I know, it's a boring title, but my creativity is waning a bit today; I'm even for the playoffs (7-7), so this is my big chance to finish above .500 for the NHL playoff season. Here goes nothing...
Penguins v Red Wings: Ignoring all the talk of youth v experience, this series, to me, is pretty simple: Pittsburgh has yet to lose at home in the playoffs. There is nothing like home ice advantage in the playoffs, and even if Pittsburgh loses the first 2 in Detroit, they will still be confident heading home for Games 3 and 4.
I see a split in the first 2, as Marc-Andre Fleury comes off a shaky Game 1 to steal Game 2 from Detroit. Pittsburgh sweeps at home, but loses their first chance at the Cup in a Game 5 defeat at Joe Louis. Game 6, on a Wednesday night in Pittsburgh, the Pens will knock off the President's Trophy winners and win their first Cup in the Sidney Crosby era.
And because the league and its writers want to anoint the new Gretzky properly, Sid the Kid will win the Conn Smythe. There's a very good chance that he'll deserve it.
Penguins in 6.
Record: 7-7
Friday, May 23, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
The Final (Boring) Four
So here we are, 2 rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs down and they were fantastic. Great goals, sensational saves, and awesome alliteration were the name of the game. But, with 3 of the 4 remaining squads offering little to no appeal to the casual hockey fan, these playoffs will likely be as interesting as a NFL pre-season game.
Anyway, onto the picks, such as they are.
Pittsburgh v Philadelphia: For the last two rounds, I have picked against the Flyers (and, if you saw my 2nd round picks, you'll see that none of my predictions came through). But, there is something about Pittsburgh this year, and as long as Marc-Andre Fleury continues his strong play, the Pens will please us all and head to the Finals. Penguins in 6.
Detroit v Dallas: The new trendy Stanley Cup pick - now that the Sharks are out (tear) - is the Red Wings, but, after watching the Stars in a grueling series against the aforementioned Sharks and dominating the Cup champions, Detroit's first 2 series wins don't look that great by comparison. Marty Turco is the best goalie of the 4 remaining tenders, and Brendan Morrow is dominating the game like few others right now. Call it a hunch. Stars in 7.
Record: 6-6
Anyway, onto the picks, such as they are.
Pittsburgh v Philadelphia: For the last two rounds, I have picked against the Flyers (and, if you saw my 2nd round picks, you'll see that none of my predictions came through). But, there is something about Pittsburgh this year, and as long as Marc-Andre Fleury continues his strong play, the Pens will please us all and head to the Finals. Penguins in 6.
Detroit v Dallas: The new trendy Stanley Cup pick - now that the Sharks are out (tear) - is the Red Wings, but, after watching the Stars in a grueling series against the aforementioned Sharks and dominating the Cup champions, Detroit's first 2 series wins don't look that great by comparison. Marty Turco is the best goalie of the 4 remaining tenders, and Brendan Morrow is dominating the game like few others right now. Call it a hunch. Stars in 7.
Record: 6-6
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
La Forza Del Destino (Part 2:30)
{NB: As with the previous post, this is a personal rant and lacks a logical thought process, planned out arguments, and sometimes, even correct grammar.}
After Game 5's seemingly improbable comeback by the Sharks to get their series with the Stars back to Dallas, I wrote about the power of fate (La Forza Del Destino for me and the other 7 Sports Night fans) and my belief that this was the year for the boys in teal.
On Sunday night, I was glued to my television from 9 p.m. to just before 2:30 Monday morning when, after 3 and a half overtimes which followed 3 periods of tight play, Brendan Morrow - the Conn Smythe winner should Dallas win the Cup - scored on the power play after Brian Campbell was forced to take a tripping penalty.
After a day's reflection - and a night's sleep - I choose not to complain about it. I could focus on the non-calls before Campbell's trip was noticed, but the non-calls went both ways throughout the marathon. The Sharks' goalie, Evgeni Nabokov, was fantastic, and had no chance on the winning goal. The Sharks' offence was as good as Dallas', and had numerous chances to win if not for the brilliant goaltending of Marty Turco.
