The Assistant Captain of the Boston Bruins, Patrice Bergeron, was the obvious hero from last night’s pair of game sevens. Boston was down 4-1 mid-way through the third period and miraculously emerged victorious. During Boston’s unbelievable comeback, Bergeron scored the tying goal with 50 seconds remaining and then finished off the Toronto Maple Leafs five minutes into overtime. He finished first star of the game with 2 goals and 1 assist, amassing all his points on the last three Bruins goals. Clutch.

So what gear helps you achieve first star in a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

Helmet: Reebok 11K

The top of the line helmet from Reebok combines performance with style in the Reebok 11K helmet. The EPP floating liner both cushions and protects your head at the same time. It features a 360 degree fit that keeps the helmet snugly even through the hard hits. To protect his face, Bergeron wears the Oakley Pro Straight Visor.

Gloves: Reebok 11K KFS

Patrice Bergeron rocks the Reebok 11K Gloves and it’s pretty clear why. The 11K KFS gloves have a contoured fit, meaning that it fits tight all throughout the glove. The seamless flex cuff, found in many of the

Reebok KFS Glove line, allows for maximum wrist mobility without sacrificing any of the high level protection. This glove is perfect forplayers like Bergeron: that prefer the contoured, snug fit with the mobility of a traditional fitting glove.

Stick: Reebok Ribcor

This stick launches in July, 2013. Stay tuned to the blog to find out more about the Ribcor within the next two weeks.

Patrice Bergeron & the Reebok Ribcor

Skates: CCM RBZ

We’ll have a blog posted tomorrow about the CCM RBZ Skates: so check back tomorrow for more information!

All of the equipment Bergeron uses is (or will be available) at Inline & Ice Warehouse. Remember to check back soon for more sneak previews!

Nazem Kadri is among the NHL’s top ten point leaders in this 2013 season. Nazem Kadri is only 22 years of age and has totaled 34 points in 32 regular season games, which places him ninth overall among the NHL’s elite. This past week, the Toronto Maple Leafs utilized their star player as he collected a career-high three assists game (+3 rating), third three-point game performance, and fourteenth goal of the season. This exciting rookie has proven capable of hot streak performances and is tied for first on the Maple Leafs in goals and assists.

Lets take a look at Nazem Kadri’s gear, as he embodies the CCM brand.

Helmet: CCM Vector 10 Hockey Helmet

Nazem Kadri rocks the distinct Vector 10 Helmet, which has an aerodynamic shell design; therefore, maximizing on ice vision. The construction of the shell utilizes (19) properly placed vents designed to increase airflow ventilation. The Vector 10 Helmet consists of lightweight EPP liner and heat-molded memory foams that boost comfort and protection. Moreover, the Vector 10 helmet comes equipped with a lift and lock tool-free adjustment system that is designed for custom fitting, making any future NHL star look and feel like Nazem Kadri.

Visor: Oakley Pro Straight Small Hockey Visor

Since its introduction, the “pro straight” visor is notably popular as more NHL players wear the Oakley Pro Straight Visor, because of its classic and traditional appearance. This Pro Straight Small visor is currently the slimmest visor Oakley makes.  Also, it’s considered to be one of the few visor shields that meets and exceeds the demanding standard for optical clarity providing optimal visibility, which is apparent in Kadri’s goal scoring snipeability.

Skates: CCM RBZ Hockey Skates

You can see Kadri explode into action in the all-new CCM RBZ skate, as Kadri lifts off towards the crowd after another hockey highlight. The CCM RBZ skate is geared to improve foot speed and provide greater strength and mobility on the ice. The CCM RBZ skate is definitely tailored to make you skate like a rocket, which is why Kadri has been able to fly to the net finding loose pucks that have allowed his continual point streak to surge.

Stick: CCM RBZ Hockey Stick

Kadri’s ability to danglesnipecelly can be attributed to the CCM RBZ stick. The RBZ stick features pivotal innovations that have advanced the definition of balanced weight and flex. With better weight distribution, the RBZ stick truly develops a lively shot, as other players notice faster whip behind the puck. The flex profile is consistently stiff, which allocates various kick point releases for maximum shot loading. Lastly, the customary SpeedBlade Technology creates a very agile blade profile that allows for faster shots.

You can check out all of this great gear at Inline and Ice Warehouse

Anaheim Duck’s goaltender Viktor Fasth is off to an impressive start, nabbing his first shutout after just three games in the NHL. Fasth stopped 31 shots allowing the Ducks to win over the Avalanche with a 3-0 game. Fasth was signed as a free agent in the close of the season, making an effortless transition from the Swedish Elite League to the NHL. Now with a 5-0 record, Viktor Fasth is the first goalie in eight years to win his first five starts, two of the wins coming from overtime shootouts.

Let’s take a closer look at what gear makes our Goalie of the Day so impressively Fasth and accurate!

Viktor Fasth like most goaltenders looks for the best gear to fit their individual needs. Starting off with one of the goalies most decorated pieces of equipment, the mask. Fasth’s Bauer Pro 961 mask is hand crafted in Canada with hand-laid Aramid fiber and fiberglass for an extremely lightweight protective shell. Allowing Fasth to make amazing top shelf glove saves is the extremely lightweight Bauer Totalone catchers with the two-piece cuff deign. Viktor’s blocker of choice is the Bauer Supreme Totalone Blocker and for the stick, he chooses to us the Bauer Reflex Rx10 goalie stick. Nothing calls out the goaltenders style of play more then the leg pads and Fasth’s pad of choice are the Bauer Supreme Totalone leg pads with the extremely bright orange outer roll.  Last but not least we are going to highlight Fasth’s Bauer Pro goalie ice skates. The Bauer Pro goalie ice skate is lightweight, protective, and offers the goaltender excellent control on the ice.

