Sunday, March 6, 2011

Video: Patrick Bordeleau Misses Hit, Smashes Through Glass

The fact that glass broke at a hockey game is nothing new, but the way it went down and how completely it shattered might be.  The Lake Erie Monster's (Colorado Avalanche AHL affiliate) Patrick Bordeleau loooked to make a huge hit on Garnet Exelby of the Rockford Ice Hogs (Chicago Blackhawks AHL affiliate), but he came up with no Exelby and lots of broken glass. Luckily no one was seriously injured on the play.

Video via Lake Erie's official site:




Stick Salute to Puck Daddy

Video: Brandon Dubinsky Beats Down Mike Richards

Callahan's Four Goal Barrage leads Rangers Domination of Flyers

The New York Rangers finally decided to end the domination the Flyers have had over them this season in a massive 7-0 win. The win is a huge mental hurdle cleared and a statement to the rest of the Eastern Conference. The game was probably the most complete performance of the season. Leading the way for New York was Ryan Callahan with his career high four goal game. Callahan scored both Rangers goals in the opening period, one in the second and capped his afternoon with one more in the third. The four goal output gave him 20 on the season.   Hopefully the Rangers build on this as they head to California for two this week.

Callahan set the tone from the outset scoring just 51 seconds into the game as he tipped a Brandon Dubinsky wraparound past Rangers nemesis Brian Boucher.  Getting the second goal was not a problem in this one as Callahan made it two nothing with a power play tally late in the first.

Just 55 seconds into the second was the all too predictable fight between Mike Richards and Brandon Dubinsky.  Dubinsky beat down Richards during the fight in which Richards as usual did not take his helmet with the visor off, but it was beaten off him.

The Rangers would keep the pedal down early in the second when it appeared Sean Avery made it 3-0, but after review it was decided that Avery kicked the puck in and the goal was disallowed.  The response in the Garden was pretty clear that it was simply disallowed for Avery being the one involved.  If I was coaching the Flyers this would have been the point I pulled Boucher as he was shaky the whole afternoon, but thankfully for the Rangers they left him in and the goals kept flowing.

The newest Flyer Kris Versteeg showed he is adjusting to the Flyer way very quickly as he decided to play slash hockey wit Marian Gaborik, and Gaborik responded.  Versteeg then threw a punch and there was a lot of wrestling that ensued.  I like that Gaborik defended himself from the slash, but whenever it results in punches to his recently concussed head that leads to worry. 

Mats Zuccarello got in on the action 5:06 into the period while on a 2-on-1 with Ruslan Fedotenko as he took the shot from the off wing and beat Boucher far side with a beautiful shot.  Converting on odd-man rushes has been a huge problem for the Rangers, as aside from Brian Boyle we are far too pass happy on those chances.

Ryan Callahan decided he wanted some hats to protect him from the rain outside and he got them 6:28 into the second when he stole the puck from Kris Versteeg and was wide open in the slot and fired top corner on Boucher.  Dubinsky in his typical fashion decided to grab the puck for his boy Callahan to make sure he could have it for a keepsake.  This was the final straw as Laviolette finally pulled Boucher with the Rangers up 4-0.

Three was not enough for Callahan as he added a fourth early in the third when he a tap in power play goal off a beautiful feed from Matt Gilroy.  Artem Anisimov added the Rangers sixth tally with just over five minutes remaining with a beauty on the breakaway and Mats Zuccarello added his second of the game to make it 7-0 and end the game.
  • The entire Dubinsky, Anisimov, Callahan was phenomenal in this game and Dubinsky is getting close to putting the goal drought to an end.
  • Henrik made at least four dazzlers on the day to secure his ninth shutout.