Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff
I know practically, if not everyone in New England was watching the Red Sox sweep the Yankees this weekend; but as a true hockey fan I was glued to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Here are some exerpts from the column I wrote in Sunday's Sun:
While the rest of New England was waiting to see if the Red Sox could come back from a four-run deficit in the eighth inning (which they did), I was watching Ryan Miller, the Buffalo Sabres netminder, stand on his head as the New York Islanders were throwing anything and everything at the net; desperately trying to keep themselves from being eliminated from the playoffs in game five (which they didn’t).
To this hockey fan, there is simply nothing better than the Stanley Cup playoffs, even without my favorite team (hint, they wear a spoked B on their jersey front).
And so far I have not been disappointed.
The hits are fiercer, the speed and tempo are at a max and suddenly goalies turn themselves into brick walls and are all over the nightly highlight reels.
I would rather watch hockey every night of the week and twice on Sunday than watch a pitcher stare at his catcher waiting for the right sign before delivering the actual pitch nearly two minutes later.
I would rather sit through two 20-minute intermissions watching highlights of the games than having stoppage in play after every pitch and a commercial break after every three outs.
I want the speed. I want the hits. I want the saves and I want the goals.
I know I’m greedy, but what other sport gives you all of that and then some?
Finally, you know you’re a hockey fan when you only consider two seasons throughout the year — hockey season and three months of bad skating.
Here are two of the emails I received in response to my column:
Hi Gayle,
Loved your article on hockey yesterday. Like you, I also love hockey, no matter who's playing. Especially during playoffs. Around here I am hardly satisfied with the attention/coverage given it. You're lucky if you get the scores, never mind any highlights or conversation about it.
I like it when the Sun gives the box scores, the easiest way to follow what's going on. I don't have cable or direct TV, so I sure am thankful for weekend games on channel 7.
I used to follow baseball, until big business sucked the fun out of it. Unlike you, that was always my favorite. Hockey was second. Basketball is boring to me. Football I like, but that doesn't conflict with playoff hockey.
My picks are Buffalo, with Ottawa the other major contender.
In the west I like Detroit. Like Edmonton last year, I thought Vancouver would be the sleeper in the west this year. But the Sedin guys so far aren't doing that voodoo that they do so well.
Keep up the good work!
Mark, Lowell
Hi Gayle,
My name is Al and I am a Dracut resident and I am thrilled when I can find some one else who agrees that there is no better sport to witness than PLAYOFF HOCKEY!!!!! The hits, the goals, the saves and yes the fights as well, there is nothing more exciting in sports.
Like you I like Buffalo in the East but think that the Senators should be watched closely. In the West I like the Sharks but think the Redwings are going to be tough to beat.
Anyway, just wanted to say I loved the article in Sunday's Sun.
So, Sports Talk readers, do you agree with me, Mark and Al? And for the record, yes I did see the four-straight home runs Manny, Drew, Lowell and Varitek hit - only because I was having dinner with my parents. As soon as I got home, I put on the deciding game between the Red Wings and Calgary. While most of you will be watching the Sox host Toronto tonight, I'll be watching the first Game 7 (Dallas/Vancouver) of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
I also enjoy the Stanley Cup playoffs although I enjoyed the old Division system better than the conference system. Who can forget the battles in the old Adams division with the Bruins and Montreal, Buffalo, and even Hartford?
I think you'll see the Red Wings and the Canucks move on to the next round with the Canucks winning the West title. Luongo is playing so well and goaltending is the #1 key to winning in the playoffs. The Sedins and the rest of the offense will get in gear now that Dallas is out of the way. The Red Wings are dangerous and could certainly go all the way. I don't think the Sharks can solve Hasek...
In the East the Sabres should get by the Rangers easily. The Ottawa/NJ series will be a war that will probably go 7 games. I'll pick NJ just because of Brodeur but if Emery outplays him for a whole series as Holmquist of the Lightning did for a game or two, Ottawa has the firepower to beat them. I think whoever wins the Ottawa/NJ series will be much more prepared for the finals than the Sabres who by then will not really have played anyone and it will show- Sabres will lose the conference finals in 6 games.
