Wednesday's Trade Deadline

Tomorrow marks the NHL's trade deadline and there are so big names that we could see in play. But first, fans across the league today are getting a glimpse of some trades, some major and some minor, but its making for the start of a big day tomorrow. On Friday we saw the Buffalo Sabres make the first big splash before the deadline sending Franchise goalie Ryan Miller and team captain and forward Steve Ott to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for goalie Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart, prospect forward William Carrier and a conditional 2015 1st round pick if Miller signs with the Blues or makes it to Western Conference Finals. Now we move to today where they has been plenty of action before tomorrow's trade deadline at 3pm. Here is a list of the trades that have happened today:

• The Anaheim Ducks traded forward Dustin Penner to the Washington Capitals for a 4th round pick in 2014
• Edmonton Oilers traded Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov to the Minnesota Wild for a 4th round pick
• Oilers also acquiring goalie Viktor Fasth from Anaheim for a 5th round pick in 2014 and a 3rd round pick in 2015
• Anaheim not done there, acquiring defenceman Stephane Robidas from the Dallas Stars in exchange for a conditional 4th round pick in 2014
• The Philadelphia Flyers acquired defenceman Andrew MacDonald from the New York Islanders for 3rd round pick in 2014, 2nd round pick in 2015, and minor league forward Matt Mangene
• Chicago Blackhawks traded a 2nd round pick in 2014 to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for defencemans David Rundblad and Mathieu Brisebois
• Vancouver Canucks traded goalie Roberto Luongo and forward Steve Anthony to the Florida Panthers in exchange for goalie Jacob Markstrom and forward Shawn Matthias

So the Luongo days are over in Vancouver and the once mighty Canucks have now fallen, which leads me into Canucks forward Ryan Kesler. Last week reports came out that Ryan Kesler requested a trade out of Vancouver, but he denied any such thing. However, the Canucks are listening to any teams that are interested in the Canucks forward. We do know that Vancouver is looking for a 20-25 year old established NHL center, a prospect forward or defenceman, and a 1st round pick in 2014. Possible teams that may have interest in Kesler are the Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, possibly the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the New York Rangers.

Other players on the trade block are:

• Rangers forward Ryan Callahan, even though reports are he and the Rangers are nearing a possible contract
• Islanders forward Thomas Vanek
• Sabres goalie Jaroslav Halak, defencemans Christian Erhoff and Tyler Myers, and forwards Matt Moulson and Chris Stewart
• Lightning's forward Marty St. Louis 
• Flames forward Mike Cammalleri

The trade deadline starts tomorrow from 8am to 3pm, so what your favourite team ends up doing tomorrow!

Double Gold for Canada in Hockey at Sochi Winter Olympics

Last Thursday this country witnessed one of the greatest hockey games and comebacks you'll ever see. It was the Canadian Women's team that took to the ice in the gold medal game against arch rivals, the United States. The game was fast paced in the first period with both teams coming close to opening up the score but both goalies weren't making it easy for the shooters. The Americans were able to open up the scoring in the 2nd period on a goal from team captain Meghan Duggan. Early in the 3rd period on the powerplay the Americans took a 2-0 lead on a goal from Alex Carpenter. As the game clock continue to grow closer to 0, you could just feel like scare the country was about to get as the gold medal was all but the United States it seemed. But with just over 4 minutes left in the 3rd Canada was finally able to put one by the American goalie making it a 2-1 game. Then something bizarre happened. Canada with just over a minute and a half to play won the draw in the US end, passed back to the point where the defenceman was hit by the linesman giving the Americans the puck. The puck was shot down the ice towards Canada's empty net, where the puck hit right off the post saving Team Canada and continuing this game. With 55 seconds to go Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin scored tying the game at 2 and electrifying the country as the gold medal game was now of to sudden death overtime. 8 minutes into the overtime and on a 4-on-3 powerplay Marie-Philip Poulin scored to win Canada it's fourth straight gold medal in Women's hockey and sending everyone back home in Canada into a frenzy of complete pride and joy. In my opinion it was the best hockey game of the Olympics and probably one of the best hockey games you will ever see.

