No More Horton or Rome in the Cup Final

 

 

New Puck Daddy: After a shellacking, it’s a lot easier to “flush it” than it is after losing a tight one

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So this kind of sucks: we’re in the middle of a great series between Vancouver and Boston.  After two skin-of-their-teeth wins by Vancouver, Boston came out and made a statement – they dropped an 8-1 beatdown on Chinatown (that’s Vancouver, for those of you not up on your population demographics/casual racism), with Luongo staying in the net for every goal.

But the game has been overshadowed by the Aaron Rome hit that left Nathan Horton with a severe concussion, knocking him out for the rest of playoffs.  Rome is gone too, as I’m sure you’ve heard – he got suspeded for four games – but that’s of little consequence to the Canucks who’ve already used and won with nine different defencemen in playoffs thus far.

And now, writing about that is more important than writing about the games played so far (not that there’s anything to analyze from last night), because it affects the series. My little reminder for everyone (that I tweeted) is this: between the bite and the fingers being offered up for biting and this hit, don’t lose track that of the hockey. Hits happen (legal or otherwise) in playoffs, people get hurt, and teams have to perservere. Part of winning the Cup is survival.  All the best to Nathan Horton and everything, but it’s certainly doesn’t need to be every storyline.

So here we go (don’t watch, Mom):

The hit, as I saw it, was flawlessly executed at the perfect spot on the ice…..but just way, way too late, which makes it interference and dangerous. Rome stopped backing up and planted the second Horton moved the puck, but the guy still had time to get into a third stride before getting pounded. Part of the reason I think it was so late was that Rome was backing up (as opposed to charging forward) and planting, so he has to wait for Horton to get to him. Whatever the reason, it was very late.

From experience, I (and my broken nose) can tell you that no hit is more of a shock to the system than the one where you’re gathering speed (he was crossing over) and unaware it’s coming.  Happened to me in Bridgeport, and I was fortunate to avoid the concussion; Horton wasn’t so lucky.  Had it been Rome hitting me, I probably would’ve been in the same situation, which is part of the reason I have genuine sympathy for the guy today.

That said, I think the suspension might be a little long for a late north/south hit (that’s a lotta strides to not look up once), but given the severity of the injury and what a big part of Boston’s team Horton is, I guess it sort of makes sense. If we want more serious suspensions (and we do), it has to start somewhere. You would just think they’d wait for the start of the new season to begin doing that.

{Part of it feels like a PR-safe move for the league – if Rome got back into a game while Horton is still suffering, it doesn’t look good on their ruling.}

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As for the actual game last night…..there’s almost no point in evaluating that one. If there were a checklist with “Canucks need to improve their…” on it, I’d be clicking “select all.” Feel free to weigh in on the Horton hit for today, but after that, I’m going to try to stick to the action as much as possible.

Game One, Winnipeg/Atlanta, Campbell/Shannahan

New Puck Daddy: The Bruins can’t win if their bottom six forwards don’t own Vancouvers

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Good day, hockey fans!  Lotttts to talk about today, and I’m in a writin’ mood.  Coming up: Game one of the Stanley Cup Final, Winnipeg/Atlanta, and Brendan Shannahan taking over for Colin Campbell as the NHL’s disciplinarian for the 2011-2012 season. 

Sigh….that’s so far away and this season’s almost over.

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Game one, Vancouver vs. Boston

This was one of those fantastic low-scoring games that are so infrequent.  When I think about game one, I think about some of the spectacular individual performances.  My top five (yes, five) stars of the game, in order:

#1 – Tim Thomas – had you put the league’s most average goalie in net for Boston in that game, just your generic Craig Anderson or whoever, the final score is 5-0, minimum.  He made huge stops early (and late, and in the middle) that kept his team in the game, and I thought his save on the Jannik Hansen breakaway hasn’t gotten nearly enough credit.  That save was soccer goalie-esque, in that he literally would’ve had to have guessed a bit to be able to snap his pads together that quickly while sliding backwards.

#2 – Jannik Hansen – This guy was everywhere.  In a game where you know the other team is going to be focusing on the other two lines, you always have the opportunity to make them pay for that, and boy did he ever.  It’s like walking a batter to get another guy, in this case Hansen and his linemates, then having that guy belt a homerun to centerfield.  He was all-around terrific, and capped it off with a sick set-up on the game winner.

#3 – Roberto Luongo – Just your average, run-of-the-mill 37 save shutout where he’s so positionally sound and ahead of the action that it looks like it’s easy.  Thomas probably makes those 37 saves if he’s in Van’s net too, only four of them become highlight-reel saves because of his chaotic style.

#4 – Raffi Torres - Scored the game-winner with 18.5 seconds left in game one of the Stanley Cup Final, after playing probably his best game of playoffs.  He created chances and played physical, which is more than he’s asked to do for the Nucks

#5A – Ryan Kesler – Makes a great play on the game-winner (including the toe-drag to stay onside) and just played his usual, horse-like Kesler game.  He looks unstoppable at times.

#5B – Zdeno Chara – Almost 30 minutes of ice and kept the Sedins to zero points.  Solid captain work there.

Read today’s column if you’re interested to hear what I think needs to happen for the B’s to win some games in this series.  The score was close, but I didn’t think the game was.

And for an update on the “Bourne proved he knows nothing about hockey” Seguin article (that was an actual comment), he’s now gone six straight games without so much as a point, and saw his ice time cut in half to six minutes.  I wouldn’t be shocked if he didn’t dress next game.  Not that I think he’s bad or anything, of course….he’s not.  That’s not why I keep dropping the updates.  I just didn’t feel like I deserved the shots I took from the PD commentariat (not here) after that piece.

Game two on Saturday, and I continue to be unable to see a way the Bruins can win, even after that close game (sorry Char).  They played the exact game they needed to yesterday and still couldn’t quite close.  We’ll see I guess!

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Winnipeg/Atlanta

So it’s official – the Atlanta Thrashers are taking their talents to Winterpeg.

First, as I’ve said before, I have muchos sympathy for Thrashers fans.  I know what it’s like to live in a city where hockey isn’t part of the collective identity, and other fans really crap on hockey fans who support the team despite that (it should be the opposite – you should get more credit if you’re a supporter from a non-hockey city).

