Archive for January, 2010
Penguins outlast Red Wings in Shootout
January 31st, 2010
Posted in Krnsports, NHL
Sidney Crosby had a goal, and a shootout goal to help the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday afternoon.
This marks the first of two meetings between the past two Stanley Cup champions, the Penguins lost last year in Mellon Arena, and won at the Joe. The next meeting is March 22nd.
Both teams wasted no time, end to end hockey was played the entire game, both teams getting great chances, and playing good defensive hockey.
Detroit would take two penalties early, and the Penguins couldn’t convert. Neither team scored on any of their power play oppertunities.
The ice would break in the 2nd, when a great feed from Alex Goligoski would hit Sidney Crosby right on the tape, and he would make a backhand move and put it past Red Wings netminder Jimmy Howard.
Both Valteri Filppula and Jordan Staal would miss wide open oppertunities.
Eventually, the Red Wings would tie the game when Brad Stuart ripped one from the point, and it was deflected past Marc-Andre Fleury.
Overtime would be just as exciting, and Sergei Gonchar would take a critical penalty, but the Red Wings were unable to convert and the game would go to a deciding shootout.
The Penguins first shooter would be defenseman Kris Letang, who would not convert on a backhand.
The Red Wings would use shootout phenom Pavel Datsyuk, who lost control of the puck before he could go backhand, and missed the net to the right.
Sidney Crosby, would be the first shooter to convert, he would put a backhand shot top shelf, giving the Penguins the 1-0 advantage.
Jason Williams, would have no luck getting stopped by the glove of Fleury.
With the chance to win the game, Evgeni Malkin made good on his oppertunity, outlasting Jimmy Howard and barely sneaking it in on the right side.
With the point, the Red Wings move into an 8th place tie with Calgary.
Red Wings visit Penguins in clash on NBC
January 31st, 2010
Posted in Krnsports, NHL
It’s a rematch of the past two Stanley Cup champions, and the Red Wings know that every game is important being 1 point out of 8th place.
The Penguins haven’t been the best of teams either, they lost a critical game to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday 4-1, although being well rested.
The Red Wings and Penguins, who will meet again in Motown on March 22, split two regular-season matchups last year with Detroit posting a 3-0 victory at Pittsburgh. The Red Wings have won six of the last eight regular-season meetings and four of their last five at Pittsburgh.
Malkin, who has six goals and five assists over a six-game point streak, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP last season after posting 14 goals and 36 assists in the postseason. He had two goals and six assists in the six games versus Detroit.
Zetterberg, meanwhile, was named playoff MVP in 2008 and he posted two goals and four assists in last year’s finals meeting.
Dion Phaneuf traded to the Maple Leafs
January 31st, 2010
Posted in Krnsports, NHL
Two teams in dire need of a shakeup have done just that.
The Calgary Flames have traded defenceman Dion Phaneuf, forward Fredrik Sjostrom, and prospect defenceman Keith Aulie to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for forwards Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Jamal Mayers and defenceman Ian White.
The Maple Leafs and Flames have been working on the components of this blockbuster for a week to ten days, but sources say the details of the deal didn’t fall into place until late last night.
“[Phaneuf] is a warrior. He’s got a cannon for a shot,” explained Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke on Sunday. “He plays the game hard and I want players who play the game hard because they’re hard to play against.”
After 12 seasons, Cardianals QB Kurt Warner retires
January 29th, 2010
Posted in Krnsports, NFL
After 12 seasons in the NFL, potential Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner says goodbye to pro football.
The 38 year old has been to 3 Super Bowl’s, winning and losing one with the St. Louis Rams, and losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers last year.
“I’m excited about what’s next,” Warner said. “Before I was always excited about next season.”
He has the top three passing performances in Super Bowl history. His 1,156 yards passing in the 2008 playoffs broke the NFL record of 1,063 he set with St. Louis in 1999.
Warner led the lowly St. Louis Rams to two great seasons, leading them to a 13-3 record in 2000, and defeating the Tennessee Titans to win Super Bowl MVP, a year later he would lose a squeaker to the New England Patriots.
Warner’s rise from obscurity seems the stuff of sports fiction.
In a comparison with the 14 quarterbacks to make the Hall of Fame in the last 25 years, Warner has a better career completion percentage, yards per pass attempt and yards per game. Only Dan Marino had more career 300-yard passing games.
