Vancouver's Greatest Hockey Legend: Cyclone Taylor

Who is Vancouver's greatest hockey legend? Trevor Linden would be a most popular choice. Pavel Bure, Kirk McLean, King Richard Brodeur. Tiger Williams would all get mentioned.

But when discussing the greatest hockey player to ever play in Vancouver you have to go way back, all the way back to 1915. You know, back when Vancouver last won the Stanley Cup.

Kent Spencer of the Vancouver Province recently celebrated the legend of Cyclone Taylor, through the eyes of his grandson, former NHL Mark Taylor.

Fred Taylor was dubbed Cyclone by Gov.-Gen. Earl Grey for his whirling, perpetual-motion style of play.

Legend has it that Cyc (pronounced Sike) once scored a goal after skating backwards through an entire team.

Cyc’s grandson, Mark Taylor, who is co-owner of the Cyclone Taylor sporting goods chain in Metro Vancouver, believes the story is more tale than truth.

But he has few doubts that Cyc was capable of scoring a goal in reverse.

“I knew he was amazing, but I didn’t know how good he was,” says Taylor, who spent four seasons in the NHL in the 1980s and shared numerous roast beef dinners with his grandfather.

Here's the full story.

Pucks On The 'Net: Hello Winnipeg, Good Bye Atlanta

According to many reports, it seems Tuesday will be the day the NHL announces that the Atlanta Thrashers have been bought bought and are to be relocated to Winnipeg. If not, then expect news on Thursday.

It will be a great day for hockey in Winnipeg and in Canada. But let us not forget, it is a sad day for hockey fans in Atlanta. Yes, the NHL product has failed twice in Dixie, for a variety of reasons. But we should not forget that there are a great number of hockey fans there. Today is not a great day for them, and they deserve our respect.

Here's a few more thoughts:

• As great as this is for Winnipeg, I have to wonder about the long term viability of a team there. Some reports suggest they need to receive revenue sharing to operate financially. And they've already tried turning to government for financial help. This despite a strong Canadian dollar and the richest man in Canada owning the team.
• As long as the dollar stays strong, NHL hockey in Winnipeg should survive. But eventually, though not likely any time soon, we have to assume the dollar will tail off again. I do not know what the magic number would be, but can small market Canadian teams operate with a 90 cent or 80 cent dollar?
• I know there have been some suggestions that the relocated team will be called the Manitoba Moose. The Moose are a great AHL entity. But I have to believe everyone wants to see the Winnipeg Jets back. Let's do it right.
• I wonder if Dustin Byfuglien still has that big fur coat? He's going to need this winter.
• I know Bobby Hull has embraced his Chicago Blackhawks past of late. Let's hope he does the same in Winnipeg. You know Dale Hawerchuk, Thomas Steen and others will.
• I thought this story about the growing battle over NHL/Winnipeg related domain names was interesting.
• By the way, that image above is actually a cover for a great book called The Winnipeg Jets: A Celebration of Hockey In Winnipeg. I highly recommend it.

Pucks On The 'Net is sponsored by Amazon.ca

EA Sports Picks Vancouver

Hockey video game simulator EA Sports has picked Vancouver to beat Boston in seven games to win their first ever Stanley Cup.

The video game gurus have been near perfect in their simulated round-by-round predictions so far. They are 13 for 14, with their only miss coming when they picked Detroit over San Jose in closely fought round 2 match up.

Last year they also correctly plotted Chicago's way to a Stanley Cup title.

Here's the full story.

This Date In Stanley Cup History

May 31, 1987 • Right winger Jari Kurri scored the Cup-winning goal at 14:59 of the second period as the Edmonton Oilers beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 in Game Seven of the 1987 Final. The win marked the third Cup title in four seasons for Edmonton.

May 31, 2003 • The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim won Game Three of their Stanley Cup Final series with the New Jersey Devils on Ruslan Salei’s goal at 6:59 of overtime. Anaheim improved its overtime record to 6-0 in the playoffs and Jean-Sebastien Giguere ran his overtime streak to a record 167:48. Giguere added 39 more seconds to his streak with a 1-0 overtime victory two nights later.

May 31, 2004 • Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brad Richards set a single-season playoff record by scoring his seventh game-winning goal. Richards tallied the lone goal in a 1-0 victory against the Calgary Flames in Game Four of the Stanley Cup Final at Calgary.

This Date In Stanley Cup History

May 30, 1985 • The Edmonton Oilers downed the Philadelphia Flyers 8-3 in Game Five to win the 1985 Stanley Cup and their second straight championship title. Conn Smythe Trophy winner Wayne Gretzky scored a goal and assisted on three others to set playoff records for assists (30) and points (47) in a single post-season, and Jari Kurri tied Reggie Leach’s record with his 19th goal of the playoffs.

Pucks On The 'Net: Economics 101

Check this out:

• Average ticket price in Vancouver for the Stanley Cup Final - $966.
• It seems the cheapest game one seats are $400. The most expensive are $4500. Imagine what scalpers will get if there's a game 7!
• Average ticket price in Boston for the Stanley Cup Final is - $686.
• Average ticket price last year in Philadelphia for the SCF - $711.
• Average ticket price last year in Chicago for the SCF - $524.

Crazy prices, yes. But I hate it when some fans, usually casual ones, suggest prices are too high. The fact of the matter is there are no unsold seats, and line up across the Lion's Gate Bridge to get whatever tickets become available. If the prices are too high, why is there still such demand?

This Date In Stanley Cup History

May 29, 1993 - Wayne Gretzky set a Stanley Cup record, with his 8th career playoff hat trick, and added an assist to lead the Kings to a 5-4 win at Toronto, in Game 7 of the Campbell Conference Finals. The win advanced the Kings to the Stanley Cup Finals.

May 29, 2001 - Patrick Roy became the first goaltender in NHL history to start in 100 straight playoff games for one team when the Avalanche lost 2-1 against the visiting New Jersey Devils, in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

May 29, 2002 - Dominik Hasek recorded his 10th career playoff shutout in the Red Wings 2-0 win over the Avalanche at Colorado, in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals.

