by Hockey Guru
Opening night of the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs has come and gone.
The expectations for Round 1 are high in Hockey Guru's mind (again, here I go with the 3rd person thing...) - almost too high and so night 1 is a bit of a let down.
But that's okay - even though there weren't the twists and turns anticipated in the games last night - knowing the playoffs have begun is gratifying in itself.
Opening night, the Eastern Conference saw 2 boat races and a hockey game.
(To clarify for readers that don't get my humour - I know there were 4 hockey games and all were played on frozen water. I know that the machine is actually a zamboni and not a boat).
By calling 3 games boat races - I mean that there was almost as much drama in the game as there is in a boat race. You see, in boating, whoever gets the lead at the start - goes on to win 6 days later or something.
Pittsburgh-Philadelphia
The Flyers forgot that they are supposed to be healthy this year. The picked up where they left off last year in the Conference finals.
Then Penguins played game 1 almost perfectly - and did so without Malkian or Crosbian performances from their superstars.
This is the NHL though - and a best of seven series. The Flyers have been employing the "rope-a-dope" theory under John Stevens of taking it on the chin in game 1 and showing up for game 2.
While game 2 is not a must win for the Flyers - it is expected to be much more competitive.
"Boat Race #2"
New Jersey-Carolina
Did I really pick Carolina to advance in this series? As Keyser Soze said - "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to make the world believe he didn't exist."
These Devils pulled that trick off again (well, almost - the unemployed vampire, aka Tito "TD" O'Dell, believed that the Devils still existed in his prognistication).
With so many bright minds in the hockey community picking the Canes based on their surge and the Devils malaise - last night, Sutter's boys proved that you can turn it back on in the playoffs - and cruised to a 1-0 series lead.
Washington-New York Rangers
Something about surprise, the unexpected - makes sports so appealing to me.
The "Oh, my - did that just happen" thought goes went through my head as the Rangers built the 3-1 lead against Washington. And then quickly saw the high powered Caps even the score.
In the end, Brandon Dubinsky's snipe was the difference and the Rangers took the home ice advantage in the series away from the Capitals.
The Rangers will now play game 2 at Madison Square Garden. Game 5 will be at MSG.
Should the series go seven - the Rangers will have the decisive game in their barn and have earned the "extra" game at home in the series.
But don't buy tickets yet. You see, the schedule can and will change if the Capitals manage to win a game on the road in the series.
It's almost impossible. Road teams never win games in any sport - especially hockey.
(Again - for those readers that are having some trouble seeing the incredibly high-brow wit and humour in this post - I'm JOKING).
The home ice angle is one of my pet peeves. Home ice is determined going into a series and doesn't change.
Washington lost game 1.
Washington still has the home ice advantage in this series.
They now have to find a way to win one on the road to win the series - but, believe it or not, it is possible. Perhaps you want to see a list of the teams that have come back from 0-1 deficits after losing the first game at home?
Not my forte.
But Ovechkin's forte is goal scoring - and the guy is simply amazing to watch.
What I want to watch is if the Caps have a goalie change heading into game 2. As mentioned, the Hockey Guru would have started Varlamov in the series - as I think he gives a better chance to win - both today and in the future.
The Caps window of opportunity to win a cup is just beginning and Theodore's career is not.
As I recently learned - rookies can win in the playoffs. It may be Varlamov's time.
Two nights of hockey.
ReplyDelete8 Series have begun.
Hockey Guru feels let down so far.
Maybe the anticipation of these matchups was too high. Maybe trying to catch every minute of every game was an impossible task.
There were some great games and great moments - but if felt like something was missing in the opening games this year.
The Hockey Guru (I'm kind of liking this third person thing) - thinks part of the problem is that the NHL has taken on too much of a role in the games.
The NHL being Commissioner Bettman and the league office.
For years, the NHL has pursued a major US network television deal. They haven't landed one. The relentless pursuit has seen the NHL consistently tinkering with the game - not so much to make the game better - but to make it more appealing to the US television market.
Imagine dating a beautiful girl for years - but on every date - she keeps eying the guy across the room who has the biggest wallet.
That guy has no interest in her. Yet, she keeps buying new clothes, trying new makeup, hairstyles, etc. - all fruitless - as he's just not interested in her. In the essence of her.
Network US television isn't interested in hockey. It never will be. No matter what changes the game makes - it is not going to be accepted.
If you're reading this - you love the game. WE love the game. We wish the game could realize that it's lucky to have us and to be satisfied with us - to stop looking for something better.
Over the years, the NHL has adopted the belief that fighting is the #1 reason the networks won't touch it. So, rules have been implemented to curb fighting.
Now in the playoffs - those rules are curbed further.
These rules - and the subsequent teams adaption to meeting the rules are some of the reason that the Hockey Guru feels unsatisfied with the first tastes of the 2009 playoffs.
While the bench brawls of the past are long gone (and sorely missed like a beloved lost relative) - there is developing such a fear of the extra penalties and league suspensions - that the passion and emotion is being replaced with frustration.
Two nights ago, at the end of the Flyers-Penguins game – Daniel Carcillo gave a jab to Maxime Talbot, who dropped like he was shot. No penalty called on the ice – apparently the officials standing 5 feet away felt it wasn’t that big of a deal.
