It’s something that’s said all the time. Hockey goaltenders have the easiest job in the sport. They just stand there if the puck isn’t on their side of the ice and even when it is, they only have to stay in front of it and keep it out of the net. Yes, this is pretty true at face value but let me explain why playing goalie is not only hard but the most difficult position to play in the game.

When I was asked to play for my school’s team in high school, I was so excited. “I get to play hockey and I barely have to move!” Yes, those words actually left my mouth… and I was so wrong. Little did I know that I was going to have to condition myself like no other sport I had ever played. I knew how to skate and had watched the game my entire life, so I did have something to build on to start. But playing goalie called for a work ethic and respect towards hockey that I didn’t see coming.

I spent weeks on the ice at my local rink, slowly getting accustomed to the clunky and bulky pads and having to skate precisely with them on. It was ugly and I was really bad to start off. Thankfully the coach and team knew about my lack of experience and I didn’t see gameplay for much of my first season, playing backup goalie. That all changed when our starter decided to let his emotions get the best of him and got suspended…

The next practice was a tense place to be. Everyone knew what the current situation was. The only goalie they had left on the roster was a kid who has only been playing for months (actually three to be exact), compared to the rest of the team who had been playing hockey for at least a decade at this point. The weight on my shoulders was heavy. We were in a playoff race and I knew it was my play that would now make or break the season.

This is the main reason why playing goalie is so hard as the mental strength you must have is ridiculous. The game, night in and night out, relies on the goalie’s shoulders. Does he or she have a bad game? You lose. Alternatively though, if the goalie has a great game you could still lose because your team couldn’t finish on the other end. It’s an extreme amount of stress. If any other position has a bad game, they just play fewer minutes or are sat because each skater has 2-3 lines behind him to pick up the slack. Goalies have one backup or in my case, nobody.

We lost every game for the rest of the year and missed the playoffs by a wide margin. But that’s sports and it’s better to focus on the positives, right? I played my heart out and gained the respect and friendship on my team for it. They knew I wasn’t the best option but I was the only option. I played my heart out and had a great time but I learned just how much pressure the people who play this position have over them. And I was only in high school… Imagine being paid millions of dollars to play in the NHL and have to experience that same stress every game and every night for the majority of a year. All while the team you are playing for has about 4 other goalies ready and yearning to take your spot.

So to conclude Hockey Authority I wanted to give a more personal touch to the blog. I love this game, I’ve played this game, and this game will always be a part of me.

Here’s a picture of me playing in high school!

Do any other sports have positions with this much power and importance in deciding the outcome of a game? Let me know in the comments.

As I have been focusing on the Penguins and Penn State pretty exclusively for the semester, I thought I’d change it up this week. Who is the best of the best in the NHL this year? Well, let’s find out! For this week I’m going to cover the best offensive player, best defensemen,  the top rookie, and goalie for this season. It’s interesting to see if players are back with a reoccurring position or are proving themselves for the first time, which is predominantly the case this year.

Best Offensive Player: Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning)

It isn’t really that surprising that the best offensive player of the season plays for the best team in the league. Kucherov currently has 121 points and is projected to have 129 by the end of the regular season (points are scored by either assisting on a goal or scoring a goal). This level of scoring hasn’t been seen in the NHL in over a decade! This Russian-born superstar began playing in 2011 after he was drafted 58^th overall in the NHL entry draft. If and when he finishes the season, Kucherov will win his first Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer.

Image courtesy of ESPN

Best Defensive Player: Mark Giordano (Calgary Flames)

As one of the smaller markets in the NHL, Calgary has had a great season! Led by Captain Mark Giordano, the Flames are poised to clinch a playoff berth any day now. As a defenseman, Giordano leads the league in his position in points with 72 (project 78). A truly outstanding number for a “blueliner.” This comes as a bit of a surprise as Giordano, in his 12^th NHL season, has always been a top-tier defenseman but never this great. Due to how terrible Flames’ goalie Mike Smith has been this season, they (have mostly Giordano to thank for how dominant Calgary has been in the west this year. He’s currently in the lead for the Norris Trophy as the League’s top D-man, his first.

