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The First Truly Great Night of Hockey This Year....Rumours a plenty |
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Last night was one of those nights that hockey fans dream of and made the money you pay for Center Ice all worth it.
It started off in Ottawa, where the two best teams in the East played.
Observations: The Sens are awesome, but they can be bullied still. The Habs pushed them around early and frustrated Ottawa. The fact that the Habs don't have the talent the Sens have is obvious. However, the Ducks showed the formula for beating Ottawa. In the end Huet didn't make THE save. I am not anti-Huet. That would be ridiculous, since the guy played amazing most of the night. However, like last Saturday night versus Toronto, Huet couldn't stop the big shots down the stretch.
Anyone else notice the common thread behind Alfie and Neil's goals and the goals from last Saturday night versus Toronto that Huet let in? He isn't set. All have been outside shots and he looks to be going into his stance as the shot is taken. Huet is ridiculous down low and quick, but from the slot a quick release can beat him. My two cents.
Then I watched the Flyers/Pens.
Observations: The Flyers looked like a team that was sick of road games a few nights ago against NJ, but this Flyers team is doing something that no Flyers team has done in quite some time. Return the home ice advantage. The team is VERY tough to beat in Philly, and really shows great support.
Then I watched the BlueJackets/Predators:
Observations: Columbus is a Hitchcock team through and through, but a guy getting lost in the shuffle is Dan Fritche. He is a young player that is kind of buried right now. The Preds still have that explosive quickness that they have always been known for. Mason looked great again last night.
Then I watched the Oilers and Flames.
Observations. A few days ago I watched game 7 of the Carolina/Edmonton finals and it was obvious that the difference between these Oilers and those Oilers is second effort and that team NEVER gave up on the play. Last night the Oilers showed more of that old style than I have seen in a while. You also gotta love Cogliano. He reminds me of an old fellow #13 Oiler nicknamed the Rat. The Flames are missing Langkow, and Dion Phaneauf is trying to do too much. He is an awesome player, but he needs to use his linemates and trust in their talents.
The I watched the game of the night, Kings and Stars.
Observations: There is such a fine line between winning and losing and it all goes to "playing without fear." The team that "plays to win" will win and the team that "plays not to lose" will lose.
The Kings are really getting something special going in LA. They aren't just a better team there is a connection with the fans in LA that is unmistakable. Frolov and Kopitar fed off of that wave last night. That comeback is the kind of game that you can build a long-term relationship around.
Kopitar's overtime goal was the perfect example of one team playing to win and the other being tentative. It is rare that something is so evident. Kopitar's acceleration BACKWARDS FROM A STANDSTILL, was just ridiculous. There was NO doubt in his head that he was putting that puck in despite being essentially 1 on 3.
And then hearing Kopitar give the crowd credit afterwards and throw his stick into the crowd was just awesome.
Also, JR showed why he is one of the RARE athletes that just absolutely "gets it." After JR scored his 500th goal on a fluke he took his son for a ride on his shoulders and praised the San Jose fans. You KNOW that JR wanted that one against Phoenix as well...
Rumours.
The Jussi Jokinen rumours continue. Add Toronto (e2) and Florida (e2) to the list of possible teams. However, I am told the Oilers are still the front-runner. Have the Oilers and Stars ever made a deal?
The Ducks may have interest in Kubina. There were two scouts in Toronto last night, and Kubina NOT playing in the third period sent all sorts of rumblings through the press box.
The Lightning have been tied to Bryzgalov all year, but another goalie that they may have interest in "down the line" is Tim Thomas. Tim Thomas continues to be the ultimate "pinch hitter." His great play isn't a mirage. It is what he has always done whenever he has had this role.
More Sens/Kings rumours out of LA last night. The Kings have coveted Emery for a long time now. The question is if the Sens would move him. It is also possible that Cujo could find his way to Ottawa if that deal does go down.
more in a bit
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