Round 2 Game 1: Kapow!

Oh Pens fans... So silent, so deadly.

Back to reality, then.

Oh how quickly the euphoria dissipates, and how easily they turn on you. A week ago they were calling to trade Jaro, then build statues in his honor, now they're back to trading him. Hey just ask your buddy Price. You wanna be a number 1? It comes with the territory. And while I can only fault him on 1, his positioning was out of whack, his laterals sloppy, deep in his net, the signs of fatigue. Probably shouldn't have started the 3rd...

Same for the forwards and the defencemen. Decision making was poor, movement a step behind, and then Markov twinged something trying to hit a Matt Cooke that was going to hit him and left the rink on crutches. It won't be easy filling that void, especially with Spacek off-balance.

Basically it was exactly how I expected it to play out considering this series started almost right after. Though they did play better in spots than I thought. I mean, they actually outshot the Pens...

They won't use the fatigue excuse, but it's pretty evident whether they want to believe it or not. However we'll see how well they can block it out this round and maybe bounce back better.

About the only people who looked alive: Cammy, Subban, Moore, Price. Methinks it's time to switch up eh coach?

Price's puckhandling really helps against a forechecking team like the Pens because he can move the puck out faster, and unlike Washington, the Pens do go to the net and screen so his larger size would be a bonus. Subban schooled Bergeron on how to play D, scored a goal (WOO!), and outmuscled Crosby on a breakaway. Moore did what he's been doing all series and nearly did another one of his backhand goals of awesome. Cammy scored from the knees on the opposite side and motored around, even did a rare defensive move.

Perhaps bring in Sergei, and I think Darche can handle the rugged players of the Pens better than the Caps. You got fresh players ready for service, Coach.

All creatures great and small cheer (or squeak) GO HABS GO!

Round 2 Game 1: Start off in the fire
Bulldogs also opened their 2nd round with a loss. Totally wasn't happy they had to face to Heat. If the distance to Winnipeg was bad enough for them the distance to fucking Abbotsford is hell... Oh well. A 3-2 loss isn't as bad as a 6-3 loss. And Palushaj scored! Chalupas! And what's a game without Brock Trotter scoring eh?

Bad news for the Dogs is PK isn't coming back to them (yet and probably never again). Good news? Gabby's coming to play! Fresh off a 3 year contract. Voltigeurs for the win.

Survivor Playoffs 2010: The Washington Capitals

When my brother and I left Game 4, he turned to me and said "I hope the Caps don't win the Cup." When I asked him why, he said it was because they didn't deserve it. "They're arrogant," is what his reason was.

Arrogant is one. Predictable is another. A better bounce here. A smarter defensive move there. Habs could have stunned them by winning this in 5 (or 6). We've seen it before. Other versions of this team has done it before. Even the Bulldogs stunned their typically number 1 team by beating them in 5 for the Calder. There's a reason why I wanted the Habs to meet the Caps in the playoffs, and not just for the entertaining value or the excitement, but because I thought they could have a legitimate shot at beating them if they played them properly and smartly.

All the talent in the world means nothing if you fall apart.

And while the media knowitalls laughed at the mismatch they forgot one thing: there's a big difference between WANTING to win and EXPECTING to win. It would seem that after Game 4, Caps thought it was in the bag. They didn't expect Kirk Muller to become the ultimate puppetmaster and help rally this team straight. Believe in what you can do, come together for the dream, play the system your Coach has decided on. Sure we still think you're playing with fire if you think blocking and defending and waiting for that good scoring chance while facing the Caps. The WANT however was greater. Caps were already thinking to the next series, forgetting this one wasn't finished yet.

A Pens fan actually explained it best: that it was like the saloon shootout in Unforgiven, where the favored home team panicked and sprayed shots wildly while the visitor calmly picked them off one by one.

Ted's Take was very honest and straight to the point. He has a good team, but it needs to be better and smarter if it wants to go all the way. We know the Habs have a hard long road coming in the next round. We know they probably won't beat the Pens. I think it was Dickie Moore who came into the room during the '89 playoffs after each series win and said "Congratulations, you didn't win a thing." We know how it goes. But the Caps have a lot more thinking to do this summer.

Round 1 Game 7: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

The video is right after the game from my balcony. You can hear the city take to the streets and miles away a good "OLEEE OLE OLE OLE OLEEEEE!" Downtown was crazier, this is just the suburbs!

Recap:
- Caps played exactly how I thought they would.
- JARO! Though not as busy as the last game, surprisingly enough. Guess we got into their heads.
- HMCS HAL GILL!
- GORGES!
- Seriously, if you don't think Gill and Gorges deserve to share a Conn Smythe you don't understand how many shots those guys blocked. The count was OBSCENE before this game even started. I even thought the shot clock was counting blocked shots otherwise the numbers would have been hilarious.
- Also it hurts a bit when you make a save even with goalie equipment, THOSE GUYS AREN'T WEARING GOALIE EQUIPMENT!!!
- GIONTA IS A GIANT!
- Sorry Bulldogs but uh we want to keep PK...
- What if Mike Green weren't such a colossal fuck up? History will be made.
- Slippy wasn't useless for once!
- HOLY SHIT DOMINIC FUCKING MOORE!
- I just realized this is the second time in Lapierre's life that he assisted on a 3rd period goal that buried a #1 Boudreau-lead team. Last time was the shorthanded Ajay Baines goal that made it 2-1 for the Calder Cup in Game 5.
- Bouhoohoodreau
- Still cheering in the streets
- Bench was full of manhugs!
- Only shaking going on was in the handshake
- "Blood in the beard. Part of the playoff portrait, isn't it?" - Dominic Moore
- Pens will be waaaaaaaaay tougher (though, if they can get to Fleury I have no doubt they'll score more on him).
- We're coming.
- Party like it's 1993!

Survivor Playoffs 2010: The Phoenix Coyotes

Dave Tippett's nemesis: the McGill Tie. Fear it! I bet he must have nightmares about it, as it thwarts his every attempt to bring a team through the playoffs.

Well, I was hoping this team would do something with itself before they ship it back to Winnipeg where it belongs but it seems the wheels just fell off right at the end. Too bad, though. Poland's pride Wojtek Wolski (who's last name is 10-times easier to spell than mine) was a good pick up for them considering they have a pack of Peter Mueller's growing in the wings. I also thought Yandle would never stop scoring. And who couldn't love the glee on Shane Doan's face when he scored that goal?

