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“Quiet Ice is a phrase used to characterize a sliver of playing surface goal-scorers love to find because it’s unguarded by opposing players and can be used to rip off a good, quick shot. It is not, as some had understandably assumed, a reference to any place where Sean Avery isn’t.” (Source, the Hockey News) In the new spirit of NHL gambling, I’m calling this the “over and under” — but instead, the over and underrated. We’re questioning some of the reputed best in the game and shining the light on some who are lurking in the quiet ice throughout the Metro. So, lace upRead More →

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Hockey in Atlanta sadly never truly caught on. The city’s first foray into the NHL began in 1972 with the establishment of the Atlanta Flames. Despite making the playoff in six of their eight seasons; there was little hockey fanfare in Georgia. By 1979-80 the Flames averaged less than 10,000 fans a game at the Omni Coliseum. This would result in their relocation to the more hockey-hungry Calgary. In 1999, a second attempt would be made with very mixed success. Atlanta Thrashers Due to a four-team expansion; Atlanta was awarded another NHL franchise on June 25, 1997. As a result, the name ‘Thrashers’ (the official state birdRead More →

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“Quiet Ice is a phrase used to characterize a sliver of playing surface goal-scorers love to find because it’s unguarded by opposing players and can be used to rip off a good, quick shot. It is not, as some had understandably assumed, a reference to any place where Sean Avery isn’t.” (Source, the Hockey News) From the Quiet Ice . . . It’s time to put this goofy debate to rest — this idea that the East and West are somehow equally challenging conferences. Or even more bizarre, that the East is actually more challenging? Come now. To be fair, this debate is partly confusedRead More →

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After a white-hot start, the Colorado Avalanche are beginning to look human again. Having started the season 6-1-2, the Avs have started to slip, going 1-2-0 in their last three contests. However disheartening that record may seem, it wasn’t nearly as bad as it looks. Embed from Getty Images Tampa Bay Lightning The last three games started with a loss to Tampa Bay at home. Losing at home is never good, especially with how tight the Avs have played in Pepsi Center over the last twelve months – but there is good news here. Holding last year’s league leader in goals scored to one isRead More →

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Picture your dream job. Something you’ve dreamt about, likely for as long as you can remember. Everything you’ve done, all that you’ve worked towards was with this pursuit in mind. Eventually all your hard work and sacrifice pays off and it’s within your grasp. You’re overcome with joy! You’ve done it! Then you wake up, and Freddie Kruger’s pulling the strings… Embed from Getty Images I imagine this is how Pierre Dorion feels most days. The Ottawa Senators’ GM has been around hockey for decades. The son of a former Leafs scout, he worked his way up the scouting ranks with the Habs and RangersRead More →

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“Quiet Ice is a phrase used to characterize a sliver of playing surface goal-scorers love to find because it’s unguarded by opposing players and can be used to rip off a good, quick shot. It is not, as some had understandably assumed, a reference to any place where Sean Avery isn’t.” (Source, the Hockey News) from the Quiet Ice . . . I hear a lot of player assessments — negative and positive — that frankly baffle me. Now, I know I have a memory more sieve-like than most, but sometimes it seems our hockey media “experts” are worse off than I. The Oversung TheyRead More →

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We are now two weeks into the 2018-19 season and the Colorado Avalanche are sitting on a record of 6-1-2. They are currently in second place in all of the NHL with 14 points, just behind the Nashville Predators due to the ROW tiebreaker. It’s incredibly exciting to see a team who has spent six of the first nine games on the road put together these performances, led by it’s first line and special teams units. OFFENSE If last season proved anything, it’s that Colorado knows how to win at home. However, it also left the team wondering what they’ll need to do to turnRead More →

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“I don’t even know who Craig Billington is, that’s a name you just made up.” – Joel. Here at 4th Line Towers, we answer the questions that other podcasts (and their affiliated websites) dare not. In episode #202, Carl made a reference to Craig Billington, a former Colorado Avalanche goalie that Joel believed to be a fabrication. While not one to usually question Carl’s knowledge about one of his beloved teams, I had to admit that I’d never heard of Billington either. Is Craig Billington Real? Yes. Not only is he real, but he also tended the goal of the Colorado Avalanche between 1996 andRead More →

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The theme of the season so far has been that goaltending is carrying the Buffalo Sabres. Carter Hutton showed strongly as the team split the first 4 games followed by Linus Ullmark‘s shutout. With a 3-2 record, despite being out-shot almost every night, play certainly has improved but there is a need to control play. Good goaltending is needed but Buffalo’s five skaters must progress in terms of puck possession to get to the next level. If not, the losses will be like those against Boston and Colorado. Embed from Getty Images Tonight, the Sabres continue their road trip as they attempt to sweep theRead More →

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People are getting all kerfuffled over the Carolina Hurricanes’ unique twist on post-game fan appreciation tributes. ESPN, which doesn’t even cover hockey so’s you’d notice, deemed this story important enough to commission a piece by Greg Wyshynski titled, “Inside the Hurricanes’ wild new postgame celebration,” as if it was a carefully orchestrated campaign of a President’s Cup-winner, rather than a quirky bit of fun at the end of a nothing game. I have to assume ESPN’s hockey editor — if there ever were such a person — had their tongue firmly in cheek when slapping this title on because pretending there was any “inside” toRead More →