May 29, 2007
Stanley Cup Finals Game One: The Morning After
Earl Sleek took a look at the 5-on-5 ice time in last night's game, and using Vic Ferrari's online application (another incredible innovation of the hockey blogosphere) determined that Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle supplemented the efforts of the best checking line in the game (R. Niedermayer-Pahlsson-Moen) to blunt the best scoring line in the game (Heatley-Spezza-Alfredsson) with a pair of Norris Trophy winners (R. Niedermayer-Pronger).
The result: S. Niedermayer and Pronger play more even-strength minutes together than in any previous playoff round:
This is really a huge change in strategy to introduce in the Stanley Cup Finals, but sure enough, late in a tied game with the Spezza line out, who’s on the ice for the winning goal? The checking line, backed by Niedermayer and Pronger, a.k.a. Project Norris.
Coach Carlyle took a risk shuffling up his defensemen up for the Stanley Cup Finals, and it's something certainly to follow as this series progresses. Initial returns, though, look good.
Before the series began, we had some folks saying that Bryan Murray was the wily veteran head coach that would have an advantage over Carlyle. Looks like that notion got turned on its head.
If you're Murray, how do you respond? It's not like you can break up the best line in hockey now, can you?
One thing that did come to mind while I was reading Earl's post: Unlike Anaheim's last trip to the Finals, there are actually some Ducks blogs following the team, like Ducks Blog, On The Pond, Girl With A Puck and Anaheim Ducks Fan.
In blog years, four years is like a century. Trust me.
Here's James Mirtle on the forwards who just shut down Ottawa at even strength:
Unlike most checking types, this trio can play 20 minutes a night and contribute at both ends, something they've done all postseason so far.
This isn't the first team to try something like this against Ottawa, as New Jersey did their best to get John Madden and Jay Pandolfo onto the ice against the Sens top line in similar fashion. Unfortunately for New Jersey, they didn't have a pair of Norris Trophy winners to supplement that talented checking tandem.
Meanwhile, in Sens Nation, the air is one of concern, and not panic.
Scarlett Ice:
This is the first time that the Senators have trailed in a playoff series this year. If we've seen anything from this team about the adversity they've faced, it's that they're capable of coming back strong. Let's just hope they managed to find that fight in them.
Battle of Ontario:
Relax - they'll hit the stationary bikes, have a look at the tape and come out flying in G2. Anyone else find the ducks celebrating a little heavily considering they were down by a goal for 2/3rds of that game?
Sens Army:
If not for a great glove save by J.S. Giguere, I would still be sitting on the front lawn at City Hall, bathing in the smoke (cigar, cigarette and 'other') of people who want to take every opportunity to light up when in close proximity to others.
Here's Hockey Will Tear Up Apart on Leafs Nation and how they're handling having the Sens in the Finals:
Toronto these days is neurotic. The city isn't sure whether to watch or to ignore; to cry out of bitterness or to cry out of agony; the one thing they can agree on is that somewhere along the line, the Leafs seem to have missed a lesson or something that the Senators now have learned. Their usual bitterness has a tinge of sadness to it.
Funny enough, this came up in conversation for me last week as I was interviewing Richard D'Alessio, the director of the Knob Hockey spots. He was having a pretty good laugh out of all the angst being experienced by the Leafs fan base, and the result was the series of shorts debuting soon of the team's top line crank calling the Leafs on the golf course. Look for it soon, here.
For those of you who missed it last night, check out the NHL Fanhouse Live Blog and my initial reactions from last night.
More later, as reaction pours in.
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06:51 AM