Random Thoughts On The Stanley Cup Conference Quarterfinals: Day Seven

by Mike

Detroit: 3; Phoenix: 0
Series tied 2-2
Alright, I've gotta vent here...

Here's the typical Red Wings fan after Game 3:
The team sucks, they're lethargic, Todd Bertuzzi's too lazy, and Jimmy Howard's a terrible goaltender.

Here's the typical Red Wings fan after Game 4:
The team's great, they're energetic, Todd Bertuzzi's a power play force and Jimmy Howard's a Calder Trophy contender.

In other words... RELAX DETROIT! The Red Wings still got it!

But to Phoenix fans who have their head up their blindside with the "pack mentality" mantra; don't ever discredit the importance of a single player. Shane Doan set the tone for that team and while the Coyotes rallied around his absence in Game 3, they sorely missed his leadership in a tight, defensive contest in Game 4. Detroit attacked and attacked early and in the end, they were rewarded for their efforts.

My prediction? If Doan's back for Game 5, the Coyotes will likely win (and the series will go to seven games). If Doan's out, it's going to take some Dave Tippett wizardy, not mastery, to propel that team over Mike Baccock's hair alone, let alone the Red Wings.

Pittsburgh: 7; Ottawa: 4
Pittsburgh leads the series 3-1
Well, Pittsburgh continues to punish Ottawa on the score board so Ottawa tries to punish Pittsburgh with some bush-league antics that make fighting in hockey look like a bad thing...

Too bad they were more dumb than effective. If anything, it's just going to make the Penguins that much more amped for Game 5, where they should dispatch the Senators on home ice.

Philadelphia: 4; New Jersey: 1
Philadelphia leads the series 3-1
Wow, I didn't figure the Flyers to be doing so well, but suddenly Brian Boucher looks very confident in net and the Flyers have found their scoring touch. Meanwhile, the Devils can't seem to find production from anyone other than Ilya Kovalchuk and the Devils are, once again, giving themselves an offensive chokehold that's forbidding them to get past the first round. They could win Game 5, but could they win Game 6? Suddenly I'm not so optimistic for the Devils.

Nashville: 4; Chicago: 1
Nashville leads the series 2-1
You know what's more exciting than playoff fights? PLAYOFF PENALTY SHOTS!!!

Give Nashville every single bit of credit; they've played very hard and very well against a Chicago team that, on paper, should be absolutely dominating the series. I don't think the goaltending would be a problem for Chicago if they could keep it under 30 shots. This time they didn't and Nashville displayed an evening of offensive prowess.

Can Chicago regroup, or will they go back to Chicago trailing by three games? They'll have to keep it simpler if they don't want that to happen.

San Jose: 2; Colorado: 1; OT
Series is tied 2-2

I thought when you played in your home building, you got home ice advantage? This wasn't the case for the Colorado Avalanche tonight. Why do I say this? San Jose calls a timeout with 9:58 left in the first overtime period because they iced the puck and were being aggressively forechecked by the Avalanche. Instead of trying to help the home team out, the ice crew actually comes out and cleans the ice during the timeout, giving the iced San Jose players even more time to rest. Then they send a very attractive female crew member to clean up Craig Anderson's crease. In case you didn't know, Anderson's got a weakeness for the ladies and before you know it, Joe Pavelski sends everyone in Colorado home with a great goal. In fairness though, Evgeni Nabokov came through with some clutch goaltending that prevented the series from going to 3-1 in Colorado's favor. San Jose's heading back home and will have an excellent opportunity to put the series in a beargrip... unless that pesky Anderson continues to stand on his head while juggling sinks; then the Avs still have a chance!