Retweet, Reblog or Repost this if you want to win NHL tickets

We are working with the guys @ WinFreeHockeyTickets.com

They have just put up their twitter and will soon be putting up their website.

They will be giving away tickets for the NHL playoffs.

Join their twitter today @ https://twitter.com/#%21/hoctix

This is going to be huge so make sure you join today

Valentines' Day is a Time to Celebrate our Love of Rivalries

The NHL has some of the best rivalries in professional sports.  These rivalries  bring out the best in players, fans and teams.  Fans have watched NHL legends star in rivalries which are in the highlight reels for generations to come.     

This tradition of hardcore rivalries lives well and prospers in today's NHL.  From left to right on the dial we have some pretty decent rivalries which keep fans on the edge of their seats.

In Western, Canada you have the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers which have seen incredible battles.  Luongo and the Nucks can look forward to growing competition to the kiddie brigade in Edmonton.  The young Oilers have some incredible talent which should challenge Vancouver which are perennial Cup contenders.

In the rest of Canada the focus of hockey fans is on two other teams. The Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens are pretty much the center piece rivalry for Canadian hockey fans and the rest of the NHL.  Ever since their Original Six days; these squads have been bashing out some hardcore hockey.  No matter who is ahead of who in the standings; a Leafs versus Habs game is a treat for fans around the league.

American NHL fans tune in to see clashes between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers as well as games between the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks.  These four teams lay it down large ad leave the blood , sweat and tears on the rink. 

Other note worthy rivalries include:

Red Wings versus Stars (on tonight)

and

Rangers versus Bruins (on tonight)

So enough about flowers, chocolates, and movies like The Notebook; it's time to dig your teeth into something you can really love. Tune out and tune in to watch some of the best rivalries the NHL has to offer.  Who says hockey isn't about love ?

   

Islanders Upset the Red Wings (Game Recap)

Detroit started this game without Pavel Datsyuk, out with a lower body injury and Ty Conklin started his 2^nd game in a row after an impressive game in Chicago Sunday night.

The opening exchanges in this one were fast and furious as both team put a lot of puck on net. Pandolfo and Rolston had shots from the circle that Conklin kicked away before Emmerton tipped a Helm pass onto the post and Helm put the rebound wide with a gaping net. Grabner then got in behind the RedWings defence but Conklin made the save as the forward tried to score on his backhand.

The Islanders continued to create the better chances as they put 13 shots on goal in the first 10 minutes alone but they were finding Ty Conklin on top form at the start of this one.

The Islanders couldn’t force home any of this pressure though and Detroit had a great chance on a late powerplay but Nabakov made a huge save diving back in his crease to get his stick on a

This set of a spell of powerplay chances as Brad Stuart then sat 4 minutes, 2 for Unsportsmanlike Conduct and 2 for Roughing.

As he sat the Islanders took the lead a Moulson tried to centre the puck across the crease to Tavares which hit Drew Miller’s skate and went in through Conklin’s legs. This was within the first 2 minute penalty on Stuart.

Another 2 minute penalty before the end of the period on the Islander’s Andrew MacDonald levelled the men on the ice for the 2^nd period but the home team had really dominated in spell’s during that 1^st period, taking 17 shots and a 1-0 lead into the break.

The 2^nd period started with Tavares taking a puck straight to the side of the head as Kronwall tried to dump the puck in. The Islanders forward was shook up and he went straight down the tunnel for treatment.

As the penalties from the end of the 1^st period started to expire Detroit got a 41 second powerplay and Nabakov pulled off more big saves, keeping out a blast from the point and then acrobatically getting across to Franzen on the rebound to get his foot and stick up as the Swedish powerhouse looked to put it home. Tavares was back on the ice without missing a shift after his scare at the start of the period but it was Detroit starting to do most of the pressing in search of an equaliser.

However, It was Tavares who got the 2^nd goal as he skated in down through the circle and fired a puck high into the top corner over Conkling glove side.

Okposo made it 3-0 with just under 9 minutes left in the 2^nd as Tavares led the 2 on 1 breakout. He fed it across to Okposo to give him the easy chance of putting it back across Conklin to give the Islanders the big lead.

Grabner then made it 4-0 as a bad pass from Holmstrom as he tried to keep the puck in the Islander’s zone saw the puck go straight to .... and he sent Grabner in to bury it in the net. It was the Islander’s 3^rd goal on only 4 2^nd period shots.

2.36 of the 3^rd saw Kindl throw a soft wrist shot towards goal which Justin Abdelkader tipped and it found its way in behind Nabakov to get Detroit on the board.

