Boston Bruins

One Game 7 Down…2 More To Go!

This picture really does tell a 1000 words and maybe more.  Not only did Boston do nothing in its gameplan or could really execute when they had the opportunity but they let Montreal walk all over them in a Game 7 that was more like Game 1 than anything else.  Chara for some reason is a player that lives by the sword and dies by the sword.  Well he died tonight in a big, big spot once again.  For argument’s sake…here is Chara’s line from tonight’s game.

TOI: 24:04   0G 0A  -3, 0 shots and 2 Pims (that call lead to a goal)

Now is it really fair to spotlight Chara like this?  Maybe it isn’t.  The last Game 7 Chara played in was the infamous Game 7 against New Jersey….but Redden was on the ice for that gaffe and not Zdeno Chara.  However tonight was so eerie…as his game resembled Redden’s (in big spots) in so many ways.  In times when Chara needed to be passive he was aggressive and paid dearly (Mark Streit slipped past him for an easy goal that was highlight reel material all the way).  That goal was more or less the heartbreaker (that made it 2-0 Habs) but it would get worse…when Chara took a holding penalty and Montreal scored seconds after the penalty ended.  It was 3-0 and you could warm up the bus for Boston…the party was over!

Montreal would add two goals late in the third period to make the final score 5-0.  Montreal outshot the B’s 27-14 over the final two periods and yet one would think Boston would have put forth more of an effort.  However, the B’s were gassed and the final 20:00 reflected that.  It took too much effort the last two games for them to be able to sustain it for a third game in a row.  Give Boston credit…they made a series of it when no one else thought they would.  I certainly didn’t…the Montreal guys didn’t think so either.  AllHabs summed it up best…five games and a 1/3 of the sixth in purgatory then they woke up.

Maybe the Habs should send a thank you card to Zdeno Chara because Chara led the B’s to an almost certain death especially when you play a game like that on the biggest of stages.  It makes you wonder as Chara ages..he will be 31 at the start of the season…what Boston will do with him at some point.   All that money (7.5 mill a year) for a turkey of an effort when it counts has to confound even the most diehard of Boston fans this Tuesday morning.

And now for the twist…I really expected only one Game 7 tomorrow between the Sharks and Flames so what does Washington do?  They go all Ovechkin in the third period and now there are two Game 7’s….who would have thought it?  Not me!  So now with our 28-18 record….we get 2 more chances to add to our first round record.  So let’s go for it…what the hell!!!!

Washington 3  Philadelphia 1

San Jose 3  Calgary 2

Now for goats and studs…here goes…..

Goats: Derian Hatcher, Dion Phaneuf

Studs: Joe Thornton, Alexander Ovechkin

Enjoy the two Game 7’s!!!  I know I will.

Deja Vu With A Twist….

Well Bob Gainey….you reap what you sow.  You wanted Carey Price, a rookie, to be your goalie that would lead you to postseason glory…well now you are in a Game 7.  Should you be there?  NO!  Is all the blame on Price?  Most certainly not.  But very suddenly, the Montreal Canadiens look more like an 8th seeded team than the tops of the Eastern Conference…all in just two games.

The reality of it all is this….Montreal let Boston hang around and hang around.  Other than Game 1, Montreal has shown bits and pieces of dominating but has not put it together for whatever reason.  Now Boston has one shot to redeem a season full of losses against Montreal, thereby dealing the Habs the biggest loss of all…the very same comeback from a 3-1 deficit.  Wow would that sting Montreal right in the gonads!

What does Boston have to do?  Simple…stay close till the third period in Game 7.  If Boston can hang in there…they should be able to capitalize on the nerves of Carey Price which was something I didn’t expect to see against Boston of all teams.  Look Tim Thomas may not be the most consistent goalie but he is doing enough and playing hard to keep his team in the game and that kind of effort is needed for the seventh game.

