Author Archives: Derek

Out West, the first team to advance was San Jose. The Sharks swept the Canucks out of the best-of-seven first round last night with a 4-3 overtime victory in Game Four at HP Pavilion. Third seeded Vancouver was sent packing … Continue reading →

Game Four Islander hero John Tavares congrats winning goalie Evgeni Nabokov.Getty Images/Kathy Willens The impossible isn’t. The Islanders are proving they can play with the Penguins. Since Game One, the eighth seeded underdog has taken two of three against the … Continue reading →

Getty Images/AP For the first time since March 5, Marc Staal returned. For a while, it looked like the Rangers All-Star defenseman might miss the rest of the year. Two months prior, he was struck by a puck dangerously close … Continue reading →

Ryan McDonagh (above) dives after a loose puck in front of Henrik Lundqvist. Brian Boyle celebrates his first period goal along with Mike Del Zotto.Getty Images/Kathy Willens Sometimes, it’s as simple as will power. Will you go that extra mile? … Continue reading →

Chris Neil exchanges punches with Travis Moen (above). Jared Cowen trades with Ryan White. Part of a line brawl between the Canadiens and Senators in Ottawa’s 6-1 Game 3 win. The teams combined for 236 penalty minutes.  Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick … Continue reading →

Chris Kunitz is mobbed by Pens teammates after his overtime winner. Islander defenseman Andrew MacDonald  can’t watch.Getty Images/Seth Wenig A great game was played at Nassau Coliseum. The first round series between the eighth seeded upstarts from Long Island and … Continue reading →

In the playoffs, there’s truth and deceit. While NBC’s Pierre McGuire was exaggerating Braden Holtby‘s 24-save performance in the Caps’ 1-0 Game Two overtime triumph to take a 2-0 series lead over the Rangers, the Washington netminder was a bit … Continue reading →

Overtime hero Mike Green is congratulated by teammates as Derek Stepan skates off in disbelief.Getty Images/Evan Vuccl All year, Henrik Lundqvist referenced our poor special teams. It’s already bitten us in the ass twice. No more was it on display than … Continue reading →

Matt Moulson watches Kyle Okposo’s shot ricochet off Marc-Andre Fleury.Getty Images/Gene J. Puskar It isn’t a series until someone wins on the road. For the upstart Islanders, they pushed back against the Penguins in Game Two. They dug out of … Continue reading →

During last night’s Senators’ 4-2 win over the Canadiens in Game One of their best-of-seven first round series, Ottawa defenseman Eric Gryba delivered a big hit on Habs’ forward Lars Eller that resulted in head and facial injuries. He was assessed a … Continue reading →