NHL playoff round one update: Do you know what an orca sounds like when choking on a feather?
Do you know what an orca sounds like when choking on a feather?
An orca, or killer whale, is an apex predator of the oceans and can even maul large sharks. However, it seems it has a tough time when one gets caught in their throat. And if you are very, very quiet, put a hand up to your ear and listen toward the northwest, you just might be able to hear exactly what that sounds like?
It’s not a pretty noise, really…especially if you’re a Vancouver Canucks fan.
The Canucks…winners of the Northwest Divisions and the Presidents’ Trophy, collectors of 117 regular season points and winners of 54 games coming into the postseason…had the defending Stanley Cup champs right where they wanted them, down three games to none and four games in which to finish them off.
Make that only one now.
Ben Smith’s overtime goal last night in Chicago leveled the series at three games apiece and sets up a seventh and deciding game seven in Vancouver Tuesday night. They’ve outscored the Canucks 16-5 in the three wins and put the Hawks just one victory away from one of the greatest come-from-behind series triumphs of all time.
Or one of the greatest all-time choke jobs…depending on which way you wish to view it.
The question all Canucks fans are asking today is which goalie will they see in between the pipes Tuesday nigh? Head coach Alain Vigneault decided to start backup Cory Schneider in Chicago last night, but Roberto Luongo had to be called upon after Schneider cramped up trying to stop Michael Frolik’s penalty shot that tied the game at 3-3 in the third period.
Luongo stopped the first 12 shots he faced for the remaining time in the third and into OT, but number 13 proved to be unlucky for he and the Canucks.
The dramatic Blackhawks win capped off a great weekend of NHL playoff hockey. Since Friday we’ve seen the Washington Capitals dispose of the New York Rangers and the Nashville Predators shake off the pesky Anaheim Ducks for the first ever postseason series win in that franchises history.
Also, the Tampa Bay Lightning thumped the Penguins and the Los Angeles Kings beat the San Jose Sharks to remain alive in their respective series. The Bolts and Kings will each host game six tonight and will be looking to force game seven scenarios as well.
Montreal will do the same tomorrow as the Boston Bruins now hold a three games to two lead thanks to their 2-1 OT win Saturday.
Then there’s the game seven between Philadelphia and Buffalo tomorrow night. Yesterday the Sabres were unable to close things out at home, despite leads of 2-0, 3-1 and 4-3. Scott Hartnell’s first goal of the playoffs tied the score midway through the third period for the Flyers and Ville Leino’s second won it for Philly 4:43 into the overtime period.
Now the Sabres will have to travel back to the city of brotherly love to try and advance to the second round.
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133 comments Add your comment
Alan R.
April 25th, 2011
9:50 pm
Rather interestiong… http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/nhl-playoffs-could-have-their-own-madness-next-year/article1997166/
Alan R.
April 25th, 2011
9:51 pm
Yes, I’m aware, that’s a typo. A stupid awful typo. Read the article.
Rawhide
April 25th, 2011
9:51 pm
Alan R. – I was hopeing he’d be signed by now too…but I’m not too worried about it. I have had a couple people close to the oganization tell me they aren’t too far off from it getting done.
Flagstaff & ZAvs – I’d have to go with the RSox-Yankees rivalry as the biggest, nastiest rivalry in pro sports. There may be some college ones that equal it, (see alos Alabama/Auburn, ND/Michigan, etc.)….but NY/BOS is nothing but pure, unadulterated, USDA Grade-A Prime hate!
Lance – I forwarded your request to my online editor. He said “NO”. Something about “steady increase in site traffic”, “high page views” and other stuff like that….shrugs…whatever that all means.
hockeygoon79
April 25th, 2011
10:25 pm
So far most my first round picks aren’t doing too well but I did predict the Blackhawks in 7. So I at least got that going for me if the Hawks complete the comeback for the ages.
