Well, it would appear we have a series in the East, after Montreal laid a whoopin' on the Flyers in the Bell Centre. Jaroslav Halak was superb, Chris Pronger looked old, slow, and confused, and the Flyers' offense was completely out of sync. Mike Cammalleri led off the scoring for Montreal, and P.K. Subban had three assists.
A series that looked like it would be a laugher for Philadelphia is now very much in question, but not to require panic if you're a Flyers fan. Nonetheless, Game 4 may very well decide the series. It is quite plausible to expect an overtime game, with the winner going on to take the series. Game 3 brought the momentum to even- quite a feat when you consider what an easy time Philly had with Montreal in the first two games.
The Habs kicked the Flyers' butts up and down the ice, and the Flyers must have a bounce-back game, or risk getting stomped out of the playoffs in short order.
In the meantime, Chicago played one of the least-inspired third periods I've ever seen, and Antti Niemi demonstrated himself to be a playoff goaltender. He single-handedly kept Chicago in a game they should have lost badly. Patrick Marleau emerged from his usual playoff doldrums to score two (and didn't miss a hat trick by much), and Evgeni Nabokov played rather well.
Dustin Byfuglien scored on a textbook play in overtime to send San Jose to the hotel down 3-0, and likely out of the playoffs on Sunday.
What to make of the situation? Evgeni Nabokov is going to cement his reputation as being unable to win the big one (and fuel discussion that the Sharks should have traded Nabokov as opposed to Bryzgalov), and we will hear much more about the reliable playoff disappearance of Joe Thornton.
Chicago was assumed to have weak goaltending- and has in several games- but Niemi is playing well enough to carry things, and Chicago's offense will likely hand them the Stanley Cup... but then again, that's what everyone said about Washington and Pittsburgh against Montreal.
5/22/10, 6:15 EDT
Well, that should settle that. Philadelphia just owned Montreal in the Bell Centre, and would seem to be setting up a Philadelphia-Chicago showdown. We shall see...
Friday, May 21, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
Eastern Conference Semis
Montreal v. Pittsburgh
The worst part of the Montreal win over Washington is that it makes it more likely the Penguins will make it back to the finals for the 3rd straight year.
I didn't give the Canadiens nny chance against the Caps an look how well that worked out. That said, I still think the Penguins have too much talent for the Habs.
Obviously Halak has to play out of his mind again. I doubt he he'll be able to play as well, nor will they be able to strangle the Pittsburgh power play the way they did to the Caps. Penguins in 5.
The worst part of the Montreal win over Washington is that it makes it more likely the Penguins will make it back to the finals for the 3rd straight year.
I didn't give the Canadiens nny chance against the Caps an look how well that worked out. That said, I still think the Penguins have too much talent for the Habs.
Obviously Halak has to play out of his mind again. I doubt he he'll be able to play as well, nor will they be able to strangle the Pittsburgh power play the way they did to the Caps. Penguins in 5.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Why I Can't Stand Todd Bertuzzi
It's one of the worst moments in hockey. Not only does Bertuzzi sucker punch Moore, he drives his face into the ice. Moore never palyed in the NHL again.
Hockey is a violent, contact sport but that was not hockey. It was an assault.
Yes, I know about Moore and Naslund but there was no penalty or sublimental discipline handed down for it.
The reenstatement of Todd Bertuzzi is one of the blackest marks against Gary Bettman and his stewardship of the game.
I respect the Wings as a team and an organizatin but I can't root for them with Bertuzzi on their roster.
Hockey is a violent, contact sport but that was not hockey. It was an assault.
Yes, I know about Moore and Naslund but there was no penalty or sublimental discipline handed down for it.
The reenstatement of Todd Bertuzzi is one of the blackest marks against Gary Bettman and his stewardship of the game.
I respect the Wings as a team and an organizatin but I can't root for them with Bertuzzi on their roster.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Western Conference preview...
Well, all the drama seemed to happen in the East. I remain convinced that lack of good goaltending is going to cost someone a Cup in the West as well, so let's do a rundown...
