Ice Insiders

Breaking The Ice For Hockey Fans

← Older posts

The Mile High City received exciting news Friday afternoon in the form of a new one-year contract worth $2 million for captain Milan Hejduk. This news comes just weeks after the Colorado Avalanche completed a surprising run to relevance in the Western Conference playoff race, before falling out in the final few contests.

The 36-year-old forward has spent all 13 years of his NHL career with the Avalanche, so it seems logical and respectable to continue his journey in the same city. His 991 career games, 371 goals and 423 assists all rank in the top five in Colorado history, which makes him one of the many greats to play in the franchises short time in Denver.

Hejduk has also played in 112 postseason contests in his career, which includes a Stanley Cup Championship in 2000-2001. He tallied 23 of his 76 playoff points that season, as he was one of the primary reasons that the Avalanche were able to capture a second cup.

This impressive list of accomplishments speaks to Hejduk’s importance on the current Colorado roster. The Avalanche are undeniably in a rebuilding mode, but are beginning to have the young pieces in place to make some noise in the NHL. So, the veteran leadership is fundamental in shaping the young players into what the Av’s want in their offensive and defensive strategy.

However, Hejduk’s numbers were down a bit in 2012. His 14 goals and 37 points were each the lowest of his career, which could be troubling moving forward. Obviously, with dangerous weapons like Gabriel Landeskog, Matt Duchene and Ryan O’Reilly (among others) Hejduk isn’t needed as much offensively; but, Colorado will need his time on the ice to remain valuable for the deal to work. The guy’s a true professional though, so I wouldn’t be too concerned.

According to twitter, the Avalanche locker room can’t wait to get Hejduk back in the building:

Great to see Milan Hejduk re-signing with the Avs. Great player and leader! – Ryan O’Byrne, Defenseman

Awesome to see Hedgy get a new contract. One of the greats! – Matt Duchene, Forward

Posted in Columns, Ryan Boyd, Updates | Tagged Colorado Avalanche, Free Agency, Hockey, Milan Hejduk, NHL | Leave a comment

Thursday’s Results

Phoenix Coyotes 1, Los Angeles Kings 2 (LA leads the series, 3-0)

Those Who Shined

29 straight, none allowed in last 7 games — 2 series

1. The Los Angeles Penalty Killing Unit

Although this unit wasn’t terribly busy Thursday night — they successfully killed the one power play chance the Coyotes received –, they are more than worthy of a spot in this discussion due to their unmatched effort in the postseason. The Los Angeles penalty killing unit has gone 29 straight penalties without allowing a power play tally, which is a streak that dates back to April 22nd against the Vancouver Canucks. Therefore, the Kings haven’t been beaten in these situations in their last two postseason series — a statistic that is unimaginably good. And, they aren’t just good on the defensive end of the ice while on the penalty kill. Los Angeles has scored four short-handed goals in their 12 playoff games and as the broadcast team mentioned last night, some of their best looks on net all night came when they were a man down. It’s tough to beat a team when they’re this good, this often.

2. Jonathan Quick AND Mike Smith

Look, only one guy could pick up the win — yet again it was Mr. Quick –, but both of these netminders played fantastic hockey Thursday night. Jonathan Quick speaks for himself night in and night out. He has now won 11 of 12 postseason starts and his goals against average somehow dropped even lower to 1.41. The Coyotes threw 19 shots at the net, but were only able to capitalize on one goal scoring opportunity. His counterpart, Mike Smith, took home a third consecutive losing effort, even though his performance was stellar overall. Smith set aside 26 of the 28 shots that he faced and helped Phoenix kill all five LA power play chances on the night. He allowed two goals, but one came on a breakaway given to one of the league’s most dangerous scorers, Anze Kopitar; and the other came in a third period that was a statistical slaughter in favor of the Kings. I tip my cap to both these guys. That was the kind of goalie battle all NHL fans wanted to see.

3. Dwight King, Left Wing, Los Angeles Kings

It’s fitting, right? Mr. King puts home the game-winning tally for the Kings to give his club the suffocating three-game advantage in the series. The third line attacker picked up just five goals and 14 points in the regular season, but he has emerged as a deep pain in the Coyotes playoff hopes over the last three games. King has scored four goals on just six shots on net and has put together a rating of plus four, which is higher than his rating from the previous 27 regular season games combined. The work by himself and the rest of his teammates that aren’t named Dustin Brown or Anze Kopitar, highlight why Los Angeles is so difficult to beat right now. They are all scoring and defending at a level that is unstoppable from an opponents standpoint.

