Early Playoff Observations

April 20, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

We’re only a few days in but there have been some things on my mind about how the opening round of the playoffs are unfolding. In no particular order:

1.Somebody might want to get the San Jose Sharks a good team psychiatrist. Apparently, they’re choking against bitter California rival Anaheim. Two goals in two games with none on the power play is just path—et—ic!!!!! Watching them fire puck after puck into Jonas Hiller turning him into a 2003 Giguere makes me wonder how the hell they had 117 points during the season. I know they’re much better than this. But if they don’t rally back starting when the series shifts to The Pond, they will really cement their reputation as playoff busts. And this time, Ron Wilson’s not around to blame. Has anyone seen Patrick Marleau?!?!?!?!?!

2.Nice character shown by the Devils tonight in doing something they normally can’t this time of year. In order to go far, sometimes you have to be able to win in sudden death. It’s worth noting that when they have, it’s usually boded well for them historically. One other key thing to note thus far in this series between two rivals, the Candy Canes haven’t held a lead yet counting regulation. As for how the rest of it goes, considering how even these teams are, figure there to be more games decided in overtime.

3.It sure is great to see the Blackhawks playing good hockey in the playoffs. I almost forgot how loud their fans can be. Speaking of which, is there a better young defenseman in the game than Duncan Keith? He sure has played well.

4.Speaking of MIA, didn’t Calgary acquire Olli Jokinen to help them? He’s been about as useful as he was to hockey in South Florida and The Desert.

5.That Game 3 the Flyers won over the Pens to get back in their series sure was intense. Goals. Battles. Fights. Scrums. Hits. All the kind of stuff you want to see this time of year!

6.Okay. Is it just me or has Bob Gainey drank too much? How else does he explain playing scrub Georges Laraque on the first line with Kovalev and Koivu? Is he kidding?!?!?!?!?! The Rock has been a bust and only got into 33 games all year. Talk about a waste! I’m sure that’s the defining moment Canadien fans want to remember most in their Centennial Season.

7.No. I wouldn’t have suspended Milan Lucic for Game Three later tonight in Montreal. But the rugged B’s forward needs to know better moving forward.

8.If he doesn’t lift his team out of the hole they’re in beginning tonight at what will be a pumped up Garden, maybe Alex Ovechkin can use all summer thinking about what he said about Henrik Lundqvist before the series.

9.Who would you rather have this time of year? Joe Thornton or Ryan Getzlaf. Don’t try answering too soon! And yet somehow Jumbo Joe beat out Jagr for the Hart once.

10.Don’t you just love the impact Claude Lemieux’s having on the Sharks?

11.Would it kill Keith Jones to rip a player on the bland Versus instead of acting like a politician? That’s what we like about NBC tandem Pierre McGuire and Mike Milbury as they’re never afraid to pull punches. The Mad Scientist and Mad Mike might be a little annoying at times but they’re also a fun watch.

12.Something to remember if those young Blackhawks advance and make some noise out West. I seem to recall one Chico Resch during Martin Brodeur’s record breaking night saying how they won’t do much now. Uhhh. I still can’t believe he really uttered that.

13.Mike Keenan had a point about Martin Havlat’s OT winner which coincidentally was the third fastest in playoff history coming just 12 seconds in off a dreadful Calgary turnover. It did look like Andrew Ladd interfered with Miikka Kiprusoff but the bottom line is nothing was called. While it’s true that players on a winning team will pour out immediately even if it’s a controversial win, it’s up to the two refs on the ice to make the call. I still am left guessing how a team comes out for sudden death and loses that quickly. Maybe Keenan can explain that one.

14.Who is there more pressure on to comeback in Round One? Keenan or the Sharks?

15.Remember when Marc Savard wasn’t good enough to play here and was dealt away to Calgary in the Jamie Lundmark 1999 Draft Trade? Just saying.

16.I still have trouble getting used to seeing Mats Sundin wear his trademark No.13 in a Canuck jersey even if they’re about to do something the Leafs haven’t in quite a while.

17.I must admit that Matt Loughlin has gotten a lot better at the radio gig for the Devs.

18.Only on Versus can they stay with a beat reporter long enough for a team to score a goal making for an awkward moment last night when the Ducks went ahead. Well, at least Lindsay Soto is nice to look at.

19.Chris Osgood and the Red Wings have apparently found the playoff switch. It’ll still be interesting to see how the Blue Jackets respond at home in their first ever series. Can the fans energize them enough to make it worthwhile?

20.It’s still remarkable that there’s playoff hockey again in St. Louis. They have some good fans who deserve to see a good team again. Kudos to Andy Murray, John Davidson and Larry Pleau for doing a great job rebuilding them.

21.I hope one day Ryan Callahan gets to wear an ‘A’ on his Ranger jersey.