Team Canada’s Line Projections Redux

Steven Stamkos has not been cleared for Olympic Duty. His Lightning teammate Martin St. Louis is set to replace him. So I’ve redone my line projections. I have also scratched the Canucks defenceman Dan Hamhuis for St Louis Blue’s Alex Pietrangelo.

Anth’s Line Projection

Forward line #1: LW Chris Kunitz, C Sidney Crosby, RW Rick Nash

Forward line #2: LW Patrick Sharp, C Jonathan Toews, RW  John Tavares

Forward line #3: LW Patrick Marleau, C Martin. St Louis, RW Matt Duchene

Forward line #4: LW Jeff Carter, C Ryan Getzlaf, RW Corey Perry

Undressed forwards: Patrice Bergeron and Jamie Benn

Defence #1: Jay Bouwmeester, Shea Weber

Defence #2: Duncan Keith, Alex Pietrangelo

Defence #3: P.K. Subban, Drew Doughty

Undressed defender: Marc-Edouard Vlasic,  Dan Hamhuis

Starting Goalie: Roberto Luongo

Backup Goalie: Carey Price

Undressed Goalie: Mike Smith

Team Canada Line Projections

The following players have been named to Team Canada’s National Men’s Ice Hockey Team for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games.

Goaltenders: Roberto Luongo (Vancouver Canucks), Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens), Mike Smith (Phoenix Coyotes)

Defence: Jay Bouwmeester (St. Louis Blues), Drew Doughty (LA Kings), Dan Hamhuis (Vancouver Canucks), Duncan Keith (Chicago Blackhawks), Alex Pietrangelo (St. Louis Blues), P.K. Subban (Montreal Canadiens), Marc-Edouard Vlasic (San Jose Sharks) and Shea Weber (Nashville Predators)

Forwards: Jamie Benn (Dallas Stars), Patrice Bergeron (Boston Bruins), Jeff Carter (LA Kings), Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins), Matt Duchene (Colorado Avalanche), Chris Kunitz (Pittsburgh Penguins), Ryan Getzlaf (Anaheim Ducks) Patrick Marleau (San Jose Sharks), Rick Nash (NY Rangers), Patrick Sharp (Chicago Blackhawks), Corey Perry (Anaheim Ducks), Steven Stamkos (Thunder Bay Lightning), John Tavares (NY Islanders) and Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks)

Anth’s Line Projection

Forward line #1: LW Chris Kunitz, C Sidney Crosby, RW Rick Nash

Forward line #2: LW Patrick Sharp, C Jonathan Toews, RW  John Tavares

Forward line #3: LW Patrick Marleau, C Steven Stamkos, RW Matt Duchene

Forward line #4: LW Jeff Carter, C Ryan Getzlaf, RW Corey Perry

Undressed forwards: Patrice Bergeron and Jamie Benn

Defence #1: Jay Bouwmeester, Shea Weber

Defence #2: Duncan Keith, Dan Hamhuis

Defence #3: P.K. Subban, Drew Doughty

Undressed defender: Marc-Edouard Vlasic,  Alex Pietrangelo 

Starting Goalie: Roberto Luongo

Backup Goalie: Carey Price

Undressed Goalie: Mike Smith

What do you guys think?

Stanley Is Coming Revisited Pt. IV

Eastern Conference Final Review

• The Pittsburgh Penguins were battered in a sweep by the Boston Bruins! I totally did not expect this whatsoever. I was really hoping that this series would have gone a full  seven. This sweep makes the Canucks being swept by the San Jose Sharks a lot better. Poor baby Sidney Crosby probably needs somebody to give him a hug tho!

Western Conference Final Review

• I was in favour of the Chicago Blackhawks in winning the series against the Los Angeles Kings in seven games. They did it in five.