Image courtesy of ESPN

Best Rookie: Elias Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks)

This young Swede is proving just how great the young talent of hockey is these days! Only being 20, Pettersson currently has 64 points (projected 69). Could you imagine the pressure on a kid like this? His first year in the league with the best talent in the world, and he’s proving to be among them. Hopefully, the rebuilding Canucks can give Pettersson a supporting cast to boost them into a playoff spot next year. He’s currently in the lead for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie.

Image courtesy of ESPN

Best Goalie: Andrei Vasilevskiy (Tampa Bay Lightning)

He isn’t going to be a point leader, I can tell you that! Vasilevskiy, in his 4^th NHL season, has had his eyes set on the Vezina Trophy (NHL’s best goalie) since he took over the starting role for the Bolts last season. His .927 save percentage leads the league by a decent margin and it doesn’t like anyone is going to catch him. Again, like Kucherov, Vasilevskiy is benefiting from playing on the best team in the league. This would be his first Vezina win.

Image courtesy of ESPN

Stats from ESPN

Penn State men’s hockey is ready for their 2^nd Big Ten Title appearance in 3 years. The Nittany Lions have done it again. Though this team has had its defensive struggles throughout the season, they’re showing to be one of college hockey’s most dominant post-season teams.

Opening the tournament against a solid yet unproven Wisconsin team. The three-game series began with a Nittany Lion loss 4-3 after they failed to hold the lead and were cut short from finishing. The second game was a completely different story. The Lions went off with 6 goals over Wisconsin who only scored twice. The final matchup was fought tooth and nail, taking overtime to come to a decision. The Lions prevailed over the badgers 3-2 in one of the best games at Pegula in its short history.

Moving to the semi-finals, the Lions would then face Big Ten regular season champions, The Ohio State Buckeyes. In the regular season, the Lions and the Buckeyes traded wins back and forth. Early in the year, the Lions controlled Ohio State during their games in Columbus.

Image courtesy of Centre Daily Times

Alternatively, the Buckeyes did the same to Penn State, here in State College. But the post-season hockey gods seem to be on the side of the blue and white, as Penn State deconstructed OSU 5-1 on Sunday. With Peyton Jones brick-walling the net and their dominating offensive power, the Lions secured their bid to the tournament Championship against Notre Dame.

With a season record of 22-14-2, the lions must win the Conference to have a bid the NCAA tournament and a chance at the College Hockey National Championship. During the regular season, the Lions split the four-game series with the Fighting Irish 2-2. Losing to the Irish 5-4 on December 7^th only to control them winning 9-1 the next night. Closing the season again Notre Dame won 5-4 then the Lions 3-2 the next game. Notre made it to the final after beating no. 3 Minnesota and no. 7 Michigan State in two very close affairs.

The Nittany Lions are off to South Bend, Indiana to take on the Irish this Sunday at * p.m. The Lions must be ready for anything and everything as both teams need to will the conference to play in the NCAA tournament. For the Lions, having begun play as a D-1 team only 7 years ago, winning their second Big Ten title would be groundbreaking.

For complete team stats check this out.

As the regular season comes to a close at the end of March, the Eastern Conference playoff picture is still very foggy. The point race is very close for a few teams, and the Metropolitan Division doesn’t have a single position locked in yet. Some teams within the conference are running away with a sure bid to the post-season, in the Atlantic Division. The fight for a chance to win the Stanley Cup is a heated one. It would just be so perfect that the Penguins are right in the middle of it… and as I write this blog, the Pens are down 2-0 against the Capitals, just wonderful.

Who’s a lock?