Fillpula had a great chance to get a 2^nd on a powerplay shortly after but he missed an open net and then had a 2^nd effort smothered by Nabakov.

With 11 minutes left Nabakov pulled off another huge save as he foiled a Dan Cleary shorthanded breakaway to keep the Islander’s with that strong 3 goal lead.

It was extended to a 4 goal lead with 6 minutes left as Moulson got his 2^nd of the game. He was left alone in front of the net and Streit fired the puck straight onto his stick as he tipped it in behind Conklin.

Detroit’s defence had been awful all night with possibly the exception of Conklin who still managed to give up 5 goals. He did however make some huge saves in that 1^st period especially and was left out to dry on a number of the Islander’s goals.

In contrast, the Islander’s were extremely good defensively and Nabakov had an outstanding game as well. They were clinical with the chances they got in the 2^nd and 3^rd period proven by 3 goals on 4 shots in the 2^nd.

- Adam Yates

Red Wings Come out on Top vs Stars (Game Recap)

Injuries depleted both teams for this match up as Robidas and Souray were missing from the Dallas defence whilst Helm, Holmstrom and Eaves were missing from the Detroit forward line.

The first big chance of the game fell to Jiri Hudler 5 minutes in but Lehtonen robbed the Detroit forward as he pulled off a big glove save. Hudler somehow not burying the puck as he was wide open on the Dallas doorstep with just the netminder to beat.

Filppula gave Detroit the lead at 8.02. Lidstrom and then White sent in shots wide on Lehtinen which managed to pull the netminder out of position and when the puck bounced

Hudler made it 2-0 with 2.54 left on the 1^st period. Zetterberg miss hit a shot which flew straight into the skates of Hudler and into the net. It was judged a good goal on the ice and the review confirmed that no kicking motion was made.

Erikson cut the lead in half only 50 seconds later. He picked up his own rebound off Howard as the netminder made a save short side and circled back around infront and fired the puck back through traffic and behind Jimmy Howard.

However, Detroit regained their 2 goal lead with a minute left on the period as Zetterberg skated from deep in his own zone, layed a puck off to Filppula on the wing and he sent it across to Hudler who skated infront unchallenged and buried his 2^nd past Lehtonen.

The Zetterberg, Filppula, Hudler line was absolutely on fire through the 1^st period, scoring all 3 goals and running the Dallas defence ragged. If Lehtonen hadn’t been as good as he had been through the period then Detroit could have had a lead of 4 or 5.

It took just over 1 minute of the 2^nd period for Dallas to score their 2^nd of the game as Jamie Benn picked up on a puck that was purposely shot wide by Goligoski and quickly fired it in before Howard could get across.

Corey Emmerton scored at 3.51 to put Detroit back into a 2 goal lead as he fired the puck from behind the goal line into the back of Lehtonen’s skates and into the goal.

With just over 7 minutes gone Michael Ryder made it 4-3 as he fired in a shot from the wing the crept passed Howard on his blocker side.

Franzen then made it 5-3 at 11.46 of the period as Datsyuk stole the puck behind the Dallas net and his quick pass was one timed high into the net by the Swedish forward.

That was to end the scoring in the 2^nd period even though Dallas came extremely close towards the end of the period as the post was struck by Pardy on a shot from the point.

It took 14 minutes of the 3^rd period before the lamp was lit again and it was Ryder with his 2^nd as Dallas yet again closed to within 1 goal. He picked up a puck just inside the Detroit zone and delayed on making a pass before choosing to shoot and send it high glove side past a screened Howard.

With time running out for Dallas to get the game tying goal, Lehtonen was pulled but to no avail as the clock ran down and Detroit took a 5-4 win.

It was a fast and furious opening 2 periods with goals galore. Both netminders conceded where they should have saved but both pulled off great saves as well. There was a distinct lack of penalties called in the game, the only one being 15 seconds into the game on Bertuzzi for Holding The Stick. This meant the game was played even handed throughout and made for a riveting contest.

Another 2 points for Detroit as they moved to only 1 point behind Western leading Chicago.