There is a bit of a parallel here..and not just with the Game 5 scores from 2004 and this year…but rookie goalie with stellar season going against a grizzled vet.  Yes Theodore was a hell of a goalie and has made quite the comeback with Colorado this year but there’s no question Raycroft’s nerves got the best of him and that is what Boston is now counting on with Price.  Can Montreal as a team help Price get over his third period nerves?  No one is really sure until the third period of Game 7 hits.  One thing is for sure don’t turn this game off after two periods or you will miss out.  For more on it…head on over to The NHL Arena….because everyone is talking about it.

Now…a playoff predictor update…thanks to Montreal’s unexpected loss yesterday or expected if you were a Boston fan…we went 2-1 for a second day in a row raising our record to a so-so 24-17.  Let’s get to today’s three predictions before the Wings-Preds game starts for crying out loud!!

Detroit over Nashville 3-2 (OT)

Dallas over Anaheim 3-1

Calgary over San Jose 3-2

Enjoy the hockey everyone and by the end of the week…the second round will be upon us.

Playoff Predictor Update…Day 4

Well let’s see…how did we do yesterday??

Not too bad honestly….a robust 3-1 with only the hometown Devils losing 2-1 to the Rangers.  So that gives us a pretty decent 8-4 record heading into today’s action.  Here is what I got for today.

Detroit over Nashville 3-2

Montreal over Boston 4-1

Dallas over Anaheim 2-1 (OT)

The Detroit game is on in just a couple hours.  Nashville didn’t play a bad Game 1…they just didn’t execute well enough when it counted.  The goaltending was there but the offense was a little lacking.  I think they may have a little more teeth in this game but Detroit is more determined to go up 2-0 in this series.

Then there is Montreal who had one of the most ho-hum 4-1 wins you will ever see.  I am expecting another one tonight as really Montreal has Tim Thomas’ number.  The Habs are too fast and have ample defensemen who can shoot the puck from everywhere.  Thomas will have to be lights out to keep the game close as really the Bruins had immense trouble keeping up.  Boston has to slow the game down and clog everything then hope for a couple lucky breaks.  I just don’t see it happening tonight.

Finally there are the Stars and the Ducks.  Did the Stars expose something in Anaheim’s penalty killing strategy or was this just a one game fluke?  Yes all four goals Dallas scored on Thursday night were on the Power Play.  At least three of them were scored just about the same way….maybe someone should put a hat on Brad Richards because man…can he find an open player on the man advantage just about better than anyone I know.  I expect a much tighter game tonight but the same result.  I think the Ducks may turn this around in Dallas.

It will be interesting to see what happens…that’s for sure.   One thing I do know is expect the unexpected.  Enjoy the hockey everyone!!

Eastern Conference Previews….Hot Off The Presses…

Tomorrow it begins at last. After six months of jockeying for position….we are at the doorstep of hockey’s second season….where it all counts now. There are sixteen teams but only one can be Stanley Cup Champion. It is time to do some previews and predictions.

#1 Montreal Canadiens VS. #8 Boston Bruins

Forgive us for no fancy logos and gimmicks here….but this is just nuts and bolts preview and prediction here on Fanboom. The Habs beat the Bruins all eight times this season and some of the games were downright ugly. If that was not a daunting enough task for the Bruins….the first three games are played over a span of four nights. That will take a lot out of a team that is trying to stop a very speedy Habs team. This will be a goaltending battle as Tim Thomas goes up against the rookie Carey Price. I still give the nod to Price as he has been more consistent this season. Thomas can be spectacular but he can be also downright lethargic and cold at times. I see a resolve in Price that will serve him well in the second season. Montreal has more scorers in the lineup with Higgins, Kovalev, and Plekanec. They also led the league in defensive scoring with guys like Mark Streit and Andrei Markov. Boston counters with a solid defensive system and guys like Glen Murray and Chuck Kobasew. They also have some d-men that can score like Dennis Wideman and Zdeno Chara. But will Chara’s lack of foot speed hurt him in this series? That is one key.