Red Wings activate Jason Williams off of IR
January 29th, 2010
Posted in Krnsports, NHL
DETROIT SPORTS NETWORK
Detroit, MI (Sports Network) – Detroit Red Wings centre Jason Williams is expected to return Friday after missing 38 games recovering from a broken right leg.
Williams was hurt in a November 7 game against Toronto. He has played just 15 games this season, posting two goals with five assists for seven points.
The 29-year-old veteran is in his second tour of duty with Detroit, having previously skated for the Wings from 2000 until being dealt to Chicago in February 2007.Justin Abdelkader was assigned to the AHL.
Saints defeat Vikings in overtime to advance to Super Bowl XLIV
January 24th, 2010
Posted in Krnsports, NFL
New Orleans, LA — It took overtime, but the New Orleans Saints have had to wait a lot longer than that.
The NFL’s lovable losers shrugged off 43 years of frustration and futility Sunday, earning their first trip to the Super Bowl with a 31-28 overtime victory over Minnesota before a delirious packed house at the Superdome.
With a record crowd chanting “Who Dat! Who Dat!” the Saints secured their date with destiny against the Indianapolis Colts in South Florida with a 40-yard field goal by Garrett Hartley.
The raucous crowd stayed after the game as confetti cannons fired gold glitter into the sky, and the Saints celebrated their victory on a quickly erected midfield stage.
The victory is especially meaningful to a city, state and region ravaged by Hurricane Katrina just a few years ago. The franchise has provided a glimmer of hope for untold thousands in the Gulf Coast region.
To get that far, the Saints had to turn back the Vikings and 40-year-old Brett Favre, looking to become the only hired-gun quarterback to lead his team to a championship in his first season. It could have been the final game for Favre, who was beaten and battered throughout by a relentless pass rush.
The Vikings kept the offensive pressure on, however, as the teams traded punch-counterpunch touchdowns for four quarters.
New Orleans won the coin toss to begin overtime, and Minnesota never touched the ball.
Quarterback Drew Brees completed 17 of 31 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns.
Running back Pierre Thomas, who came through on a critical fourth-and-one in overtime, scored touchdowns on a 38-yard catch and carry in the first quarter, and a nine-yard run in the third.
Favre completed 28 of 46 passes for 310 yards and a touchdown, but had two passes intercepted. The Vikings lost three of six fumbles.
The Saints have shed the dubious distinction of being among the five NFL teams who have never made it to a Super Bowl. That group now consists of Cleveland, Houston, Detroit and Jacksonville.
The Superdome is the site of Favre’s greatest triumph. Thirteen years ago, he led the Green Bay Packers to a 35-21 victory over New England in Super Bowl XXXI.
Sunday’s was the third NFC title game to go into overtime, coming two years after the New York Giants beat Favre’s Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
The Vikings, who are 0-4 in Super Bowls, were hoping to get another chance with Favre, their longtime Green Bay nemesis, at the controls. In the end, though, they turned out to be a tougher team at home than on the road.
Minnesota was 9-0 at the Metrodome, but only 4-5 away from home. In fact, the last game the Vikings won on the road came Nov. 1 when Favre returned to Lambeau Field and beat the Packers.
Colts gallop to Super Bowl XlIV
January 24th, 2010
Posted in Krnsports, NFL
The Colts never panicked being 9 down, they held the New York Jets offence to 0 points in the second half, and Peyton Manning threw three touchdowns as the Indianapolis Colts defeated the New York Jets 30-17 to win the AFC Championship.
This marks the second straight victory in this game for Manning, who defeated the Patriots back in 2007, coming back from a 18 point deflict.
Both teams traded 3 and outs to start the game, Colts kicker Matt Stover put the Colts up 3-0.
The lead would be short lived when David Sanchez threw a perfect pass to a wide open Braylon Edwards, the Jets took the lead 7-3, and Stover would kick another field goal.
Before the end of the half, Austin Collie would give the Colts a touchdown, closing the gap.
The Jets would add another field goal, and Dustin Keller would get a touchdown, the Jets lead 17-13. at the half.
Manning would open with a drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon, and the Colts would take a lead that they wouldn’t give back.
