What Controversy?
Man, the NHL really flubbed that call, didn't they? The Sabres got robbed hard, and instead of a potential overtime win, they end up tied at two games each with the Rangers.
That sucks (for them).
May 2, 2007
Man, the NHL really flubbed that call, didn't they? The Sabres got robbed hard, and instead of a potential overtime win, they end up tied at two games each with the Rangers.
That sucks (for them).
May 1, 2007
Pick Me! Pick Me!
Today the NHL announced the finalists for the league's many individual awards, and of course the usual suspects are on the list. I wonder how many total nominations guys like Nick Lidstrom and Martin Brodeur have received over the years, not to mention the actual awards they've taken home.
Anyway, the list, with my personal picks in red:
Hart Trophy
Calder Trophy
Jordan Staal, Paul Stastny,
Selke Trophy
Norris Trophy
Lester Pearson Award
Vincent Lecavalier,
Vezina Trophy
Martin Brodeur, Mikka Kiprusoff,
Lady Byng Trophy
Jack Adams Award
Lindy Ruff,
It's good to see a couple of Avalanche players among the nominees, and while he's got good competition, Sakic deserves the Byng. There's not a more classy player in the league than Super Joe.
As for the Calder, there's a strong case for a Paul Stastny upset of Evgeni Malkin, especially since Son Of Peter set the new rookie consecutive game scoring streak this season and played a major role in the Avs' late-season run. Malkin put it in cruise control near the end and didn't look quite as good as he did at the start. But Malkin was phenomenal overall, and is simply more talented than Stastny, and deserves to be rookie of the year.
Speaking of Penguins, I just don't think Lindy Ruff should beat out Therrien for coach of the year. It would be nearly impossible for any coach to lose with the kind of depth and raw talent Ruff has with the Sabres---anything less than the Cup will be an outrage. Therrien took a bunch of kids and completely reversed their fate, turning a terrible team lucky to win 20 games into a powerhouse that easily surpassed 40 victories. Therrien is the winner, hands-down.
All in all, a good group of nominees. I can't think of any really deserving players that got left out this year, but I'm sure someone, somewhere can complain.
April 30, 2007
Changing The Rules
There's a saying in most temperate climate cities that "if you don't like the weather, wait until tomorrow, it will be different." Something similar could be said about the NHL. Don't like some minor issue in one game, wait until tomorrow, the NHL will change the rules. Or at least the NHL most columnists seem to want.
Not a week passes without another high-profile hockey writer calling for sweeping changes to how the game is played, usually in response to some minor, insignificant annoyance they perceive to have occurred. Maybe a playoff game goes on too long one night, so somebody calls to end overtime. Or maybe a game ends with a very low score, so somebody calls to widen the goals. Or maybe some douchebag goon gets knocked out in a fight, so somebody calls to ban fighting. Or, just today, a goal was dis-allowed because a player kicked the puck, so somebody calls to allow kicking pucks into the goal. You name it, if any aspect of the game of hockey has been just a tiny bit annoying in one game somewhere, some columnist has joined the fight to change it.
Usually they mean well. The most common explanation is that the insignificant annoyance they seek to change is hurting TV ratings or is driving fans away from arenas. Or maybe it's keeping hockey from catching on among "casual" sports fans. You know, the moron in your office that never watches football but wore a Colts jersey to work the day after the Super Bowl. Yeah, we desperately need that guy on our side. But he doesn't watch hockey because he heard that a game went to double overtime once and he just couldn't imagine sitting still long enough to find out who won.
Does any other sport suffer from such constant introspection and demand for upheaval? Do baseball fans constantly call for a home run derby instead of extra innings? Do football fans demand that a field goal be worth five points instead of three? Do basketball fans insist that the baskets be raised to eleven feet because it's way too easy to score? If not, why not?
Maybe my memory is weak but I don't remember this attitude among hockey columnists prior to the lockout in 2004-05. The shootout during the regular season was batted around for a long time, and while I don't care either way, I understand the argument that it has improved the fans' experience. Other than that, I just can't recall anything like what we now have to endure.
Hockey is not basketball. The final score will never be 110-98. Come to think of it, who takes the NBA seriously anymore? Hockey is also not football. It is not a game so dumbed down and accessible that literally any knuckle-dragger can walk in the room and understand exactly what is going on. Hockey is not baseball, either. It's not a relaxing, recreational escape for people bored in the hot summer months. There is no reason hockey has to be anything like any of these sports.