Let me start this off by saying that the New York Rangers top line is ridiculous. The Richards-Nash-Gaborik combination may very well be the most formidable line in the NHL this season and they sure made a good argument for it last night. The trio put up 5 points, fifteen shots, and numerous scoring chances as they topped the Boston Bruins in overtime. While they all played phenomenally, Marian Gaborik was the clear first star with a hat trick that included the game winner in OT. Below is a video of his heroics last night.

So let’s take a look at the stick and skates that helps Gaborik do what he does.

Stick: Easton EQ50

Custom EQ50

Curiously, Marian Gaborik chose to play with the Easton EQ50 twig this year even though it’s now discontinued. With new additions to Easton’s lineup like the RS II and the Mako II, one would think that Gaborik would choose a different Easton stick; but apparently he found a stick that works for him and he’s sticking to it. And Easton is still sending him the custom black and blue colors so, at least while there’s inventory, get used to seeing Gaborik with the EQ50.

The hand eye coordination that Gaborik exhibited in that game gave the Rangers the victory, and the balance & feel of the EQ50 really made it possible.

Bauer Vapor APX Skates

Skates: Bauer Vapor APX

We can partially attribute Gaborik’s quickness and agility to Bauer’s quick and agile Vapor line. The top of the line APX skates allow for quicker accelerations as you can see in his breakaway last night.

With the NHL lockout still underway you may be wondering what the players and more specifically the goaltenders are up too. Many of the NHL goaltenders we’ve come to love and idolize are now showing off their amazing skills overseas for teams I can barely pronounce and in leagues some of us have never even heard of. Some of these leagues include the KHL, ESBG, DEL, Czech Extraliga, and SM-Liiga.

Goaltenders currently playing in Russia’s (KHL) Kontinental Hockey League are Anton Khudobin of the Boston Bruins now playing for the Atlant Moscow Oblast, Semyon Varlamov of the Colorado Avalanche now with HC Lokomotiv, Ilya Bryzgalov of the Philadelphia Flyers is now playing with CSKA, Niklas Backstrom of the Minnesota Wild is now with HC Dinamo Minsk, Sergei Bobrovsky of the Columbus Blue Jackets is with SKA St. Petersburg, and Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators is with the HC Dinamo Minsk.

Anton Khudobin / Bruins

The Czech Extraliga hockey league currently has Michal Neuvirth of the Washington Capitals signed to the Sparta Praha, Ondrj Pavelec of the Winnipeg Jets is now playing with Bili Tygri Liberec, and Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins signed with HC Plzen.

Tuukka Rask / Bruins

San Jose Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi is currently playing for the Pelicans of the Swedish SM-Liiga hockey league.

Antti Niemi Sharks

Germany’s ESBG Hockey League signed both Rick DiPietro of the New York Islanders to SC Riessersee and Jonathan Bernier of the Los Angeles Kings to the Heilbronner Falken on Oct. 10^th 2012.

Jonathan Bernie Kings

If and when the NHL comes to an agreement to end the lockout, most of the goaltenders will return to their NHL teams ready to put on a show.

Jonas Hiller. Need I say more? Out of all the helmets in the NHL, I choose Jonas Hiller’s designs because of their simplicity, cleanliness and aesthetics. Let me start out by saying that I am NOT an Anaheim Ducks fan (in fact quite the opposite), but it was his simple matte black mask that first caught my eye back in 2010.

A lot of the goalies‘ masks today seem too busy and leave the viewer reeling and confused about where they’re supposed to look or the meaning behind the design. Hiller’s mask, on the other hand, had a fresh and clean look to it. The gold metal of the cage and screws contrasts the matte black perfectly for questionably my favorite mask of all time.

In November of 2011, Hiller had his mask painted for a noble cause: Movember. If you don’t know what Movember is or what it stands for, shame on you. All kidding aside, Movember is a month long (mustache growing) effort to raise funds and awareness for various men’s health issues including prostate cancer. “I just wanted to do something different,” Hiller said. “I talked to my painter [Alec Voggel] and he said, ‘Yeah, what do you think? We should just do a couple of masks this year. I sent him the whole theme about Movember and guys growing a mustache.” Now when you think of Ducks with mustaches, one name usually pops into mind: George Parros.  But…

Hiller had the ducks team at the time pictured on his helmet with either real mustaches or a photoshopped version of one better than they could actually grow. From this point on, Hiller kept Anaheim and his team on his mind (and his head) when it came to designing future helmets.

One mask lies between the mask that Hiller will wear in the upcoming (hopefully) 2012-2013 season. The 3D Wild Wing mask of the remainder of the 2011-2012 season.

This one is pretty self explanatory. A little busier than we’re used to with Hiller, but still remaining loyal to his team by featuring the Ducks’ mascot Wild Wing in a 3D design.

Ok, now the 2012-2013 mask. It features elements from all of his past helmets and in my opinion will be the sickest looking mask to look for this season. Sticking with the Matte black and metallic golds, Hiller came up with this beauty.

This side of the mask shows Hiller’s love for Anaheim featuring the Ducks’ Home Arena, the Honda Center, and metallic gold Ducks logos with a throwback Mighty Ducks logo.

The other side shows more love for the area with a typical Southern California surfer silhouette and then a shout out to his Swiss home country with the Swiss emblem at the base of the back.

Well this was my two cents about Hiller’s masks but I’d be interested in hearing your argument for another goalie’s mask.