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

To Err Is Human, To Forgive is Divine...

There was no further need to accelerate the vitriolic hate that permeates the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals rivalry. In this series, a new chapter to the Pens/Caps rivalry is written with many players switching teams. Capitals with 4 former Penguins while Pittsburgh has one key ex-Capital.

During game two, a face familiar to both teams had thrust himself into the national spotlight as Brooks Orpik had laid out young Finnish defenseman Olli Maatta. My first thoughts weren't of anger initially, but immediate concern for Maatta's well-being. Then the play was stopped as the NBC broadcast camera starts to pan in towards rubbery Maatta laying prone on the ice. He was KO'd before he even hit the ice surface. Once the whistle had sounded, I looked and expected the referee to motion towards the guilty forty-four for a long stay in the penalty box. None were forthcoming.

I guess once the initial shock had worn off, disappointment and disbelief arrived to find that a once respected hero athlete who wore the black & gold for many seasons delivered a vicious hit to a former teammate. People still wear Orpik's jersey to games and never quit mentioning the trivial origins of his first name as connections to a legendary Penguins coach. Orpik is remembered fondly in Pittsburgh as a rough and tough player who leveled Red Wings players with heavy bodychecks when appropriate. Now that he wears the enemy's colors, are Penguins fans forced to condemn and make hyperbolic statements about him? 

I could wildly speculate a little deeper to what might Orpik had been thinking. He had been playing Maatta closely, but swoops back in toward to set a huge hit well after the puck sailed far away. Did Orpik target Maatta knowing that he was made expendable in the Penguins organization? Was revenge on his mind? Or was there clearly no thought process at all?

Today, Orpik owned up to his actions while making a classy statement:

Orpik accepted responsibility for the head hit he delivered that injured Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta, saying his three-game suspension was “fair” and that he made a “pretty bad mistake.”

He then went on in reports to explain that he told the Capitals that the Penguins would buckle under the pressure if they played a strong body checking game. He'd seen it happen before.

But now that I've heard his reactions to the steep 3 playoff game suspension, I've settled with Orpik emotionally. I can't ever condone what he did to the young Penguins player who had already been beset with injuries, but the matter is settled and closure is achieved. I forgive Orpik's reckless play.

However...

It still leaves a few other directions to channel my disgust and anger. The referees who didn't call a penalty on Orpik and towards the Barry Trotz who suggested that the Penguins got preferential favoritism when the suspension was handed out. Trotz must have been channeling his inner- Stan Van Gundy. I recall Van Gundy tried to win "the war" of public opinion in the press by claiming that superstars always get the in-favor bias with the front office and officials.

The sensible thing would be that the inflammatory rhetoric Trotz used in his vague allegations would be laughed off, but in this case, he's looking to further incidents like this one in hopes that pressure might sway things back in their hands.

The referees made a mistake by not awarding this disastrous hit a 5-minute major penalty. At worst it's a match penalty. Did the referees decide or expect the Penguins to retaliate with hits of their own targeting their former player? Would justice be served by allowing Orpik to skate freely with a perennial target on his back? The more I think about the mistake the referees made, the angrier I get at surely having to listen to know-it-all pundits who feast on verbally pummeling the NHL for not taking better care of their players and doling out stricter penalties.

So, the Pens/Caps rivalry has yet another chapter forged between them in history. It's not like the playoffs weren't already raised up. But the rage-filled debate will yet again. For that, I can't tolerate another hit like Orpik's.

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!

Breaking News: Ovechkin Latest "Shanaban" Victim

Brendan Shanahan, NHL's Vice President of Hockey and Business Development and head disciplinarian, has released the video explaining the reasons why the League chose to suspend NHL superstar Alex Ovechkin after a vicious hit to the head on his Penguin opponent during yesterday's high-profile nationally broadcast NBC game.

Watch the video and decide for yourself to see if you agree with their conclusions as well as suitable punishment. Then check out what I have to say about the hit as well as the reputation that should stick to Alex Ovechkin.
This type of behavior has been seen from him before. I don't know why many people chose to turn a blind eye toward his goonish style of play. It's as if the goal scoring trophies and the #1 overall status can inoculate himself against criticisms of his dirty play. He continually gets called "greatest player in the game today", yet would one of those qualifications to make him as such to be a cheap shotting thug? If Alex is the standard in which all players are measured, then this would make Sean Avery a hall-of-famer.

I don't think that the suspension went far enough for someone who is a repeat offender and for the amount of money (in the form of game paychecks) can be easily remade with "Ov8"'s budding rap career. For a person who makes over 100 million dollars, the fine is just pocket change.

What do you think of this hit and weather or not it was appropriate. Won't you please leave a comment below?

Winter Classic 2011 Unveils Logo + Press Publicity

The Winter Classic is going to get really big next year as I expect it to be hyped from now until the event itself. But while things are quiet on the western front, the NHL along with the cooperating franchises, held a joint press conference to announce the event.