There are far too many folks who’ve never been to a game in the city that they’re making fun of, let alone to the cities themselves, yet they torch away without thinking.  On those nights when there’s only nine thousand fans at a game, consider how much those fans must love the team.  In Atlanta, think of the fans that go despite knowing the building won’t be packed.  They know their team isn’t star-laden.  They’ve never seen a single playoff game.

Yet there they are, on a Tuesday night, wearing their jersey to support their team.  But it’s HILARIOUS to refer to them as the Thrashers fan and leave off the “s” because there’s only one!HAHAHAHA!!!1!!

But enough of a rant.  With that said: 

SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS to Winnipeg!  While it’s wrong to imply any one fan there will love the team more than the multi-year season ticket holder from Atlanta who writes a blog about the team, rest assured that MORE (way, way more) people will love the team there.

Hockey is a part of what makes us Canadian, like it or not, and this team was unfairly ripped out of that city’s hands fifteen years ago.  It feels right to have it back, so I’m happy for those good people from Manitoba.  You may not like their city, but you’ll damn sure like the people.

Here’s to hoping they call ‘em the Winnipeg Phoenix. The team has risen from the ashes once again!

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Brendan Shanahan, NHL Disciplinarian

Beginning in the 2011-2012, Brendan Shanahan is going to take over for Colin Campbell as league disciplinarian.  This is, as a general statement, awesome.

Before I explain why I think so, I just gotta say: that job has to be done by a committee (I know, I’ve said this before) of one ex-player, one ex-referee, and one ex-coach/GM/front-office guy.  It’d be like scoring a boxing match, only you know you’re getting people from different walks of the same world, meaning you’d probably reach some fairly appropriate consequence.  I have no idea why Gary Bettman is so opposed to that obvious strategy.

But if you’re going to pick one guy, they couldn’t have picked a better one to do it.  Shanahan, throughout his playing days, was a widely respected player.  On top of that, he was a nice mix of physical player and goal-scorer so I think he’ll have a better understanding than anyone about what’s across the line and what isn’t.  And, it’s great that he’s recently left the game, so he understands the “new” NHL better than someone else would.

The bottom line is, the game is evolving - speed and size are increasing while our awareness of safety is too, so it’s not an easy job.  It’s good that Shanahan is going into the job as a respected man, because hopefully that will help people respect his decisions more.  It’s a sad reality, but this job could (will?) hurt his reputation, as overly bias fans cry bias at him, until every fan base feels wronged at some point.

And that’s the bad part of him having recently played – now every suspension or fine he does or doesn’t give is going to come attached with “OF COURSE he didn’t suspend the guy that plays for his old team.” “OF COURSE he didn’t suspend his old teammate.” OF COURSE he suspended the guy on the team he always hated.” “OH SHOCKER, no suspension for the guy on Tampa because he’s friends with Yzerman.”

Shanahan won’t let those biases affect his rulings – he knows he’s under the spotlight, and more importantly, he’ll want to do a right and honest job to keep the game safe, but that won’t stop folks from lighting him up.

It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.  I’m thinking they got the perfect man for the job.

*****

Okay, that’s a lot of words for one day!  Thanks for stopping by.

The Caps Need a Change, Canucks/Preds, CAT PICTURE

 

New Puck Daddy: Being on the wrong side of a sweep and what a coach can do to turn it around

*****

Round two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs have been downright weird, bordering on disappointing.  And it’s strange, too, because it’s not like any of the games have been particularly bad (save for the Caps/Lightning first game, IMO), it’s just…. they keep ending with the same guys out in front.

Are the Detroit Red Wings really going to get swept by the San Jose Sharks?  I can’t believe what I’m seeing.  There wasn’t a person out there who thought this series wouldn’t see a fifth game, and most were fairly sure it could go the distance.  Good thing I didn’t bet on round two (sorry about that, i’ll go crazy next round) - I had the Red Wings winning, and the series going seven.  Not even close.

Thankfully, we do have the Canucks/Preds series, which resumes tonight.  Nashville is sans Steve Sullivan, which hurts them quite a bit - when your roster isn’t exactly laden with offensive stars, you need all the pieces you can get.  That team is sort of built like a big Jenga tower – with all it’s blocks, it’s big, solid and impressive, but each block you slide out of the base weakens the thing, until eventually you can blow it over.

Hopefully for Preds fans, their building is still strong enough to stand up to a push from the Canucks.  I have a hunch it still is, and for entertainment value, all of us want to see this thing go long.

*****

So on Wednesday, I wrote for Hockey Primetime that Bruce Boudreau should be fired if the Caps get swept, which they did, and it’s an opinion I still hold. 

On twitter the last couple days, person after person – basically everyone other that Greg Wyshynski and the odd Caps fan – has come out in defense of the guy, saying he shouldn’t be fired.

Look: no team is perfect, and I acknowledge the Caps may have a few (very) minor flaws.  But if it’s good enough to be the best team in the Eastern Conference after 82 games, there are going to be playoff expectations.  Two straight years they failed to come anywhere close to those, not only failing to win the Conference in playoffs, but failing to even advance to the Conference Finals.  FOUR years in a row they’ve won their division and never seen the third round.

Well…..that’ll do, thanks.  Move along.

Saying the guy, for whatever reason, hasn’t been able to get done when it counts is an understatement.

Also keep this in mind: saying the team needs a change, as I have been, is not calling him a bad coach.  It’s not calling him a bad guy, which from all accounts, he decidedly is not.

It’s the simple math that if you’ve tried to jam the square peg in the round hole a bunch of times and it still doesn’t fit, maybe try something different.

I hope for Caps fans a new coach comes in and something clicks there.  The players could use a TSN Turning Point, and a new leader could be just what they’re looking for.

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Here’s a couple personal pics for ya – the first is of Bri and I with her folks at our favourite pub (notice top right above Buck Hunter, my Dad’s Uni – signed to the 27 year old bar owner “to the son I always wanted but never had.”)  Clark brought his jersey to put alongside it – we’re fixing this Boston bar just yet!

