The Tampa Bay Lightning wasted no time finding their game in the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Islanders on Sunday night. They produced eight goals to defeat the Isles by a final score of 8-2. It was a statement game for the Lightning, not only to their Eastern foe but to the Dallas
Month: September 2020
Ted Kulfan The Detroit News Published 2:55 PM EDT Sep 8, 2020 Detroit — The NHL would normally have a big, star-studded Las Vegas gala while announcing its awards winners. But because of the coronavirus pandemic, these aren’t normal times. The NHL is revealing individual winners for various awards during pregames of the two conference finals, ending
Helene St. James Detroit Free Press Published 12:54 PM EDT Sep 8, 2020 The 2020 NHL playoffs are cause for wondering what might have been. The pandemic-delayed finish to the 2019-20 season is past the halfway point, with the Dallas Stars battling the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final and the Tampa Bay Lightning
It’s often said that the Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy to win in professional sports. Of the league’s 31 teams (and with Seattle joining in 2021-22), only 20 have won the Stanley Cup and just 13 have won multiple championships. In the modern era, it’s become tougher to win championships and build dynasties which
The National Hockey League offseason is a time for reflection, ample rest, and the ability to look back and wonder what could have been (or what was) for 31 teams. Heading into the 2020-21 season amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ottawa Senators are a club looking to upgrade in several areas. They would greatly benefit
The Edmonton Oilers have only made the playoffs one time since the 2005-06 season when they lost in the Stanley Cup Final to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Oilers have two of the top five forwards in the NHL on their roster. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are both extremely young and talented, and were the
Associated Press Published 4:29 AM EDT Sep 8, 2020 Edmonton, Alberta — Braydon Point and the well-rested Tampa Bay Lightning resembled a refreshed team eager to come off an extended break after switching cities in the NHL playoff bubble. The New York Islanders, on the other hand, looked predictably travel- and game-weary. Point scored twice
Ted Kulfan The Detroit News Published 4:31 AM EDT Sep 8, 2020 Wyandotte – The skates, sticks, pads, socks and helmets are coming out of hibernation. Brendan Pace and the rest of his Wyandotte Warriors teammates can slide the sneakers to the side. No more training on land. It’s time to return to the ice. “Overdue”
At the end of the 2011-12 season, the Los Angeles Kings and the New Jersey Devils were not the top picks to go to the Stanley Cup Final. The Devils finished with the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 48-28-6, totaling 102 points. The Kings finished with the last seed in
A few days ago, I wrote about the rumor that Toronto Maple Leafs starting goalie Frederik Andersen might be headed to the Carolina Hurricanes. That possibility is still flying around, however, further news and rumors have emerged. Related: Maple Leafs Radical Trade Rumors: Nylander, Ekblad, Nurse & Subban In this edition of Maple Leafs News
The New York Rangers lacked forward depth when they acquired Julien Gauthier from the Carolina Hurricanes at the trade deadline last season. However, he struggled after the trade and the Rangers will have plenty of young forwards battling for roster spots. Gauthier’s AHL Success Gauthier was originally drafted by the Hurricanes in the first round
The game plan coming into the West Finals likely wasn’t to win the game 1-0, but after scoring on their first shot that’s just how this game evolved and one goal was all that the Dallas Stars needed to win Game 1 over the Vegas Golden Knights. The Stars stifled and stymied the Golden Knights
On September 6, 2012, there was cause for celebration in Yaroslavl, Russia. For the first time in nearly a calendar year, the city’s hometown hockey team, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, took to the ice at Arena 2000 for a KHL regular season game. The contest, which was against Sibir Novosibirsk, was a chance for the organization and
Looking back over the last six weeks, it’s been a wild ride for the New York Islanders. As they advance to the Eastern Conference Final to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in a rematch of their 2016 series, it’s important to recognize that the franchise took an enormous step this postseason. Circumstances aside, this historic
With the NHL down to its final four playoff teams, there are a handful of players who have emerged as front-runners for the Conn Smythe Trophy as postseason MVP. After having scored 25 points in 15 games, Nathan MacKinnon looked like he was going to run away with the award until his Colorado Avalanche lost
When Vancouver Canucks fans look back at the 2019-20 season, other than the oddity of it all – with playoff hockey during the late summer – it will be a season to remember. However, perhaps it won’t be obvious how memorable the season will be until several years down the road. Hope is high, but
Every single year, Canadian fans are force-fed a nonsense narrative that we must back our last remaining city battling through the postseason. That’s beyond illogical, for a number of reasons. I’m here to clear any confusion — with only USA-based cities now remaining — on who all of my Canadian neighbours should be cheering for
Associated Press Published 11:34 PM EDT Sep 6, 2020 Edmonton, Alberta — John Klingberg scored on the Stars’ first shot, Anton Khudobin stopped all 25 the Golden Knights put on net and Dallas beat Vegas 1-0 on Sunday night in a hard-hitting, defensive Game 1 of the Western Conference final. Khudobin had his first NHL
The Vegas Golden Knights have made headlines in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs not only for their high level of play, but for a certain goalie situation that crept in out of nowhere. The battle between Robin Lehner and Marc-Andre Fleury for the starting job has caused headlines. The most prominent one being a now deleted
Ted Kulfan The Detroit News Published 11:30 AM EDT Sep 6, 2020 Maybe the Tampa Bay Lightning have finally gotten the hang of this. The Lightning, having impressively eliminated Boston — which had the NHL’s best regular-season record — in the second round, have reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the fourth time in six seasons. Tampa