Big Night In The NHL Tonight

Gotta love Saturday nights. 15 games, 30 teams, all ready for action. Couple things to really look forward to however, and we’ll start in the East.

The team everyone loves to hate, and hates to love gets a big addition tonight. The big off-season signing, Jeff Finger finally makes his Maple Leafs debut tonight. Finger’s signing was a shocker, as Fletcher threw a lot of money at the Free Agent even though he’s really only in his second season, and was a healthy scratch at times during the play-offs last year. Ron Wilson and Fletch still contend that Finger is worth the 3.5 million per year. The Leafs also sent Jiri Tlustly down to the Marlies, which would probably mean that the Leafs will get at least 43 shots tonight, since Blake will be in the line-up.

Philly looks for their second win of the season, but if they want to win they’ll have to allow less goals which shouldn’t be too difficult since they are playing the Devils, but then again, it’ll be tougher to score too. Meanwhile Marty looks to inch closer to Roy’s records.

Personally, I think the match-up to look for in the East has to be the New York Rangers facing the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Rangers are off to an unbelievable start, and the Penguins… well, they’re the Pens. Anytime that you get Crosby, Malkin, J. Staal on the ice facing Gomez, Drury, Zherdev, and Naslund, there’s going to be one helleva game.

In the West, the high flying Red Wings are set to face the young Blackhawks in what should be a great Divisional Match-Up. I am torn on this one, but I gotta say, I hope the Hawks come flying out of the gates, and Toews puts up 4 goals, all of which are assisted by Keith and Campbell. That would get me up in the standings in my pool at work. Regardless, should be a good, high-paced game.

Other than that, another Divisional Match-up in the Northwest as the Kid Line and their Oilers take on the surprising Canucks tonight. Gillis’ weird made up team (honestly, what the hell?) are having a slow start to the season after ripping it up in the pre-season are looking to rebound, meanwhile the Oiler squad look are also looking to rebound after a couple losses. Oilers should take this hands down, but then again, anything can happen…

So one game is already underway, and hopefully the next 14 get off without any starting goalies tripping over rugs… Legace, idiot.

Avery Adds to his Douche-bag Resume

I’ve made no secrete of the fact that I hate Sean Avery, and the fact that I think he is a complete douche. He proved it once again tonight, when he was waving his arms and stick in front of Martin Brodeur’s face.

I have to say, that I get what Avery was trying to do. He was trying to distract Brodeur, and get him off his game. It’s just the way he was doing it, Avery wasn’t even paying attention to the play, he had his back turned to it while standing one foot away from Brodeur. Check it out for yourself…

Now, there is no penalty against this, not a concrete penalty at least, but Avery was warned by the referee while he was doing yet he still continued. However, I have to agree with Ron MacLean when he was talking about it. Under the rules of a misconduct penalty, if a player does an action in an attempt to incite the other team into taking a penalty, and continues after being warned from the referee, the player can be called for a 10 minute misconduct. Under this rule, there would be no minor, so the Rangers wouldn’t have been short-handed.

I do believe that the NHL is going to address this issue Monday. While I don’t know what they are going to say or what kind of action they are going to take. The NHL should send out a memo of some kind, either to say that these actions are allowed, or that they cannot be tolerated or something, but they have to do something.

Now before I stop, I should add this kind of disclaimer, I this isn’t a knock on Avery’s abilities. He has 3 goals already this post-season, and the Rangers are without a doubt a better team when he is on the ice. I simply hate these kinds of actions and on-ice shenanigans that Avery always seems to be a part of.

Night One Of ’08 Playoffs

Oh yes, the day that many of us have been waiting for has essentially come to an end (essentially because the Flames/Sharks is still in play). So here is the wrap-up of the festivities.

Penguins vs. Ottawa

I say versus Ottawa, but what I really mean is nobody. Ottawa never really showed up for this one and the Penguins were all over the Sens. Gary Roberts potted two goals, and continued his dominance over the Sens during playoffs. Marc-Andre Fleury may have shushed some of his critics for a little while, by shutting out the high-powered Senators (can we still call them that?) Volchekov, staying true to his style of play, was blocking shots like an offensive lineman, until he took a shot in the face. He tripped over the foot of a Penguins in front of the net and was smoked in the face with a hard Malkin shot. The game ended with some fiestiness as Roberts was kicked out after a questionable hit, and he then appeared as though he challenged every Senator on the ice to a fight… I bet those Sens are still really wishing they had this guy last year. Penguins win 4-0 and lead the series 1-0.

New Jersey vs. New York Rangers

I believe this game was a lot closer than the score indicates. I didn’t catch the majority of this game as I was watching the Pens/Sens, but I did see the two goalies putting up a duel in the first part of the game. There should be much more of that to come as this series carries on though, so we should expect no less. Gomez stuck it to his former team, and fans as they booed him every time he touched the puck. There was also some intensity to this game, and the fans sounded like they really into it until the Rangers took over. I might have to start watching this series unless the Senators actually show up. Rangers win 4-1 and lead series 1-0.

Minnesota vs. Colorado

Again, I didn’t watch this game, at all really because I was half-assed working on a paper and half-assed watching the Flames/Sharks game. Of the highlights that I saw though, it appeared as though it was a physical game, with a goal disallowed due to a kick, and that was a kick, so good call. The game went into overtime and Mr. Clutch Joe Sakic scores his record 8th career playoff overtime goal. Avs win 3-2 and lead series 1-0.

San Jose vs. Calgary

So the newly mohawked Flames, trying to be less uptight this year than last came into the Shark Tank and did not waste any time. They came out flying and scored a quick one that had to be reviewed. Yelle’s stick was well under the cross bar and it counted and they never really looked back from there. Yelle’s second goal also had to be reviewed because the net came off the pegs just after he slid it across the goal line. San Jose did make it interesting though, scoring a last minute goal with their goalie pulled, and then they were buzzing all around the Flames end while Kipper flipped around like a shark out of water (see what I did there? Genius!) Flames win 3-2 and lead series 1-0.