It’s time to spring BACKWARD with some pricing from the good ol’ days at www.distantreplays.com    Just use SPR20 @ checkout and receive 20% off your entire order!

Check. It. Out.

“Back in the USSR” & “Birthday” are two songs from The Beatles legendary White Album.  I make the reference because Yana Bryzgunova from St. Petersburg, Russia celebrated her birthday yesterday by winning a FREE shirt from Distantreplays.com.  Yana kicked all the dude’s butts last week by picking all 5 games correctly in week #8 of our “Ice Picks” Hockey contest.  Music to her ears.  Yana currently lives in Chicago (that’ll save us on shipping!) and picked a Blackhawks shirt for her prize.  Congratulations & Happy Birthday Yana!  

Before we get to Alex and his picks, here are the contest rules:

WIPE OUT

1) Alex will preview 5 of the most compelling NHL games on the schedule for the upcoming week and offer his expertise, or more likely his lack thereof, as to who will win & why.

2) Contestants will enter their picks for the same 5 games, and the person that beats Alex, and/or the person who picks the most games correctly – straight up wins and losses – will win a FREE  t-shirt or cap ($38 or less) of their choice from the Distant Replays website.  In the event of a tie, we will have a drawing to determine the final winner.  Enter your picks in the “leave a reply/comment” section at the bottom of the post no later than the puck drop of of the first scheduled game to be counted!  ***ONLY ONE ENTRY PER CUSTOMER***

3) I will announce the winner on this blog and our Facebook page the following week, and then we’ll do it one more time!  NOW TO THE GAMES FOR WEEK # 9!  Take it away Alex….

GAME 1: 3/6 – Boston Bruins (38-21-3) @ Toronto Maple Leafs (29-28-7):  Anytime the Bruins goal tender Tim Thomas makes a trip out of the country there is that chance he may not be let back in.  Don’t Bruins use Maple Leafs to wipe themselves in the woods?  Bruins win.

WHAT ELSE IS THERE?

WIN WITHOUT MARTIN.

GO GREEN, GREEN MAN

NEWS FLASH: CAPS WIN

CAPS PUT A CAP ON THE ISLES

The Detroit Red Wings were a mere 15.4 seconds away from their 24th straight win at home when the Sedin brothers hooked up (again) to tie it up and send to OT.  The 23 game home winning streak finally came to an end last night at the hands of the Vancouver Canucks in a shootout.  While the loss also prevented Peter Duthoy of Frederick, Maryland from a perfect 5-0 record, it didn’t prevent him from winning the Distant Replays “Ice Picks” Hockey contest for week # 7.  Peter was the only entry (out of 22) to record a 4-1 record, and thus he is the winner of a FREE hat or t-shirt of his choice from DistantReplays.com  This is the 3rd time Peter has won the contest in 7 tries!  Do we need to add a clause to the rules next year that say he gets cut off from playing when he kicks too much ass?  Nah.  The rest of us, me included, need to just pick better (for the record, yours truly fell on thine face coming in at 2-3 last week, 24-11 for the Ice Picks season).  Congrats on the hat trick Peter!

Including today, we’ve got just 3 more weeks of contests for you.  We’ll take a Spring Break for most of March, and come back at you with another hockey contest when the Stanley Cup Playoffs start in April. 

Before we get to the next round of games, we need to go over the rules for those just joining us for the first time and here they are:

BLACKHAWKS, BUBBA -

1) Every week (usually Thursday or Friday) I will preview 5 of the most compelling NHL games on the schedule for the upcoming week and offer my expertise, or more commonly lack thereof, as to who will win & why, along with a predicted final score.

