I hate the off-season, especially off seasons that start this early. There is no news on the Wings…….
Playoff Update
This will be short, I didn’t watch these games.
The Canucks beat the Wild 3-2 in Minnesota to go up 2-1 in their series. The power play played a large part in this game as all 5 goals were scored on one. The Wild allowed 3 PPGs for only the second time this season. Tempers were still up from Game 2 and there was a fight seven seconds into the game. The next game is Friday in St. Paul @ 9 EST.
The Sens came back from a 2-1 deficit in the 3rd to win their game with the Flyers in OT. They now lead the series 2-1. Ottawa was 0-22 in playoff games when behind after two periods. Next game: Thursday in Philly @ 7 EST.
Tonight’s Games
Dallas @ Anaheim, 10 EST, Ducks lead 2-1
New Jersey @ Tampa Bay, 7 EST, Devils lead 2-1
World Championships Update
Team Canada beat Team Sweden today, 3-1. Kris Draper played opposite Peter Forsberg. Drapes on being Forsberg’s shadow: “I like those challenges. It’s what I have always done and the reason they brought me over here, so it makes my job easier when I know my role.” The win made Canada the top spot and dropped Sweden to #2. The Swedes had what they called bad luck and Zetterberg’s hitting the post on a clear chance to end the 2nd is evidence of that.
Team Russia beat Team USA to sweep their group and keep USA winless in the tournament.
letsgowings.com has a stats box for all the Wings playing in the WC.
Read this. While I agree that Heatley probably will be the next great player in the NHL (at least the next great one from Canada……), I don’t think he’ll be winning a Cup within 3 years, as the writer says. I don’t think the new CBA will change the league that much. The Thrashers aren’t that close to a championship and they won’t let Heatley go. He and Ilya will turn into Atlanta’s Selanne and Kariya.
Red Wings Update
Today’s Red Wings Rap mostly has articles on Sergei. This article says the Wings must not let Fedorov go to another team and this article says the last deal between Sergei and the team (in ‘98, when he held out for most of the season) was a good one. According to the Wings notebook, the Hurricanes won’t pursue Fedorov, unlike last time. Also according to the Wings notebook, Jason Williams is very likely to be on the main roster next year while Luc is not likely to be on the team. John Niyo says small spenders prove victories can’t be bought and in another piece calls Anaheim the smartest trade deadline dealer this year. Modano and some other guys are complaining about officiating and heroin addict arms. Poor babies, I didn’t know the Stanley Cup Playoffs were supposed to be tough.
Playoff Update
The Stars did what has been impossible so far in these playoffs, beat the Ducks. They won 2-1 in Anaheim to hand the Ducks their first loss in their 7th playoff game. The Stars were carried by two goals from Jere Lehtinen, who according to head coach Dave Tippett, is probably the best defensive forward in the league (HA! You wish, Mr Tippett!). I did not watch any of the game but apparently it was an ugly win by the Stars. Maybe the breaks are beginning to stop for the Ducks, I don’t know. The Ducks have won 6 playoff games by one goal and finally lost by one goal themselves. I personally still think they’ll win, unless this loss breaks them apart. Next game: Wednesday @ 10 in Anaheim.
Well, the Lightning proved me wrong last night when they beat the Devils 4-3. The Lightning gave up a 3-0 lead but went ahead again in the third when Dave Andreychuck (the guy who passed Luc on the all time scoring list) scored. He scored when the Devils were unable to complete a line change that left 4 forwards and a defenseman on the ice. The next game is Wednesday in Tampa Bay @ 7.
Tonight’s games
Vancouver @ Minnesota, 8 EST, series tied 1-1
Ottawa @ Philadelphia, 7 EST, series tied 1-1
This is an interesting article on the financial situtation in the NHL from The Motley Fool.
Two major Wings prospects, Igor Grigorenko (who’ll probably come up next year) of Russia and Jiri Hudler (the “steal” in the 2001 draft) of the Czech Republic have been playing well for their teams. Hudler had a goal and an assist in a game against Slovenia and played with Radim Vrbata and Jan Hlavac. He has apparently been called the most impressive player by the media in Finland. He is supposedly being paid $300,000 by AK Bars Kazan to play for them and that is one of the biggest reasons he left the Czech Republic.
