Weekend Wrap Up OR When will we see some double OT?

Penguins are up 2 games to 1 over the Senators. Crosby's doing it all, as usual. Lets take a look at the shift that pretty much defines him as a player:




Ken Daneyko said some interesting about this - that Spezza should actually back of Sid a little, so that he can't get turned out so quickly.


Flyers are up 2 games to 1 over the Devils.

Parise did some magic Friday night



And then the Devils wasted a throwback Marty effort last night as Carcillo won the game in OT.

The Red Wings/Coyotes series has to be the fastest series. The yotes are up 2-1. I love this goal:



Capitals and the Canadiens had a wild one Saturday night as the Caps tied up the series 1-1.



Some people are saying that Gomez, by fighting, actually sparked the Caps. However, the Canadiens were already on their heels at this point, giving up 2 straight goals. I'm fine with Gomez trying to re-energize his team. He can't stop this Backstrom shot. No one can.



Bruins and Sabres are tied up at one game apiece. Same with the Predators and Hawks and the Canucks and Kings

The Sharks are being so spring shark-like:

Weekend Wrap Up OR "Wheeling it" means trying to take a girl home

The Oilers cannot catch a break. Friday night, Sam Gagner ties it up with a little over a minuter remaining. And fans start thinking, maybe, just maybe, this will get the Oil some much needed confidence. Nope. Because James Neal won the game for the Stars. In regulation.



The Rangers got shut out. Again. On Saturday. There were some nice goals from Canadiens. Cammalleri score 2, high glove. But my favorites are this tip from Poulet



And this sill backhand from Plekanic:




Daniel Carcillo, showing flashes of offense against the Hurricanes:


Tim Thomas always gives full effort, but sometimes, he looks patently ridiculous:



Maybe he should have just covered that puck up.

What did I miss?

-Bress

What you missed last night while you were watching Sean Avery in Avatar

One is the star of Avatar, Sam Worthington. One is former Dallas Star, Sean Avery.


Flyers beat the Leafs, 6-2: Dan Carcillo hadfought in this game. Ray Ferraro referred to him as "sideshow" Carcillo after the fight. I think thats a great nickname, Dan "Sideshow" Carcillo. During Carcillo's fight against Jamal Mayers (mayer's second of the night), the camera cut to Aaron Asham looking upset that he wasn't involved in the melee. It was endearing.

Wild beat the Flames, 4-1: Belanger had 2 goals. His first one was a super-duper change up. He one-timed a bouncing puck, that if he hit clean should have been a no joke easy goal, but instead it fluttered just past the outstretched Kipper leg.

Rangers win over the Stars, 5-2: Sean Avery/Sam Worthington had a four point night, but considering that both teams actually pay his salary, shouldn't two of those points go to the Stars. We'll give them 2 assists, so its still a win for the Rangers.

Sharks beat the Blues, in OT, 2-1: Is Dany Heatly fast? He looked speedy as he pulled in away in OT on a breakaway. Nice finish too, high blocker, for the game winner.

Sabres beat the Lightning, 5-3: Are the Sabres underrated, overrated or rated? They are top of their division, but no one talks about them, so underrated?

Islanders win over the Avalanche, 3-2: This is better than Hossa's goal -

Weekend Wrap Up OR Who knew getting beat up could rally your team?

I was in Atlantic City for most of the weekend, so I missed a lot of hockey -I can't believe the Borgata didn't have the Center Ice Package! Anyway, as I was bleeding money at the black jack table I saw Daniel Carcillo pounce on a Penguin. I didn't catch who was until the replay and was surprised that Max Talbot was the other combatant. Even though Max got his ass handed to him (and black eye), that woke up his team who scored 5 unanswered goals to win the series. So the next time that some douchebag questions why fighting is in the game, use that example.

One last thing from that game - Sidney Crosby's first goal was great hand-eye coordination to knock it out of mid-air. However, he never gets that opportunity if he doesn't stop and go back to the front of the net. How many lazy players would have just glided around to the other side?



There were a lot of mid-air knock ins this weekend. Whitney had one last night. Someone else had one, I think in the San Jose game. Like I said, I missed a lot

I missed why Tortorella got all pissy. Because some one said that Staal likes to fuck Girardi? Way to preach discipline, Torts. Avery can really learn something from you. Some more questions from the Rangers/Caps series:

• How come it took so long for Washington to figure out that Lundqvist has a weak glove?
• Did Colton Orr get flagged for a horst collar tackle in Sunday's game?
• Where is Nik Zherdev?
• Who sat so Voros could play on Sunday?

