Case of Mistaken Identity (Jan & Jiri Hrdina)

Never actually realized that Jan Hrdina and Jiri Hrdina were in fact two separate players... The confusion stems from them both wearing number 38 for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Jiri Hrdina
1991-92 O-Pee-Chee #213

Jiri Hrdina (Center)
Born: 1958
Drafted: 8th round 1984 (159th overall)
Playing Career: 1987-1992
Teams: Calgary, Pittsburgh

Scored 130 points in 250 career games. Won a Stanley Cup as a member of the Calgary Flames in 1989, and with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 & 1992.

Jan Hrdina
2002-03 Pacific #308

Jan Hrdina (Left Wing)
Born: 1976
Drafted: 5th round 1995 (128th overall)
Playing Career: 1999-2006
Teams: Pittsburgh, Phoenix, New Jersey, Columbus

Scored 297 points in 513 career games.

Jan Hrdina
2003-04 Upper Deck #147

One of my common duplicates from 2003-04 Upper Deck was Jan Hrdina... And since there's barely any action, it's among my least favorite cards.

Just noticed that part of my dislike for this card might be due to the green coloring that Upper Deck used for the Phoenix Coyotes in Series I, after the Coyotes had changed their uniform colors and logo to maroon and white.

The card back also has the original Coyotes logo. The design used for Series II features the updated Coyotes' logo and colors.

SP Authentic 2003-04, 2004-05 & 2005-06

Adam Oates
2003-04 SP Authentic #34

Was lucky enough to sample a few consecutive years of SP Authentic.

2003-04 SP Authentic
(base cards 1-90)
Total Cards: 158

Adam Oates
2003-04 SP Authentic #34
(card back)

2003-04 has a good overall design. Catches my eye, but is just somehow lacking something to make me want to go out and grab the whole set.

Still wouldn't mind finding a few more of these.

Marian Hossa
2004-05 SP Authentic #61

2004-05 SP Authentic
(base cards 1-90)
Total Cards: 150

One of my least favorite designs. And from the lockout year, I might add...

Marian Hossa
2004-05 SP Authentic #61
(card back)

Seems they often try too hard when there's no season happening. It's definitely not overdone, but just something about the overall mood of the card...

I'd give it more artistic merit than its' predecessor, although the stats are a bit difficult to read.

Bill Guerin
2005-06 SP Authentic #33

2005-06 SP Authentic
(base cards 1-100)
Total Cards: 290

Probably my overall favorite design of the group. Already had a few of these.

Bill Guerin
2005-06 SP Authentic #33
(card back)

Visually appealing, without trying to be too busy or complicated. Would definitely like to add more of these to my collection.

A Second Glance...

Steve Thomas
1991-92 Pro Set Platinum #203

Destined for the duplicates pile, the photographs on these cards managed to catch my eye and earn a second look.

Pat LaFontaine
1991-92 Upper Deck #253

The scene will play out in slow motion for both the goaltender and the shooter.

Corey Millen
1992-93 Parkhurst #292

I like how the puck is still airborne as it hits the back of the net, with the Bruins' defender swiping hopelessly at it.

Tim Sweeney
1994-95 Parkhurst #9

Frantic action in front of the net is always enjoyable.

Glen Murray
2007-08 Upper Deck #168

Excellent demonstration of balance as Glen Murray gets everything he can on this one.

Valterri Filppula
2011-12 Upper Deck #392

The hometown fans don't look impressed as the visiting Detroit Red Wings celebrate a goal in the Boston rink.

Dallas vs Vancouver (1994 Second Round)

Andy Moog
1994-95 Donruss #108

Goaltenders: Wakaluk, Moog (DAL), MacLean (VAN)

Andy Moog got the nod for game 2 when the Stars needed to change things up.

This series only went 5 games, but Moog made some big saves... The team in front of him just couldn't match the synergy of the Vancouver Canucks (who would of course push the eventual champion Rangers to a seventh and deciding game of the Stanley Cup Finals).

Detroit vs San Jose (1994 First Round)

Arturs Irbe
1994-95 Parkhurst - Vintage #V79

Goaltenders: Osgood (DET), Irbe (SJ)

What an upset. I'd say that Detroit was the better team...

But through the seven game series, the Sharks played with more heart, caught some lucky bounces, and were backstopped by Arturs Irbe, who made some incredible saves in this series.

Chicago vs St Louis (1990 Second Round)

Vincent Riendeau
1990-91 Topps #177

Goaltenders: Millen, Belfour, Cloutier (CHI), Riendeau, Joseph (STL)

Another 7 game series... Got to see an unusual number of goaltenders in this one. Curtis Joseph comes in to relive Vincent Riendeau, while Mike Keenan shows his displeasure with his starting goaltender by eventually removing veteran Greg Millen from the lineup altogether. 