2) Contestants will enter their picks for the same 5 games, and the person that beats me and/or the person who picks the most games correctly – straight up wins and losses – will win a FREE  t-shirt or cap ($38 or less) of their choice from the Distant Replays website.  In the event of a tie, we will have a drawing to determine the final winner.  Enter your picks in the “leave a reply/comment” section at the bottom of the post no later than the puck drop of of the first scheduled game to be counted!  ***ONLY ONE ENTRY PER CUSTOMER***

3) I will announce the winner on this blog and our Facebook page the following week, and then we’ll do it again!  NOW TO THE GAMES FOR WEEK # 8! 

NUCKS HELP ME LET GO OF THE CROW.

GAME 1:  2/28 – New York Islanders (25-27-8) @ Washington Capitals (29-26-5):  If you follow this blog, you know I’m an Islanders fan.  You’re no doubt sick of hearing me yack about how well they’ve been playing lately too.  Let’s not count back to back losses mind you, I’m talkin’ before that!  The Caps have dropped 3 straight themselves on a brutal road trip and are happy to be home.  Ovechkin missed a game but is coming back.  Hate to betray, but I need a win today.  CAPITALS – 4, ISLANDERS – 3.

GAME 2:  2/29 – Toronto Maple Leafs (29-25-7) @ Chicago Blackhawks (33-22-7):  I love this matchup.  Original 6.  Both teams have 2 players in the NHL’s top 20 leading scorers category.  Both have killer uni’s.  Gonna have my cat call this one.  Bubba stuck his paw at the Chicago shirt.  BLACKHAWKS – 3, MAPLE LEAFS – 2.

GAME 3:  3/1 – St. Louis Blues (37-17-7) @ Vancouver Canucks (39-16-6):  Another great game, another tough pick.  The Sedin brothers continue to be a torrid tandem for the Nucks, and the Blues have a hot goalie in Brian Elliot who looks to shut them down as St. Lou creeps up on Detroit in the Central.  Last time I picked against each of these teams I ate crow.  Crow tastes bad.  No more crow.  CANUCKS – 6, BLUES – 3.

CAT IN THE HAT

GAME 4:  3/1 – Minnesota Wild (27-24-9) @ Montreal Canadiens (24-27-10):  It’s all about streaks lately.  23 straight for the Red Wings, 2 straight wins for the Wild & 2 straight losses for the Habs.  Stupid comparison, right?  Time for the cat again.  WILD – 6, CANADIENS – 4.

SHARKY'S MACHINE

GAME 5:  3/1 - Buffalo Sabres (26-27-7) @ San Jose Sharks (32-20-7):  The Sharks have a + 23 compared to the Sabres - 26.  Glaring.   The Sabres are on one of those 2 game winning streaks I’m all excited about behind Jason Pominville, but the Thornton – Couture machine for SJS will be too much for them on home ice.  SHARKS – 5, SABRES – 3.

OK, that’s it.  Can anybody beat Peter Duthoy this week?  Anybody, Anyone?  Adamowski?  Bueller?….Bueller?…..Bueller?….

GOOD LUCKS AND LET’S SEE THOSE PICKS!  FOR UPDATES ON CONTESTS, FUN, AND ALL THAT IS DISTANT REPLAYS, PLEASE LIKE US ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER.

JETS FALL IN THE NO-FLY-ERS ZONE

I am going to listen to what Jonathan Mann told me to do.  Mann, the winner of “Ice Picks” from last week told me the following - “You really got the old horeshoe this season bro. Go out and buy the lotto!”  And this was before this weeks’ contest when I ran the table 5-0 for the second time this season bringing my 6 week tally to 22-8.  Had it not been for my upset special of Columbus over St. Loo (I even nailed the exact score!), Mann would have found himself in a 3-way tie for the FREE shirt or cap from Distantreplays.com with Kerry Manion & Craig Nelson who all went 4-1.  As things stand however, it looks like I’ll be saving Distant Replays a few bucks this week as we have no winner.  Please forgive me for bragging like a spoiled brat – most of you that have played in these contests the past 3 years know that I normally SUCK at it.  I promise next time I run the table to be humble.  So how about we get to the new games so somebody can put me back in my place?

