It will be very, very, difficult for the second round of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs to match the opening round's drama and excitement.
When someone who has witnessed as many Stanley Cup battles as legendary CBC broadcaster Bob Cole declares "I don't recall any playoff year which had as exciting a first round as this one has" you know it's something special.
Consider that 4 out of the 8 series went the full 7 games. Consider that 2 of those game 7's went into overtime, with Vancouver advancing to fight another day, and Montreal falling to their longtime rivals from Boston.
The point being, that the table is set for the fun to continue into the next round.
So here we go with the matchups.
Western Conference Semi-Finals
Vancouver vs. Nashville
This is the story of two teams at opposite ends of the fan awareness spectrum. At least as far as Canadian fans are concerned.
Most of us know all about the Canucks. We know about their history with the Chicago Black Hawks. We know about the questions that have always existed about Roberto Luongo's ability to lead a team deep and his perceived (fairly or otherwise) shakiness in big games. We know Henrik and Daniel Sedin. We know Burrows, Kesler and Bieksa.
We don't know a lot about the Predators. Quick! Name five Predators. No peeking at the roster...
Well for one, the Nashville Predators have amongst their ranks quite possibly the best defenceman in the NHL right now. Shea Weber. Listed at 6'4" 235 lbs and fresh off last year's Olympic Gold Medal win, the 25 year-old is just now reaching his prime.
Blessed with size and skating ability, and the owner of one of the best slapshots in the game, look to him to lead the way for a Nashville team that is participating in the second round of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
You can also look for Jordin Tootoo to continue his remarkable return to the game after spending some time away dealing with alcohol abuse issues.
Tootoo was dynamite in the series against the Anaheim Ducks, displaying the combination of grit, determination and skill that the Nashville brass has always known he possessed.
But at the end of the day, talent usually wins it, and the Canucks have loads of that. First in the NHL in goals scored. First in the NHL in goals against. Vancouver just has too much firepower for the Predators.
And now that the Canucks have slayed the Chicago dragon, the self-doubts that seem to have inhabited their club for the past few years, may be replaced by growing confidence. Maybe.
It will be tough, but:
Call: Vancouver in 6
San Jose vs. Detroit
It's spring so it must mean another Sharks-Wings playoff meeting.
In fact this is a rematch of last year's second round. The Sharks jumped out to a 3-0 lead before finishing the job in 5 games.
The Detroit Red Wings seem to match up very well to San Jose's talent laden forward lines, so on that front it seems to be pretty much a wash.
Where the balance seems to tilt in the Red Wings favour is on the blueline and between the pipes. Dan Boyle and Marc-Edouard Vlasic, considered the top two defencemen for the Sharks had below average opening round performances and Antti Niemi hasn't seemed to able to find consistency, which heading into a series against the Detroit Red Wings, is not a good omen.
Call: Detroit in 6
Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
Washington vs. Tampa Bay
You can't have a series that involves players like Alexander Ovechkin, Martin St-Louis, Alexander Semin, Vincent Lecavalier and Steven Stamkos and not expect some fireworks. It's a fair bet that there will be more than a few highlight reel goals coming from this series.
On the Tampa Bay side of things, we have a team which hasn't been this deep in the playoffs since they won the Stanley Cup back in 2004. The arrival of General Manager Steve Yzerman and coach Guy Boucher has revitalized a team which has had to deal with sub-par play on the ice and front office uncertainty over the course of the last few years.
But perhaps the most important addition has been that of veteran goaltender Dwayne Roloson. The 41 year old was nothing short of brilliant against the Penguins in the first round and there is no reason to believe he won't keep it going in round 2.
He will have to. Because the Capitals are hungry, confident, and their top player, possibly the best player still involved in the playoffs, Alexander Ovechkin is healthy and focused, and seemingly determined to do whatever it takes to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
So, while the Lightning were impressive against Pittsburgh, it's important not to forget that the Penguins were without Crosby and Malkin. And as impressive as the Pens were without their two superstars, the reality is that you couldn't really expect them to go deep into the playoffs without Gino and Sid.
So even though my heart is with the Lightning due to the obvious Quebec ties...
Call: Washington in 6
Philadelphia vs. Boston.
Both the Flyers and the Bruins saw their opening rounds go the full seven games. The Bruins eked out an overtime win, while the Flyers ran Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller out of the game on their way to an impressive 5-2 win.
The Bruins were involved in a classic confrontation versus their perennial rivals from Montreal. Their big man on defence Zdeno Chara had to deal with dehydration issues at the beginning of the series and although he played well enough as the series wore on, you couldn't help but get the feeling that he's not 100 percent healthy.
The play of Michael Ryder, Chris Kelly and Nathan Horton was impressive, but David Krejci, who managed only one goal against Montreal, and Milan Lucic, who never quite seemed to get comfortable in the series, has to be worrisome to B's coach Claude Julien.
The Flyers on the other hand stumbled down the last stretch of the regular season and faced the hottest team heading into the playoffs. And while the Sabres put up a valiant effort, in the end the experience, depth and goaltending, (yes goaltending), of the Flyers stole the day.
The Bruins just don't seem to have the horses to compete with a Flyers roster that includes players such as Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Daniel Brière, Claude Giroux and Chris Pronger.
And don't give me this stuff about the Flyers not having goaltending. They made it to the Stanley Cup Finals last season with essentially the same personnel and it worked for them in the first round this year.
Call: Flyers in 5
So there you have it. Agree? Disagree?
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Stanley Cup Playoffs first round prediction recap.
