Morning Wrap: Coyotes Center Scores Game Winner For Avalanche

((ht: nhl.com))

Talk about a crappy way to lose a hockey game. This one may take the cake.

The Colorado Avalanche got a 4-3 overtime win Tuesday night vs. The Arizona Coyotes. The reason they got the win--

Coyotes center Martin Hanzal deflected a pass by Colorado's Daniel Briere into the net, past Coyotes Goalie Mike Smith.

Game over.

Briere gets credit for the goal even though he wasn't trying to score and Hanzal holds his head in shame.

Your highlights from NHL.com:

NHL Hockey is Back: Now With Ref Cams

((ht: cbssports.com))

So, one of the many reasons we love hockey is that they are willing to try stuff other major sports may not be willing to do.

And Wednesday night was the official kickoff to the 2014-15 NHL season. Which for us, is cause for celebration.

Check out what the fine folks at the Sportsnet Canada decided to try this season.

Helmet cams on the ref--

Here's the puck drop at the Toronto Maple Leafs/Montreal Canadiens game:



Pretty cool, eh?

Or there's this. Referee Tim Peel brings you into a scuffle between the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames.

Yes...

We like this view.

A lot...

D'Oh! Why You Shouldn't Wear Heels on Ice (Video)

Hate it when this happens, but damn it is funny...

Check out the background of this TV News live shot from KNBC reporter Mario Solis after the LA Kings beat the NY Rangers to win the Stanley Cup Trophy.

Watch the woman walking from screen right towards screen left.

Doh! Faceplant.

Someone did come to check on her, and she did get up quickly with the "I'm ok!" "Nothing to see here" look....

But it's still funny...

Your End of Hockey Playoff Montages: Love These Videos

((ht: cbssports.com))

For whatever reason, one of the things that separates hockey coverage from other sports seems to be the video montages. And they separate even further with the American and the Canadian versions of said montages.

The reason we bring this up is because this is a snapshot of what we do for a living. We've done countless video highlight montages like this and to get them right is not nearly as easy as you'd think.

With that in mind we offer you montages done by both NBC Sports and the CBC (Canadian Broadcast Company) after last nights Stanley Cup Finals ended with a Los Angeles Kings win.

In this corner, NBC. NBC does a great job with their Hockey coverage and their lead announcer, Mike "Doc" Emrick is the best play-by-play guy in Sports today.

NBC put together their playoff wrap video using an excerpt from a Queen/David Bowie collaboration from the 1980's. "Under Pressure". And they mixed it with game highlights, cutaways and a ton of natural sound/broadcast sound.

It's very well produced and edited:



Now check out what the CBC did. Mind you, this is the end of their 60-plus year run televising the game.

Their montages have always been stellar, a mix of the current with an homage to hockey's past and history.

This is what you should consider a sendoff as much as a look back. We will miss the CBC and we will miss their production of this style video. Consider it a step above what NBC did and does, you know, next level stuff.

As a Video Producer by trade, we admire the editing, the research, the pacing and storytelling. And the music "Superstar", not as well known, but totally fits the story being told.

Enjoy the video and tell us what you think. Do you agree with our assessment? Or disagree....

ICYMI: The LA Kings Might Have Won The Stanley Cup in 2 OT's

((ht: nhl.com))

I'm quite honestly surprised Brother Jon hasn't gushed all over this story...but then again as a life-long, devoted Kings fan, he may still be celebrating.

The Los Angeles Kings won their 2nd Stanley Cup Title in 3-years Friday night with a 3-2 win in Double Overtime over the New York Rangers, the game was played in L.A.

The win gave the Kings a 4-1 series win over the Rangers and while it looked on the surface like a Kings runaway, the series was much closer than it looked.

Defenseman Alec Martinez dropped in a rebounded shot at the 14:43 mark of the 2nd OT and becomes a hero in NHL annals. It was Martinez, who had an overtime game winner in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals vs. the Chicago Blackhawks.

