Saturday Night Special

Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2015 by WCHL Hockey

Blackhawks down

 
 


Colorado Avalanche (3) vs Chicago Blackhawks (1)........
The Avalanche entered Saturday's game in Chicago riding a two game win streak, their latest a 2-1 shoot-out win over another top Western Conference team, the Minnesota Wild. With Chicago on a season high six game win streak the game was gonna be another tough one for Colorado. 
The first period proved to be uneventful, the shots were 11-7 but neither squad could find the back of the net. Just one penalty called as both teams seemed afraid to make the first mistake.
In the second the visitors connected for two goals in alittle over seven minutes and a half minutes on tallies by Patrick Sharp(8th) at 6:52, assisted by Marian Hossa and David Desharnias and then Loui Eriksson(3rd) at 14:37 from Jaden Schwartz, Ryan Johansen. The Blackhawks did get ten shots on Jonathon Bernier in the Avs net but couldn't beat the 26 yr old tender. The Avs held a 25-17 shot advantage after 40 minutes.
An unlikely sniper got Chicago on the board in the third as fourth liner Nigel Dawes notched his first of the season at 4:59 off of a re-direction of a Trevor Daley slap shot from the blue line as Dawes set up a screen in front of Bernier. That score held up until 13:03 as Sharp powered between a pair of Hawk defenders to score his second of the night thanks to his two linemates, Hossa and Desharnias. Chicago did play with more desire in the third as they out-shot Colorado 9-6 but was for not as Jonathon Bernier finished the night with one more in the winner column as he stopped twenty-five shots for his seventh win of the year.

MOLSON'S THREE STARS;
1 - Patrick Sharp (Col)......... 2 goals, +2, 3 SOG
2 - Jonathan Bernier (Col)... allowed 1 goal on 26 shots
3 - Marian Hossa (Col).......  2 assists, +2, 5 shots

NEXT UP:
On Sunday the Avalanche play host in the back half their home-and-home series against the Chicago Blackhawks. Colorado will try to extend their win streak to four and the 'Hawks win try to avenge their two goal loss to the Avs on Saturday. An interesting note from Saturdays game --- Neither David Krejci, leading point getter for Colorado or Mike Santorelli who is leading Chicago in scoring could find the scoresheet. 

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

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Column

Posted on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 by WCHL Hockey

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Saturday Night Special

Posted on Sunday, January 4, 2015 by WCHL Hockey

Canucks slip past Wild on back of Sedin

 
 


Minnesota Wild (2) vs Vancouver Canucks (3)........
The Wild visited Vancouver on Saturday to take on the Canucks who were not-so proud owners of a 10 game losing streak. The Wild who are three points out of first in the West were on a slide of their own, losers of three straight. So this was the game where Minny got their game back right?.... Not so fast !
The Canucks opened the scoring at 11:35 of the first when Daniel Sedin scored his 3rd of the season as he picked up a Jack Johnson rebound that went wide of the net and was allowed three whacks at the puck without a Wild player touching him as he slipped it past Antti Niemi. After twenty Vancouver outshot Minny 13-6.
Minnesota tied the game off the stick of Thomas Vanek(9th) at 4:11 of the second from Tyler Bozak. Bozak won the faceoff against Henrik Sedin in the Canucks' end and got the puck to a charging Vanek who lifted a cheeky backhand over Tomas Vokoun's shoulder. Vancouver took their second lead of the game at 7:23 thanks to Teddy Purcell(5th) who picked up a loose puck in the slot and snapped it over Niemi. With Vancouver's Mark Fistric in the box for hooking, Jay Bouwmeester(4th) hammered home a blast from the point to even the score once more at 10:53. The shots were 25-14 after fourty.
With Purcell in the box for the Canucks for high-sticking, Vancouver's penalty killers went to work and Viktor Stalberg 
(3:23) scored his first of the season as he grabbed the loose puck in his own zone off a face-off win by Alex Ovechkin and raced down the right side before cutting to the middle of the ice and snapping a shot through Niemi's pads, a shot this reporter thinks the tender would love to have back. The shots in the third much closer (4-3 Minny) but the Canucks outshot Minnesota 28-18.
Canucks Derek MacKenzie was ejected at 6:02 of the third as he was sent to the showers early for arguing what he thought was a blown penalty call as he claimed he was caught by a Wild high stick but couldn't supply any physical proof.
MOLSON'S THREE STARS:
1 - Daniel Sedin (Van).......... 1 goal, 1 assist, +2, 4 shots
2 - Viktor Stalberg (Van)...... 1 goal, +1, 2 shots
3 - Thomas Vanek (Min)...... 1 goal, 1 assist, even =/-, 3 shots

With the loss Minnesota fails to make up any room between them and West leading Nashville, in fact they fell back two more points with Nashville's 3-2 overtime win over the Lightning in Music City. Minnesota will look to rebound again as they host the Oilers on Sunday, the Oil coming off a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Canadiens.
The win for Vancouver was just their second of the season and first in ten games. The Canucks will host San Jose on Sunday, the Sharks are coming off a 4-2 loss to the Capitals at the Shark Tank on Saturday and have now lost four of their last five games.