May 29, 2004 - Miikka Kiprusoff recorded his 5th career playoff shutout, and Jarome Iginla scored a goal and an assist to give the Calgary Flames a 3-0 win over the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning, in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Investigating The Death of Bill Masterton

This is Bill Masterton. Many know him strictly for the trophy that bears his name, even though many do not know why he is so honoured. Bill Masterton, you see, is the only man to die due to direct injury caused in a NHL game.

Or so the story goes. Rob Cribb and Randy Starkman investigate the story for the Toronto Star and come up with one of true must-read articles on any former NHL player ever. It is a long read, but worth it. They suggest it was not the infamous body check/head hitting the ice that caused in the death, but rather a previously untreated brain injury.

Here's a sample:

When Bill Masterton’s limp body collapsed to the ice on Jan. 15, 1968, the Minnesota North Stars centre appeared to be the victim of an innocuous hit. Thirty hours later, he was dead in hospital.

Today his story is nearly forgotten, but for an annual NHL award that bears his name. It honours perseverance and dedication to hockey.

The irony is that perseverance probably killed Bill Masterton.

What happened in the days leading up to that fatal moment in Minneapolis, when Masterton played his 38th and final NHL game, has been largely a mystery.

The duo go onto investigate the idea that a previously undiagnosed concussion was likely to have led to Masterton's death more so than the on-ice incident that fateful night.

Here's the full story. Also, check out some of the related topics links, including an essay by his son Scott, and a previous Cribb and Starkman piece on father Bill and son Scott.

All in all, very impressive work. I smell a long overdue Bill Masterton book release one day.

Stanley Cup Ring or Wedding Ring?

What would you do if you were a NHL rookie and had to play in a Stanley Cup playoff game on your wedding day?

That was the exact situation Steve Rooney faced, making his wedding day one day he'll never forget.

You see, a year earlier while still in school Rooney and his fiancee planned a wedding for April 1985. Obviously neither figured that Steve would be competing for the Stanley Cup after graduating from Providence College with his Business Management degree.

But that's exactly what he was doing. He joined the Canadiens upon the completion of the NCAA season, and impressed with 1 goal and some big hits in 3 regular season games.

Unexpectedly Rooney became a regular on the Habs playoffs roster, playing in 11 of 12 Montreal post-season games.

All of which was great, until the wedding coincided with a Montreal-Boston playoff tilt. Needless to say, the Rooneys had a difficult decision to make. Fortunately for Rooney the game just happened to be played in Boston.

The wedding was moved to the morning, and Rooney left the chapel almost immediately in order to help Montreal win the game and eliminate the Bruins. Rooney celebrated his big day by scoring a goal!

You can read the full Steve Rooney biography here.

How Pat Quinn Changed Gino Odjick's Life

Greg Douglas of the Vancouver Sun tells a nice short story of the bond between former Canucks coach/GM Pat Quinn and former Canucks enforcer Gino Odjick.

Odjick credits Pat Quinn for instilling confidence in him when he was in his rookie NHL season. "I was walking with my head down," Odjick says, "and he was the first non-Native person to tell me to lift my head and be proud of who I was. My spirit has walked with Pat Quinn since that day."

Here's the full story.

Canucks vs. Bruins - 2011 Stanley Cup Preview

Here is my usual series statistical preview (click to enlarge). It is a regular season comparison of the two teams.

Advantage Vancouver? Not so fast. Matt Sekeres, who covers the Canucks for The Globe And Mail, suggests the Canucks may meet their ultimate test in the Bruins.

Closer inspection reveals that the Canucks struggled against defensive-oriented teams that were strong at even strength. In other words, a team just like the Boston Bruins, their Stanley Cup opponent.

Sekeres goes on to add:

Against the 10 best teams in goals-against average, the Canucks were 9-8-2 this season. Against the 10 best teams at even strength, they were 10-8-3.

Here's the full story, including recognition that Vancouver did manage to go 8-3 against San Jose and Nashville, both of whom qualify for top 10 status in the aforementioned categories.

Here's a few other links I recommend:

• Sky is the limit for Canucks' Kesler - Yahoo!
• Henrik Sedin relishes chance to bring Stanley Cup to Vancouver - Vancouver Sun
• Canucks, Bruins unfamiliar foes - CBC
• New results, same coach for Boston - Boston Globe

As for my thoughts on the series - I agree this will be Vancouver's toughest test. They somehow need to manufacture power play opportunities. If they can somehow get 10 minutes a game on the PP, they should score a couple of goals. But if Boston can stay disciplined and keep it at 5 on 5, all bets are off.

I do not have a good feel for this series. Usually I do. Perhaps that is because I am emotionally invested in Vancouver. As all Canucks fans know that makes one as apprehensive as excited. I will predict Vancouver to win the series. But I will not allow my hopes to get too high.

This Date In Stanley Cup History

May 28, 2008 • Detroit’s Johan Franzen tied a team playoff record with his sixth power-play goal of the 2008 playoffs in a 2-1 win at Pittsburgh, in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Bruins Meet Canucks In Stanley Cup Final

Pucks On The 'Net: Game 7

Boston vs Tampa Bay. Game 7. Winner takes all. Winner plays for the Stanley Cup!

• The Bruins are 10-10 in game 7s in their long history. But they are only 1-4 since 2001.
• That one win came earlier in these playoffs - in round one against Montreal.
• The Bruins dropped 2 in a row to start that series vs. Montreal. They haven't lost 2 in a row since.
• Good article here by Eric Wilbur trying to convince himself it's just another game. No it's not.
• Tampa Bay is a perfect 3-0 in Game 7s in their history.
• If they handed out the Conn Smythe Trophy right now, Martin St. Louis would get my vote
• Here's a great look at Teddy Purcell.

Here's some game 7 NHL records.

