Survivor Playoffs 2010 Double Header: The Vancouver Canucks and the Pittsburgh Penguins

I didn't mean to group these two together but I may as well. Where the Habs powered their way through a seven-game series with hard work, skill, and heart, all while having fun, I can't say the same for the other two.

When Game 7 was over, Jaro, Gill, Gio, Cammy, everyone they spoke to said the same thing: "It's not about one person but about everyone doing their jobs and believing they can win." It was really something to see Cammy talk at the 2nd intermission, basically shrugging off the 4-on-3 they had to kill at the start of the third. Just kill the penalty and keep going.

Probably the quote of the 2nd round was when someone asked Lapierre what are the keys. He responeded that keys are small metal things that open doors. Ha!

You could say the Canucks were like the Anti-Habs (not Antti). The Blackhawks, while they waned on two occasions, played with reckless abandon and had a swagger that didn't care how weak their options in net were because they believed they could disrupt Luongo, the Sedins, get Burrows to take bad penalties, and attack an already devestated blueline to win. What the Canucks failed to do enough of was play as a team and a coach that failed to adapt. You could make a movie on Joel Quenneville's epic time outs. And when it came down to staying alive, in front of their home crowd once more, ironically the only player that appeared to have balls was the one who just lost one.

Effort, and commitment. Canucks were way too individual and their effort not very consistent enough to win when it mattered for them. A glaring example was the effort to stop that shorthanded goal... Maybe they should have hypnotized Demitra that he was playing in the Olympics for Team Slovakia and there was a good chance they would get a medal?

As for the Pens, it's rare to find something on Puck Daddy that actually makes sense. But Orpik basically called it like it was:

"A lot's going to be put on us like it has been all series," Pittsburgh defenseman Brooks Orpik said. "I mean, they've beaten Washington and now they've beaten us. I think it's time to give this team some credit for what they've done rather than picking apart why we didn't do what we were supposed to do."

While my confidence in the Habs made me believe they would win the game 5-3 and give us free wings, my inner prediction wasn't far off. However even I couldn't believe how shellshocked the Pens looked in a Game 7 that not only meant the possiblility of going on to the next round and to a much wanted second consecutive Cup and third consecutive finals appearance, but defending one's barn in what would be it's farewell game in a loss. I think the only comparable I could make would be if the Habs came out during the Centennial game and let out a big, nasty fart.

I'm sure the Pens can find a way to fix their problems exposed from this series (ie. need scoring wingers, and shut down D), I don't have much confidence in the Canucks to do the same. Perhaps there is wisdom in doing contract talks once the season is over after all?

And now for an exploding penguin.

I don't say this lightly...

...But be ashamed.

Ashamed that after Gainey said he believes this team is the team he wants and didn't trade any of you droogs that you come out and play like this on the perverbial 4-pointer.

Ashamed that there's a young guy in nets trying his hardest to give you a game but you other guys forget to show up or only play 15 minutes in the first period and then go on day dreaming for the rest.

Ashamed that you can't clear the puck out of your zone. And once you do and get it into the offensive zone, you need to dump it and go off on a change. Hey, looks like the playoffs from last season! Oh right, they blamed it on Price too.

Ashamed that you're second on the puck every time, can't win a board battle, can't win a faceoff, can't hussle, can't skate.

Ashamed that Lindy Ruff is a better coach than you right now, Carbo.

Anyone see the defense corp? All I saw were a few guys running around lightly giving the puck to Sabres players for perfect shots, or blocking shots and then forgetting about them not realizing that instead of letting Price take it and freeze it you've deflected it onto a Sabres players' stick who's wide open.

Yes it's always a perfect idea to throw the puck up the middle while Spacek is barreling forward full steam ahead and makes supposed defensemen look like pylons. Doing that is the equivalent of giving the puck away to Kovy with a wide open net.

The little guy's horseshoes may have worked for a few games, but Halak isn't going to stop 50 shots a night, especially when he's usually flat on his back and Buffalo players shoot high so don't give me that crap about the game would have been won if he were there. Price can't because he just gets more depressed as the night goes on. (Shots are usually less with him because of the rebound control). He even took a shot in the neck for you, and you did nothing to say thank you while he went back into nets, a face red with pain. (The wonders of HD).

Oh I think I saw Kovalev. He hit someone off the puck and then...no one else joined in to get the puck.

I saw Gorges pin a guy to the wall and free up the puck...and then everyone stood around and thought about doing something.

I saw Koivu wrap around and shoot at the net...and then somehow it bounced off D'Agostini.

I saw Higgins attempt a wrap around again but miss completely. Though that one doesn't actually surprise me.

I saw a terrible powerplay where Markov seems to suddenly insist on shooting now, yet always shoots ten feet too high. Schneider is there, right on the other side. Give it to him please.

Anyone see Andrei Kostitsyn lately? No? Ya, me neither.

I still thank heavens for Max Pacioretty.

One goal. Pleky scored too little too late.

No, this is not Price's fault.

This is all on you who make Lalime look like he's Martin Brodeur.

Maybe Bob should have traded half of you for something... I'd have even taken draft picks. Congratulations, but Bob's vote of confidence just went out the window.

About the only thing I enjoyed tonight was I got to sit on my lovely new sofa. So comfy...

Trade deadline: Ya whatever. Bunch of broken or bad goalies got switched around. Bunch of underachievers moved. Nothing really special from my point of view. I think the picks were the best moves of the day, while Calgary is still 95% power forwards. (The other 5% are the goalies and maybe one defenseman).

Or maybe there is one thing. The Flyers got that idiot from the Coyotes. Joy...