Even if Toe Blake said that predictions were for "gypsies" and hockey uber-analyst Bob McKenzie refuses to make them, I figured that I'd give it a shot in a post that was published before play began in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Here's a quick recap of how I made out with my picks.
Western Conference
Vancouver vs. Chicago.
My call: Vancouver in 5
Outcome: Vancouver in 7
After jumping out to a commanding 3-0 series lead, it looked as though the Canucks were poised to exorcise the demons of previous playoff losses against the Blackhawks in fairly short order.
That is until Chicago mounted a heroic comeback. In fact, the Hawks stretched the series all the way to overtime in a seventh game. The pressure on the Canucks to win this series as the final game began was tremendous as it seemed that all of British Columbia came close to crumbling amidst a collective panic attack.
Enter Alex Burrows. Not only did the combative forward score the winning overtime goal, he also scored the only regulation time Vancouver goal. He also missed a penalty shot and was involved in the turnover that caused Chicago to tie things up late in the 3rd period. Talk about being involved in a game.
And now everyone in B.C. can breathe again.
San Jose vs. Los Angeles
Call: San Jose in 6
Outcome: San Jose in 6
As predicted, the Sharks were ultimately too big, too fast, and too talented for the Anze Kopitar-less Kings to handle.
It was nice to see Joe Thornton get the series ending overtime winning goal. Maybe this will help silence some of his critics.
Or not...
Detroit vs. Phoenix
Call: Detroit in 6
Outcome: Detroit in 5
I mentioned that for the Coyotes to have any hope of winning against a deep, veteran, Stanley Cup playoff experienced team such as Detroit, they would need their goalie Ilya Bryzgalov to be outstanding.
He wasn't and the Coyotes lost.
Anaheim vs. Nashville
Call: Anaheim in 7
Outcome: Nashville in 6
Clearly this series didn't quite work out the way that I thought it would. But in my defence I did call Nashville "the team that no one wants to meet in the playoffs", so I can take some solace in that.
Nashville's Shea Weber showed us all why he's consider by most observers to be one of hockey's best defencemen. But the player of the series turned out to be Jordin Tootoo.
As a former resident of Nunavut and a fan of redemption, Tootoo's performance in the first round (he was named the NHL's player of the week) was particularly sweet.
Anaheim's ouster, however, is rather painful because it brings the loss of Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Lubomir Visnovsky to my Stanley Cup playoff pool.
Eastern Conference
Washington vs. New York Rangers.
Call: Washington in 5
Outcome: Washington in 5
You have to love it when things work out. The Rangers faltered down the stretch and it continued through to the playoffs. Alexander Ovechkin looks like a player on a mission.
Philadelphia vs. Buffalo
Call: Buffalo in 7
Outcome: Philadelphia in 7
This one boiled down to the main factors.
1- The Flyers had too much big game experience for the Sabres in Game 7.
2- Chris Pronger returned to play.
3- The Philadelphia goaltending platoon system may be better than most seem to think.
Boston vs. Montreal
Call: Boston in 6
Outcome: Boston in 7
Another great series in a long line of great series between these two Original Six teams. The goaltending was, as was expected, superb. In the end, the difference was that Boston was able to convert in overtime.
I had mentioned to look for Chara and Lucic to have a big series. Neither really did.
Tampa Bay vs. Pittsburgh
Call: Tampa Bay in 7
Outcome: Tampa Bay in 7
Another one which worked played out pretty much expected. In the end, the absence of Crosby and Malkin proved too much for the Pens to overcome.
General Recap:
Series winners predicted: 6 out of 8
Series outcome predicted exactly right: 3 out of 8 (Wash, SJ, TB)
Not bad, but as they say "don't give up your day job".
Wait, I don't have a day job...
Here's a quick recap of how I made out with my picks.
Western Conference
Vancouver vs. Chicago.
My call: Vancouver in 5
Outcome: Vancouver in 7
After jumping out to a commanding 3-0 series lead, it looked as though the Canucks were poised to exorcise the demons of previous playoff losses against the Blackhawks in fairly short order.
That is until Chicago mounted a heroic comeback. In fact, the Hawks stretched the series all the way to overtime in a seventh game. The pressure on the Canucks to win this series as the final game began was tremendous as it seemed that all of British Columbia came close to crumbling amidst a collective panic attack.
Enter Alex Burrows. Not only did the combative forward score the winning overtime goal, he also scored the only regulation time Vancouver goal. He also missed a penalty shot and was involved in the turnover that caused Chicago to tie things up late in the 3rd period. Talk about being involved in a game.
And now everyone in B.C. can breathe again.
San Jose vs. Los Angeles
Call: San Jose in 6
Outcome: San Jose in 6
As predicted, the Sharks were ultimately too big, too fast, and too talented for the Anze Kopitar-less Kings to handle.
It was nice to see Joe Thornton get the series ending overtime winning goal. Maybe this will help silence some of his critics.
Or not...
Detroit vs. Phoenix
Call: Detroit in 6
Outcome: Detroit in 5
I mentioned that for the Coyotes to have any hope of winning against a deep, veteran, Stanley Cup playoff experienced team such as Detroit, they would need their goalie Ilya Bryzgalov to be outstanding.
He wasn't and the Coyotes lost.
Anaheim vs. Nashville
Call: Anaheim in 7
Outcome: Nashville in 6
Clearly this series didn't quite work out the way that I thought it would. But in my defence I did call Nashville "the team that no one wants to meet in the playoffs", so I can take some solace in that.
Nashville's Shea Weber showed us all why he's consider by most observers to be one of hockey's best defencemen. But the player of the series turned out to be Jordin Tootoo.
