That's it. The season is over for the Rangers and the Sharks. The Sharks lost the Battle of the West in the fourth OT-period last night. We got to see some amazing goaltending throughout the game and especially in OT. Evgeni Nabokov and Marty Turco tried (at least it looked like they did) to outclass eachother in amazing saves. Togehter they stopped 114 shots (Turco 61 and Nabokov 53). This was the only game in the series where the team who scored the first goal, won the game. It's been a great season for the Sharks but I think they thought they could go all the way after gaining some momentum against the Stars. I know one player who really really wanted it to happen. Jeremy Roenick. "JR" will probably quit playing now and he was hoping to do what Andreychuck and Borque did in their last seasons as players - lift the Cup for the first time. We'll see, maybe JR will give it another go next season. I hope he will, he deserves to lift the Cup as well.
The Rangers but themselves in the situation leading to their termination. Looking back over the series, maybe it was all decided in that first game. The Rangers was up 3-0 in Pittsburgh but relaxed and lost it 5-4. That just gave the Pens some momentum and from that point it all rolled on. Marian Hossa scored twice last night. What a trade that turned out to be. The question still remains, will he stay in Steel City after this season? But if the Pens go all the way and win the Cup, I reckon they will find the deal being worth it - even if Hossa leaves. He has been magnificent since arriving.
Now the Pens will face the Flyers. That ought to be one interesting series. Both teams have lots of confidence and they allways shoot from the hip, so to speak. I expect lots of goals and many great hits and saves. Both teams have fast skaters and players with great stick skills. Will this go to seven games? Maybe. It all depends on wether the Pens will try to set the tone from the start. If they win the first match by some margin, it might be a shorter series. But then again, the Flyers have done the impossible - twice. So I will not coun't them out this time. Lesson learned.
Biron vs. Fleury: Seven rounds. Winner? I'll say the Pens. They should take this. But, once again, I won't, I just won't, count the Flyers out once again.
In the West, the Stars will face the Wings. Probably a seven-round fight as well. I had the Stars as outsiders in the playoffs and they might surprise again. Brenden Morrow has been great for the Stars and The Mule (Johan Franzen) has been outstanding for the Wings. We'll also see two teams with great defense.
The Mule vs. Morrow: Six rounds. Winner? I'll say the Mule. But it would be nice to see the Stars go through. They've really impressed me.
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5/05/2008
5/03/2008
What's with these guys?
Between the Sharks and the Stars, the same story continues. The team scoring the first goal looses the game. And who scored the first one last night? Jere Lehtinen of the Stars. So, the Sharks won. The Stars were up 2-0 and had two goals waved off, one for kick and one because the would-be scorer used his hand. Both "goals" were scored by: Brenden Morrow. He did, however score a goal that didn't get waived off. But then the Sharks started to circle around their prey. 1-2, 6:20 into the third, was scored by Milan Michalek and the equalizer was scored by trade deadline aqusition, Brian Campbell with about nine minutes to go.
After little over a minute in OT, Joe Pavelski scored the winner and HP Pavillion exploded.
This series is far from over and now we're heading into deep water. Sixth game, this time in Dallas. I think the Stars are a bit shaken over this, but they haven't given up. Why should they? They're still in the drivers seat. I will end with a quote from the commentator on Versus:
"The Sharks have another date, in the Lone Star State"
I wonder how long he'd been thinking about that one-liner.....
Oh, yesterday I wrote that the Rangers would be getting a new chance tomorrow (meaning today). That was totally wrong, and I don't know why I wrote that, since they're playing tonight. I must have been very tired when writing that.....
After little over a minute in OT, Joe Pavelski scored the winner and HP Pavillion exploded.
This series is far from over and now we're heading into deep water. Sixth game, this time in Dallas. I think the Stars are a bit shaken over this, but they haven't given up. Why should they? They're still in the drivers seat. I will end with a quote from the commentator on Versus:
"The Sharks have another date, in the Lone Star State"
I wonder how long he'd been thinking about that one-liner.....
Oh, yesterday I wrote that the Rangers would be getting a new chance tomorrow (meaning today). That was totally wrong, and I don't know why I wrote that, since they're playing tonight. I must have been very tired when writing that.....
5/01/2008
The Flyers?!
What's going on? The Philadelphia Flyers are on their way to take a major scalp in the playoffs. After last nights game, they have a nice lead, 3-1, over the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens is a team that I thought would have no problems with the Flyers. But, boy was I wrong. Sure, the Canadiens are playing a variation of offensive tactics and they're creating alot. But thanks to the best keeper, so far, in the playoffs, the Flyers can weather the storm as it comes. Martin Biron has been outstanding, supberb, fantastic so far in the playoffs. He's piling up the impossible saves time and again.
