The Fifth Liners

Earlier this year I wrote a piece which posed the question ' What's Going On With Philly?' and this was one thing everyone in the city of brotherly love was pondering! To begin this season, the Philadelphia Flyers seemed to be in free fall with only one win from a possible nine games and sat 15th overall in the Eastern Conference- only the Buffalo Sabres seemed to be having a worse time. But since sacking head coach Peter Laviolette in October, new coach Craig Berube has reignited the competitive flames of Philly and currently they have surged up the table to now lie 8th overall in the East with a noteworthy 16 wins to their name and now an outside chance of a play-off appearance- now who would have predicted that? But what has been the kick starter in this dramatic come back? Well the answer points to one man who initially was label as the key problem... Claude Giroux! Earlier this year the Flyers captain seemed to be going through an almighty crisis and not helped by ...

After last nights 7-2 steamroller over the Colorado Avalanche , it would appear that the Chicago Blackhawks are the public's favourite to retain their Stanley Cup crown this year! If they do succeed in taking back to back titles, it will make them the first team to achieve this since the 1997-98 Detroit Red Wings and will already make them one of the big successes of this decade alone! After their up and down start to their title defense, the Red Express has got back on the rails and it ain't going to stop any time soon! But as always with winning, things are never straight forward because across from our brothers in Illinois are another team who are equally hungry and have a burning desire not to repeat last years play-off nightmare in the shape of the Pittsburgh Penguins ! Both sides have an equally strong case as they possess offensive units to die for- Chicago this season have been led by free scoring winger Patrick Kane, whose 21 goals have pushed them to the top of the...

On June 27th next year, the 2014 NHL Draft will be upon us and as the day grows ever closer, it is time to evaluate the next potential superstars of the game. Right now, there is one name on the tip of everyone's tongue and that name is Sam Reinhart ! The 18 year old Vancouver native has sure been making heads turn playing for Kooteney Ice in the Western Hockey League and this season currently has an unbelievably hot stats of 50 points in just 33 games this season! From the footage witness, the kid possesses all the key attributes of a number one pick with his speed, skill and most importantly a strong edge. Also he seems to a great sureness of shot- judging from the goals on display, he'll be on TSN highlight reels more than once! Can this Canadian centre become a more important draft than Stamkos or Crosby before him? Time will tell, for the moment check this kid out below!

Oh dear...

I know this piece will probably seem a bit hypocritical to some seeing as I basically slated the St Louis Blues during the off season and implied that they better not hold their breath waiting for the glory days to come! Well after last night's 6-0 thrashing of Edmonton, it seems this year could well be the year that hockey goes big in Missouri! So far the Blues firm has been nothing short of exceptional and currently they stand 4th overall in the Western Conference with only four points separating them from previous cup champs Los Angeles and Chicago! Last season brought a similar result and despite their best efforts, they were eliminated by the Kings in the playoffs first round. It seems head coach Ken Hitchcock has been firmly wracking his brains in the off season. His solutions to plugging the gaps seem to be working as the Blues have the third most goals in the Western Conference with 125 goals and have been led by the free scoring forward Alexander Steen with 38 points!...

The San Jose Sharks may never have lifted the Stanley Cup, but it's definitely not for lack of trying. In the 21 seasons (not including the lost 05/06 season) since the Sharks formed, the team has only missed the playoffs five times. The last time that happened was in 2003. Still though, the furthest the Sharks ever got in the playoffs was the Conference final. The Pacific division is full of teams with cup pedigree and the intermittent Calgary Flames and struggling Edmonton Oilers seem to be happy to gift their points to any team who turns up. The Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings are dominant in the division, and the Phoenix Coyotes' initial run of outstanding form has stalled slightly. This leaves the Sharks and the Canucks to fight for the number three spot in the division. Traditionally the Canucks have always been happy to donate two points whenever the two teams meet up, but under new coach John Tortorella; the planets aligned and the Canucks actually won a game ...

Last season the New York Islanders seemed to have reached a breakthrough. Speared by their main man John Tavares, they made the playoffs for the first time in over five years by finishing 8th in the Eastern Conference and they pushed Pittsburgh to six games in the playoffs first round! But so far this season it seems normal lousy service has resumed!  Currently the Islanders lie 15th in the Eastern and so far have a low 9 wins and a high 121 goals against! So what had caused this sudden drop in form? Well lack of goals hasn't been the cause, it's the lack of players scoring them! Tavares, Kyle Okposo and Frans Neilsen have been the Islanders' only really consistent players and their high points scores reflect their efforts, but the nearest player to them is Tomas Vanek with 13 points. Ah yes, that one, recently GM Garth Snow made the utterly bizarre decision to trade star winger Matt Moulson to the Buffalo Sabres for Tomas Vanek. While the hockey world sat in shock, the ...

