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Given the severity of the hit on Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook I completely understand why he is pissed off at Anaheim Ducks defenseman (and his friend) James Wisnewski.That said, it is a long know fact that once the puck drops there are no friends on the ice, always has and always will be that way. I suspect once Seabrook has time to reflect on this that he will realize ...
Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” RitterNo doubt about it, James Wisniewski was guilty of a dirty hit on Brent Seabrook and probably deserved the eight-game suspension he received. The question is: Why didn’t the NHL investigate the Seabrook hit on Corey Perry a little further—a hit that was clearly a headshot, something the NHL is trying to get out of the game.As much as I’d like to applaud the ...
Heading into tonight’s action against the Nashville Predators, the Philadelphia Flyers were 6-3-1 in their past ten games—not bad, but perhaps not good enough to hold onto the seventh seed in the eastern Conference—especially when you consider the Montreal Canadiens are on a five game winning streak of their own. Current struggles aside, many fans of the Orange and Black see a team that has a chance at long-term ...
Ovechkin Hit All Too Familiar, NHL Needs To Send Him a Message
Posted: 15th March 2010 by Mark Ritter in NHL
Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter
By now NHL fans are all too familiar with Alexander Ovechkin’s hit on the unsuspecting Brian Campbell. Question is: Was it dirty or clean?
Needless to say NHL fans can debate Ovechkin’s hit on Campbell from both perspectives and, in all likelihood, make a strong case either way.
The play in which Ovechkin and Campbell went full-throttle for the puck on Sunday afternoon happens about a ...
Fresh off the dangerous hit from Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke on the unsuspecting Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins, NHL fans await a rematch between the two sides this Thursday night in Boston.To say everybody has an opinion about the Cooke hit would be an understatement. Opinions range from fans suggesting Savard should have been more aware to fan wanting Cooke to be suspended for twenty games. Given the ...
Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter Few players in NHL history have the kind of season that Sidney Crosby had in his rookie year, especially in this the era of defense-first hockey. Crosby’s 2005-06 rookie season saw him post 39 goals and 102 points, making him one of the most proficient rookie scorers in NHL history. Crosby’s 102-point effort was second only to Alex Ovechkin’s 106 ...
In light of the tough hits against Florida Panthers forward David Booth and Boston Bruins forward Marc Savard this season, the NHL’s adaptation of tougher rules against blindside hits is yet another example of the NHL’s refusal to deal with obvious safety issues until it’s too late.Blindside hits have been an issue for eons; the fact that the NHL is only now dealing with them in an intelligent manner is ...
Where Will the Philadelphia Flyers Finish in the Eastern Conference?
Posted: 10th March 2010 by Mark Ritter in NHL
Heading into Wednesday night’s action, the Philadelphia Flyers sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The odds of the Flyers catching the Pittsburgh Penguins for first place in the Atlantic Division, which would give the team home ice advantage throughout the playoffs, are slim to none and slim just left the building.
The good news for Flyers fans is that the Orange and Black are just a mere five ...
Crosby’s Equipment Found: Almost Made Its Way to Russia
Posted: 10th March 2010 by Mark Ritter in NHL
Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter
Reports have surfaced suggesting that the stick and glove that went missing soon after Sidney Crosby scored the winning goal in the Gold Medal game against the United States has been found.
Hockey Canada released a statement saying Crosby’s equipment was, in fact, misplaced and not stolen as originally suspected. As it turns out the stick was found in a shipment that was reportedly headed ...
Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter
Last season Washington Capitals super star Alexander Ovechkin led the NHL with a total of 56 goals. Ovechkin was the only player to reach the coveted fifty goal mark with the likes of Philadelphia Flyers sniper Jeff Carter (46), New Jersey Devils forward Zach Parise (45) and former Atlanta Thrashers star Ilya Kovalchuk (43) hot on his heals.
This season Ovechkin finds himself in his ...