Poor guy just wants to play! (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

With Christmas tomorrow, we figured we would give you some bonus tweets today. It could also be simply because I couldn’t decide which ones to choose out of the hilarious things some of the guys said this past week. And you’ll see by not deciding, I mean I couldn’t decide between numerous tweets from the same people!

So what have the boys been saying this week?

» Continue reading “They Said WHAT?!? – Bonus Tweet Edition”

This week’s award goes to an All American Boy who plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets: Jack Johnson. If his nickname is to be believed, that’s Jack MFing Johnson to you.

Johnson made headlines last season as being part of the trade that sent Jeff Carter to the Los Angeles Kings. Some may be bitter about losing out on a Stanley Cup Champion, but Johnson is appreciative of where he is and the opportunity he has there. Now that’s hawt.

» Continue reading “The Hawt Trophy: Jack Johnson”

We all have Olympic fever right now. Admit it – you find yourself watching sports you only watch once every four years. (Water polo anyone?) Well hockey players are just like us. Between preparing for next season (whenever it may be), attending CBA negotiating sessions or getting married (anyone noticed how many hockey players got married this year?), the boys are also watching the Olympics.

How do I know? They tweet about it of course!

» Continue reading “Winter Athletes Support Summer Olympians”

Don't look at me like that, Bobby Ryan! I'm sorry I've neglected you!

Due to illness, I’ve been seriously slacking on Team USA news. I apologize profusely.

Let’s make up for this with capsule recaps of the past three games!

» Continue reading “Team USA News Roundup”

Jimmy Howard (Photo: Screencap/USA Hockey)

In a comment I left a couple of days ago, I mentioned that, if Team USA tightened up its defense, it could be a real contender. What happens when they don’t tighten up their defense? Well… this game.

Team USA lost to Team Slovakia 4-2 today, bringing their overall record to 2-1 at Worlds. This is the first time since 2000 that Slovakia has won over the USA, by the way.

I mean, when you get scored on less than a minute into the game, it’s not going to be easy for your team. That’s exactly what happened, when Libor Hudacek skated up on Jimmy Howard, who made the first stop. Too bad he lost sight of the puck, letting Dominik Granak poke it across the goal line 47 seconds into the game. Oh, okay.

It was almost all Slovakia in the first period. Branco Radijovicevic completed an end-to-end rush to give them a two-goal lead. 37 seconds after that, though, Justin Faulk finally got the USA on the board. However, with six seconds remaining in the first, Andrej Sekera broke through with a slap shot, regaining the two-goal lead for Slovakia.

Even with Paul Stastny bringing it to within one in the second with Max Pacioretty‘s help during a five-on-three, the USA could not dig itself out of the hole they created. They managed to kill off Cam Atkinson‘s double minor for high sticking in the third, but after pulling Howard, Miroslav Satan iced the game for Slovakia with an empty net goal.

Team USA’s next game against Belarus is now crucial to win if they want to make it to the medal rounds. It will air live on NBC Sports Network on Thursday, May 10 at 8:15am.

Here are Jimmy Howard and Jack Johnson talking about the game:

» Continue reading “Team USA Gets Slovak’d”

Jim Slater, the Player of the Game for Team USA.

No. Really?

That has to be a typo.

Let me go look at Liz’s live blog of the game really quickly here…

11:16 AM – With just over ten seconds left in the power play, USA captain Jack Johnson‘s shot manages to get past Cam Ward to win it for the Americans – the first time since 2001 they’ve beaten Canada.

11:17 AM – The final score is 5-4 USA and Jim Slater has been named Player of the Game for USA.

Oh, is that right?

First time since 2001 that Team USA has beaten Canada at Worlds, huh?

Well, far be it from me to get obnoxiously patriotic about this.

…

» Continue reading “Team USA Beats Team Canada. Wait… What?”

Good morning! I realize that almost no one is up to watch the opening game for the IIHF World Championship — but that just means there’s no one to stop me from live-blogging it!

Suckers!

Team USA vs. Team France. Newest comments will be on top. Times listed are CDT, since I’m in Chicago. Deal with it.

6:21 am: Team USA opens up the tournament the right way, beating Team France 7-2. As it should be. Hope you’ve enjoyed this live-blog — or will enjoy it, once you wake up. Good morning!

» Continue reading “Team USA vs. Team France Live-Blog”

Jack Johnson, Team USA captain (Photo: Francis Larrede/flickr)

Team USA At A Glance:

To say that Team USA’s last few years at the IIHF World Championship have been disappointing is an understatement, to say the least. The last time the US won a medal at Worlds was the bronze in 2004. The last time they won gold? 1933.

So, suffice to say, winning a medal at Worlds is something of a pipe dream for Team USA.

However, they are looking to improve their standings at Worlds. Last year, they made it to eighth place, which was a vast improvement on their dismal 13th place showing in 2010 (where they were in danger of relegation to Division I — fortunately, they won the relegation round).

This year, Team USA will be depending on the services of a group of fresh faces to the World Championship scene. The only players on the team with more than one World Championship under their belt are Kyle Okposo of the New York Islanders, Jim Slater of the Winnipeg Jets (who last competed at Worlds in 2006), and team captain Jack Johnson of the Columbus Blue Jackets (who also captained the 2010 team and has played in four previous World Championships).

Let’s take a look at the roster, shall we?

» Continue reading “Team USA’s Mission: Try Not To Suck As Much”

Tomorrow we will find out who Tebows best. I vote Johnson! (Flickr)

FINALLY! The Kings get productivity from all facets of their offense, in a 5-2 victory against the Washington Capitals. 11 of the 20 suited Kings were involved in the scoring Monday night at the Staples Center.

Marcus Johansson scored on the Capitals first shot of the night just 1:34 into the 1st, but the Kings Kyle Clifford responded 10 minutes later tying the game with a backhand off the pads of Tomas Vokoun. Then with just seconds to go in the 1st Period, Anze Kopitar strips the puck from the Caps defensemen and dishes the puck to Dustin Brown. Brown slides it back to Kopitar for the redirect right into the back of the net!

The scoring doesn’t stop there, fans; it continues right on into the 2nd Period with Jack Johnson capitalizing on a 3-1 advantage and caps it off by Tebowing, which I believe will become a very popular celly throughout the second half of the season.

Breaking up the scoring, Willie Mitchell tussled with Jason Chimera after what appeared to be a legal check — but honestly, what’s a good hockey game with out a fight?

Later on in the period another forced turnover by Mike Richards allows Dustin Penner to use his size to get the puck on net so that line mate Jarret Stoll can come and put the Kings up 4-1. Tonight, turnovers were the difference maker in the outcome of the game. Big time leaders like Richards and Kopitar went the extra mile on defense and it paid off.

After tonight’s win the Kings go 2 points ahead of the Dallas Stars in the Pacific Division, making Thursday’s game against the Stars that much more important. The scoring needs to continue to come not just from the 1st and 2nd liners, but the 3rd and 4th liners as well, as was shown tonight against the Capitals.

Lastly, congrats to Clifford on his first career 2 point game. A great game it most definitely was for Clifford and his teammates!