Today should be a holiday for all hockey fans. But it especially feels that way as a Blackhawks fan.
Tonight, players will don alternate uniforms of suits, ties, and for last year’s Cup winners, a hefty new piece of jewelry, as they walk a red carpet into the United Center.
One side of the ring has 2013 with five Stanley Cups, representing the team’s five titles. The other side holds the player’s name and number.
The inside is inscribed with the team’s motto “One Goal” as well as the logos of the finals’ opponents and their wins-to-losses.
Captain Jonathan Toews, forwards Patrick Kane, Bryan Bickell, Brandon Bollig, Michal Handzus, Jimmy Hayes, Marian Hossa, Marcus Kruger, Brandon Saad, Patrick Sharp, Ben Smith, Andrew Shaw; defensemen Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Sheldon Brookbank, Nick Leddy, Johnny Oduya, Michal Rozsival, Brent Seabrook; and goalie Corey Crawford are all returning this year.
Joakim Nordstrom will be the lone new guy on the ice tonight with starting lines planned as Bickell, Toews, Kane; Sharp, Handzus, Hossa; Saad, Shaw, Hayes; and Bollig, Kruger and Nordstrom.
Ben Smith is the only forward scratched from tonight’s starting lineup, while Sheldon Brookbank and Mike Kostka are out for defense.
Handzus and Hossa are back in the game after missing the preseason after an injury.
The Blackhawks beat the Capitals by 1 (5-4, 4-3) both preseason games this year. This preseason aside, the teams have not played each other since March 18, 2012 at the Madhouse on Madison, when Chicago won 5-2.
That’s no reason to be overconfident. Last year, the Blackhawks rained on the Kings’ parade with a win during the Kings’ banner ceremony. After the Hawks’ 2010 Cup win, the Redwings put a damper on the banner-raising celebration at the 2011 home opener.
After the pomp and circumstance, once the banner is raised to the rafters, that will be it for celebration.
Jim Cornelison will sing his show-stopping rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner, chills will travel through bodies and TV sets into the souls of fans.
The puck will drop.
And a new season will begin…with One Goal.
By Jake Shoemaker
Pacific:
Los Angeles (3)
The Los Angeles Kings are, once again, loaded. In the strike shortened 2013 season, the Kings limped out of the gate with the typical Stanley Cup “hangover”. But, once they got rolling and superstar goalie Jonathan Quick got healthy, the Kings reemerged as a force in the Western Conference. The Kings keep the luck out of the net
X-Factor: Jeff Carter. The Kings grind their opponents down with a balanced scoring attack that comes from a both physical and finesse forwards. In his first full year with the Kings, Carter proved his worth as a sniper scoring 26 goals. But, with those 26 goals came just 7 assists. Carter’s career numbers suggest that the large disparity between goals and assists is an anomaly, a stat that the Kings hope proves to be true. If Carter can learn to share the luck while still maintaining his scoring touch – perhaps becoming a point-per-game scorer at the tune of 40 goals and 40 assists – the Kings could very well return to the Finals. If Carter can’t share the puck, look for the forward to a decrease in goals scored per game and for the Kings to be just another playoff team.
Anaheim (4)
After a phenomenal regular season that led only to a disappointingly brief playoff stint, the Ducks are once again primed to make a deep run in the Western Conference. Anaheim has its two best players and team leaders, Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, locked into long term deals and they also have two high caliber goaltenders, Jonas Hiller and Viktor Fasth, who are capable of carrying the team at any point in time. The stable presence of the goalies will be a major factor in keeping the Ducks consistently performing during the regular season, especially in the strong Pacific Division. Look for Anaheim to yet again be a team that is built for a long season, not a playoff run.
X-Factor: Andrew Cogliano. Last year, the Ducks got a combined 51 points from Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu, two veterans whose best days are well behind them. With Bobby Ryan, last year’s third highest point getter, no longer on the team, Anaheim needs the underachieving Cogliano to finally live up to the expectations that led to Edmonton draft him in the first round eight years ago. Cogliano produced at about .5 points per game and had a stellar plus/minus in 2013, showing signs of significant worth. He also had the highest shot percentage on the team. If he can fill Ryan’s scoring void, the Ducks have the other pieces in place to make a run at the Stanley Cup.
Edmonton (5)
The Edmonton Oilers will be relevant this year. Just how relevant is up to them. The Oilers have young talent on the front line to beat rival goalies Jonathan Quick, Roberto Luongo and Antti Niemi, and a blossoming goaltender of their own in Devan Dubnyk. Where they lack depth and talent is on the blue line, but newly minted Captain Andrew Ference should bring stability, toughness and leadership to the group. If Edomonton can continue its strong special teams play, they have the pieces to compete for a playoff birth over the course of a long season. Unfortunately, unless Dubnyk becomes a world-class goaltender, a postseason birth might be all Oiler fans can expect in 2013-2014.
X-Factor: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Last September, Boston rewarded Tyler Seguin’s early success with a lucrative contract that paid him like a superstar. They hoped an investment in the 67 point scorer would pay off. The result: Seguin’s numbers dropped and he played uninspired during the playoffs to the tune of 1 goal in 22 games. Edmonton just made a similar business decision with Nugent-Hopkins. The young forward tallied just 24 points in 40 games last season, which is, quite simply, inadequate production for a $6 Million per year athlete. If Nugent-Hopkins can’t increase his production to close to a point per game (he produced at a rate of about .8 points per game his rookie year) and if he plays uninspired play like Seguin, the Oilers will not have enough depth in such an experienced division. My guess, Nugent-Hopkins steps up and proves hungry to earn the Stanley Cup that Seguin already had at the same point in his career.
Vancouver (6)
Vancouver is committed to Roberto Luongo in net. After not being able to move his contract, the Canucks must hope he can return to form now that he is the man again. Luongo’s fragile ego likely didn’t like the pressure of having Cory Schneider’s competition, but can a man who can’t handle inter-squad competition really lead a team to a Stanley Cup title? Vancouver still has talent all over the ice to match any team with the Sedin brothers, Ryan Kesler and Jannik Hansen up front and Alex Edler and Kevin Bieksa on the blue line.
