Blogs
  • Backhand Shelf

    • Backhand Shelf Podcast: Bruins win in overtime, Kings rally late, discussing NHL logos

      By Justin Bourne in Backhand Shelf Podcast on Friday, May. 17, 2013

      Bourne trolls the Rangers

      Heyyy, it’s long weekend Friday! Today we talked about:

      * Toronto’s mayor (you’ll have to forgive us this indulgence)

      * Brad Marchand and his role

      * The glory of Patrice Bergeron (and Henrik Lundqvist)

      * The Raffi Torres suspension

      * The Kings late rally

      * Puck-over-glass penalties

      * Terrible hockey logos

      * And much more

      You can listen to it here:

      Download it here, and subscribe on iTunes here. Facebook!

      Full Story

    • Here, watch some Leafs’ fans get emotionally destroyed in under three minutes

      By Justin Bourne in Ouch on Friday, May. 17, 2013

      Via Deadspin, here’s a Leafs’ fan who attached a GoPro camera to the top of his TV to catch him and his buddies celebrating a Leafs victory.

      Here’s how he sets it up on YouTube:

      Had my gopro out in hopes of capturing some memorable playoff moments for Toronto but instead got this. Though loss but still had a great time watching the leafs in the playoffs and seeing how nuts all the fans were. I’m sure leaf fans...

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    • 5 issues that led to one big overtime problem for the New York Rangers last night

      By Justin Bourne in Analysis on Friday, May. 17, 2013

      The Bruins overtime winner last night was a beauty of a goal, but it left me scratching my head a bit. The play on the offensive side of the puck was obviously great, but how do you end up in situation where Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and Jaromir Jagr have a 2-on-1/3-on-2 on Anton Stralman and Mats Zuccarello?

      Well, I came up with five reasons. Well, four true reasons and one “that could have been done better.”

      In the interest...

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    • Perfect Patrice

      By Cam Charron in Analysis, Boston Bruins on Friday, May. 17, 2013
      Bruins-win2-250x167

      It takes a lot more than goal scoring to win a hockey game. Well, that’s not entirely correct, but it takes a lot more than finishing ability to win a hockey game, and the only stats that appear in a boxscore that are to be trusted are goals and assists.

      Patrice Bergeron is good at those things, but he’s also good at all the other things that aren’t recorded in the traditional boxscore, the things you could, until about six...

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    • Noteworthy, May 17th: Kings rally on late powerplay, Bruins get it done in OT…again

      By Justin Bourne in Noteworthy on Friday, May. 17, 2013

      Last season during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, I put out a morning “noteworthy” column in the style of Trey Kerby’s “Things Of Note” posts on The Basketball Jones. This year I’ll be doing something similar (I think with some upgrades on my own previous attempts) using the NHL’s morning press release (“Stanley Cup of Joe,” they’re calling it), my own opinions, and some videos, .GIFs and appropriate pictures. Quoted passages are from the NHL...

      Full Story

    • In an odd twist, Raffi Torres has been suspended for…3-6 games

      By Justin Bourne in Suspension Videos on Thursday, May. 16, 2013

      The NHL has suspended Raffi Torres in a way that rarely, rarely happens (Matt Cooke and Todd Bertuzzi were subject to something similar). He’s been suspended for the second round of playoffs. Whether that be three more games or six, that’s his deal. He can’t play in round two.

      I doubt the NHLPA will love this, it’s just…odd. How can you say a play is worth X… but possibly Y if other things unrelated to that play happen? Something is worth...

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    • Backhand Shelf Podcast: Chicago/Detroit Game 1, previewing tonight’s action, John reads Don

      By Justin Bourne in Backhand Shelf Podcast on Thursday, May. 16, 2013

      Howdy! Sorry for the late show today, Noon was busy rescuing kittens from trees today.

      * Can Jimmy Howard hold off the Hawks?

      * Why did Roszival try to kill Abdelkader

      * TOEWS

      * Boston Bruins/New York Rangers preview

      * Kings/Sharks Game 2

      * And more

      You can listen to it here:

       

      Download it here, subscribe on iTunes here, and OMG FACEBOOK.

      Full Story

    • Digestible Playoff Previews: Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers

      By Justin Bourne in 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Previews on Thursday, May. 16, 2013

      With the playoffs on the horizon, I wanted to put together previews of each series, but more specifically, I wanted to put together the type of previews I’d want to read. Bite-sized, few stats, and little splash of opinion for seasoning. This is my attempt at providing that.

      ***

      4) Boston Bruins vs. 6) New York Rangers

      Head-to-Head in 2013: One win for the Bruins, two for the Rangers, haven’t played since Feb. 12th

      A stat: Two squads haven’t met...

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    • Jersey Aesthetics: Ranking the four 2nd-round playoff series on visual pleasure

      By Justin Bourne in Jersey Aesthetics, One Man's Opinion on Thursday, May. 16, 2013

      As I wrote prior to the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs:

      This may not be the case for all hockey fans out there, but when I turn on the TV to watch a hockey game, my enjoyment of said game is affected by the uniforms being worn, the way they work together, and how they work with the crowd around them. I can barely watch the Panthers, for example, regardless of opponent.

