Archive for April, 2009
HOCKEY GOD SECOND ROUND PREDICTIONS
BATTLE OF THE TITANS
PITTSBURGH vs. WASHINGTON
PICK : Pittsburgh
After the Penguins did away with the Flyers very impressively in the first round using the solid no drama goaltending of the younger seasoned pro M.A Fleury I think the Pens will take the Caps in this series.
Fleury some people in hockey say is yet to prove himself which I think is wrong as he did help get the Pens to the Stanley Cup Finals last season.
Well, if you are going off inexperience than you must say that the Caps rookie goaltender with not even an NHL season as of yet under his belt is the clear underdog on this series.
That’s not to say that the underdog in these series always lose just ask the Ducks who just knocked out the League’s regular season champs in six games.
But the Pens have to much up front for the wet behind the ear Caps who do have the best offensive goal scorer in the NHL with Alex Ovechkin to that there is no doubt.
But the Pens have Sidney Crosby who was excellent in the first round against the tough Flyers and played through traffic and constant abuse from Mike Richards and still put up numbers clearly showing that this kid is the real playoff deal.
Then you mix in a solid first line that also has Chris Kunitz along with veteran Bill Guerin you have all you can handle then the Pens second line comes out with the NHL leading point producer Evgeni Malkin on it and the Caps will have all they can handle.
BOSTON vs. CAROLINA
PICK : Boston
Boston goaltender Tim Thomas had an outstanding NHL regular season but as we all know in hockey that and a glass of milk will get you a milk moustache.
In other words it doesn’t matter how good you were in reg season it’s playoff time and anything can happen again look at San Jose Sharks. So in saying that Thomas was so so and was not tested nearly as often as the Canes will in this series.
But and this is a big but the Bruins depth is unmatched I believe in the NHL simply because their coach Claude Julien very smartly plays his entire bench every night of every game.
They have like every team at this time of year a solid first line that includs Marc Savard, Milan Lucic along with Phil Kessel but it’s the Bruins toughness with the likes of Scott Thornton who plays on the teams fourth line giving them tremendous depth at this time of year.
Boston will have to contend with the Canes strong goaltending of Cam Ward who was excellent against the Devils in the first round.
Bruins massive large defenseman captain Zdeno Chara will have to be at his best in this series because the Canes have many more weapons than the Habs had with the likes of Erik Staal ( series winner vs Devils) along with Ray Whitney, Chad Larose, Rod Brind’Amour and the feisty Scott Walker to deal with.
Boston’s depth will take over the series and as a former coach I will tell you there is nothing more intimidating for another team when the coach feels they can play any one of their lines against any one of your lines without issue.
CANUCKS vs. CHICAGO
PICK : Canucks
First off I want to say I love the way Joel Quenneville coaches his teams and he has done a masterful job with the youthful Hawks this season and in the first round vs. Calgary beating them in six games.
But after saying that and taking into consideration how well the young Hawks have played in front of their solid Stanley Cup goaltender they will meet a much harder to play against motivated group in Vancouver in this round.
Canucks have the best goalie without question in the league in Roberto Luongo and he will carry the Canucks to the Conference final.
To go with the teams goalie they also have what I consider the series best defence core that can move the puck, drop their gloves, take the game to the Hawk forwards like no other left in these playoffs.
The only question for the Canucks can the Sedin twins keep up their first round pace and play through the rough traffic the Hawks will put them through.
If they can continue along with Mats Sundin ( if healthy) and Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows, Pavol Dimitra will out score the Hawks.
Canucks grit and fourth line players are excellent shot blockers and penalty killers and overall great depth players will make a huge difference in this series.
This series is sure to have massive fireworks as it goes on and the Canucks are Canada’s last hope for the Cup.
DETROIT vs. DUCKS
PICK: DUCKS
Yes, you read that right ! Just like I predicted in the first round I believed and still do that the Ducks have better goaltending than Detroit in both the goalies for whoever plays.
Ducks have solid defence along with a skilled gritty top six that have proven by winning a Cup one season removed that they can play against anyone in the league.
This won’t be easy despite the Wings goaltending of Chris Osgood because as everyone knows the Wings have an excellent roster full of players that have won and can score goals with a deadly power play.
My upset prediction relies on the Ducks roster continuing their relentless play by pushing around the Wings the way they did the Sharks beating them up in the corners beating them every game to loose pucks and overall outplaying the Sharks physically that included the score board winning in six games which not many would have predicted.
