Hump-day Report 5/20/09
Mike Wilson | National Hockey League
May 20, 01:46 AM | Hype this story!
The Hump-day Hater
Irony
At the end of a play during game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, Matt Cooke came across the front portion of Erik Cole. Cooke’s knee hit Cole’s knee. It was a questionable hit, no doubt. Doesn’t it sound like a hit last series that was shushed by the league? While as of Tuesday night, Erik Cole’s status for game 2 was unknown, it didn’t stop pundits from speaking out about it.
Pittsburgh lost Gonchar for their troubles; Washington free of penalty. Carolina loses Cole (and Ruutu on a similar circumstance with Eaton). So far, again—as of Tuesday night, neither Cooke nor Eaton has received repercussions from the League.
Of our FF faithful who voted in Matt Bodenschatz’s poll yesterday, over 60% voted that Ovechkin’s hit set precedent: no suspension.
I think Alanis Morissette said it best: “Isn’t it ironic?”
The HCMT Floating A award
Dan Cleary
The NHL world remembers Dan Cleary best from last year as being the first Newfoundlander to win the Stanley Cup. And I wouldn’t count him out for doing all he can to become the second to do it as well.
While Cleary may only have 6 goals and 6 assists for 12 points (as if that’s not impressive enough), he’s no one to sleep on…which would be very uncomfortable anyway.
Just ask Jonas Hiller and the Anaheim defensive corps about letting him stray in front of the Ducks’ net with 3 minutes to play in game 7 of the semi-finals…they’ll have something to say for Dan Cleary. So will the Chicago Blackhawks after he put the dagger in their hearts scoring the first and fourth goals for the Wings in game 1…not to mention a go-ahead goal last night’s second period.
Cleary has two game-winning goals in these playoffs. He’s also one of the league leaders in plus/minus with +13 (prior to last night) this post season. Cleary was a big reason why Detroit won the Cup last year, and I see no reason why he’d stop now.
Now, of course, he’s no Henrik Zetterberg or Pavel Datsyuk…hence his winning of this week’s HCMT Floating “A” Award.
Tap of the Stick/Drop of the Gloves
Drop of the Gloves: Gary Bettman
The flight of the Phoenix (Coyotes) saga continues as last week Commissioner Bettman ensured that the NHL is “not looking to relocate.”
Fans in hockey-less cities all across Canada took a sigh of relief. After all, who would want to take an ice hockey team out of the middle of the desert?
Ok, so I’m being sarcastic. But the point is that Bettman also said that the NHL “has a history of fixing problems and trying not to abandon markets.”
…and the time-space continuum rips. Doesn’t it seem odd that this is coming from the man who moved this very team of which we speak from Winnipeg to Phoenix?
Realizing how idiotic his comment sounded in his headphones on XM radio, Bettman tried to cover up his tracks saying “people will point to Winnipeg and Quebec City” (as I just did). He continued “we couldn’t find anyone to own the teams there.”
According to Commissioner Batman and Boy Wonder Bill Daly (deputy comm.), the league has found potential local options. Ok, so then what’s the problem? Why are you guys talking about using relocation as a last resort and then saying there’s no problem?
So, apparently, if I’m getting this straight, the Phoenix Coyotes are staying in Arizona…but don’t worry everyone, they won’t be relocated, either.
Drop of the Gloves: Joe Beninati
If I hear “exclusively” one more time, I’m going to flip…and that’s not easy for me to do.
Drop of the Gloves: NHL schedule guy
I’ve never seen a conference final schedule show two days between games, especially games one and two. This is bad for the Pens because it allows Carolina time to regroup and takes away from Pittsburgh momentum from game 1.
This is also unfortunate because, if the series goes to seven games (which I wouldn’t rule out), it won’t end until June 2. The league is drawing things out too long. Also, I’m going on a cruise in June and if the Stanley Cup finals don’t start until the 4th or 6th, I won’t see the final games…thought the league would like to take that into consideration, too.
Tap of the Stick: Ron Francis
Just because, amid all these dropping gloves, someone needs to get a tap of the stick…good to see you back in Pittsburgh, Ronny, even if it’s behind another bench.
Head-to-head
Sidney Crosby vs. Jose Theodore
Round 3…
Jose Theodore still can’t figure out Sidney Crosby. Not many guys have had three cracks at Sid and still not been able to know what’s coming. But let’s not fault him for that. We all know that Crosby came with something different every time.
Crosby’s first shootout in the NHL (against Montreal): Theodore’s spine was in knots for days after Crosby deked him out of his skates.
This past season against Washington (pre-Varlomov): Theodore thought he had him. He was ready to use his glove this time and take away the high backhand Sid used on him the first time. Not to be, though, as Crosby went back to the forehand and tucked it inside the blocker side post.
Last series: Glove or blocker? Glove or bloc…5 hole?!