The first thing that I wanted to see coming from this presser was the new updated logo for the event. After the first one, the host city got it's own unique style worked into the event. So, the logo (seen at left), is similar to some other downtown Pittsburgh events and reflects the unique city skyline along with the many bridges that it takes to get anywhere and everywhere. It also uses the sharp points that can be found on the Pittsburgh flag's coat of arms. A really sharp piece of artwork that I am sure will pop up on a t-shirt in every sports equipment store in the area.There were a variety of photo opportunities that the Penguins as well as Gary Bettman behind a microphone podium reused from the recent NHL Draft in Los Angeles.

There is also a video being circulated around with Mario and Crosby taking slapshots at the football goalposts over at the Pittsburgh Penguins TV website.

I can't wait to be there for the event!

Heinz Field Potentially A Winter Classic Host Location

Despite rumors that the January 1, 2011 Winter Classic game will be played at Heinz Field, the NHL and the Pittsburgh Penguins have already not officially confirmed it to be true. I, for many Pittsburgh hockey fans, have been excited by this news in the same way since the announcement that the city was getting a new arena.

I suppose my criticisms of the past winter classics have made their way towards the NHL brass about putting hockey games on baseball fields. It just isn't conducive to lines of sight than a natural bowl that a football field provides. And there is always the attendence availability to consider. The Pittsburgh fans here have gobbled up available tickets to just about anything Steelers or Penguins. No doubt that a Winter Classic will be sold out in under an hour.

With the popularity of the Winter Classic continuing on the rise, there is reportedly many host cities in line to get the newest January 1st tradition. It would also be great to see the major city of New York lose out to Pittsburgh in hosting the event. I'm sure that a lot of special interest money (read: Steinbrenner) will be pushed "all in" to attract a major holiday event. But Pittsburgh has the better bargaining power of matching up the two biggest rivals this sport has ever seen.

[Via: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Crosby Spares Semin Over Controversial Criticism

I expected Sid Crosby to respond to public criticism in the manner that he did - classy.

"I saw them," Crosby said of the quotes. "I'd be better off keeping my opinion to myself, I think. He can say what he wants, but I'll keep mine to myself about him."

I don't know what Semin was thinking, but the criticism that he offered backfired when part-time fans were left scratching their heads saying "Who is Alex Semin?"

[Via: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

"Hockey Mom" Maybe A Heartbeat Away

I have often been envious at Canada for having a leader that was open to the enthusiastic fandom of hockey. But now with the news of Presidential candidate John McCain choosing Gov. Sarah Palin (R) of Alaska, we may now just get America to like hockey again.

Gov. Palin, a self-described "hockey mom" is a charming woman who lives the life being able to balance a demanding career, a loving family, a few outdoors sports, and a faith that roots her in a foundation of real hope and moral values. But just as the picture was painted for a docile political debater, think again. A hockey mom can be just as tough the likes that no-one has ever seen in the USA capital. Bill Kristol helped relay the fighting spirit in this short transcript.

Where Hillary failed to achieve, the GOP VP nominee is hoping to gather a lot of the American population that relates to the Hockey Mom lifestyle.

"She's obviously put her heart into her children, because that's what you do when you play hockey. You travel, spend many hours, and have to be a dedicated mom," said Rae Etting as she watched her son score.

She was a Hillary Clinton supporter, who is now thinking about voting Republican.

"She's really a regular person, you know, just like most of us. She feels the same way that we feel," Etting said.

There is even a story floating around about how Gov. Palin fought for an indoor Sports Complex that went over-budget, but that is no big deal knowing that Pittsburghers have an albatross of a slots casino going over budget built by the Democrat rulers.

All in all, Gov. Palin will take her lumps by her detractors, but this "hockey mom" has taken on corruption and reflects a growing segment of the American population. And that is the kind of person that we can all get behind to support.

[Via: The Weekly Standard& WBZ-TV]

Capitals Increase Ticket Costs Against Penguins

Sure the NHL is going to be a gate driven league, so when team owners realized that they can make more money during increased attendance at rivalry games, "Sweaty Teddy" Leonsis is leading the progressive thinking and increasing ticket prices at the Verizon Center when Sid Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins come to town.

Like the season-opener against the Chicago Blackhawks, and contests against the New York Rangers (Nov. 8 and Jan. 3), Detroit Red Wings (Jan. 31) and the two visits from Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins (Feb. 22 and March 8).

Individual tickets for those games will increase by an average of $15 above their usual cost.

So, if each game in an 82 game season matters just as much as the others, then why do they have to pay more for certain teams? Is this some kind of affirmative action on elite teams? No, wait... if they wanted to get more people in the buildings when weaker teams come to visit, then they would make the tickets cheaper to get more people. Makes sense?

Nate Ewell, director of media relations, told me today that this variable pricing is in keeping with the Capitals' long-standing tradition of trying to fill their building with more home than away fans.

This is always a known fact in Penguins history. Fans of the Penguins will often blog and fling this into Capitals fans faces.

I would call the biggest Penguins rival to be the Flyers, but with the latest hype of Ovechkin and company, the Capitals run a close second in deep seeded hate rivals. This ticket price story is only one more chapter.

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