Coming off a 2009 production disaster and audience snoozer, the league redoubled its efforts for their sophomore awards outing in Las Vegas. What a difference a year makes.
Hiring hockey hater Jay Mohr to host, the gloves came off early and often as the comic bashed Boston and Washington for their playoff collapses, explained the distinct differences between 'hooking' and 'two minutes in the box' in the NHL and Sin City, and likened league poster boy Ovechkin's mug to a Pacific Northwest murderer. Nobody was safe. Not even Duncan Keith.
In short, Mohr knocked the cover off the ball bringing the show a much needed 'R' rated edge to match its host city's sensibility, saving it from another sorely stilted affair. Performances by Cirque De Soleil and Snoop Dogg coupled with this well executed sketch starring Anaheim's Ryan Getlaf and Bobby Ryan kept the audience entertained between trophies.
Having Kings hottie Heidi Androl present the statisically-earned awards off-stage and The Hour's George Stroumboulopoulos interview attendees side-stage was a nice touch, setting up candid moments like this one with the ever-womanizing Patrick Kane.
In the hours outside of the telecast it was business as usual: Ovie at the club, Kane spinning roulette, and Kesler on craps. With the third (and perhaps final) installment of the NHL Awards in Las Vegas set for June 22, 2011 at the Palms, fans have one last chance to mingle with their hockey heroes over cocktails in the Mojave. You'd best lock it up before the league moves it someplace you'd rather not be.
Monday, June 28, 2010
NHL Scores With Mohr At 2010 Awards In Vegas
Posted by MG at 12:01 AM 0 comments
Labels: Awards, Video Clip
Friday, June 25, 2010
2010 NHL Team Statistical Leaders And Laggers
Though only four trophies are reserved for NHL teams (Presidents', Clarence Campbell, Prince of Wales, Stanley Cup) there are plenty of team accomplishments that go undetected. Listed below are the best and worst teams in a variety of statistically measured categories.
Wins: WAS (54) - EDM (27)
Losses: EDM (47) - WAS (15)
OT Wins: PHO (19) - NYR (4)
OT Losses: CLB (15) - VAN (5)
SO Wins: PHO (14) - CLB (2)
SO Losses: CLB (10) - PIT (2)
SO Win %: PHO (.700) - CLB (.166)
Points: WAS (121) - EDM (62)
Goals/G: WAS (3.82) - BOS (2.39)
GA/G: NJD (2.27) - EDM (3.39)
PP%: WAS (25.2) - TOR (14.0)
PK%: STL (86.8) - TOR (74.6)
Shots/G: CHI (34.1) - MIN (27.6)
SA/G: CHI (25.1) - FLA (34.1)
Faceoff %: SJS (55.6) - EDM (46.4)
Shutouts: CHI (13) - PIT/CAR (1)
PIM/G: NSH (8.7) - TBL (16.8)
SHG: CHI (13) - TBL (2)
SHGA: DET (1) - MIN (13)
+/-: WAS (+74) - EDM (-57)
Hits/G: DAL (28.5) - BUF (16.9)
Blocks/G: FLA (17.1) - DET (11.1)
Giveaways/G: EDM (12.8) - CLB (4.7)
Takeaways/G: NYI (11.5) - BOS (4.7)
In sum, Washington enjoyed top honors for wins, goals per game, powerplay percentage, and plus-minus with New Jersey allowing the least goals per game and Phoenix enjoying the greatest overtime and shootout success. At the other end of the spectrum, Edmonton led in losses and takeaways, and trailed all others in points, wins, goals against per game, faceoff percentage, and plus-minus.
Time will tell if Taylor Hall, the top overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, can put the Edmonton Oilers back where they belong.
Posted by MG at 4:30 PM 2 comments
Labels: Awards, Draft, Music, Statistical Anomaly, Video Clip
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
2010 NHL Individual Awards Winners
NHL Award | Winner |
Conn Smythe Trophy | Jonathan Toews |
Art Ross Trophy | Henrik Sedin |
Maurice Richard Trophy | Sidney Crosby |
Plus-Minus Award | Jeff Schultz |
Hart Trophy | Henrik Sedin |
Ted Lindsay Award | Alex Ovechkin |
Selke Trophy | Pavel Datsyuk |
Norris Trophy | Duncan Keith |
Vezina Trophy | Ryan Miller |
Jennings Trophy | Martin Brodeur |
Roger Crozier Award | Tuukka Rask |
Calder Trophy | Tyler Myers |
Jack Adams Award | Dave Tippett |
GM of the Year | Don Maloney |
Bill Masterton Trophy | Jose Theodore |
Lady Byng Trophy | Martin St. Louis |
King Clancy Trophy | Shane Doan |
Foundation Award | Ryan Miller |
Messier Award | Sidney Crosby |
2010 NHL First All-Star Team honors went to Miller (G), Keith (D), Green (D), H. Sedin (C), Kane (RW) and Ovechkin (LW). The 2010 NHL Second All-Star Team roster was Bryzgalov (G), Doughty (D), Lidstrom (D), Crosby (C), St. Louis (RW) and D. Sedin (LW).
The 2010 NHL All-Rookie Team was comprised of newcomers Jimmy Howard (G), Michael Del Zotto (D), Tyler Myers (D), Niclas Bergfors (F), Matt Duchene (F) and John Tavares (F).
* See also 2019 NHL Individual Awards Winners.
* See also 2018 NHL Individual Awards Winners.
* See also 2017 NHL Individual Awards Winners.
* See also 2016 NHL Individual Awards Winners.