X-Factor: John Torterella. Torterella has been known to coach tough, gritty teams that sacrifice themselves for the collective cause. When his Rangers bought in, they were a force in the East. When the style of play became too demanding, they lacked enough offensive fortitude to compete. In inheriting the Vancouver Canucks, Torterella is inheriting a group of men not known for their toughness. So the major questions will be, how well can the Canucks balance what their identity has been with what Tortorella will want it to be? And, how can the defensive minded Tortorella turn around the 19th ranked offense in the league with his style? Ultimately, if the team doesn’t buy in, the Canucks will not compete for the Stanley Cup. My guess, the talented squad is too good to miss the playoffs but will not be cohesive enough to win a title.
San Jose (8)
The San Jose Sharks have been a playoff mainstay since they acquired Joe Thornton from the Boston Bruins back in 2005. Unfortunately, despite consistently high finishes in the Western Conference, the Sharks have failed to even make the Stanley Cup Finals, let alone win one. Since the trade, the Sharks have won their division four times and even won a Presidents’ Trophy. So when will the Sharks break through? Not in 2013-2014. Stars Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton are aging. Goalie Antti Niemi, although phenomenal in 2013, started 43 of the team’s 48 games, accounting for 96% of the team’s wins. Thomas Greiss proved unable to spell Niemi a break and simultaneously earn the team a few wins last year, so the team will look to Alex Stalock to support Niemi’s efforts. If Stalock can’t produce as Niemi’s backup, the Finnish Vezina finalist will be exhausted when it matters most, playoff time.
X-Factor: Brent Burns. The Sharks experimented with moving Brent Burns from defense to forward after he posted a -5 rating and 0 points in February. Burns responded by tallying 20 points in the final 24 games. Burns is a strong, physical presence on the forward line for the Sharks, whose other top forwards, Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture, Thornton and Marleau aren’t known for their physicality. If Burns, in his first full year as a forward, can continue his scoring ways and also play a strong two-way game, the Sharks will benefit dramatically. The Sharks likely will also count on Burns to man the point on the power play to maximize his skill set. Burns is the type of player who can make his teammates better and wear down his opponents, and if he breaks out and plays at an all-star level, the Sharks can be one of the best teams in the Pacific Division.
Phoenix (11)
Phoenix has been a trendy pick to make a deep run in the upcoming season. An up and down team over the past few years, Phoenix will rely on the goaltending of Mike Smith to take them to the playoffs. Last year, in Smith’s second season with the team, the athletic Canadian saw a major drop in his stats as he battled through injuries for much of the season; his save percentage dropped from .930 to .910. The Coyotoes will likely go as Smith goes. Phoenix relies on a balanced scoring attack with large offensive contributions from its defenders, especially Keith Yandle and Oliver Ekmann-Larsson. Yandle led the team in points last year, and if the Coyotes want to make the playoffs this year, their forwards need to step up and put the puck in the net with more frequency.
X-Factor: Mike Ribiero. After many productive seasons in Montreal and a fantastic season in Washington, Ribiero signed with Phoenix this offseason to be the offensive star that the Coyotes have been lacking. But, at 33, Ribiero must prove that he is worth the $5.5 Million per year that Phoenix invested in him. Ribiero has never been “the man” on his respective team, but after tallying 19 points more than Phoenix’s highest point-getter last year, Ribiero must be ready to assume the role. If not, Phoenix will be overmatched by the talent of the other Pacific Division teams.
Calgary (14)
The Calgary Flames looked very much like a minor league hockey team in 2013. With no superstars, the Flames struggled to both put the puck in the net and to keep the puck out of the net. They lost the longtime heart and soul of their team in former Captain Jerome Iginla with hopes of improving the team in the long haul, but his departure will not help them yet. The diehard fanbase will have to wait at least one more year before they can hope to sniff the postseason.
X-Factor: Karri Ramo. The Flames, in order to be relevant, truly need the entire roster to elevate its game, but the mistakes of the squad will ultimately fall on the unproven Ramo. Mikka Kiprusoff struggled mightily last year behind an anemic offense and a horrendous defense that seemed to leave the netminder out to dry game after game. Ramo has been given the chance to be the starting goaltender and should be on a mission to prove himself, but even Henrik Lundqvist might struggle behind this Calgary squad. In such a deep division that has goalies who keep the puck out of the net, Calgary will be hard pressed to win on a regular basis.
Central:
St. Louis (1)
The St. Louis Blues are ready to be the best team in the Western Conference. After Ken Hitchcock took over early on in the 2011-2012 season, the Blues have been one of the best teams in the league during the regular season. They boast depth in net with Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliot splitting time, and if either man falters, they have arguably the best goalie prospect in the league waiting in the minors in Jake Allen. St. Louis has speed, strength, skill and size on both the defensive and offensive fronts. Although they don’t have one go-to star, the Blues have scoring depth that can be likened to that of Chicago and Boston. And, Norris Trophy candidate Alex Pietrangelo has a knack for scoring big goals from the blue line when the squad is in need. They are a team that is built for the playoffs because they will not be broken down and beaten up by a more physical team, and they have the depth to avoid getting shut down by standout defenders. Look for St. Louis to overtake the Blackhawks as the West’s best as they make the jump into elite team status.
X-Factor: David Backes. Andy McDonald retired in June after battling concussions for much of the past few seasons. When the undersized forward was playing, he was the heart and soul of the squad, consistantly injecting the team with energy. With McDonald and his veteran leadership gone, Backes will have to assume a larger leadership role as Captain. Backes is known to be a physical distributor who creates space for his teammates, but last season he struggled mightily on the power play. St. Louis has the depth to overtake Chicago in the regular season, but they will need their special teams play to be dominant to supplement their steadily improving 5 v. 5 play in order to win the West.