The second pic is, of course, Jiggs sleeping.  Which he now does almost exclusively in the guest sink during the day.  Odd little fella.

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Happy Cinco de Mayo!  I’m in Arizona, so it’s sort of a big deal apparently.  I’m in the “not really sure why we’re celebrating, but will take an excuse to have a margarita” camp today.

Some Thoughts on Pronger, Caps/Lightning, Canucks/Predators

 

New Puck Daddy: Undisciplined play from a teams’ leaders can kill a dressing room, also, *cough*Flyers*cough*

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If I may explain today’s Puck Daddy article – I realize Pronger hasn’t played a ton, but he has played three of the last four games, and managed to anger me enough to write that.  After watching his behaviour against Buffalo, followed by his antics in the early part of round two’s first game, I was FURIOUS when he took van Riemsdyk away from the very unthreatening Marchand situation like a wise old vet showin’ the young kid what to do.

Don’t take any penalties kid, they just took one and we don’t want to give up that opportunity!

I was just like….you f***ing hypocrite.

Van Riemsdyk is going to be a star in the league, and what’s he supposed to think after that?  He saw big #20 blow it for him and his teammates twice in the past three games, so what, he’s supposed to respect Pronger’s wishes?  Look up to him, learn from him?  He should’ve slashed Pronger for the condescending “now now, young man” when JVR was just getting his back.

I dunno.  Obviously I know Pronger’s a stud d-man that I’d like to have on my team.  But let’s not act like he’s not a selfish hockey player out there. 

*****

Today I had to do a two-minute bit for TV, and let me tell you, I did very, very poorly. I need to do that shit more so I don’t get all panicky when I mess up once – I’m tellin’ ya, it was like a trainwreck once it started.  Here’s a rough version of the punchy lil’ monologue, Passing Thoughts on Washington/Tampa, Vancouver/Nashville:

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In the Eastern Conference semifinal the Washington Capitals are dangerously near getting knocked out of playoffs with an upset.  And yes, I did cut and paste that sentence from an article I wrote in one of the previous three years. (*modified for print )

Bruce Boudreau said after the game two loss that “Alex Ovechkin wasn’t doing very much,” and that “it’s easy to put a d-man on a forward,” adding that Eric Brewer was doing a good job shutting Ovy down.

To reiterate, ERIC BREWER.

That’s like saying Lebron is having trouble getting to the hoop and dunking because I’M guarding him.

He failed to mention that the Caps powerplay is doing really well, by the Boston Bruins standards (11.1%).  He also missed that Nick Backstrom is having a heck of a playoff run, if he were precisely no one (7GP, 0G, 2A, 2PTS).

In the Western Conference, the Vancouver Canucks are headed to Nashville to play game three after losing game two on home ice in overtime.

If you like fast, offensive games, than this series has been like…..watching neutral zone play in soccer, really. 

But if it’s goaltending you like…..well, then, you’re just weird.

But both goalies have been terrific in this series, giving up a mere two total goals each after two games, with the only difference being that fans in Nashville LOVE Pekka Rinne, where fans in Vancouver LOVE that they have a good backup goalie.

…..They just don’t trust that starter.

It should be a star-studded affair in Music City, with plenty of celebrity cameos – you’ll see Carrie Underwood….you’ll see Vancouver’ Green Men….the only thing you won’t see is Barry Trotz neck.

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 Eh, kinda corny, but it didn’t sound so bad when I recorded myself doing it.  Live….eh, lets not go there.  Anywho, so I’m pulling myself together after that.

I’ll be watchin’ the games ‘n’ tweetin’ tonight.  Follow me here.

The Canucks Don’t Suck, The Coyotes…. EXIST!

The Vancouver Canucks were eliminated in game six of the Western Conference semi-finals on May 11th.

That’s a sentence that literally could have been written last season and still been 100% factual.

On May 13th last year, I was headed to the airport in Vancouver to fly the 45 minutes back to my hometown of Kelowna, after a three day vacation with my college roommates.  The day before we had ran into a big number of the Canucks downtown, day-drinking just like us, but they were black, blue and looking depleted.  And here I was the very next day listening to sports-talk radio abuse them.

To make the Conference semi’s, you have to advance past 22 teams, yet their sports personalities were trying to figure out who to nail to the cross first.  Apparently Luongo was the easiest target at the time (as he probably is today).

But Canucks fans, relax.  You have a good team that’s a serious contender – so much so that legitimate hockey personalities picked your boys to win the Cup (just being healthy might be enough to see round three next year, then who knows).  Most fans (Oilers, Wild, Flames, Leafs, oh I dunno, ISLANDERS) would kill to have the type of year your boys had.  You’re getting spoiled with great hockey, and acting like you’re watching the Blue Jackets.

You ran into a Hawks team with too many weapons to stop while using a d-corps that was probably eating a pre-game meal of spaghetti and percaset.  Your boy Lu made enough big saves and your forwards scored enough goals to win… there was just nothing left in the back tank.  Let’s be honest – it didn’t look like Salo was exactly having a ball out there. (*recycling is good for the environment)

Kudos to the Hawks, who look pretty damn dangerous going forward.

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Moments after getting a text that implied (said?) the deal to Winnipeg was finalized, it turned out the deal to stay in Phoenix was just getting started.  I was on an emotional roller coaster last night.

Two things I want to say to the fans of both cities before I mention the latest happenings:

This doesn’t have to be so personal.  The people of Winnipeg want a team, and are not to be blamed for that.  And on the other side, Coyote fans are not to be blamed for wanting their team to stay.  There are crappy people and great people on both sides of the border, I promise.  Let’s try to minimize generalizations and keep it classy.

The rampant pot-shotery from people who’re otherwise smart folks is weird, and hopefully uncharacteristic of the majority of hockey fans.

Quick summary of my understandings: Glendale has agreed to bend over and take it up the tailpipe to make hockey work here, and by the end of June, we’ll know with who and by what terms.  I don’t suppose either of these owners care to airlift the arena somewhere closer to me in Chandler, do they?

