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The first round is over and now it is time for the Western Conference Semifinals to ignite in full force. The NHL received a gift as they have two major rivalries getting ready to unfold. Before the preview of each series begins, let’s take a look at last round’s predictions and what happened in the Quarterfinals.
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Known around the league as "The Dive Team", "Divers", "P*ssies", "Panzies" and any other name you could call them, this is the Vancouver Canucks. Whenever the team in blue and green steps on the ice, you can guarantee a few dives here and there throughout the game.
The most infamous Canucks' forwards are Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows, Maxim Lapierre and Henrik and Daniel Sedin. Rarely will they ever be called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for embellishment, which makes them the most hated team in the league.
The dive team captain, as many say, is Kesler. This d-bag is the worst. He is constantly diving and drawing penalties doing so. Somehow, the referees still fall for his over exaggerated flops and cause opponent's to lose games.
After being high sticked, Kesler dramatically acted like he was dying by holding his throat. Play was blown dead and was allowed to stay on the ice for the power play, which is illegal. Ironically, he took Burrows' helmet to stay on the ice because his own helmet was broken.
The assistant captain to the "Dive Squad" is Alexandre Burrows. He is one of the most hated players in the league for his dirty play and whining.
Of course the Sedin sisters like to go head first into the pool as well. They would be well liked if they just stopped the unnecessary embellishment.
Various other Canucks diving videos.
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Why are players attacked every time they make contact with the other team’s goaltender? Whenever a goalie is touched, his teammates beat up on the player who touched him. It doesn’t make sense to me because there appears to be a double standard.
-From Joel in California
Rule 42.1 states…
A goalkeeper is not “fair game” just because he is outside the goal crease area. The appropriate penalty should be assessed in every case where an opposing player makes unnecessary contact with a goalkeeper. However, incidental contact, at the discretion of the Referee, will be permitted when the goalkeeper is in the act of playing the puck outside his goal crease provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact.
No doubt there is a double standard between goalies and players. Goalies can make as much contact with an opposing player without anyone attacking him, but if a player even touches the goalie all hell breaks loose around the net.
On November 12 during the 2011-12 season, Milan Lucic bowled over Buffalo Sabres’ goaltender Ryan Miller, who was out of crease to play the puck. The rule deems this play illegal.
In his first game back, Miller was hit by Jordin Tootoo driving to the net on December 3, 2011. Deservedly so, Tootoo was attacked by Miller’s teammates.
A goalie being hit is a sin, but when a goalie hits a player, it is the best thing ever. In Game 3 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals between the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks, Henrik Sedin was leveled by Tim Thomas at the top of the crease. This play is legal.
The reason why goaltenders in hockey are so protected now is because they can’t defend themselves. Their defensemen will have to do it for them. Due to the high number of concussions in sports now-a-days, the guy between the pipes is the last person you want injured with a head injury. Protecting the goaltenders is the number one job of defenders in the league today.
Goalies have more protection than players, but that doesn’t mean hitting a defenseless player on the ice should be legal.
Have hockey questions relating equipment, AHL and NHL playoffs or just simply want my opinion? Email them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Tweet them to @Fang_Faction.
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(Sidney Crosby ladies and gents..... Photo Credit: AP/Gene J. Puskar)
When I looked at Colin Fitts' excellent Western Conference Preview, it hit me. Let's do this almost Dobberhockey style. The Eastern Conference features a few teams not expected to make it but yet they did. Justin Glock from The Hockey Writers did most of the work for me with the East it seems. This looks like a completely backwards way of doing a preview but we are going to try this anyway. Anyhow, here are our predictions for Round 1.
The first thing that is going to be asked is why? There is no need to get fancy here as you want to know who is going to win, right now. However here is the rationale for each series in quick form.
WHY?: This is simple. Sidney Crosby is going to play and when he does, the Islanders will not have the answers to stop him. New York is a feel good story and is one of the few teams in the playoffs with a goal differential at even or minus territory. Pittsburgh for awhile there was flirting with a +50 diffeential. They know how to scoe goals in bunches (just ask Carolina). While the Islanders have the ability, they have to keep the score down and the intensity way up. The only way New York beats Pittsburgh is if they are physical from second one! The problem is I cannot see the Islanders executing that plan the whole way out. Pittsburgh has Malkin, Neal, Letang, etc...etc...and that is too much firepower.
This one could be closer. Ottawa is one of the grittiest teams I have seen in the last decade and Erik Karlsson looks like last year's Norris Trophy winner. Both teams limped into the playoffs honestly but Montreal has the ability to turn their game up a few notches. That is a question mark with Ottawa. These are going to be hotly contested games and very close to boot. However, Carey Price does have the slight edge over Craig Anderson. Something tells me Montreal carries over the momentum from the Boston win and perseveres.
This is truly contrasting styles all over again. Now, Adam Oates has an ultra hot Alexande Ovechkin, fresh off the Rocket Richard Trophy. The Washington Capitals were 25-10-2 down the stretch including a 17-6-1 stretch in the second half. The New York Rangers are just as hot scoring 3.6 goals per game in April and running a power play at over 21% for the month. Also, the Rangers are averaging over 15 blocked shots per game and look to have that game in gear with Henrik Lundqvist posting a clutch .937 save percentage over the final six weeks. Records do not matter. There is only one question. Who wins the battle of styles? The higher pace of the Capitals or the slower counterattack of the Rangers? Honestly, it is the toughest series to predict but in the end, Braden Holtby is the "X Factor". Ultimately, he will likely hold down the fort just long enough for Washington's secondary scoring to make a difference. Joel Ward and Troy Brouwer hit the back of the net just enough to eek the Caps through to the second round in an uncanny reversal of last year's matchup.
Yes the Bruins are struggling but it is the Maple Leafs. TSN can throw all the la-di-da stats around it wants to but they cannot get around the fact that Boston just has Phil Kessel's number.The explanation is simple. Nothing turns a switch on like playing a rival and with Nathan Horton 100%, that should make a difference for David Krejci and Milan Lucic. Yes, Toronto has firepower with Kessel and Joffrey Lupul just to name a few. However, the playoffs brings an intensity that these two may not be able to match. Toronto will have to strike early and often to have any chance whatsoever. If they cannot, Boston coasts to a five game thrashing of their Northeast Division rivals. Tuukka Rask should be able to outperform James Reimer with all due respect. As a result, Reimer may keep Toronto in at times but he may also be the reason they see the golf course early.
That is it for now. We will be following the playoffs closely and expect some timely updates along the way. Enjoy those playoffs pools and Round 1 of course!
no commentsIt is playoff time once again, something everyone in the hockey world thought was going to be missing in January of this year. Despite a shortened 48 game season, the best teams were able to get in, with the exception of the Columbus Blue Jackets falling short of 8th place in the Western Conference.
The playoffs start Tuesday with three Western Conference series dropping the puck for Game 1.
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