Celebrities: They’re just like us source: flickr/kindofadraag
Hockey players are like a family. Sure, they fight on the ice and say some not so nice things to each other, but at the end of the day, they love each other, as is evident by these next couple of tweets.
» Continue reading “They Said WHAT- Feel The Love Edition”
He may be unemployed now as his nephew told him but the question is how much longer will that be the case? (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr
Hockey players are very attractive people, we all know that. However, there are a few things that make them even more attractive. A great win. A nicely fitting suit. Or maybe them with kids, as these next few tweets prove.
» Continue reading “They Said WHAT- There Go My Ovaries Edition”
This week we are focusing on problems caused by the lockout for our favorite NHL players. The best part? These “problems” come along with pictures too!
First up, we have Nashville’s cutest couple in Mike Fisher and Carrie Underwood. (Yes we realize Carrie Underwood isn’t an NHL player but work with us for a second.) A couple of weeks ago, Fisher attended the American Music Awards with his wife Underwood and got handed her purse as she went up on stage to accept an award. His look was priceless and led to this tweet from his wife:
» Continue reading “They Said WHAT?!? – Lockout Problems Edition”
At last, we arrive at the coda of the 2011-12 NHL season, the NHL Awards. The National Hockey League will spend the next few hours cringing at terrible jokes, raising an eyebrow just what Steven Stamkos is wearing, and hoping a Real Housewife doesn’t butcher another poor hockey player’s name. (Seriously, “Mar-TEN Saint Louissss” still rings in my ears to this day.)
The NHL Awards will air on NBC Sports Network starting at 7pm ET/6pm CT, and I’ll be here, live blogging the entire thing.
So grab your drink and pull up a seat. It’s going to be another long night.
All times in the liveblog are listed in CT. Newest posts will be on top.
» Continue reading “Kat Live Blogs The NHL Awards 2012!”
Rinne with the shut out! Flawless goalie is flawless. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)
It is decided. The Predators need to score the first goal if they want to win. It happened with the Detroit series and it seems to be happening with Phoenix. Or maybe it was the absence of Alex Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn. Whatever the case is, something lit a fire under the Preds tonight to go after a 2-0 win, making the series 2-1.
The first period saw Nashville dominating with pucks being shot at Mike Smith like nobody’s business. The magic all started eight minutes in when David Legwand sent home a beauty off of a pass from Bourque on a wide open net. Smith had gone to play the puck like he so often does, forcing himself to make a diving attempt to save the shot. No such luck boy! Just sixty-six seconds later, Mike Fisher attempted to pass the puck back to Sergei Kostitsyn, but hit Smith’s stick instead and redirected into the net for the second and last goal of the night.
What would have made this victory just a little sweeter: not having a “no goal” call. The puck had gone under an outstretched Smith and into the net, but the refs lost sight of the puck, and so, no goal.
» Continue reading “Predators’ Rinne Shuts Out The ‘Yotes 2-0″
Andrei Kostitsyn will be out for game 3 (Photo: Dinur Blum/flickr)
We’ve got a couple random happenings to cover today, including a couple big announcements by management. Let’s start with the most pressing of news.
Radulov will be out for Game 3 (Photo: Paul Nicholson/flickr)
Preds GM David Poile announced to the media today that Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn will both sit out Game 3 for “violation of team rules.” This appears to have nothing to do with League regulations, simply team ethics. They are expected to play again in Game 4.
Next on the agenda, Poile also announced today that the Preds have recalled two forwards, two defensemen, and a goalie. These players could see play time shortly, as Coach Trotz mentioned that he may change up the lines for Wednesday’s game. Particularly, he may switch up the defense lines. Klein and Josi have gone minus 2 in this series, while Gill and Bouillon have gone plus 2. Suter and Weber haven’t even been on the plus side. The defense has probably had a massive talking to over the last couple of days. Maybe bringing in the new blood will help bring down the number of shots Phoenix can take come Wednesday night.
