Leafs With Chance To Spoil!! (yawn)

Bye Bye… I heard the Country Club serves a killer cheeseburger! 

I was hoping to write a deep, meaningful post today… but there is nothing to really write about. The only thing that seems to really be going on today in the hockey world is that the Leafs could nearly spoil the Senators play-off hopes… but hell. I’m a Leaf fan… and I could care less!

Even if the Sens make it into the post-season, they aren’t making it out of the first round, so who cares. The Leafs should be on the golf course already, and letting the Marlies play against the Sens and Habs this week.

So that is all I am going to say today, because I just don’t care about what is going to transpire in the hockey world today!

My Picks For Coach of the Year

With the season winding down, and more and more teams being eliminated by day, I have decided to make my early picks for winner of the Jack Adams, as coach of the year.

1. Guy Carbonneau – In September, almost everyone had predicted that the Canadiens wouldn’t even make play-offs. Now in late March, the Habs are on the verge of winning the Northwest Division, and are in a tight battle for the Eastern Conference lead. What he has done with this team this season is amazing if you ask me, and for a young coach, that says even more of the type of coach he is.
2. Ron Wilson -After reeling off an impressive winning streak down the stretch, the Sharks have clinched the Pacific Division. The reason I think that is such a feat, is the fact that the Pacific also contains some team called the Ducks or something, and apparently they are pretty good. The other reason I think Wilson deserves a solid look, is that the Sharks have been a solid team for a few years now, and I can’t remember the last time they had a high draft pick.
3. Barry Trotz – The Nashville Predators have easily had the most turbulent season. They’ve went from almost being sold to Balsillie, then they pretty much got rid of all their assets (Kariya, Vokoun, et. all). They were then sold a local group, and had to beg their fans to come to their games even though they were not expected to be contenders. Now almost in the post-season, the Preds have managed to put themselves in position to make the post-season, much of which needs to be attributed to a solid home record, and solid defensive play.
4. Brent Sutter – Could the Devils be more solid defensively? Apparently they could be, because they are once again one of the best teams when it comes to GA, and yet they are still winning after losing Gomez and Rafalski. Somehow they continue to win without goal-scoring, without big names (minus Brodeur), and without high draft picks. But honestly, did anyone expect anything less of the Devils and Sutter?
5. Jon Stevens – The Flyers made one of the fastest turns in NHL history. Much of this could be attributed to good management skills, but the leadership of the coaching staff has went a long way in guiding this team into the post-season (as of now). The Flyers have underwent many injuries this season, and many, many suspensions but have managed to keep afloat.

So those are my picks for coach of the year, and in that order too. But as with my picks for MVP, these are completely dependent on these teams making the playoffs, if the Flyers or Predators fall out of contention then these coaches will not deserve to be coach of the year.

Leafs Beat Up Bruins, Senators Suck, and some other stuff

So first things first. After the Senators came out to the season with their Stanley Cup hangover, breaking records as they mutalated the rest of the NHL. In fact, their lead in the Northeast Division was so great, that when they lost a few in a row, everyone thought it was no big deal. Well as it turns out, it was a big deal. They are now out of the conference and division lead. They’ve even underwent a coaching change, that hasn’t seemed to make a difference, as Murray is now 1-4 behind the bench

I say now, because tonight, they got shut out out by…….THE L.A. KINGS! Are you effin’ kidding me? If you haven’t hit the panic button yet, you might want to think about it. The lowly Sens (can I call them lowly yet?) are only 5 points out of 8th place, and it now doesn’t seem that crazy to think, that at this rate, they could fall out of play-offs. Way not to choke….again!

P.S. I hate the Sens

Secondly, the Leafs embarassed the Bruins again. I say again because after tonight Bruins have been outscored 19-4 in their last 3 games.  The Bruins at one time were sitting pretty in 6 place, pretty comfortable…. but now they are 1 point out of the 8th and final spot.

Now… what the eff’ are the Leafs doing!? LOSE! LOSE!  I am sick of seeing this late season runs that finish 1-4 points shy, its stupid, and it is no way to build a franchise. Idiots.

Craig Anderson won… again. Wasn’t a shut-out this time, but he only had to stop 25 shots this time… poor guy must have been bored back there after facing 93 shots in his last 2 games. I like the Panthers winning… makes the basement of the NHL that much closer for some teams…. one in particular.

Price came back and played a solid game after being lit up the other night. This is a good sign the Habs… he came out and showed that even after a sketchy outting, he can come back and play a solid game, and perhaps steal a game or two. That is always a nice bonus to have with goaltending going into play-offs.