This will be a long hard fought series with another Ducks upset on the way . . .
For Hockey God I’m Dave Frost
www.joneslimousine.com
SECOND ROUND SET IN THE NHL
BRODEUR LET'S IN WINNER
NEW JERSEY BLOWS LATE LEAD
The Devils were within 80 seconds of winning Game 7 and advancing to the second round when Marty Brodeur got real shaky giving up 2 goals, the winner from Erik Staal with 31.7 seconds left in regulation time mere seconds from a game 7 overtime.
I would love to be a fly on the bosses wall today as Lou Lamoriello will be just beside himself with that type of loss with his team that lots of hockey experts were picking to get to the Stanley Cup finals this season.
Coach Brent Sutter and all the talk of him leaving to go back home after the season may not have to ask to get out of his contract, he may be thrown out by Lou who does not take losing very well with his Devils.
I loved the way Sutter played when he was in the NHL and I even think he did an excellent job the last two seasons getting the Devils to play a more upbeat system than they have in the past but losing will take it’s toll and he simply went to the veterans well to many times and they got worn out.
I said during the series and I will repeat it now Sutter did not use 17 goal scorer David Clarkson enough in this series who had scored the game winner in the 1-0 Devils win in the series and another huge goal giving him 2 for the series with very little ice time.
Clarkson was on the fourth line which in the past with the Devils meant he would play a regular shift and usually some special teams time. But Sutter very oddly went against the Devils norm this playoff only playing the fourth line under the 7 minute mark on almost every night in the seven games.
To make matters worse Clarkson who was a force all season for the Devils sat and watched the last 13 minutes with Mike Rupp last night as Sutter went to the older veterans over and over of Madden-Pandolfo- Shanahan who simply burnt out in the end.
I knowing Lou will be in shock if Sutter returns behind the bench after two solid regular seasons that resulted in two playoff disappointments in the swamp. Lou simply does not like to lose and will turn over every stone to find the answers.
CAPS TAKE RANGERS IN THE THIRD
FEDEROV BAGS WINNER FOR CAPS
Washington Capitals were badly out played in the first period of last nights game seven at home giving them reminders once again of last seasons disappointing game seven loss to the Flyers.
Rangers came out flying and got a goal from former Leaf Nik Antropov who finally looked good playing with different line-mates.
Brandon Dubinsky who combined with line-mates Sean Avery and Antropov to dominate down low through the first 40 minutes got the teams only goal in the first period to stake the Rangers to a 1-0 lead.
This series should have been over and make no mistake was blown back in New York when the Rangers didn’t finish the Capitals off in game 6 after having series leads of 2-0 and 3-1, this should have never happened.
Blame coach John Tortorella who did a good job with the Rangers after taking over from Tom Renney helping keep the Rangers in the playoffs down the regular season stretch.
But Torts as he normally does created his own drama with the team first sending Avery a mixed message by benching him for a game in which the Rangers lost in Washington for bad penalties there by the mixed message is: play on the line- be a nasty rat without going over but if you do I will sit you ? Instead of benching Avery a few shifts.
This was a dumb ass move by Torts and it sure as hell backfired with Avery who was only sat because he is well Avery and Torts wanted everyone to know who’s boss.
Well Torts showed he is boss alright and he also is watching the rest of the playoffs on TV.
Maybe he can go back to the studio with TSN and whine about Avery and his OWN stupid suspension he took which was for game 6 in New York, yes that game the one they simply could not afford to lose in this series.
Torts will be back as GM Glen Sather has a life contract with the Blue shirts but so will Avery as Sather wants them both to work together and get along. This will be great to watch as the season goes on in New York next September.
But Torts will rethink those decisions he made with Avery and water bottles that is for-sure !
HOCKEY GOD WILL HAVE IT’S SECOND ROUND PICKS POSTED HERE THURSDAY
FOR A LISTING OF ALL THE GAME DATES WITH TV-CHANNELS PROVIDED BY THE NHL PLEASE GO TO THE “HOCKEY POOLS SECTION” ON THIS SITE.
