Archive for April 13th, 2009
It Feels Like the First Time
Winnipeg has a few meaningful ties to the Vancouver-St. Louis series.
The first one is the one which invokes anger among those who think buying an eight game mini-pack in the 300 level would somehow convince the NHL to bring (and keep) its brand of ice back to our flooded banks. Yes, the Manitoba Moose are the minor league outfit of the Canucks and yes, many, many people do not enjoy that fact. They dream big league. They should have been born in the seventies. Anyway, a few of the players wearing that awful blue used to skate on Portage Ave. and like it or not people, that is a legitimate connection. More than a few people will be watching for that reason.
Most of them might work for True North, of course, but nevertheless…
The second connection between the series and Winnipeg is the master of disaster, Keith Tkachuk. The Blues veteran, once a staple of the Exchange District night patrol, is once again in the post season. If Tkachuk in the playoffs seems weird — as it always does for me — it isn’t. In his 17-year NHL career, the man has extended his winter 12 times heading into Wednesday. That’s pretty good.
What isn’t as impressive, however, is his apparent allergy to extended springs. Of those 12 previous times in the post season, Tkachuk has only made it to the second round twice and the third round once. Once a Jet always a Jet. On that note, Canucks in six games, with Greg Adams sliding the net with the puck under him for one of the goals.
UPDATE: Yeah, yeah. I know Blues coach Andy Murray is from Souris (or Gladstone), Manitoba. You can stop emailing me now. Thanks.
Cheveldae, Vernon, Essensa, Joseph, and Legace
He has won three Stanley Cups (two as a starter) and has 59 playoff wins under his belt, but other than those in the Osgood household, I can’t think of one person in the greater Detroit-Windsor area who has any faith in Detroit Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood. Here are the current season numbers you have to consider: a 3.09 goals against average and a .887 save percentage. Simply put, his play has been Martin Gerber-like this year.
Steve Mason played just three games in the American Hockey League before landing in Columbus and leading the Blue Jackets to their first post season berth in since people realized there was a hockey team in Columbus. With a 2.29 goals against average and a .916 save percentage, he should be the rookie of the year in the National Hockey League.
Try this:
The Columbus Blue Jackets, in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, have just knocked off the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings in the first round.
That doesn’t sound right does it? It’s not like the BeeJays have Arturs Irbe between the pipes. Red over Blue in six, though the Wings will need to put up at least seven per to avoid upset.
