Two-Way Crosby
Photo: NHL.com
While people love to hate on Sidney Crosby, it’s impossible to deny that The Kid is one of the top two-way players in the league; he back checks and works hard to recover the puck in his own deffensive end, and occasionally he makes a play between the pipes as well, like he did on Nov. 3 against Anaheim.
Crosby is typically thought of as a point-scoring guy, whether he is netting the points himself or whether he is setting them up, but the reason Crosby is arguably one of the best players in the world is because of his two-way game. OK, so it will never be his trademark, like it is with a guy like Jordan Staal, but two-way play is a facet of the game that Crosby undeniably possesses.
Add comment November 4, 2009
Consecutive Draft Picks Score Consecutive Goals to help Colorado Top Detroit
Coming off of its worst season in Franchise history, the Avalanche is savoring a sweet Saturday night victory in Denver thanks to contributions from homegrown talent in a 3-1 victory over conference-rival Detroit.
Sophomores T.J. Gailardi and Chris Stewart each tallied a goal to give Colorado the edge over Detroit in the second meeting between the rival clubs this season on Saturday Oct. 24. Center Paul Stastny tacked on an empty-net goal with one minute left in the third period to assure the victory.
The win would not have been possible without the 47 saves that Craig Anderson provided between the pipes, but the obvious difference between this season’s Avalanche squad and the pitiful one of last season is the fresh young talent on the ice.
The team has committed to a youth movement and the commitment is paying off. Gailardi (selected by Colorado in the second round of the 2007 draft) netted the game-tying tally with a sick back-hand shot from inside the slot at the 14:26 mark of the second period. It was his first goal of the season, and it was a pretty one at that.
Stewart (selected by Colorado in the first round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft) sported a sly smirk after netting his goal, the game-winner, at the 9:20 mark of the third period. Stewart rushed into Detroit’s zone and launched a wrist shot that almost looked like a lob that he hoped to follow up on, but much to his chagrin – it evaded Detroit’s Jimmy Howard and landed in the upper shelf of the net on the first attempt. The two goals provided by the youngsters, plus Stastny’s empty-netter, was enough to hold off the Red Wings for the win.
Nine of the players on Colorado’s roster in Sunday’s game were drafted by Colorado in recent years – which goes to show how the organization is building the team – and it seems to be working. The Avalanche is 8-1-2 this season and lead the Western Conference with 18 points. They are second only to Pittsburgh in the overall standings.
Add comment October 25, 2009
For the love of hockey
Lately I have been perusing youtube for videos to help me improve my stickhandling. Today I discovered this video and you just have to love this kid and his dedication to the sport as he takes on a sick Sidney Crosby move.
Add comment June 23, 2009
One Game to Decide Them All
I am something of a nerd, but I have rewritten this poem from Lord of the Rings in honor Game 7 of the Stanley Cup.
One Cup for the Champions of eternal victory
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Game to rule them all, One Team to win it,
One Game to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of MoTown where the Shadows lie.
The Penguins have accomplished a great feat in drawing this series to seven games. It’s going to be a tough battle, and it can go either way but it’s such a great story for the Penguins who nearly missed the playoffs but battled into the fifth seed and then bested three tough teams to make it to the Final again. Many people doubted their ability to beat the Red Wings after falling in Games 1 and 2, but the resilient Pens battled back and now it all comes down to one final epic showdown.
Yesterday was my last day with with the Pens and my experience with the organization was phenomenal, first class. I hope they win the cup, they deserve it.
Debs and Sam at the Stanley Cup Final
2 comments June 12, 2009
Life Before Stanley
I’m not obsessed with hockey, but last weekend was a hard hard thing in my life…
My best friend and college roommate of three years, Amber, got married on Sunday. Thanks to NBC, the NHL decided to schedule Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday.
So, yours truly was faced with the prospect of missing both games because I was a bridesmaid in Amber’s wedding. The rehearsal was Saturday evening, and the actual wedding was Sunday afternoon/evening.
I toughed it up and went to the wedding, and had a blast. And Amber was cool with me ducking out of the rehearsal and the reception in time to blog both games for the Penguins website. All in all, it worked out for me. Not so much for the Penguins, who are faced with a 2-0 deficit for the second year in a row in the Final. Below, the bride and me, sporting my official Penguins’ playoff hat.
Amber and Debs at the Rehearsal Dinner.
Add comment June 2, 2009