This Date In Stanley Cup History

May 27, 1975 • Philadelphia goaltender Bernie Parent blanked the Buffalo Sabres 2-0 in Game Six en route to the Flyers’ second straight Stanley Cup title. Parent earned the Conn Smythe Trophy to become the first back-to-back winner of the award and the second player, after Bobby Orr, to win it twice. Edmonton’s Wayne Gretzky collected his second career Conn Smythe Trophy in 1988, Mario Lemieux of the Penguins won the award in 1991 and 1992. Patrick Roy has won the trophy three times, in 1986 and 1993 with Montreal and in 2001 with Colorado.

May 27, 1994 • Stephane Matteau of the New York Rangers scored at 4:24 of the second overtime period to give his team a 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils in the seventh and deciding game of the Eastern Conference Final at Madison Square Garden. A record three games in the series were decided in double overtime, with Matteau scoring the winner in two of them. The win earned the Rangers a berth in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1979.

May 27, 1995 • Detroit Red Wings defenseman Paul Coffey became the all-time leading scorer for defensemen in Stanley Cup playoff history, tallying two points (1-1-2) in Detroit’s 6-2 win over the San Jose Sharks in Game Four of their Western Conference Semifinal. The Red Wings clinched the series in four straight games. Coffey’s first-period goal was his 165th point in the postseason (51-114-165 in 146 games), moving him past former New York Islanders rearguard and Hockey Hall of Famer Denis Potvin. Potvin registered 164 points (56-108-164) in 185 career playoff games.

'82 Canucks Still Looking For Stanley Cup

After 33 years in the organization, including leading the team to the 1982 Stanley Cup final, Stan Smyl is still looking to win the Stanley Cup. Other 1982 teammates still working for the team - Ron Delorme, Harold Snepsts, Thomas Gradin, Lars Lindgren - are all still chasing their first Stanley Cup championship.

Here's more from the Vancouver Province:

"Imagine how it feels for Stan Smyl to be back in the Cup final again. Imagine, if you will, how it feels for all those guys from the 1982 Canucks team who are back now working for the franchise to see their crew get back with a genuine chance to win it, something they didn’t really have against that stacked New York Islanders juggernaut. And include in that player group Thomas Gradin, Lars Lindgren, Harold Snepsts and Ron Delorme."

Here's the full story complete with a lot of memories of all the players mentioned.

Is Final Appearance Enough?

Traditionally - though not always - a Stanley Cup championship is a must for inclusion in the Hockey Hall of Fame. But in this salary capped era of 30 teams it is tougher than ever to win the Stanley Cup, lately I've been wondering if that is still necessary. Is a strong playoff run resulting in a Stanley Cup Final appearance enough?

Most will say no, a Stanley Cup championship is a must. But Jarome Iginla is as revered for his 2004 Stanley Cup Final run as for his 2 Olympic gold medals and great regular season play. Trevor Linden is absolutely worshipped in Vancouver largely because of his play in the spring of 1994. Could this be a growing trend?

Let's use the Sedins as examples. They have Olympic gold medals, elite NHL status, Hart Trophies and Art Ross Trophies all on their resume. If they win the Stanley Cup this year, their Hall of Fame ticket should almost be punched. The same could be said for Zdeno Chara in Boston. But if they never win a Stanley Cup, will this Stanley Cup appearance be enough?

This Date In Stanley Cup History

May 26, 2000 • The New Jersey Devils defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Final, marking the first time a team overcame a 3-1 series deficit to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

May 26, 2008 • Detroit’s Chris Osgood recorded his second straight shutout, a 3-0 win over the visiting Penguins, in Game Two of the Stanley Cup Final.

Pucks On The 'Net: Chico Resch Edition

The Boston Bruins hope to knock off the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight in game 6. History suggests they will win the series either tonight or in game 7. Teams holding a 3-2 series lead in Conference Finals history win 82% of the time.

Tampa Goalie Dwayne Roloson may have something to say about that. Roli is 6-0 in elimination games in his career. The only goalie to have a better record? Chico Resch at 7-0.

Here's some more pre-game puck thoughts:

• In their history Tampa is an impressive 2-2 when trailing a series 3 games to 2. They've already turned the trick once this year, coming back against Pittsburgh in round one.
• I love the way they play, and they have some easy to like personnel, but there's some thought that Tampa is starting to run out of gas. They are this year's Cinderella team. Unfortunately, the clock almost always strikes 12 on Cinderella in sports. Don't take that to mean Boston will win this series by any means, though.
• Boston has some real villains - Zdeno Chara, Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand, Nathan Horton - all big monsters. Throw in the best goalie in the league in Tim Thomas and the most underrated superstar in the league in Patrice Bergeron. The Bruins are for real.
• Vancouver fans - pick your poison. Who would you rather face in the finals? The Bruins scare me because they have the size that San Jose used to give the Canucks trouble at times, but they are far more menacing in their application of that size. Thomas is the best goalie, Chara is arguably the best defenseman. I have not put enough thought into it yet, but while I think I would favor Vancouver over Tampa in the Final, I'm not yet prepared to pick between the Canucks and Bruins.

Pucks On The 'Net is sponsored by Amazon.ca

This Date In Stanley Cup History

May 25, 1978 • Conn Smythe Trophy winner Larry Robinson assisted on Mario Tremblay’s Stanley Cup-winning goal to lead the Montreal Canadiens past the Boston Bruins 4-1 in Game Six. Robinson was one of  three Canadiens, including Doug Jarvis and Steve Shutt, who appeared in all 95 games during the 1977-78 season.

May 25, 1985 • Edmonton Oilers center Wayne Gretzky notched three goals in the first period of a 4-3 win against the Philadelphia Flyers to tie an NHL record for one Final period. Three players— Toronto’s Harvey “Busher” Jackson (April 5, 1932), Detroit’s Ted Lindsay (April 5, 1955) and Montreal’s Maurice “Rocket” Richard (April 6, 1957)—previously shared the mark.

May 25, 1989 • The Calgary Flames captured their first Stanley Cup title with a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game Six of the 1989 Final. Goaltender Mike Vernon recorded his 16th victory of the postseason, tying an NHL playoff record set by Edmonton’s Grant Fuhr the previous year, and defenseman Al MacInnis won the Conn Smythe Trophy after leading all playoff scorers with totals of 7-24-31 in 22 games.