As the 2013/14 season rumbles on, one of the biggest surprises so far is how impressed we've been with some of the back up goaltenders. Usually only rolled out for the easier games, or when the superstar goalie gets injured, the back up usually spends most of his time sat on the bench. Patiently waiting, but never hoping, for something to go wrong. Scrivens, standing guard. Before moving to the LA Kings from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the start of the season, Ben Scrivens had spent most of his professional career so far in the lower leagues. When Jonathan Quick picked up an injury in November, a huge amount of pressure was then shifted to Scrivens' shoulders. He had to step into Quick's Stanley Cup winning skates. Just like The Beatles with Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever, it turned out that the LA Kings had a double a-side between the sticks. Right now both goalies have played 16 games each and despite playing less minutes than Quick; Scrivens has faced m...

The Edmonton Oilers hold a proud hockey history and fans in this part of Alberta still love their team, but this year has been nothing short of a horror show! All looked promising at the end of last saw season when former GM Steve Tambellini was given the the chop and was succeeded by head coach Craig Mactavish, who in turn appointed young Toronto Marlies coach Dallas Eakins as the new coach of the Oilers. A new era seemed to be born and many experts expected bug things. Tragically we are STILL waiting for the results to come and even with no less than three 1st overall picks, their play just isn't coming together. So far Edmonton are 14th and last in the Western Conference, they have only 11 wins and a whopping 18 loss! Depressingly this over 17 goals more than the Nashville Predators but they have three more wins. But the real question here is what is cause of this continuing slide? The answer is not an easy one, continuing injuries haven't helped their cause, in particul...

Sorry. Couldn't resist.  The Buffalo Sabres are being very thorough when it comes to hiring a new General Manager. So thorough that it's beginning to look like nobody will be hired until everyone who's ever worked in hockey has been considered. Potentially that list includes fictional Japanese candidates . According to TSN's Bob McKenzie, the LA Kings' Director of Amateur Scouting Mike Futa is being considered. Although we don't know if the Kings have given permission for the Sabres to talk to Futa. That said, it's also pretty much a given that we won't see a new GM this side of Christmas, or possibly even the Olympics.  The Sabres' list of targets seems to be focused on people with backgrounds in scouting, as well as coaching. Potentially this is a brilliant plan, given that the only way that Buffalo can become competitive again is to start from scratch. Something that current caretaker coach Ted Nolan is working on.  Anyway, Fut...

The great state of New Jersey maybe have brought us the music of Bruce Springsteen but right now the New Jersey Devils are starting to dwindle! After a glorious period from 1995 to 2003 which included 3 cup wins, the Devils have only been the finals once since in 2012 when they lost in six games to the LA Kings. Last season they finished only 11th in the Eastern conference and the seasons only real highlight was Martin Brodeur being selected for the new NHL 14 cover! Problem with this team is the key elements that them such a threat are either long gone or about to leave, missing are the days of the tough defensive pair of Scott Stevens and Scott Neidermeyer. Right now NJ doesn't have that back line that makes a difference and with Brodeur now 40 and seemingly on the verge of ending his great career, it seems that their fail safe options are thinning out! So should this team look to the future? Well right those options are looking scarce, kid wonder Zach Parise bolted to Minnes...

After kneeing Brad Marchand in the head while he lay prone on the ice, Pittsburgh's James Neal now has a five game suspension to think about what he's done. Whether he meant it or not, only Neal knows. But in a busy week for the Dept of Player Safety, the decision was made that Neal had time to avoid Marchand. Although Marchand wasn't injured, it was decided that Neal would be assessed five games because of his history. That's the CBA at work again. More time for Neal to get that last minute Christmas shopping done.

Tampa Bay Lightning's #3 draft pick Jonathan Drouin was injured last night while playing for the Halifax Mooseheads. Quebec Remparts' Adam Erne hit Drouin sending him face first into the glass. Erne picked up a major penalty and a game misconduct for his hit on his potential future teammate. Both players were picked by the Lightning. Drouin returned to the bench after leaving the ice but played no more part in the game after showing concussion-ish symptoms. Hopefully it's nothing but Drouin will be reassessed by team doctors this weekend.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger James Neal is due to have a hearing today with the Department of Player Safety after appearing to knee Bruins player Brad Marchand in the head! The incident took play at 11.06 of the first period when Neal struck Marchand as he lay on the ice. A two minute minor was assessed and both players remained in the games. Meanwhile, Boston Bruins player Shawn Thornton is set to have an in person hearing after an ugly incident that occurred during their 3-2 win against the Penguins! Thornton in the midst of a scrum pushed defenseman Brooks Orpik to the ice and threw several punches which resulted in a match penalty being assessed. If you guilty, Thornton faces a potential ban of up to five games!

The Boston Bruins won a dramatic late 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at TD Garden last night in real end to end game which included two goals in the last 90 seconds. The Penguins started out very much on top with Chris Kunitz continuing his excellent run of form to put Pittsburgh ahead when his shot deflected off Dennis Seidenberg and crept underneath Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask on 6.33! But Reilly Smith tied the game only four minutes later. However the game soured when Pens D-Man Brooks Orpik had to leave the game after being hit whilst down on the ice by Shawn Thornton after a scrap broke out, resulting in a match penalty for Thornton! Bruons forward Loui Eriksson also had to leave the fame after suffering a concussion. James Neal then put the Penguins back in front on 13 minutes, when after being released from the penalty box, he deflected in Matt Niskanen's speculative blue line shot. In the second period, the Penguons failed to capitalize on several chances to ex...

