Summer Fun

This past Saturday I wandered over to the Washington Capitals practice facility to watch the final event of this week's rookie camp - an intra-squad scrimmage between the "Red Team" and the "White Team".  I was struck by the huge crowd and some very impressive prospects in this camp.  Some of the more notable players were Mattias Sjogren and Garrett Haar.  I believe Sjogren is ready for the show as he is strong on his skates, throws his weight around and is a solid play maker.  It really makes me wonder why the Capitals brought center Jeff Halpern back as I believe Sjogren will be higher on the depth chart by the conclusion of training camp.  

Garrett Haar also impressed me.  Haar was planning to play at Northeastern this season but recently decommitted after Greg Cronin resigned as head coach to join the Toronto Maple Leafs.   Haar planned to return to Fargo of the USHL but the Capitals want him to play college hockey in the fall.  In fact, after the scrimmage, Caps GM George McPhee called Boston College coach Jerry York to see if he had room for the 17-year-old defenseman. These last minute arrivals to a college team are always interesting.  Some of you may remember back in 1973 when Mike Eruzione was planning to play at Merrimack College.  Boston University saw him play in a summer league and invited him to play at BU in the fall - the rest is history.  

Ten Reasons Why The Bruins Won the Stanley Cup

1. They out coached Vancouver.
2. They out goalied Vancouver.
3. The Bruin's defense was superior.  
4. Unexpectedly, the Bruin's offense was superior.
5. Vancouver lacked depth and degraded as Dan Hamhuis and Mason Raymond went down.
6. The Bruin's rallied when Nathan Horton went down as Shawn Thornton was inserted into the lineup.
7. Vancouver power play was stifled.
8. Vancouver lacked discipline (cheap shots, diving).  
9. Vancouver lacked character. 
10. Bruins had Rene Rancourt, in Game 6 he did three (3) fist pumps and wore a yellow vest and tie (reportedly borrowed from Ryan Herron).  

Nathan Horton for Aaron Rome

Nathan Horton for Aaron Rome, the Canucks will take this any day of the week.  The Bruins lose one of their top forwards for the remainder of the playoffs, the Canucks lose a journeyman player.   I know Rome's a good guy, but give me a break.  In the biggest hockey venue of the season, he decides to make a lateral, leave-your-feet, late head-shot hit on Nathan Horton.  Doesn't do much for the game, doesn't say much for the league and because Rome lost his poise, his actions could have a very real effect on the outcome of this series.

Interesting comments from NHL SVP of Operations Mike Murphy, Murphy claims the Rome hit would have been legal if it were not late.  That's like saying the drunk driver would have been sober if he drank only twelve beers instead of fifteen.  Watch the video again Mike http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUYqTE3cnuQ he went for the head, it was still a lateral hit and he left his feet. You might want to turn the reins over to Brendan Shanahan now before this series gets any uglier.  Really, where do they get these guys?

The league did not bring this incident on, however, the player did.  Until the players take ownership of the problem and start respecting one another, these types of occurrences will continue.  The NHL, despite a new disciplinarian, loses yet another opportunity to eliminate blind-side hits.  Rome's suspension is nothing - he should have received at least 10 games into the regular season next year. 

Other notes....referee Stephen Walkom did the Bruins a huge favor by giving Shawn Thornton a "preventative misconduct".  The Bruins need Thornton's presence in game 4, had he played out the remainder of game 3 he quite possibly would have done something to warrant a game suspension.  Momentum is a funny thing, the Bruin's have woken up and it's highly likely this will continue...remember my prediction, Bruins in 6.

Reality Bites

Do you think Bobby Orr and the Big Bad Bruins of yesteryear would have let Alex Burrows score two goals and an assist in a game subsequent to biting one of their teammates?  I'm doubting Burrows would have made it beyond the first period.  OK, so the NHL disciplinary office messed up once again, but really, what did you expect here?  Even Henrik Sedin joked about the incident in an NBC snippet where he introduced his twin brother and "vegetarian" line mate Alex Burrows.  I'm still shocked Burrows went unscathed through the entire game, but let's move on.

The Bruins power play gives the Canucks a decided advantage.  The Canucks can actually take good penalties with a high likelihood the Bruins won't score - in fact a 92% likelihood they won't score.  This confidence effectively means the Canucks can clutch, grab and otherwise take full liberties with the Bruins.  For Vancouver, this results in no real penalty other than a lost opportunity cost from an offensive perspective.  Manny Malhotra's return to the Canuck power play won't make life any better for the lethargic Bruin power play.   To compound matters, Vancouver's power play effectiveness in the playoffs is just under 30%.  In fact, the last series against San Jose they were 37% effective.  A bit daunting for the Bruins, every third penalty they give up will statistically result in a goal for Vancouver. 

