An Absolutely Smokin' Hot NHL Playoff Collectible!!

hockey inspired pipe carving. All carvings by Andrew of Salt Spring Island

by Lisa Ovens

In keeping with the hockey art photo theme I have going on this playoffs...

Just stick it in this pipe and smoke it! Being an Island Girl at heart (no, not New York Islanders - I grew up on an island surrounded by other islands on the South Coast of British Columbia) I have always been a fan of beautiful and quirky Salt Spring Island, and the various delights found there. I mean isn't the Chevres (soft goat cheese) from Salt Spring Island Cheese Company  absolutely divine?

Well the above wood pipe resembling the most revered trophy in all of pro sports is another delight to behold. Smoke or no smoke, it would be a sweet hockey collectible to add to your collection

Hand made on beautiful Salt Spring Island, BC , this pipe is made of pure Canadian Maple just in time for the playoffs! Perfect one of a kind gift for a hockey fan!
 
Click here to buy the ultimate hockey fan smoking device and 21 other creations.

The unique pipe collection also includes an Olympic inspired Torch pipe...

And a nod to the film, The Big Lebowski...

The Dude Abides...

Pens/ Habs Game Seven:There’s No Crying in Hockey

by Jan Snyder


Pens Lose Game 7
Montreal wins series


However, there is room for a tear or two for the old Arena. Somehow this loss bookends Mellon Arena’s many years. The Pens lost the first game played there and now have lost the last ever. Lots of memories over those many years. I’ll always remember going to games with my Dad, my Mom, my brothers, my sister, my daughter, my son, my son-in-law, and with all my friends, especially Karen and Pat, and all the fun we always had, win or lose. I will treasure those memories of watching #66 work his magic, #68 and his flowing locks, and of course enjoying the current crop of Penguins.

As this wacky playoff season goes on, the number eight seed advances in the east. Pittsburgh starts their offseason after powerhouse teams like New Jersey, Washington and Buffalo started theirs. Odd turn of events all the way around.

But let’s hand it to Montreal and especially to Halak. He’s proved now that he’s the real deal stopping the best players on Washington and Pittsburgh. P.K. Subban will be fun to watch for years to come and we know how good Hal Gill can be, but we prefer seeing him do what he does when he’s on our team. I agree with the announcers who said Pittsburgh didn’t lose, Montreal won. Very true as they played a team game and did what they had to do all the way through the series. How many times did I jump off the couch, thinking Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Gonchar, etc. had scored a “sure” goal, only to watch Halak gobble up the puck?

Losing possession of the Stanley Cup is hard, but makes us appreciate how lucky we were to have it for one season. The Pens will come back strong next year in their new home and will want to start with a win and a winning season – maybe another Stanley Cup season?

This may sound strange, but I am jumping on the Montreal bandwagon. I am, as Lisa will attest, a proponent of having as many Canadian teams in the playoffs as possible. After all, it’s their game, so they should be participating. Since they are the only team from Canada left, I will now be their fan. I can’t root for Boston or Philly (that would be impossible, not to mention sacrilegious), so if I want an eastern team to win the Cup, it may as well be the one that knocked out my team from the tournament. Congrats, Montreal!

And in the west – no Pens fan wants to watch Marion Hossa hoist the Cup, so we’ll be pulling for the Sharks.

The boys had a great year and gave us many more exciting memories. Watching Sid fight until the final game for the scoring championship was one. Now they can get some rest and be back in the fall, on a really fresh sheet of ice, ready to rock us again!

Thanks, Pens, it was a great run!

Canucks vs. Blackhawks Game Six: Canucks Eliminated, Lisa says "Go SHARKS!"

Blue Canuck by Lisa Ovens

by Lisa Ovens

To help ease the pain of watching my home team, the Vancouver Canucks lose game six, 5-1, I cleaned my bathroom. And I phoned my brother. But I didn’t reach for a cup cake, so, uh, that’s a good thing.

Same day (May 11th) same game (game six) same team doing the eliminating (Blackhawks) Geez, who writes these scripts? For some reason, and I haven’t put my finger on it yet, but after this year’s “Annual Blackhawks eliminate Canucks Event” I don’t feel as bad as I did last year. And judging by the looks and comments from the post game Canucks, it didn’t seem to hurt them as much as it did last year.

To sum it up quickly right here, right now in no particular order: yes, we missed a player like Willie Mitchell, we blew it in games three and four on the composure front, people played hurt, Luongo tried and looked great at times, and then stunk it up on others, the Blackhawks are a good team, Byfuglien ran over Edler who doesn't return to play, the one goal we got from O'Brien was sweet, all hale Sami Salo for playing after the testicle injury from game five, why couldn’t we win at home where lots and lots of winning occurred all year, oh how this sucks, especially for the fans in the stands who cheered even when it was 5-1, but I believed, and who says you have to ever stop believing.

In the West it’s a no brainer, I ‘m jumpin’ on the San Jose Shark bandwagon in the Western Conference Final. As I pointed out in a recent column, the San Jose Sharks and the Vancouver Canucks were the last two competitors in the Semi Finals that haven’t won a Stanley Cup. Let's see the Sharks get closer to the promised land. Like I’m going to cheer for the Blackhawks- not!

My mother passed away before the beginning of the regular season, and I made it through my first Canuck season without her as my game buddy. I know wherever she is, she’ll be a little sad that the boys came up short again. And then she’ll say let’s look forward to next season.

And I shall :o) because I am crazy. You have to be a little crazy to follow this team.

Two of these teams are not like the Others...

by Lisa Ovens

Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks.

Can you figure out which two teams are different than the others and why? The answer is below this mini Don Cherry Suit Fest...

The two different teams are the San Jose Sharks and the Vancouver Canucks. What they have in common goes beyond the finned, ocean dwelling creatures on their sweaters. Neither of these teams has won a Stanley Cup.

