NHL playoffs round one update: Blackhawks face the broom
After five days and nights of action, we already find one team on the brink of being eliminated from the 2011 NHL playoffs. Following Sunday’s 3-2 loss in Chicago, the Blackhawks now stand one game away from being given the broom treatment by the Canucks.
But before they drop the puck on Tuesday night however, we will know if Vancouver will be without the services of Raffi Torres who delivered a ferocious shot to the head of Brent Seabrook behind the Chicago goal. Torres was playing his first game since returning from a four-game suspension after a similar hit on Edmonton’s Jordan Eberle.
Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville certainly thinks Torres deserves more time to sit and think about what he has done. After the game he said, “I thought it was a major [penalty] live and after seeing the replay, clearly”.
Either way, the Fat Lady may be delivering her first performance of the spring tomorrow night in the windy city.
Elsewhere around the league…a pair of other teams will look to go up three games to none in their series tonight. The Montreal Canadiens have taken a 2-0 lead on the Boston Bruins behind Carey Price’s 65 saves on 66 shots performance in the first two games. It took the Bruins 87:38 to finally slip one past the Habs netminder, Patrice Bergeron doing the honors for Boston.
Meanwhile, the Big Red Borg travel to Arizona for games three and four after taking the initial pair of games back in Detroit. The Coyotes just fell short of their comeback bid Saturday, losing 4-3 after surrendering four goals to the Wings in the first 21:11.
Tonight’s action will also include game three of the Penguins vs. Lightning and Sabres vs. Flyers series. Both of those are knotted at one game each.
Elsewhere, the Rangers won their all-important game three with the Washington Capitals Sunday afternoon to close the gap on the Caps. Game four is Wednesday night and New York will look to tie that series up.
Back out west, the Kings bounced back from their overtime loss to San Jose and blanked the Sharks 4-0 in game two. Jonathan Quick stopped all 34 shots he face Saturday night to earn his first NHL playoff shutout. That series now heads to L.A. for the next two games.
And the Nashville / Anaheim series is turning out to be as much fun to watch as I thought it’s be. Last night the Predators made Mike Fisher’s goal halfway through the third period stand up as they fought off the Ducks. They take a 2 games to 1 lead into game four on Wednesday evening.
AHL Schedule Modifications
Here’s something else to discuss if you wish. Last week the AHL Board of Governors approved modifications to the league’s schedule and playoff format. Starting this fall, teams will play 76 games. Each team will lose two home and two away games.
Eliminated are any possibly scenarios where four games would be played in a five-day period.
Also, the first round of next year’s AHL playoffs will be a best of five series, instead of a best of seven.
AHL President and CEO Dave Andrews explained the reasoning behind these modifications saying, “As our league has grown and our game has become faster and more physical, the wear and tear on our players has begun to affect player development and at times the quality of competition. These steps are intended to provide a safer environment for our players through increased rest and recovery time, and also to provide our fans with an even higher caliber of play as a result of reduced player fatigue.”
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128 comments Add your comment
ZAvalanche
April 18th, 2011
10:36 pm
RL, I hate the Wings as well, I hope the hell gets kicked out of them.
Brendan
April 19th, 2011
12:42 am
Well, considering that it’s 4-0, in favor of Detroit, in Game Three, where the Red Wings hold a 2-0 series edge, this series is OVERRR, barring a miracle. I, myself, don’t believe in miracles. But I do appreciate a good “phenomenon,” from time to time. Fine by me if the Coyotes can score four goals, here in the 3rd period, then win in overtime.
Let me just say this … I had so hoped that Phoenix could matchup with some team NOT named the Red Wings. This is back-to-back great seasons by Phoenix … that will result the same way … without a playoff series win. After the Wings win tonight, then take the series sometime between Game Four and Game Seven, the Phoenix/Winnipeg franchise will be 2-18, for 20 playoff series.
Everyone wraps their collective heads around that stat. No matter how lame, how pathetic, how mismanaged you might believe the Thrashers to be, we’re not going to be 2-18 for our first 20 playoff series. The Coyotes/Jets franchise entered the league in 1979-80. The Coyotes still have not won a playoff series in the desert. Still, amid ownership turmoil, and other distractions, this team continued to win, instead of making excuses, or worse yet, touting some notion of ‘incremental progress.’
