All 8 first games have been played and boy howdy there were some really interesting games. A lot of tight games, even if the scores might not show it. Here’s some of my random thoughts on a few of the games I was able to see.
Leafs vs Bruins
In the Hockeybuzz Hotstove, I pegged this series as my most anticipated. Two big and diehard fan bases. Two teams that are very strong squads with a lot of firepower. Two very good goalies. A couple of players that can really get nasty and controversial. It has it all. Game One did not disappoint. Despite the 5-1 score, this game was a lot closer than it appeared.
The Bruins were the better team in the first period in my opinion, but the Leafs began to take it to them in the start of the second period. The Bruins got a favourable matchup at the end of the second period where they caught the 4th line out there and took advantage. Then in the third…Kadri happened. Going for revenge, Kadri knocked Tommy Wingels out and subsequently got himself tossed from the game. Hopefully Wingels is healthy, though it didn’t look great. Kadri is likely going to see at least a game suspension for the hit. Not a smart move and Kadri seemed to have it out for Wingels the entire game. Which is really dumb to lose your second line centre and best defensive centre to destroy a 4th liner. If Kadri gets two games, this could be the deciding factor. Plekanec has not been as advertised as a very strong defensive centre. He has been adequate at best. Dominic Moore as well isn’t exactly a stalwart defensively. Though he brings some speed. Bad hit and a bad play.
The “Sexual harassment” incident was also pretty new. Brad Marchand licking Komarov’s face is pretty nasty. From all the rumours out of Nova Scotia, Komarov might want to get checked. You can’t spit on a player, but you can lick him. Fantastic. I have a feeling this will end up becoming a rule like the “Avery Rule.” Some people are making this out to be way worse than it is. Neither party seemed to care too much. Though I think if he had licked any other player than Komarov this would have blown up. Komarov loves to joke around and never “snaps.”
Overall I thought this was a very good first game. Not the result I personally wanted (even though I have the Bruins in 6), but a good game nonetheless.
Devils vs Lightning
Only got to catch some of this game. Thank you PVR! A lot of people were “poo pooing” the Lightning down the stretch. They weren’t playing very well and Vasilevski certainly lost his Vezina mojo. But I wasn’t very worried. Their team is too strong and coherent to just fall apart.
Johnson and Palat were both very good. Horrible giveaway by Palat aside. Johnson showing his reputation for playoff heroics are not unfounded. It’s always interested me that we preach religiously about how “size and strength” are the most important parts of the playoffs, but when push comes to shove the best performers tend to be midgets. Tyler Johnson, Danny Briere, Mike Cammalleri, Paul Kariya and Andy McDonald all spring to mind.
McDonagh probably had his best game as a Lightning. He’s always been a very solid playoff performer. The Lightning’s hopes for winning have a lot to do with him.
Taylor Hall looked great (shocker) in his first ever NHL Playoff game. I love to see that as he has always been known as a playoff warrior throughout his junior career. As well as being a big game player internationally. It’s a shame it took seven whole years to play one playoff game. Insanity. At least he wasn’t Ron Hainsey I suppose.
Penguins vs Flyers
Wow.
That’s all.
Thanks for reading. Finishing off my Dmitri Sokolov blog to pump out on Monday. Enjoy the weekend.
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