Based on the last few cup winning teams, it's a good thing for the Canucks and the Sharks that Marion Hossa doesn’t play for either of them...

Red Wings: one  Penguins: one

Marion Hossa: nothing

The San Jose Sharks are now one step closer to making the Stanley Cup Final after knocking out the Detroit Red Wings last night. We can't say the same for the Vancouver Canucks, as their Stanley Cup Final campaign is on the ropes, down three games to one against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Canucks need to win three more games this week to stay alive this post season. Today is the first day of three possible judgment days. If the Canucks can't win game five for themselves, maybe the could win one for their moms.

Happy Mother's Day everyone :o)

GAME DAY: Canucks vs. Blackhawks Game Five

          Imagine all the rituals, superstitions and lucky objects in action right now in Canuckland

Canucks lost game four 7-4
Blackhawks lead series 3-1

by Lisa Ovens

According to NHL.com’s playoff stats: teams have trailed 3-1 in a best-of-seven series a total of 229 times and have come back to win the series on 20 occasions or 8.7% of the time. And three of the twenty belong to the Vancouver Canucks (1992, 1994 and 2003). In fact, the Canucks have the most success at this than any other team! What’s bothersome is why we have to wind up in these predicaments in the first place.

                        A Wondertwin wonders Yes...how did we wind up here again?

The most recent successful series comeback was the 2003 playoffs, the opponent: the St. Louis Blues. The Blues were a very good team, and at the time had the record for most consecutive playoff appearances out of all pro sports (at the time it was something like 23 years in a row qualifying for the playoffs). The Canuck/ Blues rivalry had been heating up all season long with the two teams split for wins, and the final outing was considered “the game of the year” in the press.

For the Canucks, that first round series was off to a horrible start because they lost game one (6-0) at home. I was there and it was a heart breaker. They did nothing right and were completely owned by the Blues. They managed to barely win game two, but then lost the next two on the road in St. Louis. With the Canucks on the ropes for game five at home, I decided to bet on the Canucks to win the game. I could have made that bet with many people because nobody believed the team would win. I went to the game, and sure enough they won. Back to St. Louis for game six and they won again. Home to Vancouver for game seven and they won the series.

So what happened to create that glorious turn around? Well the pressure was off for sure. I remember seeing a clip of the team strolling into GM Place on game day and they were loose, smiling and relaxed. But something else was going on over at the other bench worth noting: the flu was spreading around the mighty Blues team.

Today the Canucks are waist deep in a nasty team melt down and it’s already a game up over last year’s Blackhawk series melt down (we had two wins at this point last year and were eventually dispatched from the playoffs after game six).

So what can Canuck nation hope for this time around?

The Blackhawks might not have the flu, but the Orcas can hope for some three alarm hangovers...

Maybe the fun, young Bhawks, tickled pink after taking both games in Van, went out and tied one on Saturday night in Chicago. Let’s face it; those boys have to be thrilled that they’ve made fools out of the Canucks and their fans, and they did it so, so convincingly. What fresh faced group of young guns wouldn’t grab a limo, lots of beer and take their shirts off in celebration?

Road Trip

The Canucks have to happy to get out of the insane asylum that the city of Vancouver has become. I have to write a separate column covering the mountain of stupidity we’ve ascended (most of it is courtesy of the media) or else this one would be too long. In my opinion the circus off of the ice is as bad if not worse than the three ringer on the ice. I know if I were the Canucks, I’d more than pleased to get on a plane and return to the “Mad House” that is United Center. I’m sure it will be calmer there for them, if you can imagine that!

Mikael Samuelsson Makes a Difference...

This guy won a Stanley Cup in 2008 with arguably the best team, top to bottom, over the last 20 years. Could he possibly have some magic Red Wing dust left on him to sprinkle around the Canucks locker room? Could he have some words to say that explain how a successful team like the 2008 Red Wings would deal with the Canucks current woes?

We’ve Used Up ALL the Bad Everything

Could it be that the Canucks have gotten everything bad that any hockey player could ever imagine happening out of the way in these last three games, leaving the team with nothing but good stuff on the horizon? Is it possible that Daniel Sedin has no more potential for taking penalties, because he’s already spent his quota for round two? And Roberto Luongo has realized he’s way overdrawn at the goals allowed bank and will madly start saving them again?

Will the pucks grow tired of bouncing the other way?

Is the entire team finally done talking and ready to just shut up and play?


The clock is ticking...GO CANUCKS!!!

Habs/ Pens Game Four: It’s As Simple as 1-2-3

by Jan Snyder



Pens Lose 3-2 to Montreal
series tied 2-2

What a first period! There they were – the Pens of last year, the holders of the Cup, playing like crazy, buzzing like bees around a hive! Staal was back, somewhat unexpectedly, everything was right with the world! Even though Montreal scored first as Pyatt snuck the puck through Fleury’s legs, that was okay because shortly after, Max the Superstar Talbot, scored for the Pens. Hal Gill was called for a penalty and we took advantage as a loopy goal went in off Kunitz and gave Sid an assist. The score was 2-1 as the period ended and things were lookin’ good.

What a second period! The Pens started with a power play, then the Habs had a power play but neither could score. Each team worked hard for the full twenty minutes, but there was no scoring. Instead there were plenty of opportunities for the Pens to score, but Halak and the defense kept them off the scoreboard. I was starting to squirm, thinking we needed one more, as Letang missed an open net and others came so close but couldn’t find the back of the net.

What a third period! The Pens came out like the Energizer bunny as his batteries were wearing down. Where was that fire from the first two periods? Give Montreal credit – they took full advantage and scored two quick goals about ninety seconds apart and went up 3-2. So the Pens had some work to do and they set to it. When Geno got loose and came in on the breakaway, I was sure he would tie things up – but, no, not so much as he missed and Halak flung the puck up ice. They worked and worked right to the bitter end, but couldn’t come back to tie it up.