Turco, Lundqvist, Fleury, Nabokov, Osgood, Price (Halak last night, though) and Theodore. Good keepers, all of them. But the question is, is anyone of them better than Biron at the moment? The only one I can imagine being close to him is Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers. But he's not getting any help from his defensemen, hence a few more shots are getting past him.
Biron gets the help. Biron makes the saves. Biron is, at the moment, a brick wall.
Speaking of the Rangers. Tonight, it may all end. They lost their first game in the Garden, 5-3, and nothing, absolutely nothing speaks for a victory tonight. Even if they win tonight, they will just postpone the unavoidable. Or? As far as I know, no team has ever turned around a series, being down 3-0. The Pens are playing with confidence and will probably try to kill the series as soon as possible.
In the West, Detroit are cruising towards the Conference Finals. 3-0 up against the Avs. It's the same situation here as it is between the Pens and Rangers. Nothing speaks for Colorado. This will end tonight. No doubt about it. The Avs hasn't really had anything to worry the Wings about. And with The Mule, Johan Franzen, in his greatest form ever in the NHL, having produced 11 points (8+3) in just nine games, it means that the Avs defense has yet another Red Wing to look out for. This is something they already know, since the Mule scored three goals against them last Saturday.
The Sharks are in a bit of trouble, being down 3-1 in the series against the Stars. But, they won last night and may have gained some momentum. Are they just postponing the unavoidable or will they battle back? There's something strange going on in that series. The team that has scored the first goal in each game have lost the game. Will this continue? In that case, if I were a Sharks fan, I'd be hoping for the Stars to score the first goal tomorrow night.
The NHL - is awesome.
Turco, Lundqvist, Fleury, Nabokov, Osgood, Price (Halak last night, though) and Theodore. Good keepers, all of them. But the question is, is anyone of them better than Biron at the moment? The only one I can imagine being close to him is Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers. But he's not getting any help from his defensemen, hence a few more shots are getting past him.
Biron gets the help. Biron makes the saves. Biron is, at the moment, a brick wall.
Speaking of the Rangers. Tonight, it may all end. They lost their first game in the Garden, 5-3, and nothing, absolutely nothing speaks for a victory tonight. Even if they win tonight, they will just postpone the unavoidable. Or? As far as I know, no team has ever turned around a series, being down 3-0. The Pens are playing with confidence and will probably try to kill the series as soon as possible.
In the West, Detroit are cruising towards the Conference Finals. 3-0 up against the Avs. It's the same situation here as it is between the Pens and Rangers. Nothing speaks for Colorado. This will end tonight. No doubt about it. The Avs hasn't really had anything to worry the Wings about. And with The Mule, Johan Franzen, in his greatest form ever in the NHL, having produced 11 points (8+3) in just nine games, it means that the Avs defense has yet another Red Wing to look out for. This is something they already know, since the Mule scored three goals against them last Saturday.
The Sharks are in a bit of trouble, being down 3-1 in the series against the Stars. But, they won last night and may have gained some momentum. Are they just postponing the unavoidable or will they battle back? There's something strange going on in that series. The team that has scored the first goal in each game have lost the game. Will this continue? In that case, if I were a Sharks fan, I'd be hoping for the Stars to score the first goal tomorrow night.
The NHL - is awesome.
4/26/2008
Losing grip?
It is said that being up 3-0 in hockey is the worst lead you can have. Ask the Rangers today, they'd probably agree. When "Brodway Sean" Avery scored the 3-0-goal in the beginning of the second period no-one could have thought of an ending like this. But, 08:13 into the same period, Jarkko Ruutu scored, 3-1. And just 14(!) seconds later, Pascal Dupuis scored 3-2.
And things got worse. Much worse. 04:40 into the third, Marian Hossa made it 3-3 and just 20 seconds later, Petr Sykora scored the 4-3 goal. At that point I thought (and probably numerous Rangers fans with me) the game was over. But, having just passed the half period mark, Scott Gomez tied things up. With just about two minutes to go, I began to wonder. Could the Rangers turn things around? Would they have the energy to kill the game? And all of a sudden, the game was dead. Killer? Sidney Crosby. 5-4, Penguins.
I'd never thought that there would be that many goals. It was a great match, speed and skill in the attacks. Add to that solid hits and good refereeing. Next round, tomorrow @ The Garden. If things go my way, there will be some live blogging that time.
