Hockeyhead

I’ll be brief here because to be honest, that wasn’t much of a game seven.  The power-house Penguins were too much for Washington’s bag-of-holes goaltending tandem from the opening faceoff.  Simeon VarLAMov’s glove hand makes Andrew Raycroft look like a Glenn Healy hockey card.

Sid the Kid remains dominant over the tank-top wearing greaseball Alex Ovechkin.  During the traditional post-series handshake it looked like Ovie and Sergei Gonchar had a little disagreement over that dirty knee-on-knee hit from earlier in the series.  It also appeared as though Crosby looked Ovie in the eye and didn’t have to say much.

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.

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.

Chris Mason started his playoff beard way too early.  I love the trimmed Wookie look, don’t get me wrong, but usually you start the playoffs with some stubble and let ‘er grow as you win.  Anyway, the ‘Nucks celebrated to the Star Wars theme, the hell with being Canada’s team… they belong to Dantooine.

Alex Burrows did his job and drew a couple penalties, and Keith Tkachuk is lucky Burrows sold his punch ‘cuz he would have chucked knucks with him any other day.   With a 2-1 win for Vancouver, and Pittsburgh’s dismantling of the Flyers (more on that game in a minute), my playoff predictions are off to a hot start.

The post-game press conference was interesting, Alain Vigneault walked into the room and let everyone know “who’s the boss”.  Andy Murray was his creepy weird self, I’m convinced Skeletor lives under that skin.

I Broke Up With Hartnell Last Night

After seeing Scott Hartnell lay that dirty knee on Letang, I had to put him on notice that we’re no longer an item.  Sorry buddy, I loved the rouge ‘fro, and your crash and bang style but you don’t throw knees in the postseason.  I seem to recall Marc-Andre Fleury losing a shutout or two late in games during last year’s run to the Finals.  4-1 Pens, I’ll take it.

Going into this series there were some questions around the toughness of the Pens “skill players” in comparison to those of the Flyers’.  Bill Guerin introduced Braydon Coburn to a couple fists and let it be known that the Pens will not be fucked with.

Taking a Minute to Say Goodbye to Mac-T

Craig MacTavish, you did a noble job of bringing the Oilers back to relevance during your tenure.  We can call this an amiable split.  As for the Oilers, I think we should spend the summer apart and get back together in September.