What a game! Even though we came out on the bad end of this one, it was one terrific playoff game. Halak was good, Fleury was good. The Pens were better in the first part of the game, the Canadiens were better in the second part. Nobody said it would be easy to defend the Stanley Cup!

Now back to Pittsburgh for game five. Home, sweet, home with the series tied at 2-2. Come on, fans, show your support, be as loud as the fans in Montreal (but don’t throw trash on the ice) and help the Pens get that third win! We can do, they can do it –

LET’S GO, PENS!

Random Thoughts:

• How odd is it that Miroslav Satan, who won the Cup last year with the Pens, has scored three game-winning goals for Boston? Love the phrase, Miro the Hero!

• Detroit isn’t going down easy. Quite a statement tonight scoring seven goals.

• I was pulling hard for Lisa’s Canucks last night, but they broke the pattern of doing what the Pens did. Now they have to win tomorrow night to get their series to 2-2 as well.

Blackhawks/ Canucks: Game Three

by Lisa Ovens

Blackhawks 5 Canucks 2

Blackhawks lead the series 2-1



Seen Around Town:

Former Canuck defenseman, Mattias Ohlund was spotted having a bite to eat with current defender, Alex Edler at Urban Fare in Yaletown today. This meet up appeared to have no effect on the Canucks 5-2 loss to the Blackhawks on Wednesday night.

Also spotted near Yaletown...a grey whale made a rare appearance in the waters off GM Place, home of the Vancouver Canucks. Some optimists saw this as a good omen for the boys wearing the Orca crested jerseys.

The Coast Guard tracked the whale, concerned for its safety. According to spokesman Dan Bate, "A crew from Kitsilano was tasked to keep an eye on it and ensure there was no interference from other boaters."

If only the NHL officials and the Vancouver Canuck defense corps could do the same for Canucks net minder, Roberto Luongo, ensuring no interference from the opponent's showboater (see video).

The Game...
There's not enough Heineken and chocolate cupcakes in the world to help me get over this game! It was like the Canucks played right into the Blackhawks hands. This was frustrated play after frustrated display. This outing was a frightening reminder of last season's round two series with the Bhawks. And we all know how that one turned out.

The Vancouver Canucks threw everything at Hawks goaltender, Antti Niemi without so much as a ladle getting knocked out of place in his kitchen; messing up Niemi is something Canuck fans want to see after witnessing the much hated behemoth BHawk, Dustin Byfuglien wreak havoc in front of Luongo, and potting a hat trick in the process. Byfuglien scoring a hat trick...oh the horror, THE HORROR!!

Last series against the LA Kings, we heard the name, Doughty too much from the broadcast booth. This time it's Byfuglien! Come on Canucks...less Byfuglien and more, ooh pick a Nuck defender name, anyone, more all of them, more Sedin, more Samuelsson, more Kesler, more Burrows!! Last series our penalty kill struggled. This series our power play is pathetic. Come game four, these special teams must be firing on all cylinders - the Canucks have no choice at this point, if they want to get to the promise land (Oh by Canuck nation standards, the promise land actually means the Western Conference Finals, a place we haven't seen for 16 long years).

And before I leave this post in search of cupcakes and Heinekens, I should address the on ice officiating and the rule surrounding the controversial fifth goal scored by the Blackhawks...

NHL rule #69.

"Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal."

When the NHL officials were studying this rule at reffing school, well, it just didn’t sink in. Too busy giggling about the number “69”?

P.S.
One first period intermission moment of "WTF" proportions...
 
The Green Men announced on twitter that they would not be attending tonight’s game but will be present for game four on Friday, which in turn was announced by Jeff Marek on HNIC’s I- Desk segment. Well thank freaking God we were enlightened by this vital information! But you know what this means now...if the Canucks win Game Four with those two green body suit clad clowns hamming it up for the visiting team's sin bin occupants, the world as we know it will be changed for ever.
 
Go Canucks...may you be the comeback kids we fall in love with, over and over again!

Pens/ Habs Game Three: Geno’s Back!

Pens Take Game 3 by a Score of 2-0
Pens lead the series 2-1

by Jan Snyder
What a game! The atmosphere in Montreal was just as we thought it would be. Sometimes I think the crowd is just one big fan – they react as one all the time, good or bad. They are awesome.

Four Pens players were “at home” – Dupuis, Talbot, Fleury and Letang are all from the area and had to be charged up to be at home for a playoff game in Montreal. They all played well, but Fleury was outstanding.

The Penguins were wounded, without a wing, as Bill Guerin couldn’t play. In the first period, each team had a power play chance with no results. For a period with no scoring, it was quite exciting! Lots of action, blocked shots, hard hits – a real playoff game.

Right at the end of the second, the Pens were buzzing and we sensed something might happen, but even with a power play, nothing came the Pens way. And still the Montreal “fan” kept up its constant chants and singing, urging their team on.

Just as the second period ended, Hal Gill was called for holding on Crosby! Yay!! No score in the second, but with almost the entire power play left in the third, Geno made the difference. He had promised to play “100%” better and he was true to his word. The Pens got set up, Gonchar slapped a pass to Geno, and with Sid screening Halak, the puck found its way into the net! Whew! That was a relief. Still lots of time left, but we’d broken through and broken the tie. This really felt like a 1-0 game and I was so happy that it was the Pens that had the 1 on their side of the scoreboard.

As long as Fleury continued to play the way he had for two periods, the Pens had no worries. Fleury seemed determined to stop everybody and every puck tonight and he did get the shutout, but not before Pens’ fans stood as Cammalleri fired a shot that seemed like it would get through – but no, the brick wall go in the way and the heart-pounding save was made!

