hockey
We talk pucks and objects of that kind. We yell, complain, and analyze in the language of hockey fandom. Gretzky can do no wrong.
Avalanche Game 2 Recap: Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
The Colorado Avalanche's season opener saw the team flex on offense. Five goals, two on the power play, a dominant win over the Los Angeles Kings. Next up was an outing against the San Jose Sharks, and as a longtime Avs fan, I do have memories of the classic Avalanche/Sharks battles. However, those were against the strong Sharks teams who made the playoffs almost every year. These, sadly, are not those Sharks. The Sharks have suffered since reaching the Western Conference Final in 2019, and it seems like their rebuilding period will never end. Nevertheless, they were prepared for their second game of the season, as were the Avs.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 1 Recap: The Road to Reclaim Begins
April 30, 2023. Since that very day, I've been waiting for this day, October 11, 2023. On the former date, that's when the Colorado Avalanche's attempt to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions came to a fast and abrupt end. I wasn't literally counting down the days, but I was looking forward to the following season, because Game 1 of 82 begins a mission to reclaim the throne.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Reviewing Opening Day of the 2023-24 NHL Season
It's back, baby! The 2023-24 NHL season has arrived, and it started with a huge bang. First off, some important dates. The annual Heritage Classic will take place on October 29, 2023 in Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium, home of the CFL's Edmonton Elks. The Edmonton Oilers will host the Calgary Flames on that evening. The annual Winter Classic will take place on New Year's Day 2024, and will feature the Vegas Golden Knights and the Seattle Kraken at T-Mobile Arena, the home of MLB's Seattle Mariners. Also, for the first time since 2016, two Stadium Series game will take place in the same season, with both of them emanating from MetLife Stadium. First off, the New Jersey Devils will face the Philadelphia Flyers on February 17, 2024, and on the following day, the New York Rangers and the New York Islanders will face each other. As announced many months ago, the 2024 NHL All-Star Game will take place in Toronto on February 3, 2024.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Cale Makar: The Real Elite 8
All Hail Cale! This is my 888th story on Vocal, and with three eights on my story total, I just had to make #888 a piece about a young player who can easily be the best defenseman in the NHL today: the next/true Great Eight, Cale Douglas Makar. Now, I'm an Avalanche fan, so of course, I'll say that Makar's the best dman in the league. But here's the thing. I say it on social media quite a bit. Some people know I'm an Avalanche fan, but despite this, I never get accused of playing favorites. That tells you that a vast majority of hockey fans know that Makar is the best blue-liner in the game right now.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
The Captivating Career of Patrice Bergeron
On July 25, 2023, just one day after celebrating his 38th birthday, Patrice Bergeron called it a career. This was not surprising news. When the Boston Bruins were shockingly defeated in Game Seven of the opening round against the upstart Florida Panthers, we saw Bergeron tearfully hugging longtime teammate Brad Marchand. It had been hinted for months before the playoffs started that this past season would be Bergeron's last. That moment with Marchand basically sealed it, as it was reminiscent of Aaron Rodgers and Randall Cobb's moment in the Green Bay Packers' 2022 season finale.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Found a Way: A Look at the 2021-22 Colorado Avalanche
There were three main reasons why I was looking forward to the 2021-22 season. One, the season was back to normal. I did enjoy the bubble playoffs from 2020, the Round Robin and Qualifying Rounds that were followed by four thrilling rounds played all in Canada. I also enjoyed the shortened 2020-21 season with localized divisions. But it was nice to see the first full season with the normal divisions since 2018-19. Two, it was a new day for NHL telecasts in the United States, as the greatest sport in the universe was returning to the ESPN networks for the first time since the 2003-04 season, and was also debuting on Turner Sports. Thirdly, and most importantly, it was because I had a good, strong feeling that it would be the Colorado Avalanche's year.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
The Hallowed Career of Jarome Iginla
Earlier this month, it was announced that Jarome Iginla would return to the team where he still serves as a household name: the Calgary Flames, but in a front office position, as the advisor to the general manager. I often beam when I hear the name Jarome Iginla, not just as a diehard hockey fan, but as a diehard Black hockey fan as well. The man affectionately known as "Iggy" set a huge bar overall for hockey, but for Black players and hockey fans, he would become the undisputed measuring stick.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Stanley Cup Final Game Five: What Happens in Vegas...
Well, it happened. The Vegas Golden Knights are the 2023 Stanley Cup Champions, and they did not mess around in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final. The Florida Panthers were completely demoralized entering this game; they couldn't muster a comeback in Game Four on their home ice, and even worse, they had to play Game Five without their anchor, Matthew Tkachuk. Something told me that this would be it for the Panthers, and while I was right, I was not expecting the Panthers to completely phone it in.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Stanley Cup Final Game Four: Sunset in Sunrise
The Florida Panthers enjoyed their first Stanley Cup Final game victory in franchise history on Thursday night, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights, 3-2, in overtime. It wasn't easy, but they got the win, and this year's Final now has some "oomph" in it. Here's what the team could have faced entering Game Four. Had they lost that game, they could have faced getting swept in the Final on the exact anniversary of the other time they were swept in the Final. Instead, the Panthers made it a series, and they have a chance to even this thing and turn this battle for the Cup into a two-out-of-three series.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
The Incredible Career of Raymond Bourque
After 22 years...Raymond Bourque...is featured on Vocal! Born on December 28, 1960, Raymond Jean Bourque's foray into hockey began in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, instantly becoming the league's top defenseman. At the age of 18, Bourque was drafted eighth overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1979 NHL Draft, though the Bruins actually had plans to draft another defenseman: Keith Brown. The Chicago Blackhawks ended up snagging Brown at 7th, so the Bruins decided to "settle" for Bourque. Boy, what a consolation prize!
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Stanley Cup Final Game Three: Scratching and Clawing
June 10, 1996. Nearly 26 years to the day. That was the last time that the Florida Panthers hosted a Stanley Cup Final game; the memorable 1-0 triple overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche that completed a four-game sweep. Though the Panthers fans were happy to see the Cup Final at their place for the first time since that exact date, they know that they would be even happier with something that the team hasn't had: a win in a Cup Final game. The Panthers entered Game Three down 2-0 against the Vegas Golden Knights, and becoming the second team in NHL history to lose their first six Cup Final games, joining the St. Louis Blues (who lost their first 13) on that short list.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Stanley Cup Final Game Two: So Much Misconduct, So Little Time
You know, when a team loses Game One of a series, it's often followed by said losing team usually learning from whatever mistakes they make, but even then, the outcome is fluid. Said team could end up winning Game Two and evening things up. Or...they could still lose, but still leave their game playing much better than they did before. What we saw from the Florida Panthers in Game Two of this year's Stanley Cup Final was the absolute opposite of either of the outcomes I mentioned.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
