YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Puck Daddy
    • Getty ImagesThe New York Rangers are down 0-2 to the Boston Bruins, following their humbling 5-2 loss in Game 2 and with the action shifting to Madison Square Garden. They’ve been here before: Starting a series slowly, needed a big effort in a Game 3 to either take control or find new life in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

      They were down 0-2 to the Washington Capitals this season and back in 2011. Last postseason, in their run to the conference finals, the Rangers were 1-1 against the Ottawa Senators, Capitals and New Jersey Devils heading into the third game.

      What happened in Game 3 in each of those series?

      Henrik Lundqvist happened, that’s what. The Rangers goalie is 5-0 in his last five Game 3 appearances, with the Rangers going on to win three of those series.

      He’s the King of Thirds: Lundqvist has a 1.01 goals-against average in his last five Game 3’s with a .966 save percentage and two shutouts, facing 177 shots – much better than his career average playoff numbers.

      So yeah, the Rangers are in good hands. But the question isn’t about Lundqvist’s hands entering Game 3.

      Read More »from All hail Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, King of Game 3′s
    • Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

      Think Geek• Via Wayne B., here's how you take finger hockey to the next level. [Think Geek]

      • If Patrick Roy is set to become the next head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, according to his brother, no deal is currently in place, writes Adrian Dater. [Denver Post]

      • Joe Haggerty on why the Boston Bruins and Matt Bartkowski are happy that Jarome Iginla deal never worked out. [CSNNE]

      • Why John Tortorella's words always have a deeper meaning behind them. "Remember the "shut yer yap" command to then-Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock when Tortorella's Lightning faced Philadelphia in the 2004 Eastern Conference final en route to that franchise's only Stanley Cup? The story around the NHL is that Tortorella walked into that news conference knowing he would say something of that ilk, regardless of the questioning." [Bergen Record]

      • San Jose Sharks head coach Todd McLellan hinted that he may opt to use seven defensemen in Game 4 Tuesday night. Jason Demers would sub in for an injured Martin Havlat. [Mercury News]

      • Roy MacGregor on what Craig Anderson brings to the Senators. [The Globe & Mail]

      • Darryl Sutter on why the LA Kings flew back home between Games 3 and 4: "Just our own practice facility. You know, what are we going to do up there for two days? Really? You know what, if we had all stayed up there for two days, we’d have been bored last night and today, right? Because you’re basically just sitting around the hotel and there’s nothing to do." [LA Kings Insider]

      Read More »from ‘No deal in place’ for Roy, Avs; Tortorella’s words; ranking player trade values (Puck Headlines)
    • LISTEN HERE!

      It's a Monday edition of Marek vs. Wyshynski beginning at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT, and we're talking about the following and more:

      Special Guest Star: Joe Haggerty of CSN New England joins us to talk Bruins vs. Rangers Game 3.

      • Recapping the Red Wings' win over the Blackhawks.

      • The Andrew Shaw no-goal and the tinfoil hat reaction from Red Wings fans.

      • Should referees have to answer for their calls after a game?

      • Previewing Game 4 between the Sharks and Kings.

      Question of the Day: Who is the most paranoid fan base in the NHL and why? Email puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or hit us on Twitter with the hashtag #MvsW to @wyshynski and @jeffmarek.

      Click here for the Sportsnet live stream or click the play button above! Click here to download podcasts from the show each day. Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or Feedburner.

      Read More »from Marek Vs. Wyshynski Radio: NHL’s most paranoid fans; Joe Haggerty on Bruins/Rangers
    • Pavel Datsyuk tries his darnedest to succeed despite his obvious shortcomings.

      Survey 100 puckheads, Family Feud-style, about who the most talented hockey player on the planet is, and it's a safe bet that Pavel Datsyuk is going to be on the board. Hell, there's a pretty good chance that he'd be the number one answer.

      The man is a wizard. There are wizards, I imagine, who see him do what he does and think, "Damn, that's some next-level crap."

      In other words, it would be tough to look at a guy like Datsyuk and say the reason for his success is a work ethic that makes up up for a lack of talent.

      Tough, but not impossible. Here's what CBC's Glenn Healy had to say Monday night:

      "When you look at a guy like Datsyuk, not all the God-blessed talent in the world, but he is a hard worker..."

      This is quite the thing to say.

      Now, Healy is certainly correct that Datsyuk is a hard worker. But as for that first part... I, and we'll assume anybody else that has seen Pavel Datsyuk -- who spawned the adjective Datsyukian, basically defined as "insanely skilled", and scored this goal later that same evening -- would respectfully beg to differ.

      Unless, perhaps, Healy simply sees the distribution of talent a little like the distribution of wealth. If so, I guess you could argue that Datsyuk is hockey's version of a fatcat. The 1%, as it were. He doesn't have all the God-blessed talent in the world -- just most of it. But there's still a pittance remaining for the rest of us.

      Or maybe Healy thinks Pavel Datsyuk is Justin Abdelkader.

