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Posts Tagged ‘antoine vermette’

Oilers lose monster game Wednesday against Phoenix

Thursday, April 11th, 2013

The Edmonton Oilers might have just blown their last realistic chance of qualifying for the postseason Wednesday night against the Phoenix Coyotes.

In a 3-1 loss to Phoenix, the Oilers remain four points back of the Detroit Red Wings for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with eight games to go.

The Oilers were completely outplayed in the second period where Phoenix out shot Edmonton 12-7 and scored the first two goals of the contest from Boyd Gordon and Antoine Vermette.

The Oilers continue to struggle in games at home immediately after a road trip. So far this season, they are 2-5.

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Tags: antoine vermette, boyd gordon, Edmonton Oil Kings, Edmonton Oilers, phoenix coyotes
Posted in NHL |

Coyotes shut out Flames 4-0

Monday, February 18th, 2013

Mike Smith (Matthew Cerasoli, Wikimedia Commons)

The Calgary Flames played like a team who were playing their second game of a back-to-back Monday night in Phoenix.

Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith made 30 saves and Raffi Torres and Antoine Vermette had a goal and an assist each as Phoenix defeated Calgary 4-0.

David Moss and Oliver Ekman-Larsson also had a multi-point game as they each had two assists. The Coyotes’ defencemen of Ekman-Larsson and Zbynek Michalek were each a +3 for the Coyotes according to www.tsn.ca.

Defenceman Keith Yandle scored the game winning goal for the Coyotes only 41 seconds into the hockey game.

Coyotes captain Shane Doan is still playing strong. At 36 years of age he caused havoc throughout the night and was making Flames’ goaltender Danny Taylor’s night uncomfortable. Taylor was making his first start in his NHL career.

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Tags: antoine vermette, calgary flames, danny taylor, david moss, keith yandle, mike smith, oliver ekman-larsson, phoenix coyotes, raffi torres, shane doan, zbynek michalek
Posted in NHL |

Coyotes stay alive

Monday, May 21st, 2012

Shane Doan (Wikimedia Commons)

The Los Angeles Kings haven’t advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals just yet.

Sunday afternoon Shane Doan of Halkirk, Alberta, (an hour east of Red Deer) scored twice and Mike Smith made 36 saves for the shutout as the Phoenix Coyotes defeated the Los Angeles Kings 2-0 in game four of the Western Conference Final. The Kings still lead the series 3-1.

Even though Los Angeles is ahead, I still can’t get out of my head two very strange goals in the series that Jonathan Quick has given up. In game one, Derek Morris took a slap shot from the Coyotes’ zone that handcuffed Quick, and then yesterday Quick misplayed the puck when it should have been icing that led directly to Doan’s game winning goal.

A Coyotes player that was also very strong on Sunday was former Ottawa Senator Antoine Vermette, who recorded a key assist and won 12 of 18 faceoffs.

Game five is Tuesday in Phoenix.

Tags: antoine vermette, los angeles kings, mike smith, phoenix coyotes, shane doan
Posted in NHL |

Coyotes move on to first Western Conference Final–How do Winnipegers feel?

Tuesday, May 8th, 2012

Derek Morris (Michael Wifall, Wikimedia Commons)

The Phoenix Coyotes are going to their very first Western Conference Final in franchise history.

On Monday night, the Coyotes defeated the Nashville Predators 2-1 in game five of the Western Conference Semi-Final.

Defenceman Derek Morris, a former Calgary Flame who was born in Edmonton, got the Coyotes on the board early in the second period and then over ten minutes later Martin Hanzal put the Coyotes up 2-0.

Another area where Phoenix dominated was in the faceoff circle. Antoine Vermette and Boyd Gordon went a combined 24-8.

The Coyotes continued to get good news off the ice as well. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced plans are in place to sell the team to former San Jose Sharks Chief Executive Officer Greg Jamison.

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Tags: antoine vermette, boyd gordon, brad richards, derek morris, gary bettman, greg jamison, marc staal, martian hanzal, mike smith, nashville predators, new york rangers, phoenix coyotes, ray whitney, shane doan, washington capitals, winnipeg jets
Posted in Home |

Ovechkin scores winner despite limited minutes

Monday, April 30th, 2012

Alexander Ovechkin (Wikimedia Commons)

Alexander Ovechkin was spectacular when Washington needed him most in Game two of the Eastern Conference Semi-Final.

Ovechkin scored the game winning goal while Rangers forward Brad Richards was in the penalty box with 7:27 left in the final period.

Despite only playing 13:36 of the game, six minutes fewer than teammate Jay Beagle, Ovechkin had a game high seven shots on net as Washington tied the series at one with a 3-2 win. A major reason why Ovechkin saw his ice time dip is because it appears Head Coach Dale Hunter was not satisfied with his defensive play. Should he have been on the ice more?

The other interesting result Monday came from the eighth seeded Los Angeles Kings who had an offensive explosion in the first period against the St. Louis Blues. This is the second straight series that the Kings seemed to have their opponent off guard. Anze Kopitar scored twice and Dustin Brown had three assists as Los Angeles defeated St. Louis 5-2 to take a 2-0 Western Conference Semi-Final lead. The Kings are now a perfect 5-0 on the road in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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Tags: alexander ovechkin, antoine vermette, anze kopitar, daniel briere, dustin brown, jay beagle, los angeles kings, martin hanzal, Philadelphia Flyers, phoenix coyotes, radim vrbata, shane doan, washington capitals
Posted in NHL |

Oilers & Flames lose Monday

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

Jeff Carter (Bridget Samuels, Wikimedia Commons)

The Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames were both on the wrong end of the stick Monday, and both lost by scores of 4-1.

In Columbus, the Blue Jackets scored early and often against the Flames. Jeff Carter and Antoine Vermette both scored in the first seven minutes to put the Blue Jackets up 2-0.

Carter, who missed ten games earlier in the season with a broken foot, scored another in the second period on the power play past Flames’ backup goaltender Henrik Karlsson for his first multi-goal game as a Blue Jacket.

Calgary now falls to 8-10-1.

Meanwhile in Texas, the Oilers lost to the Dallas Stars.

It was a complete effort from Dallas, who received a point from 11 different players. One Star forward that impressed me by his work ethic was Radek Dvorak, who played for the Oilers from 2002-2006. Dvorak scored his first of the season, shorthanded into an empty net.

It is a tough stretch for the Oilers who play again tonight at Nashville at 6pm.

Tags: antoine vermette, calgary flames, columbus blue jackets, dallas stars, Edmonton Oilers, henrik karlsson, jeff carter, nashville predators, radek dvorak
Posted in NHL |