Game of the Week - New York Rangers vs Washington Capitals (9/11 Anniversary Game)

It's once again on that somber memorial of all the people lost on 9-11 that I decide to continue simulating the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals NHL video game. I'll switch off on which team I use to control in the player 1 category and hope for the best. I've tried to get as many great goals in with some exciting highlights as best I can. It's a supplement to the "Game of the Week" feature on Twitch.tv which can be later seen by the Youtube channel community.
You can watch the broadcast here on the uploaded Youtube channel here.

Game of the Week - Washington Capitals vs New York Rangers 9/11 Memorial Game

It's been 15 years since that horrible day in September when the modern world saw the horror of an unprovoked attack changing all our lives forever. 9/11 is a day of continued mourning, but as the years go by, we are strengthening our national resolve to forge ahead to higher peaks of human fortitude.

Once again, the Confessions of a Hockey Fanatic continues it's tradition of playing out a simulated game between the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals.

Last year, I chose the New York Rangers, so to mix it up, I chose to control the Capitals. Will I finally break the losing streak against the CPU and win in my last game broadcasting with EA Sports NHL 16?

Thank you to all those who serve in the military, police, firefighters, and first responders. Without your courage, we have no examples of human bravery.

RIP
Mark Bavis and Garnet "Ace" Bailey

Game of the Week - Washington Capitals vs New York Rangers

In this week's episode, we are solemnly remembering the tragedy that occurred on 9/11/01. So, I chose the teams from both cities that were affected the most. I had blogged about the tragedy once it happened that the news revealed the NHL hockey community had lost two of their own

New York and Washington D.C. might be a growing rivalry as both teams had given their all in a 7 game series in the 2014 playoffs a few seasons ago. Ovechkin needed to move on to the next round very badly and the NY Rangers desperately needed to prove that their change in roster and coach could be more fruitful.
Thanks for watching the final broadcast of the game of the week series in NHL 15. I know it was a short season, but NHL 16 is going to continue to be the upgrade in what the series needs. Let me know in the comments section how I did with the broadcast!

Rangers Rookie Scores Hat Trick in Debut Game

People usually remember their first day at work at their new job, so it's even easier when the first day becomes a historic event of a lifetime. In only the 4th time in NHL history, New York Rangers rookie Derek Stepan shot himself into the recordbooks by scoring a hat trick in his first game as an NHL player. The last time this was accomplished, it was Dallas Stars Fabian Brunnstrom in 2008.

Scoring a hat trick (3 goals in one game) is not an easy feat for any player at any level, but congratulations to a young player who needs to produce on a Rangers team who struggle on the borderline of making the playoffs - or not.

[Via: NewsDay.com]

Graves' Past History Shows His Character Flaws

Tonight is a big night at Madison Square Garden. Tonight, a good guy gets rewarded. Tonight, the cynics will let their guard down (and put down their pens) and actually stand and applaud not only a good hockey player, but a great man.

But before you get completely swept away by the romanticism of honoring a hockey player by immortalizing a number, consider all the facts before rendering an opinion about the recent Rangers honoree.Yes, Adam Graves was the same thug who viciously attacked the greatest player in the game during the 1992 Stanley Cup playoffs. If Graves did something like this today, he would most certainly be ostracized and labeled a Bertuzzi-like thug.

The media would like to gloss over this incident, but you can't hide the humongous character flaw from a generation of Penguins fans.

[From: NHL.com]

Avery Shockingly Hospitalized After Loss

Sean Avery, the poster boy of hockey villainy, was admitted to a New York City hospital at 3 AM Wednesday morning. It is reported that he had undergone cardiac arrest. Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review has reported back to ESPN 1250 that he is unconscious on a respirator. TSN has conflicting reports saying that Avery has a ruptured spleen.

No further speculation or reporting on this breaking news has been done.

COHF wishes a speedy recovery to Sean.


(Bad time to be with the movers and get scooped on this news, eh?)

Jagr Reaches 1,500 Points

Despite being a reviled caricature in the NHL in some cities, Jaromir Jagr was booed by his former team's fans while he was chasing down a scoring benchmark. But when asked about the fans' hostility, Jagr just shrugs off stuff like this saying

"That's okay, I don't really worry about it," he said. "As long as we win, it's good."

Yea, that is a great attitude to have in public, but I have heard from my "Washington Insider" sources that Jagr didn't always cope with things this well before.

But now that Jagr is in the city/market franchise he is happy with and surrounded by the Czech players that provide a more stable support group, Jagr finds himself in elite company now.

Jagr's feat was impressive as only three players have accomplished the milestone in fewer games. Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Marcel Dionne are the only men who have reached that plateau faster.

I am guessing now HHOF writers and esteemed voters are now penciling in Jagr's name for consideration for the Hall now that this personal scoring achievement has been met. Jagr's career includes two Stanley Cups and numerous MVP awards.

"It's a big honor," he said to AP." How many years has the NHL been around, 100? The best players in the world play in this league. If I can be in top 12, that's great."

[Via: AllHeadline News]

Jagr Collects #600

After being denied a goal in Pittsburgh, Jaromir Jagr was able to find the scoring touch again by putting one by Tampa Bay's Johan Holmqvist early in the first period.

"We weren't happy with our start (Saturday) and we wanted to get off to a better start," Shanahan said. "It was great Jags got his 600th right off the bat. It was a good way to start our night."

Fans could see Jagr among the league leaders in goals scored this season. His scoring touch has undergone a renaissance since adding Shanahan in the off-season. 600 goals is considered a benchmark for elite players and carries weight for that player in Hall of Fame considerations.

And for a trivia note, Jagr had also scored goal number 500 against Tampa Bay.

Staal and Letang Score Firsts, Beat Rangers

The Pittsburgh Penguins accomplished a lot tonight as they recorded goals by 3 teenagers in one game. The last time that happened was Buffalo in 1982. But in the country's most famous arena, the Penguins put on a great show and proved why they are a young team destined for future greatness.

Jordan Staal, already labeled as Eric's little bro, scored his first goal of his career when he jumped on a puck at the blueline and sunk it into the Ranger goal twine at 3:23 into the game. Not only was the play impressive, but the Penguins were on the penalty kill. Jordan is 18 years old and fresh out of juniors for the Peterboro Petes.

Then, the next hero of the game was Kris Letang, a 19 year old also scored his first NHL goal at 9:15 and kept the Penguins in the game when they had to match goal-for-goal with a very powerful Ranger lineup.

The incredible surprise of the night was the re-direction power play goal of a pass to Michel Ouellet by Sid Crosby. That enabled the Penguins to win the game 6-5 and be placed in the record books. Crosby is still 19 years old and still a teen.

Three teens scoring in 1 game. Looks like a bright future for the Pens.