College Day….
Yes I enjoy days like this…..college hockey is fun to watch and sometimes you never know what to expect. A different kind of madness is what the college hockey game presents. Thankfully some weird hockey god got me ESPNU at the bar so what I was able to watch was something amazing. Yes I know there is nothing like watching 16 college basketball games in a day…but the college hockey is where its at. There were some regional final games and a few first rounders that got underway. So to get to the first rounders that happened yesterday.
Miami of Ohio was trying to silence their critics but their effort yesterday left more questions than answers.  Thankfully they did come thru in OT to win 3-2 yesterday. Justin Mercier saved Miami with a huge goal with under five minutes left in Overtime to extend their season and end Air Force’s run. Andrew Volkening could not stop his wrister which just seemed to come off Mercier like a patented Mark Messier wrister. It was unexpected and left Air Force stunned. I was surprised as really I was expecting a second OT but that came up about 4:39 short. What was more shocking was just the fact that Air Force had a 2-1 lead in the third period. Miami had scored on the first shift but Air Force had actually controlled play up until a dumb penalty late in the third period for too many men on the ice of all things. Miami converted that Power Play to tie the game and send it into Overtime which eventually led to Marcier’s heroics.
Next up….BC vs. Minnesota…and it wasn’t that close. Benn Ferriero had three points and John Muse snatched 31 shots as BC tripped up Minnesota 5-2. Even better was this was the 800th victory for BC coach John York…now that is what I call a milestone. The key in this game was the third period where BC scored two goals within the first nine minutes to make it 4-1 BC and from there the competitive part of the game was pretty much over. Muse was particularly outstanding in the second period making 13 saves and keeping BC in the game because Minnesota had several glorious point blank chances that rightfully should have went in the net. If Muse wasn’t the MVP of this game I don’t know who else could have been other than Ferriero really.
Now to a team that showed how to handle the 1 seed (kinda)….North Dakota throttled the Princeton Tigers 5-1 yesterday as Ryan Duncan (last year’s Hobey Baker Award winner) scored a hat trick and Senior Jean-Philippe Lamoureux made 38 saves. Princeton really didn’t have a chance in this game as North Dakota is strong up front and in back but they fired from every angle possible. Lamoureux nearly had the shutout but that was foiled with 33 seconds left when PU’s Cam McIntyre fired a wrister past him. North Dakota’s Power Play went 2-4 but the strange part was they only had 18 shots as Princeton dominated scoring chances but couldn’t convert. It was odd game as Princeton played a full 60 minutes but the net was unkind to them.
Then there was Wisconsin who was a .500 team all year, found a way to get into the tournament and then shocked and awed Denver 6-2 yesterday. Simply it was a close 2-1 game going into the third until Wisconsin’s breakout just kept going and going and going. The best, being a goal, from John Mitchell, who netted a sweet breakaway goal to make it 4-1 Wisconsin then added two more goals as the game became less and less close with each passionate Wisconsin shift. Denver really had no answers to Wisconsin’s aggressive forecheck all game and that is why Denver is going home and Wisconsin is playing North Dakota tonight.
Lastly in regional final action….Notre Dame and Michigan advanced to the Frozen Four with 3-1 and 2-0 victories respectively. Both teams played great defense and solid goaltending to advance. The key for Notre Dame was simply solving Michigan State’s Jeff Lerg. For those of you who don’t know Lerg quite literally single handedly guided MSU to last year’s national championship.  But Notre Dame and Matt Van Guilder were just too much as Van Guilder netted the game winner early in the third period and the goal stood up as the Irish would add another tally later in the stanza. Michigan, on the other hand, used a little more D in its win over Clarkson than they normally do. However, it was extremely effective. Billy Sauer was especially solid in stopping 27 shots for UM. Aaron Pulashaj netted a power play marker for Michigan and that was the game winner in the first period as both teams traded chances throughout the game but neither could really find an answer till Michigan got some insurance in the third for the 2-0 margin.
Honestly I like both of these teams but I have a feeling that North Dakota will defeat Wisconsin and BC will upend Miami (Ohio). I could be wrong but those are my two choices to complete the Frozen Four. Now the Frozen Four will be electric…that is a given!! Hooray hockey!!!
A Win Win Situation…Sort Of
What a great day of hockey yesterday…from college to the AHL to the NHL…there was a little something to see for everyone. The best part was it started with the stuff from college ice….as the tournament began yesterday. Everyone’s consensus seems to be #1 overall Michigan but I think there may just be a few surprises. Time to get into yesterday’s action a bit.