Posted in Columns, Ryan Boyd, Updates | Tagged Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Dwight King, Hockey, Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings, Mike Smith, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Stanley Cup | Leave a comment

ESPN’s Colin Cowherd went on the rant you listened to above after another notoriously brief John Tortorella press conference. It’s one thing to say that you don’t care about hockey, or that you don’t think it’s a very popular sport in America, but to openly insult members of your own profession, especially after doing no research into the matter? It’s unprofessional at the very least. Not only is it unprofessional from a personal perspective, but it reeks of arrogance from the perspective of ESPN. “Only poor journalists cover hockey, ESPN has no poor journalists, therefore we don’t cover hockey.” It’s not a difficult leap to make.

Of course, the truth is, I grabbed this audio from Awful Announcing. I would rather squirt hot sauce in my eyes than watch ESPN during the NBA Playoffs.

Posted in Ryan Henning, Updates | Tagged Colin Cowherd, John Tortorella | Leave a comment

Wednesday’s Results

New Jersey Devils 3, New York Rangers 2 (Series is TIED, 1-1)

Those Who Shined

1. David Clarkson, Right-Wing, New Jersey Devils

With the Devils on the brink of a two-game deficit in the Eastern Conference Finals, it wasn’t surprising that attacker David Clarkson came to the rescue. Clarkson tallied the game-winning goal just over two minutes into the final frame. This was his fourth game-winner in five career playoff goals and already his third of 2012. He now has nine points in this postseason, which is seven more than he had accumulated in his previous 20 playoff contests. Moving forward, beating Henrik Lundqvist four times will be no easy task, but Clarkson certainly helped the cause Wednesday night.

2. Bryce Salvador, Defenseman, New Jersey Devils

The 36-year-old defenseman has found his offensive stride at the perfect time in his lengthy NHL career. Bryce Salvador notched two assists in Wednesday’s nail-biter, which raised his playoff point total to eight. This puts him far beyond his highest postseason output, just one point behind his point total from the 2012 regular season and halfway to his career best 16-point season back in 08′-09′. Salvador also left the contest with a plus one rating, which speaks to his effort on both the offensive (obviously) and defensive end of the ice. I typically say that for lower seeds to take out the higher seeds someone unexpected has to emerge — this could be that guy for New Jersey.

3. Martin Brodeur, Goaltender, New Jersey Devils

For the second straight day I’ve decided to go with three stars all from the winning team, which is a bit odd. But, no one on the Rangers roster really stood out to me on Wednesday night. Instead, I have to give credit to the 40-year-old legend between the pipes for the Devils. He and Salvador are quickly proving that age is nothing but a number, as he sent away 23 of 25 snipes from New York in the victory. This marked the fourth consecutive game in which Brodeur gave up two goals or fewer, which undoubtably gives his unit a chance to win each night. And, let’s no forget that he did technically outdo the Hart Trophy finalist on the other end of the ice, Lundqvist.

Posted in Columns, Ryan Boyd, Updates | Tagged Bryce Salvador, David Clarkson, Henrik Lundqvist, Hockey, Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, NHL, Stanley Cup | Leave a comment

Tuesday’s Results

Los Angeles Kings 4, Phoenix Coyotes 0 (LA leads the series, 2-0)

Those Who Shined

1. Jeff Carter, Center, Los Angeles Kings

Columbus Blue Jackets fans likely had to shield their eyes Tuesday night, as Jeff Carter repeatedly snuck into the weak areas of the Phoenix defense to propel the Kings to a two-game advantage in the series. Carter put together Los Angeles’ first playoff hat-trick in 19 years, which nearly doubled his point output from the entire postseason. Two of his tallies came on the power play after the Coyotes experienced an uncharacteristically messy game. The Kings have struggled in the playoffs to convert on the power play, but when a club is given eight chances in a game, it’s hard to keep them off the board. Carter now has seven points on four goals and three assists. I would say that his continued success is important, but let’s be honest, no one is beating the Kings right now — with, or without Carter.

2. Jonathan Quick, Goaltender, Los Angeles Kings

Wow. Jonathan Quick continues to solidify himself as the best netminder in the 2012 postseason — and that’s saying something given the plethora of talent remaining at the position. Quick stopped all 24 shots that he faced Tuesday and helped in killing four Phoenix power play chances to complete his second shutout of the playoffs. This performance improved his record to an unmatched 10-1 with a goals against average of just 1.45. To put his numbers into perspective, understand that he has faced over 300 shots from opposing clubs and just 16 have found the back of the net — a save percentage above 95 percent. If the Coyotes can’t score, they can’t win. That was obviously the case Tuesday night.

3. Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings

I don’t mean to be repetitive, but remember when I said the Kings would win this series because of the play of these two men? Well, after posting two goals in game one, the deadly combination changed their focus to facilitating the offense in game two. Kopitar captured two assists Tuesday night, while Brown was right behind him with one. The six points they have recorded have been of high importance to Los Angeles’ offensive success and a primary reason for the 2-0 lead. Overall, they have combined for 27 points in the postseason — the highest number of any duo remaining, despite playing in less games than each other team. Phoenix has a long list of issues to fix moving forward, including how to slow does this two-headed monster.

Posted in Columns, Ryan Boyd, Updates | Tagged Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Hockey, Jeff Carter, Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Stanley Cup | Leave a comment

Jeff Carter came over in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets just ahead of the Blue Jackets. In Philadelphia last season, Carter was a proven, prolific goal scorer. He lost some of that flair playing in Columbus, but it finally seems to be coming back to him.

Carter scored three goals, though he was often the victim of circumstance, rather than creating his own play. Nevertheless, the Kings took care of their business and went ahead 2-0. Perhaps because of the way things were going, the Coyotes got a bit chippy. There were two questionable hits delivered by key players from the Coyotes. Shane Doan and Martin Hanzal were each rightfully ejected for hits from behind. Hanzal’s hit on Dustin Brown was particularly brutal.

Jeff Carter and the rest of the Kings take a 2-0 lead back to Los Angeles. If they close out the Coyotes, it will be the first time in 19 years that the Kings have reached the finals. Wayne Gretzky happened to have a hat trick for the Kings in that playoff run. It was the last for the Kings since Carter’s on Tuesday night.

Posted in Ryan Henning, Updates | Tagged Columbus Blue Jackets, Dustin Brown, Jeff Carter, Los Angeles Kings, Martin Hanzal, Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Shane Doan | Leave a comment

How They Got Here

New York — The Rangers have lived life on the edge in the first two rounds of the postseason, as they have been taken to seven games by the Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals. Fortunately for New York, they have remained unbeaten in decisive games at Madison Square Garden.

New Jersey — The Devils have only improved as the postseason has progressed. They began their journey with a grind-it-out game seven victory over the surprising Florida Panthers; but then hammered the Philadelphia Flyers in just five games in the conference semi-finals.

Previous Matchups

The regular season series was TIED, 3-3.

Dec 20th — New York 4, New Jersey 1

Jan 31st — New York 3, New Jersey 4 (OT/SO)

Feb 7th — New Jersey 1, New York 0

Feb 27th — New Jersey 0, New York 2

Mar 6th — New York 1, New Jersey 4

Mar 19th — New Jersey 2, New York 4

Keys to the Series

1. Classic Battle of Netminders

Similar to the Western Conference Finals, this series could very easily come down to which team better protects its net. And, there are few veteran goaltenders that would be more appropriate for this grand stage. The 40-year-old for the Devils, Martin Brodeur, has played in nearly 200 postseason games in his storied career; but, don’t think there’s no fuel left in the tank. In 12 starts in the 2012 playoffs, he has given up just 2.05 goals per contest with a save percentage at 92 percent. Similarly, the Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist has dominated competition of late with a 1.68 goals against average and a save percentage nearing 94 percent. So, who can provide the greatest lift for their club in this series? If it is anything like the past few years, Lundqvist may have the advantage because he has posted a 23-7-5 record with a 1.61 GAA in matchups with Brodeur. But, don’t expect the legend to go down without a fight.

2. Could fatigue be an Issue?

Playoff hockey is another animal compared to the regular season. Teams put all of their energy into winning each contest, which inevitably takes a toll on a team as the series roll on. Why is this important? Well, fatigue could be a major issue in this series for the Rangers. They have played two consecutive seven-game series and will enter the Eastern Conference Finals on not even two full days of rest. Also, three of their top players (Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh and Marc Staal) have logged the most time on the ice to this point in the postseason. In stark contrast, the Devils enter this matchup on about six days of rest and with four lines of depth to counteract what could be a tired New York roster. The Rangers had better not allow the fatigue to show, or the New Jersey offensive attack will make them pay.

