For any fans who weren’t familiar with the Golden State Warriors, say hello to Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. This dynamic backcourt has the range to hit 3 point shots from anywhere on the court, and the team has really bought into Mark Jackson’s coaching philosophy. As a #6 seed, the Warriors ran right through the Denver Nuggets (who had the best home record in the NBA) to upset the #3 seed and advance to the second round. They are now in a toe to toe battle with Tim Duncan and the #2 seeded San Antonio Spurs.

In the Eastern Conference, Paul George’s star is rising quickly for the Indianapolis Pacers. He’s proven to be a big time defender, and a more than capable offensive player. The Pacers look to be in good shape to get past the New York Knicks and advance to the conference finals. You may think they are no match for the Heat, but they were up 2-1 against Miami in last year’s conference semifinals, and won two out of three games during the regular season this year. I’m not convinced they will beat the Heat, but it certainly looks like they aren’t afraid of LeBron’s team.

I also have to give a shout out to the Chicago Bulls. Playing all season without the 2011 NBA MVP, Derrick Rose, and further shorthanded in the conference semis without Luol Deng and Kirk Heinrich, this team is giving everything they have to try and compete. In their first playoff series, they went into Brooklyn and won game 7 on the road. Now, against the mighty Heat, they won game 1 in Miami, and are making new fans all over the league with their “heart, hustle & muscle” (credit to Stacey King).

You can follow the remaining playoff action on our NBA playoff page, where eliminated teams are updated daily.

The post New stars from the NBA playoffs appeared first on FansEdgeBlog.

The NHL Playoffs Quarterfinals are over and now the 2013 NHL Playoffs gear up for another round: The Conference Semifinals. The first round was filled with some amazing comeback victories, some hard fought wins and the usual spoilers. Here is what we are looking at for the NHL Playoffs Round 2 match-ups:

Western Conference:

(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs (7) Detroit Red Wings
(5) Los Angeles Kings vs (6) San Jose Sharks

Eastern Conference:

(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs (7) Ottawa Senators
(4) Boston Bruins vs (6) New York Rangers

The last two games of the first rounded concluded last night, with some of the best heart racing hockey we may have seen. The one game on most people’s mind this morning was the Bruins vs Leafs. The Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs were a Game 7 Battle Royale, where both teams were fighting to advance. The Leafs were dominate through the first two periods, looking like they were killing the spirit of the Bruins, as they held on to a 4-1 lead into the 3rd period.

This certainly was not looking well for the Bruins, as fans trickled from the building. With literally just minutes left in their final game, this Boston Strong team pulled through with the likes of Zdeno Chara (tying the game) and Patrice Bergeron scoring the winning goal in overtime. This Boston Bruins team won deservedly in front of their home crowd, as the Leafs were sent packing after an amazing game themselves.

If this next round of series games are anything like the first, we are in for an amazing treat. As an added bonus, 4 of the original 6 hockey teams will be playing each other to advance to the next round: Chicago, Boston, New York and Boston. There will be two California teams battling it out with LA and San Jose, not to mention an incredible rivalry between the Blackhawks and Red Wings that can’t be missed.

The first round of games are set to kick off tonight (Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa) and will run into next week, once again, being a first to 4 games out of 7. Expect the the physicality of the games to increase; as well as the heart pounding power plays and any over time minutes to be tense as ever. Never has hanging on every shot of a puck been so exciting!

Who’s your pick for advancing onto the next round? Any favorites you see getting spoiled? Who do you want in the Stanley Cup Finals? Let us know in the comment section below!

The post NHL Playoffs: Conference Semifinals appeared first on FansEdgeBlog.

Western Conference

The most notable match-up from this conference is the San Jose Sharks sweeping the Vancouver Canucks last night. The Sharks took all 4 games in the best of 7 and were the first team to advance. The Sharks have proved themselves to be a tough team, and showed no slowing down while playing the Canucks. Although some Vancouver fans may cry “playoff curse” as they were once again eliminated from contention, but in the end this boiled down to just a better team winning.

The Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild are also an honorable mention from this conference. The Blackhawks started off with a strong 2-0 series lead, but the Minnesota Wild fought back in Game 3. Any fan would agree that in Game 3 the Wild were a completely different team on the ice than in the previous two games. The team brought physicality which threw the Chicago Blackhawks off their game. The Hawks did come back to win the next game, and hold a 3-1 series lead.

Eastern Conference

Some may agree that the Eastern Conference isn’t as tough as the Western, so the Pittsburgh Penguins would easily skate into the Stanley Cup Finals no matter who they played. Although the Pens were viewed as having the conference already won, the New York Islanders may another thing to say on that. These two teams are currently tied in a 2-2 series and is showing that this series won’t just be given, it must be taken. Going from a Pittsburgh Penguins series lead to a series tie, could the Islanders be able to finally pull through as the underdogs and take lead of the series for the first time?

Also feeling the heat in the NHL Playoffs this year are the Montreal Canadiens. These number 2 seeded Habs are matched up against the 7th seeded Ottawa Senators, and in theory, was thought to have been an easy victory for the Canadiens. The Senators are up to a commanding 3-1 lead over Montreal and it is not looking good. This series has been one of the most physical this year, from some hard hits, to a throw-down-brawl in center ice involving most of the team. Are the Canadiens out of gas and accepting defeat, or can they pull forward? It’s still possible, as teams have come back from a deficit once before.

These are just a few of the match-ups occurring for the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs this year. While the teams are finishing up their best of 7 games this week, the next 8 will advance and in just a few short weeks, we’ll have a Stanley Cup winner! Whether you plan on wearing some Chicago Blackhawks gear, or sporting a Pittsburgh Penguins t-shirt, now is the perfect time to get into the playoffs with some NHL Playoffs gear.

The post The NHL Playoffs are Heating Up appeared first on FansEdgeBlog.

Well hockey fans, the start of the “second season” and the race for the Stanley Cup is officially underway: the NHL Playoffs! To get you up to speed, here are the current teams in this year’s playoff, as well as who they’ll be playing:

Western Conference

Minnesota Wild vs Chicago Blackhawks
Detroit Red Wings vs Anaheim Ducks
San Jose Sharks vs Vancouver Canucks
Los Angeles Kings vs St Louis Blues

Eastern Conference

New York Islanders vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Ottawa Senators vs Montreal Canadeins
New York Rangers vs Washington Capitals
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Boston Bruins

Last night’s kickoff of the NHL Playoffs surely didn’t disappoint as Chicago vs Minnesota, Anaheim vs Detroit and St Louis vs Los Angeles all hit the ice. Highlights from last night’s games include:

Chicago Blackhawks vs Minnesota Wild
2 – 1 Overtime Win
Chicago Leads 1-0
Bryan Bickell scoring the overtime winning goal

Detroit Red Wings vs Anaheim Ducks
3 – 1
Anaheim Leads 1-0
Jonas Hiller with 21 saves

Los Angeles Kings vs St Louis Blues
1 – 2 Overtime Win
St Louis Leads 1-0
Alexander Steen scoring a power play goal and the overtime winning goal

(Remaining teams are scheduled to play their first games tonight or Thursday.)

Playoff hockey is a whole new beast compared to regular season hockey. Every play, every hit, and every shot on the net is one you will hang on. Your blood pressure will increase, your body will tense up, and you’ll maybe even cry out unexpectedly on the close goals and before you know it, you’ll be hooked. As any regular hockey fan would agree to, the NHL playoffs are an amazing time of year!

This is the perfect time for you the hockey fan to get in on the action as well. With our expansive selection of 2013 NHL Playoff Gear, we can get you into the latest and greatest threads for this year’s NHL playoff season. Best of luck to your team in the quarterfinals, and we’ll see you back next week with a full recap of this week’s happenings!

