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Hockey’s Best Young Goalies

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Scott Taylor| Leave a comment

With the start of Winnipeg Jets training camp a little more than two weeks away, we handed you a list of the 10 best young “guns” in the NHL on Wednesday

We got some greeat responses, especially on Facebook, and I thank you.

Today, it’s time to honor the best young netminders, also members of hockey’s new breed and also a group of guys that fantasy players don’t spend a lot of time talking about, but probably wouldn’t be able to win a pool without.

Last year, the three finalists for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goalie were Tim Thomas, 37, of the Boston Bruins, Pekka Rinne, 28, of the Nashville Predators and Roberto Luongo, 32, of the Vancouver Canucks. Obviously it takes awhile to become a great NHL goaltender, but it doesn’t always take that long to become a good one. Below is a list of 10 goalies who were all born after Jan. 1, 1986.

These guys can play:

“The NHL’s Top 10 Best Young Goalies”

Carey Price 300x240 Hockeys Best Young Goalies

Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

1. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens: He is one of the great goaltenders in the game today and he’s getting better every year. It’s hard to imagine that a guy who has played in two all-star games is only 24, but the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder from Ulkatcho First Nation in B.C. is heading into his fifth NHL season. Last year, the Canadiens’ No. 1 goalie went 38-28-6 with eight shutouts and a save percentage of .923. He also had a solid 2.35 goals against. He was first in wins, second in games played and total saves, second in minutes played, seventh in save percentage and 10th in goals against average. He’s the best young goalie in hockey and one of the best among all goalies.

2. Cory Schneider, Vancouver Canucks: In some ways, he’s kind of a late bloomer simply because he’s had to play behind Luongo in Vancouver. A Canucks first-round pick in 2004 (26th overall), Schneider just had a superb season last year. The former Manitoba Moose star went 16-4-2 with a .929 save percentage (third in the NHL) and a goals against average of 2.23 (fourth). Just 25, he will one day be the No. 1 goalie in Vancouver and that one day could be sooner than most experts think.

3. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings: The youngest one-two punch in the NHL belongs to the Kings, with both Quick and Jonathan Bernier. Quick is the “old man” at 25 and he’s the No. 1 goalie and he’s definitely among the best in the game. Last year in 61 starts (11th in the NHL), he had 35 wins (ninth), 22 losses and three OT losses. He had .918 save percentage (14th) and 2.24 goals against average (sixth). A former third-round pick of the Kings (72nd overall) in 2005, Quick is a terrific backup to Ryan Miller on the U.S. Olympic team. Probably the next great American goalie.

ondrej pavelec 300x188 Hockeys Best Young Goalies

Ondrej Pavelec, Winnipeg Jets

4. Ondrej Pavelec, Winnipeg Jets: Pavelec had a good year last year – not a great year – but he’ll get plenty of opportunity to play regularly in Winnipeg this season. He finished 21-23-9 with .914 save percentage and a 2.73 goals against average. The former second-round draft pick from Kladno, Czech Republic, collapsed during the season-opening game against Washington last year. But he got back up to become one of the best young goalies in the game. And just like Price, he’s 6-foot-3, 220-pounds and just turned 24.

5. Michal Neuvirth, Washington Capitals: He won the No. 1 job in Washington and it allowed (forced?) the Caps to trade away Varlamov. Neuvirth went a rock-solid 27-12-4 in 48 games with a .914 save percentage (24th in the NHL) and a 2.45 goals against average (14th). This 6-foot-1, 190-pound Czech is a solid butterfly netminder with quick hands and great skating ability. Hie was the Caps second choice in the 2006 NHL entry draft and just turned 23.

6. Semyon Varlamov, Colorado Avalanche: This 24-year-old from Samara, Russia put up the best numbers of any young goalie in the NHL last year. A first round draft pick (23rd overall) of the Washington Capitals in 2006, the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder went 11-9-5 in Washington last season with a 2.23 goals against average and a .924 save percentage. In 27 games last year he was fourth in goals against and fifth in save percentage. He was traded to Colorado from Washington at the draft for a first round pick and a second round pick. It’s a great opportunity for Varlamov who will probably play ahead of veteran Jean-Sebastien Giguere to start the season.

reimerso 300x169 Hockeys Best Young Goalies

James Reimer, Toronto Maple Leafs

7. James Reimer, Toronto Maple Leafs: A tremendous young man from tiny Morweena, Man., Reimer went 20-10-5 last year with the Leafs and had a .921 save percentage (11th in the NHL) to go with a 2.60 goals against average (26th). Just 23, he’s a young man of deep faith who truly believes he can make a difference in the Leafs’ future. He’s 6-foot-2, 210-pounds and while he wasn’t expected to make the Leafs last year, he might have turned their season – and their future fortunes — around with his simple ability to win.

8. Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins: This guy’s story is an odd one. He had a marvelous year in 2009-10 – 22-12-5 with a .931 save percentage and a remarkable 1.92 goals against average (first in the NHL). Then, last year, Tim Thomas stole his job and Rask struggled, going 11-14-2 with .918 save percentage and 2.67 goals against average (30th in the NHL). However, there are folks in Boston who believe this 24-year-old Finn could turn everything around this year and win his job back. I wouldn’t hold my breath, but you never know.

9. Sergei Bobrovsky, Philadelphia Flyers: This soon-to-be-23-year-old Russian was outstanding at times last year going 28-13-8 with a .915 save percentage and a 2.59 goals against average (23rd in the NHL). But the Flyers don’t seem to have a lot of faith in him and as a result, they went out and got 31-year-old Ilya Bryzgalov to be their No. 1 goalie. It will be interesting to watch a back-to-back Russian goalie tandem in Philly.

bernier 199x300 Hockeys Best Young Goalies

Jonathan Bernier, L.A. Kings

10. Jonathan Bernier, Los Angeles Kings: The No. 2 goalie in L.A. last year is the second best No. 2 goalie in the NHL (next to Cory Schneider). He went 11-8-3 with a .913 save percentage and a 2.48 goals against average (16th in the NHL). A native of Laval, Que., this smallish (5-foot-11, 180 pounds), 23-year-old played for Team Canada in the 2010 American Hockey League all-star game and was one of Canada’s two goalies (along with Steve Mason) at the 2008 World Junior Hockey Championship. He will be given every chance to win the No. 1 job in the Kings’ training camp.


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It’s The Best Time of the Year. Here Are Our First Round Picks.

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Scott Taylor| Leave a comment

I love Christmas, but this is, without question, the greatest time of the year.

Baseball has started, the NBA post-season starts on the weekend and tomorrow night, the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs begin.

As we do every year, let’s take a look at the first-round matchups and take a long, blurry look into our crystal ball.

2011 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS OPENING ROUND

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Series A: No. 8 New York Rangers (44-33-5) at No. 1 Washington Capitals (48-23-11).

Season Series: Rangers 3-1-0

The Rangers were the best over the regular season in terms of the head-to-head matchup, but the Capitals clearly have more talent and are the better team. Rangers goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist, however, could be the wild card in this one. If Lundqvist does what he’s certainly capable of doing, the Rangers could surprise simply because Lundqvist was the reason the Rangers won the season series.

Key player: Henrik Lundqvist, Rangers

Our pick: Washington in six.

Series B: No. 7 Buffalo Sabres (43-29-10) at No. 2 Philadelphia Flyers (47-23-12).

Season Series: Flyers 2-1-1

It’s the same thing every year. If the Flyers get the goaltending they require, they will win and advance. If they don’t, well… Philly won the series, has more firepower and a better defensive unit. However, Brian Boucher is 21st in save percentage at .916 and 13th in goals against average at 2.42 while Sergei Bobrovsky was 23rd in save percentage at .915 and 25th in goals against average at 2.59. If the Flyers get decent goaltending, they’ll win.

Our pick: Flyers in six.

Key player: Ryan Miller, Sabres

Series C: No. 6 Montreal Canadiens (44-30-8) at No. 3 Boston Bruins (46-25-11).

Season Series: Canadiens 4-2-0

The Habs won the season series, but were blasted 7-0 in Boston on March 24. That was the statement game. Tim Thomas is best goalie in hockey and Boston is bigger and tougher than the Habs. If Carey Price stands on his head, the Canadiens could win a game or two, but Boston is just too deep and too tough.

Key player: Tim Thomas, Bruins

Our pick: Bruins in five

Series D: No. 5 Tampa Bay Lightning (46-25-11) at No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins (49-25-8).

Season Series: Teams split 2-2-0

If there is to be an upset in the opening round, it’s here. The Penguins are still without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and as well as they played down the stretch, which was inspiring, they still aren’t the team that contends for the Cup every year. If the Lightning get any goaltending at all, they can win this series. Vinny Lecavalier has six points in his last four games and is starting to dominate again.