As a former resident of Nunavut and a fan of redemption, Tootoo's performance in the first round (he was named the NHL's player of the week) was particularly sweet.
Anaheim's ouster, however, is rather painful because it brings the loss of Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Lubomir Visnovsky to my Stanley Cup playoff pool.
Eastern Conference
Washington vs. New York Rangers.
Call: Washington in 5
Outcome: Washington in 5
You have to love it when things work out. The Rangers faltered down the stretch and it continued through to the playoffs. Alexander Ovechkin looks like a player on a mission.
Philadelphia vs. Buffalo
Call: Buffalo in 7
Outcome: Philadelphia in 7
This one boiled down to the main factors.
1- The Flyers had too much big game experience for the Sabres in Game 7.
2- Chris Pronger returned to play.
3- The Philadelphia goaltending platoon system may be better than most seem to think.
Boston vs. Montreal
Call: Boston in 6
Outcome: Boston in 7
Another great series in a long line of great series between these two Original Six teams. The goaltending was, as was expected, superb. In the end, the difference was that Boston was able to convert in overtime.
I had mentioned to look for Chara and Lucic to have a big series. Neither really did.
Tampa Bay vs. Pittsburgh
Call: Tampa Bay in 7
Outcome: Tampa Bay in 7
Another one which worked played out pretty much expected. In the end, the absence of Crosby and Malkin proved too much for the Pens to overcome.
General Recap:
Series winners predicted: 6 out of 8
Series outcome predicted exactly right: 3 out of 8 (Wash, SJ, TB)
Not bad, but as they say "don't give up your day job".
Wait, I don't have a day job...
Monday, April 25, 2011
- With about three minutes left in the second period of a game that Tampa Bay was leading over Pittsburgh, the referee called a two minute penalty against the Lightning's Ryan Malone for elbowing Max Talbot who was skating with the puck along the Tampa Bay blueline.
Problem is that Greg Malone didn't elbow Talbot. His shoulder clearly hit Talbot's shoulder which separated the latter from the puck. It was a bodycheck.
A perfectly legal bodycheck. A perfectly well executed bodycheck.
It's bad enough that they are missing calls left and right, but do they have to start inventing penalties too?
Because it's one thing to miss a call, it's quite another when you start calling penalties for things that didn't happen.
Also, I liked it better when refs and linesmen had their names on the back of their sweaters.
Photo: Bruce Hood and Bryan Lewis NHL referee sweaters.
- Talk about pressure. How would you like to be Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo today?
After jumping out to a 3-0 series lead against Chicago, the Canucks looked poised to finally win a playoff series against the Hawks. Fast forward a week later and we are headed to a game 7 in Vancouver.
A big game from Henrik and Daniel Sedin would also go a long way to help relieve some of the pressure on the Vancouver goalie.
Problem is that Greg Malone didn't elbow Talbot. His shoulder clearly hit Talbot's shoulder which separated the latter from the puck. It was a bodycheck.
A perfectly legal bodycheck. A perfectly well executed bodycheck.
It's bad enough that they are missing calls left and right, but do they have to start inventing penalties too?
Because it's one thing to miss a call, it's quite another when you start calling penalties for things that didn't happen.
Also, I liked it better when refs and linesmen had their names on the back of their sweaters.
Photo: Bruce Hood and Bryan Lewis NHL referee sweaters.
- Talk about pressure. How would you like to be Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo today?
After jumping out to a 3-0 series lead against Chicago, the Canucks looked poised to finally win a playoff series against the Hawks. Fast forward a week later and we are headed to a game 7 in Vancouver.
A big game from Henrik and Daniel Sedin would also go a long way to help relieve some of the pressure on the Vancouver goalie.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The Gordie Howe Hat Trick, Michael Ryder, and the Jets.
- Michael Ryder was, for two seasons, the best player on the Hull Olympiques of the QMJHL, a team that I followed very closely for the 12 years.
Ryder was the type of player who would go unnoticed for most of the game, but he had a knack for making the best of his scoring opportunities. He had a playoff run where he scored 20 goals in 23 games and brought the Bob Guertin Arena crowd to its feet on a regular basis.
Tonight, as a member of the Boston Bruins, he scored a goal in overtime against the Montreal Canadiens, in Montreal, to bring the opening series to 2 games apiece. It brought me to my feet.
A side note. Ryder's coach in Hull, Claude Julien. The same Claude Julien who is Boston's current head coach.
Photo: Robert Guertin Arena (The Bob), Hull, QC
- I read an what I thought was an interesting historical fact today. It's about the Gordie Howe Hat Trick.
The Gordie Howe Hat Trick is a take on the conventional hat trick, which is the nickname given to the accomplishment of scoring three goals in one game. In collecting a Gordie Howe Hat Trick one must score a goal, record an assist, and be involved in a fight.
It is a feat that happens only on very, very, rare occasions. Gordie Howe himself only did it three times over the course of his 26 legendary NHL seasons.
Which brings me to the interesting fact. On the night that Gordie Howe performed his first Gordie Howe Hat Trick, his linemate and fellow Hockey Hall of Fame legend, Ted Lindsay recorded a Double Gordie Howe Hat Trick.
Yes, a double. Terrible Ted scored 2 goals, was awarded two assists, and was in two fights. I don't know if it's the only time that it has ever been done in NHL play.
I do know that it would have been a game that I would have loved to watch.
Photo: Ted Lindsay had received death threats previously to the playing of this game. After scoring the game winning goal, in overtime, Lindsay skated to centre ice of Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens and mimicked a machine gun with his stick.
