World Cup of Hockey: My Power Rankings (Top 5)

1. Canada

Just because PK Subban was left off of this team does not mean it is not a dangerous team. They have home ice advantage, some of the greatest players in the world, and there are no obvious holes in Team Canada. Also, in the past few tournaments, they have dominated. 

2. Finland

Finland has been slowly but surely rising on the international hockey spectrum. Ever since Sochi 2014, they have been rising in rank. Not to mention that gold medal in World Juniors this year.

3. Sweden

Sweden has had a trend lately: win or bust. They either come off so high and win gold or silver, or they end up losing very early. Other countries have slowly caught up with Sweden and if there is any time to win gold, it is now. 

4. Team North America

All the rising youngsters that have been unnamed to a specific country team have been named to Team North America. Consisting of the likes of Brandon Saad and Connor McDavid, this team, although young, is looking dangerous. 

5. Russia

Just as with Sweden, Russia has also had the trend of medal or bust. They either finish so low in the standings or make it to the gold or bronze medal game. There is much speculation about Russia, especially since it is difficult to tell what team managers are thinking when they pick Slava Voynov.

To be continued.... Numbers 6 to 8 coming soon!

Let me know what you think in the comments, and whether or not you agree with my power rankings! Adieu and go Canada!

Sharks or Pens?

My prediction: Sharks in 5. Joel Ward scores the series-winning goal.

Go Sharks beat the Pens.

Comment below to let me know what team you are rooting for. 

Live Blog: Penguins vs. Lightning, Game 7, ECF 2016

Stamkos is in!!!!!!!! This will be epic, especially if he comes back and wins the game for them!!!! The #1 man!!!

Period 1:

So far, scoreless. But I did see a few missed calls that should've been called for the Bolts.

From the eye test it looks as is the Pens have the upper hand but don't worry, we will prevail. Let's go Lightning!!!!!

Yeah right. The shots are eerily almost equal. They are evenly matched right now

Period 2:

OK, this is bad.

1-0 Penguins, Bryan Rust scored.

1-1 because Drouin scored but this time it wasn't disallowed... but I am NERVOUS!

2-1 Penguins... Rust scored AGAIN!!!!

This is looking very very very very bad!!! Because the shots are 19-8 in favour of.. you guessed it!... the Penguins. Lightning need to pick up the pace if they want to win this!

Aaaaand the Penguins have yet another powerplay. Let the penalty kill raaage oooonnn... the Penguins never bothered me anyway!
The Lightning flurries through the air into the ground...Game 7 is spiraling in frozen fractals all around....and one shot crystallizes like an icy blast...they'll never score...the Cup Final is in the paasssst... LET IT GOOOO LET IT GOOOO...
See how nervous this game is making me?
Things are looking bad. Really bad.

Shots are now 22-8 in favour of the Penguins. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS TEAM?

Sorry, everyone I shouldn't have called this a live blog... I should've called it A LIVE RANT. BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING. THE LIGHTNING ARE COLLAPSING JUST ONE GAME AWAY FROM THEIR SECOND CONSECUTIVE FINAL. WHY, WHY, WHY????

PENGUINS GOT TWO MORE SHOTS. PUH-LEASE!!!

ANOTHER SHOT FOR THE PENGUINS. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Period 3:

The Penguins are totally dominating. The Lightning have no chance now.

STAMKOS JUST MISSED A BREAKAWAY CHANCE!!!!!

It's over. 2-1 Penguins is the final.

Reminder: Live Blog Tonight

Get ready for the wild ride tonight - Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final, Lightning vs. Penguins, at 8 PM EST. A live blog will be hosted here, with questions in the comments answered.

Let's go Lightning!!!

Joel Ward is in the Stanley Cup Final!!!!

The San Jose Sharks, after 25 years of waiting, finally made it to their first Stanley Cup Final, and Joel Ward scored two goals in Game 6 against the St. Louis Blues. 

Last summer, when Ward signed with the Sharks as a free agent he had said he was looking for the chance to win the Cup with the Sharks. I remember laughing and saying that the Sharks won't even make the playoffs but boy, was I wrong. 

Ward scored two goals in the game, and further cemented his status as a clutch playoff performer. Here's to many more goals that Ward will score in the Final, but go Lightning!!!