Great game by the Lightning tonight following up their Penguin pounding Saturday. That should be a hum-dinger of a game seven.
So far we have 3 game sevens in the first round. I think we could have 4 total this go around. The Sharks “should” put away LA tonight and I expect the Habs will force one more game, but if we wind up with 4 G-7s, then that’s OK with me.
Gotta love this time of year. I only hope we’ll be able to experience it first hand in Thrasherville next spring.
Cliff Fletcher
April 26th, 2011
7:22 am
lance-your bio should have the word “suck” in it.
Red Light
April 26th, 2011
8:35 am
If tonight’s Canucks vs Blackhawks game goes into OT, the Hawks are 7-3 in their last 10 OT playoff games, while the Canucks are 4-6.
Red Light
April 26th, 2011
8:40 am
Out with a whimper?
The last time the Canadiens lost four playoff games in a row was in 2009, when the Bruins swept four straight games in the Conference quarter finals. They also lost four in a row to the Flyers in 2008, four in a row to Carolina in 2006, to Tampa Bay in 2004 and to Buffalo in 1998.
DWTOO
April 26th, 2011
8:50 am
Let’s Go Flyers!
Not Blind
April 26th, 2011
8:51 am
My Ruff post was on the previous blog but WBF responded to it on this blog making my brain freeze up.
Anyway, what I asked was that if Buffalo bombs tonight against Philly does Lindy Ruff’s tenure end ? The Sabres have looked terrible in most of these playoff games. Totally out of sync, almost looking like they have never played together. If Philly had goaltending Buffalo would have been swept in 4 games.
Badger Bob
April 26th, 2011
9:27 am
NB, Buffalo has taken the credo that playoff hockey is not about offense to an extreme – they generate so little. LA has looked just about as anemic, which makes me think they’ll be in the Brad Richards sweepstakes.
Lance, are you hard up for hockey coverage that has dull, uncolorful and uninsightful recitations of on-ice happenings? Then try nhl.com or tsn.ca and leave us alone, thank you. Blogmaster, carry on!
Hoof Arted
April 26th, 2011
9:38 am
Lance, seriously? “not unprcedented”? yeah it’s every year we see a Presidents’ Cup winner build a 3-0 lead on a #8 seed and then possibly choke it away. Good call there, sparky.
As for “dropping a pair”, I would think that anyone who puts out what the BlogMaster does several times a week for years now and then having to deal with assclowns like yourself qualifies as having “dropped” far more than you’ll ever be able to in your lifetime.
Not Blind, that’s a really good question and I’d be interested to see if he actually does take the fall. But if it were me, I’d say he doesn’t. He’s been great for the Sabres and it would be tough to see him given the ax after dragging the 2nd best team in the east to 7 games.
Badger Bob
April 26th, 2011
9:49 am
Alan, as that article hints, the majority of my Canadian friends and family see tonight as potenially the last night of hockey – they can’t bear the thought of hockey being played in places like Florida, California and Tennessee with NONE in Canada. At least rating for the World Championship will spike.
And speaking of the weak intermission filler, I certainly hope we’ve seen the last of Iron Mike Keenan at the Versus desk. He was both thoroughly pompous and uninformative the night he replaced Roenick. A sampling “I used to coach Joe Thornton!”. So Keith Jones asks how he would motivate Joe. “I don’t coach him anymore so that’s not my problem!” Nice. Thanks for that, you twit!
DWTOO
April 26th, 2011
10:00 am
I’m with y’all on Ruff. I’m sure he stays – one thing about Buffalo is the stability in coaches/GM’s. Not everyone likes it, but, think it’s one of their strengths. Think they get as much out their budget as any team in the league.
Moe
April 26th, 2011
10:03 am
Lance, hockey is full of metaphors and the like. I just read the following on one of the on-line Vancouver whining rags :
“It is said that Herb Brooks’ final words to his U.S. Olympic hockey team before the players took the ice against Finland in the 1980 gold medal game — having already done the hard part of their Miracle on Ice against the Soviets — were as follows:
“If you lose this game,” Brooks said, “you will take it to your [expletive] graves.”
