Face-Off: News and Notes for May 7th, 2008

NHL:
And it begins!!
Eastern Conference Finals begin in Detroit at 7:30 pm (Versus in the US).
I'm calling Detroit in six.

Toronto, on the heels of firing coach Paul Maurice have talked to recently-axed Canucks GM Dave Nonis as well as Sharks GM Doug Wilson. The big question: Why the hell would Doug Wilson leave San Jose?

Florida signs 2007 first rounder Keaton Ellerby.

Swedish star Fabian Brunnstrom is now a Dallas Star!
The 23 year old forward had 37 points in 54 games for Farjestads BK Karlstad in the Swedish Elite League (SEL) this year. Brunnstrom was compared to Senators captain and fellow Swede Daniel Alfredsson by The Hockey News earlier this year.

Sabres sign Boston College Lilliputian forward Nate Gerbe and German forward Felix Schutz

IIHF World Championships
In the two later games Norway defeated Germany and Finland beat Slovakia.

Swedish defenseman Nicklas Wallin was suspended for two games for his hit on Swiss forward Roman Wick in Sweden's 5-3 loss yesterday.

The Preliminary round is over with the Qualifying round beginning today and the Relegation round starting tomorrow. Slovenia, Italy, Slovakia, and Latvia are headed towards relegation this year.
Today's games:
Sweden vs Denmark, Canada vs. Norway, Switzerland vs. Czech Republic, USA vs Germany.

IIHF World Champ. - Switzerland stuns Sweden!

The Swiss have added another notch into Sweden's list of international disappointments in a 4-2 win today in Quebec City. It's not only amazing that the Swiss have beaten the number one ranked Swedish team, but also that the Swiss have gone unbeaten 3-0 and won Group A.

The Swiss, who entered the tournament ranked eighth in the IIHF World Rankings played a stifling defensive game that stymied the talented Swedish squad. Sweden did not help their own cause spending much of the second half of the third period on the penalty kill down two goals.

Patric Hornqvist gave Tre Kronor hope, scoring shorthanded with less than a minute left in regulation to put them within one. An empty netter by the Swiss dashed Sweden's comeback hopes.

Sweden met with success in 2006 winning both Olympic and World Championship gold, but failed to medal last year. They were upset in the 2002 Olympic medal round by Belarus after being the heavy pre-tournament favorite.
The Swiss have one silver and eight bronze medals in World Championship history, their last trip to the podium coming in 1953 winning bronze.

Face-Off: news and Notes for May 7th

NHL News
Toronto Maple Leafs fire head coach Paul Maurice

World Championship
According to DEB-Online.de the Team Germany used a non-eligible player in it's 4-2 victory over Slovakia.

"Most likely Team Germany's win over Team Slovakia will be changed into a 5:0 victory for Team Slovakia as the German Hockey Federation (DEB) recognized today that Canadian born German defender Jason Holland played in the 1996 IIHF WJC tournament for Team Canada and thus he isn''t eligible to play for Team Germany without having played 4 full seasons in German leagues. As Holland has only played 3 full campaigns with Ingolstadt of the German elite league (DEL) the win is almost certainly gone."

UPDATE: Germany's win will stand. Jason Holland has been suspended.

The Legend of Strazzabosco

Michele Strazzabosco is known far and wide for his unequaled work ethic, blistering slap-shot, bone shattering hits, and for his ability to skirt the time-space continuum and play for six teams in six different cities on the same night (according to Yahoo Sports).

"The Strazz" as he is known is a defenseman for the Italian national team currently competing at the 2008 IIHF World Championship in Canada. A ten year veteran of the Italian league and a participant in the 2006 Olympics, The Strazz was given a shot at the NHL in 2006, a tryout with the Buffalo Sabres.

While Strazzabosco's play impressed the Sabres brass, they were concerned with press reports (Yahoo) of him also playing for Carolina, Boston, Toronto, New Jersey, and Minnesota...On the same night.

"I like what he brings to the table, but after reading these reports I have to wonder if he's giving the Sabres 100% let alone 110%." said Sabres GM Darcy Regier.

"The Strazz was a force of nature. One shift you'd receive a perfect breakout pass from him up the middle and the next he'd be scoring in a city 600 miles east." added former pre-season teammate Daniel Briere. "And that hair!"

Strazzabosco's philandering took him back to his native Italy where he continues to baffle physicists.

