Tag: Nashville Predators

VEGAS BABY!!

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

vegas baby

The NHL is growing. I’m not sure how since no one watches hockey, but evidently they think they need another team in their silly league. The NHL has added a 31st team, because having an odd number of teams sounds like a good idea. They’ve decided to set up shop in Sin City, and we will be forced to call them the Las Vegas Golden Knights. I can picture that conversation now:

Golden Knights Owner: “Hey, if we’re going to add another hockey team we should put it in the hottest place on earth, like Vegas.”

NHL Commissioner: “Yes!! We should also make sure the players have easy access to get in a lot of trouble. Because everyone loves a team of bad boys.”

Golden Knights Owner: “Should we pay off the NFL to move the Oakland Raiders to Vegas too?? This way our players won’t look so bad when everyone’s getting arrested for soliciting prostitutes.”

NHL Commissioner: “Good idea!! Now you’re using that big brain of yours!!”

I’m pretty sure that’s exactly how it went.

Anyway, last night, the picks were announced for the Expansion Draft. This draft allowed the Golden Knights to select 1 player from each of the 30 teams currently in the NHL. They were allowed to select from a list of unprotected players as provided by each team. Most notably, the Golden Knights added Marc-Andre Fleury and James Neal. You can check out their entire roster by clicking here.

Fleury is a three-time Stanley Cup Champion goalie who has played his entire career for the Pittsburgh Penguins. There are worse goaltenders to start a franchise with. They also added left-winger James Neal from the Nashville Predators. Neal has been with the Predators since 2014 and most recently helped lead them to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Golden Knights will play their home games at T-Mobile Arena (right on the Vegas strip baby). And they will don the ugliest uniforms known to man. I mean seriously, scroll back up and drink those things in one more time. It looks like communism invaded the medieval times. But seriously, the Golden Knights will join the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. The last time the NHL expanded they added the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild prior to the 2000-2001 NHL season. They each finished in last in their respective divisions. The question is, how will the Golden Knights fare in their first season??

Post your prediction in the comment section below. Thanks for reading, and check back later today for my thoughts on Phil Jackson’s interview from last night. You won’t want to miss it!!

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends about me!!

 

 

 

The Sports World’s Amazing Weekend

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

crosby

When it’s 95 degrees outside, you can either go to the beach or do what I did. Yup. I sat in an air conditioned living room and watched sports all weekend. As my Boston people would say, “That was wicked smart.” It was a good weekend to reacquaint yourself with the special a** groove in your couch, because the sports world was busy. Let’s start with the most important (but probably least watched) sporting event of the weekend:

STANLEY CUP FINALS

Following a bad loss in Game 5, the Nashville Predators were happy to head home. Prior to Game 6, the Predators stood an impressive 9-1 in their home arena in the playoffs. Unfortunately for the Predators, the Pittsburgh Penguins handed them their 2nd home loss. The Penguins broke a scoreless tie 58 minutes and 35 seconds into the game, scoring what would be the game winning goal. They would add an empty-net goal 1 minute and 21 seconds later, securing a 2-0 victory. And just like that, the Pittsburgh Penguins became the first team in 20 years to win back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships. Sidney Crosby (duh) won the Conn Smythe Trophy (MVP of the Playoffs) for the 2nd straight year. I don’t normally talk about shoulda, woulda, couldas..but ah..what the hell. The Predators actually scored in this game. Just 1 minute and 7 seconds into the 2nd period, Colton Sissons had a goal erased by a quick whistle. The goal shoulda counted, but we can’t go back in time. Also, Sissons and fellow Predator, Filip Forsberg, both hit the post in the 3rd period. That sucks! I feel for the Predators, as their run through the playoffs was fun to watch. Better luck next year!

NBA FINALS

No sweep. No history. Well, history was still made, just not by the Golden State Warriors. The Cleveland Cavaliers finally won a game (137-116), and they did it in historic fashion. When so many changes are made to the record books, a list is necessary:

  1. The Cavaliers scored 49 points in the 1st quarter
  2. The Cavaliers scored 86 points in the 1st half
  3. The Cavaliers made 24 3-pointers
  4. Lebron James recorded his 9th triple-double in the Finals (breaking Magic Johnson’s record)
  5. Dahntay Jones became the 1st player to get a technical foul from the bench in the NBA Finals (I don’t actually know if this is true – but I think it’s really funny)
  6. Lebron James passed Michael Jordan for 3rd all-time in points scored in the NBA Finals (trailing only Jerry West and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)

Heading into Game 4, the Golden State Warriors were looking to become the 1st team in NBA history to sweep through the playoffs at 16-0. If they win Game 5 they will still be in rarified air. They will join the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers and the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers as the only 1-loss teams to win a championship.

