It’s been a long few weeks since there has been a home game for the Arizona Coyotes, but we’re finally here again and the outfit choices were endless (due to some unnecessary shopping sprees). I would say that I’ve been thinking about this day since the last home game on January 15th, but honestly I haven’t had time for that (the Super Bowl kept me busy).
I like to refer to myself as a “haute mess” (still chic but, you know, still chaotic). This is especially my life motto when I have a day full of classes and I’m still not caught up on sleep from the week before. Thank goodness for Kombucha and the leftover curry that I snacked on for dinner. So as per usual, my hair is the mess and my outfit was ultimately put together in the car (I had tights on and a leather jacket on when I left).
I fell in love with this skirt before it was even in stores, and so I had to have it for the game tonight. When I saw it in the Spring catalogue for J.Crew, I knew that it would be in my closet the second it hit stores…I can just say that I’m proud of myself for waiting 9 days before I drove home with it.
Of course I always put myself in the predicament of having one piece in mind that I have to wear, and then not knowing what to wear with it. This happens to me every single time because I imagine an outfit that ends up looking like I stepped off the crazy train. Let’s just say that the bright blue sweater I thought would be fab made me look more “5 year old school girl who doesn’t know how to dress herself” than I intended upon.
50 shirts after my first idea (which I tried in several different forms) I stuck with the shirt that they have it paired with in the catalogue, and this is probably what I should have done initially. Of course I make things hard on myself when I’m in a rush. So simplicity just wasn’t on my side because, life….
Anyways, I thought that I needed a change from my normal leather jacket, and this white blazer I had on a hanger laid out all nice in my trunk (which is an anomaly) seemed like a good option. I think I look a little Easter-y, but it looks good so all is good.
My shoes are officially bad luck. Four overtime games when I’ve worn them. We’ve gone 2-for-4.
Press Level Fashion Tip: If you can wear tights under a skirt or a dress, do it. Unfortunately tonight the tights were not on my side and my already too-big shoes just weren’t having it. Sliding around even more with my aching feet just seemed like a miserable combination. Obviously, you want to look professional, and girls have it hard, but tights really do help regulate some heat in your legs.
Since the Royals last home game on January 19th, the Royals have amassed many accomplishments including, Cam Reid representing the team in the 2015 All-Star Games, achieving seven straight wins and moving up to second place in the Eastern Division. At the All-Star Games Reid competed and took second place in the hardest shot competition with a speed of 90 mph. He was only beaten by the very last competitor Yann Sauve of the Orlando Solar Bears, who walloped the puck at 92 mph. Once the games were over the Royals hit the road for five away games and beat South Carolina, Gwinnett, Evansville, Indy, and Cincinnati. On February 4th the Royals came back home in 2nd place hoping to continue their winning streak.
1st
On Wednesday night the Royals faced off in a close game against the Wheeling Nailers who are currently ranked fifth in the Northern Division. Try as they might in the 1st period, neither team could get the puck over the goal line. Both the Royals goalie Connor Knapp and the Nailers goalie Eric Hartzell brought their A-game and blocked every shot. Connor Knapp would later go on to be selected as the star of the game.
2nd
In the second period the Royals finally broke through Hartzell’s defense to make the score 1-0. The Royals were short-handed at the time due to a tripping minor called on Jordan Heywood. The puck was originally in Wheeling’s possession when defenseman Morgan Ellis attempted to take a shot, but snapped his stick in half. Royals forward Pat Mullane stole the puck and promptly bolted for the net. The stickless Ellis tried to stop Mullane, but in the end was unsuccessful as Mullane’s shot slid past both him and Hartzell. In the second half, the Royals built their lead to two. At 13:18 Adam Hughesman scored his 15th of the season. After Olivier Labelle and Cam Reid passed the puck and positioned it in front of the crease, Hughesman adeptly tapped it in past Hartzell.