Tampa Bay Lightning (Atlantic Div.) 1^st in the East and 1^st in the league

Coming to the end of one of the most dominant regular season’s in NHL history, the Lightning have already clinched a playoff berth, and are the only team in the entire league to do so at this point. Only a few more wins are needed for the Bolts and they will also clinch the President Trophy as the NHL regular season champions. With 110 points and a record of 53 wins and only 17 losses, everyone should be fearful to match up against them

Boston Bruins (Atlantic Div.) 2^nd in the East

The Bruins have probably had one of the quietest, yet successful seasons in recent memory. With 93 points and a record of 42 wins and 28 losses, the B’s haven’t yet statistically clinched a playoff bid. But with the way they have been playing lately with either a win or overtime loss coming from the last 19 of 20 games, I would guarantee a playoff bid coming soon. Boston would be my “dark-horse” team this year. They could lose in the first round or go all the way to the final. It’s tough to say.

Teams Still Hunting 

Columbus Blue Jackets (Metropolitan Div.)

The Jackets have gone all in for a championship this year. They traded many of their future draft picks away for the ability to sign big-name stars to gear up for the playoffs. Only one problem, they could still very easily miss out on the show. The team has been shaky at best lately, losing just as much as they are winning. With a record of 38 wins and 31 losses, they are currently in one of the top 8 spots that continue into the post-season. But if they falter much more, they put all the Trade deadline work to waste. Their coach John Tortorella is nothing but a hotheaded mess so it’s very possible.

Washington C(r)apitals (Metropolitan Div.)

The defending Stanley Cup Champions have been rocky as of late. Oh, and did I mention as was continuing my writing, the Pens took the lead 3-2 against them? With a record of 41 wins and 29 losses, the Caps lead the Metro. This team, led by Alex Ovechkin, has the skill to repeat as champions.

Pittsburgh Penguins (Metropolitan Div.)

After handling the Capitals 5-3, the Pens are very hot right now. They are in a tight race with Columbus and Washington, as the playoffs grow closer. With 38 wins and 85 points, they sit 3^rd in the metro currently. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jake Guentzel are carrying the team on their backs with goals and assists nearly every night. If they can keep it up, watch out Eastern Conference, the Penguins are back.

What’s Left?

After the teams listed above, the Playoff picture becomes too foggy to predict. The Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Flyers, Hurricanes, and Islanders all have a chance to make the playoffs as of right now, but they’re so close in points and record that it’s tough to say who will make it and who will miss the playoffs.

For a look at the standings check out ESPN for just that.

The NHL trade-deadline is among us once again. Teams are stacking up for hopes of a long playoff run or are breaking their rosters apart to prepare for free agency after the season is over. The Penguins were definite losers this year. The roster moves have not added any skill to the team and are beginning to make the fan base question the tactics and motives of General Manager Jim Rutherford. I would include myself in that group as well, but I am not quick to judge as harshly as the rest of the Pens fans it seems. This man won them 2 Stanley Cups just 2 and 3 years ago with his genius trade moves.

This 2018-19 Penguins squad has been average at best this year. With an aging core of star players, Rutherford decided to make some trades at the deadline to try and spark chemistry between the players going into the final portion of the regular season. But the additions to the roster seem to have done more harm than good. Let’s take a look…

Tanner Pearson to Vancouver in exchange for Erik Gudbranson

Courtesy of Canucks Army

To be honest, this trade makes zero sense. The Penguins did need to add size to their game. 6’5” Gudbranson is a big boy, but he leads the league this season in goals against while on the ice… and has scored 2 goals the entire season. Tanner Pearson was a solid 3^rd line option for the Pens with decent scoring potential. Hopefully, Gudbranson has a quick turn around with his new team.

Jean-Sebastian Dea to Florida in exchange for Chris Wideman

Courtesy of Springfield Thunderbirds

This move is basically an eye for an eye. Does it help the Penguins? Maybe, but seeing that all Florida wanted was a minor league player for Wideman, this move will have little to no impact.

With defensive injuries piling up, it makes sense that Penguins would be buyers at the deadline. What nobody saw coming was the terrible and non-factor trades that Rutherford would bite on. The team has gained no skill from these moves and could actually have become weaker in the process. The defense with Olli Maatta and Kris Letang out with injuries is dangerously weak. With the last 20 games of the season being this critical, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Penguins missed the playoffs this year. They very well could end the longest active consecutive playoff appearance streak at 12 years.