Notre Dame came into a tournament reeling a little bit but New Hampshire despite being a #1 seed in the West had to feel a little uneasy and they certainly had reason to. The Wildcats were in it…only down 4-3 in the third period against the Fighting Irish when the Irish unloaded for three goals putting the game out of reach and winning 7-3. Jordan Pearce, who I thought was outstanding stopped 32 shots in what was a high paced up and down type game. Despite the score I thought this was the game of the day just as far as offense is concerned. Joey Pollastrone was incredible for New Hampshire scoring twice had 5 scoring chances and finished with 6 shots overall. He was all over the place and really had a chance to nab another goal or two if it hadn’t been for the great goaltending of Pearce. The Irish next face Michigan State at 7pm PT, who downed Colorado College 3-1 behind 41 saves from Jeff Lerg who anyone knows can almost win a national title by himself. He did it last year for the Spartans so look out this regional final will be a damn good one.
Not surprisingly, Michigan rolled yesterday to a 5-1 win over Niagara. Clarkson also defeated St. Clould 2-1 in what could be considered a mild upset. What is on tap for today? Well North Dakota begins its run in less than an hour against an upstart Princeton team. Expect the Fighting Sioux to come out firing on all cylinders…they saw what happened to New Hampshire and anything can happen in this tournament. Miami (Ohio) tries to silence the critics as they face Air Force in a first round tussle. In 2nd round action, Michigan faces Clarkson, Notre Dame faces Michigan State, and Minnesota faces Boston College. It is going to be a fun day for college hockey and if you do not get ESPNU for whatever reason you can follow the action on CSTV (CBS College Sports).
Then it was onward to some good old AHL hockey. Portland did battle with Lowell last night in a battle of my wife and I’s favorite minor hockey league teams. Both teams have taken their share of lumps this year with both likely not making the playoffs. However, it doesn’t make the two points any less sweet. Lowell would ultimately prevail over Portland 4-1 in a game that saw Lowell really capitalize on opportunities while Portland did not. Petr Vrana had another great effort for the baby Devils with 2 goals and an assist. It makes you wonder if he will get a spot on the big club next year. I think he may just be ready. Ryan Murphy chipped in with 2 assists and David Caruso made 26 saves in a solid effort. Sure teams like Providence and Chicago are the class of the league but it is fun to see the kids play no matter what their records are and the effort from this game showed that it still matters…even when a playoff spot is far out of reach.
Next up the big boys….in a Battle Of California showdown…the San Jose Sharks defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 last night in front of a sold out, raucous crowd at the Honda Center in Anaheim. It was nice to get to listen to the game at work…thank you bluetooth technology…thank you so much. JS Giguere missed his 4th straight game with back spasms as Brian Boucher only gave up 1 goal as he made 23 saves. The game turned on a weird Doug Weight penalty midway into the second period as he fell to the ice he hooked down a Sharks player. It was a cruel way for a game to turn but it did…as Jeremy Roenick swatted home a rebound that bounced off Jonas Hiller’s chest for the game winner. Just like that the team that was in third place all year…clinched the division. Congrats to the Sharks on clinching the 2 seed in the West. As for the Ducks it looks like the 4 seed is their fate now…question is who will they play next.
This game was very physical….hits were fierce and from all over the ice…and yet it was a clean game for the most part. That is the way old time hockey is meant to be played. This picture captures the essence of this playoff-like battle perfectly. Thank you Getty Images once again and the AP.
Battle of California tough!!!
Last but not least a happy moment in my sanity for the night. The New Jersey Devils beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 in a wild game via shootout. Yes the Devils blew leads of 3-1 and 4-3 pushing my sanity nearly to the breaking point. Thankfully this time they did not break it like previous efforts this week. See the Rangers as Exhibit A and B for the judge. Gionta, Elias, and Langenbrunner all scored in the shootout on Marty Biron (who may be the league worst at shootouts). One of these days we are going to come up with a stat for that one. That being said, the game did kind of mask another amazing effort from Johnny “Orr” Oduya who seems to do this lately when the Devils and Flyers play. He had 2 goals in the first period and was all over the ice on the night. If only he could do this more often, damn that would sure reduce this fan’s stress level considerably.
All that is left now for the Devils is a 4 games in 6 day stretch against the Islanders, Bruins, Flyers, and Rangers and then the playoffs will begin and the energy level will be all cylinders on high. It is funny what a difference a day makes…so I leave you with a drink of cider.
Enjoy the night of hockey everyone!!
An Undeniable Deja Vu….
I remember the 2005-2006 hockey season well. The Devils looked on the playoff bubble then dramatically reeled off 11 straight regular season victories to win the Atlantic Division on the last day. To make every Devils fan happier from here to the outer reaches of the world….the Devils exorcised some demons in sweeping the Rangers before bowing out in the second round of the playoffs to Carolina that year (they went on to win the Stanley Cup). It was a time that made any Devils fan proud and ranked in the top 10 of the 25 greatest Devil moments of all time on the Devils website. Fast forward to this season.