The Sharks' season is now over, and Ron Wilson would almost certainly be fired as coach. However, he deserves a lot of credit for keeping his team upbeat after a crippling 3-0 series deficit. Throughout the Dallas series, with the exception of the 3rd period of Game 2, either team could have won, as the Sharks and the Stars were evenly matched, and played that way, for the duration of the series.
Should Wilson be fired? I don't know. Doug Wilson, the GM, put all the pieces in place, and something intangible seems to be missing from San Jose. Is it the coach? Maybe. The captain? Possibly. One thing is for sure - it's not the goaltender. It's not Jeremy Roenick, who was fantastic throughout the playoffs.
Changes will need to be made, but if they are, one thing needs to be kept in mind. This is the only team who has made the second round for the last four seasons in a row. One wonders, though, how much longer this crew can push in order to finally win a Cup for San Jose. And for me...
After Game 5's seemingly improbable comeback by the Sharks to get their series with the Stars back to Dallas, I wrote about the power of fate (La Forza Del Destino for me and the other 7 Sports Night fans) and my belief that this was the year for the boys in teal.
On Sunday night, I was glued to my television from 9 p.m. to just before 2:30 Monday morning when, after 3 and a half overtimes which followed 3 periods of tight play, Brendan Morrow - the Conn Smythe winner should Dallas win the Cup - scored on the power play after Brian Campbell was forced to take a tripping penalty.
After a day's reflection - and a night's sleep - I choose not to complain about it. I could focus on the non-calls before Campbell's trip was noticed, but the non-calls went both ways throughout the marathon. The Sharks' goalie, Evgeni Nabokov, was fantastic, and had no chance on the winning goal. The Sharks' offence was as good as Dallas', and had numerous chances to win if not for the brilliant goaltending of Marty Turco.
The Sharks' season is now over, and Ron Wilson would almost certainly be fired as coach. However, he deserves a lot of credit for keeping his team upbeat after a crippling 3-0 series deficit. Throughout the Dallas series, with the exception of the 3rd period of Game 2, either team could have won, as the Sharks and the Stars were evenly matched, and played that way, for the duration of the series.
Should Wilson be fired? I don't know. Doug Wilson, the GM, put all the pieces in place, and something intangible seems to be missing from San Jose. Is it the coach? Maybe. The captain? Possibly. One thing is for sure - it's not the goaltender. It's not Jeremy Roenick, who was fantastic throughout the playoffs.
Changes will need to be made, but if they are, one thing needs to be kept in mind. This is the only team who has made the second round for the last four seasons in a row. One wonders, though, how much longer this crew can push in order to finally win a Cup for San Jose. And for me...
Saturday, May 3, 2008
La Forza Del Destino
{NB: This is a personal post, without the usual well thought out ideas that fill this page. Please keep that in mind.}
Friday night. 11:59. The clock literally about to strike midnight for the San Jose Sharks, ending their season with yet another second-round defeat, this time at the hands of division rival Dallas. Down 2-0 after 2 sloppy periods, I hang my head, begging for a miracle, but realizing that one will not come.
James Duthie and the TSN panel discuss the likely end to the Sharks season and how it is all but over after two.
{As an aside, should former Star Matthew Barnaby be allowed to comment on this series? He's clearly biased. Although Glenn Healy is clearly biased towards Dallas and that doesn't seem to matter...}
I look around my room. The first thing I see - my Sharks puck on top of my bookcase. I have been a San Jose fan since they entered the league in 1991, and am still anxiously waiting for a Stanley Cup. My hope for this year's team is falling.
Then it dawns on me. I open my closet to find my original Sharks jersey, circa 1991. Sure I was 10 then, and it clearly doesn't fit anymore, but this is a sign. I take it out and lay it on the bed.
Third period starts with the Stars on the power play. Brendan Morrow looks like he has the dagger with a goal, but it's immediately waived off, after replays show the puck went off his glove and in. No penalty on the cross check from Craig Rivet either. The tide is turning.
Patrick Marleau gets his third breakaway in as many games, but Marty Turco pokes checks him and perserves the shutout. No goal, but the confidence is building.
Christian Ehrhoff takes another dumb penalty, and common sense says pull him off the ice and send him to the minors forever for another stupid penalty in a playoff game, but the Sharks kill it off easily. But, it's still 2-0.