Needless to say, without Martinez's heroics, we may not be having this conversation.

The Kings Justin Williams walked away with the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP and it was well deserved,

Your highlights from NHL.com:



UPDATE: Yes, Brother Jon was celebrating quite well...

Things You Can't Unsee: LA Kings Rap for da Stanley Cup

((ht: puckdaddy))

Ok. So, the good news about the video at the bottom of this story and in the title is that no actual Los Angeles Kings players sang...or rapped in it.

Though it might have helped....

We aren't sure why but pretty much every attempt at a music video for a championship sports team that we can think of has sucked.

And this one certainly does that.

The performer--an Alexandra Case. We suspect you've never heard of her.

There may be a reason for that.

Behold the LA Kings Rap for da Stanley Cup and cross your fingers it doesn't become the teams anthem as they eventually close out the New York Rangers and win the Cup.

ICYMI: LA Kings win Gm 2 of Stanley Cup Finals...In 2 OT's

((ht: nhl.com))

Okay...if you love sports, there is no excuse for watching the Stanley Cup Finals.

There is nothing more intense, more exciting, more fun to watch. And yes, that includes the NBA where they whine about no air conditioning.

Late Saturday night, the Finals were as exciting an event as you'll ever see after the Los Angeles Kings came back from a 2 goal deficit for the second game in a row to beat the New York Rangers 5-4 halfway through the 2nd Overtime period.

Dustin Brown, the Kings captain, was Saturday nights hero after he deflected in a shot at the 10:26 mark of the 2nd overtime period.

This was after Kings forward Marian Gaborik tied the game just 7 and a half minutes into the 3rd period at 4.

Game 3 will be Monday night in what will undoubtedly be a raucous Madison Square Garden in New York City.

If you have the time, it's well worth watching.

Here's your Game 2 highlights from NHL.com:

ICYMI: Slash Rocks The Anthem to Start Kings-Blackhawks Playoff Game

This is always cool. Even if "Slash" is 162-years old....

Check out the former Guns and Roses guitarist doing the solo guitar performance of the National Anthem before Saturday night's Game 3 of the Chicago Blackhawks/Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup playoff series...

Really, there is much to be said here other than play the video...and make sure you have the volume on...

Oh, in case you are wondering, the Kings won the game 4-3 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series...

Thanks for sharing the video NHL.com

DEVELOPING: Washington Capitals Fire Coach and GM

Big changes are afoot for the floundering Washington Capitols hockey team.

The Caps, who feature one of hockey best players, Alexander Ovechkin, did not make the playoff this season.

And the casualties for that underachievement, team G.M George McPhee and coach Adam Oates were fired Saturday morning by team owner Ted Leonsis.

McPhee ran the team for 17-years and the team did have some success, winning some conference titles and making the playoffs 10-times.

As for Oates, he coached the team 2-seasons. This year the team was 38-30, but that was only enough to get them to 9th in an 8-team playoff system.

It seems to be the beginning of the new "next round" of changes to benefit Alex Ovechkin and the group of entertaining underachievers. Chuck Gormley and Jill Sorenson discuss the future...
((HT: CSNWashington))

Bruins Shawn Thornton Suspended for 15 Games

((ht: cbssports.com))

It appears a  cheap shot by Shawn Thornton of the Boston Bruins, late this past Saturday, on Brooks Orpik of the Pittsburgh Penguins, will according to TSN's Darren Dreger, cost Thornton 15 days.

The incident happened after Orpik had knocked down and apparently injured the Bruins Loui Eriksson. A bit of a scrum ensued. That's when Thornton skated over, grabbed Orpik, throwing him to the ice and punching him.

Orpik was knocked unconscious and had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher and to the hospital. Saturday morning Orpik was put on Injured Reserve with a concussion.

Here's some video of the Thornton/Orpik incident:

Tyler Seguin Nets Four vs. Calgary

((HT: NHL.com))

This is what happens when you get shunned for Team Canada camp...

