I have to admit, I was thrilled watching Winnipeg’s own Jonathan Toews and Cam Barker play so well against the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.
Toews dominated the ice on almost every shift and Barker showed that he’s a force on defence, perhaps even a future all-star.
Both players were appearing in their first Stanley Cup playoff games against a very good — and an extremely gritty — Calgary Flames team that quite honestly played an almost perfect road playoff game on Thursday night.
In the end, Toews played more than 17 minutes, had an assist and was a plus-one in a 3-2 Chicago win in overtime. In fact, it was Toews who set up Barker’s first-period goal. Barker, by the way, had a goal AND an assist and was also a plus-one.
In fact, the NHL’s own panel of experts selected a Barker shift midway through the third period as the game’s “best shift of the night.” The Hawks’ No. 1 draft pick in 2004, did have a terrific shift midway through the final period when he freed himself up for two great scoring chances.
Still, as outstanding as Barker was on Thursday, Toews was even better.
And frankly, it made me laugh. After reading all these so-called media experts — the ones who claim to know more than the coaches — continue to leave Toews off their personal selections for Canada’s 2010 Olympic team, I have to wonder how some of these clowns get credentials for the games.
If the Canadian team doesn’t have a leader like the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Jonathan Toews anchoring its third line, it will fail to win gold again. On Thursday, he not only had an assist and was plus-one, but he had three hits and won 10 of 14 faceoffs. He is one of the best players in the world and he shouldn’t have to prove it anymore.
It’s amazing to think the young man is not yet 21.
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