I thought I’d change it up this week and let the Penguins keep on truckin’ towards a playoff off spot. This week I’m going to rank my top 5 NHL jerseys that teams have worn this year. Yeah, I definitely get it. How could he talk about jerseys of all things? Well, I’m nerdy and love hockey jerseys. I own over 20 of them (it’s an obsession).

1. Arizona Coyotes Alternate

Courtesy of NHL.com

Starting off this list, I have the Arizona Coyotes alternate sweater. This jersey is a throwback to the exact same one they wore in the ‘90s after the team relocated from Winnipeg. The intricate patterns on the neckline, sleeves, and torso are crazy cool. No other team has or had a design nearly as eye-popping. The green, red, and tan, accenting the black perfectly fit the dessert vibe as well.

2. Calgary Flames Alternate

Courtesy of the NHL Fan Store

Again, a throwback comes in near the top of the list. I just love the yellow and red color scheme. Their regular sweaters are completely without yellow and use black in the same areas. It looks boring and is honestly really bland. They wore these alternate colors originally as their primary jerseys when they first relocated from Atlanta and won a Stanley Cup in them.

3. Minnesota Wild Home
   

   Courtesy of Amazon.com

Minnesota uses forest colors to connect their team to the “Wild” North of Minnesota. The dark green and tan perfectly exemplify this feel. Their logo is the named the “Beast of the wild.” A stream creates the mouth, the eye is the North Star, and the ear is a full moon. Such a wonderful way to both represent nature and practically create an animal’s face.

4. Tampa Bay Lightning Alternate

Courtesy of NHLshop.com

I think you’re seeing the trend here. Alternate jerseys usually are the best jerseys in the league. This one is no different. Utilizing a minimal color scheme, the Lightning have done a wonderful job using a black and gray gradient on the sleeves and numbers. This allows for the jersey to look very modern while calling back to the many older jerseys that used this coloring style.

5. Carolina Hurricanes (you guessed it) Alternate

Courtesy of NHL.com

To fit perfectly with their name, the ‘Canes sport a black and red sweater with a National Weather Service hurricane warning flag. Such a unique yet awesome and practical logo is designed flawlessly. This is an improvement to an earlier rendition they dawned in prior years that only showed a “hurricane watch” flag.

Hockey Jerseys have been a staple for fan attire for many years but at the same time are a fashion statement in and of themselves.

For a complete NHL uniform display, check out the Unofficial NHL uniform database.

With the Penguins and the Flyers playing in the upcoming NHL Coors Light Stadium Series, I thought I would dive into the history of the NHL’s promotional use of outdoor regular-season games. Since 2008, the NHL has held annual outdoor match-ups between both heated rivals and teams that have no history between them for what they call “honoring the tradition of where hockey began,” but honestly it was a marketing idea that took off and they’ve run with the cash cow.

For the true origins of outdoor NHL hockey, we have to go back to 1991. Between? You guessed the New York Rangers and the LA Kings, of course! Where? Well, obviously it was held in one of the warmest places in the US, Las Vegas, Nevada. For the first time in its history, the NHL held a preseason exhibition game in the parking lot of Caesars Palace. 13,700 temporary seats were erected with a full regulation rink inside them, in 95˚ weather, but somehow the ice was actually kept in very good condition due to an extreme amount of refrigeration equipment. The Kings went on to win 5-2, lead by the Great One Wayne Gretzky.

Fast-forward 12 years to 2003, the first regular-season outdoor game was held in Edmonton between the Oilers and the Montreal Canadiens (yes it’s spelled with an “e”). The game would be titled The Heritage Classic. Montreal won the 4-3, while both teams survived through temperatures as low as -22˚. This game marked the point where the NHL knew that not only could games that actually meant something could be played, but also that there was a huge fan interest as over 57,000 fans were in attendance. The match was held in Edmonton’s Canadian Football League team’s stadium and was a full sell-out.

Beginning in 2008 the NHL announced that the Pittsburgh, with rising NHL superstar Sidney Crosby, and the Ryan Miller lead Buffalo Sabres would play at Ralph Wilson Stadium (now known as New Era Field) in Buffalo. This would be the first use of the name Winter Classic and also the announcement that an outdoor regular season game would be held annually in the NHL from that year forward. In an exciting back and forth battle, the Penguins went on to beat the Sabres in a shootout, with the game-winning goal scored by Crosby.