ZAvalanche
April 19th, 2011
12:56 am
4-2 now Brendan
World Be Free
April 19th, 2011
7:25 am
Red Light-Yotes’ fans only consolution is that they made playoffs. They lack NHL depth-sound familiar?
World Be Free
April 19th, 2011
7:28 am
Brendan-I have been disappointed in the play of the Black Hawks’ defense so far in the series. Crawford has been good, but he has not made the difference as the Black Hawks prepare to make their tee times. Too bad, huge Hawks fan always good to see Chicago go deep in the playoffs.
World Be Free
April 19th, 2011
7:30 am
Rawhide – 4 games in 5 nights? Your equipment never gets a chance to dry. I always hated to leave my gear int eh game and go to a game in the winter time. Very uncomfortable having to put on wet, cold equipment then get excited about playing hockey.
World Be Free
April 19th, 2011
7:33 am
Dan Bylamsa – coach of the year without question. Lose your 2 name stars and still excel. Pens players never take a shift off or they are in the press box.
DWTOO
April 19th, 2011
7:38 am
WBF – Wet gear is no fun, foul smelling gear is worse. We have an air hockey table – great for drying pads.
Spud Webb
April 19th, 2011
8:59 am
2 more giant head shots….Colin lets see how this goes down.
WBF…WTH was going on in that Sabres game, Pominville, Connelly & Montador need to be sat, NOW…HORRID game. 3rd period i have NO idea why Vanek was on the bench so much and WHY, WHY was Pominville and connelly out there sooooooooooooooooooooo freaking much? Montador has gone backwards in the postseason, great regular season, but cannot stop turnign the puck over DEEP. BRUTAL HOCKEY last night. Flyers should’ve won that game 8-2.
Red Light
April 19th, 2011
9:28 am
Connolly played 22:10 and had one shot on goal. Pominville played 20:21 and had one shot on goal. But, I think you have to tip your cap to Boucher, who played really well last night. Montador is plus-9 including these three playoff games since Feb. 23
Lighten up Francis!
hockeygoon79
April 19th, 2011
10:09 am
Stick a fork in Phoenix. They’re done.
Unfortunately that may have a double meaning for that team.
Joe Friday
April 19th, 2011
10:51 am
Those head shots in the Pens-Tampa game were ridiculous, but the NHL Mickey Mouse front office set that up by looking the other way after the Torres hit. You reap what you sow. Jackholes.
Red Light, forgot to tell you before, but what a hell of a play by Dubinsky in the last game, I just smiled watching that, my kind of player right there.
And I guess I missed this, but I save Chris Viv’s post just now from last week about off-season plans and Dudley plans to keep Stewart around? Come on, WBF was spot on about him, wasted space! Here’s my reply to our top line issue, can’t even think about Burmistrov for that duty for what 2 or 3 yrs yet, but we can fix it earlier:
They can have a #1 line pretty quickly. Sign Bieksa, or Erhoff, as UFAs this summer, move Buf to #1 RW, Kane #1 LW, and trade for a center or give an offer sheet to an RFA center from a cap strapped club, and voila. Ladd, Little, Wheeler are a 2nd line, they should not play #1 minutes.
And what the heck is talking about with Stewart finding a home here, I’m frowning in your direction, Duds!
Spud Webb
April 19th, 2011
11:17 am
I do tip my hat to Boucher, no problem with that at ALL! The guy played GREAT, no doubt.
My problem is as your stats point out, 20 plus minutes, for your TOP LINE and TWO shots on goal total from those TWO WITHOUT CHRIS PRONGER playing…THUD…not top line productivity or even close to it. Disappointing for sure and they HAVE to produce more for a chance in this series!!! I can’t lighten up after watchign that train wreck!! ahahhah
Dwayne
April 19th, 2011
11:40 am
Stewart on the 3rd line?
Alan R.
April 19th, 2011
11:51 am
Duds has given Panthers GM Dale Tallon permission to talk to Torchetti for the Panthers’ head coaching job.
http://twitter.com/#!/Russostrib/status/60363065287376896
Joe Friday
April 19th, 2011
11:53 am
Dudley needs his head examined.
Alan R.
April 19th, 2011
11:55 am
Joe – I understand why Torres got off, and it’s also why Downie will probably get off as well.
