Category: News

Well, not everything turned out as expected. But that is the beauty of the first round.

Here are my predictions again, and the actual results. :

Considering how tight the Western Conference standings were, you’d think there would have been a few upsets, right?

Series: Vancouver Canucks (1) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (8)

My Prediction: Blackhawks win in 6 games.

What Actually Happened: Canucks won in 7 games.

Comments: Call me an idealist, but I really though the ‘Hawks could pull off an upset. And they almost did. But almost doesn’t count in hockey. At least the Blackhawks gave us a series.

So far, 0 for 1.

Series: San Jose Sharks (2) vs. Los Angeles Kings (7)

My Prediction: Sharks win in 5 games.

What Actually Happened: Sharks won in 6 games.

Comments: We all knew that the Kings wouldn’t go far without Anze Kopitar. Hah…that rhymed. Imagine what they could have done if that kid was in the lineup.

This puts me at 1 for 2 now.

Series: Detroit Red Wings (3) vs. Phoenix Coytoes

My Prediction: Red Wings win in 7 games.

What Actually Happened: Red Wings SWEEP in 4 games.

Comments: Sure, we knew the Wings would win. But I’m disappointed in Ilya Bryzgalov. I thought the Coytoes goaltender would steal at least ONE game in the series.

Now, I’m 2 for 3. Moving on…

Series: Anaheim Mighty Ducks (4)  vs. Nashville Predators (5)


My Prediction: Ducks win in 5 games.

What Actually Happened: Nashville won in 6 games.

Comments:  Well, here’s our Western Conference upset. Mad props to the Predators for winning their first playoff series in franchise history.

2 for 4 now. 50%.

Over in the East, things were a lot closer. At least in 3 of the series.

Series: Washington Capitals (1) vs. New York Rangers (8)

My Prediction: Captials sweep in 4.

What Actually Happened: Washington won in 5 games.

Comments: I think we all knew the Caps would power their way to Round 2.

3 for 5.

Series: Philadelphia Flyers (2) vs. Buffalo Sabres (7)

My Prediction: Flyers win in 6 games.

What Actually Happened: Flyers won in 7 games.

Comments: Tomas Vanek–the highest-paid Buffalo Sabre–was ineffectual in this series (just like he was in my fantasy hockey pool). Flyers have improved since their Stanley Cup run from last year, so I’m not surprised by the outcome.

4 for 6.

Series: Boston Bruins (3) vs. Montreal Canadiens (6)

My Prediction: Bruins win in 6 games.

What Actually Happened: Boston won in 7 games.

Comments: Wow! Another Game 7. This series was tight, but it’s good to see the Bs get to the next round. Though I’m not a big follower of the Eastern Conference, I’ll always pull for Tim Thomas.

5 for 7.

Series: Pittsburgh Penguins (4) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (5) 

My Prediction: Penguins win in 7.

What Actually Happened: Lightning win in 7.

Comments: No Crosby and no Malkin make Penguins go something something…

A shame we won’t get a Caps-Pens matchup in Round 2.

That puts me at 5 for 8.

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OK, let’s see if I can get my Round 2 predictions up before Round 2 is over…

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Everyone enjoys the playoffs, but I really love Round 1. There are 3 or 4 games a night and they all mean something. 

Plus, there’s always at least one first round upset.

So, without further ado, here are my somewhat biased and totally unscientific Round 1 playoff predictions:

Things got really tight in the Western Conference, especially at the end. A mere 2 points separated the 4th seed from the 8th seed(there were 3 teams with 99 points, 1 with 98 and 1 with 97). If anything, this shows how evenly-matched many of these teams are.

Series: Vancouver Canucks (1) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (8)

My Prediction: Blackhawks win in 6 games.

Comments: Even though I am a Chicago Blackhawks fan, I have no delusions about them repeating as Stanley Cup Champions this season. Eighth place teams just don’t do that.

But at the same time, if we can count on one thing, it is that the best team in the league usually chokes sooner or later (the Sharks last year, the Capitals 2 years ago).