Chicago (2)
The Blackhawks had one of the greatest regular seasons in recent memory last year and they followed it up with a gritty playoff run that led to a Stanley Cup Championship. Despite a few alterations to last year’s roster, the Blackhawks managed to keep their core intact much more so than they did after defeating the Flyers in 2010. They Blackhawks boast world-class talent in Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, a phenomenal and underappreciated goaltender in Corey Crawford, young standouts in Brandon Saad and Andrew Shaw, and three phenomenal defensive pairings. Don’t expect a Stanley Cup “hangover” from this group – they have the right balance of veteran leadership and hungry young athletes who are still trying to prove themselves. Chicago should be considered a serious threat to defend the Stanley Cup.
X-Factor: Niklas Hjalmarsson. Hjalmarsson came into his own during the Stanley Cup playoffs last year and was a critical cog in the team’s ultimate victory. Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith are well-known as the shutdown stars of Chicago’s phenomenal defense, but Hjalmarsson is a player who, if he can raise his game to an elite level throughout the season, can enable the Blackhawks to shutdown even the deepest offensive squads in the West like St. Louis and Edmonton. It is scary to think that the NHL’s best defensive team last year could be even better in the upcoming season.
Winnipeg (7)
The Western Conference is in for a serious challenge when Winnipeg comes to town this year. The Jets have been knocking on the playoff door in the East for the past few seasons, and this is the year that they will finally break through to the playoffs. One major issue for the Jets last year was their league-worst power play that scored only 14% of the time. Devin Setoguchi, who scored 5 power play goals for the Wild last year, will be a welcome addition to the group, as will 2011 first round pick Mark Scheifele. The Jets may struggle against teams that have the defensive prowess to shutdown their top line, but the scoring contributions that the Jets receive from their defense will help lead the franchise back to the postseason.
X-Factor: Jacob Trouba. The Jets need to sure up their defense in front of workhorse goaltender Ondrej Pavelec in order to sneak in to the playoffs. Fortunately for the Jets, their division is not loaded with offensive firepower. Jacob Trouba, Winnipeg’s 19 year old 2012 first round draft pick, will be given an opportunity to shine in the upcoming season. Trouba, who just last winter was playing for the University of Michigan, is a big, physical defender who can contribute significantly on both ends of the ice, as well as on the power play and penalty kill. Although the growing pains are likely to come along during his first stint at the professional level, Trouba has the potential to be a rookie difference maker.
Nashville (9)
Nashville looks to bounce back to relevancy this year after an abysmal 2013 season. The Predators will benefit from their main wild card competitors playing in the Pacific Division. Although the Predators did not make too many significant changes in the offseason, they will benefit from an offseason to mend their plethora of injured players including Patric Hornqvist and Colin Wilson, two of their greatest contributors when healthy. Pekka Rinne is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL and he will, once again, be called on to keep the team afloat. The Finnish goalie has often been one of the league leaders in shutouts over the past 5 years, and if he can contribute between 8 to 10 more this year, Nashville can make the playoffs.
X-Factor: Viktor Stalberg. Stalberg played a complimentary role in Chicago during their Stanley Cup run last year. In Nashville, he will be asked to do much more this year as he joins a team whose highest point contributor last year was defenseman Shea Webber. The Swede has a knack for scoring when given the opportunity, and he will likely be given an uptick in time-on-ice this year with the hopes that he can find the back of the net with great frequency. If Nashville can’t figure out how to boost its 29th ranked offense, 2013-2014 will be a repeat of 2013.
Minnesota (10)
In year two of the Parise-Suter era, Minnesota hopes to make the jump to elite status that it couldn’t quite make last year. The Wild started out 2013 slowly but built success over the course of the year, ultimately leading to a playoff birth. Although their playoff stint was short lived, a taste of the playoffs should keep the Wild hungry for more. Unfortunately for Minnesota, the Western Conference has enough teams that have either more depth or better goaltending to keep the Wild from the playoffs this year. Niklas Backstrom is past his prime as he posted the second worst save percentage of his career last year, and his two shutouts will make it tough for the Wild to win the low scoring games that will inevitably come with such a weak offense.
X-Factor: Ryan Suter. The $100 Million man took a while to fit in with the Wild last year, but his play in the second half of the season is what the Wild will need for a full season if they want to make the playoffs. Suter ended the season with a rating of +2, an awful rating for a shutdown defender. He contributed significantly on the power play and logged an incredible amount of minutes per game, but a player taking up that much salary cap space must do it all.
Dallas (12)
The Stars were in the playoff hunt for a while last year before fading in the final weeks of the season. With quite a few changes to the team, including the departures of Loui Eriksson, Michael Ryder and Derek Roy, the Stars will have to gel quickly to keep pace with the depth of the Western Conference. The arrival of Sergei Gonchar will add scoring punch to a defense that didn’t contribute much offensively last year, but he will also be called upon to improve the team’s terrible goals against average. Young defenseman Brenden Dillon will likely be called upon to eat up minutes on the blue line, but the Stars need more than just a minutes-eater. All in all, the West has too much talent for the Stars to keep up. Look for some regression and a disappointing season for Dallas.
X-Factor: Tyler Seguin. How will Tyler Seguin fit in this year with the Stars? After playing for three years in the shadows of some talented Boston superstars, Seguin will have even more eyes on him this year as he will be looked upon to score at least 80 points for Dallas, moving from wing to center. The offensive minded forward will also need to show that he learned a thing or two from Patrice Bergeron in order to help a defense that gave up nearly 3 goals per game last year. Can Seguin mature under less media scrutiny? Perhaps, but that doesn’t mean he has what it takes to lead the Stars to the postseason.
Colorado (13)
Colorado was one of the NHL’s worst teams in 2013 because they lacked depth and experience. Their top forwards, P.A. Parenteau, Paul Stastny and Matt Duchene logged an unsustainable number of minutes per game for a full season and they got little offensive help from their teammates. Colorado did little to add scoring punch, but they will hope that former second overall pick Gabriel Landeskog can emerge as a young superstar after a strong sophomore season last year. Additionally, the Avalanche will look to Semyon Varlamov, yet again, to carry the burden between the pipes, with hopes that he can emerge as a consistent goaltender. Ultimately, Colorado lacks depth, the ability to shut other teams down, and experience to even think about contending for a playoff spot.