Sadly, it wasn't meant to be. And everytime Todd Bertuzzi scores in the playoffs, Dominic Moore grrs. Go away, Red Wings. Shoo.

Now we can't yell THROW THE SNAKE anymore...

So... Go Jets Go?

Round 1 Game 6: Bouhoohoodreau

Boudreau's in shock.

Ovie's shaking as he's drinking from the water bottle.

Semin's still...not there.

Green's gone green.

And the Habs smell like team spirit.

Jaro in the zone. Cammy's on drugs. PK SUBBAN INSERTED AND INSTANT AWESOME! Gorges for Conn Smythe! HMCS Hal Gill for captain (ahoy) now called The Battleship! Bergeron kept far far away from anything not a powerplay (and still sucked)! And how sexy was that 5-on-3 kill that was all Gorges, Gill, and BabyPyatt/Pleky until the puck fumbled it's way to Jaro? SEXY!

The Maxim Lapierre Hat Trick: two dives and a goal.

Stabbity stabby in the heart by Fehr, of course. Whatevs. But Thomas Jagr got it back with the empty netter! (Oh how it's been a long time since we had one of those).

Oh yea, note to Tim Peel: BRIAN GIONTA DOES NOT DIVE! Also BRIAN GIONTA DOESN'T DIVE ESPECIALLY WHEN HE HAS A FUCKING STICK WRAPPED AROUND HIS LEGS! Fuck you Tim Peel.

And before you continue wondering what's up with the Caps powerplay, did it ever cross anyone's mind that maybe, just maybe, the Habs PK is better? After all, they had a shitload of practice this year.

Game seven on Wednesday. I'm so depressed though... I have a day off (which is good), BUT the building committee scheduled a meeting...ON GAME SEVEN! Dying here...

Go Habs Go. Don't make me explode the garage ok?

Double-header Survivor Playoffs 2010: The Buffalo Sabres and the Nashville Predators


So long Buffaslugs. Sorry we couldn't have had the honor of destroying you in the playoffs but eh, the Bruins will do. Best goalie in the league? Check. But it doesn't matter if the rest of your team is playing in a playoff series with the will and determination of a Tuesday night game against Carolina.

So much for this being the year eh Ruff? Gut check time.

And the Chicago Blackhawks just eliminated the Nashville Predators to set up a round 2 rematch with the Canucks. Too bad for the Preds, they did their best, but the Hawks were just better. I still don't trust Niemi, and if Rinne were behind a stronger team, he'd be set for a good run to the Cup.

Survivor Playoffs 2010: The Los Angeles Kings

Summed up by Drew Doughty smashing his stick in anger against the end boards on an empty net.

Initially the Kings had exposed a vulnerable point in the Canucks: penalty kill. However as their own players tired, and as Jonathan Quick fell apart, the Canucks finally managed to kill penalties and finally managed to win games. And for every "great save Luongo" you will notice he could make his life easier if he didn't always somehow end up falling into his net on his ass and had to scramble back.

Be proud, LA. You got some good young players there. Now, do yourself a favor and dump that black jersey with the shield and just use your crown purple please?

Round 1 Game 6: Bulldogs finally realize they can win a game

It's here I can finally say WOOOOOOOOOOO BITCHES! NO MORE MOOSE! NO MORE MOOSE! Or should I say NO MORE CORY SCHNEIDER. Seriously dude, I know you're pissed being stuck behind Luongo, but what with his spontaneous groin explosions I'm sure you won't have much time to wait, you don't need to take it out on our poor Bulldogs! Bad boy. Now go away.

It started off like crap, what with the Bulldogs firing at will on Schneider, only to give up a shorthanded 2-on-1 goal. Apparently Hamr plays for the Bulldogs. FINALLY little Desharnais fired a howitzer past him.

Would you believe the Bulldogs peppered Schneider with 49 shots? And they had to win 3-2 in OT. Both regulation goals came on the powerplay with Subban assisting on both. It was the mysterious Grant Stevenson who got the OT winner and prevented a Game 7.

Who do they play next? I fear it'll be the Abbotsford Heat, which will be annoying...

Survivor Playoffs 2010: The Colorado Avalanche

Following the Senators ousting, the Colorado Avalanche were voted off the Island last night in a 5-2 double-empty netter (we know how that feels) loss to the San Jose Sharks.

Just like the Habs, you had an 8th seeded team giving the 1st seed a run for its playoff money.

Unlike the Habs, the Avalanche were way better than what we see daily. Only a slight stumble sent them into 8th but throughout the year their young players led the way brilliantly under a coach that trusted them and challenged them appropriately and allowed them to play.

Most nights it depended on Craig Anderson. Knowing how he is, his year starts off hot, he stumbles slightly, regains form, then stumbles again. His post season also played out that way, after an amazing 50+ save performance in front of his adoring home crowd and an unlucky goal by Dan Boyle into his own net, it looked like he had no idea how to make a proper save after that.

Speaking of Dan Boyle's goal: You talk about bad luck eh. The Hockey Gods were probably chuckling and saying "OK, enough's enough now. You can go on and win the series, we're just joking with you." However if the Sharks want to go further than the 2nd round, they'll need to be a hell of a lot better than what they were during this series.

To the Avs, this crying fan pretty much sums it up. He totally wasn't in any hurry to leave the rink.

Survivor Playoffs 2010: The Ottawa Senators

The Senator is not pleased. Then again that face always looks sour.

After avoiding elimination with a triple-OT win in Pittsburgh via a rather weak point shot from Carkner (really? NOW you decide to be an NHLer?) the Ottawa Senators put up a defiant battle to win another. Alas it wasn't meant to be. Up 2-nothing, then up 3-1, of all the rat bastards in the world to tie it that fucker Matt Cooke is the one who sends the game to OT.

Contrary to what the CBC thought, the Pens looked gassed all game. Fleury looked surprised on every shot he faced, no one remembered their positions, and actually attempting to score on anything but the rush was inconceivable. And credit the Sens were wearing the Pens down. Crosby wasn't allowed to breathe anymore. Malkin got thrown around. Shot blocking to the point of annoyance. But all it took was one slingshot over Leclaire to end it.

If the triple-OT game inspired the Habs, I hope they learned from this one as well. (Though apparently Chocula is scratching Sergei, and unless he's sick apparently Chocula wants us to lose).

It's heartbreak in Ottawa. See you in October.

Round 1 Game 5: Bow before the almighty Travis Moen!

You know this man.