Dallas Clark would also add a touchdown, and Matt Stover would kick another field goal.
The Colts will play either the Saints or the Vikings on February 7th.
Jets impressive in win over Chargers; Will play Colts in AFC Championship
January 17th, 2010
Posted in Krnsports, NFL
SAN DIEGO — New York is halfway toward that Super Bowl parade promised by coach Rex Ryan after rookies Mark Sanchez and Shonn Greene led the Jets to a stunning 17-14 upset of the San Diego Chargers in the divisional playoffs.
Sanchez threw a go-ahead, 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dustin Keller three plays into the fourth quarter, then Greene gave the Jets some breathing room with a 53-yard scoring run on their next possession.
The upstart Jets (11-7), who have won seven of their last eight games, advanced to the AFC championship game at top-seeded Indianapolis next Sunday.
The Chargers (13-4) not only saw their 11-game winning streak end, but suffered yet another playoff pratfall after earning the AFC’s No. 2 seed.
He just wont quit!
January 17th, 2010
Posted in Krnsports, NFL
MINNEAPOLIS — Brett Favre threw four touchdown passes, and the Vikings’ defense put the clamps on the Dallas Cowboys in a 34-3 victory Sunday that sent Minnesota to the NFC title game.
The victory propels the Vikings into the NFC title game to play the New Orleans Saints. New Orleans beat the Arizona Cardinals 45-14 Saturday in the NFC Divisional playoff game in New Orleans.
Minnesota’s Sidney Rice had six catches for 141 yards and three touchdowns and the Vikings sacked Tony Romo six times to earn a trip to New Orleans. The Vikings (13-4) will try for their first Super Bowl berth since 1977.
Romo’s troubles in big games resurfaced at the wrong time for the Cowboys (12-6). He completed 22 of 35 passes for 198 yards, but lost two of his three fumbles and threw an interception in the third quarter that put the game out of reach.
Ray Edwards had three sacks to help put the Vikings (13-4) in their first NFC title game since 2001.
Blackhawks down Red Wings in shootout
January 17th, 2010
Posted in Krnsports, NHL
The Red Wings put up what was their best fight of the season, but it wasn’t enough as Patrick Sharp scored the winner in a shootout.
This marked the 4th out of 6 meetings on the season between these two teams, the Blackhawks have now won their third. The only Red Wings win came on a 3-2 victory at Joe Louis Arena on October 8th.
The Red Wings started strong, generating chances on and off. A chance for the Red Wings would result in a play for the Blackhawks the other way, and Troy Brouwer would put it five hole on Jimmy Howard.
The Red Wings were a little frustrated, and took penalties that weren’t necessary. Patrick Kane would move out into open ice, and put one past Jimmy Howard to give the Blackhawks a 2-0 lead.
The Red Wings got their speed back, and a good breakout by Henrik Zetterberg, who made a no look pass to Pavel Datsyuk, who fed it to Niklas Lidstrom who roofed short side to make it 2-1.
The 2nd period would result in a flurry of penalites for the Blackhawks, the Red Wings would apply the pressure, and finally Pavel Datsyuk would feed Henrik Zetterberg who would tie the game at 2.
The tie was short lived, Patrick Sharp would score off the lively Red Wing boards, the Blackhawks took the 3-2 lead into the 3rd.
After some scrambling, a set up face off play would result in Patrick Eaves taking a shot from the right hand boards, and he would beat Annti Niemi glove side. The game was tied at 3.
Just before the game was about to end, Datsyuk took the puck in, and almost put one in, but fanned on the shot.
Overtime was controlled by Detroit, Niemi stayed strong and the game was headed to a shootout.
Pavel Datsyuk would shoot first, and he would once again dazzel the crowd when he flipped the puck in the air after a couple of moves, beating Niemi.
Johnathan Toews would have the answer, beating Jimmy Howard five hole.
Henrik Zetterberg, and Patrick Kane would both be shut down.
Todd Bertuzzi once again came in wide, and did a spin-o-rama back hand move that beat Niemi.
Former Red Wing Marian Hossa had to tie, and he was a sure bet beating Howard on his blocker side.
Dan Cleary would miss, and this would set up the oppertunity for Patrick Sharp to win it for the Blackhawks, he would fake the backhand and then score up high, Howard slammed his stick on the crossbar in frustration.