X-Factor: Tyson Barrie. The young defenseman needs to step up as the leader of the Colorado defense this year. In 2013, he contributed offensively, leading all team defensemen in points despite only playing in two thirds of the games, but he ended the season with a -13 rating. Barrie showed that he can contribute a significant number of minutes on the ice despite his inexperience, but now comes the tough part – he must balance his offensive play with a defense first mentality to help out the league’s 4th worst defense. Additionally, Colorado will look for Barrie to be a force on 7th worst power play. With so much on his plate, the 22 year old better grow up fast.
30 teams nail art starts off with this season’s opening face off, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montréal Canadiens.
For the Maple Leafs I used Sinful Colors ‘Snow Me White’ as the base, and So Easy Stripe Right blue. Index and pointer fingers are jersey stripes, sticks and puck are on one finger, maple leaf on the middle finger, and ‘TML’ on my thumb.
For the Habs I used Wet N’Wild Megalast ‘Red Tape’ as the base, Ornaments Nail Art Pen for the white details, and the same So Easy blue.
Since I’m out in the sun a lot, I used Avon’s UV glass guard as a top coat, but Orly’s ‘Won’t Chip’ is also strongly recommended.
The Cape Cod Islanders and the AHI Fighting Spirit, of Waterville Valley, N.H., both had sweeps in this weekend’s Northern States Junior Hockey League contests.
The Islanders beat the Jersey Shore Wildcats on Saturday, 1-0, and edged the Wildcats 2-1 on Sunday.
Islanders goaltender Landon Trutt stopped 25 shots to notch the shutout for the Islanders Saturday. Colton Hart scored the lone goal of the game.
“We played hard on Saturday night and ran into a very hot goalie, Shane Lippincott. It took us 40 shots to score,” said Islanders Head Coach Dan Hodge. “Fortunately we were able to get a late power play goal past him for the 1-0 win.”
Hodge said the Islanders were less motivated on Sunday but still managed to find the back of the net.
“We were flat on Sunday and we were very lucky that our goalie showed up to play,” said Hodge. “Alex Shalamov scored both goals for us and Trutt did the rest. We definitely stole one on Sunday.”
Austin Crane scored the only goal for the Wildcats in the series.
The Wilkes-Barre Miners traveled to Syracuse for a tilt on Friday, where they fell 4-1 to the Stampede. The Miners headed back home where they blanked the New England Stars 6-0 on Saturday.
“The team’s first road trip (Friday) found the boys out-worked and beat to every loose puck. Syracuse was ready to play and we weren’t,” said Miners Assistant Coach Marty Moucha. “The boys were flat after a good last weekend.”
On Saturday, the Miners dominated the New England Stars with contributions from four different goal-scorers. Frank Lanni found the back of the net twice, netting the first goal of the game and another in the third period. Yaroslav Kobyzyev netted two goals as well, one of which came on the power play in the second period. Geno DeAngelo and Shane Welsh both scored short-handed goals for the Miners. Roman Malkov recorded his first shutout of the season.
Though the Stars worked hard and battled back on Sunday, but they again fell to the Miners 6-5 in a shootout. The Stars were up 3-1 after ten minutes of play, but the Miners tied it up at three-all heading into the second period. Stars forward Steve Upton netted two goals, and Phil Sweeney, Brian Glover and Steve Crocker each added a goal a piece in the match-up.
“Saturday night, I would guess, we never put together three consecutive, and productive shifts in a row,” said Stars Head Coach Darryl Green. “Combine that with teams such as Wilkes-Barre and one can understand why we lost 6-0. Sunday we were much more determined and played with the amount of enthusiasm that is needed in our league to win games. We made many more smart plays than poor ones, but it wasn’t quite enough.”
Moucha said the game could have gone either way.
“Both teams created many turnovers,” said Moucha. “…We squeezed a lucky win with our captain Danny Randall, leading the team with 4 goals including a shoot-out goal.”
Miners Head Coach Jason MacDonald agreed with Moucha.
“We were lucky to grab the two points,” said MacDonald.
The Fighting Spirit ran past the Maine Wild this weekend, 4-1 on Saturday and 5-0 on Sunday.
On Saturday, the Fighting Spirit had contributions from Jeremy Hannah, Frederic Pugin, and Alex Peddle, who netted two goals. The Wild’s Captain Keith Barnaby scored the lone goal of the series for the Wild when he put a puck past Anthony D’Urso.
“We fell short because we are not scoring goals,” said Maine Wild Coach Mike Tenney. “We get shots and chances, however, when it comes right down to it, we do not finish. If you cannot score it is pretty tough to win a hockey game, especially against a hard-working team like the Spirit.”
On Sunday, the Wild came out flat, said Tenney.
“We got away from the things that we were successful with on Saturday,” said Tenney. “We did not move our feet to engage the forecheck. We were trying to go up through the middle of the ice on the breakout, and we tried to do too much when we had the puck.”
Mike Callaghan, Mitch Purdie, Alex Shimoloeons, Matt Roberts and Peddle of the Fighting Spirit all found the back of the net in the second game. Spirit goaltender Nate DelGiudice stopped 16 shots for the shutout.
Tenney, though, sees the positives despite the disappointing weekend.
“Our efforts need to become more consistent, but we showed we are able to stay out of the penalty box, which was a huge plus for us,” he said. “We also stayed competitive with a very good team this weekend for all but one period.”
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By Jake Shoemaker
The strike shortened 2013 season made it difficult to discern which conference was more powerful. This year, with plenty of inter-conference play, the East will reign supreme as the deeper more talented conference.
Below you will find my predictions for how the Eastern Conference will shake out during the regular season. Teams are listed by their projected divisional finish with their overall conference finish noted in the parentheses. Stay tuned for my Western Conference and Playoff predictions.