All that was left was for Dupuis to score an empty net goal very close to the end of the game. The Pens are now up 2-1 in the series and will have to do much more of the same on Thursday night to contain those pesky Canadians.

Fleury won the Battle of the Goalies tonight, stopping 18 shots, while Halak stopped 23. The Pens found a way to win, had the will to win, and showed everyone they learned a lot from bringing home the Cup last season.

Tonight I realized that I really don’t “enjoy” these games while they are in progress! I can’t sit still, I get heartburn, I scream at the TV – doesn’t that sound like fun? And yet I wouldn’t miss a game for the world and after they are over, I realize I did have a good time, despite myself!

A very bright spot today was the news that Jordan Staal skated with the team. He wasn’t really participating, but the very fact that he can get a skate on so soon after surgery seems like good news to me.

I’m ready for more heartburn and another headache on Thursday night – whatever it takes, I’m ready!

LET’S GO, PENS!!



Random Thoughts

• San Jose has the series 3-0 against Detroit. How is that happening? I still won’t count the Red Wings out, but 3-0 is hard to come back from for any team, including them.

• Boston has two games on Philly, heading into Philadelphia for the next game. I’m enjoying this series too, and I hope it goes seven games, overtime each game, so that if the Pens get through to the next round, their opponent is exhausted!

• Lisa and I have talked about the parallel playoffs the Pens and Canucks are having. According to the “pattern”, Vancouver will win tomorrow!

My Heart Going Boom, Boom, Boom...

Blackhawks earned their surf n' turf tonight

Game Two: Canucks 2 vs. Blackhawks 4


series tied 1-1

By Lisa Ovens

Before I take off my Canuck colored glasses I will say this: If there was one difference between games one and two in United Center, the Canucks were by far closer to winning game two than the Blackhawks were to winning game one.

Loved the first period, with two fast goals from Mason Raymond and Mikael Samuelsson. But, heart rates jumped up in Vancouver city during the second period as the Blackhawks started getting their foot hold on the game. Going into the third with only a one goal lead had me screaming from the sofa, “Gotta get another one quick boys, and show those kids who’s in charge”. The Canucks had there chances on the power play, but couldn’t convert: the Sedins not looking like their usual wondertwin selves.

Last three minutes of the game and I’m on the phone to Jan Snyder in Texas: “I can’t take this right now” I yelled. But the Blackhawks pressed enough to get a short handed goal, and those just sting! As did the empty net goal at the end of the game. Final score 4-2. Still on the phone with Jan, we discuss the similarities between the Pens and Nucks as they travel along their playoff paths. I felt better after talking to Jan.

Canucks goal tender, Roberto Luongo did what he could to keep the team in the game with multiple big saves. On the Bhawk side, Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith have definitely picked up their play. I was wondering when those two were going to get their act together – yikes!

                         a windy evening in Vancouver shall cool us down

We got the split as the series moves to Vancouver for Wednesday’s game three, BHawk fans got something to cheer about tonight, and my heart rate finally appears to be back to normal.

Game Three Wed. May 5th, 2010 6:30pm PST
Game Four Fri. May 7th, 2010 6:30pm PST

My heart going boom boom boom
"Son," he said "Grab your things,
I've come to take you home."
-lyrics from the Song Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel
He also writes about the wind in that tune, too ;o)

Game Two Pens/ Habs: Hal Gill Gives Sid His Fill

Pens lose Game Two by a score of 3-1

by Jan Snyder

Last year at this time, we Pens’ fans were praising Hal Gill and his shutdown abilities against opponents. This year - not so much. Last season, Gill kept Ovechkin under wraps to some extent and did the same to other forwards in other series. This season, he kept Ovechkin under wraps again, so well, in fact, that Montreal was able to knock Washington out of the playoffs.

Now Crosby gets his turn to play against the much bigger defenseman. In this game, Gill did his job well, getting Crosby ticked off in the process and keeping him off the scoreboard. Not that Sid didn’t give as good as he got, but the battles with Gill didn’t help him score or set up plays.

Maybe that’s not all that went wrong today. The power play was sorely missing Jordan Staal. A new group has to learn to work together without his big physical presence in the mix. Staal is so big on the penalty kill too, and his absence might have played into the power play goal Montreal scored. He’s missed not just on the power play and penalty kill, but on the third line. That didn’t go too well today either. And Geno, although active, wasn’t able to contribute any goals nor much defense.

Could it be some kind of passive aggressive movement by the Pens against playing in the afternoon on NBC? The Pens don’t do well in these games, although they came out strong this particular afternoon, but that intensity didn’t last even through the first period.

Well, no excuses. The Pens lost and the Canadiens won.

The returns of Jordan Leopold and Tyler Kennedy boded well it seemed, but although each player did his job, there was no scoring from them. The line that did produce the Pens single tally was the determined trio of Cooke, Talbot and Dupuis, who worked like little demons throughout the game.

As the second period ended, the Pens finally saw their first power play chance, closely followed by two more in the third period, but all three looked disjointed and yielded nothing but frustration.

Let’s talk Halak. He looks like he is getting back on the road to being the goalie he was against Washington. He made some big stops today, as did Fleury, but so much is riding on Halak’s play that Montreal has to be thrilled with what he did in today’s game.

Mike Cammellari was the biggest difference maker for Montreal on the scoreboard, as he netted two goals. Their first went to Brian Gionta.

So now the Pens jet to the craziness that is the Bell Centre. I love the fans’ enthusiasm, their singing, and their “refereeing”, but I like it a lot more when we aren’t the opponent. Will they still feel any goodwill for Sid who just earned Canada a Gold Medal a few short months ago? Will they remember he played juniors in Quebec? Will they recall that he taught himself French to be able to communicate there? Will any of that make a hill of beans difference to them? Oh, no, no, no! They will sing-song Fleury’s name, furiously cheer on their team, and raucously sing Ole, Ole, Ole.

