First star: Roberto Luongo (get used to it)
Before I start on the Nuckskis, I just have to say, with the NBA playoffs a foregone conclusion (it will be Cavs/Lakers in the finals) this is the ideal NHL playoffs for the American fan looking to get back into hockey. All of the Original Six teams from the States are in (Chicago, Detroit, New York, Boston) with a resurgence in both Chicago and Boston where fandom has floundered in recent years. Boston is playing hated enemy Montreal, which boots them from the dance with more regularity than an ornery teacher kicking out an amnesic alcoholic student from prom (that went on too long. I'm sorry). Also, hockey hotbed Philadelphia has an exciting young team and is matched up against rival Pittsburgh, with two of the best players in the world. Don't underestimate Philly's hatred for Crosby either. Washington is rallying behind their one winning team (Nationals and Wizards aren't going anywhere, while the Redskins are toiling in mediocrity) and its superstar, while St. Louis is back in after a six year absence, with a team on a mission. Also, Columbus gets its first taste of the post-season. And on the West Coast, there's the North/South California rivalry between San Jose and Anaheim to stir up some attention.
This is your chance, Bunny Rabbit NHL. Do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime... yo.
I'm looking at you, Todd. Don't fuck it up and Bertuzzi somebody.
Okay, back to Van-city. Nice W. Good way to start it, although we relied a bit too much on the pillars of the team (Luongo, penalty kill, Sedins for O)
This is over 24 hours late due to the retardedness of deadline day and pre-deadline day this week (I'm still not done all my work yet tonight...)
Notes:
Looks like Bobby Lou is rounding back into late-2007 form, where it felt like you had to plinko a puck through skates or get some really weird bounce or absolute goalmouth gimme to get a puck past him. I felt it just over a week ago, when Luongo stopped 46 against the Flames and had that machine-like movement in the crease where he was never out of position, never overplaying the pass, and smothered everything. The only goal that went in slipped in just past his outstretched pad after making a doozy save. Same last night, where a rebound slid out to Boyes, who one-timed it into the twine. Luongo still almost got a stick on it. Right now, it feels like he can win us every game -- and with the persistence the Blues played with last night, he might have to.
Kesler was an absolute beast. I remember Tuma giving me the gears after I bought a replica Kesler jersey back in 2007. "Why don't you get a Rick Rypien jersey?" Well, I saw glimpses of what he is today: one of the best two-way players in the game, with gamebreaking speed, and a top-notch penalty killer. He gets his stick on everything. He plays physically. He's got a deceptive snap shot. The five-on-three the other night was a thing of beauty. He never quit. Definitely the team's most valuable player not named Luongo.
Bernier was all over the place too. I admit to have lost patience with him earlier this year, when he seemed to take shifts off and come trade deadline time, I was hoping his name was being shopped in a deal to bring us back J-Bow.... But last night, he played the game he is suited for: banging and crashing and working in front of the net. He beat guys in races and outmuscled their dmen for the puck a number of times.
The Sedins did what they needed to and I thought when they had the puck, they completely changed the tempo of the game.
And I'm about two or three games away from calling for the Auditor General to look into Mats Sundin's game. We're getting cheated here. The guy's slower than my train of thought right now. He's old and lethargic and does this one armed slash thing that just infuriates me. Just move your damn feet, baldy.
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