"Right now I'm going to home to the farm, the team, and the family."
To the surprise of not many, Dale Hunter stepped down this afternoon as head coach of the Washington Capitals after taking over for Bruce Boudreau in November. Almost as soon as he took on the coach, the speculation began about how long Hunter would last in D.C. after signing a 1-year deal and having a successful junior hockey team in London of the OHL to fall back on should things not work out.
They did work out as Hunter led the Capitals within a victory of the Eastern Conference Final, but in the end the choice came down to family.
"It's a tough decision," Hunter said. "When I retired as a hockey player, I had to retire because I wasn't that good anymore, I guess you want to say. This was a tough decision. I enjoyed coaching these guys here and being back to the team. I always figure, it's not my team but Ted's team, but it's still my team. It was the right thing for me and my family."
"It was a tough choice," Hunter said when asked if he was tempted to see his work done this season into the next. "Even if they win the Stanley Cup next year, I feel like I'm part of it. I'll always be part of it."
Hunter's London Knights team that he co-owns with his brother Mark will be playing in the Memorial Cup beginning this weekend. He said he doesn't plan to return behind the Knights' bench this season, preferring to be "a fan" during the tournament.
Greetings from Houston, where last night?s brutal thunderstorms have passed and today?s MLS matche between the Dynamo and D.C. United at the new BBVA Compass Stadium should proceed without weather issues. To get you ready.....
Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.
? Deadspin has pieced together the drunken weekend of Patrick Kane in Madison, Wis., including anonymous tales of choking a girl and getting involved with the police because there was almost a fight sparked by Kane's alleged anti-Semitic comments. Meanwhile, Jonathan Toews read a book. [Deadspin]
? Jaromir Jagr done with the Philadelphia Flyers? "Jaromir Jagr was given several chances to say he wanted to return to the Flyers. He did not bite. It appears he will test the FA market." [Broad Street Bull]
? In hindsight, how did Paul Holmgren actually do as Philadelphia Flyers GM? [TPSH]
? The conference final times are set for Games 1 and 2: "The Western Conference Final opens Sunday, May 13 in Glendale, Arizona, where the Phoenix Coyotes will host the Los Angeles Kings at Jobing.com Arena (8 p.m., ET, NBC Sports Network, TSN, RDS). Game 2 of the series will be played in Glendale on Tuesday, May 15, beginning at 9 p.m., ET.� Games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference Final will be played on Monday, May 14 and Wednesday, May 16, respectively, and pit the New Jersey Devils against the winner of the Conference Semifinal series between the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals. That series currently is deadlocked at 3-3, with Game 7 set for Saturday night in New York (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, CBC, RDS)." [NHL]
? Among the owners in Tom Stillman's group for the St. Louis Blues: John Danforth, former U.S. Senators, and Thomas Schiafly, the founder of the St. Louis Brewery. [Blues]
? John Fontana on the NHL vs. the NHLPA: "With posturing in the media by the Commissioner and a lack of tangible movement on the labor front, the noxious bane's potency becomes more lethal, and an interruption to the 2012-13 NHL season becomes more possible." [Raw Charge]
? What's the off-the-ice impact of the Nashville Predators' playoff disappointment? [Tennessean]
? Injured defensemen Marek Zidlicky and Anton Volchenkov are expected to be ready by Game 1 of the conference final for the Devils. [Fire & Ice]
? Marty Brodeur on getting taunted with "Matteau! Matteau!" at MSG: "It stopped not long ago," Brodeur said Thursday. "Same guy. Same spot. He would yell it at me over and over at the Garden. Since '94 they've been living off it for a long time, some of these fans. They have a great hockey club now. I expect if we do play them it will be somewhat similar." [NJ]
? Brooks Laich puts over Dale Hunter yet again: "I can't [say] enough. He's been great," Laich continued. "It's almost like having another veteran in the locker room, is what it feels like. You can draw on his experience [and] he's willing to open up and share it. He's been through these battles." [WaPo]
? Tom Benjamin on the Vancouver Canucks offseason: "Kudos to Frances Aquilini for doing the obviously right thing. It looks like more of the same from the Canucks next year. Some fans won't like that because they judge the year and the team based on a short series. I'm delighted because I think the way to win is to a) become a contender and stay in contention, b) wait until the hockey gods decide to let randomness favour the Canucks for a change." [Canucks Corner]
? The Dallas Stars make their reunion with Bob Gainey official. [Dallas Stars Blog]
? Clayton Stoner signs a new two-year deal with the Minnesota Wild. Wonder how he'll celebrate? [FS North]
? How did the New Jersey Devils manage to get into the Eastern Conference Final? [ILWT]
? Bob Miller on the Los Angeles Kings vs. the Phoenix Coyotes: "To me, the series against Phoenix pits two teams peaking at the right time with great goaltending, outstanding defense and every player increasing his level of play. The teams were even during the regular season with each team winning three games, although the Kings lost two of those in the extra session, one in OT and the other in a shootout. Three shutouts took place between the teams in the regular season with the Kings winning 1-0 and 2-0 behind Jonathon Quick and Phoenix winning 1-0 behind Mike Smith." [LA Kings]
? Jonathan Quick is apparently "enigmatic." We had no idea he was Russian. [NHL.com]
? We love sports synergy when hockey teams make a Cup run. Here are members of the Phoenix Coyotes with the Arizona Diamondbacks at batting practice. [MLB]
? Thank you all for continuing to make this blog and Yahoo! Sports a success. [SBJ]
? Finally, here's a cooking segment with Bobby Ryan. What, no Taylor Ham, Jersey?
