Archives › James O’Brien
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Things were looking really grim for the Pittsburgh Penguins for a while there. They went down 4-0 to Montreal at one point after Travis Moen chased Marc-Andre Fleury thanks to an ugly shorthanded goal. At that point, it was looking like the Penguins would just be playing for pride. Now they have at least a…
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Despite Brandon’s suggestions, it’s clear that the Pittsburgh Penguins carried their frustrations over from Game 6. The Canadiens go into the second period with a 2-0 lead mostly because of the Penguins’ own mistakes. Sidney Crosby took a bad boarding penalty about 10 seconds into the game and Matt Cooke followed him shortly. Marc-Andre Fleury allowed…
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We have two big games tonight and – barring an overtime in the Penguins-Canadiens Game 7 that would surely give me a heart attack – hockey fans should be able to watch all of one and a chunk of the other. Let’s take a look at the two big games, starting with the penultimate Pens…
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For a tiny chunk of the third period, it looked like the Canucks were going to at least make things interesting. Shane O’Brien scored a goal to make it 3-1 and the team generated some nice chances. Perhaps that simply woke up the Blackhawks, though, as two constant nuisances – Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien…
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Glendale might give NHL $25 million to keep Coyotes in Arizona
May 11, 2010, 11:30 PM EDT
Comments OffEarlier tonight I shared a report that Ice Edge Holdings might not actually be all the way out of negotiations to own the Phoenix Coyotes. The saga continues tonight and this time around, there’s some more (potentially) good news for fans hoping the team stays put. Here’s the story from the Associated Press. The Glendale city…
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What an absolutely brutal second period for the Vancouver Canucks. In my eyes, at least, you can’t blame any one player. Roberto Luongo allowed three goals, but his defense hung him out to dry each time. This is a total team effort, or lack thereof. Troy Brouwer started the scoring off early in the second…
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Goalies shine to keep Chi-Van 0-0, Salo plays but Edler hurt
May 11, 2010, 10:35 PM EDT
Comments OffBoth Roberto Luongo and Antti NIemi were sharp in the first period, keeping the score 0-0 as the Canucks had 13 shots and the Blackhawks had 12. There were some quality scoring chances on each end but neither team could pierce the netminders in a tight-checking opening frame. Sami Salo showed real … courage so…
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2010 IIHF World Championships: Norway shocks Czechs, Russia wins
May 11, 2010, 9:30 PM EDT
Comments OffPHT’s own Joe Yerdon is doing a great job covering the 2010 IIHF World Hockey Championships for Universal Sports. (Check out the official blog here.) In today’s action, Norway beat the Czech Republic for the first time in 73 years in a world hockey championship competition, winning 3-2. Here’s more from the Tuesday’s games via Yerdon’s report.…
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So far, one conference semifinals series is going to a Game 7 (that, of course, is the Penguins-Canadiens feud). When the Chicago Blackhawks went up 3-1 after a commanding run in Vancouver, it looked like this one would be done soon enough. The Canucks showed a little life on Sunday, though, so this series might…
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Hockey's worst injuries, starring Sami Salo's 'ruptured testicles'
May 11, 2010, 7:30 PM EDT
There are plenty of grizzly, cringe-inducing injuries in hockey. Even a routine (but hard) hit in the boards would make many people re-consider their dreams of putting on their favorite team’s uniform. Still, there are moments that can reduce even these He-Man clones into mere mortals. Especially when something happens to their testicles. Sami Salo’s…
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Ice Edge not totally out of Coyotes negotiations, just 'napping'?
