Jonathan has something 'Bruin'

Posted on Sunday, September 14, 2014 by WCHL Hockey

Washington Capitalizes on a pair of goals from Huberdeau in win over Boston

 
 


Boston Bruins (1) vs Washington Capitals (3).........
Washington hosted the Bruins on Saturday at the Alpine Center in Landover. The Caps 6-1 in their last seven games were sitting 5th in their conference before game time. As for the Bruins they 3-7 in their last ten games, hard pressed to be considered for a play-off spot they sit 8 points out of eighth with four teams ahead of them. It's fair to say their next half dozen games will tell if they are contenders or pretenders.
The Capitals struck for two goals in the first twenty minutes as Brent Burns (5th) at 12:35 snapped a shot in behind Ryan Miller after teammate Mike Green had fired wide of the six by four, then second year pro Jonathan Huberdeau scored his 12th of the year with under two minutes remaining in the opening frame when he picked up a lose puck in the slot and wristed a shot over Miller's right arm. Capital's defenseman Jeff Petry was ejected for instigating a fight with Bruin's Brooks Orpik after the latter had thrown a devastating body check on Petry moments earlier.  The Caps led 9-4 in shots after one.
Washington would play the rest of the game with five defensemen but it really didn't seem to show on the ice. 
Vincent Lecavalier notched his 12th of the season on the powerplay at 7:08 of the middle stanza while one of Washington's top penalty killers, Daniel Paille was off serving a hooking minor. Washington held a 17-15 shot advantage after 40 minutes.
Jonathan Huberdeau would give the Caps back their two goal lead at 4:16 of the third as he grabbed a rebound off of a Chris Phillips blocked shot and went backhand - forehand past Miller for the insurance marker. 

MOLSON'S 3 STARS:
1 - Jonathan Huberdeau (Was)...... Scored twice and was a +2 on the night.
2 - Brent Burns (Was).................... Scored once, was a +2 while playing almost twenty-two and a half minutes.
3 - Mike Smith (Was)..................... Washington's Mike Smith wasn't overly busy during the game but did stop 21 of 22 shots for his 31st win of the season.

Reporting For The WCHL Network....
Peter Puck


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Edmonton trips up high-flying Columbus

Posted on Sunday, September 7, 2014 by WCHL Hockey

Oilers double up on Blue Jackets

 
 


Columbus Blue Jackets (1) vs Edmonton Oilers (2)...........
Two teams that are in a battle for first place in their respective conferences collided in Edmonton on Saturday night. The Oil were on a three game win streak including wins over tough opponents in Colorado and New York Rangers. The 'Jackets are 5-5 in their past ten, most recently topping the Blues 4-1.
The first period was quite uneventful, with no goals or penalties to report. Columbus led in shots 8-6.
The second period saw Columbus open the scoring on the road with Brent Seabrook's seventh of the season on the powerplay at 6:15, assists going to Chris Kunitz and Mike Richards, with Rob Scuderi service two for hooking. Steve Bernier tied it up for the home side at 13:13, on helpers by Ruslan Fedotenko and Vern Fiddler. The Oilers led 15-14 on shots after 40 minutes.
It didn't take the hosts long to grab the lead in the third as Brooks Laich was sent in free on a bullet pass from Marek Zidlicky right off the puck drop and snapped it through the five hole of Semyon Varlamov who was distracted by a pretty blonde in the second row who was apparently flashing him at the time of the shot. Brad Richards got the second assist with the clean face off win back to Zidlicky. Edmonton out-shot Columbus in the game 26-24
MOLSON'S 3 STARS:
1 - Ilya Bryzgalov (Edm)......... Breezy stopped 23 shots on the night, most of them of the "very impressive" ilk.
2 - Brooks Laich (Edm).......... Brooks scored the winner playing just over twenty minutes with three huge hits on the night.
3 - Steve Bernier (Edm)........ Bernier scored in the first to draw Edmonton even but was barely visable the rest of the night.

Reporting For The WCHL Network....
Peter Puck

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Team wrap around: New York Rangers

Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 by WCHL Hockey

Rangers still rockin' the WCHL

 
 

There has been plenty to celebrate for the Rangers.