The post NHL Playoffs Are Underway appeared first on FansEdgeBlog.

Well, another week is marked off in the hockey books as we come to an exciting conclusion on the NHL season. With most teams reaching their last final 4 games, some are playing for home ice advantage, some are trying to squeeze their way into the playoffs and some are just trying to get through alive.

Chicago Blackhawks

Once again, the Chicago Blackhawks remain the top team this week, as how it seemed to be the whole season. These Blackhawks are 8-0-2 of their last 10, most recently losing in a shootout to the Nashville Predators. Although not winning their last game, they still managed to earn a point, and are sitting at 73 total game points – the highest in the NHL. With concerns of Ray Emery’s injury, and Corey Crawford failing to stop easy shots to the net, could a goalie issue pose a serious concern yet again for the Blackhawks heading into the playoffs? The Chicago Blackhawks can clinch the Presidents Trophy and home ice advantage with a win tonight, and a Pittsburgh loss.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Nipping on the heels of the Blackhawks are the Pittsburgh Penguins. This team has done quite well themselves, as they are currently on a Win 6 streak of their own and are 8-2-0 of their last 10. Most remarkably, these guys are a 21-2-0 in the last 23 games! The Pens have clinched the best record for the Eastern Conference and are battling for the Presidents Trophy with the Blackhawks. Whether or not the team could forge on without seeing the likes of a Sidney Crosby jersey or Evegeni Malkin jersey on the ice was a question that weighed heavily with fans – but this Pittsburgh Penguins team conquered through adversity. Although these players have been skating with the team, there is no definite timetable for their return.

Detroit Red Wings

Detroit fans, we can hear you loud and clear: you’re nervous! With the Red Wings sitting at a 9th place position, this Detroit team needs to buckle down if they want to get into the Playoffs. Could a 21-year run of making the Playoffs come to an end? With Columbus and Minnesota ahead, both with 51 points, and Detroit tied with Dallas at 48, these last few games need to be played to their fullest. Anything but a 2-point victory could cost one of these teams the Playoff spot. I would recommend keeping an eye on these Western Conference duelings, as this will be a fight to the finish and notably one of the most exciting finishes this season.

Florida Panthers

This Florida Panthers team is just trying to get back and end this shortened season. With a special feat of their own, these Panthers barely survived the season at a lowly 13-26-6 record – the lowest record in the league. These Panthers have a 6 game losing streak and are 3-7-0 within their last 10 games. Florida fans everywhere will be thankful for the end of the season. This team never had much hope from the beginning as injuries plague them from the start.

With the Playoffs within arms reach, now is as good as any other to browse through your team’s NHL jerseys and find your favorite player to support. The hockey fan is just as important to the game as the player, which is why the fight for the Presidents Trophy and home ice is so important. Who do you think will be making it to the playoffs in the Western Conference? Have you any gut feelings on who’ll be in the Stanley Cup Finals? Let us know in our comment selection below.

The post NHL Weekly Recap appeared first on FansEdgeBlog.

Some critics may argue that the playoffs are too long, or that too many teams qualify for the playoffs (16 out of 30 teams get in). I’m not one of them. My basketball passion reaches a frenzy during March, as I watch the NCAA tournament, and just as my passion is starting to wane, I’m treated to the NBA playoffs. Some call it the second season, because it actually feels and looks different from the regular season. Defense is better, fast breaks are limited, and teams get plenty of rest days to tweak their strategies and game plans. Beating a team once is much different than playing them in a 7 game series.

We can all agree that the Miami Heat are the team to beat in this year’s playoffs, with the #1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder a close second. Looking at the Vegas odds to win the championship, they seem to believe that no team other than the Heat and Thunder really have much of a chance to win it all.

