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.
Florida Panthers Become the 1st to Clinch; Can They Finally Win a Series?
We finally have a playoff clinch in the 2021-22 NHL season. The Florida Panthers defeated the Buffalo Sabres by a score of 5-3, behind a pair of goals from Anthony Duclair, and a late power play goal by Mackenzie Weeger that sealed the game. With the win, the Panthers became the first team to clinch a spot in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs, locking in their third straight playoff appearance, but only their eighth in the team's history. We know the story; the Florida Panthers debuted in the 1993-94 season, the same year as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, and the same year that the Minnesota North Stars moved to Dallas. Their third season was their most successful one, as they went 41-31-10 and reached the playoffs for the very first time--a run that saw them go all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, where they were swept by the Colorado Avalanche.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
What Went Wrong: Canadiens Eliminated After Dream Season
We have our first elimination of the 2021-22 NHL season, and it belongs to the Montréal Canadiens. The Washington Capitals' 4-3 shootout win over the Buffalo Sabres on March 25 ended up eliminating the Canadiens (who were idle on that evening) from playoff contention; marking the end of a very disappointing season that has seen so many unexpected negatives. The Canadiens' last two seasons prior to this one were surprisingly stellar, and to think, the team's good seasons and good fortune were the result of the league being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
A Wild "Flower" Blooms in Minnesota
I remember learning about the Minnesota Wild's debut into the NHL two years before it actually happened. The Wild were part of an expansion wave that spread out during the 1990s and entering the 21st century; in fact they were one of four teams who debuted in three straight seasons. 1998 gave us the Nashville Predators, 1999 gave us the Atlanta Thrashers (who moved to Winnipeg in 2011), and 2000 gave us not only the Wild, but the Columbus Blue Jackets as well. It only took them three seasons to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time, and it would see them reach the Western Conference Final.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Stand Back! The Hurricanes Are Coming Through!
Hard to believe that it's been 25 years since the Hartford Whalers moved from Connecticut to Raleigh, North Carolina and became the Carolina Hurricanes. The Whalers' relocation to Raleigh made them the 3rd straight team to move, following the footsteps of the Quebec Nordiques in 1995 (becoming the Colorado Avalanche) and the original Winnipeg Jets in 1996 (becoming the Phoenix Coyotes). In the quarter-century they've played in Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes have enjoyed a level of success that they never had in Hartford, which included two trips to the Stanley Cup Final in 2002 and 2006, with the latter year seeing them hoist the Cup.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
All That Glitters is Not Golden Knights
I've written two stories on the Vegas Golden Knights already. The first one centered on how the team and their fans have become immensely unlikable in less than five years of existence. The elitism that has blanketed the culture of the Golden Knights is due to the results of their inaugural year. As we all know, Year One saw the Golden Knights finish first in the Pacific Division, surpass the 100-point mark, and reach the Stanley Cup Final. They even won the first game of the Final, but lost the next four, but in spite of the defeat, just getting there on their first try was enough to pump the egos of the Golden Knights and their fans. They expected this every year. I'd go as far as to say that the team felt they deserved to be handed the Cup on the following year.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Are There Any Reasons for Optimism Regarding the Toronto Maple Leafs?
The Toronto Maple Leafs are having another good season so far. They are in the Atlantic Division's Top 3, going toe-to-to with the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning, the latter being the back-to-back defending Stanley Cup Champions. They have the fifth-best record in the entire league; other than the Florida teams, only the Colorado Avalanche and the Carolina Hurricanes have better records. Speaking of the top five, the Leafs are in that group in a lot of categories: they are third in GFA (Goals For Average) with 3.65, they have the top Power Play in the entire league at 30%, and they Penalty Kill percentage is 4th overall at 85%. With all of that, I ask, "Are there any reasons for optimism for this team?"
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
A Historic Quest Disguises the Washington Capitals' Many Problems
The Washington Capitals are a fascinating team. For decades, the team was snake bit. I still remember their Stanley Cup Final appearance in 1998, but it resulted in zero games won, and they were desperately looking to get back there. Then the 2005 draft happened, and that's when he joined the fray. Alexander Ovechkin. Talk about hitting the jackpot. Both he and Sidney Crosby were part of that same draft, but while Ovechkin was looked at as more of a star between the two, Crosby was the one racking up the hardware--winning three Stanley Cups while Ovechkin couldn't get past the second round of the playoffs.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Inferno: The Rise of the Calgary Flames
It's ironic; the Pacific Division is clearly the worst out of the four divisions this season, yet it has the most intriguing storylines. The up-and-down play of the Edmonton Oilers, as well as their signing of Evander Kane. The Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks becoming playoff contenders. The Vegas Golden Knights struggling, the Vancouver Canucks staying in the race, and the Seattle Kraken's first season. The biggest story, without question, is the Calgary Flames suddenly going on a winning tear and taking the lead in the Pacific Division.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
The Phenomenal Career of Tuukka Rask
This week, longtime Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask called it a career; he announced his retirement from the National Hockey League. Rask's career had been an amazing one, as his stellar goaltending put the Bruins back on the map for the first time in decades. He definitely made a lot of waves in his career, with his first one coming even before he started in the NHL.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
NHL 2021-22 Western Conference 1st Half Recap
The picture in the NHL's Western Conference has been a very intriguing (and crowded) one, to say the least. While it appears that the Eastern Conference may have their playoff teams set in stone, the Western Conference has a lot of pieces on the board entering the All-Star break. The potential for a thrilling second half and home stretch is right in front of us, but before we look at the possibilities, let's look at where the West teams stand.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
NHL 2021-22 Eastern Conference 1st Half Recap
It was rocky, but the NHL made it to the All-Star Break, the midpoint of the season. The second half will begin sooner than planned, as the 95 games that were postponed due to the outbreak of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, will all be played during the NHL's originally scheduled Olympic break during the heart of February. But that's the second half. This is about the first half of the season, and it was quite interesting in the NHL's Eastern Conference. Here's how things stand in the East entering the break.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
An Avalanche of Goals and Wins
I have been a fan of the Colorado Avalanche since the team's final two seasons as the Quebec Nordiques. Since the move, the Avalanche have won two Stanley Cups, but it has been a long road back to the prominence this team had back in the late 1990s/early 2000s. The resurrection surprisingly began with a three team trade on November 5, 2017, and just like that, the Avalanche became a playoff team. Here it is, barely over four years later, and now, I am happy to say, the Avalanche we remember from yesteryear, are back.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
