Slam! sports blog

Back to Pittsburgh

Bruce Garrioch — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:26:16 +0000

Here’s what we know: We are headed back to Pittsburgh.
Don Brennan, Errol McGihon and Le Droit sports editor Marc Brassard will jump into a rented SUV Thursday morning to head back to Steeltown.
If you think we’re the only ones behind the wheel we’re not. The guys across the street and Roy MacGregor of the Globe will be in another vehicle. Driving to Pittsburgh can provide better connections than flying.
What position will the Senators be in?
Tied 2-2 or down 3-1?
Hard to say. The Penguins are a champion calibre team. They can handle adversity. They’ve proved it in the past. They did it to get here. I’m not sure they’re exactly facing any here. They lost a game. It took five periods.
In my eyes, the Senators have to play better in this series.
They’ve never led. They are playing with fire here and they don’t have the firepower the Penguins have. There has been no respect shown to Tomas Vokoun, but he’s a heck of a goalie with a strong track record.
You cannot expect _ or want _ Craig Anderson to make 50 saves every night. He needs some support. The Senators were only 30 seconds away from disaster, 30 seconds away from everybody holding off on making any plans from going back to Pittsburgh.
The Senators have booked the trip with the win Sunday. If they can win Wednesday they can make it worth their while. Otherwise they’ll be back on the brink and fighting for another chance to come home Sunday.
Big test. We’ll check in with you from Pittsburgh.
It’s a long road ahead getting there but we’ll find out if there’s a long road ahead for the Senators.

Lot of room for improvement for Tortorella’s Rangers

Chris Stevenson — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:15:14 +0000

NEW YORK – It’s gotten late early for the New York Rangers in their Eastern Conference semifinal against the Boston Bruins.
The Rangers are down 2-0 going into tonight’s game at Madison Square Garden. If they are going to win to make this a series – they faced the same situation against the Washington Capitals in the opening round – they are going to have to tidy up a few areas that let caused them trouble in Boston.
Their play away from the puck wasn’t good in the latter half of Game 2 and the Bruins were able to generate a lot off the rush.
But Rangers coach John Tortorella, while giving the Bruins their due, said his team helped make the Bruins look good.
“I’ve been surprised when we made some glaring mistakes,” said Tortorella. “I’ll just go to Game 2 where we’re usually very good away from the puck. That’s surprising. Hopefully they’ll rectify that tonight.”
Rangers shutdown D Dan Girardi had a rough game in Game 2, going -4, but Tortorella said he didn’t feel the need to speak to the veteran.
“I didn’t even talk to him. He’s going to play his best game,” said Tortorella. “With Danny, he’s one of the better defencemen in the National Hockey League that had a tough night. He knows it. He doesn’t need to hear it from any coach at all as far as what needs to be done.”
Based on the morning skates, it looks like both teams will stick with the same lineups. Veteran Bruins defenceeman Wade Redden and Dennis Seidenberg, coming off injuries, both skated, but are not expected to play tonight.

John Tortorella: Ryan Callahan scored ‘a huge goddamned goal’ for the Rangers

Anthony Vasquez-Peddie — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:23:56 +0000

Here’s one from the ‘Torts being Torts’ file.

After New York Rangers captain Ryan Callahan tied Game 2 Sunday with a nifty goal against the Boston Bruins in the first period, NBC hockey analyst Pierre McGuire asked Rangers coach John Tortorella midway through the second period what it’s like coaching Callahan.

“Well, that’s a huge goddamned goal he scored for us in the first period. That’s how I’d describe it,” Tortorella said before walking away.

With Tortorella’s history of being curt with reporters, you can imagine his thoughts on mid-game interviews such as the one he gave Sunday.

It turns out Tortorella had plenty more to be upset about as the Bruins ended up crushing the Rangers 5-2.

Here’s a look at the Callahan deke:

@AVPreports

The Providence Bruins and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins had a couple of line brawls during their AHL playoff game

Anthony Vasquez-Peddie — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:55:07 +0000

The AHL’s Providence Bruins and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are fighting for a spot in the Eastern Conference final.

Literally.

Things got nasty in the third period of Game 5 Saturday, a 4-0 win for the Penguins who now trail the best-of-seven series 3-1.

The teams combined for 117 penalty minutes on the night.

