Saint Marty...

Martin Brodeur
2011-12 Score #21

It's fun to make fun of Martin Brodeur - But only because he's one of the greatest goalies ever.

When your team is facing him, you really wish that anyone else was in net...

Just a few years before his retirement, I thought this card was a fitting tribute.

Career Highlight with over 25,000 saves.
That's a hell of a lot of stops.

(I'd like to see those pucks stacked up in a pile!)

Often not a fan of Highlight or Milestone cards - Unless there's a cool picture or really interesting stat.


Brodeur would finish his career with 28,928 saves.

Bob Cat Flying High...

Sergei Bobrovsky
2020-21 Upper Deck #79

The Florida Panthers advance to the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals with a sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Championship.

Every game in the series was decided by a goal, however.

After winning the first two games in overtime, the advantage seems to be Florida's goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky who earned a shutout in Game 3.

Sergei Bobrovsky
2011-12 Score #349
(Glossy Parallel)

Had to look up exactly how long Bobrovsky had been in the league... I knew he spent years in Columbus, but actually began his career with Philadelphia.

In a photo that was probably taken during the pre-game warmup, it almost looks like "Goalie Bob" has been chased from the net (full of pucks behind him).

2011 Winter Classic

Eric Fehr
2011-12 Score #3

Another great card with a player celebrating a goal.

This one's from the 2011 Winter Classic.
 
Not only are the Capitals wearing red helmets with their white uniforms, but the pants are also red...

The Caps have had red pants from 2011-2015, which must be why it seemed familiar to me.

Apparently the team did have red pants in their very first NHL season (1974-75).


As for the red helmets? Not sure where the idea came from, but it kinda works - Surely just an attempt to make the Winter Classic look even more like old time hockey.

Jim Bedard
1979-80 O-Pee-Chee #62

The only other Capitals card I have that depicts a  player with a white jersey and red helmet.

Sure, it's the goaltender - But it's still an awesome card.

2011-12 Upper Deck...

Chris Stewart
2011-12 Upper Deck #36

Here's a Blues player giving a rough time to a member of the Nashville Predators.

Whether he's holding him down on purpose remains to be seen.
I just love these battles on cards.

Still diggin' those retro Blues jerseys!

Jonathan Quick.
2011-12 Upper Deck #118

Another card from this set, this time it's horizontal...
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick spreads out to corral a loose puck.

The Kings would win the Stanley Cup that season, so Quick was in top form.

Long Island Horizon...

Josh Bailey
2011-12 Pinnacle #232

Onward with 2011-12 scans, to an awesome overhead angle to capture Josh Bailey knocking the puck past Martin Brodeur of all people.

(Sorry Marty, you can't stop 'em all)

Ray Ferarro
1991-92 Upper Deck #311

Another horizontal card with an Islander around the net. This time Ray Ferarro attempts the wraparound.

Also digging the obscure goalie cameo. It could be Frederic Chabot who wore number 1 with the Montreal Canadiens during the 1990-91 season. It's neat that he shows up on this card, as he played just 3 games (a total of 108 minutes) that season.

Mike Modano

Mike Modano
2010-11 Pinnacle #128

After 20 years with the Stars organization (back to the days of the Minnesota-based North Stars) Mike Modano would finish his career playing 40 games with the Detroit Red Wings during the 2010-11 season

He wore number 90 in Detroit, his usual number 9 being retired in honor of Gordie Howe.

Mike Modano
1994-95 Upper Deck #SP-21

Probably the card that has the most action within the 1994-95 Upper Deck SP insert set. Mike Modano is being mauled by a couple members of the St Louis Blues.


1994-95,Upper Deck,Insert Cards,2010-11,Pinnacle,

Washington VS Boston

Zdeno Chara
2011-12 Score #61

My fascination with this 2021 playoff matchup is Washington's Zdeno Chara facing his former teammates in Boston.

This marks the fourth time that these franchises will meet in the postseason.

