Kukla's Korner Hockey
Category: NHL-Teams
Biron Understands His Role
by Paul on 04/11/08 at 12:55 PM ET
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from Ed Moran of the Philadelphia News,
“The key is always more emphasis on the goaltender. If we believe it or not, it’s always going to be that way and goalies are always going to be at the forefront of the playoffs because it’s an important position.”
Good thing Biron knows that, because the Flyers’ playoff hopes rest on his shoulders, particularly against Washington. The best-of-seven series will open tonight at the Verizon Center.
Stacked together, the Flyers and the Capitals match up very well. Each has a crop of scoring forwards, though Washington does have Ovechkin, a player who can take over a game by himself.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Philadelphia Flyers, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: marty+biron
Morning Line
by Alanah McGinley on 04/11/08 at 12:54 PM ET
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From the Washington Times:
Is [Bruce] Boudreau ready to be an international folk hero?
“I don’t know,” he said. “I just stay in the house. I turn off the TV because if I see myself, like most people, [they] wish they were 30 pounds lighter.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Washington Capitals, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: bruce+boudreau
Winning Without Alfredsson
by Alanah McGinley on 04/11/08 at 12:11 PM ET
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From Bruce Garrioch at the Ottawa Sun,
The word is if Alfredsson tried to come back now he wouldn’t be much help anyway. He hasn’t been on the ice since he suffered the injury a week ago against Toronto for a reason: He’s not ready to skate.
The Senators have to prove they can win without Alfredsson.
They didn’t do it this season by going 3-9 in the 12 regular-season games he missed as a result of various injuries—including his hip and groin.
“He’s a key part of our team, but we can win without him,” said Senators centre Jason Spezza.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Ottawa Senators, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: daniel+alfredsson
Phaneuf Road Show Not A Hit
by Paul on 04/11/08 at 12:08 PM ET
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from Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun,
There was no chance of the Shark Tank faithful serenading Phaneuf with a song for his special day, not while they were busy firing the boos that were raining down on him in both games so far in this series. Every time Phaneuf touched the puck, the boobirds came out.
“They obviously don’t like the way I play or they’re just trying to do their part to help contribute,” Phaneuf said with a shrug.
“It’s part of the game. It’s a fun building to play in—there’s a lot of energy and a lot of emotion.
“They’re a loud group of fans, so it’s an exciting building to play in.”
Phaneuf may be a fan favourite in the Stampede City, but it’s not a show that goes on the road.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: dion+phaneuf
Goaltender Battle Continues Tonight
by Paul on 04/11/08 at 12:03 PM ET
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from Lynn Zinser of the New York Times,
Heading into Game 2 on Friday night, the Rangers assume Brodeur will bounce back from his unraveling, letting a puck sit free in the crease long enough so Ryan Callahan could come from behind the net to score.
But Lundqvist does not need to think about bouncing back. Game 1 was a continuation of a strong finish after a midseason swoon. In his last 14 regular-season games, he allowed more than two goals only three times and never allowed more than three.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Wings Keep Coming At You
by Paul on 04/11/08 at 11:19 AM ET
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from Ken Wiebe at Best of Seven,
We’re not about to suggest a sweep is in the offing, but goalie Dan Ellis was the only reason the 3-1 game (including an empty-netter) was close.
Having said that, without a pair of turnovers (one by Marek Zidlicky and the other by Shea Weber, which took a crazy bounce off the arm of a linesman and landed back into the defensive zone) the Predators were in position to steal Game 1.
“They just keep coming at you, so we have to limit our turnovers, limit the chances we give them and give ourselves a better chance to win,” said Ellis. “You’re going to have your turnovers because they clog up the neutral zone as good as any team. They don’t give you very much.”
added 9:24am, from the NHL Blog at the NY Post,
Brian Rafalski was shaky on the blueline for long stretches and Dominik Hasek can thank Lady Luck as much as—if not more than—himself for keeping the puck out of his net. The Detroit team that played tonight looked far different than the dominating side that racked up 115 points in the regular season. Nashville took this game to the Wings, and were much closer to a win than the final score indicates.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Not The Ducks From Last Year
by Paul on 04/11/08 at 11:14 AM ET
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from Helene Elliott of the LA Times,
In their first playoff game as the defending Stanley Cup champions, facing a team that was imploding during the final month of the season, the Ducks tripped over their own lofty expectations and dissolved into an ugly pile of mush before a stunned crowd that didn’t fill the Honda Center in body or spirit.
All the mistakes the Ducks overcame last spring because their character and scoring power ran so deep were insurmountable for them Thursday night.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Bruins Take A Beating
by Paul on 04/11/08 at 11:10 AM ET
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from Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe,
It’s time to adjust, in a hurry, because the flat tire the Bruins hitched to their postseason bandwagon last night isn’t taking them anywhere but straight to the ditch.
There are beatings, and then there are total, all-out William Bendix what-a-revoltin’-development-this-is BEATINGS, such as the one the Bruins suffered inside Bell Centre. They came out tentatively, summarily had a pair of Kostitsyn goals (No. 1 Sergei, No. 2 Andrei) jammed into their net, then spent most of the remaining 57-plus minutes chasing the Canadiens without ever coming close to catching them.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Out Ref’d
by Paul on 04/11/08 at 11:04 AM ET
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from the Calgary Herald,
But with the splendid netminding of Evgeni Nabokov, not much offence was required for the Sharks, who happily cuffed the Calgary Flames 2-0 in National Hockey League playoff action Thursday at the HP Pavilion.
Calgary coach Mike Keenan refused, more than once, to be dragged into a discussion about referees Marc Joannette and Tim Peel.
“I’ll share those thoughts with the league and with the supervisor of officials,” said Keenan, whose side was saddled with six straight minors in a nine-minute span in the second period. “I’m not going to comment on it. I don’t have a comment on it . . . I’m biting my tongue here.”
Flames captain Jarome Iginla was more outspoken about the penalty disparity—but not by much.
“I haven’t seen that (a string of penalties) in a playoff game. It wasn’t even that vicious. Nah, it’s a tough one,” said Iginla.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, | KK Hockey | Permalink
The 2nd Assist
by Paul on 04/11/08 at 10:58 AM ET
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from the Tennessean,
The controversy over the game-winning goal centered around whether an attempted clear by Predators defenseman Shea Weber hit linesman Pierre Champoux at the blue line or outside the blue line.
Television replays left little doubt that the puck hit Champoux, but apparently he told the Predators otherwise.
“He denied everything,’’ goalie Dan Ellis said. “What a beauty. He said he didn’t have any contact with it. But it is what is. You can’t do anything about it.’‘
The puck eventually found its way to the stick of Pavel Datsyuk, who set up Henrik Zetterberg for the decisive score at 6:54 of the third period.
more...
Watch the video and you decide…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators, | KK Hockey | Permalink
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About Kukla's Korner Hockey
Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.
From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.
Email Paul anytime at pk@kuklaskorner.com