Live Blog: Lightning vs Penguins, Game 6, ECF 2016

Here I have decided to start something new, a live blog during the game of what I think of the game. Hope you enjoy! I am looking forward to the comments.

Period 1

Fehr has a shot but he didn't score. Serves him right.

Yes!!!! Lightning score!!!! Drouin!!!!!
Oh wait, it's an offside. Why was Mike Sullivan looking for an offside. Nil - Nil.

Penguins score. Of course, using their Penguin  cheating methods *angry face*.

Period 2

2-0 Cheaters. Ugh!

3-0 Cheating Penguins and Crosby scored. NOOOOO!!!

If only that goal hadn't been disallowed.

Period 3

YEAH! BRIAN BOYLE SCORES! 3-1 Penguins.
(True story: 3-2 Penguins)

BOYLE STRIKES AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!! 3-2 PENGUINS!!!!!!!!
(True story: Tie game)

OMGOSH NO!!!!!!!! PENGUINS HAVE A 5-ON-3! WHY BOLTS WHY??

4-2 Pens.

5-2 Pens.

If only that goal hadn't been disallowed!!!

The Curse of the Capitals

When Jeff Schultz left the Washington Capitals in 2013, the next season, with the Los Angeles kings, he won the Stanley Cup. One season after leaving the Capitals. 

Last year, four major players left the Capitals: Mike Green, Troy Brouwer, Joel Ward, and Eric Fehr. Of those four players, only one does not remain in the Cup hunt, and that is Green, as his Red Wings were ousted in the first round by the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

The Capitals ... it was supposed to be their year. But now, we get to sit back, while the BLUES, who are often compared to the Capitals, are in the Conference Final. And they usually get first round exits. AND IT IS NOT FAIR. Because Troy Brouwer is on the Blues, and he scored the series-winning goal in the first round. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO MAKE HIM REGRET LEAVING US. If I see him hoist the Cup those year, I will... I don't know... UGH.

I cannot reemphasize how much I get annoyed when I think about Fehrsie, my former favourite player. AHEM.. I mean FEHR. He is just... infuriating. He scored the game-winning goal for the Penguins in Game 2 and said it gave him more satisfaction that it was against the Caps. I DO NOT WANT TO SEE HIM IN THE FINAL.

Him!!! Wardo!!! My favourite player... at one point. That was in the past. When he left the Caps and got on the Sharks, he said that he is looking to win the Cup and he thinks he will get that chance with the Sharks. That was back when the Sharks were a non-playoff team. But now, for the first time in my memory, the Sharks are in the Conference Finals. I TOLD YOU IT WAS A CURSE.

Unfortunately, either Ward or Brouwer will have to play in the Cup Final. Very, very unfortunately. WE WANTED TO MAKE THEM REGRET LEAVING US. But, there's still hope. The Tampa Bay Lightning are just emerging. All they have to do is destroy Fehr's Penguins in the Conference Finals, then destroy whoever gets to the Cup Final, and I won't have to go through the pain of seeing the curse come true. LET'S GO LIGHTNING!!!!!!!!!!!

My Outtakes on the Capitals Second-Round Loss

"I think this group feels until we win a Stanley Cup, it won't be a successful season," said Capitals coach Barry Trotz after his team's 6-game loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

“The wound obviously is very fresh and we’ve seen this far too often, so pardon me if I sound crushed,” added Joe Beninati, the play-by-play man for CSN Washington. “I am. I am crushed because I believed there were a couple of instances in the third period where the Capitals defied death — they did — and once you get into overtime, it’s anybody’s game. It’s a roll of the dice, but the longer the overtime goes between these teams, especially on a night when you lose Karl Alzner, the longer it goes it favors the team that’s faster. And the team that was faster from the outset in this game was Pittsburgh. They were taking away the boards magically in the first period. The Capitals couldn’t get out of their own zone. It seemed like time after time after time, somebody in black and gold was in their way. But, the way Washington rallied is a sign that this is a different team. Please do not say the word ‘collapse’ to me. Do not say the word ‘choke’ to me. This is not one of those. This is a very good Pittsburgh team that’s moving on to a conference final.”