This is going to be the first-round upset in the Western Conference.

Series: San Jose Sharks (2) vs. Los Angeles Kings (7)

My Prediction: Sharks win in 5 games.

Comments: The Kings have had a decent year, but the Sharks are a better team. Plus, the Kings lost Anze Kopitar–their best player. Even with Kopitar in the lineup, there’s no guarantee that the Kings would win. But with him gone, they won’t stand a chance against the Sharks.

Series: Detroit Red Wings (3) vs. Phoenix Coytoes

My Prediction: Red Wings win in 7 games.

Comments: The Red Wings are too good to not make it to the second round. But the Coyotes–led by goalie Ilya Bryzgalov–have had a breakout year. The way Bryzgalov has played, I could see him single-handedly winning the series for the ‘Yotes. Win or lose, he will still make things miserable for Detroit.

Series: Anaheim Mighty Ducks (4)  vs. Nashville Predators (5)


My Prediction: Ducks win in 5 games.

Comments: The Ducks would sweep the Predators if they had Jonas Hiller in net. But Hiller is still suffering from (all things) vertigo. Yes, the Preds have a darn good defensive corps, led by Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. But the Ducks have Huey, Duey and Luey….or make that Ryan, Corey and Bobby. And that Teemu guy ain’t too bad either, even at 40.

I usually don’t pay much attention to The East unless there’s a Pens-Flyers series. Maybe in Round 2. But first, Round 1. So…

Series: Washington Capitals (1) vs. New York Rangers (8)

My Prediction: Captials sweep in 4.

Comments: Ovechtrick! Ovechtrick! Ovechtrick!

Yeah, Alexander Ovechkin has been hot and cold this season, but either way the Capitals are good enough to sweep New York. And the Rangers are bad enough to be the team that gets swept.

Series: Philadelphia Flyers (2) vs. Buffalo Sabres (7)

My Prediction: Flyers win in 6 games.

Comments: The Flyers were a good team this year, and they’ll probably make it to the Finals again. Not saying they’re gonna win it all–they might be like the Boston Bruins were in the late 1980s, a team good enough to get there but not good enough to win it all.

Other than Ryan Miller, the Sabres do little to impress me.

Series: Boston Bruins (3) vs. Montreal Canadiens (6)

My Prediction: Bruins win in 6 games.

Comments: I might watch this series–not to see great goal scoring and awesome saves by Tim Thomas and Carey Price.

Nope. I might watch it to see if the Canadians–or more specifically, the Canadiens fans–do or say anything about the whole Zdeno Chara / Max Pacioretty incident. Will the “Death to Chara!” signs be written in English or French? Will there be a 7-foot tall Zdeno Chara pinata hanging from the rafters of the Bell Center?

Series: Pittsburgh Penguins (4) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (5) 

My Prediction: Penguins win in 7.

Comments: The Penguins won’t get far without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. But they’ll make it at least to the next round.

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Two years ago, I was 12 for 15 in my playoff predictions (80%).

Last year, I was 10 for 15–down to 66%. But that’s OK, because the ‘Hawks won the Cup.

How will I do this year? Hopefully, well enough to win Captain Canuck’s playoff contest.

And if you really like playoff-themed contests, there’s one on the blog Drop the Gloves, too.

Today is National Hockey Card Day. If you are in Canada, you can get free packs of exclusive trading cards.

You can get a pack of cards at large retailers like Jean Coutu, PharmaPlus and Rexall.

Hobby shops will be carrying the free packs too. Here is a list of participating card and hobby shops.

There are 16 different cards in the set. The first 15 will come in the free packs (usually 5 per pack). The 16th card, which is of Jonathan Toews (above) is only available if you make a purchase at one of the participating card/hobby stores.

So, what are you waiting for? Go get some free cards. And if anyone gets an extra complete set for trade (including the Toews card and a wrapper), I will gladly trade you for it.