3rd
In the third Wheeling made a last attempt at reclaiming the game. At exactly eight minutes into the period, Nailer forward Josh Archibald scored. After Wheeling won the face off, their forward Riley Brace quickly found Archibald, who switly shot one into the upper corner of the net on the Connor Knapp’s stick side. Archibald was playing his first ECHL game after two seasons in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Despite multiple attempts and outshooting the Royals 28-9 in the first two periods, the Nailers were not able to catch up to the Royals. Reading claimed their eight straight victory and sent Wheeling home defeated.
What’s Next?
After winning eight straight games over the past three weeks, the Reading Royals rank second in the Eastern Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference. Away games seem to be the key to success for the Royals this season as all of these games except for Wednesday night’s game were played on the road. So far this season Reading has had a total of 16 wins on the road and only six losses. Their home record is 13 wins and nine losses.
The Royals have also been loaned forward Domenic Monardo from the AHL Springfield Falcons. Monardo played for the Reading last season and even picked up the Rookie of the Year award. Last season he also set a new record for most goals scored by a first-year pro. With his experience in the AHL, Monardo is sure to be a useful addition to the team.
The Royals will take on the Florida Everblades in three back-to-back games this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Florida is currently in first place in both the Eastern Division and the Eastern Conference. The Royals only trail them by three points though, so this weekend could potentially bring the Royals into 1st place if they continue their winning streak.
Before the Minnesota Wild acquired Devan Dubnyk from the Phoenix Coyotes, They were struggling with goal tending. Niklas Backstrom and Darcy Kuemper did not live up to what they expected them to for the season, and Josh Harding was injured right before the season started. On January 14th, the Minnesota Wild traded the Phoenix Coyotes a 2015 third round draft pick in exchange for Devan Dubnyk. This may have been the smartest move that they have made thus this season.
Before Dubnyk put on the Wild jersey, the 2004 first round draft pick had lost some of his confidence. Last season, Dubnyk was traded by his team that he had spent his whole career with, the Edmonton Oilers, to the Nashville Predators. With the Oilers, he posted a 3.36 GAA, and with the Predators, it moved to a worse 4.35 GAA. Then, he was sent to play in the American Hockey League with the Hamilton Bulldogs. During the offseason, he then signed a contract worth $800,000 with the Arizona Coyotes, taking a huge pay cut.
Since Devan Dubnyk has been in Minnesota, he has completely turned the Wild’s recent record around, as he has won six out of the seven games that he has started in. This has left him with a GAA of 2.35 and save percentage of 92.3%. Also, to make his games with the Minnesota Wild even more impressive, he has posted a total of three shutouts in the eight games he has played in. The most recent shutout he had was versus the Chicago Blackhawks, in the Wild’s 3-0 win on February 3rd.
The Wild are still going to have to play well the rest of the season because they are still in tenth place in the Western Conference, and they need to get to eighth place. But, with Dubnyk being on a hot streak, they could very well be right where they need to be shortly. Their next game is on Saturday versus their rival, the Colorado Avalanche, so fans will be able to see if Dubnyk will continue his hot streak in an exciting game. He may have just given the Wild the spark that they have been looking for all season.
The Lightning made the painful decision waive veteran goaltender Evgeni Nabokov, with coach Jon Cooper likening it to cut-down day during training camp.
The team placed Nabokov on waivers on Sunday and recalled rookie goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy from their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. On Monday Nabokov cleared the waivers, but his NHL future is up in the air.
Out of the 11 games Nabokov played for Tampa this season, he has a 3-6-2 record with a 3.15 goals-against average and a .882 save percentage. The last game he played was on December 11 against the Carolina Hurricanes where he stopped 29-of-30 shots.
‘Nabby,’ was a well-liked member of the team, and their resident jokester. Yet he was wise beyond his years and always there not only to help a fellow player, but the coaches as well.
“He’s been such a good guy for me, such a good teammate, always has a smile on his face, always fun to be around,” Lightning goalie Ben Bishop said. “Whenever you lose a good locker room guy or goalie partner, every year you kind of build friendships with the guys you’re with and it was no different this year. I got along really well with him. He’d give me insight here and there which really helped out.”
As a coach entering his third season in the NHL, Cooper said he was able to learn quite a bit from Nabokov, a 14-year veteran of the league.