Maybe you’ll get another shot next season, Jose.
Marc-Andre Fleury vs. Cam Ward
Wow.
If all of these games are like game 1, we are all in for quite a treat between the pipes. Fleury got the win, but take nothing away from Cam Ward. The reason the Pens won in the end was the fluky goal allowed on the power play to Boucher. It looks like it will be whichever goalie allows the bad goal in the game loses.
It’s debatable
2008-09 Hart Trophy
Now I know it’s way too early to take these considerations seriously, but some people I talk to decided that the winner of the Pens/Caps series would determine the Hart Trophy winner. But I’m not so sure about that…
Alex Ovechkin had a much better series than Malkin. In fact, the only player on either side that he didn’t have a better series than, statistically, was Crosby. So if that’s the argument, I’m not biting yet.
Then again, when Crosby and Ovechkin won their respective Hart Trophies, one of the major requirements was whether or not they got into the playoffs with their teams.
Either way, there’s no doubt that the race between Ovechkin and Malkin is close…but that’s for the end of the season. One thing’s for sure: it’s debatable.
Barrel of Monkeys
Detroit Red Wings
When the playoffs began, a handful of people (myself included) thought that a hot team like Columbus would knock off the slow-finishing Red Wings. We were quickly proven incorrect. Then some did the same with Anaheim. Again, even though they had a little more trouble, Detroit prevailed.
The Red Wings finished their last 10 games of the season at 3-6-1. Not Detroit numbers. Despite my disappointment at them advancing, I can’t help but wonder in awe of how this team can pull it together so well in the playoffs.
Chris Osgood did not play well during the regular season. He had a 3.09 GAA and .887 save percentage. By anyone’s standards for a starting goalie, let alone Detroit, that’s horrible. In the post season, he has a 2.06 GAA and .922 save percentage.
To Chicago, this isn’t the same team that they defeated in a home-and-home (4-2 and 3-0) to end their season.
That does it for this week’s edtion of the Hump-day Report. Stay tuned for more next time.
Comments
DaBich
May 20, 06:48 AM
Good stuff.
It’s bittersweet to see Ronnie in Pittsburgh, cuz he’s behind Carolina’s bench.
Pens1967
May 20, 07:27 AM
After everything Bettman did to ensure the Pens stayed in Pittsburgh, I will never knock him again.
SprJudd
May 20, 10:01 AM
The Hart Trophy is voted on before the playoffs begin, so playoff performance shouldn’t factor into the voting whatsoever.
Jon
May 20, 12:48 PM
I just find it funny that Maurice was upset about what he initially called a cheap shot. Maybe Dan B should’ve made a comment about how Cooke’s knee was sore…
james
May 20, 01:57 PM
actually, sid went high glove side against theodore this year….he wears the glove on his right hand.
Mike Wilson
May 20, 04:12 PM
You’re right James. I don’t know what I was thinking. I knew the sides were correct but forgot he has the glove on his right hand. Thanks for the correction!
emo
May 20, 11:54 PM
Regarding Gary Bettman’s quote about “fixing problems and trying not to abandon markets” you need look no further than Pittsburgh for an example. Bettman played a big role in getting everything done here. Buffalo is another example. I think he also was involved in getting Ottawa on stable ground as well, but could be wrong on that one… I don’t think Bettman has done a perfect job as commish, but he’s hardly the clownshoe his more vocal critics (not necessarily you Mike) think he is.
Also, the Pens-Caps series has no bearing on who wins the Hart. Ballots for all NHL awards were already in before the playoffs started per Dave Molinari in the 5-20 Q&A (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09140/971218-125.stm):
“Also, as noted above, the Hart is based on performance during the regular season. Ballots are distributed with a few days left in the regular season, and voting ends before the opening faceoff in the first playoff game. Nothing that a player does, good or bad, during the playoffs has an impact on voting for any trophy except the Conn Smythe, which goes to the postseason MVP.”
Joe Beninati’s voice grates on me at times and I could go the rest of my life without hearing “BULLSEYE!” or “manpower advantage” ever again and be happy. Then I hear him do interviews and I really like the guy. I heard him on with Scott Ferrall last night and he was on the South Side hanging out with Mike Lange and a bunch of other media guys and after a short sidebar about how Lange had all of them dunking Oreos in beer, he was talking about the different approaches to local broadcasts vs. national ones. I can’t transcribe the whole thing, but I thought it was pretty interesting and he came off pretty well.
I am all for Ron Francis getting a tap “just because.” He was such an intelligent player and thought the game at a level most don’t. He was never the best skater and no one would have ever called him a sniper, but his hockey sense put him on a level most players only dream of. He was very underrated while he was playing and I still think he doesn’t get the credit for being as good as he was. He has more assists than anyone than that’s ever played the game, save Wayne Gretzky. I don’t think many people (outside of fellow Francis fans) realize that.
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