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....

Poor, Poor Youppi: Pays Off Bet With Jimmy Fallon And It Was Sad

Oh, wither poor Youppi...

The Montreal Canadiens mascot finally paid off a bet the good people of Montreal made with NBC Tonight show host and New York Rangers fan Jimmy Fallon.

The bet: Montreal wins their Stanley Cup Playoff series and Fallon wears a Canadiens jersey for a monologue during one of his shows. But if the Rangers won--Youppi had to walk the streets of Montreal in a Rangers jersey.

It was all chronicled by the team...and yeah, it was kinda sad...

Rangers Advance To Stanley Cup Finals For First Time In 20 Years

((HT: NHL.com/NBCSN))

And our man-crush on Doc Emrick manifested itself last night once again...


Now, the Rangers wait for (hopefully for them) a seven-game series between Los Angeles and Chicago.
Game 6 is tonight in Los Angeles

Kings And Blackhawks Go For A 5th Period In Game 5

The HQ had a feeling that the game would either be 13-11 (after the Montreal-Rangers street fight the night before) or was going to be a game where Corey Crawford and Jonathan Quick were going to be on their heads...

Actually it was a little of both...

The Kings were down 2-0 after four minutes and 3-1 in the second period. But the Blackhawks let them back in the game- not rattled by early returns- and went deep into the night with an unlikely hero.

Chantal McCabe talks us through the highlights
((HT: NHL.com))


The larger questions in America 6 Friday will be around the Hawks Patrick Kane and wondering if his Game 5 efforts were just a one-shot deal or not and will Corey Crawford still look a step late on some instances when the Kings have the puck in traffic.

Corey Crawford Being Investigated For Water Bottle Spraying Of Kings Fan

((HT: Sportsnet))

TMZ Sports broke the story about an LA Kings fan and an interaction with Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford...

Corey Wong has filed battery charges on the goalie before he left Staples Center and thinks the bottle had both water and backwash- since he is seeking treatment for an eye irritation.

Hockey Central discusses...

The LAPD is investigating...

And what is it about LA sports teams being exposed to water incidents with fans, anyway...???

Frankly, the HQ thinks that Mr. Wong has too much time on his hands and is taking things a little too seriously at the moment. But that's just us...

John Moore May Not Be Around For A While

((HT: CBC/NHL))

For this...


The HQ gives PK Subban credit for steering Dale Weise back to the bench since he, probably, couldn't even remember what day of the week it was after the shot to the head...

But John Moore's Dory Funk, Junior impression should get him, at least, a 2-game sit...

What say you...???

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

Rangers Carcillo Does Something Stupid That Could Cost

((HT: SomeHockeyVideos/CBC))

The New York Rangers Dan Carcillo could be gone for a while...
You, simply, do not do this...


Carcillo, understandably, got an ejection for that from linesman Scott Driscoll. And it will be Driscoll's report to the league office that will determine the length of any suspension. Some people are talking ten games, some twenty games.

Keep an eye on any references to rules 40.2 and/or 40.3
From the league rule book:

40.2 Automatic Suspension – Category I - Any player who deliberately strikes an official and causes injury or who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an official with intent to injure, or who in any manner attempts to injure an official shall be automatically suspended for not less than twenty (20) games. (For the purpose of the rule, “intent to injure” shall mean any physical force which a player or goalkeeper knew or should have known could reasonably be expected to cause injury.)

40.3 Automatic Suspension – Category II - Any player who deliberately applies physical force to an official in any manner (excluding actions as set out in Category I), which physical force is applied without intent to injure, or who spits on an official, shall be automatically suspended for not less than ten (10) games.

With Montreal now only down a game, it will be interesting to see how much the suspension will impact the Rangers plans from here forward in the rest of the series.

Selanne Retires From NHL, Kings Show Class At The End

((HT: NHL))

Teemu Selanne can still play hockey- just not to the ridiculous level that we have seen over the last two decades and to the level he thinks he should be playing at to be a productive member of professional hockey in North America.

So, after 21 seasons and obscene offensive numbers, he's hanging it up in the NHL. Whenever the Ducks lost their last game would be his last. And last night's 6-2 loss to Los Angeles was it...

As is tradition, players congratulate each other for a series well-played at the end and it was absolute class...

Here's Selanne going through the handshake line...


The next question is: Does this mean it's all for Saku Koivu as well...???

Here's the highlights from TSN with Cuthbert and Ferraro...


There is talk that, with his home country squad of Jokerit in the KHL and Jari Kurri as GM, that Selanne will go home to wrap it up. The HQ certainly hopes so...

