Jeez, is it that time of the week already? This blog is becoming too taxing. It feels like I've written a blog for every goal Shane O'Brien has scored this season.
Anyhow, here are some random thoughts I've had concerning the NHL lately.
I sure hope Jarome Iginla doesn't take too much heat for the Flames’ first-round exit. He was widely viewed as one of the best captains and leaders in the game before the ‘Hawks series and just because his injury-riddled team fell in six games, that assessment shouldn't change. There are very few athletes who are easy to cheer for, and Iginla is still near the top of the list. Give him the "C" for 2010, please.
Isn't it funny how most experts said Mats Sundin simply took the money and ran when he signed with the Canucks in December. Most felt he didn't really want to win a Stanley Cup and only chose Vancouver because it was the biggest offer. Well, now it seems that Mats knew what he was doing because the Canucks surely have a better shot at winning the Cup than the Montreal Canadiens. And even though I don't know what will happen with the Rangers in Game 7 Tuesday, it's a safe bet they won't be making it to the Cup finals.
I feel a little bad for Joe Thornton and the San Jose Sharks. There couldn't have been a worse match-up in the first round for San Jose than Anaheim. You had a bunch of underachievers who had never gotten it done in crunch time going up a bunch of dudes (S. Niedermayer, Pronger, Getzlaf, Perry, Whitney, etc ...) known for raising their games at this time of year. Thornton is one of the best regular season players in the game and my only guess for why it hasn't translated to the playoffs is this: A big part of Big Joe's game is patience. He loves to hold onto the puck in order to make great plays. Perhaps that time he has in the regular season to make those plays is gone in the playoffs and Thornton is unable to pick up the pace of his game.
As for the Ducks, you have to assume they'll be able to give the Wings a decent series. Especially the way Jonas Hiller has been playing. However, I think the Ducks will be stung by a lack of secondary scoring. Their first line is absolutely built for the post-season, but the second line is nowhere near its potency two years ago. Chris Kunitz is playing well for Pittsburgh and it's tough to argue that the trade for Ryan Whitney hasn't worked out well for both teams. But having to move Andy MacDonald to St. Louis a while back for cap reasons will continue to haunt the Ducks.
Get ready for all the pundits giving the goaltending edge to Anaheim in the second round. Forget the fact that Chris Osgood has TWO Stanley Cup rings as a starter. Forget that all he does is win games. I know his goals against average and save percentage were not great this season, but I promised myself after covering the Western Conference finals last year that I would never doubt Osgood again. I can't believe how little respect he gets.
Here's hoping Craig MacTavish isn't out of work for long. I don't doubt it was time for a change in Edmonton and MacT probably had to go. Selfishly though, MacT was absolutely great for us hacks in the media. No matter how stupid our questions were he always answered them all and did so in entertaining fashion. I would rate him top three in the west in terms of best coaches to deal with (Trotz and Vigneault the others).
Well, that's it for now. As always, any and all questions will be ignored.