Pet Peeves: NHL Playoffs Style

So the NHL Playoffs are well under way, most recently with a great Game 7 Chicago win in OT, and have everyone on the edge of their seats. However, other than the games, there isn't much that’s enjoyable to watch. I figured that since obviously everyone cares, I’d make a list of my biggest pet peeves of the Playoffs. I’ll try not to be too whiny and preachy. (Note: some of these can and may be applicable to older playoffs.)

In descending order:  

10) Kathryn Tappen’s existence

Now, before the men of the world lose their minds, hear me out. As a blonde, female hockey fan, I get it. People want to look at blonde locks, and big boobs. And sometimes, when I can stand her voice, she does know what she’s talking about. But to me, she violates my #1 rule of sports journalism: Asking stupid questions. She’s not the only one guilty, but she just makes it more annoying than many others. Like, really? You had to ask whether Boston should be the underdog versus the Pens. Duh. And they make it really obvious when she’s reading off the Teleprompters. That’s why Sportscenter makes sure the people are facing each other. It’s an indicator that they are getting this information from their heads, not the poor writers in the back. Seriously. She just stumbled over the teleprompter. I can practically see it in her big vacant eyes.

Get away from Melrose until you don't read off a prompt.

9) The Sidney Crosby Complex

Crosby’s playing again!? He’s scoring again!? Pierre is still bald!? Let’s all get on our knees in worship. The mighty hockey Jesus has returned, let’s have all our coverage about him, even though there are tons of other awesome games and players. He defeated the Islanders and the Senators? Holy crap. How did he do it? I don’t have anything against Crosby. He’s an excellent player, he plays well when he’s not injured, and he is becoming a great leader (I don’t think he started out that way). But I don’t get the obsession. And to me, it takes away from other players who really deserve the limelight. Despite Detroit’s loss to Chicago, Jimmy Howard was an excellent goaltender in the series, and definitely deserves more attention than he got. Just my two cents.

8) The “history”

The last time the four teams battling it out were the last four Stanley Cup Champions was 1945!? Because I really needed to know that! I mean, it’s a neat statistic (Even though there were only 6 teams in 1945…) but do I need to hear it more than 20 times in a show? No. No one does. Tell me more about what offense the teams are running, tell me more about the players and what they need to change/do differently. Do not tell me the same stat over and over, especially one that doesn't matter. I need to know the Bruins are the best on the power play, I do not need to know that Quick wore the same colored boxers last season when he won the Cup that he’s going to wear next game.

"Now? No way!" (Zetterberg: Our Savior) 

7) Stupid Questions (especially Behind the Bench)

These can come from ANYONE. Fans, announcers, journalists, Pierre McGuire. Anyone. Especially Pierre McGuire. It’s my biggest journalistic pet peeve. You have the biggest privilege in the world, interviewing these people. Why waste your breath? You know they’re just going to spew the same rehearsed PR b.s. that they always do. Especially coaches. Do not corner Mike Babcock while his team is losing in a Playoff game and ask “what’s wrong?” You know what’s wrong! His team is losing and he is thinking about what to do about it! Quit with the vague crap. Everyone has heard it. Ask something that will set your story apart. Like “will you be continuing the same line despite their performance in this game?” or “is there a concern at this point about being an underdog or are all the remaining teams matched to some extent?” Ask things that won’t give away too much, but what will give you a good indication of what is going on in a detailed way.

6) Phone calls to players

This might go hand in hand with the interviews, but does anyone see any point in interviewing players over the phone and asking vague questions? Really? Why? We all know what they are going to say. Other than the occasional slip up and funny line, it’s all the same stuff. Unless you’re going to entertain the masses by asking funny questions like Cabby does, don’t bother.

5) ESPN being drunk

As if it was ever a secret, the “all-encompassing nature” of ESPN is anything but that, especially when it comes to hockey. Hockey fans know they don’t like us. But when you put up a picture from a few playoffs ago, with a player that hasn't played for the team for a few years, it’s just embarrassing. Like, really? Troy Brouwer hasn't played for Chicago for a few years. And I’m pretty sure Howard has a new helmet. And no one in that picture is Brent Seabrook. For the sake of professionalism, just don’t. No one is going to look at that story unless they’re hockey fans, and hockey fans are cracked out enough to notice.

4) Adding “flair” to teams

They are the Boston Bruins. Not the “High flying Bruins”. Just stop.

