Bleacher Report - Articles by Mark Keilty

Pittsburgh Penguins 2009 Stanley Cup Champs: "What Goes Around Comes Around"

Mark Keilty — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:54:20 -0400

Congratulations to the young and not so restless Pittsburgh Penguins in winning the 2009 Stanley Cup Championship.

Not since the 1971 Montreal Canadiens, has a visiting team won Sir Stanley's mug on an opposing teams playing field.

Led by Evgeni Malkin's playoff winning series MVP claim to the Conn Smythe Trophy, the young and robust Pittsburgh Penguins have won professional hockey's "holy grail."

The 2 to 1 victory by the visiting Penguins has set a number of new standards in the new NHL of today. Penguin Captain Sidney Crosby and his young Trojans turned the tide on a veteran savvy Detroit Red Wing team that had won the prize in 2008 at the Penguins home "igloo."

Detroit was on the verge of being declared the first 21st century dynasty in the modern day NHL until Crosby et al derailed this popular and storied franchise.

Sidney Crosby has just become the youngest player to win the Stanley Cup at the ripe old age of 21 years and he is only finishing his his third full NHL season. It took his "landlord," personal friend, mentor, and team owner, Mario Lemieux a surprising seven years to win his first of two Stanley Cups in 1991 and again in 1992.

For Crosby, Malkin and goaltender Marc Andre Fleury this young and gunning Penguin squad has "the world as its oyster" as they now, go on to challenge, their former teacher and mentor, the Detroit Red Wings in trying to forge ahead and begin a dynasty in today's NHL, in what has become a very competitive and level playing field for professional sports.

As they say in the NFL: "on any given Sunday" and in today's NHL, this could easily be said: "in any given season."

Pittsburgh's midseason decision to promote rookie head coach Dan Bylsma, only five years removed from playing pro hockey himself and hired to replace NHL veteran bench boss Michel Therrien after an early February Saturday night fiasco in Toronto, where the Pens lost a humiliating five to nothing decision to a re-building Maple Leafs squad, had no idea that he was about to embark on the quest for hockey's premier holy grail.

Bylsma subsequently went on to turn, a then struggling Penguins squad, from a forgotten, 14th place '08 Stanley Cup bridesmaid, to a virtual overnight contender in the very competitive NHL Eastern Conference.

Bylsma and his rookie coaching style with his patented "Disco Dan" energetic exhuberance, revitalized this Crosby/Malkin led team into believing, again, that they were worthy of competing in Sir Stanley's end of the season tournament, known as the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Congratulations to Disco Dan and his entourage of coaches and personnel for leading this team through adversity and character building, while re-focusing, on a born again hockey team that eventually would believe in themselves as true potential and future champions.

This Penguin juggernaut had to take on and beat substantial challengers such as the Ovechkin led Washington Capitals, the upstart and just as youthful Philadelphia Flyers and the disciplined and underdog Carolina Hurricanes.

With Sidney Crosby limping into the third period and the game still undecided, Andre Fleury and the Conn Smythe winning—and maybe league MVP—Evgeni Malkin turned the disappointed "teacher" Detroit Red Wings into a bystander as "Stanley Cup Doubter" Marian Hossa stood by and watched his former teammates raise the Stanley Cup on Hossa's pond in a turnaround of last years championship game!

Who knew how to write a sequel to last years Stanley Cup, I guess you could say: 'what comes around goes around'!

For the record, the Pittsburgh Penguins have never lost a Game Seven in franchise history, don't ever bet on this underdog or shall I say Penguin. Today they truly have "happy feet!"

Congratulations again to owner and Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux and his 2009 Stanley Cup Champions!

Mark Keilty

Toronto, Ontario

Stanley Cup Final 2009 - Detroit vs Pittsburgh: A Tale of Two Cities

Mark Keilty — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:21:45 -0400

Congratulations to the maturing Sidney Crosby led Pittsburgh Penguins and their win in Game Six of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals in forcing a sudden death Game Seven in Motorcity, USA on Friday night.

I have decided to call this final championship game, a "Tale of Two Cities." The two cities involved are truly polar opposites in both team make-up and geo-economical make-up.

With that said, I will explain my Stanley Cup Final 2009 Detroit vs Pittsburgh: A Tale of Two Cities.

In 1989, a young and upstart independent film producer named Michael Moore set out, with minimal financial backing, to create a documentary called, Roger and Me.

The movie was a satire about Moore chasing around the late, then CEO of General Motors, Roger Smith and his action of closing several auto plants in Flint, Michigan, Michael Moore's hometown.

Moore wanted to achieve an interview with the aloof Smith as to why he was closing all these auto plants in Flint, Michigan and relocating them throughout the USA. The young upstart Moore was a real pain in Smith's behind as he tried to pin him down for an interview.

The City of Flint ended up losing over 30,000 jobs and its total population was just over 125,000 blue collar workers. Flint was economically crushed by CEO Smith and General Motors' decision to leave town.

Today, we have an upstart young hockey team being produced in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who, much like Michael Moore, wants to knock down an older, wiser, and stubborn team from Motorcity, Michigan named the Detroit Red Wings.

The only difference in today's tale of two cities is that Detroit (the old city) and (ironically) the General Motors Corporation are fighting for their socio-economic lives, not just their Stanley Cup playoff life.

Pittsburgh, the young upstart, offers two Stanley Cups since 1990, a young, dynamic, and energetic team, and a growing population in the Greater Pittsburgh Area of 2.4 million people—a city that Forbes magazine called "one of the best places to live as a young person" and another almanac in 2007 rated it as, "the most livable city in the USA."

Detroit, the older, not so productive city anymore that is responsible for a once thriving corridor that populates over 5.7 million people, is in a deep economic slump.

The city is home to the "Big Three" in the North American auto industry. The core city is vastly empty with only a decreasing population of 916,900 people calling downtown "Hockeytown, USA" home.

The tale of Detroit rests dearly on the Detroit Red Wings' shoulders.