Metropolitan Division:
Pittsburgh (1)
Few, if any, teams can match the star-power that the Penguins boast. Crosby, Malkin, Neal, Kunitz, Letang…the list goes on and on. The Penguins can score. The Penguins can play defense. The Penguins can keep the puck out of the net (in the regular season). So what is Pittsburgh’s flaw? Boston showed the league that the Penguins can be bullied and beat down by physical, relentless play. However, although the Bruins wrote the script, Boston bullied Pittsburgh over the course of a series. Other teams will not have the luxury of a shortened schedule to be able to consistently grind the Penguins down, and thus the Penguins will yet again thrive during the regular season. In the long run, however, there are too many great, physical teams in the East who are not intimidated by Pittsburgh, and one of them will bounce the Penguins out before the Finals.
X-Factor: Marc-Andre Fleury. Yes, Fleury has won a Stanley Cup. Yes, Fleury has been moderately successful during the regular season. However, the Canadian netminder needs to rediscover his top form and display an increased level of confidence in order for the Penguins to win a Stanley Cup. Pressure is on, Fleury.
Washington (4)
The Capitals will finish second in the conference and second in the division solely because they play in the Metropolitan Division. The offensive minded group will yet again put pucks in the net with the best of them, hoping to build on their late season success in 2013. And, with Braden Holtby in net for his second full season, Washington will win regular season games with regularity. However, until they make a deep playoff run under Alex Ovechkin’s “leadership”, I’m not going to buy the Capitals as a legitimate contender.
X-Factor: Alex Ovechkin. The incredibly talented face of the franchise saw his production decline significantly from 2010-2012, but he bounced back in the second half of the 2013 season to carry the team to a division title. The Capitals seem to “go” as Ovechkin goes, feeding off of his energy and commitment (when he brings them to the ice). If Adam Oates can find a way for his star to play two-way hockey and to contribute upwards of 100 points, the team has the depth and talent around him to compete with the best in the East throughout the playoffs.
New York Islanders (8)
After a long-awaited return to the playoffs, the Islanders will prove that the short 2013 season was not a fluke. After increasing their confidence following a challenging series with the Penguins in the playoffs and after gaining more experience for their stars John Taveres and Matt Moulson, the Islanders look poised to make the playoffs again this year. Can they hang with the Eastern Conference powers over the course of an entire season? Probably not, but they will yet again be a dreaded first round opponent and could win their first playoff series since 1993 of the matchup is right (Toronto, Washington, Tampa Bay).
X-Factor: Evgeni Nabokov. How long will Nabokov be a relevant goaltender in the NHL? The Islanders hope he has at least another quality season in him as his consistent play in 2013 helped solidify a position that has haunted the team for years (looking at you Rick DiPietro, sorry). Save Washington and Pittsburgh, the Metropolitan Division doesn’t appear to have the offensive star power that the Atlantic does, so if Nabokov is consistent, the Islanders should find themselves on the right side of the playoff bubble.
Carolina Hurricanes (9)
Much was expected of Carolina in 2013 after Jordan Staal came over from Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, the Hurricanes did nothing well. They gave up the second most goals per game and their power play and penalty kill both ranked in the bottom four in the league. And, the worst part is that they did all of this playing in the worst division in the league. On the bright side, the Hurricanes have talent. They should continue to score goals as last year’s marquee additions of Alexander Semin and Staal continue to gel, but the stars must come together on defense for the Hurricanes to compete. If coach Kirk Muller can’t get this group to support Cam Ward, his tenure will be cut short and Carolina will miss out postseason hockey yet again.
X-Factor(s): Jordan Staal, Justin Faulk. Ok, Carolina. I’ll give you two x-factor’s after last season’s debacle. Jordan Staal’s first season playing with brother Eric was a disaster. The center, known for his two-way play, posted a -18 and contributed minimally to the team’s offensive cause. Jordan Staal must return to form as a steady offensive contributor and reliable defensive forward in his second year in Raleigh. His brother, team Captain Eric Staal, was the team’s lone bright spot in 2013 posting more than a point per game, but he can’t do it all. Ultimately, if the Hurricanes want to make the playoffs, they have to keep the puck out of the net. Cam Ward has shown that he can be a premier goalie with a bit of help in front of him, and if Justin Faulk turns into the shutdown defender that scouts thought he would become, Carolina has a shot to compete for a postseason birth.
New York Rangers (11)
To say New York was a disappointment in 2013 is an understatement. After a dazzling 2012-2013 season, the Rangers took a step back in the strike shortened year. Henrik Lundqvist was yet again stellar in net, but the offense and defense proved unstable and inconsistent. A midsession panic trade of Marian Gaborik will not help New York’s offense in the upcoming season but the Rangers hope that two former top-10 picks, Derick Brassard and Benoit Pouliot, continue to prove that their recent ascents toward relevancy were not flukes. Additionally, the presence of Alain Vigneault as the new head coach should spark the offense to support the team’s top-5 ranked defense. The Rangers have a high ceiling as the group is loaded with talent, but they must get off to a fast start to gain confidence if they want to compete in the Eastern Conference. My bet, the Rangers take a while to gel and will be playing catch-up for the majority of the season.
X-Factor: Brad Richards. Richards gets paid as an all-pro forward. Last year, he produced like an aging veteran who was playing with nothing on the line. In the playoffs, Richards produced one point in ten games with a negative plus/minus rating. The coaching change should help to kick-start Richards, but he needs to find the passion that he has been lacking since he came over from Dallas. If Vigenault can get Richards to produce like the distribution minded Sedin brothers did in Vancouver, he will make everyone around him better and New York can compete with anyone.