OILERS FLAMMABLE - CATCH FLAMES

***For the rules on how to enter, Newcomers click and scroll down to the bottom of the Columbus Blue Jackets shirt here***

Ok, NOW the games!

GAME 1:  2/21 – Philadelphia Flyers (32-18-7) @ Winnipeg Jets (27-26-6):  The NHL’s 2nd leading scorer Claude Giroux had 5 assists against the Sabres yesterday!  And even though Philly can’t beat the Rangers this year (0-7), they’re still breathing down their necks in the Atlantic Division.  What does this mean for the Jets?  It means they lose!  FLYERS – 5, JETS – 3.

GAME 2:  2/21 – Edmonton Oilers (22-28-6) @ Calgary Flames (27-22-9):  Jordan Eberle had back to back 2 goal games last week for the Oilers while Olli Jokinen got a hat trick for the Flames vs. San Jose.  There’s still plenty of hockey to be played this year and I think Jordan and his boys will catch fire and catch the Flames in the Northwest Division starting with this game.  OILERS – 4, FLAMES – 2.

GAME 3:  2/21 – New York Rangers (37-14-5) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (32-20-5):  So the Rangers lose last night to the Blackhawks who had lost 9 straight, and the NHL’s leading scorer, Evgeni Malkin, came up with a goose egg in the points department for the Pens in a loss to last place Anaheim.  A mere hiccup for these two powerhouses.  The Rangers have the best road record in the league and will prove why as they’ll be the team to bounce back first.  RANGERS – 5, PENGUINS – 3.

ROAD RANGE

GAME 4:  2/22 – Los Angeles Kings (27-20-11) @ Colorado Avalanche (28-26-4):  Don’t really have any upset specials this week, but I do have another uniform preference pick;  Colorado would have won this had they still been the Nordiques, but they’re not, so they don’t.  Kings by an Avalanche!  KINGS – 5, AVALANCHE – 1.

KINGS FLEX-FIT THEIR MUSCLES

GAME  5:  2/23 – Vancouver Canucks (36-15-6) @ Detroit Red Wings (39-17-2):  Assuming the Red Wings knock off Nashville tonight, & San Jose Sunday at Joe Louis Arena (that’s a pretty safe assumption, right?) they will come into this contest with an NHL record Home winning streak of 23 straight.  Will I be the one to put the kabash on them by picking the high powered offensive attack of the Canucks?  You bet I WON’T!  RED WINGS – 5, CANUCKS – 2.

24 STRAIGHT

Week 7 picks are done & now I need to go buy my Mega-Millions ticket.  Before I sign off though, I just want to pay my respects out loud for the late Gary Carter who passed away yesterday.  I’m 52 years old now, and have very vivid and fond memories of “The Kid” from the days of my youth.  I lived in New York my entire life, and even before he joined the Mets, I admired his fierce competitiveness and sportsmanship from afar.  And that smile was always on!  Of course he lived up to all his promise with New York, and was the spark that turned the Mets 1986 World Series fortunes around.  Thanks for the good times Gary – you’ll be missed!

We have a new College Basketball Poll.  See it over there —-> ?  Scroll up – there it is.  GO VOTE, AND THEN LET’S SEE YOUR PICKS!  FOR UPDATES ON CONTESTS, FUN, AND ALL THAT IS DISTANT REPLAYS, PLEASE LIKE US ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER.

BLUES GET BLUE JACKED

Rough week “Ice Picks,” players?  With the Rangers and Flyers being blanked respectively by the Devils and Islanders out of the gate, most of you ended up in the under .500 club with me (I went 2-3 bringing my season tally down a notch to 17-8.)  Out of the 20 entries this week, just 2 folks finished 3-2, and just 1 person went 4-1 to win the Distant Replays prize outright.  That person is Angel Cabral, and he’ll receive a FREE shirt or hat of his choice. Congrats Angel!

