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NHL must address head-hunting

March 8th 2010 14:01
If I were a Boston Bruins fan this morning, I'd want to exact revenge against the Penguins for Matt Cooke's hit on Marc Savard. And I wouldn't want to take Cooke out, because why bother taking out a 3rd or 4th liner who's main job is to be a pain in the ass and hit people? No, I'd want to exact revenge by taking out Crosby or Malkin, or Gonchar or Staal, and I'd take great delight (as a Bruin fan) in seeing that happen.

Frankly, the NHL has a problem with head shots, and they're getting worse. As much as I hate the NFL for calling unnecessary roughness penalties on clean hits to a defenseless person, I can see the rationale. The teams invest too much money and time in their players to have them get broken in half by a ravenous defender first chance he gets. Head shots have long been deemed illegal, and the NFL now is actually starting to take steps to fix the concussion problem.

The NHL must follow suit. It's a game that has just as much physical violence as football when there is physical play. It's a game in which fans adore the devastating open-ice, bone-crushing hits, but seeing one of those when the defender is expecting to get blown up (a la Jagr in the Olympics) versus the one we saw yesterday is totally different. Savard didn't see it coming, and couldn't protect himself. Jagr, at least, knew he was about to get dropped, and was able to prepare his body for the blow.

I don't like writing this, since Cooke is a Pen, and an integral part of the team, but I think he needs to be suspended. And not just for 2 or 4 games. If the NHL wants to send a message - a real message, that hits like that won't be tolerated - then Cooke needs to be suspended for the remainder of the year, without pay, and during the playoffs as well. It would hurt the Pens chances at winning a Cup, but if Savard can't get back to the ice soon, then what chance does Boston have? Maybe Cooke should be suspended until Savard returns, and then add the actual suspension of 4 or 8 games on top of it.

What's going to be tough is drawing a line between a clean, brutal hit and a dirty, brutal hit. If Ovechkin lines up Crosby and delivers a hit to Crosby like he did Jagr, would Pens fans scream that it was a dirty hit and Ovie should be suspended (only to get a competitive advantage, yes)? The open-ice hit is particularly devastating because the receiving player often doesn't see it coming, and thus is more suspectible to injury. I think personally, that any hit like that front the side or behind is immediately illegal. Get rid of that crap. If you can blow up your man in a face-to-face situation, good luck. Have at it. Don't lead with the elbow, go shoulder to shoulder, and man up with the hit. Blow him up if you can, just do it cleanly, and avoid the head.

These players are too good, too skilled and paid too much money to be lost for lengthy periods due to head injuries. Furthermore, you'll erode the game's talent if you continue to allow them. There is a wealth of evidence on ways to prevent concussions, but treating them can last a lifetime. There's no amount of money that can be put on a man's health! Finally, the NHL has to be aware that professional sports IS a public relations game. Fighting is an area that I can take or leave - it's kind of fun to watch a big fight, and it sure pumps up the home crowd and the players - but I see the pointlessness of it as part of the game. Taking away dirty head shots makes the game more palatable to the average sports fan. The die-hard hockey fan will live without them. But to ensure the long-term success of the NHL, they have to try and adapt to changing times. As much as I dislike what the NFL has done, they are adapting to changing times. It's time the NHL does the same thing before a really high-profile player like a Crosby, Malkin or Ovechkin is lost for a long time due to a head injury sustained by a dirty shot. And that cannot happen for many reasons.
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Last night, the Penguins did something they haven't shown with any consistency since their 08-09 playoff run: display a killer instinct.

Throughout the regular season thus far, the Pens have been an above average team for most of the year. They usually get by with their talent, and they don't exactly have to have that killer instinct most nights, because they can find ways to win through sheer talent. That never cuts it in the playoffs, because virtually all of the teams in the playoffs have nearly equal talent. So it takes that extra step, that extra killer instinct, to put teams away. The Pens showed that last night in spades, and it's the second game in a row in which they showed it. That is a positive sign for Pens fans, because hopefully it signals that they're truly gearing up for their playoff run.