All you Lebron fanatics can pump the brakes. Don’t expect the Cavaliers to hit 24 3-pointers and score 137 points again. You can also expect Lebron, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love not to combine for 94 points again. The Cavaliers are David Wells. They are capable of throwing a Perfect Game, but they aren’t bringing home a Cy Young Award anytime soon. Expect the Warriors to roll in Game 5. 124-111. Warriors win another title. Book it.

U.S.A. VS. MEXICO

Soccer?! Yes. We are going to talk about soccer. Have you ever seen anyone happier to end in a draw before?? That is the question to ask following a draw between U.S.A. and Mexico on Sunday night. You’d think U.S.A. had just won the World Cup. The two nations squared off in a CONCACAF World Cup qualifying match. The match was played in front of 87,000 screaming fans in Estadio Azteca, the famed stadium in the heart of Mexico City. Michael Bradley of U.S.A. scored a shocking goal (from about 40 yards out) just 6 minutes into the match. But, thanks to incredibly poor defense by U.S.A, Mexico tied the match in the 23rd minute when Carlos Vela ran untouched for what seemed like 8 miles before putting home a left-footed strike from just outside the box. The match would end in a 1-1 draw. Maybe there is reason to celebrate, as the U.S.A earned just their 3rd win or draw in 22 tries playing in Mexico City. Pop the champagne……?

AARON JUDGE FOR MVP

Before you laugh, check out the numbers. If the MLB season ended today, Aaron Judge would be the Rookie of the Year and MVP. That hasn’t been done since Ichiro Suzuki in 2001. Aaron Judge is hitting .344 with 21 home runs and 47 r.bi.’s. Yup, that would give Judge the lead in the Triple Crown. Plus, Judge’s Yankees are in 1st place in the American League East with a record of 37-23. PLUS, Aaron Judge hits baseballs really, really FAR. Yes, that baseball really travelled 496 feet. That would be the longest home run since ESPN began tracking distance in 2009. The Yankees are now riding a 5-game winning streak. In their last 5 games, the Yankees have scored a total of 57 runs. That is insane!! This offensive outburst is still being done without future 1st baseman Greg Bird. As good as the offense has been, it is the pitching that has the Yankees in 1st place on June 12th. C.C. Sabathia’s resurgence has been the untold storyline of the Yankees’ season. Let’s hope it continues.

RAFAEL NADAL

And last but not least….words you’ve heard many times before. 10 times now to be exact. Yes. Rafael Nadal won his 10th French Open title. What words could I possibly find to explain the greatness that is Rafael Nadal?? I don’t know, but I’ll try. He is the best clay-court tennis player ever. We have never seen a player this dominant at anything..ever. Not Wayne Gretzky on ice. Not Bill Russell on the hardwood. And no, not Tom Brady on the gridiron. Rafael Nadal dominates clay like nothing we’ve ever seen. Think about this. Nadal just won the French Open without dropping a set in the ENTIRE TOURNAMENT!! The finals was about as anti-climatic as they come. He defeated Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3, 6-1. At age 31, Nadal is finally healthy again, and that means only one thing..the sky is the limit.

With all these fantastic sporting events on TV this weekend, what did you watch?? Tell me what was on your TV in the comment section below.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me over to intheneutralzone.com where I am a contributing author there as well. You can also follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like me on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!

 

Crosby, Penguins Dominate Game 5

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

penguins

If you like blowouts, 2017 has you covered. The Stanley Cup Finals did their best NBA Finals impression Thursday night. Game 5 between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators was for lack of a better word, not competitive. The Penguins took an early lead, scoring just 1 minute and 31 seconds into the game. They would not look back. They added 2 more goals in the 1st period, forcing Peter Laviolette, Nashville Predators coach, to pull his goalie. The Predators’ hero from Game 4, Pekka Rinne, would watch the rest of the action from the bench. Nashville’s backup goalie, Juuse Saros, didn’t fare much better, giving up 3 more goals in the 2nd period. The Predators would lose by the final score of 6-0. The Penguins now own a 3-2 lead in the series.