As I’ve mentioned before, best I can tell, supporters should back the Ice Edge bid – they’ve provided no hint of “we might move”, they’ve realized the importance of the fan base (and realized it exists), and most importantly, the guys I listen to here that have dilligently followed this situation for years support them.  Soooo, that’s good enough for me.  Support Ice Edge!  (On Twitter, if you like: @IceEdgeDJ)

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Blackhawks vs. Sharks

 My prediction is coming in the next day or two….. San Jose / Chicago… who ya got?

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Shorter entry today, as there’s a second one for you to take in.  Hope your week is going smooth.  And hey, it’s May!  Smile for spring.

Chi/Van, Round III: Luongo Is A Cat, But Not In A Good Way

 

Just out of curiosity, who was the colour guy on VERSUS last night? (And why is “VERSUS” written in all caps?  Is it an acronym?)

Its not that the colour guy was bad, but I’m pretty sure you can’t say a player “got raped” on a play (In reference to Patrick Sharp taking the zone between two Canuck defenders).  I literally used that phrase once and once only on this blog (I said a guy who had five points “raped the scoresheet”), and some dad or uncle or both wrote me some horrorifyingly personal story so I’d stop using the word so casually.  And indeed I have.  In retrospect, it seems like a gross overreaction by that guy, but I’m glad I stopped using it.  Of course, in the early days of this blog, I took negative reader comments a lot more personally, and immediately changed it to “mauled the scoresheet” (rawr).  Anyway.  That just seemed like suspect phrase-ology from ol commentatey-pants, there.

Bustin Dyfuglien or whatever his name is wreaked havoc on the Canucks crease last night (And by “wreaked havoc”, I mean Luongo looked like my cat when he lays on his back to chew my hand after every rebound.  Stay low in your butterfly after shots for f***’s sake, you’re massive).  You could feel like game unfolding for the Hawks as the Canucks dominated the better part of the first period, got ample opportunities to score, and made Niemi look like a stud.

The Canuck’s Jannick Hansen had two plays in particular that made me go “ugh” (as a guy openly rooting for the Canucks - a team I spent my youth disliking, only to recently realize I dislike every other Canadian team more, and I should probably try liking one), because certain saves make a goalie feel like they’re really on top of things in a game.  Once they get those big, solid saves under their belt early, its like they’re playing with house money.  They’ve already bailed the team out, so they can really start laying down some big bets.  And Hansen was the dealer dropping blackjacks on Niemi.

One play, he got a puck from behind the net and had it on his forehand, all alone facing Niemi, who came out aggressively to cut down the angle.  Hansen goes flat-footed, and pulls a hockey-school wrist-shot into Niemi’s pillows like it’s pre-game warm-up, instead of pulling it to his backhand to a completely vacant net.  Bees and dogs can smell fear, apparently, but I think I sniffed some out of ‘ol Jannick on that one myself. “ohcrap I better shoot this soon”

Clearly, he went to the bench and gave himself a stern talking to, because on the next shift he gets a breakaway, and forces a deke to his backhand that Niemi was so far over on it hits him mid-pad.   Couldn’t tell if he was going inside post or five-hole, whiiiich is never a good sign on a deke.  This was followed immediately be a nasty move in front by Daniel Sedin (starts facing away from Niemi, gets the puck and does a neat pull to his forehand thingy)  needing to raise the puck one foot to score, trying to flip it up, but being oddly unable to.  And herreeee come the Hawks.

(He’s right on top of Niemi, but if I can hit the cross bar with the puck on the goal line, I’m thinkin’ a Sedin can too)

The most effective guys for Chicago were the secondary, more aggressive names, like Byfuglien, Bolland and oddly, Hjalmarsson (while Kane and Toews actually looked 21 and 22 years old, respectively).  Which, of course, is scary for the Canucks – you didn’t put a game away with ample opportunities at home, and you’ve yet to see the best from your opponent’s stars.

Lastly on Byfuglien and Luongo – Clearly Big Buff (sounds like a childrens character) has the goalie’s number, but here’s what I don’t get.  If I’m a referee, I know who Dustin Byfuglien is.  You know that after every whistle he’s not getting bumped into the goalie; you know it’s intentional.  If you don’t want to have some difficult calls later in the game or series (“should we count that or was it goalie interference?), don’t you protect the goalie early by calling a penalty and making it clear he’s to be left alone?  This grinding, frustrating “oops, did I trip into the goalie?” “oops, did I stop a second late and get bumped onto the goalie?” should be insulting to the refs.  You know those aren’t accidents, right?  If you don’t police this, the teams have to, then you have 90 facewash scrums per game because nobody wants to sit five minutes of a playoff game.

Anyways, enough on that series.  Sorry for the clear Vancouver bias – I really do like Chicago, I just want Vancouver to step up this year.

*****

Congrats to the B’s on taking down the Flyers in Philly, but the loss of Krejci (broken wrist) hurts.  Looks to be a fun coupla Conference finals shaping up!

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I was poking around looking for clips of me on TV yesterday for a bit of a video resume, and found a couple of me at Islander camp (Islanders TV still had them on file).  I’m just a tad jacked up in the second one, but if  you care to hear me speak during my first NHL camp, herreeee ya go:

Off Ice Interview

JUST Off The Ice Interview

Picks, Coyote Tix and Quick Hits

 

I did a bad job of explaining my predictions before the second round (less “bad job” and more “completely didn’t do it”), and now I have the advantage of having seen a game from each series.  So, my bad on that.  Thus, in the interest of keeping this entry from War and Peace-like length, I’ll cut to the chase on why I picked whom.

I picked Detroit, and explained it was because I can’t pick against The Zettersyuk.  I intend to do an old school, serious piece of prose about the poetic way Datsyuk plays later today.  Sheer artistry.

I picked Vancouver on the Luongo-is-better-than-Niemi tiebreaker, and because I only recently discovered that bandwagon Blackhawks fans are plutonium-level-volatile right now.  They’re entering the “holy crap, if we don’t win this year….” panic phase , where they’re studying salary cap rules at all hours of the night, and realizing that Hossa is basically becoming a one-man Buffalo Bills of the early ’90′s. WIDE RIGHT!  WIDE RIGHT!

I picked Pittsburgh because…. forget it, same reasons you did.

