Stanley Cup of Chowder

Thursday Morning Skate: A Team So Great, It Doesn't Need to Win

2012-05-17T10:00:02Z

USA takes on Finland today at 11:30am.

IIHF games:

6:00am Canada vs. Slovakia, NBCSports
8:30am Russia vs. Norway, NBCSports
11:30am USA vs. Finland, NBCSports
2:00pm Sweden vs. Czech Republic, NBCSports

Yep, all games are broadcast live!

And then at night,

9:00pm Coyotes v Kings (0-2) NBCSports

Might be a good day to play hookie, wake up at 6am, and watch hockey all day long. NOT THAT I WOULD, mind.

Highlight of the night:

This went on for like 10 minutes. Madison Square Garden is such a dump. This is the part where a new yorker goes "only in new york!" like that makes it okay that it's terrible. I think my regional bias is showing, whoops.

What's your excuse for taking the day off to watch hockey?

NHL Playoffs 2012: Eastern Conference Finals Game Two Open Thread

2012-05-16T23:00:18Z

Boston boy (and Connors' mortal enemy) Chris Kreider made a big statement in Game One on Monday night. The Kings look like mortal locks to represent the West in the Stanley Cup Finals. Can the Rangers make the Devils sweat just a bit harder tonight or will it be a brand new series when the lights turn off at MSG?

Wednesday Morning Skate: Jeff Carter catches Dwight King in playoff Goal Scoring Race

2012-05-16T11:00:15Z

Game tonight:

8:00pm Devils v Rangers (0-1) NBCSports

Well, it's hockey.

Highlight of the night:

Playoff Hat Tricks are hard to come by. Jeff Carter found one. He's a dingus for crying his way out of Columbus and I sort of hate him for it, but hat tricks are still pretty cool. Especially on goalies giving up fewer than 2 goals per game in the playoffs. Then again, he also did it to a guy that's giving Dwight King a goal per game.

Happy Wednesday, y'all!

Tuesday Evening Skate: Can LA tie the all-time record?

2012-05-16T00:00:13Z

LA has won every away game they've played so far in the playoffs. That's 6 so far. 7 is the record for consecutive away wins to start the playoffs. LA could tie that mark tonight. Are they going to, or is Phoenix going to find their dignity in the desert?

Either way we're almost guaranteed to see Dustin Brown drive his American-Built Muscle Car over somebody.

AMERICA!

Poll

Who are you rooting for?

Kings - Because I can't help myself.

17 votes

Coyotes - Because I like to watch Winnipeg suffer.

2 votes

19 votes | Poll has closed

Tuesday Morning Skate: France could knock Slovakia out of the IIHF tourney

2012-05-15T11:00:16Z

France is making a run with Merrimack Superstar Stephane Da Costa and Cristobal Huet. And why not?

IIHF Games, and what's at stake:

5:15am Canada v Belarus (Belarus must get at least 1 point or be demoted for 2014, Canada sits in top spot)
6:15am Norway v Denmark (Norway win could get them to face Sweden instead of Russia)
9:15am France v Slovakia (A French Regulation Win puts France into the knockout rounds and Slovakia out)
10:15am Czech Republic v Germany (Czech win cements game against Sweden)
1:15pm USA v Switzerland ()
2:15pm Sweden v Latvia (nothing at stake, Sweden locked into 2nd and Latvia out)

Should be fun.

NHL Game:

9:00pm Kings @ Coyotes (1-0) NBCSports

Definitely staying up late for this one.

Highlight of the night:

I loathe the Rangers and Devils so here's the Mic'ed Up Highlights of Coyotes/Predators. Did Doan really call Derek Morris SloMo? If so, I'm laughing a lot about that.

And on a related note to the general theme, Cristobal, Save Us All

NHL Playoffs 2012: Eastern Conference Finals Game One Open Thread

2012-05-14T23:30:15Z

At this point, I'm starting to wonder if the Kings are going to lose another game these playoffs. If they don't, the winner of this series is sort of a moot point, but Devils - Rangers should still be pretty interesting (for those of us who don't prefer trap hockey, anyway). Lundqvist and Brodeur have both been playing well, but New Jersey's got a bit more offense than the Rangers do. They should also have a bit more rust, which didn't exactly benefit the Flyers in the conference semifinals.

Even though I probably should go Devils, I'm calling Rangers in Six. I'd say Rangers in seven, but I want the Bruins' three game seven wins in one playoffs to hold up.

Monday Morning Skate: Nickname Proposal: Dwight King is "Ozymandias"

2012-05-14T11:00:52Z

It looks like the Kings will never lose an away playoff game again. They're now 6-0 away, 3-1 at home. That's a .900 total win%. That's pretty nuts. Can they be stopped? If not I hope they continue being unstoppable in the Finals.

Games today:

9:15am Belarus v Germany
10:15am Latvia v Denmawk
1:15pm Kazakhstan v Finland
2:15pm Italy v Russia
8:00pm Devils @ Rangers (0-0) NBCSports

Yeah it's pretty lackluster but I'll watch anyways.

Highlight of the weekend:

Derek Morris is not only still in the league, he also scored from the red line. Way to go, dude.

What's your favorite IIHF Power Ranking?

Fresh Links: Mother's Day Weekend Edition

2012-05-13T16:49:33Z

Last night the Rangers did what the Bruins couldn't do and finished off the Capitals in a Game 7 on home ice. I'm curious to see if I was the only one rooting for the Rangers. I get that a lot of people say "well if we're going to lose might as well be to the eventual champs" but I've never felt that way. Especially after such a frustrating series I was quite pleased to see Ovechkin and Co. get eliminated.

That means that it will be Phoenix-LA in the West and New York-New Jersey in the East. Will we hear conspiracy theories about how the NHL wants a New York-Los Angeles final? I'd say there's a decent chance.

Finally, Happy Mother's Day to my Mom and all the Moms out there!

Bruins News

Looking back to this past season and forward into the future of Tyler Seguin. [WEEI]
Dougie Hamilton has been called "the best defenseman outside the NHL." I can't wait to see him up here next year. Could the power-play solution be in-house? [CSNNE]
The Devils' playoff run means Zach Parise is more likely to stay in Newark. But we can still dream. [CSNNE]

NHL News

Was Dale Hunter's style a success even if the Caps failed to get past the second round again? Considering the expectations were pretty low, I'd say getting to Game 7 of the 2nd round is pretty decent. [Puck Daddy]
The schedule for the Conference Finals, starting tonight at 8 PM in Phoenix. [Puck Daddy]
The US scored a surprising 5-0 victory over host and defending champion Finland in the World Championships this morning. The US now has a spot in the quarterfinals. [NHL]
The Coyotes are generating excitement and hopefully with a new ownership group tentatively in place that can be sustained. [TSN]