At the 72 game mark…the Devils stood at 90 points. Despite everything that went wrong from the 9 game road trip to start the season…the devastating losses and all the ups and downs…the Devils were first in the Eastern Conference. Just five games later…the Devils (0-4-1 in that span) are now fighting for their playoff lives despite being a 5 seed in the East. Two of these games were particularly disheartening. Last night’s 3-2 loss to the Rangers may have been worse than the 7-1 drubbing by the Pens on the 22nd for one simple reason. This is the second time in the last two meetings that the Devils blew a 1 goal lead to the Rangers in the third period.
The old demons came back to haunt them again. Bad penalty killing, untimely lack of discipline, and well Nigel Dawes led the Devs to their demise on this night. Really I felt badly for Martin Brodeur last night, more than any this season, because really your defense can not have breakdowns like this and expect to win. That and if you add in the goals from Elias and Parise…you had to feel good as a Devils fan heading into the third. Then anger management killed the momentum. Colin White took his second penalty of the game right as the third period started. What was worse, was that it was a needless penalty. A slash of all things put the Rangers on their second Colin White Power Play. Just 67 seconds into the penalty…Christian Backman converted a pretty feed from Scott Gomez and the game was tied just like that. My heart sank as I knew what would come later.
Anyone who doesn’t get a tad pessimistic at that point isn’t a true hockey fan. Goals like that are killers especially when teams know your Penalty Kill is average at best. Dawes would later add the game winner with under 4:00 left when he slid into Brodeur after being hooked by Sheldon Brookbank..although it kind of appeared that Dawes went down a little easy. Brodeur made the save went down to cover the puck but there came a sliding Dawes and the puck ended up in the net before everyone else somehow. The goal would stand up to video review which seems to be a mantra against the Devils in the last week or so. The Devils have been on the wrong side of Toronto three times now. Sometimes it really makes you wonder as there was no delayed penalty signal by the refs. I would have to say it was a goal but this has to be yet another heartbreaking way to lose.
The New Jersey Devils have no time to be down on themselves as they have a chance to get closer to a playoff berth tonight, at home, against the Philadelphia Flyers. They have only lost once to them this season and really have looked great against them the past two season. The Flyers see the Devils on the schedule and they just panic severely. Can Brodeur rebound from what was essentially 2 Power Play Goals and a fluke? If anyone can, it is Brodeur. He is the one person that can end this winless streak before it gets too late. And late is coming sooner than anyone could possibly think for the Devils right now.
Thank you Bruce Getty (AP)
So what will happen tonight? Something tells me the Devils will come out a lot more angry and feisty than previous efforts. They have to…..it is essentially playoff time right NOW…otherwise there are no playoff hopes at all. The time is now New Jersey’s to show if they are playoff worthy or are they just a decent team on verge of an epic collapse worthy of the 2007 New York Mets. Only time will tell and that time begins tonight.
The Quick And The Dead….
So which team actually deserves to make the playoffs….the Boston Bruins or the Washington Capitals? Other teams could be lumped into this but really it seems the 8 seed is coming down to these two teams…at least so far it does anyway. Both have immensely important matchups tonight on the road. So who wins tonight will go a ways in determine who’s playoff bubble will burst.
Boston has 84 points and a game in hand…but face it if they lose to Toronto tonight and Washington wins, they are in very deep trouble. Let’s face facts here…Boston is not overly talented. Without Bergeron, and very little in the way of skill players other than Marc Savard, this team has a very hard time scoring goals consistently but lately their goaltending and defense has been very inconsistent. Something that if you had told me 10-15 games ago..I would have told you…you were nuts but sure enough, it is bubbling to the surface now. The divisional shortcomings (only 1 point in 8 meetings against Montreal, etc.), the offense, and now defense. All that Claude Julien can do now is hope Chara is 100% for the stretch run and Savard can find some people open to score enough goals to win or gain points. This is a true salvage effort now and to think a few weeks ago…Boston had an outside shot at the East. All seems lost now.
Washington seemed to be dead on the ice after a long weekend which culminated in Nick Backstrom putting it in his own net…in a 4-2 defeat the hands of the hated Pens. That was a couple weeks ago. Boy have times changed!! The Caps have gotten back on their feet and despite a 5-0 hiccup in Chicago last week…they seem to be doing just enough to get into the playoffs. With a sniper like Ovechkin, the Caps are not out of any game….there are 60 reasons for that and likely more. This upcoming 3 game road trip that goes from Carolina to Tampa to Atlanta is essentially their season in a nutshell. They have been better away from the phone booth lately but have had some stinkers. There can’t afford to be a stinker on this trip or it could be fatal. Every point counts!
