Firing in Hamilton

Hamlton Tigers have fired GM Kyle Dunbar due to his inability to make any moves at the trade deadline to try and improve the team, or even getting after the coaching staff who decided to let the same lineup play game in and game out.

"It is almost as if Mr. Dunbar had lost interest, he sat by as the team struggled all season long without even looking into the possibility of change."

Kyle Dunbar said this was not true, he would have loved to stay in the league, but being a volunteer GM was not helping. "I had to pay the bills. Work gave me a promotion where I had a ton of extra things to learn and do. During the times where I was not working late or on weekends I had a newborn son that I wanted to spend time with. I love the PHL and the managers (well most of them). Hopefully one day I can return when real life calms down and allows me the time to do this. I am not the type of person who wants to be in this league and only show up for a draft and to enter some contests, I want to be as active as possible."

LATE GAME COLLAPSES COST FLYERS

The Philadelphia Flyers went down to the Buffalo Sabres four straight games in the Western Conference Finals thanks in large part to the goaltending of Justin Peters. "Peters kept them in the game until what seemed like our traditional late game collapse", said Flyers GM, Jazz Matthews. "Not to take away anything from the rest of the Sabres organization, but lets be real...we lead the first three games going late into the third, then we fell apart".

"We're not gonna analyze this in the press. We'll sit down as a management group and do what it takes to return to the finals next season and eventually on to the Cup". Matthews added that there will be changes. "For sure, right after rerates and up until regular season, we will be making moves......as Burkey says.....we're open for business".

Congrats to Edwin, the Sabres, Steve and the Maple Leafs on making it to the finals. As we were beat by Buffalo, our pick is the Sabres in 6........

FLYERS TO VISIT SABRES IN CONFERENCE FINALS

Well, well, well......what do we have here? The Western Conference Finals featuring the Buffalo Sabres (hey buddy) and the slowly dismantled and destroyed Philadelphia Flyers. Yes, it's true....Flyer GM, Jazz Matthews dismantled the high FLYing offence he had last season and it is true, he searched for that elusive 9/9 goaltender. Destroyed? I hardly think so. So where do the Flyers stand? Buffalo and Philly split the season series at an even .500, going 1-1-1. Having not met in the PHL playoffs since Matthews took over the Flyers, we have nothng to go on.....or do we......perhaps our young friend Edwin MacDougall, of Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada and a GM in the now defunct MSHL, can shead some light on this upcoming series.

Yes, GM Matthews, once of the MSHL Dallas Mammoths and New Orleans Confederates, may have tangled with the Sabre GM in a previous incarnation. But, alas, as Matthews' 49th birthday approaches, his mind is a little foggy and it seems that the MSHL records are lost forever......why is that my little BISON friend? Did you have any influence over former commish JC Locas in hiding what may have been crucial information, from the mediaa?

Things that make you go .....hmmmmmmmm!

Congrats to the Tigers on a hard fought series. If not for Khabibulin, it may have gone the other way........BRING ON BUFFALO!!!!!

THANKS TO RANGERS, PENGUINS

As GM of the Philadelphia Flyers, I want to send out my congrats and thank you's to the New York Rangers for first, making the playoffs and second, taking us to the brink in Game 7. As you know, we have been eliminated in the first round each of the last two seasons, choosing to go for the flash instead of the dash. We made mininmal trades and even last season while tearing it up, we gave little consideration as to the playoff picture.

Now, as we tahnk the Pittsburgh Penguins on a great second round showing, we see the fruits of of labors starting to bloom. In December we traded our Captain Derek Armstong, All Star dman Brian Lee, great future star Brett MacLean and several picks to get Ryan Bayda, Derek Morris and undoubtedly one of the best assets we have Steve Reinprecht. Those players along with Nikolai Khabibulin acquired at the deadline, have now shown that we were exactly right in making those deals. Steve and Ryan (stats not updated at this writing) are in the top of the scoring race with Steve leading it after a 5 point (4g, 1a) performance the other night. Habby has kept us right in there.

As we look ahead, we feel very confident that our R2R and R2S lines will take us through Round 3.

Thanks again to the Rangers and the Pens, good luck next season.....Jazz Matthews, General Manager

Believers

In the beginning, there were no believers.
Then the unlikely Jets who had backed into the playoffs on a tie-breaker upset
the heavily favoured Canucks.
Suddenly, there were believers. 7 of 16 (not including the Jets GM) belived that the
Jets could knock off the Oilers.
Against the odds, Jets sweep the Oilers in four games.
Will there be more or less believers when the Jets play the winner of the Stars/Rockies
series?
This scribe thinks there should be more.
Time will tell.

"Clark" Kent Nilson

**********FOUR**********

Congrats to the Majors on their series win against the Wolverines.

Blackhawks PR

GM Brent predicted a sweep of the Leafs as well but after he sent that in his team doesnt know how to play. The blackhawks are down 2-0 in the series already but GM Brent knows that they can come back as long as they dont fall down 3-0 in the series. I Believe that my team has it in them to come back and win this series yet. We believe that this team can come back and win the next four games and if they dont we know that the Hawks will be going to the golf course very soon.