The Pens won’t let all that get to them though and will be ready for Game Three.

Let’s Go, Pens!!

Random Thoughts:

• Well, the Canucks made themselves unwelcome guests in Chicago, didn’t they? The blowout was a surprise. We’ll see how the rest of the series plays out.

• Good for Marc Savard! After missing two months or so because of a concussion suffered at the hands (or shoulder) of Matt Cooke, Savard played in his first game yesterday. All he did was win the game for the Bruins in OT! Great way to come back. That overtime period was intense and frenetic with both teams having great scoring chances before it ended.

• Last week, three of my good friends, none of whom would know a hockey puck it if hit them in the head, and I were trying to find a day to get together for dinner this upcoming week. One of them couldn’t do Monday or Friday, one couldn’t do Wednesday. I was hanging back on the emails to see what would happen. I finally had to weigh in and ask if they could wait until I saw the Pens’ schedule for the second round. The last email said, “If the Pens don’t play, we can go Tuesday or Thursday.” Of course, the Pens play both of those days this week. When I found out, I told them to go ahead without me; I’d miss them, but would catch up next time. Being great friends, they changed plans to lunch, which of course I could do! Even though they don’t “get it”, they put up with me and my hockeymania!

Game One Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Canucks win 5-1 Lead the Series 1-0

by Lisa Ovens


After six days of non stop analysis, including plenty on Dustin Byfuglien’s butt, the marquee Round Two rivalry began at United Center in Chicago Saturday night. However, the bloodbath everyone was expecting didn’t materialize, unless you call a 5-1 win for the road team a bloodbath. The Canucks played a pretty good game, with all four lines scoring, the defense doing all the little things well, and solid goaltending from captain, Roberto Luongo. How the heck do you pick the three stars when everyone delivered a fine performance? And the other pressing question... what happened to the Blackhawks?

They seemed befuddled by the thought of playing hockey. Or maybe they were not expecting the Canucks to be as good as they were tonight. I am sure that’s not too hard to do, because I think that’s what the Canucks were thinking last year at this time. The Blackhawks are a great team, and their coach is no slouch. Changes will be coming for Monday. It’s also possible a kitchen sink will be added to the line up, too.

And I think they should change up that pre-game song if they are making a list of what to change for Monday night’s tilt. Ted Nugent’s Stranglehold is a great song if you want to outplay the opposition at a slow motion air guitar contest. Not that I want to see the BHawks have an extra edge...

Go Canucks!!

Here’s To Team Canadas and Original SIXY!!

hockey art. artist on left, mark gaskin. on right, lisa ovens

by Lisa Ovens

Two Canadian based NHL teams advanced to Round Two: cue the “All Canadian Stanley Cup Final” talk. Yeah, a Canucks/ Canadiens final would be kind of neat, but, it would only last four, maybe five games, making it dull, and fan created damage to the losing team’s city, Montreal would be in the millions.

Four out of six Original Six teams are vying for a place in the Eastern or Western Conference Final. It’s Original Sixy, Original Sexy!

The Series

Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

The Canadiens dropped the first game to the Pens. But the hab fans’ red jerseys sure stood out well in the Igloo’s White Out, if that means anything! The Habs were the last Canadian based NHL team to win the Stanley Cup (1993). It was their twenty-fourth Cup celebration. Unfortunately that stat will remain unchanged.

Hey cute and cuddly Penguins, What’s up with you and only playing Canadian teams this year? First you knock out the Ottawa Senators, you’ll most likely send the Canadiens packing next. The only thing that will be standing in the way of you and the last Canadian team to tussle with will be either a blip of flyer Orange or Bruin yellow. Be afraid, Canuck fans, the Penguins are gunning for us!!!

Chicago Blackhawks vs. the Vancouver Canucks

Chicago is the runt of the original Sixy litter. They’ve been around forever but have only won three Stanley Cups. The Blackhawks bandwagon has quickly filled up over the last couple of years for two reasons: sucking for years plus high draft picks equals some great young talent to mold, and the death of owner Bill Wirtz and the stingy managerial ways.

I guess as far as playoff rivalries go this year, the Hawks vs. Canucks has the freshest of bad blood. There’s a laundry list of incidents from the 2009 Playoff’s round two. The BHawks won that series in six, and this time around, we can expect the Canucks will be on the warpath, righting as many wrongs along the way. The Canucks will find a way to win the series, but it’s going to be a rough ride.

Detroit Red Wings vs. The San Jose Sharks

Let’s face it: The Detroit Red Wings are the Original Sexy of the Original Sixy! The eleven time Stanley Cup champions (four wins since 1997) have brought out the Wing Envy of many. And here’s a cool snippet of history: The first woman to have her name engraved on the Stanley Cup is Marguerite Norris, president of the Detroit Red Wings in 1954/ 1955 season. I am going to quote myself from my round one prediction: “It's hard for me not to pick the Red Wings to win this series. They just know how to deal, those Wings. They deal with everything so well; whatever the storm, they deal with it. They are by definition, Retrosexual Men.”

The San Jose Sharks, as rested as they are, don’t have the “deal with it” trait to the extent the Wings have, even though the Sharks won game one of this series. But you go ahead and try your darndest, Sharkies!

Boston Bruin vs. Philadelphia Flyers

When I think of the Boston Bruins I often think of Don Cherry and Bobby Orr. Now I think of Tuukka Rask and Milan Lucic. But can these two guys and the rest of the B’s win a sixth cup for this Original Sixy born in the year of the Rat? If you think Tuukka Rask is a cool name with all that U and K action, check out this former Bruin name: Dit Clapper (Aubrey Victor, given names) Dit Clapper played 20 seasons (1927-1947) wore number five and after Yzerman and Bourque, is next on longest serving captain on the NHL list.

