Nothing better than game 7 hockey in Stanley Cup playoffs

I'm watching the series deciding #8 seed Chicago Blackhawks play the #1 seed Vancouver Canucks game, like most hockey fans right now, and it reminds me why hockey is the greatest game on earth.  Yes, I know any non-hockey fan would disagree, but they're wrong :).  It's a 1-0 Vancouver lead with 3:26 left in the third period.  Vancouver is battling back from losing the last three to Chicago after being up 3-0, so the story lines keep getting better as the game goes on like...

Roberto Luongo, the net minder in the first year of a twelve-year contract that blew two games.  He also has a pretty bad playoff record since he's never made it past the second round. Luongo got pulled in game 6 and is trying to overcome his playoff choker reputation.


The Vancouver GM Mike Gillis asking for a "level playing field" for officiating since the Canucks suffered 27 penalty kills while the Hawks had 16.  Inconsistency of officiating in the NHL is a constant rant from fans, but I've never seen a GM publicly complain about the penalty calling.

Corey Crawford, the rookie net minder, who did not play when Chicago won the Cup last year, is playing lights out.  He's making some incredible saves, including a penalty shot to try and help Chicago make history because the Hawks are aiming to come from behind three games in the series.  It's only been done three times in the NHL.

Back to the action...

Jonathan Toews, the Chicago captain with only 3 points in the series so far, scores a short-handed clutch goal with 1:56 seconds left in the third period to tie the game.  The captain hasn't scored a goal in this series.  In one second, the momentum swings and the crowd gasps.  It was an unbelievable goal, too.

In the end, Vancouver shakes off their demons for this round with an overtime win on a goal by Alexandre Burrows at 5:22 in the overtime period and Vancouver goes nuts.

Ahhh, NHL playoff hockey.  So much fun to watch a game 7 when my team isn't playing!

In other news.....the Caps find out their 2nd round opponent starting now (since I didn't post this last night).   It'll be the Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning or the Montreal Canadiens.

Let's go Caps!

Caps finally beat Luongo

After 10 tries, the Capitals put on an offensive display last night at the phone booth and beat Roberto Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks, 5-1. Luongo has been a nemesis in goal for the Caps dating back to the days he played with the Florida Panthers.

Alexander Semin, playing with more fire than I've ever seen out of him, started the scoring with a beauty and added his 2nd goal in the second period. Mike Green scored his 3rd goal on the power play. He's becoming the Caps offensive threat on the power play and since the power play still isn't producing, 1 for 4 tries last night, it's good to have Greenie scoring. In fact, the Caps struggled to get settled in their first power play and the puck was done in their own end for almost 3/4s of that power play.

Milan Jurcina played well last night, too (did I just say that?) and scored a even strength goal in the 2nd period off a rocket of a shot. Michael Nylander had a 3 point night, 2 assists and his 1 goal coming on a penalty shot after a Canuck threw a stick that was laying on the ice into Nyls when he had the puck.

Coach Boudreau mixed up the lines for last night's match, put Sergei Fedorov on defense and Brent Johnson in net against the Canucks and it worked really well. The Brooks Laich-Nylander-Semin line was money in the bank. Boyd Gordon won the key faceoffs in his first appearance this season and made a sweet pass to Semin that resulted in Semin knocking over Luongo with his shot. That one didn't go in, but it will still fun to watch.

The one person I haven't mentioned is Alex Ovechkin. He was held scoreless last night, but boy did he make the Canucks pay for hanging all over him with some awesome hits. This also shows that the Caps finally have more offensive weapons and that's what they need to get deeper in the playoffs. Teams will always focus their defense on Ovie and if the Caps can make them pay for that with scoring from other areas, they'll win.

The most amazing statistic of the night. The Caps had 35 shots and the Canucks had 10. One of the Versus announcers called the Caps play last night "Red Wing esque" and I have to agree with him. They played the puck possession game and dominated.

Finally, congratulations to Brent Johnson who got his 100th NHL career win. He didn't have to work too hard for it, but I doubt he minded that at all.

Up Thursday night with Jose Theodore in net....the Pittsburgh Penguins. I always felt like the Penguins were in Olie Kolzig's head so maybe Theo can break that. Caps you just need to "Play your game." -Herb Brooks

Let's go Caps!

Fun at the VC with Vancouver Fans

My other half Jeff & I had the pleasure of sitting with several die-hard hockey fans from Vancouver at the home opener. They were in town on vacation. They became Caps fans (yes, they are Vancouver fans) for the night and yelled "let's go Caps" as loudly as we were, high fived me on Ovie's and Jurcina's goals and chanted for Olie in the 3rd period.

One of them said to us, "I like Ovie better than Sydney Crosby. He hits." Boy, does he ever and we like Ovie better, too!

This was such a completely pleasant experience versus sitting next to Buffalo or Pittsburgh fans that I will raise a toast to Vancouver this season.

Come visit us anytime.

Let's go Caps.