Kukla's Korner

A Better Recap of the Rangers’ Pre-Season Loss to the Wings

Blog: Goal Line Report By Patrick Hoffman

09/18/09 at 10:57 PM ET | Comments (1)

From Jim Cerny at NewYorkRangers.com:

For the second game out of three preseason contests, Rangers head coach John Tortorella placed three young Russians—Artem Anisimov, Evgeny Grachev, and Enver Lisin—on the same line, and with positive results. After that threesome showed good chemistry in Tuesday’s match against the Bruins, they combined for two goals and four points in Friday’s contest.

Anisimov, the 21-year-old center who recorded 81 points at Hartford a year ago, notched a goal and an assist to lead the team on Friday. He opened the scoring 7:26 into the first period by whipping a 35-foot shot past Chris Osgood after quickly shifting the puck to his forehand from his backhand.

While that play showed his skill, Anisimov also showed his smarts to help the Rangers grab a 2-0 lead at 3:39 of the second period. Anisimov deftly stepped up to challenge an unaware Red Wings defenseman at the Detroit blueline, causing a turnover.

Although Anisimov fell to the ice after taking the puck away, the 19-year-old Grachev scooted forward to collect it. Grachev powered his way to the net, and sent a hard backhand shot towards the goal that was denied by Osgood. Lisin, though, was able to follow the play and nudge the puck over the goal line for his first goal of the preseason.

Click here for more, Blueshirt fans.

Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
  Tags: Detroit+Red+Wings, New+York+Rangers, Pre-Season,

Modine Hurts Knee In Game Tonight

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

09/18/09 at 10:53 PM ET | Comments (2)

via the Twitter of Aaron Portzline,

Fredrik Modin suffers right knee injury. “Looks like weeks, not days,” coach Ken Hitchcock said.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Columbus Blue Jackets | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Fredrik+Modin,

Another Pre-Season Loss

Blog: Goal Line Report By Patrick Hoffman

09/18/09 at 10:42 PM ET | Comments (4)

I would imagine that plenty of you Blueshirt fans out there are complaining that the team has not won a game in pre-season. With their 4-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings tonight, the New York Rangers are now 0-3.

One negative that one can easily point out is the team’s third period performance, when they allowed four goals, three of them coming in an eight-minute span. Blueshirt netminder Matt Zaba did everything he could stopping 15 of 19 shots but the Wings’ proved to be too much.

On the positive side, the Rangers got solid games from Artem Anisimov, Enver Lisin and Henrik Lundqvist, three players that many Ranger fans hope have successful seasons this year during the regular season. 

Continue Reading »

Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
  Tags: Detroit+Red+Wings, New+York+Rangers, Pre-Season,

Phaneuf With His Side Of The Story

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

09/18/09 at 08:58 PM ET | Comments (18)

from Vicki Hall of the Calgary Herald via the National Post,

Go ahead. Call Calgary Flames defenceman Dion Phaneuf a coward for refusing to drop the gloves in the aftermath of his vicious open-ice hit that sent New York Islanders forward Kyle Okposo to hospital.

Tell Phaneuf he violated the unwritten NHL code by declining the many challenges to fight from Okposo’s teammates.

People have the right to their own opinions, Phaneuf said. But so does he.

“I felt it was a clean hit,” Phaneuf said Friday, a day after he laid out Okposo during the Flames’ 5-4 pre-season win over the Islanders. “That’s part of my game. I have to play that way.”

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames, New York Islanders | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Dion+Phaneuf, Kyle+Okposo,

How The Air Charter Deal Was Worked Out

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

09/18/09 at 08:31 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Jane Taber of the Globe and Mail,

Here’s what went down: Transport Minister John Baird and Air Canada’s chief operating officer Duncan Dee were working closely together, realizing that their only window of opportunity to fix the issue before the start of hockey season was during the 90-minute meeting between the two leaders. Air Canada is one of the biggest air-charter suppliers to NHL teams.

Some heavy-hitters weighed in, including former U.S. ambassador to Canada Gordon Giffin (an Atlanta Thrashers fan) and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman .

Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon was also working the phones trying to push Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to have the State Department push the Department of Transport to the table, says a source. And it took a lot of pressure from the NHL for U.S. officials to realize that their hockey teams were affected, too.

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, NHL Talk | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Report- Bruins/Leafs Working Out Trade For Kessel

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

09/18/09 at 05:55 PM ET | Comments (13)

added 8:43pm, Since Darren Dreger broke the news, let’s go to his story…

The drama surrounding Phil Kessel has finally come to an end as the Boston Bruins have traded their disgruntled sniper to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a 1st and a 2nd round pick in 2010, and a 1st round pick in 2011 pending a trade call which is currently underway.

Kessel and the Maple Leafs then quickly agreed to terms on a new five-year, $27 million deal.

continued and below you can check how this story broke early this evening…

added 10:!6pm,

Brian Burke, president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Friday evening that the team has obtained the rights to restricted free agent forward Phil Kessel from the Boston Bruins.  In exchange, Boston will receive the Maple Leafs’ first-round draft picks in 2010 and 2011 and their second-round draft pick in 2010. Kessel and the Maple Leafs agreed to terms on a multi-year contract following the trade

Continue Reading »

Filed in: NHL Teams, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Phil+Kessel,

All About Concussions In Hockey

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

09/18/09 at 05:31 PM ET | Comments (0)

Signs, symptoms and playing safe!

Filed in: NHL Talk, NHLPA, Hockey Related Stories | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Afternoon Line

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

09/18/09 at 05:22 PM ET | Comments (0)

Ken Hitchcock on how visiting teams are ushered around Xcel Energy Center: “It’s quicker getting through Canadian customs.”

via Michael Russo’s Twitter....

Filed in: NHL Teams, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Ken+Hitchcock,

Afinogenov Will Be An Asset In Atlanta

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

09/18/09 at 04:34 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,

In my mind, Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell made a nice move this week by inviting the 30-year-old winger for a tryout. Why not?

“He’s had a couple of tough years with some injuries and that, and he wasn’t playing as much as he was,” Waddell told ESPN.com on Friday. “But he’s 30 years old. You look at a guy with his skill and skating ability and his track record, it’s a no-lose situation for us.”

Credit Afinogenov’s agent Don Meehan, a veteran of the business, for finding what should be a good fit for his client.

“I think it’s a great move by Atlanta,” Meehan, the head of Newport Sports, told ESPN.com. “I think, at the end of the day, they’ll be pleased with him. He’s a great character person who has always been well-liked by his teammates.

“He’s a great athlete and he’s in great shape. He’ll be a great asset for them.”

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, Atlanta Thrashers | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Maxim+Afinogenov,

60 Goals For Heatley?

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

09/18/09 at 04:30 PM ET | Comments (2)

Craig Custance of the Sporting News in a Q & A with Ray Emery…

Q: When you watched what went on with Dany Heatley this summer in Ottawa did you sympathize with him? Could you relate?
A: Yeah, it’s tough. You kind of bring it upon yourself, and I did, too. But he’s a competitive guy who voiced his opinion. I think the worst part about it all was how it came out, you know? But I think it’ll work out for both sides. They got a couple good players and I know Heater is going to have a crazy year this year.

Q: You think so?
A: Yeah, over 60 for sure.

Q: Over 60 goals? You’re calling it?
A: I’m calling it.

more from Emery

Filed in: NHL Teams, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Dany+Heatley, Ray+Emery,

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