I picked Boston on the Rask-is-better-than-Boucher tiebreaker, and because Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne aren’t playing.  Also because Philly likes effing with it’s own fans by pretending it wants to win the cup, when really all the owners want is to get deep enough to get a few more home games for revenue. (Emery is out for the year?  It’s trade deadline time?  I have an idea…. what it we ride out this average goalie/great team thing and see where it takes us?  Haven’t tried that yet.)

I will say this about the Boston/Philly series – I would have predicted these two teams to be in the second round at the start of the year.  Surprisingly, they both struggled during the regular season, but I do actually think they’re more than capable of being competitive with the best teams.  The right eight teams made it from the East, and if you had looked at the rosters they went with for playoffs like eight months ago, you probably would’ve picked Boston to beat Buffalo, and Philly to beat Jersey.

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During Olympic time, I wrote a blog on Luongo the night before the gold medal game, on the topic of him making me feel slightly uneasy when he’s in net, for whatever reason.  (I took it down for fear of looking like a dissident at such a positive time.)

To me, this is his career-defining series. 

Team vs. team, Chicago and Vancouver are pretty even – maybe Chicago is a little better.  Vancouver’s advantage is supposed to be in net.  When he’s won, he’s almost always had the better team.  When he’s lost, he’s almost always had the worse team.  He’s not getting any younger, and this is one of the first occasions I can remember that it’s his series to win or lose. 

If he wants to be the player Canuck fans think he is, now is his time to shine, like the bright lights hitting his greasy hair.

*****

My buddy bought a Phoenix Coyotes playoff ticket package, which for those of you that don’t know, means you buy them right through game seven of the finals.  If your team doesn’t make it that far, you get reimbursed.

If they don’t call him soon to offer him tickets for next year instead of just sending him a cheque back (which it appears they’re going to do), it’ll be disheartening as a guy rooting for the team to succeed here.  Coyote’s marketing: he’d take the tickets, I’m telling you.  Make those calls while their season is fresh in everyone’s mind.  DO THIS RIGHT!

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The guys from PTI asked Dwight Howard to pick who he thought should be the league MVP, and he named two players, neither of which were Lebron.  What a hater.

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I’ve seen the Marc Savard reaction to his overtime winner about eighty-hundred times thus far, and I’m still 100% on getting chills.  I love that shit.  Great stick-to-crowd toss.

*****

I just found out that Jaroslav Halak made 800K this year.  Vesa Toskala made 4SHMIL.  If you believe that there’s any justice in the universe, expect a bank error in Halak’s favour, where he collects 3.2 million, then passes GO for an extra 200 bucks.

*****

Have to mention this (sorry in advance): yesterday I heard “throwing the snake” used as the all-time-funniest euphemism EVAR.  Some guy, just off the cuff: I bet Jim Ballsillie is so depressed after losing the Coyotes he just sits around “throwing the snake” all day, if you know what I’m sayin’.

*****

And last but not least, some quick thoughts on each series for ya, while I’m on my way out the door:

San Jose/Detoit:  San Jose has had success so far in playoffs with the complete and utter absence of it’s best players.  Last night, Thornton got the GWG and Heatley had three assists.  This should scare a lot of teams in the West, like say, Detroit.

Vancouver/Chicago: Don’t expect another VanCity beat down.  That Chicago team is too talented, cocky and proud to get run-over like a dog on the highway again.  They need their young gunners to act like THIS DOG and pull them in the right direction, as I fully expect them to do.

Montreal/Pittsburgh: Hey, lookit them Canadiens go. Part of the reason Detoit is so good is because they’ve always been able to get offense from skill (Datsyuk/Zetterberg) or grit (Holmstrom/Franzen).  Jordan Staal was the second part of Pittsburghs offensive equation (and the first part of its defensive one).  Washington didn’t have a second way to score against Halak, and I think it’ll really hurt Pitt that they lost a big chunk of their second style too.  Seems like Halak can make every first save in the book, and Montreal’s D is doing a great job of clearing away second chance opportunities.

Philly/Boston:  The best news for Pittsburgh, who will eventually win that series or I’m folding my blog and becoming a monk, is that this Philly/Boston series is close, so it’s going to be a war.  The teams hate each other.  It’s a battle of attrition, and the winning side is going to limp in front of the conference-finals-firing-squad on one limb.  Pittsburgh, Merry Christmas…. you’re in the finals.

*****

In case you missed it:  On Friday I uncovered footage of Ovechkin and the evil genius boss who sent him to Earth to capture the Stanley Cup.  You can watch it here.

2010 NHL Playoffs – The Bestern Conference

 

I’m picking the Sharks to win the Cup.

*waits*

AhhhhGotcha!  They suck.  Let’s make some picks.

*****

SAN JOSE SHARKS (1)

vs.

COLORADO AVALANCHE (8)

Before the season, I didn’t have Colorado pegged to be a playoff team.  Halfway through the year I looked Barry Melrose level wrong on that (y’know, the guy who didn’t think Stamkos was gonna amount to much of an NHLer?  Love the guy, but he’s building a solid reputation for his wrongitude).  By the end of the season, I had almost come full circle back to right.

They’ve got a ton of badass young talent.  But I wouldn’t bet on Colorado to win this series if Vegas doubled the odds and you paid for my wager.

Contrary to my “they suck” joke about San Jose to open this blog, I don’t think they suck.  I’m picking them to go deep – like, conference finals deep – but I wouldn’t pick them to win a series against Chicago or Detroit (both would be epic series), and the bad news for SJ is, both those teams happen to be in the Western Conference.  Which they’re in too.

I think you’ll see a great first round out of big Joe and crew, cause they’ll be fired up as all hell to prove themselves.  More than any team in the NHL this post-season, they know an early round exit means a bunch of people getting new zip codes in the off-season.

Colorado’s pace will be amazing, and Stastny will be money.  But with Nabokov in net, the Avs upset hopes are some of the lowest in the league this post-season. (Here comes an Avs sweep after that prediction, huh?)

PREDICTION:  SHARKS in FIVE

*****

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (2)

vs.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS (7)

Shocking truth – I don’t think Chicago’s goaltending is bad as every human on Earth seems to think it is.