When Rule 48 was devised, The GMs set up the “behind the net” area as a sort of hitting zone. The DVD sent to coaches in 2010 outlines what a good hit is and isn’t, and where such hits can and cannot take place.
In short, If the Torres hit happened at center ice, or in the corner, he’d easily be suspended for multiple games.
ZAvalanche
April 19th, 2011
12:03 pm
Alan R – I don’t like that at all.
And yeah, the Yotes are done, they fought back pretty hard last night but Detroit has too much composure and talent. Howard looked very, very good. Guess there is something to be said for an atmosphere of winning. Charlie Sheen would be proud.
Here is how I see the second round lining up:
West
Vancouver vs Nashville – Sorry ‘Ville, not a chance.
Sharks and Wings – ooh, that series should be interesting.
East
Flyers vs Rangers (I can hope can’t I?). If HL stays on fire he could upset the Caps
Bruins vs Pens – good match
Joe Friday
April 19th, 2011
12:44 pm
yeah, I read Bob McKenzie’s initial take on it that night and call that the NHL would let it go, but it’s wrong (more proof the the Mickey Mouse management of this league).
I liked that midget on the Habs going into Chara like a bowling ball last night, that was kind of funny.
Red Light
April 19th, 2011
12:47 pm
ZAvs
I like the way you think! Bruins and Rangers come back from down 0-2, Sharks overcome lackluster Game 2 and Nashville wins their first-ever series. Imagine how Bobby Ryan feels having to sit out both road games?
JF:
Dubinsky, now sporting a 1970s-era porn star mustache, was moved to wing last year from center, because the Rangers collection of top-2 centers couldn’t set up Johnny the Wad Holmes in a casting call with the Kardashians. He and Callahan are two of the young leaders on that team, who happen to be RFAs this summer. Hopefully, Sather won’t do anything to screw that up, but if you’re going to give out offer sheets to RFAs, those two guys are a great place to start because “they get it!”
Red Light
April 19th, 2011
12:48 pm
Should have said, Dubinsky was moved back to center because the Rangers collection of top-2 centers…
Alan R.
April 19th, 2011
1:13 pm
Joe – I agree it’s “wrong,” in the sense that there shouldn’t be any stupid “hit zones” or whatever. A hit to the head, whether at center, the corner, or behind the net, is still a head hit.
Another thing, the NHL needs to let it be known that any player exhibiting questionable symptoms while in the “quiet room” needs to sit. Seabrook came back on Sunday night after the hit, but he’s listed today with an “upper body injury.” Hmmm… gee, I wonder where that injury is?
World Be Free
April 19th, 2011
1:23 pm
J/F-
Real disappointed about Dudley’s open assessment of Stewart. Maybe he’s just playing his cards trying to elevate his value for a move or maybe he has seen something in his game that can be tweaked. I just don’t think Stewart has any heart and you can’t teach that. I cannot remember one instance last seaosn where he planted someone in the boards. At 235#, that’s is a disgrace.
Torchetti seems to be a mystery. Black Hawks lost him and did not shed a tear even through coing to Atlanta was a lateral move for Torch. You have to figure he would be a candidate somewhere this year given his involvement in Chicago. Personally, I do not see how he has made a difference here. I still say our biggest mistake was letting Cunneyworth go. CUnny has done a great job in Hamilton, just look at how the Habs’ kids have contributed at the NHL level.
Spud-you know I like Lindy, but sometimes I think he stays with his bys too long. I have never been a Pominville fan, but he and Connolly have no physical presense which makes them useless in the playoffs. Boyes has disapppeared again just like he did in St. Louis. Buffalo is done, regroup and make some moves for next season. Montador played above his skills most of the season, his UFA year. Sabres have no use for him next year, they have AHL depth and this kid McNabb in juniors.
DWTOO-my wife always “encouraged” me to leave my hockey bag in the garage after games. Nothing worse than green hockey equipment.
World Be Free
April 19th, 2011
1:25 pm
Red Light-Sather messed with Dubinsky on the last contract, nickel and diming him when it was clear he was a player on the rise. This will negate and hometown discount for his upcoming contract. Dubinsky will need the paper to support his efforts.
Jason
April 19th, 2011
1:35 pm
Looks like we’ll have hockey on NBC/Versus for 10 more years….