Last night’s Canucks-Blackhawks game was the worst example of officiating I’ve ever seen.

Am I mad that the Blackhawks lost? No. The Canucks are a damn good team.

I am mad that the Blackhawks did not lose fair and square, but because of some very questionable calls.

Consider the following:

• What should have been the first goal by the Blackhawks–and the game–was waived off due to goaltender interference.But there was no goalie interference, other than a Canucks defender getting in Roberto Luongo’s way. Why was this call not video reviewed? 

•  The Canucks first goal was actually an offside play. The puck left the zone before defenseman Christan Ernhoff slap shot it past ‘Hawks goalie Marty Turco. What was the linesman doing? I know hockey is fast, but linesmen have one job to do–they should do it right.

• Roberto Luongo got tangled up with one of his teammates in the third period, resulting in a goal mouth scramble that could have led to a goal for the Blackhawks. That is until the ref whistled the play dead, claiming that the net was dislodged. But the net wasn’t even touched.

• Again in the third, Patrick Sharp was tripped while shooting on the Canucks goal. His feet were taken from underneath him with a stick, causing Sharp to crash headlong into the boards. Why no tripping call or penalty shot? Taking the puck carrier out by knocking his feet from under him is a penalty in EVERY version of hockey (ice, roller, floor).

•  Brent Seabrook got a holding penalty in the third period that was total b.s. Normally, I’d concede a bad penalty call here and there, but at this point it seemed the refs would do whatever it took to make the Blackhawks lose.

Waving off a good goal, whistling a play dead due to a dislodged net that wasn’t dislodged and blatantly ignoring a flagrant trip were 3 calls that clearly cost the Blackhawks the game that could have–and should have–been theirs.

Head of NHL Officiating Terry Gregson should demote referees  Eric Furlatt and Chris Rooney to the AHL immediately. Those are the 2 clowns who were officiating the ‘Hawks-‘Nucks game. Obviously, they were watching some other game.

OK, so we are 1 month into 2011, but I saw another blogger do this and I wanted to steal the idea follow suit. So, here are Puck Junk’s 5 most read articles of 2010.

5. Vintage Rookie Card Haul – Apparently, hockey card collectors like reading about old hockey cards.

4. Painted Penguin – Everything about this card is just plain wrong.

3. 2010 Blackhawks Training Camp Fest – My recap of the ‘Hawks first day of Training Camp. Special guest appearance by the Stanley Cup.

2. 2010-11 Upper Deck Victory review – The first (and so far only) video review I did of a hockey card set.

1. Sports Card Girl is a Scam – My investigation of a fake blogger who was running a link farm under the guise of a cute card collecting female. Apparently, this ruffled enough feathers to merit (in-actionable) legal threats against me.

***
All right, enough about 2010. I hope 2011 is another good year for Puck Junk–and for my fellow hockey card bloggers too.

Upper Deck will continue National Hockey Card Day for a third year in a row–or NHCD as us cool kids call it.

On Saturday, February 12, 2011, hockey card collectors in Canada can get a free pack of hockey cards at their local card shop or at participating chain stores. The cards themselves are from a special, 16-card NHCD set that will feature some of Canada’s most popular players.

That’s right–this year the set will have an extra card, whereas the previous two NHCD sets had 15 cards.

Personally,  I wish Upper Deck would also have NHCD in the United States. Yes, hockey is “Canada’s sport,” but the U.S. has 80% of the NHL teams. Go figure. Plus, there is greater opportunity to grow the hobby in the U.S. with such a promotion.

What if Upper Deck were to have International Hockey Card Day next year, and give out cards in Canada and the U.S.? They could even take it a step further and give out different sets in each country.

While the NHCD set strictly has Canadian players (Gretzky, Crosby, Lemieux, Toews), the United States counterpart could feature some awesome American players from past and present (Joe Mullen, Chris Chelios, Jim Craig, Ryan Miller). And you’d end up with collectors in one country trading with collectors in the other country so as to get both sets. This idea has potential.

