Why do I even bother...

Of course a great hockey game is played last night and because I live in stupid East Coast Time Zone land of crappiness I miss a dandy of a 4 OT thriller. I was pushing myself just to stay up through the 1st OT when I realized I had to get up in 5 hours. So I turned on the tivo to record the rest of the game, honestly thinking it would be decided in the second OT. Oops. So the tivo only recorded OT 2 & 3 before shutting off since I didn't change the settings. Which means I missed the end of the game and seeing my adopted Sharks make another early post-season exit.

A small PS to the game - Naby and Turco were excellent and Brenden Morrow's hit on Milan Michalek was downright devastating! And totally clean for anyone who wants to cry foul.

So how did I do in round 2? 50% I got Pittsburgh and Detroit. That didn't take much skill to predict those two teams.

So now in the East we get Philadelphia(7) vs Pittsburgh(2)

The West is Dallas(7) vs Detroit(1)

In the east it's a no-win situation from my perspective. I hate both these teams and either advancing to the next round will induce vomiting.

Out West I'll go with Dallas. They are playing the type of hockey I really did and Turco has looked fantastic. Brenden Morrow is really showing why he is the guy who wears the"C" in Dallas these days. Plus I hate Detroit.

Round One Results are in...

And the screw job is complete!

With some of the worst officiating I've EVER seen, Philadelphia survives regulation and defeats the Caps in OT.
My bitterness is still overwhelming and really don't feel like venting about it here, so I won't.

Let's see who my picks came out.

Correct - Montreal, Detroit, Pens, Rangers, Avs, Sharks.
Incorrect - Caps, Ducks.

So 6-2 isn't too shabby.

So lets take a breif look at Round 2

Montreal vs. Philadelphia - Biron played his ass off against DC, this round it won't be enough. Montreal advances, lets the riots ensue.

Pittsburgh vs. New York - Seems like Pitt hasn't played in forever, not that I really care. I hate both of these teams more that most folks could possibly imagine. Still, I see the Pens advanceing in a series that should be harder than the last one.

Detroit vs. Colorado - Colorado played better than I thought they would in Round one. But so did Detroit and when The Preds came back to even the series the Wings responded by stepping on their necks. Detroit wins.

San Jose vs. Dallas - Two teams that played each other hard all season. I think this has the potential to be a fantastic series and probably the only one I have a genuine rooting interest in now that the Caps are out. SJ all the way!

Game 7 tonight!

After being pushed to the brink, the Caps have responded with two wins to even the series at three!
Last nights game was great and really embodied the way the team has played since November. I don't want to say too much about it, I'm just giddy right now and really looking forward to being in attendance at the game tonight!

So here is the link to Tarik El-Bashir's story from the Post and some of the pics from the game.

Tonight is your night bro!

It's been a long time coming.The Caps are returning to the playoffs tonight and the anticipation and excitement around the team are at all time highs. I've never seen it like this before. Sure the team has gotten folks in the DC metro area excited before. But never before have they had the whole world watching and following with baited breath. The idea of the Caps getting recognition on a global scale is such a far-fetched idea that I barely know how to comprehend it.

Washington Post beat writer Tarik El-Bashir wrote an excellent story about it this morning. You can read it here.

My memories of bittersweet playoff disappointment still sting. I still get worked up talking about Joe Juneau whiffing on an open net during a penalty shot in triple overtime against the Pens in '95 than watching Petr Nedved stuff one home to kill us a few minutes later. Bastard.

Watching Detroit come storming back in Game 2 of the Finals. A game in which they were down and out after 1 period. Esa Tikkannen missing an empty net goal that may have iced the whole thing. Yeah, they lead to a Detroit sweep I got to see live in DC.

The blood boiling anger in '03 as a talented Caps team, up 2-0 in the series, dropped 4 straight to Tampa bay once they figured out Bruce Cassidy was shit for a coach. As evidenced by his brainless benching of super defender Calle Johanson for journeyman suck-ass Jason Doig, who was exploited repeatedly.

