Category Archives: Hard Hits

HARD HITS: Leafs’ latest playoff failure leaves more questions for Toronto

After finally exercising the demons by beating the Lightning in the first round, the Maple Leafs couldn’t follow up their first playoff series win in 19 years with a successful second round. Instead, they were hardly competitive in the first … Continue reading

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HARD HITS: Mitchell Miller fiasco not worth it for Bruins

On the ice, the Bruins have been the class of the NHL. Winners of seven in a row and boasting a league best 10-1-0 record entering Saturday’s game at Toronto, they have lit it up so far. After erupting for … Continue reading

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HARD HITS: Tkachuk blockbuster trade involving Huberdeau a rarity, the uncomfortable direction the NHL is headed

Once the first domino fell when Johnny Gaudreau left Calgary for Columbus by taking less money to uproot his family back to the States, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that Matthew Tkachuk would not remain a Calgary Flame. … Continue reading

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Dominant Lightning Bolts on the verge of history, why going to a Stanley Cup game is worth everything, salty NYR fans, Price vs Lundqvist, a funny Del Zotto exchange

Maybe I should’ve known better. But admittedly, I didn’t. I thought the Canadiens could give the Lightning a series. So far, the Bolts are proving why they’re defending champs. They’ve flexed their championship muscle to outscore the Habs 14-5 in … Continue reading

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HARD HITS: Blue Jackets trade of Dubois to Winnipeg involving Laine is a 2016 Draft redux

Getty Images It was only five years ago (really four and a half) that following top pick Auston Matthews to the Leafs, Patrik Laine went second to Winnipeg and Pierre-Luc Dubois went third to the Blue Jackets. That top three … Continue reading

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HARD HITS: What can be learned from the Islanders’ run

It’s not too often I write about a bitter rival. However, the Islanders made it impossible not to devote a few posts to them due to their great run in these very unpredictable and strange Stanley Cup Playoffs. Give credit … Continue reading

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Special Hockey Podcast: Derek on Rangers loss to Canes, big upsets and Matt Dumba’s important message

I decided to do a special hockey podcast before on my Hard Hits Network channel on Blogtalk Radio. Among the big topics covered includes: -My assessment of the Rangers 3-2 loss to Hurricanes in Game One. What they didn’t do … Continue reading

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HARD HITS: The Hart Race nobody wants to acknowledge

Last night in a big 3-2 win over the Jets, Oilers center Leon Draisaitl scored twice and picked up an assist to help move Edmonton into second place in the Pacific Division. The power play goal he scored in the … Continue reading

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HARD HITS: Hockey Day In America

It’s Hockey Day In America. Well, really it was kick-started last night with the big outdoor game played between the LA Kings and Colorado Avalanche at the U. S. Air Force Academy’s Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Stadium … Continue reading

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HARD HITS: Malkin somehow still gets overlooked

AP Photo credit sportnet.ca via Canadian Press Imagine being one of the game’s brightest stars on a team you helped win three Stanley Cups, a Calder, a Conn Smythe, a Hart Trophy and two scoring titles. All this list of … Continue reading

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