After the penalty, Joe Thornton steals the puck behind the Dallas net and throws it out front to Milan Michalek, who beats Turco to cut the lead to 1. After being invisible in the Calgary series, Michalek now leads all scorers in the series with 4 goals.
4 minutes later, the aforementioned Ehrhoff sets up the ageless Jeremy Roenick, who outlets to Brian Campbell, who shoots a bullet past Turco to tie the game. Campbell's finally on the scoresheet and the comeback is complete.
The jersey seems to have worked, and as the overtime starts, I sit up, jersey clutched in hand. The jersey I wore to school in grade 8 after the Sharks completed their improbable upset over the 1st seeded Red Wings in their first ever playoff round. The jersey I wore while watching Mike Gartner beat Arturs Irbe in game 7 of the Leafs-Sharks playoff. I think my tears are still on there, buried deep in the teal fabric.
The jersey I held in my hand when Joe Pavelski beat Turco above the glove hand to seal the victory for the Sharks in Game 5 to send the series back to Dallas 3-2.
The jersey I will leave on my bed throughout these playoffs from now on. The jersey I will clutch on Sunday night at 9.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.
And yes, there is something to be said about the power of fate.
It's been 33 years since the '75 Islanders came back from 3-0. And it was 33 years before that when the Red Wings did it to the Leafs.
La Forza Del Destino. The Power of Fate. 2 more wins to go.
Friday night. 11:59. The clock literally about to strike midnight for the San Jose Sharks, ending their season with yet another second-round defeat, this time at the hands of division rival Dallas. Down 2-0 after 2 sloppy periods, I hang my head, begging for a miracle, but realizing that one will not come.
James Duthie and the TSN panel discuss the likely end to the Sharks season and how it is all but over after two.
{As an aside, should former Star Matthew Barnaby be allowed to comment on this series? He's clearly biased. Although Glenn Healy is clearly biased towards Dallas and that doesn't seem to matter...}
I look around my room. The first thing I see - my Sharks puck on top of my bookcase. I have been a San Jose fan since they entered the league in 1991, and am still anxiously waiting for a Stanley Cup. My hope for this year's team is falling.
Then it dawns on me. I open my closet to find my original Sharks jersey, circa 1991. Sure I was 10 then, and it clearly doesn't fit anymore, but this is a sign. I take it out and lay it on the bed.
Third period starts with the Stars on the power play. Brendan Morrow looks like he has the dagger with a goal, but it's immediately waived off, after replays show the puck went off his glove and in. No penalty on the cross check from Craig Rivet either. The tide is turning.
Patrick Marleau gets his third breakaway in as many games, but Marty Turco pokes checks him and perserves the shutout. No goal, but the confidence is building.
Christian Ehrhoff takes another dumb penalty, and common sense says pull him off the ice and send him to the minors forever for another stupid penalty in a playoff game, but the Sharks kill it off easily. But, it's still 2-0.
After the penalty, Joe Thornton steals the puck behind the Dallas net and throws it out front to Milan Michalek, who beats Turco to cut the lead to 1. After being invisible in the Calgary series, Michalek now leads all scorers in the series with 4 goals.
4 minutes later, the aforementioned Ehrhoff sets up the ageless Jeremy Roenick, who outlets to Brian Campbell, who shoots a bullet past Turco to tie the game. Campbell's finally on the scoresheet and the comeback is complete.
The jersey seems to have worked, and as the overtime starts, I sit up, jersey clutched in hand. The jersey I wore to school in grade 8 after the Sharks completed their improbable upset over the 1st seeded Red Wings in their first ever playoff round. The jersey I wore while watching Mike Gartner beat Arturs Irbe in game 7 of the Leafs-Sharks playoff. I think my tears are still on there, buried deep in the teal fabric.
The jersey I held in my hand when Joe Pavelski beat Turco above the glove hand to seal the victory for the Sharks in Game 5 to send the series back to Dallas 3-2.
The jersey I will leave on my bed throughout these playoffs from now on. The jersey I will clutch on Sunday night at 9.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.
And yes, there is something to be said about the power of fate.
It's been 33 years since the '75 Islanders came back from 3-0. And it was 33 years before that when the Red Wings did it to the Leafs.
La Forza Del Destino. The Power of Fate. 2 more wins to go.
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