This was a closely fought series (with some actual fights). Every single game was close, with the exception of the 8-2 routing that Chicago delivered in the seventh and deciding game.

Chigago vs Minesota (1990 First Round)

Doug Wilson
1990-91 Upper Deck #223

Goaltenders: Millen, Belfour (CHI), Casey (MIN)

A beauty seven game series... Most of the games were close (with the exception of games 5 & 6, where the teams took turns dominating each other on the scoreboard).

Although Chicago's veteran goalie Greg Millen would start every game, rookie Ed Belfour saw his first playoff action in this series...  Chicago coach Mike Keenan wouldn't hesitate to pull his starter and replace him with young Belfour.

The Chicago Blackhawks would go on to win this series 4-3, losing only at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers during the Conference Final.

Dallas Stars Goalies

Jon Casey
1990-91 Topps #269

Felt like putting together a short list of goalies who have played the most number of games for the Dallas Stars franchise.

Had a chance to get Don Beaupre in a Stars uniform... It was one of about five cards that I actually wanted in the lot. Should have tried to work something out.

Jon Casey was in the Minnesota net for the late 1980s and early 1990s, before being traded to Boston.

Andy Moog / Darcy Wakaluk
1994-95 Topps Premier #81

Even more interesting that most of them wore different numbers (with the exception of Moog and Turco both wearing 35).

I seem to remember Darcy Wakaluk as number 34, but apparently he also wore 35 for a couple seasons.

Ed Belfour
2002-03 O-Pee-Chee #245

The Stars has a competitive team all through the 1990s, but in 1999 they were backstopped by Ed Belfour and won the Stanley Cup.

Marty Turco
2007-08 SPX #7

The Stars are relatively consistent as far as netminders go, often having a main goalie for several seasons.

I used to watch Marty Turco get shelled on the sports highlights... In the 2007 playoffs, he got 3 shutouts as the Stars lost a 7 game series. The team in front of him couldn't manage to score more than 1.3 goals per game to help him out.

Kari Lehtonen
2010-11 Upper Deck Black Diamond #44

Kari Lehtonen is well known for his awesome masks, just glad that I had a card from before the Stars changed their logo and colors...

Random Goaltender on O-Pee-Chee card...

Brent Johnson
2007-08 O-Pee-Che #499

Looking through some "new retro" OPC cards and found one that had pretty much been forgotten.

I believe it's from the second year the O-Pee-Chee brand was released by Upper Deck.

Also note the "new" Capitals logo, bottom right.

O-Pee-Chee 2012-13, 2013-14 & 2014-15

Andrew Ladd
2012-13 O-Pee-Chee #49

Taking a look at random cards filed into my O-Pee-Chee binder. Turns out that I have collected cards from three consecutive years of "modern" OPC.

Artem Anisimov
2012-13 O-Pee-Chee #279

I don't mind the retro look of 2012-13 OPC. The design is actually quite good.

But is the blurred yellow done on purpose to make it look old? The white corners and tiny edges completely throw me off...

Jussi Jokinen
2013-14 O-Pee-Chee #106

At least the borders are clean and crisp on the following season, 2013-14.

Stephane Robidas
2013-14 O-Pee-Chee #468

I realize that retro color schemes are the trend here.... But purple and light blue for Dallas?

Brendan Smith
2014-15 O-Pee-Chee #326

Probably my favorite of these three OPC designs. Just an 80s era throwback, simple and effective.

Brendan Smith
2014-15 O-Pee-Chee #326
(card back)

Even the back is a tad neater.

Cool Card: Jeff Skinner (2011-12 Pinnacle #53)

Jeff Skinner
2011-12 Pinnacle #53

My favorite "new" card at the moment... Had a few from this set, but the photo on this one is exceptionally good.

2011-12 Panini Pinnacle
Total Cards: 290

No stats on back, just a quick paragraph.
"There's that split second in NHL games when a goaltender realizes he's been beat and a skater knows he finished the job..."

Smokin!

Jim Carey / Bill Ranford
1997-98 Donruss Limited #14

Not normally a huge fan of two players sharing the one card, but this shiny collectible was a neat little surprise in a repack that also yielded some other good stuff.

Jim Carey / Bill Ranford
1997-98 Donruss Limited #14
(card back)

Really not sure what makes Jim Carey and Bill Ranford  counterparts (other than the fact that they were traded for one another).

This is the first card I've ever seen from this 200 card set, but it seems most of cards feature two players.

2004-05 Upper Deck

Niko Kapanen
2004-05 Upper Deck #58

My first and only card from 2004-05 Upper Deck (the year in which the entire season was cancelled due to the lockout).

I had actually been pretty hardcore during the previous season, having collected every single base card.

Niko Kapanen
2004-05 Upper Deck #58
(card back)

The design actually looks like a blend between 2001-02 and 2003-04.

The 2019-20 Upper Deck design also seems to borrow from this one.