Pete "Almighty" Rose

RANGERS TAKE FLYERS TO THE BRINK

It looked sure to happen, again! The Philadelphis Flyers, after finishing first in the division each of the last three seasons, appeared to be destined to the golf course. "Finishing first has had no affect on how we played in the playoffs", said GM Jazz Matthews. "Even last season, record setting as it was, we bowed out early....too early. This year looked to be the same. We give credit to the New York rangers for taking it to game 7". It was starting to look bleak as the Rangers came back to tie the series. GM Matthews was under no illusions as to the fatre of the Flyers.
"Yeah, it was looking bad again.....we relied on Nik (Khabibulin) to hold us in. What we really need is for the leaders on this team to step up and TAKE the lead".

As the Flyers get ready to host the Pittsburgh Penguins, Matthews remains optimistic. "We can do this, there is no doubt in my mind. I just hope my heart can survive the run".

This reporter would normally go Flyers in 5 but after the last series......lets go Flyers in 9...hehehe......okay 7!

For the Philadelphia Enquirer, I am Bubba Davis.....

OMG... get out the glass slipper

Who knows what evil lurks behind the closed doors of the Smythe division?
Upset...Oilers over Kings!
Major upset...Jets over Canucks!!
Even this humble scribe did not predict a series win by the Jets!
In fact NO ONE picked the Jets!
Beaten all year long by the Canucks.
Struggling to score even ONE goal per game against the Canucks' this series seemed to be
over before the first game!
But the defensive-minded Jets appeared to have other plans.
Game 1 Jets win 2-0 in Vancouver....shocker
Game 2 Jets win 5-1 in Vancouver...double shocker
Game 3 Jets win 4-1 at home...where is the mighty Canuck offense..and who is that in goal for the Jets??
Game 4 Canucks win 3-1 on an empty net goal.
Game 5 Canucks win 4-2 on an empty net goal
Game 6 C anucks win 4-2 on an empty net goal
Are we seeing a trend here?
Are Jets going to lose this series after being up 3 games to none?
NO!
Game 7 Jets win 5-0 on great goaltending and defense.
Hat trick Zagrapan!
Game! Set! Match!
Oilers...upset team??
The Oiler hand may have been good enough to beat Kings but,
Is it good enough to beat wild card goaltending??

"Clark" Kent Nilson

Oh so close

We gave it our all, but congrats to the Leafs on their OT win in game 7

Blackhawks PR

As GM Brent sat here watching his Blackhawks win when they needed to with many high scoring games. As this whole series looked like there was no defence even played just pure offence and well the Hawks managed to score a few more goals every night. The Hawks swept the Red Wings in 4 games but who they play next is still out there. It looks to as it should be the leafs but the Jackets still having a slim chance to make it past the leafs. As all this was going on GM Brent watched the Oil kings get swept from the Wolverines. Goaltender Linden Rowat was the difference maker in all 4 games. Rowat was a Hawk for a while and he did not appreciate being traded as everyone seen. Well continue to tune in and watch the hawks keep pushing.

Pete "Almighty" Rose

Whalers PR

Well it looks like the boys on the Whalers didn't live up to expectations. I wouldn't even say that they put in a valiant effort.

I will personally apologize to the Sabres, when I get a chance, for not even giving them a challenge. The Whalers should buy them a jet for their troubles of having to put up with us.

With this said, the Whalers would like to wish the Sabres the best of luck in these playoffs (stick it to the "frenchies"). If you don't take the cup home, then We will be really embarrassed to have lost to ya 4 straight. GO GET EM!!!!!!

From the desk of
Whalers GM
Paul Gagne

WOLVERINES SWEEP THE OIL KINGS

Ann Arbor - Shaking hands with the Oil Kings felt vastly different for the Wolverines after their 1st ever post season series win. "A little more smiling," said Wolverines head Coach, Daryl Sittler. After moving his farm club to Ann Arbor, Michigan, CBJ GM Colston had promised the fans something to cheer about. In just four games of their First round series, the Wolverines with a 4-1 win Friday night over the Oil King, capped a four-game sweep that was never in thoughts of the BlackHawks GM.

Game 1 WOLVERINES 5, OIL KINGS 1
Game 2 WOLVERINES 3, OIL KINGS 2
Game 3 WOLVERINES 4, OIL KINGS 2
Game 4 WOLVERINES 4, OIL KINGS 1

"We're still a young team but we were even younger last year with most of us going through the playoffs for the very first time this year," said superstar Lonnie Loach, with his first playoff series win as a Wolverine now under his belt.



"It's always tough to lose but they handled us pretty well throughout the series” said Oil Kings goalie, Steve Mason. Once the final whistle blew, I know just how much of a void this series lost to the Wolverines will have on these boys.” Said Craig MacTavish, the Oil Kings head coach.

To be able to come back this year and learn from our mistakes and be better for it and get a win feels good for sure" said Ben Maxwell.

When talking to GM Colston, I ask if he had anything to say about the Oil Kings? There he stood, looking at the ice and surely looking for the correct words. After a couple of minuets, GM Colston turn and said. “There is only one thing that comes to mind, but I can‘t find the right words” he said. Then without any hesitation, he says. "As it turns out, when it really matters, the Oil Kings just can’t seem to win!”

Cupp A Joe

Don Cherry's prediction

Columbus, OH cajn In a phone interview today, the Head coach of the Blue Jackets, Don Cherry predicted that his Blue Jacket players will rise from the dead and sweep the next four games. "This will be the beginning of a dynasty for the Blue Jackets." Cherry said.

Cupp A Joe