Posted by dboisver | April 24, 2007 2:10 PM
Posted on April 24, 2007 14:10
Those Western Conference playoffs are amazing. Any one of those teams is capable of hoisting the Cup. And they're great to watch, though not instead of Yankees/Sox. Gayle, you have issues, my friend! LOL!
The sad part of the playoffs is realizing just how far away the Bruins are from that class right now.
Posted by Teddy Panos | April 24, 2007 2:20 PM
Posted on April 24, 2007 14:20
DB, I have to disagree with the Sharks, aka Bruins-West, not being able to solve Hasek. San Jose won the season series between the two clubs 3-1 and I think Nabby has done a solid job in net for them - JMO. I know the regular season is completely different than the post season; but I still think San Jose has what it takes to win that series.
I agree with what you say about the Devils and Ottawa. This is Emery's true test, can he out play Brodeur? We'll find out soon.. One thing is for sure, the Sens definitely have more offensive power than NJ, but the Devils have a much stronger defensive system and well a future Hall of Famer between the pipes.
I'm still picking Buffalo to win it all and I still have a sneaky suspicion the Sharks will come out of the West, but then again the last time the Rangers swept a series they also won the Cup...
Watching Dallas and Vancouver, what I thought has been the best series so far, was completely amazing - if you didn't see the game last night the score is definitely misleading. It was 2-1 with less than a minute left in regulation and the Canucks nailed two empty netters. Both Turco and Luongo played a phenomenal series and both should be congratulated by their teammates.
Teddy, I might have issues and you know what I'm not too proud to admit it, but as I've always said I am a hockey fan first.
Posted by Gayle | April 24, 2007 2:50 PM
Posted on April 24, 2007 14:50
Gayle-
Can't argue with any of your logic. I do think that Hasek raises his game in the playoffs to a level few have ever approached. No slight to Nabokov but he's not in that same echelon of guys like Hasek, Brodeur, Roy, etc. are in. The Sharks certainly have some offensive punch but I think you have to go with the experience in this case although it should be a very good series as should the Ducks/Canucks (would Vegas take a bet on one of the teams in the West finals ending in "ucks"???)
Emery is supposedly secure in his #1 status now according to something I read online yesterday- maybe that will raise his level of play a bit more? If it comes down to scores such as the Dallas/Vancouver series I think it's a slam dunk that the Devils and Brodeur will beat them but if Ottawa's offense can get on a roll I think they'll be tough to stop. Between Spezza, Alfredsson, Heatley, and even their defensemen such as Redden and Corvo they've got a lot of horses.
I also agree that both Turco and Luongo should get tremendous kudos. Turco took a lot of the heat for the previous losses in the playoffs- he certainly shouldn't take any from this past series. In a few of those games Luongo saw more rubber than a used tire salesman.
Posted by dboisver | April 25, 2007 11:10 AM
Posted on April 25, 2007 11:10
DB -
You make valid points about Hasek but I was thinking about a few more things that will help the Sharks win the series - youth and physical play.
Detroit does not like a fast-paced, hard hitting type of game and that's exactly the game San Jose skates and the Sharks also have a lot of youth in their line-up compared to the Wings and yes I know usually experience wins out in these type of situations, but I don't see that happening in this series.
I read the same piece on Emery on NHL.com yesterday - like I said a long time ago, I check NHL.com and TSN-Canada about 50 times a day; anyway - Emery is definitely the Sens #1 goalie at this point and I don't see that changing; but I still think when Brodeur is on his game and NJ has the chance to play their "system" they are tough to beat.
I honestly think the four series that are set right now are all going to be great...
If Vegas will take your bet; let me know ... thanks
Posted by Gayle | April 25, 2007 11:44 AM
Posted on April 25, 2007 11:44