In previous meetings, the Bruins emerged as the victors in 1990 (en route to the Finals), with the Caps winning in 1998 (also making it to the Finals). The teams also met in a 2012 playoff matchup won by the Capitals.















A number of trades between these two franchises during the 1990s and early 2000s also managed to catch my attention, for whatever reason...

From nhltradetracker.com:

Steve Leach
1993-94 Pinnacle #73

After 6 seasons in Washington, Steve Leach played 5 seasons in Boston where he would score 159 of his 283 career NHL points.

Al Iafrate
1994-95 Select #80

The acquisiton of Al Iafrate was definitely exciting for Bruins fans...

Unfortunately, the big defenceman with the booming slapshot would only suit up for a dozen games with the Bruins. He missed a couple seasons due to injury, returning to play briefly with the San Jose Sharks.

Joe Juneau
1994-95 Topps/OPC Premier #100

Washington landed Joe Juneau in the Al Iafrate trade. Juneau would spend six seasons in Washington, scoring 234 points in 312 games with the Caps.

(Juneau would also play in Buffalo, Ottawa, and Phoenix before finishing his career in Montreal)

Adam Oates
1999-00 O-Pee-Chee #202

After nearly 6 seasons with the Bruins, Adam Oates became a member of the Washington Capitals, and would provide veteran leadership for the Caps during their 1998 appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Sergei Gonchar
2002-03 Upper-Deck #175

In a season when the Bruins were already heavy favorites to win The Cup, the 2004 acquisition of Sergei Gonchar and Michael Nylander definitely seemed to improve the Bruins' chances...

However, the Bruins were defeated in the first round in a seven game series against their hated rivals, the Montreal Canadiens.

2011-12 SP Authentic

Jaroslav Halak
2011-12 SP Authentic #13

2011-12 SP Authentic
Total Cards: 150

Another set that I missed out on a couple years ago...
Just happened to find a near-complete set sandwiched between a few other sets within a random binder purchase.


Really digging these retro style St Louis Blues jerseys.

Jaroslav Halak is currently backstopping the Boston Bruins with Tukka Rask (and a pair of young goaltenders).

Brendan Shanahan
2011-12 SP Authentic #59

Part of the fun of the SPA sets are the random cards featuring players like Bobby Orr and Gretzky...

For some reason, they decided to feature Brendan Shanahan's brief time with the Hartford Whalers.

Shanahan had 79 points in his 76 games with the Whalers.
It's also the only time he'd wear number 94 for an NHL team.

With yet another Whalers card added to my collection, I now have approximately 11% of the Hartford Whalers cards ever produced.

Dany Heatley
2011-12 SP Authentic #92

Another "retro" jersey that's slowly growing on me... At least it's better than some of the other uniforms worn by the Minnesota Wild.

Wasn't aware that Dany Heatley had been with the Wild. Scored 102 points in 194 games during his 3 seasons with the team.

Jose Theodore
2011-12 SP Authentic #104

Can't say that I recall Jose Theodore ever playing for the Florida Panthers...

He actually finished his career in Florida, playing 53 games in the 2011-12 season, and 15 games in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.

Morphin' Rangers...

Andy Bathgate
2011-12 O-Pee-Chee #516

Taking a look at cards of the New York Rangers. Some of them are new to my collection, others I've had for a while.

I believe that jersey number 9 is now retired by every single one of the Original Six teams.

The New York Rangers have actually honored two players under that digit:
Andy Bathgate & Adam Graves, both in 2009.

Note the Rangers logo used from 1967-1971.

Pavel Bure
2002-03 O-Pee-Chee #16

Before number 9 was retired it was briefly worn by Hall of Famer Pavel Bure, who was with the NYR from 2002-2003.

Bure must have chosen 9, as number 10 was occupied by Sandy McCarthy.


Eric Lindros and Sandy McCarthy are visible on the bench in this snapshot.

Ed Giacomin
1991-92 Ultimate Original Six #20

Another retired NYR number is the oldschool goalie jersey number 1.

Eddie Giacomin was the Rangers goaltender for a decade (1966-1976).

