All Entries Tagged With: "playoffs"
Isles-Pens Series Recap: What Went Wrong, What Went Right, Top Moments
The New York Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins just wrapped up the most exciting Islanders’ playoff series since the Islanders and the Maple Leafs went seven games in 2002. The series was physical, even nasty at times. There were a ton of goals scored. There was plenty of drama. The heavily-favorited Pittsburgh Penguins were given [...]
Ten versus One
Ouch. There was no other way to describe game one if you’re an Islander fan. Sure the referees called some very iffy penalties in the first period leading to two Pittsburgh goals – with the help of a linesman blocking an Andrew MacDonald clearing pass directly leading to a Pittsburgh goal – but when you [...]
Fleury, PK both critical for Pittsburgh in 1st round match against Islanders
Most pundits have selected the Penguins to easily cruise by the surprising New York Islanders, but as someone who was scarred for life by last spring’s 30-goals-allowed-to-Philadelphia debacle, my approach to fandom and blogdom this year is to adopt a “prove-it” approach. At the end of March, a friend on Good Friday morning jokingly shook [...]
Focus is on the Minnesota Wild
CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -The Chicago Blackhawks fell to St. Louis 3-1 in their final game of the regular season. It was a meaningless contest for the Hawks but with the victory the Blues secured fourth place in the Western Conference. The opponent for the Hawks in the opening round will be the Minnesota Wild.Every [...]
With Playoff-Picture Cloudy After Isles Loss in Philly, Just Remember “Why Not Us?”
You just cannot win them all, Isles fans. I wish we could, but it’s never going to happen. Eventually, your team is going to lose. The loss sits as a thorn in your side, but what are you really going to do about it? Cry? Pout? The New York Islanders just clinched their first playoff [...]
Isles Clinch Playoff Berth; Built to “Upset”
We did it! The New York Islanders are going to the playoffs for the first time since the 2006-07 NHL season! So what if it took a loser point to get there? The Islanders will be playing hockey in May for the first time in two decades. A point earned in a 4-3 shootout loss [...]
Bruin Up Two Points in Boston: Nabby, Bailey Grind Isles to Victory
This game was never about “escaping with one point” and getting out of dodge. The Islanders needed to come away with two points tonight, regardless of their opponent. In what could be a potential first round playoff matchup, Islanders-Bruins was a game that the Isles needed to prove they could win. Last night, the Isles [...]
Sell-out Crowd Recharges Islanders in Sweep of Lightning; Joensuu Debuts
“We want playoffs!” – That was what the sold-out crowd at the Nassau Coliseum was chanting after the New York Islanders defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning by the score of 4-2. I know I’ve been critical about us as a fan-base, but I want to applaud all of us. In a game that was not perfect, [...]
Hockey Independent Roundtable: Preseason Stanley Cup Predictions
Hello everyone and welcome again to the Hockey Independent Roundtable. In today’s piece, five HI writers will provide you all with their early picks for the playoffs ad the Stanley Cup. This piece will double as Part III of my five-part 2013 NHL season preview. Part I –> Northeast Division Preview Part II –> Eastern [...]
2013 Eastern Conference Power Rankings
The 2013 NHL season is no longer an 82 game marathon, but instead is a 48 game dash to the finish line. Will teams that had multiple players skating in Europe fair better? Will veteran squads win because they will have fresh legs all season long? Only the next few months will tell. Here are [...]
Boston Bruins Continue to Lock Up Core, Sign Milan Lucic to Three-Year Extension
Upon the completion of Saturday’s transactions, the Boston Bruins will have locked up every member of their 2011 Stanley Cup winning core with long term contracts that will keep them in the Hub for the foreseeable future. After inking both Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand to new contracts over the past handful of days, general manager Peter Chiarelli turned [...]
Boston Bruins Offseason Notebook: Horton Cleared, Julien Earns Extension, B’s Re-Up With CBS Boston
Bruins, Head Coach Claude Julien Agree To Terms On Contract Extension – Thirteen months ago, Claude Julien became the first Boston Bruins’ head coach to hoist the Stanley Cup above his head since Tom Johnson in May of 1972. The Blinder River, Ontario native was rewarded for his efforts this week, in receiving a brand [...]
Boston Bruins Offseason Notebook: Rask, B’s Agree To New One-Year Contract
Even before 2011 Vezina trophy winning goaltender Tim Thomas made his unofficial decision to sit out the 2012-’13 season, many believed that the starting job between the Boston pipes wouldn’t belong to him even if he’d decided to play out the final season of his 4-year, $20 million dollar contract (signed in 2009). Whether it [...]
2012 Hockey Independent Mock Draft: Selections 26-30; The First Round Concludes
The Hockey Independent crew has come together again; this time to piece together a 2012 NHL Mock Draft for your reading pleasure. The contributing authors to today’s piece will be Cris Cohen (New York Rangers), Seth Levin (New Jersey Devils), Alex Muscat (Detroit Red Wings), Bill Philp (Tampa Bay Lightning) and myself, Benjamin Woodward (Boston [...]
Kings’ Captivating Cup Run Perfectly Exemplifies Hockey’s Greatness
It was a 49-year championship drought that was snapped by the Chicago Blackhawks on a warm summer night in Philadelphia just two years ago. A 39-year wait came to an end in June of 2011 when the underdog Boston Bruins took down the heavily favored Vancouver Canucks on Rogers Arena ice. On Monday night, the [...]
Boston Bruins Postseason Report Cards: Part IV: Extra Skaters/Call-Ups
Throughout the month of May, I will be providing you all with a four-part Boston Bruins’ postseason review, grading the performances of each and every player that donned the eight-spoked “B” during the 2011-’12 campaign. The schedule looks like this: Part I –> Top Six Forwards Part II –> Bottom Six Forwards Part III –> [...]
Life Without Tim Thomas: Bruins Confirm “Strong Possibility” That Reigning Vezina Winner Will Sit Out Next Season
When reports began to emanate on Thursday that Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas was toying with the idea of taking a season off, many — including myself — simply shrugged it off in the belief that it was pure speculation on the part of the media. However, the tide took a major turn on Friday [...]
Boston Bruins Offseason Notebook: A Steal, A Deal And A Departure?
With the off-season in full swing here in Boston, news out of Causeway street has been few and far between since the B’s first round exit at the hands of the Washington Capitals. In the meantime, I hope you’ve all been enjoying my series of postseason report cards. Soon enough things will begin to heat [...]
Hockey Independent Playoff Roundtable: Stanley Cup Finals Predictions
— Welcome back to the Hockey Independent roundtable where five writers from the HI staff have come together once again to provide you all with our Stanley Cup Finals predictions. The contributing authors to today’s piece will be Cris Cohen (New York Rangers), Seth Levin (New Jersey Devils), Alex Muscat (Detroit Red Wings), Bill [...]
Boston Bruins Postseason Report Cards: Part III: The Defensemen
Throughout the month of May, I will be providing you all with a four-part Boston Bruins’ postseason review, grading the performances of each and every player that donned the eight-spoked “B” during the 2011-’12 campaign. The schedule looks like this: Part I –> Top Six Forwards Part II –> Bottom Six Forwards Part III –> [...]
