Seven Things – 15 May 2011
1. You wonder why the Vancouver – Nashville series was such a snooze? Not only do the Predators employ a stifling defensive game plan, it wasn’t until the sixth game that the two teams showed any kind of passion on the ice. By contrast, the Western Conference final started with both Joe Thornton and Ryan Kesler getting tossed from the opening freaking faceoff. These aren’t goons orchestrating a fight because they have no skills to back up the trash talk. These are hockey’s best, headbutting and jousting before the series even starts. Are you kidding me? Bring. It. On. This really is what we live for.
2. Speaking of throwing guys out of faceoff circles, what is with the linesmen being so prominent in this post-season? Not counting centre ice faceoffs in game one between Vancouver & San Jose, I counted just a handful of draws where the linesman just dropped the puck without waving someone off. Drop the damned puck, already. Let ‘em play!
3. The Sedins have been blasted for their post-season +/- by everyone from Mike Milbury to Mike Emrick, from Pucked in the Head to Pass it to Bulis. But whether it’s Bieksa failing to clear the puck against David Legwand and Joel Ward, or Roberto Luongo gifting the third round’s series-opener to Jumbo Joe, a lot of those minuses just aren’t the twins’ fault.
With Henrik leading the offensive charge in game 1, maybe the critics will stop looking at stats the lazy way. Watch the game, boys, and make your decisions based on the merits of their play as well as the numbers on those printouts that are always passed around the press box.
(Note: the beer girls above do not in any way reflect my opinions on the Sedins. They’re just, well, nice to look at. Stop your judging and read number four.
4. Pucked in the Head wanted to ask Tomas Kaberle about the game one loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, but we weren’t able to find him in the locker room. Not surprising, really, seeing as he’s been pretty much invisible on the ice since he arrived in Beantown four months ago. One of the most sought-after offensive defensemen in recent memory, he has just one goal in 36 games for the Bruins. Not so bad in and of itself – the team is in the Eastern Conference finals without his goals, and he is a +6 in these playoffs – but his giveaway on the Bolts’ Saturday game-winner was far more Toronto Maple Laughs than Big, Bad Boston Bruins. It’s time for our man Tomas to buck up and put the puck in the net.
(Article continued after the following sports-related ad content, which you really ought to read.)
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(Okay, now back to your regularly scheduled chicanery.)
5. Dwayne Roloson has won eight straight playoff games going back to game five in the opening round against Pittsburgh. Impressive. He’s the first goalie over 40 to do so since Jacques freakin’ Plante. Mind-blowing.
6. Until you win, you don’t know how to win. Ask anyone in hockey. (Just don’t ask Charlie Sheen, because only losers mention that guy just to manufacture a couple of cheap Google hits. Ditto Lady Gaga, Tiger Woods, Katy Perry, Banjo the Koala or the heart attack sandwich.) So how many Cup rings are floating around the locker rooms in the NHL’s final four this year?
- San Jose (5): G Antti Niemi. F Ben Eager. D Dan Boyle. D Kent Huskins. D Niclas Wallin.
- Tampa Bay (3): F Vincent Lecavalier. F Martin St Louis. F Pavel Kubina.
- Boston (2): F Mark Recchi. F Shawn Thornton.
- Vancouver (2): F Michael Samuelsson. D Aaron Rome.
Where are all the rings? They’re all golfing – mostly in Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago and Atlanta, since you asked.
7. Some history for you:
- 1915 – The Vancouver Millionaires won the city’s only Stanley Cup. Canada enters World War I, beginning a decades-long tradition of Canadian soldiers standing up as international good guys.
- 1968 – Vancouver wins the WHL championships. Universal health care is established as a Canadian hallmark.
- 1982 – The Vancouver Canucks make their first NHL conference final. British parliament passes the Canada Act. Pierre Trudeau’s Liberals subsequently pass the Constitution of Canada, officially ratifying Canadian independence from the British Crown.
- 1994 –The Canucks make the conference finals. Ice hockey is named Canada’s official winter sport.
In other words, Vancouver hockey teams essentially built Canada.
- 2011 – The Canucks make the conference finals. Stephen Harper is elected in a Conservative majority, pretty much reversing all of that previous hard work.
It’s been nice knowing you, True North Strong and Free. We’ll be American before you know it, but at least Vancouver has a shot at that parade it’s been searching for since way back in 1915.