All in all, 2013 was a pretty good year for the LA Kings as they made it all the way back to the Western Conference Finals following an up and down season before succumbing to the powerful Blackhawks. The year didn’t end so well as a mediocre performance in Dallas on New Year’s Eve following a shutout in Chicago the night before, left them with their first four-game losing streak of the season. So far, 2014 isn’t off to a great start as the Kings keep spiraling downward.
In a chance versus team whose number they’ve had for the past couple years, especially in the playoffs, the Kings came up empty. It was also a chance to snap their losing streak and at least come home with two extremely valuable points to salvage something from an awful road trip, but as is Kings style, they were unable to take advantage of the multiple opportunities presented to them. Normally, Kings and Blues is a very hard hitting, low-event hockey affair. Thursday night’s game was the complete opposite.
Brief recap:
As a team whose discipline has been trending in the wrong direction, all of the Kings should have made a New Year’s resolution to stay out of the penalty box. The game wasn’t even two minutes old before defenseman Matt Greene whiffed on the puck and gave the Blues a four minute power play. The first two and a half minutes of the double minor were excellent. The Kings were stellar in keeping the Blues to the perimeter and held them without a shot on goal. One crazy bounce off the backboards and a fortunate bounce gave Brenden Morrow a golden opportunity to put the puck in net. He didn’t miss. It was also the Blues’ first shot on goal of the evening. That pretty much set up the rest of the game for the Blues. Through the rest of the period, the Kings owned the puck and did everything right except score. The Corsi was around 75% for the Kings and 25% for the Blues. Down 1-0, it seemed like it would only be a matter of time before the Kings would score.
The second period did not start out much better than the first with Jeff Carter heading to the box for tripping. They almost had a shorthanded chance on the PK, but unfortunately Stoll shot it wide (hey, Kings fans, at least it wasn’t high and wide as usual!) This seemed to give the Kings momentum as they heavily outshot their opponent. There was some back and forth action, but the most dangerous plays seemed to be in favor of the Kings, again, seeming to give the impression that Kings would get one back at any moment. No such luck. Then, just over half through the period, Dwight King went off to the box for tripping. Remember what I said about the New Year’s resolution for better discipline? Yeah, well I’m sure you can guess what happened next. US Olympian TJ Oshie doubled the Blues’ lead and Martin Jones was done for the night. Ben Scrivens came in and things did not improve. Minutes later, Oshie put it past the glove side of a partially screened Scrivens. The Kings got three power plays (one of which was 5v3) within the final five minutes, but nothing happened. They may have given up a chance or two shorthanded as well.
After two periods, the Kings were outshooting the Blues 2-1 (I guess to be expected with such a score affected game) and had 17 scoring chances to the Blues’ 10. Even with nearly 10 minutes of power play time, the Kings could not find the back of the net while the Blues went 2/4 on theirs. To say the Kings’ special teams were not working in their favor is a great understatement.
To add insult to injury, the Blues scored two more goals in the first five minutes in the third period while the Kings couldn’t even figure out a way to get on the board in spite of numerous chances and a late power play to ruin Brian Elliott’s shutout.
It was not only a moral victory for the Blues but it was a big two points the Kings desperately needed to avoid falling out of playoff contention. They’re not there YET but, oh boy, they sure want to make things interesting with some do or die games later this season. Meanwhile, the Kings need to go sit in a corner and cry in shame at not being able to beat league average goaltender Brian Elliott (yes, I am insulting the goalie who just shutout the Kings. He’s still league average and still not very good in general. But props to him for beating a slumping Kings team. Woo. Congrats on your moral victory, guys!). The Blues have several key players out with injury and their bottom six is decent-ish. So not being able to beat a broken Blues is cause for shame and humiliation.
The Kings out attempted the Blues by a wide margin
This Fenwick chart above, from ExtraSkater shows the unblocked shot attempt by the Kings. It was close for about 10 minutes before the Kings pressed down and were shooting on net from anywhere they could.
| Team |
TOI |
GF |
GA |
CF |
CA |
CF% |
FF |
FA |
FF% |
SF |
SA |
SF% |
|
|
| St. Louis Blues |
60.0 |
5 |
0 |
42 |
70 |
37.5% |
34 |
46 |
42.5% |
26 |
30 |
46.4% |
|
|
| Los Angeles Kings |
60.0 |
0 |
5 |
70 |
42 |
62.5% |
46 |
34 |
57.5% |
30 |
26 |
53.6% |
As you can tell, the Kings virtually owned the puck tonight. The Fenwick is much closer than Corsi because many of the Kings’ shots were blocked. The Blues had four players (Magnus Pajaarvi, Vladamir Tarasenko, Patrik Berglund, and Barret Jackman) with a Corsi For percent of 50% of greater. Conversely, none of the Kings finished below 50% in CF% and had four players (Justin Williams, Mike Richards, Dustin Brown and Jarret Stoll) finish at exactly 50%. Basically, the Kings pretty much owned the puck and only lent it to the Blues long enough for them to score.