So whichever team is the quick one here and snatches up points will not be the dead one. Honestly, unless they shoot themselves in the foot…that team is looking more and more like the Washington Capitals who look like a team well on the rise for the next several years. Enjoy the ride Washington…and maybe just maybe this will be a harsh lesson that Boston needs to learn once and for all. It is how you are cheap that determines ultimate success not just being cheap. So who do you think nabs the 8 seed in the East? I want to know.
Does Colin Campbell Need The Axe? What Can Be Done?
The picture of Colin Campbell was too badly painted to even post. But right now the image I see of him is basically a sitting duck for the hordes of media…whether it be bloggers or mainstream media. This goes beyond the normal “grow a set” comments and all that sort of thing. Simply here is a message to Gary Bettman that is loud and clear. HEY GARY…FIRE THIS MAN ALREADY!
Why say such a drastic thing? Is it the fact that I hated him as a Rangers coach? Absolutely not. Is it because I feel he got the job above more qualified people? It is a possibility. Do I feel he is competent enough to handle this? There is no way that I honestly do. So to be obligatory and fair… take a look at the 2 stomps. Here are the links.
Now while debate can be raised one is not as bad as the other maybe…the intent becomes more clear every time someone watches the videos. I think I have watched these about 50,000 times it seems and one conclusion comes up every time. Maybe Chris Pronger did get the star treatment a bit…hell I don’t doubt what Chris Simon is saying at all. I may despise Simon but he is honest and dead on with his assessment here. With the increasing pattern of curious suspensions and non-suspensions….it is wonder that Campbell still has a job. Screw the fact that he isn’t doing his job…he doesn’t deserve the post…period!
The only reason Pronger even got suspended was because of a new angle that emerged from ESPN of all places. If that never came out, what kind of conversation would we be having about this today? Probably none! However, I do not believe the NHL has a vast, deliberate conspiracy to target certain teams and players. I do feel that their actions, especially Campbell’s…should be accountable. If the same treatment is given to refs…it would be fair to critique the boss the same way….right?? Well the NHL doesn’t think so apparently. So I will do the thinking for them.
What can be done to fix the problem? Well thanks to my friends at The NHL Arena, we came up with something that may just work over the old system. Clearly this system just doesn’t work at all and creates more head scratching than actual solutions. Here are three points of view. First up…our friend Skate2Stick.
First off, Campbell has to be taken out of the process. The process is flawed by the basics of life. Campbell has ties to the NHL, he works for Bettman who we all know strives to be the golden boy and his children in Anaheim are to me held above everyone else. The legal system in any civilized country has a prosecution and defense team. I would say have a player (retired); a video expert; an analyst; a retired judge and a fan sit on a review panel. Once the violation is felt to have been subject to every doubt and proven to be a violation, then move into the penalty faze. The penalty should be based on several things, has the player done anything like this before, has the player been counseled on behavior or anger issues before. Does the player have a history of being suspended? Do prior suspensions include intent to injure? The penalty should be a set standard for the same crime and the same person. Being a star should not hinder the decision of whether of not he deserves 8 or 25 games; it should mean that everyone gets fair and equal justice. Why is the victim excluded in the penalty process? I am sure that the video evidence we all see demonstrates a clear and decisive account of the activities of the accused and should allow for a rather simple sentence. The idea of one person handing out this type of penalty is absurd and should be looked at with prejudice. Can Brian Burke call Colin up and say hey bro, go easy on my guy. We need him to be out only long enough to get healthy and we need him to play a game or two before the playoff’s start so he can get his game back. Bribery is the oldest form of corruption and coercion is right behind it. I say removing the issue from one person and handing it off to a group is the way to go… Now that’s my .02
Next up was our commish who went a step further.
Very interesting. However, I would go one step further on this. Why is the NHL in charge of disciplinary actions in the first place? Fans and media seem obsessed by the handouts of justice (or lack there of), but the NHL and Colin Campbell himself never claimed to be seeking justice for these players that have pushed the boundaries, or broke them wide open. It is the NHL’s directive to simply treat these altercations as problems and then manage these problems in a matter that is best for the NHL. Not the fan. Not even the player. If we want our judge and jury to be completely impartial, we need to look outside the League and it’s NHLPA. We already go to arbitrators during contract negotiations, so why not disciplinary hearings? Allow the NHL and the NHLPA each their opening and closing arguments, but let the decision be made from without.
Finally we had this from another member….jolibean.
