Make-up Days
It feels like the Board of Education has been controlling the out come of these Stanley Cup Finals games. Why? Well, during the year when schools have snow days, additional days are added to the end of the school year to make up for missed time. Now all hockey fans located in the Snow Belt know what I'm talking about and everyone else must be just shaking their head in confusion.
After a reduction in regular season games, we've been blessed with 3 out of the first 4 games in the Final going into overtime. I bet there are a lot of frustrated teachers out there that can't wait for the school year to end, as they have to deal with a lot of tired and grumpy little hockey fans coming into school the next day after staying up watching these two great teams compete well into the early morning.
Show the man some Glove
There has been a lot of speculation about whether Chicago would start Ray Emery instead of Corey Crawford in Game 5 back in Chicago. My thoughts about all of this noise? HELL NO!!
I love Emery a.k.a. Razor as a goaltender. He competes everyday and has shown a tremendous amount of character bouncing back from a potentially career ending injury. Not to mention, he never got enough credit for leading Ottawa to the Stanley Cup Final. Hey Ottawa, how did those other goalies work out for ya? Most of all, he's a damn good goalie who might be another team's number one next fall.
However, Crawford is the one who has gotten the 'Hawks to where they are so far. Yes, his glove looks water logged (heavy) and pucks are getting past his shoulder faster than NYC cabbies during rush hour, but he is not "losing" games for the 'Hawks and that's all you can ask for. Crawford does not need to be spectacular. He needs to be good and he has been so far, minus the sleepy glove. Someone just needs to remind him he is not Michael Jackson, that glove on his left hand is not just a fashion accessory.
Conn Smythe Watch
What more can I say about Tuukka Rask that hasn't already been said? The young Finnish goalie is the real deal between the pipes. I don't want to take anything away from what he has done so far in this year's playoffs, BUT I think if the Bruins win the Cup Patrice Bergeron will be right in the middle of the Conn Smythe discussion.
Chicago's big guns have had trouble generating any sort of attack because of Bergeron's dominance in the faceoff circle. Going into Game 4, Bergeron was winning 69.7% of his draws. Chicago's puck possession style can't score if they are not starting with the puck, which then leads to the 'Hawks spending more energy chasing the game trying to retrieve it. When Bergeron is not being a beast in the faceoff circle or the defensive end, he is lighting the lamp scoring big goals for the Bruins at various stages in these games. I know I'm being ridiculous now, but if you could award the Conn Smythe to a line, then Boston's line of Kelly/Paille/Seguin gets my vote hands down.
Hockeywood
There's nothing from Hockeywood this week, because Hollywood couldn't have written a better script than what we've witnessed so far during this Final!
I know we're going on two months now but remember, Sleep is for the Offseason!