May 25, 2002 • Colorado Avalanche goaltender Patrick Roy appeared in his 237th career playoff game, passing Mark Messier to assume first place on the all-time playoff games played list. The Avalanche defeated the Detroit Red Wings, 3-2, in Game Four of the Western Conference Final. Roy also holds playoff records for career wins, shutouts and minutes.

Canucks Will Play In The Stanley Cup Final!

Seventeen years to the day that Greg Adams scored to send the Canucks to the 1994 Stanley Cup final, Kevin Bieksa scores to send the Vancouver Canucks to the 2011 Stanley Cup final!

• I did not quite know what to do when the goal horn blasted to end the game. I was in this weird state of confusion and disbelief, cautiously wanting to celebrate but unsure if I should. The result was a bit of anti-climatic ending. But sometimes the ugliest goals are the most beautiful!
• Remember all those weird goals Nashville scored against Vancouver? The Canucks finally got a measure of payback with a couple of their own. Don't forget, the overtime forcing goal with just 14 seconds came on an icing call that clearly never should have been called.
• San Jose were the stronger team for significant portions of the game. Undoubtedly, Roberto Luongo was the star of the game with 54 saves. San Jose outshot Vancouver 91-47 in the last 2 games.
• The Canucks played this double overtime game with basically just three lines for the entire game. Cody Hodgson played just 3:49, Tanner Glass 3:22 and Victor Orsekovich 4:18. You kind of got the feeling that the longer this game went on, the more likely the Sharks were going to win. Their 4th line played very well in this game.
• How concerned were you when Ryan Kesler hobbled off the ice with an apparent leg or groin injury? Vancouver's key to success is their depth, but losing either Kesler or Henrik Sedin to injury would be an incredibly damning blow. Kesler will undoubtedly benefit from whatever rest he can get now.
• Kesler looked tender out there for the rest of regulation, but kudos to him for playing so hard, setting the tone and scoring the overtime forcing goal late in the game. And give credit where credit is due. Joe Thornton played like a warrior for San Jose
• And how about the Sedins, especially Henrik. This was his series. He was dominant. His 12 points (in just 5 games) equals Pavel Bure's team record for most points in one playoff series. 
• As much as my thoughts are with Luongo, the Sedins, Kesler and the current team, I also find myself thinking of a few others: Manny Malhotra and Mikael Samuelsson - lost for the season with injuries; Stan Smyl, Trevor Linden and Markus Naslund and all of the heroes of the past who never were able to hoist the Stanley Cup; and most importantly Luc Bourdon's family. In this quest for hockey immortality, the Canucks play on to try to lift the Stanley Cup up all the way to the heavens so Luc Bourdon can touch it, too.

Pucks On The 'Net is sponsored by Amazon.ca

Barry Potomski Dies

Former NHLer Barry Potomski has died. Potomski, who briefly played with Wayne Gretzky's Los Angeles Kings, was just 38.

Here's the full story from the Windsor Star.

Stan Mikita Diagnosed With Oral Cancer

Chicago Blackhawks legend Stan Mikita has been diagnosed with oral cancer, but as the Chicago Tribune's Chris Kuc reports, his prognosis is excellent. Here's the full story.

17 Years Ago Tonight

Twitter Trivia Tonight

Join me on Twitter @HockeyLegends for the Canucks/Sharks game 5! I will be giving away Scotia Hockey prize packs with Lanny McDonald Twitter Trivia. Don't forget to enter the Stanley With Lanny contest to watch a Stanley Cup finals game with Lanny McDonald!

Watch The Stanley Cup Final With Lanny McDonald

Scotiabank Hockey Club has a great new contest called "Stanley With Lanny"

Win tickets for you and 3 friends to a Stanley Cup Final game with none other than hockey legend Lanny McDonald. He’ll sit with you for the whole game and you can talk hockey, mustaches or whatever.

Simply go to the Scotia Hockey Club Facebook page to enter. Enter from May 10 at 3pm to June 9 at 11:59pm. The grand prize, including game tickets, hotel, airfare and spending money (total valued estimated at $8,000) will be awarded on May 26th.

In addition Stanley Cup prize packs complete with Reebok NHL gear including a 2011 Stanley Cup t-shirts, water bottles and ball caps awarded daily. Tonight on Twitter I will be giving away three prize packs as part of GreatestHockeyLegends.com Twitter Trivia. So join me @HockeyLegends and win tonight!

This Date In Stanley Cup History

May 24, 1980 • Right winger Bob Nystrom scored at 7:11 of overtime as the New York Islanders defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 and captured the 1980 Stanley Cup in six games. Nystrom’s goal was the fourth and final overtime tally of his playoff career and moved him into second place on the alltime list behind Maurice “Rocket” Richard (6).

May 24, 1986 • The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Calgary Flames 4-3 in Game Five en route to their 23rd Stanley Cup title, a new professional record for the most championship seasons. Montreal had been tied with Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees, winners of 22 World Series at the time.

May 24, 1990 • The Edmonton Oilers won their fifth Stanley Cup in seven years with a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins in Game Five of the 1990 Final at Boston Garden. Seven Oilers players—Glenn Anderson, Grant Fuhr, Randy Gregg, Charlie Huddy, Jari Kurri, Kevin Lowe and Mark Messier — were members of all five championship clubs.

May 24, 1995 • New York Rangers center Mark Messier’s goal in the second period of a 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Three of their Conference Semifinal was the 102nd of his playoff career, tying Jari Kurri for second place on the all-time list.

Pucks On The 'Net: Oh Henry!

Teams with great specialty teams are going to do well in any playoffs. That's certainly been the difference in the San Jose/Vancouver series. In game 4, the Canucks killed off 5 straight penalties (at least 3 of which were questionable calls, in my opinion), keeping the game 0-0. When Vancouver finally got a chance to play on the power play they scored three times on four shots in a span of 1:55. There's your difference.

