CREEK, SUMMER 2009

I'm not really one to update my personal life on my blog, but I feel that my team's performance in our first game of the season showed great character and perseverance. Tied 2-2 in the third period, a giveaway on a power play had us down 3-2 with 2:30 to play. With just under a minute left, the play was in their zone, I was in front screening the goalie and Dan (#12) got the puck in the slot, and put a shot between my legs and in to tie the game up at three.

At the faceoff dot, Rob said something along the lines of, "Let's get another one." I won the draw, but they ended up getting possession and the puck ended up in our zone along the left wing boards. I retrieved the puck and put on the jets flying down the wing (or at least my version of "the jets"). I came across the blueline and in on the defenseman looking like I was going to cut inside. I quickly made a move to the outside and cut around him and to the front of the net where the goalie bit on a move and went down. I ran into the other defender, but Rob (#21) was there to bury the puck into the empty net for the 4-3 lead and the "W" with just 14 seconds on the clock.

It was probably the best shift I've had in years and it felt really good to get out there and start the season with a positive outing. It was reminiscent of Carolina's comeback in Game 7 against the Devils and was an exciting finish to a great game.

2009 STANLEY CUP FINALS (RD 2)

I would have never predicted a (7-1) first round record. It is a personal best after three years of predictions and I'm pleased with the results. Hopefully I didn't set too high a standard for the next three rounds. Here are my predictions for round two.


Conference Semi-Finals

Eastern Conference


Pittsburgh (4) vs. Washington (2) - Pittsburgh (7 Games)

This will no doubt be one of the most entertaining series of the playoffs. The top three players in the world square off in what is sure to be a hard-fought affair. Two finalists for the Hart Trophy (Malkin and Ovechkin) have a rivalry that has lasted since day one. Crosby and OV no longer get along, in fact they seem to HATE each other. The Capitals recorded a (3-1) record against the Penguins this season, but I feel that Crosby and Malkin may be too much offense for the Capitals to handle. That being said, this will more than likely be a one-goal game seven and could easily go in either direction. Goaltending may be the deciding factor in this series.


Carolina (6) vs. Boston (1) - Boston (6 Games)

Carolina showed true grit and character in their first round matchup versus New Jersey. It was literally a last minute win and was one of the most thrilling finishes to a Game 7 that I can remember. Boston wasn't challenged against Montreal, and may come out flat against the 'Canes. Carolina will take Game 1, but fatigue will set in and the Bruins will be too much to handle for Cam Ward and company. Chara will be a big part of this series (no pun intended) and the Bruins will outhit and outplay the 'Canes.


Western Conference


Anaheim (7) vs. Detroit (2) - Detroit (6 Games)

If any Western team can dethrone the Wings, it's the Anaheim Ducks. They were one of the hottest teams down the stretch, and took out the President's Trophy winner in just 6 Games. This series will be decided between the pipes: will Osgood remain solid for the Wings, and can Hiller keep his cool against Zetterberg and company? Only time will tell, but I believe the Wings will play spoiler to the Getzlaf/Perry show.


Chicago (4) vs. Vancouver (3) - Vancouver (6 Games)

The 'Hawks are one of the fastest, most exciting teams in the league and there young guns, Toews, Kane, Versteeg, etc. will find it difficult to put pucks in the net against arguably the best goaltender in the world today. They solved Kipper with a banged up blue line in front of him, but the Canucks are nearly healthy and very well rested and should be a handful for the Blackhawks. Sundin will hopefully be ready for the start of this one and could be significant.

Consistency Costs Calgary

Alliteration aside, the Western Conference Quarter-Final matchup between Calgary and Chicago was a seriously inconsistent effort by the Flames. Until Game 6, it was all about playing at home. Calgary's Game 6 effort against the 'Hawks was underwhelming at best. Some flashes of brilliance from Bertuzzi and Jokinen were effective, but few and far between. Iginla was mediocre for the second consecutive game and Phaneuf was really missed on the blue line. I predicted Chicago in six games because of the injuries sustained by the Flames towards the end of the season. This very well could have gone differently given that Phaneuf, Regehr and Langkow were healthy.

That being said, the Chicago Blackhawks did an incredible job shutting down Jarome Iginla in Game 6. Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook as well as the Pahlsson/Byfuglien/Burish line played an outstanding game of hockey, and Byfuglien (don't even attempt it) was rewarded with an empty-net goal. Chicago's speed and young talent were too much for the Flames to handle in this Western Conference Quarter-Final Series, and look for them to put up a fight in Round 2 against the Canucks.

NOTE: There is still time for the Sharks to come back as I type this halfway through the 3rd Period, but they won't because they're not prepared to.


San Jose got what was coming to them. The Ducks fought a harder battle and their top line was the difference in this series. Thornton & Marleau showed signs of magic in games 3 and 5, but were inconsistent throughout the series and showed a plain lack of interest in Game 4. Thornton may win a Cup in his career, but he's going to have to play every playoff game as if it's his last. He showed a great amount of effort and heart in Games 5 & 6, but it was too little, too late as the Ducks outworked the Sharks in this first round matchup. It didn't hurt that Hiller was by far the superior goaltender in this series, one in which Nabokov was good, but not great.