The first brawl started after Bruins forward Graham Mink fell on top of Penguins goalie Brad Theissen minutes after doing so before. Mink received a match penalty for deliberate attempt to injure.

The second one was sparked by a slash from Bruins goalie Niklas Svedberg on Paul Thompson shortly after Thompson scored to make it 4-0. Svedberg received slashing and roughing penalties.

Here’s the penalty summary from the game:

1st – PRO, Garnet Exelby, 1:01 – Hooking, 2 min (PP)
1st – PRO, Ryan Button, 9:50 – Roughing, 2 min (PP)
1st – PRO, Jamie Tardif, 11:26 – Slashing, 2 min
1st – WBS, Riley Holzapfel, 11:26 – Roughing, 2 min
1st – PRO, Bobby Robins, 14:29 – Fighting, 5 min
1st – WBS, Adam Payerl, 14:29 – Fighting, 5 min
1st – PRO, Kevan Miller, 15:27 – Holding, 2 min (PP)
1st – PRO, Christian Hanson, 16:20 – Roughing, 2 min
1st – PRO, Christian Hanson, 16:20 – Roughing, 2 min (PP)
1st – WBS, Joey Mormina, 16:20 – Roughing, 2 min
1st – WBS, Peter Merth, 19:29 – Cross-checking, 2 min (PP)
1st – PRO, Tommy Cross, 20:00 – Roughing, 2 min (PP)
2nd – PRO, Bobby Robins, 4:09 – Major – Boarding, (41.3) 5 min (2 PP)
2nd – WBS, Brian Gibbons, 5:21 – Interference, 2 min
2nd – WBS, Joey Mormina, 11:45 – Slashing, 2 min (PP)
2nd – WBS, Joey Mormina, 17:22 – Elbowing, 2 min (PP)
3rd – WBS, Peter Merth, 9:02 – Delay of game, 2 min (PP)
3rd – PRO, Chris Bourque, 11:14 – Slashing, 2 min (PP)
3rd – PRO, David MacDonald, 14:37 – Fighting, 5 min
3rd – PRO, Graham Mink, 14:37 – Match – Attempt/Deliberate injury, (21.1) 10 min (PP)
3rd – PRO, Trent Whitfield, 14:37 – Misconduct – Continuing altercation, (46.5) 10 min
3rd – WBS, Alex Grant, 14:37 – Interference, 2 min
3rd – WBS, Alex Grant, 14:37 – Misconduct – Continuing altercation, (46.5) 10 min
3rd – WBS, Chad Kolarik, 14:37 – Fighting, 5 min
3rd – WBS, Reid McNeill, 14:37 – Misconduct – Continuing altercation, (46.5) 10 min
3rd – PRO, Craig Cunningham, 15:49 – Cross-checking, 2 min (PP)
3rd – PRO, Garnet Exelby, 16:44 – Fighting, 5 min
3rd – PRO, Niklas Svedberg, 16:44 – Slashing, 2 min (PP)
3rd – PRO, Niklas Svedberg, 16:44 – Roughing, 2 min
3rd – WBS, Trevor Smith, 16:44 – Fighting, 5 min
3rd – WBS, Paul Thompson, 16:44 – Roughing, 2 min
3rd – WBS, Riley Holzapfel, 18:22 – Cross-checking, 2 min (PP)

s/t Puck Daddy

@AVPreports

Face-off tactics in Bruins-Rangers series

Chris Stevenson — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:01:40 +0000

BOSTON – Bruins coach Claude Julien might have found a way to buy his team a few more seconds to rest after an icing call without having to burn a timeout.
A couple of times in Game 1, Bruins winger Milan Lucic stepped in to take the draw in the Boston zone on the left side and then just blatantly moved prematurely, stepping into the the Ranger taking the faceoff.
He got waved out, everybody stood around for a few more seconds and Boston’s David Krejci stepped in to take the draw.
If Krejci was to get kicked out of the face-off circle for whatever reason at that point, the Bruins would receive a minor penalty.
It will be interesting to watch in Game 2 to see if Julien uses the tactic again.
Lucic took 35 face-offs during the regular season and was 17-18.

An update on Spezza

Bruce Garrioch — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:46:56 +0000

I posted this earlier. Thought I should put it here. No it’s not a blog. It’s news.

