Hockeyhead

At least he doesn’t go out at night dressed like this:

I’m sure Sean Avery will find a way to weasel into some headlines before a winner is declared in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Now, if it’s actual hockey you want, then you’ve got the match-up we’ve all been waiting for:  Crosby vs. Ovechkin!

Regardless of who wins this series (Penguins in six), all eyes will be permanently fixed upon the world’s top two three players for the next two weeks.  The action starts Saturday afternoon (must be an NHL/NBC thing).  The NHL may actually grab a couple headlines south of the border for something not involving a broken neck, or sloppy seconds.

I can’t wait for this.  Crosby is better muhahahaha!

Big surprise, San Jose gets knocked out of the playoffs after a very dominant regular season.  New coach, same result.

If you missed it (or you don’t read Puck Daddy like it’s your job), Joe Thornton and Ryan Getzlaf dropped mitts off of the opening faceoff.  Not the most impressive of dust-ups, but the marquee players involved make it noteworthy.  Getzlaf assisted on the Ducks’ first goal and scored one himself in the third, completing the “Gordie Howe Hat-Trick”.  Thornton effectively disappeared from the score-sheet.

In a perfect world, a team named “Ducks” would exist only in minor league baseball.

Nothing against Calgary, Nikolai Khabibulin really has their number though (43 stops tonight, and a Cup win a few years back).  If Canada is to celebrate a Stanley Cup victory this year it will have to be in Vancouver.  Of course, we told you that nearly two weeks ago.

Any Flames’ fans out there worried about the remaining four-years on Miikka Kiprusoff’s contract?  He’s got a lot to prove, again.  You can probably say goodbye to Mike Cammalleri, if the salary cap is to go down (and most predict it will), he’ll be chasing dollar signs and Toronto rumours all summer.

Double Eastern Conference Game 7’s tomorrow evening.  It’s a toss-up for your attention as both games should provide ample entertainment.  Although, seeing what Ovechkin can bring to a series-deciding game will be the story to follow.

 So I’m just cruising through the usual Saturday blog headlines, and I come across this beauty from Puck Daddy:
“Flyers’ draft pick charged with killing referee and burying body”.

Needless to say, I started laughing my ass off thinking it was going to one hell of a satirical send-up to the Flyers’ fading playoff hopes (Pittsburgh is going to bag-beat those jerks).  Man, was I wrong.  It’s true, and bizarre.  The draft pick at the centre of this… bloody mess?, is Ladislav Skurco and the following is an excerpt from the post at Puck Daddy:

The Philadelphia Flyers sixth-round pick in 2004 has been charged with murder after being accused of stabbing referee Marek Liptag 14 times back in January 2008 over a monetary dispute. Liptag’s remains weren’t found until this past December in Slovakian forest.”

I mean, we’re all familiar with the “Broad Street Bullies” shtick, but isn’t this taking things just a little bit too far?

Alex Burrows has made Sean Avery obsolete.  He’s the total package: agitator, high-flying winger, sniper, super-pest, knuckle-chucker, ECHL graduate, I could go on.

The Blues brought their best, but they were no match for Roberto Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks.  Burrows buried Chris Mason’s premature playoff beard with an overtime goal with just seconds to go in St. Louis.  The ‘Nucks are facing the potential of a very long layoff between series, but they’re one team that could really benefit from a rest.  Mats Sundin sat out his second consecutive game with a case of pudginess, but he’ll likely shed the spare-tire over the course of the next week or so.

In related news, Crosby, Malkin and the rest of the Pittsburgh Penguins are one win away from sending the Flyers packing.

I was wondering what exactly was being said between Alex Burrows, Ryan Kesler and David Backes at the end of the second period in St. Louis last night.  I wouldn’t call this classy, but I can’t say I’m not surprised.  Who says being raised in a locker room is a bad thing?  To them I say: “give your balls a tug, you fucking pussy”.  Hat tip to Deadspin on this.