You cannot take hockey away from me. I will not let you.
We’ve all seen this GIF by now, and if you have male parts, you’ve cringed:
Yes, that’s Damiem Brunner and Nyquist playing soccer before the game. I’m guessing Nyquist won, so Brunner throws the ball at Gus…that went a little too far south. Owwwwwww.
Anyway, Nyquist then went out and did this:
Awesome. I guess this means that Brunner needs to hit Gus in the nuts with a soccer ball before every game. TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM GOOSE! Obvious joke(?) about rubbing Nyquist’s nuts if he needs it after the season is over.
Nyquist owns.
We all know the Bobby Orr goal – where he receives a pass from behind the net, scores, then gets tripped and flies through the air. This goal was OT and it won a Stanley Cup…in a four game sweep. Let’s take a look at the goal:
Obviously, that was a great goal to win a cup. However, in this writer’s opinion, it is HIGHLY overrated in NHL history. Let’s take a look at some screenshots to see why I think this (and you should too):
First, he receives the pass:
Okay, all is well here. Now let’s see him shoot it.
As you can see, the puck is in the net. Orr is still standing up, engaging with a player from the Blues. Again, the puck is already in the net. After said contact with the other player, this happens:
The Blues player (probably) trips Bobby Orr on purpose. Here, Orr and his teammates are already celebrating while he still has one skate on the ice. Obviously, you get my point – he was on his feet when he scored THEN flew into the air while celebrating. Here’s the shot we always see:
Probably the most famous goal in hockey history all because he got tripped and flew into the air AFTER he scored a goal. Yeah, I’ll get shit for this, but I don’t care – this goal is highly overrated.
Now, let’s take a look at Valtteri Filppula’s goal from game two against Chicago:
What a goal by Fil. Okay, let’s go through the obligatory screenshots showing Fil actually in mid-air while scoring.
This is when Fil cuts to the middle and begins to lose his balance. He still has control of the puck and is about to shoot.
As you can see, Fil is currently in the air, with his hockey stick the only thing in contact with the ice. Let’s see him score, shall we?
Yep. Orr was on the ice while Fil is clearly off the ice. I can safely say that Filppula is better at scoring in mid-air than Bobby Orr. Not saying the goal was bigger, as Orr’s won a Cup (in the fourth game of a sweep ahem) and Fil’s gave the Wings a 4-1 lead, I’m just saying the actual hockey play was far, far more impressive in the Fil goal over the Orr goal.
If you want to give me shit, you know the drill – yell at me on the twitter – @KevinN37 and I’ll respond by making you feel stupid.
(I broke down Fil’s 2008 Stanley Cup game two flying goal over on Octopus Thrower, so go read that if you want to see a similar style goal – even if Fil did only have one skate on the ice while actually shooting on that one)
Let’s do a review of my first round picks so we can all see how stupid and/or awesome I am, shall we? Picks can be found here.
Eastern Conference
Pitt vs NYI
I picked Pitt in 5, Pitt won in 6. Close enough.
Montreal vs Ottawa
I had Ott in 7, they won in 5. Go me.
Washington vs NYR
I decided on Washington in 7. I forgot Washington couldn’t win a game 7 at home playing a peewee team (it’s 5-0 Rangers as I write this, sooo just assuming).
Boston vs Toronto
I had Boston in 5. But that game 7…holy fucking shit. But I had Boston and it counts so there!
Western Conference
Chicago vs Minnesota
I picked Chicago in 5, which is what actually happened in real life.
Anaheim vs Detroit
I had the Wings in 6, they won in 7. FUCK YEAH THE WINGS WON GO HOCKEY THINGS!
Vancouver vs San Jose
I picked Vancouver in 6. San Jose won in 4. Fuck me.
St. Louis vs LA
You’re welcome, LA. They won in 6, which may have been what I predicted. Yes.
First Round Record
6-2 in winners, 2 winners AND number of games.
Eastern Conference
Pittsburgh vs Ottawa
Which goalie will Pitt play? Can Ottawa handle Pitt’s forwards? I’m going Pittsburgh in 7.
Boston vs New York Rangers
I picked the Rangers to win the cup earlier, but times have changed. Boston in 6.
Western Conference
Chicago vs Detroit
LET’S FUCK THEIR SHIT UP BOYS!!! FUCK CHICAGO! Detroit in 7.
LA vs San Jose
Kings are on a roll right now. Kings in 6.
Michelle (@SlapshotG0al on Twitter and writer for Winging It In Motown) alerted me to this epic picture of the GOOSE LEAP. Enjoy it. Live it. LOVE IT.
Photo Credit: MSN.com
For the full size image, just click on it. DO IT!! Trust me.
One of these guys is awesome and is playing. The other is Samuelsson.
Part of the rules of being a hockey blogger is that you have to make predictions about the playoffs. I am going to be a follower and do my blogging duty (hehe, I said duty). Let’s do this!
Eastern Conference
(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs (8) New York Islanders
NYI just doesn’t have enough. Pittsburgh in 5.
(2) Montreal vs (7) Ottawa
I don’t think Montreal is as good as advertised. Ottawa in 7.
(3) Washington vs (6) New York Rangers
Tough one. It’s going to go 7, and I’m going to take *coin flip* Washington.
