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Well, so much for
conventional theory, or wisdom, or whatever. Seems I’ve managed to put forward my worst showing, ever,
when it comes to predicting the winners, a perfect 0 for 2 in the conference
finals. The only thing I was able to correctly predict was the number of games
it would take for Tampa Bay’s Cinderella story to strike midnight.
But, as I’ve
said time and time again, we don’t award championships based on conventional
theory. There is a reason we actually play the games. We all can make
arguments about who should win. Unfortunately, what should happen on paper
isn’t always what will happen in reality. Evidently I still have a lot to
learn.
I have to say,
though, getting there is only a fraction of the fun. Watching it all unfold is
where the real fun is, and once again, I’ve had a blast.
Vancouver Canucks vs Boston Bruins
Tagline:
Olympic Hangover or Boston Brewin’?
Headliner:
40 years without a championship, or 39 years without a championship? Here’s
what we do know – like it or not, one of these droughts is about to end.
How they got here:
Vancouver – blew by San Jose in 5 games, with much credit given to the
officials, capped off by a thrilling 2OT win in Game 5; Boston – defeated Tampa
Bay in an epic 7 game series which had everything but the, ahem, Green Men
“replacements” (just ask Ben Eager about it)
Conn Smythe
(Playoff MVP) Candidates:
Vancouver – Ryan Kesler, Henrik Sedin; Boston – David Krejci, Tim Thomas
Hero
potential/Difference makers:
Vancouver – Manny Malhotra (if he plays), Alex Burrows; Boston – Michael Ryder,
Nathan Horton
Vancouver wins if:
They continue to get the breaks and the referees on their side. Sad of me to
say this, but Game 4 of the San Jose series was the turning point, only because
the Canucks managed to score on not one, not two, but three times while enjoying
a two man advantage! That sound you heard? - all the air getting sucked
right out of the HP Pavillion. Vancouver never looked back, despite being
down, but not out, for the better part of Game 5, capped off by a thrilling
period and a half of overtime, ended by what will undoubtedly go down in history
as the luckiest bounce ever. Kevin Bieksa will take it. The
Canucks are back in the finals for the first time in 17 years.
If history
holds true, Vancouver wins just by virtue of having hosted the Olympics last
year. Montreal won the Stanley Cup in 1977, a year removed from hosting the Summer
Olympics in 1976. Calgary did it again in 1989, a year removed from hosting the Winter
Olympics in 1988. Vancouver held the world stage just last year, in 2010.
Boston wins if:
We know they will get the goaltending they need from Tim Thomas, but for the
Bruins to have any chance in this series at all, they have to fix their power
play. 5 for 61? How is this team even here? By comparison, Vancouver is 17
for 60 – best in the playoffs. Fix the power play, and stay out of the penalty
box. Seems simple, right?
Of course,
outside of the stellar goaltending from Tim Thomas, one of the main reasons the
Bruins are still fighting for the Cup is the tower of power on defense, none
other than Zdeno Chara. He’s everything to this team Chris Pronger was to
Philadelphia last year, and Anaheim and Edmonton in years prior. Despite not
being involved in this year’s proceedings, Pronger’s take on the finals is
neither team will relish the long travel between time zones. Both will have to
find ways to overcome the jet legs. Words of wisdom for sure, but Pronger is
not playing in this series. The Bruins, with sub-par performances from Thomas
and Chara, are essentially a one line team, and are, by my best estimation,
toast. But what do I know?
One final thought.
I have to give EA Sports kudos for picking all but one of the post season
winners correctly. Using NHL 11, they’ve correctly predicted the winners of 13
out of the 14 series we’ve witnessed this spring (they had actually picked
Detroit to beat San Jose in the 2nd round, and in all fairness, as it
turned out, could have gone either way). Here, they call a long, but close
series, where the home teams win their games, with Vancouver prevailing. It’s
very hard to argue with a 93% success rate, artificial intelligence or not.
Even still, more often than not, home ice in the finals is where it’s at. The
Canucks didn’t have it in 1994 against the Rangers, but they have it now.
They’ve worked hard all season for it. They’ve made it through all the
adversity. And, hey maybe they’ve gotten a little bit lucky along the way.
May the
best team win.
Prediction:
Canucks in 7
SAD DAYS IN MAY
Well, it wasn’t all
fun and games in May,
as twice again we
were reminded of just how short and precious life really is, as we lost not only
a true warrior in the truest definition of the word, but as well an aspiring young
athlete, potential future NHLer, all within the span of about two weeks.
First, it was
former NHL enforcer Derek Boogaard. The epitome of the type of player everybody
wants on their team, but nobody likes to play against. Boogaard was
unfortunately found dead in his Minnesota apartment after having succumbed to
what the coroner’s report described as an accidental, toxic mix of alcohol and
the potent painkiller, Oxycodone. Having played five seasons in Minnesota,
Boogaard signed a free agent deal with the New York Rangers last summer, but
only managed to play the better part of two months before suffering a concussion
on December 9th, 2010. His family have come forward and readily
acknowledged he was seeking help for addiction, yet, it remains unclear what he
was seeking help for. Just a tragic, tragic story all around. I was at times,
in this very column, critical of this young man for the way he played the game
on the edge. On the other hand, I will always respect what he stood for. I never met the man, yet those
who were touched by his presence describe him as a huge teddy bear. What I do
know is this – if God was looking for an enforcer on May 13, He got Himself a
damn good one.
