[Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy hoists the Stanley Cup.
He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy for Most Valuable Player.]
Last year's Champs did it again! Congrats to the Tampa Bay Lightning on winning back-to-back Stanley Cups!
All of Canada was desperately hoping that this would be the year that a Canadian team would bring the Cup home . . . alas, it was not to be. The Montreal Canadiens had a real Cinderella Run but just lost steam in the last round of the playoffs.
Now put away those crying towels, Canada, because it's time once again to hand out the only Hockey Awards that really matter --
DEBRA SHE WHO SEEKS'
PLAYOFF HOCKEY AWARDS
[Warning: There WILL Be Blood]
Award for Best Player Name That's Fun To Say:
Edmonton Oilers' Slater Koekkoek (SLAY-tuhr KOO-KOO). I could sing-song his name all day long! [Editorial note from My Rare One -- Please make her stop! Please!]
Last year's pick wins again -- yes, it's my good Manitoba boy, Mark Stone of the Vegas Golden Knights! His awesome mullet just keeps getting better and better.
Honourable Mention:
Edmonton Oilers goalie Mike Smith --
Most Spectacular Comeback Award:
The Winnipeg Jets in game 3 against the Edmonton Oilers. The Jets were down 4-1 in the third period and then they scored 3 goals in 3 minutes to tie the game! So awesome. And then they won it in overtime -- yowza!
Goriest Hockey Fight Award:
Goes to Brendan Gallagher of the Montreal Canadiens in game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Head wounds always bleed like a sonovabitch.
Okay, okay, I know the Philadelphia Flyers didn't even make the playoffs, but I just lurves me some Gritty so much that he deserves an award too, that sexy orange beast!
Now is this about that sport again with the wooden stick and bases?
ReplyDeleteMullets and Blood and Gritty, oh my!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great awards season! The name Koekkoek must have caused that gentleman some headaches growing up. That is some vibrant mascot the Flyers have!
ReplyDeleteEww blood - running away now!
ReplyDeleteInteresting to know the "She Who Seeks" awards are still going strong and I will say that I learned more about hockey during the award ceremony (the blog) than I knew previously. Good - right?
ReplyDelete@Maddie: no, no, no. You're thinking of rugby. This is the sport with the brooms and the big rocks.
ReplyDeleteAt least hockey isn't as boring to watch as some sports. Golf puts me to sleep. Football can drag on and on and on. . . .
ReplyDeleteSLAY-tuhr KOO-KOO! San Geraldo will agree with Dear One!
ReplyDeleteOh, the mullets. Sorry but just NO.
The Montreal Canadiens made a valiant attempt to bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada and can hold their heads high. This year's play-offs served up some fine hockey with no bench-clearing brawls, very little blood and no teeth left on the ice!
ReplyDeleteGO HABS 2022!
I was with all of Canada on this one. There are some teams and some regions that I (and my whole family, really) always root against. Teams from Florida and Texas are on that list.
ReplyDeleteIn Dutch koek means cookie or biscuit. Just a little fyi there... lol.
"Winning the Cup has become normal for St. Louisan Pat Maroon. He became one of just three players — and the first in the post-1967 expansion era — to win three consecutive NHL championships with two teams. He won with the Lightning last year after hoisting the Cup with the Blues in 2019."
ReplyDeleteAs a life-time Leafs fan, I wonder if I will live long enough to see them win another Cup. Pierre Berton wrote a book called "1967, the Last good Year". One chapter was devoted to the Leafs-Habs playoff, called by Foster Hewett.
ReplyDeleteholy cow! I 'm glad i tuned in for the awards!! I have to admit i heard myself say something i never thought I'd say : Go Habs Go. Okay so maybe i didn't shout it from the roof tops and maybe I just wanted the Stanley cup on this side of the border - but still, I actually got the words out. :) next year, my friends, next year!!
ReplyDelete@ e -- Thanks for that info -- now I love his name EVEN MORE!
ReplyDelete@ Mike -- What an awesome tidbit of trivia! Thanks! I bet that both the pre-expansion players to accomplish that were both Habs? Those were the days when the Montreal Canadiens were an absolute powerhouse!
ReplyDelete@ The Blog Fodder -- Hey, you and every other Leafs fan on the face of the earth! Keep the faith, buddy.
ReplyDelete@ Linda -- Thanks for even MORE fascinating info on the name Koekkoek! I wonder if Slater is related to the painter? That's probably a stretch, if it's a common Dutch name. Clearly Slater is of Dutch heritage, but he was born in North Dundas, Ontario here in Canada.
ReplyDelete@ The Dancing Crone -- I hear ya, Francie, NEXT YEAR!
ReplyDeletei could hear my BC best friend crying all the way over here. i was really hoping the habs would come up from behind. next year it will be the pens!
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who's seriously into the Chicago Blackhawks which makes it easy to find Christmas gifts for her.(lol) I'm not a fan of hockey, but I did love Montreal when I visited years ago. Give me professional football all day though. Hugs and hugs, RO
ReplyDeleteHockey always gives me Rough Trade vibes. It's kind of hot and scary?
ReplyDeleteI love that you know about all the stuff that goes on with it. I just look at the men in mullets. I'm vacuous.
XOXO
I always forget there's a hockey team in Tampa until they win something big.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Hockey is over now, right? Wish I like sports, even a little.
ReplyDeleteI'm not putting my crying towel away, yet! LOL! I love that name!!! Now I'm singing Slay-tuhr KOO-KOO! LOL! Thanks for the smiles Deb! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI was pulling for Montreal..a team from Florida? really? no way..
ReplyDeleteSorry Canada...There's always next year....Maybe
ReplyDeleteNah, the best mascot is Youppi. As for the playoffs themselves, I first had a feeling of 1993, sadly it was going to be 1989. But we can build and learn from this year. Nobody will underestimate the Habs anymore. And if a team does, they'll live to regret it.
ReplyDeleteSorry Canada. We're gripped by football fever here in the UK, hoping our boys are going to bring it home on Sunday. I'm not the least bit interested in football but for major games like this it's all about national pride, so I hope they win.
ReplyDeleteBrendan Gallagher looks like a hockey jesus in the picture.
ReplyDelete@ Bill Lisleman -- OMG you're right! All he needs is a Crown of Thorns! Which reminds me of the worst-Jesus-joke-in-bad-taste that I know: "Why is Jesus no good at playing hockey?" "The other team keeps nailing him into the boards." Yes, I know I'm going to hell for that one, LOL!
ReplyDeleteOh, you are, YOU ARE!
ReplyDeleteTampa Bay has a hockey team? That's a little like Nome, Alaska having beach volleyball.
ReplyDeleteWe love Gritty in this hockey household; but it's hard to explain why.
ReplyDeleteGritty is the gift that keeps on giving. LOL, proud to live in the Philly 'burbs. Viva Gritty!
ReplyDelete