Would someone pick me up a complete 2011 NHCD set?  I will gladly trade for this year’s set (plus a wrapper), or purchase one if the price is right.

Former enforcer Chris Nilan almost played in the 1991 All-Star Game. His controversial selection changed how All-Star rosters are picked.

Back in the day, the coaches of each All-Star team would select the reserve players. Fans still voted for the starters, but it was up to the coach to choose the rest of the team.

Enter Boston Bruins head coach “Mad” Mike Milbury, who coached the Wales Conference team. Milbury picked Bruins enforcer Chris Nilan over more, ahem, traditional choices like Guy Lafleur or Kirk Muller.  

Milbury loves tough guys and physical play. Of course that’s meant in the most manly, bludgeon-each-other-over-the-head way possible. Nilan, who had 277 penalty minutes in 41 games with the Bruins in ’90-91, fit that to a T. He had the numbers all right…just not the numbers one would normally consider for inclusion in the mid-season classic.

In the end, Nilan did not play due to a broken ankle, and the NHL changed how reserve players were selected. Now a panel decides what non-starters are in the game, instead of leaving it up to the coaches.

What I never understood, though, is why Chris Nilan did not get an All-Star card.

The 1991-92 Pro Set Hockey set featured cards of players from the 1991 All-Star Game. All of the players.

Except for Nilan.

Yes, Nilan was injured. But so were these players…

Brett Hull also sat out due to injury. His inclusion on an All-Star card is understandable, as he was voted to the starting lineup.

Brian Skrudland was another controversial selection by Milbury. Skrudland was a defensive forward — and a fine one too. He also sat out because he was injured, but still “suited up” for this trading card photo.

The player who replaced Nilan in the All-Star Game was Bruins’ teammate Dave Christian.

But nowhere on Christian’s card is it noted that he was a replacement for Nilan.

Did the NHL tell Pro Set to exclude Nilan from the set? Perhaps. Nilan was not in the game, and most likely not at the pre-game photo shoot either. Thus no photo. But removing any mention of him seems just like the strange, yet spiteful, kind of thing the NHL would do.

Former collegiate goaltender Tom Fenton–who appeared as an emergency backup goalie for the Phoenix Coyotes last month–is getting his own hockey card. Today, hockey card manufacturer In the Game announced that Fenton will be a part of the 2010-11 Between the Pipes set.

“You’re not going to see him in any other products this season,” stated ITG president Dr. Brian Price in a press release, “so it was important that we do our best to bring his cards to collectors.”

Between the Pipes focuses exclusively on goaltenders, and this year’s set will feature both signed and unsigned cards of Fenton. As ITG does not have an NHL license, they will most likely show Fenton from his playing days with the American International College Yellow Jackets.

As a hockey card collector, I am excited that Fenton is going to get a card. While Fenton’s role as a one-game backup goalie hardly significant in the grander scheme of pro hockey, it is still pretty darn cool.

Besides, do we really need another card of Brodeur, Roy or Luongo, when we can have one of someone who played a small, but interesting role for a night?

A few months ago, I subscribed to a magazine called The Want List, which focuses exclusively on hockey cards and memorabilia. Recently, they asked some of their readers to rate what they thought the most influential hockey jerseys were.

I just got the new issue yesterday, and on page 37 I am quoted in The Want List’s 25 Most Influential Hockey Jerseys article.

OK, so it’s not like I wrote the Declaration of Independence or anything. But it is still cool to see my name on paper.

Two issues in, and I’m really enjoying my subscription to The Want List. The majority of it is about hockey cards, but some of it also covers hockey jerseys (obviously), hockey toys, hockey pucks, hockey DVDs…the key word here is hockey.

I’m also learning some new stuff from this mag, too. One article in the new ish was about hockey cards made by the Paterson and Paulin chocolate companies during the 1920s. Admittedly, I don’t know too much about cards from that era.

The Want List is chock-full of hockey card articles. If you are interested in learning more or subscribing to the magazine, check out their website.