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They say when one door closes, another opens, and it’s clear that whoever said that was talking about the greatest* tournaments in sport. The hangover may be starting to set in on Alex Ovechkin’s phenomenal Stanley Cup bender, but in Ovi’s native Russia; the World Cup is in full swing. With three days and eight games under our belts, it’s time for some observations and naturally biased takeways: VAR Or to give its full name ‘Why The **** Do We Need VAR?’. Yup, it’s nobody’s favorite momentum killer, the Video Assisted Referee. Used for the first time ever in a World Cup Match; VAR wasRead More →

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In: Metropolitan Division, Pacific Division, Playoffs
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On Monday May 28th, at 8pm, the puck will drop in Las Vegas to start the first game of an historic Stanley Cup Finals. Instead previewing the series in our usual, we invited each of a writers to contribute giving you a plethora of insights into what will undoubtedly be a superb swansong to the 2017/18 NHL season. Stanley Cup Predictions   Carl Landra My Pick: Capitals in 6 Full disclosure: I have a complicated relationship with the Washington Capitals. After being my bandwagon team of choice for seasons, I finally gave up on them this offseason. I just couldn’t handle being disappointed after suchRead More →

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In: Atlantic Division, Metropolitan Division, Playoffs
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With the Tampa Bay Lightning’s game five win over the Boston Bruins, the Bolts stamped their ticket to the Eastern Conference final, where they will meet the Washington Capitals, avoiding a repeat of the 2015/16 Conference finals. The Bolts were knocked out of that tilt by Pittsburgh, so the team will definitely aiming to do better against Ovi & Friends. How did we get here? The Tampa Bay/Boston match-up in the second round was a bizarre affair, with the news being unfairly dominated by Brad Marchand‘s unsporting actions. Despite a 6-2 thumping in the opening game of the series, the Lightning were able pick apartRead More →

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It took seven games for one of Boston, but the final Second Round match-up in the Eastern Conference has been decided. The Tampa Bay Lightning will take on the Boston Bruins, with the winner heading to the Conference finals to face either Pittsburgh or Washington. How did we get here? When the Lightning drew the New Jersey Devils in the first round, many considered this to be the most one-sided match-up in the conference, if not the whole playoffs. The Bolts had just won the East, while the Devils, making their first appearance in the playoffs since the 2011/12 season, barely scraped into a wildcardRead More →

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In: Metropolitan Division, Playoffs
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Round two of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs will soon be here, we’ve already previewed both match-ups in the Western Conference, now it’s time we turned our attention to the east! The first series to be decided in the east will be played between the perennially disappointing Washington Capitals, and the current Cup holders, Pittsburgh. How did we get here? Always the bridesmaid, never the bride, the Washington Capitals won the Metropolitan division, but only managed the same points as the Toronto Maple Leafs (105). History tells us that the Caps aren’t good in the playoffs, and the Columbus Blue Jackets took advantage of thatRead More →

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In: Central Division, Playoffs
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The scene is now set in the for the second round games in the Western Conference, with the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets vying for a place in the Conference final. We’ve already previewed the Golden Knights Vs Sharks series, now it’s time for the Central division match-up: How did we get here? Before Jacob Trouba‘s game winning goal in the first period sealed the deal on Friday, the last time an NHL team in Winnipeg made the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs was in 1987. That was with the original iteration of the Winnipeg Jets. The current franchise has never been ableRead More →

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In: Pacific Division, Playoffs
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While other NHL teams are still thrashing it out, the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks have already seen off their first round opposition and will meet in the second round of the playoffs. Vegas thumped the LA Kings, while the Sharks circled and devoured the Anaheim Ducks. How did we get here? Both teams swept the first series but by virtue of scheduling, Vegas were the first to progress. Despite winning all four games, the series wasn’t exactly a classic with just a total of 10 goals scored by both teams. The Golden Knights arrived at the playoffs on the heels of theRead More →

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In: Central Division
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The Colorado Avalanche roster has seen better days. With season ending injuries to goalie Semyon Varlamov, and defenceman Erik Johnson; the Avs’ playoff hopes now rest on the young shoulders of Nathan Mackinnon and slighty less young Jonathan Bernier. This has some Avs fans in a panic: Great. Awesome. It's over https://t.co/pcsJ4JBbha — Carl Landra (@CarlLandra) March 31, 2018 Is it over, Carl? Is it? With just a handful of games left in the regular season, the Avs are still in the fight for the playoffs, but only just. Colorado, St. Louis and Anaheim are separated by just a few points and the difference betweenRead More →

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In: Atlantic Division
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Dark times are on the horizon for the Detroit Red Wings. Take it from someone who has ended up supporting bad teams in different sports, it’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better. In the last 25 joyful, playoff making seasons, our Red Wings have made the finals six times and won the Stanley Cup in four of those finals. It’s safe to say that we’ve been spoiled. The problem is that once a team starts to perform poorly, trying to escape without making big, dramatic changes is like trying to escape a whirlpool while paddling a surfboard.  And the surfboard is onRead More →

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In: NWHL
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The NWHL’s playoffs are here and they’re set to be awesome. All four teams are in contention to lift the Isobel Cup. Here’s your preview this weekend’s semi-final. Each match-up is one game only so each team will have to play the best game they can to progress to the final.   Boston Pride vs Buffalo Beauts   When? Puck drops at 1730 on Saturday Where? HarborCenter in Buffalo   The second and third seeded Pride and Beauts meet for the first time in a semi-final, having been finalists and winners in both previous NWHL seasons. The Beauts have the strongest regular season record, havingRead More →