The Philadelphia Flyers have not met the Bruins in the post season since 1978. Both teams are going to be playing a “so you think you’re tough” kind of game in this series. Which ever team is left standing could be easy pickings in the Eastern Conference Final for the Penguins. The Flyers have had the longest lay off this post season (nine days), and because of that I am going to give the Bruins the edge.

First Round...how’d I do? I picked the Pens, the Canucks, the Flyers and the Wings to win round one. Four right out of eight!!

A Powerful Performance

by Jan Snyder
Pens Take Game 1 by a score of 6-3

In a game filled with power play chances, the Pens made the most of their opportunities, scoring no less than four power play goals. Add in Guerin’s empty netter at the end, and that leaves only one even-strength goal scored by the winning team.

Okay, we all knew Halak couldn’t keep up what he’d been doing against Washington. But as the Habs played on, as late as Wednesday night, the Pens have been resting and itching to get back on to the ice. Plus the Canadiens traveled a few more times and were definitely still dwelling on the remarkable game seven they played.

Fleury was by far the fresher and better goalie tonight, facing 28 shots. No one star shined as brightly for the Pens tonight, but 13 different players factored into the scoring.

Coming up with big power play goals were Gonchar, Staal, Letang and Goligowski. The even strength goal came from Craig Adams, on a nice set up from Cooke and Dupuis, and Guerin just sealed the deal with the empty net goal at the end of the game.

Gionta scored a power play goal for the visitors, as it began obvious that neither team should take penalties.

Crosby managed his usual two points, assisting on the first and fifth Pittsburgh goals. He got cut on the chin by a high stick, went off for some work on the cut, and was back with the team in no time. The same can’t be said about Jordan Staal, who sustained some type of leg or foot injury. We’ll learn more about that as time goes on. As for Sid, the stitches add a little character to his wispy beard!

Another strike against Montreal was the loss of Markov when he and Cooke collided and he obviously hurt his leg.

So after giving up five goals, Halak, the hero of the series against the Caps, was pulled in favor of Carey Price. One would think that with a couple of days rest, Halak would be ready to go again. Or will they start Price in the next game? We’ll see on Sunday.

Good line from the Versus announcer tonight. He mentioned that Gonchar was the quarterback of the Pens’ power play. “Right now, he’s the number one quarterback in Pittsburgh, with Roethlisberger’s problems.”

So the second race to four has begun! Hopefully, the Pens will keep it going on Sunday afternoon on NBC.

LET’S GO, PENS!!

Random Thoughts:

• I was happy to read that Buffalo signed Lindy Ruff again. He’s such a mainstay for the Sabres and a great coach.

• Since Buffalo is now out of the playoffs, Ryan Miller was able to shave off the awful mustache he was wearing. He looked like a pirate or something! But sad to see a great goalie like him out so early.

• Maybe the Caps need to bring in a veteran to help Ovie learn to be a better captain. That plan sure helped Crosby when Guerin came in and helped out. At first in his career, Sid had Mario has a mentor, but when 66 was forced to retire a second time, bringing in a steadying influence for Sid turned out to be a great idea. Keep in mind that Sid and Ovie are very young captains – they each needed a little seasoning.

• Vancouver against Chicago promises to be a nasty little series. Can’t wait for it to start.

• Flyers or Bruins? I’ll be interested to see which of those two teams come out on top of this series too.

• The Sharks are up on the Red Wings 1-0 already. Who will come through in that one? Every time I think Detroit is fading, they come back.

• Anyone who doesn’t watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs is sure missing something special.

Canucks Win Series, Kings Retreat into Castle

Canucks win Series 4-2

By Lisa Ovens

During games five and six, the Vancouver Canucks showed their fans just what their fans wanted to see: a team gelled; a team poised for what we hope is a long run in the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Meanwhile the Los Angeles Kings have retreated into their castle until next season. And I am sure they will remember this first round experience for next season’s playoffs, because you can bet this talented, young team will be there, with their crowns on.

The Kings fans, what spirit and energy displayed! So many of them waiting eight years to catch the playoff fever again, and so many of them new to the game, and we can all hope the new ones come back in September. This is the greatest game on earth, and the more the merrier :o)

Captain Roberto Luongo appears to be over the 2010 Olympic Hockey hangover, and is becoming the goal tender Vancouver’s going to need for the next opponent. I hope Mikael Samuelsson has more goals in his bag of tricks. I'd hate to think he's used them all up in round one! We need to see Alex Burrows return to the score sheet beyond the empty net goal column. The Sedins, we'll hope they will continue to elude and baffle to opposition. As far as defense goes, well, please just do what you can back there and try to stay healthy!

Bring on the Semi Finals!
Go Canucks GO!!

Whip It, Whip it Good!

Pens Take the Series and beat Ottawa by a score of 4-3

by Jan Snyder

What a shot by Dupuis to end the game in overtime! He whipped it alright and it blew by LeClaire for a goal.

The series ends and as Crosby said, the Pens needed ten periods to finally put the Sens away. They came out with everything they had and the first period was ferocious. This first round series could easily have been dubbed “Upon Further Review” as again tonight, the guys in Toronto got involved in two more rulings. Cullen began the scoring in the first and it was surprising that there wasn’t more scoring with the amount of chances each team had.

As the second period got underway, the Sens demonstrated why they were still playing at this time of year. Both Neil and Alfredsson scored, putting the Pens down 3-0. After all, the Pens finished fourth and the Sens fifth in the end of year standings. Ottawa was not about to go away without a fight. They proved that they were involved for a reason.

But Matt Cooke began chipping away at the lead when he fired the puck by the goalie and brought the score to 3-1. By the way, when the Sens get a goal, their announcer shouts it to the rafters, but when the other team scores, the announcer sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher, “Waa Waa, Waa, Waa, Waa.” I could never understand what was being said.