Before we get to the next round of games, we must go over the rules for those just joining us for the first time and here they are:

1) Every week (usually Thursday or Friday) over the next 2 months, I will preview 5 of the most compelling NHL games on the schedule for the upcoming week and offer my expertise, or more commonly lack thereof, as to who will win & why, along with a predicted final score.

VALENTINES DAY MASSACRE

2) Contestants will enter their picks for the same 5 games, and the person that beats me and/or the person who picks the most games correctly – straight up wins and losses – will win a FREE  t-shirt or cap ($38 or less) of their choice from the Distant Replays website.  In the event of a tie, we will have a drawing to determine the final winner.  Enter your picks in the “leave a reply/comment” section at the bottom of the post no later than the puck drop of of the first scheduled game to be counted!  ***ONLY ONE ENTRY PER CUSTOMER***

3) I will announce the winner on this blog and our Facebook page the following week, and then we’ll do it again!  NOW TO THE GAMES FOR WEEK # 6! 

GAME 1:  2/14 – St. Louis Blues (32-14-7) @ Columbus Blue Jackets (15-33-6):  This is the most lopsided game of our fab 5,  which can only mean one thing.  UPSET SPECIAL.  Who’s with me?!  BLUE JACKETS – 2, BLUES – 1.

GAME 2:  2/14 – Dallas Stars (28-23-2) @ Detroit Red Wings (36-17-2):  Big Red has the best home ice record in the NHL at 21-2-1, and they are going to keep it like that in a BIG way.  RED WINGS – 8, STARS – 3.

GAME 3:  2/15 – Colorado Avalanche (27-25-3) @ Vancouver Canucks (34-15-5):  Henrick & Daniel.  Need I say more?  CANUCKS – 6, AVALANCHE – 4.

AVALANCHE ALERT NOT IN EFFECT

GAME 4:  2/15 – Boston Bruins (33-17-2) @ Montreal Canadiens (22-24-9):  Haven’t had the Beantown boys in the contest since Timmy snubbed the Prez.  Welcome back boys!  The Habs have won 3 straight and seem to be a different squad post All-Star game.  Regardless, All-Star Slap Shot King Zdeno Chara will slap shut the Canadiens win streak.  BRUINS – 3, CANADIENS – 1.

BRUINS ARE HOT

GAME 5:  2/16 – Chicago Blackhawks (29-18-7) @ New York Rangers (34-13-5):  I love Original 6 Matchups.  Did I pick a favorite uniform game yet?  Rangers Winter Classic jersey was one of the best I’ve ever seen, but this isn’t the Winter Classic, and the Blackhawks have the best uni in ALL OF SPORT – PERIOD!  BLACKHAWKS – 5, RANGERS – 4.

LOGO DOESN'T LOSE

WEEK 6 PICKS DONE! NOW LET’S SEE YOUR PICKS!  FOR UPDATES ON CONTESTS, FUN, AND ALL THAT IS DISTANT REPLAYS, PLEASE LIKE US ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER.

WINNING CREW

We have a Hat Trick.  Meaning three entries for week # 4 of the Distant Replays “Ice Picks” Hockey Contest scored picking perfection, going 5-0 (Several came in at 4-1 including yours truly, bringing my 4 week total to 15-5).  Hats off to Jonathan Agin, Sean Bevan, and Marc Goldsmith for the feat.  As the rules to “Ice Picks” state (see #2 below), in the event of a tie, a drawing determines the winner of the FREE t-shirt or cap.  And the winner this week is… Sean Bevan of Sudbury, Mass.  He was definitely excited by the win - “Sick!!  I am so pumped.  Thanks so much.  I had been telling everyone I know about the contest.  I love your guys’ store.”  Congrats to Sean and thanks for spreading the word.  As for Jonathan and Marc, please keep on playing – we have 2 months left of weekly contests to go!

