Stanley Cup Final 2011: A Viewer's Guide

So your team has (yet again) not made it as far as the Stanley Cup Final? So jaded by the long grind of playoff hockey that you can't summon the energy to write an intro different to the one you used last year?

If you have nothing better to do, why not use my viewer's guide? Score along at home during the series and if you break 30 points, a multi-million dollar prize will head your way. At least that's what Chris Drury and Shawn Horcoff told me...

(I accept no responsibility for the consequences if you instead turn this into a drinking game. Watching a few playoff games is no excuse for drunken debauchery. At least that's what the Montreal Police Department told me...)

Throwing games in the NHL

[If the title led you to believe this would be an analysis of the team-building strategy of the Pittsburgh Penguins, I apologise.  It's not.]

The aftermath of the post-game torrent of giveaway paddles/clappers/rally drums launched by Tampa Bay fans onto the playing surface - and ever so accidentally in the general vicinity of one or two Boston Bruins players - last night has brought with it the usual furious, yet measured and consistent, response from NHL HQ today.

The Lightning organisation and the retaliating Nathan Horton have both been left reeling from the respective heavy fine and suspension laid down by the league.

Far from being rare, of course there have been many instances of unusual objects being discarded onto the ice at hockey arenas over the years.  Here is just a small selection:

No Words. Detroit Red Wings 3, San Jose Sharks 1- Game 6 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Tonight’s Wings win is not the sort of game a girl can let go by without blogging. And yet I find myself almost speechless. Dazed, shocked and awed. Stunned. 

From the first face-off until the final buzzer sounded, the Detroit Red Wings played with an intensity I haven’t seen in years. Game 7 of the 2008 SCF might have come close, but that had more grit and desperation.  And even bearing that game in mind, the singularity with which these Wings pushed the San Jose Sharks onto their heels tonight and kept an incredibly driven talented team on said heels for almost 60 minutes straight feels stronger, surer, more powerful than any playoff game I have seen in many, many years.

Typically, the Red Wings don’t charge out of the gate. Everything is done with maddening patience and calm. Sure, I am used to my team coming out strong enough and meeting their opponent’s intensity, but often there are large stretches when the Wings will sit on a lead, or fall into a holding pattern only to then rise up and, elevate their game over said opponent at just the right time. I am accustomed to seeing the Wings start rather slowly, only to surprise an opponent whose made the mistake of underestimating them, and then frustratingly taking time to rest on their laurels, only to have to scramble in the end to overcome gains made by the other team.

And through all of the years of  methodical, patient (often maddening) play, signature Red Wing style,  I never doubt the ability of the Wings to get it done when they want to.

All that ever stands in the way of a Red Wing victory is their own will to win. 

And occasionally injuries, let us never forget the Patrick Sharp spearing of Nic Lids' family jewels. But even injuries rarely stop the Wings when they want to win.

I won't lie, I really thought as Round 2 began, that the Sharks had an edge when it came to desire, hunger, will to win. And the Wings did not dominated much early in this series. Despite the brilliant full team effort tonight, we all know that Jimmy Howard has kept us in this series, almost singlehandedly.

And tonight his performance was on par with those series saving plays of the last 4 games. Jimmy Howard is proving himself a goaltender on track to be compared to the greats. I have rarely seen a Red Wing goaltender with the unwavering confidence and assured consistency that Jimmy Howard has exhibited in these Playoffs, and this season.Oh sure I am used to great, brilliant, clutch Red Wing goaltending (Nobody beats the Wiz), but the calm consistency here is near flawless.

Starting in the third period of Game 5 and rolling through every last minute of Game 6, I saw a Red Wings team like no other. Wave after wave, they worked the Sharks back, pushing them further and further out to sea. Relentless, driven, with an intensity unlike anything I can recall seeing.

There is no way San Jose knew what hit them. No one could have expected this. If it was intentional and strategic, Bravo, my brilliant RWO, bravo.

But something tells me that what really happened was that my Red Wings snapped to attention in Game 5 and began to feel and exhibit that innate, driven Will to Win that brings them to the playoffs 20 years straight and takes them all the way to the SCF more times than any team in the last 25.

Game 7 will not be easy and the Sharks will be ready for the sort of smothering onslaught we saw tonight. But if my Red Wings hold onto that momentum and will to win, nothing can stop them.

NHL Awards - meet the contenders

[Re-posted from fine affiliate blog...]

Somewhat lost in the excitement of the playoffs over the last couple of weeks have been the announcements about the nominees for the various NHL awards (those that are voted on).

Once again, these are to be handed out in a faintly embarrassing lavish ceremony in Las Vegas in June attended by whoever comes up first on Bettman's "Best Rock of the 80s" iPod playlist some of the entertainment industry's biggest names and Eric Weinrich and Darcy Wakaluk many legends of the game.

Here is a quick rundown of the main awards and those in the running:

NHL injury analysis - more stuff

Presenting...

2010/11 end of season wrap

3-year aggregate analysis (2008/09 - 2010/11)