Odds To Win NBA Finals (via Bovada.lv)

Miami Heat 2-3
Oklahoma City Thunder 9-2
San Antonio Spurs 17-2
New York Knicks 15-1
Denver Nuggets 22-1
Indiana Pacers 22-1
Los Angeles Clippers 22-1
Memphis Grizzlies 35-1
Los Angeles Lakers 40-1
Chicago Bulls 50-1
Boston Celtics 60-1
Brooklyn Nets 60-1
Golden State Warriors 100-1
Houston Rockets 100-1
Atlanta Hawks 125-1
Utah Jazz 250-1
Milwaukee Bucks 300-1

At the first jump ball, all those odds go out the window though, as teams will do their best to win and advance. Make sure to follow your contender here as they battle towards the NBA finals.

The post The NBA second season appeared first on FansEdgeBlog.

Can a 34 year old, who has logged 17 NBA seasons, come back from this injury? Probably. Definitely, in the case of Kobe Bryant. He’s one of the most fierce competitors the game has ever seen. I’m sure he’ll attack his rehab with the same passion and energy that he uses to attack defenders. That’s not the question though. The real question is whether or not Kobe can come back to his old form? If so, expect him back to terrorize the league again next year. If not, we may have seen the last of Kobe Bryant as an elite basketball player.

What does that mean for the Lakers? First of all, they are going to try and secure the 8th and final playoff spot without him. Hopes of making a deep run this year have taken a serious hit. Time for Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol to step up for this team, but don’t hold your breath in hopes of a playoff series win. Without Kobe, this Lakers team is just not deep enough to knock off the #1 seed (either San Antonio or Oklahoma City). Going forward, the Lakers are going to have to figure out what their offense will look like without relying on #24.

The post Kobe Bryant and the state of the Lakers appeared first on FansEdgeBlog.

Through blood, sweat and tears, this University of Louisville team has really endured it all. This March Madness season has really been a wild ride. With some teams that were expected to do well, do not so well, and of course the usual underdogs taking out the higher seeded team.

From upsets and buzzer-beaters to jaw-dropping performances and bitter heartbreak, the 2013 tournament has had it all. And we sports fans have been glued to the TV watching every single minute.

The expansion of social media allows fan interaction and reaction more than ever, and America has had plenty to say.

Individual legacies have been made. Players like Louisville’s Russ Smith, Michigan’s Trey Burke and Ole Miss’ Marshall Henderson etched their names in March lore. Players like Georgetown’s Otto Porter Jr. and Gonzaga’s Kelly Olynyk felt the agony of premature defeat.

Whether it be the upset-filled opening rounds that saw teams like Harvard, La Salle and Ole Miss literally light some brackets on fire or the dominance of teams like Louisville and Syracuse, the Twittersphere has had more than enough to react to.

From Florida Gulf Coast becoming an overnight sensation on their way to a Sweet 16 berth to the outpouring of support for Louisville’s Kevin Ware after his gruesome leg injury against Duke, fans interacted with the tournament like never before.

This years season truly has been great. Now that the Louisville Cardinals have won, there’s really only a few things left to do: celebrate, and purchase some Cardinals championship gear! Here at FansEdge, we have you covered with all your NCAA National Championship merchandise. What’s better than getting some great Louisville Cardinals Championship shirts, Cardinals national championship hats, 2013 Louisville championship merchandise and tons of other March Madness apparel for all men, women and kids alike!

The post Louisville Cardinals: 2013 National Championship Winners appeared first on FansEdgeBlog.

Spring ahead with these new looks!

2013 NFL Draft Hats

Rally behind your favorite franchise with the exclusive 2013 NFL Draft hat and celebrate your team’s #1 draft pick in style! Featuring embroidered graphics and vibrant team colors, this 2013 NFL Draft hat is a spectacular way to welcome all the new kids on the block.

Majestic Cooperstown Crosstown Rivalry Player Jersey

Wrap yourself in official baseball merchandise by throwing on a Majestic Cooperstown Crosstown Rivalry Player Jersey. These stitched jerseys feature 100% polyester construction and feature tackle twill lettering and embroidered graphics. Round out your look with this stunning piece of MLB apparel.