“He’d seen and done everything,” Cooper said. “He’s seen things I haven’t seen yet. He was helping not only our players but he helped me in areas. He opens your eyes to things. You look at things differently because of his perspective.”
It could possibly be cited that being a backup goalie for the first time in his career was a factor in his uneven play. For his entire career he was always the starter, but at the age of thirty-nine was now playing backup to Ben Bishop.
Vasilevskiy arrived in Tampa just as the Lightning were coming off of the ice after practice. The 20-year-old had to immediately hop on another plane as the team traveled to St. Louis Monday afternoon.
In his four games with the Lightning this season, he went 3-1. In his one loss he stopped a Lightning rookie record of 45 shots. His 14-5-0 record with the Crunch made it an easy choice to recall him. In his 24 games in Syracuse he has two shutouts, a .919 save percentage, and a 2.38 goals-allowed average.
The Lightning will play eight of their next 12 games on the road, with three different sets of back-t0-backs.
“He’s going to get starts,” Cooper said. “We’re not bringing him here not to get starts.”
When Thatcher Demko (Team USA) faced Eric Comrie (Team Canada, Winnipeg) in the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship it was history making. Two goalies who grew up in California were now facing each other in the World Junior Championships. This is a testament to how much hockey has progressed in the United States in the last two decades.
Demko grew up in San Diego and Comrie, a dual citizen, grew up in Edmonton, Alberta and Orange County, CA. They’ve been competing against each other since the age of 11, when they were both in the Czech Republic as part of the USA Selects team put together by Terry Christensen. Later on they were teammates playing on the Montreal Meltdown in one tournament after that Czech Republic trip.
Comrie did play for a U.S. team as well; just not a national team. A pretty interesting occurrence that can happen from time to time in the world of hockey.
Thatcher Demko – All American Prospects Game (Photo: Russ Cohen)
“When Thatch played for SDIA (San Diego Ice Arena) and no one took him seriously, he was so determined and knewhe had what it took to be a successful goalie,” said his mom, Danielle. “Believing when you can’t always see it; that’s the difference between good and great.”
To me this was one of the best stories of the recent WJC tournament and nobody really talked about it. Sure Canada won the game but the point was these two goalies had battled together and against each other many times beforehand. I’m sure they will again someday in the NHL when Comrie’s Winnipeg Jets play against Demko’s Vancouver Canucks.
“We’re very blessed for the opportunity and he’s worked very hard to get where he is. It would be fun to get to play against Eric. He’s extraordinarily talented and I hope he gets a chance to represent his country. We’ve known Eric and his dad for several years now. It’s always exciting to see California players do well,” said his dad, Brenton.
All eyes were on Demko in the Beanpot semifinal on Tuesday, February 3, as he tried to advance his team to the Championship game to once again get the hardware for Boston College. Unfortunately after a five-year reign as Beanpot Champions, the Eagles fell to the Northeastern Huskies and will play in the consolation game on February 9 against Harvard University. You never know what’s going to happen in this tournament and the talented netminder propelled the Eagles to the win last season in his first ever Beanpot. The impressive tender also played in the Frozen Four last year in Philadelphia as a Freshman.
In their last ten games, the Boston Bruins have compiled an 8-1-1 record which has included two shutouts against the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers. They have gone in and battled hard against some of the teams that are ahead of them in the Eastern Conference standings and beaten them in their own barns, including most recently the 5-2 win over the New York Islanders in what is the Bruins last game in the Nassau Coliseum.
So as the Bruins hosted the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night, there was confidence on their bench. The Kings came into the game having earned just 10 points out of a possible 20 for the month up to that last day of January. In their previous five games they were 1-2-2 and were feeling a little desperate for the win.
The Bruins and the Kings play similar styles — physical, grinding games. So it was no surprise when the first period ended that the score was knotted at zero, with the Bruins having outshot the Kings by just ten to six. The second period saw the first goal of the game–an even strength goal by Brad Marchand, with assists from Zdeno Chara and Gregory Campbell at 17:20 of the period. The second period was also the only period in which any penalties were called. The first was a cross-checking called on Jeff Carter, when his stick met the face of Bruins’ defenseman Adam McQuaid in an ugly way at 3:47 of the period. The only other penalty was a tripping called on Patrice Bergeron at 19:32 of the second, forcing Boston to be shorthanded at the beginning of the third.