He took a skate to the face and needed 55 stitches to patch it up, and only missed one game.

Tonight, Travis Moen scored the game winning goal, and with the dying minutes of the 3rd while nursing a 1-goal lead he did something no one really noticed: he lifted Mike Knuble's stick who would have tucked the puck right under Jaro and prevented overtime.

Travis Moen might not have gotten a game star, but that play right there saved the Habs playoff lives forcing a Game 6.

Caps in 3?

Cammalleri won't be able to score without Jarome Iginla?

Hal Gill is slow and useless?

Will the Caps use the "we got in late because of the bad weather" excuse for reaching all night and playing like individuals? All the steroids in the world won't help you there. Perhaps your crowd should be yelling "WHO CARES" once you're up by 2 goals instead of down by two as well.

And you see what happens when you play like a team and don't brainfart? You win! What a concept!

Now, if only the Habs could accidentally on purpose forget Bergeron in Washington...

See you Monday.

Game 5: Bulldogs vs Cory Schneider
Oy! You puppies! What are you doing? You could have buried these guys right here, right now but instead you lose 5-2? C'mon guys, pick your socks up! Next two are at home finally. Make us proud!

Survivor Playoffs 2010: The New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils are the first voted off the Island. My brother is happy that it isn't the Habs who leave first. Moral victories?

Lou Lamoriello tossed a jar of jam to make a point to his coaching staff that the Devils needed more jam. Can you imagine Bob Gainey doing that? I sure as hell can't imagine Pierre Gauthier doing that. Bob would have glowered at you disapprovingly, while Pierre AKA the Ghost wouldn't have even been in the room. Or he would, but you wouldn't have noticed.

The questions lies with Martin Brodeur: what the heck happened? The answer lies with Ilya Kovalchuk: why was no one else following you as you tried to create some offensive output? The addendum is directed to Parise, Elias, and Zajac: did you guys really miss Gionta that much?

We know we're an 8th seed up against a 1st not only in the East but in the League. For the #2 seed to be absolutely destroyed in the manner they did? Well, if they were a Montreal team, Sal the Caller would have exploded.

Enjoy the summer, Devils.

Round 1 Game 4: Live, it was entertaining...

...until the defensive pairing of Bergeron and Hamrlik destroyed it.

But we have the smartest coach in the NHL according to Boudreau. He may be smart, but he's apparently too blind to notice that whenever those two are out, the Caps lick their chops and go off on odd-man rushes. Maybe our coach is a sadist?

You notice it on TV, but live it's just crazy, when you're sitting right above the net looking down, our defensive zone is like a bunch of flowers in a swarm of bees. The Habs either just stand around dumbfounded or run around like chickens without their heads. The Caps make every bounce and deflect do something that it's a miracle our goalies can actually breathe... At least I didn't have to poke someone's eye out for booing inappropriately.

The Good
- Price played a hell of a game. We have a goalie who stickhandled around OVECHKIN. He's just so calming. Even tossed a dude out of his aura. Even had to do some goalie hurdles over a Caps player who went sprawling into his net. And none of those goals were weaksauce. Two unsportsmanlike penalties? Please. He clipped a guy while trying to come over the bench with a load of goalie equipment on and was basically just telling the guy "he was there so move it" and the first was shooting a puck away that just happened to go into a crowd of celebrating Caps. Get the sand out of your vagina, Capitals, the refs were RELUCTANT to call all the infractions you guys actually did but called the Habs twice for playing hockey and then made up whatever they felt like calling garbage. Next time, maybe Price will get his fighting major instead.
- SERGEI WAS AWESOME COACH I HOPE YOU WERE WATCHING! Oh right, YOU DIDN'T PUT HIM ON THE POWERPLAY but who am I to question you 'cause you're a genius.
- Dominic Moore reminded people why you shouldn't leave after the other team scores an empty netter.
- Metro looked better tonight. Was flying with Pyatt, Sergei, Cammy, whoever they randomly decided to stick with him.
- Rhino comes in, people get squashed. Imagine if you had done this earlier eh Coach Chocula?
- Pyatt is so staying on this team.
- Gio for CAPTAIN! NOW!
- Cammy scored for me.
- These playoff series make me want to buy a Hal Gill t-shirt. I think I'm in love.

The Bad
- Every D not named Gill, Gorges, Markov, or Rhino.
- Jaro Spacek was missed. A lot.
- Bergeron and Hamr. Those assists can go die in a fire.
- Unable to bring out the killer instinct to finish the game with a lead. Always they get lazy, overwhelmed, they forget to cover people, and end up looking absolutely stupid and it cost them the game.
- If it didn't work the first time, and didn't work the second time, and didn't work the third, fourth, fifth time, STOP SHOOTING AT VARLAMOV RIGHT IN THE GUT! YOU WON'T BE GETTING A REBOUND THERE! In fact, no goalie will give up a rebound or even a goal if you shoot it right at his stomach. Maybe use the fucking boards behind the net and have another guy on the opposite side ready to tuck it in?
- Even though our best players were scoring goals, they were also the first to be floating around.
- Pouliot has no business being on the powerplay.

The OMGWTFBBQ!?
- No seriously coach, ARE YOU FUCKING BLIND?! BERGERON AND HAMR DO NOT MAKE A DEFENSIVE PAIR. As my brother said: "I wish they would do to Hamr what they did to Laraque. YOU ARE USELESS!"
- Tim Peel is an insult to hockey.
- Couldn't win a faceoff to save our lives. Even when they won one, the ref would whistle it down and they'd have to try again. Even when they won one, the wingers were too slow getting to the puck so they ended up losing the puck right after.

The Extra
- My brother does a hilariously accurate immitation of Jaro Spacek.
- I'm proud of you, crowd. You were supportive, you were loud and proud. You didn't boo Price who did all he could to backstop this trainwreck and I didn't have to launch anyone to center ice. Though sucks to be you if you left after the first empty netter because I would have LAUGHED if by some miracle Gomez actually had the strength to tie it up. (Maybe should have put the Moore/Kostitsyn line out again eh coach? They were actually trying to win this thing).

The series is playing out like an 8th seed facing the first in the League. Even though the Habs are giving them a run for their money and making it interesting, the Caps are just way too skilled to be falling behind. Still if I'm the Caps I would be greatly concerned how Mike Green is being outplayed by a kid. Then again, they're probably all juiced up anyway. No way those guys get that big that fast, or don't fatigue over the course of a game, and I don't remember Carlson being that large in the WJC...

