Farewell

Hello all,

It's been a long time coming, but it's time for me to retire this blog. When I started back in 2010, this was a way for me to explore my passions. It quickly became focused on just one thing: detailed written accounts of hockey scoring plays from games. Over time, it helped me earn a contract job at RotoWire, which has blossomed into something that would take up as much time as a full-time job for most people. I get to cover games, I'm more on top of the news than I've ever been, and they even let me ramble on once a week on my Hutch's Hockey column. 

None of that would be possible if I hadn't decided at all of 15 years old to try my hand with blogging. Keeping up with the NHL in particular, as well as the KHL, MLB, MLS, NFL, NWSL, and EPL at various times, instilled in me a relentless work ethic, something I didn't even know I had when I started. This blog took me through high school, college, and most of my 20s. 

That said, it was always a labor of love. While it kept me busy, it didn't bring in money. Outside of a few shots at opinion pieces and analysis, it very rarely drew much outside attention at all. I've kept up with both work and this blog over time, but after a challenging 2024, I no longer have the energy to keep at the pace. I must put into things where I am getting something back in return, and so this blog, this space, this 14-year journal, has run its course. 

If you're reading this now or if you've read something here before, thank you. You were part of me doing something to achieve my dreams. If you want to follow along with what I'm doing, check out myself and all of my colleagues on RotoWire's NHL team, or follow me at @OutsiderSports0 on Twitter and @outsidersports.bsky.social on Bluesky.

Stanley Cup Finals 2024 - Game 7

It all ends in Florida, as the Panthers host the Edmonton Oilers. Stuart Skinner and Sergei Bobrovsky receive the starts in goal. Florida kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Carter Verhaeghe goal, his eleventh of the postseason, coming off of Evan Rodrigues and Anton Lundell. Edmonton tied it on a Mattias Janmark goal, his fourth of the playoffs, via Cody Ceci. The Panthers regained the lead in the second period with a Sam Reinhart goal, his tenth of the postseason, assisted by Verhaeghe and Dmitry Kulikov. The final held from here at 2-1, with the three stars being Verhaeghe, Bobrovsky (23 for 24 in saves), and Reinhart. The Panthers won the Stanley Cup by a 4-3 margin, but the Oilers' Connor McDavid was named the playoff MVP. 

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0 and on Bluesky @outsidersports0.bsky.social.

Stanley Cup Finals 2024 - Game 6

The series heads to Edmonton for Game 6, where the Oilers bring in the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Stuart Skinner patrol the creases. Edmonton opened in the first period with a Warren Foegele goal, his third of the postseason, via Leon Draisaitl and Brett Kulak. The Oilers added on in the second period with an Adam Henrique goal, his fourth of the playoffs, coming off of Mattias Janmark and Mattias Ekholm. Edmonton extended the lead as Zach Hyman scored his sixteenth of the postseason, thanks to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Florida got on the board in the third period with an Aleksander Barkov goal, his eighth of the playoffs, helped along by Carter Verhaeghe and Dmitry Kulikov. The Oilers shot back with a Ryan McLeod empty net goal, his fourth of the postseason, set up by Foegele. Edmonton iced it at 5-1 with a Darnell Nurse empty net goal, his second of the playoffs, with a lone assist by the goalie Skinner. The three stars were Foegele, Henrique and Hyman. The series is tied at 3, and there will be Game 7 in Florida on Monday. 

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0 and on Bluesky @outsidersports0.bsky.social.

Stanley Cup Finals 2024 - Game 5

The series returns to Florida for Game 5 as the Panthers host the Edmonton Oilers. Stuart Skinner and Sergei Bobrovsky are between the pipes. Edmonton struck first in the first period with a Connor Brown shorthanded goal, his second of the postseason, going in unassisted. The Oilers added on with a Zach Hyman power play goal, his fifteenth of the playoffs, powered by Evan Bouchard and Connor McDavid in second period. Edmonton extended the lead as McDavid scored his seventh of the postseason, helped along by Warren Foegele and Bouchard. Florida got on the board with a Matthew Tkachuk goal, his sixth of the playoffs, courtesy of Evan Rodrigues. The Oilers shot back with a Corey Perry power play goal, with assists provided by McDavid and Bouchard. The Panthers answered with a Rodrigues goal, his seventh of the postseason, passed from Brandon Montour and Sam Bennett. Florida got closer in the third period with an Oliver Ekman-Larsson goal, his second of the playoffs, with a lone helper from Tkachuk. Edmonton iced it at 5-3 with a McDavid empty net goal, his second of the game and eighth of the postseason, an unassisted goal. The three stars were McDavid, Bouchard, and Tkachuk, while Rodrigues gets an honorable mention. The series heads north again with Florida ahead 3-2. 

