amir H, TajikPublished about a year ago in Unbalanced