The Vancouver Canucks battled to hard earned 3-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes at the Rogers  Arena last night, despite two blowing a two goal lead! In the first, the ever consistent defenseman Jason Garrison blasted Vancouver ahead after 1.26 of the second period with a spectacular slap shot! But Phoenix goalie Mike Smith was as usual proving a wall in net and made several key saves to keep the scoreline respectable. But Canucks captain Henrik Sedin made it 2-0 with an impressive shot from an acute angle and on paper, the home side looked home and dry! Into the final period Smith continued to frustrate the Canucks offense and the fanbs were left wondering why the score line was not heavier! But mid way through the third period, Vancouver became unstuck as Antoine Vermette's crashing drive but the Coyotes back in contention and then David Moss seized on a rebound to unbelievably tie the scores at 2-2! Into overtime Chris Higgins settled affairs after 3.41 when he seized on a...

Detroit Red Wings captain and Swedish beard icon Henrik Zetterberg is going to be out for a while after herniating a disc. This will be a huge loss to the team, Big Z has provided 11 goals and 19 assists so far this season and has been at the center of Detroit's recent run of good form. Zetterberg in less painful times.  Word so far is that Zetterberg isn't expected to practice for two weeks. Updates as they happen. Få väl snart Henrik

After shamefully forgetting to include the Phoenix Coyotes on my Most Improved Teams list recently, I thought I would make amends by recapping their impressive 6-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers Rexall Place last night! Mike Ribeiro was the stand out as he turned a 1st star performance with a goal and two assists! But it was Mikkel Boedker who put Phoenix ahead on a powerplay after 03:37 of the first period, but David Perron soon levelled the scores for the Oilers after 9 minutes after making the most of a breakaway. Into the second period and Ribeiro skillful set up Radim Vrbata to put Phoenix ahead after 06.58 played and then Shane Doan's tip in pushed then 3-1 ahead. Perron then pulled one back on a power play for Edmonton with 52 seconds left to give the home side hope! The Coyotes took control in the third period as they scored three without reply with Ribeiro putting them further ahead after 4 minutes and Keith Yandle then made sure of things when fired past Oilers goal...

When the NFL settled its concussion case for $765 million in august, it was only a matter of time until the NHL's lawyers would be facing the same suit.  Concussion is a very real part of hockey with heads hitting ice, boards and fists in pretty much every game. NHL poster boy Sidney Crosby has missed a lot of games through concussion related injury. Chris Pronger hasn't played a game of hockey since 2011 for the same reason. What started as a 10 man lawsuit now has over 200 names and is expected to get bigger, although whether or not it reaches the almost 5000 names that the NFL suit did remains to be seen. The original 10 players were enforcers in the 70s, 80s and 90s, a role that by design is going to attract the most punches. Former Avalanche enforcer Scott Parker recently told the Denver Post about his daily struggles due to concussion issues. Although he says that he knew the risks and isn't part of the suit. A number of allegations have been made, the g...

Vancouver Canucks winger Alex Burrows has officially suffered a broken jaw after their 3-2 win over Carolina Hurricanes. After surgery on Monday, it has been confirmed that he will miss up to 4 weeks of action. After missing the opening 12 games with a broken foot, this will no doubt add to Burrows' frustration. He has also gone 22 games without scoring and currently has 3 points and a minus 7 rating in 17 games. Wish you a speedy recovery, from one Alex to another!

The Vancouver Canucks bounced back from a loss by the New York Rangers last night to score a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes at the PNC Arena tonight! Ryan Kesler got Vancouver started with a goal from a rebound off a Jason Garrison shot on the power play after 3 minutes of the 1st period. Tom Sestito then doubled the advantage after 15.48 after he deflected in another Garrison shot! The Canucks were then hit twice by Carolina with goals less than 10 seconds apart at the beginning of the second period as Jordan Staal scored on 39 seconds past Eddie Lack then Nathan Gerbe tucked home a rebound on 49 seconds to tie the scores at 2-2! But this game was to be decided early when Kessler scored his second after only 01.16 played following an error from Cam Ward in net. But Vancouver had Eddie Lack to thank for this win as he single handedly kept the Hurricanes at busy for the remaining two periods and his 29 saves proved vital! The young Swede is becoming a solid backup goalie f...

Colorado Avalanche Without question the big surprise of the year and after an awful 2012/13 season where they finished bottom of the Western Conference and sacked Coach Joe Sacco, the Avs turned to former player Patrick Roy to breath new life into this franchise. Roy has done just that and currently Colorado top the Western Conference with a 13-2-0 recor byd! 1st overall pick Nathan MacKinnon has been a rookie sensation but Matt Duchene has been the more consistent scorer and currently has 19 points. This combined with the solid player of young captain Gabriel Landeskog has presented to us a franchise that can start to reclaim its glory years! But the scandal involving starting goalie Semyon Varlamov could prove crucial. St Louis Blues Previously on this blog we sneered at the St Louis Blues for their lack of squad depth - well it appears a heartfelt apology is in order as this season they look a changed team and currently stand fourth in the Western Conference. Their high scorin...