Thursday was an eventful evening for Penguins captain, Sidney Crosby. Crosby, regarded by many as the best player in the world, showcased his skills with 3 assists (he was the 1st star of the game). However, Crosby’s evening did not end there. With 1:32 left in the 1st period, Crosby thought it would be a good idea to slam P.K. Subban’s head into the ice..multiple times. Oh yeah, you heard that right. Now, before you watch the video, I’ll say it wasn’t as bad as it sounds, but he definitely deserved a more severe penalty than he received. Check out the head slamming here. I’m pretty sure you can’t do that. Both Subban and Crosby received 2-minute, minor penalties. Naturally, the Penguins scored while playing 4 on 4.

After watching the replay of Crosby’s head slam, I’m having a hard time understanding why Subban was assessed a penalty at all. And at the same time, I’m puzzled as to how Crosby wasn’t assessed a 5-minute, major penalty. Is it just me? Am I crazy?? It must be nice to be a superstar, because they seem to get away with murder (sometimes literally). Crosby’s shenanigans did not stop there. Allow me to break into an entire scene from Super Troopers:

But our shenanigans are cheeky and fun!

Yeah, and his shenanigans are cruel and tragic.

Which… makes them not really shenanigans at all.

Evil shenanigans!

I swear to God I’ll pistol whip the next guy who says “Shenanigans.”

Hey Farva what’s the name of that restaurant you like with all the goofy sh*t on the walls and the mozzarella sticks?

You mean Shenanigans?

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

Love that movie. Anyway, with just over 12 minutes to play in the 2nd period, Crosby kept his shenanigans going from the bench. He launched his water bottle onto the ice in the middle of play. You can see the throw heard ’round the world here (the throw happens at 44 seconds in the video). Although Crosby claimed it was a complete accident, you can see the wind up and intentional throw very clearly. He was not assessed a penalty (no shocker there), and the Penguins subsequently went up 5-0. The water bottle did not interfere with the on ice action, but last time I checked you can’t do that either. It must be nice to be the king.

Crosby’s Penguins are now 1 win away from winning back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships. They will travel to Nashville to try and close out the series on the road. You can tune into the action on NBC on Sunday night @ 8:00 P.M. EST. I guess the NHL is sticking with giving teams 147 days off in between games.

Will the Penguins win the Stanley Cup on Sunday?? Or will the Predators continue their strong play at home and force a Game 7?? Give me your thoughts in the comment section below.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me over to intheneutralzone.com where I am a contributing author there as well. You can also follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like me on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!

 

 

 

Pekka Rinne Does His Best Impersonation Of A Wall

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

pekka

I call it..the series you should be watching. While the NBA Finals has been filled with blowouts, the Stanley Cup Finals is quietly turning into a thrilling series. This series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators is now tied at 2-2. Each home team has held serve, and Game 5 will be played on Thursday in Pittsburgh. Well, one thing the NBA and NHL have in common is they schedule 419 days off in between playoff games. But we have to travel from Nashville all the way to Pittsburgh!! Wow, you have to fly 560 miles in 3 days?? How ever will you do it?! Now, it’s not the players’ fault, but it infuriates me that fans must wait 3 days between games in the playoffs. Anyway….

Monday night’s Game 4 was all about Pekka Rinne. Who?! Pekka Rinne would be the Nashville Predator’s goaltender. He can barely be classified as human after his performance last night. Hey, someone get Caliban out here to sniff this guy. I need to find out if he’s a mutant or not. All my X-Men fans know what I’m talking about. I digress.

Rinne saved 23 of 24 shots in Game 4, none more spectacular than the set of saves he made with just over 11 minutes left to play in the 2nd period. With the Predators clinging to a 2-1 lead, Rinne literally saved the day. Enough of me and my words, click here to see the incredible sequence. Wasn’t that unbelievable?? What do you mean you didn’t click on the link to watch Rinne’s saves?! Seriously, you have to see this, click HERE. You’re welcome.

Rinne, who was undoubtedly the 1st star of the game, now holds a .949 save % at home in this year’s playoffs. That is the 2nd best % among goalies since 2007, 2nd only to Jonathan Quick of the LA Kings (.950 – 2013). Rinne and the Predators have been virtually unbeatable at home in the playoffs, as they now hold a record of 9-1 at Bridgestone Arena. The question is, will the “8-seeded” Predators be able to steal a game in the home of the Penguins, PPG Paints Arena. Tune into NBC on Thursday at 8:00 P.M. EST to find out.

Who do you think will win the Stanley Cup Finals?? Tell me in the comment section below.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me over to intheneutralzone.com where I am a contributing author there as well. You can also follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like me on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!