And I’d go father than that. I think that acts with the intent to harm (Pronger, Simon, Bertuzzi), should be handed off to local law enforcement. Why is it ok for an athlete to do this? If they did this just outside of a game, even in the parking lot right after, even without wearing skates, they’d be behind bars. While fights are part of the NHL this street fighting BS needs to go. Players should be thrown out of the league or handed to the cops if they choose to play that way. If you can’t get away with it on the streets, it doesn’t belong in an arena, period. Now I know this will never, ever, ever happen. And that most people won’t agree with me. But someone IS going to die, and soon, if this kind of crap stays in the NHL.
For the record I think this will keep happening for a few reasons. The instigator rule keeps people from being accountable for their actions on the ice. The refs are under pressure to perform because their jobs depend on it but yet Campbell’s doesn’t? That still does not make sense to me at all.   So yeah this goes back to dear old Gary and how the system is run. Well the system stinks to high heaven! This type of upheaval may just be what the NHL needs since they clear can’t get it right anymore like they used to. So yes I like plan #2 the best and it would be one I would implement if I was a discipline czar. Is it perfect? No. However, at this point, anything is better than what exists right now.
Just One Breakdown….
The anger has not completely subsided yet. Hell I don’t know when it will at this point. When you see your team hold a league for that long and then just give it up late then worse…lose in a shootout. It just makes you want to THROW SOMETHING! It makes you want to scream loudly…not that anyone will listen but tension breakers have a certain benefit to them. The Devils lost to the Rangers last night 2-1 via shootout. Here is yahoo’s recap…I am too disgusted to even look at it. For a little hometown feel to the game, here is 2 Man Advantage and Battle of New York with their takes.
So here is my take! This is playoff like hockey and I understand that but last I checked this is still the NHL….one goal generally does not win no matter how good your goalie is. Especially when your team is guilty of more defensive breakdowns at times than most public defenders. But all it takes is one defensive breakdown and your lead is gone. All that work….gone in an instant. That is just what happened to the Devils last night. How do you let Ryan Callahan of all people go behind the net unmolested…put a body on him…if he is too fast..ok…whatever. But there was no excuse for that at all. Then he was allowed to dish an easy pass in front to Chris Drury who will not miss an opportunity that easy and it was tied. Basically there went my faith in this game and I knew the result already.
Our defenders are not that good….PERIOD! There is no other way to slice this. Pandolfo and Madden killed Jagr all night only to have Ryan Callahan be a playmaker? Surely something is wrong with this picture and any fan would be correct to assume that Brent Sutter is still fuming this afternoon somewhere in New Jersey. By the way Gomez didn’t really do much of anything noteworthy either which makes this lost even more stinging. Aside of Martin and White last night….the defensemen were adequate and when is Vishnevski going to pound someone like Callahan? Instead of going for the check he tried to skate with him….HUGE MISTAKE!
Drury scores and I see red!
Predictably the Devils lost the shootout 1-0 and lost the game 2-1. Yes it is still a point but this game should have been two. There were too many chances for the Devils to ice this thing and they just could not. Zach Parise has gone cold as the Rangers had him blanketed all night long. With no Elias, really the best line was the big boy line of Rupp, Clarkson, and Zubrus. I think you will see a lot of these guys together come playoff time. That line clicked all night long. It will be interesting to see what happens when Elias does come back…as to who he is paired up with.
As for ways to solve the offensive shortfall…why not bring up one of the kids from Lowell at this point…you know that one named Mondou that can score??? Perhaps!! Someone listening out in Devil land??? Less line juggling could not hurt right now either. Yes I know we are 18 over .500 and that is pretty damn good but pretty good is not good enough in the playoffs. Excellence is expected! Am I a bit animated? Yes! When teams are breathing down your neck and you are a fan of the team they are chasing, you better believe I am going to be. Because when all it takes is one defensive breakdown for it to all go up in smoke…there is a problem.
So are all hopes lost because the Devils came up short against the Rangers last night? Certainly not. But if the offensive problems aren’t solved….the defensive tension will lead to that critical breakdown that can make or break a playoff run and surely with a fragile defensive corps from the third slot on down….it could have grave consequences come the postseason.
There will be blood…..