With Motorcity responsible for over 150,000 jobs directly relating to the declining American auto sector and being the engineer of over 13 billion dollars in economic spinoffs for the area, sadly the city is a larger version of Michael Moore's Flint, Michigan, which is only 66 miles northwest of Detroit.

In Moore's Roger and Me, the young upstart film director finally nails down the slick and evasive Roger Smith. In retrospect, I would like to see Sidney Crosby, et al, nail down the slick and evasive Niklas Lidstrom, et al, but my heart tells me to go with the financially depressed City of Detroit.

My "tale of two cities" will end with Detroit winning their twelfth Stanley Cup (since 1926) and third in the last seven years. Both of these great American cities deserve respect and congratulations for a great season!

The student is still not ready to school the teacher, neither is the young producer!

Sorry Sidney, your time will come. Look at what became of Michael Moore.

Not Sir Stanley's Cup, but an Oscar isn't that bad!

Mark Keilty

Toronto, Ontario

Stanley Cup Final 2009: Can Detroit Repeat In Crosby's Igloo?

Mark Keilty — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:59:14 -0400

I have been absent from Bleacher for a little while now, but I have never forgotten about this incredible interactive website.

With that said, I must comment on the exceptioanl hockey being played in the 2009 version of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

I am a true 'Hockey Pig', living in hockey passionate, Toronto, Ontario.

I believe, in all honesty, that this 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs has been one of the best tournaments played for a championship that I have ever witnessed as a hockey fan and player. Growing up in the late 70's and 80's I witnessed and critiqued both the modern era dynastys of the years gone by New York Islanders led by Denis Potvin and the high octane Edmonton Oilers, then led by a certain icon named Wayne Gretzky.

Throughout these 2009 playoffs, the quality of hockey that has been played has truly been a wonderful experience to watch as a fan and critique of the game.

Outside of the latest Game 5 blowout by the veteran and extremely disciplined Detroit Red Wings, I am totally excited by the way that this year's championship final has developed. Both of these post-strike era hockey clubs would have easily challenged the Islanders and Oilers of the aforementioned years gone by. The no longer upstart Pittsburgh Penguins, are for real and despite an emotional and physical collapse in Game 5, this young squad is still very much alive in the 2009 Stanley Cup Final!

I am not one to pass on any warranted praises to the NHL and their dictatorial ways. However, the hockey that has been displayed and of course played in these 2009 playoffs, has been nothing short of exceptional from a fan and viewer's point of view.

Again, with that said, I commend the players and the league with figuring out that hockey is best played with attitude, intensity, passion and of course skill.

With the world class likes of Henrik Zetterberg, Nicklas Lidstrom, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, plus the re-addition of Detroit stalward Pavel Datsyuk to their star studded line-up, this has ultimately made the latest quest for Sir Stanley's mug even more exciting to watch from a fan's point of view.

The television ratings on both NBC and CBC in the U.S. and Canada are positively high, which means a bright future with the, usually timid NHL, in the not so hockey crazed United States of America.

All this aside, I say welcome back NHL hockey in North America, keep up the great play and product.

For the record, this scribe in the 'Great White North' thinks that Detroit is still just too deep and experienced for the developing Penguins, yes I say that with just two games to go, but hey I have been away from BleacherReport and now I am back and I know that you 'bleacher creatures' respect opinions.

Mark Keilty

Toronto, Ontario

2008 NHL Playoff Predictions: Western Conference, Round One

Mark Keilty — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 05:39:44 -0400

Yesterday I wrote my predictions regarding the Eastern Conference results for Round One and today I give you my forecast for the "wild west."

Detroit Red Wings (first) vs Nashville Predators (eighth)

This series is all about respect. The Predators have been in the NHL now for over ten years and they are well aware of their conference rival's hockey heritage.

As Jason Arnott, the captain of the Preds stated earlier this week: "You only have to look at our rivalry and how healthy and respectful it is, they don't call it Hockeytown, USA for nothing, as a team, man-for-man we respect them."

This season the rivalry could not have been played any closer. The teams split the regular season with Detroit outscoring Nashville 20 to 19.

The Predators are a team very capable of beating the Wings. They possess four twenty-plus goal scorers in Jason Arnott, Alex Radulov, Martin Erat and JP Dumont.

The Red Wings are loaded for battle with veterans Pavel Datsyuk (97 pts), Henrik Zetterberg (92 pts) and Niklas Lidstrom leading the defense core with 70 points.

The youthful exhuberance of Nashville will win them at least one game and their fan base at home may win them two; however, this series will come down to goaltending. (Boy isn't that something new!)

Dominek Hasek and Chris Osgood have played in combined 202 playoff games whereas the Predators tandem of Dan Ellis and Chris Mason have played a total of five postseason games.

Respect aside, this series may go six games at the most.

Mark Predicts: Detroit in five

San Jose Sharks (second) vs Calgary Flames (seventh)

The question that will be answered soon enough in this series is: Can the Calgary Flames extinguish the red hot San Jose Sharks?

The Sharks come into the playoffs as the hottest team in professional sports. They finished the last quarter of the season on a mission. Their record of 16 wins and two losses, combined with two overtime losses (that they easily could have won) will make the Sharks a formidable foe as these playoffs roll on.

Led by captain Joe Thornton and the recently acquired mobile defenceman Brian Campbell, the Sharks are well equipped to eat up some prey. Evgeni Nabokov had a career season in net for San Jose. He had a personal and league best 46 wins and had a stellar 2.14 GAA. Nabokov is more than capable of winning this series all by himself.

These two teams have played each other twice in the postseason before and are one and one all-time.

The Flames on the other hand have the best player playing in this series. Captain Jerome Iginla and his 50 goal season put him only second to Alex Ovechkin and his 65 goals for leading the NHL in goals scored.

Mikka Kiprusoff will have to be "all world" in goal if the Flames are to burn the Sharks. Head coach and former Cup winner Mike Keenan will have to draw up some serious game plans if San Jose is to be denied a second round visit in this year's road to the Stanley Cup.

