Kukla's Korner

Kopitar In the Spotlight

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

05/16/12 at 08:39 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,

The Kings’ ability to absorb and adapt to Sutter’s message is one of the primary reasons they are 10-1 in the playoffs and halfway to qualifying for their first Stanley Cup final in 19 years. The Kings lead the Phoenix Coyotes 2-0 in the Western Conference final, heading into Thursday’s third game, a game in which the Coyotes will play without centre Martin Hanzal, who was suspended one game by the NHL for a dangerous hit from behind against Kopitar’s linemate, Dustin Brown.

Brown and goaltender Jonathan Quick are the Kings’ leading Conn Smythe trophy contenders, but Kopitar is No. 3 with a bullet, and in the midst of a strong playoff of his own. Through 11 games, he is second on the team in scoring with 13 points, one behind Brown. Kopitar is the Kings’ perennial scoring leader, a player whose ability to play at both ends of the rink is what makes him so valued by the team’s coaching staff and his teammates.

“I don’t want to say Kopi’s underrated, but he’s very underrated in the D zone, with how hard that he plays,” said linemate Justin Williams. “You respect that as a winger, knowing that he’s hard on guys in the defensive zone. We get a lot more time in the offensive zone, because he’s so good in our zone.”

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Los Angeles Kings | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Anze+Kopitar,

On the Red Wings’ prospect camp and…training camp?

Blog: The Malik Report By George Malik

05/16/12 at 08:36 PM ET | Comments (0)

Among the many news items in the catchy-uppy post, the Left Wing Lock’s Sarah Lindenau posted the schedule for this summer’s Red Wings prospect development camp, which will take place at its usual time, the second week of July, at Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City, MI:

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Canadian TV Ratings For Round 2

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

05/16/12 at 06:55 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Bruce Dowbiggin of the Globe and Mail,

There are NHL playoff rating and then there are Canadian NHL playoff ratings. As expected, the upset of Vancouver in Round 1 almost halved the numbers CBC garnered in 2011’s Round 2, when the Canucks defeated Nashville. CBC’s coverage of the Washington/New York Rangers series averaged over 1.5 million viewers (all ratings +2) a game while the New Jersey/Philadelphia series averaged over 1.4 million viewers a game (for a 1.49 M. average in Round 2).

By comparison, the Canucks’ playoff games in 2011 averaged 2.8 million viewers a game, pushing CBC’s average rating per game to a healthy 2.16 million. The ratings would not have been as high had the Ottawa Senators made it past Round 1 this year, but they still would have trumped the all-American series just concluded. The last time no Canadian teams made it past Round 1 was 1996 when games averaged 1.36 M.

more plus some talk on CBC may be out bid on the next Canadian TV contract…

Filed in: NHL Media, Hockey Broadcasting, CBC HNIC | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Sportsnet, TSN,

Hanzal Suspended For One Game

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

05/16/12 at 06:39 PM ET | Comments (0)

Mr. Shanahan explains…

Filed in: NHL Teams, Phoenix Coyotes | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Martin+Hanzal,

Open Post- Devils/Rangers Game 2 ECF

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

05/16/12 at 06:30 PM ET | Comments (0)

The Devils need some offense, the Rangers need to continue what they did in game 1, which team does it better, wins.

Game time is just after 8:00pm ET and is broadcast on NBCSN, CBC and RDS.

Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada does a great job previewing tonight’s game, you can listen to it below…

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Filed in: NHL Teams, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Video- The Top 10 Playoff Saves To Date

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

05/16/12 at 05:42 PM ET | Comments (2)

Presented by TSN…

note 8:29pm, Sorry for the misleading title which now has been adjusted.  The video is not 2012 saves, but all-time.

Filed in: NHL Teams | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Not exactly surprising news: NHL tells NHLPA it won’t renew the CBA

Blog: The Malik Report By George Malik

05/16/12 at 04:28 PM ET | Comments (4)

Per USA Today’s Kevin Allen...

The NHL Players Association has notified its players Wednesday through a memo that the NHL has sent written notice it plans to “terminate and/or modify” the collective bargaining agreement when it expires on Sept. 15. This is a formality because it was well understood by the NHLPA that the league wanted to negotiate a new deal.

Under CBA Article 3.1(a), according to the memo, had no notice been given by either party, the existing CBA would have remained in place for another year.

In the memo, NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr told players they would be notified when negotiating sessions are to begin. He said all players are encouraged to attend as many of the bargaining sessions as possible.

“There is no better way to send a message to the league that players are engaged in the process of bargaining for a fair new contract,” Fehr said in the memo.

And the Hockey News’s Ken Campbell:

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Rangers/Devils Points

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

05/16/12 at 03:47 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Katie Strang of ESPN New York,

At a glance: After shutting out their Hudson River rivals 3-0 in Game 1 Monday at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers aim to do something they have yet to accomplish this post-season: take a 2-game series lead. Meanwhile, the Devils look to even the series after letting the opener slip away after outplaying the Rangers for significant stretches.

Shots fired: Via a Devils spokesperson, goaltender Martin Brodeur defended his post-game comments in the wake of Game 1’s 3-0 shutout loss. The 40-year-old veteran, who reportedly suggested the Devils try aiming for the heads of the Rangers to curb their willingness to block shots, said the remarks were made “off-the-cuff.” Brodeur, who no longer talks on game days, said through the spokesperson that his intent was not to target the Rangers in such a way.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Red Wings catchy uppy post 2: on the prospect camp sked, Fedorov, future Wings and Big House Beer

Blog: The Malik Report By George Malik

05/16/12 at 03:39 PM ET | Comments (0)

Updated 2x with TONS of stuff at 5:27 PM: Here’s a round-up of the English-language news I missed due to my post-concussive equivalent of migraines, and just as the first catch-up post talked about future events before getting down to brass tacks, this post will follow the same format:

• First and foremost, Pavel Datsyuk and John Tavares will face off in the semifinals of EA Sports’ NHL 13 Cover Vote from Friday, May 18th until Wednesday, May 23rd;

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Afternoon Line

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

05/16/12 at 03:29 PM ET | Comments (0)

“My greatest fear is I retire and the Kings win the Stanley Cup the next year.”

-Bob Miller, legendary TV voice of the LA Kings.  More on Miller from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Los Angeles Kings, NHL Media, Hockey Broadcasting | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Bob+Miller,

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