Throw the records straight out the window…the stakes are just too high. The crescendo that is the NHL season is building toward the playoffs. In less than three weeks, we will know the seedings….where will your team be? That is the question evey fan asks me. I can tell you emphatically that it really is too early to tell. This has been a season full of parity…a year where two teams were thought to be untouchable and it turns out the teams gunning for them may have a better shot at that silver cup. Now to add some chum into the tank and throw some more blood into the mix. Here we go……
How demented would it be if the Edmonton Oilers made the playoffs?  Now imagine the look of Brian Burke if the Ducks faced the Oilers in the first round. Horrified yet? Oh no, that’s nothing. That first round pick that Burke was drooling over is rapidly turning into a mid round pick that won’t nearly be as good as he was hoping for. So gaining Penner via the restricted route maybe wasn’t as big a gamble for Lowe as people thought. Praise also goes out to Craig MacTavish…who has to be quietly considered for the Jack Adams (Coach Of The Year). Not many thought after all the injuries and already depleted talent pool…that Edmonton would be anywhere near where they are now. Sure enough, they are…and he is the reason. Though I feel sorry for him for all the grey hairs he received this season…..the coach has managed to get Cogliano and all these young guys along with a resurgence from Dwayne Rolosson within an earshot of the playoffs. Many will say Sutter, Julien, and maybe even Wilson are more deserving but MacTavish is getting my vote if the season ended today.
Another team left for dead by many is the Florida Panthers.  The past few years this team starts out slower than a 1928 Roadster and comes in screaming like a 2008 Porsche but it is entertaining how they do it. This year was no exception…hovering right near or below .500 for most of the season before finding the groove and reeling off seven straight wins. Tomas Vokoun (a star of the week with 3 wins and a jawdropping GAA) is finally playing like he did in Nashville and Olli Jokinen is back to giving teams nightmares. Maybe it did take them awhile after all to get over the Richard Zednik incident…but here they are…just two points out of a playoff spot. The kicker is even though they only have 8 games left….they are just five points out of the division lead. Further proof that indeed with the parity in the NHL, anything is possible….even for a coach like Jacques Martin to get lucky…..who knew?
Time to throw in a knuclepuck so to speak. Tonight’s Leafs-Islanders matchup will also mean something not in the standings so much….but these are two teams that detest each other.  More importantly for Isles fans…Kyle Okposo will make his debut. At 195 pounds, his size doesn’t seem that impressive. But alot like Zach Parise…his tenacity around the corners is his calling card. He is not afraid to play tough and his 24 points in 29 games at Bridgeport (AHL) is impressive. He is only 19 and this is more or less a nine game audition with the big club but he will make an impact tonight…at the very least in the stands. The University of Minnesota standout may just surprise some people, including the Maple Leafs as he can definitely hit. So expect a physical game on Long Island tonight with maybe a twist.
Pittsburgh travels to MSG to play the Rangers tonight in what is a must win for the Rangers. Their brain fart in Florida may have cost them a top seed in the Eastern Conference. The loss to Tampa was probably worse than the one to Florida as well they got shutout by a Tampa team that couldn’t stop Winnie The Pooh from honey in sub-zero cold. So it is time for Henrik Lundqvist to step up again and hope he gets some goal support from what has to be the most enigmatic offense in the NHL. The Pens come in at 89 points…right behind New Jersey with Marc-Andre Fleury in net who the Rangers have had some success against. No Sidney Crosby again tonight as he is still nursing a swollen ankle…he may be back by the weekend or sooner but no one seems to really know. One thing is for sure…I am surprised this game is not on Versus…that would be their normal motus operandi wouldn’t it? At any rate…I like the makeup of this game for some reason…I will definitely watch it. Expect a surprisingly physical contest from these two.
Tomorrow is the real cap to the deal as the Rangers play the Devils for the 6th time this season. Yes the Rangers have taken the first five but you have to feel the Devils gear up for this time of year and this type of schedule. Like someone sevrely scorned, this will be INTENSE! There will be much coverage on The NHL Arena, Battle of New York, 2 Man Advantage, and all the usual suspects. Brodeur Vs. Lundqvist….Pandolfo Vs. Jagr….Gomez, Avery, and a cast of characters all will be at The Rock tomorrow night…don’t miss it!
Coming soon will be Hockey Around The Horn’s 6th episode…the banter of four people entering and only one emerging victorious. It should be up and ready in the coming days at The NHL Arena. So the blood will be shed this week and heading throughout the playoffs. Now the intensity ramps up and it is for keeps!! Good fight…..good night!!
AHL, NHL, and Alphabet Soup!
Yesterday was a very interesting one in the NHL. There were some surprises and some very solid play…..even a little physical stuff. Then there was the AHL which saw some amazing performances. It is time to take a look at some of the finest and random that these two leagues had to offer last night.
There was some history made in Colorado yesterday as Martin Brodeur continues to make an assault on the record books. Win 534 came yesterday but more importantly so did win number 40 on the season in a 4-2 victory over Colorado at the Pepsi Center. When you can start using the handle of your goalie stick to stop shots and then your elbow…you may just be one of the best ever. There was a reason why Brodeur was named first star. It was not the quantity of saves (24)…it was the quality. I saw at least 7 or 8 glorious chances that Brodeur stopped down low. Joe Sakic put it best…”he may just be better than Roy and many considered him the best money goalie ever.”  Time will tell if that statement is true but I will tell you one thing…Brodeur will be nominated for the Hart and Vezina and he may just win both.