Stanley Cup Finals Prediction

• I originally predicted that the Pittsburgh Penguins to be the 2013 NHL Champions. Since they were swept off their feet by the Boston Bruins in four games I now realize the second place team this year no longer has a chance nor did they originally deserve it. I’m in favour of the Chicago Blackhawks winning the series against the Boston Bruins in the best of seven games.

Stanley Is Coming Revisited Pt. III

Eastern Conference Semifinals Review

• In favour of the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Ottawa Senators in five. Penguins won it in five. Success!
• In favour of the New York Rangers over the Boston Bruins in seven. Boston Bruins win it in five. Fail!

Western Conference Semifinals Review

• In favour of the Chicago Blackhawks over the Detroit Red Wings in six. Oh looks like I got this one wrong. I thought I predicted the Hawks in seven… so fail…
• In favour of the Los Angeles Kings over  the San Jose Sharks in seven. LA Kings took it in seven! Win!

Eastern Conference Final

• In favour of the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Boston Bruins in a very heated series in seven games.

Western Conference Final

• In favour of the Chicago Blackhawks over the Los Angeles Kings in seven games.

Stanley Final

• In in favour of the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Chicago Blackhawks in the best of seven. In the final game it will go to overtime where Jerome Iginla will win his last career goal and happily retire.

(Please note I will make a Stanley Cup Final prediction if these two teams do not face each other!)

Statistics Report

• I have successfully predicted the outcome of five series.
• I ate a lot of potato chips.
• I drank plenty of beer.
• I made myself nachos once. I even made myself poutine. How very Canadian of me, yes?
• No hockey players were harmed in the making of any of my posts. Maybe their egos…

Stanley Is Coming Revisited Pt. II

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Review

• The Pittsburgh Penguins win the best of six against the New York Islanders. Predicted a sweep for the Penguins over the Isles. Fail.
• The Ottawa Senators upset the favoured Montreal Canadiens in the best of five. Predicted the Canadians in the best of seven. Fail.
• New York Rangers beat the New York Rangers in the best of seven as predicted. Winning!
• In favour of the Boston Bruins over the Toronto Maple Leafs in the best of seven. Winning!

Western Conference Quarterfinals Review

• The Chicago Blackhawks beat the Minnesota Wild in the best of five. Predicted a sweep for the Blackhawks. Fail.
• The Detroit Red Wings win the best of seven against the Anaheim Ducks as predicted. Winning!
• The Los Angeles Kings win the best of seven against the St. Louis Blues. Predicted St. Louis in seven. Fail.
• San Jose Assholes.. I meant Sharks… beat the Canucks in the only playoff sweep so far. Fail.

Eastern Conference Semifinals

• In favour of the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Ottawa Senators in five.
• In favour of the New York Rangers over the Boston Bruins in seven.

Western Conference Semifinals

• In favour of the Chicago Blackhawks over the Detroit Red Wings in six.
• In favour of the Los Angeles Kings over  the San Jose Sharks in seven.

Statistics Report

• I have successfully predicted the outcome of three series.
• I have successfully chosen five teams to advance  to the semifinals.
• I have successfully chosen three teams to be defeated in the first round

Stanley Is Coming Revisited Pt. I

The 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are now underway. I made some predictions for the first round last year which were disastrous. My prediction rate isn’t the best but it isn’t exactly a science to it like visiting a fortune teller… So I am going to do the same this year and stick with it…

Eastern Conference

• In favour of the Pittsburgh Penguins over the New York Islanders in a sweep of four.
• In favour of the Montreal Canadiens over the Ottawa Senators in the best of seven.
• In favour of the New York Rangers over the Washington Capitals in the best of seven.
• In favour of the Boston Bruins over the Toronto Maple Leafs in the best of seven.

Western Conference

• In favour of the Chicago Blackhawks over the Minnesota Wild in a sweep of four. (Suck it Koivu!)
• In favour of the Detroit Red Wings over the Anaheim Ducks in the best of seven.
• In favour of the St. Louis Blues over the Los Angeles Kings in the best of seven.
• In favour of the Vancouver Canucks over the San Jose Sharks in the best of seven.