This isn’t the absolute worst possible time for a major losing streak but it’s probably not the best time for it, either. The Kings return to LA to kick off a five game homestand in which they will see the Canucks twice (Vancouver bookends this homestand) and square off against the surging Minnesota Wild, streaking Boston Bruins and the streaky Detroit Red Wings (who usually manage to find success at Staples Center). Taking at least eight out of 10 points would be pretty ideal (most ideal would be 10/10 but that seems extremely unlikely given this team). It doesn’t get easier as they will play 14 games in the next 28 days, including two sets of back-to-backs and a trip to the East Coast.
So what’s wrong with the Kings? Is it the goaltending? The defense? The offense? The coaching? The system? Do they all need to see a sports therapist (is it all in their heads)? All of the above? None of the above? Stay tuned, that’ll be another post as this one has gotten kind of long.
The number one cop is back on the force! The Columbus Blue Jackets announced today that long-absent starting goalie Sergei Bobrovsky would return to action after a groin injury in early December cost him 12 games. General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen also announced the return of Dalton Prout (six games missed) and the much-awaited debut of Nathan Horton, who has yet to play this season due to shoulder surgery performed in July.
Horton signed a seven-year contract with CBJ prior to his shoulder surgery and has played an active role in team promotion and public relations this season. He has registered 198 goals, 204 assists, and 543 penalty minutes in 591 career NHL games, first with the Florida Panthers and then the Boston Bruins. Horton won a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011.
Vezina-winning goaltender Bobrovsky struggled early on in the season, though at the time of his injury he had the best save percentage of any Russian goalie in the NHL (which boded well for his chances to make the Russian Olympic team). He is currently 10-11-2 with a 2.72 GAA and a .909 save percentage. He has one shutout this season, against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Prout, despite missing the Blue Jackets’ last six games, leads the club in plus/minus, ranking second among rookie NHL defensemen for that statistic. (Side bar: I maintain that plus/minus isn’t a particularly telling statistic, but I will concede that it’s more useful with defensemen than forwards.) He has recorded two assists and 41 blocked shots in 42 games this season.
To make room for the three stars, the Blue Jackets have reassigned forward Jonathan Marchessault, defenseman Tim Erixon and goaltender Mike McKenna to the Springfield Falcons of the AHL.
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
By Andrew Imber
As New Year’s Eve approached, and most people were focusing on their party or celebration for the night, buzz began to collect and multiply that perennial 30-goal scorer Bobby Ryan might not be a lock for the USA Men’s Olympic roster. Most people dismissed these rumors as just wild speculation, and even started to question if the goaltending leaks that came out a few days earlier had any legitimacy to them.
However, as the youth players wearing the names of the American Olympians started to reveal the roster, it became evident that every leak had been accurate. Within minutes, the internet was flooded with shocked hockey fans, questioning where Bobby Ryan was.
“I must have missed it,” was a common sentence from many fans.
But their eyes were fine. Ryan, along with Keith Yandle, and Erik and Jack Johnson, were the most surprising omissions as the final roster decision was announced.
Fortunately, Scott Burnside of ESPN provided an amazingly in depth piece on the entire selection process, and posted it immediately after the team was announced. Instead of being left to wonder, fans can see exactly why certain players made the team over others.
Up front, the leadership designation was enough to keep struggling veterans Ryan Callahan and Dustin Brown on the team. Max Pacioretty, Blake Wheeler, and T.J. Oshie grabbed last minute spots, narrowly beating out the aforementioned Ryan and Brandon Saad. The general consensus of the American brass was this – Bobby Ryan is a goal scorer. If he’s not going to earn a top six winger role, he’s not the ideal bottom six player. Once management decided that Ryan wasn’t going to be a big part of the team’s top six, they decided he could be replaced by faster and more physical wings on the bottom lines.
(Rick Osentoski / USA Today Sports)
Teammates Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk may remain linemates in Sochi.
We knew the blue line was going to come with tons of controversy. High scoring Keith Yandle was probably the biggest surprise from a number’s point of view, while Jack Johnson was a massive surprise to those who know his USA Hockey loyalty. And while it looked like Erik Johnson had put together a season good enough to make the squad, he was beaten out by Brooks Orpik, for reasons ranging from his crease-clearing capability to his familiarity with the team’s coach.