Key Player: Marty St. Louis, Lightning

Our pick: Lightning in six.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Series E: No. 8 Chicago Blackhawks (44-29-9) at No. 1 Vancouver Canucks (54-19-9)

Season Series: Canucks 2-1-1

The Blackhawks were very fortunate to make the playoffs while the Canucks are the best team in the NHL. With Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider, the Canucks have plenty of goaltending and with two Sedins, Kesler and a great supporting cast, the Canucks should have an easy time. Jonathan Toews is great but he couldn’t will a home victory over Detroit in a must-win game to finish the season, he won’t do it against Vancouver.

Key player(s): The Sedin Twins

Our pick: Vancouver in five.

Series F: No. 7 Los Angeles Kings (46-30-6) at No. 2 San Jose Sharks (48-25-9).

Season Series: Sharks 3-1-2

Without Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams, the Kings aren’t the same team that raced to fourth in the West at one point in the season and then went 6-4-0 in their last 10 and lost their last two. If Jonathan Quick stands on his head, the Kings will compete, but they simply don’t have the firepower to beat the talented Sharks.

Key player: Jonathan Quick, Kings

Our pick: Sharks in five.

Series G: No. 6 Phoenix Coyotes (43-26-13) at No. 3 Detroit Red Wings (47-25-10).

Season Series: Coyotes 2-0-2

The Coyotes had a great season against Detroit and they are very well coached. This could be an upset in the making. However, the Red Wings are a team that tends to get bored during the regular season and go on listless stretches. They won’t be listless in the playoffs. Ilya Bryzgalov is the key for Phoenix, although we all must remember, the Coyotes have never advanced past the first round.

Key player: Ilya Bryzgalov, Coyotes

Our pick: Red Wings in five.

Series H: No. 5 Nashville Predators (44-27-11) at No. 4 Anaheim Ducks (47-30-5).

Season Series: Nashville 3-1-0

This will be the best series of the bunch. Both these teams are evenly matched and while Nashville won the season series, you have to give head coach Randy Carlyle and the Ducks credit. They played very well down the stretch and look good heading into the playoffs. The Ducks have a great No. 1 line and they’ve received quite a performance from Teemu Selanne this season. Nashville, meanwhile, has a load of no-names, but is very well coached. The potential here is for a long, tight series.

Key player: Teemu Selanne, Ducks

Our pick: Ducks in seven.

(Check out more at http://www4.fantrax.com)

 

 

 

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Larocque’s Incredible Performance

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Scott Taylor| Leave a comment

In an absolutely incredible demonstration of fortitude and grit this week, hockey star Joceylne Larocque from Ste. Anne, Manitoba earned a spot on Canada’s national women’s hockey team. So why is that so incredible?

Here’s why: The former University of Minnesota-Duluth defenseman separated her shoulder while playing for the Manitoba Maple Leafs at the Melvin Fontaine Memorial Aboriginal hockey tournament this past weekend, yet she still flew to Toronto on Saturday, went through all the tryout drills and scrimmages and made the team that was announced on Wednesday.

She’s the only Manitoban on the team, a team that will represent Canada in the world championship that begins April 16.

Jocelyne Larocque is one of the finest young hockey players in the nation, but it’s obvious you just can’t measure hear. Check out my feature on Jocelyne right here: http://www.grassrootsnewsmb.com.

*   *   *

Got a call from a young sales rep in town on Wednesday, moments after the Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced a profit of $409,000 on operations in 2010.

“So does that mean the Bombers got a 400-year loan from the government?” he asked. “I’m going to call Greg Selinger and see if he’ll give me a 400-year loan.”

The question caught me off guard, but after some thought, it made sense. The Bombers have to raise about $4 million per year at their new stadium at the University of Manitoba in order to pay their share of the stadium’s $160 million mortgage. If the best they can do (after losing $1.2 million  last year) is make $400,000, then it’s going to take about 400 years, not 40 years, to pay off the mortgage.

Stadium Transition Officer, Jeff Thompson, will laugh at the comment, saying just check the business plan and it’s clear the Bombers will make the money required. And that’s true. And I’ll also be the first to suggest that the team will make a lot more money in a new stadium than they will in the old dump in which they are now playing.

But I also wonder if it’s possible for the football club to actually reach a $4 million- a-year profit just to pay the mortgage. Then again, it’s already a community-owned team. What’s the penalty if the current volunteer board doesn’t raise $4 million a year? Take it away from the current community owners and give it to different group of community owners? Yeah, right.

