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Update #5, "Live" from 3 NHL Cities in 24 Hours |
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This is the fifth of multiple entries from an unprecedented turbo-NHL-mini-dream, covering three NHL games in 24 hours in three cities, from Boston, to New York to Philadelphia. (NJD to NYC to PHL, too easy. Ha ha)
Philadelphia: Sunday 12:21 pm
Plenty of early arriving fans at the Wells Fargo Center. The hate factor for these folks is much higher when Sid the Kid is in the line-up. They’re jacked up. Plenty of motivation for the home team; while everyone has been talking about Pitt creeping up on the Rangers for top spot in the East, the Flyers, with a regulation win today would move one point back of the Penguins and three back of the Rangers. (Pitt would still have a game in-hand).
The other motivation for Philly, attempting to end their rival’s 11-game win streak.
Pitt is the best team in hockey right now, just ask Rangers GM Glen Sather, who I think picked an inopportune to point that out, just before the “best team” beat HIS team 5-2 the other night. Sandbagging? Staying down to Earth? Not boastful about having the best record in the Conference? Maybe, but also letting your team know, despite working their arses off all season to get the best record, you’re more impressed with someone else.
It just seemed an odd time to state that fact. Now water under the bridge; the Rangers, having gone 2-and-5 in their last seven games, can sit back today and watch their pursuers do battle. Boston, back on top of the Northeast Division, sits as well, awaiting a home game against the Leafs on Monday.
Puck drop.
Previously:
New York: Saturday 9:46 pm
The anemic power play (1 tally in the last eight games) actually looked good in the third period for New York. Mats Zuccarello seems to have added a spark, and the chances mounted. Semyon Varlamov was outstanding for Colorado, stopping 41 shots, twice as many as Lundqvist saw at the other end.
Rookie NYR first-liner Carl Hagelin summed up the Blueshirts shortcomings.
“It’s just one of those nights you can’t put the puck in the net,” the Swede stated. “I thought we played fairly well, created some chances, forty shots. But, you know, give them credit, they did a good job boxing us out and their goalie stood on his head.”
With the win today in New Jersey, Pittsburgh is now two points back of New York in the East with a game in hand. Philly is now five points back. The two Pennsylvania teams play one another in a matinee Sunday in Philly (game 3 of our whirlwind tour). The worst case scenario for the Rangers; an overtime or shoot-out game where both teams get at least a point.
New York is now 4-5-1 in their last 10, a rut they have not experienced this season. Lack of finish, offensive depth, a hypothetical concern early in the season, has reared its head. The power play woes play into it.
The Rangers host the Devils on Monday night: Another big challenge at this stage. The Devils won’t catch New York in the standings but have all but officially locked up a spot.
Meanwhile, the young Avalanche squad moved three points ahead of the ninth spot in the Western Conference with the win. They played a strong road game, survived, and their young core continues to gain big game seasoning. Former Bruin defenseman Matt Hunwick scored a beautiful goal, Gabriel Landeskog scored again, and the energy level was as advertised.
Their biggest problem at this stage; they don’t really control their own destiny mathematically. Every team in the Conference has at least a game in hand on Colorado, including pursuers, which have as many as four in-hand (San Jose).
Off to Philly for Pens/Flyers Sunday afternoon. Watch it on NBC Sports.
Previously:
New York: Saturday 7:12 pm
Colorado at NYR
Somehow managed to avoid Mass, Connecticut, and New York troopers and otherwise, while hurtling through space to Manhattan. Dropped the Saab on the Upper West Side and just missed the opening draw. I hung around the Bruins room at the TD Garden just a couple minutes too long apparently.
The Rangers are in a similar boat to Boston, although a different make-up and system and for different reasons. The Rangers have missed their Captain Ryan Callahan for six of the last nine, and have also been troubled by injuries to defensemen Michael Del Zotto, Steve Eminger, and forwards Artem Anisimov and Ruslan Fedetenko (sick), who was questionable coming off the flu.
The Blueshirts don’t have Boston’s depth, especially in terms of scoring, and rely on their grinding cycle. That said, our favorite Norwegian Mats Zuccarello has provided a nice little buzz to the offense since being called up.