There was one more Conference Semi Final being played last night, out in the West. The Shars vs. The Stars. In The Shark Tank, it was the Stars who put themselves in the drivers seat. Being outshot 18-27, their victory was somewhat unfair. But if you don't score goals, you don't win matches. After two, the Stars were in the lead, 2-1, after goals from Mike Modano and Brenden Morrow (Sharks goal by Milan Michalek). In the third, Jonathan Cheecho tied things up and the match went into OT. There, Brenden Morrow scored his second of the night, giving the victory to the Texas team.
Tough luck for the Sharks, who needed that victory. You don't want to loose a playoff game at home, and the Stars should have gained a lot of momentum from this. However, "all" it takes from the Sharks is a victory in Dallas. Impossible? I think not.
Tonights games might not be that well covered, we'll see. But tomorrow I'll be back with the Rangers again. If everything goes as planned.
"The Cup Changes Everything"
And things got worse. Much worse. 04:40 into the third, Marian Hossa made it 3-3 and just 20 seconds later, Petr Sykora scored the 4-3 goal. At that point I thought (and probably numerous Rangers fans with me) the game was over. But, having just passed the half period mark, Scott Gomez tied things up. With just about two minutes to go, I began to wonder. Could the Rangers turn things around? Would they have the energy to kill the game? And all of a sudden, the game was dead. Killer? Sidney Crosby. 5-4, Penguins.
I'd never thought that there would be that many goals. It was a great match, speed and skill in the attacks. Add to that solid hits and good refereeing. Next round, tomorrow @ The Garden. If things go my way, there will be some live blogging that time.
There was one more Conference Semi Final being played last night, out in the West. The Shars vs. The Stars. In The Shark Tank, it was the Stars who put themselves in the drivers seat. Being outshot 18-27, their victory was somewhat unfair. But if you don't score goals, you don't win matches. After two, the Stars were in the lead, 2-1, after goals from Mike Modano and Brenden Morrow (Sharks goal by Milan Michalek). In the third, Jonathan Cheecho tied things up and the match went into OT. There, Brenden Morrow scored his second of the night, giving the victory to the Texas team.
Tough luck for the Sharks, who needed that victory. You don't want to loose a playoff game at home, and the Stars should have gained a lot of momentum from this. However, "all" it takes from the Sharks is a victory in Dallas. Impossible? I think not.
Tonights games might not be that well covered, we'll see. But tomorrow I'll be back with the Rangers again. If everything goes as planned.
"The Cup Changes Everything"
4/15/2008
The Avery-rule....
or Rule 75.
That's the newest of rules in the NHL. A player is not allowed to disturb the goalkeeper with his hands or stick. This is something we've seen between the Rangers and the Devils. Mr. Avery did sort of a "not touching - can't get mad"-thing in front of Marty Brodeur, preventing the Devils man to see just about anything. The ref couldn't do anything. Now he can.
This kind of behaviour is now under the name of "Unsportsmanship conduct" and will render a two minute minor.
Rangers up, 2-1 in matches.
I know I haven't been fair to you. No predictions has yet been made. I will now do them, a bit late. But better late than never. I will name the teams in the conference finals with one outsider on each coast.
West: Detroit Red Wings vs. Dallas Stars
Outsider: San José Sharks
Why? The Wings is an awesome team, although they lost last night. The Stars made exactly the right moves at deadline and will be there. Look out for Thornton and co, though.
East: Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Outsider: New York Rangers
Why? Just look at the final table of the conference. Two outstanding teams. I really can't find a contender besides those two. The only thing stopping these team will be themselves. The Rangers is an outsider named mostly because I had to find one.
That's the newest of rules in the NHL. A player is not allowed to disturb the goalkeeper with his hands or stick. This is something we've seen between the Rangers and the Devils. Mr. Avery did sort of a "not touching - can't get mad"-thing in front of Marty Brodeur, preventing the Devils man to see just about anything. The ref couldn't do anything. Now he can.
This kind of behaviour is now under the name of "Unsportsmanship conduct" and will render a two minute minor.
Rangers up, 2-1 in matches.
I know I haven't been fair to you. No predictions has yet been made. I will now do them, a bit late. But better late than never. I will name the teams in the conference finals with one outsider on each coast.
West: Detroit Red Wings vs. Dallas Stars
Outsider: San José Sharks
Why? The Wings is an awesome team, although they lost last night. The Stars made exactly the right moves at deadline and will be there. Look out for Thornton and co, though.
East: Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Outsider: New York Rangers
Why? Just look at the final table of the conference. Two outstanding teams. I really can't find a contender besides those two. The only thing stopping these team will be themselves. The Rangers is an outsider named mostly because I had to find one.
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