Thursday, December 15, 2011

F-bombs away, as HBO returns to the ice with 24/7 Rangers/Flyers

For those scoring at home, Bruce Boudreau is still the defending champion of NHL cursing, however, it would seem that Peter Laviolette and John Tortorella may have their eyes set on the title.

HBO debuted their second season of the 24/7 series, this one featuring the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers as they make their way towards the NHL Classic on the day after New Years Day.

As season one revealed, NHL coaches and players can at times have potty mouths, as the F-bombs flew out through the speakers on Wednesday night, making sure that the required notice of coarse language was a legitimate warning of what was to come.

The first episode took a bit of a look back at the first few weeks of the season, but kept up to current developments with the concussion of Claude Giroux, who has yet to return to the ice, with tonight's announcement of Chris Pronger's season ending concussion, there will be more drama to reveal next week.

The camera's for HBO were in the right place at the right time for a controversial Rangers moment, the over zealous goal  celebration by the Rangers winger Artem Anisimov, for those of us who might have missed the original event the 24/7 version offered up some background on the event that nearly led to an old time NHL brawl.

So far, it seems that Ilya Bryzgalov has found his calling, the Flyers goaltender became the sage of the sport with his ruminations on the universe and our place within it.  Confirming the old adage about goaltenders being if not more erudite, at least a little different than the rest of the skaters.

Montreal Gazette-- Philadelphia Flyers' Ilya Bryzgalov's eccentric side revealed on 24/7  
TSN-- Bryzgalov's musing on universe the star of first 24/7 segment
USA Today-- Ilya Bryzgalov one of the stars of HBO's 24/7
Vancouver Province-- Ilya Bryzgalove Needs a Spin off
ESPN-- It's Ilya Bryzgalov's time to shine
National Post-- The wisdom of Ilya Bryzgalov

The 24/7 project proved to be a pretty impressive examination of hockey beyond the ice last year, following the Capitals and Penguins to their Winter Classic showdown, which of course resulted in the beginning of the end of Sidney Crosby's season last year and as events have  provided, for most of this one thus far as well.

It also made a media star of sorts of Bruce Boudreau, his dressing room sessions, filled with expletives became legendary as the Capitals neared the Winter Classic and as the remainder of the NHL season moved on we can only imagine his language became even more blue as the Capitals floundered their way out of the NHL playoffs.

Had those cameras been in the Capitals room at the start of this season, we can only imagine what we may have learned about the Capitals as the end of Boudreau's time behind the bench arrived.  Perhaps a cautionary tale for both Tortorella and Laviolette as the series moves forward.

For those who never saw the original series, HBO has made it available on DVD now, a great gift idea for any hockey fan, though we imagine Mom would have some strong words of her own for any hockey Dad that makes it a gift for the younger ones.

This years series continues on next Wednesday, each week's instalment offering a glimpse of the mindset of the two teams leading up to the Winter Classic in Philadelphia on January 2, 2011.

Globe and Mail-- Rangers vs. Flyers: The profanities, fears and joys are riveting
New York Times-- '24/7' Episode 1: A Victory Dance for HBO
CBS New York-- 24/7 Rangers-Flyers Thoughts
New York Daily News-- HBO breaks ice with first episode of 24/7 Flyers/Rangers
ESPN-- Three Stars of '24/7' -- Episode 1
Philadelphia Inquirer-- Reviewing HBO's 24/7
Philadelphia Daily News-- Stitching together hockey life for all to see

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