PITTSBURGH – It wasn’t just the earthquake shifting the ground around Ottawa.

There’s a strong possibility Senators’ centre Jason Spezza could return to the lineup for Game 3 of the club’s playoff series Sunday night at Scotiabank Place against the Penguins.

Coach Paul MacLean told reporters Spezza is continuing to skate in Ottawa as he recovers from back surgery. A decision on whether he’ll play or not will be made after Sunday’s morning skate. This is the first time that MacLean hasn’t completely dismissed Spezza’s return.

A source told the Sun Spezza is targeting a Sunday return, but has to get clearance from the doctors.

“He continues to skate on a daily basis and makes progress,” said MacLean Friday. “We’ll go through practice (Saturday) and the pre-game skate and we’ll see where it is. If he’s available to us, it’s Jason Spezza, we’re going to have him in the lineup.”

The Senators will have an optional skate Saturday and Spezza will skate with that group.

“I know I’m going to be there to watch it,” said MacLean. “I might not be on the ice, but we’ll make a decision from there. I don’t know about all the medical hurdles but I’ll know more about that (Saturday).”

Spezza hasn’t suited up since Jan. 27.

The Senators are in Pittsburgh Friday for Game 2 of their conference semi-final series against the Penguins. Pittsburgh leads the series 1-0.

Gamesmanship already between Bruins and Rangers

Chris Stevenson — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:03:45 +0000

BOSTON – It didn’t take long for the off-ice back-and-forth to start between the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers.
Bruins coach Claude Julien was to be the first to go to the podium after the morning skate in preparation for Game 1 of their second-round series.
When he was delayed, Rangers coach John Tortorella wanted to get to the podium and get it over with.
Julien wound up appearing first.
One of the questions he was asked was if he had any advice for the media in coming up with questions Tortorella, you know, would actually answer.
“Well, he wanted to come here before me, so I don’t know what to tell you. I’m sure he’s excited about answering your questions. Good luck, guys,” said Julien before executing the equivalent of dropping the mic and walking off the podium.
The first question Tortorella was asked was about being back in Boston and what that was like for him.
“Don’t ask any questions about me. Ask me about the team … please,” replied Tortorella.
Thanks for nothing, Claude.
INJURY UPDATE: Bruins forward Brad Marchand left the ice after pulling up lame at the morning skate, but Julien said he would be on the for Game 1. That led to a bunch of jokes about Marchand just practising faking an injury … Bruins defencemen Dennis Seidenberg, Andrew Ference and Wade Redden did not participate in the morning skate. When asked about their availablity for Game 1, Julien replied: “Doesn’t look good.” … The B’s defensive pairs at the morning skate looked like this: Hamilton-Chara; Bartkowski-Boychuk; Krug-McQuaid.

Rangers’ Nash looks forward to second round

ken.wiebe — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:13:48 +0000

WASHINGTON – Rick Nash had a distinct sense of relief come over him as the New York Rangers wrapped up the Eastern Conference quarterfinal with a 5-0 triumph over the Washington Capitals on Monday night.

Nash’s offensive struggles (two assists in seven games) were well-documented, but they were of little concern in the moments after the dressing room opened.

All Nash was worried about was moving onto the second round for the first time in his NHL career.

“It’s huge. I didn’t think it would take 10 years but it did. That’s the reality of it. You move on and have some fun with it,” said Nash, whose Columbus Blue Jackets were swept by the Detroit Red Wings in 2007 during his only other trip to the playoffs. “It’s what I wanted in my career, to have a chance to play in the playoffs and playing games that would mean a lot. I’m excited.”

Nash had trouble putting into words the emotions that were going through him after being on the winning end of a series.

“I don’t know. It’s a learning experience for me. It’s my first time here,” said Nash, who felt the Rangers got better and more disciplined after the 1-0 OT loss in Game 2. “We didn’t want to lose and end our season. We played desperate and it showed. I think it’s enjoy a bit of it tonight for a few hours and then back to work tomorrow and worry about the next job at hand. ”

I asked Nash if he felt that being able to contribute in other ways to a series victory might help him get going offensively during the second round.

