Tag Archives: stanley cup

Hockey

2015-2016 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins

Hello everyone !

They did it- the Pittsburgh Penguins have defeated the San Jose Sharks to win the franchise’s 4th Stanley Cup and 2nd in the past 10 years! I’ve been a fan during both Cup victories and I can tell you, there is nothing like it!

The Pens overcame a lot to make it to the top, of course in my opinion they deserved to be hoisting the cup this June. This season was tough and for a while I wanted to stop watching games because of frustration. In October the team was mess and I was devastated; everything I loved about the team was gone. Players were fighting with each other and there was no sense of pride. How can a team expect to win when they can’t even get along? Hockey is a lot about teamwork and having a family-esque atmosphere. The NHL season is a long one, 82 games, and the Stanley Cup is described as the toughest trophy to win in all major sports. To make it through the season with a winning record, a team has to work together and want to win.

I want to focus on a crucial point in the season- the firing of coach Mike Johnston right around the 30 game mark. He HAD to go. He was replaced by Mike Sullivan who was familiar with the system because he was coaching the Penguins AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins when he was called to coach the NHL team. Having coached some of the players in the minors, Sullivan came in already comfortable with a lot of the players- I believe that was very important. Sullivan is a completely different type of coach compared to Johnston.

He instilled a sense of pride and togetherness in his players. All of a sudden they were a part of something bigger and they all had important roles. This was the first season I can honestly say that EVERY player had a significant impact. In past years the story every game was Crosby this and Malkin that. Don’t get me wrong – I love these two guys and they are elite skilled players. But it was so refreshing that it was the Penguins vs. the Sharks and the Penguins vs. the Rangers. Players young and old stepped up. Brand new NHL faces and players who didn’t live up to their potential on their old teams both shined night after night. Key injuries happened- players like Malkin, Fleury, and Daley missed a significant amount of games. But do you know what never changed- players were ready to step up and contribute to fill in their places.

Speaking of injuries, I’d like to take this time to talk about some of them. First off, young Finnish defenceman Olli Matta missed a lot of time due to complications resulting from cancerous growths. Fellow defenceman Kris Letang missed weeks because he suffered a stroke. Perhaps the most heart breaking injury was suffered by forward Pascal Dupuis. Dupuis was in the league for many years; and a member of the Penguins for several- including the championship 2009 season. He missed a lot of time with injuries; in fact, he had to hang up his skates and quit the game he loved because of his health issues. Seeing him raise the cup meant a lot to longtime fans.

So here we have it- the cup is going back home where it belongs. Myself, thousands of fans and a city of supporters are beyond delighted to welcome it back. Since 2009 there was a lot of talk that the Penguins were not performing as well as they should have. To all the haters: hockey is hockey- there are a lot of ups and downs, it takes a lot of pieces and sometimes a lot of luck to win the cup. Some chances were taken with lineups and free agents and trades- sometimes they work out and sometimes they don’t. Fortunate for the Penguins, they were able to go on the ice every night with a stacked team who was ready to take on the competition.

Congratulations to the players, coaching staff, training and equipment staff, management and supporters. Each person, no matter the size of his or her role helped the Penguins make it to the top.

Hockey

RDT’s Not-So-Serious Stanley Cup Predictions…The Finals!

Just for some quick record keeping, let’s see how I’ve done this playoffs.

I went 3-5 in round 1 (Montreal, NYR, Chicago)

I went 3-1 in round 2 (NYR, Chicago, Anaheim)

I went 1-1 in round 3 (Chicago)

That leaves me at 7-7…with ONE series remaining. Can we go over .500?

#3 Chicago Blackhawks @ #2 Tampa Bay Lightning

I’ll try to take this somewhat seriously.

The case for the Lightning:

-Just shut out the Rangers on their home ice in Game 7.

-In that series, had five players record seven points or more. That’s an average of a goal or assist per game.

-They have one time 60 goal scorer (and 43 this year) Steven Stamkos.

