All Entries Tagged With: "Ilya Kovalchuk"
New Jersey Devils: Still Stuck with “Boring” Label? They Shouldn’t Be!
Since the 1990′s, the New Jersey Devils have had a label put on them about playing “boring” hockey. It all stems from the fact the Devils were known for playing the neutral zone trap and essentially taking away the middle of the ice from opponents and attempting to slow down the offensive rush of their [...]
Five Deals That SHOULD Be Made Before The Deadline
As the late February NHL trading deadline approaches rumors have began to surface in every corner of the hockey world. From buyers to sellers and rentals, a plethora of deals always seem to be made this time of year. This year, as a few top-tier players are slated to become Unrestricted free agents at year’s [...]
Thoughts on World U-17 Tournament
As a hockey fan living in Michigan, I have always been accustomed to watching the Detroit Red Wings, but it’s not the only hockey ticket in town. About 30 minutes northwest are the Plymouth Whalers and they are one of the premier teams in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). If you want to cross the [...]
Tampa Bay Lightning Week in Review – Featuring The Quarterdeck Log
The Tampa Bay Lightning are 14-16-2 with 30 points through 32 games. After 32 games last season, the Bolts were 18-10-4 with 40 points. The Bolts are in fourth place in the Southeast Division and trail the division leading Florida Panthers by ten points. Tampa Bay has fallen to 13th place in the 15 team Eastern Conference. After 32 [...]
The 20 most overpaid NHLers making more than $4.0M per year
More than one quarter into the 2011-12 NHL season, it’s time to have a look at the most overpaid NHLers who don’t contribute as much as their team and the general manger who signed them would like. Please note that I have not included players whose contract is buried in the AHL or oversees such [...]
Tampa Bay Lightning Week in Review – Featuring The Quarterdeck Log
The Tampa Bay Lightning are 9-8-2 with 20 points through 19 games. After 19 games last season, the Bolts were 10-7-2 with 22 points. The Lightning are in third place in the Southeast Division three points behind the Florida Panthers and 12th in the Eastern Conference. After 19 games, forward Steven Stamkos leads the team in [...]
Unlikely Hero Leads B’s Past Devils For Sixth Straight Victory
The stark contrast between the play of the Boston Bruins during the first ten games of the 2011-’12 season, as opposed to their efforts over the next five has been absolutely astounding. Through the first ten games, Boston scored only twenty-two goals while struggling to post a conference-worst 3-7-0 record. Over the following five games, [...]
Five Devilish Things To Worry About in New Jersey
Well, the New Jersey Devils have hit their first “crisis” mode of the season. While it certainly isn’t time to panic, there are a few things to have general concerns about. The reason for worry goes beyond the fact they have lost the last two games, but more so how outbadly they were outplayed by [...]
Devils Defeat the Predators in a Shootout 3-2
The Nashville Predators fell to the New Jersey Devils in a shoot out 3-2 at the Bridgestone Arena. In this contest, there were aspects that were good, bad, and ugly. THE GOOD Unlike their previous effort, the Predators opened the contest with good jump and were able to solve the Devils trap game. The Devils [...]
Time for a Do-Over: A New Season for the New Jersey Devils Begins Tonight
Things changed greatly for the New Jersey Devils last season. Rookie Head Coach John MacLean was brought in to help the Devils continue their winning ways. After all, the team was coming off of 13 consecutive playoff appearances, and had reached the Stanley Cup finals three times during that span. Ilya Kovalchuk was signed to [...]
Getting Ready for the Season in New Jersey; Predicting the 23-man roster
The New Jersey Devils have now wrapped up their preseason games and despite not neccessarily getting the preferred results, they are closer to having their roster set for Opening Night. The first cuts came last week when they “cut” 19 players, sending five players to their junior team and 14 to their AHL affiliate in Albany. None [...]
Season Predictions Part 2: Canucks Poised For A Repeat?
Hello again, and welcome to Part II of my 4-Part NHL season preview. In part I, I gave you all my Eastern Conference Predictions. In part 2, I will give you my predictions for the Western Conference. I will approach these predictions a bit differently than I did those for the Eastern Conference. Today, [...]
Rangers Answer The Bell, Now Wait (updated)
After spending my Friday night channel surfing between the Hurricanes-Thrashers and Flyers-Sabres games, I went to bed feeling somewhat unsettled. When the final horn sounded, Buffalo clinched a playoff spot as a result of their overtime win, and Carolina’s drubbing of Atlanta moved them into the 8th spot by virtue of holding the first tiebreaker [...]
Why Did Daddy Let My T-birds Fly Astray??
Poor me a beer so I can wash the sadness away. Not because it’s St. Patty’s Day though. No, because I’m a Thrashers fan who was foolish enough to believe in this year’s team. Going into the season, I knew better. We’re too young; new coach and new system; too many new pieces trying to [...]
So “Slim”, You’re Tellin’ Me There’s a Chance?!
Wednesday nite in Raleigh, NC the Thrashers did something they hadn’t done since January 5th of this year, when they downed the Florida Panthers 3 to 2 at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, FL, which is: WIN TWO STRAIGHT GAMES!! Alas, the 2010-11 season has not been one in which the Thrashers have been [...]
Tampa Bay Lightning Week In Review
Game 63: Lightning 1 – Devils 2 “Playing Their Game” If you didn’t know better, you would have thought the Tampa Bay Lightning and New Jersey Devils were playing in another era, using straight wooden sticks and skating in slow motion. The Devils held the Bolts to a meek 16 shots on goal and snapped [...]
Tampa Bay Lightning Week In Review
Game 60: Lightning 8 – Coyotes 3 “Vinny Goes Off” The Tampa Bay Lightning (35-18-7) scored five first period goals, three on the power play and never looked back as they punished the Coyotes 8-3, ending Phoenix’ eight game winning streak. Teddy Purcell recorded his first career hat trick and according to him, his first [...]
Tampa Bay Lightning Week In Review
Game 44: Lightning 3 – Capitals 0 “Solid Defense” The Tampa Bay Lightning (26-13-5) made the Washington Capitals look ordinary and downright ineffective on Wednesday night. Bolts backstop Dwayne Roloson made 23 saves and shutout the Capitals for the second time in nine days, 3-0. The Lightning’s defensive effort was, in a word, spectacular. The [...]
New Jersey Devils fire John MacLean, bring back Jacques Lemaire, duhh!
After 33 games, the axe fell and the head finally rolled, just in time to celebrate Christmas with your friends and family… well everyone, except John MacLean who was fired earlier today by GM Lou Lamoriello. With a paltry 20 points so far this season, the Devils are on pace for a dismal 50-point season, [...]
The 10 most disappointing players so far this season
With the Christmas holidays looming, let’s have a look at the 10 most disappointing players so far this season. 1. Ilya Kovalchuk – New Jersey Devils 31 games 8 goals and 10 assists for 18 points and a -21 plus/minus differential. After signing a monstrous 17-year $100 million contract in the off-season, Kovalchuk has been [...]