Au contraire mon frère – the league suspended Carcillo for 1 game.
In the same game, 10 seconds earlier, Bill Guerin and Braydon Coburn had one of the lamest fights in playoff history. Guerin challenged Coburn and dropped the gloves, Coburn didn’t fully commit to fighting and merely tied Guerin up and both fell to the ground.
The fight never got going because the NHL has passed down EDICTS that fighting won’t be tolerated in the lasts 5 minutes of a game. Messages can’t be sent! So, Coburn, fearing a suspension, never committed to the fight.
Well, now the off-ice ruling is Carcillo is out, Guerin and Coburn are fine.
It’s ridiculous. The players and teams need to police themselves.
Carcillo gave the jab to Talbot because, ironically, he was afraid that if he merely fought – then he’d get suspended.
The NHL has lost that the playoffs are about passion and emotion. Fans want to see their teams (and teams need to) stand up and send the message “We’re here – we’re going to fight you for every inch of space on this ice and we won’t back down.”
The last 5 minutes of a game don’t matter – it’s 1 game. These are series. The series builds throughout as if it were merely 1 long game. So at the end of the first game – it may be important to the series to have that passion and the message sent. The playoffs series are not about 7 individual games – it’s about 1 series.
Let the passion build, let bad blood and subplots develop.
It only raises the intensity for the entire series – which is a good thing for hockey.
Instead, because of the “crackdown” on fighting – there are more cheapshots, more stickwork and more reasons for fans to be embarrassed.
The Bruins and Canadiens wanted last night to kick the tar out of each other – but settled for lackluster dances.
The crack research department of the Ottawa Hockey League (aka Will) may be able to provide more facts on this – but almost all bench brawls in the past occurred early in a series – when the series hadn’t been decided. There may not be one bench brawl after a series was decided (for example with a team down 3-0 and trailing in the 4th game).
Hockey has honour, the proverbial code – as evidenced by the handshakes at the end of each series.
Getting into a quick recap of each series:
Boston-Montreal
Great start by the Bruins and when Krejci put the B’s ahead 2-0 – Hockey Guru though – here we go with another boat race.
But Montreal scored the first “gut goal” of the playoffs. “Gut goals” are the goals that teams score mostly because of desperation, determination and grit. There weren’t too many scoring chances to that point but Montreal desperately needed to answer back and Christopher Higgins scored the third goal of the game. Remarkably it was done 2 minutes after that 2 goal lead was held.
This series will be close and the score will likely be tied or a 1-goal game at all times. It’s how the hockey gods want it to be. It’s Montreal-Boston. It’s awesome!
Whether this series goes 4, 5, 6 or 7 games – these are must-see games.
Detroit-Columbus
With the Bruins-Canadiens game competing for the Hockey Guru’s attention – the occasional flip to check-in on this game showed what the Guru knew. Detroit is an amazing team.
When they have to – they can take their game up a level. They have the skill, they have the experience and they have the heart. They have been champions for a reason.
RJ Umberger is trying to prove he isn’t another John Druce or 1-year playoff wonder – he scores big goals in big games.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect from the box score is that Detroit held Columbus to 2 shots in the third period. At a time when a team is desperately trying to get back into a game – that’s IMPRESSIVE.
Chicago-Calgary
The Hockey Guru did not Tivo the game – so when watching the third period and 12 seconds of overtime – the feelings of regret about missing most of the first two periods eroding the enjoyment of this game.
The Chicago crowd was tremendous and this was an awesome game but there’s not much insight for the Guru to impart.
San Jose-Anaheim
Anaheim has captured the home ice in the series!!!
Many of the readers of that know how the Guru feels about that phrase. But Anaheim winning the first game of this series demonstrates how difficult the Stanley Cup is to win.
Having the best record in the NFL – your team doesn’t even have to play in the first round of the playoffs. Then, you get to face the lowest seeded remaining team at home when you’re rested and they’ve gone through a playoff game the week before.
Losing that first game is a major upset in the NFL.
But in the NHL – the disparity between the 1 and the 8 seed is not the disparity between the 1 and 8 seed in the NCAA tournament.
As a long time fan of Jumbo Joe and defender of his – this year there are no excuses. With San Jose’s regular season – he should be rested, healthy and primed for a run.
Game 1 saw 1 shot on net from Big Joe – and he was a non-factor on most of his 28 shifts. Through the Guru’s eyes (yes they were a bit heavy during this game – and distracted with a teething baby) – San Jose didn’t generate too many quality scoring chances. For the offensive juggernaut they had been – they certainly weren’t in game 1. Credit Anaheim’s defense, credit Randy Carlyle – or blame Joe Thornton.
1 game is not a series – but the questions and the pressure are going to make it harder and harder for San Jose in this series.
It’s often said that until a team loses on its home ice – a “series” hasn’t begun – well then this series has begun – and if San Jose doesn’t respond in game 2 – it could be on its way to being over.
The Guru’s forecast for tonight’s game is put on sunblock for the Philly-Penguins game as the red light should be lit often.