The Rangers.... well there is not allot you can say about the dynasty from the Apple that hasn't already been said. In the first issue of "who do we choose" the league has voted on the Rangers as the best, and maybe the ultimate team in the WCHL. Having won 2 cups in a row until the Ducks remade themselves, the Rangers can claim 3rd place in the pantheon that is the WCHL hall of fame right next to the SJ Sharks, and the afore mentioned Ducks.

Most would assume the Penguins were in there too, as they always seem to be a threat, but the Rangers have easily doubled up on the Pens and their draft approach to winning a championship.

The Rangers are a well thought out team, a team that most would be envious of. Like every great dynasty, the Rangers started with the goaltender. Henrik Lundqvuist is arguably the best tender the NY fans have ever had on their squad, even with the memories of Richter and his outrageous performances of the early 90's, today we see Lundy playing out a 1.84 gaa with a .935 Sa%. He is #2 in wins, #5 In Sa% and all around one of the top 3 goalies the league has ever seen. There is no worries on net for the Rangers, and in fact, he will provide them with a very possible chance to gain their 3rd cup this year, and move up in the world.

 
 

Henrik Lundqvist has been a key difference maker in New York

The other leader for the Rangers, the one who doesn't have to spend his time between two pipes is Anze Kopitar. Possibly the coolest name of any player in the NHL(WCHL) Anze usually leads his ragtag group to fame and fortune, and this year is no different since he has posted 13-38-51 to come in at #4 right behind Ovi and his flailing group. There is a bright spot on every team, but NYR has many really...... considering their love for low priced talent, and their ability to keep on bringing the young guys in and avoiding those out-of-order UFA prices, you should expect the Rangers to compete EVERY year for another cup to add to their trophy case.

 
 

Its good to be King

The hits don't stop there. NYR has delicately chosen their squad, hand picked the pieces to the puzzle that is the WCHL cup. No stone has been left unturned in the quest for the big prize, and another example of that is Shaner Doan. Yeah we said it... SHANER. A  reliable and solid first liner, bringing all the old School that Anze lacked to a team that could use that intangible to their advantage. There is a damn reason that the Rangers fist line is a solid threat, and it isn't Landeskog who really should pull up his little girl panties and move on down the line.

You all voted the Rangers the best in the league out of the choices provided, and there is a damn good reason for that. So... what is that reason? Well none other than GM Andrew "hard ass" Don. A guy who knows the ins and outs of the WCHL as good or better than the commissioner himself. While Andy may be the bane of many a GM's existence, and a persistent thorn in the side of every GM who is trying to cut a " good deal" for their team, there is something he is even better at.... and that is running team.

 
 

GM Andrew Don aims to make the Rangers an elite team for a long time
Don't ever take the Rangers for a sucker team, ever when they are down and out, looking like Ali against Frazer in 71', they will come back like Ali in 74..... you just wiki that shit yourselves.

The Rangers are always good. Always a threat. And since we have discussed their Brick wall goalie..... their illustrious leader on the ice with Anze, and their  dictator of a leader off the ice in Mr. Don, we need to turn our focus to their outstanding defense in the form of Timo and Seidenberg, who combine fro 34 points so far, in a league where the defensive scoring has dropped off about 75%. NYR's defense has scooped up 4th spot in goals against, with Timo clocking on at #5 for defensive scoring. This is a stalwart group, but they have their flaws, DI is not one of them. GM Don was careful to pick guys for his defense who demonstrated great hitting ability combined with great discipline.

 
 


In fact, there are very few flaws within the structure of this team, and the more time one spends looking at them, the more you realize that they are one of the most likely teams to win this years coveted WCHL cup. Its a game of stats, a game of opinions, and a game of well trained athletes that almost no other sport can match. For the WCHL, and our brand of hockey..... very few can contest that the NY Rangers are the very best we can put forth.

 
 

Its all or nothing in New York and they don't come up short very often. 

I leave you with the thought we all should be having..... one of awe, and another of the kind of team you NEED to beat to be effective. Don't lose sight of the goal..... beat the best, and become the best.

