Just a few random notes from the first round...
- Nice to see Rick DiPietro keeping busy in the Versus studio, rubbing shoulders with luminaries such as Keith Jones and Brian Engblom. DP seemed a bit shaky at first, but I'd chalk that up to adjusting to having someone in his ear telling him what to say. Hard for someone when they're used to shooting from the hip (no pun intended). But in time, DP is going to be a star in the television studio. He's got the look and the charisma; all he has to do now is get comfortable in front of the camera and be his opinionated self. Judging from the Islanders' prospects for the future, it looks as though Ricky will have plenty of time each April to analyze playoff games.
- I can't locate the stat now, but I heard on Versus the other night that the team who scores first is extremely likely to win. At the time, the record of the team who scores first was something like 17-1. Now? Um... the tables might have turned. Sort of.
Last night, Ottawa scored first. They were at home, so you might figure that would get the crowd into a frenzy. However, since Ottawa is a horrendous team, it didn't mean anything. Pittsburgh came back and won the game quite easily. But we saw two instances in recent days when the first goal did mean something.
As we discussed yesterday, Calgary found themselves in a 3-0 hole to San Jose in the first four minutes of Game 3. But Calgary was not to be denied, and they ended up taking the game with a great comeback. Yesterday, Nashville pulled off a similar trick. Detroit scored first, silencing the Nashville faithful (yes, they do exist). However, it wasn't enough. Thanks to a furious third-period flurry, Nashville ended up not only seizing the game, but momentum in the series as well. In the heat of the moment, Zach proclaimed this the greatest game he's ever seen. Whether or not that's true is up for debate. But it does a lot for hockey in Nashville.
Anyway. So what's the big deal about two games? Well, in both instances, the road team jumped out to an early lead, eliminating the well-documented effect of the crowd on the home team. Common sense dictates that scoring early on the road puts the visiting team at a distinct advantage because it allows them to control the game. But there's no shutting up these crowds. Not in the playoffs, and not in Game 3 - the first home games of both Nashville and Calgary. We saw the Rangers came back on Sunday after letting up the first goal against the Devils thanks in large part to a bloodthirsty crowd. Just because they didn't close the deal doesn't diminish the crowd's impact on coming back from an early deficit.
- Speaking of the Rangers, everyone's been talking about Sean Avery lately. We may as well throw our hats into the ring here. Let's just get one thing out of the way before getting started - I hate Sean Avery's guts. At the same time, I think he does a hell of a job. Islander fans who knock Avery for his dirty play ought to look in the mirror and think back to fifteen years ago. Without Darius Kasparaitis knocking Mario Lemieux around at every opportunity, the Islanders didn't stand a chance against Pittsburgh. Somehow, it was fine to see him level Lemieux behind the play, but it's not okay for Avery to do what he does? Go figure.
Say what you want to about Avery's taunting Martin Brodeur, but you can't deny that it worked. And while it wasn't Brodeur who left Avery open in the slot, it's hard to focus with all that going on. People love to call Avery a pest, and he certainly fills that role, but he's also a very talented offensive player. He also seems to have a sense of the moment; in a very small sample size of thirteen career playoff games, he has nine points. The list of agitators in the history of the NHL is endless, but the great ones saved their best for the playoffs. Esa Tikkanen and Claude Lemieux were average players during the regular season, but each found another level in the post-season. Coincidentally enough, Tikkanen won five Cups and Lemieux won four. And this writer feels very strongly that Claude Lemieux deserves to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame. Maybe Tikkanen should join him there. Avery will probably never be enshrined in the Hall, but he's earning himself a lot of money these playoffs - both through his play and the attention he's drawing.
Anyway. Once again, lots of pests, lots of agitators. How many have prompted the NHL to modify its rulebook in the middle of a series? Even though Avery was probably over the line, it's ridiculous that the league can just change a rule on a whim without going through the proper channels. Sure, it's a minor rule, but it sets an awful precedent. If rules can be changed that easily and with no approval from the NHLPA, why the hell aren't face visors mandatory yet? Seriously. Maybe it's time the NHL stops reacting to the media and start making some smart decisions without being prompted.
- Nice to see Rick DiPietro keeping busy in the Versus studio, rubbing shoulders with luminaries such as Keith Jones and Brian Engblom. DP seemed a bit shaky at first, but I'd chalk that up to adjusting to having someone in his ear telling him what to say. Hard for someone when they're used to shooting from the hip (no pun intended). But in time, DP is going to be a star in the television studio. He's got the look and the charisma; all he has to do now is get comfortable in front of the camera and be his opinionated self. Judging from the Islanders' prospects for the future, it looks as though Ricky will have plenty of time each April to analyze playoff games.