We haven't been back since then. Only one player from those teams remain - Olie Kolzig, who may be spending the post season as back-up.

Gone are former Caps greats - Hunter, Bondra, Konowalchuk, Johanson.

They have been replaced by a team of unbridled energy and youth - Ovechkin, Green, Backstrom, Semin, Backstrom and a talented supporting cast that have come together to do what no team in history had done before. Last place in the conference the day before Thanksgiving to Division Champion on the second to last day of the season. They are confident, dangerous, and ready to sit at the table with the big boys.

Thanks Coach Boudreau.

And it's infectious, not only did it spread around the DC area, soon it crossed the border north to Canada, then across the ocean to Sweden, Russia and other European nations.

I've never seen that before from this team. True most of the attention spawned from Alex Ovechkin and his quest for 60 goal, but as Alex rose up, he made sure to take the team with him.
The trade deadline brought in three new faces - Cooke, Fedorov, Huet. Cooke is physical and has played his tail off in every game he's played. Fedorov has been rejuvenated, winning somewhere around 70% of his faceoffs, tossing crisp passes around the ice and the occasional timely goal. And Huet? Well, when we couldn't afford to lose a game, he didn't. Reeled off 9 in a row. Ties the franchise record.

The Caps have been around for 30 years. But not like this. They were NEVER like this. Last Saturday Verizon center was a level of loud that I don't think I've ever heard before, I was there for the cup run in '98.

I'm excited for this team in way I've not been in a very long time. Go to a game, watch on TV and try to tell me you don't feel it. They believe, we believe and starting tonight it's time to make the rest of the league believe.

NHL Night 2!

The playoffs are underway and while I'm behind after the first night, I'm far from out. So lets take a look at tonights match-ups.

Bruins vs. Canadiens

The black and gold battle the red and blue in an original six match-up that the old farts on TSN just love to get worked up over.
Boston played hard and were beat up down the stretch but earned their playoff with timely wins in OT or Shootouts. Too bad they don't have shootouts in the playoffs.
Montreal is simply too good. And believe me, I really hate to admit that. Montreal is almost a powerhouse compared to what Boston has to over. Tim Thomas will be under siege in this series and I half expect him the see pucks coming at him while he walk down the street.
If their is an x-factor in all of this it might be Corey Price in net. He's young an lacks playoff experience. Though I tend to consider those two bullshit excuses we'll see if they prove to be someting the Bru Cru can take advantage of. I doubt it.

Who should win - Montreal in 4. 5 if Boston gets a good bounce.
Who will win - I just told you!
Who am I rooting for - I still like Saku Koivu, the guy just has guts.

Predators vs. Red Wings

Honestly, I've never dug the Wings. I don't care how dominate they have been and all the shit about Scotty Bowman and Stevie Y. I just don't care.
Oh and don't think I give damn about the Preds either.
Why the hell does this city have a team? They never show up, even for the playoffs. And don't get me started on ownership and management.
But these two teams both have one thing I like - Their Head Coaches.
Mike Babcock and Barry Trotz.
So if the Preds have a chance it's because Trotz can coach. But Babcock has more weapons and he knows how to use them.

Who should win - Detroit.
Who will win - Preds might push to six but I'm thinking this over in 5 - Detroit.
Who I'm rooting for - Babcock

Stars at Ducks

Wow, did Brad Richards fizzle out after that big debut or what?
Not sure what there to really like about Dallas's chances this year. They just don't stand out very well, but they manage to win hockey games and thats the bottom line right? Don't misunderstand Dallas is immensely talented but they managed to piss away a first round series last year and I won't be surprised to see it happen again. Modano, Morrow - These guys can make things happen. Turco is a good goalie but playoffs have not been a strong point and even last season when he pitched 3 shutouts it wasn't enough.
Anaheim, oh Anaheim. You guys haven't seemed the same to me. Strange moves in the off season, strange moves during the season. I feel like you've never quite been on track.Sure you're winning games and I'm happy about that, the OC/SD connection and all, but something was off. Wheather it was Neidermayer and Selanne sitting out half the season (bullshit by the way!) or Chris Pronger repeatedly ramming his elbow through people's noses. Something has been not sat right with me. Maybe I'm just not Jiggy with it.