      A couple simple things matter:

      *...

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    • And here’s John Tortorella’s old yearbook picture

      By Justin Bourne in General Awesomeness on Thursday, May. 16, 2013

      Via Toucher and Rich, The Fonz’s John Tortorella’s yearbook photo from Concord-Carlisle High in Massachusetts has surfaced, and you won’t be disappointed, mostly because he includes the phrase “bathroom brawls” in his…what were those things called, “bequeaths?”

      Some thoughts:

      * “Lanas Garage” – him and his buddies leaving certain special dates/locations for posterity?

      * MAN, his friends had cooler nicknames than mine. Snake, Mendy, Musky…bad to the bone.

      * B.D.W.B? Bhat Dould Webus Bo? That can’t be right. Bacon Derby...

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    • Dave Lozo’s Bag Skate: Brad Richards future with the Rangers, Game of Thrones & Five Guys

      By Dave Lozo in Dave Lozo's Bag Skate on Thursday, May. 16, 2013

      Brad Richards has been staggeringly bad at hockey this season. That doesn’t make him unique. What does though is the fact he makes $6.66 million per season through 2019-20, which is a lot of money to pay someone who acted as a fourth-line center during the first round of the playoffs.

      Richards turned 33 years old in May and will be 40 years old when his contract expires. Whether the season of the New York Rangers comes to a conclusion...

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    • The 2013 NHL award nominees had stellar regular seasons; how are they doing in the playoffs?

      By Daniel Wagner in 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Playoffs! on Thursday, May. 16, 2013
      168841135-jonathan-daniel-227x175

      (Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)

      Throughout the playoffs, the NHL has been parcelling out announcements of the post-season award nominees. This has led to the usual debates: did Player X get snubbed for Award Y? Should the Hart be for the player most valuable to his team or for just the best player in the league? Do purely offensive defencemen belong in the discussion for the Norris trophy?

      For some fans whose teams didn’t make the playoffs or got bounced in...

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    • Jaromir Jagr is “not good now,” according to Jaromir Jagr

      By Justin Bourne in Notable Quotables, bruins, i'm not good now, jaromir jagr on Thursday, May. 16, 2013

      One of my favourite things about older players is that they’re more prone to honesty, given everything they’ve been through in the NHL. They’ve built their reputations, proven themselves, and tend to open up a little bit more as they get on in years.

      Jaromir Jagr is one of those “on in years” players, and in reflecting on his time with the New York Rangers prior to playing them in a best-of-seven series (starting tonight), he made some awfully interesting...

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    • Noteworthy, May 16th: The Chicago Blackhawks beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-1

      By Justin Bourne in Noteworthy on Thursday, May. 16, 2013

      Last season during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, I put out a morning “noteworthy” column in the style of Trey Kerby’s “Things Of Note” posts on The Basketball Jones. This year I’ll be doing something similar (I think with some upgrades on my own previous attempts) using the NHL’s morning press release (“Stanley Cup of Joe,” they’re calling it), my own opinions, and some videos, .GIFs and appropriate pictures. Quoted passages are from the NHL...

      Full Story

    • Digestible Playoff Previews: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings

      By Justin Bourne in 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Previews on Wednesday, May. 15, 2013

      With the playoffs on the horizon, I wanted to put together previews of each series, but more specifically, I wanted to put together the type of previews I’d want to read. Bite-sized, few stats, and little splash of opinion for seasoning. This is my attempt at providing that.

      ***

      1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. 7) Detroit Red Wings

      Head-to-Head in 2013: Chicago 4-0-0

      A stat: The Hawks were 18-3-3 at home this year.

      *** ALL STATS REGULAR SEASON ***

      Goal differentials: ...

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    • Court of Public Opinion: Raffi Torres did another borderline illegal thing

      By Justin Bourne in Court of Public Opinion on Wednesday, May. 15, 2013

      Last night Raffi Torres threw a dicey hit on an opposing player (as balloons, confetti and streamers fall from the ceiling rewarding me for typing that for the 100th time), and we’re going to take a look at it. So far, the NHL hasn’t followed up on it, so it seems like there won’t be any supplemental discipline.

      (Update: Yeah there will be.

      SJ’s Raffi Torres will have disciplinary hearing with NHL for hit on LA’s Jarret Stoll. Sounds...

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    • Backhand Shelf Podcast: Penguins roll over Ottawa, Kings beat Sharks, Chicago/Detroit preview

      By Justin Bourne in Backhand Shelf Podcast on Wednesday, May. 15, 2013

      Howdy friends! Nice, concise show today. We went through:

      * Ottawa’s lack of push-back vs. the Pens

      * Tomas Vokoun’s play

      * Jonathan Quick killin’ it

      * More valuable: Matt Cooke or Chris Neil?

      * Any way Detroit can hang with Chicago?

      * And much more

      You can listen to it here:

      Download it here, and subscribe on iTunes here. Facebook!

