Les nouvelles

This was long overdue. Throw away the bad impression you have of Vancouver because if you don't come here because of the riots weeks ago, you are seriously missing out on a terribly beautiful city. But, we're all back on track and all but one of my exams are over, so let's get back to reality!

• Winnipeg has named Claude Noel the head coach of the team. Formerly coaching for AHL's Manitoba Moose, Noel won't be needing to move far for the upcoming season. 
• Dave Cameron and Mark Reeds have been named as the Ottawa Senators' assistant coaches for the upcoming season. These two rival head coaches in the OHL will have to work together for the Senators' sake. Senators

Playoff Game of the YEAR

2011 Stanley Cup Finals

Game 7: Boston Bruins vs. Vancouver Canucks @ Rogers Arena

4-0 Final; Boston wins the series 4-3

After six games, twenty-seven goals, and a whole bunch of adversaries getting knocked out, we are down to the final game of the 2011 NHL playoffs. Days like this is what dreams are made of. Games like this are what these players have played and trained for their entire lives. Tonight, one team will get to live the dreams of players past, present, and future. Tonight, one team will hoist the Stanley Cup!

Playoff Game of the Night

2011 Stanley Cup Finals

Game 6: Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins @ TD Garden

2-5 Final; Series is tied 3-3

Both teams showing home ice dominance, Game 6 becomes decision time.  Will another game in Boston show a dominance by the Bruins once more or will the Canucks finally step up and show them who's boss?

Playoff Game of the Night

2011 Stanley Cup Finals

Game 4: Vancouer Canucks vs. Boston Bruins @ TD Garden

0-4 Final; Series is tied 2-2

In the break between Game 3 and 4, both teams loss a player; the Canucks lost Aaron Rome (suspended for four games [which will be carried into the season if the series is shorter than seven games]) and the Bruins lost Nathan Horton to a severe concussion. Many changes are to be seen from both teams to fill both gaps.

Now that the stage has been set and each teams have warnings on their aggressive/antagonistic play, how will the teams react? How will they all play?

After being pretty much slaughtered, the Canucks look to bounce back in a bigger, badder way. Boston look to continue being the bigger opponent and look to win another to make the series badder than it is.

Les nouvelles

• Winnipeg (whatever) has named Kevin Cheveldayoff the team's GM for the upcoming season. NHL
• Jordan Matechuk has been released by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after news of his arrest at the American border for possession of steroids. TSN
• The Pittsburgh Penguins have hired former player Bill Guerin as the team's player development coach. Guerin retired just this past December and it hasn't taken him long to be snatched back up by the Penguins. Penguins
• In case you haven't heard, Aaron Rome (Vancouver Canucks) has been suspended four games for his hit on Nathan Horton (Boston Bruins) in Game 3 (who has been diagnosed with a severe concussion). His suspension will be brought over into the regular season if the series does not go to seven games. Canucks
• Liverpool FC have signed midfielder Jordan Henderson from Sunderland FC. LFC
• Congratulations to the Binghamton Senators for upsetting many teams to defeat the Houston Aeros four games to two! Congrats on your 2011 AHL Calder Cup Champions title, Senators! B-Sens
• NHL Stanley Cup Finals update:
• Winning both of their respective home games, the Boston Bruins have tied the series 2-2 against the Vancouver Canucks as we head back to Vancouver! (Now I can breathe on grad [just a little])

Playoff Game of the Night

2011 Stanley Cup Finals

Game 3: Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins @ TD Garden

1-8 Final; Vancouver leads the series 2-1

Taking the swing to the East, the Canucks look to lose none of that energy they had at home and bring it to the East Coast.

Each game has given us a headline to talk about. Now in Game 3, what will be the headline for tomorrow's papers?