Now Washington – Washington has two horrific goaltenders.  Antti Niemi and Cristobal Huet may not be the elites of the league, but they certainly aren’t the dregs either.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog, Nashville – despite reaching 100 POINTS this year – was EVEN in goal differential during five-on-five regular season play.  Well that’s not very good, is it?

If they struggled to create offense in the regular season, I can’t imagine it’s going to go much better in the tighter checking post-season.  And if you could sum up the general point I’ll be making in my predictions, it’s that “teams that score by committee are f****d”.  Depth is good.  No-big-guns is bad (though I will race you to pick Hornqvist in fantasy hockey next year).

In reality, the Predators are not going to lose because of the Predators.  They’re going to lose because they’re playing a team that’s gone all-in this year.  Every chip they’ve got has been pushed to the middle, with very little regard to what happens after this season.  This equals one thing: an all-star team.

Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Kris Versteeg, Patrick Sharp, Dave Bolland, Dustin Byfuglien….. really I could just type roster names til I’m out of them.  This one won’t be close.

PREDICTION: HAWKS in FOUR

*****

 

VANCOUVER CANUCKS (3)

vs.

LOS ANGELES KINGS (6)

As Bob McKenzie adamantly pointed out today, the LA Kings finished two – count ‘em, two – points behind Vancouver in the standings. It’s not so much a “3 vs 6″ matchup as it is two 4.5 seeds going at it.

This is one of those series you know is going to go six or seven games, but I’m not sure why.  Vancouver is better in net.  And up front.  And on D.

That’s not to say LA isn’t strong in all those places, because they are (101 points!).  But those Sedins have gone from point-getting and bothersome to venemous and unbelievable.  Both sides have game breakers in this one, which is why it’s going to be a blast (which, incidentally, is why Boston/Buffalo is going to be a painfully long, close series – they don’t have any).  It just so happens that the Canucks have the better ones.

Luongo finally took a step passed his “never won anything” reputation in the Olympics.  As shaky as it may have been, or whatever you may think of him, mentally, that’s huge for a guy’s confidence.  You want him in net over either of the Kings tenders, every time.

The Canucks will miss Willie Mitchell.  He’s a big part of that d-corps, but he’s not the only piece.  The Canucks will get it done, but the Kings will take a lot out of them.

PREDICTION: CANUCKS in SEVEN

*****

PHOENIX COYOTES (4)

vs.

DETROIT RED WINGS (5)

You may remember, eight or nine days ago, I wrote a column on how unfortunate (but inevitable) it was the the ‘Yotes would draw the Red Wings in the first round. 

Nothing has changed since then.

{Well, one thing has – there’s the movement, started via Five For Howling‘s Travis Hair (@TravisHair) on Twitter, to have Coyote fans throw fake rattlesnakes on the ice, I think after warm-up (check out #ThrowTheSnake on twitter).  I know folks will be worried about it costing the ‘Yotes a penalty, but it rarely does after the first occurance at any given game. 

You’ll get a warning, so just don’t do it after the first “hey stop that” (if the team has half a marketing brain – and I think they do – they’ll embrace this.  They could sell them, jack the price up and cash in).  Either way, it’s a great bit of potential hockey culture down here in the desert.  I’m tellin’ ya man, the fans need something to call their own, and this can be the start of Phoenix’s first “own thing”.  I’m on board.  But anyways, back to the series….}

These are the two best coached teams in the NHL.  Babcock coached his team through a kabillion injuries and somehow got them to 100 points for the bloody TENTH STRAIGHT YEAR, while Dave Tippett took a team most people picked to finish one place behind last, and at times, teased being the conference’s best.

The Coyotes have rock solid goaltending in Ilya Bryzgalov, which was going to be their huge advantage in a playoff series.  Unfortunately for them, Jimmy Howard found his game at the NHL level, learned to battle, and got himself into MVP talk, somehow.  At the very least, he’s a Calder top two.

But here’s where I rehash that same old point – when a game needs to be broken open, Coyotes fans will bite their fingernails halfway off everytime Henrik Zetterberg or Pavel Datsyuk has the puck.  Scoring by committee isn’t impossible, you just hope that your committee doesn’t have a first round defensive opponent of Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Niklas Kronwall, Brad Stuart and crew.

At the other end, guys like Lepisto, Vandermeer and Michalek (okay, and Jovo at the defensive end) – as good as their years were – probably aren’t going to be able to stop the mix of Datsyuk/Zetterberg skill with Franzen/Holmstrom grit.

Here’s the thing.  I WANT the Coyotes to win.  I want this team to look like a great “buy low” deal for the contemplating future owners.  I want a hockey culture here.  I’m jumping in an RV with about a dozen other guys, driving up an hour before the game, getting my white out on and cheering like everyone else (yes, for the ‘Yotes).  But as a sports writer, I have to be honest.  I’d be surprised if the Coyotes won.

But then again, Coyotes fans, you may recall…. I’ve been wrong about them before.  Here’s to hoping they surprise me again.

PREDICTION: RED WINGS in SIX

*****

(Leastern Conference picks later today)

Western Conference Playoff Spots

 

The battle for playoff spots in the West is always a little more intriguing when some unexpected teams blow up and have good seasons, and this is one of those years.  Phoenix, Nashville and LA are all better than I expected, and I think better than the rest of the West had hoped.

So without really any ado, here’s how I see the bubble teams finishing up:

4th, Vancouver Canucks, 52 games played, 66 points

The only reason the Canucks get a blurb in the “bubble teams” section at all is their upcoming road trip.  They set an NHL record by being gone for something like six weeks, and playing 14 straight road games (Olympic preparation in Vancouver).  They’re 22-7-1 at home, but below .500 at 10-11-1 on the road this year.  If they survive the trip at .500, they’ll be in great shape.

{Only Washington, Pittsburgh and San Jose have scored more goals than the Canucks this year, and only New Jersey, Buffalo and Chicago have given up less.  Not bad, VanCity.  Not bad.}

5th, Phoenix Coyotes, 52 games played, 63 points

The ‘Yotes have played the majority of their games to date at home in the friendly confines of Jobing.com Arena (29), where they’re a dominant 19-8-2.  On the road, the Coyotes are an even 10-10-3 (23 games), sort of how your record is supposed to look.  With a third of the season left to play, they’re in position to push for a quality playoff spot.

