NHL Relocation

I have spent the past few days thinning about this, and I am excited. I have been reading an article from Forbes trying to find out some money information about the NHL because I want to talk about some relocating in the NHL. There are a lot of teams not doing well financially, and a big reason is because of their location.

The five most profitable teams are the Toronto maple leafs, Rangers, Canadians, Bruins, Red Wings and Blackhawks. Which makes sense due to the fact they are all original six teams in good sized COLD markets.

What was interesting to me was that some of the teams in the bottom 5 weren't from the warmer areas. Like the Islanders who do not pull in much money, possibly due to the Rangers consistency as o ne of the top teams in the NHL. Columbus is also a place I would expect hockey to do well but it's not working out that way. Some teams that I expected to be sitting in the bottom five are Phoenix, and Carolina.

Here's is where we start this party. Some of the teams in the lower markets could benefit from a location change. Let's start with Phoenix. The team is playing in Glendale Arizona.... A hockey team in the DESERT???? Wonder why they aren't very profitable, I mean the games must sell tickets just for people to escape the heat. The team has been on the verge of a relocation, but the past 2 years they have been payed for to stay, and they have no owner the NHL had been running the team.

Although they are not in the bottom five, I believe Nashville is not the place for a team either Truly if it doesn't snow at least 5-6 times a winter, there shouldn't be a hockey team there.

There are a few teams that could benefit from a move, and there are cities that are looking to pick up a team, so why not get these teams to a city that wants them.

Seattle has a built a new arena, and while looking to get their Super Sonics back they would love an NHL team. Portland Oregon is looking to find a team to share the spotlight with the Trail Blazers. Amateur hockey thrives out there so why not give them an NHL team, It won't hurt. Another city looking for a team is Quebec City. Moving an NHL franchise to the great white north can never be a bad idea.

Some other cities that might work are Milwaukee and Hartford Connecticut. Get those Canes back where they belong as the Hartford Whalers, and Milwaukee is cold, and those Wisconsinites love their sports and would probably love to see some pro hockey.

I don't really want to get into what teams should go where, but I think getting the lower market teams a new home could spark the players, and create some competition, such as a rivalry with teams in Seattle and Portland, and a battle for New England with the Bruins and Whalers, if they choose to go back to that name.

It's just something to ponder, for now we will see how the new conferences work out.

Game 2 preview

Saturday Night at 8p.m. We will see the Bruins and Blackhawks play game two of the Stanley Cup Final.

The Hawks took game one in a triple overtime game, after trailing by two goals, the Hawks capitalized on a turnover by Tory Krug, and then a shot bounced off of Bruins defender Andrew Ference, which tied the game.

In game two both teams will look to continue their play from game one. Each team spent a good chunk of time in the offensive zone cycling the puck for shots. Both teams also had a few break away chance, and odd man rushes.

In game one there was a lack of specialty teams due to a total of only six penalties called in the entire game. The Bruins were able to capitalize on their first power play opportunity, but neither team would see a power play goal for the rest of the game.

In game two the Hawks and Bruins will be hoping to get a few more chances on special team play.

The Bruins may be with out their top line's right winger Nathan Horton who is considered day to day with an upper body injury. Horton was seen at practice today, but not with his line. That spot was taken by Tyler Seguin.

The Bruins may need some bounces to go there way after going down 0-1 in a hard fought game one. The team had ample chances to finish the game in OT and either a defenders stick, or an extra move kept the puck from the back of the net.

The goaltenders who put on a show in game one will again show up on their game so both teams will need to be quick and precise in their offensive game while the defenders will be looking to keep every puck from the net.

Clearing the puck out of the defensive zone may be the key to this match up. In game 1 both teams had trouble clearing the zone which resulted in a lot of time in the offensive zones for each team.

If game one was any sign, game two could very likely take more then 60 minutes. What's better then play off hockey? More playoff hockey.

No Need to Worry

"it's only game 1," said everyone today. This series is off to a brutal  start and set the tone for a relentless series of games.

I'd say the teams are pretty evenly matched seeing as how Chicago's about as lucky as the Bruins are unlucky.

I would NEVER say the Hawks out played the Bruins in that game. I think that Boston looked to be the better team, and I think they had A LOT,,no that's not enough... They had A MEGA TON of chance to win that game and could not capitalize on their chances.