(4) Boston vs (5) Toronto
Toronto traded Tuukka Rask to Boston for Andrew Raycroft at one time. I’m not making this up. Boston in 5.
Western Conference
(1) Chicago vs (8) Minnesota
I want Chicago out badly, but it will make me laugh a lot if Minnesota loses. Chicago in 5.
(2) Anaheim vs (7) Detroit
THE RED WINGS HAVE GUSTAV NYQUIST AND THE DUCKS DON’T WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK I’M TAKING?!?!? Wings in 6. (see below for some fun things)
(3) Vancouver vs (6) San Jose
Sorry, Todd, but the Canucks take this one. Vancouver in 6.
(4) St. Louis vs (5) L.A. Kings
Tough one, but LA has too much up front. LA in 6.
If you’re planning on betting based on my picks, um…go for it! I just deserve a cut of your winnings, since you’ll obviously win if you listen to me.
Other Randomness:
I’m starting my own Beard-A-Thon page for the Wings. I’ll update my picture every couple of days. Just a warning – I can’t really grow a full beard. Hopefully, the Wings will be in this long enough for you to be able to see it.
Remember that time this happened a little while back?
Meanwhile, our captain isn’t a huge dick. LEADERSHIP, bitches.
Also, this:
And, that’s all I got for now. Yell at me on twitter (@KevinN37) and GO WINGS!!
Quincey couldn’t even hook right. Photo Credit: Scott Rovak, USA Today
The NHL does not hate the Red Wings.
There is no directive to make the Red Wings lose.
Gary Bettman does not root for the Wings to fail.
The referees do not have a quota of penalties to call against the Wings.
There is no “phone call” made to make calls go to the opposing team.
Stop it. Just…stop it. I read these things on Twitter, or on comment sections on various websites, or hear them at The Joe during games. The Wings do get boned on some calls, but so does every single team. Let’s look at an example of the St. Louis Blues getting screwed in a game this season:
It was a 3-3 game with just over 10 minutes left in the third. The Wings would score on the power play and win the game 5-3 (empty net goal). Did the Wings get a break there? Absolutely. I would imagine if the Wings had a vendetta against them, that call would not have happened. The ref totally screwed up, and that’s that. Shit happens. Don’t cry about it and move on.
Just think about it logically: Why would the NHL want the Wings to fail? The Wings make money and get high national ratings, where most teams don’t. The Wings in the playoffs make more for the league than Nashville or Phoenix. Why would they TRY to alienate the Wings or the (highly rabid) fan base? From a financial standpoint (and trust me, Gary loves his fucking finances), this is a bass-ackwards way of thinking. “Let’s fuck over the profitable team because those guys are dicks!” And no, the NHL doesn’t root for poor teams to fail or for the Coyotes to win since they technically own them. There are missed and bad calls against BOTH teams in EVERY single NHL game. The refs make mistakes since they see the game at a very high-speed and don’t have slow-mo replay like we do at home.
Another common complaint among the Tin Foil Hat Brigade is that the national media hates the Wings, most notably Puck Daddy’s Greg Wyshynski and Ryan Lambert. Yeah, Lambert is a troll. You know why? Because he hates YOU, the Red Wing fans, not the Wings themselves. He knows how pissy we can get, so he does what he does and trolls the fuck out of us. Can’t blame him, it actually sounds fun. When people claim the Wings want the Wings to lose, it gives him ammo and he runs with it since it gives him clicks/followers and such. I don’t see why people think that about Wysh. I follow him on twitter and read PD pretty regularly and just don’t see it. Yeah, he’s a Devil’s fan and brings up 1995 once in a while. I bring up 97, 98, 02, and 08 quite a bit. If you have any evidence of him “hating” the Wings, let me know, otherwise, STFU mate.
If you feel like giving me crap over this and think I’m wrong (which I’m not) or think I’m an idiot (which I am), you know how to yell at me on Twitter and make yourself feel better. Don’t forget to wear your tin foil hat though, otherwise, I won’t be able to see it.
We talked hockey again! We discussed:
Check out Mike’s blog here and Michelle’s here (Michelle also writes for Winging It In Motown, because she is better than me at this so check that out as well)
You know the drill, follow me on the twitters (@KevinN37) and tell me how much I suck. Until next time…
You all know I have a thing for Gustav Nyquist. I’ve decided to make a page dedicated to all his nice plays that I enjoy. I’ll keep it updated as amazingness happens.
First NHL Point:
First NHL Goal:
Second NHL Goal (breakaway vs Minnesota):
Third NHL Goal (sweet hands vs Colorado):
Amazing assist on Brunner goal vs Colorado:
Fourth NHL Goal (awesome pass by Andersson)
Overtime Winner vs Ducks in 2013 Playoffs (Hop Hop!)
In Gif Form!
TOTALLY AWESOME GOAL AGAINST CHICAGO IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS:
More to come!!
We* recorded another podcast after the Wings game vs St. Louis. Give it a listen: CLICK HERE FOR PODCASTING GOODNESS
We = Me, Mike (3rd Round Draft Pick), Michelle (Octopi The Ice) and special guest Ty (Gotta Keep The Parenthesis Going)
Topics include:
Have a listen and tell your friends/enemies to have a listen as well. Hockey is the best. Dan Cleary Sucks. Free Tatar.