Have you noticed a trend in the teams that are “overachieving”?  The Coyotes, Sabres, and Avalanche all have similar team builds, to some extent.  They’re fast over big, mostly young over mostly old, they’ve got great goaltending and most importantly, their top six forwards are almost all interchangeable as ”first line” guys.  Instead of the NBA method – pay one player to be your star and build around him – they all seem to be deeper teams without “that guy” to watch out for (the top two scorers from the teams I just listed are Tim Connolly and Paul Stastny, both below a point a game at 48 points in 51 games).

The Coyotes are going to make playoffs this year, but to have any hope of moving beyond a quick round one exit, they need to finish in 5th or 6th – 7th or 8th (versus San Jose or Chicago) would be hopeless.

6th, Los Angeles Kings, 51 games played, 61 points

The Kings seem fragile, don’t they?  Points are always easier to come by before Christmas, just like wins.  When Anze Kopitar has Ryan Smyth to help him out, he’s useful, but his production has seriously slowed down.  He just doesn’t seem like a guy who can get it done when his opponents key on him, they way the real elite stars can.  That says to me he’s not ready to be “the guy” on a team that needs one.  They’re good enough to win even with him struggling, so they’ll hang on to playoffs, but you certainly get the impression they aren’t headed the right direction.

7th, Nashville Predators, 51 games played, 61 points

I almost included the Preds in the group of “overachieving teams with the same build” from the Coyotes paragraph, but in the end, I didn’t think their Dan Ellis or Pekka Rinne deserved to be in the same class as Bryzgalov, Miller and Anderson.  Nashville could be the best team to miss playoffs this year… and I see it happening.

8th, Detroit Red Wings, 51 games played, 58 points

The depressing part for the teams on the wrong side of the playoff cutoff line looking in right now is, you’re not trying to catch Detroit’s 58 points, you’re looking at Nashvilles 61.  Detroit has played with half a team all year.  They’re the best coached team in the league, with some of the best names in the entire NHL in their dressing room (even with all they lost from last year).  The Canucks and Avalanche can start stressing now about which one of them is going to get unfortunately stuck in a (4) vs. (5) battle with Detroit.

9th, Calgary Flames, 52 games played, 58 points

What the hell happened to the Flames?  I feel like I fell asleep for an hour and they dropped a half-dozen spots.  Hmm.  1-8-1 in their last ten, with six straight losses.  By all logic, the Flames should be okay:  great goaltender, maybe the best defensive trio in the league, and a couple of guys up front who can score.  For me, the major difference between their offensive firepower and the teams “overacheiving” this year, is that their goal scorers aren’t young and energetic.  They don’t have that legs churning, relentless effort type threat right now – they’re scary in the “HolyCrapDon’tLetHimShootFromThereAWww.  They scored.” type of way.

10th, Anaheim Ducks, 52 games played, 55 points

This is the difference between the Eastern and Western conference.  The 10th and 11th place teams in the West are still really good (so are the Isles, but um, I just…. crap).  The problem is, they can’t all make playoffs, and Anaheim didn’t get off to a great start.  I don’t think they’re good enough to have a huge second half and make up for it.

11th, Dallas Stars, 52 games played, 55 points

I was waiting for them to end up in this spot in the conference, and here they are.  Dallas is a good team, but when teams like Phoenix and LA are good too, it toughens up their usually soft division.

12th, Minnesota Wild, 52 games played, 54 points

I don’t know a lot about Minnesota this year, and that’s not a good sign.  I do know when you’ve pinned a chunk of your offensive hopes on Chuck Kobasew and Andrew Ebbett, you’re in a whole heap of trouble (both are good enough players, but very shutdownable.  Yep, I can make up words on my blog.)  I guess their go-to guy is Havlat, I’m just not sure what else they’ve got.  I’m sure my oddly heavy Wild readership can fill me in on them, but from what I can tell, they don’t have a hockey teams chance in Phoenix snowballs chance in an oven.

13th, St. Louis Blues, 52 games played, 54 points

I’m sticking to my guns on the Blues, especially with the addition of Davis Payne.  They’ve got good top six forwards, good goaltending, and hopefully enough D to get into contention during the last few weeks.  I still think they’ll make a push.

 

Of Relative Relevance

 

You know what I like?  Sports.

When I used to write my blog, I used to sit down with Sportscenter on in the background, lappy on lap, and write about whatever I felt was relevant.  Now it’s Sportscentre, but I’m in the mood, so here goes:

My favourite baseball team list, in rough order, includes the Blue Jays, Mets, and Red Sox (Jays and Sox is tough, with that whole divisional thing).  My point is this – isn’t that the perfect formula of a fan who should loathe the Yankees?  It just comes so easy to me.  Despite the recent proposal to admit the Yanks have good players, I have to pass.  But I do have one question:  would you rather hit the baseball off a tee or Chein Ming-Wang?  I think his ERA is still in the 30′s.

*****

My abs hurt.  After devoting four monthish to getting fat and writing funny blogs, all I accomplished was the getting fat part.  As the sun comes out and it becomes increasingly clear someday my shirt might have to come off, I’ve decided to turn the ship around.  Now I know why people who start working out give up – the initial couple weeks are a trainwreck.

I remember being in shape (oh, those were the days), and working out feels amazing.  Even then it’s hard, but after the work, it’s energizing.  Now when my workouts end, I need an oxygen tank and an advil.  And an I.V.

*****

I bet about four of my blog readers watched the Celtics/Bulls game seven, but I’m telling you, that series is worth mentioning.  It was epic (be warned… I have an NBA blog written and saved for a rainy day).  And I found the key to basketball heaven.

DVR.

You know how the last few minutes takes an eterrrrnity, like, to the point where it’s not even fun to watch anymore?  Turns out it’s actually an amazing game when you can make that part go away.  I gotta try this on baseball…

*****

 What’s Chris Chelios’s legacy?  In recent memory, he’s been a pretty steady, super-hardworking D-man thats a thrill-a-year to watch.  Obviously he had a great first half of his career (which was as long as most full careers), but how do we remember him when it’s all over?