Either way, Habs are what they are. I'm looking at Buffalo, I'm looking at Vancouver, I'm looking at THE BLACKHAWKS, I'm looking at the Sharks, I'm looking at the Devils... THOSE guys should be upset with how their playoffs are going. And while I know Crosby can score at will, Fleury's been a fucking sieve lately. Maybe they want to borrow Price for their inevitable series with the Caps?

Game 4: When you need a goal, just call PK Subban
At least the Bulldogs managed to bounce back like the top team in their conference that they are. Though there were some doubts... Boucher nearly pulled Desjardins again, but having Mayer as your backup wouldn't have ended well. One thing you gotta love about the Bulldogs is there ability to tip pucks into the PROPER net (something I wish the Habs would do). Grant Stevenson did the work while other people, mostly Glumac, finished. Aaron Palushaj powered through to set up Trotter and Subban. But it took double overtime to finish the game at 5-4 with Subban ripping a shot over Cory Schneider's glove.

Bulldogs lead their series now 3-1

Round 1 Game 3: So you've hit an all-time low...

If you think anything was worse than Dan Boyle launching the puck into his own net in OT on a playoff game tied at 0, well, yea seriously I've never seen anything like that in my entire life...

But when you walk out onto the Bell Center ice, get the anthems sung by the fucking Phantom of the Opera, and have 21 thousand people hoping and praying for you, how in the bloody hell can you self-destruct in one period so quickly?

You know, there's a REASON Price played the Caps all season. No one listens to me when I said Mike K-Nuble would have Jaro for dinner. And while no one can fault him on the first two, you can bloody well fault him on those that blew Game 2 and the bleeding wouldn't have stopped tonight. The difference is night and day between the two. Where one is squirrely because his small stature forces him to over-exert himself thus quickly weakening him, the other is large and strong and efficiently conserves his energy so that fatigue would hit him in 3 weeks. And frankly the moment Price stepped on the ice, he was the calmest one on the team. Gone were the frantic rebounds. Instead point shots were gobbled and squeezed, traffic brushed aside, and you literally had to launch yourself into the kid to knock him over. Did it look like he hadn't played for over 2 weeks, which I remind you is a game he only gave up one real goal and was booed on the 3rd star selection? Our 22 year old thoroughbred has proved exactly why he was chosen in the first round. And while people praise Halak for bringing the Habs into the playoffs, no one seems to remember those two points Price stole in November in Washington DC with an injured roster while everyone was busy writing their latest rebuilding plan. (Never mind the two points he stole in 95% of the games he had barely any chance of winning).

If I could strangle you through my radio I would, various Team990 hosts who said "it's safe to say whoever is the backup in this series is going to be gone next year". The answer is NO YOU MONUMENTAL ASSWIPE! THE HABS HAVE NO DEPTH IN GOAL!!! And yes I am an expert, and I saw the replays.

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me; but fool me three times? Then I get what I deserved.

Game 1 Caps didn't know what they were in for. Game 2 Caps had an epiphany and realized how easy it is to throw Jaro off his concentration. Game 3 Caps curbstomped you. And yet Martin's ego will continuously destroy our promising young prospects because god forbid they have actual talent, and the team will suffer. Perhaps it was a sign from God when both Gomez and Plekanec were serving extended penalty minutes (Gomez's was a fucking joke, what is this grade school?) and Dominic Moore was running your powerplay. Try as he did, it was laughable when he gained the zone and found no one to pass to. What an ideal situation for Sergei Kostitsyn, who made maybe one mistake I didn't even notice in Game 2, and has now been benched for eternity. Darche is a great guy, but he's not the best option for a playoff game in the NHL. Yet in contrast to Sergei, he makes plenty of horrible errors, and gets rewarded with powerplay time.

There is no one that strikes any fear into an opposing player entering the zone. In fact I swear I saw the Caps licking their chops as Bergeron scuttled by. Hal Gill can't be out there forever clearing the crease, and Markov can't/shouldn't be doing that (I bet I'm the only one who saw Price glove-hug him to stop him from fighting the guy in the crease). Hamr is already out of gas and Spacek is also running low. What a perfect opportunity for the Big Sexy to come in and crush some Caps players into oblivion. I sometimes think Martin watches L'Antichambre or L'Attaque a Cinq to get his lineup ideas. Why else would he sit the 3 most talented and needed young players on this team? Is Francois Gagnon whispering sweet nothings in your ears?

I feel so bad for Monsieur Beliveau, who probably wished he were back in his bed resting.

I feel so bad for Metro, who defied the odds and returned into the lineup. He really is part alien. (THAT'S a Masterton candidate, not a guy who followed the regular career path of a small goaltender).

I feel so bad for Gionta who wishes he could stay on the ice forever.

So when I come to the rink Wednesday, and if I don't see Price, Sergei, and Rhino out there on the ice in the lineup, I will jump down from section 410 and punch you square on the nose, Coach Chocula.

Game 3: Bulldogs didn't fare much better
Like their big brothers, the Bulldogs had a monumental collapse in Manitoba (where they play crazy circus music between play stoppages apparently). Jordan Schroeder had a hat trick and they beat the Dogs 7-2, almost mirroring the Bulldogs smack down on them. Now that's how you get your revenge in a playoff game eh?

Not going to get much going when the only two guys that score for you are Chad Anderson (bwah? he never scores!) and future-Habs ass-kicker Ryan White (WOOO!). Also tough when Desjardins takes a .500SV% (4 goals on 8) before getting yanked for poor over his head Robert Mayer who had 13 saves on 16.

Bizarro stat of their night? Henry, Anderson, and Conboy managed to get out of it all as the only players with a +1. And usually when you outshoot the opponent 36-24, you don't give up 7... Then again when you're up 7 goals, you usually don't suckerpunch someone either EH MOOSE?! Idiots.

Round 1 Game 2: Playoff wings taste great but would be better served victoriously

Caps fans before the League called O'Halloran to remind him it's "Caps in 5, do your 'job'."

Can you believe CBC picked the Sabres/Bruins over this series? Hell, can you believe the CBC showed CURLING over this?!

Also can you believe stupid Space decided to premier the awesome new Doctor Who series in Canada during the fucking playoffs?! (Of course us real fans already downloaded it from the UK to watch it without a zillion commercials and are on episode 3 now).

