I can't help it. I'm Marty Brodeur fan at heart. The guy never ceases to amaze me. He's 40 years old and is playing the type of dominant hockey that he played 10-13 years ago. He's an exceptional guy, and a tremendous goaltender.
Suffice to say, the Devils don't win games 4 and 5 if Marty Brodeur was not on his game. Brodeur stole two straight games and now the series is 3-2 in favor of the Kings, heading back to Lip Stick City for Game 6 on Monday night. In Games 4 and 5, Brodeur out played the Conn Smythe candidate, Quick. Brodeur has been schooling the youngster in the fine arts of winning pressure hockey games in the Cup finals. The master is 40. The student is 23 years of age.
Look at this disgusting display of goalie guts by Brodeur to thwart Dustin Brown's chance. Brodeur didn't get lucky and guess correctly on this play. He know what he was doing the whole time.
Incredible!
What about this beauty toe save on Carter?
Are you kidding me???
After the game, Brodeur humbly proclaimed that his team is not going down without a fight. Now, the pressure is on the Kings, who are 0-2 in elimination games in this series.
thanks, nhl.com
Devils capo, Zach Parise, gives high praise to his Hall of Fame bound tendy, Brodeur.
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CBCs Elliotte Friedman (@friedgehnic) reported tonight during the "Hot Stove" segment during the second period intermission of Game 5 that he's been told that Sidney Crosby and his agent, Pat Brisson, now have an "appetite" for signing a long term extension in The Burgh.
'The extension is rumoured to be a ten year deal and will be worth as much as $9 million per season. Makes sense, as Sid will get a max-out deal. He's the face of the NHL, to say nothing of being the face of his Penguins franchise.
Crosby has one season left on his existing deal and will become a UFA on 7/1/14.
Lets play out this scenario:
Crosby signs monster extension, eats up all of the available cap space.
The Penguins will have to subtract a player, namely Jordan Staal, who will also reach UFA status on 7/1/14.
Question du jour: When Crosby signs, what becomes of Staal? Ray Shero wants to keep his 'Big 3' of Crosby, Malkin, and Staal in tact, however, he's going to run out of money when he signs Crosby to a fat extension.
Buffalo will be active participants in any deals for Staal. Don't be fooled by the talk that Jordan wants to play with older bro, Eric, in Raleigh. Eric is the alpha dog there and is the #1 centre. Jordan has earned the right to be the #1. Besides, Buffalo is closer to Thunder Bay than Raleigh is.
The Sabres are in hot pursuit of a #1 scoring centre man and Staal fits the bill. Terry Pegula has the financial where with all to pay Staal a front-loaded deal.
Were I the GM of the Sabres, I'd slide all of my chips to the middle of the table to procure the services of Staal (and Parise, too for that matter). If it were my deal to do, I'd offer to Pittsburgh a thick, meaty package consisting of:
Derek Roy
Reggie Sekera
2012 1st Rounder (The Buffalo pick, not Nashville's)
The Pens would be getting back a 70+ point centre in Roy. They'd shore up their blue line with a slick puck mover in Sekera. They'd get the better of Buffalo's two first rounders in this year's draft, which incidentally will be held in Pittsburgh.
My take: Staal is a #1 centre. Given more playing time than he gets on the third line in Pittsburgh, the kid is a monster. He's proven that he's a #1 the past two seasons when Crosby and Malkin were lost to injury.
At only age 23, Staal has built a solid body of work over his past five NHL seasons. He's won a Cup. He's led his team in playoff scoring. He's a top 5 NHL penalty killer. He's solid in the faceoff circle. He thrives on the PP and 5 on 5.
Imagine a one-two-three centre punch like Staal-Ennis-Hodgson down the middle for Buffalo.
I'm so happy that I was sitting in my recliner, watching the NHL LIVE pregame show in anticipation of Game 5. The panel of Tappen, Weekes, Johnson, and Melsrose welcomed Ted Nolan to the pregame TV show set for his takes on the Stanley Cup Finals.
I make no bones about the fact that I am a card carrying member of the Ted Nolan fan club. I'll never forget attending the rally that Mrs. Know held at then Marine Midland Arena in the Summer of '96 when Nolan was bounced as head coach of the Sabres. Nolan was a players coach and his boys absolutely adored and admired him. The lone exception, Dominik Hasek. Thats another story for another day.
Time has passed, and Nolan is the proud Papa of his boy Jordan, who along with banger Dwight King, was a late season call-up to the Kings from AHL Manchester. Nolan's son is one win away from realizing his dream of getting his name etched on Lord Stanley's Cup.
Nolan told the panel that he is so proud of his son's commitment level. When asked what he's most proud of, Nolan told the panel that he is so proud of Jordan for the life choices that he has made in order to grow his game and to get himself physically and mentally ready in order to thrive in the big man's role in the hard hockey world of the NHL. ted Nolan credits his son with hiring a personal trainer last Summer. The then 19 year old would get up everyday at 5:30 and then bust his ass through a grueling 6:00am workout. He did this everyday.
"For a 19 year old, when your friends are out on Friday and Saturday nights, and you're making a life choice to health and fitness, says a lot about Jordan. He wanted this (his NHL opportunity), and he's making the most of it".
Jordan is not blessed with all-world talent, so, its his job to maximize his effort and to work harder than his opponents.
He doesn't pick his spots. He takes on all comers. He fights the heavyweights, not the skill guys. He's not afraid to take a punch in the face or three for his team mates.
Jordan Nolan is a human battering ram, He and his fellow tower of power, Dwight King, have been grinding opponents with bone crushing physicality for the past two months. He's playing the type of hockey role that his coach has asked him to play.
Nolan admitted that he is nervous for his boy and the Kings in Game 5.
"Ive been purely a Dad for this series... this time around I'm really enjoying the moment for Jordan. His Mom and brother are here too".
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Nolan wore his "TFP" hat during the interview. The Ted Nolan Foundation provides scholarships for First Nations families who cannot need assistance.
Nolan told a story that when he was fired by Buffalo and when he was at home, a then ten year old Jordan told his Dad that he should do something to help First Nations kids to realize their dreams. Nolan then created the "TFP".
Here's more on the TFP:
Many young First Nations people grow up in substandard housing… lacking self esteem… losing hope.
The Ted
Nolan Foundation is a registered charity promoting healthy lifestyle choices for all aboriginal youth.
Raised on the Garden River Reserve near Sault Ste. Marie, Ted Nolan launched a stellar Junior and NHL hockey career as player and coach. For years, he ran First Nations hockey camps, became a motivational speaker and philanthropist.
In 2004, he started the Foundation, raising funds to improve education and make physical activity a part of a better future for aboriginal youth. Self-esteem is at the base of it all; his programs are interwoven with values inherent in First Nations’ rich heritage.
The letter from Faith, a young Anishnaabe-kwe mother, who received a Rose Nolan Scholarship to complete her Bachelor of Science (Nursing) degree, begins to paint a human face on the challenges facing aboriginal youth…
“The scholarship eased some of the financial burdens of living in an urban city,” she wrote. “Rose Nolan’s story inspired me to complete my degree, knowing that learning is a life-long process. Rose Nolan has empowered me to be a strong and resilient Anishnaabe-kwe.
“I am proud to say that I graduated in May 2008 with a BScN degree in Nursing. I am currently working as a Registered Nurse at the Sudbury Regional Hospital in Sudbury, Ontario.”
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