He didn’t score.

But Sidney Crosby had two goals and his efforts were downplayed in game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals by Canada’s favorite hockey coach and Hockey Night In Canada star, Don Cherry. I spent most of my time at Mellon Arena during game 4 tracking Don Cherry with a group from Hershey, PA, his alma mater AHL hockey town, but he was nowhere to be found. Don’t get me wrong, I like Don Cherry and his loud striped suits, but it appears that like many Penguin fans he has bought into the mythical character of Gary Roberts.

In actuality, the Gary Roberts hype was started by a Penguins fan himself who thought it would be hilarious to poke fun at the veteran. It would be something like Chuck Norris; an over aged iron man still in the league and surviving against any calamity. The myth appeals to the masses and the media quickly bought the script to be typed in the front pages of newspapers in the US and Canada. Don Cherry likes Gary Roberts as much as Penguin fans who wear their “WWGRD "<What Would Gary Roberts Do?> wrist bands in bright yellow and black.

Gary Roberts is an urban legend.

What about Sid, the Kid? Sidney Crosby is expected to win. He is expected to make the pretty plays. For Pens fans, Crosby is the equivalent of a young Mario Lemieux, and just another talented player. His efforts were definitely downplayed not by just Don Cherry but by Penguin fans themselves who are caught up on the Gary Roberts idolatry. Crosby is still a one class act despite the controversy and the supposed grudge that Don Cherry holds against him stemming from being called “a show off” after scoring a trick goal back when he played in Rimouski a few years ago in Juniors.

"I grew up watching Hockey Night In Canada just like every kid," he said. "I've heard negative things on there more than positive things, but it hasn't changed me…I still watch it whenever I get the chance. There's really nothing there. I've never met him (Cherry) and I have nothing against him whatsoever, so I don't think there's really much to say." (CP)

At first, I thought it was pregame jitters for Crosby and Malkin during their first Stanley Cup Finals, but then I realized that the NHL had not changed much since the lockout. The Red Wings level of play reminded me of old school “trapping” with a tight defensive end. Somehow in my mind the Red Wings looked like their old Stanley Cup self of ages ago. It made me wonder why it was still all the same.

Many fans believe that the reason that the Penguins are losing can be explained by the Penguins not having enough hatred against the Red Wings. The Penguins really don’t hate the Red Wings. They certainly hate the Flyers with their board slamming orange and black suits and can’t stand the Rangers with their instigating antics. Never mind Sean Avery since Jagr is the player who they really hate after leaving the Pens for the big contract with the Caps and then with the New York Rangers.  But, do the Penguins really hate the Red Wings. Is there enough rivalry to fuel this series to success?

Maxime Talbot thinks differently: "Yeah, I do (hate them)” he said after practice in Pittsburgh. "Because they're in the way of what we want and I have to hate them for that. I'm telling you, last game was chippy and dirty and hopefully the next game is going to be too…They're in the way of the prize we want. We have to hate them for that. They're easy to hate."

And then there is the question of enjoying the game. How many times have we heard it even from the Pee Wee coach who tells kids that they should enjoy themselves? The Penguins enjoyed beating the Senators, the Rangers and Flyers, but not the Red Wings. "It's not a lot of fun," forward Gary Roberts said. "You feel like you're chasing the puck all game. You use up so much energy trying to find the puck, and, by the time you get it, you're exhausted." Maybe too exhausted to get the first goal of the Stanley Cup Final series for the Penguins.

Penguin followers are asking themselves if Gary Roberts, the iron man inspiration of the team, will make a difference.  Right winger George Laraque will be sidelined for the game tonight as the 42 year old forward returns to the lineup. 

“I'm focused on what I need to do to help the team win," Roberts said. "Any time you lose a game it's tough, but this team has bounced back before. There is a lot of character in here and there's no reason we won't bounce back.” (AP)

 

Gary Roberts was dismayed when he wasn’t allowed to play the first game of the Stanley Cup Final.  Therrien benched him and a perplexed Roberts who recently fought a bout of pneumonia asked himself if he would be allowed to spark the team to create needed chemistry.  Roberts will play on the fourth line along with Jarkko Ruutu and Adam Hall.

Michel Therrien will also shuffle the Penguin’s first three lines after the 4-0 Detroit Red Wing shut out.  Sidney Crosby will center Marian Hossa and Ryan Malone.  Pascual Dupuis will play alongside Staal and Tyler Kennedy while Malkin will center the third line with Maxime Talbot and Petr Sykora. 

 

But everyone at the Igloo back home keeps asking, “What Will Gary Roberts Do?”

 

 

 

Well, at least his translator.