Mark Predicts: Sharks in six

Minnesota Wild (third) vs Colorado Avalanche (sixth)

The veteran savvy of the Colorado Avalanche will be tested in this match-up of a Minnesota Wild team coached by a defensive minded genius in Jacque Lemaire versus the old guard in Colorado.

The old school leftovers of Avalanche successes of the past including: Joe Sakic, Adam Foote, Peter Forsberg and former Oiler and "Captain Canada" Ryan Smyth will ultimately have their hands full with the now ready for primetime Minnesota Wild.

The Avalanche come into the playoffs with the second-worst power play unit in the league. They had a 14.6 percent efficiency rating while playing with the man advantage.

On the other hand, they had an excellent 85 percent penalty kill efficiency, but in the playoffs if you do not score on the power play you are as good as dead.

The Wild are led by Marian Gaborik and his 40 goals this season. Brian Rolston added another 30 goals to give the Wild a nice one-two punch. The Wild are solid in net with Niklas Backstrom. The 30 year-old Finnish veteran posted a nice .930 save percentage this season to go along with a splendid 2.31 GAA.

The Wild have home ice advantage and this may be a negative. In recent post season, play the Wild have posted only three wins at the Xcel Energy Center to go along with seven home losses. On the road their history shows a six win against seven loss record.

If Jose Theodore and his 28-21 and 2.44 GAA record comes into play for the Avalanche, this series may be close. If Theodore tanks, the Avalanche will be hitting the links early and "Captain Canada" will be able to play in this year's World Hockey Championships being held in Canada (Quebec/Nova Scotia) for the first time ever!

Mark Predicts: Minnesota in six

Anaheim Ducks (fourth) vs Dallas Stars (fifth)

Since veteran and inspirational leader Teemu Selanne came out of "retirement" earlier this year, the Anaheim Ducks are an impressive 20-5-1 and Selanne himself contributed 23 points in those 26 games. The rust on his skates was none existent!

Alongside fellow Stanley Cup '07 veterans Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer, Selanne and the Ducks have re-loaded for another shot at back-to-back championships.

Dallas is not going to lie down and play roadkill for these Ducks of Anaheim and will be as good a challenger as anybody that the Ducks will face on this journey to Lord Stanley's mug.

Led by veteran Mike Modano (his playoff numbers include 53 goals and 133 points), the Stars will be tough. At the trade deadline they acquired former Conn Smythe trophy winner Brad Richards (2003 Tampa Bay). Richards went on to score 26 points in the 23 games that he played for Dallas after the trade in late February.

Like every series that I have mentioned - and this one is no different - this match-up will ultimately be settled in the crease. A classic battle of the masked men is going to define this series. Can Anaheim's J.S. Giguere and his Conn Smythe past out-battle playoff veteran and cowboy Marty Turco?

I will let those two battle it out and only the future knows the answer to this one and all the other predictions that I have made.

Mark Predicts: Anaheim in seven

Thanks for reading my predictions and I have recently published the Eastern Conference predictions on BR. You will easily find them on the NHL page on Bleacher Report.com. Have fun and I wish everyones teams good health. See you in Round Two!

2008 NHL Playoff Predictions: Eastern Conference, Round One

Mark Keilty — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:57:45 -0400

Wednesday night signals the beginning of the NHL's second season. Sixteen teams have officially qualified to go to war for the oldest trophy in professional sports—the Stanley Cup.

These deserving teams have just completed a rigorous 82-game schedule, and are about to embark on a two-month roller coaster ride in the quest for Lord Stanley's holy grail. Many sports enthusiasts describe the chase for the cup as the most difficult and physically demanding 16-game tournament in all of pro sports.

Yes, it is that time of year when these grown men sweat, bleed, and sometimes cry for the love of the game. Several of these athletes will not shave until their team is eliminated from the tournament, all in the name of superstition and fear of losing!

Without further ado, I will now predict my winners for round one of the Eastern Conference.

Montreal Canadiens (1st Seed) vs. Boston Bruins (8th Seed)

This opening round pits the NHL's fastest skating team—the Montreal Canadiens—against a Boston team that struggled for consistency all year. The Canadiens also feature one of the most potent power plays in the league.

The Canadiens won all eight games that these two teams played this year.

With Habs captain and leader Saku Koivu injured, the leadership role has been passed onto veteran Alexi Kovalev. He had a revitalized season in Montreal, scoring 37 goals and adding 47 assists—good for an 84-point season.

Goaltending will be another battle zone. The Habs are betting on Rookie of the Year candidate Carey Price to bear the playoff load. Boston will count on an older, yet unproven, veteran in Tim Thomas to steer them in the right direction.

The Stanley Cup, in all its storied history, has been won only four times with a rookie goalie carrying the load. However, two out of the four keepers that have won the Cup are former Habs. Do the names Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy ring a bell?

The other modern age rookie to win the Cup was Cam Ward with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2005.

The good news for the Bruins is that All-Star Patrice Bergeron has been given medical clearance to appear in these playoffs.

After sustaining a concussion in the preseason, a healthy Bergeron would be an asset to help alongside Marc Savard, who had a career year with Boston, amassing an impressive 78 points.

Mark Predicts: Montreal in six

Pittsburgh Penguins (2nd) vs. Ottawa Senators (7th)

Well! What a turnaround we've witnessed for these two teams this season.

Last year, in the first round of the playoffs, the Senators eliminated the young Penguins easily. This year, in a re-match, we may well witness a different scenario. The upstart Penguins squad flew into the playoffs, while the struggling Senators limped into one of the last two available postseason spots.

Regardless, this series will be exciting. You have the best young talent in the game today competing against one another. Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Marc Andre-Fleury versus the likes of Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley.

Throw in veterans like Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson and Wade Redden, as well as Penguin-turned-Senator Marian Hossa along with Gary Roberts, and excitement is guaranteed.

The goaltending match-up will feature the young Marc Andre-Fleury for the Penguins and veteran Martin Gerber for the Sens.

Fleury is coming off a severe ankle injury earlier this season, but has played some fantastic hockey of late.