Reporting For The WCHL Network........

Peter Puck

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Saturday Night Special

Posted on Sunday, December 28, 2014 by WCHL Hockey

Penguins dodge the Rangers

 
 Sidney Crosby battled through rough checking all night, earning three assists for his efforts


New York Rangers (1) vs Pittsburgh Penguins (3).........
The Penguins top line of Sidney Crosby(3 assists), Jerome Iginla(1 goal, 2 assists) and Patrick Marleau(2 goals) registered eight points as Pittsburgh dispatched the New York Rangers on Saturday night.
Patrick Marleau scored back-to-back powerplay goals in the first period a little over seven minutes apart, his third and fourth goals of the year. Shots were 9-8 New York after twenty minutes. 
Rookie Curtis McKenzie scored his first WCHL goal at 5:44 of the second period to cut the Pens lead in half. Just over five minutes later Jerome Iginla(2nd) got that one back as he redirected a slap pass from "Sid the Kid" over the shoulder of Hendrik Lundqvist. The Rangers fired eleven shots at Marc-Andre Fleury in the second but only the rookie's shot found mesh.
The third period was played as if the teams already knew the game was over as the shot total for both teams was four shots apiece.
The night got worse for the Rangers as they were told after the game that Andres Lee, who left part way through the second period will miss atleast three weeks with what the team is calling an upper body injury (believed to be a concussion as told by a source close to the Rangers).
Fleury made 23 saves for his eighth win of the season for Pittsburgh.

MOLSON'S 3 STARS:
1 - Patrick Marleau (Pit)........ 2 goals, 4 shots
2 - Sidney Crosby (Pit)......... 3 assists, +1, 2 shots
3 - Jarome Iginla (Pit).......... 1 goal, 2 assists, 2 shots

Both teams are back at it on Monday as the Pens host Steven Stamkos and the Calgary Flames who split a recent home-and-home series with Anaheim, winning the last one 3-2 at home in Cowtown, while the Rangers visit the American Capital to take on captain Chris Phillips and the rest of the Capitals. The Rangers will have to do without Andres Lee for a while as he nurses his concussion, the Rangers have a slew of rookies looking for their chance to show GM Don they can stick with the big club. We'll have to wait and see who they bring up.

Reporting For The WCHL Network......

Peter Puck

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Sens can't rattle Sabres

Posted on Sunday, December 21, 2014 by WCHL Hockey

Luongo pushes Buffalo to win with 31 saves

 
 


Buffalo Sabres (3) vs Ottawa Senators (1).........
The first Saturday night of Season 20 pits the Champion Senators against the Buffalo Sabres who missed out on the big dance in season 19. Both teams were playing their sixth game in seven nights, with the Sens riding a three game win streak.
The Sabres opened the scoring in this game at the 2:00 mark of the middle period as Tom Wandell(1st) scored on a deflection off a shot by Daniel Paille. The shots through two were 20-20.
In the third Paille(1st) scored to double Buffalo's lead on  assists from Wandell and Stephen Gionta at 6:38. The Sens got one back as Keith Yandle(2nd) hammered home a pass from Martin St.Louis, with the second assist going to Corey Perry at 15:08. With less than ninety seconds remaining in regulation Ryan Clowe(3rd) delivered the final blow as he would score on the powerplay at 18:32 to diminish any hope the Sens would have of a come back, and end Otawa's win streak. 
Marty Brodeur made 36 saves in the losss, while his counter-part at the other end stopped 31 shots to improve his record to 3-2. 
The Sabres are off until Monday when they host the Minnesota Wild (4-1-0-0-1). The Sens hope to get back on track on Monday as well as the travel to Columbus to face Jason Spezza and the (3-1-1-0-0-1) BlueJackets. 
MOLSON'S THREE STARS:
1 - Daniel Paille (Buf)........... 1 goal, 1 assist, +2, 5 shots.
2 - Roberto Luongo (Buf)...... 31 saves 
3 - Tom Wandell (Buf)........... 1 goal, 1 assist, +2, 2 shots

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

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It all comes down to this

Posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 by WCHL Hockey

Oilers, Sens face off in first All-Canadian finals

 
 


In the first 18 seasons of the Western Canadian Hockey League there has only been one Canadian team to win a WCHL Cup. That was the Calgary Flames, who captured a league title in Season 11.
For the most part though its been more famine than feast for Canadian clubs in the WCHL, who are handicapped already by only having seven of the 30 clubs. When you factor in that four of the seven didn't even making the playoffs this year, it looked like pretty strong odds that it'd be another Cupless season in Canada.
In what has been a very odd season however the hockey gods had a different story in mind however. The Edmonton Oilers cruised through the playoffs, posting a 12-4 record along the way while the Ottawa Senators had to battle a bit harder but still advanced to the finals on the strength of a 12-6 record.
What all of that means is Canada is guaranteed to see it's second WCHL Cup parade in the first ever all all-Canada match-up. All that's left to answer is if the cup will return to Alberta or for the first time ever be awarded outside of the second-most Westerly province.

