Getty Images There was a time last season when it looked like Steve Stamkos and Sidney Crosby would fight tooth and nail for the Rocket Richard Trophy. They were both scoring goals at a remarkable pace. Then Crosby’s season got derailed by a concussion and as for Stamkos, well, he just seemed to lose his scoring touch. In fact, Stamkos scored just seven goals in 31 games after the All-Star break last season. So as good as he was in the first half of the 2011-12 campaign, the fear was that he would, at some point, suffer a similar collapse.
Although there’s still nearly two months of regular season hockey left to play, Stamkos already has five goals in six games since the All-Star break. In fact, he’s riding a four-game goal scoring streak after netting the game-winner in Tampa Bay’s 2-1 victory over Buffalo on Saturday. Anything could happen and Stamkos might still lose the Rocket Richard Trophy despite his current seven-goal lead on Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel. All the same, he isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.
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It might be tough to keep his team from getting a little cocky.
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A sign of things to come?
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There’s a little bit more to this game-winning goal, though.
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Devils coach: “I don’t believe we deserved to win that game”
May 31, 2012, 12:15 AM EDT
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Some New Jersey players called it the team’s worst performance of 2012 playoffs.
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Kopitar on beating Brodeur for game-winner: “World class goaltender, but I think I got the best of it tonight”
May 31, 2012, 12:13 AM EDT
He became the first King to score a Stanley Cup finals OT goal in the process.
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The vast majority of Game 1 winners have gone on to hoist the Stanley Cup.
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What they’re saying about Game 1 of the 2012 Stanley Cup finals
May 30, 2012, 11:49 PM EDT
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Even Tommy Lasorda shared his thoughts.
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Video: Parise gloves in go-ahead goal, officials wave it off
May 30, 2012, 11:49 PM EDT
The Devils had a key third-period lead…and then they didn’t.
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Discuss: Kings road dominance continues, beat Devils 2-1 in OT
May 30, 2012, 11:24 PM EDT
Anze Kopitar wins it midway through the first extra session.
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Win or lose, we’ll probably see him playing with New Jersey in 2012-13.
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NHL commish supports Isles owner Charles Wang’s efforts.
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Blue Jackets on No. 2 pick: “We’re doing everything in our power to get it right”
May 30, 2012, 9:45 PM EDT
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They might just be drafting the new face of their franchise,after all.
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Check out the five minute interview with the NHL commissioner.
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PHT Live Chat — Stanley Cup finals Game 1: Los Angeles at New Jersey
May 30, 2012, 9:13 PM EDT
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Chat with PHT’s Mike Halford and Jason Brough throughout the game.
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A fun video feature from NBC’s experts.
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AP
“It’s the right way to play.”
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The goal is for Hossa to be back by training camp.
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Despite reports to the contrary, the deadline is not July 1 to refinance or settle their debt.
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Bettman: “I don’t understand all the speculation and the degree of negativity.”
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It’s about time, says everyone.
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