The case for the Blackhawks:

-They’ve been here before. Goalie Corey Crawford won’t feel the pressure as he’s played well in past Stanley Cup Finals.

-They too just won a road game 7.

-They have Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, two players I know who are great. Both seemed to play well in the Conference Finals.

-They also have Duncan Keith, a defender who scored 8 assists in the Conference Finals.

This is all I know. Experience alone makes me go with Chicago. Because all hockey series as of late go seven games, we’ll go with that.

Blackhawks in 7.

 

Hockey

RDT’s Not-So-Serious NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions: The Conference Finals!

Western Conference

#3 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #1 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim

Both of these series basically worked out the way I thought. Not that the thinking was logical, but whatever. Something that should be known about me: I’m actually anti-parity and usually root for dynasties. It is a big reason why I’m a big NBA fan.

How does me being anti-parity relate to this? Well the Blackhawks are as close as we are probably going to get in terms of a “dynasty” in hockey these days. Conference Finals loss in 2009, a Stanley Cup win in 2010, a 2nd Cup Win in 2013 and they lost in the Conference Finals last year. I like the Ducks, but the Blackhawks need to continue their legacy!

Chicago in 6.

Eastern Conference

#2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. #1 New York Rangers

Ugh at the Lightning. Just ugh.

The Rangers just came back from down 3-1 in another Washington Capital meltdown. I mean, it’s obvious who I am picking here, right?

New York vs. Chicago baby!

Rangers in 4.

Note: Yes, I realize I just made these predictions without naming one NHL player.

Hockey

RDT’s Not-So-Serious 2015 Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions

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I know very little about today’s NHL game. My peak fandom in the NHL was in the late 90s-early 2000s. Most of my hockey knowledge stems from three video games: NHL ’98, NHL Breakaway ’98 and Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey.  I slipped off when the 2004-2005 season was cancelled and never really recovered. I had two opportunities to get back into hockey but each time it didn’t last. The 2007-2008 season had the Winter Classic (awesome event) and a Penguins-Red Wings Stanley Cup final. The Red Wings were a great team from when I followed and the Penguins had Sidney Crosby, who was basically the LeBron of hockey. I followed a bit the next season as well and even played some Fantasy Hockey (although not well). After the rematch of the Stanley Cup final (to which the Penguins got over the hump and won the title), the NHL didn’t hold my interest. The only notable event that took place in the 2009-2010 season was that Marian Hossa made it to the Stanley Cup finals for the third year in a row with a third different team…only this time he won with Chicago.

It wasn’t until the 2011-2012 that I was drawn back in. I had randomly attended a New Jersey Devils game…the Devils were my team in the time I watched, and they lost to what seemed to be the unbeatable Crosby and Evengi Malkin. The Devils would make a crazy run though, and I attended Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, where the Devils faced the New York Rangers, and won an overtime thriller (playoff hockey is amazing). But again since then, my interest had dropped. My favorite player of all time, Martin Brodeur, left the Devils then retired from the NHL. I could never truly get back into hockey. Maybe one day I will. Probably when they get rid of awarding a point for an overtime loss (one of the worst ideas I can think of: rewarding a team for getting “close”). Shootouts are a fine way to decide games. That’s a different tangent though.

I wouldn’t take these predictions seriously, I admittedly am not taking them serious myself. I barely know any players in the NHL and how good they were or weren’t this season. So let’s go for it! Let’s call this a non-serious Stanley Cup 2015 predictions article!

Note: I barely understand this re-alignment. I assume each division has a #1-#4 seed and they play accordingly. I guess I’m not against that. We’ll do this round by round.

Atlantic Division

#1 Montreal Canadiens (50-22-10, 110 PTS) vs. #4 Ottawa Senators (43-26-13, 99 PTS)

What I know about the Canadiens: They were once the Yankees of hockey with 24 total Cups…but haven’t won in quite a while (research shows 1993). They’ve been a regular playoff team in the last decade. Carey Price was the hotshot young goalie when I played Fantasy Hockey, and he’s still there and I think good.

What I know about the Senators: Admittedly nothing.

