The Sports Bank

Football. Soccer. Basketball. Gaming and Much More

NHL

Team USA hockey preview: Prove 2010 was no fluke

By

Taking home the gold in 2010 on Canadian soil would have been sweet for Team USA. Doing so against the hometown Canadians would have been that much sweeter. A silver medal was not expected with the talent on the ice for Team USA hockey, but now is the time to show that 2010 was more legitimate than fluky. The core remains strong for the U.S., as Zach Parise, Patrick Kane, … [Read more...] about Team USA hockey preview: Prove 2010 was no fluke

Team Canada hockey preview: Repeat or bust

By

Winning gold on home ice was expected. Now is the time to show how dominant the Team Canada hockey program can be. Even with their 2010 gold, Hockey Canada has failed to medal in two of the previous four Winter Olympics. For pretty much any other team, that is acceptable. For Canada? An embarrassment. The Canadian talent pool is by far the deepest in the world. As Canada’s … [Read more...] about Team Canada hockey preview: Repeat or bust

Team Austria hockey preview: Thanks for playing

By

This is Austria’s first Winter Olympics hockey tournament since 2002, where they finished 12th. Needless to say, they’re just happy to be here. Surprisingly, the Eagles have at least notable and current NHL players. Thomas Vanek and Michael Grabner also play together for the New York Islanders. Forwards Vanek and Grabner are the only two forwards with NHL experience, as … [Read more...] about Team Austria hockey preview: Thanks for playing

Have Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk lost their magic?

By

Cue the voice of Pat Foley in your head. “He shoots, he scores!!!! Hawks win! Hawks win!” As a child of Chicago’s south suburbs I was raised to love and cherish that phrase as well as anything else that came from the voice of Pat Foley. For nearly 30 years, Foley has been calling Chicago Blackhawks games on television and for a number of years simulcasting on radio. … [Read more...] about Have Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk lost their magic?

NHL Central Division pre-Olympic power rankings

By

The Chicago Blackhawks is just weeks away from breaking for the 2014 Winter Olympics, and look to be in a dogfight for division supremacy until the last day of the season. The St. Louis Blues have been the improved team they were expected to be, and appear to be poised as a favorite to win the Stanley Cup in June. The still-surprising Colorado Avalanche are in the picture … [Read more...] about NHL Central Division pre-Olympic power rankings

Josh Harding is the man, athlete of 2013

By

LeBron James won another NBA title. Peyton Manning set the passing touchdown record. Josh Harding has gone from obscurity to vying for a spot on Team Canada’s hockey team in the Winter Olympics. Harding is also battling multiple sclerosis. M.S. is the damage of insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Side effects of the disease range from blurred … [Read more...] about Josh Harding is the man, athlete of 2013

Antti Raanta improving, Corey Crawford getting healthy

By

When Corey Crawford left Chicago’s December 8th game against the Florida Panthers with an injury, Blackhawks fans took a collective “gulp.” A previous injury to Nikolai Khabibulin left the interim starting position in net to Finnish goalie Antti Raanta. Raanta was signed at the end of last season after winning a championship with Assat of the SM-Liiga, as well as the regular … [Read more...] about Antti Raanta improving, Corey Crawford getting healthy

Blue Jackets Ryan Johansen living up to his potential

By

The Columbus Blue Jackets are hanging on the cusp of playoff positioning in the weak Metropolitan Division, no small feat considering their rash of injuries of their premier players – Marian Gaborik, James Wisniewski, reigning Vezina Trophy recipient Sergei Bobrovsky and Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) signing Nathan Horton. However, through the ups-and-downs, one player … [Read more...] about Blue Jackets Ryan Johansen living up to his potential