Penguins can seal Ottawa’s fate tonight by riding momentum
Many sports fans compare baseball to a marathon, and football to a sprint. An adequate comparison for the NHL, if there is one, is an eight month long boxing match.
After being on the receiving end of blows to end the season, the Pens took a crucial blow to the chops in Game 1, drawing negative criticism from hockey’s media, fanbase, and blogosphere, including from yours truly. In Game 2 and 3, however, the Pens began to deliver the heavy punishment, rather than taking it, to the Ottawa Senators.
I wrote in my Game 1 recap that Pittsburgh’s lack of preparation and responsibility from behind the bench was equally as responsible for their loss to begin the season as much as the lackluster defensive play and maddeningly consequential goaltending gaffes. Aside from a Ruslan Fedotenko scratch, no major line changes were implemented. The plan of attack, however, was vastly different, and the Penguins benefited.
Categories: Around the League, Atlantic, By Teams, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Pittsburgh Penguins Tags: 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Anton Volchekov, Chris Campoli, Chris Phillips, Evgeni Malkin, Jonathan Cheechoo, Jordan Staal, Marc Andre Fleury, Matt Cooke, NHL, NHL 2010 Playoffs, Ottawa Senators, playoffs, Ruslan Fedotenko, Shane Donovan, Tyler Kennedy
Monday NHL Morning Papers (Eastern Conference)
(hat tip to the boys of Illegal Curve. Thanks to their amazing class and their blessing to take over this feature here at NHL Hot Stove. We hope you enjoy the latest daily series.)
Categories: Eastern Conference, Morning Papers, NHLHS Features Tags: Brooks Laich, Carl Gunnarson, Chris Campoli, Dan Blysma, Jonas Gustavsson, Mike Richards, Nazem Kadri, Patrick Kaleta, Patrik Elias, Ray Emery, Rick DiPietro, Tyler Bozak, Viktor Stalberg
Looking for a Defenseman?
As we approach the midway point of the 2009-10 season in the National Hockey League, many questions remain unanswered.
Which teams are serious about playoff contention? Who needs a massive upgrade to make the push from a bubble team? Which team should sell off the year and attempt a mini-rebuild?
Those are some thoughts circulating the League as we take a look at the state of all teams around the NHL. Now, when perusing through certain rosters some names that could bring in returns which would benefit a team in need of depth.
Today, we look at the defensemen around the NHL likely to be moved by the March 3rd, 2010 trade deadline. As a side note, be sure to tune into “The Hockey Guys” on deadline day as there will be an all day live event with a live chat room for discussion on all the rumors and news as it breaks in the NHL.
Categories: Atlantic, By Teams, Central, Detroit Red Wings, Eastern Conference, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers, Northeast, Northwest, Ottawa Senators, Southeast, St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, Western Conference Tags: Alexandre Picard, Brett Lebda, Carlo Colaiacovo, Chris Campoli, Darryl Sydor, Drew Doughty, Duncan Keith, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Jean-Michael Liles, Joe Corvo, Kim Johnsson, Marek Zidlicky, Michael Del Zotto, Michal Rozsival, Mike Green, Pavol Demitra, Scott Niedermayer, Shea Weber, Sheldon Souray, Zach Bogosian