• With 4 assists in game 4 against San Jose, Henrik Sedin took over the Stanley Cup scoring lead. He's taken a bit of a back seat to Daniel this season, but I think he's been the stronger of the two twins this post season. Especially since he got a chance between series to rest up whatever his nagging injuries are. Mind you, his role as center magnifies his importance due to faceoff and defensive responsibilities.
• Henrik Sedin's 4 assists in game 4 set a new Canucks record for most assists in one playoff game. The previous record was 3 assists, accomplished 10 times.
• Henrik's 4 points equalled the team record for most points in one playoff game. The record is shared with Trevor Linden, Pavel Bure, Russ Courtnall and Geoff Courtnall, who did it twice.
• Also, Henrik now has 17 assists in these playoffs, setting another team record.
• Henrik may have gotten much of the attention, but Roberto Luongo was very good in this game, especially in the first period when San Jose had all those power plays.
• San Jose outshot Vancouver 35-13 in the game.
• Joe Thornton did not finish the game, thanks to a big hit from Raffi Torres. Should he not be able to play in game 5, that's a huge blow for San Jose.
• Has anyone seen Dany Heatley or Devin Setoguchi?
• Even though it was San Jose doing cartwheels in game 4, the Canucks have to be feeling pretty good about where they are at right now. They've shown they can do whatever it takes to win, but come game 5 can they finally show some killer instinct and get the job done?

Pucks On The 'Net is sponsored by Amazon.ca

This Date In Stanley Cup History

May 22, 1987 • In Game Three of the 1987 Final, Edmonton Oilers center Mark Messier set a new playoff record with his eighth career shorthanded goal. Edmonton lost the game 5-3 to the Philadelphia Flyers but went on to win the series in seven games.

May 22, 1999 • The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Dallas Stars 2-1 in the opening game of the Western Conference Final, tying a playoff record for consecutive road victories (seven).

Pucks On The 'Net: Rapture Edition

For all those who may be greatly disappointed today, just remember this: If the rapture doesn't happen today; it's not the end of the world.

Just keeping it all in perspective. Here's some hockey thoughts for today.

Boston/Tampa Bay

• Game 4 in this series goes today. It marks the final game of the season for TSN. Great job by these guys.
• Although he often seems to let in a goal early, Tim Thomas remains hot. Thomas is 5-1 on the road in the playoffs with a .941 save percentage. He is also 8-1 in these playoffs when the Bruins are outshot.
  
• Hot for Tampa Bay is Martin St Louis, who has 3 goals, 5 assists for 8 points over the past 6 games
  
• Afternoon games are always a wild card. Hockey players work at night, not in the afternoons. It will be interesting to see which players struggle out of the gate.
• Tampa is 4-0 this season (including playoffs) in afternoon games. Boston is 6-6.

Vancouver/San Jose

• Game 3 between San Jose and Vancouver was predictable. Vancouver took way too many penalties early and San Jose capitalized. Had Vancouver been able to score on their extended 5 on 3 power play late in the second, there would have been overtime.
• What is with coach Vigneault's refusal to put the Sedins on the penalty kill? When the team is constantly on the PK, the Sedins just sit on the bench, not getting their legs or head into the game. Vigneault needs to do a better job there.
• Look at Joe Thornton killing penalties. That may be the best thing that ever happened to him. On the PK he's forced to keep his feet moving. A constant criticism of the big man over the years is he stops skating and wants to slow the play down to his level. Now he's forced into a skating game early on. That's when he's most dangerous.
• If Vancouver can keep this a 5 on 5 game, they will win. If it becomes a power play fest, flip a coin. Whoever gets the PPs early in the game will likely win that particular game.
• Unfortunately, what may ultimately end up deciding this series may be the injury factor. The Canucks have already said both Christian Ehrhoff and Aaron Rome will not be available for game 4. Between Ehrhoff and previously injured Mikael Samuelsson, the Canucks are without their two point men on their first unit power play.
• I expect Andrew Alberts and Keith Ballard to step in for game 4.

Pucks On The 'Net is sponsored by Amazon.ca

This Date In Stanley Cup History

May 21, 1979 • Center Jacques Lemaire scored twice, including his second career Stanley Cup-winning goal, to power the Montreal Canadiens past the New York Rangers 4-1 in Game Five. The win gave Montreal its fourth straight Stanley Cup, one short of the record set by the same team, 1956-60.

May 21, 1981 • New York Islanders center Butch Goring notched two goals to help defeat the Minnesota North Stars 5-1 in the fifth and final game of the 1981 Final. Goring, who assisted on the winning goal in Game Two and scored the winner in Game Three, earned the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Winnipeg Celebrates Like It's 1979

News broke on Thursday that the Atlanta Thrashers had been sold and were being relocated to Winnipeg for next season. Subsequent reports denied the accuracy of the report, though you have to believe it is an inevitability at this stage.

Did you know it was on this date in 1979 that the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Edmonton Oilers to win the last ever World Hockey Association's Avco Cup championship? Thanks to YouTube, here's some footage:







Of course the WHA folded after that, and the Jets, Oilers, Quebec Nordiques and Hartford Whalers jumped to the NHL. Winn

For more information on the Winnipeg Jets, especially their WHA days, check out the book The Winnipeg Jets: A Celebration of Hockey In Winnipeg

Pucks On The 'Net: NHL Wrong On Eager

The NHL is missing the boat by not suspending Ben Eager.

The NHL needs to discipline players for intent, not for outcomes. Eager clearly intended to hurt Daniel on that play. Following the Bieksa/Marleau fight, Eager was going berserk on the bench. Then seconds into his first subsequent shift, he's charging a defenseless NHL's scoring champion and potential MVP from behind and face first in to the glass. He had a chance to let up, but no he took a couple of extra steps. It is a small miracle that Daniel, who has a history of minor back problems, was not hurt on that play.

The referee should have immediately called a 5 minute major and game misconduct. That would have eliminated all of Eager's other embarrassing actions in that game (mind you, by showing everyone what a boob he really is, he took his team completely out of the game) Though Daniel Sedin was not hurt, that should not be a factor in further discipline.