      How does one come to a conclusion like this? I'll show you how.

      Read More »from Pavel Datsyuk may not be naturally gifted, but he works hard, says Glenn Healy (Video)
    • Getty ImagesThe people of Oklahoma are still looking for survivors in the wake of Monday's mile-wide F4 tornado that ravaged parts of the state, leaving 24 people dead and over 200 injured.

      Among the safe include members of the Edmonton Oilers' AHL club, the Oklahoma City Barons. The Barons practice facility is in Moore, where the damage destroyed two elementary schools and left a 20 mile-wide area of destruction. Most of the players, according to general manager Bill Scott, don't live near the area that was hit the hardest and the Barons' offices are downtown.

      One player, however, who was nearest to those affected was Alex Plante, a defenseman who's been living with a family in Moore since suffering a broken jaw last month.

      From Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun:

      “I’d come downtown for a dentist appointment and the family I was staying with in Moore, who adopted three Downs Syndrome kids, managed to get the kids out of their school before the lockdowns.

      “I told them to drive to our arena. That’s where we’re told to go. The underground parking garage at the Cox Convention Centre has a storm shelter.

      ...

      "Our team has been fortunate that until now we’ve never had to experience a tornado. When you get here, you hear a lot about the one on May 3, 1999 in Moore. That was the big one. But they say this is three times that size.

      “I haven’t seen anything yet,” Plante said of the devastation. “I don’t want to. Your heart just goes out to everybody.”

      When Plante spoke with Jones, he and the family hadn't been able to get back to their house to see if there was any damage.

      The Barons are currently waiting to see who they will play in the Western Conference Final, where they will host Games 3 and 4 tentatively scheduled for May 29 and 31.

      If you'd like to help the people of Oklahoma, there are a number of places to go, including the Red Cross, Salvation Army and the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.

      Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

      Read More »from Oklahoma tornado hits close to home for AHL’s Barons
    • Jersey Fouls is our ongoing exploration of the rules and etiquette for proper hockey jersey creation and exhibition. If you spot what you think may be a foul in your arena, email a photo to us at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com for inclusion in future installment.

      Via reader Jenni comes this bro-tastic bro-dacious Jersey Bro, bro:

      Seen at a Charlotte Checkers game, this guy was REALLY proud of his "BROVECHKIN" jersey, and asked me to take a picture of him (and the Nutcracker) with his own camera as well.

      I can assure you, the Checkers were NOT playing the AHL affiliate of the Capitals... so that too, is a foul, in my opinion!

      Your opinion is correct. This is a Russian nesting doll of Fouls.

      (Also, it speaks to the power of the Foul that we didn’t even notice the albino cousin of Cookie Puss holding a bag of peanuts next to him.)

      We were curious if “Brovechkin” was an actual thing, and not just Mike Green’s daily greeting to his captain. We discovered it has an Urban Dictionary entry:

      “a bro who has dirty swag.”

      That bro should probably find a Laundromat.

      Anyhoo, there’s also “Brovechkin” gear available on sites like Bros Like These Shirts, in case you absolutely have the need to call attention to what a wide bro-cabulary you have. Vomit.

      (Coming Up: A George Parros mustache Foul; a hideous Tampa sweater; Toronto Maple Leafs Tribute jersey; Detroit Red Wings hate Frankenjersey; another Caps Foul; Revisionist Sweaters; and a rather crude ‘69’ jersey.)

      Read More »from Jersey Fouls: Parros mustache foul; Alex Brovechkin; Jagr, Schenn Dead To Me sweaters
    • Getty ImagesThe Colorado Avalanche have been a rudderless, sputtering franchise for the last few seasons. To stabilize the team, they reached back into their glory years, elevating Hall of Famer Joe Sakic to Executive VP of Hockey Operations.

      It appears the next Avalanche coach might be born out of that same nostalgia.

      Patrick Roy, the co-owner/GM/head coach of the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, will be the next coach of the Avalanche, as his brother told Adrian Dater of the Denver Post on Monday.

      Via Dater:

      "They're discussing the final details of an arrangement. Colorado is going to be very happy. Patrick is looking for a new challenge," said Stephane Roy, the younger brother of his famous sibling.

      The Avalanche would not confirm a deal is in place. Patrick Roy could not be reached for comment, and neither could Avalanche vice president of hockey operations Joe Sakic.

      Stephane Roy, who played briefly in the NHL, posted on his Facebook page Monday night, "For all my friends I'd like you to know before the official news spreads that my older brother will be the new coach of the Colorado Avalanch(sic)."

      Patrick Roy was traded to the Avalanche in 1995 after a contentious split from the Montreal Canadiens. He would win 262 games from 1995-2003, along with two Stanley Cups and a Conn Smythe in 2001.

      He was previously offered the head coaching gig for the Avalanche in 2009, before the team fired Tony Granato and hired Joe Sacco. He turned down the job, citing “family reasons.”

