Kukla's Korner

More Logic To Calls

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

04/24/06 at 12:59 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Al Strachan of the Toronto Sun,

Add Montreal Canadiens coach and general manager Bob Gainey to the list of people who approve of the National Hockey League's revamped officiating approach. "I thought that the consistency, and being able to judge what the officials are doing, got better as the year went on," said Gainey. "Now I see that there's more incidental contact that's not being called a penalty -- and shouldn't be. There's more forgiveness if two guys are fighting for the puck and somebody's legs come out from underneath him. "I see a little more logic in their decisions in those areas."

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Emery A Fighter

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

04/24/06 at 10:54 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the Ottawa Sun,

Senators rookie Ray Emery considers himself to be a fighter. He’s had to fight his way — at times literally — to an NHL job and, now in his first full season with the Senators, he’s had to fight to be taken seriously as the goaltender who can back Ottawa in its quest for a first Stanley Cup. It’s a good thing then that he likes a good fight so much that he has his mask decorated with the images of boxing legends.

Emery stirred up some bad press when he wore a Mike Tyson goalie mask in a 5-0 home loss to Boston on Monday night, so much so that he won't be wearing the protective artwork again. "We didn't ask him not to wear the mask," Senators general manager John Muckler said Tuesday. "We just had a discussion about what was right and what was wrong. He said he would take it off."

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Put Away The Whistle

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

04/24/06 at 10:33 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the Daily Times,

Just some math to digest before we get to the crux of this mockery of what once was the greatest roller coaster of emotion in all of athletics - the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In the first eight games of the 2006 postseason, there were 108 power plays. That's not a typographical error, 108 is the number. Yes, that's almost 13 power plays per game (12.9 to be exact). Meanwhile, 11 of the 16 teams in the playoffs scored at least one power-play goal in their opening contest. Some teams scored absurd numbers, like Nashville with four and New Jersey with five. ...It's a joke. It was a joke early in the year, but that was the regular season and adjustments could be made. Playoffs are no time to experiment or to try to prove a point or make a statement.

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Williams Admits Mistake

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

04/24/06 at 10:31 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the London Free Press,

"I knew he (Pronger) was coming down on me and I was trying to protect the puck," said Williams, who had scored in the first period to tie it. "I've got to be stronger there. I've got to make sure I get it out. It's playoff time and the blue-line is key. You've got to get the puck in and get the puck out." Teammate Brendan Shanahan came to Williams' defence. "In past years, maybe he'd be out of the lineup, but he's not," Shanahan said. "He'll be in the lineup and he'll be on his line (with Steve Yzerman and Robert Lang) and he'll be manning the point on the power play and be expected to play a big part in us winning the series. "On most goals in the NHL, a mistake occurs. It's not always malicious. And when you're expected to be a playmaker, like Jason, you can't do that when you're thinking one mistake and I'm in the press box."

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NHL Or NBA

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

04/24/06 at 10:26 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the Dallas Morning News via Myrtle Beach Online,

The NHL reseeds after the first round, which only makes sense. If an 8 upsets a 1, why should the 4 or 5 seed play the 8 while the 2 plays the 3? That can happen in the NBA. Not in the NHL. TV coverage: NBA moves back into a tie. Charles and Kenny and Ernie in the TNT studio, ESPN's Bill Walton with both his profound and ridiculous utterances? I've got to be honest with you, I still haven't found OLN on my dish. Overtime drama: Yes, the NHL crushes one out of the park and we're all tied at 2. Said it before, will condense it here. No other team sport has to end with such sudden elation for the winner, depression for the loser than playoff overtime hockey. In the NBA, you can watch the clock and see it coming. In the NFL? Please, have another field goal.

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Esche Goaltending A Positive

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

04/24/06 at 10:16 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the Philadelphia Inquirer,

The glass is still half-full. That is the trick of positive perspective the Flyers have to take from Saturday's elongated introduction to the NHL postseason - as if they have another choice. The glass is half-full, but the Cup... well, that's another story. Playoff hockey for the Flyers is now, as it has ever been, about the Cup. Other teams can take heart and solace from decent postseason results, letting the warmth of a round or two of success carry them into a long summer of hope for the future. ...The most important, most calming piece of information that any hockey team can ever receive was bestowed on the Flyers in the 3-2 loss. It is what will lead them through the thicket of tonight's rematch in Buffalo and light their way when the series shifts to the Wachovia Center on Wednesday. They have the hot goaltender.

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Paint On- Ready To Rock

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

04/24/06 at 10:13 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the Calgary Sun,

Boy, is my face red. Three shades of red. And yellow. And black. And white. Made over by the magnificent Melody Kiellek prior to last night's Flames game against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, my face became a nervous canvas for her sure-handed and skilful artistry. Ten grams of paint and a half-hour later, I have been transformed from Flames-supporting couch potato, into the ultimate Flames fan.

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Ranger Woes

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

04/24/06 at 10:08 AM ET | Comments (0)

via the NY Post (reg. req.),

The Rangers have little choice but to try to return Jaromir Jagr into action despite his left arm injury, probably a shoulder dislocation, suffered in Game 1. The twists and turns have all gone against the New Yorkers already. The Devils are operating on the assumption Jagr will shrug off his injury and suit up for the Blueshirts at the Meadowlands. The Rangers are already considering dumping folk hero Henrik Lundqvist in favor of 2002 Devils-killer Kevin Weekes in goal

Jason Ward, a PK specialist who left Saturday's game with what has been diagnosed as an isolated MCL sprain of the right knee will be unavailable for the remainder of the first round, if not longer. Rucinsky, meanwhile, is all but certain to not only miss tonight's match, but Wednesday's Game 3 at the Garden. It's possible he'd be able to return either next Saturday for Game 4 or next Sunday for a hypothetical Game 5. "I'm really limited; I can't really do much," said Rucinsky. "I'd hoped I could do more with a new splint on the finger, but it didn't work out. As anxious as I am to play, it makes no sense to go out there if I'm going to be useless and can't contribute."

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Can Carolina Change Their Game

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

04/24/06 at 10:00 AM ET | Comments (0)

from Al Strachan of the Toronto Sun, T

he Carolina Hurricanes thoroughly have enjoyed their season of fun and frolic. But the post-season puts a much greater priority on hard work than on fun, and tonight, the Hurricanes' intention is to make some serious adjustments, to get away from regular-season mode and shift into playoff mode. But can they do it?

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Will Canes Make Net Change

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

04/24/06 at 09:52 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the AP via the Toronto Star,

Martin Gerber remains confident in his abilities, and the rest of the players in the Carolina Hurricanes' locker room feel the same. His coach? Well, Peter Laviolette certainly has faith in his goaltender, even though he stopped short of committing to start Gerber in Game2 of the Eastern Conference series against Montreal. "I haven't addressed it, and I won't," Laviolette said yesterday, a day after the Canadiens beat Gerber and the Hurricanes 6-1 in the opener.

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