Then, as he reached the door, he turned and repeated: “To your [expletive] graves.”
One supposes that this isn’t exactly the right moment, in the midst of what must be an emotional tornado whirling inside the Vancouver Canucks, to lay something that heavy on them — and besides, it’s probably not Alain Vigneault’s style to be so negative.
But it’s true, nonetheless. If they do, they will.
Hahaha, go Hawks!!
Joe Friday
April 26th, 2011
10:18 am
Red Light, and 8 out of the last 10 game 7s have been won by the road club.
You know what all these stats mean? Hawks are gonna lose, someone start posting some stats showing the Canuckleheads have the #s on their side, will ya?!?
I love how Gillis tried to call out the refs saying all the calls are going against him. Um, that’s because your lineup is full of either diving twin sisters or cheap shot artists, ya hump
Red Light
April 26th, 2011
10:44 am
Sorry Joe Friday, there are no stats that back up the Canucks except one…
Vancouver has a record of 5-4 in its previous nine Game 7s and are 3-3 in the six played at home. Not exactly a confidence builder, although they have won 2 of the last 3 and the only one they have appeared in with Vigneault behind the bench!
Red Light
April 26th, 2011
10:48 am
Vigneault’s teams are 4-4 in elimination games.
Alan R.
April 26th, 2011
10:48 am
I can actually see the officiating go against the Canucks tonight, given Gilles’ comments yesterday. If there’s one thing you don’t do, it’s taunt the officials.
“You want to see bad calls? Well, alrighty!”
Red Light
April 26th, 2011
10:53 am
In playoff games decided in OT this season, the road teams are 6-3.
Red Light
April 26th, 2011
10:55 am
Disagree Alan R. Canadian TV needs at least one team to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Both the Habs and Canucks will have more PP opportunities than the Bruins and Blackhawks. Book it.
Moe
April 26th, 2011
10:56 am
A good metaphor for Shadenfreude” : Hawks score in the first minute of the game tonight, and we all watch with glee as they pan the camera around the rink showing the crowd….:)
ZAvalanche
April 26th, 2011
11:00 am
Lance – ummm, any idiot can write a cold-cut article about how one team beat another and give stats on the various games. It takes some skill and thought to put together a good piece and tie together metaphors in a consistent pattern. This is the best hockey blog I have encountered (and I read a lot of them) and has some very good and knowledgeable posters – even LAC, while brash, has very respectable views. So Lance, respectfully – you suck.
Anyhow, on to the games…….
So far my predictions are all coming through. I just didn’t think LA could handle the Sharks without Kopitar.
I picked Tampa over Pitt with the Pens missing two of their best, that game 7 should be darn good.
Tonight’s games:
Busy night, really busy and some awesome hockey to be had. Canada faces the prospect of being totally out of the playoffs. I think Boston will finish it up. I DO think Vancouver will win this game 7 but that is going to be one tense crowd. Imagine how quiet that place will be if Chi scores the first goal? You would hear a pin drop.
Buffalo – you can do this! I have no love for either team, but I always like taking the underdog.
Red Light
April 26th, 2011
11:23 am
Sabres all-time Game 7 record: 1-5 overall and 0-4 on the road.
Flyers all-time Game 7 record: 8-6 overall and 5-3 on home ice.
Moe
April 26th, 2011
11:25 am
ZAvalanche – here here, I agree that this is one of the best hockey blogs and also agree that Lance sucks.
Your wish for Buffalo to come through may just happen. There are some reports out of Buffalo that Derek Roy may be ready to suit up for Game 7 !! When he got injured in December, he was averaging a point a game…
Red Light
April 26th, 2011
11:26 am
David Amber Tweet: #8 seeds have won 4 of 5 game 7’s vs #1 seeds since seeding began in 1994.