For Hockey God I’m Dave Frost
www.joneslimousine.com
SECOND ROUND SERIES DATES & TV
| SERIES I |
|
NETWORK | |||||
| Friday, May 1 | at Boston, 7:30 p.m. | VERSUS (JIP), TSN | |||||
| Sunday, May 3 | at Boston, 7:30 p.m. | VERSUS, TSN | |||||
| Wednesday, May 6 | at Carolina, 7:30 p.m. | VERSUS (JIP), TSN | |||||
| Friday, May 8 | at Carolina, 7:30 p.m. | VERSUS (JIP), TSN | |||||
| *Sunday, May 10 | at Boston, 7:30 p.m. | VERSUS, TSN | |||||
| *Tuesday, May 12 | at Carolina, 7:00 p.m. | VERSUS, TSN | |||||
| *Thursday, May 14 | at Boston, TBD | TSN | |||||
| SERIES J |
|
NETWORK | |||||
| Saturday, May 2 | at Washington, 1:00 p.m. | NBC, CBC, RDS | |||||
| Monday, May 4 | at Washington, 7:00 p.m. | VERSUS, CBC, RDS | |||||
| Wednesday, May 6 | at Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m. | VERSUS, CBC, RDS | |||||
| Friday, May 8 | at Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m. | VERSUS, CBC, RDS | |||||
| *Saturday, May 9 | at Washington, 7:00 p.m. | VERSUS, CBC, RDS | |||||
| *Monday, May 11 | at Pittsburgh, TBD | VERSUS, CBC, RDS | |||||
| *Wednesday, May 13 | at Washington, 7:00 p.m. | VERSUS, CBC, RDS | |||||
| SERIES K |
|
NETWORK | |||||
| Friday, May 1 | at Detroit, 7:00 p.m. | VERSUS, TSN2 | |||||
| Sunday, May 3 | at Detroit, 2:00 p.m. | NBC, TSN | |||||
| Tuesday, May 5 | at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m. | VERSUS, TSN | |||||
| Thursday, May 7 | at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m. | VERSUS, TSN | |||||
| *Sunday, May 10 | at Detroit, 5:00 p.m. | TSN | |||||
| *Tuesday, May 12 | at Anaheim, TBD | VERSUS, TSN | |||||
| *Thursday, May 14 | at Detroit, TBD | VERSUS, TSN | |||||
| SERIES L |
|
NETWORK | |||||
| Thursday, April 30 | at Vancouver, 9:00 p.m. | CBC, VERSUS | |||||
| Saturday, May 2 | at Vancouver, 9:00 p.m. | CBC, VERSUS | |||||
| Tuesday, May 5 | at Chicago, 8:00 p.m. | CBC, VERSUS | |||||
| Thursday, May 7 | at Chicago, 8:00 p.m. | CBC, VERSUS | |||||
| *Saturday, May 9 | at Vancouver, 10:30 p.m | CBC, VERSUS | |||||
| *Monday, May 11 | at Chicago, 9:00 p.m. | CBC, VERSUS (JIP) | |||||
| *Thursday, May 14 | at Vancouver, TBD | CBC, VERSUS |
RANGERS IN TROUBLE . . . CANES SPANK DEVILS
NYR asst GM & Coach Jim Schoenfeld way back when he coached the Devils
WASHINGTON 5 RANGERS 3
Madison Square Gardens in New York in downtown Broadway is usually a great place to play for the Rangers especially in playoffs. The fans are loud and they often go after the other teams best players chanting their names along with their Ranger favorites.
No John Tortorella as he was suspended for throwing a water bottle which is why Jim Schoenfeld was coaching the team Sunday in game six sending the teams back to Washington for game seven.
The only thing that the Rangers can hang onto after leading this series 3-1 at one point is the Caps blew a game seven just a year ago to the Flyers in overtime at home.
But this is this year and as they say that was last year and the Caps will be telling each other that they have learned from that game and will be better in this one.
Sean Avery returned to the lineup after Torts sat him out for bad penalties in game 5 in Washington and then it was Torts who was out for what the NHL thinks was undisciplined actions of his own. It’s awfully bad karma for Torts to bench the player they pay to play that style and then do it himself.
Rangers are in trouble if their goaltender doesn’t wake up in game seven and if Torts can’t pull another rabbit out of his hat with his players.
CANES BEAT DOWN DEVILS
Cam Ward watched as his counterpart Marty Brodeur threw a shutout in game five in New Jersey to give the Devils a 3-2 series lead. So he threw one of his own in game six at home as the Canes beat up on the Devils 4-0 in a very loud contest in front of the Carolina fans.
With the series down to a one game winner take all game seven you would think that the Canes have the advantage being that they are a touch younger and rely heavily on Erik Staal ( 2 goals Sunday) and Ray Whitney who have been great for the Canes.
