DURHAM, NC – “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains. Think about that for a while.” – Ebby Calvin “Nuke” Laloosh
TORONTO, CANADA – I’ve been watching quite a of the thrilling NHL Playoffs and I couldn’t help but think of Nuke’s words from Bull Durham because all of MTM Staff’s favorite hockey teams have experienced those scenarios over the last week or so. Rain? In hockey? Yes, it does rain in hockey… on a fan’s Stanley Cup parade hopes. Blown two-goal leads seemingly happening at least twice a night during this post-season won’t be mentioned but wins, losses and rain are expounded upon for “our” teams.
Minnesota Wild: Angry Ward didn’t expect much from his hockey bunch as he intimated prior to the Wild’s series against Chicago. Minnesota won one game and could’ve stole Game 1 and who knows what might have been. What the Wild lost was their starting goalie in warm-ups of Game 2 and subsequently the series in five. Ryan Suter and Zach Parise are making it rain in strip joints across the state with all the money the organization spent on the pair.
St. Louis Blues: The Music Notes had a moral victory of sorts by winning the first two games at home against the Kings who they hadn’t beat since Marcel Dionne played for L.A. 2-1 was the score of most games and the ratio of wins to losses as the Kings won in six as predicted here last week. The reign comes in the form of the Kings hopes of back-to-back Cups.
Boston Bruins: Yikes! For a team looking forward to much needed rest contingent on closing out the stubborn Maple Leafs at home with a 3-1 series lead, the Bruins may get what they wish for in the form of a permanent vacation. The B’s are two for two in Toronto but have lost 2-of-3 at home and are pressing their luck relying on another road victory as a whammy can rear it’s ugly head in a prospective Game 7. Rain becomes a downpour when you consider Tukkaa Rask was in net for the 3-0 Philly Fiasco in 2010 and is staring at a blown 3-1 lead now.
New York Rangers: The Blueshirts got themselves off the mat by winning two at MSG after losing the first two in Washington only to piss off a disgusted King Henrik after surrendering the OT goal of a pivotal Game 5. Elevator up, elevator down is how a Rangers fan feels heading into today’s game. Lost is Ryane Clowe to injury while Rick Nash is missing in action and Coach Torts isn’t winning any new fans. Lundqvist hasn’t played his best game yet and will have to steal one to get a Game 7.
New York Islanders: They were the #8 seed against the Mighty Crosbies, who were life and death in beating them in as close as a six game series gets. Three one-goal leads lost kept it from a 7th game. I’d sure as hell hate to rain on the Islanders fans’ parade after the team won the hearts of Long Island once again… just to lose the team to Brooklyn.
The Rayanne, she’s a stayin’.
West Coast Craig, tomorrow.
