Hockey Christmas
April 13th, 2009, 1:21 pm
I love the NHL playoffs. I call it Hockey Christmas. It is the best time of year and the reason why God invented the NHL Center Ice package. I thought I’d offer a few of my thoughts on who I think are the big winners going into the first playoff games on Wednesday.
WINNERS:
BOSTON BRUINS
These guys have to be thrilled with their first round playoff draw. While there is significant history between these two original teams, including last year when the Bruins took Montreal to the brink – the roles have been reversed and this Canadiens team is certainly not up to the task. They are a team in limbo with no identity or constant motor. I had my doubts about Boston’s ability to make a deep run to the Cup, but this is the perfect way for them to start against a Canadiens team that is without Markov, a real head coach and the ability to keep teams from scoring (they allowed 247 goals, 2nd most of any playoff team to Calgary). The Canadiens will be off the see The Wizard in four games to get a heart and Boston will be chillin’ at home waiting for Round Two.
DETROIT RED WINGS
They avoided what could have been a death bullet for them in the Ducks or the Blues. What sort of deal has Ken Holland made with the Devil for them to get this draw? They get easy travel (200 miles each way), the 2nd most offensively challenged team in the playoffs with 226 goals (worst is the NY Rangers), and the BJ’s have the worst power play in the league at 12%. 12% – are you frickin’ kidding me? Columbus doesn’t have the fire power to expose how bad the Wings goaltending is which means Detroit is a big winner and could dispose of the BJ’s in five….or dare I say four. DAMN IT!
PATRICK MARLEAU
On the NHL Radio Network this afternoon on the Phil Esposito show (which can be difficult to listen to at times….oh man, he’s brutal – it took him 30 seconds to say Milan Lucic) they were giving out their own version of post season awards and recognized Patrick Marleau as the Comeback Player of the Year over players like Simon Gange, Patrick Elias and Patrice Bergeron. It was great to here Marleau get the recognition he deserves for turning his career around this season and being the poster boy for the success of the McLellan system in San Jose. Nice stuff. Marleau is a winner.
I had a great time last night as a special guest on Chomp Talk, the San Jose Sharks radio call in show in the Bay Area hosted by Chetan Chaudhari and our very own blogger, Mike. One hot topic that was discussed is who should be on the 4th line along side Roenick and Cheechoo? We bounced back and forth and I think Chetan and I settled on Jody Shelley while Mike took Plihal. My reasoning is that while George Parros only logged six games in the playoffs during the Ducks cup run in 2006, three of them came in Round One against the Minnesota Wild, and they suited up Derek Boogard. Parros was active, collecting 6 PIM’s in that series – and with less depth this year we have to expect he will be out there again against the Sharks. Jody Shelley must play to keep things honest in this round – beyond that, he will likely take a seat depending on the match up.
If you didn’t get to hear the radio show, here is a link to our Dudes on Hockey website to hear it as a podcast. What are your thoughts on the playoff winners and who should be on the fourth line?
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Dude, I call it the same thing. And this year’s like that one year I got a new bike (later stolen, boo) AND the G.I. Joe Hovercraft. Hockey Santa has brought us some really good first round match-ups. The only series that isn’t all that appealing to me is the Bruins/Canadiens for the reasons you stated above. I can’t wait to see what the Ovechkin vs. Avery show will entail. Avery is like Howard Stern in that, love him or hate him, you can’t wait to see what he’ll do next.
These Western Conference match-ups are all going to be really good. I’d be surprised if we don’t see at least one series go to game seven and two more go to game six.
I completely agree about the Wings. I am more than ecstatic that they did not draw the Ducks. For awhile now, you guys have been saying that a Sharks/Ducks series is inevitable and now we have it. I suspect it’ll be much like that Nashville/SJ series two years ago in which the Sharks won in 5: very physical at first, but ultimately the Preds couldn’t hang.
Thanks for the link to last night’s show. Listening now. See you Thursday!
–WingsFanInSharkLand
Agreed about hockey Christmas – I can’t wait for Wednesday! But somehow, I’ve offended the hockey gods this year as the first 3 games of Sharks-Ducks are on nights that I have hockey games of my own. Thank God for DVR!!
Agreed about Boston.
Disagree about Detroit. With playoff officiating, and the Wings general gentlemanly play, Columbus isn’t going to get many PP opportunities – so who cares about their success on it. The BJs are better than most 5-on-5 and WILL expose both Osgood and Conklin. Remember last year when the Wings weren’t selling out first round games? Well, a 200 mile trip might be short enough for an invasion of Jacket fans. Can you imagine the Joe 20% blue?!! Not to mention how insane their home games will be. And Hitchcock won’t let the emotion of a first time appearance distract the team (too much). I’ll take Columbus in an upset!!
As for Comeback player, since he wasn’t injured, isn’t it more of an indictment of Patty to give it to him?
And other than being a historical Duck-killer, how secure is Cheech’s spot?
Shall we do predictions? Here’s mine:
East (Round 1):
Boston in 5
NYR in 7
Carolina in 5
Pittsburgh in 5
East (Round 2):
NYR in 7
Pittsburgh in 6
East (Round 3):
Pittsburgh in 5
West (Round 1):
Sharks in 4 (yeah I’m a homer, but I think the Sharks will shock us all)
Detroit in 6
Vancouver in 5
Chicago in 4
West (Round 2):
Sharks in 7
Detroit in 6
West (Round 3):
Sharks in 6
The Cup: Sharks in 5
One more:
Doug and Mike: Sing broadway showtunes in June with the trumpet playing bunny man under the bridge to help offset the cost of their playoff tickets.
I agree with your assessment on these things, except I’m picking Columbus over Detroit. No. 2 vs no. 7 is an upset that happens practically every year in playoffs, and Detroit will do exactly what you are doing here – underestimate Mason, Nash and the kind of defense Columbus is going to play to win the series. We’ll all be scared at the thought we get them in the 2nd round, that is if we do well ourselves.