The goalies ended up being the three that were leaked days ago. The Burnside article revealed that the decision on the number three goalie went down to the wire, and that no one was particularly comfortable with the Howard decision. Still, they went on a gut feeling and previous playoff experience to give him the call over Cory Schneider.
My Observations…
- I’m split on the Bobby Ryan situation. I had him as my most vulnerable lock on my forward projection piece, and I’m more than a little shocked he didn’t make it. Can a team that won’t be looked at as a major offensive threat (compared to the big boys) afford to leave one of their most gifted goal scorers behind? Still, I get the reasons behind the move. He wasn’t going to play in a top six role, and if the team wanted to go with two scoring lines and two ‘do-it-all’ checking type lines, he didn’t have a spot. In the Olympics, you can probably afford to go with three scoring lines, and having Ryan with, say, Pacioretty and Paul Stastny could have been an effective unit. But, the management clearly wanted guys that can skate and hit. If any of the big guys gets hurt (remember Parise’s status is a question), Ryan should be the first choice, though it remains to be seen if he’d even accept, considering his issue with Brian Burke’s harsh comments.
- I found it interesting that the last guy out was Brandon Saad. In fact, reading Burnside’s article, I get the feeling that management would have taken him over Oshie, but the coaching staff pushed for Oshie’s chemistry with Backes, as well as his shootout ability. If any of the bottom six wingers gets hurt, expect Saad to get the first call. I was a little surprised to see how little a guy like Kyle Okposo was considered throughout the process, and I imagine it would take more than a few injuries for him to get a shot.
- To me, the most debatable call was including Brooks Orpik. I get that most of the US defense is mobile and offensively oriented, and Orpik brings a different element. Orpik can also skate pretty well too, which is important on the large ice surface. However, Penguins fans will tell you that he’s lost a step, especially in the decision making process, and could put us in danger if he gets into the wrong situation. He may end up as a healthy scratch, or a bottom pairing guy that plays with teammate Paul Martin on the penalty kill. To those suggesting Yandle should have gotten in over him, you’re making the wrong argument. Yandle would have had to replace a guy like John Carlson, Kevin Shattenkirk, Cam Fowler, or Justin Faulk. The guy you want in over Orpik is probably Erik Johnson, and that’s what I would have liked to see.
- It’s tough to see the loyal Jack Johnson miss out, and the article shows how difficult the decision process was. The bottom line is Jack isn’t playing well this season, and loyalty can only get you so far. But then, you can argue that guys like Callahan and Brown shouldn’t be rewarded for leadership over current play. It’s a tough line to negotiate, and if there are any injuries, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Jack get an early call.
- Speaking of double standards during the selection process, it was pretty interesting to see that Jonathan Quick never really fell from his anointed position as a top two goalie on this team. Despite struggling and missing a huge chunk of time, Quick’s position was never in jeopardy. I agree that he should make it, but there are two very split crowds when it comes to Quick’s career. One group will tell you that he’s been dominant for most of the past few seasons (basically his established career), save for a regular season after a major back injury. The other crowd will tell you that Quick has really only had one magical season and playoff, and one separate solid couple of week playoff run, but sports a below average stat line everywhere else. Personally, I think this is Ryan Miller’s team, again.
Though there has been a lot of complaining about the selection process and the people who were a part of it, I think they deserve a little benefit of the doubt. Brian Burke, who built the 2010 team, was a huge part of this process. Obviously, he was spot on with his building last time around. The people who are already throwing in the towel, a month before the team even lands in Sochi, aren’t being fair. This is still an incredibly solid team that will compete with the best of them. The United States Team possesses skill, speed, toughness, mobility from the back, and great goaltending. This is the group of players that will be representing our United States of America, and they deserve our full support.
Watching the Boston Bruins play on New Year’s Eve against the New York Islanders, it was clear that communication is essential with the Bruins. The first period looked like the Bruins that everyone knows and expects, despite the absence of Dennis Seidenberg who will be out for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL/MCL. The Bruins got off to a quick start, making it 1-0 as they went into the first intermission. And given that the New York Islanders are last in the Metropolitan Division, it was expected that the Bruins would be able to capitalize in the game often.
However, when the teams returned to the ice for the second period, it was evident that the New York Islanders were not going down easily. They pressed on, giving the Bruins a run for their money. They capitalized on a penalty called to Matt Bartkowski for holding, tying the game just six minutes into the second period. Fan faithful who were celebrating their New Year’s Eve with the Bruins at TD Garden would be rewarded when Patrice Bergeron got a power play goal at 12:33 of the second period, and the roof was practically raised when Daniel Paille made it 3-1 just 25 seconds after Bergeron’s goal.