To keep me from rambling on, I’m going to list the results of the subsequent Winter Classic games and will note interesting facts (in any) for each game leading to 2014 where I will go into a little detail again.

2009 – Chicago Blackhawks v. Detroit Redwings. Final 6-4 Detroit

• First NHL game held in a baseball Stadium (Wrigley Field)

2010 – Philadelphia Flyers v. Boston Bruins. Final 2-1 OT Bruins

2011 – Pittsburgh Penguins v. Washington Capitals. Final 3-1 Capitals

• Pittsburgh would be the first team with a second outdoor appearance

2012 – Philadelphia Flyers v. New York Rangers. Final 3-2 Rangers

In 2013 the NHL was in Lockout for over half the season, leaving a shortened 48-game schedule. The NHL canceled its All-Star game and the Winter Classic. But returning in 2014, to attract lost fans to the sport again, the NHL announced that from that year on, multiple outdoor games would be held. Labeling this new idea as The Coors Light Stadium Series, where there would be 3 or more outdoor games in addition to the Winter Classic; the Penguins have played in 2 of these games so far and play in a third this year. The Flyers have played in 1 of these games so far with their second this year.

These heated rivals take the ice in Philadelphia on February 23rd at Lincoln Financial Field. This will be the second time these teams have met outdoors with the first being last year where the Penguins won, 4-1. Being at the game myself and nearly dying from how cold it was, I had a blast. So if you’re bored that day was want to see a sport not normally played outside being played outside, give it a watch!

Weird flex, but here I am at the game touching the Stanley Cup

Sorry for the long post. I went down a little bit of a rabbit hole and could have written about 1000 more words if I really wanted to.

Check out this Wikipedia page for a complete history of NHL outdoor games.

The Nittany Lions hockey team is looking optimistic coming off their bye week. After their strong showing against a struggling Michigan team at Madison Square Garden two weeks ago, Coach Guy Gadowski and his players are looking to finish the season strong enough to prepare for the Big Ten Tournament and hopefully earn a bid to the NCAA Hockey Tournament.

The Nittany Lions have been inconsistent at best this season with a 14-10-2 record and a conference record of 6-9-1. It has become a trend for the Lions to split their usual weekend series against their opponents. But the boys seem to feel very confident going to this weekend’s matchup against the Minnesota Golden Gophers here at Pegula.

This is the time of the season where every win matters for a chance at post-season play. A win over 3^rd place Minnesota would be a great start. The Lions have had decent performances in the last two years with A Big Ten Tournament Championship just four years after the Division 1 program began playing in 2012.

Last season, the Nittany Lions went undefeated against the Gophers with a wonderful Thanksgiving series and a huge win in the Big Ten tournament. Both teams don’t have the strongest records currently, but they each have strong goaltending and are offensively stacked.

Bright spots for the Nittany Lions have come from individual performances throughout the current season, though the team as a whole hasn’t been performing to expectations due to how poor the defense has played. Goaltender Peyton Jones has a .899 save percentage so far this season but is playing very well. The poor defensive play has left him time and time again out to dry due to the overwhelming amount of scoring chances and shots he has to face every game. Evan Barrett leads the team with 35 points as he hopes to continue building up his highlight reel for on-looking NHL scouts.

Courtesy of keystonesportsnetwork.com

The Pegula Ice Arena is a really amazing venue! The student section is exciting and loud every night and has a similar feel to being at a football game. So if you love hockey or just want something to fill your weekend with, it’s definitely a “must-see.”

Tickets are usually anywhere from $10-40 depending on how early you buy them, so if you have a few bucks to spare, you should definitely head up to the arena tomorrow or Saturday to see some quality college hockey.

For team stats, check this out.

In one week, the Pens have gone from losing against two of the worst teams in the league to knocking off the best team in the entire NHL. Last night the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 after looking terrible against the New Jersey Devils (who are not in a playoff spot) and the last place Arizona Coyotes. Inconsistency continues to plague the Pens just as it did before the All-Star break.