ICYMI: The CBC Does Amazing Opens for Hockey

Okay, we've worked in the TV business for a long, long time and we've seen some amazingly well produced videos. Heck, we've won awards for some of our own well produced videos.

But we can't compete with things like this.

Check out the open produced by the folks at the Canadian Broadcast Corporation to kick off Wednesday nights Game 7 Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage of the Montreal Canadiens/Boston Bruins series.

The song, "Experience the Jewel" by the group Wintersleep. The video, historical and current set up the game, won by the Canadiens, perfectly.

Here's How To End An Interview, Thanks To PK Subban

((HT: NHL on NBCSN/Andy Johnson's Vine))

You think PK Subban was happy...???
Ask Pierre...


And the cleaner, longer version...
((HT: SomeHockeyVideos))

Pens Lose 3 In A Row To Rangers, Head To Golf Course...

((HT: Sportsnet))

Henrik Lundqvist stopped 102 of the last 105 shots he faced in the Rangers-Penguins series. Because of that, an anemic offense that Sidney Crosby had nothing to do with, a power play that didn't exist, and shaky goaltending by Marc-Andre Fleury the New York Rangers won the last three games in the Round 2 Eastern Conference series and will play either Boston or Montreal in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Pens head coach Dan Bylsma has now lost three big series in a row (if you count the Olympics as a series) and may be out of a job. He hadn't thought that far ahead when asked after the game...
Here's Crosby speaking the obvious... The team rallied around Martin St. Louis after the loss of his mother and you could tell the series and the series win meant a lot to him being a part of his new team... ((HT: CBC/NHL)) And here's how it happened...

St. Louis Reflects On A Long Few Days

((HT: MSG/NHL))

Martin St. Louis' mom passed away suddenly Thursday. He went home to help take care of what the family needed to do. But after talking it through it was decided that his mom would have wanted him to play Game 5 tonight in the Rangers-Pens series.

The Broadway Blues won and kept the series going, and he got to talk about it after the game.


In a classy move that reinforces just how hockey players are, here's Sidney Crosby talking with St. Louis
Cassie Campbell-Pascall has the lead-in
((HT: CBC))


Classy... very classy...

Game Sevens Times Three Finish Round 1

((HT: NHL/NBCSN/CNBC))

It's what this time of year is all about... other than the tanning and vacations...

Game Sevens make late night viewing all good...

And the NHL last night had three Game Sevens to close out the first round...

First stop was New York City for the Rangers and Flyers...
And when the fourth line is contributing (see: Dan Carcillo), it's going to be a good night for you. But, these days, Carcillo is in Ranger Blue and not Flyers orange...


Game Two went for a while...

Because there's only one thing better than a Game Seven...
It's a Game Seven that goes to overtime. Minnesota escapes the first round since 2000 with an overtime win at Colorado. Avs head coach Patrick Roy was pleased with his team's efforts this season. But he was obviously, disappointed with the premature finish of the season...


The larger question for Minnesota in Round Two is the status of Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper- who had to leave the game in the third period, yielding to Ilya Bryzgalov. Bryz made one save for the rest of the game, but that's all that needed to be made as the Wild take on Chicago...

The late game, probably, is the end of the lifespan of Todd McLellan in San Jose. The Sharks had a 3-0 lead in the series against Los Angeles. But the Kings rediscovered their defense in and around goalie Jonathan Quick and became the fourth team in the history if the NHL playoffs to come back from a 3-0 series deficit to win a series, 5-1 in Game 7...


That sets up Chicago and Minnesota and the Freezeway Series between LA and Anaheim...

McLellan: "We Got Cheated..." Sending Kings-Sharks To Game 7

((HT: CSN Bay Area))

The San Jose Sharks had one of those epic melt-downs that make this time of year this time of year...

With a game tied at one in the third last night, the Sharks scored three goals in just under three minutes to give the Kings a 4-1 win tying the Western Conference first-rounder at three games a piece with Game 7 coming up Wednesday night.

Here's the evidence of the collapse...


Sharks head coach Todd McLellan, defending his troops, says his team got cheated on the eventual game-winning goal by Justin Williams. Here's his presser that, might, cost him some money...


The Sharks game went downhill from there and got involved in fights with Logan Couture, Raffi Torres, Joe Thornton, Brett Burns, and Andrew Desjardins in a 3:27 span.

Elsewhere, Pittsburgh got a hat trick from Evgeny Malkin and held off Columbus 4-3 while Minnesota forced a Game 7 with Colorado with a win of their own...