It’s true.  My friend decked Malkin’s translator this weekend in Pittsburgh.  It was an innocent mistake.  She was minding her own business checking out the Ruutu jerseys in the team store when he approached the area and in two seconds she turned around and checked him on the side.    Her brother who saw the whole incident could not believe his own eyes.    He was a Pittsburgh fan just like her and knew that a Ruutu jersey is hard to come by in this town, but in no manner she should have slammed him around.   Nonetheless, it was an innocent mistake which could have ruined Malkin’s chances to talk about his plays in the post-game conference at Mellon Arena.

And please do not get me started about Bob Errey.  I was looking for Bob when I ran into Bill Clement.  Yes, you remember Bill Clement and his Hockey Falls commercials.  Bill Clement with his stern look under bifocal glasses seemed quite surprised that I was searching for Bob.  But it wasn’t Clement who gave me the answer, but Dan Potash who told me that Bob is up in Toronto.  Errey who is part of FoxSports is busy with his stint in the NHL Network.  Well, guess that was the reason I didn’t trip over his microphone cord this time.

The most interesting part of the Pens-Flyers series surrounded the Ron Cook controversy in the Pittsburgh Gazette.  He claimed in black and gold that the Pens will win the series in less than 5 games.  The Flyers were appalled.  They took the article and posted it in the dressing room.  The Philadelphia media pointed out that Ron is a baseball writer and has no right to make such a claim.  Well, maybe he has a right now that Timmonen and Coulburn are out of the game.  John Stevens still continues to blame the refs for placing no blame on Malkin for an elbow to the head on Briere who appears shutdown by the Pens level of play.   It is the usual game bartering similar to that of Ken Hitchcock who would seek controversy on penalties.  

Reporters are generally inquisitive, but Anthony San Filippo’s column on the Delco Times proves how a persistent reporter operates. He asked Coach John Stevens directly for clear details of the strategic plan against the Pittsburgh Penguins and he delivered.

According to the insider article, Coach John Stevens will stop Sidney Crosby by using Darien Hatcher in their key line. “With Crosby, if you try to stick check him all night you’re not going to be very effective. You have to be physical with him and that plays right into Hatch’s hands,” referring to the defenseman’s acumen.

But then there is the question of Malkin, the Hart trophy finalist and power play creator for the Pittsburgh Penguins. “We’d like to split Timonen in half so we can have two of him so we can match him up against both of them,” said Stevens referring to Coach Therrien’s deadliest offensive playmakers Malkin and Crosby.

Shutting down players using Timonen worked in the quarterfinal series against Alexander Ovechkin in Washington and then in the semifinals against Alex Kovalev in Montreal. It could be done.

Unfortunately, the most pressing question remains unanswered by John Stevens: What will Gary Roberts do?

I would love to eavesdrop to the Rangers chatter in between periods in their MSG lockeroom.  Perhaps, I would hear Captain Jagr make some distinct remark on Crosby or crack a joke on how in his country if he is booed then it means that he is fighting like a bull.  It would be interesting especially after Jagr grabbed Malkin during a third game fight to hear his commentary especially now that the Rangers are on verge of elimination.

Jaromir Jagr, who happens to be my favorite player, believes that the Rangers should be able to remain in the series with one game to go, and beat the Pens.  He suddenly became a baseball fan and told reporters that “even a great team like the Yankees didn't hold a 3-0 lead” in the 2004 MLB playoffs.    Last I heard, the Boston Red Sox, won that series. 

To make matters worse, Sean Avery was rushed to the hospital at 3AM with a spleen injury.   Avery will probably miss his hockey stick more than his spleen.   Perhaps Martin Brodeur should send him a get well card at this point. Regardless, the New York Rangers, need to work on improving neutral zone coverage and stopping turnovers.  The power play must produce its desired outcome before they become the next statistical casualty to the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marc Andre Fleury is the second goaltending victim to fall under the wrath of New York Rangers Sean Avery who is well known for his on ice antics of instigation.  Without falling under the surveillance cameras of the Mellon Arena or caught by the referee, Sean Avery smacked Fleury with his hockey stick against the pads during the final minutes of play.  But it wasn’t until the end of the game, when Avery supposedly took his stick and rubbed it against the icon of the skating Penguin on Fleury’s jersey.   This was definitely one move that irritated Hal Gill who went to protect the goalie. The rest was a postgame rumble between the New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins which included Captain Jagr in the fighting action.

I’m not disappointed in the Flyers level of play against the top seeded Montreal Canadiens.  In fact, I’m just disappointed in the quality of their hockey sticks. 

Nowadays hockey sticks are made of technological advanced materials, special coatings and graphite blades.  Anyone would think that broken hockey sticks would be a thing of the past with the future of science.  Of course, this might be just part of the advertising campaign to emulate hockey heroes such as Sidney Crosby.