- You can count me among the hockey fans that would like to see Winnipeg get a National Hockey League team again. Winnipeg is a hockey town. Like most Canadian cities, it has a long and impressive list of homegrown hockey heroes. Terry Sawchuk was from Winnipeg. So was Andy Bathgate.
Bobby Hull played there in the defunct World Hockey Association. Dale Hawerchuk, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and Teemu Selanne, who will join him in the Hall of Fame, thrilled Canada's Windy City fans during their NHL years.
And for many years now they've supported the Manitoba Moose, farm team of the Vancouver Canucks. Supported them all while following the boardroom melodrama that is playing out in Phoenix.
I hope they get their team back.
Photo: Bobby Hull, of the Winnipeg Jets
Ryder was the type of player who would go unnoticed for most of the game, but he had a knack for making the best of his scoring opportunities. He had a playoff run where he scored 20 goals in 23 games and brought the Bob Guertin Arena crowd to its feet on a regular basis.
Tonight, as a member of the Boston Bruins, he scored a goal in overtime against the Montreal Canadiens, in Montreal, to bring the opening series to 2 games apiece. It brought me to my feet.
A side note. Ryder's coach in Hull, Claude Julien. The same Claude Julien who is Boston's current head coach.
Photo: Robert Guertin Arena (The Bob), Hull, QC
- I read an what I thought was an interesting historical fact today. It's about the Gordie Howe Hat Trick.
The Gordie Howe Hat Trick is a take on the conventional hat trick, which is the nickname given to the accomplishment of scoring three goals in one game. In collecting a Gordie Howe Hat Trick one must score a goal, record an assist, and be involved in a fight.
It is a feat that happens only on very, very, rare occasions. Gordie Howe himself only did it three times over the course of his 26 legendary NHL seasons.
Which brings me to the interesting fact. On the night that Gordie Howe performed his first Gordie Howe Hat Trick, his linemate and fellow Hockey Hall of Fame legend, Ted Lindsay recorded a Double Gordie Howe Hat Trick.
Yes, a double. Terrible Ted scored 2 goals, was awarded two assists, and was in two fights. I don't know if it's the only time that it has ever been done in NHL play.
I do know that it would have been a game that I would have loved to watch.
Photo: Ted Lindsay had received death threats previously to the playing of this game. After scoring the game winning goal, in overtime, Lindsay skated to centre ice of Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens and mimicked a machine gun with his stick.
- You can count me among the hockey fans that would like to see Winnipeg get a National Hockey League team again. Winnipeg is a hockey town. Like most Canadian cities, it has a long and impressive list of homegrown hockey heroes. Terry Sawchuk was from Winnipeg. So was Andy Bathgate.
Bobby Hull played there in the defunct World Hockey Association. Dale Hawerchuk, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and Teemu Selanne, who will join him in the Hall of Fame, thrilled Canada's Windy City fans during their NHL years.
And for many years now they've supported the Manitoba Moose, farm team of the Vancouver Canucks. Supported them all while following the boardroom melodrama that is playing out in Phoenix.
I hope they get their team back.
Photo: Bobby Hull, of the Winnipeg Jets
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Jacques Plante, Raffi Torres and Patrick Roy.
- I had an interesting opportunity yesterday at Quebec City's Morrin Centre.
They were hosting a writer's festival called Imagination and one of the feature authors was Todd Denault.
I had the pleasure of being asked by organizers to interview Todd for an event that they titled "Hockey Night in Canada Replays".
It was a lot of fun to get to spend some time with a writer whose work I truly enjoyed. His books, Jacques Plante, The Man Who Changed The Face of Hockey, and the Greatest Game (about the December 31st 1975 Montreal Canadiens-Soviet Red Army clash), are remarkably well researched and superbly written.
After the interview we headed to the St-Alex pub to have a couple of pops and watch the Habs vs. the Bruins.
I hate to say it, but it looks as though the old Montreal curse still has a grip on the Boston club. Two words: Carey Price.
- One player who seems to have seen some of the luster wear off his star is Chicago's Jonathan Toews.
It was not that long ago that he was a media darling, but now that his club is down 3-0 to Vancouver, he is getting ripped for being too vocal and lacking respect towards both his opponents and refs.
- It'll also be interesting to see which, if any, Chicago players will be joining team Canada at the World Hockey Championships in Bratislava once the Canucks finish them off.
- Still with the Vancouver-Chicago series, you have to believe that Raffi Torres is going to get suspended for his shoulder hit to Chicago defenceman Brent Seabrook's head as the latter was coming out from behind his net with his head down.
Not that long ago, that hit would have been considered fair and square, but with the renewed concerns about brain injuries in hockey, it becomes a play that will likely cost Torres, who was in his first game back after serving four games for a hit to the head, quite a few more games away from the ice.
- A series I can't get excited about: Detroit-Phoenix.
- This coming Wednesday will mark the beginning of the Fred Page Cup tournament in Terrebonne, Quebec.
What's the Fred Page Cup you ask? Well it's a Junior A tournament that features the winners of the Central Junior Hockey League (Ottawa Valley and 1000 Islands area), the QJAAAHL champs, the title holders from the Maritime Hockey League, as well as the host team.
The winner of this tournament will head to Camrose, Alberta, to compete for the Royal Bank Cup, symbol of Canadian Junior A hockey supremacy.
- The CJHL representatives in this tourney are the Pembroke Lumber Kings. A veritable powerhouse in their league, the Kings just wrapped up their 5th consecutive league title, defeating the Cornwall Colts in 6 games.
The general manager/coach of the Lumber Kings is Sheldon Keefe.
Those who follow hockey may well remember him as being one of the so-called "Brampton Boys", a group of players who were once coached by David Frost.