The Devils look old with very little change in their lineup for years now still employing the checking line of John Madden, Jay Pandolfo and whoever they bring in year to year this year being Brendan Shanahan who is an odd choice to play a checking role.
Brent Sutter is a great coach but the Devils seem to be getting stung by two things in this series.
1. They have not really made any big adjustments after losses except sitting Bobby Holik for captain Jamie Langenbrunner who was back from injury.
2. The Devils seem to always play the same old same old come playoff time and even though Sutter had them playing an up tempo forchecking game during the regular season now revert back to the laid back rely on Marty game in playoffs.
Devils even if they win are not the same team they were in the regular season when people were picking them to win it all in the East. Devils IF they get by the Canes will be beat in the second round I would bet on it .
In any event two game sevens are in the books in the East and two more teams are hoping that there will be two more in the West with the Flames playing at home looking to send their series back to Chicago and Sharks trying to beat the Ducks at home to send it back to San Jose for a game seven.
For Hockey God I’m Dave Frost
www.joneslimousine.com
NHL PLAYOFFS CLEARING UP . . TORTS PUNTED FOR GAME 6
“While it is a difficult decision to suspend a coach at this point in a playoff series, it has been made clear to all of our players, coaches and other bench personnel that the National Hockey League cannot - and will not - tolerate any physical contact with fans,” league disciplinarian Colin Campbell said in a statement.
John Tortorella will miss game six at home in Broadway in what’s perhaps for both teams the biggest game of the series. NYR have a chance to put away the Washington Capitals and complete a massive upset in the Eastern Conference.
With the Penguins now moving on beating the Flyers in a come from behind victory Saturday behind two goals from the captain Sidney Crosby who continues to stand up and show he can carry his team in playoffs under pressure.
Torts squirted a water bottle at a mouthy goof ball fan in Washington who was yelling from behind at the Rangers bench at Torts and the players.
The fact that Torts did this may have shown that this idiot fan took Torts mind off the game but fans that do this type of stuff are normally drunk no doubt need to be removed from the rink.
It’s one thing to have a few pops go to a game yell for your team but another to act like you are in a playground yelling at millionaires thinking you are all tough. If the player or in this case the coach got to the fan they would pretty well shit their pants.
Now to the league are you f’n kidding me? Suspension for that bullshit at this time of year is absolutely ridiculous to say the least about it.
Game six in the playoffs and you take a coach away from his team for squirting water? That is a complete joke that goes right along with allowing the Flames because of the salary cap to play without a full roster.
The NHL should try making home teams have extra security behind the bench and if they see a goof like this guy was who has been overserved- toss him out on his ass so this stuff doesn’t happen .
The New York Rangers pay Torts a million plus a year to coach the team and they lose him because the fan was drunk and allowed to sit there and churp away at the bench or toss drinks. There are millions at stake for both teams and this suspension has hurt the integrity of the league.
SAN JOSE IN O/T
Joe Thornton scored his first goal of the series which is now 3-2 Ducks after the Sharks captain Patrick Marleau scored the game winner in the first overtime to send the series back to Anaheim.
Sharks the leagues top record and Presidents trophy winners were on the verge of the biggest upset of this seasons NHL playoffs beating the Sharks in the first two games at home to set up the rest of the series.
The Ducks are not such an upset team as one may think with several players still on the team from their season ago Stanley Cup win over the Ottawa Senators.
Thornton finally breaking through with a goal and the Sharks laying on the pressure in the third showing that they still have a very strong heart beat in the series.
But don’t count out the Ducks yet going back home for game six and still getting solid goaltending from the rookie back-up Hiller in the series.
This is likely going seven if the Ducks don’t play the best game of the series so far at home.
HAWKS AND FANS PUT OUT THE FLAMES
In a beating that was simply embarrassing for the Calgary Flames as they limp home for game six probably without their star defenceman Dion Phaneuf who seemed like he either had a concussion when hit last night or his shoulder but he seemed very unsure of himself for the tough guy he is as he skated off the ice.
The Flames are being let down by the goaltender who had a great reg season for the Flames.
But none of the other top players showed up last night in the series that every team has won their home games and hopefully for the Flames that trend continues to send this to the seventh game.
Pittsburgh and Boston are through and they wait and rest while the other Eastern series battle themselves for the right to play them.
In West Vancouver and Detroit get rest while the Hawks & Flames decide the winner along with the Sharks & Ducks who will certainly pay for the extra work when they meet the rested Western teams. It’s always better to win a rest when it comes right down to it on the long ass Stanley Cup playoff run.
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