The other key is injuries.

Key Injuries: Bos — Patrice Bergeron (concussion) Marc Savard (Back) Saku Koivu (foot)

Predictions: Sure not having Koivu will hurt some for the Habs but this team is on a roll. I can’t see Montreal slowing down…if anything they will play better in honor of him. Thomas will have to steal this series like Cujo did against Dallas in 98. Honestly I do not see that happening.

Habs in 5.

#2: Pittsburgh Penguins VS. #7 Ottawa Senators

This is probably the matchup the Pens wanted. Since last year they were ousted by Ottawa in 5 games as Ottawa went on to the Stanley Cup Finals before losing to Anaheim. People forget Ottawa only lost once in regulation over the first 15 games then everything went South in the new year…and they almost ended up falling out of the postseason entirely before holding on for 7th in the East. They know what is coming from Sidney Crosby and company. Pittsburgh finished with 102 points but took it easy on Sunday when they lost to Philly 2-0. They could have nabbed the #1 seed and some question the motivation but what can you do. Crosby, Malkin, Hossa, and company provide a unique skill set that will give Ottawa fits all series long. Ottawa had a very tough time with Montreal and Pittsburgh can play very similar to that style.

Key Injuries: PIT: No Major Injuries. OTT: Daniel Alfredsson (knee) Mike Fisher (knee) Chris Kelly (leg)

Predictions: This is a hard series to call depending on which Ottawa teams shows up. Ottawa has to play fast and hard…and not worry about Pittsburgh scoring because Pittsburgh is going to get their goals…Ottawa is just going to have to get more. There will be a few crooked numbers in this series but the key for Ottawa will be to get their confidence back. If they don’t, Pittsburgh is going to make very very short work of the Sens and that is kind of what I see happening…though the games will be tight.

Pens in 5.

#3: Washington Capitals VS. #6: Philadelphia Flyers

This is like an old time Patrick Division slobberknocker. They haven’t been in the same division for awhile but management from both teams I am sure remembers those days well. The Capitals come in on fire going 10-1-1 in their last 12 while Philly kind of just held on and won their last two by shutout to get in as the 6 seed. Washington is young and youthful and is riding a hot Cristobal Huet in net while the Flyers have Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, and a more than able Martin Biron (thankfully there is no shootouts in the playoffs). This has the makings of being a surprisingly good matchup. The physical nature of this series will be in ample display. These two teams do not like each other and with Donald Brashear on the ice…expect it to continue.

Key Injuries: PHI — Daniel Briere (lower body), Simon Gagne (Concussion), Derian Hatcher (leg), and Sami Kapanen (flu, neck). Was — No key injuries

Predictions: This series doesn’t start till Friday so a key could be who comes out faster. The Caps will get helped by the home crowd but Philly will need to play like it did Sunday against Pittsburgh. They have to stay disciplined or they will be eaten alive by Ovechkin and Backstrom. Cristobal Huet will be difference in this series and though it will be close and Philly may even steal a couple games along the way. The Caps should move on to the second round despite a potential big series from Vaclav Prospal.

Caps in 6.

#4: New Jersey Devils VS. #5 New York Rangers

Throw the records out the window and let the bodies hit the floor!! Yes the Devils only won once in the season series but the last one may mean more to the Devils than anyone else could know. The Devils know they can beat the Rangers but they are also now aware that they need to improve on their second period play. For some reason that has buried them and their inability to hold leads of late. Brodeur Vs. Lundqvist figures to be a stonewall marquis matchup that will live up to all the accolades and hype. The Rangers have stopped Elias and Parise for the most part all season and the Devils have stopped Jagr for most of the season series…he did get one goal in Sunday’s game. This is going to come down to who really wants it more…they are evenly matched with the Devils having a bit of a 5 on 5 advantage and special teams is the Rangers forte.

