MTM HOCKEY CENTRE, ONTARIO – So far the NHL playoffs have been interesting to say the least. There have been goals galore, especially in the Penguins-Flyers series. There have been copious amounts of goonery, especially in the Penguins-Flyers series. And more suspensions in the opening round of this years playoffs than most would see in two years worth of Stanley Cup Playoffs. Speaking of goons, every hockey fan should go see the movie Goon. It’s frogging hilarious.
The Rangers looked great early on this series until the Senators switched from their skill game to the grind and goon style of hockey that’s really kept them in the series. The Rangers now have a big game 5 coming up tomorrow at the Garden without Hagelin, who will be serving the last game of his ludicrous three game suspension. The Blueshirts don’t want to go down 3-2 heading back to Canada for game six.
Despite the absence of one of their better offensive players, the Rangers could have swept the series if they were a bit more clinical in front of goal. Their two losses have come in overtime in games where they have had plenty of chances to win. I think the Rangers will eek out a win tomorrow and close out the series in Ottawa on Monday with Hagelin back in the lineup.
The Penguins and Flyers have been at war for the past couple of weeks. The battle of Pennsylvania has been as fierce and almost as bloody as the battle of Stalingrad. The series has had everything except goaltending. Both teams are hanging numbers on the scoreboard like the Oregon football team. I wish it were possible for both of these teams to lose. I can’t imagine disliking two teams, and two cities as much as I dislike Pittsburgh and Philadelphia right now. I don’t know who will end up winning this series, but I do think it will go seven games.
Marty Brodeur righted his ship last night after doing his best Jose Theodore impression in game 3. And true to Cheesy Bruin’s prediction, the Panthers jettisoned Jose “Red Light” Theodore like a female child in China in favor of Clemmensen for game 4. It didn’t help as the Panthers still shipped four goals, but I think it was the right move to bench Theodore.
Cheesy’s Bruins are locked up 2-2 with the Caps who evened things up last night. This is another great series between a hot team in the Capitals and a great goaltender in Tim Thomas of the Bruins. This is another series that I think will go seven games and I have no idea who is going to end up advancing.
Out west, the Canucks have checked Roberto Luongo into a sanitarium. Every year in the playoffs Luongo goes battier than Ray Finkle. Vancouver had to abandon the sinking ship and bench Luongo. In other news out west, Raffi Torres has been suspended indefinitely for a hit that probably would have been OK had Torres not launched himself like a stuntman being fired out of a cannon, and had he not tried to decapitate Marian Hossa with his shoulder. Other than that it was a clean hit.
Thats it for me today. Go see Goon. And come back tomorrow for one of MtM’s skill players and first line center, the Public Professor.
