Let the Games Begin

Monday, May 18, 2009

The games are now on! The Pittsburgh Penguins escaped Game 1 against the gritty Carolina Hurricanes by a score of 3-2. If not for some outstanding goaltending by Marc-Andre Fleury, the outcome of this game could have been quite different. Pittsburgh struck twice in the 1st period in a span of 1:24 on goals by Miroslav Satan and Evgeni Malkin. Satan’s goal was on a breakaway after serving a penalty for holding. What were the Cane’s thinking as the PP was winding down? They did not keep check of the time left on the penalty… big mistake! Malkin then fired a screened backhand past Cam Ward to give the Pens the early 2-0 lead. At this point in time, I thought this game was going to be a blowout. The game most definitely would have been a blowout if it wasn’t for Cam Ward’s save on Billy Guerin early in the 2nd period. Fortunately for Carolina, the Hurricanes were able to re-group and really outplay Pittsburgh for the majority of the game that remained.

The Hurricanes finally struck gold on a goal by Chad LaRose making the score 2-1. LaRose was able to outwait Fleury on a situation where it appeared there was one too many passes going on (Carolina had many of these throughout the contest). Now, heading into the 3rd period things were starting to look better for the Canes. Unfortunately, about midway through the 3rd period, Matt Cullen took a delay of game penalty in which the Pens capitalized on. Philippe Boucher took a Sidney Crosby pass and squeaked one through Ward to give the Pens a crucial 3-1 lead. Still, the game wasn’t over yet. Late in the game with Carolina on the PP (thanks to Brooks Orpik’s elbowing penalty) Joe Corvo was able to blast one by Fleury - who got a piece of it, just not enough. These turn of events helped set up a very wild ending. The Hurricanes still had their goalie pulled for the extra attacker down by a goal and had really 2 or 3 great chances to score the equalizer. Eric Staal had the best shot at tying the game, but unfortunately the puck jumped off his stick blade right back into Marc-Andre Fleury. The net was wide open! This series is looking like it’ll be a good one. How long it will go? I can’t say. Pittsburgh had their chances to bury the Hurricanes, but in typical 08-09 Hurricanes fashion - they came storming back. This was a good one to watch, but I believe the best is yet to come.

Now, onto the Western Conference Finals. Detroit sure took Chicago down in workman-like fashion by a score of 5-2. Even after giving up the 1st goal to Adam Burish early in the 1st period, the Red Wings really were never threatened by the young Hawks. I thought that early in the 3rd period when the Hawks tied the game at 2 on a PP goal by Kris Versteeg… that maybe, just maybe the Blackhawks had something going. Unfrotunately for them, it was not to be as Detroit answered the Blackhawks push at every level. Dan Cleary was the star of this game with 2 goals (Although Khabibulin should have had the first one) and the veteran team was too much for the Hawks to handle in the end. Hey, even Osgood played great when he was needed. The Wings outshot the Hawks 42-32 overall and there was no question in my eyes who was the boss in Game 1. Chicago had better tighten their game up if they want to make this a series. Detroit is too good (and that hurts for me to say) for Chicago to play wild and reckless hockey. The Wings really feast on that style of play. We will have to see what new strategy that coach Joel Quennville will come up with for Game 2 and beyond. The Hawks are down, but not out! Over and out!

Oh yeah, also check out the poll below on the lower right hand navigation. There will be poll questions weekly, so be sure to give your opinion!

15 comments:

Troublizing said...

I blame Nicky Fotiu for that Detroit OT win ! He was Samuelsson's mentor

Kotsy's Korner said...

Mouth, What in the flying F--k was Brian Campbell thinking? That was as bonehead a move as I have ever seen in a playoff game.

My former teammate and friend Joel Quennville has to be going wild at this moment.

I'll tell Nick next time I see him LOL.

Wrath of Sanity said...

Gotta love how sick Brian Campbell is. Very intelligent play there in OT... NOT!

Kotsy's Korner said...

Wrath, It's just unbelievable that a NHL player would make that kind of play in a Stanley Cup Playoff game?

You can't take chances like that in OT. I don't understand his thinking at all, just plain old dumb.

Leatherneck said...

wow..is all...Blackhawks had a chance..eh...its not over...but close...detroit is too good a team to falter...ugh...another pitt vs detroit series...ughhhh...beygirl you may get your wish..hows things with you chris...gonna do a feasability study on the free agency and come up with a hypothetical line up by friday...i'll post it and tell me what you think of it

Kotsy's Korner said...