With Pitt’s win this afternoon against New Jersey, the Pen’s moved to within two points of New York for the top spot in the division and conference. Even after tonight’s Rangers game, Pitt has a game at hand. They’ve won eleven in a row.
NYR needs to get stops early and play their disciplined style. The Avalanche are very young and energetic. They’ll grind you with speed, but can also be reckless and get out of position. Perfect for New York if they play their game.
The scene in and outside this Garden, was similar to the scene outside the TD Garden up North; loads of green-clad revelers enjoying toasts to Ireland’s Patron Saint.
Previously:
Boston: Saturday 3:42 pm
Final in a shoot-out: 3-2 Bruins. (five of the six shooters scored. Thomas stopped Briere on the sixth shot for the win)
First of all, what a great hockey game: Two teams with great determination, featuring skill, thrills, and physicality. Too bad it had to end with the skills competition.
After a hard practice Friday, that was fresh off an airplane ride from Florida and that wrapped up just 22 hours before game time, the Bruins looked re-focused. In the game, Thomas looked energized, as did the club. As suggested earlier, physicality and identity needed to be re-established. Gregory Campbell did that early first with an entertaining scrap with Flyer Zac Rinaldo. There were slashes, hits, and cross checks going both ways.
Soon after, earlier suggestion number two came true. The Bruins jumped out to an early lead; a very rare phenomenon lately. Boston would make it two-nothing after one period.
From the Flyers perspective, which will take over completely when we move this to Philly Sunday, it was an OK to very good first 40 minutes. They stayed in it, picked up a power play goal in the second and trailed by one after two. They were physical right back, not unexpected. Jakub Voracek tied it in the last five minutes of the game 2-2.
Meanwhile, their Sunday opponent in Philly, their Keystone State and biggest rival, the Penguins, won their matinee in New Jersey 5-2.
For B’s fans, “Thomas re-focused” took on new meaning late 3rd, as he made key saves in the final minutes and forced overtime. Good sign; win or lose, for the recent area of concern.
Potential issue for Philly: They lost Andreas Lilja in the first (puck in the neck/throat), he didn’t return, nor did Max Talbot, who fell awkwardly during a “fight” (lasted less than 2 seconds) with Johnny Boychuk in the second.
It was the 120th consecutive sell-out in Boston, during what could best be described as a weekend celebration of hockey. Later Saturday, the Hockey East Final will be played between Boston College and Maine, in what should be a dandy, and on Sunday, eight different high school teams will take the ice at the Garden to decide various titles, culminating in the top level boy’s state championship game.
Previously:
Boston: Saturday 12:54 pm
Let’s see how this turns out. The Bruins enter this matinee with the Flyers reeling. They’ve lost four straight for the first time in a couple seasons and the fans are close to all out panic, with twelve games (including this one) remaining.
There are a few ways the B’s can right the ship. First of all, they need to get off to a good start, or as Red Wings coach Mike Babcock often states, “start on time”. Boston has fallen behind early and often during a mediocre period that has lasted two months.
Secondly, through hard work and physicality, the Bruins need to re-establish their identity. They’re losing puck battles, they’ve stopped moving their feet, they’ve been, dare I say it, passive at times. Philly is the perfect opponent to get after and bring a violent edge back to their game. Niether team is afraid to hit, intimidate, or drop the gloves.
Third. Tim Thomas needs to make a few early saves to give his confidence, and his team’s, a boost. With Tuukka Rask and potential back-up back-up Anton Khudobin injured, its all about Timmy. Normally that wouldn’t be a bad thing. Lately, its been a problem.
Timmy after practice Friday: “I’m not tired, I don’t really count how many games I’ve played. I am a little sick of the travel,” he said. (Uh oh, West coast road trip coming up.)
From a sports psychology stand-point, I brought up the fact that with so many games, and first hand knowledge of what an absolute physical and emotion grind/battle the playoffs are, this team would have been anxious to start the playoffs two weeks ago. “Absolutely,” Thomas responded. Unfortunately, the 82-game schedule applies to all, regardless of mindset, and now, given the injuries and the team’s swoon, the games remaining could actually be a blessing in disguise. There’s always a flip side.
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