Posts Tagged Henrik Lundqvist
Playoff Predictions
Today is the day. Opening day of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The time of year when every second of every is 100 times more important that it was just two days ago. Let the games begin!
These are my predictions:
Round 1:
-Boston over Montreal in 5, just because of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cr89xbl26g
-Rangers over Caps in 7, because “Jose the open door” will be Alex the Great’s downfall as King Henrick dethrones him.
-Devils over Canes in 6 becuase Parise is underrated and the Staal-Cole line is overrated.
-Pens over Flyers in 6, obviously, so that I can work for them longer because my internship ends when their season does. But also because Dan the Man is an awesome coach (seriosuly, 18-3-4?!).
-Ducks over Sharks in 7, because they set up the Pens with Kunitz, so I hope they fare well, oh and Ryan and Getzlaf are sweet.
-Detroit over Columbus in 7, only because Mason is a rookie prodigy, or else I would say Wings in 4.
-Vancouver over St. Louis in 6, because the Sundin twins supposedly read each other’s minds.
-Chicago over Calgary in 7, did you see how the hawks dismantled the Wings on Easter Sunday? Jokinen or not, the Flames are toast.
Round 2:
-Boston over Rangers in 5 because New York’s offense is no match for that Giant called Chara.
-Pens over Devils in 7, Marty may very well be the best goalie in the league, but he’s no match for the potent Penguins offense.
-Detroit over Ducks in 5, because that’s how mo-town rolls.
-Vancouver over Chicago in 6, just because.
Round 3:
-Pens over Boston in 5. Seriously. I’m calling it. Fleury will be on fire at this point, and so will Sid, Malkin, Guerin, Sykora, etc.etc.
-Detroit over Vancouver in 6.
Final:
-Pens best Wings in 6, and Hossa considers hanging himself in the visitors locker room at the Mellon Arena.
Add comment April 15, 2009
The Real Blood Feud
The Avs/Wings rivalry is obsolete. After the Avalanche failed to play anything that resembled hockey as the Wing’s swept the Western Conference semi-final, the celebrated blood feud is over. The real blood feud is in the Eastern Conference between the Penguins and the Rangers, who will play game five of their series in Pittsburgh Sunday at 2:00.
Thursday night was the Penguins first loss of the post season (as they swept Ottowa) and the they responded to it in frustration. By the third period, with the Penguins trailing the Rangers 2-0, the cheap shots from Pittsburgh’s bench were abundant. Malkin even resorted to kicking the skates out from under two Ranger players. The New York Times called the game the first glimpse at Penguin frustration in the series. Should Pittsburgh worry that the Rangers might stage a historic come back? “No, the only worrisome aspect of the loss was that Sidney Crosby and Malkin acted like immature kids at the end,” Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said in reference to Crosby and Malkin’s simultaneous roughing penalties in the third period of Thursday’s game. Cook goes on to explain that, “It’s almost certain that these were one-time acts by Crosby, 20, and Malkin, 21, from the frustration caused by the impenetrable Lundqvist.”
The frustration that was Lundqvist’s shutout performance. 
He stopped 29 shots and was named the first star of the game by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. We all know by now that only two teams in hockey history have come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series, yet, Ranger captain, Jaromir Jagr, has high hopes for his team as he said to the New York Times, “I wasn’t just talking when I said I believe.”
It’s David vs. Goliath in this series for the Rangers while Pittsburgh has the home ice advantage in the game. The Post-Gazette insists that Lundqvist will not keep Malkin out of the net for another game. Perhaps the Penguins have peeked and the Rangers will make history. OR perhaps Thursday was a fluke game and the Rangers will be playing their last game of the season. One this is certain: this Blood Feud is boiling.
Add comment May 4, 2008
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly — Round Two Continues for Some
On Thursday Night
The Good: Chris the lawyer who gave me a free ticket to the Rangers game Thursday. I watched the Rangers shutout the Penguins 3-0 (Pittsburgh’s first loss in the playoffs) from Seat 1, Row D, Section 221 at Madison Square Garden. Thanks Chris!
The Bad:The Avalanche’s embarrassing 8-2 loss to the Red Wings. That wasn’t even a hockey game. It looks like the old Blood Feud is really over.
The Ugly: The number of Sidney Crosby Jersies in existence. Come on, we can’t all wear number 87!
On New York Fans
The Good: The intensity the fans brought to the Garden at Thursday’s game. The crowd chanted “Jagr! Jagr! Jagr!” and “Hen-Rick!, Hen-Rick!” The best though, were the “Go Home Sidney,” and “Sidney Sucks” chants. Oh and you can’t forget the “a**hole” chant, or the “these reffs suck” chant. I love the passion that New Yorkers bring to their sports teams.
The Bad: The Yankee’s fans who poured beer on my roomate Friday night just because she was cheering for the Mariners, who were losing by the way. Oh and also, no wonder they are building a new stadium, Yankee Stadium is a dump!
The Ugly: The guy sitting in front of us at the Yankees game who had a really cheap toupee. Poor Guy.
Add comment May 3, 2008
The Cup Changes Everything – Round Two
The Avalanche, Rangers and Sharks all find themselves down two games and battling to hang onto their playoff hopes tonight. Before the games start I will share a few quick thoughts:
On the Red Wings vs. Avalanche series: If the Avs have any hope of advancing (which they pretty much don’t) They need Forsberg to play (I don’t care if he is on his death bed!) and Theodore to stop goals. It seems so simple, yet, so impossible. The Wings are looking hot, scoring goals, drawing penalties, scoring short handed, playing defense–basically they are playing hockey. Something the woebegone Avalanche could aim for. Sadly, apart from Cody McCormick’s scrap with McCarty, neither team is doing much to rekindle the rivalry.
On the Rangers vs. Penguins Series: Both teams fought hard on Sunday afternoon but the Ranger’s simply couldn’t get the puck in the net (before the whistle that is). Expect more physical play, and energy from the young Penguin’s team. Lundqvist was good on Sunday, but his team needs to help him out. As for Fleury, I’m still not convinced that he is a Cup caliber goalie, but he has proven himself so far.
On the Sharks vs. Stars Series: I expect the Sharks will come back now that they have had a chance to feel out the Stars. I’ll be honest though, I have been so busy following the other games I haven’t watched any of this series.
Add comment April 29, 2008