People go off...

In the Calgary-Dallas game last night, Jamie Benn had six points (4 assists) and Tyler Seguin had four goals for the Stars in a 7-3 blowout of the Flames...

Here's your highlights of all the carnage...


The Stars have won five of six...

ClubberSpeak: The Kadri Files

((HT: Jim Lang Blog))

It's Thursday, and he's prolific...

And it's all based on this...
((HT: NHL on TSN))


In the third period of Wednesday night’s loss to the Wild Leafs forward Nazem Kadri was given a match penalty and kicked out of the game after he hit Mikael Granlund.

Which raises the question; what happened to hitting in hockey?

Now I am not talking about “Matt Cooke” type cheap shot elbows to the head. I am talking about good, hard bodychecks.

There is no doubt it was a hard hit by Kadri; but a hit worthy of a match penalty? Not a chance.

Kadri’s elbow was down and his stick was down and he made contact with his shoulder. I see dozens of hits every week in the NHL that are worse than that and they don’t result in a match penalty.

Now earlier in the game Kadri collided with Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom in the crease and Backstrom had to leave the game with a concussion. Kadri was given a interference penalty on the play. So you are left to wonder if the match penalty for the hit on Granlund was a make-up call for not given him a harsher penalty for running into Backstrom.

Hockey is still a contact sport. Hitting is still a part of the NHL. I agree with the league-wide initiative to remove blatant head shots from the game. There is no place for that in the modern NHL. But the hit Kadri laid on Granlund is the kind of thing that has been in the game forever and I hope it never goes away.

I can only imagine Scott Stevens watching a tape of that hit and laughing his ass off when he heard that it was worthy of a match penalty.

The bigger question for players is the reality that refs around the league will interpret what is a hit worthy of a match penalty far differently than the next guy. So the hit that is fine on Tuesday night in Edmonton might result in you getting kicked out of the game Friday night in Chicago.

Now there comes word that Kadri is facing a hearing this afternoon at 1:00PM ET for running over Backstrom, and not the hit on Granlund.

I am fine with that. Much like quarterbacks in the NFL, the NHL has to do whatever it can to protect goalies. But if that is indeed the case why did Kadri receive only a two minute minor for running into him? And you wonder why players get confused as to what is a suspendable offence and what isn’t? Brian Gionta was never suspended for taking out James Reimer. In this case there seems little chance Kadri won’t receive some kind of suspension for his hit on Backstrom.

Hence the confusion by players and Coaches as what is worthy of a suspension and what isn’t.

The bottom line is that the Leafs will likely be with-out Kadri for at least one game and maybe more on a team already razor thin at centre. The timing is awful as the Leafs are in Buffalo Friday night for the first of a home-and-home with Ted Nolan and the new-look Sabres.

Jay McClement led all Leafs forwards Wednesday night with 23:37 of ice time. His previous high this year was the 21:33 he logged in the Leafs loss to Columbus back on October 25th. McClement better have a good pre-game nap Friday because is sure to log some serious ice -time this weekend.

Lost in the Kadri ejection and pending suspension is the fact that David Clarkson has all of one assist in the eight games he has played since coming off of his suspension. With all of their injuries and the Kadri situation the Leafs desperately need Clarkson to break out of his funk and start producing.

Let The Housecleaning Begin In Buffalo

[HT: Buffalo News]

It was only a matter of time after the John Scott incident and this timeless rant...
((HT: NHL on NBC/Fred Murtz))


But, today in Buffalo, it all blew up...

"Last night I relieved Darcy Regier from his duties as Buffalo Sabres general manager and Ron Rolston as head coach," Sabres owner Terry Pegula said at a news conference in First Niagara Center.

In are Pat LaFontaine and Ted Nolan.

LaFontaine will carry the title of President of Hockey Operations and will hire a general manager to oversee the team.

"I can't tell you how excited and ready I am to take this position." LaFontaine said at Wednesday mornings presser.  "...the first thing I wanted to do is something at the player's level. We'll bridge it together."