Grigorenko has been playing on a line with Datsyuk and Kovalchuk (that sounds a bit unfair to me…. like Bure/Fedorov/Mogilny) and had a goal in the Switzerland/Russia game. Pavel had a goal and two assists in that game. I saw in a report on that game that those three were the by far the best players on the ice. A quote from Pavel about Grigorenko: “He is a very good young player. It was fun playing out there; our line was very good.”
Zetterberg is playing with Forsberg for team Sweden but has no points. Maltby, Dandenault and Draper have been playing as well.
I got most of this from an e-mail someone in Finland sent to an e-mail list I belong to and the rest from the IHWC website. For some more stats go here and scroll down. Get World Championship news here.
Playoffs Update
Well, the Wild evened up the series last night when they beat the Canucks in Game 2 by the score of 3-2 in Vancouver. I wasn’t able to watch the game (yesterday wasn’t the best day for me) so I can’t comment on the game from having seen it. The Wild scored early in the 3rd to go up 3-1 and the Canucks had to pull Cloutier to score another goal near the end. With about 50 seconds left, The Canucks’ hero in Game 1, Trent Klatt, almost tied the game up but Wild defenseman Willie Mitchell put his closed his hand on the puck. The play was reviewed and that little detail was missed. If it had been noticed by the refs, there would have been a penalty shot. After the final horn, fights broke out and five players were given misconducts, including Mitchell, who had been sent to the penalty box 7 seconds earlier for roughing. I think I’ve decided who I want to win this series. Vancouver. I’m more of a fan of the Wild but I think having the Canucks win will be better for hockey. Because I don’t think the Stars will win their series, having the Canucks win will leave at least one exciting team left in the Western Conference. I don’t want the Wild to end up in the Finals with the Devils. That would be terrible. The next game is on Tuesday in Minnesota @ 8.
The Flyers handed the Senators a shut out in Ottawa last night when the won 2-0 in Game 2. They also tied up their series. Philadelphia goalie Roman Chechmanek had 33 saves and had his 2nd career shut out. I don’t have too much to say about this game because I didn’t watch it and I’m not too in to the Eastern Conference. Game 3 is on Tuesday at 7.
Tonight’s games:
Dallas @ Anaheim, 10 EST, Ducks lead 2-0. I hear Billy Guerin may be back.
New Jersey @ Tampa Bay, 7 EST, Devils lead 2-0
Anaheim has done it again. They beat the Stars in OT 3-2. I watched some of the game (1st and 3rd periods) and the Ducks are getting a lot of the same breaks they got with the Wings, though they are playing more on Dallas’ level than they played on the Wings’. The game tying goal was a lucky bounce (with about a minute left) and the game winner was sort of a fluke too. Giguere looks really solid and the Ducks defense is still holding off guys looking for any rebounds. I think the Ducks might be for real. Even though they beat the Wings (actually BECAUSE they beat the Wings, having them do well doesn’t make the Wings look any worse as having them do bad would. Also, I just don’t like the Stars), I want them to win the series. They seem to be “destined” to win it anyway. Next game: Monday in Anaheim @ 10 EST.
New Jersey came back to beat the Lightning, 3-2 in OT too. Former Stars player (and Osgood bane) Jamie Langenbrunner scored his second straight game winner for the Devils. I bet the Stars wish they still had him right about now. Brodeur made an awesome save on a St. Louis breakaway and seconds later, the Devils tied it up. New Jersey was behind twice in the game but still came back. I can’t see them losing a game in that series, if the Lightning can’t even hold onto a lead against the Devils. Next game: Monday in Tampa Bay @ 7 EST
Tonight’s games:
Minnesota @ Vancouver at 10 EST, Game 2, Canucks lead 1-0
Philadelphia @ Ottawa at 7 EST, Game 2, Senators lead 1-0
Go vote on ESPN.com’s SPORTSNATION. The poll is on who will advance to the 3rd round and who will win the Cup. The results so far are kinda surprising to me:
1) Which team will win the Ottawa-Philadelphia series?
36.5% Ottawa in 6
31.5% Philadelphia in 6
11.0% Ottawa in 7
9.2% Philadelphia in 7
5.7% Ottawa in 5
4.4% Philadelphia in 5
1.1% Philadelphia in 4
0.7% Ottawa in 4
2) Which team will win the New Jersey-Tampa Bay series?