NHL Classic Breakaway Raglan T-Shirt

Look your best for game day by donning a Classic Breakaway Raglan T-Shirt. Made from 100% cotton, these new NHL t-shirts feature vibrantly colored screen print graphics and quality construction. Keep cool with this great piece of NHL gear!

Contour Flip Flops

Hit the beach or kick back poolside with Contour Flip Flops. Brought to you by Forever Collectables, this officially licensed college merchandise features a screen print logo on the foot bed and embroidered team wordmark on the straps, providing you with a functional way to represent your favorite NCAA team.

MLB Diva Fashion T-Shirt

Pledge your allegiance to your ball club by donning a Diva Fashion T-Shirt. Brought to you by Majestic, this top features vibrant team colors, front placket and comes with a chic v-neck design collar. Become a die-hard fan by owning this one-of-a-kind piece of MLB apparel!

Have a great weekend from FansEdge!

The post FansEdge New Arrivals appeared first on FansEdgeBlog.

Chicago Blackhawks

Although this team is only at a 6-4-0 record within their last 10 games, this team still deserves a shout out and to be on the top of most NHL teams team-to-beat lists. These Blackhawks did have a shutout within their last 6 wins, and most notably hammered home a victory against one of their favorite rivals, the Detroit Red Wings, winning by a commanding 7-1. The most amazing part, is that this team accomplished all this without the aide of Hossa and Sharp, who are expected to return to the lineup at any time. The Chicago Blackhawks still maintain the best record in the league at 27-5-3 with 57 points, and an amazing +43 goal differential.

Pittsburgh Penguins

What can we say about this team other than the fact, they were on one amazing hot streak! Their amazing streaking ended against the Buffalo Sabres at 15 games. This has greatly helped out the Pens in the rankings, as they currently sit at a 28-9-0 record, and are 5 points ahead of the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, arguably one of the best players in the league, Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby is now out indefinitely. Crosby was hit in the mouth with a puck, by his own teammate, in a game against the Islanders breaking his jaw. Sid the kid has already undergone surgery and will be out for some time. How will this effect the rest of the team, and the rest of the Pens year? Be sure to keep an eye on this team.

Detroit Red Wings

As mentioned previously, this Detroit Red Wings team hasn’t exactly had the best of luck over the last week. The Red Wings won their first game this week after losing two in a row. Being shutout against the San Jose Sharks and a crippling defeat via the Chicago Blackhawks, this win was necessary both for morale and points in the standings. These Detroit Red Wings currently sit at 18-13-5 record with 41 points, which is just a few above the two way tied St Louis Blues and Nashville Predators at 38. These next few games will be telling on whether or not the Red Wings can pull it together to stay at the 7th spot, and make it into the playoffs this year.

As well, with the trade deadline looming, it makes sense to make some honorable mentions and maybe update you on a few standings:

∙ Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames to the Pittsburgh Penguins for 2013 1st Round Pick and rights to Kenneth Agostino (F) and Ben Hanowski (F)

∙ Jaromir Jagr of the Dallas Stars to the Boston Bruins for Lane MacDermid (F), Cody Payne (F) and 2013 2nd Round Pick

∙ Ryane Clowe of the San Jose Sharks to New York Rangers for 2013 2nd and 3rd Round Pick, and a 2014 2nd Round Pick

∙ Jay Bouwmeester of the Calgary Flames to the St Louis Blues for Mark Cundari (D), Reto Berra (G), 2013 or 14 1st Round Pick and 2013 4th Round Pick

With today being the trade deadline, a few more may sneak on through. With just about two weeks left in the season, whether or not to make a trade is more important than ever. Any new additions to the team could help or hinder a performance and streak to the coveted Stanley Cup Finals.

The post NHL Gears Into Its Final Games appeared first on FansEdgeBlog.