Unfortunately, the Bruins would go from being up by two goals to seeing the game tied by the end of the second period, as first Torey Krug took a boarding penalty at 16:05, which Islanders Frans Nielsen used to get his second past Tuukka Rask just 25 seconds into the Islanders power play. And, though the Bruins were able to kill off a second penalty given to Milan Lucic for cross-checking just eight seconds after the Islanders had scored their second goal of the game, they were not able to do the same when Rask was called for a delay of game penalty at 19:19, as Kyle Okposo got it past the Bruins net minder with just three seconds remaining in the second–a continuing issue with this season’s Bruins team; giving up goals with seconds remaining in a period.
As the third period got underway, John Tavares took away whatever wind the Bruins may have had left in their sails when he scored an even strength goal just 32 seconds into the period. Things would stand at 4-3 in favor of the Islanders for the next ten minutes or so, with the Bruins continuing to struggle with their communications on the ice. Somehow they couldn’t find their line makes to make good passes and they were consistently out of position. Even Rask was having difficulties staying in position throughout this game–something that is seldom seen from him.
As the third period progressed, the Bruins struggles became even more evident and with the struggling in communication came the boiling over of frustrations. At 12:48, Brad Marchand was called for a double minor for roughing, once again putting the Bruins on the penalty kill, which they were only 2-5 on the evening. And just 29 seconds into that penalty, Tavares scored his second on the night bringing the score to 5-3 in favor of the Islanders, with 6:43 remaining in the game.
At just under four minutes remaining in the game, Lucic was called for boarding–a penalty that he took exception to, letting the referees know. Unfortunately for the Bruins, his vocal opposition to the referees resulted in an additional two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct and a game misconduct. This put the Bruins down a man for the remainder of the game.
When asked about the game afterwards, to a man, the Bruins took the loss as a team. In fact every one who was available after the game took ownership for the lack of good playing, especially when it came to their penalty killing. As head coach Claude Julien said, “It was sloppy.”
This was their second loss in a row, having lost to the Ottawa Senators in the second of the home and home series with them on Friday and Saturday. It stings, but as David Krejci–who earned his 100th NHL career goal in Tuesday’s game–said, “Obviously it’s disappointing but we have to regroup and move on and we have our next game in a couple days so we have to be better.”
When asked if he expected this game to be forgotten, he responded that there was no choice.
“It has to, we have no other choice. We have to have a good practice [Wednesday] and come out from first to the last minute on Thursday.”
Expect to see a more unified, communicating and disciplined Boston Bruins when they host the Nashville Predators Thursday night.
Yesterday afternoon, amidst a picture perfect snow day in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA Hockey unveiled the teams they will bring to Sochi next month for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. The announcements were made during festivities at the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, held at Michigan Stadium.
In front of a world-record crowd and even more fans watching at home, the final selections for the women’s team were introduced during the 2nd intermission of the game. Frozen fans who stuck around after the Leafs’ shootout win were treated to the announcement of the 25 players that will make up the men’s team. Both groups of Americans fell four years ago to Canada in their respective gold medal games, and these men and women are undoubtedly determined to come back with a vengeance in Sochi.
Men’s Roster Studded with 13 Olympians
Four years ago, the United States fielded an ice hockey team with only 3 members having prior Olympic experience. This time around, more than half of the men’s team can put the Winter Games on their resume. Thirteen members of the 2010 squad have made this year’s team. They will all remember the bittersweet run of Team USA in Vancouver.
Ryan Miller, MVP of the 2010 tournament, will reprise his role as one of the 3 American goalies along with Jonathan Quick, who was also a member of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team. Reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner Patrick Kane is another returning United States Olympian. American fans will recall Zach Parise’s game-tying heroics in the dying seconds of the last gold medal game and will get the chance to see him again in Sochi. Phil Kessel will be rejoining his sister, Amanda, on the Olympic stage as both siblings were chosen to represent their country. Also returning to the Olympic team will be David Backes, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Ryan Kesler, Joe Pavelski, Paul Stastny, Brooks Orpik, and Ryan Suter.
“We went through a very thorough process to get to today and could not be happier with the team we’ve selected,” said David Poile, general manager of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team. “We’re fortunate to have probably the deepest talent pool we’ve ever had in our country and that made for some very difficult decisions. In the end, however, we’re confident we’ve selected a group of players that puts us in the best position to have success in Sochi.”
Poile has already established 5 players he expects to play leadership roles in Sochi, including David Backes, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. Team USA’s captain and alternate captains are yet to be determined.