      Full Story

    • Watch NESN announcer Jack Edwards “kill the beast” that is the Toronto Maple Leafs

      By Justin Bourne in General Awesomeness, Hockey Vids on Wednesday, May. 15, 2013

      Jack Edwards is one of the best in the business. If you’re a Bruins fan, this is one hell of a goal call. If you’re a Leafs’ fan…here’s what you got.

      (S/t @adater)

      Full Story

    • Hockey Isn’t Fair

      By Ellen Etchingham in Dear God No, General Wrongness on Wednesday, May. 15, 2013

      A thousand monkeys poking at a thousand typewriters might, given enough time, compose the complete works of Shakespeare, but not even such a diligent menagerie could ever script a crueler heartbreak than the one which befell the Toronto Maple Leafs this past Monday night. It was not exactly a tragedy and not exactly a comedy, but more of a vicious joke, as black as humor ever gets. The set-up: seven seasons outside the playoffs, an unexpected run of luck, a...

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    • We expected something better than before

      By Jake Goldsbie in Opinion, Thoughts, Well That Sucked on Wednesday, May. 15, 2013

      Ugh

      Yesterday was a weird day.

      The gamut of emotions that Leafs fans have been run through in the last seven days has been unlike anything I have ever experienced as a sports fan. You all know what happened by now, you don’t need a recap. Hell, I don’t need a recap. Ever. Walking into the office yesterday, seeing five screens all replaying the worst heartache I have ever experienced in sports, I mean…how do you even begin to justify...

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    • Digestible Playoff Previews: Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks

      By Justin Bourne in 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Previews on Wednesday, May. 15, 2013

      With the playoffs on the horizon, I wanted to put together previews of each series, but more specifically, I wanted to put together the type of previews I’d want to read. Bite-sized, few stats, and little splash of opinion for seasoning. This is my attempt at providing that.

      ***

      5) Los Angles Kings vs. 6) San Jose Sharks

      Head-to-Head in 2013: Split, with both teams winning their two home games.

      A stat: This is the first time the Kings have...

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    • Digestible Playoff Previews: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators

      By Justin Bourne in 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Previews on Tuesday, May. 14, 2013

      With the playoffs on the horizon, I wanted to put together previews of each series, but more specifically, I wanted to put together the type of previews I’d want to read. Bite-sized, few stats, and little splash of opinion for seasoning. This is my attempt at providing that.

      ***

      1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 7) Ottawa Senators

      Head-to-Head in 2013: Penguins won all three match-ups this season.

      A stat: The Penguins have three players in the top three (including ties) in...

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    • A Toronto Maple Leafs fan is selling a “lightly used” television after the team’s meltdown last night

      By Justin Bourne in General Hilarity on Tuesday, May. 14, 2013

      (Click to enlarge.)

      Some people had bad nights on Monday, while others chose MAD nights.

      (S/t to @MTLDrivefor25)

      ***

      Update:

      @jtbourne Not that it matters but the “smashed TV” Kijiji ad is a fake, albeit a funny one. I’m friends with the guy facebook.com/thealexoliveira

      — Scott Carefoot (@scottcarefoot) May 15, 2013

      Full Story

    • Backhand Shelf Podcast: Working through Boston’s Game 7 comeback against the Leafs and more

      By Justin Bourne in Backhand Shelf Podcast on Tuesday, May. 14, 2013

      But not much more. We discussed:

      * Boston’s unprecedented comeback

      * Blame for the Leafs or love for the B’s?

      * Toronto going forward

      * Bruins vs. Rangers

      * The Rangers Game 7 destruction of Washington

      * Series previews

      * And much more

      You can listen to it here:

       

      Download it here, and subscribe on iTunes here. Facebook!

      Full Story

    • The Don Cherry POINT Soundboard

      By Scott Johnson in 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Boston Bruins, Don Cherry, Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, May. 14, 2013
      Pointthumb-175x175

      During intermission of last night’s Bruins/Leafs game, Don Cherry was up to his usual routine with Ron MacLean. His focus – nay obsession – was on the Leafs lack of coverage of the points (which is interesting, given how many coaches would much prefer to have the puck up there than around the net, but anyway). His analysis of the play was particularly hilarious in that he didn’t so much analyze as he did watch the video and bellow “POINT!”...

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Scoreboard for May 17
Senators 3 Final
Penguins 4 Pit 2-0
Scoreboard for May 18
Red Wings
T:5
Chi 1-0
Blackhawks
-210
1:00 PM EDT
Kings
T:4.5
LA 2-0
Sharks
-135
9:00 PM EDT
Scoreboard for May 19
Rangers
T:5
Bos 1-0
Bruins
-125
3:00 PM EDT
Penguins Pit 2-0
Senators 7:30 PM EDT
Scoreboard for May 20
Blackhawks Chi 1-0
Red Wings 7:30 PM EDT
Scoreboard for May 21
Bruins Bos 1-0
Rangers 7:30 PM EDT
Kings LA 2-0
Sharks 10:00 PM EDT
Scoreboard for May 22
Penguins Pit 2-0
Senators 7:30 PM EDT
Scoreboard for May 23
Bruins Bos 1-0
Rangers 7:00 PM EDT