The population has gone up in Pominville! The Buffalo Sabres behind 3 points from Jason Pominville easily defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-2 last night at the Air Canada Centre. Ryan Miller made 30 saves…stepping up from some awful performances he had earlier in the month. This puts the Sabres right on the heels of the Flyers…only one point out of the eighth spot in the East. Jochen Hecht also had a goal and 2 assists for the Sabres who are starting to look like a playoff team again. Not many said that when Chris Drury and Daniel Briere left town and Brian Campbell was traded. With the way the Flyers are playing right now….the 8 seed looks very attainable.
The kids are alright!! Many lambasted Montreal GM Bob Gainey when he traded Cristobal Huet for a 2009 2nd round pick to Washington during the trade deadline.  Admittedly I was one of them. Though I still think he could have gotten more for Huet….anyone has to admit the goaltending tandem of Price and Halak could be rather scary come playoff time. These two netminders do not know fear. With a skilled group of vets and youngsters, the Habs could easily win the East and beyond. Quite a few pundits have picked them to advance to the Cup Finals and some to even win it. Last night, Jaroslav Halak (who spent most of the season with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL) made 30 saves in a 3-0 shutout over the New York Islanders. Roman Hamrlik scored the game winner on the Power Play and that first goal was bolstered with goals by Kovalev and Latendresse. The save on Richard Park by Halak late in the third was what caught my eye. Both him and Price play very similar and they are fast laterally which is essential come playoff time. That may just really pay off for Montreal more than getting Hossa….who knew.
Speaking of the AHL…thanks once again to B2sports. When you can’t get to watch the game…you can watch the video highlights. I caught the Lake Erie game late last night and watched an amazing performance by Mike Wall. Wall has faced 40 shots or more 8 times this season which doesn’t say much for their defense at times. But last night he faced 50 against the Grand Rapids Griffins and only gave up a late power play goal in the third by Ryan Oulahen. Not only did he make all those stops but he also got an assist on Lake Erie’s second power play goal which turned out to be the game winner in the second period. Now Wall has only played 27 games this season but he is 6-3 in his last 9 starts proving maybe he is ready to take over the #1 spot for Lake Erie next season.
Has anyone seen the Providence Bruins? If you haven’t, you are missing one hell of a team. With their 6-2 win over the San Antonio Rampage (yes they play hockey in Texas), the Bruins now have 97 points and are 31 over .500. The Chicago Wolves have 96 points and are 31 over .500 as well but the Baby B’s are the real surprise here. Tukka Rask is 25-10 in 37 starts but the funny thing is his save percentage is only .902. He hasn’t had to be outstanding because the offense is clicking at a clip of 3.57 goals per game. Pascal Pelletier is not a household name but he may just become one eventually. He has 64 points in 60 games including 31 goals. He is a short guy (5 foot 11) but has some stature at 195 pounds. Pellletier plays hard and at only 24 years of age has NHL potential written all over him. I am honestly surprised that Boston has not called him up yet with all their injuries but maybe they are doing the right thing here. The fact that the B’s only have one scorer in the top 10 proves their balance overcomes any defensive gaps they may have. They will be dangerous come playoff time.
Lastly, from what feels like the files of Alphabet Soup. Who do the fans feel has better TV coverage as far as the NHL? Is it VS. or NBC? Both have considerable flaws but I really do wonder what the readers think so make your voices known. One thing is for sure I hope the coverage and quality ramps up as the playoffs approach because the fans are ready…that is for sure.
Just an update…Sykora and Malkin connect again….as both have 4 points each as the Pens are destroying the Flyers midway into the 3rd…6-1. This is a certain way to end up on the golf course Philly! Enjoy the rest of the day of afternoon and evening hockey.
My Quest For A Press Pass….
This is something I plan on to pursue in the summer. Talking with a few folks from Puck Podcast and The Battle Of California…I am going to try to go for this. Yes, hockey writing is sort of a dual passion for me. Cooking is my other main passion. I was born and raised a hockey fan. My second team, as much as I hate saying it sometimes is the Ducks. If Niedermayer wasn’t on the team, I would be able to root for them with a little more zeal but I can live with that.
