The Colorado Rockies are in the Conference Final for the second year in a row. Tim Hunter is confident the team has learned from their loss to the Maple Leafs last season and are ready to show-up on the Big Stage this time 'round.
The team will face its first bit of adversity in these play-offs, as their Top D and leading play-off scorer, Radek Martinek, has been suspended for 2 games for his brutal hit-from-behind in the last game of the Oilers series.
In his place, D Nick Schultz will be seeing his first action of the post-season. On a better note, the Rockies top C, Jakub Klepis, is back from his injury and will draw back into the line-up. As a result, Michael Backlund will likely see a little less ice-tim 5-on-5, but he was practicing on the point for power-play at practice today, taking Martinek's spot with the extra-man.
For the Colorado Complainer, this has been Nathan Livingston.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Rockies Move On...
The Colorado Rockies have moved on to the Conference Final for just the 2nd time in their history. They were able to close out their division tonight with a 3-0 shutout victory on home ice over the hated Oilers.
"It was so critical for us to win tonight at home," explained Tim Hunter, the team's 1st year coach, "we had that desperation... there was no way we wanted to get on that plane to Edmonton."
Last season, the Rockies (with their .488% in the regular season) made it all the way to the Conference Final where they lost the Toronto Maple Leafs. They may very well face those same Leafs this season, as they have a Game 7 showdown coming up against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
This season, the team sported a measly .413% in the regular season and yet here they are again in the Conference Final.
"Look, I build my team's for play-off hockey, that's never been a secret in the PHL. The regular season doesn't mean shit to me... in fact, I'd rather have a worse record so we can get better picks and more re-rate protection... I'm a Brilliant PHL GM, that's all there is to it!" boasted GM Justin Livingston, whom most pundits have a hard time believing still has a job after keeping this team mired in mediocrity since PHL5.
Can the Rockies keep up this inspired level of play? Is their self-proclaimed genius-of-a-GM destined for Glory? Only time will tell, but either the Blue Jackets or the Leafs will provide a far greater test than the Rockies have faced to date.
For the Colorado Complainer, this has been Nathan Livingston.
"It was so critical for us to win tonight at home," explained Tim Hunter, the team's 1st year coach, "we had that desperation... there was no way we wanted to get on that plane to Edmonton."
Last season, the Rockies (with their .488% in the regular season) made it all the way to the Conference Final where they lost the Toronto Maple Leafs. They may very well face those same Leafs this season, as they have a Game 7 showdown coming up against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
This season, the team sported a measly .413% in the regular season and yet here they are again in the Conference Final.
"Look, I build my team's for play-off hockey, that's never been a secret in the PHL. The regular season doesn't mean shit to me... in fact, I'd rather have a worse record so we can get better picks and more re-rate protection... I'm a Brilliant PHL GM, that's all there is to it!" boasted GM Justin Livingston, whom most pundits have a hard time believing still has a job after keeping this team mired in mediocrity since PHL5.
Can the Rockies keep up this inspired level of play? Is their self-proclaimed genius-of-a-GM destined for Glory? Only time will tell, but either the Blue Jackets or the Leafs will provide a far greater test than the Rockies have faced to date.
For the Colorado Complainer, this has been Nathan Livingston.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Wolverines Sweep the Spirit
The Wolverines sweep the Spirit to win the Pacific Division. With the Spirit leading 4-3 with just under 8 minuets to play in the 3RD period, Lonnie Loach tied the game at 12:19.
At 11:21 of overtime period, Brett McLean scored an unassisted goal to give the Wolverines their first ever Division Title.
Cupp A Joe
At 11:21 of overtime period, Brett McLean scored an unassisted goal to give the Wolverines their first ever Division Title.
Cupp A Joe
Friday, October 22, 2010
Costly Win for Colorado
The Colorado Rockies played a solid, all-round game tonight in beating the Edmonton Oilers 4-1 on home ice... taking a 2 games to 1 lead in the series. The Rockies will look to take a strangle-hold in the series with Game 4 here in Denver.
Unfortunately, the Rockies will have to make this attempt without #1 Center, Jakub Klepis. The shifty Czech took a mean-spirited slash on the wrist from Oilers winger, Ilya Kovalchuk.
In what is believed to be a PHL play-off first, there was a total of 3, 5-minute majors handed out on the play, as both RW Mike Richards and LW Fredrik Modin (Klepis' line-mates) jumped Kovalchuk and pummeled him mercilessly. All 3 players were handed major penalties for fighting.
