The rematch that the hockey world has been waiting for kicked off with a bang. A nice ceremonial face-off started the series as one of hockey’s oldest legends, “Mr. Hockey” Gordie Howe, dropped the puck for legend-to-be, Sidney Crosby. Ted Lindsay was also part of the ceremonial puck drop with Nick Lidstrom. From there, it was game on at the Joe. Continue reading
Hockey
2009 Stanley Cup Finals Preview
After 46 days of playoff action, sixteen teams have been widdled down to the final two. Like last season, we have the Detroit Red Wings facing off against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Not much has changed for both teams. The key parts of both teams remain the same though Marian Hossa and Ty Conklin will wear Red instead of Black in this year’s battle. The main difference from one year ago is that the Penguins have one more year of playoff experience under their belts. Continue reading
Hockey (Last) Night In Canada: The Rematch Is Set
After game four win without Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit would have to repeat the feat in game five. This time, they were also without breakout defensive star Jonathan Ericsson. They also had to face a Chicago side that now has nothing to lose and would be at its most dangerous. With the pressure off, the Blackhawks were loose and ready to have some fun on the Detroit River. Continue reading
Hockey (Last) Night in Canada: March of the Penguins
After another beating by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night, Paul Maurice and his Cardiac Canes needed a win to keep their playoff dreams alive. While the Canes are looking to maintain their playoff series win streak that stretches back to 2006, the Penguins are seeking a return trip to the Stanley Cup finals. Continue reading
Hockey (Last) Night In Canada: The Injury Bug Bites Back
Giving up a three goal lead and losing your #1 goalie would be enough to put most teams down for the count. The Blackhawks fought past that to win game three and cut Detroit’s lead in the series in half. Now they have the momentum for game four but had to win without Nikolai Khabibulin. But Detroit was without Nick Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk for game four as well. With both teams without some of their stars, it would be a test of depth to determine the winner. Continue reading
Hockey (Last) Night In Canada: Calming The Storm
Despite losing two straight in Pittsburgh, the Cardiac Canes had to feel good heading home to the loudest arena in the NHL. Home teams have won two-thirds of conference semi-final and conference final games. A win would keep Carolina’s hopes of a second Cup Finals in four years alive. But the Penguins were looking to be that road team that wins one out of three. A win last night would leave Pittsburgh one win away from a return trip to the finals. Continue reading
Hockey (Last) Night In Canada: Chi Town Rumble
If they wanted to get back into the series, last night was the time they had to do it. Already down 2-0 to the defending champions, the Chicago Blackhawks had a massive hole to claim out of to beat Detroit. But they had one advantage in game three: home ice. Would it be enough to cut the Red Wings’ lead in half? Continue reading
Hockey (Last) Night In Canada: Melting Down The Igloo
All the talk coming into game two of the Eastern Conference finals was about the Hurricanes. In each of the past two rounds, the Cardiac Canes lost game one before taking game two en route to a seven game series win. Did Carolina have enough to even the series before heading home or did Pittsburgh make a Stanley Cup Finals rematch all but inevitable? Continue reading
Hockey (Last) Night In Canada: Motoring Into Chicago
After a hard fought game one, both teams came out hard in game two. The Blackhawks were looking to go back to Chicago with a split from the first two games in Detroit. The Red Wings were looking to end the series before it really got going. Continue reading
Hockey (Last) Night in Canada: Stepping Away from Hockey Purgatory
It’s the battle of the Staal brothers! That line will never match the epic battle between Ovechkin and Crosby… and it clearly demonstrated that last night as both Eric and Jordan Staal were mostly silent throughout the game.
The Lowdown 