You can google it if you want to know more, but suffice it to say that a few years back the CBC investigative news program The Fifth Estate did a story on them.
- In addition to host Terrebonne, the Quebec League is represented by the Collège Français from Longueil, who defeated Valleyfield in 5 games.
- The Maritimes are represented by the Summerside Western Capitals.
The Caps really turned it on in the second half of the regular season, finishing second overall behind the Woodstock Slammers.
After making short work of their first round opponent, Miramichi, in four games, the Caps defeated Woodstock in a highly dramatic 7 games series.
As in a movie script, the Caps scored twice within the last 1:10 of the seventh game to send it into overtime, when they completed the upset.
Riding high on the excitement of their hard-earned win over the regular season champs, Summerside swept the Weeks Crushers, from Pictou County, Nova Scotia, in four games.
The Caps are coached by Gordie Dwyer, a Quebec Major Hockey League grad, and former member of the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, playing with them at the same time was the Pembroke coach, the aforementioned Sheldon Keefe.
Some good hockey to look forward to in Terrebonne.
- Another series that merits attention in these parts is the Quebec-Shawinigan QMJHL tilt. It looked as the though Patrick Roy-coached Remparts would just roll right through this series, but the Cataractes are showing signs that they are willing and able to put up a fight. Game 7 of that series goes Tuesday in what should be a packed Colisée in Quebec City.
The winner of this series will face off against Gatineau, while St-John will take on Lewiston in the other semi-final.
They were hosting a writer's festival called Imagination and one of the feature authors was Todd Denault.
I had the pleasure of being asked by organizers to interview Todd for an event that they titled "Hockey Night in Canada Replays".
It was a lot of fun to get to spend some time with a writer whose work I truly enjoyed. His books, Jacques Plante, The Man Who Changed The Face of Hockey, and the Greatest Game (about the December 31st 1975 Montreal Canadiens-Soviet Red Army clash), are remarkably well researched and superbly written.
After the interview we headed to the St-Alex pub to have a couple of pops and watch the Habs vs. the Bruins.
I hate to say it, but it looks as though the old Montreal curse still has a grip on the Boston club. Two words: Carey Price.
- One player who seems to have seen some of the luster wear off his star is Chicago's Jonathan Toews.
It was not that long ago that he was a media darling, but now that his club is down 3-0 to Vancouver, he is getting ripped for being too vocal and lacking respect towards both his opponents and refs.
- It'll also be interesting to see which, if any, Chicago players will be joining team Canada at the World Hockey Championships in Bratislava once the Canucks finish them off.
- Still with the Vancouver-Chicago series, you have to believe that Raffi Torres is going to get suspended for his shoulder hit to Chicago defenceman Brent Seabrook's head as the latter was coming out from behind his net with his head down.
Not that long ago, that hit would have been considered fair and square, but with the renewed concerns about brain injuries in hockey, it becomes a play that will likely cost Torres, who was in his first game back after serving four games for a hit to the head, quite a few more games away from the ice.
- A series I can't get excited about: Detroit-Phoenix.
- This coming Wednesday will mark the beginning of the Fred Page Cup tournament in Terrebonne, Quebec.
What's the Fred Page Cup you ask? Well it's a Junior A tournament that features the winners of the Central Junior Hockey League (Ottawa Valley and 1000 Islands area), the QJAAAHL champs, the title holders from the Maritime Hockey League, as well as the host team.
The winner of this tournament will head to Camrose, Alberta, to compete for the Royal Bank Cup, symbol of Canadian Junior A hockey supremacy.
- The CJHL representatives in this tourney are the Pembroke Lumber Kings. A veritable powerhouse in their league, the Kings just wrapped up their 5th consecutive league title, defeating the Cornwall Colts in 6 games.
The general manager/coach of the Lumber Kings is Sheldon Keefe.
Those who follow hockey may well remember him as being one of the so-called "Brampton Boys", a group of players who were once coached by David Frost.
You can google it if you want to know more, but suffice it to say that a few years back the CBC investigative news program The Fifth Estate did a story on them.
- In addition to host Terrebonne, the Quebec League is represented by the Collège Français from Longueil, who defeated Valleyfield in 5 games.
- The Maritimes are represented by the Summerside Western Capitals.
The Caps really turned it on in the second half of the regular season, finishing second overall behind the Woodstock Slammers.
After making short work of their first round opponent, Miramichi, in four games, the Caps defeated Woodstock in a highly dramatic 7 games series.
As in a movie script, the Caps scored twice within the last 1:10 of the seventh game to send it into overtime, when they completed the upset.
Riding high on the excitement of their hard-earned win over the regular season champs, Summerside swept the Weeks Crushers, from Pictou County, Nova Scotia, in four games.
The Caps are coached by Gordie Dwyer, a Quebec Major Hockey League grad, and former member of the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, playing with them at the same time was the Pembroke coach, the aforementioned Sheldon Keefe.
Some good hockey to look forward to in Terrebonne.
- Another series that merits attention in these parts is the Quebec-Shawinigan QMJHL tilt. It looked as the though Patrick Roy-coached Remparts would just roll right through this series, but the Cataractes are showing signs that they are willing and able to put up a fight. Game 7 of that series goes Tuesday in what should be a packed Colisée in Quebec City.
The winner of this series will face off against Gatineau, while St-John will take on Lewiston in the other semi-final.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
2011 Stanley Cup Western Conference playoff preview.
Vancouver vs. Chicago:
There is a lot of history between these two teams in the playoffs, and you've got to think that there are many players on the Canucks who are happy to get another shot at Chicago.