Key Injuries: None to really speak of.

Predictions: I have been going back and forth on this since Sunday. The series is going to be very close and I expect some OT and double OT games thrown in for good measure. This will be physical, there will be blood no question. Can the Devils break out on the Power Play? They did in 2006 and I still think Lundqvist remembers that well. Jagr’s line has to score some and Gomez and Drury have to be especially big (maybe on a line with Dawes) to win this. The Devils line of Rupp-Clarkson-Zubrus needs to be a huge presence early. The games and the series will go back and forth like a yo-yo but in the end I do think Martin Brodeur has just enough in the tank to steal the show in a game 7 that will feel like it was on ESPN Classic.

Devils in 7.

Later on we will do some quick western conference predictions….thanks to the wife for her expertise on the western conference teams. But for now, enjoy the day off. Tomorrow will come fast enough!

Lock, Stock, And Barrel?

With last night’s action in the books….there are some things to be decided but all it really comes down to now is crowning a Southeast Division champ and some seeding issues in the East and West.  The intrigue that could have been vanished last night into a cloud of dust when Dallas and Carolina both lost unexpectedly.  More on that a bit later.   Last night was the first night that I saw firsthand what fatigue can do to a team.  It was evident in so many games…it was enough to make my head spin.

For the Rangers, it was simply a case of firing too many shots and being in the attack zone too long.  They fired 51 shots on Wade Dublewicz in all and yet could only muster one point (a 4-3 shootout loss).  Brendan Shanahan looked absolutely gassed when he tried to beat Dublewicz in the shootout and really didn’t get that great of a shot off.  Can you blame him though?  He did have 12 shots on net.  It just goes to show you that the tired feeling can hit at any time…sometimes even the most inopportune time as the Rangers could have climbed into a tie for the 4th seed with New Jersey.

New Jersey came into Philly after winning 6 straight this season against Philly and quite possibly turned in one of their worst performances of the season (losing 3-0).  Any time you see Martin Brodeur getting pulled is bad but when your team shows no life it has to be of great concern to the coach.   Giving up two goals 4 on 4 was what scared me most.  That was an awful, pathetic display of defense and should never happen…especially this late in the season.  When Sutter pulled Brodeur, the message was served.  The Devils did have 8 shots in the last 8:00 and had several quality scoring chances probably their first good chances of the night against Martin Biron.  Biron probably had the easiest night he had in months in getting the shutout.  Damn wouldn’t it be nice to see Mr. Brodeur get one of those every so often?  The question becomes now when the Devils play the Rangers tomorrow afternoon at The Rock….who has more in the tank left?  A very interesting question indeed.

Then there was Dallas with a golden opportunity to get closer to Anaheim and the 4 seed.  So what did they do at home?  They lost to Phoenix of course…4-2.  Though Dallas only gave up 20 shots….how in god’s green Earth do you let Daniel Carcillo (trained professional fighter) net a hat trick against you?  I watched this game in sheer amazement as Carcillo was all over the ice, getting quality chance after chance and annoying the living daylights out of Stars’ defensemen.  I know Zubov is out and there are a few injuries and such, but man Dallas is limping into the playoffs and it makes you wonder if they really want to play Anaheim.  The Ducks are a physical team that could pummel them and Turco into submission.   Last night’s game proved more that the Stars are a tired team than anything else.

Finally, there was Carolina…the Southeast was right within their grasp….and then the whistle blew.  It was like the expectations just caught up with them.  Well really the entire season caught up with them all in one game.  Fatigue really showed up late in the third period.  When you fire 46 shots on net like that, I guess it can be expected.  But the key, was the defense and goaltending that looked ordinary most of the season came back to bite them big time.  Cam Ward was not at his best last night and Florida took advantage of it….netting 2 quick goals in the first then after Eric Staal made it 3-2…Radek Dvorak of all people scored a shorthanded goal with just over 11 seconds left in the second off a pretty passing play and it was 4-2 and pretty much end of Carolina season.  The Canes tried to mount a late attack but the last couple minutes they looked more like an AHL team floundering away with a one goal deficit feeling like five…as they lost the game 4-3 and maybe the season.

