When watching a hockey game on TV or even in the arena itself, fans will never notice the chess match going on behind the benches. Coaches constantly try to match up their lines against their opponents’. The home team gets the advantage of sending out their lines last. So, no matter who his rival chooses, […]

While the poor goaltending performances have packed their bags for home, the best netminders created some of the best hockey and entertainment in the first round. The best tend to show up in Game 7, and that was no different here. The honorable mention is out of New York. The Islanders goaltender, Thomas Greiss, displayed a […]

The first round has ended. Two series went the distance and three only lasted five games. In almost every series, the better goaltending won the day. The only cases were when the first choice netminder was replaced halfway through. Let’s take a look at the three worst goalies from the first round of the 2016 Stanley […]

Four playoff series have gone very poorly for four clubs. The Wild, Flyers, Red Wings, and Kings all find themselves down two games to none. It isn’t a death sentence just yet, but it definitely is not the ideal position strategically. As these four clubs face pivotal Game 3s, which team is most likely to […]

If it is true that television ratings are aimed at audiences on the East Coast, what is the NHL doing with the all-California battle? Take a look at the start times of each matchup. Games 1 through 4 of the Sharks-Kings series are each scheduled to start at 10:30pm Eastern Standard Time. While primetime for […]

From the JS Giguere and Jonathan Quick surges to the forgettable performance of Roberto Luongo against Boston, goalies are always in the spotlight come playoff time. This postseason, there are wide ranges of goaltending situations. Nail Biters A few of the goalie situations are, well, not great. Whether it be due to injury or bad […]

If your team is already reserving tee times for the Spring, the nightmare may already be over. If your team plays in Canada, we know the entire season has been a nightmare. But for the happy teams gearing up for the tournament, there are still a few things to worry about. If you find your […]

The seven Canadian teams have won 43 Stanley Cups since 1915. Montreal and Toronto are the two most successful clubs in the NHL with 37 of those. However, the last time the Stanley Cup belonged to a team in Canada was in 1993. Now, at the time of writing, all seven Canadian teams are outside of the […]

Driving over the San Francisco Bay Bridge, the radio played a quick sports recap of the weekend and a reminder of the local teams in action. After the locals gushed over the Golden State Warriors making the NBA look like a joke, they mentioned the Sharks. “After their six game win streak, the Sharks have […]

0 for 21 is a horrible stat no matter what sport you’re looking at. If you were a batter in baseball, you’d be benched to try and bust out of a slump. If you were a point guard and that was your 3-point percentage, your coach wouldn’t let you shoot anymore. Heck, even the worst […]

Charlie Conway, Adam Banks, and Gordon Bombay: three men who spawned an entire hockey franchise through the Disney corporation. They were a roster of misfits that somehow found themselves in championship game after championship game. From District 5 on the mean streets of Minneapolis to the hallowed halls of Eden… Hall. The Mighty Ducks inspired […]

Canada, the United States, and Russia keep the NHL fully-stocked with superstars, mid-level talent, and role players. But there are plenty of countries around the world that are represented in the NHL. Active and former players born in nations where ice is an anomaly are rare, but THW went searching to find them! The Rules […]

In the cooler months, America is home to over 75% of the NHL. However, hockey remains a sport dominated by the US’s usually quiet northern neighbor. While the US has gotten close a few times on the international stage, it has yet to upstage the Canadians. But, don’t sleep on Americans. The Stars and Stripes […]

Ron Hextall was a goaltender for the Philadelphia Flyers and now presides over his former team as General Manager. He also has a new statistic named after him. Hextally is a goaltending stat that examines the difficulty of saving particular shots. [Check out the rest of our Hockey 201 Series] The Original Goalie Stat Gets […]

A youngster at a crossroads, a veteran starting fresh, and a partially shaven Chewbacca-impersonator. The Sharks defense is diverse and for the first time in a while is making San Jose fans excited. What are the optimal pairings at the blue line this season? Biggest Movers This Offseason Scott Hannan has officially left the lineup […]

Faces old and new will be donning teal sweaters this upcoming season. But as some edge closer to the end of their careers, other players are just getting started. Paul Martin, Martin Jones, and Joel Ward will undoubtedly take major roles in the new-look Sharks. Let’s see where the forwards line up. Guys Moving Up […]

Beloved by fans, criticized by national sports broadcasters (cough cough Roenick cough), and looked up to by his teammates. Such is the strange career of Patrick Marleau. He is arguably the most recognizable Shark in history. But his year last season was his worst in terms of points since 2007. Is this the end for […]

Every season, rules get tweaked to better suit the evolution of the sport of hockey. The board of governors (sounds so official doesn’t it) recently approved rule changes for the upcoming season. [This article now changes information in prior 101 articles] Overtime: The Big One Oft argued and debated, the NHL’s tiebreaking policy is the […]

Three major additions. That’s all it takes to win over most of the fans that had their pitchforks at the end of last season. Apparently. After an offseason a year […]

Predictions are hardly ever perfect. But they are useful nonetheless. In advanced statistics, PDO is used as a predictor of future success. It’s fairly simple to understand as well. [Check […]