There are lots of hockey fans already, and many more just waiting to discover the sport for how great it is. The rules don't need to be changed, the sport needs to be promoted. And constant introspection and hand-wringing among those who should be the NHL's greatest champions only makes the league look like a figurative politician, changing the message every day just to pander to more people.
Knock it off and enjoy the game for what it is. If you can't do that, why are you still here?
April 29, 2007
A Mess In Hockeytown
A couple of days ago Christy at Behind The Jersey (yes, a Dead Wings blog) posted a revealing look at why Hockeytown (or, as I prefer, America's Worst City) is getting worse when it comes to attending sporting events. Specifically Dead Wings playoff games. Seems you can't squeeze blood from the turnip that is Detroit's underpaid and underemployed populace, even if your team hasn't missed the playoffs since 1990.
As an Avalanche fan, I admit I'm jealous that Hockey's Biggest Homers even have a chance to see their team in the playoffs, but c'mon, $63 for first round nosebleed seats? In a decrepit arena now almost 30 years old?
No thanks.
Avalanche Stuff Watch™
To be honest, I don't collect a lot of hockey memorabilia. Other than an Avs jersey, a Nordiques jersey (both replicas) and a bunch of old hockey cards I collected as a kid, very little of my personal budget is spent on hockey-related junk. Oh, I do have a couple of pucks and a few McFarlane toys of Avalanche players. Almost forgot about those. But yeah, other than all of that, my hockey swag is limited.
While I don't buy a lot of stuff, I appreciate and encourage others who do. So Dear Lord Stanley will periodically comb the internets (it's a series of tubes!) for cool Avalanche-related junk.
Without further ado, I present to you the first installment of Avalanche Stuff Watch™!!
Item #1:
On eBay, a 9.5-rated Joe Sakic rookie card from O-Pee-Chee. A total steal at a $229.99 buy it now price. Be the first on your block to spend more on a small piece of cardboard than most guys do on a suit (sad but true).
Item #2:
Also on eBay, a complete set of head-shot photo slides for the entire 1995-96 Colorado Avalanche team! That's right, you too can own tiny pictures of each Stanley Cup winner and bore your children to death with a private portraiture slide show! Totally worth the starting bid of $50!
Item #3:
At SportsFanfare.com, an autographed 8x10 photo of Alex Tanguay in the Colorado "alternate" jersey. So what if he's no longer on the team? At $53, how can you not buy it?
Item #4:
On the NHL.com Auction Network, a goalie stick signed by Jose Theodore and actually used in a Colorado Avalanche game! Current bid is $299 with only three days left, so don't wait! And remember, you know it's high quality because if Theodore used it in a game, it's never been scuffed by a single puck!
April 28, 2007
Barely Enough Canucks
Though I'm definitely rooting for them to beat the Ducks, Vancouver right now just doesn't look like a team that can win the Cup. Sure, they won game two of the series, but just barely and it took two overtimes.
As usual, their offensive production is lacking. They've scored only three goals in two games so far, and they still struggle to get any offensive momentum going. The good news is they took 40 shots on goal during regulation in game two, which means they are getting open fairly often, but the true quality scoring chances are rare.
As for Anaheim, I feel sorry for them. They have one of the most potent offenses in the entire league and they have to face Roberto Luongo, who can beat opposing teams sitting on his ass. If that isn't frustrating, I have no idea what is. Last night he had 43 saves on 44 shots for a save percentage of .977. That's just inhuman.
But you can't win a series with superb goaltending alone. Just ask the Devils, who are losing already to the Senators' super offense. You have to have the total package. The only team that really looks like they have the perfect combination of defense, goaltending and offense is the Buffalo Sabres, but they've looked that way all season.
I can't wait for more games.
Empty Threats
photo courtesy of Don Heupel/AP
I'm still waiting on Sean Avery to back up his big mouth. So far, things aren't going so well for the big, bad Rangers.
In related news, Thomas Vanek is a hockey god. If the Sabres win the Cup, he's a shoe-in for the Smythe.
April 25, 2007
Going It Alone
We are but one again. We will now dispense with the plural "we" and return to the singular, and extremely lonely "I".
Such is life.
