Tag Archives: Nhl Season

Chicago Blackhawks

Analyzing The Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Blackhawks have had one of the best starts to not just an NHL season, but any sport. In their first 19 games, the Blackhawks have a record of 16-0-3.  That’s 16 wins, and 3 losses all via the way of a shootout. They have not lost a single game in regulation thus far. Just three years off since their Stanley Cup victory, Chicago look poised to enter this year’s playoffs as the number one seed in the Western Conference, already amassing an 8 point advantage over the second placed Anaheim Ducks. The reason they have had such an amazing start is no coincedence. it all starts with their goaltending.

Corey Crawford, through the 11 games he has started, as a GAA of 1.5, and his back-up, Ray Emery has started 8 games with a GAA of 2.08 for a combined GAA of 1.79. When you’re conceding less than two goals a game, you should be at least winning more games than you are losing, especially when your opponents have only 34 goals past your goalies.

Patrick Kane on the other hand, is leading the way on offense, with 24 points in 19 games. Being helped along by the usual suspects of Marian Hossa (9G, 6A), Jonathan Toews (7G, 8A) and Patrick Sharp (4G, 11A), Chicago have a 4th best 3.1 goals per game, and with star defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook starting to find form, it seems that the streak could last a lot longer in Chi-Town.

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.

General

Finally…

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The NHL and the NHLPA have finally agreed to the framework of a new provisional 10-year Collective Bargaining Agreement, thus ending the negotiation at 113 days. Sure the I’s need dotting and the T’s need crossing, but we may just see a shortened NHL season which is something a lot of people did not expect.

The question remains though, what effect will these past 113 days have on the fanbase of hockey? Sure, it’ll stay strong in Canada, and in places like Detroit and Chicago, but what about the smaller markets like Phoenix? Like Nashville? Like Columbus? Only the future will tell..

As for the near future? Well… This becomes a reality.

P.S. Can we pleeeeeease re-sign Jamie Benn now? Please?

General

NHL Lockout Update: :(

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So here we are awaiting a decision from the NHL and NHLPA… once again. I’m hoping for the best, but seriously… I am not convinced. Let’s hope I’m wrong. Will the NHL season be lost?

As both parties negotiate up to the last minute before the deadline… nothing seems to be for sure.

Tragically Hip? Canada? Hockey? Scared?

[youtube Tyd-MO0CPcI]

I wish I was more positive, but someone here had to say something. Frowny face. Can we please have the NHL back? Is that too much to ask?

Jerks.

I vented. Fix this. Fire Bettman and Fehr. Play hockey.

“You’re welcome.”

Flashback Friday, PUCK YOU!

PUCK YOU! Season 3, Episode 3.1: The Trade Deadline (repost)

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While the 2012 NHL Lockout is underway, every Friday will be known as “Flashback Friday.” On this day of the week, a classic installment of PUCK YOU! will be released for your enjoyment.

Like Rob Ray said, "Cemetary or Hospital."

This was originally published on Mar 6, 2012

Hello hockey fans! PUCK YOU! is back for analysis of the trade deadline and the NHL season! Censorship has no place here. We’re going to be candid as hockey fans as we look down the stretch towards the playoffs. We’re going to discuss the trades made, whether they’ll make a difference, and who the winners and losers in this media hyped (debatable unofficial holiday in Canada) event. Without much further ado, let’s drop the gloves and start our debate!

Note: this installment will be divided into three parts. Today, Tuesday March 6 will be our first, with the second and third to follow on March 8 and March 10, respectively!

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Flashback Friday, PUCK YOU!

PUCK YOU! Season 2, episode 2 (repost)

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Logo

While the 2012 NHL Lockout is underway, every Friday will be known as “Flashback Friday.” On this day of the week, a classic installment of PUCK YOU! will be released for your enjoyment.

Hello hockey fans! We started this project last season on a different website. We have a new home here at Wonderpod-Online, and couldn’t be happier to getting back to discussing a game we all mutually love… hockey. The one played on ice, that is. The NHL season is just over the halfway mark, the World Juniors is over, and we’re on the doorstep of the free-agency deadline. It’s about time we got the crew back together for another bull-session. So, let’s get to it, shall we?
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The UHF Tournament

Ultimate Hockey Fighter – The Introduction

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Come one, come all. This is the introduction to Ultimate Hockey Fighter. A 32-man single elimination tournament from players past and present, throughout the entire history of the National Hockey League, come together to compete for the title of Ultimate Hockey Fighter.

Every week, fans and viewers alike, will vote on who progresses, until there is only one man standing. They will then be crowned the Ultimate Hockey Fighter, and walk away with a grand prize of zero dollars and zero cents. Also, probably with a few teeth missing and a nose that points to the right.

Not just any man can participate in this tournament. There are a series of qualifications that are needed in order to qualify for a spot in the draw. These qualifications are as follows:

1) Each participant must have at least 100 NHL fights throughout their careers.
2) They must average at least 15 Fights Per Year (FPY) throughout their careers. FPY is calculated by adding the total number of NHL fights, divided by the number of seasons they played in.
3) Each fighter must have at least one NHL season with at least 20 Fights.
4) Fights recorded during NHL Pre-Season, the NHL Regular Season, and the NHL Post-Season are included in the final fight totals.
5) Fights in the AHL and other leagues besides the NHL are not included.
6) Wildcards were decided by those who had over 200 NHL Fights in their careers, but did not meet the 15 FPY criteria. Each wildcard entrant was then eliminated based on their FPY totals, with the lowest totals being eliminated until the wildcard spots were filled. Wildcards were only entered if there are not enough participants that meet all criteria.

The following is a list of websites and other tools required in finding the 32 participants:
www.hockeyfights.com for stats and details on the participants.
www.youtube.com for footage. All rights reserved to the NHL yada yada yada Don’t take me down for copyright infringement.
www.wikipedia.org for details on the participants.
A calculator (in yellow) for assistance with stats.

Finally, a disclaimer. If your favourite fighter didn’t make the final list of 32, or if you listened to thinksojoe’s interview with Buffalo Sabres TV host, play-by-play announcer, and host of “Hockey Hotline” on WGR AM in Buffalo (PLUG: Link to said interview) and the person you chose as the Ultimate Hockey Fighter did not make the cut, then I apologize. I apologize also if I missed someone who has the numbers and fits the qualifications, but did not make the tournament. The final 32 is complete, and is all ready to go. Speaking of which.. the revealing of the participants, and the draw.. is coming very, very soon.

 

 

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