The Ottawa Senators played the Montreal Canadians on Saturday to determine who was the top team in the NHL’s eastern conference. The result was heard loud and clear around the hockey world as the Senators thrashed the Canadians six to one. It was a statement Game and Ottawa senators proved two things to everyone first that the line of Jason Spezza (six points), Daniel Alfredson (five points) and Danny Heatly (four points) is currently the best 123 punch in hockey. I can not remember the last time I saw a line have such a dominant night like that putting up fifteen points between the three of them! Secondly that as long as those three are healthy no team in the eastern conference is at their level.
The Canadians after briefly looking like a team that had a chance to challenge the senators for eastern supremacy have fallen apart this past week. Somehow they managed to blow a three goal lead to the New York Rangers on Sunday and now have to deal with getting destroyed by the Senators in a match up with the whole hockey world watching. Worst of all is that the Canadians advantage over the Senators was supposed to be their goaltending but Cristobal Huet looked horrible somehow managing to let in three of the four shots he faced before getting pulled. This resulted in the game being all but over for the Habs before it had even began. It will be interesting to see how these recent events effect the players on the Habs confidence.
While at the other end of the ice Ray Emery looking like he may have finally regained the form that helped him lead the senators to the cup final last spring, which must be a welcome relief for senators management.
The Senators are looking more and more like they will repeat as Eastern Conference champs as long as they stay healthy.
Wow …what a super bowl easily one of the best finishes I have ever watched in the big game. I felt that coming in to this game that it would be close but I didn’t think the New York Giants could beat the mighty 18-0 New England patriots. This is easily one of the biggest upsets in NFL history.
Eli Manning showed what he is made of converting on a couple of key third downs to sustain a key scoring drive which ended with a field goal. More importantly it ate up a big chunk of the clock and set a pace that favored the giants and helped to focus his team. This set the stage for his performance in the forth quarter which was the type legends are made …with his 13 yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress who was inexplicably open in the end one he allowed his team to win the super bowl. I was happy to see Manning excel after going 19-of-34 for 255 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Regardless of what the giants gave up to acquire him I don’t think anyone will ever be able to call his acquisition a bad trade again. A Super Bowl MVP award has a way of changing peoples opinions. I was just as happy to see future Hall of Famer Michael Strahan who after threatening to retire in the off season win the super bowl he deserves. He led a Giants defensive line, which played outstanding, and even more so than the play of Eli Manning may have been the difference in the game. His leadership had a calming effect to the team and his larger than life personality seemed to take a lot of the pressure of some of the less experienced players. Tom Coughlins much talked about change to a softer coach allowed the team to take the steps needed and gave him the super bowl that will define his career. Plaxico Burress was the forth giant to cement his legacy for a receiver who was apparently injured for most of this season he been amazing in he playoffs. He plays the game with such passion it rubs off on all those around him. The Giants receivers Amani Toomer, Plaxico Burress, Steve Smith and David Tyree looked every bit as good as New England’s record setters maybe better.
The Patriots loss will have many searching for where it all went wrong how do you come this close to a perfect season only to blow it at the end. The blame should fall on the pats offensive line who were dominated by the giants defense which didn’t allow the pats to have any type of sustained running attack Laurence Maroney had a pathetic 2.6 yards per carry. Overall tom Brady didn’t have a bad game he finished 29-of-48 for 266 yards and a touchdown, he didn’t have a great game either but his spot as one of the best quarterbacks of a time hasn’t been tarnished.
Last but not least the biggest loser of all was Tiki Barber. The selfish outspoken former Running back of the New York Giants .He threw his team under the bus last season announcing that he had lost his desire to play mid season a classless and selfish move from a player who is supposed to be a team leader. Then not content to just retire and leave the team. He again tried to throw the team under he bus criticizing the leadership of coach Coughlin and Eli Manning. A funny thing happened though the Giants without Barber became a better team and his criticism of Eli Manning who he had said had comical leadership abilities looks especially foolish now. Eli proved Sunday night he is twice the leader that Tiki ever was. The Giants won because the players on the team believed in one another. Tiki said he was happy for his former but I have to think he was hoping hey would be crushed by the pats and Eli would throw four interceptions. After Sunday people are going to remember Tiki as quitter, a star player whose team became better once his giant ego left.
Watching the Montreal Canadians play this year one can not help but get exited about the future of the NHL's most storied franchise. The Canadians have a great team this year and currently are right on the heels of the slumping Ottawa senators for top spot in the eastern conference .GM Bob Gainey and coach Guy Carbonneau deserve a lot of the credit. The experience and leadership they provide has been paramount to the teams turnaround.
For a team that narrowly missed the playoffs last season their play this year has earned them the right to be considered among the elite teams in the league. Carbonneau the former team captain during his playing days has the Habs playing together as a team. With a slew of young forwards already playing and contributing at the NHL level highlighted by Christopher Higgins (24), Andrei Kostitsyn (23), Sergei Kostitsyn (20) and Guillaume Latendresse (20). Throw in super goalie prospect Carey Price and it would appear the future is looking bright for years to come.