* See also 2015 NHL Individual Awards Winners.
* See also 2014 NHL Individual Awards Winners.
* See also 2013 NHL Individual Awards Winners.
* See also 2012 NHL Individual Awards Winners.
* See also 2011 NHL Individual Awards Winners.
* See also 2009 NHL Individual Awards Winners.
Posted by MG at 7:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Awards
2010 NHL Individual Statistical Leaders
With only five trophies handed out on statistical achievement alone (Art Ross, Rocket Richard, Plus-Minus, Jennings, Crozier) there are plenty of accomplishments that escape recognition from the NHL Awards. The list below provides a complete picture of the 2010 NHL individual leaders in a variety of pertinent regular season statistical categories.
SKATERS
Points: H. Sedin (112)
Points/G: Ovechkin (1.51)
ES Points: H. Sedin (83)
PP Points: Stamkos (41)
SH Points: Burrows (7)
Goals: Crosby/Stamkos (51)
Goals/G: Ovechkin (.69)
ES Goals: Ovechkin (37)
PP Goals: Stamkos (24)
SH Goals: Burrows/Hossa (5)
GW Goals: Heatley (9)
EN Goals: Ovechkin (5)
Assists: H. Sedin (83)
Assists/G: H. Sedin (1.01)
Shots: Ovechkin (368)
Missed Shots: Ovechkin (172)
Plus/Minus: Schultz (50)
PIMs: Konopka (265)
Minor Penalty: Downie (59)
Major Penalty: Konopka (33)
Game Misconduct: Ovechkin (3)
TOI: Keith (2,180:34)
TOI/Game: Pitkanen (27:22)
Shifts: Pronger (2,552)
TOI/Shift: Ovechkin (66)
Face Off %: Nichol (60.6)
Giveaways: Myers (94)
Takeaways: Datsyuk (132)
Blocked Shots: Seidenberg (215)
Hits: Clutterbuck (318)
GOALIES
Wins: Brodeur (45)
Losses: Kiprusoff/Vokoun/Deslaurier (28)
Shots Against: Anderson (2,233)
Saves: Anderson (2,047)
GA: Anderson (186)
GAA: Rask (1.97)
SV%: Rask (.931)
Shutouts: Brodeur (9)
TOI: Brodeur (4,499:01)
Perhaps one day the NHL will expand their annual awards selection to include more of these categories. Until then, we'll leave it up to the voters to determine who's fit for recognition.
Posted by MG at 12:01 AM 0 comments
Labels: Awards
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Live From 2010 NHL Awards in Las Vegas
For a second straight year, the NHL has invited its elite to Las Vegas for a week of gambling, boozing and whoring under the guise of handing out hardware. Behold the 2010 NHL Awards at the Palms' Pearl Theater.
This afternoon The Puck Report will touchdown in the heart of the Mojave to bring you live updates of the next 48 hours of mayhem and NHL happenings from Sin City, covering all the action from the clubs, pools, poker tables, rooftops and red carpet.
Track @puckreport on Twitter for the good, bad and ugly of it all.
Posted by MG at 10:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Awards, Music, Video Clip
Monday, June 14, 2010
2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Mileage
The road to Stanley Cup is an intense one regardless of route. It's length in miles, however, varies greatly according to matchup.
Using this handy city distance tool, the chart below shows total miles and average miles per round accrued by teams in the 2010 NHL playoffs. All figures include a trip home after each round save direct trips by Detroit from Phoenix to San Jose, by Montreal from Washington to Pittsburgh, and by Chicago from Vancouver to San Jose between rounds.
Total Miles--''--Avg/Round
DET: 13,176--''''-''PHO: 6,740
CHI: 12,227----'-''DET: 6,588
SJS: 11,518----'''''-VAN: 5,706
VAN: 11,412--'''--LAK: 4,320
PHI: 7,754----''-'''-SJS: 3,839
PHO: 6,740--'''-''-COL: 3, 704
MTL: 5,751----''--'CHI: 3,057
LAK: 4,320--''''''-'WAS: 1,956
COL: 3,704----'--'PHI: 1,938
PIT: 3,528------''-MTL: 1,917
BOS: 2,680------''PIT: 1,764
WAS: 1,956-----'-'OTT: 1,624
OTT: 1,624-----'--BUF: 1,588
BUF: 1,588-------'NAS: 1,588
NAS: 1,588-------'BOS: 1,340
NJD: 154------'---'NJD: 154
This year Detroit collected the most total miles (13,176) and miles in a round (8,424), with Phoenix leading in average miles per round (6,740). New Jersey finished with the fewest in each category (154) owing to their early exit to turnpike foe Philadelphia. Amazingly, the Red Wings managed more miles in their 13 day first round (8,424) than the Cup Finalist Flyers did in the entire 56 day postseason run (7,754).
In all, 2010 Stanley Cup playoff participants collectively logged 89,720 miles this postseason for an average of 5,607, up from the 2009 totals of 74,798 and 4,675 respectively. The greatest distance traveled between two cities during this playoff run was from Detroit to San Jose (2,070) with the mileage between New Jersey and Philadelphia (77) being the least. Not surprisingly, 7 of the top 16 teams in terms of average mileage per round are Western Conference teams, the outlier being Nashville whose first round opponent Chicago was a mere 397 miles away.
Though the number of wins to hoist the Stanley Cup is a constant (16), there is no set number of miles to the destination. As long as you're on the road, however, you're likely still in the running.
Posted by MG at 12:01 AM 0 comments
Labels: Music, Playoffs, Schedule, Statistical Anomaly, Video Clip