Wanna be a Canucks fan?

In response to: So you want to be a Canucks fan? on Brown to Bure.

Dave – someone I’ve met on Twitter has written an excellent guide on joining the Vancouver Canucks bandwagon. We’re pretty much open to everyone joining our team’s cause. However, I think he’s missed one key point.

DO NOT broadcast the team that you cheer for on the regular season, especially if they’re the Toronto Maple Leafs. Although the same can be said for the following teams as well: the Minnesota Wild, the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers because we all know that the longtime rivalry between our teams isn’t going to be suspended for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Yes, we’re thrilled that you are cheering for our team on in the playoffs. We just like to poke  check. It’s fucking fun.

You should also bookmark Brown to Bure, if your a new or old fan. Dave does blog about insightful things about our team. And who knows, you may actually learn something. I certainly have.

Stanley Is Coming

The NHL 2011 – 2012 NHL Season has come to an end (at least abruptly for the Maple Leafs and their fans – better luck next year?). The Canucks have won their second consecutive President’s Trophy and I was there when they clinched the 2-point 3-0 win over the Oilers. I was glad to be there in person as a fan and a lover of the sport and the team.

I’m pleased that the Canucks’ season continues on into the playoffs and I’m confident that our team will advance to the Final series. To twist the words of the Stark clan, “Stanley Is Coming”. This cup will grace our city once again and be awarded to the greatest team in the league!

Here are my predictions for Round 1 of the 2012 NHL Playoffs:

Eastern Conference

• In favour of the New York Rangers over the Ottawa Senators in five.
• In favour of the Washington Capitals over the Boston Bruins in seven.
• In favour of the New Jersey Devils over the Florida Panthers in seven.
• In favour of the Philadelphia Flyers over the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven.

Western Conference

• In favour of the Vancouver Canucks over the Los Angeles Kings in six.
• In favour of the St. Louis Blues over the San Jose Sharks in seven.
• In favour of the Chicago Blackhawks over the Phoenix Coyotes in six.
• In favour of the Detroit Red Wings over the Nashville Predators in seven.

And there we have it Vancouver. Are you ready to commit regicide?! DOWN WITH THE KING!

Also are you interested in joining a Playoff Pool? Please hit me up for deats on Facebook or Twitter! Or in the comments!

Shootouts in the NHL

Cody Hodgson scores game winning goal in the shootout against the Oilers (01/24/12); Photo Source: Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

I want to discuss an important matter with you. It’s not about some parallel alternate universe where your redheaded doppelganger is a complete bitch than you (I’m pretty sure she’s even nastier than you in the bedroom too (HEYOO I TOTALLY WENT THERE!!!)). No, I’m not here today to discuss my theories about season four of Fringe with you. Perhaps, I’ll save that for another time. This is an issue of pressing concern. I’m not the biggest fan of shootouts in the “new” NHL (can we stop calling it the “new NHL” too?).

That’s not true. I absolutely fucking hate them. Seriously.

I understand that the NHL wants a tiebreaker so teams are awarded points to advance to the Playoffs. I agree but I don’t think its in the spirit of hockey. Ice hockey is a team sport. There is no “i” in team. It’s one-on-one. Just you and the goalie. No team effort whatsoever. It’s like playing the best of three rock-paper-scissors with your buddy over the last can in the six pack of Molson. In my honest (and albeit blatant) opinion this is a deal breaker for hockey fans.

I think the NHL needs to implement new tie-breaking regulations. However, I’m pretty certain that Commissioner Bettman will disagree with me here. I really enjoy endless overtime like in the playoffs. It doesn’t need to be 5-on-5, 4-on-4 works for me too. Just gives players that extra skating room. And? Players get to work with their linemates to put pucks in the net!

What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? Different opinion?

Salo, Hamhuis make a Higgins sandwich after he scores OT goal against Senators. 11/21/2011 Photo Credit: Stuart Davis, PNG