If Raffi Torres' late season hit on Jordan Eberle is worth 4 games (including 2 in the playoffs), then Eager deserves at least a 1 game playoff suspension.

If this was 25 years ago, I don't think the NHL would stand for Paul Baxter doing the same to Wayne Gretzky. Somehow in that time frame the NHL has failed to protect it's star players. And that's bad for everyone, especially us fans.

Here's a few other quick notes:

• The refereeing in this series has been pretty bad in this series, but you don't hear many Vancouver fans saying that because so far it has been the Canucks benefiting . Outside of the Eager incident, it is the Canucks getting off with missed calls (Henrik's high stick on Thornton) and receiving some power plays on marginal calls. 
• A word of caution for those who think this series is over. These playoffs have shown time and time again that comebacks are in fashion. San Jose's power play is red hot (3 for 4 in the series) and should they get a couple more attempts at home, they could easily head back to Vancouver with the series tied up at 2 games apiece. 
• Mind you, San Jose's PP has struggled at home this playoffs, going just 3 for 29.
• The Canucks job this May long weekend is to get a split in California. Though they went 2-0 in San Jose in the regular season, that may not be easy. Roberto Luongo has struggled in San Jose. He's 0-2-1 in his last three games there, and did not play a single game in San Jose this season. Cory Schneider played both games, winning each by a goal.
• Something's got to give though. San Jose's too god of a team to keep struggling like this. They have lost 5 of their past 6 games, being outscored 23-15. Furthermore, San Jose has lost 8 straight CF games, 1 away from tying the record (BOS and CHI)

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This Date In Stanley Cup History

May 20, 1986 • In the first period of Game Three, Montreal and Calgary combined for the fastest four goals by two teams in a Final game. Calgary’s Joel Otto (17:59) and Montreal’s Bobby Smith (18:25), Mats Naslund (19:17) and Bob Gainey (19:33) posted goals within one minute and 34 seconds to set the mark. The Canadiens defeated the Flames 5-3.

This Date In Stanley Cup History

May 19, 1974 • The Philadelphia Flyers, who had entered the NHL in 1967-68, became the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, downing the Boston Bruins 1-0 in Game Six of the 1974 Final. Left winger Rick MacLeish scored the game’s only goal, while goaltender Bernie Parent, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, recorded the shutout.

May 19, 1984 • The Edmonton Oilers, one of four former WHA teams which joined the League in 1979-80, won their first Stanley Cup title. Oilers center Mark Messier, who registered an 8-18-26 scoring mark in 19 playoff games, won the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Pucks On The 'Net: San Jose Not Eager Enough

The Canucks are up 2-0 in the Western Conference Finals. And this time around we can fairly say that that is very much the Sedins fault.

The wonder twins were brilliant in this game, combining for 5 points and at times dominating the Sharks. That's two very strong games in a row for the much maligned MVBs - Most Valuable Brothers. It's good to see them rolling. Henrik in particular looks much more comfortable out there after a bit of rest.

Here are some more thoughts on Wednesday night's game:

• With a goal, an assist and a fight, Kevin Bieksa earned the Gordie Howe Hat Trick. That is the third such hat trick in the career of the man they call "Juice."
• What a cheeky play by Chris Higgins to spring Bieksa free on that breakaway. He has been a most excellent trade deadline acquisition.
• It was good to see the Canucks break out a bit. Twelve Canucks hit the score sheet, including the most unlikely of all - Aaron Rome. That's how good the Sedins were. Even Rome capitalized on their unstoppable cycle.
• I don't know if the Sharks are tired or what, but it is very obvious who the better team was in both games. San Jose starts out okay, but in the second and third periods the Canucks just overwhelmed them with their speed and neutral zone play.
• That may change in San Jose, as historically the Canucks and Roberto Luongo have struggled at the HP Pavillion. Cory Schneider played all of Vancouver's regular season games in San Jose this season. As Todd McLellan said after the game, "A real smart man told me you're never in trouble in a series until you lose a game at home."
• One area of concern has to be the Canucks penalty kill. The Sharks are 3 for 4 in the series. They are a team that feeds of their power play. They will be hoping it can get them back in this series.
• The Sharks are 0-8 when trailing a series 2-0.
• Ben Eager's undisciplined play will undoubtedly get a lot of attention on the radio shows and internet forums. Whatever. He's an undisciplined bush league player and proved it again on Wednesday night. If I'm a San Jose fan, I'd be far more disappointed in coach Todd McLellan. He seemed at a loss as to how to solve the Canucks. Is sending out the goon, with his intent so obvious, the best he can do?
• I would have called Eager a boob, but for those who saw what the rather promiscuous female fan did by the penalty box, you know that would not have been appropriate. Let's just say the Green Men have some competition.
• Say what  you want about Eager - San Jose's biggest problem is so many of the Sharks top players never showed up. Where was the eagerness from the likes of Ryane Clowe or Devon Setoguchi or Joe Pavelski or Dany Heatley?
• No one is really saying too much yet, but Ryan Kesler has gone quiet offensively in Vancouver, too.

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The Hockey History Round Table: Greatest Stanley Cup Performer?

Welcome to the inaugural Hockey History Round Table here on GreatestHockeyLegends.com. I will convene a panelist of hockey history experts from a variety of backgrounds and pose a question for debate. This will become a regular feature next season.

This week I am asking the question "Who is the greatest player in Stanley Cup playoffs history?" It is not the same as the greatest player of all time. I wanted panelists to forget all about regular season and international accomplishments. Strictly judge players by their performance in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and pick one as the greatest Stanley Cup player of all time.

With that, there are all sorts of intangibles to consider here. Not the least of which include positional concerns. You can't win a Stanley Cup without great goaltending, so they say. Does that mean the best goalie should also be the best player. Or do you choose one of the top goal scoring heroes in post-season play? Or if defense really does win championships, shouldn't you select the top defender?

Let's introduce the inaugural panel.