During the first period of game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, Flyers Scottie Upshall broke his Easton S17 stick after shooting a tying goal against the Washington Capitals.  The infamous hockey stick is even on sale on Ebay. 

But the most dramatic Flyers stick break occurred this past Thursday during their first semifinal game against the Montreal Canadiens. With less than a minute left in the third period, Flyers center Jeff Carter’s Bauer stick broke as he tapped it forcibly on the ice on a faceoff to Canadien’s Saku Koivu.  Christopher Higgins then shot the loose puck to Alex Kovalev who sent it straight into the top right corner beating Flyers goaltender Martin Biron tying the game. 

 

It seems that Tom Kostopoulus with his RBK Pro-O stick made more damage in overtime than the Flyers could realize for the Canadiens win.  His Pro-O stick did not break. 

So, why not sue RBK, Easton or whichever company makes the hockey sticks for broken damages?   A broken stick can lose the game. 

"I thought he might chip in on the powerplay or something, but I did not expect four points,(AP)" said coach Wilson after the game.

---

Jeremy Roenick was a healthy scratch during the sixth quarterfinal playoff game for the San Jose Sharks. It was not until Coach Ron Wilson flipped his cell phone open and sent a text message telling him that he would need his support full force that Roenick came to the realization that he can make the difference. It didn’t work under Ken Hitchcock’s realm under the Flyers, but somehow it worked for Wilson. The message was clear and it was not about allowing a supposedly beat up veteran to rest. Roenick stepped up his game earning two goals and two assists to lead the San Jose Sharks to victory over the Calgary Flames.

Interestingly enough, even a tough minded coach like Calgary’s Mike Keenan had to admit that “at the end, it was all Jeremy Roenick.” (AP) He capitalized with a turnover and then with a power play goal.

But during the next round the Sharks must rely on consistency which was an issue against the Calgary Flames. To contend against the Dallas Stars, their first line consisting of: Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, and Ryane Clowe must produce on an ongoing basis. The Dallas Stars might add Sergei Zubov back in the lineup to spruce their defense. They are also relying on Mike Modano, against the Sharks, but in his new role as penalty killer and checking line center. At the end, what will matter the most will be the goaltending. The Dallas Stars netminder won his first ever playoff round back in 2003 but then lost the next four years in a row. Nabokov, a Vezina finalist, appears to be sharp in his puck stopping abilities.

“It’s not like you win three of four and they give you a mercy rule,” said Martin Biron to the press after the Capitals beat the Flyers 4-2 in game 6. Biron is right; Flyers hockey is based on no mercy. For goaltenders and players alike, you fight to play till after the end of the season. In the case of the Flyers, despite two in between losses against the Capitals, they fought to play till the end of the series.

Game 7 proved just how pivotal it is to count on special teams especially a sound power play. Capitals Nicklas Backstrom and Philadelphia Flyers’ Scottie Upshall tallied power plays in the opening period. It was not until Flyers Joffrey Lupul netted a rebound during 6:06 of overtime play that the Flyers untied the game for a win. The Flyers converted a total of 2 of their 5 power plays while the Washington Capitals converted only one of their 4 shots on goal.

The next series will be against top seeded Montreal Canadiens, a team that despite having a 24% power play percentage during the season, struggled with the same in the quarterfinals against the Bruins. Their power play converted at a mere 9.1%.

But will a sound power play be enough for the Flyers to beat the Canadiens? Biron, certainly, wants to play without mercy.

Tonight is close out time in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals for the Montreal Canadiens. Coach Guy Carbonneau even wore his bright lucky tie, perhaps bought at a clearance sale. But it would take more than just luck to oust the Boston Bruins.

Last year as I watched the American Hockey League Calder Cup Championships, a rookie goaltender named Carey Price made his debut. Pucks would fly and linger towards the crease and with one sleek movement he would make the save. My friends from Hamilton, Ontario joked with me, “Seriously, he’s hexed.” I was in disbelief. I'm a skeptic and a scientist by nature. I analyze everything. I broke up the goal statistics and still was in disbelief. Then they managed to tell me that Carey Price’s mom, Lynda, is the Chief of the Ulkatcho First Nation in British Columbia. “They must have placed a hex on him since he doesn’t allow one goal during playoffs.” That year he won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the Calder Cup playoffs MVP and proved to be the youngest player ever to win this award.

Perfect games for $870,000 per season. Playoff wins optional with bonus.

Watch him on net and surely Carey Price does appear incredibly calm on

goal for a rookie netminder. Never in Boston Bruins history, has the team

come back from a 3-1 series deficit and won. It didn’t happen tonight

either as the Canadiens took the last game to close out 5-0.

Quarterfinal Clearance Sales --

Will the Calgary Flames be closed out tomorrow by the Sharks?