The game itself was extremely one-sided. The Rangers were caught in their own end virtually the entire night. They were playing desperate, and for them to steal a point from that game speaks volumes about how well Lundqvist played last night. Without him, it would have been an absolute laugher. With him in there, the Pens just had to shoot all the time, knowing full well that the more they shot, the better their odds were that one would sneak past him. That's exactly what happened, to, as the game-tying goal was kind of fluky, bouncing past Lundqvist after hitting Marc Staal's leg, and then the game-winner was a deflection - hard to stop those when the deflection happens mere feet in front of you.

In any event, what I'm taking from last night's game is the style and manner in which the Pens played; the win was nice but kind of irrelevant when compared to the playoff-style hockey. That's what was far more important to see, and if the Pens can begin ramping up that intensity so that they hit the playoffs running full bore, well, it could be a very entertaining playoff year once again for Penguin fans!

GO PENS!
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NHL Playoff Run

March 2nd 2010 17:22
With most teams having 20 or so games to go, the NHL playoff race kicks into high gear as the annual jostling for position begins.

In the East, Washington sits well atop the standings, and barring an unforeseen collapse will probably garner the East's top seed, and could possibly clench the President's Trophy for the best overall record. If things remain exactly as they are, that could set up another 2nd round battle between the Caps and Pens, but that has a ways to go yet.

The Devils and Senators sit in the 2nd and 3rd slots respectively, based upon their lead in their divisions. Neither team has any breathing room, as the Pens are only a point back of the Devils, and the Sabres only 1 back of the Sens. These four teams figure to be battling it out for the 2-5 slots for the rest of the year.

Slightly back of them (8 points behind the Sabres) lie the Flyers, Bruins and Canadiens. Montreal has a slim 1-point lead over both the Lightning and Rangers, and only 2 points up on the Thrashers. Worse for Montreal is that the Lightning in particular have 2 games in hand as well.

The East is beginning to break down pretty much as most people foresaw it, which was the Capitals and Penguins would be major players in the playoffs, and the Devils and Senators with enough power to make it interesting. The Devils, in particular, are playing exceptionally well, and any team with Parise and Brodeur can steal a game or a series.

The West has two teams clearly at the top, with the Sharks leading the Blackhawks by 2 points for the West's top spot (89 vs 87 points) and the Hawks have a game in hand. Both squads are also in the running for the President's Trophy. 11 points separate the 2nd place 'Hawks from the 3rd place Canucks, and it's unlikely Vancouver can make up that ground in only 20 games or so. Vancouver is in a virtual tie with the Avalanche for the NW division lead, and that will be a tight battle to watch.

Like in the East, the bottom of the West is a very tight race. The Predators, in 7th with 71 points, leads the 11th place Ducks by only 4 points. At least Nashville has a game in hand over their trailing competitors.

It should be noted in the West that some "traditional" powers are on the outside looking in right now. The Flames, Stars and Ducks would all be out, and all 3 were playoff teams last year. The Blue Jackets really fell off the map this year, and with only 60 points they do not look to be challengers for the playoffs after making it for the first time last year.

The "newbies" in the West include the Coyotes, Kings and Avalanche, 3 teams that no one really thought were capable of competing this year, but have been very pleasant surprises. Maybe the biggest surprise of all would be the Phoenix team, as it's the one involved with the legal wranglings, and they're one of the "poorer" franchises in the NHL. Being 10 points back of the Sharks means that winning the Pacific division is unlikely, but if they play solidly down the road they'll be in the playoffs. Obviously their goalie is a major factor in their quick run.

Where do I see things falling out? I see the Detroit Red Wings moving up and solidifying their spot. Now fully healthy, this is a team that is very dangerous, and woe to the higher-seeded team that has to face them. Sure, they lost major talent, but the talent remaining (now healthy) is capable of beating virtually any team in the playoffs. I see the Coyotes, Kings and Avalanche all holding on to their spots. While I'm not exactly convinced of their ability to win more than 1 playoff series, I also think that having some "new blood" in the West will make for an entertaining playoff run.