Here is just
a sampling of some of what his colleagues had to say:
Wild goaltender,
Niklas Backstrom: "Unreal guy - just a really big
teddy bear. Outside the rink, he didn't want bad for anyone."
NHL
Commissioner, Gary Bettman: "The news that we have
lost someone so young and so strong leaves everyone in the National Hockey
League stunned and saddened. The NHL family sends its deepest condolences to all
who knew and loved Derek Boogaard, to those who played and worked with him and
to everyone who enjoyed watching him compete."
Boston Bruins
defenseman, and former team mate, Shane Hnidy:
"It's really tough. It hit me pretty hard last night when I heard. I send
everything out to his family. It's a tough time for everyone. Everyone just saw
the big tough exterior, but he was a great guy that really gave back.
Especially in Minnesota, he was probably the biggest, most popular player there.
He always gave back.”
New York Rangers
forward, Brandon Prust: “I am still in shock. It
keeps hitting me off and on all day as I'm driving home. Though he was a
fighter on the ice, he was definitely a gentle giant off the ice. He was just a
real good guy, a team guy all the way. I've been looking at some of the silly
pictures I have from when we were roommates and it just hits me what a good guy
he was. I still can't believe I am referring to him in the past tense.”
R.I.P., Derek.
I didn’t always agree with you trying to decapitate Ales Hemsky on more than one
occasion, but I understand if you didn’t, you may not have had another chance to
live the NHL dream. You will be missed.
Now,
here in Ottawa, the mourning continues for young Eric Leighton, who died after a
freak accident in his shop class at Mother Teresa High School just last Friday.
The class was learning how to make a barbeque out of a large 55-gallon drum,
when something sparked an explosion. It was later reported the drum held traces
of peppermint oil, a very volatile and flammable substance. So while the investigation continues, class mates and a
community alike mourn the loss of a very well-liked and popular kid who seemed
destined for greatness in the NHL. The talented young defenseman was already a
star of the Almonte Junior B hockey club and was drafted by the Central Junior
Hockey League’s Gloucester Rangers in 2010. It’s been reported he was also a
pretty good lacrosse player. Leighton was only 18 years old.
Painful
reminders of how short our lives are. So get out
there and enjoy, while you still can.
WINNIPEG? WINNING!!!
Since I like
ending things on somewhat of a positive note, I’d like to send a huge Welcome
Back to the NHL to Winnipeg, Manitoba. On the eve of the Stanley Cup Final it
was announced True North Sports and Entertainment, led by former Jets owner Mark
Chipman, had entered into an agreement
in principle with Atlanta Spirit, the owner of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and the
NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers. It’s expected the Thrashers will move to the MTS
Centre next season, pending NHL approval, a mere formality at this point.
The Thrashers,
despite their best efforts, never panned out in Atlanta. In the dying hours, a
few local players came up to bat, but no real credible attempts to save the team
from moving out of southern Georgia ever came to fruition. It would appear
Mighty Casey has indeed, struck out.
The real shame
is this is now Atlanta’s second failed attempt at the NHL. Calgary was and
still remains the beneficiary of their first incarnation. Now, Winnipeg, who in
my opinion never should have lost their team in the first place (and probably
wouldn’t have if the present CBA was in place back in 1996), will become the new
home of the Thrashers, or whatever they decide to call them. Details on a name
and logo have yet to be determined. I know people will want the team to be
called the Jets, but let’s be fair here – the Jets and their legacy live on in
Phoenix (for now). Better to do like Minnesota, and come up with something
different. Hell, even keep the Thrashers name, why not pay homage to the minor
league team? At this stage it’s even up in the air which conference they’ll
play in. I’ve heard everything from them staying in the Southeast for one
season (which makes the most sense given the little bit of time the NHL has to
make up a schedule for next season), to them moving into either the Central or
Northwest Division. Realistically, the NHL has no time to even consider or
debate the merits of realignment until after next season. And then there’s the AHL’s
Manitoba Moose. Where do they go? Will the relocated NHL team take their
name? The fans in Winnipeg won’t care. The NHL is back, and hopefully back for
good.
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So, one more
series for all the marbles is about to start, and I’m about to do something I’ve
never done – take a vacation during the Stanley Cup Final. I’m going to get to
see Game 1 and possibly Game 2. Whether or not I’ll see any of the rest of the
series will depend on TV availability on the ship. More than likely, there will
be more than a few Bruins fans on board, and I know where I’m going there are
more than a few. What I do know is this – I need this vacation in the worst
way. Whether I watch it live or download it when I get back and watch it on my
computer (technology, ain’t it great?), it’s going to be a great series. If it
goes as predicted, I’ll be back in time for Game 7. Enjoy, and I’ll talk to you
in a couple of weeks to wrap up the season. Another one and done. Can you
believe it?
More Puckin' Around...
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