Vancouver has fired on all cylinders pretty much all season. They are the NHL leaders in goals for as well as goals against, a feat that hasn't been accomplished since the 1970's Montreal powerhouse. Henrik and Daniel Sedin are at the top of their games, Ryan Kesler is coming off a 40 goal regular season, and Roberto Luongo appears poised to finally get the playoff monkey off his back.
Chicago on the other hand has had a difficult season with injuries and the loss of key players in the off-season, notably Dustin Byfuglien, who was key to the Hawks' success against the Canucks in the past. The Hawks goaltending situation is also questionable, with Corey Crawford taking the yeoman's share of starts down the stretch to mixed results. The health status of Patrick Sharpe and Dave Bolland is also cause for concern.
Call: Vancouver in 5
San Jose vs. Los Angeles:
Will this be the year that the San Jose Sharks finally take a serious run at the Stanley Cup? The jury is still out on that one, but they should be able to make it past the first round by taking this California match-up.
By losing Anze Kopitar to injury late in the season, the Kings just can't match the firepower that San Jose can ice with players such as Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley and one of this year's impressive rookies, Logan Couture.
Call: San Jose in 6
Detroit vs. Phoenix:
Experience, experience, experience. The Coyotes' only hope, Bryzgalov, the Phoenix goalie, plays lights out hockey à la 2010 Jaroslav Halak for the Red Wings to lose this one.
The Wings will at least take the opening series as a "Win one for Lidstrom" gesture. Beyond that, all bets are off.
Call: Detroit in 6
Anaheim vs. Nashville:
Many observers have tagged the Nashville Predators as this year's "team that no one wants to have to meet in the first round of the playoffs.", and while that may be true, the prospect of having to face Corey Perry and not only Ryan Getzlaf but also a rejuvenated Teemu Selanne should give some teams cause for concern. And don't forget Bobby Ryan.
The Nashville Predators have a well deserved reputation as one of the league's tightest checking teams. They are definitely not a high profile club, as most fans would be hard pressed to name 5 Nashville Predators. One player that will get your attention is defenceman Shea Webber, one of the game's best.
But as tough an opponent Nashville is, ultimately Anaheim's scoring may prove to be too much to handle in a series that promises to be a hard fought one.
Call: Anaheim in 7
There is a lot of history between these two teams in the playoffs, and you've got to think that there are many players on the Canucks who are happy to get another shot at Chicago.
Vancouver has fired on all cylinders pretty much all season. They are the NHL leaders in goals for as well as goals against, a feat that hasn't been accomplished since the 1970's Montreal powerhouse. Henrik and Daniel Sedin are at the top of their games, Ryan Kesler is coming off a 40 goal regular season, and Roberto Luongo appears poised to finally get the playoff monkey off his back.
Chicago on the other hand has had a difficult season with injuries and the loss of key players in the off-season, notably Dustin Byfuglien, who was key to the Hawks' success against the Canucks in the past. The Hawks goaltending situation is also questionable, with Corey Crawford taking the yeoman's share of starts down the stretch to mixed results. The health status of Patrick Sharpe and Dave Bolland is also cause for concern.
Call: Vancouver in 5
San Jose vs. Los Angeles:
Will this be the year that the San Jose Sharks finally take a serious run at the Stanley Cup? The jury is still out on that one, but they should be able to make it past the first round by taking this California match-up.
By losing Anze Kopitar to injury late in the season, the Kings just can't match the firepower that San Jose can ice with players such as Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley and one of this year's impressive rookies, Logan Couture.
Call: San Jose in 6
Detroit vs. Phoenix:
Experience, experience, experience. The Coyotes' only hope, Bryzgalov, the Phoenix goalie, plays lights out hockey à la 2010 Jaroslav Halak for the Red Wings to lose this one.
The Wings will at least take the opening series as a "Win one for Lidstrom" gesture. Beyond that, all bets are off.
Call: Detroit in 6
Anaheim vs. Nashville:
Many observers have tagged the Nashville Predators as this year's "team that no one wants to have to meet in the first round of the playoffs.", and while that may be true, the prospect of having to face Corey Perry and not only Ryan Getzlaf but also a rejuvenated Teemu Selanne should give some teams cause for concern. And don't forget Bobby Ryan.
The Nashville Predators have a well deserved reputation as one of the league's tightest checking teams. They are definitely not a high profile club, as most fans would be hard pressed to name 5 Nashville Predators. One player that will get your attention is defenceman Shea Webber, one of the game's best.
But as tough an opponent Nashville is, ultimately Anaheim's scoring may prove to be too much to handle in a series that promises to be a hard fought one.
Call: Anaheim in 7
Saturday, April 9, 2011
2011 Stanley Cup Playoff Eastern Conference Preview
Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers
It has been an interesting season in Washington. They stumbled out of the gate and played a fairly lengthy stretched of truly uninspired hockey. It looked as though coach Bruce Boudreau's days behind the bench were numbered.
But once the midway point of the season arrived, the Caps went on a tear that saw them climb all the way to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
Alexander Ovechkin is rested, healthy and focused. This is bad news for the New York Rangers.
Also bad news for the Rangers is the fact that Ryan Callahan is out for the playoffs and that they have seemed like a team in turmoil, unable to come forward with solid performances down the stretch when it really mattered.
Call: Washington in 5.
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Buffalo Sabres
If I were a Flyers fan, I'd be very nervous about this match-up.
The Buffalo Sabres have been playing playoff hockey for the last couple of months, as the cliche goes, going 8-1-1 in their last 10 games, whereas the Flyers went 3-4-3 over the same span.