- I can't locate the stat now, but I heard on Versus the other night that the team who scores first is extremely likely to win. At the time, the record of the team who scores first was something like 17-1. Now? Um... the tables might have turned. Sort of.
Last night, Ottawa scored first. They were at home, so you might figure that would get the crowd into a frenzy. However, since Ottawa is a horrendous team, it didn't mean anything. Pittsburgh came back and won the game quite easily. But we saw two instances in recent days when the first goal did mean something.
As we discussed yesterday, Calgary found themselves in a 3-0 hole to San Jose in the first four minutes of Game 3. But Calgary was not to be denied, and they ended up taking the game with a great comeback. Yesterday, Nashville pulled off a similar trick. Detroit scored first, silencing the Nashville faithful (yes, they do exist). However, it wasn't enough. Thanks to a furious third-period flurry, Nashville ended up not only seizing the game, but momentum in the series as well. In the heat of the moment, Zach proclaimed this the greatest game he's ever seen. Whether or not that's true is up for debate. But it does a lot for hockey in Nashville.
Anyway. So what's the big deal about two games? Well, in both instances, the road team jumped out to an early lead, eliminating the well-documented effect of the crowd on the home team. Common sense dictates that scoring early on the road puts the visiting team at a distinct advantage because it allows them to control the game. But there's no shutting up these crowds. Not in the playoffs, and not in Game 3 - the first home games of both Nashville and Calgary. We saw the Rangers came back on Sunday after letting up the first goal against the Devils thanks in large part to a bloodthirsty crowd. Just because they didn't close the deal doesn't diminish the crowd's impact on coming back from an early deficit.
- Speaking of the Rangers, everyone's been talking about Sean Avery lately. We may as well throw our hats into the ring here. Let's just get one thing out of the way before getting started - I hate Sean Avery's guts. At the same time, I think he does a hell of a job. Islander fans who knock Avery for his dirty play ought to look in the mirror and think back to fifteen years ago. Without Darius Kasparaitis knocking Mario Lemieux around at every opportunity, the Islanders didn't stand a chance against Pittsburgh. Somehow, it was fine to see him level Lemieux behind the play, but it's not okay for Avery to do what he does? Go figure.
Say what you want to about Avery's taunting Martin Brodeur, but you can't deny that it worked. And while it wasn't Brodeur who left Avery open in the slot, it's hard to focus with all that going on. People love to call Avery a pest, and he certainly fills that role, but he's also a very talented offensive player. He also seems to have a sense of the moment; in a very small sample size of thirteen career playoff games, he has nine points. The list of agitators in the history of the NHL is endless, but the great ones saved their best for the playoffs. Esa Tikkanen and Claude Lemieux were average players during the regular season, but each found another level in the post-season. Coincidentally enough, Tikkanen won five Cups and Lemieux won four. And this writer feels very strongly that Claude Lemieux deserves to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame. Maybe Tikkanen should join him there. Avery will probably never be enshrined in the Hall, but he's earning himself a lot of money these playoffs - both through his play and the attention he's drawing.
Anyway. Once again, lots of pests, lots of agitators. How many have prompted the NHL to modify its rulebook in the middle of a series? Even though Avery was probably over the line, it's ridiculous that the league can just change a rule on a whim without going through the proper channels. Sure, it's a minor rule, but it sets an awful precedent. If rules can be changed that easily and with no approval from the NHLPA, why the hell aren't face visors mandatory yet? Seriously. Maybe it's time the NHL stops reacting to the media and start making some smart decisions without being prompted.
1) There is a shirt I saw that has AVERY RULES on it and then the text of the amendment to the rule. I didn't buy it because XXL is more money than XL and that upsets me, but thought it was cool.
ReplyDelete2) Pretty sure you called DoublePen attractive.
3) My prediction of Ottawa over Pittsburgh in 7 still stands tall.
4) Greatest game ever? Nah. That was just to make you jealous. But they were losing, and then 2 real-time minutes later, they were winning 4-3. Pretty badass.
5) Newsday had a side-by-side online of two reporters talking about Avery. The pro-Avery guy said...
So let me get this straight? Sean Avery does something to help his team win that is allowed by NHL rules. So the NHL changes its rules in the middle of a playoff series???