*   *   *

At the beginning of this season, Montreal Canadiens fans booed goaltender Carey Price mercilessly. They hated him. They wanted Jaroslav Halak, who had been traded to St. Louis, in the Montreal goal.

Funny what six months will do. On Monday Canadiens fans voted Price, who hails from Ulkatcho First Nation in B.C., as the team’s 2010-11 Player of the Year.

Without Carey Price this season, the Habs would not have had a shot at the playoffs. With him, they’ll likely be playing in May. It’s amazing, but you don’t hear any more boos for the goalie at the Bell Centre.

 

 

 

 

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My Head is Spinning Again. People Say and Do Weird Things.

Posted on October 24, 2009 by Scott Taylor| Leave a comment

It’s been an interesting week. Lots of people doing lots of odd things.

In some cases it’s because business is bad and desperate people try desperate things to make businesses work — even if their business model is dead. Sometimes it’s because media people are like puppies. They get something in their heads and even if they’re wrong they just keep doing what they’re doing.

In other cases, it’s just people trying their best, but by being a tad misguided, they tend to do head off in the wrong direction. Rather consistently, sometimes.

Let’s take a look at the goofiness that surrounds us. A week in the life of the sporting world.

1) Sitting in the lat machine, between sets, at my gym this morning, I picked up the free Winnipeg Sun that our gym manager provides. Yeah, I know, I should know better.

Sports columnist Paul Friesen, the man with the world’s thinnest skin, is going off on Bomber head coach Mike Kelly again. But this time, it just seems silly. Friesen wrote: “Even Bomber staffers were left shaking their heads when the coach changed practice time without informing anybody, causing TV and newspaper photographers to forego an opportunity for pictures, others to miss chances for interviews.

“This, at a time when the 6-9 Bombers, struggling to sell tickets, need all the publicity they can get for today’s game against the visiting Montreal Alouettes.

“I can only imagine how the marketing department felt about this one.

“After fielding complaints, including one from a miffed female reporter, the Professor offered this tasteful ‘apology’ at his media briefing.

“‘I hate when the media’s so angry,’ Kelly began. ‘I want to apologize to everyone who had their panties in a ball.’”

I love Mike Kelly. Friesen? I don’t get.

While Friesen rips Kelly, suggesting that he’s the cause of a lack of publicity, he’s writing in a newspaper that has six — count ‘em, SIX! — full pages of Bomber and CFL coverage. The city’s broadsheet had three full pages of Bomber-Alouettes coverage.

Lack of publicity? Read your own paper. No wonder circulation is dropping at both local fishwraps. Other that the craziest of crazies, who would bother to read pages and pages of the same stories on the same football game? A game that hasn’t even been played yet.

2) The Blue Bombers lost a 24-21 heartbreaker to the B.C. Lions last Sunday, but it was a heartbreaker of the Bombers own making. Once again, turnovers killed Winnipeg.

Michael Bishop went 13 for 32, just awful, with one touchdown and three interceptions. He also lost a fumble. Four turnovers means one big loss.  Bishop must learn to protect the football.

3) We’ve talked about this about 100 times since last year’s playoffs, but it’s becoming more apparent that the Montreal Canadiens do have a goaltending problem.

Despite a terrific opening night, Carey Price is at best inconsistent and last Saturday night against Ottawa, he allowed three goals on only 21 shots. That’s not good enough. Perhaps, Montreal needs to look around for a Price replacement. Perhaps that replacement is their No. 2 netminder, Jaroslav Halak.

4) I just love how Winnipeg’s mainstream media has now decided that Mike Kelly has had nothing to do with the resurgence of the suddenly 6-9 Winnipeg Blue Bombers and it’s now all Manny Matsakis.

Kelly has re-built the Blue Bombers and the fact the he hired Matsakis to work with Michael Bishop and make Bishop better, is just another example of Kelly’s coaching prowess. The Bombers lost a heartbreaker last Sunday, but Kelly is still proving just how great a coach he is.

5) Oh, oh, it’s Saturday afternoon. I have the Bomber game on TSN HD and I have to hit the mute button.

Why do colour commentators think they have to say something after EVERY play even if they have absolutely nothing to offer? And why do they consistently say things they know are not true. The constant chatter is annoying not informative.

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Next: Game 5, Saturday, Philadelphia at Montreal

Posted on May 2, 2008 by Scott Taylor| Comments Off

MontrealCanadiensNextGoaliePlease Next: Game 5, Saturday, Philadelphia at Montreal

No Further Comment Necessary.