...and Getzlaf just scored to make it 4-1. I rest my case.

Thornton & Sharks Have No Bite

I, along with most Canadians feel a deep respect for the opinions of Don Cherry. As such I believe that he has at the very least influenced my opinion of Joe Thornton. I have always wanted to believe that Thornton's playoff woes are just that, and not an inert lack of playoff ability. That opinion, I'm afraid, may have been altered after watching the first four games of the Sharks/Ducks series.

Not only is Thornton not performing on paper, he is not performing in any way on the ice. Thornton's performance has been completely uninspired in the four games of this series thus far. In game four, Thornton could be seen coasting around as if he was uninterested. At the end of the game he was on the bench rather than in the game. Not only that, but he showed absolutely no heart during the game. Thornton was on the ice for both of Bobby Ryan's second period markers and glided away with an expressionless face. He then proceeded to hit Getzlaf with a tape-t0-tape pass on Perry's first goal of the series. There must be a way to motivate Thornton's play, but I feel that even if Thornton shows some heart in Game 5, the no-show Sharks still won't get by the Ducks in Round 1.

Don't mistake my disappointment with Thornton as personal blame for the series. It has been a team effort to play so poorly. The lack-luster play of Patrick Marleau and company has been very apparent in this series and the only motivated Shark's performances have come from veteran Stanley Cup winning defensemen Rob Blake and Dan Boyle.

I predicted the Ducks would win this series in 7 Games. They were hot going into the playoffs and they had to fight their way in. The Sharks coasted into the playoffs having a losing record over their last 36 games. Given their record start to the season, they were the early favourites to win. It is now apparent that they are no longer favourites and in my personal opinion, haven't been since the All-Star break.

Thornton and the Sharks need to take a long look in the mirror and decide if they want to go out in a 5-Game romp, or go down in a Michael Vick dog-fight.

2009 STANLEY CUP FINALS PREDICTIONS

Conference Quarter-Finals

Eastern Conference

Philadelphia (5) vs. Pittsburgh (4) - Philadelphia (7 Games)

I really hope I'm wrong about this, but I have a feeling Philly is going to do it. That being said, I'd like to see both of these teams in the second round, but unfortunately one of them has to go. Malkin and Crosby need to be on fire for the Pens to come out victorious. I think that Philadelphia's depth could put them over the top, even with Pittsburgh having home-ice advantage.


Carolina (6) vs. New Jersey (3) - Carolina (7 Games)

Given Brodeur's shaky play of late and Carolina's brilliant play, I have to go with the Canes. Anton Babchuk (who?) has been incredible of late and the Carolina defence has been very strong overall, but it has been their strong mixture of Swedish and Finish that has been impressive of late.


NY Rangers (7) vs. Washington (2) - Washington (5 Games)

I think too much is being made of Sean Avery vs. Ovechkin. Avery doesn't stand a chance. OV will more than likely get annoyed with him and absolutely destroy him in the trolley tracks. Watch for Lundqvist to steal one but Washington's firepower will prevail in the end. Theodore is their weakest link, but if he can somehow gain some confidence in goal the Capitals will be a team to contend with.


Montreal (8) vs. Boston (1) - Boston (6 Games)

The Bruins are by far the superior team this season, but if history tells us anything it's that the Habs and B's HATE each other. Every game will be a good one and look for this series and "The Battle of Pennsylvania" to be two of the best in the playoffs. On a side note, Chara will literally eat Koivu for breakfast.

Western Conference

Calgary (5) vs. Chicago (4) - Chicago (6 Games)

I really hate to go with the Hawks, but Calgary MUST get healthy to have even a remote chance. Playing with 15 guys each night killed the Flames at the close of the season. They have no momentum going forward into the playoffs, and the young guns of Chicago are going to take advantage.

St. Louis (6) vs. Vancouver (3) - Vancouver (6 Games)

The Blues are on absolute fire of late, and Chris Mason has been stellar. Vancouver's Mats Sundin (as weird as that is to say) will be a dominant force in the playoffs. If he is as motivated as he says and gives it his all he could be a deciding factor in this series. Oh yeah, and they have this guy named Luongo who isn't half-bad.

Columbus (7) vs. Detroit (2) - Detroit (6 Games)

Steve Mason should have his name engraved in the Calder Memorial Trophy this year. 10 shutouts as a rookie in the most competitive league on the planet, sort of impressive. He will steal a few but Detroit is just too deep to be stopped here. Osgood needs to stop some pucks for the Wings to win it all, but they may go pretty far without much help in goal.

Anaheim (8) vs. San Jose (1) - Anaheim (7 Games)

I really want to believe in the Sharks, but I just don't see it in them of late. Anaheim has been absolutely crazy good and I believe that they will take this series deep and come out victorious against the Sharks.