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.
The Maple Leafs are a likely choice for the final spot in the eastern conference to a lot of fans. Even when they are back in the 10th and 11th seeds, they manage to work their way up to the 9th seed, but they just can't get to 8th.
It seems to me that the Leafs are having a tough time playing games this season that are must-win scenarios. They manage to work their way back up to the 9th seed, but can never manage to squeeze into the final spot. Last night against the Rangers was a prime example of this when they lost 7-2 in a game that could put them in a tie with the Rangers for the final two seeds.
The Leafs and Habs have basically the same schedule for their final 3 games. Montreal = Boston, Long Island, and Toronto - Toronto = Philadelphia, New York, and Montreal.
They each have a gimme game against teams they can beat, but I would not bet against Philadelphia or Boston to be spoilers. The games against the New York teams will be tougher.
My guess it that they both will go 1-1 in their next two games and it will come down to the final game against each other.
For the Leafs to have a chance, they need to get some guys to step it up like Sundin does around this time every year. You can expect him to be playing his best hockey.
I also assume Tomas Kaberle and Darcy Tucker will be at their best.
Nik Antropov and Alexei Ponikarovsky will need to get their huge frames down low to keep the puck in the opposite end to setup scoring chances.
The one player who will need to shine the most is Andrew Raycroft. If he plays bad, they loose, if he plays good, they win. Its that simple.
If you are in an area where you can watch Saturday's game between the long time rivals I suggest you sit down and enjoy the ride, because the eastern conference battle for the final seed truly will not be over until its over.
Before the Toronto/Buffalo games, I ironically stated that Toronto would win one game, and Buffalo would also win a game.
Believe me or not, the reason I thought this was because the Leafs got their top d-man back and are already playing playoff hockey, and I gave buffalo a win because of who they are.
But I have to think, based on how Toronto's rival playoff hunters are playing, are they too late?
Toronto gave up a big 4-1 lead on the Sabres Friday night, one that they should have easily one because they were out playing Buffalo for most of the game. They just played better hockey for the first two periods, but threw it away in the third. The game total was 5-4 Buffalo. I think that was a severe blow to both the Leafs confidence and chances.
Toronto did however beat Buffalo ironically by a score of 4-1 the following night in Toronto, a must win game for the Leafs. They played much like they did in the first game, but with an added bonus that was Andrew Raycroft playing at his potential.
If the Leafs managed to win these games they would have 84 points now, and have a game in hand of both the Rangers and Islanders who played this evening.
I have to admit, I would like to see Toronto make it to the post season, because I think Mats Sundin is a good player, and respect him a lot, I don't know how people hate this guy. He is an all around good hockey player, and I would like to see him win a cup with the Leafs before he retires.
For Toronto to have a chance to make it to the post season, Their big line of Ponikarovsky,Sundin,and Antropov will need to keep playing like they are, and Raycroft will need to play "Calder Trophy Winner" hockey.