Finally there is fatigue by celebration.  Thy name is the Nashville Predators.  After a kind of lucky goal, Nashville promptly gave up three goals in the first falling to defeat 3-1.  It was weird…almost like they were hungover because the last two periods..the Preds were firing from all cylinders and really Patrick Lalime was stoning them immaculate.  Because when I saw Nashville score the early goal….I thought it would be a long night for Chicago because that was a bad one.  But Lalime and Chicago proved me wrong…they did enough in the first to win the game.  So now Nashville will play Detroit in the first round.

Now it is time for in, out, and bubble. (As far as new teams in,out, and bubble).

IN:

Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers

Out: 

No one yet.

Bubble: 

Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals

The Capitals truly control their destiny but anything can happen.  Will the fatigue of the season get to them or the fatigue from the pressure of the moment?  We will see tonight as more teams jockey for seeding and one tries to cement the last playoff spot up for grabs…the Southeast Division title (the 3 seed). Enjoy the hockey everyone!

Coming Into Focus….

Serenity now! That was a familiar phrase uttered on Seinfeld many times. Well that serenity will not come for a few more days but last night’s action brought things into focus just a bit more. Some more teams got eliminated last night and the picture has become more clear. So very quickly….here are the in’s and out’s.

IN:

New York Rangers, Calgary Flames, Nashville Predators

OUT:

Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks

BUBBLE:

Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins

The Reality:

The nice thing now is there are five teams and only four spots left. So this is really musical chairs…one team is going to get left out in the cold. The other four teams will have a place to go to in the first round which starts April 9th. If Ottawa gets a point tonight at all VS. Boston…they are in. Boston needs an outright win then help if they are to clinch tonight (Philly would have to lose). Philly has to win out to make the playoffs unless Washington and/or Carolina stumble. Then they would still need 3 out of a possible 4 points. So for all intents and purposes…it is possible that Ottawa, Carolina, and Boston could clinch tonight if all breaks right.

As for the West….the 1, 2, and 3 seeds are all locked up. Detroit (1), San Jose (2), Minnesota (3)…have spots locked in. The rest are up for grabs. If Dallas loses in regulation tonight…Anaheim sews up the four seed. A point for Dallas gives them no worse than the 5 seed but they would have to win their last game and hope the Ducks lose out if they want to gain the four seed. Nashville can do no better than 7th and they have to win tonight to have a shot at it. Calgary has to win and hope Colorado loses outright to gain the 6th seed. If not, they are the 7th or 8th depending on Nashville. The chaos of so many interrelated events….you have to love it as a hockey fan. No worries, it will play out tonight and tomorrow night.

Back to the East real fast…the Devils just need 3 out of a possible 4 points in their last two games (AT PHI, Vs. NYR) to seal the 4 seed. The Rangers need to likely win out and hope Jersey loses tonight. The Rangers have the Isles and Devils to end the season…just the way to settle it honestly. As for seeds 6-8, that should start to come into more focus tonight and tomorrow night when the dust settles.

The NHL Arena has been debating the playoff push for awhile now. For now I leave you with a moment of zen…..

Top 10 hockey saves of the year……

Decision Day Part One

Yes it is only Thursday but tonight’s action will go a long way of determining who gets in and who stays home come April 7th. There are still so many scenarios but I believe tonight should start to bring this whole thing into focus just a bit more. First up, the poor teams that are battling for their playoff lives. You can hear the paddles going off in the back of the ambulance right now.