It only takes one scoring chance to win, even if it takes a third OT to get it.

So the Blackhawks took game 1 in Chicago, no big deal there's a whole lot of hockey left.

If you are a Bruins fan, and you are worried let me try to ease that worry.

Lets go back a bit to that goal that made it 3-2

Tory Krug, (rookie) makes a bad pass to the middle of the ice, it is intercepted and then brought in to the zone and one-timered for a goal...

I can guarantee you a nice college boy like Krug will probably never ever make that mistake again in his career. so there you go Chicago, there's one on the house. You're welcome. 

The tying goal, "oh hey johny Oduya, this is Andrew Ference's skate, let me help you out with that tying goal, you'll just owe me own." That's how the game gets tied, and then never ends.

Now lets talk about those Bruins forwards shall we. So Nathan Horton, you clearly weren't feeling you best out there, so maybe you're good chance at the net is forgivable.

Lucic, buddy, you were under pressure looking for the hat trick, we understand you're chance going by it's alright we are still in this.

Seguin i don't really have an excuse for your miss except the whole bounce didn't go your way thing

The only real blame I think to put on a Bruins forward is Mr. Daugavins. That last really good chance the Bruins had, you made one move to many, that was a nice chance for a simple redirect, no need to go to the back hand like that.

As I said before, the game was close. The Bruins were only +2 in face offs, the hits were pretty equal, and there were not a lot of penalties and in a series between two teams who take pride in their penalty kill the Bruins scored the only PP goal and both teams had 3 power plays.

In game 2 I think we will see more of the same both teams will spend a lot of time in their offensive zones, there will be a lot of hits and broken up plays, and maybe the bounces will go the way of the black and yellow, black and yellow, black and yellow.

Thoughts on the Stanley Cup Series

I did a little bit of my journalistic duty, but now it's open editorial time.

I think it is great that two of the original six teams have made it to the final this year, especially since it is their first time meeting to fight for the Cup.  Two of the the greatest sports cities in the U.S. are going head to head and I couldn't be happier, especially since one of those teams is my home town Boston Bruins.

Anyway, here are some things I think we should be looking out for. First off the goal tending.

Chicago's, Corey Crawford has been lights out posting a 1.74 goals against average which is only0.01 better then Boston's tender, Rask who only gave up 2 goals to the high scoring Pittsburgh Penguins.

Both of these goal tenders sat by and watched their teams win Stanley Cups. The Hawks in 2010 and the Bruins the next year.

The Blackhawks will really need to try and shut down Bruin's center David Krecji who leads the team in goals and assists. Krejci really steps up his game in the playoffs much like his goaltender.

Both teams have something to be proud of when it comes to penalty kills the Hawks have stopped 94.7% of their opponents power plays, and the Bruins have stopped 86.5%.  So it will be interesting to see if either teams power play can be effective.

Both teams are tough, but in my opinion the Bruins have the edge. The Bruins will get off more shots, and I think Tuukka will make more of the big saves then Crawford will.

What has been killing the teams that have played the Bruins is that no one can compete with the depth that the team has. I have seen the Bruins fourth line skate with the first line of the Penguins, if Shawn Thorton and Danny Paille can skate with Crosby, then there isn't much they can't handle.

I'm taking the Bruins in six games in this original six match up.

Bruins and Blackhawks

Tonight we will see two of the NHL's Original six teams battle for Lord Stanley's Cup.

Since their creation in 1924, the Bruins have made 17 appearances in the Cup Final. They have won six Cups which is the 4th most of all time, and 2nd among U.S. teams, (Detroit has 11.)

The Blackhawks were founded in 1926 and this will be their 8th appearance and they have won four Cups.

Each team's have held the Cup very recently, the Bruins won in 2011 and the Hawks won the previous year. 

Despite being in the league together for 87 years the two teams have never met in the Stanley Cup Final.

The road so far for both teams has been a rough one.  The Bruins were almost eliminated by the Toronto Maple Leafs, when they overcame a 3 goal deficit  to take the Leafs to overtime where they won on a goal by Patrice Bergeron.

Since then the Bruins had made easy work of the Rangers, winning the series 4-1 and then sweeping the Penguins 4-0.

