Ryan O’Reilly Masterton Trophy nomination earns widespread mockery The NHL’s Bill Masterton Trophy nominations are trickling out on Monday. And if the reaction tells you anything, the Buffalo chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association had theirs trickle down their legs.  Ryan O’Reilly is the Buffalo Sabres nominee for the Masterton Trophy, given annually “to the National Hockey … [Read more...]

What We Learned: How the Predators turned it around (Hello, this is a feature that will run through the entire season and aims to recap the weekend’s events and boils those events down to one admittedly superficial fact or stupid opinion about each team. Feel free to complain about it.) The Nashville Predators weren't looking so hot headed into the All-Star Break. They were 24-18-8, with 56 … [Read more...]

Blackhawks edge Canucks, clinch playoff spot Andrew Ladd and Jonathan Toews connected for a late game-winner against the Canucks. (USATSI) It was never really in doubt, but the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks punched their ticket to the postseason Sunday night. Having lost six of their previous eight games, things were getting a little sketchy for the Blackhawks, but they … [Read more...]

NCAA Hockey: Quinnipiac, Denver punch Frozen Four tickets It's not clear what, exactly, is wrong with Sam Anas's shoulder, but whatever it is, it's not good. He's playing some decent minutes for Quinnipiac, but he was termed a “game-time decision” in each of his team's games this weekend. And while he took warm-ups both nights, the number of pucks he shot in those warm-ups was zero. He … [Read more...]

NHL Three Stars: Penguins road streak continues; Hawks in playoffs No. 1 Star: Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins  The Penguins sniper scored a goal and added an assist on Sidney Crosby’s game-winner in his team’s 3-2 overtime victory at the New York Rangers. The victory for the Penguins was their fifth straight on the road. Kessel has seven points in his last two games – both Penguins wins. … [Read more...]

Wisconsin to hire Tony Granato as next head coach: Report The University of Wisconsin’s men’s hockey team will reportedly hire Tony Granato as their next head coach. ESPN’s John Buccigross along with  USCHO both reported the news Sunday morning that Granato will replace long-time coach Mike Eaves who was fired in mid-March. Eaves had been the Badgers’ coach for 14 seasons, but had won just … [Read more...]

Yahoo Free NHL Live Stream of the Day: Devils vs. Hurricanes The New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes meet Sunday afternoon as they look to improve their already slim playoff hopes. Sitting five and six points outside of an Eastern Conference Wild Card spot respectively, both the Devils and Hurricanes need to not only scoop up points, but rely on those teams ahead of them in the … [Read more...]

NHL Playoff Death Watch: Huge loss for Avalanche; East wild card drama Since we're down to the final moments of postseason life for teams in contention, Puck Daddy solemnly begins a daily countdown to annihilation.  Saturday’s loss to the Minnesota Wild in regulation was a potentially devastating one for the Colorado Avalanche. Their odds for making the playoffs dropped to 5.1 percent … [Read more...]

NHL Three Stars: Blues shutout Caps; Ducks OT comeback; Pens thump Detroit No. 1 Star: Jake Allen, St. Louis Blues Thanks to Allen's 32 save performance against the Washington Capitals, the St. Louis Blues have a shutout streak that is now FOUR (4!!) games in length. Vladimir Tarasenko scored his 35th goal of the season in the Blues 4-0 victory. No. 2 Star: Rickard Rakell, Anaheim Ducks … [Read more...]

Flyers' loss to Coyotes marred by KO'd captains When the Detroit Red Wings were blown out earlier on Saturday it presented the Philadelphia Flyers with a great opportunity to increase their lead in the Eastern Conference playoff race when they played in Arizona. They failed to take advantage of that opportunity by dropping a 2-1 game. It was a brutal night for the Flyers because even … [Read more...]