Gerber was recently handed the starting job over the aloof Ray Emery, with six games to go in the season. If Gerber regains his confidence early in this series, it may well heal Ottawa's fragile psyche, and the Sens might be able to compete with and beat the still young Penguins.

If he struggles, the Senators will end early what has been a turmoil-filled season.

Mark Predicts: Penguins in six (Sorry, Senator fans!)

Washington Capitals (3rd) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (6th)

What can you say about the Washington Capitals? Up until Christmas, they were the worst team in the Eastern Conference.

They decided to fire besieged head coach and all-around nice guy Glenn Hanlon, replacing him with career minor league coach Bruce Boudreau. All of a sudden, the team chemistry kicked in and, voila, the rival Carolina Hurricanes were looking in their rearview mirror.

What the Hurricanes saw in that mirror was the oncoming freight train named Alexander Ovechkin. "Alexander the Great," as they call him in D.C., will easily win the league MVP honors after recording league-bests of 65 goals and 112 points.

The Capitals sealed their fateful playoff berth at the trade deadline by acquiring goaltender Cristobal Huet from the Canadiens. The Habs were going to be riding Carey Price for the rest of the season, and Huet was expendable.

Since he arrived in the nation's capital, Huet has proven his worth by winning 11 games and losing only two. Plus, he has an outstanding goals against average of 1.63 to go with an impressive .936 save percentage.

To the Flyers' credit, they have had an outstanding season and have brought passion back to the city of Brotherly Love.

Last year, the Flyers were the doormats of the Eastern Conference. This year they've been re-energized by their young guns, led by Mike Richards (75 pts.) and Jeff Carter (53 pts.).

Goaltender Martin Biron ended the season with back-to-back shutouts, and will be called on to battle Ovechkin and the frenzied sea of red jerseys so characteristic of Caps home games.

Mark Predicts: Washington in five

New Jersey Devils (4th) vs. New York Rangers (5th)

This will be an exciting series to pay attention to.

We have two "all-world" goalies competing against each other. Veteran multi-Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe award winner Martin Brodeur will battle the New York Rangers' Swedish sensation, Henrik Lundqvist.

This season was an anomaly for the cross-state rivals. It took the last game of the season, and overtime, for the Devils to finally beat the Rangers.

Yes, the Jaromir Jagr-led Rangers won seven games and only lost one all year—to the Devils.

Devils head coach Brian Sutter will tell you that this is a new season. But that record will surely be on the minds of the New Jersey players, especially if they lose the first game on home ice.

Brodeur will be looking to add to his Hall of Fame-caliber numbers. He already holds the record for most shutouts in a playoff year, recording seven shutouts in leading the Devils to an incredible playoff run in 2003.

For the Rangers' Scott Gomez, this playoff series will be a homecoming of sorts. The Alaskan native signed on as a free agent with the Rangers last summer, and he will be playing against his old mates and a team on which he had his most professional success.

The New Jersey Devils will be relying on their own sharpshooter, Patrick Elias, to provide some of the scoring punch. Elias has an impeccable playoff resume, with 35 goals and 104 assists in 121 games, all played in a Devil uniform.

Mark Predicts: Brodeur in seven

There it is Bleacher Reporters, my picks for the first round of the Eastern Conference 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs.

So go ahead, jump in and let me know what you think. I know that some of you will totally disagree with me, but hey, that is what makes it fun. For the love of the game, baby!

I still plan on shaving my beard though—I am not that much of a fan.

Tomorrow, the Western Conference predictions.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Has Mats Sundin Played His Last Game?

Mark Keilty — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:04:37 -0400

Today, without much fanfare, it was announced that Toronto Maple Leaf captain and all-time points leader Mats Sundin will not be playing tonight against the Buffalo Sabres. His sore groin is not quite right after Saturday night's win over the Montreal Canadians.

Fellow centre Kyle Wellwood has also been scratched from tonight’s line-up also and his season has been deemed over as his post-surgery hernia needs some rest and relaxation. He will miss the Maple Leafs last three games.

As for long-time Maple Leaf Sundin, it appears that the Leaf Nation may have well seen the last of their 11-year captain as well. After this morning's pre-game skate Leafs coach Paul Maurice was playing coy with the local media as to whether or not we have seen the last of Sundin this year or not.

Maurice would only say that “Mats knows his body best and he will decide when he can play to his level or not!”

Including tonight’s tilt with the Sabres, the Maple Leafs’ remaining games include games against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday and Saturday in Montreal.

For Mats Sundin, I can only speculate that we have probably seen him play his last game in a Maple Leaf jersey and even possibly in the NHL.

Last Saturday against the Habs could well have been Sundin's NHL “swan song.” He played the whole game and collected an assist in the Leafs 4-1 win.

For Sundin—who has been the consummate professional captain in hockey-starved Toronto—his post Maple Leaf memoirs will undoubtedly look like this:

In 1989, Sundin was the first European-born player drafted No. 1 in the NHL. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques.

He played four seasons for the now-defunct Nordiques who later would became the Colorado Avalanche.

On June 28th, 1994 Sundin was traded to the Maple Leafs in a blockbuster trade that saw Garth Butcher and Todd Warriner traded with Sundin to Toronto for then the most popular Maple Leaf (maybe ever), Wendel Clarke and Sylvan Lefebvre along with Landon Wilson. The teams also exchanged first round draft choices.

It did not take Sundin long to become a leader in Toronto. In 1997 he was named the Leaf captain and also became the first European born player to be named a Toronto Maple Leafs' captain.

This year (Sundin's 13th) with the Maple Leafs saw him record an all-time high with Toronto. On October 11th, 2007 against the New York Islanders, Sundin broke Darryl Sittler's record for all-time regular season points as a Maple Leaf. The previous record held by Sittler was 916 points (389 goals and 527 assists). Sittler, another former Leafs captain, played in 844 games for Toronto.

Today, Sundin has recorded 987 points based on 981 games played in a blue and white jersey and amassing 420 goals and 567 assists.