It was just like that game when the Habs broke the Caps 16-game winning streak in OT. That was a wild game. This one was no different. Well, the difference is the Habs won that one. (JARO FIX YOUR GLOVE! THOSE WERE WEAK!)

Goalie interference is only called in the West
- Usually when a player's ASS is in the goalie's CHEST you whistle the damn thing. I've see the Red Wing called for weaker moves. And usually when the goalie is forked then shoveled out of his crease then sat on, YOU CALL IT! Though the "book" on Jaro is he's 5'11" and 175lbs, and doesn't like big traffic. I think we'll see Price in this series soon if only because Jaro will be so fucking tired from all that (the wear is starting to show as evident on his glove).
- A hat trick in the playoffs for the Belarusian Bomber? His leg scored a great 3rd goal! (Pens fans will note that Mike Green was preoccupied or useless on every Habs goal that occurred during his shifts, and you wonder why he wasn't asked to be on the Olympic team?) Oh, 3 goals and an assist. He hasn't been that productive since Game 7 of the 2008 playoffs, and the first playoffs hat trick since 1993.
- The Habs had the lead first. The Habs had the lead second. The Habs had the lead with two minutes to play. THE HABS HAD THE LEAD! Of course the Habs are allergic to holding leads, but whatever. Boudreau should be way more concerned about that fact.
- Ovechkin came out with 3 reckless hits and forgot to play hockey because that's when Gomez burned by him to pass one to Gionta who scored on their first shot. Usually the Caps score on their first shot.
- Two goals on two shots. Bye Theo! Varlamov wasn't much better either.
- It got really quiet in Washington...
- How intense was Hal Gill? Other than directing very vocally, he was so livid with that interference penalty that he was STANDING in the penalty box. He also let the refs know there's a rulebook they're paid to follow.
- Told you Eric Fehr worries me more. And Backstrom (also had a hat trick).
- Hilarious moment: Gionta wanted to fight Ovechkin. He actually dropped his gloves but Gomez dropped his gloves first with someone else. Unfortunately that meant no Gomez for 5 minutes so the powerplay could barely get into the zone.
- You know who I love? Tommy Pyatt. That's right. BabyPyatt blocked an Ovie rocket in the final minutes and then chased down the rebound to send it deep.
- The 3rd/4th line will get a goal one day. Sergei made one of the guys look peewee as he toe dragged through him.
- Our top guys delivered the goals again. That Pleks-Cammy-Pleks thing? Love it.
- How's this stat: 30 shots blocked by the Habs (Caps blocked 10, and most of them probably inadvertently as Slippy would always dump a puck into the gut of Caps player).

If the Habs didn't blow a 4-1 lead (FOUR TO ONE LEAD!!!) this series would be 2-0. Suck on that PJ Stock. We'll just have to wallow in our free wings of sorrows. Delicious sorrows...

Apparently every series is tied at 1 now, save for the Hawks/Preds because they didn't do their 2nd yet. I dare say the most wide opened, best playoff series in a long time?

Game 2: Bulldogs make roadkill of the Manitoba Moose
Maybe I'll just let the game sheet do the talking, because this game was how a real number 1 seed dominates a playoff game.


And just before Wyman scored on his shorthanded penalty shot (wtf?) Koharski nearly ruined the game by missing a blatant call that prevented Desharnais to do his job only to call a total dive by Shirokov. BIG day for Trotter and Subban though. Even bigger one for Alex Henry who made a huge glove save and scored a goal. You'd have a higher chance of finding buried treasure in your backyard than Henry has scoring a goal. BabyHabs also chased Cory Schneider out of his net. Unfortunately Weber was destroyed on the glass and didn't return...no idea if it's a concussion or not.

Two words though: Guy Boucher. This man is amazing. I salivate at what he could do with the roster the Habs have.

Round 1 Game 1: Tomas Jagr burns Jose NotMillerBrodeurTheodore

Apparently TSN hires the Pensblog to do their headlines

TSN Panel, except for Craig McTavish, said Caps all the way. Of course they think McTavish is high or those years without a helmet are finally affecting him

PJ Stock said Caps in 3. I'm really sorry your name is on the roster stone in Centennial Plaza, PJ.

Tomas Jagr answers: "Bring it, bitches!"

All he needs now is a kickass mullet.

It started off like your average 7pm game: wobbly, touch-and-go, feeling around testing the waters to see what will work and how. Nothing like an early penalty kill to get the mind focused. Badly outshot in the first? It only helps settle Jaro down and cramps out the other guy at the other end of the rink. Caps have an unreal record when they launch over 40 shots, but our guys are pretty much used to that.

Outshot 19-7 in the first, yet tied at 1 ain't so bad. Keys to the season were the powerplay, and the Habs kept the #1 powerplay quiet while the #2 powerplay went to work. Welcome to the show, Michael Cammalleri.

The experts are shocked that Ovie was silenced. Boudreau claims Ovie didn't play well, which is kind of disrespectful to Spacek's work. Jaro Spacek might be over 10 years his senior but he's a tough old Czech who silenced the Russian Bear even while falling flat on his backside. He and Hamr were only doing it all year unless they were injured.

The experts looked at the micromachines we have on forward and compared them to the gigantors they have on defence and laughed. What a mismatch! It sure looks that way when the Capitals method of defence is glomping their opponent. Tim Peel wants paper not plastic, boys. But Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez know what they're doing in the extra season. And the smaller they are, the harder they appear to hit. Maybe it's because all that mass is compact.

Rookie watch: Tommy Pyatt looks like he's an old hand at this. He was out there early in the first, killing penalties right next to Pleky. Gotta give Gainey and his staff credit as the Gomez trade, rediculous salary notwithstanding, is working out just fine for us (Rags only have McD really left in that trade). Almost had his first playoff goal had the Wizards not fucked up the ice. And Benoit Pouliot can still be defined as a rookie. He who has been a little quiet near the end of the season, came out roaring like the Pouliot we happily coined on the line of Giant Mexican Chicken. Was that his first playoff point on the assist? I think so.

Bottom line is experts will be experts. But experts don't know how to rock it like it's 1993. My brother is a better expert. "I'm not worried about Ovechkin, not even worried about Semin...it's Backstrom or Fleischmann I'm worried about." Only time my brother worries about Ovie is when he's so frustrated he starts hurting players. Frankly we speculate he's hurt himself and can't do that without taking himself out. Whatever the experts say, Habs didn't steal this win. They played it smart, they shadowed well, they cleared Jaro's rebounds and blocked shots, they did all the little things when they needed to and all the big things when they had to. It's why they had success against the team, and why they match well.

