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May 03, 2006
NHL Playoff Roundup
Buffalo 7 Philadelphia 1: Once Buffalo pushed this game to 3-0 in the waning moments of the first period, I figured it would be a great time for Flyer head coach Ken Hitchcock to take goalie Robert Esche aside and tell him it just wasn't his night and replace him with Anterro Niittymaki to start the second period. After all, it was the second time that Esche, who had been occassionally brilliant during the series, had gotten absolutely crushed by Buffalo. I mean, the entire season was on the line right there. If he wasn't right in the first period, what in the world made Hitchcock think he'd be ok in the second? But in Esche stayed, and he let up another two goals as Buffalo took a 5-0 lead and effectively salted away the game and the series. Not that I'm shedding any tears, as Buffalo plays just the sort of style that I'd like to see more of in the NHL. Still, after getting two teams to the Stanley Cup Finals and winning it once, you'd think Hitchcock might have been a little quicker to pull the trigger on Niittymaki. But by the time he did, Antero was just Finnish for "I surrender". Tom Luongo, already getting ready for Ottawa, is shedding no tears for Hitchcock: Philly’s lack of heart was stunning. To roll over like they did speaks to serious issues in that organization. To be that fragile, emotionally, meant that this team was never ready to make a serious run for the Cup. The dispelling of that illusion was heart-breaking, I’d wager. I’d say I almost feel bad for Hitchcock, but, no. He never gets any sympathy from me, not after 99, not after the constant whining and cheap gamesmanship. My feeling is that this Flyers team is a reflection of him. I may be wrong, but that’s how I feel. For more, visit Sabresfans.com. Buffalo wins series, 4-2. Carolina 2 Montreal 1, OT: Last night's boxscore says the Canadiens only tallied 12 shots in the thrid period, but it didn't seem that way when I was watching last night. Everytime I turned around, it seemed as if Sheldon Souray was springing a Montreal forward with a breakout pass and launching the Habs onto the counterattack. And you know what else was blessedly absent from the third period? How about power plays? Somehow, the refs only managed a hooking call on Ray Whitney a little less than a third of the way through the period. Even-strength hockey? Believe me, it was refreshing. And then, in OT, the sort of resolution I enjoy more than any other -- swift and final, this time in the form of a Cory Stillman slapper that found enough of a piece of Craig Rivet to be deflected over Huet's catching glove and into the net. Heck, it didn't seem like Huet was even going to allow himself time to grieve. He just sort of shrugged his shoulders and froze for a bit. Habs Blog has a bone to pick with Rivet: The deflection was definitely a Craig Rivet error that should not have happend. As he strided towards Cory Stillman elongating his stick I thought to myself ‘there’s no way he’s going to put his stick in front of that puck’ but he DID and the second he did it was bad news. Clang and in the net. Here's Casonblog: Tight games turn on such things. Blown out in game 1. A heartbreaking game 2 loss in OT. I thought the Hurricane blueline would be their doom, but by the end of game 2, you could feel the tide turning. The last three games, Mike Commodore skated strong and passed the puck with poise. AWard and the boys blocked shots like demons, Bret Hedican chased down pucks and broke up rushes, and Glen Wesley moved and grinded like a 25 year old again. The 'Canes D gave Cam the chance to see nearly every shot. Wardo made several UUUUGE saves again tonight. His point-blank, slide to cover the back door stop on Mike Ribeiro was simply Brodeur-like (can you say, "foreshadowing?"). Congratulations Carolina! For your trouble, your well-rested opponent in the next round is the New Jersey Devils, winners of 15 straight regular season and playoff games. Granted, this Devils team is a little different in that it's proven that it can trade chances with the best of them, yet they've still remembered how to put on the Anaconda act once they take a lead. This series will present a far sterner test than Montreal, and we'll know right away whether or not Carolina has what it takes to win a Cup. [Excuse me, Eric, but didn't you pick Carolina to win it all?-- Editor] Ahh, well, yeah. Ron Francis probably would call me a killjoy. Spector is thinking of poor Martin Gerber: Cam Ward may have done more than just steal a series, he may have also stolen Gerber's job. The Swiss netminder is an unrestricted free agent, and if Ward continues to play well throughout the remainder of the 'Canes playoff run, he may have forced Gerber out of a job. Like maybe in Detroit? Carolina wins series, 4-2.
Eric
12:02 PM
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