Leatherneck, Not Detroit again! Anybody but Detroit please......

Looking forward to what you're evil General Manager mind is up to LOL.

Leatherneck said...

hey Chris...what would happen to the Rangers cap wise if they waived Redden?..I have a plan..my man...lol

Kotsy's Korner said...

Leatherneck, I have no idea what the ramifications would be. It can't be good that's for sure.

The Rangers are going to need someone? somewhere? to give them a helping hand in unloading some of the dead cash.

I will post a new blog right after tomorrow nights game and will await your devious plan.

Leatherneck said...

Well here it is Chris, my selections and what I would do if I was the GM. The current Rangers cap for the 08/09 season was 56, 700,000.

Here is my team for next year and the actual and likely cap hit for the team

Goalie
Lundqvist-6,875,000
Valiquette-725,000

Defense
Staal-830,000
Beuachemin-(2,200,000) UFA signing
Mara-1.950, 000-(re sign for same price)
Girardi-1,550,000
Komisarek-(3,400,000) UFA signing
Gilroy-1,750,000
Potter-700,000

Left wing
Avery-1,940,000
Antropov-2,150,000-(re sign for the same price)
Booth-(2,000,000) RFA signing or trade say for Zherdev and Roszival for Booth and a 3rd rd pick and sign Booth
Byers-750,000

Center
Dubinsky-(1,500,000 to 2,200,000) re sign for that price range
Wellwood-(1,300,000)-RFA signing or trade for a 4th rd pick and sign
Kopecky-(850,000)-UFA signing or Anisimov-850,000
Betts-(9,000.000 to 1,200.000) resign in that pay range

Rightwing
Callahan-(1,500,000 to 2,500,000) re sign in that pay range
Grachev-700,000 (lets give the kid a 10 game shot)
Drury-7,150,000
Orr-(550,000)-(resign for same price)

Let’s trade Gomez to LA Kings for a 2nd and 4th and pay 30% of his pay
Let’s waive Redden and eat half of his salary at 3,250,000
Let’s trade Roszival and Zherdev to Florida Panthers if they loose Bouwmeester for Booth and #rd rd pick

Let’s not sign Sjostrom and send Korpikoski to Hartford

Our cap hit now is 48,670,000 on said players plus the eating of half of Reddens contract and the 30% of Gomez’s contract we will pay for So it betters the team and gives us a better cap relief for the following years hits we will take for some of the current players and the possibility of signing Kovalchuk…ideas on this Chris?

Leatherneck said...

By the way...the paranthesis was hypothetical numbers and not factual numbers..the others are solid numbers

Kotsy's Korner said...

Leatherneck, I want you as the next Rangers GM LOL. I like your thinking!

Heres what I do know is that Colton Orr is in limbo. Word is that he may not be Torts type of player?

I would also like to see a player like Del Zotto make the jump (Offense is needed from the D).
I like Beuachemin and you know I love Komisarek.

I do think the Rangers should look for some size and grit up front as well.

Overall nice job, I'd take it as fast as yesterday!

Leatherneck said...

I think Del Zotto and Sanguenetti need one year as a building block for their careers and then in 2 years possibly both can make the jump to the bigs..in the draft the focus should be on 3 power forwards with size..but my plan is veryyyyyy doable...can you show it to Slats...haha...I am serious...you have the Rangers inside connections...maybe Slats will take me on as a protogie..lol

Kotsy's Korner said...

Leatherneck, I still would like to see someone make the jump up to the big squad on the D. Saves on Cap space.

One thing I learned a long time ago is that unless the GM thinks of it, it doesn't count. It's the truth.

It will be interesting to see how close the Rangers come to your plan. Even if the names aren't the same.

Leatherneck said...

Well it seems the new kids on the block will be Gilroy and i think Potter will get a chance to win a spot...Who was this finnish D-men we signed..makes me want a Heineken now..lol...Redden has to be waived...even if it means we eat half of his salary...Roszival might be traded it appears soon with all these defensive signings and i think Mara and Morris are gone...however i would re sign Mara but i think more the problem is in our forwards in no finisher and no power forward Antropov will help and he should be resigned

Kotsy's Korner said...

Leatherneck. I can't argue with Redden and Rozival, show them the door if possible.

Antropov is a keeper in my eyes. Mara and Morris money will be the factor with them.

Nice with the Heineken line LMAO.

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