Newcomers to the Olympic Winter Games chosen to represent Team USA include T.J. Oshie, Max Pacioretty, Derek Stepan, James van Riemsdyk, Blake Wheeler, John Carlson, Justin Faulk, Cam Fowler, Paul Martin, Ryan McDonagh, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Jimmy Howard. A lack of Olympic experience does not mean these men have never competed internationally, however. In fact, all 25 members of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team have played for the red, white, and blue at some level in their careers. Team USA represent no less than 17 NHL teams.
“We appreciate the work done by David (Poile) and all those involved in putting this roster together,” said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. “We look forward to what will be a great Olympics in Sochi, where hockey will be at the center of attention.”
2014 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team
Forwards (14)
David Backes, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, T.J. Oshie, Max Pacioretty, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Paul Stastny. Derek Stepan, James van Riemsdyk, Blake Wheeler
Defensemen (8)
John Carlson, Justin Faulk, Cam Fowler, Paul Martin, Ryan McDonagh, Brooks Orpik, Kevin Shattenkirk, Ryan Suter
Goaltenders (3)
Jimmy Howard, Ryan Miller, Jonathan Quick
2014 Olympic Winter Games
Game Schedule for U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team
Feb. 13-23 • Sochi, Russia
| Date |
Opponent |
Venue |
Time (Local/EST) |
| Thurs., Feb. 13 |
Slovakia |
Shayba Arena |
4:30 p.m./7:30 a.m. |
| Sat., Feb. 15 |
Russia |
Bolshoy Ice Dome |
4:30 p.m./7:30 a.m. |
| Sun., Feb. 16 |
Slovenia |
Shayba Arena |
4:30 p.m./7:30 a.m. |
| Wed., Feb. 19 |
Quarterfinals |
Bolshoy Ice Dome |
12:00 p.m./3:00 a.m.
4:30 p.m./7:30 a.m.
9:00 p.m./12:00 p.m. |
|
Quarterfinals |
Shayba Ice Dome |
9:00 p.m./12:00 p.m. |
| Fri., Feb. 21 |
Semifinals |
Bolshoy Ice Dome |
4:00 p.m./7:00 a.m.
9:00 p.m./12:00 p.m. |
| Sat., Feb. 22 |
Bronze-Medal Game |
Bolshoy Ice Dome |
7:00 p.m./10:00 a.m. |
| Sun., Feb. 23 |
Gold-Medal Game |
Bolshoy Ice Dome |
4:00 p.m./7:00 a.m. |
21 World Champion Women wearing Stars and Stripes in Sochi
Twenty-one women were named as members of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team. Among them are 11 Olympic veterans, including Julie Chu, who will be making her fourth appearance at the Winter Games. In addition to Chu, the 10 additional players with Olympic experience on the U.S. roster include Kacey Bellamy, Meghan Duggan, Hilary Knight, Jocelyne Lamoureux, Monique Lamoureux, Gigi Marvin, Brianne McLaughlin-Bittle, Molly Schaus, Kelli Stack, and Jessie Vetter, who all played in 2010. All 21 players have competed in an International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship, including 18 who captured a gold medal last April to propel the United States to the No. 1 ranking in the world.
“Today is an important day for our team and we’re thrilled to continue our journey toward Sochi,” said Katey Stone, head coach for Team USA. “We have a good blend of veterans and first-time Olympians and we’re excited about what lies ahead. We’re enthusiastic about our team and focused on getting better every day.”
“We’re excited to officially announce our roster,” said Reagan Carey, general manager for Team USA and also USA Hockey’s director of women’s hockey. “We had some very tough decisions, but we’re confident that we have assembled 21 players that will help us achieve our goal of winning the gold medal. These players have fully dedicated themselves and have earned this opportunity. We’d also like to acknowledge and thank those players who did not make the team. They have contributed greatly to the advancement of the team.”
The U.S. Women have medaled in all four Olympic appearances since the addition of Women’s Ice Hockey to the Olympic Winter Games in 1998 during which they won gold. The women won silver in 2002 and 2010, and bronze in 2006.
2014 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team
Forwards (11)
Alex Carpenter, Julie Chu, Kendall Coyne, Brianna Decker, Meghan Duggan, Lyndsey Fry, Amanda Kessel, Hilary Knight, Jocelyne Lamoureux, Monique Lamoureux, Kelli Stack
Defensemen (7)
Kacey Bellamy, Megan Bozek, Gigi Marvin, Michelle Picard, Josephine Pucci, Anne Schleper, Lee Stecklein
Goaltenders (3)
Brianne McLaughlin, Molly Schaus, Jessie Vetter
2014 Olympic Winter Games
Game Schedule for U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team
Feb. 8-20 • Sochi, Russia
| Date |
Opponent |
Venue |
Time (Local/EST) |
| Sat., Feb. 8 |
Finland |
Shayba Arena |
12:00 p.m./3:00 a.m. |
| Mon., Feb. 10 |
Switzerland |
Shayba Arena |
2:00 p.m./5:00 a.m. |
| Wed., Feb. 12 |
Canada |
Shayba Arena |
4:30 p.m./7:30 a.m. |
| Sat., Feb. 15 |
Quarterfinals |
Shayba Arena |
12:00 p.m./3:00 a.m.
