#78

Biscuits and Breezers

    Welcome back to another blog of Biscuits and Breezers! In this blog we will be talking about Steven Stamkos' season ending injury, Kadri's three game suspension after his hit on Minnesota goaltender Niklas Backstrom, Canuck's sign tendy Eddie Lack to a two year extension, and Jonathan Quick out with a groin injury. First off we will be discussing Eddie Lack. The Vancouver Cancucks have decided to resign Swedish goaltender and back up to Roberto Luongo Eddie Lack to a two year extension on his original contract reportedly worth $2.3 million. After being in the AHL for 3 seasons and being signed onto the team on April 6th, 2010, "The Stork" finally made his NHL debut on October 6th this year against fellow Canadian team, the Calgary Flames. It will be good to finally see more of Eddie in the net because he has traveled a well deserved route to get where he is today. Eddie is one of the best new players entering the NHL in my opinion because he has an incredible work ethic and puts everything he has into his games. Hopefully we will see him in the starting line up as quickly as possible. Congratulations on the new deal and good luck this season!

Lack with the Chicago Wolves  (Credit to Google Images)

   Steven Stamkos is probably one of if not the most important assets for the Tampa Bay Lightning organization. Now, he no longer will be. During the Lightning's hot streak star forward Stamkos was critically injured 7 minutes and 11 seconds into the second period against the Boston Bruins. He was rushing the puck when he got tangled up with Boston defenseman Dougie Hamilton. Stamkos crashed into the right post of the net and was immediately down. It appeared that his left skate hit the post first before his shin area on his right leg brutally hit the bar as well. He tried to skate off but fell to the ice twice in obvious severe pain and reached for a spot near his ankle. Steven laid on the ice for several minutes before being carried off strapped to a stretcher. The Lightning confirmed that he does indeed have a broken right tibia and will undergo surgery. This injury will cause him to be out indefinitely and maybe even to miss the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi therefore forfeiting his spot on Team Canada's roster. Hopefully he will recover as quickly as possible and ready in time for next season. Get well soon Stamkos!

Stamkos being put on the stretcher right after his injury (Credit to Google Images-berkshireeagle.com)

   Following the injury theme, Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri has been suspended three games without pay for a hit to the head of Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom. Kadri received a goaltender interference and Backstrom left the game shortly there after. Nazem then received a match penalty for hitting Mikael Granlund in the head in the third period. This suspension will forfeit Kadri a total of $44,615. Also, King goaltender Jonathan Quick is out with a groin injury. He slid across the crease in an awkward manner and was in obvious pain in an OT game against the Buffalo Sabres. Sliding across the crease 30 seconds earlier, you could tell that he was in discomfort. After the stoppage of game, he skated out of his crease and fell to his knees. He was quickly taken into the dressing room on his own power and evaluated by the medical staff. It is led to believe that it could be a possible hamstring injury. Ben Scrivens will replace Quick as the Kings' prime goaltender until Jonathan will be able to return to games. Get well soon Quick!

This could possibly be the best celly in the history of professional ice hockey

Adrian Alvarstein in Norway! Enjoy!

  Now, we have come to the "Players of Today"! For the Prospect pick we have Boston Bruins defenseman Dougie Hamilton. For the Junior pick we have London Knights center Bo Horvat. For the European pick we have Gote/Traneberg forward Dennis Allingmon.

  Dougie is 6 ft 5 in, 212 lbs, and is from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was selected 9th overall in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft to the Boston Bruins. In the 2012-2013 he was playing with the Bruins. Last season, he had 5 goals in 42 games played, 11 assists, 16 TPs, a +/- of 4, 14 PIMs, 2 power play goals, 83 shots on goal, and an S% of 6. Dougie is a very good example of the product of the Bruins' defensive power. They are highly aggressive and force the puck to make plays for the forwards as well as the rest of the team. As a young NHL player, Hamilton is still learning the tricks of the trade but is picking things up very quickly. He will and is a great asset to the team and will definitely be someone to watch out for as he progresses and grandfathers into the show. Good luck Dougie with the Boston Bruins and your future NHL career!

   Bo is 6 ft 0 in, 203 lbs, and is from Rodney, Ontario, Canada. He was selected 9th overall in the first round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft to the Vancouver Canucks. In the 2012-2013 season, Horvat was playing with the London Knights. Last season, he had 33 goals in 67, 28 assists, 61 TPs, a +/- of 3, 29 PIMs, 17 power play goals, and 1 short handed goal.I am really excited to see how far Bo goes with the Canucks and the NHL because this kid is amazing. He is a huge offensive force, he has quick skates, huge passes, and knows how to get things done. Horvat is great to watch because he can almost always make a play happen when his skates touch the ice. He is sometimes a physical player, not known for it, but his physical side is very unique. He isn't an enforcer but his checks are made with great technique and finesse. I can't wait to see him up on the ice rocking a Canucks jersey. Good luck Bo with the Knights and the Canucks and your future hockey career!

  Dennis is 6 ft 0 in, 170 lbs, and is from Stockholm, Sweden. He played for the Palm Beach Hawks in the EJHL South. Last season, he had 9 goals in 41 games played, 4 assists, 13 TPs, and 10 PIMs. I watched him play a little with the Arizona Red Hawks when he was involved with the WSHL and I am still very impressed by his style out on the ice. Even though he isn't quite a sniper, he is a huge force out on the ice. He is a big player who knows how to match skill with aggression. When he can't get a chance for a shot on goal he will go out and be a physically strong player. Hopefully he will move up in the European/North American hockey world to the professional level because Dennis has the skills and the size to make a very successful career out of it. I would highly suggest that you keep track of him because he has very high potential. Good luck Dennis with Gote/Traneberg and your future hockey career!

   Thanks for reading another blog of Biscuits and Breezers! Every blog will be filled with updated hockey news, player reviews, and much more! Until next time remember, don't get your breezers in a bunch because hockey is always around the corner. Remember, it's always a great day for hockey and it's a lifestyle not just a sport!