Good morning from Yucca Valley….high atop the Morongo Basin….and welcome to the Saturday edition of The Hockey Roundup with Stevens8204. Today we have The Dirty Dozen….yes twelve big games for your hockey pleasure.
First….a word from the director…
This blog is dedicated in the memory of my Dad. Saturday was his favorite day to sit down with The Dish and watch a ton of hockey till his eyes bugged out. This one’s for you Dad…may you still eat that ice cream and drop a little on the ground for the dog.
Alright…..on to THE HOCKEY!!!!!!!
THE HOCKEY NITE IN CANADA SPOTLIGHT
Buffalo Sabres @ Toronto Maple Leafs 7pm CBC, MSG
Fever pitched comeback or heart breaking loss. Those are the two sides of the coin from the first of the home and home series between the Sabres and Leafs. The Leafs were up 4-1 after two quick goals from Boyd Deveraux of all people….and then the Acme 4 ton safe hit the Leafs. The Sabres scored three times in rapid succession to tie it and then Drew Stafford capped the scoring with a beautiful game winner past a shell shocked Raycroft that gave the Sabres a 5-4 victory in a game they had no business winning. Thomas Vanek keyed the comeback with 2 goals and an assist in the third. Ryan Miller made 40 saves and kept Buffalo in the game long enough for the impossible to become possible. With the two teams playing this evening…what will happen next? The HNIC boys will have a field day with this and so will The Arena…come check out the GDT…and revel in the atmosphere.
Game 2 of the HNIC Doubleheader brings you……
Nashville Predators @ Edmonton Oilers 10PM EDT CNBC, FSS
Well it was bound to happen…the Edmonton Oilers won a game without Ryan Smyth….on the 13th attempt…Joffrey Lupul scored with 1:47 left and Marty Reasoner scored the winner in the shootout and the Oil stopped the Avs 4-3. The Oilers may just catch the Preds at a vulnerable time. Nashville has lost 4 of its last 5…and is still missing Steve Sullivan, Martin Erat, and Scott Hartnell. However, they are still dangerous with Forsberg, Kariya, and company. Edmonton has a hot Rolo..who stopped 43 saves against Colorado and looked every bit the goalie from last year’s cup run. The Preds counter with the Vokoun/Mason duo. Expect a fast paced game in one of the fastest rinks out there….period. Check this one out at The Arena…right on the Oil GDT.
THE HEADLINE MATINEE…………(Drum roll please!!)
Atlanta Thrashers at Pittsburgh Penguins 1PM EDT SS,FSPI
Two high paced teams that predicate themselves on scoring first and defense second face off against each other in an early afternoon matinee at the Igloo. Crosby and Malkin Vs. Kovalchuk and Hossa…it sounds like a tag team matchup at Wrestlemania but no it is offensive fireworks at maybe its finest. It can always be a strange matchup when the goalies are basically background fodder on both teams. Kari Lehtonen has been really good this season but when your defense is constantly in the top three in shots per game allowed…it is hard to know when the next great scoring chance is coming. Marc-Andre Fleury has been embattled of late and the fluky bounces in his last start didn’t help matters. Expect a high flying game not devoid of action in this one…and come see the GDT and wrapup at The Arena.
The hey we had to throw this one in…….
New Jersey Devils @ Florida Panthers 7:30PM EDT FSNY,FSFL
From the no one knows what to expect department. The Devils and Panthers can both be dynamic and can score quite a bit. However, they could also do absolutely nothing or something inbetween may happen. It is that unexpectedness that makes this game worth watching. The Panthers are kind of like a loose playing sleeping giant (a team capable of making the playoffs with their home dominance of late). The Devils are an injury riddled shell of what they once were. Though a few bounces the other way may make it a different story….the Devils margin of error is so tiny….you’d have to consider it a pinhole. Expect another Brodeur versus Belfour matchup with uncanny results. Enjoy this one at the Panthers GDT.
And our final chock full matchup of the nite…….
Ottawa Senators @ Tampa Bay Lightning 7:30 PM EDT SUN
A tough test for Holmqvist expected against the Sens.
This may be the Duffman special of the night. Why….you ask? Because at any time both these teams can score and give up in bunches. It doesn’t matter who is in net. With Lecavlier, St. Louis and company on one side and Heatley, Spezza, and company on the other….this game will be filled with scoring chances galore similar to Atlanta vs. Pittsburgh. You may even want to hold it till intermission then hit the toilets. That is how good this one will be. Emery and Denis/Holmqvist will be brutally tested throughout and the winner may be the first one to score five times on the other. This one is my chock full of nuts game of the night…check it out on the Bolts GDT.
Other Saturday Action……
New York Rangers @ Boston Bruins 1PM MSG, NESN
After the 7-0 and 6-2 thrashings the B’s received recently at the hands of the Rangers…they are out for revenge. Problem is the Rangers are out for a playoff spot and have a goaltender even hotter than Luongo right now.
New York Islanders @ Philadelphia Flyers 1pm EDT FSNY, CSP
Not much to be said here unless you are an Isles fan. Isles fighting for their playoff lives against a team that is like Forrest Gump..you never know what you’re gonna get.
St. Louis Blues @ Detroit Red Wings 2pm EDT CW11
Wings just trying to keep their sites on the Presidents Trophy against the Blues who are settling in around .500 for the season. Always a good battle though.
San Jose Sharks @ Carolina Hurricanes 7pm EDT FSBA,FSS
Two very good teams battle down in Raleigh with the Sharks hot on the Ducks tail…an essential two points for both teams as Carolina tries to avoid missing the playoffs..they currently hold a tenuous grip on the 8th seed in the East.
Washington Capitals @ Montreal Canadiens 7PM EDT CSN, RDS
Watch the French feed…you may just hear the french word for goal quite a bit with these two…a quiet high scoring special here possibly.
Los Angeles Kings @ Minnesota Wild 8PM EDT FSW, FSNO
The Wild love home cooking and here it comes…..served with a little socal flavor.
Dallas Stars @ Phoenix Coyotes 10PM EDT KDFI, FSAZ
Mike Smith probably gets some work in the desert as the Stars tune up for the home stretch. The Yotes took down the Ducks Thursday so you never do know.
Enjoy all the games everyone.