Since it’s Super Bowl weekend, I know only the die-hardiest of die-hard NHL fans will be watching hockey Sunday night (or the Lingerie Bowl?), so for those tuning into the pigskin, I’ll give you the chance to nurse your football hangover and get back to the ice on Tuesday.

But before we get to the next round of games, we must go over the rules for those just joining us for the first time and here they are:

BAD TO THE BONE

1) Every week (usually Thursday or Friday) over the next 2 months, I will preview 5 of the most compelling NHL games on the schedule for the upcoming week and offer my expertise, or more commonly lack thereof, as to who will win & why, along with a predicted final score.

2) Contestants will enter their picks for the same 5 games, and the person that beats me and/or the person who picks the most games correctly – straight up wins and losses – will win a FREE  t-shirt or cap ($38 or less) of their choice from the Distant Replays website.  In the event of a tie, we will have a drawing to determine the final winner.  Enter your picks in the “leave a reply/comment” section at the bottom of the post no later than the puck drop of of the first scheduled game to be counted!  ***ONLY ONE ENTRY PER CUSTOMER***

3) I will announce the winner on this blog and our Facebook page the following week, and then we’ll do it again!  NOW TO THE GAMES FOR WEEK # 5! 

OLD SCHOOL WIN - NIPEG.

GAME 1:  2/7 – New Jersey Devils (28-19-3) @ New York Rangers (32-12-5):  Rangers lost my bid for a second 5-0 showing this year by WINNING last week.  The Devils are red hot too, matching the Rangers 6-3-1 in last 10.  I won’t bet against the Rangers this time though.  Reminds me I need to stop into Gerry Cosby’s next time I visit the Garden – the original hockey jersey mecca of the universe.  RANGERS – 5, DEVILS – 3.

GAME 2:  2/7 – New Yok Islanders (20-22-7) @ Philadelphia Flyers (30-14-6):  Yep, I’ve got a bias for the Atlantic division, just no Penguins this week.  Most of ya’ll know I’m an Isles fan (sorry Jonathan Mann), and we’re not doing so bad these days.  The Flyers just happen to be BADDER!  FLYERS – 6, ISLANDERS – 4.

GAME 3:  2/7 – Toronto Maple Leafs (26-19-6) @ Winnipeg Jets (24-22-6):  I like the goal scoring machine that is Phil Kessel & Joffrey Lupul for the Leafs.  BUT…I also like the Jets back in Winnipeg and they are tough to beat at the MTS Centre.  JETS – 4, MAPLE LEAFS – 3.

QUACKS GET CANED.

GAME 4:  2/8 – Carolina Hurricanes (19-25-9) @ Anaheim Ducks (19-24-7):  Gotta have a few cellar dwellers, right?  The Canes and the Ducks rank 27 – 28 in the entire league standings (Edmonton and Columbus are 29 – 30) and have virtually the exact stat lines in every category across the board.  What does this all mean?  I have no idea…  HURRICANES – 5, DUCKS – 4.

PANTHER PARTY

GAME 5:  2/9 – Los Angeles Kings (25-16-10) @ Florida Panthers (23-15-11):  Another evenly matched contest, but this time we have a few better teams in the top half of the league standings.  Florida winger Kris Versteeg is on pace to surpass his career best in goals when he had 22 with the Blackhawks in ’09.  He’s already pinged 19 to date.  Rolling with the homies on this one.  PANTHERS – 3, KINGS – 2.

Alright, I’m done.  NOW LET’S SEE THOSE PICKS!  FOR UPDATES ON CONTESTS, FUN, AND ALL THAT IS DISTANT REPLAYS, PLEASE LIKE US ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER.

