Bauer Total One/One90 Goal Pads

Bauer has done it again. Revolutionized the goalie pad yet again. Forget customizing your break before you purchase, you always get the freedom to choose. I won't get into the blocker or catcher in this segment since there is so much to the pads these days.

Normally when I refer to bars and hockey players, it's doesn't mean equipment but today is a first. With two bars, stiff and extra stiff, you control the break both above the knee and below it. I've heard that Lundqvist is a fan of using soft bars in practice and stiff bars during games to get a better feel for the pads. With the full coverage of the changing slots there is no worry about the open structure of this pad compromising its' quality. The knee cradle of this pad is also removable and adjustable with a softer and lighter material. 

As shown above are the slots for above and below the knee breaks and the easy adjustability of the entire feel of your pad.

The yellow bars are used for the stiff flex and blue would be the soft flex.

I recommend this line of pads to anyone looking for a softer built pad, without the breaks but with the full front face of a Reebok pad. The rebound control is very much like my One80 pads but with more of a hybrid comfort of a Reflex pad. For those of you that remember the Vapor line of pads that was quickly discontinued it is very much like the Nexus of Bauer's goalie line. A combination of everything and a happy meeting in the middle. 

You can find the retail line of these pads in the One90 but the Total One is on a level of its own. 

Happy Saving.

Elite Hockey Gel Pads

Elite hockey has released 3 different gel pads for those of you with abused feet from skates. They feature and ankle pad, an achilles tendon pad, and a lace bite pad with velcro that attaches to your tongue. I recently picked up the lace bite gel pads to help me break in my Bauer One.9 skates with the stiffest tongue I have ever felt.

My gel pads are shown above. I had to adjust their position a couple times to find the right spot but now they never move. As shown below, the shape works well to disperse the pressure of the lace bite.

I have seen other products for lace bite, including just attaching extra foam to the inside of your tongue but this has been the most successful one so far in my opinion. Each of these gel pads is also reusable and adjustable which is another useful feature.

The ankle and achilles pads are shown above. 

Personally I have no use for the other gel pads but if anyone has tried them, please let me know your feedback!

Rick Nash, New York City Ranger

Rick Nash is the kind of player that can improve any team and despite New York's moving Anisimov and Dubinsky, their roster continues to remain impressive. Columbus' loss of their star player to me, seems as though they may have picked the short straw in this deal. Considering the other list of prospects for Nash's decision in Boston, Detroit, Pittsburgh, San Jose, and Philadelphia you'd have to think they'd want more than some brute force and flashing antics in return for their leading scorer and Rocket Richard winner. It is another rebuilding franchise, hoping for two first round picks in 2013 to fill their forward lines. 

Nash's excitement for pre-season training seems to inspire a new fire in him that I cannot wait to see on the ice in a new set of red, white, and blue. 

Alexander Semin for 1 year/7 milllion?!

Carolina, you better hope this investment pays off. At 28, Semin has played in Washington for his entire NHL career, and even with rumored offers to play in Russia his commitment to stay is obvious. We will have to see how he fairs without Ovechkin at his side. Now, let's think of the possible line combinations. I can see Jeff Skinner centering his line with J. Staal? Or maybe make him the third wheel with the Staal brothers on the first line. Of course, Jordan would be centering just like the Team Canada days when Eric takes a wing to support, as most talented players have the ability to flourish in many positions. 

You have to wonder about Washington's position after his decision as well, forgetting about the outrageous amount of money he's making for a single year deal. After resigning Mike Green to a new 3-year deal and Ovechkin's low impact in the past year, how are they going to replace the fire power up front? I can sense something big coming from the Capitals organization. 

Kings vs. Devils Stanley Cup 2012

We're finally here, the long awaited destination for not only players and coaches, but fans everywhere as well. The 8th seed versus the 3rd, with the Kings being the regular season under dogs and post season dominators, it's hard to think of the New Jersey Devils as anything but hard working and under appreciated in playoff performance. With a 12-6 record they have played more games than LA and will have a shorter break as well. Not to say that LA won't be ready, at 12-2 they are used to the more lengthy breaks in between series, everything will depend on the players' abilities to stay focused and remember the ultimate goal.

La is a strong and powerful team, they like to work down low, set up from the corners and drive to the net. They're going to focus on working through holes in the New Jersey defence and over powering an aging Martin Brodeur. Quick, of course, needs no explaining what he can contribute to a team the only danger to his performance was the lack of shots and rusty ice in the defensive zone. The Devils will perform as they have throughout their series so far, silently and lethally with quick plays and sniping offense in Parise and Kovalchuk. I don't mean to criticize Martin Brodeur who has easily made some of the most vital and best looking saves in the playoffs so far, but it will be up to him to hold off the charging LA offense that has yet to meet a goalie they could not crack.

This series promises to be a physical and exciting series, I can't help but look forward to the ending more than the beginning. Here's to the final round of 2012.

The Dustin Brown knee on knee...

WHAT PENALTY?!?!?! Don't me mad, Doan, just cause you guys screwed up and let an LA player skate into the slot and burry a horrible rebound. Who was covering that guy, huh? Who?!

NHL Conference Finals 2012

Round 3 is well under way for the four remaining teams, each hoping to win yet another round and be one step closer to hoisting the Stanley Cup. The Rangers and Devils are making it an exciting series, tied 2-2 it is easy to predict a game 7 for the Eastern Conference. Game 4 was at a different intensity level than the rest, with a final tally of 66 PIM including Mike Rupp's shot at Martin Brodeur that caused the three misconduct penalties in the 3rd period. New Jersey easily controlled the flow of play during the game and the frustration of the Rangers was bound to explode at some point. Not unfamiliar with explosions, John Tortorella engaged in his own shouting match between the benches with Peter DeBoer. Neither commented on the incident after the game, but it is easy to see that the tension is being felt on both sides and emerging in different ways. Despite who they will face from the West one of these two teams will be hosting game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals, will Brodeur or Lundqvist start their next journey at home?

LA continues to dominate their series, well on their way to beating the Montreal Canadiens record of 16-4 in their Stanley Cup win year. Their loss in game 4 of this series is reminiscent of game 4 in Vancouver, allowing Phoenix to hold them at bay and maybe win their last game at home before a possible movement of the franchise. Phoenix continues to struggle in finding a hole in Quick's armour, taking every shot they can and being rewarded with tips not only from their team but from the defenders as well after all, no goal is a bad goal especially in the post-season. Game 5 promises to be a Goaltender and Goal scorer showdown, in a low scoring series, LA will throw their power forwards at the net and maybe battle a little harder than they did in their last shutout performance. Emotions are running high not only for Phoenix who is fighting to stay alive but for LA as well to make a statement after their last minute clinching of a playoff spot.