“I think the offence will come. I was getting a few chances tonight, I had a few chances last night. My main goal is trying to help the team. It’s unfortunate I can’t do it right now by bringing the offence. I’m just try to make good defensive plays, try to set guys up and bring some momentum swings,” said Nash, who led the Rangers with 22 shots on goal in the series and had a glorious chance on a breakaway in Game 2 that beat Braden Holtby but couldn’t sneak past the post.

Say whatever you want about the lack of production for Nash, but the fact remains that whenever he touches the puck, he’s receiving attention from the opposition and he still created some very dangerous chances. I don’t see the Rangers being able to bounce the Boston Bruins without Nash picking it up on the offensive end. I also don’t see him being stuck on zero goals for much longer.

Speaking of the Rangers, I can now say that I’ve witnessed the best two playoff series in Derick Brassard’s career when I was covering the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League, the slick centre was a rookie with the Syracuse Crunch and put up 13 points in 13 Calder Cup playoff games in 2008. Five of them came in a six-game series against the Moose, where his offensive instincts were definitely noticeable.

With the benefit of experience and a change of scenery, Brassard (the sixth overall pick in 2006) was the most productive player in the series. By adding two helpers in the clincher, Brassard finished with two goals and nine points in seven games (technically in five games as he had nothing to show for his efforts during the first two road games at Verizon Center).

Another impressive part of the Rangers’ collective game was that 11 players combined to score 16 goals in the first round and no one had more than two (Carl Hagelin, Brassard, Brian Boyle, Derek Stepan (both of his goals were game-winners) and fourth-liner Arron Asham all scored twice).

Rays manager hires merengue band to entertain players

Spiro Papuckoski — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:05:18 +0000

Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon is up to his old tricks again.

In his latest clubhouse stunt, Maddon hired a merengue band to play before Tuesday’s game against the Boston Red Sox.

Earlier this season, the team was visited by a DJ, a magician and a cockatoo.

The Rays manager even managed to bring in a penguin to sit in his chair, to “chill” out the clubhouse.

(Image via Rays PR man Dave Haller, @HallerDave)

The best “Penguins in MLB Clubhouse” footage you will ever see: vine.co/v/bPpzqjUTpEV

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) April 24, 2013

No word on who or what is on tap for the Rays clubhouse for the rest of the season.

Predictions for the second round of Stanley Cup playoffs

Chris Stevenson — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:18:18 +0000

BOSTON – A couple of Game 7 victories by the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers boosted my first-round record to 6-2.
I was right on the Bruins, Rangers, Penguins, Chicago, Kings and Sharks coming through in the first round. Didn’t see the Senators taking out the Habs and had the Ducks over the Wings.
Here’s a quick look at how I think the second round goes down:

Pittsburgh vs. Ottawa
The Penguins were outplayed by the Islanders in the first round at even-strength. Their power-play and some less-than-ordinary goaltending by New York’s Evgeni Nabokov opened the door for them to win. The Senators will be a lot more stingy with Craig Anderson in net and if they get front-line centre Jason Spezza back at some point in this round, their offence will get a boost.
This might be the closest of the second-round matchups.
Penguins look like they found their mojo.
Penguins in seven.

Boston vs. New York Rangers
It will be interesting to see what kind of emotional level the Bruins can bring to this series after the way they finished against the Leafs with that incredible comeback. The Bruins secondary scoring is showing some signs of awakening. The Rangers top guys struggled in the opening round against the Caps and it won’t get any easier for them against the Bruins.
The Bruins are going to hit the Rangers in a way the Caps didn’t.
Bruins in six.

Chicago vs Detroit
The Blackhawks made short work of the Minnesota Wild in the first round and the Wings went seven games to upset the second-seeded Anaheim Ducks. The Wings might not be what they used to be, but they know how to close the deal when they have the chance. The ’Hawks just don’t look like they will give the Wings the chance. The ’Hawks are getting great goaltending and they have great depth up front, too much for the Wings.
Hawks in six.

Los Angeles vs San Jose
The Kings took a while to get going against the Blues, but goaltender Jonathan Quick started to look like the MVP from last year’s playoffs. They have a hard group up front and play punishing hockey. Just ask the Blues (again).
The Sharks have never been the grittiest bunch.
The Vancouver Canucks curled up into the fetal position against the Sharks.
The Kings might make the Sharks do the same thing.
Kings in six.