3. Oh, There Will Be Blood…

Okay, this may not be crucial to who wins the series, but who doesn’t love a heated division rivalry? I mean, it’s no secret that the Devils and Rangers hate each other, which means that fighting could be a big part of this series. Need proof? Look back to their most recent game that broke into a massive brawl literally seconds after the puck was dropped — even both head coaches were screaming across the benches as the madness rolled on. For me, this is what makes playoff hockey memorable. We may look back at this series years from now and remember the level of intensity being higher then many others that we have ever seen. And, let’s be honest, when your teammate pounds an opposing player into the ice, it’s bound to fuel your effort in other phases of the game. Enjoy this while it lasts, my friends.

Player to Watch

Dainius Zubrus, Right Wing, New Jersey Devils

The Devils are loaded with options on the offensive end of the ice, but none may be as important as Dainius Zubrus, who emerged as a true threat in the series with the Flyers. In fact, after scoring just one goal in his first eight postseason games, he has stepped up to record five points in just four games on two goals and three assists. We all know that New York will gameplan heavily to stop Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk, so Zubrus could be an X-factor as the series progresses. In my opinion, if he can continue to hover around one point per game, New Jersey will have a solid chance in this one.

Prediction

This will be a battle and should be an excellent series. The teams fought to a draw in their regular season meetings and I think we could see a similar thing play out in this postseason. So, with that being said, it could come down to another game seven at Madison Square Garden. And if it does, there’s no way I’m picking against Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers. Remember: They have never lost a game seven in their home building.

Rangers advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, 4 games to 3

Posted in Columns, Ryan Boyd, Updates | Tagged Dainius Zubrus, Henrik Lundqvist, Hockey, Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, NHL, Stanley Cup | Leave a comment

Sunday’s Results

Los Angeles Kings 4, Phoenix Coyotes 2 (LA leads the series, 1-0)

Those Who Shined

1. The Brown and Kopitar Combo

Look back at my series preview and you’ll see that I forecasted a successful series for the Kings due in large part to this two-headed scoring attack. And, thankfully, they didn’t let me down in game one. Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar combined for 3 points, two of four goals and 13 shots on target, which was instrumental in another impressive performance from Los Angeles. The two men have now tallied 24 points in 10 games and rank first and second on the club in goals and assists in the postseason. Listen closely Phoenix; find a way to stop these guys or you’re in big, big trouble moving forward.

2. The Kings Hotel Staff in Phoenix

After picking up a sixth straight postseason road victory, I’ve decided to step away from the ice to point out those that are really behind the Kings success. I don’t know who they are, or where to find them; but, the kind folks at whatever Phoenix hotel that is hosting the team need to be thanked for their remarkable service. I mean, Los Angeles has now outscored opponents 22-11 on the road and they appear unbeatable in what are typically the most difficult situations. So, just another word of advice for the Coyotes: if you hope to win the series, maybe aim for a bit of sabotage at your nearest Holiday Inn.

3. Mike Smith, Goaltender, Phoenix Coyotes

I know, I know. Obviously Jonathan Quick was the winning goaltender so it seems a bit silly to pick the loser as my third and final star of the night. However, the Coyotes’ Mike Smith was abused all night by an aggressive Kings offense (including being outshot 17-4 in the opening period) and still maintained a respectable final line on the scorecard. Smith sent away 40 of 44 shots, which is a respectable 93.6 save percentage — a number that is quite a bit higher than Quick’s 92.6 percent. In the end, it came down to significantly more chances to score for Los Angeles, as Phoenix only put together 27 shots on goal. It’s hard to expect anything too stellar from a netminder when he gets so little support on the other end of the ice.

Posted in Columns, Ryan Boyd, Updates | Tagged Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Hockey, Los Angeles Kings, Mike Smith, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Stanley Cup | Leave a comment

How They Got Here

Los Angeles — The Kings have taken the toughest path of any team to the final four; but, they have made it look easy. They battled past the top-seeded Vancouver Canucks in five games and then hammered the second-seeded St. Louis Blues in the conference semi-finals.

Phoenix — The Coyotes have been dominant along their path to the conference finals as well. They upended the Chicago Blackhawks in a six-game series full of nail-biters, and then sunk the hopes of the Nashville Predators in a quick 4-1 victory.

Previous Matchups

The regular season series was TIED, 3-3.

