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.
Owning Alberta Yet Again
The Colorado Avalanche have basically been in "practice for the playoffs" mode since we won the Presidents' Trophy on our 78th game of the season. I said some time ago that I have figured out this whole Presidents' Trophy thing. The way I see it, winning it as late as possible is good, just as long as it's not very very late. By that, I mean a team should not be playing Games 80-82 still looking to win that Trophy. But on the flipside, you definitely don't want to win it too early. To this day, I still say that's what caused the Lightning's demise seven seasons ago; they won that Trophy with nine games left!
By Clyde E. Dawkins6 months ago in Unbalanced
Rory McIlroy Makes History: A Complete Breakdown of the 2026 Masters Leaderboard
Rory McIlroy did it again. In one of the most dramatic final rounds in Masters history, the Northern Irishman claimed his second consecutive green jacket at Augusta National on April 13, 2026, cementing his place among the all-time greats of the game. The 2026 Masters leaderboard told a story of tension, brilliance, and nerves — and at the center of it all stood McIlroy, unbowed and unforgettable.
By Story Prism6 months ago in Unbalanced
Southern California Dreaming: Ducks and Kings Nab Last Two Playoff Spots
The evening of April 13, 2026 began with three spots in the Stanley Cup Playoffs up for grabs. One in the East, two in the West. The East spot was nabbed by the Philadelphia Flyers with their 3-2 shootout win, but there was still the West to go. Two spots left, and five teams vying for them, but four of them played. Two of them faced each other, and it was quite a battle. The Sharks led 1-0 after two periods, and Macklin Celebrini made it 2-0 in the third. The Preds did get on the board, but Celebrini struck again to make 3-1. Preds cut it to one, but couldn't tie it up.
By Clyde E. Dawkins6 months ago in Unbalanced
Flyers Soar Their Way to the Stanley Cup Playoffs
One thing I love about the final week of any sport's season is that we always see some wild dramatics as the last playoff spots are filled. Even though I'm a diehard hockey fan, I know that the NFL is the master of final week dramatics, but the NHL has delivered some good moments as well. I was very certain that this Monday, the first of the final four days of the regular season, would deliver some wild dramatics as three playoff spots remained.
By Clyde E. Dawkins6 months ago in Unbalanced
Is This It?. Top Story - April 2026.
Is this finally the year? I am starting this on the Friday after Cole Caulfield of the Montreal Canadians scored his fiftieth goal. This might not matter to those of you who have no interest in ice hockey or NHL history, but for fans of the game this is important. No one on the team had reached fifty goals in one season since the great Stephane Richer played for them and reached that record in the 1998-99 season. And for a team with such a distinguished history – 24 Stanley Cups, more than any other team in the league; the oldest professional hockey team, in place since 1909 – this does matter. Their own Richard “Rocket” Richard was the first player in the entire league to score fifty goals in fifty games back in the…forties (a nice touch). He was followed by Jean Beliveau and Guy Lafleur (other legends to reach that number). And they were supported by Serge Savard, Ken Dryden, Larry Robinson, Bob Gainey, and…
By Kendall Defoe 6 months ago in Unbalanced
Golden Knights Clinch Playoff Spot in Dramatic Fashion
It's no secret that I hate the Vegas Golden Knights. But I can admit this; they do make things interesting. It's hard to believe that next season, the 2026-27 season--will be the Golden Knights' tenth year. Doesn't seem like they've been around that long. We all know their history. Joined the NHL in 2017, Year One was a dream year. Hit the jackpot in the expansion draft, won the Pacific, went all the way to the Cup Final. Fell three wins short, but still, what a first year!
By Clyde E. Dawkins6 months ago in Unbalanced
Stanley Cup Playoff Push 2026: The Final Rumble
This is it, folks! We are down to the final five days of the NHL's regular season! The final pieces of the puzzle will be put together. It's around that time that we solely focus on what's left to figure out in this year's Stanley Cup Playoff races, and there really isn't too much left to decipher. 13 of the 16 Stanley Cup Playoff spots are all filled in, but here's what else we know so far:
By Clyde E. Dawkins6 months ago in Unbalanced
Is the Oilers' 2026 Playoff Run Over Before it Starts?
You know, I really should have made a New Year's Resolution to stop trying to figure out the Edmonton Oilers. Last year, I said that they'd lose to the Kings in Round 1 because LA had home ice finally. The year before, I said they were done and screwed after a bad start. In both years, they reached the Stanley Cup Final. Yes, they lost both years, but still, they were there and we can't take that away from them.
By Clyde E. Dawkins6 months ago in Unbalanced
Bruins Make Surprise Playoff Appearance Following a Disastrous Campaign
You know, I go on and on about the Boston Bruins' lack of depth, and I had some fun at their expense when they blew that 65-win season three years ago. But when they actually had that terrible year last year and missed out on the playoffs, I was stunned. The Bruins always found some way to get in. Not last year. Everything that went wrong for the Bruins last year? It did. It went so bad for Boston last year that they actually dealt Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers so he could have a chance at a Cup. And he won, too.
By Clyde E. Dawkins6 months ago in Unbalanced
Senators Return to Playoffs on Final Saturday of Season
Last year, I was very happy for the Ottawa Senators when they reached the playoffs. Last year's appearance was their first since that magical 2017 run that saw them come within a hair (if that) of reaching the Stanley Cup Final. Game Seven. Double OT. Toe-to-toe with the Penguins. That was followed by the Matt Duchene trade, which pretty much killed the Sens. Though I think that their 2020 deal with the Sharks ended up boosting Ottawa a bit, as that deal resulted in the Sens with two lottery picks in that unorthodox 2020 Draft, and one of them became Tim Stutzle.
By Clyde E. Dawkins6 months ago in Unbalanced
The #1 Contenders
Well, Avs fans, we did it! Now we need to do something with it. Thursday was the Colorado Avalanche's second chance to capture the Presidents' Trophy, and unlike four years ago when we were one of the last two teams in contention for that trophy, there's no way out this time. The Avs were ahead of the next team in line (the Carolina Hurricanes) by too much with little time left. So we were winning this thing. All we had to do was beat the Calgary Flames--the same Flames we horribly extinguished over a week prior.
By Clyde E. Dawkins7 months ago in Unbalanced
Mammoth's 2nd Year Results in 1st Postseason
I have seen my share of relocations in sports over the years. Hell, I'm a fan of a relocated team. Though the tale (or "terrifying tale," as Homer Simpson put it in one episode) of how the Quebec Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche truly pales in comparison to other insane relocation occurrences in sports. Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg and becoming Jets 2.0. Seattle is still hurting over losing the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City, where they are now known as the Thunder. The Bay Area has now lost two teams to Vegas, with the Athletics' crap being absolutely ridiculous. And Cleveland still curses Art Modell's name nearly 14 years after his passing.
By Clyde E. Dawkins7 months ago in Unbalanced