"It's a failure," Justin Williams said, upset, "The only thing I've processed is that it sucks."

Nicklas Backstrom was adamant. "It's getting old... [on the fans] I love them. They are the best fans. ...I promise we're going to do it."

Matt Niskanen teared up during his interview. "This is the most hurt I've been in my career. … This sucks. I can't believe we're talking about this right now."

But the question remained. Did the Capitals really deserve to lose? They dominated in Games 3 and 4, and they only lost the entire series by one goal. Not only that, but their overtime losses were those that could have been avoided.

And in Game 6, the resilience shown by these Capitals, coming back from 3-0 to 3-3 in the third period is a positive sign.

There were many factors as to why the Capitals lost, and some of those were beyond their control.

But, first of all, just a few points for Penguins fans who are all happy:

Look how the Penguins are right at the top. The referees clearly let a lot of Penguin penalties go. I will discuss these penalties here:

1. Kris Letang's one-game suspension. Brooks Orpik had the same exact same hit as Letang did, and he got three games. When Letang did it, after the protesting of Capitals fans and some more, the NHL agreed to give him a one-game suspension. ORPIK RECEIVED THREE GAMES FOR THE SAME EXACT HIT. They weren't even trying to hide their bias towards the Penguins. 

2. Evgeni Malkin's no-game suspension. Malkin headshotted Daniel Winnik. Seriously.

3. Kris letang's headshot on TJ Oshie.

4. The Capitals disallowed goal and Evgeny Kuznetsov's penalty. Why? I get the disallowed goal part, but why the penalty? It wasn't intentional.

5. Crosby holding Backstrom's stick. He got no penalty.

AND MANY, MANY MORE!!! Also, just for the record, THE REFS LET THE PENGUINS GET AWAY WITH 99% OF THEIR PENALTIES.

So, in conclusion, Penguins fans who are happy, admit your team was handed the series win by the Penguins loving refs.

SHOUTOUTS TO AWESOME CAPITALS PLAYERS WHO DESERVE IT

John Carlson!!!!!

Carlson is the first defenseman in franchise history to record twelve points in the first twelve games of the postseason. Well done!!!!

This guy, along with TJ Oshie, were the best in the series. If anyone deserved to go in a Conference Final, it was those too. Shoutout to Jay Beagle and TJ Oshie. 

TJ Oshie!!!!!

He scored all the Caps game-winning goals in the Penguins series. Also, his hat trick in the first game was epic. YAY TJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jay Beagle!!!!

THAT SAVE THOUGH. Also, he's a unicorn in disguise. (Reference to Game 1). 

PENBC

IT IS QUITE CLEAR THAT MIKE MILBURY, DOC EMRICK, AND PIERRE MCGUIRE LOVE THE PENS. IT IS ALSO QUITE CLEAR THAT THEY ARE PENS FANS. Whenever the Penguins did a cheap shot they praised the player and justified it, but when Orpik did it he was a "predator." Also, when Orpik was on the Penguins, he was apparently the best player ever but now he is bad. In the eyes of PENBC at least. Well, honestly, I'd rather listen to the Penguins radio. At least they are more objective. Also, PENBC kept saying how the Penguins deserve to win and how the Capitals are really bad. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE OBJECTIVE, PEOPLE.

Also, Injuries!
There was a number of injuries unknown to people that the Capitals players played through.

1. Alex Ovechkin - lower back injury

2. Karl Alzner - groin injury. He felt it "pop" during game 6. Also, a broken thumb, strained oblique, and pulled hip flexor.

3. Brooks Orpik - cracked femur, concussion, and neck injury

4. John Carlson - broken foot and ankle

5. Marcus Johansson - undisclosed, but he will miss Worlds because of it

The Question of the Day: Why did they lose so badly???

1. Brooks Orpik's poor decisions.

2. Bad defense.

3. Matt Murray.

4. Over-Reliance on the powerplay. 

THE REFEREES LOVE THE PENS!!!!!!!!!!

What do you think happened? Did the Caps deserve to win the series? I say take it to 7 games at least. But, for now, go Lightning!!

P.S. I feel like I didn't get all the missed calls by the refs. please add the ones you saw in the comment boxes. See chart above for proof the league loves the Pens the best. "Golden team"