Here are a few pictures from something pretty close to home…..Joshua Tree National Park. Hockey is played out here??? Amazingly it is…but it is mostly roller up here…pickup games mostly. That being said….there were 3 games tonight…2 to start very shortly and 1 just ended with the Sabres winning 5-4 in Overtime on a late PPG by Ales Kotalik. A great game that saw Buffalo down 2-0 going into the third and then the game got wild…and somehow ended up tied heading into overtime. No one can really fault Raycroft as the Leafs were outshot 42-25…as Buffalo took over in the third and OT.
In other action tonight….the two Western C onference finalists square off in Anaheim…updates will be provided on The NHL Arena. Ducks vs. Wings….last we left these two…the Ducks had defeated Detroit in six tough games and went on to win the Stanley Cup. Many felt the Wings were so close last year and this year is no different as they are off to a hot start. The Ducks are suffering thru a bit of a Cup hangover if you will as they await the futures of Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne. JS Giguere has returned though Ilya Bryzgalov is expected to get the start in net. So it will be Hasek vs. Bryzgalov all on FSPT.
Finally….Luongo and Nabokov tangle in Vancouver tonight. San Jose’s high scoring offense vs. Vancouver defensive prowess. Two contrasting styles and only one can win. Luongo is starting to play better of late as he has dipped his GAA just under 3. The Sharks have Marleau, Cheechoo, and a cast of thousands it seems…even a Guerin. Vancouver has the Sedin twins, an aging Markus Naslund, and well…a spectacular Penalty Kill. This shapes up to a good one.
This update…the Ducks have scored….1-0…as Kent Huskins scores….only the second goal Anaheim’s D has netted all season. Play is feisty…..game on and enjoy the ice!!
