While these teams have to play out the season… the GRIND of the PLAYOFFS is about to begin and there really isn’t such a thing a first-round ‘powder-puff’ team. A stat that’s interesting except to us Flightless Birdie fans is that teams who lose in the Stanley Cup Finals don’t fare too well in their first series the next season. Of the last (11) Stanley Cups the ‘runners-up’ have …
combined to win a paltry one playoff series the following season. And, last season if you recall we whipped the Senators in round one who the previous season lost in the Stanley Cup Finals.
This is a long and a hard road and the Red Wings and Penguins have played over 200 games since the beginning of last season. I believe that their road is a tad longer and tougher than the other teams.
It takes 16 wins in a maximum of 28 games that are spread over approximately 60 days in April, May and June. For that to happen everything has to go right and as we all here know everything only goes right for one team.
This is what we do know… it’s not true that you have to have a winning streak of good games entering the playoffs as we once got knocked-for-a-loop by the Florida Panthers who won only 6 of their last 23 games on their way to the FINALS in 1995-96. Detroit only won 1 of their final 10 on their way to the 2001-02 Stanley CUP. So there isn’t anything magic. It truely is a brand new season.
The record favors those who finished strong over the last month but obviously that’s no certainty. That’s why EVERY SINGLE team of the 16 who qualified has a chance.
Last nights notes:
- Over $100,000 was collected in donations for the Fallen Heroes Fund in an effort to help the families in the wake of the fatal shootings of three Pittsburgh officers. Donations made by fans, players, coaches and Pen’s management. For those who wish to contribute here is a LINK… Fallen Heroes Fund.
- Individual awards – Malkin (MVP Three Star Honor) however, he got first star last night and maybe it should have went to Mathieu Garon. Godard wins 2 awards… voted as the Player’s Player and the Edward J. DeBartolo Community Service Award. Staal was the defenseman of the year and Orpik and Crosby shared the Good Guy (media co-operation award).
- Malkin gets 2 assists – Ovechkin gets nothing (he’s afraid of Tocchet) and Malkin increases lead in the Art Ross race. It’s a 4-point lead and both have one more game remaining.
- Satan put on re-entry waivers and will re-join the Pens by noon if not claimed.
- Holy Penalty Kill… it’s great to see the killing off the two 5 on 3’s but giving-up those 5 on 3’s isn’t so swift.
- Interesting observance of the night – Montreal scored 4 in the second period with Boston’s Tim Thomas in goal… then realized they want to finish with the 8th playoff spot so they can play Boston in the first round. The HABS own Boston in the playoffs.
- The Penguins are holding a Beard-A-Thon where fans can grow a beard proceeds to the Mario Lemieux Foundation. An excuse not to pick up the razor. The Philadelphia FLYS are doing the same thing only it’s only for women growing beards.
Bobby Clarke's wife at Mummers Parade? All of them FLYer woman can grow a better beards than Crosby!
This is DR Hook… carry on
While it is 16 games that we have to win it might be better viewed a (4) sprints to 4 games. The object being to win four of those sprints.
Very interesting how Thomas gor lit up by Montreal, Brodeur looking more like Kevin Weekes, Theodore giving up 7 to Florida, Biron pretty much inconsistent all season long and really only Cam Ward and M-A Fleury playing like the playoffs start in a few days.
The Pens have a few of these teams scared now… and rightfully so.
I’m thinking (right now) the Pens face the Capitals in the 2nd round but not before a good battle from the Flyers.
DR Hook, thanks for workin’ overtime for me and Dunlop, I had fun kickin’ his arse up an down the Myrtle links all week. I think we secured another blog poster so you don’t have to work so hard. When do these “Playoffs” start anyway?
Tonight’s game was once considered to be 2-teams fighting for the playoffs. It didn’t happen that way. There are some personal milestones within reach but all-in-all this game will probably be played like an exhibition game. Both sides trying to get the game over asap and especially not get hurt.
Jersey worries me simply because of Broduer. A goalie can make or break a series and nobody else has Marty’s resume. Also, teams that have been in somewhat of a cruise control can be a mystery. We’ve seen how both the Flyers and Canes have played when there’s a bit of urgency. Not so the Devil’s and I think they have the experience to get going. That being said, I’m thinking any of the 3 will be a long series. It’s all good though, I’m optimistic. By the way. very impressive site you have here. I’m looking foward to downing a few brews with you. For those not familiar with our AOL format, our specialty brew from our “Woo Hoo Train” has been the Fast Eddie Fugly Pale Ale, named of course in honor of our Governer of Philadelphia, Fast Eddie himself. Beware though, too many of these and your gut will end up looking like his. I’ll just defer and let the Cheez tell you about that new foul odor some may be exeriencing by our arrival.
(above) I meant to say wear and “tear”…….. as for the Devils – in the playoffs you have to be careful what you wish for. They are being played out as “weak” by the media — ‘MARTEE’ has been playing awful lately and their offense is all over the place and they do have a pretty mediocre defense . . . It’s going to be either the Devils, Flyers , or Hurricanes – maybe those Newark Devils are the best choice.
The Devils would be a good warm up for the start because they are not playing well, niether is MARTY!!!!!!
LET’S GO PEN’S
Any first round opponent is a dangerous opponent and the league parity makes it that much tougher. The wear and rear of the playoffs hasn’t set in yet.
@ Ron Malore
I don’t think anyone takes anything away from Ovechnik. He fires shots from all over the place. Actually he may be more valuable to the WASH CRAPS than Malkin is to the Penguins. But, captain material . . . no way. He’ll get it next season but he’s not captain material. I think the WASH CRAP fans see that too.
What’s with the FLYS going through the motions in the 3rd period? Are they TANKING to avoid the Hurricanes?
Winning in the playoffs also is lucky. All we need to do is review Frank Pietrangelo’s ‘the save’ on Peter Stastny and a goal waived-off that many don’t talk about—- at the end of the second period the ref ruled that Laurie Boshman kicked the puck in the net. We barely made it out of that first round that season!
It’s not like Ovechkin wasn’t trying as he took 16 shots last night—– 68% actually on goal! The term puck hog is very fitting. The Capitals have a captain (Chris Clark) who has averaged 25 games played over the past 2 seasons. There is a very evident reason why this guy (Ovechkin) isn’t the team’s captain.