Image courtesy of RawCharge.com

After holding a players-only meeting Tuesday to address their overall frustrations, the Penguins came out fast and confident. Somehow with only 5 (yes, 5) shots on net in the first period, Pittsburgh went into the locker room up 3-0. The Goals came from Riley Sheahan, Phil Kessel, and Sidney Crosby. Evgeni Malkin picked up 2 assists getting to 500 career assists (tied for 5^th all-time for Russian-born players).

Penguin’s goalie Matt Murray showed great improvement as well, keeping the Lightning scoreless until the 3^rd period. The break wasn’t very helpful for Murray, having just gotten back from injury before All-Star week. Hopefully, in the coming games, he can continue to improve.

Tampa Bay has been a dominant force the entire season so far with Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos leading the way. Their goalie Vasilevskiy played uncharacteristically poor allowing 3 goals on 5 shots early in the game.

The game was fast-paced throughout. Tampa seemed to think the desperate Penguins would be an easy win, but that was not the case. The Penguins were psychical from the puck drop and seemed to play much sharper than earlier in the week.

This point in the season is make-or-break time for a lot of playoff-hopeful teams. For Tampa Bay and other top teams, they are fast approaching their playoff-clinching point levels. For teams like Pittsburgh, from this point forward every game matters.

On the injury front, defenseman Justin Schultz has begun skating after breaking his ankle in October. His addition back into the roster will be a huge boost to the Penguin’s weak D-core. Kris Letang, though having a career year, has really been the team’s only saving grace in the position. He contributed with a goal against Tampa Bay, to match Penguin-great Paul Coffey at 396 career scores.

Pittsburgh has a few questions as the second half of the season continues that need to be answered for them to succeed. With the return of Schultz, will the defense strengthen up? Can Matt Murray and Casey Desmith become more consistent with their goaltending? Can the team as a whole stay motivated?

Highlights from the game can be found here. If my NHL talk is boring you, check the blog out next week when I cover Penn State Hockey. Comment below with who your favorite Hockey team is!

The NHL is on break this week leading up to its annual All-Star game in San Jose. It’s a great mid-season break for the players who have been playing nonstop early October. The penguins are being represented by 2 players this year: Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang. Both were posting great numbers and being highlights for the Penguins throughout the season to this point.

Image courtesy of NHL.com

Crosby, at the start of the season, was under slight criticism and uncertainty. The 31-year-old NHL veteran, now in his 14^th year in the league was expected to underperform due to his age and length of career. But that has been silenced with his 21 goals, 36 assists, and 57 overall points. This puts him on track to have one of the better years in his playing career. This All-Star game, he will be playing in his 4^th game, while he has been selected 7 times to play, missing 3 to injury and missing others due to the Winter Olympics.

Image courtesy of NHL.com

Kris Letang on the other hand has been having somewhat of a comeback season. The previous few years he’s been struggling with multiple injuries, ranging from concussions to even a very serious stroke. This has sidelined the once Norris finalist (award for the league’s top defenseman) for much of the last 4 seasons. Going into the break, Letang has amount 11 goals, 29 assists, and an overall 40 points, for what could end up being his best year in his career.

Representing the Penguins in the Metropolitan Division this year, these men hope to have some well-earned fun showing their skills in both the NHL skills competition on Saturday and the actual All-Star game on Sunday in a division v. division mini-tournament for a million dollars in prize money to the overall victorious division.

Since reorganizing the event at during the 2014-15 season, the NHL All-Star game has featured 4 teams made up of players from each division voted on by fans to play each other in a 3 on 3 single-elimination tournament. This format is very fast-paced, so fans of hockey or those trying to start watching should definitely tune in to NBC this weekend to see some quality play from the best players in the NHL.

Interesting in seeing who the non-Penguin players are? Check out the official All-Star roster here. Comment below with anyone you’re looking forward to watching on the roster this weekend. Don’t even watch Hockey? Well, this is a great time to start!