Oct 20th — Los Angeles 2, Phoenix 0

Oct 29th — Los Angeles 2, Phoenix 3 (OT)

Dec 26th — Phoenix 3, Los Angeles 4

Jan 5th — Phoenix 0, Los Angeles 1 (OT)

Feb 16th – Phoenix 1, Los Angeles 0

Feb 21st — Los Angeles 4, Phoenix 5 (OT/SO)

Keys to the Series

1. Jonathan Quick vs. Mike Smith

I hope you have learned by now that I love matchups of great goaltenders. And, if you tend to agree with me, you’re in for a treat in this series. The Kings’ Jonathan Quick and the Coyotes’ Mike Smith combine to make two of the more successful netminders in the NHL and they are the chief reason that each club has made it this far. In the case of Quick, he has gone 8-1 in the postseason and leads all remaining goalies with a 1.55 goals against average and a save percentage near 95 percent. His counterpart, Smith, is just slightly behind with a 1.77 goals against average and a save percentage that is just one tenth of a percent lower. In other words, you won’t find a better pair then this, so enjoy it while it lasts.

2. Which is Better? LA on the Road, or PHO at home?

What an interesting discussion this has become after the first two rounds of the playoffs. I truly believe the games played in Phoenix will determine the outcome of this series. This is simply because Los Angeles has been unbeatable on the road in the playoffs. The Kings are 5-0 overall in opposing arena’s, with the wins coming in Vancouver and St. Louis — undeniably two of the toughest home ice clubs in the NHL. Conversely, the Coyotes have been put up a successful 4-2 mark at the Jobing.com Arena, which includes a three-game winning streak that began against Nashville. Keep in mind that the first two games of this seven game series are home games for Phoenix, so we could learn a lot immediately.

3. Coyotes Penalty Kill vs. Kings Power Play Offense

Offensive success may be hard to find in this series, which will make power play opportunities of extreme importance. If the current playoff trend continues for each club, this is a major advantage for Phoenix. In the opening two rounds, the Coyotes killed about 90 percent of opponents power play opportunities — a mark that would stack up nicely next to most other clubs in the league. And, they had to be happy to draw a team like the Kings, who couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn when they have the extra man. Think I’m kidding? Los Angeles is an unbelievable 4-for-47 on power play chances in the postseason, despite winning eight of the nine games they have played. Let’s see who wins this battle, I think it could be very telling.

Player to Watch

Ray Whitney, Left Wing, Phoenix Coyotes

It’s about time to show some love for the ‘old man’ from the Phoenix Coyotes. The 40-year-old, Ray Whitney, continues to dominate the youngsters in the NHL, which makes him an irreplaceable peace for the Coyotes in the Western Conference Finals. In the regular season, he posted a team-leading 77 points — 15 more than any other player on the roster — on 24 goals and 53 helpers. However, the postseason hasn’t been as kind. Whitney has recorded just six points in 11 contests and none in his last three. Also, he struggled a bit against the Kings in the regular season, capturing just two assists in the six games. So, the question is, can he turn it on now that a trip to the Stanley Cup series is on the line? I truly believe that Phoenix needs close to a point per night from him if they hope to prevail.

Prediction

Any time you put two goaltenders of this caliber on the ice, it’s safe to assume that it will be an excellent series. However, the emergence of a dangerous Los Angeles offense during the first two rounds has made me like their chances to slip past another highly-seeded opponent. It’ll be too much Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown for Mike Smith to handle.

Kings advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, 4 games to 3.

Posted in Columns, Ryan Boyd, Updates | Tagged Hockey, Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings, Mike Smith, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Ray Whitney | Leave a comment

Looking for a the game? Here is the schedule for all of the Western and Eastern conference games. All LA-PHX games will be at 9pm ET, and all NJ-NYR games are at 8pmET, unless otherwise noted.

Tonight: Los Angeles at Phoenix

Monday: New Jersey at New York

Tuesday: Los Angeles at Phoenix

Wednesday: New Jersey at New York

Thursday: Phoenix at Los Angeles

Saturday: New York at New Jersey (1pm, Eastern)

20th: Phoenix at Los Angeles (3pm, eastern)

21st: New York at New Jersey

[Following Games only if needed]

22nd: Los Angeles at Phoenix

23rd: New Jersey at New York

24th: Phoenix at Los Angeles

25th: New York and New Jersey

26th: Los Angeles at Phoenix

27th: New Jersey at New York

 

Posted in Ryan Henning, Updates | Tagged Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Phoenix Coyotes, Stanley Cup Playoffs | Leave a comment

Ice Insiders Chris Berry Interactive Chris Berry Interactive