Oddly, neither of the Rockies players were ejected from the game. This, combined with the fact that the original slash went undetected, has brought the officiating into question. Fortunately, the Rockies were able to kill off the penalty, as it was still 3-1 at that time and an Oilers goal could have really changed the outcome of the game.
For the Colorado Complainer, this has been Nathan Livingston.
Unfortunately, the Rockies will have to make this attempt without #1 Center, Jakub Klepis. The shifty Czech took a mean-spirited slash on the wrist from Oilers winger, Ilya Kovalchuk.
In what is believed to be a PHL play-off first, there was a total of 3, 5-minute majors handed out on the play, as both RW Mike Richards and LW Fredrik Modin (Klepis' line-mates) jumped Kovalchuk and pummeled him mercilessly. All 3 players were handed major penalties for fighting.
Oddly, neither of the Rockies players were ejected from the game. This, combined with the fact that the original slash went undetected, has brought the officiating into question. Fortunately, the Rockies were able to kill off the penalty, as it was still 3-1 at that time and an Oilers goal could have really changed the outcome of the game.
For the Colorado Complainer, this has been Nathan Livingston.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Chicago, IL cajn The Columbus Blue jackets have just eliminated the Norris Division Champions, The Chicago Blackhawks.
GM Colston and his ragtag team that barely made the playoffs, finished off the Blackhawks in a wild game 7 in Chicago with a score of 8-7.
Stay tuned for further updates as other press agents will surely chime in on this ground shaking up-set by the Jackets.
Cupp A Joe
GM Colston and his ragtag team that barely made the playoffs, finished off the Blackhawks in a wild game 7 in Chicago with a score of 8-7.
Stay tuned for further updates as other press agents will surely chime in on this ground shaking up-set by the Jackets.
Cupp A Joe
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Rockies Looking for the Sweep!
Mikael Backlund's empty netter in the final minute of last night's game has put the Oakland Seals in a very tough spot. The Rockies are now up 3-0 with game 4 on home ice.
"I don't think there's a team in the PHL that we can't match up with right now," said an arrogant GM Justin Livingston, "I'm not saying teams are scared to play us... they should be, they just don't know any better!"
For the Colorado Complainer, this has been Nathan Livingston.
"I don't think there's a team in the PHL that we can't match up with right now," said an arrogant GM Justin Livingston, "I'm not saying teams are scared to play us... they should be, they just don't know any better!"
For the Colorado Complainer, this has been Nathan Livingston.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Aces Like OT, Too!
The Alaska Aces have managed to mimic what the Rockies have done, by winning the first 2 games of their series on the road. With the Rockies winning both of their games in OT, the Aces figured they'd best do the same. A goal credited to Drew Doughty half way through the extra frame of tonight's game sends the Aces back to Anchorage up 2 games to none.
The Aces are breathing a sigh of relief, as they're the lucky recipients of a gratuitous bounce, as Doughty's goal was actually an 'own goal' by Heat D, Erik Karlsson as he attempted to clear the puck from the Heat's crease. Karlsson fanned on the attempt and put it into his own goal.
With both the Aces and Rockies up 2-0 heading home, surely ONE of them will manage to follow through and get a series win?!?!?
For the Colorado Complainer, this has been Nathan Livingston.
The Aces are breathing a sigh of relief, as they're the lucky recipients of a gratuitous bounce, as Doughty's goal was actually an 'own goal' by Heat D, Erik Karlsson as he attempted to clear the puck from the Heat's crease. Karlsson fanned on the attempt and put it into his own goal.
With both the Aces and Rockies up 2-0 heading home, surely ONE of them will manage to follow through and get a series win?!?!?
For the Colorado Complainer, this has been Nathan Livingston.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Rockies Feelin' Lucky!
Starting the playoffs on the road means an automatic uphill climb in the PHL. However, with back-to-back OT wins in Oakland, the Rockies are feeling pretty fortunate to be coming home with a 2-0 lead in the series.
"I told you we match-up well against these guys... everyone was counting us out. I promised the Seals they'd have themselves a series and we're certainly givin' 'em one!" yelled Tim Hunter at a press conference after tonight's game.
The Colorado Rockies franchise has a history of underachieving in the regular season and overachieving in the post-season. We'll see if they hold true to form, here.
For the Colorado Complainer, this has been Nathan Livingston.
"I told you we match-up well against these guys... everyone was counting us out. I promised the Seals they'd have themselves a series and we're certainly givin' 'em one!" yelled Tim Hunter at a press conference after tonight's game.
The Colorado Rockies franchise has a history of underachieving in the regular season and overachieving in the post-season. We'll see if they hold true to form, here.
For the Colorado Complainer, this has been Nathan Livingston.
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