Editor’s note: The 2013-2014 NHL season kicks off Tuesday night with three games, including Toronto at Montreal and the defending Stanley Cup champs Chicago hosting Washington. Popblerd’s resident hockey scribes Jay Kumar and Stephen Mapes take a look at what to expect this season. Jay: Summer flew by and here we are, about to dive into another season of NHL hockey. What are your thoughts entering into this full season after last year’s exciting shortened season and playoffs? There are […]
Cold As Ice: A Short But Sweet Season
Editor’s note: Popblerd’s hockey correspondents Stephen Mapes and Jay Kumar take a final look at the 2013 season, which ended Monday night when the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Boston Bruins to win their second Stanley Cup in four years. Jay: Okay, so we just came off a pretty damn exciting Stanley Cup final that saw Chicago take it in 6. What did you think? Did it meet your expectations? Stephen: It met and exceeded, I’d say. While I would have […]
Cold As Ice: And Then There Were Four
Editor’s note: With the conference finals of the NHL playoffs beginning tonight, Popblerd’s hockey writers Stephen Mapes and Jay Kumar review the second round and look ahead to the third. Jay: Well, here we are with the conference finals about to begin Saturday. What are your thoughts about the end of the second round? Stephen: It was interesting how the East had definitive champs, while the West was a total toss up. I am a bit surprised the Kings made […]
Cold As Ice: The Wonders of Round 1
Popblerd’s hockey mavens Stephen Mapes and Jay Kumar discuss the first round of the NHL playoffs.
Cold As Ice: After Nearly a Decade, Playoff Fever Grips Toronto
Editor’s note: After a brief hiatus, Cold As Ice is back as Popblerd hockey scribe Jay Kumar shares his joy at his favorite team making the playoffs for the first time in a long time. Nine years is a long time. We’ve seen a slew of revolutionary technological advancements since 2004: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, the iPad, super-fast smartphones. My youngest daughter was born that March and is now 9. And next week, the Toronto Maple Leafs will play their first […]
Cold As Ice: Is Expansion In The NHL’s Future?
The NHL may be expanding by two teams in the next few years. Popblerd’s hockey correspondent Jay Kumar explains why he doesn’t like the idea.
Cold as Ice: Why Do We Bother?
Well, my Pens lost today. Mostly through a third period meltdown that saw them racking up the penalties and impotently trying to survive shorthanded again and again. It was a frustrating way to lose, and in all honesty, I’m a little bit bummed out now, even though I have zero personal stake in the game. It’s a question that comes up inevitably for all of us sports fans, when our team chokes and we spin into a brief, morose sadness: […]
Cold As Ice: 2013 NHL Season Preview (It’s An East Coast-West Coast Thing)
Editor’s note: Popblerd’s hockey scribes Jay Kumar and Stephen Mapes are happy to be back writing about the NHL. On the eve of the start of an abbreviated season, Jay and Stephen chat about what to expect and make some bold predictions. Jay: So Stephen, here we sit in mid-January with a 48-game season about to start. How are you feeling about the NHL right now? Excited or still pissed off over the lockout? Stephen: Honestly, until I sat down […]
Cold As Ice: They’re Baaaaaaaack!
Popblerd’s hockey column returns as Jay Kumar looks at the resolution of the NHL lockout and preparations for a shortened season.
Cold As Ice: The End Is In Sight
As the Stanley Cup Final takes a break for a few days, the Los Angeles Kings lead 3-1 over the New Jersey Devils as the series goes back to NJ. Our hockey correspondents Stephen Mapes and Jay Kumar discuss the last week of action as well as some other recent developments in the NHL. Jay: So when we left off last week, the Kings had beaten the Devils in overtime in game 1 of the Stanley Cup final. It looked […]
Cold As Ice: Who Will Challenge the Kings?
Popblerd’s hockey analysts take a look at the last week of NHL playoff action, as the Los Angeles Kings await their foe in the Stanley Cup final.
Cold as Ice: Only The Strong Survive
Popblerd’s hockey analysts examine the past week’s action as the NHL playoffs move on toward the third round.