Philadelphia Flyers (12)
The Philadelphia Flyers have been a trendy bounce back pick for the upcoming season. Not many teams experienced the number of injuries that Philadelphia did last year and they still managed to finish among the top third in the league in goals scored, power play percentage and penalty kill percentage. So, why will the Flyers finish toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference again? They are counting on Steve Mason and Ray Emery to carry them in net. Mason, a model of inconsistency over the last five seasons, posted a sub 2.00 GAA in six starts as a Flyer. Emery, in 18 games for Chicago, lost only one time in regulation. The problems: over the course of the 3.5 seasons between 2009 and 2013, Mason’s GAA was over 3.00, and Emery has not started more than 30 games in a season since 2007. So, the Flyers are hoping that the 164 start stretch was an anomaly for Mason as compared to his 6 game sampling last year, and that a 31 year old can break from his injury ridden past. Everyone in Philadelphia should keep their fingers crossed and brace for the worst.
X-Factor: Ray Emery. Ilya Bryzgalov couldn’t handle the pressure of playing under a massive contract in front of a vicious fan base. Steve Mason came to town last year at a time when the Flyers had no shot at playoff hockey, so whether he can handle the heat remains to be seen. Emery, on the other hand, returned to Philadelphia by choice this offseason – a place where he performed on an average level three years ago. If he can maintain his recent form and not wilt under the pressures of the rabid fans, Philadelphia can contend. If he repeats his 2009-2010 Philadelphia form of 27 games started and a 2.64 GAA, the Flyers are unlikely to improve on last year’s finish.
New Jersey Devils (15)
Two years removed from a Stanley Cup Finals loss, the Devils are still reeling. The post-Parise era began poorly in the strike shortened 2013 season, and Devils fans can’t be optimistic for the upcoming year after Ilya Kovalchuk’s departure for Russia. Although New Jersey brought in promising goalie Cory Schneider to gradually take the reins from Martin Brodeur, Cam Ward has shown us that a good goalie has little hope on a bad team. The Devils will have to improve on their 28th ranked offense in support of Schneider and the exchange of Kovalchuk and David Clarkson for Michael Ryder and Jaromir Jagr is not helping.
X-Factor: Jaromir Jagr. Jagr, despite his willingness to play any role during Boston’s Stanley Cup Finals run, looked both slow and unable to play both ends of the ice last Spring. Although he continued to dazzle with his puck handling skills, Jagr’s scoring touch seemed to fade when Boston needed it most. With Clarkson and Kovalchuk gone, the ageless forward must be a point per game scorer for the Devils to succeed. Does he still have the skills with his stick? Yes. Can his body keep up with the young talent around the league? Devils fans don’t want me to answer that.
Columbus Blue Jackets (16)
Welcome to the better conference, Columbus. After a surprising 2013 season, the Blue Jackets hope they can build on their success and avoid regressing back to the franchise norm of being a cellar-dweller. The low scoring squad with a weak power play is unlikely to keep pace with its high octane competition no matter how well Vezina winner Sergi Bobrovsky plays. Marian Gaborik must stay healthy and produce at an All-World level in his first full season as a Blue Jacket to help spark the anemic offense and to make this team a playoff contender.
X-Factor: Brandon Dubinsky. Dubinsky came to Columbus in 2013 with playoff experience and the pedigree of a proven leader. If Dubinsky can produce at both ends of the ice, help keep Marian Gaborik motivated, and keep the squad persistent through the inevitable rough patches in a relentless schedule, Columbus has a fighting chance. Unfortunately, the task seems a little too tall.
Atlantic Division:
Boston (2)
After their second trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in three years, the Bruins look poised to make yet another deep playoff run. The acquisitions of two Cup seeking veterans, Jarome Iginla and Loui Eriksson, should help the Bruins maintain a hunger that teams that have consistently been at the top sometimes lose. Also, the healthy blue line competition between Dougie Hamilton, Torey Krug and Matt Bartkowski should help to keep the defense sharp and rested in front of Tuukka Rask. Look for the Bruins to challenge the Leafs, Red Wings and Penguins for Eastern Conference supremacy.
X-Factor: Tuukka Rask. Rask had a strong regular season in 2013 and an even better postseason. After signing Rask to a handsome contract in the offseason, the Bruins hope that he can maintain his Vezina caliber play through an 82 game schedule. With four strong offensive lines and three great defensive pairings that will no doubt get the Bruins to the postseason, Rask will be the man who decides their ultimate fate.
Toronto (3)
Toronto “almost” upset the eventual Eastern Conference champion Boston Bruins in the first round of the 2013 playoffs. The loss left the ill-fated franchise with one round of playoff experience and But how will the Leafs’ blown lead to the Bosin 7? How will they bounce back in 2013-2014? A talented, fast, deep Leafs team will look to prove that their 2013 return to relevance was not a fluke. This team can compete with anybody in the East.
X-Factor: Jonathan Bernier. Bernier will finally get his shot to be “the man” in net during the 2013-2014. The question is, will he play like the top-tier netminder that the Kings expected him to be before Jonathan Quick turned into arguably the NHL’s best goaltender? The Leafs outplayed the Eastern Conference champion Bruins before Tyler Bozak fell injured and, with the addition of David Clarkson, David Bolland and Mason Raymond, they should be an even deeper team in 2013-2014. If Bernier emerges as a star, the Leafs may just find themselves in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Detroit (5)
Once again, an “almost” team…although almost doesn’t earn you anything in the NHL, the Red Wings almost upset the NHL’s most dominant team in the 2013 playoffs and will look to carry that momentum into the upcoming season.
X-Factor: Stephen Weiss. Although the spotlight will be on Daniel Alfredsson after his high-profile signing in the motor city, Weiss will be the difference maker in Detroit. Alfredsson will score his goals, Pavel Datsyuk will yet again be a Selke candidate and Jimmy Howard will play inspired as he looks to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. But the team will need Weiss, the former 4th overall pick who missed the majority of the 2013 campaign while playing for Florida, to provide what he has his entire career – strong power play production, significant minutes on the ice, and strong two-way play. If Weiss can return to the top of his game, the Red Wings have all of the pieces needed to emerge from the East.
