NHL History & News

The Washington Capitals made another move this week, shoring up one of their leading scorers for the next decade. Nicklas Backstrom was signed to a 10 year $67 million deal. Backstrom had his best season ever scoring 33 goals and 68 assists. His 101 points in 2010 was good enough to place him 4th in the league in scoring.

Spending this kind of money on one of the best centers in the league, who is only 22 years old, is a smart move by the Capitals. Not only did they ensure that they will have two of the best players in the world on their roster for the next decade, Ovechkin is signed for 10 more years as well, they are getting a very durable player at a reasonable price. Backstrom has yet to miss a game over three NHL seasons.

Many Capitals fans might be worried that the team is overspending and committing too much money to just two players in Backstrom and Ovechkin considering their team was just upset in the first round of the NHL playoffs by 8 seed Montreal. While I do not blame some fans for thinking this way I do not agree with it however. Whenever you get the chance to lock up two players who combined for 210 points, easily making the top scoring teammate duo in the league, you have to make sure you do so. With the signing of Backstrom the Washington Capitals appear that they will be competitive for many years to come.

In game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Montreal Canadiens, on Saturday May 8, 2010 at Mellon Arena. At two wins a piece, the teams are all tied up in the second round of the playoffs.

Even though the Montreal Canadiens have been counted out several times already, they are showing the world that they belong in these playoffs. In what is considered to be a huge upset, in the first round, they knocked off the Washington Capitals.

Against the Penguins in Game 4, Montreal Goaltender Jaroslav Halak had another hot game, stopping 33 shots the Penguins fired at him. The Penguins need to find a way to get the puck into the net and Halak has been a force to deal with in these playoffs.

After having surgery only six days before, Jordan Stall played in game 4. Stall’s foot was sliced open by a skate and he had to have the tendon surgically repaired, on April 30, 2010.

In the first period, Tom Pyatt of the Canadiens scored early, but was answered by Max Talbot and Chris Kunitz of the Penguins. With goals by Maxim Lapierre and Brian Gionta in the third period, saw Montreal rally back, giving the Canadiens a 3-2 victory.

Will Montreal shock the world with another upset and knock the defending Stanley cup Champions out of the playoffs or can the Penguins take the series back over and go on to a third straight Stanley Cup Final.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs continues for the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens in game 4 of the semi finals, on Thursday night May 6, 2010. At the bell Centre on Thursday, the Penguins lead the series 2-1 and have a chance to take a commanding lead in the series.

In game three on May the 2nd at the Bell Centre, the Penguins had a 2-0 victory over the Canadiens. Early in the third period on a Power Play, Evgeni Malkin was able to sneak one by the red hot goalie, Jaroslav Halak, giving the Penguins a 1-0 lead.

Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh goaltender, got his fourth career post season shutout, with his win on Tuesday night. He stopped every one of the Canadiens’ eighteen shots at him. There has been a lot of negative talk about Fleury’s performance so far in the post season, but he has helped the penguins reach the Stanley Cup Finals the last two years and is on his way to a third.

Sidney Crosby is another standout player for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who has taken his game to another level in this post season. Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Sidney Crosby were the co-winner of the Rocket Richard trophy in the regular season.

Will the defending Stanley Cup Champions be too much for Halak and Montreal or can the Montreal Canadiens pick up a win in game four. On Thursday night, at the Bell Centre, we will find who wins the game.