Is Claude Julien thinking of dressing Cam Neely, Terry O'Reilly or Shawn Thornton next game? 

Pre Game Warm Up

As you prepare for tonight's Stanley Cup opener between the Bruins and Canucks, check out the following links:

Time To Go - Dropkick Murphys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP5g-Pjpg_I

Nutrocker Live - Dropkick Murphys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOISP4xnw-Q&feature=related

Top 10 Stanley Cup Playoff Upsets 
http://www.toponlinecolleges.com/blog/2011/10-greatest-nhl-playoff-upsets/
(not certain how the 1971 Bruins playoff elimination to Canadiens missed this list, see my May 1, 2010 entry "The Caps, The Red Sox and The Crappy Feeling Index")

Fear Not John R

Have you been following tweets from JayRCallahan (aka John R Callahan)?  His Twitter updates are highly entertaining and worth checking out http://twitter.com/#!/jayrcallahan  Seems John R was curious about a couple of topics last week.  One was what percentage of the male population that actually tuned into Oprah's show.  The second was fear of a Vancouver versus Tampa Bay Stanley Cup Final and its effect on TV ratings.  While I don't have the answer on Oprah's male viewers, I can say this, FEAR NOT JOHN R AND VERSUS, THE BRUINS ARE GOING TO THE FINALS!

I am actually a bit perplexed that former Pond Meadow and Faxon Park pond hockey legend John R had any doubt about the Bruins winning game seven.  I am pleased to report he is doing well, in fact on Saturday morning my cell phone rang, it was the legend blaring the Bruins WSBK-TV38 theme song from the Dropkick Murphys into my ear.  All is well in Pond Meadow and Faxon Park.  

It's been 21 years and the Boston Bruins are finally going to the Stanley Cup Finals.  This will be an interesting match up.  First the Vancouver Canucks are favored and their media is lacking no confidence.  The Vancouver Sun sports section actually seemed pleased the Canucks will play the Bruins and predicted the Canucks will win.  I believe this series will be a closer one than most people think.

Goaltending.  Tim Thomas will rise to the occasion.  Roberto Luongo is no slouch, however, I give the goal tending edge to the Bruins.

Defense.  Zdeno Chiaro and Dennis Siedenberg will log lots of minutes.  Johnny Boychuk and Andrew Ference are solid and Thomas Kaberle will have to deliver on the power play.  I like the Bruin defense despite Vancouver's Kevin Bieksa, Alexander Edler, and Dan Hamhuis all being solid two-way defensemen.  The Bruins are stronger here.

Forwards.  It's really easy to figure this one out, the Bruins cannot take penalties.  If they get sloppy, this will be a short series.  The potent Vancouver forwards led by the Sedin twins, Ryan Kessler and the return of Manny Malholtra (possibly), are outstanding.  Bruins forwards are winning faceoffs and transition well.  The Canucks forwards (and special teams) are just better. 

Bruins in six.

The Last Four Standing

I believe the four remaining teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs clearly are the four best teams in the league.  This will make for an exciting semifinal round.

San Jose versus Vancouver

Vancouver only has three players that have previously advanced to the final round.  Vancouver offense is solid albeit in need of a bigger contribution from the Sedin twins.  Ryan Kessler cannot carry the water alone.  San Jose is getting solid performances from Joe Thornton, Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski but will need Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau to show up.  I like the San Jose forwards.  As for defense, I give the edge to Vancouver.  San Jose has Dan Boyle but there is little depth after him.  Vancouver, led by Kevin Bieksa and Alan Edler, are just more talented defensively.  San Jose goal tending is a bit stronger.  Anti Niemi is coming off a strong series with Detriot.  Roberto Luongo is highly capable, but can he deliver when it counts?

This series will be close, I am picking San Jose.

Boston versus Tampa Bay

From the minute the puck drops, expect the Bruins to be physical.  The Tampa Bay forwards are more talented than the Bruins.  The B's will need to rough up Tampa Bay from the outset, if they don't its going to be a short series.  Zdeno Chara leads the Bruin defense and he is well rested and ready to go.  Chara gets solid supporting help from Dennis Seidenberg.  The Bruin's defense is superior to injury laden Tampa Bay's.   Tim Thomas needs to continue building momentum from his strong regular season and early-round playoff performance.  Another solid series, with the Bruins advancing, and he becomes part of the Conn Smythe conversation.  Duane Roloson is playing terrific and will be well rested - I still give the goal tending advantage to the Bruins.

Barring the unforeseen, the Bruins should take this series. 

Miscellaneous.....is it any wonder the Edmonton Oilers are in the cellar for the past couple of years?  You have to wonder how they judge talent?  They decided not to renew Colin McDonald's contract during the summer of 2010, so what does McDonald do?  He goes out and leads the AHL in scoring.  McDonald would be a good acquisition in June for an NHL team needing a solid defensive minded forward.