Ottawa (6)
It’s no secret that the Senators “over-achieved” in 2013 after facing incredibly bad luck with injuries. However, the experience that some of the young Senators gained when Alfredsson, Spezza, Anderson and Karlsson went down will serve them well when their stars return in October. The Senators have arguably the best goalie tandem in the league with Craig Anderson, who will try to avoid a regression as he seeks to earn a U.S. Olympic spot, and Robin Lehner as well as depth on offense and defense.
X-Factor: Kyle Turris. With their long-time leader Alfredsson skating for Detroit, Kyle Turris will need to continue his ascent toward stardom in 2013-2014 for the Senators to go deep into the playoffs. In his first full season as a Senator, Turris showed why the Coyotes drafted him 3rd overall in 2007. He proved himself capable of being a top-line center who can log 20 minutes per night and he elevated his game even higher in the playoffs. If Turris can be a point-per-game scorer for the Senators, they have the balance to compete with the best in the East.
Montreal (7)
Montreal returned to the playoffs in 2013 after a dreadful season the year before. Their high flying offense carried them to a division title, but with Ottawa, Boston, Toronto and Detroit all looking like strong contenders for the Atlantic title, Montreal will have to become a much more well-rounded team in order to even return to the playoffs.
X-Factor: Carey Price. Has there been a year in recent memory when Carey Price hasn’t held the key to Montreal’s success? The Canadiens lit up the scoreboard in 2013 and, with Michael Ryder back in the Red and Blue for a full season and Alex Galchenyuk looking to improve on his fantastic rookie season, look poised to do the same again this year. In order for the Canadiens to win, Carey Price must improve on his .905 save percentage and his 2.59 goals against average…and he needs to figure out how to win in the playoffs.
Tampa Bay (10)
Tampa Bay is perhaps the most intriguing team in the division. The Lightning looked to Anders Lindback to solidify their unsettled situation in goal last year and the Swede proved himself inadequate. They then traded away one of their best young offensive stars in Cory Conacher for Ben Bishop with the hopes that the young American can become the goalie of the future. The Lightning seem to always find a way to score, led by Steven Samkos and the ageless Martin St. Louis, but their defense always finds a way to let them down. Perhaps this is the year that the two come together in front of Bishop and allow the Lightning to return to being one of the best in the East. Or, perhaps we will see much of the same. In a division loaded with physical, defensive minded teams, a move from the soft Southeast Division to the new Atlantic Division will hurt Tampa’s chances of returning to relevancy.
X-Factor: Matt Carle. Somebody must solidify the defense in order for the Lightning to be a contender. Although Carle can’t do it alone, the veteran has a winning pedigree and the potential to emerge as a defensive minded leader in Tampa. Despite Tampa’s abysmal season last year, Carle yet again posted a positive plus/minus rating. Now it is time for Carle to get his teammates on board.
Buffalo (13)
When will the Sabres live up to their potential? Buffalo fans hope that their team can bring the intensity and skill that led the team to be an above .500 team against the Northeast Division last year, not the sloppy play that led them to be 3-10-2 against the conference’s worst division. Ryan Miller will be looking to prove that he is still one of the NHL’s best and worthy of a spot on the U.S. Olympic team, but if he continues to get peppered with shots the way he did last year, he will have to elevate his game to a level it hasn’t been at since 2009-2010 to be the difference maker that Buffalo needs. Ultimately, too many players have to have career years for the Sabres to change their standing in the conference.
X-Factor: Henrik Tallinder. It comes as no surprise that the last great season that Ryan Miller had was when he was playing behind Henrik Tallinder. And, it comes as little surprise that the Sabres brought the Swede back to Buffalo after watching his former defensive partner Tyler Myers regress from “budding-star” to a below average defender. If Tallinder can elevate Myers’ game back to what it was, and the two can shut down some of the offensive star power that sits at the top of the conference, Buffalo has enough talent to compete for a Wild Card spot.
Florida (14)
Florida fans are hoping that 2013 was a fluke. Unfortunately for them, the Panthers’ team history suggests that yet another season at the bottom of the conference is more likely. Unstable in net, inconsistent on offense and defense, and without significant improvements on their roster, Florida will need a miracle to compete in their new division (one that is significantly stronger than the one that they struggled in last year).
X-Factor: Kris Versteeg. Jacob Markstrom and the rumored Tim Thomas have already been highlighted as players who would have to have incredible years for the Panthers to compete, but they also won’t be able to win without improving their 29th ranked offense. Kris Versteeg missed much of the 2013 season with an ACL injury, and the Panthers will need a healthy Versteeg to team up with budding star Jonathan Huberdeau to put the puck in the net with more frequency. Will Versteeg be able to make enough of a difference, I think not.
Ryan Gosling
Talent must come with the name Ryan, we bring you this weeks NHL Celebrity Look-a-Like:
Ryan Gosling is a face that you all may know, the mega successful actor has been entertaining on the silver screen for years. Ryan Spooner, his NHL look-a-like has been doing the same just at a different venue. Hockey fans, Bruins fans more specifically are familiar with the young prospect with promising skill.
By Megan MacDonald
In the heartbreaking 25 minute Sportsnet special, Ottawa Senators’ forward Bobby Ryan shares the story of a childhood on the run. Born Robert Stevenson, Bobby Ryan grew up in Cherryhill, New Jersey. One night, after taking a then ten year old Bobby to a Flyers game, his father Bob went to the bar and upon returning home brutally beat his wife, Melody. Facing charges of attempted murder first degree, burglary, and terroristic threats Bob Stevenson skipped bail and found himself on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted List.
After several months on the run searching for a new home for his family, Bobby and his mother were reunited with Bob in Washington, D.C. and moved cross country to California, assuming new identities. Bob became Shane Ryan – inspired by the movie Saving Private Ryan – while Robert was now Bobby Ryan.
One careless mistake – the simple use of a Blockbuster card under a tracked alias – brought the FBI to their front door and sent Bob to prison leaving Melody a single mother working two jobs to keep her son in hockey.