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Price not so good, Hatcher not so bright as Flyers take 2-1 lead. Game 3: Philadelphia 3, Montreal 2.

Posted on April 28, 2008 by Scott Taylor| Comments Off

Montreal could use a new rule. The creation of a game-long, five-minute major.

 

Monday night in Philadelphia, the Flyers beat the Canadiens 3-2 in a very interesting hockey game. Now, even though the Habs outshot Philly 34-14 overall, the fact they outshot the Flyers 17-2 in the third period says a lot about the importance of a five-minute major penalty. Philly’s Derian Hatcher picked up that penalty at 5:17 of the third after Hatcher hit Francis Bouillon from behind — for absolutely no reason. See the Hatcher-Bouillon hit in the middle of the video below.

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXej6dYRaWI]

 

It’s great to be aggressive. Aggressive teams win hockey games. But to hit an opponent from behind when you’re ahead 3-0 is about as stupid as it gets. To hit an opponent who plays on a team with the best power play in the NHL is even more stupid (stupider???). The Flyers had this game in the bag and they almost let it go.

 

Still, give the Flyers credit. They lost all four meetings with the Habs this season and they struggled mightily down the stretch, but they’ve been terrific in the playoffs and despite the lopsided shot number, they deserved to win last night’s game.

 

However, at some point, Flyers head coach John Stevens is going to have to take Hatcher aside and ask politely to grow a brian cell. Hatcher’s hit was illegal, dangerous and dumb. And while Bouillon will certainly be expecting big Derian to hit him again at some point, he can only hope the Flyers’ giant (Hatcher is 6-foot-5, 235 pounds) uses a little discretion next time. 

 

Hatcher is a tough player. He’s also a 35-year-old who has been in the NHL for 15 seasons. He knows better. Still, he made an emotional play and that play nearly cost his team a Stanley Cup playoff game.

 

The Flyers deserve a great deal of credit for holding on Monday night. They also have to feel fortunate that Carey Price didn’t play particularly well.

 

We might have underestimated the Flyers — or overestimated the Canadiens — but based on last night’s outcome, this series will probably go seven.

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Carey Price stands up to the pressure. The Habs move on. Game 7: Montreal 5, Boston 0

Posted on April 21, 2008 by Scott Taylor| Comments Off

The Montreal Canadiens eviscerated the Boston Bruins 5-0 at the Bell Centre last night as The Kid stood up to the pressure. 

 

Montreal goaltender Carey Price, the son of the chief of B.C.’s Ulkatcho First Nation, was the feel-good story of the game, playing extremely well Monday night after allowing 10 goals in his previous two games — both losses (5-1 and 5-4).

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km0aI0UqnLc]

 

A lot of folks thought his luck had run out on the weekend, but as he proved last night, he’s a pretty cool 20-year-old customer. He played brilliantly in the first period when the Bruins outshot the Canadiens 11-8. His effort in the first period took much of the steam out of the Bruins engine and by the midway point of the second period, Boston had nothing left.

 

Montreal outshot Boston 17-6 in the second period and the Bruins appeared lost. It was a sad way to fade out of the picture in a series in which they had battled so hard and so effectively to even it up at 3-3. 

 

The Habs did what they had to do and got a few breaks in the process.

 

Goal 1: Deflected shot, lucky bounce.

 

Goal 2: Great moves, great shot by Mark Streit.

 

Goal 3: Big rebound. Loose puck. No defence.

 

Goal 4: Andrei Kostitsyn’s second on the power play (meaningless).

 

Goal 5: Great passing play (completely meaningless).

 

It’s quite stunning, when you stop and think about it, but the Boston Bruins allowed three goals in the first 40 minutes of Game 7 and Aaron Ward and Zdeno Chara were on the ice for all three of them. Ward finished the game minus-4.

 

All season, Bruins coach Claude Julien had given Chara the responsibility of running the offence — and the defence — handing the big guy 20-plus minutes of ice time a game. So, one supposes, you could say it was inevitable that Chara would be on the ice when the Canadiens scored because he was on the ice more than any other Bruins’ player.

 

However, in a game as important as last night’s little soiree in Montreal, the leader has to lead. He has to set up the goals at one end and help stop them at the other and he did neither. Tim Thomas might not have been Vezina Trophy material last night (he did make a handful of huge saves, however), but it was hardly his fault. His big defenceman was outright horrible.