Lance Hornby has been covering the NHL and the Toronto Maple Leafs for the Toronto Sun newspaper since 1986. He has also contributed to 5 book projects, including his own masterpiece Hockey's Greatest Moments: Celebrating the Best in Hockey.

Kevin Shea is a self described "hockey archeologist." He is the Editor of Publications and Online Features for the Hockey Hall of Fame, teaches hockey history courses at a Toronto college, and has penned 8 books including the critically acclaimed Barilko: Without a Trace.

Chris Mizzoni blogs at Nitzy's Hockey Den and has authored and illustrated two wonderful hockey history books for children - The Sterling Seven and Clancy with the Puck.

Jennifer Conway is a true hockey historian. This professional researcher has interned with the Philadelphia Flyers. A librarian by trade, she is continuing her education - her master's thesis is about the 1972 Summit Series.

Without further ado, each panelist weighs in on just who is the greatest player in Stanley Cup playoff history.

Kevin Shea believes two time Conn Smythe Trophy winner Bobby Orr is the greatest Stanley Cup player of all time

"The easy answer would likely be Wayne Gretzky. Tough to argue with being the pivotal performer on four Stanley Cup championships,as well as several 'near-misses.' But I'm going to go marginally off the board and select Bobby Orr as the all-time best playoff performer.

Bobby Orr’s exploits during the 1969-70 season were extraordinary. As he continued to revolutionize how defencemen could play the game, he set NHL records that will be marvelled at for years to come. Scoring 33 goals from his blueline position (seventh highest total in the NHL that season) was only part of the story. His 87 assists were 31 more than second-place Phil Esposito, and for the first time in NHL history, a defenceman won the scoring race. Orr’s 120 points were 21 more than teammate Esposito, and earned Orr the Art Ross Trophy. His dominant play also earned Bobby the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player through the regular season, and he also laid claim to the Norris Trophy for the third consecutive season. But the show wasn’t over for Bobby Orr or his Boston Bruins.

In the Cup Final, Boston feasted on the St. Louis Blues, scoring twenty goals in the four-game final. Bobby Orr scored but one in the Final, but it was the pivotal tally. After sixty minutes of play, the Bruins and the Blues were deadlocked at three goals apiece. But forty-seconds into overtime on that Mother’s Day in Boston, Bobby Orr scored one of the most famous goals in NHL history, putting the puck past Glenn Hall as Blues’ blueliner Noel Picard sent him hurtling through the air.

In 1971-72, Boston returned to the Stanley Cup Final, this time challenged by the New York Rangers. Through the 1950s and 1960s, these two franchises had been the picture of futility but the two teams now were as powerful as any in the NHL. They finished one-two in league standings -- Boston with 119 points and the Rangers with 109.

The Stanley Cup Final of 1972 was the first Bruins-Rangers final since 1929. Boston took an immediate lead, winning the first two games of the series, but the Rangers battled back with a 5-2 win in Game Three. The teams traded wins in Games Four and Five before Boston wrapped up the series with a 3-0 victory in Game Six to win the Stanley Cup.

After the game, Vic Hadfield of the New York Rangers simply shook his head. “The two clubs were even in faceoffs, even in powerplays, even in penalty kills, even in everything…except they had Bobby Orr.”

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Lance Hornby also picks a defenseman, and goes off the board a bit in doing so.

"’I'll go with the man who set the record for consecutive years in the playoffs - Larry Robinson.

"Everyone knows what goes into winning a Cup, defence, toughness and stamina, and Robinson supplied all, three as well as getting his name on six Stanley Cups.

"Not to underestimate the role of Guy Lafleur or Ken Dryden on the great Canadiens’ teams of the 1970s, but they were able to thrive at opposite ends of the ice in large part because Robinson was keeping things clean from hash marks to hash marks.

"He had the size (Big Bird played at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds) and in an era when fighting and initimidation were a key part of strategy, Robinson was a great nuclear deterrent. In 1976, with the Broad St. Bullies having won two Cups and aiming for three straight, Robinson put his stamp on the final by plastering Gary Dornhoefer of the Flyers in a 2-1 win in Game 2.

“"They had to bring in hammers and crowbars to fix the dent in the (Montreal Forum) boards,” Dryden said. “It was a symbolic moment.”

"Beginning in 1972, Robinson played 227 playoff games with 144 points. That doesn’t include all the overtime games he racked up in 17 years with the Canadiens and three more as a Los Angeles King, the shots he blocked and the penalties he played a big role in killing off. Most good teams change mode to defence come playoff time, but Robinson practiced the creed 24/7 to become a very effective player every spring."

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Jennifer Conway picks the greatest goalie for the greatest time of year - Patrick Roy.

"When it comes to the playoffs, the player with the most pressure to perform is always the goalie. Right or wrong, his play is the easiest scapegoat when things go wrong and often the easiest to praise when the game is won. Not only does a goalie need incredible athletic skill, he also needs the mental toughness to withstand bad plays and soft goals, as well as a unique ability to read the play.

"Thus, I would argue that the greatest player in a playoff situation was Patrick Roy. Highly skilled, able to bounce back from almost any situation, and a dressing room leader, he set playoff records for shutouts (23), wins (151), and most playoff games for a goalie (247).

"The youngest Conn Smythe winner ever, he proved time and time again it was no fluke. He won the Conn Smythe twice more, and helped his teams to multiple division and conference titles, as well as four Stanley Cups. Three of those Cup wins came with teams who weren’t even considered serious threats for the Cup.

"In 1993, when the Canadiens had lost the first two games to the Nordiques in the first round, Nordiques coach Dan Bouchard publicly proclaimed that his team had solved Roy. Roy responded by helping the team sweep the next four games, then complete a sweep of the Sabres, and winning the first three against the Islanders for an eleven game post-season winning streak.

"Although his team was knocked out in the first round the year after, Roy showed a dedication to his team and hockey by trying to play through appendicitis. Forced to miss Game 3, he convinced doctors to let him play the rest of the series, postponing surgery until the off-season.