The Hawks hit a speed bump when they came up against the Detroit Red Wings, whom they beat in 7 games, and then they had their way with last years champions, the L.A. Kings, whom they beat in 5 games. 

The two teams have taken a similar path to get to this point, and two of the leagues original teams playing for the Cup in the age of free agency will be something to see.


 

Playoff Hockey

     I want to take some time today to salute the NHL playoffs. I am in the midst of watching the Bruins and Penguins series and I just can't hold in my excitement any longer. Ever since I started to have an ambition to be a sports writer I have been paying a lot more attention to every sport. I am from Boston, (well 45 minutes south of Boston) so I have been following the B's my whole life but lately I have been paying closer attention and I have decided that playoff hockey is infact the most dramatic, exciting, and anxiety filled sport in the world.

      I have been considering this since my freshmen year of college and I have watched numerous football, baseball, basketball and hockey playoff games. Nothing has captured my attention and put me on my feet more then NHL playoff games.

    There is just something extra about the NHL playoffs. In football, you get one game and done and you have to wait until next Sunday to see what happens, but with the three other sports you get 7 game series that you can be excited for with maybe a day or two at the most in between.

     Now even thought basketball and baseball play seven game series, there are just things about them that make them less exciting then hockey. First off with basketball, there are just too many points, there is no need to watch anything but the last two minutes, unless a team takes a 30 point lead in the first half, there's really no need to watch the whole thing unless you're a die hard basketball fan. 

    With baseball its sort of similar, the game just moves so slow. I could change the channel for three minutes before the pitcher sets for their next pitch, then they throw a ball or a foul tip keeps the at bat going. I guess I just don't have the attention span for two and a half to three hours of that.

   With hockey though, every trip down the ice is a compelling story. Every shot on goal gets you out of your seat because that one shot can mean the difference of winning or losing the game.

  You also get games like this years Bruins series against Toronto where  the Bruins came back from a 4-l deficit and took the game to OT and won the game. This game, I believe gave them the confidence to get past the Rangers, and to now be holding a 3-0 series lead over the penguins after a double OT game last night.

  SO to recap, there is nothing like the NHL playoffs no sport has had my stomach in knots like it gets during these games. I have never yelled at my TV as much as I do, and I have never felt as satisfied after a win like game 7 in Toronto while watching any other sport.

  So if you have never watched an NHL playoff series, I suggest you make it a point to watch the Stanley Cup Finals when they come on and treat yourself to an awesome sporting event matched by no other.                                               

Bruins Vs Lightning March 1

The Bruins secure their sixth straight win in a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lighting on Saturday.

Brad Marchand scored the game winning goal on a power play with 2:16 left in the game.

His goal came on a 2 on 1 opportunity assisted by Bergeron.

Both teams got their chances on the power play, Tampa Bay was 2-8 and the Bruins were 2-5

The lighting scored on their first two power plays taking a 2-0 lead over the Bruins.

The first goal came on an interference penalty on Lucic. (5:11) The goal was scored by Steven Stamkos on a one timer from Teddy Purcell (5:32)

The second goal was scored by Alexander Killorn (8:38) off a tripping call on Andrew Ference. (7:46)

“ it's a play we have been working on in practice,” said Stamkos, “Teddy always makes good Passes,” he continued.

Stamkos is the league leader in goals with fifteen and Killorn puts in his third of the year.

The Bruins came out hard in the second period tying the game in the first five minutes.

Tyler Seguin scored on a power play created by an Eric Brewer Interference call 2:04 Seguin scored a minute and eighteen seconds later.

Just 1:17 seconds later McQuad sent a pass from the blue line down to Rich Peverley who had his stick up and loaded to slap the puck in the net. (4:39)

When asked about the conversation in the locker room in the first intermission Seguin said, “ we had to be better, we really have to come out in the second.”

The Bruins ended the second with a four minute penalty kill on a high sticking double minor for Andrew Ference.

Towards the end of the third period the Bruins had their shot at a four minute power play off of a high stick penalty by Brenden Mikkelson.

The lightning had an offensive zone turnover that lead to a 2-1 for the Bruins resulting in Marchand's 11^th goal of the season. His last four goals have been game winners.

The Lightning fall to 9-11-1 as they head to Pittsburgh on Monday night.

The Bruins go to 14-2-2 and take first place in the Northeast, one point over Montreal who head into Boston Sunday