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Today's games:
Sweden vs. Switzerland, Finland vs. Slovakia, France vs. Belarus, Norway vs. Germany

2008 NHL Draft Order

The NHL Draft will be held in Ottawa June 20-21. Here's the order of selection for the first round followed by a explanation of selection criteria.

1. Tampa Bay Lightning
2. Los Angeles Kings
3. Atlanta Thrashers
4. St. Louis Blues
5. New York Islanders
6. Columbus Blue Jackets
7. Toronto Maple Leafs
8. Phoenix Coyotes
9. Nashville Predators (from Florida)
10. Vancouver Canucks
11. Chicago Blackhawks
12. Anaheim Ducks (from Edmonton)
13. Buffalo Sabres
14. Carolina Hurricanes
15. Nashville Predators
16. Boston Bruins
17. Calgary Flames
18. Ottawa Senators
19. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Colorado)
20. New York Rangers
21. New Jersey Devils
22. Edmonton Oilers (from Anaheim)
23. Washington Capitals
24. Minnesota Wild
25. Montreal Canadiens
26. Buffalo Sabres (from San Jose)
27. Clubs eliminated from Conference Finals in inverse order of points.
28. Clubs eliminated from Conference Finals in inverse order of points.
29. Stanley Cup runner-up.
30. Stanley Cup winner.

First-Round Order of Selection Criteria

Picks 1-14: Results of 2008 NHL Draft Drawing held April 7
Picks 15-22: Clubs eliminated in first two rounds of the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs who did not win their division during the regular season, in inverse order of points
Picks 23-26: Clubs eliminated in the first two rounds of the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs who won their division during the regular season, in inverse order of points
Picks 27 and 28: Clubs eliminated in the Conference Finals, in inverse order of points
Pick 29: Stanley Cup Final runner-up
Pick 30: Stanley Cup champion

Summary of Transferred Picks (1-26)

Pick 9 (Florida to Nashville): Nashville traded G Tomas Vokoun to Florida for Detroit's 2nd-round pick in the 2007 Entry Draft (pick 58, previously acquired) and Florida's 1st- and 2nd-round picks in 2008 (June 22, 2007).

Pick 12 (Edmonton to Anaheim): Edmonton transferred its 1st-, 2nd- and 3rd-round picks in the 2008 Entry Draft to Anaheim for the signing of Restricted Free Agent LW Dustin Penner (July 3, 2007).

Pick 19 (Colorado to Columbus): Columbus traded D Adam Foote to Colorado for Colorado's 1st-round pick in the 2008 Entry Draft and a conditional pick in 2009 (Feb. 26, 2008).

Pick 22 (Anaheim to Edmonton): Edmonton traded D Chris Pronger to Anaheim for RW Joffrey Lupul, D Ladislav Smid, Anaheim’s 1st-round pick in the 2007 Entry Draft, and 1st- and 2nd-round picks in 2008 (July 3, 2006).

Pick 26 (San Jose to Buffalo): Buffalo traded D Brian Campbell and its 7th-round pick in the 2008 Entry Draft to San Jose for RW Steve Bernier and its 1st-round pick in 2008 (Feb. 26, 2008).

Source: NHL.com

2008 IIHF World Championship: Canada beats US 5-4 and More

Dany Heatley scored his second goal of the daywith 46.3 seconds left in the third period to break a 4-4 tie as Canada beat the US. Heatley's first goal came when he put the Canadians up 2-0 with eleven seconds in the first.

The US found themselves in a 3-0 hole less than a minute into the second period before responding with goals by Zach Parise and Patrick O'Sullivan . Derek Roy's goal three minutes into the third gave the Canadians a short lived 4-2 lead before back-t0-back power play goals from Dustin Brown and Jason Pominville allowed the Americans to equalize the game.

Heatley's goal was assisted by line-mates Ryan Getzlaf and Rick Nash giving the trio 22 points in three games. Healey leads all scorers with 6 goals and 4 assists.



Canada took the ice in throw-back jerseys honoring the 1977 Summit Series.






The USA lost captain Jeff Halpern for the remainder of the tournament after he tore his ACL. The New York Rangers rookie Brandon Dubinsky will replace Halpern.


Czech Republic 7
Italy 2


More throwback jerseys. Italy actually led 2-1 in the first period. Alas, Strazzabosco was a minus-5 for Italia.



Latvia 3
Slovenia 0

Anze Kopitar is held off the board for the first time. Edgar Marsalksis had 37 saves in goal for Latvia.






