Game 7 Showdown!
It took Vancouver Canucks 8 periods to finally find a way to put the puck past Dallas Stars goaltender Marty Turco.
Canucks forward Henrik Sedin tied the game late in the second period to finally score on Turco who had shutout Vancouver for the past two games. Midway through the third Henrik Sedin set up the eventual game winner, a deflection by Trevor LInden. Taylor Pyatt and Bryan Smolinski added late third period empty netters and helped Vancouver defeat the Dallas Stars 4-1 and finally closed out the series in 7 games.
For Dallas, this one has to burn, but I have to give them full credit for fighting back in this one. Down 3 games to 1, is a daunting task for any team. They certainly gave the Canucks quite a wake up call, and could have doomed their progress in the next round because of the long series. My greatest prediction this post season.... Marty Turco. Regardless of the outcome, this was one of the finest playoff performances by a goaltender I've seen in recent time. Three shutouts. I think Turco can finally shed the 'bust in the post season' tag.
Quick Shave:
Congratulations to the New Jersey Devils and the Detroit Red Wings. Sunday, both teams closed out their series in 6 games against the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Calgary Flames respectively. They also helped Bosh redeem himself slightly... especially in the West. For those keeping score....
Picked Buffalo, but I gave the Islanders 3 wins..... that one almost feels like a loss.
Took Pittsburgh over the Sens in 6, and we know how that one turned out..... no Crosbeard this year.
I picked the Devils over the Lightning in 5 games, they took one extra.
The Rangers were my homer pick, but I still gave the Thrashers two games.... they took neither.
The Western Conference..... ugh.
Bosh's worst pick ever... The Minnesota Wild over the Anaheim Ducks in 6 games.
My second worst, was the Predators over the Sharks in 7 games. I feel sick.
Detroit kind of redeemed me, but it got scary. I called for a sweep of the Flames. Calgary made it entertaining.
I also picked Dallas.... see above.
Perhaps Stache is right. When I make a pick, go the other way. That being said, I will have my picks ready for your consumption tomorrow!!! Round 2!
Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh
Comments
I agree a hundred percent. That was an amazing game.
Props to Turco. That was an amazing performance. I don't think any more needs to be said.
How about the Jamie McLennan incident? You really gotta wonder what he got so pissed about after 18 seconds. I heard one source (Puck Podcast) put out the idea that maybe he was put out there for that express purpose, to punish Wings players for running Kipper earlier in the series. Crazy stuff.
Posted by: jeff | April 24, 2007 12:10 AM
If anybody hasn't seen the McLennan incident, I give you the gift of youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be5TWS4OFrc
Posted by: jeff | April 24, 2007 12:12 AM
McLennan lost his mind. Or either Playfair told him to not go play fair and slash anything that moves. A ridiculous showing either way and Calgary got what was coming to them, in my book.
How money is Trevor Linden in game seven? You could almost put him on your roster and not play him all year just to save him up for some game 7 heroics. It would still be worth the expense. I barely even knew he was still in the league...
Look forward to those 2nd round predictions. Some great match ups and I'd say pretty much any of these teams that are left are viable contenders to win it all. Should be exciting.
Posted by: Stache | April 24, 2007 10:35 AM
What horrible choices! .. in a good way though.
However, I am thoroughly outraged and thoroughly offended by your choice of Vancouver over the Sharks in 7. Without explaining my thousands of reasons why the Sharks were the better team, I'll just inform you that the Sharks were destined to win. This was simply a replay of last year's Van v. SJ matchup. My prediction was the Sharks in 5 or 6. Naturally, they held up their promise, taking it in 5. However, if the series had arrived to a deciding game 7, Vancouver would have taken it down. .. but that was not destined.
Spoken by a true die-hard Sharks fan.
Posted by: NXP | April 24, 2007 02:56 PM