Now That That's Over, On To Game 7: Tonight's Bruins Win
-- Mason Raymond skating gingerly off the ice in the opening minute with a serious injury reminded me why hockey players are so cool. Most of them are unbelievable tough. It's part of the sport's culture. How long would Chris Bosh have been down with a similar injury? Bosh would require Medivac to helicopter in to the Garden to get his ass off the court/ice if he ever broke a bone.
-- Once the score was 4-0 early I got to thinking of similar playoff series in the history of sports and came up with 2. First, one that occurred before I was born: Yankees vs Pirates in the World Series in 1960. The Yankees won 3 times in blowouts, the Pirates won 4 and the series, all in squeakers, with Mazerowski's solo shot ending things at home. And secondly, the Twins win over St. Louis in another great World Series, played in 1987. The home team won all 7 games, with the Cardinals clearly the better team but losing Game Seven on the road in the deafening dome in Minny. Let's hope the Bruins, who have crushed the Canucks three times at home but need one more win, have better results away from home that the Cards and Yanks did.
-- The Bruins have been going high to the glove side of Luongo all series, and having a lot of success with it. Luongo is a big guy, and getting the glove up quick seems to be an awkward move for him. They'll keep going there Wednesday night.
-- That's assuming that Schneider doesn't get the start, which won't happen but would be pretty ballsy of Vigneault to do. Luongo is the best in the world when on, but when he's bad he's bad. Can they count on this guy in the biggest hockey game in many years? Schneider is clearly a huge talent: he plays "quiet", with little movement, letting the shooters decide then counting on his reflexes.
-- Marchand has a lot of Martin St. Louis in him, I think. He's not as thick at the Lightning's fine winger, but just as physical and quick. A really good player. I wonder what kind of career he'll have, playing that hitting style. I guess in hockey, unlike football, a little guy can survive if they play with enough intensity and have enough talent.
-- I get sad about halfway through these playoff games lately. Not because I'm not enjoying the contests, but because I know they'll be over soon. Wednesday night means the end of basketball and hockey season, and three long months of......baseball. Shit, I'm depressed. Football starts in September, and that's a long ways off right now.
-- If Burrows was any more of a pussy out there, he'd be wearing Spanx under his jersey. Christ, go play soccer, asshole. He ducks every time someone hits him. Be a man and keep your head up.
-- And where was LaPierre all night, save for the meaningless goal with a couple of minutes to play? He has a game winner, but was a no show tonight. Not cool, dude, to come up lame in the potential close out game.
-- Ted Williams famously said that hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports, but I've always disagreed. I think it's playing goaltender well. Any fat ass can stop a shot to the gut, but to play the position well requires both physical skill and mental abilities that I am in awe of. How does Thomas, and for much of the series, Luongo, do it? I've no idea. What a show.
--Thomas plays so high in the crease, I would think the Canucks would try to, instead of playing in front of him, send guys wide and try to get shots from the point and slot wide of the goal, to be directed out of Thomas' reach into the net. I know nothing about the strategy of hockey, but would think that just trying to bang slap shots through him is exactly the style he wants Vancouver to play. Try to move him, I would think.
-- Remember: Tonight was an even hockey game except for the four goal burst in the opening period. And the Canucks arena is going to be bonkers Wednesday night. The Canucks will be favorites. But the Bruins are already legends around here, no matter what. Might as well win the fucking thing.
-- Once the score was 4-0 early I got to thinking of similar playoff series in the history of sports and came up with 2. First, one that occurred before I was born: Yankees vs Pirates in the World Series in 1960. The Yankees won 3 times in blowouts, the Pirates won 4 and the series, all in squeakers, with Mazerowski's solo shot ending things at home. And secondly, the Twins win over St. Louis in another great World Series, played in 1987. The home team won all 7 games, with the Cardinals clearly the better team but losing Game Seven on the road in the deafening dome in Minny. Let's hope the Bruins, who have crushed the Canucks three times at home but need one more win, have better results away from home that the Cards and Yanks did.
-- The Bruins have been going high to the glove side of Luongo all series, and having a lot of success with it. Luongo is a big guy, and getting the glove up quick seems to be an awkward move for him. They'll keep going there Wednesday night.
-- That's assuming that Schneider doesn't get the start, which won't happen but would be pretty ballsy of Vigneault to do. Luongo is the best in the world when on, but when he's bad he's bad. Can they count on this guy in the biggest hockey game in many years? Schneider is clearly a huge talent: he plays "quiet", with little movement, letting the shooters decide then counting on his reflexes.
-- Marchand has a lot of Martin St. Louis in him, I think. He's not as thick at the Lightning's fine winger, but just as physical and quick. A really good player. I wonder what kind of career he'll have, playing that hitting style. I guess in hockey, unlike football, a little guy can survive if they play with enough intensity and have enough talent.
-- I get sad about halfway through these playoff games lately. Not because I'm not enjoying the contests, but because I know they'll be over soon. Wednesday night means the end of basketball and hockey season, and three long months of......baseball. Shit, I'm depressed. Football starts in September, and that's a long ways off right now.
-- If Burrows was any more of a pussy out there, he'd be wearing Spanx under his jersey. Christ, go play soccer, asshole. He ducks every time someone hits him. Be a man and keep your head up.
-- And where was LaPierre all night, save for the meaningless goal with a couple of minutes to play? He has a game winner, but was a no show tonight. Not cool, dude, to come up lame in the potential close out game.
-- Ted Williams famously said that hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports, but I've always disagreed. I think it's playing goaltender well. Any fat ass can stop a shot to the gut, but to play the position well requires both physical skill and mental abilities that I am in awe of. How does Thomas, and for much of the series, Luongo, do it? I've no idea. What a show.
--Thomas plays so high in the crease, I would think the Canucks would try to, instead of playing in front of him, send guys wide and try to get shots from the point and slot wide of the goal, to be directed out of Thomas' reach into the net. I know nothing about the strategy of hockey, but would think that just trying to bang slap shots through him is exactly the style he wants Vancouver to play. Try to move him, I would think.
-- Remember: Tonight was an even hockey game except for the four goal burst in the opening period. And the Canucks arena is going to be bonkers Wednesday night. The Canucks will be favorites. But the Bruins are already legends around here, no matter what. Might as well win the fucking thing.
posted by joe sweeney at 11:12 PM
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