First up is Buffalo who plays at Montreal tonight. Montreal has the #2 seed clinched but they are playing for tops in the East right now….so every game counts. A win for the Habs tonight outright eliminates Buffalo and keeps the Habs tied with Pittsburgh. Even worse for the Sabres…last night’s questionable point (the Zubrus goal that was in but Toronto somehow could not see it) by Boston puts Buffalo’s postseason hopes in the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning of all teams. Yes, the same Lightning that got blown out in Carolina 6-2 last night travel to Washington tonight to face the Washington Capitals. Basically if the Caps win…Buffalo’s hopes are almost over and done because Washington will have 92 points and the at the time be tied for 6th (if Ottawa loses in regulation). All those shootout and OT losses (12 total) will indeed have come back to haunt the Sabres. Needless to say, Ryan Miller will not be sending Martin Brodeur a gift basket at the end of the year.  I said almost for this reason.*

There is even a possibility that the West could be all sewn up except for seeding by tonight. Chicago Blackhawk fans will be doing extensive scoreboard watching in Vancouver and Nashville. The Canucks host the Edmonton Oilers and Nashville hosts the St. Louis Blues. With Hannu Toivonen (Legace out with hip flexor injury) getting the start for St. Louis….Nashville fans are probably drooling already (Hannu gave up 4 goals on 18 shots the last time out against the Preds). A Nashville win and Vancouver loss in regulation eliminates both Vancouver and Chicago all in one shot. A Nashville loss or even a loss in extra time leaves the door open for both Vancouver and Chicago. There are so many permutations that you may need a scientific calculator and a professor from M.I.T. for this one.

Now for the other teams that could clinch. Simply…the Rangers and Senators can win and they are in. The Rangers have two cracks against the Isles (tonight and tomorrow night). The Sens play at Toronto and Toronto is without Mats Sundin (groin tear). The Rangers could even lose both in extra time and be in with 95 points total. Minnesota simply needs a point and they win the Northwest and the 3 seed. Calgary just needs a point to make the playoffs. Detroit just needs a point at home against Columbus tonight to win not only the West but the overall #1 seed in the league or a Sharks loss (whether it be in OT, SO or regulation don’t matter).

Tonight will go in a big way to tell the playoff fates of more teams…now seeding is a different matter entirely. I did want to thank ESPN for their concise tiebreaking procedures on their page. Now of course they are all chasing one thing and that is the only thing that ultimately matters. There is that nice, shiny, silver thing called the Stanley Cup.

Thank You Wikipedia for the pic.

So with ten big games tonight….may the DVR’s work some OT and so may your eyes as the regular season comes firing all guns a blazing to the end. The end is definitely very near…and for some more near than they hope.

* Editor’s Note:  Thanks to my friend Andrew from The NHL Arena.  If Washington wins tonight, that doesn’t eliminate the Sabres. Buffalo can jump Philly into 9th, and then jump Boston for 8th based on the THIRD tiebreak. They would be tied in wins, tied in head to head record (4-2-2), but Buffalo would actually win the tiebreak based on goal differential.

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.

48 Hours Since The Deadline….

Honestly we haven’t learned much from the deadline yet and really we won’t for weeks but it is fun to take a look back and see what happened and didn’t happen.  The strangest things may be what didn’t happen may have resulted in a more interesting deadline…although it was so quiet most of Tuesday morning.

The NTC players in Toronto made a hell of a stand against Ottawa on Tuesday night.  Sundin and Tucker scored and even Kaberle and Kubina played outstanding in a 5-0 whitewashing.  Toronto won again last night so it makes you wonder.  Even though most of the hockey media has lambasted Cliff Fletcher for how he has handled things…they are now winning.  Toronto is at .500 and only 6 points out of a playoff berth.  I suppose anything is possible.

Things in Montreal took a stranger turn as they expected to get Hossa and all they really got was a 2009 2nd round pick for trading Cristobal Huet.  Coach Carbonneau and GM Gainey have clashed all season on whether Carey Price was ready..well now he is going to have to be.  It turned out Pittsburgh got Hossa in a last minute deal and a player like Michael Ryder wasn’t dealt.  Ryder helped lead the Habs past Atlanta the other night in an impressive 5-1 victory.  Maybe not getting Hossa won’t hurt Montreal as much as people think.