With the health of Chris Pronger a big question mark and a sputtering power play, the Flyers seem to be in a heap of trouble.
An edge in momentum and in goaltending puts the Sabres in a good position for a first round upset.
Call: Buffalo in 7.
Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens
Emotions are still running high in both cities on the heels of the controversy that followed the hit that Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara laid on Hab forward Max Pacioretty which resulted in the latter suffering from a concussion and a fractured vertabra.
Regardless of where one stands on the legality of the hit, this is clear. The Montreal Canadiens have not been the same team since and were it not for Carey Price standing on his head down the stretch, there is a good chance that the Habs would be on the outside looking in in terms of this year's playoffs.
Boston has the edge in scoring, size, and with his record setting .938 save percentage, Tim Thomas gives the Bruins goaltending to rival Montreal's.
Look for Zdeno Chara and Milan Lucic to have a big series for the Bruins.
Call: Boston in 6.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
It was looking as though this was going to be the best season of Sidney Crosby's short but remarkable career. That is until he was sidelined by a concussion in early January.
Most observers figured that with the loss of Sid the Kid and that of Evgeny Malkin, the Penguins were, as Tiger Williams would say, done like dinner. Yet without two of the game's top players, the Pens did not implode as was widely expected In fact it was quite the opposite, they were in the thick of the run for first overall in the East right until the end.
The Tampa Bay Lightning has one of the most potent attacks in the NHL. However, one big cloud looms on the horizon, the recent Steven Stamkos scoring drought.
After appearing as though he would run away with the NHL's goal scoring title, Stamkos has scored just 5 goals in the last 28 games. The good news for Tampa Bay is that there are plenty of players on the club to help take up the scoring slack in guys like Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St-Louis and Simon Gagné.
This will also mark Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher's first appearance in the NHL playoffs, a series that should interest Quebec hockey fans as both teams count many key players from La Belle Province.
The outcome of this series is very difficult to predict given the uncertainty surrounding the return of Sidney Crosby, but based on the assumption that number 87 will not be back...
Call: Tampa Bay in 7
It has been an interesting season in Washington. They stumbled out of the gate and played a fairly lengthy stretched of truly uninspired hockey. It looked as though coach Bruce Boudreau's days behind the bench were numbered.
But once the midway point of the season arrived, the Caps went on a tear that saw them climb all the way to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
Alexander Ovechkin is rested, healthy and focused. This is bad news for the New York Rangers.
Also bad news for the Rangers is the fact that Ryan Callahan is out for the playoffs and that they have seemed like a team in turmoil, unable to come forward with solid performances down the stretch when it really mattered.
Call: Washington in 5.
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Buffalo Sabres
If I were a Flyers fan, I'd be very nervous about this match-up.
The Buffalo Sabres have been playing playoff hockey for the last couple of months, as the cliche goes, going 8-1-1 in their last 10 games, whereas the Flyers went 3-4-3 over the same span.
With the health of Chris Pronger a big question mark and a sputtering power play, the Flyers seem to be in a heap of trouble.
An edge in momentum and in goaltending puts the Sabres in a good position for a first round upset.
Call: Buffalo in 7.
Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens
Emotions are still running high in both cities on the heels of the controversy that followed the hit that Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara laid on Hab forward Max Pacioretty which resulted in the latter suffering from a concussion and a fractured vertabra.
Regardless of where one stands on the legality of the hit, this is clear. The Montreal Canadiens have not been the same team since and were it not for Carey Price standing on his head down the stretch, there is a good chance that the Habs would be on the outside looking in in terms of this year's playoffs.
Boston has the edge in scoring, size, and with his record setting .938 save percentage, Tim Thomas gives the Bruins goaltending to rival Montreal's.
Look for Zdeno Chara and Milan Lucic to have a big series for the Bruins.
Call: Boston in 6.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
It was looking as though this was going to be the best season of Sidney Crosby's short but remarkable career. That is until he was sidelined by a concussion in early January.
Most observers figured that with the loss of Sid the Kid and that of Evgeny Malkin, the Penguins were, as Tiger Williams would say, done like dinner. Yet without two of the game's top players, the Pens did not implode as was widely expected In fact it was quite the opposite, they were in the thick of the run for first overall in the East right until the end.
The Tampa Bay Lightning has one of the most potent attacks in the NHL. However, one big cloud looms on the horizon, the recent Steven Stamkos scoring drought.
After appearing as though he would run away with the NHL's goal scoring title, Stamkos has scored just 5 goals in the last 28 games. The good news for Tampa Bay is that there are plenty of players on the club to help take up the scoring slack in guys like Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St-Louis and Simon Gagné.
This will also mark Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher's first appearance in the NHL playoffs, a series that should interest Quebec hockey fans as both teams count many key players from La Belle Province.
The outcome of this series is very difficult to predict given the uncertainty surrounding the return of Sidney Crosby, but based on the assumption that number 87 will not be back...
Call: Tampa Bay in 7
Friday, April 8, 2011
Nordiques, Manny and Tiger.
- As bus loads of members of the Nordiques Nation head to New York City for the weekend, ostensibly to attend a New Jersey Devils game as well as throw a little party/advertising campaign in Times Square, defenceman Adam Foote will announce his retirement from the NHL tomorrow.
As one of my friends here in Quebec City said earlier today about Foote, "Lui, c'est un vrai." Loosely translates to "He's the real deal".
I'd be curious to see a listing of all the injuries that he's had to deal with during the course of his playing career.
- Another big retirement announcement comes to us from the world of Major League baseball. Manny Ramirez called it quits.
Ramirez was one of my favourite players over the course of the past few decades. A true hitting machine, Ramirez was also one of the game's most entertaining players.