#1 San Jose vs #5 Detroit
San Jose let Colorado hang around much longer than was acceptable. Evgeni Nabokov did improve as the series went on, and the Sharks did get their offense together. Nonetheless, Colorado was minutes away from a 2-0 lead going home to Pepsi Center (or "The Can" if you're a Denverian). Joe Pavelski has more or less carried the Sharks thus far, and to his defense, Nabokov really only had one bad game.
Detroit are certainly not the Detroit of yesteryear, but when the chips were down in Game 7 versus Phoenix, the usual suspects stepped up. Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Nicklas Lidstrom... just sort of seemed to say "hey, wait, we're the Red Wings" and crushed the life out of the Desert Dogs with startling ease. Jimmy Howard has been everything the Wings could hope for in net, and the league's hottest team down the stretch seems to be awakening in a new fashion in the playoffs.
San Jose has more firepower, at least on paper, and seems at first blush to have better depth.
Irrelevant. Wings in six.
#2 Chicago vs #3 Vancouver
The story of the playoffs for Vancouver has without question been Mikael Samuelsson... the Sedin twins have been impressive thus far, but the clutch, key goals have been Samuelsson's. Roberto Luongo has been steady, but against a Los Angeles team that held on for dear life to make the playoffs, steady may not hold up against the firepower-heavy Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks, on the other hand, have benefited from timely scoring (particularly Patrick Kane) and a relatively punchless Nashville squad being unable to organize on the power play. Defensively, the shutouts seemed less a function of Antti Niemi and a star-heavy Blackhawk defensive corps and more a function of Nashville ineptitude offensively (boy, it pains me to say that).
In any event, Chicago has better firepower and more depth defensively. Niemi has had a couple of shutouts in these playoffs, and Chicago seems eager to repeat last year's annihilation of Roberto Luongo.
Luongo will have one of his classic meltdowns, which will propel Chicago to the conference finals in five games.
#1 San Jose vs #5 Detroit
San Jose let Colorado hang around much longer than was acceptable. Evgeni Nabokov did improve as the series went on, and the Sharks did get their offense together. Nonetheless, Colorado was minutes away from a 2-0 lead going home to Pepsi Center (or "The Can" if you're a Denverian). Joe Pavelski has more or less carried the Sharks thus far, and to his defense, Nabokov really only had one bad game.
Detroit are certainly not the Detroit of yesteryear, but when the chips were down in Game 7 versus Phoenix, the usual suspects stepped up. Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Nicklas Lidstrom... just sort of seemed to say "hey, wait, we're the Red Wings" and crushed the life out of the Desert Dogs with startling ease. Jimmy Howard has been everything the Wings could hope for in net, and the league's hottest team down the stretch seems to be awakening in a new fashion in the playoffs.
San Jose has more firepower, at least on paper, and seems at first blush to have better depth.
Irrelevant. Wings in six.
#2 Chicago vs #3 Vancouver
The story of the playoffs for Vancouver has without question been Mikael Samuelsson... the Sedin twins have been impressive thus far, but the clutch, key goals have been Samuelsson's. Roberto Luongo has been steady, but against a Los Angeles team that held on for dear life to make the playoffs, steady may not hold up against the firepower-heavy Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks, on the other hand, have benefited from timely scoring (particularly Patrick Kane) and a relatively punchless Nashville squad being unable to organize on the power play. Defensively, the shutouts seemed less a function of Antti Niemi and a star-heavy Blackhawk defensive corps and more a function of Nashville ineptitude offensively (boy, it pains me to say that).
In any event, Chicago has better firepower and more depth defensively. Niemi has had a couple of shutouts in these playoffs, and Chicago seems eager to repeat last year's annihilation of Roberto Luongo.
Luongo will have one of his classic meltdowns, which will propel Chicago to the conference finals in five games.
Montreal Beats Washington, 1st Round Is Over
So, I didn’t see that coming. In fact, I predicted a Washington sweep. The Canadiens winning in 7 wasn’t even a remote thought for me. Oops.
tim3rd were talking about a week ago about the lack of a standout goalie during the first round. Needless to say that was before Jaroslav Halak decided to go Dominik Hasek on us.