In all but one of 13 seasons with the Leafs, Sundin has won the team scoring race—the only other winner was Alex Mogilny, who in 2003 beat Sundin by seven points.

In 67 playoff games with the Leafs, Sundin has recorded 32 goals and 38 points-good for another 70 points.

Sundin holds the NHL record for going fifteen straight seasons with 70 or more points. He has also played in nine All-Star games and has been an international hockey star as well.

Sundin has won three World Hockey Championships playing for his native Sweden, and in 2006 Sundin captained the Swedish National Team to the Olympic Gold, beating archrival Finland 3-2 in the finals.

To this date Sundin will probably admit that winning an Olympic gold medal has been his greatest accomplishment in professional hockey. Who can blame him?

In 65 international games Sundin has scored 31 goals and has added another 46 assists to record an impressive 77 points abroad.

Sundin's credentials are most impressive and he surely will become a certified “first ballot” Hockey Hall of Fame inductee.

The only blotch on his resume will be his final three seasons in a Maple Leafs uniform. This is the third year in a row (post-lockout) that the Leafs have missed the post season—all under Sundin's captaincy.

In hockey crazy Toronto that is not a good thing.

For Sundin, today’s announcement that he will not play the third last (meaningless) game of the season for the Maple Leafs would normally mean nothing; however, when it is the captain who is coming off three one-year contracts in a row it means a lot!

Has the 37-year old Swede played his last game in Toronto, and the NHL?

I hope in twenty years the hockey pundits are not writing this about Mats Sundin: "Great Maple Leaf captain, hall of famer, big/strong, graceful, power forward, with great hands, but..."

Good luck Mats Sundin, you owe nothing to Leaf Nation—you have bled blue and white!

NASCAR: Is Hendrick Motorsports in an Early Season Slump?

Mark Keilty — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:13:27 -0400

Who would have imagined that five races in Hendrick Motorsports Racing, with their stable of thoroughbred race horses, would be a combined zero for 15 in team starts at the beginning of the 55th season of NASCAR Sprint Cup racing?

For Hendrick and his crew of all-star racers this highly anticipated race season could well be turning into a dramatic Shakespearian tragedy.

Now, just hold on, you might say. And this writer will probably agree with you. But I am only going to remain patient for the next five races and here is why.

We have now raced at five tracks, some long, some intermediate and some short tracks. We can conclude that all the top NASCAR Sprint Cup teams are going to be competitive in 2008.

Dodge and Team Penske won the Daytona 500, Rousch Racing and his Fords are always tough, and Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing have already put newcomer and former Hendrick castoff Kyle Busch and his No. 18 into victory lane.

That leaves us with perennial powerhouse, Chevrolet. The No. 29 car of Richard Childress Racings (RCR) Kevin Harvick presently sits third in the Sprint Cup standings.

We all know that Chevy will be making some noise before this season is too much older.

The reason that I say that is simple, and that reason is Hendrick Motorsports.

This time last year we had only witnessed one race with the now infamous Car of Tomorrow (COT), and that would have been at last week's track—which was the "Bull Ring" known as Bristol.

Last year's race was won by Kyle Busch (in a Chevy). Heard of him?

Last week, we saw RCR win it with veteran Jeff Burton at the helm with—yes—his "Car of Today" Chevy. So the Chevrolets, which were dominant all of last year, are going to be just fine.

But the question remains: Just when will Hendrick Racing get their act together?

This question will be answered, as I stated earlier, in the next five races.

Last year the Hendrick cars—with Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and Kyle Busch driving—generally dominated the COT races. With the help of the COT races, Gordon and Johnson ran away with the points lead.

It was not until the last four races in the "Chase" that Johnson overtook Gordon, and went on to win his second NASCAR Championship in as many seasons.

Presently, Hendrick's all-star lineup of drivers sits as follows in the standings after five races: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is in fifth place with 686 points, 96 behind the points leader. Defending champ Jimmie Johnson sits in 13th place with 581 points, and the usually reliable Jeff Gordon sits just behind teammate Johnson in 14th place with 574 points.

Gordon has had an uncharacteristic start to his season, racking up two DNFs. The "fourth wheel" on this team—Casey Mears—sits well back in 33rd position in the standings with only 368 points.

However, this season is still young with 21 races to go before the final 10 races to the championship. The next five races are crucial and will be the telling point for the Hendrick team.

Next week at Martinsville Speedway, is a short track where Jimmie Johnson won both races last year. Combined, the teammates have won eight of the last 10 races there!

Then comes Texas Motor Speedway, where Jimmie Johnson won the only race there last year. Dale, Jr. has also won there in the past.

After Texas, there is Talladega Superspeedway where the three Hendrick stallions have won an unprecedented 11 of the last 13 races.

The race following Talladega is at Richmond Speedway, a tough intermediate track, where Johnson and Earnhardt, Jr. have both won twice since 2004.

The final race in this five-race sequence is at Darlington. This is the paperclip-shaped oval track where Jeff Gordon is King, having won there last year and he has won the last four of seven races there.

So it is quite obvious now. The next five races are imperative to this juggernaut of a race team from Hendrick Motorsports. These upcoming race tracks are where Hendrick Racing usually shines.

If this team is going to have success in 2008, it will be reflected in the next five races or else the ghost of William Shakespeare will be writing a short story about some short tracks.

As for all those independent Dale Earnhardt, Jr. fans out there, I am sure that you don't care about how his teammates (Gordon and Johnson) will perform in the next few races, as long as one of them is there to push Junior from behind at Talladega.

This time he will be without Michael Waltrip and his NAPA Autoparts Toyota pushing him to the checkered flag and all those toilet rolls!

Toronto Maple Leafs: Playoff Hopes All In the Numbers

Mark Keilty — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 03:32:42 -0400

Sports is all about numbers. Talk to any true sports fanatic and they will be able to tell you all about their favourite player or team and a good portion of the conversation will surely entail the 'numbers game'.