On Sunday morning,  7 am to be exact, the men's hockey team took to the ice to play against Team Sweden for the gold medal game. Though Sweden jumped out to a quick start outshooting Canada 7-2, Jonathan Toews buried a redirect past Henrik Lundqvist giving Canada a 1-0 lead. And they wouldn't look back from there, Sidney Crosby scored his 1st of the Olympics on a breakaway and burying it on the backhand past Lundqvist. Chris Kunitz in the 3rd was able to wrist a shot bar down past Henrik Lundqvist giving Canada a 3-0 lead and putting the game to far out of reach for Sweden. Team Canada defended their gold medals, winning back to back Olympics golds by a final score 3-0.

Canada's Olympic Round Robin

Canada's Men's Olympic Hockey team took to the Olympic ice February 13th, in an opening matchup against Norway. With majority of Canadian fans believing this game would be a blowout, it was a closer score that the fans got. After a scoreless first period, Shea Weber hammered a shot from the point beating the Norwegian goalie putting the Canadians up 1-0. Later in the period, Dallas Stars Captain Jamie Benn scored a goal to put Team Canada up 2-0 going into the 3rd. Shortly into the 3rd period, Norway was able to sneak one up high on Carey Price cutting the lead to one. However, Norway's chances of a comeback were short lived when Canada's Drew Doughty absolutely undressed 3 Norwegian players and burying the puck on the backhand, capitalizing a 3-1 opening win for Team Canada in their first game of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Game 2 came the next day as Team Canada faced off against Team Austria. Roberto Luongo got the start for Canada, he wasn't tested too much, but when Canada needed a save he delivered. The offence showed up for Team Canada, but it didn't come from their big guns. Canada's Drew Doughty scored to give them a 1-0 lead and that opened up the flood gates for the Canadians. Doughty's teammate in Los Angeles, Jeff Carter put the team on his back recording a Hat-Trick and giving Canada a commanding lead that was theirs the whole game. Canada beat the Austrians 6-0, Shea Weber and Ryan Getzlaf scored as well in the win.

In the 3rd and final preliminary game for Canada at the Olympics they were up against Team Finland in a battle for 1st place in Group B. And it was a close game, as many expected with Finland starting Tuuka Rask in net. Canada was able to get on the board in the first on the powerplay from Drew Doughty recording his 3rd goal of the games. Finland was able to tie the game late in the 2nd period on a deflection in front by Tuomo Ruutu, sending the game into the 3rd tied 1-1. The 3rd period didn't solve anything, so it was off to overtime. And who else to score the overtime winner and put Team Canada atop Group B, but Drew Doughty giving Canada the 2-1 victory.

Battle of Ontario

This Past Saturday one of the most prominent rivalries in the NHL was renewed between the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs squaring off at the ACC. The Sens jumped out to an early first period lead on Chris Neil's 7th goal of the season. The 2nd period started the same with Colin Greening scoring, giving Ottawa a 2-0 lead. The Leafs then in just over a minute and a half tied the game on goals from Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul. It was a wild 3rd period in Toronto as Keseel scored his 2nd goal, and was shortly followed by Chris Neil's 2nd tying it at 3-3. With just under 6 minutes to go Kessel completed the Hat-trick with his 30th of the year, followed by a goal by Bozak and an empty netter from Kadri.

Due to the start of the Olympics and the NHL closing shop for a few weeks, the posts for the next few weeks will be about the Olympic Hockey tournament in Sochi.

Stadium Series Outdoor Games

Last Week NHL fans were given the chance to watch 3 outdoor games, starting with January 25th between Pacific Division Rivals the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings. The two teams battled outdoors at the beautiful Dodger Stadium, with palm trees, a ball hockey court and beach volleyball court joining them on the field. The place was electric, the game not some much. The kings had beaten the Ducks the previous night, but on this grand stage it was all Anaheim. Jonas Hiller had himself a sensational night helping the Ducks win 3-0 with a 36 save shutout. On January 26th the Coors Light shifted to New York City where the New York Rangers squared off against the New Jersey Devils at the iconic Yankee Stadium. This would be the first of two games for the Rangers at Yankee Stadium, and they did not start off great giving up two goals to Devils Patrick Elias, but managed to keep it close with a 3-2 devils lead heading into the 2nd period. Then things went bad for Devils goalie Marty Brodeur letting in 4 goals in the 2nd, solidifying a 7-3 final for the Rangers, Derek Stepan scoring in the 3rd on a penalty shot. Few days later, January 29th, The Rangers took on cross state rival the New York Islanders in the final outdoor game at Yankee Stadium. This one was a together game then the game versus the Devils, with the Rangers victorious outdoors again, with a 2-1 win over the Islanders, with goals from Beniot Pouliot and Dan Carcillo.