A WIN FOR THE WHEEL

I think Groundhog Day came a week early because Peter Duthoy from Frederick, Maryland, has now won the Distant Replays NHL “Ice Picks” contest for the second straight week, and is the winner of another FREE shirt or cap of his choice from Distantreplays.com  He was the only entry to finish with a 4-1 record, and would have gone undefeated had it not been for the Habs rout of the Red Wings last night (Hey, even though I went 2-3, I was the ONLY person to pick the Canadiens!). Congrats AGAIN Peter!

Anybody sick of Peter winning yet?  Will he score a Hat trick of Distant Replays t’s?  Somebody else out there needs to shut him out, step up, and grab the crown!  What better time than ALL-STAR WEEKEND (Nothing personal Peter!)?  But before we get to the next round of games, we must go over the rules for those just joining us for the first time and here they are:

1) Every week (usually Thursday or Friday) over the next 2 months, I will preview 5 of the most compelling NHL games on the schedule for the upcoming week and offer my expertise, or more commonly lack thereof, as to who will win & why, along with a predicted final score (So far I’m 11-4 this year. Not too shabby)

CANUCK LUCK

2) Contestants will enter their picks for the same 5 games, and the person that beats me and/or the person who picks the most games correctly – straight up wins and losses – will win a FREE  t-shirt or cap ($38 or less) of their choice from the Distant Replays website.  In the event of a tie, we will have a drawing to determine the final winner.  Enter your picks in the “leave a reply/comment” section at the bottom of the post no later than the puck drop of of the first scheduled game to be counted!  ***ONLY ONE ENTRY PER CUSTOMER***

3) I will announce the winner on this blog and our Facebook page the following week, and then we’ll do it again!  NOW TO THE GAMES FOR WEEK # 4! 

GAME 1:  1/29 – Team Chara/Lupul vs. Team Alfredsson/Lundqvist:  How cool is the All-Star format for hockey?  The coolest.  On top of the draft, you have all the skills competitions.  Too bad Mr. Ovechkin won’t be around to win the Breakaway Challenge for a 4th time.  Team Chara Captain Zdeno Chara will be on hand though, and he’ll probably put himself in the Hardest Shot competition to go for his 5th straight victory!  You guys have the luxury of making your pick after the draft on this one.  Regardless who ends up where, it’s going to be high scoring and it’s a toss up.  I’m going with the Bruin-Ranger captain connection.  CHARA/LUPUL – 11, ALFREDSSON/LUNDQVIST – 10.

BUFFALO STANCE

Game 2:  1/31 – Detroit Red Wings (33-16-1) @ Calgary Flames (23-21-6):  I can’t remember the last time the Red Wings have dropped 2 straight this season (maybe once?), and I don’t think it will happen in Calgary.  I love the Flames uni’s, but the Detroit wheel of the Original 6 is still one of the very best ever!  RED WINGS – 5, FLAMES – 3.

Game 3:  1/31 – Chicago Blackhawks (29-15-6) @ Vancouver Canucks (30-15-4):  Speaking of awesome Original 6 uni’s, are there any better than the Blackhawks?  I don’t think so.  So are you down with the Sedin brothers or Hossa-Toews?  Teams are downright equal, but I give the edge to the brothers Sedin with a little home ice for luck.  CANUCKS – 6, BLACKHAWKS – 5.

Game 4:  2/1 – New York Rangers (31-12-4) @ Buffalo Sabres (20-24-5): New York team in first place, or New York team in last place?  Hmmm.  Upstate Upset special!  SABRES – 3, RANGERS – 2.

PACIFIC POWER

Game 5:  2/2 - Dallas Stars (25-21-2) @ San Jose Sharks (27-14-6):   Sharks center Logan Couture seems to have his goal scoring swagger back after a recent outage (12th in the league), and their + 21 to the Stars -10 is telling.  As in telling me it’s a San Jose W.  SHARKS – 5, STARS – 2.

Done and Done.  LET’S SEE THOSE PICKS!  FOR UPDATES ON CONTESTS, FUN, AND ALL THAT IS DISTANT REPLAYS, PLEASE LIKE US ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER.