Rangers fight back Buffalo

I missed most of the Rangers-Sabres game last night (sometimes I have other stuff to do than follow hockey). When I noticed they were still playing I logged on to watch the 2OT. I live in Sweden and I don't have the cable channel that airs NHL. I couldn't find a working broadcast on SopCast and eventually I turned to the NHL live web radio. Just as the live feed came through Buffalo entered the Ranger's zone. Drury went behind the net, then came out in front with a shot but Lundqvist made the save and then they went on attack. Nylander brought the puck into the offensive zone and fed it to Rozsival who let it rip through traffic! Wow! So in roughly one minute I got to hear the best part of what was the longest Rangers post-season game since 1971.

What a difference a goal makes

When Pavel Datsyuk scored his goal 18:36 into the third period it tied the series at 1-1. There really aren't any big margins in playoff hockey. Had the goal gone the other way, the Red Wings would have had to enter the sharktank with a big risk of losing the series in two games. Losing at home is never a good thing, however, I think Detroit are confident that they can do what the Sharks did, steal one away. Should Game 3 include as many giveaways as last night's game it's really up for grabs. Who ever makes the last mistake loses. In Game 2 that was the San Jose Sharks.

Patrik Elias was back on the ice for Game 2 against the Ottawa Senators and they really need this guy. He is probably one of the most underrated forwards in the NHL. Martin Brodeur stacked up 43 saves (and his 94th playoff win). Just like for Detroit, it was absolutly vital for New Jersey to win Game 2. Only once have they come back from trailing 2-0.

Sharks take big bite from Wings

It's a near impossible task beating a team like the San Jose Sharks when they're blocking 18 shots to your one. Kyle McLaren was acounted for five of those blocks as the Sharks beat Detroit 2-0 at the Joe. The Red Wings rely heavily on the blueline goals provided by Lidstrom and Schneider, and if those shots don't even reach the net they're in trouble. To make things worse for Detroit, they had 18 giveaways to San Jose's five.

I have to say that my perdiction for the second round looks bad right now with Rangers, Red Wings, Devils all down 0-1. But I'm sticking with it. Who did the monkey pick by the way?

Can the Wings beat big Joe's Sharks?

In Detroit the second round of the playoffs is a little more than an hour away as Big Joe and his Sharks visit the Joe for Game 1 of the series. And although I think the Red Wings will win this series, it certainly won't be easy. San Jose is a monster of a team with few, if any, weaknesses. Detroit needs to be as smart as they were against the Flames, and as tough.
A few worries in Detroit; according to sources in Detroit Zetterberg has been sitting out practice with an icepack on his back, though he is set to be playing tonight. Also, roumors claim both Kyle Calder and Mikael Samuelsson are playing with broken hands.

I guess a few days off for the Rangers didn't do them any good. Be sure they'll be ready to give Buffalo a better match in the Garden.

The Duck's first line really got going, McDonald scoring a hat-trick as they rolled past a still offensively struggling Canucks.

World Champs

With less than a week to go before the World Chapionships start in Moscow the big question in the Swedish media is; Who is elligiable to play because his team was knocked out of the Stanley Cup playoffs? Let me just start by saying that, as a Swede I hope we have good enough team to defend last years goldmedal. However, I am quite sick of the excitement of the papers when ever a player is out of the playoffs. Why can't you journalists just enjoy these guys doing what they want most of all? Stop hoping for any team with Swedes on it to loose. Beside the fact that it's annoying, it's not very professional for a reporter to take sides in any sporting event.

As for team Sweden? They're fine!

Second round drama

The Sedins more than showed up for the final showdown. They dominated the Stars and helped the Vancouver Canucks clinch the final berth to the second round of the playoffs.

So let's take a look at what's next.

(1) Detroit vs (5) San Jose
Detroit will go through because they have more depth and a better goalie.

(2) Anaheim vs (3) Vancouver
The Ducks strong defense, led by Chris Pronger will be too much for the offensively struggeling Canucks.

(1) Buffalo vs (6) NY Rangers
NY Rangers are on a roll and Buffalo aren't looking as confident and strong as in previous playoffs.

(2) New Jersey vs (4) Ottawa
I would argue that Ottawa was the strongest and most consistent team of the first round. However, to beat the Devils they will have to step it up even more. I say New Jersey in 7.

