Alex Tanguay thinks people under estimate the Canucks. Well, the Avs have been pretty consistent lately, even if it hasn't been pretty.
Back in the early years of the 21st century, Alex Tanguay played on a Colorado Avalanche team which won a Stanley Cup in 2001 and was consistently regarded as one of the NHL's two or three best teams.
That team, of course, was defined by its superstars, most notably the nonpareil 1-2 punch of centremen Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg and Patrick Roy in goal. But it's funny. When Tanguay talks about that team, he doesn't talk about its glittering individual talent. Rather, he talks about its depth, its consistency and its all-around team game.
A hockey-mom talks about the Chara hit and the talk she had with her son.
As the news showed Boston Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara ram Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty into the padded steel stanchion holding the Plexiglas at the end of the Habs' bench, Nolan declared, "That's terrible. I feel so bad for the injured player, but besides it being a late hit, there's nothing wrong with it, other than the horrible outcome."
"WHAT?" I hollered. "The puck wasn't anywhere near Pacioretty."
Some highlights from around the league
People will see the score and just chalk it up to another loss by the struggling Avalanche. The defeat was the Avs 18th loss in their last 19 games since January 25th. But in a time for moral victories, Colorado showed a lot of fight to get back into a game that easily could have gotten out of control. They pulled to within a single goal, pulled their goaltender and peppered Pekka Rinne as they tried to pull even
And it's that time of year again, the GM's are meeting in Florida to discuss the game.
The NHL's general managers will find themselves in the eye of the storm on Florida's Atlantic coast this week.
With the outcry over concussions having grown to a fever pitch, the GMs will gather for their annual meetings from Monday to Wednesday under some pressure to deliver a message about the state of the game.
An article about head shots in hockey.
Over the years, they have had crises arising from bench clearing brawls, high sticks, stick swinging, each issue seemingly bigger than the last one, but over time they were eventually eliminated, or at least severely reduced from the game, but not without a lot of pain and turmoil. So again, this is not new to the NHL.
Onto some sad news, Rick Martin has passed away.
Rick Martin, the first 50-goal scorer for the Buffalo Sabres and a member of their famed French Connection line, died Sunday.
New York State Police Capt. Steven Nigrelli said Martin was pronounced dead at a suburban Buffalo hospital at 1 p.m., about a half hour after the car he was driving crossed the centre line on the road, rolled along the shoulder and struck a utility pole before coming to rest against a tree.