 

 

The Sports World Moves Pretty Fast..If You Don’t Stop And Look Around Every Once In A While..You May Miss It

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

tiger woods

A lot can happen in the sports world in 6 days. For those who don’t know me, I was on vacation for the past 6 days, so Dave hasn’t Talked Sports in a while. Let us have a look at what happened while I was gone:

Tiger Woods

Oh how the mighty have fallen. That may be the biggest understatement in the history of sports. Let’s travel back to 2009. Tiger Woods had a squeaky clean image. He was seemingly happily married with children. He had more money than he knew what to do with. And it seemed like a foregone conclusion he would surpass Jack Nicklaus’ Majors Record. Yeah..not so much. Instead, Woods was living a double life, littered with countless affairs. Woods has not won a Major since and has frequently been injured. And on Tuesday, May 29th, 2017, Woods hit what we hope is rock-bottom. He was found sleeping in his car at 3:00 a.m. in Jupiter, Florida. He was arrested and charged with a DUI. Despite blowing a 0.0 on the breathalyzer, Woods was extremely disoriented and confused during the traffic stop. Must have been quite the cocktail. The footage can be seen here. For he and his children’s sake, I hope he gets the help he clearly needs.

Bryce Harper

Who knew Bryce Harper liked to throw down?! After being hit by San Francisco Giants’ pitcher Hunter Strickland in the 8th inning of Tuesday’s game, Harper charged the mound. And after the worst helmet throw in the history of the world, Harper connected with a decent right hook to Strickland’s face. Now, I find this entire situation ridiculous but at the same time highly entertaining.

So you’re telling me that because Harper hit 2 home runs off Strickland nearly 3 years ago, Strickland needed to retaliate?!?! Retaliate for what?! Being really good at baseball?? Hey Hunter, newsflash, if you don’t want Bryce Harper to trot around the bases on you……PITCH BETTER!! This was the most inane form of retaliation I’ve ever seen on a baseball field, and while I’m not a Bryce Harper fan, I don’t blame him one bit for throwing a haymaker Strickland’s way. For footage of the brawl, click here.

Mr. Met

Oh Mr. Met…..

Watch the footage first, then we’ll talk. Click here please.

Can the New York Metropolitans do anything right? The answer would most definitely be NO!! They can’t win. They can’t stay healthy. They can’t stay out of the news. And apparently, they can’t choose a mascot right.

Dear Mr. Met,

I know you are frustrated. Any Mets fan should be. The Mets stink, and there is no sunshine around the corner. I get it. But big head – ya gotta keep your cool. In 2017, everyone and their grandmother has a cell phone, and 90% of the time it is already recording something. So did you really think that middle finger and twirl combination wasn’t going to go viral?! You dummy!!

Sincerely,

DaveTalksSports

I guess Mr. Met’s position will be in the Help Wanted section today, but I ponder….how will we know he was really replaced??

Stanley Cup Finals

The Pittsburgh Penguins, on their home ice, have been outplayed by the Nashville Predators. However, they are up 2 games to 0 in the Stanley Cup Finals. Funny how that works huh?? The Predators have outshot the Penguins 64 to 39 through the first 2 games of this series. The Penguins are looking to become the first team to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998. I expect Nashville to bounce back and grab Game 3 on their home ice. Ultimately I believe the Penguins will repeat as champions. You can tune into Game 3 on NBC Sports on Saturday at 8:00 p.m EST to catch all the action.

NBA Finals

Lebron James. You’ve probably heard of him. Well, he is playing in his 7th consecutive NBA Finals, and he is looking to win back-to-back championships for the 2nd time in his career. This year marks the 1st time in NBA history that 2 teams will meet in the NBA Finals in 3 consecutive seasons. I certainly hope Cavaliers/Warriors III is better than X-Men III. What a hunk of crap that was….

Ah yes, the Super Teams meet again. Is it good for the league? Is it bad for the league? Wellllll, it depends on who you are. If you own an NBA team it’s great (because they’re making truck loads of $$..duh). If you are an avid NBA fan it sucks, but you are hoping and praying this finals series makes up for the dumpster fire we’ve had to endure to get to this point. As great as Lebron is, I can’t see the Warriors losing this series. I think they will continue to be too much for opposing defenses to handle. Warriors in 6. Book it!! Check out Game 1 tonight at the absurd start time of 9:00 p.m. EST on ABC. Helllllooooooo Cafeeeiiinnneeee….

 

Who do you think will win the NBA Finals? In how many games? Tell me in the comment section below.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me over to intheneutralzone.com where I am a contributing author there as well. You can also follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like me on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!

