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: 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: And Then There Were Four
It’s another week of playoff hockey, and like clockwork (well, slightly delayed clockwork this time), Jay and Stephen are back to talk shop, including the super hot Kings, who are now one win from the Stanley Cup finals, and the neck and neck battle between New Jersey and New York. Jay: Well, here we are in the third round of the playoffs. Rangers-Devils and Kings-Coyotes. Of the four teams, the only one I thought had a shot at getting [...]
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.
Cold as Ice: Another Round, Bartender!
Jay: Well, here we are chatting again and another game is going to overtime… Rangers and Caps are tied at 1 after regulation, with the series tied at 1. When we left off last week, the Rangers had yet to play their game 7 vs. Ottawa. Obviously we know how that turned out, but what are your thoughts on this series so far? Stephen: I am still surprised as the tenacity and competence of the Caps team, who a lot [...]
Cold as Ice: The Curious Case of Scott Gomez
Among all the numerous sports headlines last week (the birth of “Linsanity” , the ongoing Peyton saga, the record setting home victory streak by the Red Wings), it was easy to miss Montreal’s Scott Gomez and his game winning goal against the New York Islanders. It wasn’t particularly flashy, nor did it seal a particularly important game. What it did do, however, was snap Gomez’s calendar year long goal drought, which began on February 5, 2011. Scoring funks are nothing new [...]
Cold as Ice: Midseason Review, Part 2
Believe it or not, half of the NHL season is officially behind us. To commemorate the milestone, and look at both things past and to come, Cold as Ice co-editors Stephen and Jay sat down to discuss the season so far. In part two, they talk about the Winter Classic (including HBO’s series 24/7), the growing concussion problems of the NHL, and our predictions for the second half. Stephen: Speaking of hockey’s growing popularity, the Winter Classic has really been [...]
Cold As Ice: Too Much of a Good Thing?
Nearly every NHL game ever played has taken place in a hockey arena, which makes the annual Winter Classic outdoor game such a big deal. Ever since the league first held the Winter Classic in 2008 (five years after staging an outdoor game in Edmonton) between Pittsburgh and Buffalo, the New Year’s Day event has been a ratings and headline grabber. This year’s game will take place on January 2 (avoiding a conflict with NFL games on 1/1) at Philadelphia’s [...]
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