- Adam Yates

The Nashville Predators Are on a Roll

The Nashville Predators picked up their fourth straight win Thursday night defeating the Red Wings 4-3 in Nashville.  A pair of late goals from Captain Shea Weber capped off a three goal comeback in a game that held the intensity of a playoff game 7.  The Predators were looking to avenge 4-1 loss on November 26 in which they looked flatter than a month old bottle of Coke.  The Red Wing powerplay tallied 2 goals on the night and helped the Wings build a 3-1 late in the 2^nd period.  The Predators 3^rd line would bring the game within one as Jordin Tootoo, in his second game back from suspension, scored with just over 2:30 left.  Tootoo has been a huge factor for the Predators as of late netting ten points in his last ten games.  In the third period the Red Wings made on crucial mistake allowing the Predators back in the game.  The Wings, having not taken a penalty all game, took their first of the game and allowed a red hot Nashville powerplay an opportunity to tie the game up.  The Predators didn’t waste that opportunity as Weber’s blast from the point beat a screened Jimmy Howard to tie the game up.  Weber would strike again just under three minutes later to tally the game winning goal.  The Red Wings would try and mount one last attack but Pekka Rinne stood tall in net for Nashville shutting the door.

The Predators extended their season long win streak to four games and ended Detroit’s three game win streak.  Nashville recently has been getting solid play all around but could be looking to make a move for a big time goal scorer soon.  On Friday morning Nashville sent Kyle Wilson to Milwaukee of the AHL leaving them with only 12 forwards on their NHL roster.  Could this be a sign of David Poile looking to make a move before the Rosters are frozen on the 18^th?  Preds fans can only hope as the team is playing well and the addition of another scoring threat can only help players like Hornqvist, Fisher, Kostitsyn, and others.  So keep your ears open as I have a feeling some trades are in the works.

- Isaac Berky

Pittsburgh Penguins To Sit Out Sidney Crosby for Two Days

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Wednesday afternoon that Captain Sidney Crosby will sit out the next two games as a “precautionary measure” after an open ice collision with teammate Chris Kunitz on Monday night.  While nobody within the organization is elaborating on the injury, one has to guess that it is his head.  However, when reviewing the hit, it seems as if it is Crosby’s knee that is bothering him and not hit head, after colliding with Cooke Crosby seemed to favor one leg on his way to the bench.  

In an interview on NHL Live on Wednesday Pittsburgh alternate captain Jordan Staal said that he did not even realize that Crosby was injured during the morning skate on Wednesday.  Staal continued saying that he was surprised when Sid was not on the flight to Philadelphia.  The Penguins, it would seem, are holding Crosby out Thursday night because they are playing the Flyers.  The rivalry between those two teams makes anytime Crosby plays Philly a dangerous game, and even that much more dangerous when he is banged up.  Next looking at the second game Crosby will miss.  The Pens play the Islanders on Saturday.  The last time these two met was in Crosby’s return to the ice, which Pitt won by a score of 5-0.  It would appear that the Pens are not worried about the Islanders.  They are, it appears, focusing on making sure Crosby is well rested and ready to go for the showdown of perennial powerhouses when they take on the Red Wings on December 13. 

So Pens fans do not worry about your captain.  It appears by all means that this is truly a precautionary measure for Crosby, and he should be ready to go and once again provide an extra offensive spark December 13 when the Red Wings roll into Pittsburgh. 

- Isaac Berky

Bruins Should be the New Spelling for Dynasty

The Bruins are on a tear of historic proportions.  The Stanley Cup champions have not lost in regulation time in the last 14 games.  The boys from Bean town crushed the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday which showed the entire NHL that they are intent on repeating as league champions.  The complete turnaround from the disastrous start to the 2011-2012 campaign is complete for Boston.  Claude Julien's squad is firing on all cylinders.  The offense is scary good and Tim Thomas is playing like he is  in the post season.  To every teams chagrin, Boston's back up netminder (Tuukka Rask) is playing as well as Thomas.

The effort on scoring has made all the difference for the Bruins in November's run.  Goals are flying past the opposition at an amazing rate and the Bruins team dominates the league leaders in plus/minus.  Tyler Seguin is the king of plus/minus in the NHL and he is proving to be the number one hope for a Bruins powerhouse going forward 5-10 years.   There is a real winning psychology in Boston.  The Red Sox and Patriots led the way for years and now it looks like the Bruins are ready to the mantle from those two great sports franchises.  Boston is fast becoming the center of the hockey world and the real reason for the resounding success is that everyone on the Bruins plays for the guy next to him.  These guys are the epitome of team play and other NHL squads should be paying attention.

There is no guarantee that Boston will keep up this pace for the rest of the season but we are sure they will rise to the occasion come playoff time and send opponents packing.  The Bruins look great for the Cup this year and many years to come.  These guys could gel as one of the best NHL teams since the glory days of the Detroit red Wings.  Detroit was a great team but these guys could become better.  Time will tell but we like the odds.