Moe
April 26th, 2011
11:42 am
Personally, I never look at what the historical data is. Every game is different. For example, Bryan Bickell just had wrist surgery yesterday even though playing games 4,5, & 6 for the Hawks. He had two goals and one assist in those three games playing with a lacerated wrist. Now he’s out 6-8 weeks, this has to somehow help the Canucks even though they are hanging by a thread with a strong breeze rolling in from the Pacific.
ZAvalanche
April 26th, 2011
11:46 am
Thanks Moe. Hmm, playing Roy in a game 7 after not having played a game in the last 4 months would be a hard decision to make. Sure, if he is coming back he has been practicing but that is akin to going from beer-league softball to the world series. Risky move and I hope it pays off. Would be nice to have Hecht back as well. If Roy is 100%, as he states, then that could be the final nail in the coffin for Philly.
Moe
April 26th, 2011
12:06 pm
Hecht hasn’t been ruled out of Game 7. If he plays, Hecht and Roy could replace injured Pomminville and Connelly, with Philly’s shaky goaltending, should be enough to take Game 7..
Red Light
April 26th, 2011
12:09 pm
Moe: I subscribe to the other side of the coin…history does have a bearing, otherwise the Blackhawks would never have evened up this series without their ominous shadow looming over the Canucks. Now, these things don’t hold true all of the time, but it wouldn’t shock me at all if the Hawks win somewhat easily tonight, with or without Bickell.
Whoever said streaks are meant to be broken didn’t know sports!
Red Light
April 26th, 2011
12:12 pm
Peverley on Game 6 tonight in Montreal:
“You want to go into tonight…and play your best game. An elimination game is always the hardest to win.”
Just exactly how would he know? Must have talked with Recchi! lol
ZAvalanche
April 26th, 2011
12:20 pm
RL – I agree with you on stats, but then again I am a reliability engineer, and history tells all and is the only predictor of the future for any given system. Does it mean that it can’t happen? No, not at all. But if there is still a probability > 0, then there is always a chance. That is what I love about this game and the 2-month-long NHL playoffs (we have all heard of the “Any Given Sunday” phrase and that is why we have game 7’s).
I don’t think anybody will argue with me that this is the best time of year: spring, hockey, golf for Smoothie. Fantastic!
Moe, I sure as hell hope Roy is ready to go, best of luck!
Moe
April 26th, 2011
12:32 pm
There’s nothing more exciting than Hockey playoffs. Players injured, players coming back, Pronger playing only on Powerplays last game, players palying through lacerations etc. etc .etc. Whats next, Cindy popping onto the ice for Game 7 and only playing while the Penguins are Shorthanded?
Red Light
April 26th, 2011
12:33 pm
The Canadiens are 24–8 all time in playoff series against the Bruins, and prior to Montreal’s series loss to Boston in 1990, they were 21-3 all time and had won 8 of 9 playoff series against the Bruins. Since, they are just 3-5.
That trend took ages to reverse, much like the Ruth curse the Yankees had over the Red Sox.
ZAvalanche
April 26th, 2011
12:41 pm
Totally agree Moe. For instance, The Mule (Johann Franzen) takes a nasty dive, gets a bunch of stitches and comes back in (I wish he didn’t – I hate Detroit – but that is toughness). Every single one of the players are hurt in some way but they throw their bodies on the line anyway. I am sure I am not the only one here to have taken a slapper to the ribs, and these guys do it every shift. Only team sports player I think is more tough than a hockey player is a Rugby player. That game is brutal.
ZAvalanche
April 26th, 2011
12:45 pm
RL, the reason for the decline since 1990 = no Patrick Roy (yeah, I know he left in ‘95, got them a cup in ‘93). They haven’t had super solid tending since he left. There was the one year that Theodore was on fire but he came back down to earth after that run.