'Will there ever be another .400 hitter in baseball?' - 'Will there ever be another player in baseball to hit 70 homers in a season - without steroid help?' - 'Is it possible for Kobe to make 75% of his shots from the field?' - 'Will T.O. break Randy's record of 23 touchdown passes?' 'Will Tiger pass Jack in all-time majors?'

You can go on and on and that is why sports is so special. To understand sports is to understand basic mathematics such as addition, subtraction, multiplying and dividing. In the case of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League their whole season has come down to a simple numbers game and here is the plain and simple truth as to why a local mathematician in Toronto has given the Maple Leafs and Leaf Nation a tiny 4.2 % chance of making the post season in 2008.

This present Leaf season has been all about the numbers 1, 5, 13, 15, 16, 24, 31 and 35. Let's start of with the number 5 - no not Bill Barilko...God rest his soul - no number 5, as in the number of Maple Leafs that have no trade clauses built into their contracts. At the trading deadline, interim General Manager Cliff Fletcher had his hands tied by previously dismissed GM John Ferguson Jr. who had given Captain Mats Sundin #13, Thomas Kaberle #15, Darcy Tucker #16, Brian McCabe #24 and Pavel Kubina #31 - all had received no trade contracts. At the recently past trade deadline.. a man once known as 'Trader Cliff' - turned into 'Stand Pat Cliff'. Once Mats Sundin made it clear that he was 'standing pat' and staying put in Toronto, the other four Maple Leafs with no trade clauses dug in their heels and told Fletcher, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and ultimately Leaf Nation..'Screw you people, we are all in this shipwreck together!' The Captain and his mates were all going down with the ship known as the 'SS Maple Leaf'

This brings me to the numbers 1 and 35 and these two numbers are the real reason why - with ten games left on the schedule - the Maple Leafs find themselves on the outside looking in (for the third year in a row) for a playoff spot in the NHL's Eastern Conference.

The Leafs presently sit 5 points back of the Philadelphia Flyers and six points back of the Boston Bruins for the 7th and 8th and final playoff spot in the East. They play Boston twice more in their remaining games and have finished playing Philly for the year after sweeping them in a home and home series earlier this week.

The Leafs have been the third hottest team in the 15 team conference in the past 10 games going 7 (wins) 2 (losses) 1 (overtime loss), while only the New York Rangers and Carolina Huricanes have been hotter then the Maple Leafs of late.

The real reason why the Maple Leafs - with 10 games left - have been only given a 4.2% mathematical chance of making the playoffs is what I will call - Goaltending By the Numbers. We have #1 worn by back-up netminder -Andrew Raycroft and we have #35 worn by starter and in my view team Most Valuable Player - Vesa Toskala. Let's start with #35 and his statistics - GPI (games played in) = 58, GAA (goals against average) = 2.59, Record = 29 wins, 21 losses and 6 ties, Shutouts = 3, Save Percentage = .908. Now let us look at # 1 and his numbers.. GPI = 17, GAA = 4.07, Record = 2 wins, 8 losses and 4 ties. Shutouts = 1. Save Percentage = .868%. The Maple Leafs overall record is 32 wins, 30 losses and 10 overtime and shootout appearances. Good for 74 points. To make the playoffs the Leafs will need to win-at least -8 of their last 10 games. Traditionally 90 points is the benchmark set for obtaining the eighth and final playoff spot. (For the record Toskala has started the last 24 games for the Maple Leafs and Raycroft has not played in a game since January 20th - against the New jersey Devils.)

Without wanting to sound like or act like Albert Einstein - I think that it is quite easy to see that if Head Coach Paul Maurice had have studied a little more math in grade school - he probably would have noticed - that the balance of probabilities in the Maple leafs making the playoffs with Andrew Raycroft playing in the Maple Leaf net 17 times this year (with his pultry numbers) was not going to be enough for the 'points challenged' Maple Leafs to make the playoffs. Granted - in fairness to Maurice - Toskala was injured for 6 games earlier this year; however, when Maurice started Raycroft in the very first game of the season, after signing Toskala as a blue-chip free agent last summer, Maurice was telling Leaf Nation that you are in for one crazy cruise this season and it ultimately led to a shipwreck on the same island as the castoffs of 'LOST'.

Think about it - Leaf Nation - it is all in the numbers!

Happy Birthday, Roger Penske: Daytona 500 Winner!

Mark Keilty — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:23:10 -0500

On February 20th Roger Penske turns 71 years old and this birthday will be one of his fondest to date—I am sure!

On Sunday February 17th at approximately 7pm EST his one/two punch of racers Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman achieved something that no other Penske Racing drivers had done in 20 years. That achievement was winning a 'restrictor plate race' at Daytona International Speedway!

Driving in a crowd for the final 10 laps it was not until a late flag - following a Casey Mears wreck - that enabled the two Penske Dodges to get a run on the then leader Tony Stewart, driving in his seemingly untouchable, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, and powered passed him with less then two laps to go.

The very unselfish move by teammate Kurt Busch pushing or bump drafting Newman's Alltel Dodge passed a lame duck Stewart - in his Home Depot Toyota - allowed Team Penske to finish a very successful day at the track for Dodge and their 'restrictor plate' racing programme. Besides Newman winning and Kurt Busch finishing second automaker Dodge finished the 50th running of the historic Daytona 500 with 6 of the top 8 spots filled with their race cars. A very impressive, yet totally unexpected day for the much maligned automaker.

This Daytona 500 was suppose to be all about the re-birth of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his return to competitiveness with Hendrick Motorsports. Junior had already won two races at Daytona Speedweeks - including the exhibition Bud Shootout last Saturday and the first Gatorade Duel Qualifying race on Valentines Day. He started third on the grid on Sunday and eventually would finish 9th in the race. In the final laps of the race Junior had no drafting partners left on the racetrack as all the remaining Toyota and Dodge drivers left Junior and his Amp Chevrolet out in the Daytona evening cold! Once teammate Casey Mears, who was running upfront with Junior collided with the wall on Turn 1 with 4 laps to go, Junior must have known that his chances of winning were over because no one in the remaining pack had plans to draft with him.