What's With All The Unanswered Goals...???

((HT: NHL/NBCSN))

The HQ thought that when the Pittsburgh Penguins had the 3-goal FIRST PERIOD lead on the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide, that it was over and done...

Yeah, so much for that idea...

CBJ scored once in the first, once in the second, and Brandon Dubinsky scored with less than a minute to go in regulation to send the game into overtime...

We all know what happens with momentum by that point...
Ask Nick Foligno...


That series is now tied at two and the Penguins fans are gripping over another post-season performance by goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

The other two series that went last night are also tied at two games a piece...

Anaheim had a two-goal lead in Dallas in Dallas, but that didn't last, either...
The Stars scored four in a row and the series between the Ducks and Stars has gotten all serious. There was a a lot of "quien es mas macho" in the last few minutes between the two sides. Play-by-play man Gord Miller had the line describing how the series has gotten all in each other's grills, saying that the two have evolved into hatred...

He's not wrong...


The late game (and "who knew?" right...???) would end up being the Blackhawks and Blues...

It would end shortly before 1AM east coast time, but overtime will do that for you...
Patrick Kane would help us all get to bed earlier than we thought in the third series tied at 2...


Tonight, the Sharks try to knock off the Kings once and for all...
Much to the dismay of the HQ...

Ron MacLean Apologizes For HNIC Comments

((HT: CBC News))

First... tell the HQ what you think about this segment...


Well, if one of the best in the business offended you, Ron MacLean has apologized...

Coming from a referee like MacLean, the remarks were surprising.
And FOSG Elliotte Friedman was on set with him- and disagreed...

The reaction among French-speaking and separatist Canadians was somewhat expected:
 
An example from the Journal de Montreal op-ed piece by Rejean Tremblay...translated...

Well then, it should be forbidden to have a "Canadian" referee a game Maple Leafs or Canucks? And an American officer should not during a match between a Canadian team to an American team? Or, would be the finest of racial discrimination and prohibit a native referee Minnesota work in a game of Wild? But then, what do we do with an Albertan and Oilers and Flames? You know that in these cases, the question does not arise. 

Because for MacLean, the "Canadian" or Ontarian Dave Jackson or even an English Montreal are part of the superior race. They therefore intelligence and control of their emotions that guarantee the quality of their work. While the poor little French, he is subject to the call of the tribe.

And fan mail was somewhat hot in places...from one such letter in the Montreal Gazette:

Ron MacLean’s comments regarding the inappropriate use of French referees in the Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay game was insulting to all Canadians who respect diversity and who live in a country that claims this as a value. 

To think our so-called national broadcaster allows such divisive rhetoric is deplorable and just reinforces the fact that the CBC should have its funding cut (even though I do not support the political reasons the government uses to justify its cuts).

So, what say you about the comments... faithful reader...???

Just asking...

Stanley Cup Playoffs: What Is This About Taking People Out Below The Waist...???

((HT: NHL on NBC/Some Hockey Videos/TSN))

One was sad and the other was sad...

If you get where the HQ is going...

First is the one that drew people's ire...

Colorado and Minnesota series... and it was all around Matt Cooke again...


Tyson Barrie left the game against the Wild after a knee-on-knee hit from Matt Cooke and will miss four to six weeks with a medial collateral ligament injury. Cooke received a two-minute minor for kneeing, but has been offered an in-person hearing by the NHL department of player safety.

The HQ knows where that is going and a lot of people are calling for Cooke's head...

The other was just flat out disappointing...

Stars and Ducks...

Stephane Robidas was part of the fabric of the Stars for a long time. But he was traded to the Ducks at the deadline. This series has, admittedly, been tough on him facing his old mates. The first game back in Dallas had an injury that was eerily similar to the one that got him on the shelf the last time back in November...


Ryan Garbutt's going for the puck was not intentionally causing the re-break, but it still is disappointing...
Trevor Daley feels for his old teammate...
((HT: Will Martin))

Coach Interrupts Stamkos Presser With Q-and-A

((HT: Sportsnet))

Tampa Bay Lightning star Steven Stamkos had to answer all those questions about "How ya feelin'?" since the knee in the back of the head he received last night in Game 3 of their playoff series with the Montreal Canadiens.

Stamkos got a special guest in his scrum...


And a "Seinfeld" reference, too...

Not bad...

So You Think You Can Fight Chara...???

((HT: Deadspin/NHL on NBC))

The Detroit Red Wings Brendan Smith thought he wanted to...

But this happened... thanks to the 7-inch height advantage...


Dumb idea...

Just dumb...