The culture is about to change in Buffalo.

The Sabres have been god-awful this year.  As of Wednesday Buffalo is 4-15-1 and dead last in the NHL Atlantic Division.

"I don't know there's enough words inside me to express how excited I really am," Nolan said.  

Nolan was head coach of the Sabres for two seasons (1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons) where he led Buffalo to a division title in his final season and won the Jack Adams Award.

Nolan will serve as interim head coach was emotional during the presser.  

Let's just say Tuesday night and Sabres will rock bottom.  

(Thanks WVIB-TV)

Patrick Roy's Fire Exists Even In Game 1 (UPDATED With Fine And Reax)

So, you win your first game as Colorado Avalanche head coach fairly easily, but the game doesn't just "end" with players skating off the ice to their respective locker rooms...

This happens...
((HT: Prime Ticket/Fred Murtz))


Roy thought that, just before the goal, Nathan MacKinnon was knocked down by Ducks defenseman Ben Lovejoy with what Roy said was a knee-on-knee hit. No penalty was called.

"I was not very happy," Roy said. "First of all, I mean, to see a defenseman knee our guy. I mean, that was a knee-on-knee hit. That should have been a penalty in my opinion, and I certainly didn't like that. When it's 6-0, I don't think this game needs that type of cheap shot. But after that there was some talk from the coaches, I guess. But at the same time, what should I do? He put his fourth line on the ice. I'm not going to go with my first line. I went with my fourth line and, that's it. I was matching all night long, by the way."

Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau disagreed... of course...

"It was a little trip and maybe they should have called it, but they let it go because of the score," Boudreau said. "He was barking at me because I was yelling at him to quit yelling at our players. I didn't notice it as much as I noticed it then. The last game we were in here [for a preseason game] it was a big thing by the referees telling him it's going to be a long year if he's going to be yelling at everyone like that. There was no need for it.

"He's not 25 anymore; he's watched every NHL game I'm sure since he retired. He played for some of the greatest coaches and even though he was in the net and didn't hear a lot of them, I'm sure he knew what was going on."

Remember... they play three more times... and it looks like Roy's time behind the bench will be a trip...

So to speak...

PM UPDATE: Roy was fined $10-grand for his plexiglass shove-fest...

Here's Roy's response- and other coaches as well...
((HT: Sportsnet))

Orr-Parros Scrap Ends Badly (UPDATED)

((HT: NHL on CBC))

The Montreal Canadiens brought in George Parros for muscle and he ended up squaring off against Colton Orr, for what seems like the elevendy billonth time on the ice.

The guys know each other. They know the styles...
Just sometimes it doesn't end well...
Like tonight...

This was their first scrap...


But the rematch ended this way at 2:34 of the third...


Parros was taken to hospital for further examination, and the Canadiens announced following the game that he was alert and conscious. It was part of 115 total minutes of penalties on the night...

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Parros was diagnosed with a concussion, and thankfully, that's it...

Christine Simpson anchors postgame coverage
((HT: Sportsnet))


Here's CBC's take with Ron McLean anchoring. It's a good healthy debate on player safety and the role of fighting in the NHL. ((HT: CBC Sports))

Sabres Alternate Sweater Catching Grief

((HT: WGRZ-TV))

A lot of it...

Here's the coverage of the reveal...

People were joking on social media that the Atlanta Thrashers 3rd sweater (the "Defender" look") was laughing at that one revealed above... and the thought is with Ott doing the reveal is that he may be the new face of the franchise...

Well, okay then...

The Phoenix Coyotes Neverending Sale Ends--For Now

((ht: yahoosports/puckdaddy))

Yes, it's a story that we've repeatedly reported on. And hockey fans have lamented the fate of the owner-less Phoenix Coyotes for over three years now.

That wait is over.