May 11, 2010, 6:40 PM EDT
Comments OffIt’s been a big couple days for news revolving around the Phoenix Coyotes and their future in either Arizona or maybe their original home, Winnipeg. Earlier today, Brandon shared news that the league is at least putting together a ‘Plan B’ with its 2010-11 schedule that includes a Winnipeg “contingency plan.” On the plus side for…
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Both of the Eastern Conference semifinals series could end tonight, possibly at almost the same exact time. Let’s take a look at Habs-Pens Game 6 and Flyers-Bruins Game 5. Pittsburgh Penguins at Montreal Canadiens - 7:00 PM ET (Versus, CBC, FS Pittsburgh) Penguins lead series 3-2 There are worries that young Habs fans will riot whether…
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Earlier today I shared reports that Dan Carcillo might miss today’s game, but it sounds like his status has improved. More on him and the various Montreal Canadiens who may or may not be available in this injury update. Carcillo a game-time decision. Ryan Parent and Michael Leighton will be back. Here’s snippets from an NHL.com…
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When people talk about the greatest hockey players of all-time, Bobby Orr’s name inevitably comes up (and, I would think, it always will). Simply put, the Hall-of-Fame defenseman changed hockey as much as any single player did, taking the torch from Eddie Shore and proving that a blueliner could create as much offense as they…
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The NHL rarely deals with the steroid backlash that hounds Major League Baseball and troubles the NFL. Some, like former World Anti-Doping Agency head Dick Pound, wonder if it’s simply because of the league’s drug testing policies. Former WADA chair Dick Pound has been harshly critical of the NHL’s approach to doping, alleging in the past…
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Soon after the Nashville Predators suffered yet another first round loss, an unprecedented flood put hockey in perspective. It’s good to see, then, that the team and the NHL are giving back as the city/state/region tries to bounce back from the devastating effects of the weather crisis. It’s unclear just how much was/will be donated, but…
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Team USA's WC hopes take big blow after 2-1 OT loss to Denmark
May 10, 2010, 3:15 PM EDT
Comments OffTeam USA’s World Championship team was upset once again 2-1 in overtime. This time the surging underdog Denmark team did it to them, with Stefan Lassen scoring the game winner in OT. It was the Americans’ second straight overtime loss in the tournament after falling by the same score against Germany, and they now need to…
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Kids these days; they just don’t have any respect. What with their loud music, lack of patriotism … and disinterest in growing mullets (unless it’s just for laughs). Those are the words I envision going through Jaromir Jagr’s head as he critiques the Czech players who declined invitations to play for their 2010 IIHF World…
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Not many men can go through a lifetime before they have a tense moment with their, um, “boys.” While I don’t intend to make America/Canada/the cubicle’d world squirm this afternoon, but here’s the footage of Sami Salo’s scary moment. He took a shot to the groin during the end of the first period, but apparently he’s OK.…
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Flyers injury news: Carcillo doubtful, Leighton nearing return
May 10, 2010, 12:45 PM EDT
Comments OffThere’s some good news and bad news injury-wise for the Philadelphia Flyers as they attempt to cut into Boston’s 3-1 series lead tonight. On one hand, it appears that Dan Carcillo might not be healthy enough to pester and pummel opponents in Game 5. The forward appeared to injury his knee in Game 4 against…
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Is it a sign of “youthful immaturity” that the Chicago Blackhawks failed to put up much of a resistance against the Vancouver Canucks last night? Nope, my guess is that the two teams aren’t separated by much from a talent or will power standpoint and the Canucks rode a great start (2-0 in the first…
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After carrying the Canucks to a Game 1 win, Roberto Luongo struggled mightily in the next three games. It must be heartening, then, to see Luongo play so well. He stopped 29 out of 30 shots to hold the explosive Blackhawks to just one goal. Here’s one of his best saves of the night.
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Sometimes there are goals that are just pretty. This one qualifies. Kyle Wellwood sent a perfect pass to Kevin Bieksa who never had to break stride as he made a simple little deke past Antti Niemi to score a beauty. Bieksa added another goal in the game, helping the Vancouver Canucks stay alive with a…
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For the most part, the reactions to the Detroit Red Wings losing to the San Jose Sharks have been subdued. Pretty hard to argue with two runs to the Stanley Cup Finals, one Cup victory and approximately a generation of playoff runs, right? Yes, the Red Wings are getting older. The NHL is a young…
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Video: Time to play Pucktionary
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Video: Roenick not happy with call against Blackhawks in Game 3
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Video: Must-win Game 3 at MSG
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Video: Highlights: Red Wings top Blackhawks in Game 3
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Video: Cleary: 'We won't be exchanging Christmas cards'
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Video: 'Hawks potential tying goal waved off
