Kukla's Korner Hockey
Ryan Smyth Finished for the Season
by Alanah McGinley on 04/02/09 at 02:15 PM ET
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From the Colorado Avalanche:
The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that forward Ryan Smyth will miss the remainder of the 2008-09 season due to a fractured right hand.
Smyth suffered the injury during the second period of last night’s game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Pepsi Center. The Banff, Alberta native is the Avalanche’s leading scorer this season with 59 points (26g/33a) in 77 games.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Colorado Avalanche | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: ryan+smyth,
Mike Green Talks About His 30th Goal
by Paul on 04/02/09 at 01:11 PM ET
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Mike Green talks with the crew from the NHL Network after scoring his 30th goal last night.
added 2:37, J.P. of Japers’ Rink is disputing a 30 goal scorer from the past…
per “The Big Book of Hockey Trivia,” Phil Housley only scored 24 goals as a defenseman in 1983-84. Mike Green is the magnificent seventh NHL defenseman to score thirty goals in a season, not the eighth.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Washington Capitals | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Mike+Green,
Surgery For Lecavalier
by Paul on 04/02/09 at 01:06 PM ET
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from Bolts Report,
Center Vinny Lecavalier is out for the year after the team announced Thursday that the four-time All-Star will undergo surgery on his right wrist. It’s the same procedure Lecavalier was scheduled to undergo last season before he injured his shoulder.
Here is the information from the team:
Tampa Bay Lightning Captain Vincent Lecavalier will undergo surgery to repair damage to his right wrist on Friday, April 3, Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Vinny+Lecavalier,
Afternoon Line
by Paul on 04/02/09 at 12:14 PM ET
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I guess my one question is, do the Sabres just pull a tank job from here on out or do they actually go down fighting?
As soon as Vanek peeled off last night, I said (to my empty living room): “(Pansy) play.” Either dump it down low, or sack up and and go to the net, drawing defenders with you.
But like so many other plays last night (and all year) he peeled off, took the easy way out, and got burned.
It was a cruel end to a tease of a game and a tease of a season.
-Kevin of BfloBlog.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Buffalo Sabres | KK Hockey | Permalink
Canucks A Solid Group Heading Into The Playoffs
by Paul on 04/02/09 at 11:57 AM ET
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from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,
...You might question the overall mobility of Vancouver’s blue-line corps, but certainly not its depth. When you have a talented player such as Kevin Bieksa slotted in recent games as your fifth defenseman behind the Willie Mitchell-Sami Salo and Mattias Ohlund-Alexander Edler pairings, you know it’s a decent group.
Outstanding in goal, solid on defense and now balanced offensively up front. Anyone like this team’s odds?
“Once you’re in the playoffs, I think anything is possible for any team that’s in there,” Vigneault said. “It’s a matter of getting on a roll at the right time and getting your players to believe in themselves.
“Right now, our guys are feeling pretty good about their game and pretty good about their teammates.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Vancouver Canucks | KK Hockey | Permalink
All About Team Chemistry
by Paul on 04/02/09 at 11:34 AM ET
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from Justin Bourne at The Hockey News,
As a hockey player, every winter you get handed 20 new friends. I usually got along with about 19, genuinely liked five and found one gem.
But what happens when there isn’t that one gem? Or even five you genuinely like? What happens when you only get along with 16 of your teammates? Does it affect your performance?
Talent is what it is, you’re either good or you aren’t. When you get the puck, you make good plays or you don’t. Confidence plays a small part in these decisions, but it comes from successes and failures. False confidence, like your Mom’s “great game” after playing like a donkey for 60 minutes, means as much as “Mission Accomplished” from George W. Bush.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, Minor League | KK Hockey | Permalink
Milbury Talks Norris & Devils
by Paul on 04/02/09 at 11:06 AM ET
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from Hockey This Morning on XM204,
NHL on NBC analyst Mike Milbury joined Scott Laughlin to preview the NBC Game of the Week between the Wild and Red Wings and Mike talked about the Devils slide, Norris Trophy predictions with Scott Laughlin on Hockey This Morning
click to listen to the seven minute interview…
Filed in: NHL Teams | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Mike+Milbury,
All Is Not Well With Recall Of Filatov
by Paul on 04/02/09 at 10:40 AM ET
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from Lindsay Kramer of Syracuse.com,
The call-up of Syracuse Crunch rookie forward Nikita Filatov to Columbus on Wednesday at first blush seemed so illogical that fans in both cities wondered if it was an April Fool’s Day joke. It wasn’t. There is nothing to laugh about, especially in Syracuse.
The Crunch’s loss of its top game-breaking threat at its most important time of the season represents a defeat in a battle of conflicting developmental philosophies. And it’s one that Syracuse hasn’t had to wage for at least eight seasons….
Syracuse coach Ross Yates was diplomatically mum when asked his opinion of the move.
“It doesn’t matter how I feel about it. I’m in a no-win situation. You’re not getting me to go there,” Yates said. “This (roster) is what they’ve given me. I’m going to do the best with what I have.”...
“It (stinks), but that’s what this league is for. You play down here to get up there. We’d like to have him, especially the way he’s been playing lately,” said Syracuse captain Dan Smith.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, Minor League | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Syracuse+Crunch,
Clinch Time
by Paul on 04/02/09 at 10:34 AM ET
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EASTERN CONFERENCE
#2 Washington Capitals (idle) can clinch the Southeast Division:
* If the Carolina Hurricanes get one or no points against the New York Rangers.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
#3 Vancouver Canucks can clinch a Western Conference playoff berth:
* If they get at least one point against the Anaheim Ducks.
or
* If the St. Louis Blues get one or no points against the Detroit Red Wings.
#4 Chicago Blackhawks (idle) can clinch a Western Conference playoff berth:
* If the St. Louis Blues get one or no points against the Detroit Red Wings.
or
* If the Anaheim Ducks get no points against the Vancouver Canucks.
#5 Calgary Flames can clinch a Western Conference playoff berth:
* If they get at least one point against the Dallas Stars.
or
* If the St. Louis Blues get one or no points against the Detroit Red Wings.
Check out the race for the playoffs below which includes a schedule with remaining games…
Filed in: NHL Teams | KK Hockey | Permalink
English For Lupul
by Paul on 04/02/09 at 10:12 AM ET
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According to FoxNews,
The host of Oxygen’s new show “Pretty Wicked” CariDee English (was) court side at a Knicks game with Philadelphia NHL flyer Joffrey Lupul on Friday.
Filed in: | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: CariDee+English, Joffrey+Lupul,
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