4:30 p.m./7:30 a.m.
9:00 p.m./12:00 p.m. |
| Mon., Feb. 17 |
Semifinals |
Shayba Arena |
4:30 p.m./7:30 a.m.
9:00 p.m./12:00 p.m. |
| Thurs., Feb. 20 |
Bronze-Medal Game |
Bolshoy Ice Dome |
4:00 p.m./7:00 a.m. |
|
Gold-Medal Game |
Bolshoy Ice Dome |
9:00 p.m./12:00 p.m. |
Note: Rosters are subject to approval of U.S. Olympic Committee’s Game Preparation Division
Photographs from USAHockey.com
Minnesota is cold, that isn’t a surprising fact. That’s why we picked warm clothes, layers and boots for this weeks team look in support of the Wild. Staying warm while supporting the team can be a challenge, but reppin’ a team t-shirt with a sweater is a cute, but casual look. Adding a vest and belt to the outfit dresses it up a bit. We chose burgundy jeans, but a dark green would work nicely as well. A little “wild” bling in the form of a bear ring adds personality to the look and supports the team without NHL mandated apparel. We picked a bag that works with the elements, boots and a beanie complete the look.
As always, mix up the colors to make the look work for whatever team you support, get wild with it. 
(Photo: Blue Jackets)
Once found, the game of hockey can often be considered the greatest gift. For Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson, the pieces needed to play the game came at Christmas and a love of the game found and swept him away on a memorable date.
“My Dad played hockey, my birthday is January 13th, on Christmas when I was around 4-years-old I got some hockey equipment. On my fifth birthday my parents took me skating. I played my first hockey game on my fifth birthday.”
It’s the moments that flood the early years to play hockey in it’s purest form that begin to define a players career.
“I don’t think there’s one specific memory, my favorite times were when I got to go out and just play and have fun. Pickup hockey at it’s best, no coaches on the ice or anything like that, just going out with your buddies and playing. If you had a friend whose dad built a rink in the backyard and you got to go out and play there. Usually around Christmastime go out on a lake and play there. Those are the best times.”
While playing with friends were some of the best times, learning to love the game from a fan standpoint is a quintessential part of growing up hockey. While young fans across the world may label Johnson as their hockey hero, he too once found himself idolizing a hockey great.
“It probably would have been Alex Kovalev, he was one of my boyhood idols just because he was so talented. I always enjoyed watching him because you never knew what he was going to do.”
Of course, interest in the game stems from more than idolizing NHL superstars, it’s often a mentality formed within a family.
Photo: Blue Jackets
“My Dad played at the University of Wisconsin and my younger brother plays, kind of our whole family is a hockey family now.”
With a family background skating behind him, the decision to defend the blue line was almost an easy choice.
“When I was younger I was talking to my dad about wanting to play more, I wanted more ice-time. My dad was a defenseman and we were driving in the car talking about it and at that point I said, ‘you know what Dad, I want to be a defenseman.’ I was 13-years-old, it was right before Bantam hockey and I became a defenseman at that point.”
While fans may thank Johnson’s father for guiding him towards a defensive position, Johnson himself sends gratitude towards both his parents.
“My parents for sure, they’re the ones that sacrificed everything to give me the opportunities that I have today. They made some major sacrifices, I think every player who has gotten to this level may have a similar story to what their parents have done — talking to them you’ll find that parents don’t ever regret what they’ve done, not even for a minute.”
With the support of his parents showcased at center ice and always remembered, the sentiments of a hard work ethic are at the forefront of Johnson’s thoughts.
“Don’t follow it, chase it, go after it. You’ve got to make it happen, you can’t just hope it happens.”
A product of the notable Shattuck Saint Mary’s hockey system, Johnson helped propel the team to a U.S. National Championship along side Sidney Crosby during the 2002-03 season. But it wasn’t simply the accomplishment, but more-so the experience and opportunity the program presented.
“It was a big point in my hockey development. At one point we had the key to the rink, so I could head over there with my dad and skate at any time on the weekends or at night. It just gave more valuable time on the ice, hours, hour after hour practicing the game with my Dad — it helped me tremendously. It was a tough decision to leave home to go there, but it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. You go there and make lifelong friends, like Sidney [Crosby].”