What do the Caps do from here? This isn’t their first playoff flop but the reality is sometimes in hockey you just run into the hot goalie that steals a series. It’s one of the charms of the sport, so long as it’s not your team getting hitting the wall.
Right now you look at the Capitals and you see the start of an Atlanta Braves run…awesome regular seasons followed by playoff flops. A one seed (the President’s Trophy winner) losing to an eight seed after taking a 3-1 series lead? That’s an epic FAIL.
Do they rip the team apart? Find a new coach? It’s a lot easier when you are a bad team, at least you know what to fix. What do you with a team that wins a lot of games in the regular season (dominates it really) only to flop like this? The moves aren’t so obvious.
Tonight’s game marks the end of the first round that has seen some great hockey. Other than the NJ-Philly matchup, every other series featured great play, dramatic finishes and entertaining hockey. It’s time like this I feel a certain moral superiority for being a hockey fan. Most sports fans in the US don’t watch hockey and it’s there loss.
Quick look ahead to Round 2-
Red Wings v. San Jose: San Jose nearly choked up their opening round series against a very young but talented Colorado team. Have they overcome their jinx or did they just delay it? I say they delayed it. Red Wings looked good in closing out a pesky Phoenix team. Howard should settle down now in goal with a series in his pocket. I think the Red Wings will be too much for Nabakov. Wings in 6
Vancouver v. Chicago: I predict lots of scoring in this series. Vancouver is such an odd team. Louongo keeps winning but you feel it’s a high wire act about to go all wrong at every turn. Chicago also has a lot of premiere talent up front and while Antti Niemi was played reasonably well in the first round it was agains defensively a solid but not scary Predators team (with apologies to tmi3rd). The Sedin twins along with Mikael Samulesson are going to scorch the Hawks. Luongo will do what he always does…just enough not to lose. Blackhawks in 6
I was going to do the east but it’s late and I have a few days until it starts.
The complete Round 2 schedule is here.
tim3rd were talking about a week ago about the lack of a standout goalie during the first round. Needless to say that was before Jaroslav Halak decided to go Dominik Hasek on us.
What do the Caps do from here? This isn’t their first playoff flop but the reality is sometimes in hockey you just run into the hot goalie that steals a series. It’s one of the charms of the sport, so long as it’s not your team getting hitting the wall.
Right now you look at the Capitals and you see the start of an Atlanta Braves run…awesome regular seasons followed by playoff flops. A one seed (the President’s Trophy winner) losing to an eight seed after taking a 3-1 series lead? That’s an epic FAIL.
Do they rip the team apart? Find a new coach? It’s a lot easier when you are a bad team, at least you know what to fix. What do you with a team that wins a lot of games in the regular season (dominates it really) only to flop like this? The moves aren’t so obvious.
Tonight’s game marks the end of the first round that has seen some great hockey. Other than the NJ-Philly matchup, every other series featured great play, dramatic finishes and entertaining hockey. It’s time like this I feel a certain moral superiority for being a hockey fan. Most sports fans in the US don’t watch hockey and it’s there loss.
Quick look ahead to Round 2-
Red Wings v. San Jose: San Jose nearly choked up their opening round series against a very young but talented Colorado team. Have they overcome their jinx or did they just delay it? I say they delayed it. Red Wings looked good in closing out a pesky Phoenix team. Howard should settle down now in goal with a series in his pocket. I think the Red Wings will be too much for Nabakov. Wings in 6
Vancouver v. Chicago: I predict lots of scoring in this series. Vancouver is such an odd team. Louongo keeps winning but you feel it’s a high wire act about to go all wrong at every turn. Chicago also has a lot of premiere talent up front and while Antti Niemi was played reasonably well in the first round it was agains defensively a solid but not scary Predators team (with apologies to tmi3rd). The Sedin twins along with Mikael Samulesson are going to scorch the Hawks. Luongo will do what he always does…just enough not to lose. Blackhawks in 6
I was going to do the east but it’s late and I have a few days until it starts.
