After two days of listening to the complaints about officiating in these Stanley Cup playoffs – and believe me, everyone who has complained has had a right to complain – it was nice to watch a couple of hockey games on Sunday that had more to do with good play than with bad calls.
Allow me to say that every angry comment by Nashville Predators GM David Poile was valid and the official apologist for the NHL’s officials, Mike Babcock, was a long, loud crock of crap. (Yes, we all know they’re doing their best, Mike).
Here was Babcock’s comment to the media after the officials stole a second straight game from the Preds: We had two high-end officials that are doing everything they can, just like us, to get to the Stanley Cup finals. If you think for one second those guys aren’t doing the best they can, you’re mistaken."
The AP writer who reported the quote said "Babcock bristled." Of course he bristled. I’d be angry, too, if someone suggested that the two striped-shirts I had in my pocket had done a bad job. Man, ya gotta stand by your friends.
Let’s not make apologies for anybody. The officiating stunk in that game, it stunk in the Boston-Montreal game on Saturday and it stunk in Friday night’s Minnesota-Colorado game. Did it stink on purpose? How would I know?
I WILL give the TSN desk some credit, however. At least they’ve attacked the issue head on. James Duthie, Mark Recchi, Darren Pang and Bob McKenzie have been both insightful and entertaining. Meanwhile, that CBC between-periods thing is duller than Canadian politics. Is Kelly Hrudey on valium?
I digress. Yesterday we had an opportunity to watch two great playoff hockey games (and that’s not to say the New Jersey-Rangers game wasn’t great in itself, I just chose to watch Montreal-Boston).
It started in the afternoon with Philly’s effort against Washington.
In fact, the Flyers might have made a statement in Game 2 of their opening round series against the Capitals. By shutting down Alexander Ovechkin – even though Ovechkin had five shots, two blocked and four misses – and by holding the Capitals to fewer than 25 shots, it was an almost perfect Stanley Cup playoff performance.
The Flyers played very well defensively, scored on their two best chances – with minus-2 Ovechkin on the ice both times – and won a big game, 2-0, on the road. The Flyers now have home ice advantage and if they play like they did yesterday three more times, they could end this series quickly.
Meanwhile, in Boston last night, we got to watch a terrific game between the Habs and Bruins, a game won by Boston on Marc Savard’s overtime winner
And while the overtime winner was a dandy (set up by a great pass from Dennis Wideman), the goaltending of Tim Thomas was even better.
Carey Price played a sensational game for Montreal, but in the end, the rookie couldn’t match the magnificent pass from Wideman and the brilliant shot by Savard. At the other end, however, the oft-maligned Tim Thomas was sensational.
In fact, Thomas won the game. His play in overtime was the difference. He made six saves in OT and two of them were absolutely brilliant.
As good as Price was during regulation – and he was especially good in the first period – Thomas was better in overtime. For a guy who has often taken a beating from Bruins fans and the Boston media, he was about as good as it gets last night.
Now Boston is right back in the series and with last night’s win, they just might have given themselves the shot of confidence they so desperately needed in a series with their arch-rival and worst nemesis. Tim Thomas played a Conn Smythe game last night.
As a result, the Boston Bruins suddenly have life. Philly-Washington highlights below.
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=44jOBiGMX3c]