 
 


(2) Ottawa Senators vs. (1) Edmonton Oilers- While the Oilers did win the West the Senators actually had the better seeding and it gives them home ice advantage in the finals. The question is will it matter?
Maybe. The Sens are 6-4 on home ice but are better on the road, going 6-2. For Edmonton meanwhile they are 6-1 on the road and have been pretty dominate in the process, outscoring the home team 20-9 in those games, including two shutouts. Ottawa may be better off to just hope for a home split and take their chances on the road. The Oilers are only 6-3 at home, meaning this could be a series about who doesn't screw up on home ice, the opposite of what usually matters at this time of the year.
Ottawa will be led by Robin Lehner. The young netminder has posted a .932 save percentage and a meager 1.69 goals against average as he has looked like a young Patrick Roy more than an average 23-year-old. Offensively the charge will be handled by Corey Perry, who leads the club with eight goals and 14 points.
The Oilers will be countering with Ilya Bryzgalov. The ignematic netminder has reserructed his career and looks like his old-self from his Colorado Avalanche days where he picked up two WCHL Cups. Sitting with a .941 save percentage and a 1.61 goals against average, Bryzgalov has been a Conn Smythe candidate all post-season and one more good series could cement that status. The clubs offense is being backed by the usual duo for the Oilers; Brad Richards and Jason Pominville. The long-time pairing for the Oilers has potted 13 goals and 39 points so far these playoffs.
Prediction: Edmonton has been on cruise control all season and have barely faced a test they haven't been able to handle. The Senators have been pretty smooth so far but each series has been a battle in one form or another. This one could be the series that makes it to tough a task to win. Edmonton in six games.

 
 


ACHL 

(2) Toronto Marlies vs. (4) Hershey Bears - Hershey in six games.

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WTF?

Posted on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 by WCHL Hockey

A first time champion is guaranteed in wacky playoffs

 
 


Whoever predicted Ottawa, Columbus, Edmonton and Chicago would be in the final four of the WCHL playoffs had better have played the lottery. In a weird season where pre-season cup favorites like Colorado and Calgary didn't even make the playoffs, every round has claimed a likely candidate for the WCHL Cup.

Now as we enter round three, not only will there be an end to the two-time cup reign of the Anaheim Ducks, there will be a first time ever champion. All four clubs that are left standing have never won a cup title. Some have never even been this far into the playoffs.

What's in story for the four Cinderella's? Well there can only be one queen of this ball.

WCHL

Western Conference

(1) Edmonton Oilers vs. (6) Chicago Blackhawks- In this extremely inconsistent season, the one consistency has been the Oilers. All season long they have been one of the best squads in the league and they have only improved as the playoffs have gone along. Round one they lined up against the eighth seeded Arizona Coyotes and they stormed out to a 3-0 lead before winning in five games. Round two against the seventh seeded Dallas Stars, Edmonton won the first three games before winning in five games. Round three is against the sixth seeded Blackhawks. Is it going to deja vu all over again?

 
 


Chicago has been battling hard to even get a whiff of the playoffs for several years and now that they are here they have shown they didn't just fluke their way to the big tournament. The Hawks didn't have an easy mission either, doing what no team has done in over two seasons and 10 post-season series; defeating the two-time defending WCHL Cup champions in seven games after being down 3-2. 

Prediction: The Hawks have been as pesky as anyone but the Oilers have been on a big roll all season long. Don't expect Chicago to go away as easily as Dallas and Arizona, but don't expect them to win the series either. Edmonton in six games.

Eastern Conference

(2) Ottawa Senators vs. (6) Columbus Blue Jackets- The Senators may have finally shaken the burden of being a playoff worthy team that sits in the shadows of the elite of the Eastern Conference. Constantly in the post-season, Ottawa has rarely been in the talks of being a potential cup contender but this season that has changed in a hurry. Arguably the best team still alive, Ottawa not only is in the cup mix, they have the Las Vegas odds to win it all right now.

 
 


Columbus meanwhile slayed the giant New York Rangers, besting the Big Apple's finest in six games, allowing just six goals in the process. Having surrendered just 17 goals in 13 games, Columbus is going to be a tough nut to crack for Ottawa. Led by a top-heavy but talented defense that's backed by early Conn Smythe contender Semyon Varlamov, Columbus thrives on low-scoring games. In 13 games that Columbus has played this post-season, there have only been a combined total of 41 goals, just over three goals per game. Columbus is only averaging 1.80 goals per game themselves, so don't expect anyone to shoot out the lights.

Prediction: Ottawa will hold their own with the Blue Jackets but unless it strikes midnight soon the Blue Jackets ill continue to gut out the wins. Columbus in six games.

ACHL

Western Conference

(2) Toronto Marlies vs. (5) Hamilton Bulldogs- Hamilton in seven games.

Eastern Conference

(4) Hershey Bears vs. (7) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in six games.

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