Author Archives: thinksojoe

Buffalo Sabres

Former Buffalo Sabre Clint Malarchuk – 30 for 30 Short Film

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This morning I decided to check my e-mail after a couple of days, and to my surprise, I had an e-mail from Jennifer Cingari at ESPN.  The e-mail contained the press release for their latest 30 for 30 Short Film, “Cutthroat.”  The appropriately titled film is about former Buffalo Sabres goaltender Clint Malarchuk, who had his throat cut by a skate during a March 22, 1989 game against the St. Louis Blues.  This is an image ingrained in the hockey culture of my hometown of Buffalo, an image intensified as Richard Zednik, then of the Florida Panthers, suffered a similar injury at the HSBC Arena (now First Niagara Center), just across the street from where Malarchuk’s injury occurred.  This is a very powerful film, as the ESPN 30 for 30 series tends to be, and it really is a must watch, regardless of what team you root for.

The next installment of ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 Shorts series, Cutthroat, debuts today on Grantland.com. The short film focuses on former Buffalo Sabres goalie Clint Malarchuk and his emotional and physical recovery from one of the most gruesome injuries in sports history.

Clint Malarchuk was known as the “Cowboy Goalie.” He grew up riding horses but suffered from severe childhood OCD, which he believes helped him focus on his hockey training. During a game against the St. Louis Blues, an opposing player’s skate blade severed Malarchuk’s carotid artery, causing one of the most shocking scenes to ever take place in a hockey rink. From award-winning director Steven Cantor, Cutthroat chronicles Malarchuk’s injury, his remarkable two-week physical recovery and his grueling emotional and mental journey, which spans twenty years and included a six-month stay in a mental hospital for long overdue PTSD treatment.

ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 Shorts series is artfully crafted by Blue Moon. Previous films from the series include Arnold’s Blueprint, Ali: The Mission, and The Irrelevant Giant, among others. All can be viewed on Grantland.com.

General

First NHL ’14 Screenshot revealed!

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EA Sports, whose NHL video game franchise has dominated the hockey video game market since 1991, have released the very first screenshot of this year’s addition to the franchise, NHL ’14.  Along with the screen shot of Toronto’s Dion Phaneuf taking out Montreal’s Tomas Plekanec, EA has announced that more details about the game will be revealed on April 15th.  Stay tuned to BoredHockeyFan.com for complete NHL ’14 coverage!

New Jersey Devils

Martin Brodeur scores 3rd career goal

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GIF by G

Only twelve times prior to this evening in the long, illustrious history of the National Hockey League has a goaltender been credited with a goal.  Ron Hextall and Martin Brodeur were the only goaltenders with multiple goals through their career, tied at two each.  The thirteenth goalie goal in NHL history has broken the tie – Martin Brodeur stands alone as the only goaltender to score three goals in his career.  What’s more, the goal this evening was a Power Play Goal.

The Hurricane’s Patrick Dwyer was hooked as he was heading in to the New Jersey zone, and on the delayed call, Carolina goaltender Dan Ellis headed toward the bench in favor of an extra skater.  As he was skating off, Jordan Staal attempted to pass the puck to defenseman Tim Gleason, who missed the pass, which then careened off of the boards and into the empty Carolina net.  Having been the last Devil to touch the puck, the goal was credited to Brodeur.

No, it’s certainly not often that you see a goalie credited with a goal in a game, but more often than not, it’s number 30 for the New Jersey Devils.  Congrats, Marty!

Buffalo Sabres

First Sabres post of the season!

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Alright, I’ll admit it.  As a lifelong San Francisco 49ers fan, I’ve been a little distracted from these opening couple of weeks of the NHL season.  It doesn’t help that after going 2-0-0 to start the season, the Sabres slid to 2-3-1.  The heartbreaking loss with 1.5 seconds left in overtime against Toronto the other night hasn’t exactly had me clamoring to tune in to Sabres broadcasts either.  In fact, I was content to ignore the fact they were playing tonight until my wife handed me the remote.

I tuned in during the first period, scoreless in Boston.  I left the room during intermission to get ready for work, and took my time getting back.  It was 1-1 by time I started watching again.  Brad Marchand scored two quick goals to put the Bruins up 3-1 by the time I had to leave for work.  I was ready to count Buffalo out and ignore the rest of the game, but by time I got on my first bus, it was 3-3 at the end of the second.  I plugged my $100 Bose headphones into my $5 Sentry AM/FM radio, tuned to WGR55 AM, just in time for the start of the second intermission.

As the third period began, David Krejci scored 1:45 in, and once again it seemed like my Sabres were doomed.  However, less than a minute later, Alexander Sulzer scored his first goal of the season to tie it right back up.  Great saves by Ryan Miller, a goal from Cody Hodgson, a goal for Thomas Vanek (earning him a hat trick for the evening, and answering my longtime question of “What are the Sabres paying this guy for?”), and an empty netter by Captain Jason Pominville later, and the Sabres have snapped their winless streak, and emphatically silenced the TD Garden in Boston with a 7-4 victory.

Am I ready to believe that the team will start winning consistently and moving up the standings just yet?  No, but rest assured I won’t be ignoring the fact that they’re playing the Canadiens this Saturday afternoon.

Interview

BHF Interview: Kevin Sylvester

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Buffalo Sabres television host, part time play by play man, and the host of “Hockey Hotline” on WGR55 AM here in Buffalo, Kevin Sylvester joined ThinkSoJoE for an interview this morning.  We talk about the NHL lockout and it’s effect on broadcasters, arena workers, and fans.  We bring up painful memories for us Sabres fans as we discuss the controversial Cup-clinching goal scored by Brett Hull in 1999.  We talk about the new look Buffalo Sabres, and their potential.  Kevin discusses his new book, “The Married Man’s Guide to Golf,” as well as “Hockey Hotline,” his new hockey discussion program that airs Tuesday through Thursday at 10AM on Buffalo’s WGR55.  We get Kevin’s picks for our upcoming “Ultimate Hockey Fighter” series, and what Buffalo Sabres broadcasting conversation would be complete without a quick chat about the legendary Rick Jeanneret?  All this, and much more!  Click the link below to listen!

BHF Interview: Kevin Sylvester (MP3, 36:34)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

General

Tweets to the NHL and NHLPA

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Yesterday morning on my way home from my “day job,” I decided to tweet to the NHL and NHLPA my thoughts on their current dispute as pertains to revenue sharing and whatnot.  I thought I’d share those tweets with you all here on Bored Hockey Fan.

Do I think these tweets will make any difference whatsoever in the outcome of this dispute? Of course not. But at least this year we fans have an outlet to tell the League and the Player’s Association what we think.