Will the Habs win another game in the series? Who knows. It's open season now, and the Caps are way too good to sit on their asses about it. Either way, tossing an upset their way was great fun, and will probably shock the Caps back to reality. Deja vu to the last season where the Rags went up on them 3-1 before getting it together in 7.

Whatever happens, I hope it's a good, long series.

BabyHabs got playoffs too!
Game 1 and done! A 2-0 win over the Manitoba Moose with goals by Mike Glumac and Rrrrrrya Russell. Is that sweet justice? Didn't a Moosie give Russell a concussion? And before you think it was an epic goalie battle, both teams barely got 20 shots each. Ryan White picked up 2 assists and PK Subban got his first professional playoff point with an assist on Glu's goal.

Top 10 ways Habs can win Round 1

10. Habs, desperate, hand over Andrei Kostitsyn to the care of both Jaroslav Halak and Carey Price and charge them with the task of waking him up. Halak (the ninja) slips dosages of chocolate milk into his water bottle, Carey (the wizard) casts an angry spell that awakens him via humming a Garth Brooks tune. This strange forumla somehow sends the big Belarusian into a sugar-induce rage and he will be quoted while effortlessly scoring his 4th goal in a minute as yelling "ZEH THUNDAR HROLLS!"

9. Glen Metropolit is discovered to be "not of this Earth", said he wasn't surprised considering he doesn't really know who is father is, and returns to the lineup perfectly healthy, ready to score 10 more powerplay goals while no one was looking. Feels a little queasy when close to a green rock, though...

8. Ryan O'Byrne will accidentally on purpose destroy Marc-Andre Bergeron in practice while demonstrating how to hit and/or contain the Capitals forwards--who would have destroyed him anyway--thus solidifying his own roster spot.

7. Bruce Boudreau will look at the Habs lineup, flashback to the 2007 Calder Cup final and squeal like a little girl. They will later find him curled up in the corner sucking his thumb and mumbling "the Price is right" and "they told me Lapierre was all mouth and no hands" and "we were the best, number 1, but the best lost in 5".

6. Sergei Kostitsyn will blackmail Jacques Martin to keep him in the lineup on the 3rd line and to give him powerplay time with photographs he obtained by an unnamed source maybe named "Tony". We have no idea what they are photos of, but rumor has it they're possible proof that Martin does indeed have a proper suit and tie in his wardrobe but only wears it when he's "alone at home where no one can see him". SHOCKING! Surprised Francis Gagnon didn't find out about this rumor first.

5. Habs will discover that Brian Gionta is actually TWO even smaller people that combined themselves like a Power Ranger robot all year. Decided splitting them would add the power of almost 60 goals on the roster and wouldn't be very noticeable anyway as combined he's already below the line of sight of everyone on the ice.

4. Hal Gill will reveal he's actually a Pretender and is indeed a battleship. Once fully transformed, the Capitals discover there's some mysterious force preventing them from crossing the blueline, Gill will roll over and keep them from crossing the red line. (Makes opening faceoff a bit difficult though).

3. Scott Gomez will spend the entire time challenging and distracting Jose Theodore with Yo Mamma jokes, saying "Pleks said you weren't Ryan Miller, don't you want to prove him wrong?"

2. Kirk Muller decides it's as good a time as any to come out of retirement. Says Martin doesn't listen to anything he says anyway, so he may as well play. Also claims captaincy void.

1. Habs will accidentally on purpose send Jacques Martin on the wrong flight (solo) where he will end up somewhere in Europe. As it would be too much trouble to get him back, they'll call up Guy Boucher to fill in.

Playoffs of 1812: History might be made or we'll have fun trying

In which Les Canadiens will storm the city of Washington and (attempt) to burn the Capitals down.

The war will be fought in four theatres, twice in the Verizon Center and twice at the Bell Center. Depending on wins and losses there may be more. The citizenry, however, will be entertained regardless of the outcome for Captain Alexander Ovechkin always enjoys a good swing in Montreal, and Montreal keeper Carey Price (the sole known Native representative of this version's campaign as far as we know) absolutely adores fighting him. He currently holds the record of this season's campaign at 2-1-1 which is steller considering their arsenal and relentless assault compared to our own. And there will be no shootout to save them this time. Of course his participation depends on the actions of Brigadier Martin, who is known to be just that much of an asshole to not set out his noble big-game keeper on the flying eagles. The Capitals also remember one Sergei Kostitsyn, a hard nosed solider on the 3rd brigade, putting the most impossible goal on them last season in a regular campaign, however his participation also remains to be seen. HMCS Hal Gill will proudly patrol our waters should they attempt a powerplay down low and will desperately try to not score on his own net twice.

Today Les Canadiens and their fans took a day to salute Brigadier Tortorella for absolutely blowing his team's chances at taking Washington by sending out one Olli Jokinen in the shootout over Marian Gaborik. Such actions may haunt him for the rest of his days. To his credit he was later overheard as saying "I thought we had JUSSI Jokinen!"

A sense of euphoria has washed over the land cheering for both teams under the red, white and blue. It's Spring! And even though both sections lost on their way to the playoffs, springtime is a lovely time as each chase Lord Stanley. Only time will tell which side will enjoy an Era of Good Feelings. Regardless of the outcome, we will stand united with a heightened sense of national pride and solidarity.

On that note: I GOT PLAYOFF TICKETS! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Wednesday April 21st. It could very well be our last game of the season but I'm off the wall excited to see the Habs play the Caps regardless!

Oh hey, apparently the number of point differential between the Habs and the Caps is 33. C'mon Patrick, you gotta break the curse one of these days!

Habs 3, Leafs 4 (OT): Elusive point get, playoffs clinched, but I'm not amused...

That dude on the right. Yea, that's how it feels.

Indeed. The Habs clinched a playoff position while on a 3-game losing streak.

Flashback to Game 1 again. I know I did this in the previous post but I'll do it anyway. The Habs won that game 4-3 in OT with Josh Gorges following up on a rebound created by Mike Cammalleri. Price stole that game with 43 saves on 46 shots compared to the 22 saves on 24 shots by Vesa Toskala. Clearly the Habs could have beaten the Leafs in regulation that night in Toronto if they had swarmed Toskalol.