Both New York and Los Angeles host big Game 7s on Saturday night. On the West Coast, the NBA's LA Lakers and Denver Nuggets will go the distance at the Staples Center. On the East Coast, the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals will face off for the right to play the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Final.
No doubt, with the Lakers involved, conventional wisdom says that that's the hottest Saturday ticket on the schedule. But, as it turns out, that's not actually the case. Judging from the online resale market, New York/Washington is far and away tomorrow's marquee event.�From USA Today:
Tickets for Rangers-Caps are averaging $462 vs. $225 for Lakers-Nuggets, according to�Joellen Ferrer of StubHub. The�online ticket service is seeing 10 times the sales volume for Rangers-Caps as Lakers-Nuggets, she adds.
So what's making the Rangers/Capitals showdown the hotter ticket? Braden Holtby prom hopefuls? The rise of Jay Beagle? Maybe it's all that sexy, sexy shot-blocking?
Here are 5 things that might be giving the NHL's Game 7 the edge:
1) Star power
Not to take anything away from Kobe Bryant, but he's the only real star here in a Lakers/Nuggets matchup; the opponents bring very few recognizable names to the table. Seriously, name a player on the Denver Nuggets. If you can't do it, don't feel bad -- I assure you that basketball fans struggle just as much. And if you said Javale McGee, um, wow.
The Rangers' opponents, on the other hand, have this Alex Ovechkin guy. You've probably heard of him, since he's one of recognizable hockey names in the world. He can draw a crowd, and the fact that he'll be in the visitors' locker room for this game is going to drum up some additional interest.
2) The live experience
You hear it all the time, but for all its knocks about the television experience, most Americans will tell you that hockey is incredible live. If this were just about TV viewers, the NBA probably takes the title in a walk, but we're talking about the in-arena experience. If you have an opportunity to attend a hockey Game 7, you have to take it.
3) Madison Square Garden
More than just the live experience, the MSG experience factors in here. Let's be clear: as nice as the Staples Centre is, it's no Madison Square. Seeing a Game 7 at the Staples Centre is one thing; seeing a Game 7 at MSG is something you remember forever.�The world's most famous arena is a draw all on its own, and the fact that the event inside of it Saturday has some serious marketability is the cherry on top.
4) Canadians
The distance between Toronto and New York is about 8 hours by car, which is completely manageable since the game's on a Saturday and there's no need to rush back for work the next morning. The opportunity for Canadian fans to see a rare Game 7 at Madison Square Garden is there, and we all know how easily swayed Canadians are by the promise of hockey history. They'll pay through the teeth to witness it, and that may be factoring into the high resale volume.
5) Hungrier Market
And finally, speaking of rarity, the Lakers are a massive draw, to be certain, but they're in contention a lot more often than the Rangers. They've won 5 of the last 12 NBA titles. Kobe Bryant has played in five Game 7s in his career, and 3 at home, the most recent being the final game of the 2010 NBA Finals, a home court win over the Boston Celtics. The Lakers also hosted Game 7s in 2009 and 2006.
The Rangers, on the other hand, are in territory that hasn't been charted in a long time. They haven't won a Cup since 1994, and they've played just one Game 7 at home in the last 17 years, and it was two weeks ago. This isn't just a big game. It's an exceptionally rare big game, and the novelty factor tends to jack up the price.
Game 1 Preview : New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers, 8 p.m. ET. The Battle of the Hudson will take place for the third time since the lockout beginning with Game 1 tonight at Madison Square Garden. The Devils and Rangers split their six-game regular season series which was highlighted by a March line brawl to open the game. The Rangers are coming off back-to-back seven-game series, while the Devils have had five days off. Will there be any signs of rust for New Jersey early on? And will New York look tired in Game 1 having eliminated the Washington Capitals on Saturday night?
? Craig Custance talked to the agent for Alex Semin and told him that his client will be hitting the open market on July 1. A return to Washington doesn't sound like it's in the cards: "It was good while it lasted. With the lack of playoff success, with the direction they are going. They decided to change directions. That's within their rights. Alex doesn't fit into that system obviously."�[ESPN]
? Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith is a hockey fan and sure knows how to play to a crowd. [Sean's Ramblings]
? Finland's Anssi Salmela was given a 3-game suspension for his hit from behind on Team USA's Alex Goligoski. [IIHF]
? Finally, is there anything better than video of general manager's getting upset watching their team in the press box? Example: George McPhee of the Washington Capitals from Game 7:
"Right now I'm going to home to the farm, the team, and the family." 
