Sick of the Wings
One of the best perks of the playoffs thus far is not having to watch the Wings for over a week. Granted, it would have been better for them to lose 4 straight, but either way, we won't need to see them again until this coming weekend. How does everyone not get sick of seeing them on TV EVERY. SINGLE. DAY!?
The Nasty Hockey League?
I am anti-Niemi
Of course, as a notorious brick wall myself, I have to have an opinion on several goalie situations. I am indeed a Hawks fan, but I don't think that I can dislike a goalie more than former Hawk Antti Niemi. He did not win a cup FOR the Hawks, he won one WITH the Hawks. When supported by the league's best offense AND the best defense, my 12 year old cousin could have been good for them last season. Simply take a look at Niemi's performance thus far in the playoffs. He is leading the charge in yet another Sharks playoffs collapse. The fact that Niemi is starting game 6 is baffling to me. I mean WTF, is McLellan TRYING to get knocked out in the first round? Niemi is not a prime time goalie, and he will not lead the Sharks to the promised land. Coach McLellan needs to get Antero Niittymaki in net ASAP, or theyre done. Their saving grace may be no Anze Kopitar sniping the top shelf. The Kings take game 6 in LA, and Niemi gets the yank in game 7 in favor of Niitymaki. Sharks win in game 7 and advance into the second round.
LuonGO Home
We may be witnessing the end of Roberto Luongo in Vancouver. I do not know of a better of example of an individual being so dominating at his position during the regular season, and sucking so terribly in the playoffs (Brett Favre maybe,but oh wait, at least he won a championship). When asked about his coach losing confidence in him because of starting Cory Schneider in game 6, Luongo responded with "We are the best goalie duo in the league, he is just as good as I am, it doesn't matter who plays". REALLY Roberto!? Cory Schneider is JUST as good as you are!? Then why does he make 900k this season, while you make 10 MILLION dollars? Are you going to pool that together and split it 50/50 with him? Step up and be the MVP your team needs you to be, grow some man curds, step up, take your job back, and win a freaking series for your Team Choke. Luongo has been absolutely dominated historically by the Blackhawks, and Cory Schneider going down on a penalty shot in game 6 means Luongo is back in net in front of the Vancouver crowd on Tuesday night. Look for the Hawks to jump on him early and get in his head throughout the game, and to knock the President Trophy winners out in round 1 (for the 3rd straight year). Roberto Luongo gets booed out of Rogers Arena, which is the beginning of the end of his career.
Some Admirals and Badger Love
Lastly, a big congratulations to the Nashville Predators for successfully advancing to the second round for the first time in franchise history. Gotta love the Milwaukee Admirals big brother making some noise, especially with the likes of the Badgers own Blake Geoffrion getting some ice.
Prediction Time
Wings, Predators, and Capitals are in for round 2.
LA wins game 6, but loses game 7 to the Sharks. *Currently scoreless through 10 min of 1st period
Hawks end the pathetic playoff career of Roberto Luongo and win game 7 in Vancouver.
Ryan Miller gets SOME form of help in game 7, Sabres over the Flyers (who might start the first person to raise their hand in the locker room in net, be it a trainer, a defenseman, or a reporter)
Montreal makes game 6 interesting, but they are self-destructive and Boston storms back from behind to take the series.
Pittsburgh continues their star-free play and defeats Tampa Bay in game 7.
I will provide round 2 previews once the matchups are set.
so at last... my take on your
2011 Stanley Cup Champions
The Washington Capitals.
They have an insanely powerful offense led by superstar Alexander Ovechkin, who has finally smacked that playoff monkey off his back. They need a little defense to make it happen, but should that D ever faulter, newly anointed star Michal Neuvirth steps up and takes control. The Caps are for real, and it will take something short of a miracle to stop Ovi from hoisting the cup in 2011.
Your hockey knowledge is to Phil Mickelson as
ReplyDeleteyour ability to proofread is to Bill Mikkelson. If you don't get this, I'll explain it to you, lol.
All jokes aside, I agree with your take on the NHL and serious hits. This is just beginning to be a problem in too many professional sports. Whether its cheap shots in hockey, hits on defenseless receivers, or throwing a 95 MPH fastball at a guy's head, this epidemic needs to stop. Being competitive is one thing, but being reckless is another. What happened to the days when professional athletes had respect for one another?
Injuries are going to happen, that's unavoidable. When guys are going out to intentionally cause harm, that's a problem. What is this teaching young athletes? Professionals should act like professionals. They should respect each other, not despise each other.
I just fear it's gonna take another Todd Bertuzzi incident or Jack Tatum hit to open peoples' eyes to the problem. It all starts with the athletes playing with a little class, which seems to be getter more unlikely every year
Great thoughts in this article. I agree that the NHL needs to take care of the injury problems. Everybody worries about the fighting in the NHL, but that is not where these players are getting hurt. The problem is that the fines and suspensions are not severe enough. Apparently a blatant hit from behind including an elbow to the back of the head warrants a 1 game suspension...
ReplyDeleteIs Vancouver regretting the deal they made with Luongo that signed him thru the year 2090?
I agree that Niemi is not that great, but I still think the Sharks are a great team. They don't need Niemi to be great, just ok.
I agree with most of your picks, but I think Tampa Bay wins this series and I have the Sharks beating the Capitals in the finals. SHARKS BABY!!!!