Friend and rival Tony Stewart was awaiting his new teammate Kyle Busch to jump into the drafting action on lap 197 of the 200 lap race, but Busch - who was running 2nd at the time of the Mears accident - was forced to slow-up on the re-start as he jumped the gun on Ryan Newman who had re-started in the lead. (Nascar would have ordered Busch to give up his gained positions.) Tony Stewart took the lead from Newman and was awaiting for his drafting partner (Busch) to re-group from his overzealous re-start; however, Kyle could not get his momentum back and the outside freight train led by Newman and Kyle's older brother Kurt came flying by Stewart and they carried that momentum for the remaining lap and a half and thus won the race. Stewart finished a disappointing third and the younger Busch, who had by far the strongest car all day and led the most laps, finished a somber 4th.

The whole week leading up to the race had all the talk revolving around Hendrick Motorsports all-star team including Jeff Gordon, who finished a disappointing 39th - suspension problems—and reigning series champion and pole-sitter Jimmie Johnson who finished 27th after being involved in a wreck late in the race. That story ended and an up-start one began.

In the end it was a Roger Penske Dodge driven by Ryan Newman who up-set this NASCAR apple cart. Newman who has raced 23 times at Daytona without a victory and who had not won a Sprint Cup race since September 18, 2005 @ New Hampshire - won the 50th running of he Daytona 500 after an 81 race winless drought. His timing was impeccable to break out of his two plus year funk!

For Roger Penske, who has won 61 Sprint Cup races as an owner, it was a sweet birthday present. Not only did he win the trophy he was given a gift from his good friend and rival team owner Rick Hendrick - who has won Daytona several times. Before the race, Penske asked Hendrick for one of his 'H' logo race caps. (Because Hendrick has won so many times.) At the conclusion of the race Penske was doing all his interviews with his new Hendrick's 'H' cap on.

Hendrick's birthday present could not have happened at a better time for Penske or his slumping driver Ryan Newman.

Happy Birthday Roger Penske and congratulations to 'Hello Newman', all the best in 2008!

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Already Loves His Hendrick Team!

Mark Keilty — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 16:01:35 -0500

Well, it didn't take Dale Earnhardt Jr. long to realize that "yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!"

And yes, that Santa Claus appears to be Rick Hendrick and his incredible stable of people and equipment at his shop in the North Pole—er, Carolina, that is!

The 20th running of the 'Bud(weiser) Shootout' at Daytona International Speedway was an initiation of sorts for the recent 'hard-luck' Fan Favourite of NASCAR.

With his new team, new sponsor and new equipment - Junior won an exciting 70 lap race at the famous track which claimed his late daddy's life at the turn of the 21st century.

Powered by a Hendrick Motorsport Chevy powerplant, Dale Jr. led the most laps in a mostly uneventful full throttle showcase of last seasons pole winners and former Shootout champions, such as Bill Elliott and Mark Martin.

The "exhibition showcase race" was almost an all Hendrick affair, with Dale Jr. holding off a hard charging Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. the much maligned Tony Stewart, and his fellow Hendrick teammates Jimmy Johnson (third), Jeff Gordon (fourth) and Casey Mears (sixth)—all of whom provided Earnhardt Jr. and his #88 National Guard/Amp Energy Drink Chevy a basis of support to win the 'Bud Shootout' in front of an amped-up, pro-Junior crowd at historical Daytona.

Junior had not won a race since the spring of 2006. This race, albeit a non-points race was a monkey off Junior's back and Rick Hendrick can only smile at his off-season acquisition. His 'stable of championship calibre horses' now includes multi-series winners Gordon, Johnson, and the young and talented Mears.

After the race, which had no affect on the 2008 Sprint Cup standings, Dale Jr. (who appeared to be close to tears) had nothing but praise to say about his new-found Hendrick Motorsport teammates—especially back-to-back series champion Jimmy Johnson:

"I would not have won this race, if it was not for my teammates...Jimmy Johnson pushed me past Tony (Stewart) and I truly thank Jimmy for helping me win this race," Earnhardt said immediately after the race. "It feels great to get back to victory lane...especially with my new team."

During Earnhardt's. cool down lap, after his victory, you could hear him saying on his in-car radio, that he felt his car was capable of winning the Daytona 500—which runs on February 17th. A new team, a new winning attitude and a hungry Dale Earnhardt Jr. with the 'all...new...car...of...today' is certainly going to make 2008 an exciting year in NASCAR.

Forget about all that feuding between Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch, the real feuding is going to be who gets to be the drafting partner between all those Hendrick Motorsport 'all-stars' with three laps to go.

I can only hope that Rick Hendrick doesn't allow his drivers to drink too much 'Amp' on the final pitstop; otherwise we may witness raceway mayhem that will make the Stewart/Busch feud look like a Scrabble match at a retirement home!

Bring on Daytona and NASCAR 2008, and may the best 'Car...of...Today' win!

Nascar and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hope 'Change is Good' in 2008

Mark Keilty — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:46:06 -0500

In less then two weeks one the the most gruelling schedules in all of professional sports begins. That harsh schedule belongs to the renamed Nascar Sprint Cup, formerly known as the Nascar Nextel Cup. This most unforgiven schedule includes 36 official point races plus a 'Shootout' and two 'Gatorade Duels' at Daytona International Speedway and an 'All Star Challenge' at Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina.

What was once called the 'Nascar Nextel Chase For the Cup' will now be called the "Nascar Sprint For the Cup". For the third time in four years the second most popular sport on American television has had a title ownership change. Nascars second tier series formerly known as the Nascar Busch Series has also had a title makeover with Nationwide taking over title sponsorship of Nascars unofficial 'minor leagues'. That series is now called the Nascar Nationwide Series. The Nascar Craftsman Truck Series retains it's title for another year.

With Sprint taking over from corporate sister Nextel, this is the unofficial year—as my good friend Rafiki from the Lion King would say: "Change is Good!"

