BY Mike Rifkin The Tampa Bay Lightning were the toast of the NHL when they made three straight Stanley Cup Final (won in 2019-20, 2020-21) and lost in 2022. Since then the Lightning have lost in the first round, including this year losing to the Montreal Canadiens in seven games. So now it’s time forContinue reading “WHAT COMES NEXT : TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING”
Category Archives: NHL
WHAT COMES NEXT : EDMONTON OILERS
BY MIKE RIFKIN For the first time in four years the Edmonton Oilers did not win a playoff series, as they were dispatched by the Anaheim Ducks in six games. The Oilers had been to the Stanley Cup Final each of the last two seasons. “ We were an average team all year. When you’reContinue reading “WHAT COMES NEXT : EDMONTON OILERS”
LAST DANCE
BY MIKE RIFKIN Four times in the history of the National Hockey League has a team overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series. That’s the hole the Pittsburgh Penguins have dug themselves to their interstate rivals the Philadelphia Flyers after losing game three 5-2. The last team to overcome a 3-0 hole wasContinue reading “LAST DANCE”
CHERRY ON TOP
BY MIKE RIFKIN Thursday was another tough day if you’re a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Thursday was locker room cleanout day, which meant for the final time this season Leafs players and coaches spoke to the media. For the first time since getting injured against the Ducks, Captain Auston Matthews spoke and saidContinue reading “CHERRY ON TOP”
Swallowing Pride
BY Mike Rifkin For the first time in a decade the Toronto Maple Leafs will miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs. With the failure of a season the Leafs have had there are always consequences, and those have already begun. Monday night the Leafs fired GM Brad Treliving, who was with the team just shy ofContinue reading “Swallowing Pride”
ROLL OF THE DICE
BY MIKE RIFKIN One thing about the Vegas Golden Knights since they’ve come into the NHL, they’re not afraid of the big move. On Sunday, they made another massive move, firing head coach Bruce Cassidy and replaced him with John Tortorella. Here’s the thing there are EIGHT games left in the season and the GoldenContinue reading “ROLL OF THE DICE”
DRU IT UP : A GUIDE FOR THE 2026 RANGERS OFFSEASON
BY MIKE RIFKIN With the Rangers 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, the Rangers will miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season. We can look at a lot of reasons that the Blueshirts will miss the playoffs again, but the focus now shifts towards the 2026-27 season. While James Dolan canContinue reading “DRU IT UP : A GUIDE FOR THE 2026 RANGERS OFFSEASON”
EMBARASSMENT
BY MIKE RIFKIN Monday night should have been a night of celebration at Madison Square Garden, instead it turned into a nightmare, something that has happened far too often. The Rangers lost 2-1 to the Ottawa Senators but that’s not the story. The story was the Rangers were held to NINE shots on goal, tyingContinue reading “EMBARASSMENT “
BE-LAF
BY MIKE RIFKIN It’s been a horrendous season for the New York Rangers, who will miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season. But something good has come over since the Olympic break and that has been the play of former first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere. Lafreniere, who is a lightning rod for Ranger fansContinue reading “BE-LAF”
DISASTER
BY MIKE RIFKIN Monday night’s shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers put the Toronto Maple Leafs at 0-3-1 since the Olympic break. The Leafs sit seven points back of the second wild card position in the Eastern Conference, but every team in front of them outside of the Capitals actually have games in hand. But,Continue reading “DISASTER”
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