My Most Memorable NHL Playoff Moments

I love this time of year.  The temperatures are warming up and the kids are shaking loose of their cabin fever; getting the bicycle tuned-up and hitting the trails after a long, inactive winter; and, of course, the NHL playoffs are getting underway.

These are the reasons I love this time of year.  The following is an unordered list of my most memorable NHL playoff moments:

• The Save.
• Super Mario parting the North Stars' D like the Red Sea.
• 8-0 win for the Penguins first Stanley Cup.
• The shoulders of Ronnie Franchise carrying the team after Graves' slash breaks Lemieux's hand.
• Kevin Stevens' guarantee.
• 11 straight wins to capture the Penguins second Stanley Cup.
• Kevin Stevens' face shattered as he hits the ice unconscious, Ron Francis' tying goal, and David F%$%#$ Volek.
• Kaspar's sliding on his belly and the team piling on after his Game 7 OT winner against the Sabres.
• Mario's "final" goal at home.  Hollywood couldn't have written a better script.
• The post-handshake, "final" ovation and the chants of "Mar-i-o!"  At the Philadelphia Spectrum!!!
• Joe Sakic defers and Ray Bourque lifts his first and only Stanley Cup.
• Petr Nedved beats the Capitals in 4 overtimes.
• Keith Primeau finally ends it at 2:30am, 7 hours after the opening faceoff.
• Max ties Game 5 in the final seconds and Petr Sykora calls his shot in OT.
• The Cup is finally awarded on Mellon Arena ice as the Red Wings take Game 6 in the Penguins barn.
• Max Talbot silences the Flyers.
• Alex Ovechin and Sidney Crosby trade hat tricks.
• Marc Andre Fleury stones Alex Ovechkin, crushing the Capitals hopes in Game 7.
• Evgeni Malkin dominates the Hurricanes, including a hat trick capped off by a move that can only be described as "The Geno."
• The Penguins get the rematch they wanted as the Red Wings finish off the Blackhawks.
• Game 6 - The crowd chants "Fleur-y!" as a show of support for the goalie that got pulled in the previous game; Jordan Staal's shortie; Tyler Kennedy's game winner; Fleury stopping Cleary on a breakaway; and Rob "The Piece" Scuderi stopping everything.
• Game 7 - The captain goes down, but "Superstar" Max Talbot responds; "The Save, Pt. 2" and Sidney raises the cup.
• The worst way to close the Igloo.

My NHL 1st Round Playoff Picks (or, Everyone Else is Doing it so Why Shouldn't I???)

It's that time of year again.  The NHL playoffs begin tomorrow night.  I will, of course, be rooting for my Flightless Waterfowl to go all the way.  But I figured I might as well put some picks together for all of the series.

Now, I haven't had a lot of opportunities to actually watch a lot of hockey this year, outside of the Penguins and especially in the West.  And, I have no time for research and deep analysis.  So, I'll be using two not-so-scientific methods for my picks this year...

Method 1:    Half-assed Attempt at Analysis

Eastern Conference

1. Washington Capitals vs. 8. New York Rangers - I just don't believe in the Caps goaltending or defence...  Rangers in six.

2. Philadelphia Flyers vs. 7. Buffalo Sabres - See above comment about the Caps and apply it to the Flyers, especially with Pronger's status in question...  Sabres in six.

3. Boston Bruins vs. 6. Montreal Canadiens - Should be brutal...  Can't wait!!!  No reason to believe Carey Price can outduel Timmy Thomas, which is the only way the Habs stand a chance...  Bruins in five.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 5. Tampa Bay Lightning - Fluery keeps the Pens in the series, but the return of Sidney Crosby pushes them over the top...  Penguins in seven.

Western Conference

1. Vancouver Canucks vs. 8. Chicago Blackhawks - Canucks overcome history and a watered-down Hawks team...  Canucks in five.

2. San Jose Sharks vs. 7. Los Angeles Kings - Loss of Kopitar too much for Kings to overcome...  Sharks in six.

3. Detroit Red Wings vs. 6. Phoenix Coyotes - Is the Red Wings age finally catching up to them?  Yes, but not in this series...  Wings in six.

4. Anaheim Ducks vs. 5. Nashville Predators - Pekka Rinne plays strong, but Ducks deep offence prevails, barely...  Ducks in seven.


Method 2:   Coin Flip

Eastern Conference

1. Washington Capitals vs. 8. New York Rangers - Capitals

2. Philadelphia Flyers vs. 7. Buffalo Sabres - Sabres

3. Boston Bruins vs. 6. Montreal Canadiens - Bruins

4. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 5. Tampa Bay Lightning - Penguins

Western Conference

1. Vancouver Canucks vs. 8. Chicago Blackhawks - Canucks

2. San Jose Sharks vs. 7. Los Angeles Kings - Kings

3. Detroit Red Wings vs. 6. Phoenix Coyotes - Coyotes

4. Anaheim Ducks vs. 5. Nashville Predators - Predators

Is It Time for Cooke to Go?

While I still thoroughly defend my opinion of Matt Cooke vs. Trevor Gillies (see previous post), I now have to ponder whether or not Cooke has/should have seen his last game in a Penguins sweater.

In the wake of his flagrant flying elbow to the face of Rangers' defenseman Ryan McDonagh, there is no doubt a suspension is coming from the NHL.  General consensus around the radio, newspapers, Twitter, etc., is that Cooke will receive 7-10 games on the shelf for this latest incident.  However, there is no logical entry into the mind of NHL chief-disciplinarian Colin Campbell when it come to suspensions.  Given Cooke's history, and cheap-shot poster boy status, and the NHL's general dissatisfaction with recent public criticisms made by Mario Lemieux, I wouldn't be surprised if the book were thrown at Cooke.

Regardless of NHL discipline, how do you think Mario and Ray Shero are feeling about Mr. Cooke this morning.  It was bad enough that their efforts to ban all head shots were thwarted, almost laughingly, by the Old Boys Club of NHL GMs at their annual meeting in Boca Raton, FL last week.  Now one of their own players has effectively rubbed their faces in it.  You have to think this a major embarrassment for an organization fighting for change in the modern NHL.

There are already sources being sited inside the Penguins organization that are in favor of a long-term suspension for Cooke.  But you have to believe that some of those "sources" have further, team-handled discipline in mind.  This may be one of the stupidest, most selfish, and costly hits I have ever seen.  It shows a complete disregard and lack of respect for other players and for Cooke's teammates.  I would not be surprised if the Penguins voluntarily sat him for the rest of the season, including playoffs, then dumped him in the offseason.

I, for one, am on the fence on the matter.  I know he's a great guy, he does great charity work, he's a great penalty killer, and he's definitely an above-average NHL third-liner.  I just don't know if I can continue to justify his presence given his recent actions.  The Bad, and The Ugly, by far outweigh The Good anymore.