There have been a number of changes within the Nascar Nation going into this 2008 race season. Change has included Dale Earnhardt Jr. 'divorcing' his step-mother Teresa Earnhardt @ Dale Earnhardt Incorporated Racing and jumping over to Rick Hendrick and his top flight team of powerhouse racers; 2008 will see the 'Car of Tomorrow' aka the 'COT' making it's official full-time ride in the Nascar Sprint Cup; we have also witnessed a full fledged migration to Nascar from 'A -List' open wheel racers, including past Indy 500 Champions—such as 1997 Formula One Champion—Jacques Villenueve, Dario Franchitti and Sam Hornish Jr. as well as Canadian veteran Patrick Carpentier. The addition of these open-wheelers, plus second year racers Juan Montoya and AJ Allmendinger, will certainly bring some exciting 'change' on the big ovals and the road courses in 2008. Something that has not changed is the fact that Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsport Racing is the present 'two-time' series champion and this week Las Vegas has listed him as the official 4 to 1 favourite to win his third championship in a row which would set a modern day Nascar record!

Here is why change will be good in 2008 for Dale Earnhardt Jr. The biggest reason is the fact that he has left DEI Racing and does not have to be a part of his step-mother Teresa's organization. During last season's acrimonious relationship between Teresa and Dale Jr. their feuding got so bad that at one point Jr. wanted to purchase 51 percent majority ownership from his astute business savvy step-mother and of course she 'red-flagged' that idea. Jr's contract was expiring at seasons end and he pretty well went two thirds of the season without even speaking to his teams owner and CEO—Teresa. Earnhardt Jr's. performance on the track certainly showed during his frustrating 2007 season. He has not won a race in almost two seasons, and last year he finished in 16th place overall with zero wins, one pole, seven top five finishes and 12 top 10 finishes. He finished out of the 'chase' or should I say 'sprint'. (In 2006 - Jr. finished 5th overall in the 'Chase'). Yes, Dale Jr. needed change!

In 2007 the soon-to-be free agent met with family friend and car owner Rick Hendrick who would eventually sign the former number 8 Budweiser Chevrolet fan favourite Dale Jr. to a five-year contract. Earnhardt Jr. will drive with a stable of all - star drivers at Hendrick. I predict that Dale Jr. will finish in the Top Five of the driver standings. He is with a far superior team and will have an excellent rivalry with former champion and arch rival Jeff Gordon and the number 24 team and of course he will drive with and against present day series champ Jimmie Johnson and his Chad Knaus led number 48 Lowes Chevrolet Team.

This season Dale Jr. will be driving the 'Car of Tomorrow' full-time and last season Hendrick Motorsport had more success with this new state-of-the-art-car then any other team in the series. In 2007 Dale Jr. had a horrendous race completion average. The DEI engines, before they went to a Richard Childress Racing leasing engine agreement, were very unreliable and often led Jr. to frustrating moments caught on national television. This year should certainly be different, Dale Jr. will be given world-class equipment of which has led his crew chief - Tony Eury Jr. - to predict that the new number 88 National Guard/AMP Chevrolet will win "at least four races" and Nascar veteran TV commentator and former series champion Darrel Waltrip has predicted that the new 88 Team will win the upcoming 2008 Daytona 500 and "at least six races". Pretty heady stuff for a new team!

Presently we are witnessing a Presidential Nomination race in the United States and one red hot candidate named Barack Obama is using the word 'CHANGE' in his election quest, I think that Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Nascar as a whole will be using this moniker to their advantage as the season kicks off next Thursday February ninth with the Bud Shootout at Daytona International Speedway.

Rafiki, my friend, let's hope that 'change is good!'

Maple Leafs Axe Ferguson, Bring in Fletcher to Right Ship

Mark Keilty — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:27:27 -0500

Well it finally happened, Leaf Nation! Today was the day of reckoning for John Ferguson Jr.

At 1:00 pm EST the Toronto Maple Leafs finally made a decision that was well overdue—the dismissal of their lame-duck general manager. President and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Richard Peddie fired John Jr., and replaced him with 73 year old former Maple Leaf GM Cliff Fletcher.

Speculation has been running rampant for over two weeks that MLSE was about to dismiss their GM of the past four years. Ferguson—despite posting the second highest winning percentage of any Leafs GM behind Pat Quinn—walked a long plank that was set up three weeks ago when the incompetent Peddie informed the Toronto Sun that, "Maybe it was a mistake to hire John."

With the Maple Leafs presently six points out of a playoff spot, the incoming Fletcher has to have a "sink or swim" attitude. He has been brought in to evaluate the Leafs present day talent and create a template for the next general manager who will be hired this summer.

Fletcher, who has an eighteen month contract, will now be responsible to seek out whether or not Mats Sundin wants to retire a Maple Leaf or be traded to a contender for future commodities. Fletcher, who previously ran the Leafs from 1991 to 1997, has until the February 26th trade deadline to decide whether to "blow-up" the Leafs or futilely seek a playoff spot. Some of Fletcher's trades from the past were real earth shakers. He traded for the likes of Doug Gilmour, Mats Sundin, and he traded away and for Wendel Clark.

Whether or not Fletcher is in Toronto to "grenade" this team will be seen over the next few weeks. He has inherited a team that has some players that are proud to wear the Maple Leaf, but are shy on talent. Fletcher has also inherited some players that have received big contracts and are happy to collect their pay cheque every two weeks. The Leafs moniker of "the passion that unites us all" unfortunately turned into the "passion that got Ferguson Jr. fired."

So, the older and maybe wiser Cliff Fletcher has taken over from the younger and naive John Ferguson Jr. But the real changeover should be happening with ownership.

The Maple Leafs—who are owned by a consortium led by the Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan's 58% stake—will never be successful. Having too many hands in the cookie jar does not and will not work.

We have also seen sad sack majority owners such as Harold Ballard and Steve Stavros fail in bringing Lord Stanley's Cup back to Toronto. Today these two men are resting in peace, and the Maple Leafs are in pieces, hoping a 73 year old "flame" from the past can stick handle this franchise back together.

I say good luck, Cliff—and hopefully you stay well clear of one!