Photo: U. Michigan
The greatest dream for a young hockey player often skates towards playing in the big show. Finding success on NHL ice is the ultimate goal, for Johnson, the dream was never the NHL but to attend the University of Michigan.
“It was a dream of mine, one of the greatest accomplishments of my career was earning a scholarship to go there. It was my dream as a kid, I never had aspirations of playing in the NHL or anything as a kid, I wanted to play college hockey and I wanted to play at Michigan. My mom and her whole side of the family went to Michigan, growing up in Michigan, Michigan hockey is a really big deal. That was to this day one of the biggest accomplishments I’ve ever had.”
Skating as a Michigan Wolverine marked the completion of a childhood dream, but the reality that something more was a possibility, only became a thought when Johnson was actually drafted.
Drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Johnson found his rights traded to the LA Kings, just a year later. Dominating the ice as sophomore, earned him ‘CCHA Defenseman of the Year’ — the season would be his last as a Wolverine as he joined the LA Kings during the 2006-07 season. On February 23, 2012, Johnson found a new home, when he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Jeff Carter and a conditional first round draft pick.
With accomplishments flooding his roster at just 26-years-old, one dream that many may never experience found him during 2010 when he was named to the Team USA roster for the Vancouver Olympics. An honor that will forever remain embedded in his heart.
“It’s unbelievable. It’s the pinnacle of sports, playing in the Olympics, forever I’ll be able to say that I’m an Olympic silver medalist, it’s something that I’ll cherish forever. You can go win a Stanley Cup, not to take away from it by any means, but you can go anywhere in the world and say you’re an Olympic medalist and they’ll know what you’re talking about. That’s not necessarily true for the Stanley Cup.”
Photo: USA Hockey
Considered a notable face of USA Hockey, the upcoming Olympics would have provided a venue to re-connect with friends. Despite predictions and the outrage of fans, Johnson was notably absent from the roster announcement that came at the conclusion of the 2014 Winter Classic. However, the opportunity to connect did happen this past August, during the Olympic camp held in Arlington, Virginia.
“Seeing a lot of the same guys that I’ve known for years, like Kane and Kessel, I’ve known both those guys for a long time, since I was 15-16 years old. Not just those two, but a bunch of the guys. It’s always fun to get together, even though we don’t play with each other during the season and we don’t see each other for extended periods of time — you never miss a bit when we get back together.”
Focusing on propelling the Blue Jackets towards continued success takes precedent over Olympic focus. But the memory and emotions of the experience will never escape Johnson. Silver medal success found in Vancouver marks his biggest accomplishment to date.
“The 2010 Olympics, being named to the team and then winning an Olympic silver medal, it was kind of bittersweet at the time, you just won a silver medal, but you lost in overtime to get it. Over time you grasp how special it is and how unique being an Olympic medalist is, it’s definitely the biggest accomplishment of my career so far.”
Of course, Olympic memories last a lifetime, but so do the countless games spent on Columbus ice that highlight Johnson’s young career. Often pegged as a non-traditional hockey market, Columbus, in Johnson’s eyes, it’s exactly the type of environment that hockey should be played in.
“The people in the organization, my teammates, it’s a very down to earth place to be. Hardworking, you’re surrounded by a bunch of normal people — that may sound weird, but it’s not always true in the professional sports world. It’s a great sports town, last year when we went on a good run we got more acknowledgment and saw how great it can be. Everyone knows Buckeye football and how much support they have, if we can just start stringing together winning seasons here, it’s an unbelievable sports town.”
It’s easy to see what type of defensive personality Johnson brings to the ice, dishing bit hits game in, and game out. Off the ice, it’s a different story.
“I’m a pretty conservative guy, pretty laid back, pretty simple. I think I’m a normal 26-year-old really, I enjoy heading to the movies, hanging out with friends, all the normal stuff. During the summer, when the season is over the last thing you want to do is get on a plane, so I spend time at home. Normal, laid back, mid-west kid.”
Photo: jackjohnson3.com
Off the ice isn’t a common occurrence for now, with half an NHL season waiting to be played, Johnson hopes to continue the success he’s found with a core group of players donning the Blue Jacket logo.
“More of the same, when I was a rookie in LA Ron Blake told me that what makes a good pro is consistency, if you can bring it for 82 games that makes you a good pro. A lot of people can bring it for 10 games or a handful of games, but I try to bring a consistent game for 82 and I’m going to keep trying to do more of the same.”
With Jack Johnson on the roster, fans won’t be feeling blue — they’ll be supporting it. Whether Blue Jacket blue, or red, white and blue, this mid-west boy has grown up hockey and succeeded beyond even his collegiate dream.
Just when it looked like the Carolina Hurricanes were going to lose their New Year’s Eve game against the Montrèal Canadiens, three quick third period goals split between Jeff Skinner and Eric Staal changed all that.