April 24, 2007
This Should Be Good
Well, the Sean Avery Shit-Talk Express has already left the station, ladies and gentlemen!
All aboard!
"I'm going to hurt them, I'm going to hit them, I'm going to be in their face as much as I can."
I really hope somebody on Buffalo lays him out in Game 1. Flat on his back, out cold, Kariya-style. And Elisha, if Sean gets knocked out and you get lonely, don't be afraid to give us a call. We'll be there for you.
And Buffalo, if you need any help, Lappy isn't doing anything much right now. Give the man a ring and I'm sure he'll help you out.
Refuel The Bandwagon
The first round of the playoffs is over, and our adopted favorite teams didn't fare so well. The Predators and the Penguins are both out of it and surely heading for tee times on sunny golf courses somewhere. So, once again, we're without a horse in the race.
In the interest of staying interested (like that's tough), we've decided to select new favorite teams, starting fresh in the second round. Below we'll list the matchups and pick the club we want to win (not necessarily who we think will win, of course).
Rangers VS Sabres
Gotta love the Sabres. They won the President's trophy and they're led by a former Avalanche hero, Chris Drury. Definitely the deepest, most talented team in the league, and extremely deserving of a Cup. The Rangers were impressive against Atlanta, and it's always good to see an Original Six team go far, but we're going with the Buffaslugs, despite their unfortunate uniforms.
Devils VS Senators
Avalanche fans have long memories, and as a rule we can't root for the Devils. It's high time for the Sens to be successful in the post-season anyway, so we'll have to go with Alfredsson's boys in this one. And it will slow Fatty Brodeur down from catching Patty Roy for most playoff wins.
Ducks VS Canucks
What a great matchup, purely from a poetic perspective! And speaking of poetry, Roberto Luongo couldn't be a better goaltender if he tried, and the 'Nucks are lucky to have him. We've developed quite a man-crush, but it's not what you think. With Bertuzzi where he belongs in Detroit (how poetic is that?!), we have no trouble rooting for Vancouver in this one. They better find some offense, though, and quick.
Dead Wings VS Sharks
No explanation necessary. Go Sharks!
The Roundies - Round 1 Awards
Well, ladies and gents, the first round of the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs is officially over. Eight teams advance, eight teams hit the links.
In an effort to begin a completely pointless tradition, we here at Dear Lord Stanley have created an award for those teams we feel really deserve recognition for their hard work and determination during the first round of the playoffs. That award is hereby called "The Roundie".
A Roundie will be given to the winner in each of six statistical categories and one special category for a very special kind of achievement. Each Roundie is named for a particular player, hockey theme or related concept that epitomizes the achievement necessary to win the award.
And, without further ado, we present to you the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round Roundies! The envelopes, please...
The Broken Stick Roundie
Awarded to the team with the fewest average goals per game.
Winner: Atlanta Thrashers (1.5 GPG)
Nobody was as painfully impotent as the Thrashers, who managed to score only six goals in four games. Their first-round opponents, the Rangers, averaged 4.25 per game.
The Empty Clip Roundie
Awarded to the team with the fewest average shots per game.
Winner: Calgary Flames (21.5 SPG)
Calgary's troubles getting pucks to the net were worst in Game 2 of their series against Detroit, when they managed only 15 shots on goal. In that same game, the Red Wings managed 51. The Red Wings led all teams with an average of 42.5 per game.
The Tiger Williams Roundie
Awarded to the team with the most penalty minutes per game.
Winner: Nashville Predators (29.6 PIM per game)
Considering their series with San Jose started dirty and ended dirty, it's no surprise the Preds topped the list in PIM. The least penalized team was the Sabres, who averaged only 8.8 PIM per game in their peaceful series against the Islanders.
The Scott Stevens Who? Roundie
Awarded to the team with the fewest number of hits per game.
Winner: New York Rangers (16 hits per game)
The Rangers didn't have to hit the Thrashers too much, since Atlanta rarely even had the puck and the Blueshirts were scoring at will. The hardest hitting team was the Red Wings, who averaged 30.67 hits against Calgary in six games.
The Kurt Sauer Roundie
Awarded to the team with the most giveaways per game.
Winner: New York Islanders (13 per game)
Nobody turned over the puck like the Islanders, who led all other teams in giveaways. The stingiest team was the Senators, who only gave up the puck to Pittsburgh an average of 5.2 times per game.