1-3) Pierre McGuire

As if anyone thought a hockey pet peeve list would be set into motion without Lord Cailou, you are sadly mistaken. Everything this man does gets under my skin. True, he has an encyclopedic knowledge of hockey, he was a coach, he knows hockey like the back of his hand, but that DOESN’T MATTER NOW. His play by play action is terrible. He calls penalties that the refs don’t, he’s creepy, and he’s got more man crushes than a tumblr fangirl. He’s just a mess, and I can’t stand him. He makes a point to use his French pronunciation of things, despite being from Jersey, and he calls players by their full names. Like, no. We call him Chris Pronger. Not Christopher Pronger. And there is always that ONE player he is whored out to for the whole game. Seriously, we think Richards is great, but talk about someone else every once in a while. And just calm down. We all love hockey, but just calm down. 

Minnesota's Playoff Run: Why Hockey Fans Will Eat Their Words

Jonathan Toews loses a faceoff to Captain Mikko Koivu Source: Bleacherreport.com

Only eleven days into the NHL playoffs, and some fans are already being shown that anything can happen in post season hockey. Literally. Anything.

The San Jose Sharks have swept for the first time in their franchise history, the Canucks are first round exits, the Maple Leafs are still in the game, the Senators are moving on past the Canadiens, and the Minnesota Wild made it to the first round.

Some would argue that the Maple Leafs and the Senators presence outweighs the Wild's first round exit, especially because the Senators are already moving on, and the Maple Leafs could easily over power the Boston Bruins, something that, a few seasons ago seemed impossible for Toronto to do. However, the fact that Minnesota made it to the playoffs is a feat all in its own.

Recovering from some of the worst seasons in it's history since the creation of the team in 2000, Minnesota went 26-19-3 this season to clinch the 8th spot in the Western Conference, barely squeezing into the playoffs, but definitely being there.

Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) is defended by Minnesota Wild defenseman Justin Falk (44) as he shoots the puck on goalie Darcy Kuemper (35) during the third period at the United Center. Source: fansided.com

Minnesota has never been a huge presence in the NHL, despite the states proud hockey history and their excellent college hockey programs. The biggest accomplishment the Wild have gathered is their lone Division Championship during the 2007-2008 season. Since then, the state has had to deal with disappointing 10th place seasons with mediocre draft picks, and the most exciting news of Zach Parise coming to the team.

However, some of these disappointments were liberated after Minnesota made the playoffs, even though they were a first round exit with only one win against the powerhouse that is Chicago. That one win is enough for Minnesota fans to be proud of the progress that their team is achieving.

But, it's unfortunate that some fans have to bite their tongues, because while they are ready to congratulate Minnesota, they also have to realize how poorly they treated them in the past.

"By the way, the Wild aren't winning the Stanley Cup this year. I bet they don't even make it to the playoffs. But that's another story entirely." said a certain blogger you all know.

Yes, it was me. I said the Wild weren't even going to the playoffs, and I was wrong. You are all my witnesses.

So now, Minnesota, I congratulate you, and eat my words.

Enjoy the rest of the NHL playoffs everyone.

It's a Great Day for Hockey. 

NHL Hockey: Concentrate on Winning the Second Half

As Bear Bryant once famously said, "Don't give up at halftime, concentrate on winning the second half." And that's pretty much all that hockey players and fans can do at this point. With only 48 games to play in the season left from the lockout, the NHL teams have half the time to work for that three and a half foot trophy that is the oldest in North American sports; The Stanley Cup.

The Blackhawks defeated the reigning Stanley Cup Champions

26 teams played today, for a total of 13 games sure to keep most (if not all) hockey fans content with their lives.

Games included:

NJ-NYI 2-1
PIT-PHI 3-1
COL-MIN 2-4
OTT-WPG 4-1
CHI-LA 5-2
NYR-BOS 1-3
TOR-MTL 2-1
WSH-TB 3-6
CAR-FLA 1-5
DET-STL 0-6
CBJ-NSH 3-2
PHX-DAL 3-4
ANA-VAN 7-3

Aging Martin Brodeur picked up a key win in today's game versus the Islanders

Now anyone who even knows a moderate amount notices that some of those scores are not what is normally predictable. St. Louis shutting out Detroit? Toronto beating Montreal? Anaheim crushing Vancouver? And these are not pre-season games, sparing fans the pain of how terrible their 3rd and 4th lines are. These are the big games, with the starting lineups.

