Blues need goals from Tarasenko to beat Sharks in Game 5 ST. LOUIS –  Vladimir Tarasenko isn’t used to playing hockey for the St. Louis Blues this time of year. In the 24-year-old sniper’s prior go-arounds in the playoffs, his team has been ousted in the first-round. And with this new experience comes adjustment for Tarasenko, who scored 40 goals in the regular season but hasn’t scored this … [Read more...]

Nikita Kucherov, Heartbreak Kid for the Tampa Bay Lightning PITTSBURGH – The Heartbreak Kid was the story in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final, his star-power and influence undeniable in its outcome.  No, not Shawn Michaels – the other one. The Russian one, with the bolt of electricity on his chest. It’s easy to forget that Kucherov is effectively a kid in hockey terms: 22 years old, … [Read more...]

Human Stanley Cup hoisted by Penguins fans at Game 5 PITTSBURGH – When the Pittsburgh Penguins scored their first goal in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final on Sunday night, there was much revelry. Andrew W.K. blared from the arena speakers. Fans cheered and waved their rally towels.  And, of course, an adult woman dressed like the Stanley Cup was hoisted into the air by two male … [Read more...]

How the unshakable Lightning pushed Penguins to brink PITTSBURGH – The measure of a champion is how they react when adversity hits.  Like when a star player is lost to surgery, or a starting goaltender is lost to injury. Like when there’s a series deficit, or a deficit in the series’ most critical game. Like when you’re on the road, facing an opponent energized by an old friend’s return to … [Read more...]

Lightning rally to win Game 5 thriller vs. Fleury, Penguins PITTSBURGH – The Tampa Bay Lightning are one win away from another chance at hockey’s Holy Grail.  The Lightning rallied twice and finally outlasted the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-3, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final on Sunday. Jason Garrison’s shot 53 seconds into overtime deflected off Tyler Johnson's back past Marc-Andre … [Read more...]

Shawn Michaels, HBK Line and 10 other NHL/wrestling connections PITTSBURGH – Sidney Crosby smiled widely as the memories flooded back.  Growing up, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain was a fan of Shawn Michaels, the WWE wrestling legend who headlined main events from 1989 through 2010. “Yeah, I was. I liked Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart but I was also a Shawn Michaels fan," remembered Crosby, in a bit … [Read more...]

Marc-Andre Fleury starting Game 5 for Penguins; Matt Murray 'gets it' PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury will start his first game since March 31, taking back the net from rookie Matt Murray for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final on Sunday night. Fleury made seven saves in the third period of Game 4 after Murray was pulled, having given up four goals to the Tampa … [Read more...]

Blues finally find offense, tie conference final with Game 4 win SAN JOSE, Calif. – Maybe the St. Louis Blues needed a change in goal in order to ignite their slumping offense. One day after coach Ken Hitchcock was asked how switching from Brian Elliott to Jake Allen could help the team score more goals, they played a more complete game in front of Allen in a 6-3 win over the San Jose Sharks … [Read more...]

Ken Hitchcock's adjustments pay off in Game 4 conference final win SAN JOSE, Calif. – Almost every move St. Louis Blues coach Ken Hitchcock made for Game 4 of the Western Conference Final worked.  His decision to change goaltenders sparked his team’s all-around play. His decision to change up lines kept the San Jose Sharks off-balance. The way the St. Louis Blues coach changed in-game … [Read more...]

John Quenneville scores goal of the year in Memorial Cup (Video) The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and the Brandon Wheat Kings battled in the Memorial Cup on Saturday night, as the Canadian junior tournament rolled on in Red Deer. In the third period, John Quenneville of the Wheat Kings combined with Ivan Provorov for what might be the goal of 2016 so far.  Provorov, a 2015 draft pick by the … [Read more...]