Hockey Day in Canada

This past Saturday here in Canada, CBC's usual Hockey Night in Canada had its once a year event Hockey Day in Canada broadcasted from Lloydminster, BC. All 7 Canadian team were in action with 3 all Canadian affairs Edmonton taking on Winnipeg, Montreal visiting Toronto, and Calgary facing Vancouver, Ottawa played hoist to the New York Rangers. And that's where I'll start in the nation's capital, where the Senator's fell to the Rangers by a score of 4-1, with the help of a big night from Derek Stepan who had himself 3 points, a goal and 2 assist. Next stop we head to Winnipeg where the Jets hoist the Oilers, and win another game under new head coach Paul Maurice 3-2 in overtime, with 2 goals from rookie defenceman Jacob Trouba. Saturday night gave us an original 6 mathcup and one of the biggest rivalries in sports, The Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was an entertaining game and filled with hate as usual, the Maple Leafs had the last laugh beating their rivals 5-3, with 2 assist from Kadri, goal an assist by Kessel, and goal and an assist by Lupul. Now for the final game of the night between the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks, and let's just say this game started out with a bang. Opening faceoff we got to see a full line brawl as both coaches elected to start their tough guys and all hell broke loss. in a matter of 2 seconds 152 penalty minutes were handed out and a toal of a 188 penalty minutes were tallied out in the 1st period with the score 0-0. Pretty crazy start in Vancouver, but the Canucks were able to edge out the Flames in a shootout 3-2, shootout winner from Chris Higgins. Both coaches were received punishment for their action in Saturday night's brawl, Flames coach Bob Hartley received a $25,000 fine and John Tortorella was given a 15 day suspension without pay.

Recap of Past 3 days in the NHL

It's been another start to a busy week for the NHL, with a total of 18 games so far in a 3 day span. On Monday, there were 4 NHL games on the tube with Calgary at Carolina, Tampa Bay at Columbus, Phoenix at Winnipeg, and Vancouver at Los Angeles. Calgary come out on top with a 2-0 over the Hurricanes, and Karri Ramo's first shutout of the year. The Lightning were bested by the Blue Jackets by a score of 3-2. Paul Maurice won his first game as the Jet's new bench boss, with a dominating win over the Coyotes by a score of 5-1, and the LA Kings win a tight battle against the Canucks by a score of 1-0 in Johnathan Quick's first start since is his injury.

There were 11 games played on Tuesday with none bigger than the Leafs facing off against division rival and original 6 rival the Boston Bruins. The Leafs coming off a win on Sunday night that broke their losing skid, won a big game against the Bruins 4-3 with big help from 1st line Centre Tyler Bozak who had himself a 3 point night, 2 goals and an assist. Sticking with Canadian teams, the Habs played hoist to the New Jersey Devils losing 4-1,in the potential last game in Montreal for the for sure Hall of Famer, Martin Brodeur. The Ottawa Senators had a big win over the Minnesota Wild with a 3-0 shutout, the Flames fell 4-2 to Nashville, and the Oilers lose to the surging Stars by a score of 5-2. The San Jose Sharks beat the Capitals 2-1 in a shootout, the Lightning victorious of the Rangers 2-1, Panthers 4-2 over the Islanders, Flyers winners in Buffalo 4-3, Avs best the Blackhawks in OT 3-2, and the Blues beating the Coyotes at home 2-1.

Only 3 games on television last night with the Leafs hoisting the Sabres, the Penguins hoisting the Capitals, and the unbeaten at home Anaheim Ducks play hoist to the Vancouver Canucks. The Leafs and Sabres needed a shootout to decide the winner with the Leafs taking the victory. The Penguins and Capitals, Crosby and Ovechkin, always a treat when these to two play, but the Penguins take the win over the Caps with a bomb from the point by rookie defenceman Olli Maata. And the final game of the evening, while lets just say it was over before it even began, as the Ducks steamroll the Canucks by a lopsided score of 9-1, with a 4 point night from Corey Perry.