Each goalie turned in stellar performances yet again. They each made some incredible saves. In the third, on a power play goal, Bill Guerin scored, followed by another goal from Cooke, tying the score at 3-3. As time wore down, the inevitability of another overtime game was looming. C’mon, Pens, we really don’t want to have to play a Game Seven in the first round, do we?

Overtime ended in just less than ten minutes as a battle of the Pascals. Pascal Dupuis, falling to the ground, whipped the puck past goalie Pascal LeClaire and that was all she wrote! No one could fault LeClaire. His play in these games was amazing and Fleury tuned in quite a performance too, making some big stops on the Sens.

Six hard fought games and the Sens are eliminated. I have to wonder what would have happened if they’d had Kovalev ready to play. But then again, Coach Dan the Man did a great job of moving players around, rewarding those with hot hands, and using every man available.

So who is the Pens next opponent? We won’t know until some of the other match-ups come to an end. In the meantime, the guys get some well-needed and much deserved rest before Round Two rolls along.

I really do hate to see Canadian teams taken out of the tournament, but in this case, I did enjoy it! We’ll have to wait until next season to hear the anthems sung so stirringly in Ottawa.

Stay tuned for further developments in Round Two!

Let’s Go Pens!

One, Two, Three OTs and Your Out!

photo by Lisa Ovens

Pens lose Game 5 at home by a score of 4-3

By Jan Snyder

On a night when the Pittsburgh Pirates lost by the embarrassing score of 20-0, the Pens went down to defeat too in the third overtime period.

Things didn’t start out well in the first. Neither team seemed to be too into the game but the Sens managed two goals to none for the Pens by mid-period. The Versus announcers told us that the Sens GM, Bryan Murray, spoke to the team yesterday, telling them to back off the rough stuff a bit. Some people must not have been listening because just two minutes into the game, Ruutu was assessed a penalty for roughing! But in the long run, I guess Murray got it right because the Sens played better and won.

The War Room Giveth…

Near the end of period one, Letang scored on a power play goal and things were looking up as the home team began the second period on a power play too. Before long, Kunitz scored but the goal was waved off on the ice because the ref thought the net had come off. After review in Toronto, the disputed goal was declared a good goal, tying the game at 2-2. Okay, that’s more like it!

And the War Room Taketh Away…

Early into the third, again on a power play, it seemed that Kunitz had done it again, scoring on a pass from Gonchar. This one went to Toronto too because the ref ruled the puck was knocked in by a high stick. Toronto agreed and a much hoped-for Pens goal flew out the window.

But never fear – Sid is here! He and Geno combined for a nice goal to put the Pens up 3-2 and we fans began thinking we had this one. But that pesky Regin did it again and scored to tie the game and send it into the first overtime period.

The War Room Stays Busy

Why should OT be any different? Although it looked like Foligno scored for the Sens, replays revealed a “definite kicking motion” and once again, the War Room got it right and disallowed the goal. After a spirited twenty minutes, no resolution and the second OT was more of the same. Right at the end, Geno danced around the goal, bringing us all to the edges of our seats, thinking he would slap it in and end things, but no, it was not to be tonight.

By the third overtime, things were looking dire. The loyal fans chanted and waved their towels, trying to bring some inspiration and energy to the Pens. But on this night, the Sens were the winners as Carkner slammed a puck past Fleury to end it.

Let’s accentuate the positives. Sid and Geno each had two points. The War Room was three for three. None of the Pens seemed to get injured. Fleury played a great game, but Pascal LeClaire was just one play better.

In the “Who Would Have Thunk It Department", the Flyers eliminated the Devils tonight. The same Flyers who squeaked into the playoffs on the very last day of the season. The same Flyers who didn’t even know who their goalie would be. The same Flyers who looked to be going nowhere all year are the first to wrap up a series in the first round. Now the Pens need to wrap up their first round series too.

So let’s get ‘em in Ottawa on Saturday!

LET’S GO PENS!

Holy Third Period Again, Batman! Game Four Canucks/ Kings

The Big Book of Comeback by the Vancouver Canucks

                        
         

  Vancouver Canucks LA Kings series tied 2-2

by Lisa Ovens

The sound of silence engulfed the city of Vancouver  around 7:30pm Wednesday night: it was the Canucks first penalty kill in game four taking place over one thousand miles away in Los Angeles, California. Could they make it two minutes without a King scoring? Nope. But that would change.

Even if the Canucks didn't win Game Four, I was impressed with their tenacity in overcoming some of the foibles from games two and three, and there was no bigger issue than the penalty kill. Let's face it, since game three, the cheers erupting in Staples Center for every power play awarded, it was if the Kings had already scored. Could you blame the fans? No, because they had six consecutive power play goals to be happy about - it was getting to be automatic!

You know what else was getting to be automatic during this series: hearing the name "Doughty" every minute out of the over worked mouths of broadcasters Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson. But by the third period, that would change too. Less Doughty...more Sedin! When the Canucks play well, it's nice on the ears.

A third period Canucks comeback at Staples Center makes it number twelve  in the "CB" column since the start of the season for the boys. And it couldn't have happened in a bigger game.  The final score...6-4. Aside from all of the drama, action, great Staples Center atmosphere (again...nice work Kingers :o) the following are two of the more quirkier moments (I am drawn to quirky) that will surely bring a smile to my face over the next few days...

Third period fun with Kyle Wellwood, busy in the corner, protecting the puck up and down the boards, burning 47 seconds off of the clock, like he was channeling Sidney Crosby or something. Go Wellwood!

Third period Empty net action courtesy of the eventual game winning goal scorer Henrik Sedin: he shoots and misses the empty net, but stays with the puck as more and more black sweaters surround him behind the goal line. All of the Kings men and all of the Kings sticks couldn't poke out the puck from under good Henrik!