The Kings tied the game up thirteen minutes into the third period. In games before the holiday break, an overall deflation of the Bruins bench would have been apparent. Instead, Boston retaliated with Chris Kelly’s tip in from Carl Soderberg (the other assist went to Torey Krug) just 1:33 later. And Marchand would score his second on the night with an empty netter at 19:43 of the third to ensure a Bruins’ victory.
Tuukka Rask wearing Patriots “Do Your Job” tuque
While the score shows that the Bruins had the win and that they are certainly improving on the overall play, it was the stupendous play of Tuukka Rask between the pipes that ensured that the team got Saturday’s win. And though only recognized after the game with the third star, his efforts throughout January earned him recognition as the third star for the month of January by the NHL, as announced on Monday, February 2.
One area that appeared to start out strong for the Bruins was their puck management and overall play in the neutral zone. They were able to slow the Kings down and prevent solid opportunities for the opposition in their defensive zone. Unfortunately as the game went on, especially in the third period, the Kings appeared to have solved the neutral zone to a degree.
“Yeah [the Bruins] came up pretty hard and they were throwing us around a little bit and guys needed to step up and play the physical style,” Jordan Nolan, who scored the third period goal for the Kings, told The Pink Puck. “So I thought we accomplished that and slowed them down a bit like you said and we drew up a new plan and it seemed to work a little bit.”
Puck management is something that the Bruins are aware of and in hockey–a game of mistakes–something they will want to do better as they strive to continue to climb in the standings.
Chris Kelly wearing Patriots “Do Your Job” tuque
“For sure, I think, in certain times during the game, I think, managing the puck is one thing that we can do a lot better. I thought there were periods of that game that we didn’t manage the puck or were too quick to give it away,” Kelly responded to The Pink Puck after the game. “It’s a game of mistakes. The great thing is, you can always get better. I don’t think I’ve ever played, as a team, a perfect game. There’s been a mistake here or there. Learning from them and trying to get better is the reason we all play. I think that’s why good teams have success, because they’re always trying to get a bit better.”
Rask, not only stood tall between the pipes, but withstood a Kings’ stick to his mask, which clearly caused him a little discomfort.
“I was just worried about that rebound there; trying to hold onto that and then all of a sudden I felt a hard hit on my head,” Rask told reporters. “I was seeing stars there for a second, but you know, I’m tough.”
While Rask was standing tall in his net, the same could be said of Jonathan Quick at the other end, though he would not agree with that assessment. He kept 30 of the 32 shots from going in, but it was the two he let in that were clearly eating him up after the game. It was written on his face, and rang through in his responses to the media. He was holding himself accountable for the loss.
Jonathan Quick
“Doesn’t matter. I didn’t hit me; it went in the net,” he said about the first Bruins goal and whether he was screened or not.
“I didn’t stop it,” he responded forlornly in regard to the Kelly go-ahead goal.
Despite Quick pointing out that his team had good chances throughout the game to get points, it was clear that he did not hold them responsible for a lack of solving Rask, instead the weight of the loss he felt squarely on his shoulders.
One of the things that all the players seemed happy with was the fact that the referees let them play their style of game, with few whistles. Some games of this physicality could have been stop and go as the special teams spent the majority of the time on the ice. Instead, with few exceptions the threshold was high in regard to what constituted a penalty and the end result was a great game for all who watched.
Every month, the Sharks Foundation “Sharks Player of the Month” program honors Sharks player(s) who have contributed the most to the team. Centerman Logan Couture was named as the Sharks Player of the Month for January. This is his fourth time honored.
The 25-year-old was drafted ninth overall in 2007 by the Sharks and is a product of their AHL affiliate that was in Worcester, Mass., where he scored 20 goals and 33 assists in 42 games during the 2009-10 season. His success continued to grow after coming to San Jose for his first full season in 2010, and he has been an asset to the team, organization, and the NHL ever since.