Can someone please fill me on the Western Conference games from the weekend?

-Bress
.

What you missed last night because the Versus feed was like the Playboy channel growing up

I missed the Vancouver/St. Louis game last night because my Versus feed was scrambled like my eggs. This morning I saw 2 people wearing Rangers jerseys on my walk to the subway. That is way more than the usual zero I see.

Canucks beat the Blues, 2-1(lead series 1-o): As I said above, I couldn't watch this game. I did see the high-lights (twice) on NHL: On the Fly this morning. The slap pass from Demitra to Sedin for the first goal is true beauty. Its an obvious pass, because of the angle, but its got to be a slap to get enough speed on it to beat a goalie five-hole. Also, when Matt Barnaby was analyzing the play on ESPN this morning he said, "you can't give Demitra that much time and space." Well Matty, it was pretty much a power play for Vancouver as Lunogo had gone to the bench on a delayed power play. Thats why he had so much time and space to pick out Sedin in the slot. Oh yea, and Luongo has give up 2 goals in his last 4 or so games. Thats not grease in his hair, thats him exuding confidence.

Penguins beat the Flyers, 4-1 (lead series 1-0): If was writing a New York Times trendwatching piece about the NHL play-offs, it would be about face-offs. See everyone knows how important face-offs are, but I would make it a times trendwatch piece, by just talking about it now and only using limited evidence - like last nights Penguins game. The Penguins won almost 65% of the draws. And with the 9 power plays they had, thats a lot of time where Philly didn't have the puck. It wasn't complete domination, but the numbers make it seem that way. Also, somehow Daniel Carcillo got in trouble. He was more invisible than Chevy Chase in that move.....

Devils beat the Hurricanes, 4-1 (lead series 1-0): This game was complete domination by the home team. Cam "hot in march" Ward was not great, but also took on more shots than a Mr. W at a high school keg party. The Devils played like an efficient machine last night. The little plays they make are so fundamentally sound. For example on Elias' snipe - he doesn't get that puck if Gionta doesn't take the right angle to get body positioning on the Canes defenseman. Also, Parise went low stick side from the goal line - how is that possible!?

Rangers win over the Capitals, 4-3 (lead series 1-0): Jose Theodore made the Rangers an offensively gifted team. Well, so did Jeff Shultz. Henrik Lundqvist plays so deep in his net, it makes me think that he never learned his angles. I've always admired the Rangers penalty kill, its seems to me the most logical and ferocious way to be a man down. Lastly, Blair Betts broke his stick sliding to block Ovy's last second shot. Thats play-off hockey.

Daniel Carcillo (to PHI) for Scottie Upshall and 2nd round pick to (PHX)

I love Daniel Carcillo (we share a first name), but the Flyers really overpaid for him. Upshall and a pick? wow. Look he's more skilled than aaron asham, but isn't going to be killing penalties with Mike Richards. I'm not sure I even see the point of this deal from the Flyers perspective. The Coyotes, on the other hand, got more skilled today and added picks.

Mr. W, care to let us know your thoughts?

What you missed last night while you were getting ready for the trade deadline

Canucks beat the Senators, 5-2:
So Henrik is the
passer and Daniel is the
scorer. What about Alex?

Flames beat the Wild in OT, 3-2:
Gaborik would help,
at least, score in the third. He
can rest the first 2.

Stars win over the Oilers, 4-2:
The Stars ascent to
play-off position, is a
remarkable feat.

Blue Jackets beat the Maple Leafs in the shoot-out, 4-3:
Justin Pogge just is
not that good. He's no Carey
Price. That once made sense

Sharks win over the Kings, 4-2:
The underrated
players on the Sharks are studs.
Pavelski and more.

Coyotes beat the Thrashers in the shoot-out, 4-3:
So does Carcillo's
winning shoot-out goal complete
the Gordie hat trick?

Flyers beat the Sabres, 6-2:
Mike Richards equals
fantasy stud with PIMs, goals
and assists. Nice night!

Blackhawks shut-out the Panthers, 4-0:
The only upside
for the Panthers is that a
West team took the points.

Blues beat the Predators in OT, 2-1:
Tkachuk is a huge
fat rock in front of the net
that wont move, but scores

Devils beat the Lightning in the shoot-out, 3-2:
Parise is an
American beauty.
The new Modano?

Hurricanes beat the Islanders, 6-2:
The score says it all
You didn't want to watch this
one. No energy.

Penguins win over the Canadiens, 5-4:
This game had it all
High scoring third and called by
video game guy.