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Kopecky bests the Minnesota Wild

by WCHL Hockey

Wild left feeling Blue in a shootout

 
 


St. Louis Blues (4) vs Minnesota Wild (3) - SO......
The Minnesota Wild hosted the Western Conference's top team in the St.Louis Blues on Saturday night. St.Louis trying to keep their slim lead on Anaheim while the Wild just hoped to keep pace with Vancouver and Arizona in the race for a chance to host a playoff series opener.
The Wild jumped out to a 2-0 lead after twenty minutes on two special teams goals, both by Jiri Hudler (18,19th). The first came at 15:44 while the Wild were a man short. Hudler deflected a Jay Bouwmeester slapper that squeaked through a screened Niklas Backstrom. Then with just four seconds left in the first Hudler struck again as he wristed a shot past Backstrom that the goalie wish he could do over. Minny led in shots 12-10 after 20.
The middle stanza was uneventful with Minny holing a 23-16 shot lead after forty minutes.
Hudler would add his third point on the night as he assisted on Tyler Bozak's twenty-first goal of the season on the powerplay. Bozak, got ahold of his own rebound and hammered the puck past a bewildered Backstrom. Just when the game looked out of reach, the Blues found their second wind and rattled off a trio of goals in three minutes and fifteen seconds to tie the game at 3-3 after sixty minutes, Jiri Tlusty scored his 6th on the powerplay at 13:15 as he snapped a Komarov rebound over an out-stretched Antti Niemi. Roman Horak made it 3-2 at 16:01 as he got to the lose puck off a face-off and drilled it through Niemi's legs. At 16:30, Travis Zajac beat Kyle Brodziak in the circle to the left of Niemi and simply hammered the puck where it dropped, catching the tender back on his heels to tie the game at threes to send the game into extra time.
There was no scoring in overtime, so off to shoot-out they went. The Blues' Tomas Kopecky was the only shooter to hit pay-dirt in the "skills competition", thus bringing St.Louis all the way back for the win.
MOLSON 3 STARS:
1 - Jiri Hudler (Min)......... 2 goals, 1 assist, +1, 3 shots. Staked his team to an early lead they managed to squander.
2 - Tyler Bozak (Min)....... 1 goal, 2 assists, +1, 5 shots. Led Wild in shots, was all over the ice.
3 - Roman Horak (St.L)...... 1 goal, +1. Played just short of ten minutes, recorded his first WCHL goal.

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Hurricanes double up on Blue Jackets

Posted on Tuesday, August 26, 2014 by WCHL Hockey

Howard; Horton help Hurricanes hand Columbus a defeat


Carolina Hurricanes (2) vs Columbus Blue Jackets (1)......
Carolina came limping into Columbus on a seven game losing streak and hoping for ANY signs of a turnaround. Columbus is sitting atop of the WCHL but are playing just .500 hockey in their last handful of games. On paper this game looked as it should - a blowout win for the Bluejackets.... right??
Well as we know the game is not played on paper.
Nathan Horton opened the game's scoring for Carolina at 10:18 of the first period as Matt Duchene won a face off clean and fed it to Horton who fired a wrister over the shoulder of Semyon Varlamov in net for Columbus. The Bluejackets outshot the Hurricane 14-7 after 20.
The second period was scoreless as it was the 'Canes that held the edge in shots in the second at 11-5.
With Brandon Prust in the box for roughing, Zach Bogosian registered his second goal of the season with a slapper from the right point in full stride, doubling Carolina's lead to 2-0. Jussi "The Juice" Jokinen got one back at 17:53 as he snapped his seventh of the season with the extra attacker as Cam Barker watched from the 'sin-bin' after being called for delay of game as he fired the puck over the glass in his own zone. The 'Jackets couldn't get the equilizer past Jimmy Howard as he kicked out 27 shots including a penalty shot at 16:41 of the third for the win.
MOLSON'S 3 STARS:
1 - Jimmy Howard (Car)....... His 27 saves gave his troops the chance for the win, including an incredible penalty shot stop on Alex Goligoski.
2 - Zach Bogosian (Car).... Zach's goal  in the third was the dagger in the heart of the Bluejacket faithful.
3 - Nathan Horton (Car).... Horton opened the scoring in the first for Carolina and had a game high 6 shots on net.

