hockey
We talk pucks and objects of that kind. We yell, complain, and analyze in the language of hockey fandom. Gretzky can do no wrong.
The #1 Contenders
Well, Avs fans, we did it! Now we need to do something with it. Thursday was the Colorado Avalanche's second chance to capture the Presidents' Trophy, and unlike four years ago when we were one of the last two teams in contention for that trophy, there's no way out this time. The Avs were ahead of the next team in line (the Carolina Hurricanes) by too much with little time left. So we were winning this thing. All we had to do was beat the Calgary Flames--the same Flames we horribly extinguished over a week prior.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout 9 hours ago in Unbalanced
Mammoth's 2nd Year Results in 1st Postseason
I have seen my share of relocations in sports over the years. Hell, I'm a fan of a relocated team. Though the tale (or "terrifying tale," as Homer Simpson put it in one episode) of how the Quebec Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche truly pales in comparison to other insane relocation occurrences in sports. Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg and becoming Jets 2.0. Seattle is still hurting over losing the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City, where they are now known as the Thunder. The Bay Area has now lost two teams to Vegas, with the Athletics' crap being absolutely ridiculous. And Cleveland still curses Art Modell's name nearly 14 years after his passing.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout 22 hours ago in Unbalanced
Penguins Are Back in the Saddle Again
While I always enjoy the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the last three years have been, well, a tad incomplete. Something was missing. Not just something--someone was missing. A group of someones missing. As amazing as the Stanley Cup Playoffs always are, there seemed to be a bit of a void during the last three seasons.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsa day ago in Unbalanced
Best in the West by Far
It's amazing how timing works. Eight years ago on this exact day, the Colorado Avalanche faced off against the St. Louis Blues in what was Game 82 for both teams. It was a head-to-head battle for the last playoff spot, and on that evening, the Avs won, 5-2, over the Blues, nabbing that last spot and ending the Blues' season. That was the Avs' first playoff appearance in four years, and it kicked off our current playoff streak, which now stands at a league-leading nine years.
By Clyde E. Dawkins3 days ago in Unbalanced
Unholy Shenanigans
The Colorado Avalanche were coming off a huge win; a 2-0 victory over the Dallas Stars on the road. That win reduced our magic number from six points to just two; just one win away from not only winning the Central Division, but also getting the #1 seed in the Western Conference. In this game, the Avs were up against the St. Louis Blues, one of a number of teams locked into an insane logjam in the Western Conference's Wild Card race.
By Clyde E. Dawkins4 days ago in Unbalanced
La Suite: Canadiens Return to Playoffs with Expectations
Last year, there were three playoff berths that truly shocked the hockey world: the Ottawa Senators, the St. Louis Blues, and the Montréal Canadiens. The Sens were ruined by that Matt Duchene deal in 2017, and the Blues crashed and burned after winning the Stanley Cup in 2019, but they both got in. As for the Canadiens, they had a 2021 run to remember. Not expected to win a single game in that year's playoffs, Les Habitants won thirteen of them; falling just three wins shy of the Stanley Cup.
By Clyde E. Dawkins5 days ago in Unbalanced
Stanley Cup Playoff Push 2026: If Three's a Crowd, What's Five?
We are almost a week into the month of April, and we are down to the final dozen days of the regular season. Time is definitely running out for a lot of teams. It ended up running out for a few others. More teams were eliminated this past week, and one of them was the Toronto Maple Leafs. It will not be 10 in a row for the Leafs, and for team captain Auston Matthews, it's the first time in his career that he'll miss the playoffs. It's almost like the Leafs shouldn't have traded Mitch Marner. Oh wait, they shouldn't have!
By Clyde E. Dawkins6 days ago in Unbalanced
Serving Humble Pie Since 1995
On March 18, 2026, the Colorado Avalanch hosted the Dallas Stars on national TV. It was very extra special for this Avs fan, as that day was my birthday. The game was close throughout; Avs led 1-0 after 20, game tied at 1 after 40, after 60, and even after 65. Game to a shootout, and the Stars won it. Stars moved within two points of the Avs in the Central, and boy were Stars fans pounding their chests. If you ask them, it was a foregone conclusion that they would overtake the Avs in the Central.
By Clyde E. Dawkins6 days ago in Unbalanced
Sabres' 15-Year Itch is GONE!
April 24, 2011. On that day, the Buffalo Sabres hosted the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The Sabres were up three games to two, and led 3-1 in Game Six, but the Flyers bounced back. Game was tied at four after sixty minutes, and the Flyers won in OT to force Game Seven. Game Seven took place in Philly on April 26, 2011, and the Flyers were victorious, 5-2, advancing to the second round. However, Sabres fans figured that it would be a matter of time before they're back in. So they waited.
By Clyde E. Dawkins6 days ago in Unbalanced
Have the Rumors of the Lightning's Demise Been Greatly Exaggerated?
The penultimate Saturday of the regular season featured 15 games, a lot of them with playoff implications. Already, the first of the 15 games could affect two teams. The New York Rangers, who are long eliminated, hosted the Detroit Red Wings, who needed something to go right. Fans of the Tampa Bay Lightning had their TVs to ABC for this game, and it was going very well in their favor. Rookie Gabe Perreault picked up his first career Hat Trick, leading the Rangers to a 4-1.
By Clyde E. Dawkins6 days ago in Unbalanced
Will the Wild Top 2003?
The fourth time was definitely the charm. The Minnesota Wild had attempted to lock in a spot in this year's playoffs three previous times before this chance. They had a "win and in" opportunity, but that fell through. They did some scoreboard watching on March 30, but things didn't go their way. On April 1, all that needed to happen was either a Kings loss or a Sharks regulation loss. Both teams won. Finally, on the following day, April 2, the Wild had the chance to do it themselves. All they needed was one point, but the Wild decided to get two. A 5-2 win over the lowly Vancouver Canucks (who were still high on scoring eight goals against the Avalanche), and that put the Wild back into the NHL's Sweet 16.
By Clyde E. Dawkins8 days ago in Unbalanced
8th Straight Time Definitely Needs to be the Charm for Hurricanes
It's been a minute since we had another Stanley Cup Playoff clinch this season. March 20 saw the Colorado Avalanche as the very first team to get in, and two days later, the Dallas Stars joined the party. Nothing much since then, but here it is, the second day of April, and four teams entered this day with a chance to get in. Three of the teams were in the Eastern Conference, and one of them was the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes had been leading the Metropolitan Division for a good bit, and to get in, a win was all they needed.
By Clyde E. Dawkins8 days ago in Unbalanced