Prediction: Canadiens in 6

#2 Tampa Bay Lightning (50-24-8, 108 PTS) vs. #3 Detroit Red Wings (43-25-14, 100 PTS)

What I know about the Lightning: Steven Stamkos is a great young goal scorer and has been basically since he debuted in the NHL. The Lightning also won the last pre-lockout Stanley Cup.

What I know about the Red Wings: One of the great teams from when I watched hockey, and again a great team back in the late 2000s. The last time the Red Wings missed the playoffs I think was somewhere in the early 90s. They boast two players I know: Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk. Looking at their roster they seem to have a couple of young guns who are good too.

Prediction: Red Wings in 7

Metropolitan Division

#1 New York Rangers (53-22-7, 113 PTS) vs. #4 Pittsburgh Penguins (43-27-12, 98 PTS)

Basically the main event for me personally here.

What I know about the Rangers: I mean, I live in New York. The Rangers are the defending Eastern Conference (is that what the Conference is even called anymore) Champs. They have a bunch of players who seem good, one of which I know is good in Rick Nash. I feel like Martin St. Louis’ time has passed, but what do I know? They also have Henrik Lundqvist, who I remember as the Iron Man goalie. We also taunted him in 2012!

What I know about the Penguins: Sidney Crosby. Evengi Malkin. Kris Letang. I also have been told that the Penguins are apparently now like the mid 2000 NBA Rockets, with great players up top and a weak supporting cast. No idea if that’s true.

Prediction: Rangers in 7

#2 New York Islanders (47-28-7, 101 PTS) vs. #3 Washington Capitals (45-26-11, 101 PTS)

What I know about the Islanders: They were the last team to win four Cups in a row (unless the Oilers did it). They also have the great John Tavaras. They also are moving to Brooklyn soon, which will be great for them.

What I know about the Capitals: Alexander Ovechkin scores a lot of goals but the Capitals never win anything.

Prediction: Islanders in 7

Wow I’m totally confused here. The Central has five teams in.

Central Division?

#1 St. Louis Blues (51-24-7, 109 PTS) vs.  #4 Minnesota Wild (46-28-8, 100 PTS)

What I know about the Blues: Brodeur retired on their team. Wayne Gretzky also played for them once. And Brett Hull. That alone might make me pick them to win the whole thing.

What I know about the Wild: With an exception, the teams not in any of the NHL ’98 video games barely exist to me. That would be the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators and the Wild. I’ll get to the exception later.

Prediction: Blues in 4

#2 Nashville Predators (47-25-10, 104 PTS) vs. #3 Chicago Blackhawks (48-28-6, 102 PTS)

What I know about the Predators: See Wild, Minnesota.

 

What I know about the Blackhawks: They have two recent Stanley Cup titles! And Hossa. And an injured Patrick Kane! And Jonathan Toews! And they are CM Punk’s favorite team!

 

Prediction: Blackhawks in 4

 

Central vs. Pacific WAR!

#1 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (51-24-7 (109 PTS) vs. #4 Winnipeg Jets (43-26-13, 99 PTS)

What I know about the Ducks: They are really called the Anaheim Ducks now, were once owned (and maybe still are) by Disney. Dany Heatley also played 6 games for them. The Ducks were a part of my last favorite hockey moment when I followed, which was when the Devils beat them in the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals.

 

What I know about the Jets: That they are the exception! I hated the idea of a hockey team in Atlanta, but giving one back to Canada with their original name? Awesome! This franchise hasn’t won a playoff series ever (the Atlanta version), so let’s start here!

 

Prediction: Jets in 6

Pacific Division

#2 Vancouver Canucks (48-29-5, 101 PTS) vs. #3 Calgary Flames (45-30-7, 97 PTS)

What I know about the Canucks: The Sedin Twins (they are twins right) are awesome. I also know the goalie Ryan Miller, but I don’t know if he’s good.

 

What I know about the Flames: They have someone with 70+ points I’ve never heard of in Jiri Hudler.

 

Prediction: Canucks in 5