"Cocky, competitive, and able to shut out distractions, there was no one else most GMs and coaches would pick to have in net in a high pressure situation.

"Patrick's among the best at waiting you out, then reacting. That patience, plus his size, makes for a pretty formidable challenge. A lot of goalies over-commit. Not him. He's so technical. If you've got a chance against Patrick, you'd better make up your mind and stay hard with whatever decision you come to. If you doubt, you play right into his hands and you are dead." - Joe Nieuwendyk, April 1998

"When he's on, he is about as good as it gets." - Detroit head coach Scotty Bowman, May 1999

"Playoffs is not a matter of money. It's a matter of pride. I'm a person with a lot of pride. I love to do well. We play for money during the season but during the playoffs, we don't make a quarter of what me make during the season. Winning the Stanley Cup is something you never forget in your life. It is something you go to the Hall of Fame one day with your little boy and say 'Hey, look, this is what happened in my career.' It's more a matter of pride than being a money guy." – Patrick Roy, 1997

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Chris Mizzoni takes a much more analytical look for an answer, and comes up with Rocket Richard:

"One large factor I like to look at is if the player produces at a higher rate during the post-season than they do during the regular season, and if so by how much. The number of Stanley Cups a player has won should also go a long way in determining a great playoff performer. As well, leading the playoffs in a major statistical category will aid in determining playoff greatness. These three elements encompass team success as well as individual success in the post-season. I believe I've devised a simple system that is able to quantify these factors.

"Firstly, comparing playoff production to regular season is a good way to eliminate discrepancies in scoring rates throughout the eras. A player's playoff scoring is easily compared to his regular season scoring. I decided to use a player’s goal scoring rates to figure out a Playoff Performance Number. I use goals instead of points because in my opinion, the importance of scoring goals is magnified in the playoffs and is a fine
measuring stick of playoff greatness.

"The next step is accounting for how many Cups a player won and how many times he led the playoffs in goals and/or points (for defensemen I used assists here as well as goals and points.) I assign 4 points to each of these that occur after 1967 expansion, 3 points for each Cup and league lead of goals and points pre-expansion. I do this simply because winning a Cup or leading the league with 12, 21 or 30 teams in the NHL should be worth more than when there was only 6 teams.

"I set a minimum of 100 career playoff games (50 for pre-expansion) as well as having won at the very least one Stanley Cup. In my opinion there’s no way you could be considered the greatest playoff performer ever if you haven't won a Cup. The rankings are as follows, listed by Playoff Performance Number.

Maurice Richard 159
Jean Beliveau 147
Jari Kurri 146
Mark Messier 145
Wayne Gretzky 142
Nicklas Lidstrom 140
Ted Kennedy 136
Gordie Howe 136
Peter Forsberg 136
Yvan Cournoyer 136
Henrik Zetterberg 133
Joe Sakic 132
Bernie Geoffiron 132
Guy Lafleur 131
Claude Lemieux 130
Henri Richard 129
Denis Potvin 126
Dave Keon 124
Larry Robinson 123
Paul Coffey 123
Dickie Moore 122
Ted Lindsay 120
Mike Bossy 118
Phil Esposito 116
Mario Lemieux 114
Bryan Trottier 114
Bobby Hull 109
Bobby Orr 105
Steve Yzerman 94

"Well, there you have it. Maurice Richard is far and away the Greatest Playoff Performer in NHL history on the strength of raising his goal production by 11%, 9 Cup wins and 7 times leading the playoffs in goals or points."

Mizzoni has more, including breakdowns of defensemen and goalies at his own blog.

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There you have it - four hockey experts with four very different answers. The amazing thing to me - no mention of Mark Messier - the only man to captain two franchises to Stanley Cup glory - or especially Wayne Gretzky, the greatest scorer in Stanley Cup history owning pretty much every offensive record. Four Stanley Cups. Two Conn Smythe trophies. If you combined his international resume one could definitely argue that Gretzky is the best clutch player in hockey history.

If you could pick one player in hockey history to add to your team to play in game 7 of the Stanley Cup final, how could you pass on the game's greatest scorer?

Pucks On The 'Net: Don Kozak Edition

I guess we should have known it would be an ol' fashion shootout in Boston last night when Adam Hall scored 13 seconds into the game.

A few people asked me if that is a record for the fastest goal from the start of a Stanley Cup playoff game. That record goes to the man pictured to the right, Don Kozak.

On April 17th, 1977 Kozak gave the Los Angeles Kings the earliest 1-0 lead in post-season history, scoring just 6 seconds into the game. Who were the Kings playing in that series? The Boston Bruins.

Here's some more thoughts on the Boston/Tampa game:

• How about Bruins' rookie Tyler Seguin? He sat all playoffs long, making his Stanley Cup debut in game 1. Now the 19 year old has 6 points in his first 2 games, including 4 points in just 7 shifts (5:35 TOI) of the 2nd period of game 2.
• According to @TSNresearch "last teenager with 4pts in a playoff game was Trevor Linden, 2 days shy of turning 19, April 9, 1989 vs cgy 1g, 3a"
  
• With 4 points in the period, he tied a NHL record for points in one period in a playoff game. Rocket Richard set that record in 1945, and has been equaled 10 other times. Amongst the co-record holders are Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, who did it twice.
• Tim Kerr also tied that record. He scored 4 goals, 3 on the power play, in a 1985 game against the New York Rangers. The 4 goals and 3 PP goals in one period are NHL records.
• Had the Lightning won the game, they would have tied a NHL record with 7 consecutive road playoff victories.
• The loss was also Tampa's first in 9 playoff games overall.
• Tampa did score 5 goals on Tim Thomas in the game. Philadelphia scored just 7 goals against Thomas in their entire playoff series!
• Television crews should keep an isolation camera on Bruins executive Cam Neely up in that box. His intensity and mannerisms would be fun to watch all game long.

Also, in former player news:

• The Vancouver Sun finds "The Missing Link" - Link Gaetz
• The Montreal Gazette reports Luc Robitaille is in financial trouble. .
• There's some pretty interesting content at HockeyHistory.org

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