On a lighter note, forward Mike Fisher is a finalist for the Foundation award, an award given to the player who “applies the values of hockey to enriching the lives of people in the community.” Also up for the award are John-Michael Liles of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Matt Moulson of the New York Islanders. I presume that Mr and Mrs Underwood have been busy with charity while they’re in Smashville…
Shane Doan, a key player in Game 2 (Photo: Bridget Sameuls/Flickr)
Phoenix leads series 1-0
8 p.m. NBC Sports Network, TSN
First game of the 2nd round is already done in the books and the Phoenix Coyotes won the game 4-3, despite being outshot and outplayed by the Nashville Predators. Ray Whitney led the Coyotes to the OT win; captain Shane Doan didn’t lead like Whitney, nor did Keith Yandle. Phoenix will look to continue to dominate the series, while the Predators attempt to even the score. The Coyotes have a few things to work on before their next match-up.
Five Improvements To Win Game 2
1. Winning in regulation: domination during the game is key to maintaining momentum.
2. Score reassurance goals and keep the lead. A one goal lead is never safe, the other series are proof.
3. Stop turning the puck over and work on not allowing too many goal-scoring chances on Smith. Spending more time in your zone is counterintuitive to gaining game momentum.
4. Mike Smith has to be on top of his game. He has been a key factor in the first round against the Blackhawks, where he showed his leadership abilities.
5. Shane Doan and other key Coyotes players like, Yandle, Vermette and Hanzal,need to pick up the scoring in order to win Game 5. Without secondary scoring in the playoffs, the Coyotes will only be keeping pace with the other team.
Key Players
Predators
1. Martin Erat needs to keep his scoring momentum and pace for the Predators to win.
2. David Legwand and Mike Fisher need to making bigger statements in order for the Predators to achieve success.
Coyotes
1. Shane Doan, Keith Yandle and Antoine Vermette will have to start scoring more goals and assist when they need reassurance goals.
2. Mikkel Boedker must keep pace scoring for the Coyotes to become more of a threat, and advancement to the next round easier.
Dave Tippett is is looking to start Mike Smith for the Coyotes. Pekka Rinne will start for the Predators.
The Coyotes and Predators drop puck for Game 2 at 8 p.m. in Phoenix on the NBC Sports Network.
Ray Whitney gets the winner in OT (Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr)
Game 1 had officially started for the 3rd seeded Phoenix Coyotes and 4th seeded Nashville Predators and it was a dandy of a game as it went into OT. That is right extra playoff hockey. The Predators outplayed and outshot the Coyotes but it took one mistake by the Predators as Ray Whitney took advantage of it and ended the game in the 1st OT as the Coyotes won 4-3. Here are the highlights from the game:
» Continue reading “Whitney Gets The Winner As Coyotes Win 4-3 In OT, Series Lead 1-0″
Boedker, Vrbata and Hanzal ready to take on the Preds (Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr)
The Phoenix Coyotes and Nashville Predators are facing one another in the second round and it will be the battle of the goaltending. The Coyotes are coming off a 4-2 series win over the Chicago Blackhawks while the Predators are coming off a 4-1 series win over the Detroit Red Wings. This series will start tomorrow in Phoenix, the home of the Coyotes and people wonder who will come out top of this series and who will not. But for right now we should look at the keys in this series preview:
» Continue reading “Coyotes-Predators: Series Preview”
Mike Smith ready for the Predators (Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr)
Last night, the Phoenix Coyotes defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0 and won the series by 4 games 2. The reason why the Coyotes won last night. You want to know right? Well it was the goaltending performance of Mike Smith as he stopped 39 shots. That is right. 39 shots against the Blackhawks last night. He will be a difference maker in the next round as they face the Nashville Predators. Yes, the team that has Carrie Underwood’s husband, Mike Fisher on it.
The theme of the series: the battle of the goaltenders. Mike Smith vs. Pekke Rinne. We might see some one goal games in this series. We might also see some overtime like the last series against the Blackhawks when it went to 5 straight overtimes to figure out the game winner.
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME HOCKEY? I sure am. This series against the Predators and the Coyotes starts on Friday.