My guess on his thoughts?

He could f***ing care less.  The man loves to play, and gets paiiiiiid (even though he plays for near minimum now, that’s still a vat of benjamins every paycheck).  What’s his NHL pension going to be?  Can he start collecting before he retires?  He made major money during the big money years… I have a feeling he won’t struggle financially in his old(er) years.

*****

Last two blurbs:

1.  The Canucks lost their first game of playoffs, as I’m sure the majority of you know.  Actually, they kinda got shelled. 

I’d like to see Van win the cup over any of the remaining teams (though I’d like to see Sid or Ovie get their first), so I wanted to hear from the people who really care.  Canucks fans (that’s you Corbett), what’s your state of confidence right now?  It’s a cynical but loving fan base.  Give me some insight.

2.  Coming up, I’m spending four days with my three college roommates in Vancouver.  What. A. Debacle. 

I have a friend who played Canadian college hockey and also played in France, and I’m hoping my girlfriend Bri, will both be contributing guest blogs to go with the nonsense I puke out in a morning daze after a few nights with them.  Keep your eyes peeled!

(PS – any request for Bri’s blog?  Her hockey background?  Celebrity gossip?  Why she can’t dump me because it’d ruin our parents friendship??  Let her know)

Tonight in the NHL

 

Live Blog, (3) Canucks V. Blues:

9:43: What a great sign for the Nucks.  They only scored twice, but they owned the puck.  I was very rarely defensively nervous.  Luongo’s an absolute stud in net.  Not much for the Blues to build on!  Great start for Canada’s best hope!

9:25: I’m a little nervous that the Canucks have so heavily outplayed the Blues, but are only up one.  I’d be downright scared if Luongo wasn’t in net.  They need to capitalize on this PP like I need Orville Redenbacher in my life right now.  Homp.

9:20: Jim Hughson does a nice job.  Able to decifer set from broken plays, quickly recognize players and is able to be a good non-bias commentator.  Even has a unique voice… a well qualified Neale/Cole successor.

9:14: From the obscure musings file: Do you think the combined colours of the two teams jerseys affects your enjoyment of a series?  I’m finding this sea of blue and green a little more soothing to watch than some Carolina/Devils eye-burner.

9:00: Isn’t it funny how “boys” became acceptable slang for your buddies, especially in hockey?  It’s such a derogatory term out of context:  “He likes boys”.

8:55: I’d win a referee slapping contest.  I’d love to watch to these teams play 5 on 5 for a hot minute.

8:45: Great goaltending all game, and even on that play you can’t fault Luongo.  The Blues have looked unsure of themselves, so hopefully making it 2-1 wasn’t too inspiring.

8:31: For years I’ve been telling people “The Transporter” was one of the worst movies of all-time.  Little did I know, Jason Statham would make it his career goal to repeatedly prove me wrong.  His latest, Crank, looks like he could set a personal best in embarrassing scenes.

8:24: For years I’ve been plagued with the “How is Mats Sundin successful in a fast league while skating like a bull moose on rollerblades” question.  I’ve made no progress.

8:20:  Damn.  Nice shot.  Don’t you love when goalies make that #%?$ air punch with their blocker when they get scored on?  Makes you feel like they really care. 

8:17: When the 16 year old girl making my pita today can recite the “best record in the second half” mantra everyone has been chanting on St. Louis’s behalf, it’s officially been overdone.  They’ve done well.  Got it.

7:50, after the first: This is gonna be a good series.  Lots of young guns with lots of pop.  PS – Did anybody not enjoy hearing what wasn’t meant to be caught on audio for viewers at home as the period ended?  The NHL should be covered by HBO, they should put mic’s everywhere, and let everyone appreciate the best part of the game.

 7:39: Early turning point, where most of the league goes down 1-0.  Down 5 on 3, Luongo makes a toe save that’s impossible if you aren’t the world’s tallest Italian.  Huge kill.

7:32 I’ve seen the “extra attacker” thing attempted one billion, six hundred and four million times on the delayed penalty, and never seen it work.  Nice timing for the ‘nucks for that to work out.  Great off hand one-timer/re-direction thing from Daniel Sedin, the world’s largest moving garden gnome.

7:25 Luongo provides a nice sense of serenity for the Canucks fan.   I was never quite as confident in _________ (insert any previous goaltender in Canucks history, including Kirk Mclean).

7:12: I could kiss everyone in Vancouver for singing the anthem.  That’s so amazing.

7:11:  Updates as it happens!  So pumped for this one!

*****

Night one, the rest of Stanley Cup Playoffs:

(2) Capitals v. (7) Rangers

I’m not sure there’s a team in the league more fun to watch than Washington.  Ovi does for them what Lebron does for the Cavs (comparably uninteresting teams prior to their stars arrival as well).

So, the Caps made me look like an ass right off the hop… thanks.  Theodore made everyone (sort of including me?) look smart who said he had the chance to puke games away for them.  I’m stickin’ with the Caps, but I’m secretly hoping something that something happens like that Van Damme movie “Sudden Death”, where some non-hockey playing rando has some reason to take over the job between the pipes. 

Shots?   Rangers: 21.  Capitals: 35.  Ovechkin: 13  – Absolutely ludicrous.

(4) Penguins v. (5) Philly

Widely described as the closest series to call, game one of this war was embarrassing for the Flyers.  Fleury looked at ease, and players like Guerin, Malkin and Crosby were able to play as if Philly was unawre that the Pens had any marquee names to key on.

Great start for Pittsburgh, the type of win that makes Philly question themselves, each other, and the goalie.  With a goal and an assist for Sid, I’m guessing he’s not planning on grooming that fur on his face anytime soon.

(3) Devil v. (6) Canes

No idea.  Didn’t watch it.  Call me when it’s time for one of these teams to upset a team that I care about so I can continue hating them.  Apparently New Jersey won.

In a related story, there aren’t any related stories about two of the NHL’s least likable franchises.