His was the second Ranger number to be retired (after Rod Gilbert's number 7).

Chuck Rayner
2003-04 Parkhurst Original Six New York #87

Jersey number 1 was also worn by Chuck Rayner, the Rangers starting goaltender for 7 seasons (1945-1953). Won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1949-50, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973.

Note the even older Rangers logo used from 1936-1947.

Ron Duguay
1982-83 O-Pee-Chee #221

I kinda thought it was only for a short while, but the Rangers had "New York" on their blue road uniforms for almost a decade (1978-1987). Their white home uniforms still had the word "Rangers".

Brian Leetch
1999-00 O-Pee-Chee #30

The popular blue Statue of Liberty jerseys were first introduced in 1996. A white version was also briefly worn during 1998-99.

In the 1999-00 O-Pee-Chee set, both Brian Leetch and Peter Nedved are depicted wearing this jersey.

Brian Leetch's number 2 jersey was also retired by the Rangers in 2008.

Rockin' Detroit in the Steel City...

Henrik Zetterberg
2011-12 Donruss #63

Another cardboard snapshot of the Stanley Cup Finals...

This one is presumably from the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins (even though it appears in the 2010-11 Donruss set).

The Wings and Pens met in back-to-back Stanley Cup Final series in 2008 and 2009.

With so many teams, it's obviously pretty rare for the same teams to make it all the way back to the Finals again. Was curious when this had happened last...

From Wikipedia:
"...the first time that two teams met in the Stanley Cup Finals in consecutive seasons since the Edmonton Oilers and the New York Islanders did so in 1983 and 1984."

Evgeni Malkin (the 2009 Playoff MVP) also makes a cameo on this card.

Playoff Highlights from 2011

Dwayne Roloson
2011-12 Score #486

2011-12 Score
Total Cards: 570

The NHL regular season is over-rated... The Stanley Cup Playoffs quickly separate the teams who want to be there from the guys who'd rather be golfing or checking the view at the beach.

Really enjoy what I've found so far from the "Playoff Highlight" cards within the base set.

(card numbers 486-500 fall into this category

Dwayne Roloson
2011-12 Score #486
(card back)

From the back of the card:
"A storm cloud was looming over Tampa Bay after stumbling out of the gate and dropping three of the first four games to the Penguins in the first round of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. That's when Roloson and the Lightning pulled it together, storming back and stunning the host Penguins, 1-0 in Game 7."

Card back is neat and clean, in typical Panini style. A snapshot of playoff action on the back of the card would be an excellent addition.

Enough room for a wide-angle photo, as each player in the highlight reel has a single line of stats, regardless of how many seasons played.

(But once again, going without a photo on the back can be more pleasing than re-using the same shot)

Michael Ryder
2011-12 Score #487

From the back of the card:
"It wouldn't be the Stanley Cup Playoffs if Boston and Montreal didn't cross paths. The 33rd playoff meeting between the rivals was another classic, with the Habs stealing the first two games in Boston before Ryder tied the series, 2-2, with an overtime goal in game 3. The Bruins won it in seven."

Milan Lucic
2011-12 Score #494

Just look at all that Orange Crush in the background...

From the back of the card:
"Boston's blood still had to be boiling thinking about a 2010 second-round series against Philadelphia, which it squandered a 3-0 series lead. Lucic and the Bruins got another crack at the Flyers in the second round in 2011, and this time they didn't buckle. Boston got its payback, sweeping Philadelphia."

Teams to overcome a 3-0 series deficit:
1942 Toronto Maple Leafs defeat Detroit Red Wings
1975 New York Islanders defeat Pittsburgh Penguins
2010 Philadelphia Flyers defeat Boston Bruins
2014 Los Angeles Kings defeat San Jose Sharks

Michael Ryder
2011-12 Score #164

Just like the previous year's Score hockey card set, a Stanley Cup graphic (this time with team logo) appears with the players who won the Stanley Cup during previous season.

In this case, former Bruin Michael Ryder has since joined the Dallas Stars.

Thrash Unreal...

