This could be the most exciting hockey week of the year. Nothing like several HUGE games played every night. You have to just love it if you are a hockey fan.
When teams are within a certain range of each other...meaning when one isn't far superior to the other...then desperation can often be the greatest determining factor. That is what we will see tonight.
Game #1 Bruins/Habs:
Markov and Lang shocked the Canadien media by both skating in full gear in Brossard while Gainey held a team meeting. Great news, but unfortunately the Canadiens are SAYING that neither will be ready for tonight. I am not so certain. The Canadiens have been going out of their way to talk about how Markov's injury is not recovering and while that may be exactly the case, it may not be as well.
Also Gainey has not named a goalie, leading my sources to suspect Halak. All I can say is that last year in dire straights in the playoffs Gainey made the last second switch to Halak. I am on top of this situation and hopefully will get some better answers soon.
Either way, just the sight of Markov and Lang in their gear was said to have an impact on the team's spirits. Tonight, the Bell Center will explode even without the two players. I fully predict that the Canadiens will get back to what they did well in Game 1. Be unrelenting. The game 2 collapse was a bit predictable with this group as they can not for a second play like they feel they are NOT huge underdogs.
The Canadiens played well enough to win in Game 1, but forgot how hard they had to work to make that happen. Don't think for a second that the Bell Center crowd won't remind them.
I so wish I was there for this one! That building rocks like crazy in hockey's first city.
Prediction Habs 3-2
Game #2:
#2 Washington/New York:
Does it get any better than this one? Ovechkin today was asked to leave the Rangers skate that he was watching. This will be a war. A true goaltending battle with Varlamov playing well enough to win on Saturday.
I believe that the Caps will get a huge game out of Green tonight. He needs to help focus the emotion of the Caps and remind his teammates that they are silly with scoring talent. The Caps also need to keep their shots hard and low and go to the net. Way too many wrist shots emblem high on Saturday.
The Rangers and MSG will be pounding early and the Rangers will have to remain disciplined. It is that discipline that has them up 2-0.
Prediction Caps 3-1
#3 Flames/Hawks Game:
Twice the Flames have come out strong an twice they have let up. It is a hard one to figure. As many in Calgary know there is always a game where Iginla steals the show. This will be his game. I think the young Hawks will have a really hard time matching the desperation level of the Flames tonight.
Also I am hearing that Patrick Kane may be out tonight with an injury.
Prediction Flames 4-3
What are your picks?
Also this video below is awesome. Funniest of the year!
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