Simeon Varlamov Answers The Call

Varlamov Answers the Call

On Frozen Blog has the dish on Simeon Varlamov, the Capitals sensational young goalie who was a key factor in the 4-0 victory over the Rangers in Game #3 of the series. The article includes a very good Q&A with the young netminder.

Of course Sean Avery was up to his old tricks again. Avery was the pinnacle of undisciplined play – to the tune of 18 minutes in penalties.

Habs Looking Hopeless

Michael Ryder haunted his former club on Monday night, scoring the key goal to help put the Boston Bruins on the verge of a sweep of the Montreal Canadiens.

Even without Milan Lucic, the Bruins downed the struggling Canadiens in relatively easy fashion.  The Canadiens powerplay was, again, nowhere to be found and Alex Kovalev took another patented “night off” at the worst possible time.

Ducks Host Hockey Tailgating Party!

The Anaheim Ducks announced an outdoor hospitality venue for their fans called The Playoff Spot.   It will open three hours prior to faceoff and be available throughout the game, will offer large-screen plasma televisions for viewing NHL playoff action (including out-of-market games) and exclusive menu options and beverages.

Now, not only can Ducks fans enjoy their two wins over the San Jose Sharks…they can get bombed outside prior to the game! Who would have thought that California would be the home of the first official hockey tailgating party?

Twitter Goes Mainstream

Alanah, from Canucks and Beyond, has a list of some Mainstream Media hockey folks on Twitter. These folks include a few hockey personalities from CBC, print media reporters from around the league and my personal favorite – NHL’s Carrie Milbank!

NHL Digest has been using twitter for some time now and found it a terrific place to meet other awesome hockey fans!  If you’re not using Twitter, please sign up and follow NHL Digest Tweets here: www.twitter.com/nhldigest

The Hockey Autograph Story

A few days ago I wrote the story of my favorite hockey card. I thought it only fitting to follow that up with the story of how I received my first and favorite autograph.

It was about 4:30 PM and I remember it like yesterday; the wind was chilling me to the bone. I was standing outside the players entrance to the Winnipeg Arena waiting for the Montreal Canadiens’ bus to arrive.

I had waited for this day for months This was the day I would finally get my favorite player’s autograph. I can remember how excited I was, a seven year old boy, with his dad standing behind him as the bus pulled up.

There were a bunch of other autograph hounds around me, but I couldn’t hear them or see them. In my mind, I could only see one thing…my first autograph!

As the bus pulled closer I could smell the familiar Diesel fuel exhaust as it floated through the frigid Manitoba air. I was starting to get nervous; I had never asked for an autograph before. What should I say? I know they have probably heard it a thousand times before, but today was my first.

As the bus pulled to a stop I could feel my heart starting to race and a lump growing in my throat as I tried to swallow.

It was time.

The players filed off the bus one by one and I watched, looking for my chance as they passed by. There they were, Larry Robinson, Patrick Roy, Bob Gainey, Stephane Richer, Chris Chelios, Guy Carbonneau, Bobby Smith, Claude Lemieux and I waited quietly as they made their way past the autograph seekers and into the arena.

I finally saw my target and, with a small shove from Dad, moved forward to greet him. I said “excuse me sir…Mr. Naslund, may I please have your autograph?”

I don’t remember him saying anything, he just reached out and grabbed my notepad and pen. As he signed, I stood there like a statue as if I had been literally frozen in that moment. I couldn’t muster any more than a “thank-you” as he passed the pen and paper back to me, but there it was…the autograph.

I still have the autograph in my box of Montreal collectibles today and it is still my favorite one.

Do you have a favorite autograph?

Image courtesy: Canadiens.com

NHL Playoff Weekend News

Rangers Beat New Jersey…Again!

Henrik Lundqvist and another flukey goal have the New York Rangers halfway to the second round, and the New Jersey Devils wondering what they have to do to beat their longtime rival.
The win was the Rangers’ ninth in 10 games against New Jersey this season, and it gives New York a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series

Huge Comeback…Enough Said.

Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin didn’t disappoint in his NHL playoff debut, scoring the winning goal with 4:32 left in the third period to give his team a 5-4 comeback win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

On Frozen Blog summed it up nicely with this quote:

“After slumbering through the opening 40 minutes, Ovechkin tore the roof off the Verizon Center, a sold-out rink that gives the Canadian arenas a run for their money where noise and excitement is concerned.”
–National Post

Avs and Wild In Tough

Shane Giroux was looking forward to Game 2 of the Avs vs. Wild series.

It’s time to grab the beer and chips and plop yourself down on the couch for some exciting playoff action! And you might want to have a defibrillator nearby if the last game was any indication of how this series will play out.

Who’s Signing Gilbert Grape?

The Edmonton Oilers signed Tom Gilbert to a US$24-million, six-year contract Friday that will keep the 25-year-old defenceman with the team through the 2013-14 season.

This Just In From The World’s Most Boring Game

From Mychael Urban MLB.com writer via Kuklas:

Does the U.S. media have an East Coast bias? Sure. Our country was founded there, as were all of the big-time sports leagues. (Save your e-mails, hockey fans. We’re aware that the NHL was founded in Canada. We’re also aware that you aren’t “big-time” until your TV ratings top those of “Golden Girls” reruns on Lifetime.)

Not sure if he thought of this quote while playing with his foul balls, scratching his rosin bag, or stabbing a ‘roid needle in his backside…in any event it’s just plain classless.

Guy Carbonneau’s Psychedelic Tie Rocks!

The Montreal Canadiens coach is 2-0 while wearing the multi-coloured tie his wife gave him for his 48th birthday. Now, fans are reportedly trying to buy the same Hermes tie, which Carbonneau’s wife picked up in Dallas.

Carbo had the following to add to the situation:

“They were still talking about it. It’s unbelievable. I’m going to wear it a couple more times and this summer I’m going to put it on auction, on Ebay or some golf charity. Hopefully we make a lot of money with it. But I’ll buy more. I’ll find some.”

NCAA All-Americans Honored

Players from 14 different Division I programs are represented as American Hockey Coaches Association RBK All-Americans for the 2007-08 season. The top 24 college hockey players were announced Friday at the Frozen Four in Denver. New Hampshire led all schools with four honorees, followed by Colorado College with three.