Sedin's do Dallas
Nice work Bosh. Every team I picked to take the first round.... well they all took a beating. Either the Captain's Curse is alive and well, or my picks were just bad, bad, bad.
The Vancouver Canucks took a 1-0 series lead over the Dallas Stars last night in a game that lasted nearly 140 minutes. The Sedin twins which are used to entertaining at bachelor parties for much longer periods of time combined (Daniel fed Henrik from behind the net) to score the game winner with less than two to go in the fourth overtime period and give the Canucks the 5-4 win.
While dissapointing for the Dallas Stars, I think they can come away with some positives. While he did allow 4 goals, the Dallas Stars certainly got a good game from Marty Turco who made 51 saves on the night. The Stars also fought back from a two goal defecit to force overtime. It's only game 1 boys.
For Vancouver, I think it's safe to assume that Roberto Luongo won't have any playoff jitters. The man made 72 saves last! Yes he and his team did blow a two goal lead in the third, but there also some positives. First, they won. Secondly, Markus Naslund started off the playoffs on the good foot, notching a goal and assisting on Mattias Ohlund's power play score. Finally, the Sedin brothers. These guys just don't stop. Each had a goal and an assist on the night, and look like they are going to continue their terrific regular season campaigns right into the playoffs.
Quick Shave:
The Ottawa Senators welcomed the Pittsburgh Penguins to the playoffs in a rough series opener, that the Sens won convincingly 6-3. Pens goaltender Marc Andre Fleury was pulled after allowing the Senators 6th goal and was replaced by Jocelyn Thibault. The Penguins got into penalty trouble early in the game and looked like they were unable to mount any attack. The Senators had a pair of 5-3 power play opportunities but the Penguins were able to kill off both. The Senators physical play early in the game also seem to take the Penguins by surprise. On a good note, the Penguins did pot a pair of power play scores late in the game and perhaps will carry some of that momentum into game 2. The San Jose Sharks won their playoff opener against the Nashville Predators 5-4. Sharks Patrick Rissmiller scored the game winner about mid way through the second overtime period to give his team the 1-0 series lead. The Sharks blew a two goal lead to the Predators who battled back in the third to tie the game and force overtime. On a somber note, the San Jose Sharks may have lost their star forward Jonathan Cheechoo for the rest of the post season because of a knee injury he sustained in the second period while colliding with Nashville's Scott Hartnell. The Predators Alexander Radulov and J.P. Dumont each scored twice for the Predators last night. The Anaheim Ducks took a 1-0 series lead over the Minnesota Wild last night as they won 2-1. Ducks forward Dustin Penner scored late in the third after Wild defenceman Kim Johnsson (way to go KJ!) knocked over his goaltender Backstrom. Penner collected the loose puck and put the lotion in the basket. Ilya Bryzgalov started in net for the Ducks making 24 saves for the win. Best wishes to Jean Sebastien Giguere, his wife and their new born son Maxime.
Game of the Night:
NY Rangers at Atlanta 7:00 PM
Calgary at Detroit 7:00 PM
Tampa Bay at New Jersey 7:30 PM
NY Islanders at Buffalo 8:00 PM
My remote control may self destruct tonight with all the channel jockeying I'll be doing.... but it's all for a good cause. We get alot of East, a pinch of West tonight, and all goodness! Enjoy the games!
Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh
Comments
Woah was it the swedes night over at vancouver or what? Im staying up to 02.00 tonight to follow Sabres game, timezones is the shit
Posted by: Dan | April 12, 2007 10:30 AM
Even more impressive than the time zone is the use of the 24 hour clock. Welcome Sweeden!
Yes, it's very tempting to blame you Bosh for the Penguins' woes last night but I think the credit goes to the Senators. They played a dominating style that if they are able to maintain could take them far. Of course, that's a fairly big "if." Either way I expect the Pens to be more competitive from here on out.
My apologies to Cheechoo. I made a last second switch and picked him in a fantasy playoff league thus leading to his untimely demise. Sorry, dude. Send me the bill. (I won't pay it, mind you, but I'll be happy to take a gander at it.)
Tonight's line up should be good, though it will be tough to compete with the drama from last night. God, don't you just love this time of year? I mean, unless, you're a Maple Leafs fan?
Posted by: Stache | April 12, 2007 11:17 AM
Pshh. If somebody had stayed up to watch the Canucks game last night they wouldn't have seen it end until 3:45 am EST.
I looked at the clock at 1 and mourned that I had class in the morning.
It might be too early to tell, but do you think Turco might finally be able to turn around his reputation as a bad playoff goalie? The man looked solid last night.
And then there's Bobby Lou. Lord, was that man outstanding. I do think that the 74 saves is a bit overstressed, since the VAST majority of the shots on net I saw were fairly routine saves--pointshots, break in shots from outside the circles, ect. I didn't see him making any of the crazy saves like Roloson or Ward had to make last year--nothing highlight worthy. That will probably change, though.
Granted, I only say the first OT, and then went to bed, maybe there was some more impressive stuff after that.
I think the Penguins just had a rough start. They came out really slow, and Fleury didn't get ANY help AT ALL from his defensemen. I still think they can pull out a win, but the first couple of minutes of Game 2 are going to be of huge importance.
Posted by: jeff | April 12, 2007 11:38 AM
The Sens actually gave up more power play opportunities to the Pens last night, which may come back to haunt them if they don't correct it.
Turco is gonna be the man!
Posted by: Bosh | April 12, 2007 12:12 PM
It was a great game here in Nashville last night...really would have liked to have seen a different outcome but overall a great game of hockey.
As coach Barry Trotz said "this is going to be a hell of a series."
Posted by: PredJoe | April 12, 2007 04:00 PM
Did anyone see the Niklas Hagman playoff mustache he is growing instead of the traditional beard? This is a must see in your next viewing of the Canucks-Dallas series.
Plus we must watch out for Brent Sopel who missed the game because he tried to pick up a cracker at home...
Posted by: Nate | April 12, 2007 04:15 PM
It sucks on so many levels that the Sharks and Preds had to face each other so early. The rest of the West got lucky on that one.
Posted by: CAP | April 12, 2007 04:17 PM