 

 

Playoffs, Playoffs, And More Playoffs!!

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

predators

Monday was a busy night for the record books. What’s Playoff Season without making a little history, right?? And what’s better than Playoff Season?!

“What do you like better, Christmas or Wedding Season?”

“Mr. Grey?”

“Yes. The answer would be, um, Wedding season?”

Yes. I like Playoff Season better than Christmas. Don’t judge me. From the hardwood to the ice, last night was a channel flippin’ kind of night. I’m surprised the ‘last’ button on my television remote didn’t fall off. Where shall we start first? NHL or NBA? Competitive or ahem..non-competitive? Nail-biting finishes or ummmm..beat the traffic? I guess I shouldn’t beat up the NBA too badly if I want you to read about it….

But first, lace up those skates because we’re heading to the rink.

NHL Playoffs

How many times have you seen the Nashville Predators play hockey this year? Or ever? Well, you should start because they are a lot of fun to watch. And talk about an exciting venue. Bridgestone Arena was absolutely rockin’ last night. The Predators ousted the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals (by the score of 6-3). The Predators are heading to their 1st Stanley Cup Finals in franchise history. They await the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals (Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators). The Penguins lead 3 games to 2 and Game 6 will be played tonight on NBC Sports @ 8:00 P.M. Sydney Crosby is good at hockey. Anyway….

The Predators jumped out to an early 2-0 lead just 8:47 into the 1st period. After going up 3-1 early in the 3rd period, enter the “most dangerous lead in hockey”. This of course is the myth that having a 2-goal lead is a bad thing. Well, Monday night, it almost was. The Predators surrendered 2 goals in the span of 3 minutes and 52 seconds. Just like that, the game was tied at 3. The Predators, as they have throughout the playoffs, showed their resiliency. With 6 minutes to play, Colton Sissons completed his hat trick, putting the Predators up 4-3. They would add 2 empty-net goals, after the Ducks pulled their goalie inexplicably early (2:30 left to play!). Apparently, that is new school hockey. Where’s Steve Yzerman when you need him??

Did I mention the Nashville Predators are the #8 seed in the Western Conference?? Oh yeah. It is only the 3rd time a #8 seed has reached the Stanley Cup Finals. Immediately following the game, Michael Bosnack of Floral Park, an NHL enthusiast, said, “Nashville may be famous for their country music, but the Predators are slowly becoming the hidden gem down in the Music City. The pulse of the city runs through Bridgestone Arena these days.”  

Predators coach, Peter Laviolette, became just the 4th coach to bring 3 different teams to the Stanley Cup Finals. That is an exceptional honor, but Laviolette made light of it by saying, “That probably means I’ve been fired a lot.” Laviolette should be proud of his team. They have only lost once at home in the playoffs. For now, they celebrate!!

NBA Playoffs

The Golden State Warriors Won aga…….

Man, I sound like a broken record. I can picture the millennials now: What’s a record? Can I swipe it to the left?? Can I post about it right now???

NO. You can’t. Just show up for work on time.

Anyway, the Golden State Warriors won again by double digits (129-115), sweeping the San Antonio Spurs. This not only completed the sweep of the Western Conference Finals but of the entire playoffs!! This hasn’t happened since the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers swept their way to the NBA Finals. The Lakers accomplished this in 11 games because the 1st round was previously a best-of-five series. The Warriors became the 1st team to win 12 consecutive games to start the playoffs and to also sweep three 7-game series in one playoffs. And now, they will wait for Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to quit messin’ around and dispose of the Boston Celtics already.

While the Warriors were busy steamrolling the Spurs, fans seemed more preoccupied with paying homage to Manu Ginobili. The soon to be 40 year-old most likely put on his Spurs’ jersey for the last time. Ginobili was the 57th pick in the 1999 NBA Draft. That’s the 2nd to last pick in the draft for those of you keeping score at home. Ginobili played internationally for a few years before entering the league in 2002. And the rest, as they say, is history. 15 NBA seasons and 4 NBA Championships later, Ginobili will more than likely be ‘hangin’ it up’. He will go down as one of the best international players to ever play in the NBA. His high energy and pesky style of play made him a staple as the 6th man on the Spurs’ dynasty of the past decade and a half. Thanks for the good times Manu.

What were you watching last night? The NBA Playoffs, the NHL Playoffs, or something weird I’ve never heard of before? Let me know in the comment section below.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me over to intheneutralzone.com where I am a contributing author there as well. You can also follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like me on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!