by Hockey Guru
Random Thoughts for a Monday...
- What's worse than a Monday morning? Being a San Jose Shark on this Monday morning!
- With 2-3 days prior to the start of the playoffs and at least 1 day off in between games - shouldn't there have been ample opportunity to develop, practice and implement strategies for success on the power play? St. Louis and San Jose seem like rudderless ships with the man advantage.
- Is it time to de-canonize St. Louis and San Jose - to simply rename those teams the Luis Blues and Jose Sharks? Vatican rules require the performance of two miracles, and unless they were each to overcome a 3-0 deficit and win their series, I see no evidence of saintliness.
- Who will be the hockey fans of the future? Does the NHL realize that it is turning off future fans by putting the league's fingerprints all over every playoff series? Won't somebody please think of the children? Seriously, the NHL is one-upping the storylines of each series.
- How long before teams add attorneys to the payroll to be on the bench? I can see Johnny Cochran yelling at the refs right now... (or, at least... y'know... before he was dead and all).
- If safety is the #1 objective - why not just play the sport as a video game? Then, the only worry would be about carpal tunnel syndrome (Gaborik would still keep the Mayo Clinic in business, with the purchase of wrist splints, alone).
- It seems to me that players from the past all survived okay - and built up quite a passion for the sport.
In closing, I was so amped up for the first round of the playoffs this year, but the NHL is doing its best to sterilize this thing and keep each series from having any character.
If it weren't for the paycheque, these comments wouldn't even be posted - but a man has to support his family...
The Guru Report for April 21, 2009
ReplyDeleteA great night of hockey on Monday.
The Guru set the DVR and managed to view all three games in their entirety – almost in real time!
Through the magic of technology – no commercials were needed – as the first 5 minutes of the Montreal-Boston game were viewed – then paused – watching the first five minutes of the Rangers-Caps.
It was hockey bliss.
The Bruins defense at times looked shaky through much of the game. Whether due to bouncing pucks, nerves, or the Montreal pressure – they simply didn’t handle the puck well – especially around their net.
Had the Canadiens been more opportunistic – they should have scored 3 or 4 more goals.
Sure, Carey Price gave some juicy rebounds and the injuries impacted the Habs line-up – but Kovalev had an open net early that he simply dumped into the corner (all right, you could argue he was shooting - but missing the net by 15 feet from 15 feet isn’t “all-star” caliber).
Last year – the Canadiens-Bruins series was 3-0 after 3 games. The 8 seed came back to win 3 in a row to force game seven – here’s why it won’t happen this year. Last season, Boston was an up-and-coming team – with youth and players fighting to establish something. With the number of players that won’t be back next year in Montreal (whether by the team or the player’s choice) – they just don’t seem to have the extra desperation or passion in their game.
Last year’s “comeback” by Boston – will keep Boston focused and they will look at how that may have contributed to Montreal’s playoff run ending and they will close Montreal before the weekend.
Game three unfolded absolutely perfectly for Washington. The first goal of the game in this series may be bigger than in any other series. The trap for Washington is not to be satisfied or think they’ve accomplished anything by winning this game. Sure – it was a must win – but they’re still losing the series.
The goalie change for Washington was the perfect move – and as Guru stated in his predictions – should have been made prior to game 1. Washington is likely a year away from a serious playoff run. The piece that has not been identified is the goaltender. This year – it is time to find out what you have and to allow Varlamov the experience and the taste to be better prepared for the future.
Now, this year is not written off by any means – Washington can make noise in the playoffs this year and game 4 is much anticipated to see if their ready to compete now (hunch is they may feel too good about themselves and the Rangers and Lundqvist will have a great chance to take the commanding 3-1 series lead).
Calgary-Chicago
This was hit-a-minute hockey – and not merely riding guys off – but finishing checks with authority all over the ice. Great hockey, great intensity, great drama.
Calgary got a major break on the go-ahead goal and expanded their lead to “cruise” to game three victory. This game was so much closer than the score indicated.
Of course, a night of hockey can’t be recapped without ranting about the direction of the NHL.
This is a physical series. These teams are trying to wear each other out – regardless of the score. But when a fight should occur – teams settle for less honorable ways of battling. Especially toward the end of the games – each team (and this is now a league-wide approach) simply tries to push the envelope with cheap shots, face washes, etc. – hoping merely to get a retaliation so that the league office can step in a suspend someone.
It may be a waste of time and energy to say this – but the NHL office has to stop. They have to let the game be played on the ice – and not in disciplinary hearings. Barring something completely obvious – suspensions shouldn’t be handed down in the playoffs.
The Hockey Guru proposes that if the NHL is so concerned about “non-sense” at the end of games – hand out 10-minute misconducts that are served at the start of the next game in the series.
When suspensions are on the line – there’s a major reward for a team to try to goad a star player into earning an automatic suspension for defending themselves. Late in the third – Ben Eager started fighting Dion Phaneuf. That would be an incredibly smart strategy for any coach late in the third – have a player start a fight with a star. Either they can get some “free-shots” in or the star fights back and may get suspended.
The officiating in the NHL is the best in the world. The NHL has to trust its officials – they have the right and ability to give game misconducts, match penalties, and the like at any time during a game. They are on the ice and have a feel for the flow of the game. Let them hand out the penalties and stop the league office interference.
Again, it may be a waste of time – but should we just sit back?
Side note: Circle the dates when Chicago-Calgary play in the regular season next year…
*** Wanted to add to the 10-minute misconduct concept.
ReplyDeleteIf the league wants to hand out suspensions - wait to hand them out during the following regular season.
They could have full blown hearings in the off season which could help fill programming on the NHL Network.
Think about the OJ trial - this could be pure genius.
Canadiens were up 2-1 after 3 games last year, not 3-0, Bruins won Game 3 2-1 in OT then Habs won 1-0 in Game 4 to go up 3-1. Bruins then went on to win Games 5 and 6 5-1 and 5-4 respectively before the Habs shut them out in Game 7 5-0
ReplyDelete