This weekend was very exciting for hockey. Some of the best games of the year were played this weekend. The final spot in the eastern conference went right down to the shootout. It was real time hockey.
The first game that left me on the edge of my seat for the entire 60 minutes was the Toronto/Montreal game. Toronto needed to win in regulation to have a chance at making it to the post season. It was looking good at the beginning of the second when they were up 3-1 on Montreal.
Then, out of no where, my fellow Newfoundlander, Michael Ryder gets a natural hat trick to put his team up 4-3. I couldn't believe what just happened. Montreal then got one more from Chris Higgins to go up 5-3. I thought it was all over, but all of a sudden, Carl Colaiacovo, Brian McCabe, and Kyle Wellwood scored to put the Leafs up 6-5 through the third. Sheldon Souray left the game and that would be the end for Montreal.
I was happy that the Leafs won, but I didn't like watching Montreal walk off that ice, especially after great efforts by Ryder(3g, 1a) and Koivu(3a)
On Saturday night, the western conference was also getting closer to see who would represent them in the playoffs.
Calgary had Edmonton, and Colorado had Nashville. I wanted Colorado to make the playoffs, and I thought they could beat Nashville with the way they have played the past month, but I didn't think Edmonton would do much with Calgary.
For Colorado to get in, they had to win, and Calgary had to loose. Colorado was beating the Predators 2-1 for most of the game. Meanwhile I was watching the Edmonton/Calgary game, and when the Flames went up 2-0, i just put my television on mute and decided to read while I was waiting for the final score.
I was caught up in my book and never bothered to look at the TV for a while. When I finally decided to look, to my ashonishment, Edmonton was up 3-2. I was absolutely amazed.
After that game, I checked the scores and noticed that Colorado had succumbed to the Predators with a 4-2 loss.
It was a great effort by Sakic and company, and I will always be proud of how close they came.
When Sunday came, a lot of Leaf fans were pretty happy that the Islanders had to beat the Devils to knock the Leafs out of the playoffs. I would think that when the found out that backup goalie Scott Clemenson would be in the net, they weren't as sure.
The game was slow for the most part, and with 5 minutes left in the third the Islanders were up 2-0 and I was thinking that the leafs were finished.
The Devils managed to score a goal, and with only a few minutes left I thought it was over. Some how, some way, John Madden managed to get the puck in the net with .8 seconds left in the game. I could just picture Mats Sundin drenched in a sweat at this point.
No one could score in overtime, so it was off to the shootout. The last seed of the eastern conference was going to be decided by what team was lucky enough to come down one on one with a goalie and get the puck in the net. I was down on the floor at this point wondering what would happen.
I wanted the Leafs to get in, but when I saw the Islanders after Maddens goal I got that feeling that I got with Montreal, so I sort of wanted them to get in. Dubby stood his ground, and the Islanders are off to meet Buffalo in the first round.
Also on Sunday, previous the Devils/Islanders game, my Philadelphia Flyers had a game gainst the Buffalo Sabres. They had not beaten the Sabres all year, but I could tell when they started playing, this would be a very good game.
The Flyers were destroyed by the Sabres this year and in last years playoffs. This time how ever there was a difference....Martin Biron.
He made some key saves and the Flyers played a good hard working game to keep the Sabres from beating their team record for most points in a season. Good job Philadelphia, I am proud of you.
This weekend was very exciting, and I think the playoffs will be just as if not more intense.
Good luck to the Flames and Islanders, who managed to dodge the other teams chasing them, and the Avalanche, Leafs, and Canadians get my thumbs up for their great efforts.
It is not looking good for Joe Sakic and his Colorado Avalanche. They are at least 5 points behind the Calgary Flames regardless what happens in Calgary's game tonight.
The Avalanche however, refuse to go down without a fight. They play every game like its their last, and if they do not make the playoffs, they could potentially set the record for highest points and not make the playoffs.
Considering the players Colorado has lost over the years, they are doing fine. Patrick Roy, Peter Forsberg, Rob Blake, Adam Deadmarsh, Adam Foote, Chris Drury, Alex Tanguay, Mats Sundin, Owen Nolan, lets face it, the list goes on and on.
They are also making a push with a south par defensive lineup, two mediocre goaltenders, and a couple of kids. They do however have one distinct advantage over every team in the league, a captain with the heart of a Lion.
If there is anyone in the league that can squeeze a team into the playoffs, its Joe Sakic. He plays to the last second, and is showing no sign of slowing down with 91 points at the age of 37.
Paul Stastny has been putting up more points as of late, and has established him self as one of the elite rookies of the 2008-2007 season.
Realistically, for Colorado to make the playoffs, they need to win the rest of their games and hope Calgary loose the rest of theirs. They do have two games left against the Flames which could really help them make it in.
Key Players
The players that really need to perform are
Joe Sakic - the backbone of this franchise and they will only do as good as he does.
Paul Stastny - needs to keep on the score board for Colorado to win games.
Peter Budaj - their #1 guy since Theodore hasn't been too hot this season, really needs to shine for Colorado to have a chance.
If this were any other team making a push for the post season, I would say they wouldn't make it, but you can never count out Burnaby Joe and his Colorado Avalanche.
I was reading Eric Duhatschek's blog "The Hat On Hockey" and his latest post is very interesting.
He says that the western conference will go right down to the wire, the same as the east. Even though there are only two teams involved in the race, I agree with him.
In the east, we have New York, Long Island, Carolina, Toronto, Montreal, and now Tampa Bay fighting for the last two seeds while separated by five points.
In the west, we have Colorado and Calgary, also separated by 5 points while fighting for the last seed.
In all fairness to the east, which seems way more exciting to most hockey fans, I can't help but love seeing my old team make a run to squeeze into the post season once again. The one time power house is not all what it use to be but it has the heat back from the Forsberg, Deadmarsh, Dury days.
Calgary is a very exciting team to watch and I would like to see them in the post season, but then theres Joe, good ole Joe Sakic taking a group of kids and making another run for the post season. Thats what I call hockey.
The east race will be very exciting, but I cant wait to see if Sakic and company can find there way into another run for the cup.
