Kukla's Korner

TiqIQ Ticket Preview: Senators vs. Penguins

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

05/23/13 at 05:45 PM ET | Comments (0)

By Matthew Feuerman of TiqIQ,

Following a 7-3 loss at the hands (or should we say flippers) of the Pittsburgh Penguins Wednesday night, the Ottawa Senators are on their last leg, down 3-1 to arguably the NHL’s top team.

Has the Senators’ luck run out, or did they simply run into an unstoppable force they couldn’t overpower with grit, hustle and focus, similar to how they dismantled the higher-seeded Montreal Canadiens earlier this month?

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Filed in: NHL Teams, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: tiqiq

Patrick Roy Returns To Denver As Head Coach

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

05/23/13 at 04:45 PM ET | Comments (12)

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the organization has reached an agreement in principle with Patrick Roy to become the franchise’s Head Coach/Vice President of Hockey Operations.  Due to the Memorial Day weekend, the Avalanche will hold a press conference next week in Denver to formally introduce Roy.

Roy, 47, becomes the sixth head coach in Avalanche history and the 14th in franchise history.  In addition to his head coaching duties, Roy will also work with Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic in all player personnel decisions. 

“This is a very exciting day for our fans and a significant moment in our organization’s history,” said Avalanche President Josh Kroenke.  “Patrick’s passion for the game of hockey both as a player and as a coach defines who he is as a person.  He is a winner and is coming back to Denver where he created numerous special moments on and off the ice while helping lead us to two Stanley Cup championships.”

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Filed in: NHL Teams, Colorado Avalanche, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: patrick+roy

Our Iron-Chinned Intern Is Keeping His Death-Stare On The Prize

Blog: Abel to Yzerman By VooX

05/23/13 at 04:10 PM ET | Comments (75)

Uncle Mike is not to be trifled with.  Ask Joel Quenneville.  I'd send you to Bruce Boudreau but he is still eating his feelings and can't speak between bites of ice-cream covered corndogs.  While Babcock continues to strike fear into his opponents, it was not always that way.

At least that's what George tells us:

During the second intermission of a playoff game in 2002, Holland recalled Babcock telling him he wanted to be the next coach of the Red Wings.

"I don't hire interns,'' Holland said he told Babcock. "The next year, he knocked us out of the playoffs."

If you aren't aware of the political machinations of a corporation, "I don't hire interns." is the equivalent to "Shut your whore mouth." around here, and I can dig it.

In that moment of absolute heartbreak Uncle Mike realized something that has stuck with him since.  The sweet baby Jesus does not let you join the greatest sports Organ-I-zation in the world without being worthy.  Only by showing the competitive fire necessary for the relentless and continuous drive to win the Cup every season does one become a Red Wing, much less lead them.

More Uncle Mike, via George:

"When you put on our sweater, there's an obligation to Mr. Howe and Mr. Lindsay and the people that came before you to compete like a Red Wing."

There is a different standard in Hockeytown.  A higher standard filled with hookers, puppies, and firetrucks with a metric tonne of banners hanging from the rafters.  Speaking of rafters, news out of Denver is that the Dive have just retired Seth Jones' number in anticipation of his being drafted this summer.

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Red Wings prospect news: Griffins prepare for Western Conference Finals; training camp tix news

Blog: The Malik Report By George Malik

05/23/13 at 04:00 PM ET | Comments (1)

While the Red Wings are preparing to battle the Chicago Blackhawks tonight, the Wings' AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, are preparing to host the Oklahoma City Barons in the first two games of the AHL's Western Conference Finals, which willt ake place at Van Andel Arena on Friday and Saturday night.

As the Detroit News's Ted Kulfan notes, the Wings players who spent the first half of their 2012-2013 season in Grand Rapids before joining the parent club for its 2013 campaign aren't surprised by the Griffins' post-season success...

"They have a good team, and the older guys are making a difference," said Andersson, noting veterans such as Jeff Hoggan, Nathan Paetsch and Brennan Evans. "In the American League there are so many young guys and teams, you need good leadership."

The Griffins open the conference finals against Oklahoma City on Friday at Van Andel Arena.

"I still talk to a lot of guys down there, I keep track of them for sure," said Nyquist, who was the team's leading scorer (60 points) while playing 58 games in Grand Rapids. "Guys have taken on bigger roles and the veterans have done a great job."