With the depart of Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit was still expected to be a superior performance in this season, while the New Jersey Devils were expected to fall with the elderly Martin Brodeur in the crease. Pittsburgh defeated Philadelphia with the return of Wunderkid Sidney Crosby. Philadelphia appears to still have some goaltending problems in the way of Ilya Bryzgalov.

Detroit suffered a surprising shut out versus St. Louis; conference rivals

In perhaps the biggest upset of the day, the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the reigning Stanley Cup Champions, the Los Angeles Kings, possibly showing their prowess to obtain the Cup once again in the 2000s. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, as well as Marian Hossa and goalie Corey Crawford showed true teamwork and offensive talent, enough to take on the league for the remainder of the 47 games.

Once again, the favorites to win the Cup include San Jose, Vancouver, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh and Boston. The West could come away with the trophy again, but as everyone knows, game 1 is far to early to be making predictions, regardless of the lack of games.

It's a Great Day for Hockey.

Down But Not Out: NHL Hockey Has Returned

Hockey is Home boys! 

Welcome home hockey fans. Brian Burke was finally fired, the Southeast teams are getting more dangerous, and Gary Bettman uttered his third apology for an NHL lockout. But, as any hockey fan can attest, the NHL is back, and better than ever. With a 10 year contract and 8 year opt-out, it will be a long, good while before fans have to deal without their beloved sport again.

Because in all honesty, 3 lockouts in a hockey fans lifetime is really ridiculous. Kids born in the early nineties raised off of their parents gushing about the likes of Gretzky and Lemieux and Yzerman and Howe became huge hockey fans, and have had to suffer 3 lockouts.

Let's put this into perspective, for those fans outside of hockey.

In the past 40 years there have been a total of 16 strikes and lockouts among the four major sports. This includes eight in Major League Baseball , three in the National Hockey League, three in the National Football League and two in the National Basketball Association.

Now, before all the baseball fans come bitching out of the woodwork, there was only one time a season was cancelled, and that was the 2004-2005 NHL lockout. True, the MLB lost a World Series, and the NFL lost  all but 9 games in 1982. See, the sympathy is available, but for hockey fans, it's just not acceptable. Three lockouts in a lifetime, including the loss of an entire season is just unimaginable. 

However, now the 2012-2013 NHL season is on. All of the planes for the next week or so will be filled with Russians, Finns, Americans, Canadians, and Swedes alike, coming back to the league that matters. (Although the KHL was pretty entertaining, and I feel bad for all the Russians with KHL season tickets who will show up to a team with just Ilya Kovalchuk.) Gary Bettman is the most hated man in hockey, Zach Parise is back in Minnesota, and the NHL still gets to bask in the glory of Martin Brodeur for one more season. 

Hockey is back, fans, so turn of that NFL 32, and pull out those dusty jerseys from the closet. 

The Luck Of The Irish Ends With Sweet Home Alabama

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Roll Tide, America. Alabama hasn't beat anyone this badly since the Civil Rights Movement. They embarrassed Notre Dame 42-12 for their third BSC Championship in four years, proving that the Irish's undefeated season wasn't enough to kick the SEC out of the NCAA Championship position for the 7th time in a row.

But, that is assuming Notre Dame played well enough to consider it a game. Not only did Bama have a 35 point unanswered shutout by the middle of the third quarter, Notre Dame failed to generate any kind of offense or defense. If anyone thought the BCS fans were insufferable before, wait until Notre Dame's fan base starts to make excuses for the inability for the defense to tackle anyone or anything for the first 3 quarters.

Let's be honest here, Notre Dame didn't even get off the bus. They got out classed, like a bunch of pee wee players who didn't know how to play football. It's just a shame that the time they showed this was the BCS Champion stage. Because, ignoring what PTI and ESPN say, Notre Dame football is back. Regardless of the complexity of their season, the difficulty, they were still undefeated. Through Michigan, and BYU, and Stanford and the horror of Pittsburgh, Notre Dame football was undefeated. And that itself will start a new era. It can't get any worse than it was in the late 90s and the early start of the 21st century.

So while Alabama can bask in it's College Championship glory for the time being, Notre Dame football is back, so from now on, Beware The Fighting Irish!