Will the Flyers revive after Ovechkin woke up after napping the

greater part of the series?

Honestly, I’m thoroughly surprised with the resurgence of the Bruins in the playoffs. The crowd was fueled tonight in the third period singing to the cult Bruins song, “I’m into Bruins y’all!” everytime their team scored. Don Cherry would be proud.

Clearly, the Bruins Coach Julien figured out the Montreal Canadiens’ method of madness. Then again Coach Julien was once the coach of the Bruins rival team. Montreal rookie goaltender Carey Price is not invincible. To beat the Canadiens the Bruins worked, overworked and outskated the competition and let their first round draft Phil Kessel produce goals. Boston coach Claude Julien scratched Jeremy Reich, fourth-line winger, and placed Kessel on the second line with Milan Lucic and Marc Savard. The rest was the outcome with a game lead of 5-4.

“Phil Kessel, I love Phil Kessel what?”

Phil Kessel was named first star of the game for reviving the Boston Bruins with two key goals in the second and third period.

If Boston wins, Julien would have a chance to repeat his feat from 2003-04 when he led his now rival team, the Canadiens, from a 3-1 deficit to win a first-round Eastern Conference series against his current team, the Boston Bruins.

Will Claude Julien succeed leading the Boston Bruins to victory against the top seeded team this Monday?

At the end of an exhausting series, New York Ranger's Sean Avery gave his hand in an honest gesture to New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur. It was a sign of peace.

The New York Rangers scored 5 goals against the New Jersey Devils in the last game and Martin Brodeur might have felt responsible for the loss. Brodeur wasn’t playing to his full potential. The future hall of fame recipient was criticized for not making stellar saves during the series. He did not take personal responsibility for his performance and blamed the referees for not making the calls. The Rangers strategic tactic was to strike and crash the goaltender Martin Brodeur's net with force. Taken away, Brodeur was obviously upset.

Both teams play hard. The net is the end point. What are we supposed to do? Stand off to the side and throw pucks at him? - New York Ranger's Head Coach Tom Renney on Brodeur’s performance (AP)

Brodeur also became victim of Sean Avery’s childlike antics of harrasment which included bringing up his divorce from 2003. Brodeur was also instigated with Avery's swinging hockey stick which was termed as unsportsmanlike. But at the end, when given the chance to forgive and forget, he refused to shake Sean Avery's hand.

If given the chance, why isn't he the better man?

The playoffs are like an episode of Project Runway without Heidi Klum

“One day you are in and next day you are out.” That’s exactly how it tunes out for the teams seeking the Stanley Cup.

It’s interesting how many hockey writers voted the Caps leading the Flyers and placed Ovechkin as a top scorer. Blame me, but I truly believe that Ovechkin is overrated. Caps fans which include half of my friends claim that the team is now on the low down since the team is in 911 mode and needs more stars. They say that the Caps depend too much on Ovechkin. I guess they are not counting on Federov to make any plays in the second line.

It might be premature to make that call in the series but Ovechkin has yet to play consistent hockey. When Ovechkin body checks, grabs and battles for the puck then he is able to make it work.

Is Ovechkin truly a “team player” or just another superstar like Jagr on the Caps or old school Lindros?

Both the Flyers and the Pens play more like a unit. They are fast skating teams that finish their checks. They do not seek many penalties either. In fact, they make the opposition take the penalty like Mike Richards in game 4 when Eminger chased the puck and almost chipped his stick. Both the Flyers and the Pens also depend on their special teams. After the “I am Gladiator” Ottawa pre-game show on center ice, the Pens showered in power plays. The Capitals know that it could be done but despite a pep talk by Coach Bruce Boudreau they fall short during game 4.

Join a Facebook group and you will become a hockey fan sooner than later. You can join “Max Talbot Superstar Club” and watch videos.  

or you can join “If Bob Errey Ever Scored A Goal then He Didn’t See It” referring to the FSN broadcaster who tends to call Jordan Staal by a dinosaur name “Staaldactyl”. My favorite still is “Carey Price is the Next Patrick Roy” started by minor leaguers who think that the Canadiens goaltender is hot enough for shut outs to be compared to the “great”. All this talk about groups, inspired me to make my own pointless cyberspace hockey club –“Mike Keenan Is as Grumpy as Bill Belichick “ Nobody can dispute this claim after Mike Keenan’s Flames lost in the face of utter disgrace in the last seven seconds of the third period. At the end, Keenan’s team was outshot 32 to 10. According to Keenan, it’s a matter of the effort placed by the Sharks in a game which the Flames believed they were ahead and winning. After a 3-2 loss to the Sharks, his expressionless face simply reminds me of Belichik’s during any Patriot game.

Keenan                                   Belichick