The New Jersey Devils were surprisingly cautious and did not trade players like Gionta and Elias like some had expected.  Instead, they traded Cam Janssen to St. Louis for Bryce Salvador.  Sure that gives the Devils yet another defenseman, but they needed someone to clear players out of the crease besides Colin White and Salvador fits the bill.  The Devils could have used Salvador and his solid play Tuesday night as they fell 2-1 to Carolina in overtime on a play that never should have been a goal.  Andy Greene tried to play the puck and forgot the person.  Sergei Samsonov slipped by just enough to shovel his own rebound in.  Greene will be benched tomorrow for Salvador….consider it lesson learned.

Teams like Calgary and Vancouver were more or less content on staying put…though Vancouver did move Matt Cooke for Matt Pettinger.  Both teams have well established goalies and appear to be willing to ride out what they have in their quest for Lord Stanley’s Cup.  So why does a team like Boston get such a hard time in media circles?  Because they had the deal in their grasp and lost it…over 1 contract year…that has to bite.  Then to do nothing to help your team because of it…I call that a double whammy.  I really do think Boston may be in danger of missing the playoffs entirely due to the lack of activity.

Lastly, I wrote a little while back on the fact that I wasn’t that impressed with Detroit…well what do you know…the injury bug hit the vets.  Chelios, Rafalski, Hasek…etc…have all gone down with various ailments.  Age can creep up on you but luckily they have enough time to get healthy but the age and goaltending remains an issue.  I wonder if Holland goes after a #1 netminder in the offeseason.  Well, all in all, it was a very interesting trade deadline maybe more for what didn’t happen than what did.

My Favorite NHL Tough Guy Goal Scorers

Special Thanks to my buddy Pedro for the blog idea, but in my mind there is nothing more quintessential hockey then a guy who can bang in the corners and put the puck in the net.  There was no need to waste a bench space on a goon for these guys.   I’ve tried to put a couple older guys that I obviously never saw play to prove a point, but everyone from the 80’s on are my personal favorites so send along guys you’d put on the list…I’ll also send a signed 8 x 10 glossy of myself to anyone that can give me a European that belongs here…

Gordie Howe

Mr. Hockey and the creator of the Gordie Howe Hat Trick (goal, assist, fight)  compiled 1,685 PIM to go along with his 1,850 points in 1,767 games. 

Dino Ciccarrelli

He even looked the part of total badass. 1,200 points and 1,429 PIM in 1,200+ games proves it.

 Cam Neely

Man if you have never seen this guy fight check out nhlfights.com but in his shortened career he racked up 694 pts and 1,241 PIM in 726 games.  My personal favorite!

Terry O’Reilly

He’s here on reputation as he’s before my time, but 2,095 PIM and 606 pts in 891 games backs it up.

Brendan Shanahan

Forget the numbers (1,294 pts 2,425 PIM in 1,418 games), if you saw him pick the fight with Donald Brashear leading the Rangers to a much needed win last season, then you understand.

Eddie Shore

Very old school, but my grandfather’s favorite player who knew I thing or two about hockey. 284 pts, 1037 PIM in 553 games as a defenseman, solid.

Gary Roberts

Not sure how he’s still doing it at 41, but Sid and company sure are learning a thing or two about the NHL from this guy. 887 pts ,2493 PIM in 1166 games.

 Tie Domi

Okay he’s a goon fighter, but guess who scored 104 career goals and 141 assists in the NHL while racking up 3,515 PIM in 1,024 career games? The most feared fighter of all time.  That’s a lot of pucks in the net if you ask me.

Honorable Mentions: Dale Hunter, Bobby Clarke, Wendel Clark, Adam Graves, Clark Gilles, Scott Stevens