Round 3 Game 1: An orange slap across the face

I wonder if this is how Muller and Martin sit down to decide on the lineup. Make the argument about sticking in Ryan "Rhino" O'Byrne so that we might have a big, hitting defenceman who could maybe toss guys out of our crease without having to worry about 50 stitches in his leg, or the merits of a gritty Sergei Kostitsyn who just wants to be believed in and not benched when he makes one little mistake only to watch Pouliot continue to coast and Bergeron continue to fail.

I could probably say the same argument about a goalie that is, like Leighton, 6'3" and can see around some of the net crashing bodies, but I digress. It doesn't matter anyway since no one scored, but hey people have blamed him for games they were shutout in. It would help if the players in front would not be pylons. And if Gomez would not take stupid penalties.

But seriously guys? You got outskated by a dude with a BROKEN FOOT!

If Adrian Monk were involed in this game, he'd use up a whole box of hand sanitizer wipes.

Round 3 Game 2: When Alex Henry scores, the world gets confused.
Actually Henry is a guy the Habs could use. Big, mean, eager to punch you. Bulldogs take a 2-0 series lead over the Stars, beating them 3-1 this afternoon. Trotter had two assists. Russell scored on the powerplay! And Glumac finished it off. Also the Bulldogs didn't allow a powerplay goal and covered Jamie Benn so well that some ex-Flames dude had to flip the puck off Sanford to score.

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.