Who should win - Probably Anaheim, this is what they have been waiting for.
Who will win - Anaheim maybe in 6.
Who I'm rooting for - Travis Moen was a beast in the Playoffs last year. Love to see him do it again.


Tomorrow, it's finally here! Caps baby!

Playoffs - Round One, Night One, Fight!

I'm battling a bit of a cold as write this up and have had very little sleep. That is your warning for what you are about to read.

Today I'll talk about tonight's first round match-ups and I will not even bother to hide my personal feelings. Yes it's true, my dislike of teams, players and cities has been known to rear it head this time of year. But it's the playoffs and if you want to win sometimes you got to get nasty. So without further adieu....

Senators vs. Penguins 7pm EST

Wow! I'm not sure you could put two teams together for a playoff series that would make me want to claw my eyes out more. The over exposed, over hyped Sydney Crosby vs a bunch of a-holes from Ottawa that almost choked their way right out of the playoffs last week.
Granted, even if Crosby wasn't on the Pens I would still hate them, I have 15 years of playoff frustration that just won't go away. When you add the most media saturated NHL player in years to the mix I just want to vomit blood when I see them on TV. Ottawa is almost as bad. Years back I dug the style of hockey they played - it was pretty. Then it dawned on me that it was also hockey for little girls. Oh and Alfredsson is a puck hog.

Who should win - Who cares?
Who will win - Penguins in 4
Who I'm rooting for - Spontaneous combustion of several players.

Rangers vs. Devils 7pm EST

The Rangers. My God. Look, I'm just going to put this out their if you used to play in the Patrick Division and you aren't named the Washington Capitals I don't like you very much and NEVER will. And if you have Jaromir Jagr on your team I hate you twice as much.
I tolerate the Devils for my brother so I'm going to say they show the moxy they didn't have the week of the season and they man-up to make a series of this. Brodeur is one the best goalies to ever play the game and he can keep his team in this. They just need to score some goals to do it. What I'm looking for is if Jags can try to punch Scott Gomez in the back of the head again this season and dislocate his shoulder again. This would be super great since they are both on the same team.

Who should win- Devils
Who will win- Rangers - unless Jersey can find it's offense. 6 games
Who I'm rooting for - John Madden to check the hell out of Jagr all series.

Avalanche vs Wild

I like a lot of the young players the Avs have been developing the past few seasons. I don't like Forsberg very much anymore. His phantom dive against Vancouver a few weeks ago was funny and yet oh so sad.
And what do the Wild have? Jaques Lemaire. The man can flat out coach hockey. I'm sure some folks hate him for bringing the trap into existence but if he didn't someone else would have thought of it eventually.

Who should win- The Wild could pull the upset.
Who will win- Avs have the talent to move to the next round but not easily. 7 games
Who am I rooting for- I like the netminder Backstrom, if he holds up so do the Wild

Flames vs Sharks

Oh San Jose. You break my heart every year. I'm starting to think you're not playing hard to get, you are just cock tease who knows how to pull my strings. And yet I'm too stupid to realize and I keep coming back for more.
That is a gross, but accurate analogy.
I love the Sharks, I really really do. They have the make-up of a Cup winner but they pick the wort time to have collapses and breakdowns.
Calgary has a fantastic goalie, and staunch defense and nice collection of power forwards, but all rights they are evenly matched against SJ. Don't be surprised when this series gets physical and that may turn out to be something in Calgary's favor. Still...I'm a whore for Ron Wilson and his Sharks.

Who should win - It's close but I'm thinking San Jose
Who will win - See above
Who I'm rooting for - Ron Wilson is my guy and I can't abandon him now!

So throw away the Root Beer and start puttin' on the foil! Tonight we start the greatest post-season in all of sports!