Frankly, though, in the West I see the battle coming down between the young and hungry Blackhawks and the veteran Sharks. I wonder if this is the year that the Sharks finally live up to their top billing, but then again I've wondered that year in and year out. If the playoffs ended now, the Sharks would have to tangle with the Red Wings - and there's a first round battle the Sharks are desperate to avoid. As much as people want to pick the front-runner right now, I personally think that Chicago will be the team representing the West in the Stanley Cup Finals.

In the East, the choices are much harder. While Washington is clearly the best regular season team in the East, playoff series are much harder to call when the talent is closer. The Caps can be had - it takes a lot of work, but they can be had. Ovechkin is motivated, sure, and so are the rest of his mates, but there are enough defensive flaws on this team that they have to prove their ability to win in the playoff games, and not just blowing away regular teams in the regular season. Of course I'm biased, and I think the Pens are certainly capable of making their 3rd straight run to the Finals, but there are serious doubts I think. I can't put my finger on it, but I think that the Pens are shaky in some areas. They lack that killer instinct that they had last year.

While the odds-on favorite to represent the East has to be Washington, I honestly think that any of the 1-5 seeds are capable of winning through to the Finals. The Devils, Senators and Sabres all have key players and play a smart, defensive style of hockey that will serve them well in the playoffs. The bigger problem with those 3 teams is their middle-of-the-pack offense. When you're in a playoff series, and you're offense isn't stellar, you have a razor thin margin between success and failure. A team like the Caps or Pens can defeat a great defensive team if they force the opponent out of their shell and out of their comfort zone. Easier said than done, of course, but if I were a fan of those 3 teams, and I look at the middle of the goals scored, yeah, I'd be nervous. Really nervous.

Unless things shake out like Pittsburgh wins the Atlantic, I'm betting that there's going to be another 2nd round massive collision between the Caps and Pens. It would be a hell of a lot more fun if it was the ECF, but hey, I'll take a Crosby vs Ovechkin battle in any round except he first!
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Canada 3 US 2

March 1st 2010 02:56
With 24 some seconds left, with the plucky US kids down by a goal, Zach Parise worked his magic and scored the equalizer. Me, I was sitting on the couch, my six-week old son resting comfortably on my shoulder. He didn't stir - a good sign!

At that moment, however, a number of thoughts went through my head. First was "Canada is about to throw up." And when I say Canada, I mean virtually every last person in their country. And I can honestly say I know exactly how they feel. Two years ago I watched the Arizona Cardinals score a late TD in the Super Bowl against my Steelers. The feelings are the same - that emptiness in the pit of your stomach, that lurch of anger, a plea to your team to get their stuff together. And on the heels of that, I thought this: "Well, if we have to lose in OT I want Sid to score the goal


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Gold Medal Preview

February 27th 2010 18:29
The "building" job done by the country's respective GMs are on display in tomorrow's game. Long-time Detroit Red Wing and NHL super-star Steve Yzerman built a team that focused on the elements that most Canadian players have. He wanted grit and toughness, size and strength, and of course, skill. He wanted a team that could play any style of game, but if the team forced the opponent to play Canada's style, they would win and handily. No other team in the tournament could easily match the size and toughness that the Canadian chosen bring to the rink. Their defense is not overly mobile, but it's size makes for difficult matchups, and their physical nature allows them to punish any offense. Their forwards are all supremely skilled, yet many of them are more than happy grinding away to score goals, working the cycle to wear down the opponent, and of course all have that quick-strike capability that's needed when playing the cycle game. They feature puck possession over the fancy passing, and they will hit you, hit you, hit you. And you either stand up and hit back, or you wilt. Few teams are capable of hitting back in equal measure to the Canadians. That was Yzerman's plan, and since Canada hit the medal round, it's looked like the perfect plan.