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=560238&navid=DL|NHL|home
I’m not thrilled with Versus, but considering that Comcast owns both networks, it would be hard not to see those two together. Plus, if it “marks the first-ever national distribution of all Stanley Cup Playoffs games, including, for the first time, exclusive coverage starting with the conference semifinals” then I can’t really complain too much….
Joe Friday
April 19th, 2011
1:44 pm
“Maybe he’s just playing his cards trying to elevate his value for a move”
That’s gotta be it, Stewart isn’t a Dudley type of player by any stretch.
Torch is a mystery. You’re right, he hasn’t made an impact here and Chicago didn’t miss him or fight him leaving. Mabye the decision has been made that to help Bogosian, Torch has to go, and that’s the right decision if that’s the case. Bogosian is too valuable to let any potential development suffer under a coach who has it in for him.
Red Light, I am pulling for your Rangers, hard, hate the Caps. And I’d hate to see you guys lose Callahan or Dubinsky, but bringing either one here on an offer sheet would ease your pain and either would be great here, both solid hockey players who get it, like you said. New owners are so needed, lock up Ladd for the long term (great comments from him today about buying in here) and sign up a young RFA with a $5m per year offer sheet. This can be fixed, but we need the ownership fixed first, too quiet on that front.
Joe Friday
April 19th, 2011
1:54 pm
Good golly, Downie only gets one game for launching himself trying to kill the kid and Kunitz also only gets 1 for obviously throwing an elbow trying to knock the guy out. 1 game each? That’s pitiful, and Crosby still is out due to his head shots. What the heck are they doing at the league office?
Badger Bob
April 19th, 2011
2:22 pm
Stewart’s fate will be a good indicator of how this team stacks up next year. If he is a third-line fixture, we’ll be mid-80 points and unplayoff-worthy. If he’s a 4th-liner / 13th forward, then we’ll have caught up to some lower playoff teams in depth at forward. I sure hope for the latter.
I thought Vignault would sit Torres rather than stoke the Hawks fire, but it sounds like he’ll skate in Game 4 (http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/sports/cbsports-canucks-torres-still-silent-on-seabrook-hit-20110419,0,7607459.story). Interesting to see if it fires up or distracts the Hawks, or if it even matters against the Nuckleheads.
Badger Bob
April 19th, 2011
2:26 pm
Here’s the quote from that broken link:
Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said he didn’t expect to see anything different from Torres in Game 4 than he did in Game 3.
“He’s a physical, emotional player,” Vigneault said. “He’s going to play the same way. All players are continuing to be educated on what’s accepted and what’s not. He’s like everybody else. He knows what’s accepted and (what’s) not. This is still a physical game and I don’t expect that part of his game to change.”
Joe Friday
April 19th, 2011
2:40 pm
I think Mirtle tried to get a quote out of Torres and had the tweet of the day today, something like “he wouldn’t talk to us, mabye if the reporters all had their heads down or our notepads between our shoes, he’d have give us some attention”
Red Light
April 19th, 2011
2:48 pm
Good discourse today gentlemen!
Had a discussion with a valuable member of the blog squad this morning (and I believe our esteemed host would provide us with a bit of latitude while the posting traffic has become lighter here since the end of the Thrashers season), and we tossed around a few observations about the Thrashers roster, what pieces are or should be in place long term, and what spots are in need of an upgrade as astutely pointed out above by Badger Bob.
I think at some point, the mythical GMs here need to post what current pieces of the Atlanta puzzle need to be moved, upgraded, altered, etc., and for those players you wish to keep, how would you slot them on your roster.
Adding Brad Richards, Kevin Bieksa and other players of that ilk to your mythical Thrashers roster is unresponsive/irrational to reality. We all realize that new owners are necessary, and some believe a new GM, coach or president is too. For the purposes of manning your roster, lets keep in mind current RFA salary increases (like Ladd and Wheeler), and your top end budget should be circa $50 million, a 20 percent increase over last season.
What say you, Bill?
Badger Bob
April 19th, 2011
2:56 pm
Hear, hear, RL. I’m already scanning the lists for my RFA offer sheets. After all, I don’t golf or chum with the other GMs, so it’s gloves off time!
Rawhide
April 19th, 2011
3:02 pm
Red Light – Latitude officially granted and recognized. Excellent idea and observation. You may proceed with your faux GM activities as described.