Flashforward to Game 82. The Habs lose the game 4-3 in OT with bridgetroll Dion Phaneuf surprising Halak with a wrister. Contrary to Game 1, in no way shape or form did Jaro match Price's stellar season opening performance like we hoped he would and Habs were bloody lucky they managed to get that 1 point they needed because of that. This time it was JS Giguere, making 34 saves on 37 shots, including a game saver on Cammy as he turned the Leafs D inside out only a few minutes prior to Phaneuf's goal. Jaro only faced 15 shots when it was tied up in the 2nd period and a poor decision on playing the puck allowed the Leafs to tie it up in the first place. He gave me zero confidence all night. He was deep in his net, looked nervous, pucks kept bouncing out of his glove (and he's had a glove side problem for the past 3 games now), and looked small. After Hanson tied it up in the 3rd with a shorthanded goal, CBC's Jeff Marek tweeted "If that was Price on the Hanson goal would he get a) pulled b) boo'd c) both?". All I can think of was "DO NOT WANT BRONZE MEDAL GAME 3RD PERIOD MELTDOWN".

If that was his Game 7 moment... Well, let's just say he's a good back up who had a lot of luck this year and now the cracks are showing.

The team did play ok. Defense still needs work. SERGEI NEEDS TO PLAY unless he's injured and not 100%. Just kept getting deflated all game. Need to work on 2-on-1s, keep your stick on the ice, tip-ins to wide open nets. They need to calm down, shoot more, want the puck more. Unlike Game 1 the powerplay did it's job once, and then gave up a shorthanded goal thanks to the slowfooted pylons on the blue line.

Game of the year and the Coach benches one of his best players for a career AHLer. Unbelievable. I know, I love Darche Vader as much as the next, but really, Sergei would have buried that.

Game of the year and the Coach puts Slippy on D. His shot can kill people, and he murdered Giguere's water battle with it, but please, keep him away from playing defence.

All comments aside, they're in. That elusive one point they searched for for weeks now...they finally got it. Let's remember this is a new team coupled with a new coach and the injuries, oh the injuries this team has had! In fact they only had a full healthy line up for like 2 games if that all year.

So we should be happy there's more hockey. Yes we could be facing the Devils...but there's also a possiblity, if the Flyers win tomorrow in regulation (and I won't hold my breath on that), we get the Capitals.

I would rather the Capitals. Frankly if I'm going to spend that kind of money on playoff tickets, I want to be entertained not bored out of my skull.

Yes, I'm being selfish. Hey, it's the LEAST I could ask for, being a loving fan who had to live through this season.

Game 82: Oh how you snuck up on us

It's here. It's finally here. And it all comes down to the wire. This is the game of the year and it just has to be against the Leafs.

In Game 1, Habs strolled into Toronto, showed little chemistry, Markov got too close and left with a cut on his leg that knocked him out for half the year, Price made 43 saves on 46 shots and stole the game, while Josh Gorges of all people followed up on a rebound to score the winner with 12.6 seconds left in OT. Mike Komisarek helped by taking 5 minor penalties.

Here we are now, the final game of the rollercoaster season. All they need is one simple little point to clinch the playoffs.

They couldn't be bothered to get that point against Carolina at the Bell Center, where Price was booed on his 3rd star selection by the idiots who felt Jaro should have played like it would have made a fucking difference when Pylon Hamrlik bowled the puck into his own net along with his goaltender.

They couldn't be bothered to get that extra point against the Islanders, where they basically fucked around most of the game and let the kids walk all over them.

They couldn't be bothered to get that point IN Carolina. Oh hey booing idiots, Jaro was in nets for that one, happy? Realize now that it made no fucking difference when the rest of the team doesn't show up?

Add in all those other games they couldn't be bothered to show up in, all those games they were shutout in, the Nashville game where Price made 53 saves on 55 shots and still lost 2-0 while Pekka Rinne yawned, all those 1-goal games where they just couldn't be bothered to get even a dirty goal with 6 (and accidentally 7 once) players on the ice. Those game they couldn't be bothered to inspire a win even with their goalie making over 40 saves hurt now. Those full two points they pissed away in two final minutes while in Buffalo really sting now eh?

All those pucks kicked into their own net. All those inability to hit open or empty nets. All those missed opportunities on AHL goalies and AHL defencemen...

They all accumulate here.

Word on the wire is Jaro will be in nets. Does it matter? Not really. But Habs fans seem to think of 2007 when Huet was put in instead of Jaro even though Huet just returned from NOT playing for months from an injury and Price is perfectly healthy and able. Stats nerds be damned. Game 7 vs the Bruins in the 2008 playoffs, Price had his 2nd playoff shutout. The city was set on fire. Tonight, this will be Jaro's Game 7. Please Ole proudly in the street and DON'T SET SHIT ON FIRE!

There's also word that Sergei might be a scratch. We still have no idea what he did in Carolina to warrant a game long benching and frankly he better have the fucking flu or else Jacques Martin is a fucking moron. That third line has been our best line when he's on it.

Komisarek is still out for the Leafs so no 5-minor penalties from him. No idea on the rest of that motley crew. Hopefully Phil Kessel is out with a season-ending hangnail. (I hate that chipmunk). Ron Wilson was already seen popping champagne when the final siren rang in Raleigh.

The Rags beat the Flyers in regulation last night. The Bruins beat the Sabres.

It's destiny in your own hands, Habs. No looking like a squirrel frozen while crossing the road as the truck barrels down on him. No dicking around on the powerplay with pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, lose the blueline, pass. Giguere isn't god's gift to goaltending and neither is the Munster, go make their life miserable. No flailing around defensively. And for the love of Jean Beliveau, CLEAR JARO'S REBOUNDS! Hey Bergeron, you were hired to rocketblast the puck into the net even if it means killing a few goalies with that shot, DO NOT DO ANY BOARD WORK! Cammy, you're due for another hattrick, you've waited long enough. Gio, keep doing what you're doing but take Gomez with you. Pouliot, manapult more before we callup Pacioretty to do it instead. Moen, punch Colton Orr in the face. Or Dion Phaneuf. (Unless Pleky gets to him first). Andrei, show us big Belarusian power. Rhino, exterminate all Leafs who cross the blue line. HMCS Hal Gill, may you save us on the powerplay with your long reach and lying down skills. Markov...just don't get injured.

It has come to this. Shove that smirk down Jack Todd throat. Wipe that nervous side-smile off Brian Wilde's face. Make Pat Hickey eat his words. Francois Gagnon can go cover the Lightning if he misses his Chez Nous boys so much.