Les nouvelles

• Nick Johnson has come to an agreement with the Pittsburgh Penguins to stay with the club one more year. Penguins
• Li Na of China defeated Francesca Schiavone in straight sets (6-4, 7-6) to win the title of French Open Final Women's Champion. TSN
• Congrats to Winnipeg and the True North company who have sold 13,000 season tickets in just a matter of days! Remember people, these are for multiple seasons (in other words, a long-term committment). Winnipeg will have a team for a good, long while. NHL
• Along with reaching their goal of season ticket sales, True North will not keep Rick Dudley as GM of the Winnipeg team. NHL
• AHL Calder Cup Finals update:
• Binghamton Senators will took a win over the Houston Aeros make Game 6 a possible deal-clinching game as the Baby Sens lead the series 3-2
• NHL Stanley Cup Finals update:
• Needing only 11 seconds in the OT period, the Vancouver Canucks took a 2-0 series stranglehold on the Boston Bruins as the series heads east

Playoff Game of the Night

2011 Stanley Cup Finals

Game 2: Boston Bruins vs. Vancouver Canucks @ Rogers Arena

2-3 Final 1OT; Vancouver leads the series 2-0

Game 1 saw both teams fail on the power-play. Out of thirteen PP opportunities, neither team was able to score a PPG. Whether that was due in part by the good penalty-killing, great goaltending, or just an uninspired power-play, we will never know. But what we did get out of Game 1 was some great goaltending.

Both Roberto Luongo and Tim Thomas lived up to their Vezina trophies and their 2011 nominations for the same award. Luongo walked away with a thirty-six save night, and Thomas walked away with a thirty-three save night.

Game 2 was all about putting Game 1 away in the books and playing a "Game 7 mentality". But who could put all that chippiness away?

Les nouvelles

• Michael Owen and Manchester United have agreed to extend Owen's contract for another year. Sky Sports
• Some more Premier League news, Aston Villa has fired manager Gerard Houllier. Source
• Another Michael, Michael Neur, has signed a transfer from Schalke 04 to Bayern Munich of Bundesliga. This new contract will see Neur with Bayern till 30 June 2016. Bayern Munich
• Head of the disciplinary board of the NHL, Brian Campbell has stepped down from his disciplinary position. Brendan Shanahan will replace him and his duties. NHL
• If you haven't heard, you've either been a) living under a rock or b) a lame-o. The Atlanta Thrashers are now officially owned by the True North company and will be relocated to Winnipeg this coming season. Only deal now: what will they be called? NHL
• The Florida Panthers have named Kevin Dineen as their new head coach for the 2011-12 season. Dineen was the former coach of AHL team Portland Pirates. Panthers
• The Calgary Flames have acquired Roman Horak and a 2nd-round pick in the 2011 entry draft from the New York Rangers in exchange for Tim Erixon and a 5th-round pick in 2011. Rangers, Flames
• Jay Triano will not return next season as the Toronto Raptors' head coach, but instead will be with the organisation as a consultant. Raptors
• An end of an era has come. Shaquille O'Neal has announced that he is retiring from basketball. TSN
• AHL Calder Cup Finals update:
• Houston Aeros took the lead in Game 3 and kept it to grab a win over the Binghamton Senators, and now lead the series 2-1
• NHL Stanley Cup Finals update:
• The puck dropped for Game 1, and after 60 minutes, the Raffi Torres got the single goal with 18 seconds left, and now the Vancouver Canucks leads the Stanley Cup finals 1-0 against the Boston Bruins

Playoff Game of the Night

2011 Stanley Cup Finals

Game 1: Boston Bruins vs. Vancouver Canucks @ Rogers Arena

0-1 Final; Vancouver leads the series 1-0

Both of the teams have gone through the hurdles of their conferences to get to where they are now.  But today they play their biggest hurdles yet - each other.

The Bruins have Tim Thomas; the Canucks have Roberto Luongo. Two Vezina trophy nominees, both having previously won it in the last few years. These two teams have crazy line-ups that could make many jealous! And not to mention the chemistry between them all is magical. But all that only amounts to so much.

Who will deliver? Who will perform? What is on the plate tonight: bear or whale?