Russia 4 Denmark 1

Don Cherry to ESPN

A little while ago I called this...Ok, I was joking, but still. I was Spot on!!

GlobeSports.com reports that Don Cherry will join ESPN's broadcast team for the remainder of the NHL Playoffs.

"I guess they like my jackets," the Hockey Night in Canada personality said yesterday.

Well, it's either the jackets or the occasional border-line bigotry. You be the judge.










Fashion: Advantage Cherry
Hair: Advantage Melrose

As much crap as Cherry gets for his outlandish and sometimes insensitive comments he knows the game. When he sticks to the action on the ice and abandons his political agendas he adds an astute mind to the broadcast.

Bad News: Sher-Wood files in financial trouble

The maker of Sher-Wood hockey sticks and other equipment has filed a proposal to its creditors under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, it was announced Monday.

The rest of the article can be seen here.

Goal of the Day - Evgeni Malkin 2006 World Championships

At the 2006 World Championship, Malkin shows his anticipation and incredible reach scoring this superman goal against Kazakhstan.

Conn Smythe anyone?

Face-Off: News and Notes for May 6th, 2008

Still recovering from my vacation to North Kakalaki (Apparently that's slang for Carolina. I'm such a Yankee). 1200+ miles in four days plus two bus rides between NY and Philly are taking a toll.

NHL
Sean Avery expected to make full recovery
http://www.nypost.com/seven/05062008/sports/rangers/i_thought_i_was_done_109656.htm

IIHF 2008 World Championships
Yesterdays results
Finland - 3
Norway - 2 OT
Norwegians impress by pushing Finns into extra frame.

Sweden - 9
France - 0
To quote Thom Yorke, "No Surprises"

Germany - 4
Slovakia - 2
Germans upset Slovaks.

Switzerland - 2
Belarus - 1

Todays games:
CANADA vs USA!!! 3 pm. See it on TSN.ca
Czech Rep. vs Italy
Russia vs. Denmark
Latvia vs. Slovenia (Go Anze!)

New Threads for the World Championships

Here's a look at some of the new jerseys from the IIHF World Championships:

Face-Off: news and Notes for May 5th

NHL Playoffs:
Conference Finals are set.
Yesterday's results:
Eastern Conference
Rangers 2 - Penguins 3 OT
Marian Hossa's OT goal puts second seeded Pens past Rangers in 5 games.
Pittsburgh will face Philadelphia (sixth seed) in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Western Conference
Sharks 1 - Stars 2 4OT
Brendan Morrow's goal nine minutes into the fourth overtime lifted fifth seeded Dallas Stars past the second seeded San Jose Sharks in five games. It was the eighth longest game in NHL history and the third longest in Stars' franchise history. Go fig.
Dallas will face the top seeded Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference final. Game 1 will be on Thursday in Detroit.

Full Conference Final schedule here:
http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=362488

IIHF World Championship
Yesterday's Results:
USA 5
Slovenia 1
Phil Kessel's hat-trick powered the way for the US. Slovenia's lone goal was scored by (drum roll) LA King's young superstar Anze Kopitar.

Canada 7
Latvia 0
Canada's top line of Dany Heatley, Rick Nash, and Ryan Getzlaf are putting on a show for their Canadian fans putting up three goals and eight points between them. Pascal Leclaire made 30 stops for the shutout.

Russia 5
Czech Rep 4 OT
Alexei Morozov scored the OT winner for Russia who lost goalie Alexei Eremenko to a torn ACL.

Denmark 6
Italy 2
Not even Michele Strazzabosco could save italy from the Danes.

Today's games: Switzerland vs. Belarus, Finland vs. Norway, Sweden vs. France, Germany vs. Slovakia.

Face-Off: News and Notes for May 4th

NHL Playoffs:
Flyers knock off Canadiens in 5 games
http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&page=Recap&gameNumber=215&season=20072008&gameType=3

Sean Avery out of ICU
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=236660&lid=sublink01&lpos=headlines_nhl

Games tonight:
Rangers at Penguins Game 5. Pens lead series 3-1. 7:00 pm EDT
Sharks at Stars Game 6. Stars lead series 3-2. 9:00 pm EDT
Both games will be shown on Versus in the US and TSN in Canada.

World Championships
Sweden 6
Belarus 5
Two words: Tommy Salo

Finland 5
Germany 1

Switzerland 4
France 1

Slovakia 5
Norway 1

Today's games: Czech Republic vs. Russia, Canada vs. Latvia, Denmark vs. Italy, USA vs. Slovenia