A career .312 hitter, with 1831 RBI and 555 homers, Hall of Fame numbers were it not for the fact that he tested positive for performance enhancing drugs and subsequently served a 50 games suspension.
For those keeping track; Mark Maguire, Jose Canseco and Alex Rodriguez have admitted to using steroids, Barry Bonds is accused of having lied to a court about using them, and Roger Clemens is accused of lying to the United States Congress about using them.
They don't call it the steroid era for nothing.
- Speaking of athlete's who've had to deal with what might be called ethics issues, Tiger Woods, yes, Tiger Woods, is in the thick of things down in Georgia. He's tied for third after two rounds of the Master's tournament, a tournament he's won 4 times in the past, and a tournament that many observers seem to believe will be the stage of Tiger's golf rebirth. It may not be a popular view, but I'm cheering for him. I'm a big fan of redemption.
-
As one of my friends here in Quebec City said earlier today about Foote, "Lui, c'est un vrai." Loosely translates to "He's the real deal".
I'd be curious to see a listing of all the injuries that he's had to deal with during the course of his playing career.
- Another big retirement announcement comes to us from the world of Major League baseball. Manny Ramirez called it quits.
Ramirez was one of my favourite players over the course of the past few decades. A true hitting machine, Ramirez was also one of the game's most entertaining players.
A career .312 hitter, with 1831 RBI and 555 homers, Hall of Fame numbers were it not for the fact that he tested positive for performance enhancing drugs and subsequently served a 50 games suspension.
For those keeping track; Mark Maguire, Jose Canseco and Alex Rodriguez have admitted to using steroids, Barry Bonds is accused of having lied to a court about using them, and Roger Clemens is accused of lying to the United States Congress about using them.
They don't call it the steroid era for nothing.
- Speaking of athlete's who've had to deal with what might be called ethics issues, Tiger Woods, yes, Tiger Woods, is in the thick of things down in Georgia. He's tied for third after two rounds of the Master's tournament, a tournament he's won 4 times in the past, and a tournament that many observers seem to believe will be the stage of Tiger's golf rebirth. It may not be a popular view, but I'm cheering for him. I'm a big fan of redemption.
-
Plante and the New Year's Eve game.
A few weeks back I received an e-mail from one of the folks at Quebec City's Morrin Centre asking if I would consider acting as a sort of host/interviewer for a talk that they wanted to host featuring a hockey writer.
My initial reaction was one of curiousity. What hockey writer? What book, or books? The answer to the first question was Todd Denault. I didn't know who Todd Denault was. "No matter", I thought. Turns out he wrote about Jacques Plante. The second part of the title is "The Man Who Changed the Face of Hockey." True enough, Plante did change the face of hockey, as it were, but I know that he brought much more than that to the history of the game.
In the words of Ken Dryden, whom Todd quotes in his book, "There are a lot of very good goalies; there are even a fair number of great goalies. But there aren't many important goalies. And Jacques Plante was an important goalie."
Ol' Ken sure has a way with words, Plante certainly was an important goalie.
In addition to the whole mask innovation business, Plante was also innovative in the way he approached the position from an athletic, technical and mental point of view.
Not to mention, that he was a businessman, head coach, general manager and one of the first NHL goalie coaches.
I won't go into the whole retelling of the Jacques Plante story, but I will say that of all of the hockey books I've read, and I've got boxes full of them, this one is right there on the shelf next to The Game, Hockey is a Battle, and Lions in Winter.
Superbly written and researched, this is one book that must be read by hockey history fans. A look into one of hockey's most fascinating players, in one of hockey's most fascinating times.
So now I look forward to meeting with Todd this coming Saturday, April 16th as part of Quebec City's ImagiNation writer's festival. In addition to discussing Jacques Plante, we'll get to chat about the 1975 New Year's Eve Montreal Canadiens vs. Soviet Union Red Army matchup, the subject of Todd Denault's latest, "The Greatest Game."
My initial reaction was one of curiousity. What hockey writer? What book, or books? The answer to the first question was Todd Denault. I didn't know who Todd Denault was. "No matter", I thought. Turns out he wrote about Jacques Plante. The second part of the title is "The Man Who Changed the Face of Hockey." True enough, Plante did change the face of hockey, as it were, but I know that he brought much more than that to the history of the game.
In the words of Ken Dryden, whom Todd quotes in his book, "There are a lot of very good goalies; there are even a fair number of great goalies. But there aren't many important goalies. And Jacques Plante was an important goalie."
Ol' Ken sure has a way with words, Plante certainly was an important goalie.
In addition to the whole mask innovation business, Plante was also innovative in the way he approached the position from an athletic, technical and mental point of view.
Not to mention, that he was a businessman, head coach, general manager and one of the first NHL goalie coaches.
I won't go into the whole retelling of the Jacques Plante story, but I will say that of all of the hockey books I've read, and I've got boxes full of them, this one is right there on the shelf next to The Game, Hockey is a Battle, and Lions in Winter.
Superbly written and researched, this is one book that must be read by hockey history fans. A look into one of hockey's most fascinating players, in one of hockey's most fascinating times.
So now I look forward to meeting with Todd this coming Saturday, April 16th as part of Quebec City's ImagiNation writer's festival. In addition to discussing Jacques Plante, we'll get to chat about the 1975 New Year's Eve Montreal Canadiens vs. Soviet Union Red Army matchup, the subject of Todd Denault's latest, "The Greatest Game."
The title of this blog.
I know that there are probably a few other blogs out there with the same title, or if not the same title, the same general idea. I'll get around to finding a new name eventually...
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