In January he had 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists), which led all Sharks, and finished with a plus-2 rating. He really shined against Pacific Division rivals in January, registering 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) in four games played.
Currently, he is tied for first on the team in points with 43 (18 goals, 25 assists) and is second in goals scored and second in assists. He is all over the NHL leader boards as well this season, ranking in the top 25 for many aspects of his game – tied for 5th in shorthanded goals (2), tied for 14th in shots (155), and 12th for blocked shots (43) among forwards.
Couture had his first full NHL season in 2010-11 and celebrated many accomplishments that same season. Some of his accolades included being named a Calder Memorial Trophy Finalist and member of the NHL All-Star Game. He was the first in Sharks franchise history to record 30 goals in his first two NHL seasons, with 32 goals scored in his rookie season, another franchise first and 2nd in the league for the 2010-11 season.
Clearly, Couture is an outstanding player who continues to push himself and his team forward. As an integral part of the Sharks, it is anticipated that many more accomplishments will come as we head into the second half of this season.
The Sharks‘ longest home stand of the season meant lots of time at the rink, which of course meant lots and lots of outfits to dream up to wear on game night. A long stretch of home tilts to attend isn’t just good for the hockey-lovers soul — it also caters to little reporters that have a little too much fun picking and choosing what fun ensemble to sport come puck drop.
A long homer with several games to attend means I could play with styles, colors — heck even different printed tights! Interestingly enough, right at the start of this seven-game stretch, I became very inspired by springy, minimalist fashion: cardigans, slim skirts, subtle prints and matchy-matchy jewelry. All paired, of course, with my go-to ballet flats and a great pair of stockings!
Here’s the model I used for what would end up being four-games-worth of outfits.
The Cardigan: Hockey is a jacket sport, and sporting a lighter sweater no doubt requires that you bring a heavy bomber to the game with you. That being said, a short, lady-like cardigan is very wearer-friendly for game night. While lighter, more-filmy wraps are fun for a night on the town, go with a thicker knit sweater to wear in the box. I like H&M’s “BASIC” cardigan — yes, they call their separates “BASIC” and frankly I’m too busy to care about the label — for their quality and color variety. Your cardy can be the statement piece in your ensemble or a single color, depending on the pattern of your skirt and what you choose to wear underneath said sweater.
The Shell: Wearing camisoles to work can be tricky. First, because it’s cold! Secondly, because you don’t want to wear anything too risqué that will make others question your professionalism, or worse, get you into trouble. I stick with GAP scoop neck tees that are cute without being too low-cut, come in a wide variety of colors, and are super soft. Bonus — they’re form-fitting enough to tuck into your skirt without bunching.
The Skirt: High-waisted, slim fit but not hip-hugging, and should hit about mid-thigh. Brandy Melville is the absolute go-to for this style, although H&M “BASIC” has a wide variety as well.
The “Arm Party”: It’s no secret that I have just as much fun picking out my jewelry as I do picking out my outfits. This go-round I focused on different combinations of both brass knuckle and midi rings, but kept to smaller styles. (Yes, those are skulls, which were an absolute must when the Sharks hosted Metallica Night. But notice that I left out the extra big skeleton rings and kept it minimal!) The only bit of jewelry that I let go a little large was my watch — I’m rather obsessed with big menswear watches. Choose a bracelet or two to match your time piece and you’re out the door!
That should do until the team returns next weekend. I’m going to go curl up on the couch and enjoy my hockey whilst sporting sweats for the rest of the week.
Until the next puck drops,
The Girl In The Black Tights
The eighth annual Hockey Weekend Across America is less than three short weeks away, and it’s going to be better than ever. Hosted by USA Hockey, this three-day event was created in 2008 with the aim of energizing the hockey community at every level, increasing exposure of this incredible sport all across the United States, and providing opportunities for those who haven’t played hockey to try it – ultimately resulting in more people playing the game at all levels. The event will take place February 20-22 this year, with the final day of Hockey Weekend Across America falling on the 35th anniversary of Miracle on Ice.