 

Meanwhile, Price proved his mettle. Whenever it appeared as if the Bruins were taking a serious run at the Habs, Price shut them down. He picked up his second shutout of the opening round of the playoffs and everyone in Montreal had forgotten that he’d allowed 10 goals in his last two games. Although Montreal outshot Boston 35-26, it was still a virtuoso performance. 

 

Now, however, for Price and the Canadiens, life will only get tougher.

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Midway through the opening round of the NHL playoffs: Here are five things we’ve learned

Posted on April 16, 2008 by Scott Taylor| Comments Off

nhlplayoffticketsNO Midway through the opening round of the NHL playoffs: Here are five things weve learnedNo. 1: I’d make a lousy owner.

If I owned the Ottawa Senators, I’d have fired Bryan Murray right when the buzzer went to end Game 2. Then I’d have re-hired John Paddock before Game 3.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have made the Senators (a very good team on paper) look weak. Granted, Ottawa is banged-up and that isn’t Murray’s fault, but this team is playing with no heart and Murray has to take absolute responsibility for that.

Midway through the third period of Game 3, the fans in Ottawa were booing the Senators. My sense is, they were booing the coach and GM, not the players. Owner Eugene Melnyk should get rid of that guy before he does any more damage to the franchise.

 No. 2: If the Minnesota Wild intend to beat the Colorado Avalanche, they’d better start gooning it up.

OK, so they don’t need to unleash Derek Boogaard on Joe Sakic, but they’d better get tougher, ’cause it’s pretty obvious they can’t skate with the Avs.

When they bang and crash Colorado’s old men — Andrew Brunette,  Peter Forsberg and Ian Laperriere are all 34, Ryan Smyth is 33, Adam Foote is 36 and Sakic is 102 — the Wild are competitive. When they try to skate around like Nancy Kerrigan (see Tuesday night’s Game 4), they get killed.

As old as the Avs are, and this team is freakin’ old, they are still fast and skilled and if the Wild’s goons don’t wear them down, Colorado will blow Minnesota out of the  building.

 

No. 3: Before the Boston-Montreal series started, the only real concern in Montreal was the rookie goalie, Carey Price (it seemed to be the only real concern among Habs fans, too.) 

CareyPriceMontrealCanadiens Midway through the opening round of the NHL playoffs: Here are five things weve learnedAlmost everyone seemed to be worried about the kid. Was he good enough? Could he handle the pressure? Don’t forget, the NHL is a lot tougher than the American Hockey League.

Well, on Tuesday night, the guy who singlehandedly led the Hamilton Bulldogs to the AHL’s Calder Cup title last year probably silenced the doubters. With a 27-save shutout, Price gave the Habs a 3-1 series lead over the Bruins, heading home.

The kid can play. Period.

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=akqU6nX3wvw]

 

No. 4: The only way Detroit loses to Nashville is because their goaltending isn’t good enough.

The Red Wings are the much superior hockey team, but Dominik Hasek is now the OLD Dominik Hasek, not the old Buffalo Dominik Hasek.

Those two goals he gave up in the third period of Game 3 were embarrassing. If "the Dominator" (and I use the term mockingly) doesn’t pick it up, his fast, skilled and, yes, big, teammates will be eliminated by a club that shouldn’t be allowed on the same ice surface. 

No. 5: Washington is more hype than substance.

I love Alexander Ovechkin. If he continues along the same path he’s going along today, he will be remembered as one of the greatest players who ever lived.

Trouble is, the rest of his team isn’t that good and a very smart, tough and talented Philadelphia club — a club that went through a two-month slump this season, a slump that I’m still having trouble trying to understand — is on the verge of blowing the Caps out of the post-season in five.

The Flyers are proving that in the playoffs, at least, a team with the likes of Mike Richards, Scotty Upshall and Scott Hartnell will take apart a team with Alexander Semin, Viktor Kozlov and Sergei Fedorov any day.

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Philly plays nearly perfect game while Tim Thomas saves the Bruins — Game 2: Philadelphia 2 Washington 0, Game 3: Boston 2 Montreal 1 (OT)

Posted on April 13, 2008 by Scott Taylor| Comments Off

TimThomas Philly plays nearly perfect game while Tim Thomas saves the Bruins Game 2: Philadelphia 2 Washington 0, Game 3: Boston 2 Montreal 1 (OT)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]

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Posted in 2008 NHL Playoffs, Blog

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