So after the playoffs are over….I am going to talk with more people and I know a few of the Ducks bloggers that currently have passes to see if this is something I could do 6-8 times a season. For many that do not know…I live 150 miles away from the Honda Center so it is a considerable drive. Some have even joked that I may sweat out my suit by the time I get there. The enjoyable thing for me will be since the Devils are my team and always will, I can be more objective and more importantly…subdued. Knowing my experience from being in a press box at the then Continental Airlines Arena (or whatever you want to name it now) told me that lesson very quickly.
The first thing I learned is you can hear a pin drop the second play on the ice starts. You have your water…laptop…and maybe something to eat or a candy to suck on. When your team scores, you have to be extremely considerate…a polite fist pump even kind of gets looked at funny. Actually when I went, I just used an old fashioned pen and notepad…..I found it easier and less cumbersome. I could write my articles later but I did bring a small voice recorder just in case I happened to catch an interview…and I did catch a couple….one with Mike Rupp actually which was very funny in 2003.
So I have the experience…my only honest problem is the time. With work and school and home always playing a three ring battle royale in my life, time always seems to be short. People wonder how I do all the things I do now. Thankfully hockey is not a 12 month season…well technically it is…but there are breaks amazingly even if it seems that there aren’t really. Much like cooking..the only issue is the time…and well money. Isn’t money always an issue in life? Sure it is, but this is something I would really like to do and enjoy doing.
Now will I get a press pass? I am not sure. I know it is not an easy process and obviously they can’t just pick any bum off the street to do this. However, I know I would give my best effort and foot forward in being a studious writer and interviewer. That is the nicest feeling to know that I can give my 110% and at the end of the day know that I can be a really good blogging journalist.
The bigger question some have asked me is will this become a career? Really the only truthful way I can answer that is I am really not sure. One thing is certain though, I have a unique love for the sport of hockey and a healthy respect for anyone who writes and covers it. I may not like their opinions or strongly disagree with some of them, but most take the time to do their homework…and that commands nothing but respect.
Thoughts from Sunday’s Games Part I Caps-Pens
I found myself sitting at a great watering hole (shout out to Barfly on the corner of 21st and 3rd in Manhattan) on Sunday and caught two fantasic games. I started with a running diary ala Sports Guy, but it turned more into a grumbling session and since both games turned out to be fantastic last second finishes, still worthy of a blog. Now I don’t know if it was the pace at which these games flew by or the $3 Miller Lites (or the pace at which the $3 ML’s flew by) , but I found myself into these two games more than I have all season. I think the next two months of hockey have the potential to be the best regular season finishes and playoffs the NHL has seen in awhile. Great disparity, amazing young talent, big markets in both conferences. I really hope someone from the Commish’s office is noticing it and is sending a bribe envelope over to NBC Studios or at least a couple Flyers players. That’s right, the Flyers are a bunch of hack goons who aren’t going to make the playoffs! Suck it Philly!
Pittsburg vs. Washington
-Okay so I missed the first half of the game because I got drunk on Saturday night and slept in, so did you! But this showdown between Ovechkin and the Malkin/Crosby duo did not disappoint. Ovechkin ended with 2 assists, Malkin 3 a’s, and Crosby with 2 umm goals (more to come on this one).
-4 goals in the second period left the third at 2-2 in what was some of the best hockey I’ve seen in awhile. Crossbars, huge checks, back and forth offense. All I know is that my mouth is watering for this to be the 1-8 matchup in the East. Let’s go Washington, step it up boys.
 -With 4:29 left, the Pens take a too many men penalty! Seriously that is pee-wee stuff, get your heads out of your a boys. That should have lost you the game, but its followed by a fantastic penalty kill with only 1 weak shot on goal by the Caps. (Sidenote: Seriously I think every upper management executive in the NHL needs to watch the Pens play. Fast, Ferocious! Please, this type of hockey has, HAS, to come back to get the US into it and keep this league moving in the right direction). You can feel the momentum switch with that kill. I would have put money at that moment the Pens stick one.
-And there it is with 29 seconds left, the Pens put one in the back of the net. Now the replay is where you get to see just amazing hockey play. I’m not talking about Backstrom firing the puck directly into the back of his own goal. I’m talking about what caused Backstrom to fire the puck into the back of the goal. Go get the video and watch Crosby get to the puck on the forecheck. Just a 6th hockey sense that I haven’t seen since Gretzky. I’m not sure exactly what he did, but basically he jumped around the defensemen and was able to 1 hand karate chop the puck directly in front of the net. Poor Backstrom had zero heads up as it was nearly impossible for the puck to go from where it was to directly in front of the net. Seriously, no way the puck should have ended up there, he panicked and scored the game winner with the official goal going to none other than Sidney Crosby. (Sidenote, watch the video through to the end of the replay to see Ovechkin collapse to his knees. He knows every game is big and he wants the playoffs, this will be fun to watch).
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