“Hockey Weekend Across America is something the hockey community looks forward to each year,” said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. “From grassroots programs across the country to the National Hockey League and every level in between, this weekend is about celebrating all the wonderful things about our sport and also giving new people a chance to try our game, whether it be on the ice as a player or as a fan attending a game.”
Each day celebrates a special theme, and fans can join in on the fun through USA Hockey’s Facebook and Twitter pages all weekend, using the hashtag #HWAA.
Friday, February 20, is “Wear Your Favorite Jersey Day,” sponsored by ShopUSAHockey.com. As the name implies, fans are encouraged to show their team spirit by wearing their favorite jerseys, which shouldn’t be too hard for all of us die-hard fans. I’ll have to choose between my 2010 Ryan Miller USA Hockey sweater, my Buffalo Sabres script wordmark third jersey (such a shame they retired that design), and my custom Hilary Knight USA Olympic number. Tough choice, but Knight will probably get the nod this year. The Facebook and Twitter pages of USA Hockey will be accepting photos from across the country as they search for America’s most passionate hockey fans.
2013 Wear Your Favorite Jersey Day – Hockey Weekend Across America
Saturday, February 21, will play host to what is, in my opinion, the best hockey event all year. Hundreds of rinks across the country will invite thousands of kids to lace up a pair of skates for the first time, and get a taste of hockey during “Try Hockey Day,” sponsored by the National Hockey League. Try hockey days give children a chance to fall in love with the game, and learn invaluable skills about being part of a team they can use later in life. Equipment and skates will be provided for children aged 4-9, absolutely free to try! To find a participating rink near you and register, visit TryHockeyforFree.com.
2014 Try Hockey Day – Hockey Weekend Across America
The event will go out with a bang on Sunday, February 22, which is “Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes” day, and also the 35th anniversary of the unforgettable Miracle on Ice. The hockey community is encouraged to develop ways to honor their local hockey heroes, including posting pictures and stories on USA Hockey’s Facebook and Twitter. NBC and NBCSN will be providing Hockey Day in America coverage, featuring an NHL triple-header and giving us a glimpse at hockey of all levels across the United States.
For #31 on the San Jose Sharks, saving 31 shots that earned him his 31st career shutout was “still a little special even though it’s been a while.” 31-year-old Antti Niemi was spectacular Saturday night, the 31st of January, versus the Chicago Blackhawks. Clearly, the stars were in line for this one.
Building off their momentum from their win against the Anaheim Ducks earlier in the week, Melker Karlsson gave the Sharks a quick lead only five minutes in. This was his eighth goal in just 21 games in the NHL. Matt Irwin and Joe Thornton got the assists, which gave Irwin a three-game scoring streak and Thornton his 30th assist on the year. After a no-goal second period, despite a handful of power plays, Thornton scored on an empty-netter late in the third right after Antti Raanta was pulled. Karlsson was in on that goal as well, earning his second point on the evening on Thornton’s goal, giving him a total of 8 points for the entire month of January. It seems Karlsson and Thornton are reading each other very well on this top line.
For most of the game though, the Sharks only had a one-goal lead, which is never safe. But it was Niemi who kept them alive.
Thornton reflected that “Nemo played great. I think for half the game the shots were 2-1. But he stuffed a few breakaways. He was a stud for us.” Particularly amazing was Niemi’s robbery on captain and All-Star Jonathan Toews. For all his efforts, the crowd was pleased and cheered “Nemo! Nemo! Nemo!”
Niemi’s amazing show aside, the heat in this battle was apparent by the first faceoff, especially in the first period with a few scuffles and uncalled slashes. Although consistently trailing by at least 10 shots the entire game, it was the Sharks who doled out more hits, 30 to 16. I love analyzing stats, but sometimes stats don’t tell the whole story alone, and this game was a perfect example of that. Although the Hawks did get a few good looks, by Toews and Brandon Saad, it was all Niemi in this one.
Raanta knew it too. “We had lots of good scoring chances but (Niemi) was one of the reasons why we lost the game. You know when you play a shutout you are the king of the rink so he was really good today,” he commented after the game.
Monday night the Sharks will host the Edmonton Oilers and hope to continue their good performance at home, which is now 4-1-1 in the last six.
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