The You Keep It Roundie
Awarded to the team with the least takeaways per game.
Winner: Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins (Tied at 5.2 per game)
While the Senators didn't cough the puck up to the Pens very much in their series, they also didn't take the puck much either. By the stats, it appears neither team did a lot of fore/back/side or any other kind of checking at all. The Predators topped the list with 13.80 takes per game.
The Ulf Samuelson Roundie
Awarded to the team that played the dirtiest overall.
Winner: Calgary Flames
This was a very close race between the Flames and the Predators, with the
So that's all folks.
Hopefully in the coming seasons we will remember to continue this fine new tradition, and honor all truly great first-round performances with truly great awards: The Roundies. Hope you enjoyed them as much as we did.
*Good point made over at JibbleScribbits. Any team led by Brian Burke has to get points for playing dirty, especially since Brad May is on the team now.
April 23, 2007
Finally Gone
photo courtesy Larry Macdougal/AP
Alex Tanguay is on a whole different team and he still gets jacked around by the Red Wings. Too bad for him, and his new teammates.
Goodbye Calgary, and good riddance.
April 22, 2007
Pathetic Part 2
As Avalanche fans, it's just not possible for us to root for the Detroit Red Wings. The rivalry may have died out a bit, but there's just something about America's Worst City™ and their hockey team that rubs us the wrong way. So, despite some misguided remarks in previous posts, we must once again reaffirm our complete distaste for the Dead Wings. We definitely don't want them to advance to the second round of the playoffs.
Now, that out of the way, we must also reaffirm our distaste and disappointment in the Calgary Flames, who stayed true to form with another horrendous, pathetic performance on the road. Detroit kicked the crap out of them. Utter and complete domination.
Some teams take a beating with grace, and keep their focus on playing good hockey and turn their frustration into something positive. Even down three games to one, the Islanders played clean hockey as hard as they could, and had only six penalty minutes in their Game 5, series-ending loss to Buffalo. They acted like adults and just played the game, win or lose.
Not Calgary. The Flames, whose captain Jerome Iginla has been a total no-show for the entire series, have resorted to nasty, dirty cheap-shots. The worst example has to be backup goalie Jamie McLennan's completely unprovoked slashes on Johan Franzen, who wasn't even in his crease at all when the attacks came. McLennan had to skate out of the crease and away from the net to hit Franzen, who went down like a sack of potatoes. While we support rough, physical play at all times, and would oppose any ban on fighting, crap like McLennan's slashing doesn't belong in the game and neither does he.
If we had our way, neither Detroit nor Calgary would advance to the second round. Neither deserves it. Both are incapable of winning on the road and both play dirty. Instead, we'd advance both Dallas and Vancouver, who both have earned the right to keep playing. It will be sad to see either Marty Turco or Roberto Luongo go home early after Game 7 of their series---both of them have proven themselves to be the epitome of class and determination. Calgary and Detroit couldn't even come close.
April 21, 2007
If This Isn't Hart-Worthy, What Is?
Sidney Crosby is officially the baddest mofo in the NHL, bar none. Not only was he the youngest player ever to win the scoring title (120 points, no less), but he also played the last month of the season AND the playoffs with a broken left foot.
If Don Cherry ever calls Crosby a whiner again, we'll beat him right out of those stupid suits he wears.
Please, give him the Hart already. We love Roberto Luongo to death, but unless he's been stopping all those shots from Dallas with a ruptured disk, the hardware belongs to Sid The Kid.
April 20, 2007
Our 15 Minutes
Dear Lord Stanley is a new blog. We've only been posting since the middle of last month, and not surprisingly, our average traffic counts are pretty low. We've got a few regular readers and the occasional Google image search, but that's about it. If we manage to top 30 unique visitors we feel "bigger" all day long, ifyouknowwhatwemean.
But, lo and behold, the ever-snarky, ever-hilarious sports blog With Leather graced us with a link mention today, and things just haven't been the same since.
It's just now 1:30 PM EDT, and we've already topped 110 unique visitors for the day, with no signs of slowing down. Holy Hockey Jesus, Batman!
While we're enjoying the spotlight today, we know full-well that by tomorrow we'll be back down where we belong, in total and complete obscurity. At least we'll still have our five regular readers, those horny chicks searching for pictures of naked hockey players, and a "sympathy click" from our moms. Thanks, Mom.
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