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0 and on Bluesky @outsidersports0.bsky.social.

Stanley Cup Finals 2024 - Game 4

Again from Edmonton, the Oilers host the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Stuart Skinner patrol the creases. Edmonton led off in the first period with a Mattias Janmark shorthanded goal, his third of the postseason, set up by Connor Brown. The Oilers added on with an Adam Henrique goal, his third of the playoffs, courtesy of Janmark and Mattias Ekholm. Florida got on the board with a Vladimir Tarasenko goal, his fifth of the postseason, via Gustav Forsling and Anton Lundell. Edmonton fired back with a Dylan Holloway goal, his fourth of the playoffs, assisted by Leon Draisaitl and Brett Kulak. The Oilers extended the lead in the second period as Connor McDavid scored his sixth of the postseason, thanks to Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard. Edmonton padded the lead on a Darnell Nurse goal, coming off of McDavid and Hyman. Anthony Stolarz replaced Bobrovsky in goal. The Oilers continued with a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins power play goal, his seventh of the playoffs, powered by Draisaitl and McDavid. Edmonton kept going with a Holloway goal, his second of the game and fifth of the postseason, with helpers from McDavid and Corey Perry. The Oilers piled one with a Ryan McLeod goal, his third of the playoffs, helped along by Holloway and Warren Foegele. The final stood at 8-1, with the three stars being McDavid, Holloway, and Janmark, while Draisaitl and Hyman get the honorable mentions. The Panthers remain ahead 3-1 in the series as the series shifts back to Florida. 

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0 and on Bluesky @outsidersports0.bsky.social.

Stanley Cup Finals 2024 - Game 3

The series has shifted to Edmonton, where the Oilers bring in the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Stuart Skinner are the masked men. Florida started in the first period with a Sam Reinhart goal, his ninth of the postseason, via Gustav Forsling and Aleksander Barkov. Edmonton tied it in the second period with a Warren Foegele goal, his second of the playoffs, fueled by Adam Henrique. The Panthers retook the lead with a Vladimir Tarasenko goal, his fourth of the postseason, assisted by Eetu Luostarinen. Florida added on with a Sam Bennett goal, his seventh of the playoffs, passed from Matthew Tkachuk. The Panthers extended the lead as Barkov scored his seventh of the postseason, thanks to Evan Rodrigues and Reinhart. The Oilers pulled one back in the third period with a Philip Broberg goal, his second of the playoffs, guided in by Connor McDavid and Darnell Nurse. Edmonton got closer with a Ryan McLeod goal, his second of the postseason, coming off of Brett Kulak and McDavid. The final held at 4-3, with the three stars going to Barkov, Reinhart, and McDavid. The Panthers lead the series 3-0. 

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0 and on Bluesky @outsidersports0.bsky.social.

Stanley Cup Finals 2024 - Game 2

It's another game from Florida with the Panthers hosting the Edmonton Oilers. Stuart Skinner and Sergei Bobrovsky man the nets. Edmonton began in the first period with a Mattias Ekholm goal, his fifth of the postseason, via Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard. Florida tied it on a Niko Mikkola goal, his second of the playoffs, coming off of Anton Lundell and Vladimir Tarasenko. The Panthers took the lead with an Evan Rodrigues goal, his fifth of the postseason, going in unassisted. Florida added on with a Rodrigues power play goal, his second of the game and sixth of the playoffs, powered by Lundell and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Panthers iced it at 4-1 with an empty net goal by Aaron Ekblad, set up by Sam Bennett. The three stars were Rodrigues, Lundell, and Bobrovsky (18 for 19 in saves). The Panthers leave home ahead 2-0 in the series. 

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0 and on Bluesky @outsidersports0.bsky.social.