Once released, the state of New Jersey issued a restraining order to keep Bob from contacting his wife. Despite her several attempts to have it lifted, the restraining order stayed in place and attending Bobby’s draft in 2005 violated the conditions of his parole, sending Bob into 18 months house arrest.
The entire ordeal lead to Bobby seeing a sports psychologist, Toronto’s Dana Sinclair, who Bobby says, “saved my career really, she’s been the best thing I’ve ever done.”
Melody and Bob are still married, living once again in Cherryhill, New Jersey. Melody goes by Stevenson again but Bob and Bobby chose to keep the Ryan last name, “[Bobby Ryan] that is me. 100 percent.”
The Manchester Monarchs and Portland Pirates met Saturday and Sunday for their only two games of preseason. During the regular season, the teams will face off 12 times. If the preseason was any indication, the Pirates are going to have to study some game tape and figure out how to solve the Monarchs. Manchester won the first game 5-2 and the second 3-0 while dressing fewer than 18 skaters.
As the Los Angeles Kings are slowly sending players down to Manchester, the Monarchs found themselves in an interesting position where they just did not have enough healthy players to put 18 guys on the ice. They also had an excess of defenseman. Coach Mark Morris managed to make due with what he had and was impressed by how his players stepped up.
Returning defenseman Nick Deslauriers notched 4 of Manchester’s 5 goals on Saturday in his new preseason role as a forward. It’s not a role he is used to and it might have felt odd to him at times, but it worked out well for him. Being a big guy who plays a physical game, he was able to hit even more.
After the 5-2 win on Saturday afternoon, Manchester came into Sunday’s game looking for a repeat. Although they only put 16 skaters on the ice, it was hard to tell that they were not skating with a full lineup. They got things started off early to keep rolling. Just 54 seconds into the second preseason game, Manchester beat Pirates goalie Mike Lee. That goal was disallowed due to goaltender interference. But it would only take until the 3:13 mark for Manchester to score their first goal. Andrew Campbell scored his first of preseason with assists to Jordan Weal and Maxim Kitsyn.
It was the second time that the teams had met in as many days and it was immediately obvious from the game on Sunday. There were four penalties during the first period, including a brief 2-man advantage for Portland. In addition players were quick to hit and slow to stop pushing and shoving after the whistle blew. Despite the powerplay chances, the score remained 1-o in favor of the Monarchs after the first frame.
The second period started with Manchester finishing off the remainder of their powerplay, carried over from the first. The hitting continued in the second right where it had left off in the first. About five minutes into the period, Deslauriers delivered a huge hit on Kyle Hagel of the Pirates. Hagel seemed to crumple but immediately popped up and went after Deslauriers. Although he was not necessarily expecting the fight in that situation, it was something Deslauriers deals with a lot. As a big, physical player, he has to be willing to stand up for his hits. The two traded punches in a relatively even draw before separating and heading to the penalty boxes.
There was only one penalty, aside from the matching fighting majors, in the second. Manchester’s Scott Sabourin went off for holding. But once again, there was no score on the power play. Neither team was able to create as many scoring chances in the second. The teams ended the period with Manchester still leading 1-0.
During the third, Pirates goalie Mike Lee continued to make good saves and control the puck to keep his team in the game. At the 7:31 mark, the Monarchs went on the powerplay when Pirates’ Ethan Werek got a penalty for tripping. This time, Manchester was able to convert on the powerplay when Jordan Weal deflected a shot past Lee 43 seconds into the penalty. Sabourin and Brandon Kozun got the assists. Just 25 seconds later, the Monarchs went up 3-0 when Brian O’Neill beat Lee with an assist to Ian O’Connor.
That would be the final score as Monarchs goalie Martin Jones held strong. He made a number of good saves in the third and controlled the puck to keep from giving up rebounds. His shutout brought the preseason games to an end for the Monarchs and the Pirates.
The AHL season opens on Friday, October 4th with Manchester visiting the Springfield Falcons for their first game on Saturday, October 5th. Between now and then, the Monarchs coaching staff will have to make some decisions about who is going to stick around. They have already started the process by announcing that they released defensemen Matt Campanale and Jake Newton who both dressed for both preseason games. The LA Kings also announced that they have assigned forwards Tanner Pearson, Tyler Toffoli, and Linden Vey to Manchester.
Some are meant to scare. Others are made to show their owner’s deepest thoughts. No matter what the owner is thinking, we will never see his whole face during a game.
He is the goalie and his prop is his mask.
The mask is what the goalie wants the world to see. Some masks are made to dedicate a certain time or place while others play homage to family. Some are even painted as a brick wall. One of the first goalies to wear a mask was Tony Esposito. His was a plain white one which later he added a wire mesh to protect his eyes.
Some goalies design their masks to look like animals, such as New York Ranger’s Gilles Gratton. His mask can really jump out at you! The detail is fantastic and I wonder if it has ever upseted a member on a opposite team? One of my favorites is the mask Dan Bouchard played in for 17 years as a goalie for the Atlantic Flames. I think it is a great colour and just a great looking mask! Some design their mask so that it has nothing to do with the game, location or name of the team. Take Gary Simmons for a minute, he was the goalie for the California Golden Seals. (1967-1976) You might think he would paint something California-ish but no he did not. His mask was covered by a cobra snake. Maybe it was an inside or private joke? It just didn’t fit the image nor the team. Goalie Jaroslav Halak dedicated his mask to the September 7th, 2011 plane crash that killed an KHL team. All 45 team members including Pavol Demitra died. The mask is dedicated to the team and Pavol Demitra. Some dedications include: American Arm Forces, other past players, buildings in their cities, their kids and the list just goes on and on and on.
Jonas Hiller from the Anaheim Ducks has a odd mask compare to other goalies. His mask is just plain black with gold trim. Does a mask suppose to scare or enlight the opposite team? Behind the graphics, is a goalie trying to tell us something, about us, about them?
Does the mask make the goalie or the goalie the mask? Or does it really matter in the long run?
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