The Canadiens thought that they were on the road to an easy win, getting their first goal a short 1:20 into the game. It was Lars Eller’s ninth goal of the season, thanks to a turnover behind the net from Alex Galchenyuk. Their second goal came from Max Pacioretty at 7:46 thanks to a redirect from David Desharnais. In a period laden with penalties, forty minutes in total, Montrèal was able to score goals where the Hurricanes weren’t. Unfortunately for the Canes, forward Riley Nash left the game during the first with a lower-body injury and did not return.
The only goal of the second period was from Max Pacioretty at 14:24, the only goal scored in the middle frame.
Canes coach Kirk Muller must have given the boys a hefty pep talk during the second intermission, because the team that took the ice in the third period was a different one. They were finally able to use a Canadiens penalty to their advantage as Jeff Skinner snapped in two quick goals behind Carey Price a mere thirty-seven seconds apart. Within two and a half minutes Eric Staal put the puck in the net to tie the game. The loudest house in the NHL were on their feet, ecstatic that their team was able to make the comeback. It looked like they were on their way to a win after Manny Malhotra gave the team a one-goal lead at 8:16. PK Subban, and his beard, scored two minutes later to tie the game and send it to overtime.
It was the Alex Semin who was able to snap a shot behind the goaltender, Price, from the left face off circle, giving the team a much needed win to end 2013.
Despite their early game success, the Canadiens were not able to pull leave Raleigh with a win, or even a star on the game.
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
The Columbus Blue Jackets announced yesterday that they have signed 19th overall draft pick Kerby Rychel to a three-year entry level contract. Rychel has spent the season in the Ontario Hockey League, first with Windsor Spitfires and then Guelph Storm. The 19-year-old has tallied 17 goals and 28 assists this season, registering a +16 plus/minus and 17 penalty minutes.
He also has a cat with a twitter.
“Kerby is a hard-nosed player who is very competitive and possesses a mixture of skill, the ability to score goals, and grit,” said General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen of the contract. He added, “We believe he will be an important part of organization for years to come as he continues to grow and develop as a player.”
Rychel has appeared in 228 OHL games and ranked eighth in the league in points last season. He is currently playing for Team Canada at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championships in Sweden.
Finnish “backup” goaltender Antti Raanta, 24, recorded his first NHL shutout for the Blackhawks Monday against the L.A. Kings.
The 1-0, very physical, game was a hard fought one. The Blackhawks weathered 45 hits.
Brandon Saad scored the game-winning goal with a wrist-shot at 7:05 in the first period. Duncan Keith and Bryan Bickell were credited with the assists.
“[Bickell] had a play on the wall, we had a 2-on-1, and he made a pass that tipped off their stick and sat there for me,” Saad said. “I had some time and put it glove side.”
The Kings’ goalie stopped 29 other shots, crushing Patrick Kane’s 14-game point streak.
Raanta made 26 saves, not allowing one puck past him and earning the coveted “Number One Star of the Game.”
Starting goalie Corey Crawford has been out with a groin injury since he went down for a save Dec. 8 against the Panthers and needed help off the ice. He’s been skating with the team the past several practices and has traveled to the last couple games.
“I feel great,” Crawford told the Chicago Tribune after Monday’s United Center morning skate. “After the Christmas break, everything has gone well. I haven’t felt the injury at all on the ice. I’m ready to go.”
He’s expected to return on the road either with the Islanders Thursday or the Devils Friday.
Crawford left big pads to fill, and his backup netminder has been hot.
In Raanta’s 15 games with the Blackhawks, he has 10 wins and one loss. He has a .913 save percentage and a 2.21 goals against average. The Blackhawks pulled up Kent Simpson from the Rockford Icehogs, who played 20 minutes of relief against Toronto; then recalled Jason LaBarbera as Raanta’s backup while Crawford recovered.
Meanwhile, Nikolai Khabibulin, who suffered a lower body injury Nov. 16 while playing against the Nashville Predators, has no real update.
“It’s tough to say right now because we haven’t heard much of a progress where you get an indication that we can get him on the ice,” Coach Joel Quenneville told ESPNChicago. “That’s where it’s at. I don’t want to say it’s anything longer than that. I can’t give you a better answer than that.”
However, Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said recently that he expected Khabibulin to play for the Blackhawks again this season. With Khabibulin’s four appearances and 14 goals allowed this season, it’s hard to support that decision as a fan.
Regardless, Raanta is playing exceptionally well. Crawford had 17 wins in 27 games, with a .907 save percentage and a 2.47 goals allowed average. These two make a dynamic duo for protecting the Blackhawks’ goal.
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