It's a gorgeous day. Such a gorgeous day would end better with a wicked win against the hated Leafs.

GO HABS GO!

Habs 2, Whalercanes 5: In which I expect every one of you to eat those hats (except the goalies)

I'm tired. I don't even want to comment on this game. All I'll say is BARFJOB and you'll need some BARF DETERGENT to clean it. So start cleaning.

Habs 3, Islanders 4 (SO): SOS Guy Boucher

Well, usually you don't win hockey games when you only manage 5 shots against the Islanders in the first period.

The game was rather flatlined until Biron gave up a weak one to Pleky and I had no idea they scored. Gio showed us that even though he's shorter than Luc Gelinas, 3 guys can't stop him from crashing the rebound on the PP. And Lapierre? That was Lapierre?!

But the Islanders struck fast in their own way. If it were Price, you'd be hearing calls about doing drugs and smoking dope and a weaksauce glove hand. But it's Jaro, so everyone is cool with it.

My hamster was more entertaining. I was cuddling him and he was trying to eat the buttons off my new shirt. Whenever he encounters something new he tries to eat it. I was eating garlic parmesan crackers with humus and must have transfered the food smell to his hut when I was fixing it. He immediately tried eating the hut, which is kind of hard to do considering it's porcelain. And nothing is cuter than watching him nibble cheese. He loooooves cheese! (Added some cod oil for vitamins since he wasn't interested in the crackers with cod oil).

And I've said this before but I'll say it again: I DO NOT ENJOY GOING TO A SHOOTOUT WITH THE ISLANDERS! Their young forwards are too crafty. Usually you just hope they miss. Not tonight. Jaro wasn't at his best. Also if you think the Whalercanes will happily roll over and die, then excuse me while I laugh. It depends on what mood they're in, and frankly they just destroyed the Lightning. Don't get me started about the last game of the year against the Leafs (MARKOV BETTER NOT PLAY).

It would also help if Hamr would stop being a PYLON.

The Habs could have clinched tonight. If they really wanted to, it really didn't show...

Smashing records

As the Bulldogs sit pretty on the top of their Division and casually destroyed last year's leader the Manitoba Moose today 6-2 (is that what happens when you lose Jason Krog?) they're also casually smashing records.

By smashing the Moose, they now have 112 points which smashes the franchise record for most points earned in a season. David Desharnais' 3-point game (goal and two assists) broke the record last set by Jason Chimera for points by a Bulldogs player in a single season with 78 points. The win had Cedrick tie the most wins by a goalie record at 28 (tied with Yann Danis). Yannick Weber's 2 goals now gives him 23 for a career, which ties him with Andrei Benoit for the franchise record of all-time goals by a Bulldogs defenceman.

Oh and HUNTER BISHOP scored. Glorious day!

Here's another kicker: The Bulldogs have now tied the franchise record for fewest regulation losses in a season as they have only suffered defeat 16 times (they have 3 games left to play this season so they either smashed it or will tie it). No idea how many shootout/OT losses they have but I don't think it's that much. The shootout is different in the AHL.

Can you imagine what Guy Boucher could do with the Habs? With Price and Jaro in nets. With the lineup we have. The name of the game is "attack attack attack". None of this score one and stand around til the end. Sure the Bulldogs have their own brainfarts, but less so than the Habs do. Also if you notice the pattern, the majority of their goals are built on speed, effort, crashing the net, and being aware to find space behind defenders. They got the D pitching in in a major way as well, and not just firing blanks from the blue line. On Weber's 2nd goal tonight, he looked like a right-winger flying down the side and rifled it over the shoulder of the netminder. It was a 3-on-2 as well.

For one, if Boucher coached the Habs, it wouldn't have taken nearly 70 games to figure out how to win...

Habs 3, Sabres 0: Full circle

FINALLY!

If last night abhorrent display of hockey was any indication for tonight's game, well, that's why we keep watching right? Where they failed to protect their goalie, where they failed to apply pressure, where they failed to give the opposing goalie anything difficult, tonight they succeded.

Perhaps it was because the Habs have problems when the other team plays like crap. When their system is broken, they can't handle it. Are they that structured that in order to properly take on a team, that team itself needs to be good and structured itself?

And contrary to their previous ventures, Jaro didn't have to steal anything. I think the D made more saves than he did. AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SEE!

Hockey is a team game. And when you play solid as a team you get results. There was no epic meltdown in the final seconds tonight (as annoying as it is to see that happen but to see them fix their mistake makes it all good).

I'm finishing up fast 'cause I got new Doctor Who to watch OMG~!
- Back-to-back shutouts for Jaro.
- The Third Line was the star of the show. Sergei was back and his return really solidifies Moore and Moen.
- Rhino scored into the PROPER net for once! (Although the puck had gone out of play and no one noticed except Moore, but he did try to tell them!)
- Of course Rhino nearly fell into his own net and nearly scored on himself just before.
- Sergei reminded us what a 3rd period goal looked like.
- Pyatt gave us a prime example of pure Bulldogs hockey and made Tyler Myers look silly. (Yea he'll probably win the Calder, but eh...so did Samsonov).
- Lindy Ruff got upset and sent out the goons near the end. See you in the playoffs, douche.
- And when stuff got rough, everyone had each other's back. Though Lappy really shouldn't fight, but he couldn't get in a good position and had no choice but to defend himself on the guy swinging at his head.
- Our PK is good, our PP however has died a horrible death. At least they're scoring 5-on-5 now.

Habs started this season's series with Price stealing a win for them. Habs ended this season's series by dominating the Division Leader with a very convincing win.

Full circle.

Who's the failiest of them all?

Oh look, photo evidence of the Flyer's defence being troglodytes.

Seriously?

Are you fucking kidding me?

That game was a game to see who could out fail the other, and frankly they tied.

If that were anyone but the slumping grumpy Flyers, it would have been ugly. And I see why the Flyers have problems... They appear to spend more time waving their sticks in the air or looking to bowl/punch someone over actually playing hockey, and when they do, it ends in failure.

Kind of like sending Arron Asham cherry picking for breakaways. That's the equivalent of sending Mathieu Darche out in the shootout.

I didn't even know Mike Richards was playing until the mid-3rd. Must be the gold medal weighing him down.

As for the Habs, they're not fooling anyone if they think they can continue to get away with this. Even Toronto would have out-scored them tonight.

And for the love of god keep Bergeron and Hamr away from each other. At least Hamr didn't put the puck in his own net this time.