43.6% New Jersey in 5
31.3% New Jersey in 6
7.4% Tampa Bay in 7
5.6% Tampa Bay in 6
5.6% New Jersey in 7
4.3% New Jersey in 4
1.6% Tampa Bay in 5
0.5% Tampa Bay in 4
3) Which team will win the Dallas-Anaheim series?
34.9% Dallas in 6
21.7% Dallas in 5
13.5% Dallas in 7
11.7% Anaheim in 6
10.7% Anaheim in 7
3.5% Anaheim in 5
2.8% Dallas in 4
1.4% Anaheim in 4
4) Which team will win the Vancouver-Minnesota series?
26.9% Vancouver in 6
21.2% Minnesota in 6
19.7% Minnesota in 7
16.1% Vancouver in 7
10.4% Vancouver in 5
3.3% Minnesota in 5
1.5% Vancouver in 4
0.9% Minnesota in 4
5) Which surprise team is most likely to advance to the conference finals?
44.5% Minnesota
23.9% Anaheim
23.3% None of them
8.3% Tampa Bay
6) Which team will win the Stanley Cup?
22.4% Philadelphia
22.0% Dallas
17.9% New Jersey
11.7% Ottawa
11.6% Minnesota
9.0% Vancouver
3.7% Anaheim
1.8% Tampa Bay
Total Votes: 40,039
Hardly anyone thinks the Ducks could win that series. I’m surprised that many people think the Wild can win theirs. I’m also surprised people think the Wild are more likely than the Ducks to win the Cup.
Some quotes from the Blues on their elimination and the possibility of a coaching change:
“I hear things about how the coaching staff couldn’t motivate a hockey team. That has to be the lamest excuse in sports. How do players get to this level without motivating themselves? Please. If you’re not able to motivate yourself in the Stanley Cup playoffs, please let us know.”
- Al MacInnis
“He’s an unbelievable coach. What’s happened this year, through all the adversity, you’ve got to give him a lot of credit. I believe in him. He should be back.”
- Keith Tkachuck
“I feel as disgusted as I’ve been in my life. Not my career. My life.”
- Doug Weight
“Personally, I felt this was our year to have something special. We blew it, we really did. We were exactly where we wanted to be, up 3-1, and we choked. You can write that. It’s pretty unacceptable.”
- Dallas Drake
I’m impressed. Good to see those guys take responsibility, instead of giving it to someone else. Quenneville is a great coach and I think it would be a mistake on the level of the Avs firing of Hartley for St. Louis to do the same to him.
I’ve heard some people put the blame on the goalie, like many people have done here in Detroit. I think that’s stupid and simplistic. Ozzie is as solid a goalie as they were likely to get. He’s won a Cup before and if the Blues defense can get up to what it used to be, the Blues might actually make a run next year, if they don’t get ripped apart by management and if the Wings don’t stop them (as they always do).
There is an interesting article on ESPN.com about the small market teams winning out on the big market teams.
Two comeback wins last night, first Ottawa came back to win 4-2 after they scored 3 goals in the 2nd period against Philly. The Flyers, by the way, equaled their goal total for last year’s 5 game series against the Senators when they scored two in last night’s game. If the Sens can keep scoring like that, maybe they will win the series. They do have some good goal scorers on their team. Next game: Sunday in New Jersey @ 7.
The second comeback win came later, the Canucks came back to beat the Wild in OT, 4-3. Vancouver was behind 3-1 in the 3rd and they tied it up with 1.2 seconds left in regulation. That’s pretty amazing considering how good the Wild are at holding leads. Lemaire said he’s pretty happy with how his team played but he can’t be very happy with them giving up a lead like that. It was also the first time the Wild gave up more than 3 goals in the playoffs. I watched the first period and saw the Wild go up 1-0, when they scored a PP goal during a mad scramble in front of the net. A few minutes later, the Canucks “scored” but it was called back because it was knocked down with a high stick. There was no doubt on that one, the guy would have had to have been about 2 feet tall for that not to have been a high stick. The teams looked pretty even to me, with the ice tipped a little bit more in the Canucks favor but the Wild did a good job of clearing the puck and doing the little things. Vancouver can definitely hit harder than Minnesota though and that will probably be a big factor in this series. I still can’t decide who I want to win…… The next game is on Sunday in Vancouver @ 10 EST.
Today’s games:
Anaheim @ Dallas, Game 2, @ 3, Ducks lead series 1-0
Philidelphia @ New Jersey, Game 2, @3, Devils lead series 1-0