However, their opponent in the US was built by one of the NHL's ablest GMs, Brian Burke. He took a long, hard look at US Hockey and decided that the prior teams relied too much on veterans at the expense of the youth. He knew that selecting a young team was going to be a precarious decision, because young teams are unpredictable. You might get a great game from them one night, and a dud the next. When Burke looked at the potential players, he decided to forge a team with a mixture of assets. He wanted a strong but mobile defense. He wanted strong forwards who were fast - above all else he wanted to generate team speed. His ace in the hole was at goalie, where he had his choice of two stellar goalies. Knowing that he had great goaltending in front of a mobile defense would make the US team a tough team to beat. Add in the speed and general toughness of the US forwards and you have your blueprint. I also think that Burke knew full well how the Canadians would build their team, and he built his team more to the standards of the Canadians than to other international squads. Knowing the game would be on NHL-sized ice, he knew that the tight checking and physical play would be at a premium. So while all of his forwards and defense are mobile and/or fast, they're also physical. In short, the US squad was the only one in the tournament with the physical presence equal to the Canadian squad. In the last round-robin game, he got a taste of success, watching as the US team beat the Canadian team for the first time in 50 years


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NHL Epic Win

February 27th 2010 18:18
The NHL has taken its lumps. Many argue that its over-expansion was a short-sighted answer to a revenue crunch. Many further argue the over-expansion depletion of talent led to the mind-numbing neutral zone trap featuring extensive clutching and grabbing that dominated hockey from the mid 90s until the lockout. Hockey was losing ground steadily but slowly to the NBA in terms of revenue and profile, and the lockout nailed that.

Since the lockout, however, the NHL has managed in the main to do nearly everything right. Hockey is as popular as its ever been in home markets, where many rinks feature full or nearly full audiences every night. Cities where hockey was thought to be a problem in terms of draw are doing better. Even the economy has helped, with the US and Canadian dollars on nearly even terms, so that the Canadian franchises no longer operate with a monetary disadvantage


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NHL Epic Win

February 27th 2010 18:14
The NHL has taken its lumps. Many argue that its over-expansion was a short-sighted answer to a revenue crunch. Many further argue the over-expansion depletion of talent led to the mind-numbing neutral zone trap featuring extensive clutching and grabbing that dominated hockey from the mid 90s until the lockout. Hockey was losing ground steadily but slowly to the NBA in terms of revenue and profile, and the lockout nailed that.

Since the lockout, however, the NHL has managed in the main to do nearly everything right. Hockey is as popular as its ever been in home markets, where many rinks feature full or nearly full audiences every night. Cities where hockey was thought to be a problem in terms of draw are doing better. Even the economy has helped, with the US and Canadian dollars on nearly even terms, so that the Canadian franchises no longer operate with a monetary disadvantage


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2010 Olympics: Canada vs Russia

February 24th 2010 18:14
The "fabled" Gold Medal game is being held in the quarterfinals, and much to everyone's dismay, one of these two fantastic (paper) teams will go without a medal. And frankly, they have only themselves to blame.

Analyzing Russia is more difficult because I've seen less games that they've played. Their OT winner against Slovakia puts them in this tough spot. Had they won it outright


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30 years ago today

February 22nd 2010 16:27
30 years ago, in a small town in upstate New York, the upset story in sports - arguably the greatest upset in sports lore ever - took place when the plucky American kids upset the almost-professional Soviets in the semi-final game in the 1980 Olympics.

It is completely impossible to watch or read any coverage of any Winter Olympics and not see a reference to the 80 team. NBC jumps all over it. ESPN jumps all over it. Everyone jumps all over it. They've made TV specials, and a terrific movie about it. The fact that it's jammed down your throats shouldn't matter at all, because even last night after the Czech/Russia game during that 30-minute "special" in which Al Michaels interviewed 3 key players from the squad, I got goosebumps. It was a special moment, and should be celebrated as such


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As it relates to Team Canada, I have to say that perhaps having another game to play before meeting the mighty Russians will be a good thing, maybe the best thing. It's obvious that Babcock is still searching for the exact right blend of lines that can generate and sustain offensive pressure. It's kind of strange, his position, because you have so many great players, and without the time to build a system you have to throw them in there and hope that the cauldron of the Olympic experience works to coalesce the team quickly. It does not look like that has happened. Yet.

What I saw last night made me scratch my head a little. Crosby and Nash seem to be stalwarts together on the 1/1A line. Those two have generated some chemistry, but the third player has not been found. Iginla was there a couple nights ago and got 3 goals from it, but last night Mike Richards (of Philadelphia?!?!) was on the wing with Crosby. That line didn't do much, and when Iginla went back in there more shots were poured at the net


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