Tomas Fleischmann
2011-12 Pinnacle #162

Have less than a page worth of cards from 2011-12 Pinnacle, yet two thirds of them contain awesome snapshots. Just realized that every card in this set is horizontal.

The Florida Panthers' jerseys on both cards definitely threw me off...

At a first glance, I thought they looked like the (now defunct) Atlanta Thrashers (RIP 2011). Whoever designed this Panthers' uniform deserves a good thrashing...

David Booth
2011-12 Pinnacle #186

Actually, this Florida Panthers' uniform isn't bad... Something similar is actually returning in 2020-21 as a "Reverse Retro" jersey. At least the jumping cat is back!

Can't wait until the Panthers (and Ducks) decide to go completely retro and bring back the jerseys that they wore when they entered the league in 1993.

Despite the hometown team scoring a goal, the Florida spectators look bored out of their minds, with plenty of empty seats in the background.

Nobody even seems to care that the Chicago Blackhawks are in town (the fact that they won the Stanley Cup in 2010 is like, so last year).

Score Ritual...

Uwe Krupp
1996-97 Score #175

Always find plenty of Score while gambling on re-packs... At least the designs were getting better by the mid-nineties...

Uwe Krupp
1996-97 Score #175
(card back)

From the back of the card:

"The big defenceman scored a pair of key goals, including a game winner, in the Avalanche's semifinal series victory over Detroit".

Not to mention his game-winning goal in triple overtime for the Stanley Cup, securing a victory against the Florida Panthers in a lopsided 4-0 series victory.

Scott Clemmensen
2011-12 Score #215

Just realized that the set design bares a slight resemblance to some of the modern designs of the Score brand (specifically 2011-12)...

A good snapshot of a hockey scene... I like the red cat with demonical eyes on his mask.

Scott Clemmensen
2011-12 Score #215
(card back)

The flip side of the card scores a win in my books... (Just realized that Panini actually does cardbacks quite well)

Team logo, vitals, stats... Only thing absent is a photo on the back - Although I'm starting to believe that a photo on the reverse side is only worthwhile if it's a different photo than on the front.

At 6 foot 3, Clemmensen would have been one of the tallest goaltenders...
While goaltenders have no doubt gotten bigger and taller, at the moment, only a handful of active NHL goalies are over 6'3".

Three different stints with the New Jersey Devils over his career, yet he played almost twice as many games as a member of the Florida Panthers.

WTF Hockey Card: James Neal (2011-12 Pinnacle #218)

James Neal
2011-12 Pinnacle #218

Probably don't have many cards depicting the player without a stick...

It looks like James Neal has a WTF expression on his face, with his hockey stick possibly trapped under the goaltender's pad.

Imagine how awesome this snapshot would be if Neal was celebrating a goal with the puck in the net.

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.

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..."

The Head That Wears The Crown

Ryan Clowe
2011-12 Panini Crown Royale #77

2011-12 Panini Crown Royale
Total Cards: 182

While an entire set of die-cut cards doesn't really appeal to me, I do enjoy occasionally finding one or two.

Didn't realize that Panini now has the Crown Royale brand - But I believe this card was visible as bait for me to purchase a re-pack...

I prefer vertical cards to horizontal ones, so I kinda like this one. The silver crown is awesome, and the front of the card is relatively well done.

Just not sure why they chose such a large font for "2011" and "2012". (To me, that information is better kept to the back of the card)

Overall, the card design definitely gets a passing grade (probably a "B plus" or an "A minus").

Ryan Clowe
2011-12 Panini Crown Royale #77
(card back)

Nothing really wrong with the back, although I'd like to see the stats board a bit higher... (Maybe instead of those weird diagonal pieces, whatever they're supposed to be. Possibly the bands that wrap the crown around the back of the head?)

Also not a fan of the format used for the player's height, weight, date of birth, with alternating colors... Find it too awkward to read.

Ryan Clowe scored 112 goals and 197 assists for 309 points in 491 career games.

(also had 46 points in 70 playoff games)