The NHL has approved the purchase of the Coyotes by a group called "Ice Arizona", headed by George Gosbee and Anthony LeBlanc. Their group was "formerly" known as Renaissance Sports. And while Brother Jon might know why they changed their name, I don't, so I won't get into that.

Of course, like all the other proposed sales of the team, there is a catch.

The team has an out clause that states if they lose more than $50 million or after 5-years if there was a fair reason, the team can leave.

Which is exactly what we think will happen.

Oh, did we mention the city is paying the ownership group $15 million to manage the jobing.com arena? That deal was made under the premise of getting extra money on ticket surcharges, parking fees and naming rights.

Hmmm...

Does this sound right to you?

Here's USA Today's explanation of the events RIGHT HERE

My thoughts--This deal smells. Yes, it gets Glendale a primary tenant for their pink elephant of an arena And it might, if they are lucky, give them a way to recoup the gazillions of taxpayer money spent to keep the team in their current boondoggle.

But we'd be willing to bet money, after 5-years, they're gone. The minute someone offers them a new arena in a more northern climate where people are really into hockey, they're gone.

And the people on the hook: The taxpayers of Glendale. Many of whom will never see, want to see and in some cases can't afford to go.

No, we aren't stating a case here for no new arena's or anything like that. What we are saying is the city is already out nearly $60+ million just trying to find someone to buy the team and supplementing the NHL for running it for them, yes, city services and things that are needed for everyday life have been cut-back, but hey, it's for the Coyotes, why shouldn't you live in poverty if you can have the NHL?

Here's the early celebration out of Arizona...
((HT: 12News))

NHL To Seattle Sometime Soon...???

((HT: Mitch Levy/950KJR Radio))

Mitch's Twitter has been busy Tuesday evening...

He has people (and we all know how influential and accurate "people" are) that are telling him that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is telling the Board of Governors that, when the Arizona Coyotes sale goes through and is approved, an expansion team is recommended to go to Seattle.

Here's the series...

The current MOU would undoubtedly need to be tweeked to keep the arena on track

The ownership group that was interested in buying the Phoenix franchise remains in play here, amongst others.

All of this contingent upon 1) a solid ownership coming forward and buying the team and 2) the new arena staying on track to be built

If approved, the new expansion Seattle NHL club would cost approximately $275M. It would begin playing here in the 2014-2015 season.

The end game here is that, if the arena stays on track, the city would be attractive for an NBA franchise when the NBA expands- as is anticipated when the new television contract comes up for discussion...

Ownership groups would, obviously, include the Hansen-Ballmer group that has (currently) lost out on an NHL franchise.

And this also brings up the question for franchise 32- Quebec City or Markham...
The HQ thinks Quebec with the Sun Media connections and the framework that's in place...

Here was the conversation from June when Seattle mayor Mike McGinn admitted talking to Commissioner Bettman about the league in Seattle when the Coyotes were in the discussion...
((HT: KING-TV))

Josh Harding Talks MS

((HT: Sportsnet))

It was a pretty easy bet for Minnesota Wild goalie Josh Harding to get the Masterson Trophy this past NHL season...

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Harding hasn't let him slow down his workload and he even started in the Wild's first-round playoff series against the Chicago Blackhawks...

Sportsnet's Chris Simpson caught up with Harding in Toronto...

NHL Puts Out New Schedule And Division Names

((HT: Sportsnet))

And, yes, those were crickets you heard with most of this announcement...

It used to be the Patrick, Adams, Norris, and Smythe...
Then, we got directional names for the six divisions they created...

Now, we have this...??? We're back to four...

The four divisions will be now be called Metropolitan, Atlantic, Central and Pacific.

The Metropolitan is made up of the Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Atlantic has the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Senators, Sabres, Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Central has the Jets, Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues.

The Pacific has the Canucks, Flames, Oilers, Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes and Anaheim Ducks.

FOSG Tim and Sid give the new names the appropriate amount of grief... and ask Sidney Crosby what he thinks...

Metropolitan...???

So, then are the 8 teams in the division all "Mets...?"

Ugh...