A happier result this time as the home side ran out – or should that be skated out? – 2-1 winners in overtime. This brilliantly moody black and white shot was taken by Chris Garcia with the scores still 0-0.

Huge thanks to Chris for this contribution and we want more! If you’ve got your own shots taken from any sporting event, anywhere in the world, send them in to us for View from the Stands. Here’s what we need.

In the meantime, check out Chris’s blog, SportsBrain.

Sporting Fare - Serving up the world of sport...with a twist!

The scoreline looked better - but no less disappointing - at the end.

Big thanks to JM for this contribution.

Come on, Sporting Farer’s, get your View from the Stand pics featured on Sporting Fare – send them in to sportingfare [at] gmail [dot] com with the venue you were at, the teams or sportsman or woman on show and the eventual result – we promise to show them all!

Sporting Fare - Serving up the world of sport...with a twist!

The Leafs (of the Toronto Maple variety) signed a new captain.

Dion Phaneuf was officially named the 18th captain of the team in June.

A young, hard working defenseman hailing from Edmonton, he has played alongside one of the best during his NHL career (Iginla).
Toronto desperately needed someone’s sweater to stitch the ‘C’ onto, and Coach Wilson’s choice is both promising and inspiring. Since Mats Sundin’s departure in 2008, the team has had a ‘lost at sea’ aura with no defined leadership and not near enough heart.

Phaneuf is a real (excuse the term!) team player, already said to be a huge motivating factor in the dressing room and on ice. He has passion for the game, talent on the rink and a fan’s adoration for the Blue and White.

Since entering the league Phaneuf leads all NHL defencemen in goals (76), power-play goals (48), game-winning goals (21) and shots (1,233).

Here’s hoping he can stand the love-hate relationship the Leaf fans have for the team. (None of us are very good at standing by our men in this respect, for better or worse is not the consensus around here!)

Here’s also hoping that he can assist in getting every player working together and showcasing talent instead of faltering.

The immense pressure by the fans will be his biggest potential stumbling block, but with his record and mindset he shows great promise in getting things in order for Toronto.

So as we hoist the cold beverages to our faces to help combat heat, any Leafs fan can tell you there’s only one thing on everyone’s mind – when will we get the chance to hoist The Cup again?

After a lovely Olympic interlude (and the opportunity to let the Leafs poor season fade into the background) where Canada were hockey’s best, I think Greater Ontario is ready to enjoy the summer and keep this little glimmer of hope for the start of the season…

Sporting Fare - Serving up the world of sport...with a twist!

It was the longest run without lifting the famous trophy in the history of the game in the US. That record now passes to my favourite team in the NHL, the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have failed to win a Stanley Cup since 1967.

The Blackhawks won the best of seven game series 4-2 after a tense 4-3 win in overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers in Philadelphia. The Conn Smythe Trophy for Most Valuable Player rightly went to Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, who scored seven goals and provided 22 assists in the play-offs, including one for Chicago’s opener in last night’s game.

Despite being one of the most famous names in hockey, up there with the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago haven’t made much of an impact on the Stanley Cup. They will be glad to get that monkey off their back.

Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs will now be desperate to pass the mantle on to the Boston Bruins whose last Stanley Cup victory was in 1972. They have their work cut out, however, as their form and performances in recent seasons has been poor.

They finished last in the North East Division and the Eastern Conference with a record of 30 wins and 38 losses, conceding 268 goals in the process, scoring just 214.

In contrast, the Blackhawks finished second to San Jose in the Western Conference winning 52, losing 22 and scoring 271, conceding 209. The gap is, in hockey terms, massive.

Chicago’s opponents in the Stanley Cup final, the Philadelphia Flyers, had overcome a three game deficit to the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference semi finals to progress but for them there was no fairytale ending.

Congratulations to the Blackhawks. I’ll leave the last word to MVP Toews:

“Oh my God, it’s like that commercial. I’m speechless. This team put on one heck of a run. We knew from Day 1 of this season we had the potential to do it. And to realize our goal, it’s an amazing feeling. There’s so many great things about winning a Stanley Cup. This is it. This is the best feeling you can ever get playing hockey, and I just can’t believe it’s happening.”

Sporting Fare - Serving up the world of sport...with a twist!

La Liga: Barcelona versus Real Madrid

‘El Clasico’ takes place at the Camp Nou on Sunday. In the UK you can watch the first half of the match via the red button on Sky Sports One from 6pm. Second half coverage is on the same channel normally from 7pm. Ridiculous, right?

The same game last year resulted in a 2-0 victory for the Catalan side, then a humiliating game at Madrid saw Barcelona triumph 6-2. Real, therefore, will be out for revenge, especially in Barcelona. Fireworks, for sure.

Rating: Don’t miss it!

EPL: Arsenal versus Chelsea

Live on Sky Sports One from 3.30pm on Sunday, this game will have a massive impact on the Premier League. It could give Arsenal hope of actually winning it should they win but if Chelsea triumph it will make it very difficult for both Arsenal AND Manchester United to catch them.

Sadly, games of this kind are rarely a spectacle and often settled by the odd goal.

Rating: Something to watch before ‘El Clasico’.

EPL: Everton versus Liverpool

Sky Sports One, 1.30pm, Sunday. The Scouse derby is one always eagerly anticipated and this year it means much more than city pride and bragging rights. A defeat for Liverpool puts their 2010 Champions League credentials in serious doubt, while a victory for the Toffees gives them hope of a European spot themselves.

Should be feisty as normal. With Liverpool missing some key players and Everton welcoming back a couple of their best, perhaps the most evenly matched derby in years. Though on derby day, as everyone knows, that counts for nothing.

Rating: Fire up your Sunday afternoon early with this one.

NFL: New Orleans Saints versus New England Patriots

Annoyingly, no Monday Night Football in the UK this season, so nowhere to watch this, but the match up between Tom Brady (Pats) and Drew Brees (Saints) is one we love. If you can find it on the internet somewhere then we highly recommend you do.

The Pats are an impressive 7-3 for the season so far but, oh dear, the Saints are an unbeaten 10-0! However, the Pats have only ever lost once in the Saints’ Superdome, winning five times, so this should be one hell of a match up no matter what.

Rating: Take the time to find it online if you can!

NHL: Anaheim Ducks versus Chicago Blackhawks

We can’t find it on ESPN anywhere, though you’ll get it on the highlights shows no doubt. Why this one in a packed NHL schedule this weekend? Because the Blackhawks look like the best team out there right now, while the Ducks look to be one of the worst (along with your writer’s chosen Maple Leafs, sadly). The former is on an eight game winning streak and we want to know if they will make it nine.

However, the Ducks are improving – two wins in a row, could they possibly make it three against the League’s form team? Nah, probably not, but it’ll be fun finding out!

Rating: If you stumble across it, watch it.

Tennis: ATP World Tour Finals Final

Live on Sky Sports Three from 12.30pm (men’s singles final won’t start until at least 1.30pm) on Sunday, the final of the last men’s event in the tennis season promises to be a classic. Played at the O2 in London on indoor hard courts, we don’t yet know who the protagonists will be but with the likes of Federer, Del Potro and Soderling already through we think it’ll be well worth watching.

The last spot in the semis will be decided today and will go to either Davydenko or Djokovic – what more do you want? You can watch the semi finals on Sky tomorrow as well, so if tennis is your thing, then the ATP World Tour Finals are for you all weekend!

Rating: Game, set and match for this one. Classic.

Sporting Fare - Serving up the world of sport...with a twist!