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Filed in: | The Malik Report | Permalink
 

Diving Talk Heats Up In The LA/SJ Series

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

05/23/13 at 03:28 PM ET | Comments (8)

from Lisa Dillman of the LA Times,

Kings defenseman Drew Doughty scoffed at the notion, put forth by Sharks forward TJ Galiardi, that goalie Jonathan Quick engages in “a little embellishment.”

Doughty stood up for his goalie Quick, a spirited defense, and then said the San Jose player is a noted diver. He took issue with the comments and said they went beyond the usual playoff back-and-forth.

“It’s not even playoff talk,” Doughty told The Times after Thursday’s morning skate before Game 5. “It’s just funny to even hear that from a guy who is the biggest diver on their team. Like it’s just ridiculous he can even say that, to be honest.

“But I don’t want to get involved in that stuff. I don’t think you have to watch many (Sharks’ games). You can just watch three of his shifts and you’ll see how many times he dives. There’s been times where even the refs are telling him, just get up, because he’s diving so often.”

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

From the Dub: Dear Hockey Gods, this is London calling

Blog: Above the Glass By Samantha

05/23/13 at 03:00 PM ET | Comments (1)

By now, you’ve seen and heard about the hit heard around the major junior hockey world last night and the resulting punishment rendered this morning. To recap: Saskatoon Blade Dalton Thrower left his feet to level Portland Winterhawks’ forward and Saskatoon native Taylor Leier with a clearly targeted head hit that was not called at all by the referee. Who, by the way, was standing within clear sight of the hit. TV video coverage clearly shows Thrower smiling after the hit. Taylor was unable to walk off the ice or down the tunnel without help. There is no place for that kind of hit in this game, and there is most certainly no place for referees who stand idly by and don’t call it. Thrower has been suspended for the remainder of the Memorial Cup, and we are hearing that Taylor is likley not going to play in any more tournament games in front of his hometown crowd. Tonight, the London Knights have the opportunity to oust the Saskatoon Blades in a tiebreaker and advance to play the Winterhawks on Friday in the Memorial Cup semifinal. The Blades will be done if London prevails. So for one night only, my motto is “Go Knights Go!”

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Scratch his back with a hacksaw:  Penguins broadcaster Mike Lange remains an iconic hockey voice

Blog: The Confluence By Tony

05/23/13 at 02:59 PM ET | Comments (0)

From Allen Panzeri of the Ottawa Citizen:

Honoured by the Hockey Hall of Fame with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 2001, Lange is an icon in the Steel City, following in the big footprints of Bob Prince, who was the voice of the Pirates for 28 years, and Myron Cope, the colour commentator on Steelers’ radio broadcasts for 25 years.

Lange is so ingrained as the city’s voice of hockey that his fans will turn down the sound on NBC broadcasts and listen instead to his call of the game.

“If I ever own my own skyscraper, instead of smooth jazz as the elevator music I think I’m just gonna loop Mike Lange goal calls,” wrote one devotee on Twitter a couple of days ago.

The affection is mutual.

“If they enjoy listening to me and can have some fun with it, hey, that’s the ultimate compliment,” Lange said this week while watching the Ottawa Senators and Penguins practice at Scotiabank Place.

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I’m A Happy Man Today

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

05/23/13 at 02:57 PM ET | Comments (0)

Thanks to Molson's Answer The Call Of The Cup, I have enough beer to get me through the Stanley Cup Final with some left over for the UFA signing period.

Each limited-edition Molson Canadian bottle provides a different scenario on the packaging and lets you enter your choice online.  You can then compare how others voted on the topic too.

US residents can check out Molson's Facebook Page and you can enter the game here.

Thanks again to Molson for delivering my favorite beer and have fun with the contest.

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Red Wings-Blackhawks Game 4 game-day updates: Wings understand gravity of their situation

Blog: The Malik Report By George Malik

05/23/13 at 02:29 PM ET | Comments (10)

Updated 5x at 4:46 PM, and Babs' game-day presser is below: As Paul's already noted, the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks exchanged the usual "all is well" sentiments as they prepared to face off in Game 4 of their second-round series tonight (8 PM EDT, NBCSN/CBC/97.1 FM, with a post-game show to air on FSD), and coach Babcock was in fine form during his game-day presser...

The NHL Network also filed a game-day report which includes comments from Babcock, Henrik Zetterberg, Niklas Kronwall and Justin Abdelkader...

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Filed in: | The Malik Report | Permalink
 

Video- Dalton Thrower Suspended For The Remaining Games Of The Memorial Cup

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

05/23/13 at 02:21 PM ET | Comments (4)

Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: dalton+thrower

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