The Fifth Liners

This season's Stanley Cup playoffs have been one of the best and most unpredictable of years gone by, the Boston Bruins; almost everyone's favourite for the cup have been dumped out by the Habs. The Rangers, riding high under the stewardship of Alain Vigneault have put out the Pittsburgh Penguins. Last night also saw another sting in the tail, as the LA Kings put an end to an impressive Anaheim Ducks with a 6-2 win at the Honda Center! We've now arrived at the conference finals. During the regular season you never would have predicted these line ups. But who will triumph here? Western Conference Chicago Blackhawks v LA Kings The Blackhawks have done well to salvage some pride after an indifferent regular season and players such as Jonathan Toews, Marion Hossa and Brent Seabrook have impressed during this time. I have no doubts they will fight to the bitter end to bring the cup by to Illinois for a second year running. They are not as dominant as last season, but th...

NHL 2013/14 is under way and last night the Toronto Maple Leafs kicked off their season with an exciting 4-3 win over fierce rivals the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Center. In an action packed first period, James Van Reimsdyck put the Leafs in front after 8 minutes with a skillful wrist shot, but Eller soon scored for the Canadiens to bring us a tie game. Brendan Gallagher then scored to put the Quebec side 2-1 ahead before the end of the first period! In the second period, despite some great offensive awareness by Montreal, a first star performance by Leafs goalie James Reimer kept them at bay as Toronto levelled the scores at 2-2 with a goal from captain Dion Phaneuf and three minutes before the end, Tyler Bozak scored a wrist shot to put the Maple Leafs 3-2 ahead and leave the home supporters fuming! Things got worse for Montreal in the third period as a debut goal from Mason Raymond gave them a two goal cushion and despite Eller scoring again late in the period- it ...

Montreal Canadiens Center Lars Eller was stretchered off the ice and taken to hospital during the Habs' game with the Ottawa Senators . Eller received an unexpected pass in center ice and turned into Sens' defenseman Eric Gryba who maintains the hit was clean. Eller has concussion, facial and dental fractures caused by the hit and the landing on the ice. Replays show that Gryba's shoulder caught Eller in the chest and head. Coach Paul MacLean has stated that it was a poor pass that led to the collision. We wish Eller a quick recovery. Was it a bad hit or was Eller just unfortunate in the hit? Watch the video  here  and tell us what you think. Update. Gryba has been handed a 2 game ban.