With the post game rough stuff , Game five in Vancouver on Friday night promises to be another spirited affair.
But with less Doughty...more Sedin!
And more Samuelsson,
and more Demitra,
and some classic Great Save Luongos!

He Shoots…and Scores! He Shoots…and Scores! He Shoots and Scores! (etc.,etc.)

Game 4: Penguins were RED HOT at Scotia Bank Place

by Jan Snyder

Pens Take Game 3 by a Score of 7-4

Wow, what a game! If you like offense, this was the game for you. We had a little bit of everything – power play goals, a short-handed goal, a goalie replaced, a broken pane of glass, and a big melee at the end of the game. Not only that, history was made (as predicted in the NHL playoff commercials) when eight goals were scored in the second period alone. The only other time that has happened in playoff history was in 1993 when the Pens and Islanders each scored four.

After a relatively calm first period, the Pens led 1-0 on a power play goal scored by Geno, with Gonchar and Crosby assisting. But after the break, the second period started and the hockey gods decided this would be a good night to rain down goals in Ottawa. Sid and Cooke scored just twelve seconds apart and not too much after that, Sid scored yet again. He ended the game with four points, just another day at the office.

That concluded Brian Elliott’s participation in the game and Pascal LeClaire came in to try to stem the goal-scoring tide. The change in goal seemed to rev up the Sens and very shortly after LeClaire took his place in net, Alfredsson scored Ottawa’s first goal and fired up the crowd. The crowd was so fired up, that the Sens scored again, making it a 4-2 game!

What happens when you need a big goal? You find your Superstar!! No, not Sid, no not Geno – “THE” Superstar – Max Talbot! Taking a nice feed from Craig Adams, Superstar banged it home for a short-handed goal and the Pens grabbed back a 5-2 lead. We could breathe again – but not for long, because Cullen scored on Ottawa’s power play and just like that, it was 5-3. They just kept on comin’.

But a team is a team for a reason. The A-line of Crosby, Kunitz and Guerin teamed up for a beauty scored by Kunitz and it was 6-3 at the end of the wild and crazy second frame.

Ottawa was nothing if not persistent and they came back with goal number four by Spezza in the third. Just when you thought it was safe – aarrggghhhh! But the Pens were not about to be denied and Jordan Staal potted his first playoff goal this season. Finally, the craziness was over, except for a little free-for-all at the end of the game, and the Pens head back to the ‘burg up three games to one.

Despite good plays and determination, Ottawa now has lost both games in their home rink. They have to be feeling discouraged, but that sure doesn’t mean they won’t come out with guns blazing on Thursday. The Pens will need their crowd to help pull them through and hopefully wrap up this first series and get some much deserved rest.

LET’S GO PENS!!

Memories, Misty Water Coloured Memories...

     the late, great coach, Roger Neilson

   It will be 28 years ago, as of next week.

Yet for Canuck fans right now, it sort of feels like it was just yesterday.

    Here's to the original, white playoff towel and the man
who waved it...
                                                                   

Today’s Column is Brought to You by the Letter "P"

by Jan Snyder


Pens defeat Sens, take Game Three 4-2


Playoffs
The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated Ottawa to take the lead in the series, two games to one. Although the Senators fought hard and came with all they had, it just wasn’t enough to defeat the Pens tonight. Without Kovalev, Kuba and other integral players, the Sens just couldn’t keep up with the Power of the Pens, no matter how hard they tried, and they tried hard right to the very end.

Patience
Patience is a virtue as Alex Ponikarovsky found out less than two minutes into the game. He waited and debated – then shot and scored the first goal of the game. Crosby was rewarded for his patience too on the Pens’ third goal when he worked his way around the goal crease, just waiting for the right moment. He saw it, took the shot, and in it went.

Physical Pest
Tonight’s game was another bruise-inducing game for both teams. The hitting started early and never stopped until the final buzzer. Crosby slammed into the opposition’s Captain, Alfredsson, and took him out of the game for a few minutes. When Alfie came back, he went a little crazy on Staal, but was just trying to jazz up his teammates. The defensemen were hitting everyone all over the ice and Matt Cooke came dangerously close to another suspension when he hit a Senator from behind. Speaking of pests, Jarkko Ruutu garnered himself a ten-minute misconduct for his particular brand of peskiness. [Aside: Though he isn’t actually a “pest”, this Peter Regin guy, a rookie, is one of Ottawa’s best players in this series.]

Poke Check
Last game, Crosby saved a goal by poking it out of the blue paint with his stick. Tonight, Fleury didn’t need Sid to do it – he took care of a loose puck himself, knocking it safety out of his goal crease as it was trying its level pest to creep over the goal line!

Power Plays
Power plays for each team played an important part in this game. Mike Fisher scored Ottawa’s first goal on the power play. (Do you realize that when Mike Fisher marries Carrie Underwood she will be Carrie Fisher? Remake of Star Wars with Carrie as Princess Leia in the offing??) Crosby’s goal was scored while the Sens were short-handed too.

Pace
Sometimes, especially in the second period, the pace of this game was absolutely frantic. Up and down, back and forth rushed both teams, taking their best shots (at the goal and at each other) in the process. Geno scored during one of those crazy rushes and Guerin managed to break away from the onrushing pack to score his goal.

Persistence
The Pens played with persistence, pushing the puck with patience while playing physically at a phenomenal pace, putting up with penalties in the process!

Other Uses of the Letter P
Two other teams, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Phoenix Coyotes, won their games too. Philly is now up two games to one against the Devils, while Phoenix has taken the lead in the series from the mighty Red Wings. Sunday was a good day to root for a team with the letter P in their city’s name!

Come Tuesday, we’ll see if the Pens can win once more in Canada’s capital city.

LET’S GO, PENS!