Author Archives: Anoop Uppal

Jets takeoff delayed

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(Photo: Dallas Morning News, NHL)

The Dallas Stars took care of business in game 1 against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night. Both teams are coming off a tough round one match up after each series went to a 7th game. Maybe you were expecting a slow physical game due to both teams being a little tired but thats not what we got on Thursday night. The Jets started the scoring off taking the lead 1-0 early on into the 2nd period but what happened throughout the rest of the period was historic. 

Mikko Rantanen after scoring a hatrick in game 7 to propel the Stars to the 2nd round he follows that performance up by scoring a natural hatrick in the first game of round 2 in the second period. Its unbelievable to me how people called this guy a “MacKinnon merchant”, referring to how he wouldn’t be as good as a player he is without Nathan MacKinnon. There was still a lot of game left to be played though, and the Jets did respond with a goal coming from Mark Scheifele late into the second period. It was a nervy third period for the Stars but they managed to get the job done and take game 1 3-2 in Winnipeg and steal home ice in the series for now.  The NHL post on Rantanen’s hatrick  https://x.com/NHL/status/1920326257113280811

The only hero though wasn’t just Mikko Rantanen though another hero was Jake Oettinger. He made 30 out of 32 saves in this win and making 10 saves out of 10 shots in the 3rd period. The Jets are in tough against this Stars team but they are presidents trophy winners for a reason so i have 3 keys for them winning game 2.

1. Contain Mikko Rantanen he has been on a tear and i bet you every time he touches the puck right now he feels like he can score so contain him be physical with him just be as chippy as you can be around him. 

2. You have too play better on the special teams side of things. Dallas capitalised on there power play opportunities and stopped the Jets power play, so for the Jets be better on special teams and if you can do that it also helps on containing Mikko as well which ties into the first key. 

3. Get to the front of the net more Jake ottinger has struggled with controlling rebounds this year this is an achilles heal for a lot of great goalies just like the man across the crease from him in Connor Hellebuyck. More shots at the net, more bodies at the net higher chance for a goal. I think if they follow these steps they have a great shot at evening this series tomorrow night. 

Toronto keeps on going

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(Photo:TSN)

The Maple leafs secured a massive 4-3 victory on home ice against the Florida panthers on Wednesday night at the Scotiabank Arena, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the eastern conference semis. 

The game was a thrilling contest with the Panthers going up 1-0 then going up 2-1 but every time the Panthers pushed the Maple leafs Pushed back eventually the Leafs took a 3-2 the Panthers tied the game but just 17 seconds later Mitch Marner scored the eventual game winner. The Leafs are getting key contributions from the Maxes this playoffs, those being Max Pacioretty and Max Domi both having 2 points each in this massive Maple leafs win. Also another player out of the core four who has been great these playoffs is William Nylander. He has 13 points in 8 playoff games this year which is the most for him in any playoff campaign he has ever had. 

Leafs goalie Joseph Woll had a steady game after stepping in relief in game 1 for starter Anothny Stolarz he played very nicely stopping 26 of 29 shots. Across the ice the same cannot be said for goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. After a rough game 1 things did not change for the Russian goalie as he only managed to save 16 out of 20 shots. Some positives for the Panthers are they are not out of this series just yet and the big boys for the Panthers are scoring so far this series. The negatives though now the Panthers face a must win at home there can be no more mistakes from here on out. 

Some keys for Florida to pick up a win in game 3.

1.Sergei Bobrovsky has to be much sharper and I know this is not a team thing but he’s gotta be better with his positioning in the net and much better with his rebound control. Heres a link too a tweet showing where the goaltender has been beat for every goal he has let in these playoffs. https://x.com/DArm91/status/1920280872424530132

2. The Panthers need to set the tone early now you are in your own barn, lay the        body early and send a message to the leafs that in this building nothing is             

gonna come easy. 

3. Florida has to make a lineup switch. Brad Marchand has to be on the first line. Carter Verhaeghe and Brad Marchand have to switch spots. Marchand has been a thorn in the leafs organisation since 2013 and he might be a little bit older now but he has the experience so if I am Paul Mourice i’m getting Marchand on the first line with Barkov and Reinhart.

Whitecaps look to do the improbable

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(photo:Whitecaps, bcbuisness.ca)

The Whitecaps have had a up and down last couple of years. Now with a new head coach and rumors of the team being moved fans had an uneasy feeling about how this year would go. The Vancouver sports scene needed a break from failure after failure especially after the abysmal season the Canucks put together  this year.

All of a sudden the Whitecaps started there season off hot like scorching hot 4 league games in a row and in between the league games getting too the Concacaf Champions cup quarters. The city was on the bandwagon now and the pressure was just starting for the Whitecaps as in the league they were fine, but no one was looking at the league they were looking forward to the semi final coming up. This was no ordinary Semi Final though this was a final with MLS giants Inter Miami who are captained by the greatest football player of all time Lionel Messi and other former Barcelona legends such as Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets. 

Semi Final time came and went as the Whitecaps destroyed Miami 2-0 at home in front of a record setting 53,837 fans in BC Place, and then a 3-1 thrashing in Miami which gave the Whitecaps a score of 5-1 on aggregate. Fun fact the Whitecaps became the first team ever too beat Lionel Messi in each of there first two meetings against each other. Now its Finals time and the Whitecaps take on a tough team in Cruz Azul.

Vancouver are in tough against this Cruz Azul side. Cruz Azul have won 6 Concacaf Champions Cups in there history so this franchise have become accustom to winning its not just the championship pedigree but the Cruz Azul fans show up its gonna be an Atmosphere like no other in which the Whitecaps players will have to play in for the first time. Heres a clip of the loud Cruz Azul fans  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mqGccqucNMg.

I think the keys to the game for playing in such a charged atmosphere in Mexico is they have to keep there emotions in check one thing about an atmosphere like that is it can get to your head so keep cool. Key number two is the Whitecaps need to keep the press on. The press is what has made the Whitecaps so good this year so if they can do these two things the Whitecaps can be in very good shape to win the Concacaf Champions Cup.