2012 April

Hitchcock vs. MacLean: Good Luck!

By HOWARD BERGER ST. LOUIS (Apr. 30) – Full props to those that nominated the finalists – announced earlier today – for the Jack Adams Trophy as coach-of-the-year in the National Hockey League. Ken Hitchcock of St. Louis; Paul MacLean … Read More

Playoffs, Leafs and Your Best NHL Logos

By HOWARD BERGER ST. LOUIS (Apr. 30) – After nearly three weeks on the Stanley Cup playoff trail – my itinerary moving me, thus far, from Toronto to Vancouver to Los Angeles to Phoenix to Vancouver to Toronto [for laundry] … Read More

Kings Prevail After Deadly Mid-Day Storm

By HOWARD BERGER ST. LOUIS (Apr. 29) – Though it was hardly a foreign sight to those that live here in the American mid-west, the darkening sky above this city late yesterday afternoon had “ominous” written all over it. The … Read More

Carlo Aches For the Leafs – Really

By HOWARD BERGER ST. LOUIS (Apr. 28) – Perhaps he was talking disingenuously this morning; snickering on the inside while spouting a load of politically-sound claptrap as he prepared for Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. But, nah… Carlo … Read More

Western Teams Share Common Thread

By HOWARD BERGER ST. LOUIS (Apr. 28) – What a refreshing change we have this spring in western competition for the Stanley Cup. Teams we’ve grown accustomed to watching on a semi-regular basis in the past 10-15 years – Detroit, … Read More

Devils Sputter, Then Escape

By HOWARD BERGER SUNRISE, Fla. (Apr. 27) – In the the second intermission of last night’s deciding playoff encounter between the New Jersey Devils and Florida Panthers, I passed Bryan McCabe in the press box at BankAtlantic Center. “Is this … Read More

“Hail Cesare!” a Hockey Legend

By HOWARD BERGER TORONTO (Apr. 26) – Beginning in 1960 with the Maple Leafs and ending in 1978 with the Vancouver Canucks, Cesare Maniago played goal in 604 National Hockey League games. He is best-remembered as the No. 1 goalie … Read More

Okay Ottawa… Over to You

By HOWARD BERGER VANCOUVER (Apr. 23) – There is never a shortage of adjectives and emotion when describing the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs – arguably the most implausible fortnight in professional athletics. To wit: Ottawa – chosen … Read More

Old Champions Never Die Easily

By HOWARD BERGER GLENDALE, Ariz. (Apr. 22) – Despite a cap-induced purge of several players that contributed to their 2010 Stanley Cup victory, the Chicago Blackhawks are essentially a unit powered by Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith – … Read More

Blackhawks React to Raffi Torres Suspension

By HOWARD BERGER GLENDALE, Ariz. (Apr. 21) – Stanley Cup champions two years ago, the Chicago Blackhawks will try to avoid first-round playoff elimination here tonight in Game 5 of their Western Conference quarterfinal against the Phoenix Coyotes – puck-drop … Read More

Could Coyotes Howl North of Toronto?

By HOWARD BERGER GLENDALE, Ariz. (Apr. 21) – I’m back in the desert for the first time since a trip with the Maple Leafs a year ago January, but I’m not expecting to travel here beyond the 2012 Stanley Cup … Read More

Leaf Fans Don’t Know Pressure

By HOWARD BERGER LOS ANGELES (Apr. 20) – There is absolutely no intrigue or unpredictability in the Toronto hockey market anymore. It has been so long since the Maple Leafs qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs that perspective has been … Read More

Add a Sedin, Extend a Series

By HOWARD BERGER LOS ANGELES (Apr. 19) – It was another triumphant night on Wednesday for visiting teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs and probably should have been a three-game sweep given the Rangers early 2-0 lead at Ottawa. Pittsburgh … Read More

Could Lui Be Toronto-Bound?

By HOWARD BERGER LOS ANGELES (Apr. 18) – Professional sport is volatile at the best of times and often unpredictable, as teams waver with decisions and policies. But, it appears the Vancouver Canucks made a final “break” with Roberto Luongo … Read More

Sedin Circus in SoCal

By HOWARD BERGER EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (Apr. 18) – An expectant mob of reporters descended upon the Los Angeles Kings’ practice facility here Tuesday afternoon to observe Daniel Sedin in the flesh. Of course, all but a few people on … Read More

Hockey Work Trivial on a Sad Day

By HOWARD BERGER LOS ANGELES (Apr. 17) – While up in Vancouver on Sunday, and as I do each weekend, I logged onto the Toronto Sun’s website and read Steve Simmons’ legendary notes column – this particular blog featuring one … Read More

We Saw THIS Coming, Right?

By HOWARD BERGER LOS ANGELES (Apr. 16) – I have no record of playoff predictions except for my own, but I think I can make the following observations with certainty: a) given how they performed in the final-third of the … Read More

Scenic Route: Vancouver to L.A.

By HOWARD BERGER LOS ANGELES (Apr. 15) – Hockey, west-coast style, recommences tonight here in SoCal when the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings resume their Western Conference quarterfinal with Game 3 at the Staples Center. Needless to say, it … Read More