Finally the streak has ended. The Hawks, clearly the greatest team ever assembled were dismantled by the Avalanche last night with the best part being we don’t have to listen to this garbage about their streak any more. During this epic period Chicago feasted on crappy bottom dwelling less than .500 Western Conference teams and this means what? Nothing, absolutely nothing nor should it be recorded in the record books. Can you see half a President’s trophy, maybe?
What happened the three times Chicago played a division leading team? Right, they lost to Vancouver in overtime, not a shoot out and lost to Anaheim in a shoot out. How did they fare against the Bruins, Pens, Habs and Leafs? They didn’t and based on the poor record against the West division leaders during this historic run, well I think you get the picture.
Goals are coming fast and furious in this short season. Perhaps the goal tenders are still not awake or are a half step behind the skaters but since March 1st, teams have scored 5 or more goals 18 times! Still, if we get a defensive team like L.A. in the finals again trying to win each game 1-0 by putting the other team and all fans to sleep like Ali’s rope a dope, this return to real hockey where teams actually try to outscore each other will be forgotten.
On the thesis the goalies are not awake yet, here are two examples of a player scoring not from centre, but from well inside their half of the ice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGbQwSfwBgo
and then this,
I guess the dictate to shoot the puck on net from anywhere has never been truer.
I recently heard nattering on Vancouver radio about the horrid Canucks. What to do, fire the coach, trade a goalie, fire the GM or make a trade, any trade? Listening to this you would think the Canucks were in the bottom third of the league but the standings show only 7 teams have more points than Vancouver even though they have won just 3 of their last 10 games. Still, two or three more losses in the next week could see them drop out of the playoff picture but talk about raking these guys over the coals. Clearly expectations on the West coast are high, maybe too high.
Speaking of expectations, anyone surprised that all but three Canadian teams look to be heading to the post season this year? Yes, it may be a bit early to state that with confidence but there are only two dozen games left so barring complete melt downs the Habs, Leafs, Sens, Canucks, seem destined while the Jets continue to be in the mix just one point out in the east. In the West, the Flames sit only 4 points out with a game in hand while the Oilers are 5 points back. I wonder how Bettman likes that? Imagine, two Canadian teams playing for the Cup. Has that ever happened since Bettman’s been running the show?
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