Red Light
April 26th, 2011
1:13 pm
Nope…Roy’s lifetime playoff record against the Bruins was well under .500 and the Bruins eliminated Roy’s team in four of five seasons.
Moe
April 26th, 2011
1:46 pm
Another reason for Montreal’s decline was losing Sam Pollack, arguably the greatest GM hockey has ever seen. Here is a story of one of his many accomplishments, I’d bet Guy Lafleur had a few things to do with the Bruins losing a series or two.
“Among one of Sam Pollacks shrewdest moves, was a series of trades in which the Canadiens obtained the first overall pick in the 1971 NHL Entry Draft, the year in which Guy Lafleur would be eligible. It appeared as if the first overall selection would be held by the California Golden Seals so he persuaded Seals owner Charlie Finley to trade the Seals’ pick and François Lacombe in return for Montreal’s first round pick and a veteran Ernie Hicke. However, during the 1970-71 season, the Los Angeles Kings were playing even more poorly than the hapless California Seals. The Kings were in danger of “beating” the Seals out for last place, and if this happened Pollock would lose his first overall pick. Pollock cleverly traded the aging but still valuable Ralph Backstrom to the Kings for two insignificant players. Backstrom’s presence lifted the Kings out of last place, the Seals finished at the bottom, granting the Habs the first pick. Pollock chose Lafleur.with his number 1 pick”.
“On another occasion he traded two college prospects to Boston for a young goalie named Ken Dryden”.
Red Light
April 26th, 2011
2:11 pm
Good one Moe!
Joe Friday
April 26th, 2011
2:31 pm
“#8 seeds have won 4 of 5 game 7’s vs #1 seeds since seeding began in 1994.”
Great, the jinx is fully in now, thanks for nuthin!
Not Blind
April 26th, 2011
2:33 pm
I hope there is not an Antiques Roadshow being televised tonight that I haven’t seen !!!
ZAvalanche
April 26th, 2011
2:33 pm
RL, some of those Montreal teams were very sub-par and Roy was the only thing that kept them competitive, in my opinion. I don’t think there is another goalie in history who could have taken those ‘86 and ‘93 teams to the cup. He earned his reputation and it is cast in sterling silver – 4 times, twice with some mediocre Montreal teams. Can’t really say much about him carrying his Avs teams, they were loaded with talent.
ZAvalanche
April 26th, 2011
2:35 pm
Trixie, I believe my most recent post is stuck in Alabama……….
ZAvalanche
April 26th, 2011
2:35 pm
NM, there we go
ZAvalanche
April 26th, 2011
3:11 pm
Not Bline – LOL! Antiques Road show! HA! Good one!
Uncle Milty
April 26th, 2011
3:12 pm
http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/2011/01/12/could-it-be-the-mayflower-trucks-arent-coming-after-all/
An incredibly karmic announcement is just a few days away now.
ZAvalanche
April 26th, 2011
3:21 pm
Troll Alert! Uncle Milty got into Sage’s kool-aid…….again.
Moe
April 26th, 2011
3:23 pm
I checked the regular season games between the Canucks and the Hawks, they both won twice (once in each others rink). I can’t help but think that Toews will be the difference tonight, he hasn’t done much all series. He’s due….Hawks will win…
Red Light
April 26th, 2011
3:27 pm
City holiday in Winnipeg on Friday. Announcement rumors abound. Apparently a new office building will be erected with the first-ever escalator in Manitoba.
ZAvalanche
April 26th, 2011
3:32 pm
Moe – interesting though. It very well could be Luongo vs Toews that decides it. I still think the ‘Nucks will triumph.
Joe Friday
April 26th, 2011
3:36 pm
“I can’t help but think that Toews will be the difference tonight, he hasn’t done much all series. He’s due”
Great minds think alike, I’ve been thinking this since about midnight Sunday . . . all bets are off if AV and Gilles have had Luongo hypnotized to believe he’s really back in Florida playing the Thrashers . . .