      Read More »from Patrick Roy is the next Colorado Avalanche coach, according to his brother: Report
    • Getty ImagesNo. 1 Star: Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings

      For the second straight game, Howard was able to withstand the Chicago Blackhawks' attack, though he was a little busier in Game 3. Making 39 saves, Howard backstopped the Red Wings to a 3-1 victory to take a 2-1 series lead. One of his biggest saves was early in the third period when Patrick Sharp came in on a breakaway:

      No. 2 Star: Drew Miller, Detroit Red Wings

      Miller was part of the 1-2 punch Detroit gave Chicago in the second period as his goal put the Red Wings up 2-0 and came 31 second after Gustav Nyquist opened the scoring. Miller was also credited with four blocked shots.

      No. 3 Star: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings

      Datsyuk's goal gave Detroit a 3-1 lead and came two minutes after Patrick Kane cut the lead to one and a minute after Andrew Shaw's goal was waived off.

      Detroit has won nine straight games in which Datsyuk has scored a goal.

      Read More »from NHL Three Stars: Howard’s 39 saves help Red Wings take series lead over Blackhawks
    • Getty ImagesThe frustration for the Chicago Blackhawks continues.

      First, it was the referees. Now, it's the play of the Detroit Red Wings, who took a 2-1 series lead with a 3-1 victory Monday night. Just take a look at the penalties called in the third period -- all five on Chicago. Detroit did their part, killing off four Blackhawks power plays and putting the game out of reach in the second period.

      The Red Wings took the game by the neck midway through the second period and never let go. Gustav Nyquist and Drew Miller scored 31 seconds apart to give Detroit a 2-0 lead. Nyquist's goal was a thing of beauty:

      In the third period, the Blackhawks woke up after a questionable hit from behind by Niklas Hjalmarsson left Johan Franzen down on the ice, and Patrick Kane scored on the ensuing rush. Just over a minute later, Andrew Shaw's goal was waived off for goaltender interference and the momentum swung back in the Red Wings' favor for good.

      Jimmy Howard (39 saves) was again solid and the Red Wings continued to receive contributions from their depth, a reason why teams succeed this time of year.

      While the Blackhawks will need to quickly move past Game 3, the Red Wings -- halfway to the Western Conference Final -- know there's still work to be done and their next two wins will be the toughest to come by.

      "We won tonight, but we've got to be back at it on Thursday," Patrick Eaves told NBCSN's Pierre McGuire afterward.

      "Let's be honest, we haven't done anything yet," said Mike Babcock.

      Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

      Read More »from Red Wings frustrate Blackhawks in Game 3, take 2-1 series lead
    • In Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals, with the Blackhawks trailing by a goal in the third period, this happened:

      Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

      Andrew Shaw thought the Blackhawks had knotted the game, moments after Patrick Kane scored to cut the Detroit Red Wings’ lead to 2-1. But a split-second after the puck bounced past Jimmy Howard and over the goal line, referee Brad Watson waived off the score on account of goalie interference.

      Watch it again. If there’s any interference, it’s minimal, and occurs after Jakub Kindl bumps Shaw deeper into the crease. It’s close to being a complete phantom call, wiping away a goal and changing the momentum in the game – Pavel Datsyuk made it 3-1 Detroit just over a minute later.

      The rule, via the NHL rule book:

      69.1 Interference on the Goalkeeper - This rule is based on the premise that an attacking player’s position, whether inside or outside the crease, should not, by itself, determine whether a goal should be allowed or disallowed. In other words, goals scored while attacking players are standing in the crease may, in appropriate circumstances be allowed. Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal; or (2) an attacking player initiates intentional or deliberate contact with a goalkeeper, inside or outside of his goal crease. Incidental contact with a goalkeeper will be permitted, and resulting goals allowed, when such contact is initiated outside of the goal crease, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact. The rule will be enforced exclusively in accordance with the on-ice judgment of the Referee(s), and not by means of video replay or review.

      ... If an attacking player has been pushed, shoved, or fouled by a defending player so as to cause him to come into contact with the goalkeeper, such contact will not be deemed contact initiated by the attacking player for purposes of this rule, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact.

      What made the call even a bit more specious: The Kane goal was scored with Johan Franzen down in the Wings’ attacking zone after a cross-check from behind by Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson, which was un-penalized. Was this a makeup call? Hooray for "game management!"

      We’ve banged this drum more frequently and fervently than Dave Grohl recording “Nevermind”, but once more with feeling: There’s absolutely no reason why goalie interference isn’t a reviewable play via a coaches’ challenge.

      Unless your reason is that referees’ blown calls will be made more obvious through this check and balance from the War Room. Because they would be, and rightfully so, because sometimes they steal goals from a team due to their incompetence. Whether that's the case here is your call.

      Read More »from Blackhawks robbed by refs on no-goal in Game 3 vs. Red Wings? (Video)

    Pagination

    (15,425 Stories)
    Play Yahoo! Fantasy Hockey
    Yahoo! Sports Shop

    Yahoo! Sports Authors

    Yahoo! Sports Blogs