In addition…I would assert that your $50 million target is appropriate given that no team that hit the cap below that mark qulaified for the postseason.
That is all. Carry on.
Smoothie
April 19th, 2011
3:07 pm
I can save y’all the trouble as I’ve already got a spreadsheet for next year’s budget (at $45-7 M) and a trade proposal to get us Devin Setoguchi for Zach Bogosian! Just waiting to hear back from Doug Wilson, but those pesky playoffs are getting in the way of progress!
Piece of cake Red Light, piece of cake!
Smoothie
April 19th, 2011
3:08 pm
Ostensibly, the additional $4M in natl TV revenues should help us get to $50 M so that’s a nice theoretical target. Probably won’t happen though unless The Balkan comes through in the clutch. Let me go tap into my ORACLE to see what I can find out!
Red Light
April 19th, 2011
3:08 pm
Doug Wilson farts in your general direction Smoothie!
Rawhide
April 19th, 2011
3:14 pm
Smoothie – Did you just drop “ostensibly” on us?
Smoothie
April 19th, 2011
3:22 pm
Ostensibly, Red Light thinks that my idea is nothing more than passing gas in the wind, but check San Jose’s finances and the age of their primary puck mover Dan Boyle and it doesn’t seem so fart-fetched!
ZAvalanche
April 19th, 2011
3:23 pm
RL, Thanks! I am glad we have the same hopes for round #2. If the owners can decide to put us up to $50 mill I would jump into my Borat Speedo and run the Peachtree Road Race. I’m serious, unfortunate for the rest of the population.
Sage's Mom
April 19th, 2011
3:37 pm
My son says he’d love to see your spweadsheet, Smoothie. I’m not sure why he pronounces it that way – I taught him better!
Alan R.
April 19th, 2011
3:40 pm
The Phoenipeg Jetyotes have 8 UFAs, including both goaltenders.
Should the team bolt for the Great White North, what are the odds those players choose to not re-sign?
World Be Free
April 19th, 2011
3:45 pm
Alan R-very little chance of them resigning. The Winnipeg trolls fail to acknowledge the fact that most NHL-er’s do not want to play or live year round in Winnipeg. Nice city, nice people but too far away from the rest of humanity. Ask Neil Young.
Red Light
April 19th, 2011
3:46 pm
Six of the eight will not re-sign, while the other two will have no option but to practice their shots on goal with Prairie Muffins!
Badger Bob
April 19th, 2011
4:01 pm
I actually see Winnipeg as competition for Les Thrash in having to offer players a premium above market value to come there. With deep pocketed ownership, they’d outbid us. Which may not be a bad thing.
Lee
April 19th, 2011
4:08 pm
Glovesave: Whoops. Sorry I haven’t been on the blog in a while, didn’t catch that post!
World Be Free
April 19th, 2011
4:41 pm
Badger, the revailing prairie winds indicate that most players that have the option of moving, via trade or free agency do not want to be in Winnipeg. Deep pockets are fine, but at some point the “Jets” whoever they may be will have to make a profit for any business person to want to be part fo their existance. Buffalo fans think Pegula will lose money for a winner-rich people get rich by making money, not losing it.
If both hockey programs offered the same chance at success on the ice, the question is where would you rather live – Winnipeg or Atlanta?
glovesave29
April 19th, 2011
4:41 pm
I dont think Duds had a choice…NHL rules say you cannot keep a coach from interviewing for job that is deemed a promotion. Its the Panthers…so I really cannot consider THAT a promotion. They are perhaps the only team in the league more screwed up that us.
glovesave29
April 19th, 2011
4:46 pm
Hmmmm, tough one (!) WBF – best way to decide that is to sliiiiide on over to the Weather Channel’s website. It’s 85 degrees here – I went to work in shorts today (such is the joy of being the boss)…it’s 43 and windy in Winnipeg. Bottoms out tonight at a toasty 29 and the shoots all the way up to 50 tomorrow.
Badger Bob
April 19th, 2011
4:48 pm
WBF, well stated, buddy. I guess you (Buffalo) and me (Calgary) weighed in on the 7-months-of-winter vs. Atlanta argument years ago.
Badger Bob
April 19th, 2011
4:49 pm
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