Reporting For The WCHL Network.....
Peter Puck

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Montreal shakes off Sens

Posted on Sunday, August 17, 2014 by WCHL Hockey

Fasth makes 25 stops to take win from Ottawa


Ottawa Senators (1) vs Montreal Canadiens (2).....
The Senators come into Montreal on Saturday night clinging to the Atlantic Division lead over Florida and Tampa but just barely while the Habs were trying to shake a three game skid and get back in contention for a playoff berth.
The first period ended on a scoreless tie, shots were 10-5 Ottawa but Canadiens' tender Viktor Fasth was equal to the task.
Montreal came out in the second and scored twice with the man advantage (Ottawa was whistled for four straight penalties in the period), first Henrik Zetterberg scored his 12th of the year on a snap shot from the right face-off dot after Eric Staal had won the draw cleanly from Corey Perry at 6:04. On the second powerplay goal (at 8:01) Roman Polak fired a howitzer past Robin Lehner after leveling Antoine Vermette with a vicious body check that left the Sen's center to have to re-adjust his chin strap. The Habs out-shot Sens 15-5 in the middle frame.
Ottawa came out in the third trying to make a game of it and the team's scoring leader, Corey Perry picked up his 15th goal of the season as  he snapped the puck up under the cross bar on Viktor Fasth at 1:13. The Sens tried in vain to tie up the affair but fell just short, they out-shot the Habs 11-10 in the final period.
Viktor Fasth improved his record to 16-8-4 with the 25 save performance.
MOLSON'S 3 STARS:
1 - Viktor Fasth (Mon)....... Kept his team in it early, 25 saves.
2 - Corey Perry (Ott)....... Scored the lone goal for Sens but also was in penalty box for Canadiens first goal.
3 - Anton Volchenkov (Ott).... Asssited on Perry's goal, lead all skaters in ice time with nearly 28 minutes.

Reporting For The WCHL Network;
Peter Puck

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In the Stars

Posted on Sunday, August 10, 2014 by WCHL Hockey

Lightning left in a daze as Dallas wins 5-1


Tampa Bay Lightning (1) vs Dallas Stars (5).......
On Saturday night Dallas turned the Light(ning) out as Pierre-Marc Bouchard's three assists help rout Tampa.
Nick Foligno opened the scoring for Dallas with his 5th of the season at 6:55 with a rocket off the cross bar and in behind Anton Khudobin. Barret Jackman doubled Dallas' lead on the powerplay at 19:43 as he scooped up a P.M Bouchard blocked shot and beat Khudobin. Dallas led the shots on net after twenty at 12-10.
Not much happened in the second, ten shots in total, three minor penalties. Seemed the two teams were out for a friendly skate.
That all changed in the third as the Stars would score two straight to take a commanding 4-0 lead on Tampa by the 11:00 mark. First R.J. Umberger scored his second of the year with tender Brian Elliot collecting his first assist of the year at 8:58 then Michael Ryder would get his 8th as he picked up a shot off the back boards and snapped it through the wickets of Khudobin. Lightning would finally strike as Dany Heatley popped in his 10th on the season at 13:35, was this a sign of a come back? Not so fast, Nick Folilgno would score his second of the night on a wicked wrister to close out the scoring at 17:06 of the third and Dallas were off into the Starry night. Shots were 30-26 Dallas through 60 minutes. 
Brian Elliot evened up his record on the season with his first win as he stopped 25 shots. Anton Khudobin was left in for all five goals but managed 25 saves, dropping his record to one game above .500.
MOLSON'S 3 STARS:
1 - Nick Foligno (Dal)...... 2 goals on five shots, +2 on the night.
2 - Barret Jackman (Dal)... 1 goal and 1 assist, +3 on three shots, first of the season for this defense first Dman.
3 - R.J. Umberger (Dal)...... 1 goal, 1 assist, +2, played in every situation for Dallas.
*** Pierre-Marc Bouchard (Dal)... 3 assists, +2, not sure how this guy never got a star as he led all scorers in the game.

Reporting For The WCHL Network...
Peter Puck

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