Detroit put out Flames

The Detroit Red Wings finished off the struggling Flames with a 2-1 win in Calgary, and that is also a win for hockey. Through out this series the Red Wings have dominated Calgary and it was clear from the start that this team was not even close to the 04 team that reached the Stanley Cup finals. What is missing? For starters, a good leader. Jerome Iginla is (sometimes) a really good hockeyplayer. However, a captain should not spend as much time in the penaltybox as he does. He picks fights on a regular basis and calls it "old school hockey". Detroit on the other hand is full of leaders, both young and old. I really think they have the right mix to go all the way. And I certainly wouldn't be surpriced if they did, the way they played against the Flames.

Vancouver or Dallas? Since Vancouver was my pick earlier I'm sticking with it. But for that to happen the Sedin twins and Naslund must wake up. The Sedins are scoreless in the last fime games!

A final battle

What looked like a sure trip to the second round for the Vancouver Canucks, they led the series 3-1, has now come down to a final Game 7. For the Dallas Stars it's a first, to come back and force a seventh game when being down 3-1. Marty Turco shut out the Canucks for the third time this series and he has stopped 190 of 199 (.955 save percentage) shots so far. With playoff first-timer Roberto Luongo not far behind at .950 (209 of 220), this series is really a battle of the goalies. Dallas may have the momentum, but the Canucks have home ice advantage. All that is certain is that both goalies will give their teams a good chance at winning in this final showdown.

Perdicting like a monkey

I was looking at what McKenzie, Pang, Roenick and the other experts over at TSN had perdicted for the first round of the playoffs. It turns out they all had Anaheim over Minnesota, and the only one who shared my faith in the now eliminated Wild was Maggie the monkey who perdicts through the spin of a wheel. To be fair, even though the monkey got the most wrongs, they all (except McKenzie, who could go 8-0 if Detroit, Vancouver and Tampa Bay go through) perdicted at least one of the series to go the wrong way.

As for me, I could go 7-1 if New Jersey can close the bag in Tampa Bay, Detroit beats Calgary and Vancouver can finish off the Stars.

By the way, the monkey made the same perdiction as I in those three series.

All squared up out west

With to wins in the Pengrowth Saddledome the Calgary Flames have tied the series against Detroit at 2-2. With Game 5 in Detroit the question is if the Red Wings can regroup and regain momentum against the resurged Flames. If they play the way they did in the first two games, they should be able to snatch the vital Game 5 and put the pressure back on Calgary for Game 6.

So the Duck flew past the Wild. Not a huge surprice I guess. Jean-Sebastien Giguere was back between the posts for Anaheim, and he was one of the biggest factors to their win. Giguere had 26 saves, including four during one powerplay for Minnesota. Finnish rookie Niklas Backstrom ended a great season with 34 saves for the Wild and should be interesting to see next year.

The well oiled machine, the Ottawa Senators, finished off the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 3-0 win Thursday night. The Senators will definately be a huge obstacle for which ever team they will face in the second round.

New York Sweep

One year ago the banged up and out of form Rangers were dismissed by the Devils in four games. This year the Rangers are the only team to pull off that feat, sweeping the Atlanta Thrashers in four straight games. This is obviously a completely different team from last year. The offense is working like clockwork and defensively Lundqvist is getting a lot more support. If they can keep this momentum going into the next round, there is no telling how far the Rangers can go.

New Jersey-Tampa Bay is the only series that is tied at the moment. The Lightning had a 2-1 lead in the series, but now find them selves in a bit of a jam having lost at home with the series heading back to New Jersey for Game 5.

All season Nashville was among the NHL's best clubs, a strong physical team with an abundance of skill. Yet they are now just one game away from being eliminated by the Sharks because everything the Preds do good, San Jose does so much better in every game.

I don't think anyone is very surprised over Chris Drury's game-winner against Pittsburgh last night. In 102 career playoff games he now has 14 of them. He is still a real clutch player and that is a big reason why the Sabres will go far this year.

First round

(1) Buffalo - (8) NY Islanders
Sabres lead series 2-1
I wouldn't have been surprised had the Sabres swept the Isles. However, the Islanders are a hard working team with both a lot of skill and dept, and they are giving Buffalo a run for their money. A big questionmark on the limited icetime given captain Alexei Yashin though. In the end the Sabres, with players like Briere, Vanek and Drury providing offense, will wear down the Islanders. As always in the play-offs the golie factor is huge and Ryan Miller is letting no one down at the moment.

(2) New Jersey - (7) Tampa Bay
Lightning lead series 2-1
Vincent Lecavalier might be the best player in the play-offs at the moment. The Lightning's staff and fans would certainly argue that is the case, as it looks like he is leading his team past the Devils and into the second round. Add to that, Johan Holmqvist is stealing the show from Vezina contender Martin Brodour. The Devils will try to even the series by splitting the Lightnings home advantage, making the score 2-2 as they head back to East Rutherford for Game 5.

(3) Atlanta - (6) NY Rangers
Rangers lead series 3-0
After the 7-0 blowout last night and with the Thrasher's defense still not showing up, this looks like it could be the only sweep of the first round. Unlike last year, these Rangers are solid in both defense and offense. Also unlike last seasons play-off, key players like Jagr and Lundqvist are helthy and showing good form. Atlanta's Hossa-Kozlov-Belanger line has just one goal and no assists (Eric Belangers lone goal came in Game 1) which is a big disappointment.

(4) Ottawa - (5) Pittsburgh
Senators lead series 3-1
Going back home with a commanding 3-1 lead the Senators will try to bury Pittsburgh in Game 5. The Senators are playing smart, keeping Crosby and Malkin off the scoreboard. Malkin has yet to score in the series. Poor power-play, going 0-5 in Game 4, won't make it easier for the Pens.

(1) Detroit - (8) Calgary
Red Wings lead series 2-1
Like most people I was a little surprised at how the Red Wings beat the Flames in the first two games. Learning their lesson from the past few years they the Wings abandoned their usual possesion playing for a more physical game with forechecking and dump and chase. Also, Kiprusoff, facing a combined 97 shots in the first two games, weren't getting much help from his defense. In Game 3, playing in the Saddledome (Calgary led the league in home wins with 40), the Flames got Lidstrom off Iginla's back and managed to inject some blood into the team. If the Wing don't win the next one in Calgary they will surely rap this up when the series heads back to Detroit.

(2) Anaheim - (7) Minnesota
Ducks lead series 3-1
I really thought this would be one of the closest series in the first round. With Marian Gaborik and Pavol Demitra up front and Wes Walz on defense and back success Niklas Backstrom in goal, Minnesota has been a tough nut to crack. They ranked second in the league in goals against. But, being just one game away, the Ducks seem to have them figured out. The Ducks have a blueline many teams dream of with Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer (only cupwinner on the roster), a solid shutdown line with Samuel Pahlsson, Rob Niedermayer and Travis Moen and one of the play-off's hottest golies in Ilya Bryzgalov. Add to that a rejuvinated Teemu Salanne and the Ducks look like a real contender for the Stanley Cup final.

(3) Vancouver - (6) Dallas
Canucks lead series 3-1
It looks like this is the year the Sedin twins will show the league why they were drafted 2nd and 3rd. They are leading a Canuck offense that is putting Marty Tyrco under alot of preassure. And while the Stars two leading scorers, Modano and Lehtinen, aren't putting any big numbers on the board, it looks like the Canucks might end this at home in Game 5.

(4) Nashville - (5) San Jose
Sharks lead series 2-1
This turned out to be as close a series as it was hard to perdict. In the first two games the Predators were blamed for playing dirty and also had equipmant problems (broken skates). However, the Preds possess more skill, size and persistence than most other NHL team and they will look to even this series before heading back to Tennessee for Game 5. It won't be easy against the more experienced Sharks who's possess tough third line with Mike Grier and Curtis Brown gives Thornton and Marleau a good chance to take charge offensively.

Stanley Cup perdiction

So my perdiction for the first round of the cup was as follows..

EAST:
Ottawa over Pittsburgh
New Jersey over Tampa Bay
NY Rangers over Atlanta
Buffalo over NY Islanders

WEST:
San Jose over Nashville
Detroit over Calgary
Minnesota over Anaheim
Vancouver over Dallas

So far it's looking not too shabby.