The complete Round 2 schedule is here.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Rangers To Sign Olympic "It" Boy Mats Zuccarello-Aasen
Zuccarello-Aasen got as much coverage for his name as he did for his fiesty play for Norway during the Olympics and now it looks like the Rangers have beat out several teams for the diminutive winger.
Personally I'd like to see the Rangers get bigger and faster, not smaller and faster but for a team that desperately needs more scoring, it's something.
Listed at 5'7", Zuccarello-Aasen starred for Norway at the Vancouver Olympic Games and led the Swedish Elite League in scoring this season with 64 points in 55 games (23 goals, 41 assists) while playing for MODO.I loved the skating, scoring touch and attitude he displayed in the Olympics and the Sweedish Elite Legaue scoring is something but still, the guy is ...5'7". Not sure how that translates to the NHL. Well, actually I am, iit translates into the current group of forwards for the Montreal Candaiens.
The 23-year old was reportedly heavily pursued by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks. The Maple Leafs offered Zuccarello-Aasen a two-year entry level contract.
Personally I'd like to see the Rangers get bigger and faster, not smaller and faster but for a team that desperately needs more scoring, it's something.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Night 3
What a great playoff season this has been already. 7 games, all decided by 1 goal, including 2 in overtime. The eight seeds in both conferences are up 1-0 .
Tonight, the Chicago-Nashville series finally gets underway, be sure to check out tmi3rds' preview.
You never want to really think of Game 2 in a 7 game series as a must win but it's pretty close. Being tiedd 1-1 is a very different situation than gowing down 0-2. Expect to see some desperate hockey tonight from teams looking to bounce back from their opening defeats.
Pittsburgh and New Jersey are the two teams that simply did not play with enough intensity in their first games.
NJ wasn't physical enough, as evidenced by the Chris Pronger PPG where he was able to camp out in front of the net. That has to change. They also need to create more problems for Boucher in the Flyers' net. He was able to see the puck all night long and was only beat on a crazy deflection in the game's final minutes (with their goalie pulled). They need more of that early on.
The other big game is San Jose. Given their recent playoff meltdowns, the last thing they wanted was to fall behind to the kids from Colorado. The Sharks needed a strong effort to put the Avs away and not let that talented but young team have any reason to believe they could win the series. Now the Avs absolutely believe they can the Sharks have to have it in the back of their mind that this could get ugly and spiral out of control.
Phoenix and Detroit round out tonight's slate of games. I really thought the Wings were on too much of a roll but the Coyotes just kept coming at them and coming at them. Given everything they've been through this year (Who owns the Coyotes? Owns...) they certainly deserve it. Besides, how funny would it be to see NHL Commissioner Gary Betman present the Cup to....himself.
Enjoy the games!
Tonight, the Chicago-Nashville series finally gets underway, be sure to check out tmi3rds' preview.
You never want to really think of Game 2 in a 7 game series as a must win but it's pretty close. Being tiedd 1-1 is a very different situation than gowing down 0-2. Expect to see some desperate hockey tonight from teams looking to bounce back from their opening defeats.
Pittsburgh and New Jersey are the two teams that simply did not play with enough intensity in their first games.
NJ wasn't physical enough, as evidenced by the Chris Pronger PPG where he was able to camp out in front of the net. That has to change. They also need to create more problems for Boucher in the Flyers' net. He was able to see the puck all night long and was only beat on a crazy deflection in the game's final minutes (with their goalie pulled). They need more of that early on.
The other big game is San Jose. Given their recent playoff meltdowns, the last thing they wanted was to fall behind to the kids from Colorado. The Sharks needed a strong effort to put the Avs away and not let that talented but young team have any reason to believe they could win the series. Now the Avs absolutely believe they can the Sharks have to have it in the back of their mind that this could get ugly and spiral out of control.
Phoenix and Detroit round out tonight's slate of games. I really thought the Wings were on too much of a roll but the Coyotes just kept coming at them and coming at them. Given everything they've been through this year (Who owns the Coyotes? Owns...) they certainly deserve it. Besides, how funny would it be to see NHL Commissioner Gary Betman present the Cup to....himself.
Enjoy the games!
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