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Every season it happens — those woebegone teams who have struggled for seasons on end once again get left behind in the dust of discussions about “contenders.” But every season, it also happens that some of them get good and mad and surprise us all . . . or some of us at least. This season, let’s look at just a few that will bring enough shock and awe to make the post-season or at least come close enough to smell it. In order of surprise by season’s end, let’s go: #1 – Buffalo Sabres People talk about Rasmus Dahlin and Jack Eichel, maybe evenRead More →

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On a Thanksgiving Monday, Carl and Joel are back to talk about the first week of the hockey season! In a week that included a combined NINE goals from Auston Matthews and John Tavares, how is Joel feeling about his Maple Leafs? Carl’s Avalanche have started undefeated, so he must finally be happy, right? Injuries have started to hit the league, with Roberto Luongo, Jonathan Quick and James van Riemsdyk already missing time. How will their teams fill in for them while they’re gone? Tom Wilson has been suspended 20 games for his hit on Oskar Sundqvist. Is this enough to convince Tom to change? Brad MarchandRead More →

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After ridding themselves of the goose eggs in the win column (vs. Rangers), the Buffalo Sabres look to string two, or more, together. Heading into today’s matinee (3pm. Also a Hi Sticking game. Play it on Twitter), the 31st place team from last season faces one that was in the Stanley Cup Finals. Despite matching records, the Vegas Golden Knights have proven to be a fast team, which is typically the achilles heel for Buffalo. The Sabres have acquired faster hockey players though it has not made game-play much better. Game 1 was horrendous while they scrapped by the New York Rangers in number 2.Read More →

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In: Central Division, NHL
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The Colorado Avalanche started their 2018-2019 campaign at home against the Minnesota Wild this year. The team has a whole lot to be excited about between having found a WC spot last season with tons of potential left to build around and still having a chance at the first-overall pick in the Jack Hughes lottery. In order to look ahead to the upcoming season, it’s important that we go backwards first. The Colorado Avalanche were the Cinderella Story behind the Cinderella Story last year. In a season which saw the team go from the worst record in hockey to beating out the Blues for theRead More →

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Prepare yourself: There will be no mention of Erik Karlsson beyond this point. There are concerns in Teal Town and with good reason — some higher on the national radar and some that have escaped notice. First, the high-profile issues. Martin Jones Jones’ best season with the Sharks thus far was his first. His playoff performance this past season was unremarkable and his preseason was sieve-like, although the team as a whole was out of sync. I have to imagine he set a record by giving up 4 short-handed goals to the same team during a preseason, in two separate games against the Knights — threeRead More →

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There isn’t much that can rain on ‘The Parade’ they’re planning in Leafs Nation these days, but the William Nylander saga could be the next Gretzky high stick if not dealt with before long. So what exactly should Wunder-kid GM Kyle Dubas do? It’s been suggested he wants as much as 8 million per season, which makes about as much sense as saying his father Michael’s flow is as slick as William’s these days. Trying to fit him in at a more reasonable number would clearly be a better option for the franchise, but if I’m Nylander and someone’s willing to splurge, why wouldn’t IRead More →

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Anyone hoping that the Buffalo Sabres would be their relief after the Bills (football) mess probably turned off Thursday’s game after two periods. The second major sports team in this small city was as bad the other. Despite all of the noted changes to the roster, the Sabres dropped their home opener to the Boston Bruins without a goal. After being the worst goal scoring team in the NHL, losing 4-0 is not a good start. Though if you are being an optimist, the Bruins were shutout the night before. Let’s not beat around the bush: the Sabres’ performance sucked. There were still some ofRead More →

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In: Podcast Episodes, WHLCast
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Andy, Carl and Ryan are back to look at the latest from the WHL! Kelowna was named the host of the 2020 Memorial Cup. What impact will this have on the Rockets organization? This far into the season, there are a number of undefeated teams (Prince Albert Raiders, Brandon Wheat Kings, Victoria Royals) and a collection of winless teams (Calgary Hitmen, Regina Pats, Swift Current Broncos). Which of these teams are most likely destined for a change of fortune? With the Fortnite debate alive and well in the NHL, should WHL players be forced to give up video games on road trips? What kind ofRead More →

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Like many sports, the NHL has some great rivalries; the Penguins and Flyers for example. The Islanders and Rangers, the Flames and the Oilers, Red Wings and Avalanche, all three Californian teams… Rivalries are formed for lots of reasons, many are down to geography, relative successes or because Claude Lemieux sucker-punched Slava Kozlov. Whether formed on the ice, or by broadcasters looking to add some tension, rivalries have become part of the sporting landscape. Rivalries are of course deeply personal, so I’m going to explore some of these across the different sports teams I follow. Hockey: Detroit Red Wings & Colorado Avalanche In the mid 1990s,Read More →

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The opening night roster, barring unforeseen circumstance, is all but set. Despite the latest move of claiming Remi Ellie (Dallas) off waivers, the roster has been trimmed. Alex Nylander and Brendan Guhle were assigned to Rochester yesterday with Tage Thompson making the initial cut. To no one’s surprise, Rasmus Dahlin has made it and Matt Tennyson is up to be an extra defenseman. There are question marks surrounding the oft-injured Zach Bogosian as he was recently sidelined (lower body) but it is better if Tennyson/Nathan Beaulieu sit in the press box than Guhle. The Buffalo Sabres need for improvement is the understatement of the year.Read More →