The Columbus Blue Jackets learned a valuable lesson about NHL hockey on Friday night-it’s dangerous to ’sit on a lead’ and particularly against the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Down 3-1, Pittsburgh tied the game late in the third period as Ruslan Fedotenko and Alex Goligoski each lit the lamp with less than three minutes remaining. After a scoreless overtime period, Sidney Crosby scored the only goal of the shootout to give the Penguins an improbable 4-3 victory. It was the 9th win in ten games for Pittsburgh, who are a perfect 6-0-0 on the road. Columbus lost for the fifth time in six games.
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Ducks Rout Canucks In NHL Hockey Action
After losing the services of starting goalie Roberto Luongo for the indefinite future with a broken rib, the Canucks may have breathed a sigh of relief too soon after backup goalie Andrew Raycroft’s performance in his first game in relief. After an excellent effort in an overtime victory over Los Angeles, Raycroft was torched for four goals in two periods before being pulled from the game. Corey Schneider, recently recalled from Manitoba of the AHL, played the third period in net giving up three more goals as Anaheim cruised to a 7-2 victory.
The 2010 Vancouver Olympics Are Just Around The Corner
Commencing in February 2010, Vancouver will be playing host to the Winter Olympic Games. Vancouver was awarded these Olympic Games after narrowly defeating competing cities Pyeongchang, South Korea and Salzburg, Austria. This will be the second Winter Olympics hosted by Canada and the third Olympics hosted overall. Montreal played host to the 1976 Summer Games and Calgary played host to the 1988 Winter Games.
Chicago Blackhawks’ Great Stan Mikita
While NHL hockey players from the country formerly known as Czechoslovakia”as well as other Eastern European nations”are commonplace today, Chicago Blackhawks great Stan Mikita was something of a pioneer. Other players with a flashier game such as Bobby Hull became better known, but you can make a compelling case that Mikita was the best center iceman in professional hockey during the’60s. Mikita was born in Sokolce, in what is now known as Slovakia. He was sent by his family to the Toronto, Ontario area as a young boy to avoid the political strife in the area prior to World War II. An aunt and uncle adopted him, and he changed his name from his birth name of Stanislav Guoth adopting their last name of Mikita. Like most young Canadian boys, he started playing hockey and quickly proved to have an impressive aptitude for the national sport.
Montreal Dominates Swooning New York Islanders
The Montreal Canadiens have gotten off to a slow start this season, and entered Thursday night’s game against the New York Islanders having gone thirteen games without a win in regulation dating back to last season. Apparently, all they needed to cure their ails was a team that was struggling more than they are. The Habs jumped on them early scoring three goals in the first two periods en route to a 5-1 victory at the Bell Centre. Montreal improved to 4-5-0 with the victory while the Islanders dropped to 1-4-3.
Boston Bruins’ Scoring Legend Phil Esposito
Though his scoring records have been obliterated by Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, former Boston Bruins/New York Rangers center Phil Esposito is still regarded by hockey cognoscenti as one of the greatest offensive players in the history of the game. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, as is his brother Tony Esposito who was a standout goaltender for the Chicago Blackhawks.
The All Star Weekend Has Come and Gone
The All-Star Weekend has come and gone, meaning NHL teams have ramped up their play for the important stretch drive. The final 30 or so games that so-often determine not only who will battle in the first round, but also who will make the post-season “show” at all. And as much I’ve enjoyed watching Chris Chelios’ 45th season (it’s actually his 25th. It just seems like his 45th) and his efforts to hack opponents black and blue, or Sean Avery’s self-destruction, or the usual coaching carousel, or Crosby and Ovechkin’s highlight reel plays, it’s my “recreational” (insert ‘drop-in’, or ’shinny’, or ‘old-timers’ as applicable) hockey season that has my toes a-tingling right now. Really, is there a sweeter smell in the world than cracking open that hockey bag each week? Sure, Chanel No. 5 is nice, but we’re talking well-seasoned hockey gloves here people – no contest!
Loving the Bruins in Boston
Back in 1990, I was still in school. The Bruins were in the midst of a great playoff run, up against the Oilers in the Stanley Cup finals. The night before, there was a late game. A really late one. Boston had lost in 3 OTs to the Oilers. We were all miserable that day.
Is Hockey Still a Major Sport?
Hockey was once one of the four major American sports. The big four were the National Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League. But yet, even as some in those group dominate the others (the NFL dominates all sports in terms of popularity), the NHL has not been able to really keep up with the others.