Clean Sweep

(borrowed without permission from The Pensblog)

Avery the Clown

Sean Avery is the so-called 'bad boy' of the NHL.

I'd rather call him an immature, selfish little brat.

We all know what he did against Marty Brodeur in game 3 the other day. Most people thought it was hilarious, creative...blah blah whatever.

I thought it was further proof that he is better suited for kindergarten than the NHL playoffs.

Then, to top things off, he decided to show the media his middle finger during practice yesterday after he noticed that cameras were trained on him.

Good job Avery, you showed the world which is the 'bad' finger.

So many people say that they would love to have Avery on their team, but I wouldn't touch him with a 10 foot pole. He thinks only of himself and I am not convinced that he would make your team better. His act is wearing thin and, before too long, he will be looking for a new career (though I don't know who would hire him).

What is wrong with the Senators?

As I've said before, I am a Pittsburgh fan first, Montreal second, and then comes the rest of the Canadian teams (including Ottawa, who I cheered for last year after they sent the Penguins packing...there was a period of mourning, of course), so I say this with a certain amount of respect.

One year ago when the Sens were in the playoffs, they deserved to play for the Cup. They outplayed every single team in the Eastern Conference, but then turtled in the Cup Finals. I thought they learned their lesson, and it certainly looked like they had in October/November when they went on that 15-2 run. The rest of the season was crap, but I thought that they would be harder to play in the playoffs.

I never expected that the Penguins would be in a position to sweep the Senators, yet here we are, hours before the start of game 4, with the Pens leading 3-0. Granted, the Sens have showed sparks of great play in the previous 3 games, including that 3-goal performance in game 2 that allowed them to tie the game, but they don't have the drive and the will to win. Gerber is playing his heart out and is giving his team the chance to win, but the rest of the crew has been invisible.

The most telling sign was game 3. The Senators played very well for most of the game and the score was tied after the second period. However, after the Pens scored 2 early in the third and Hossa added the fourth goal, the Sens just rolled over. I could not believe my eyes - they lost intensity, and they played as though they just wanted to get off the ice. They allowed the Penguins to control the puck and to waste time. If any team in the NHL could erase a 3-goal deficit in 10 minutes, it is (was) the Senators, but they didn't try.

This is a team that has lost its identity, its self-esteem, it's will. Where were the leaders on Monday night when the Pens took the lead? Where were Alfredsson, Spezza, Heatley? They could have and should have motivated their teammates, but everyone was invisible. If a team can just roll over after allowing a few goals, how are they supposed to try to win four games to move on to round 2? Murray is reuniting the Alfredsson-Spezza-Heatley line, but that is too little, too late.

Let's hope Spezza and Heatley decide to show up and play well for Team Canada next month, because that's the only hockey they'll be playing in May.

This is a home game in Boston??

I'm watching the Montreal-Boston game on CBC and the only thing that indicates that the game is being played in Boston is the fact that the Bruins are wearing their black jerseys, and the Habs are in their whites.

I guess that's what happens when the Sox are playing the Yankees.

Head coach Claude Julien said that his team might be in trouble because of that baseball game. You usually think that when you return home, the crowd will be crazy in your favour. Tonight, it's 50-50.

They say that the lineups at the border this morning were an hour long. I do believe half of Quebec traveled to Boston this afternoon.

Every time Chara touches the puck, he is booed. The fans try to get on Thomas by screaming, "Tommmyyyyyyyyy, Tommmmmmyyyyyy". When the Habs nail the Bruins, a deafening cheer goes up. If the Habs score a goal, the only thing missing from the screaming and waving towels is the horn. Oh, and there's the 'Ole Ole Ole!" song, which I happen to love.

I truly believe that no fanbase has the lungs of the fans of the Montreal Canadiens. It is always a party in those stands, and every single one of them must return home with a case of laryngitis. And now the fans have taken the party on the road.

Good times. Go Habs.

Three Cheers for Ottawa!!

My very first YouTube video. I suck at anything using a computer, but I wanted to upload this song. Just substitute the "Maple Leafs" for "Penguins" :)

Go Pens!!

(weird, I know, since I usually like the Senators and would cheer for them if they weren't playing the Pens or Habs...but it's the playoffs and as long as the Pens are still in it, everyone else is 'the enemy')

WWGRD?

Charlie's making his rounds

Ottawa = Owned

"And that is how we beat the Senators into submission"

Pens win. Fleury gets the shutout. Roberts the hockey god scores 2 goals, meaning 14 of his 32 playoff goals (ALMOST HALF!) are against the Senators.

Here's this for another stat: In 11 playoff seasons, they have been SHUTOUT FIVE TIMES in the series opener. How sickening is THAT?

Eugene Melnyk = stunned. Roberts was the only player he had ever wanted to get.

One down, fifteen to go.

GO PENS

The Stars and Stripes are keeping it young

Yesterday, it was Team Canada releasing their partial roster for the WC. Today, it was Team USA's turn.

The list has 17 players, with an average of only 23.9 years. That being said, nine of these players have previous WC experience.

Forwards:
Pat Kane (CHI)
Peter Mueller (PHO)
David Backes (STL)
Lee Stempniak (STL)
Dustin Brown (LAK)
Patrick O'Sullivan (LAK)
Jeff Halpern (TBL)
Drew Stafford (BUF)
Dustin Byfuglien (CHI)
Jason Pominville (BUF)
Paul Gaustad (BUF)
David Booth (BUF)

Defencemen:
Tom Gilbert (EDM)
Keith Ballard (PHO)
Matt Greene (EDM)
James Wisniewski (CHI)

Goalie:
Craig Anderson (FLA)

The one thing that made me look twice at the roster was the addition of Jason Pominville, who's from Repentigny, Quebec. I didn't know he was a dual citizen...

The Americans will play a pre-tournament game in Portland, ME on April 27th before heading to Halifax and playing the Latvians on May 2nd.

Team Canada starts to shape up

Who will get to wear the jersey for Canada this May???

GM Steve Yzerman announced the first round of Canucks that will represent the Maple Leafs at the World Championships in Halifax and Quebec City. A number of them are no strangers to Team Canada's roster, as 8 have played in the WC.

The players so far include...

Forwards:
Rick Nash (CBJ)
Shane Doan (PHO)
Jamal Mayers (STL)
Jason Chimera (CBJ)
Derek Roy (BUF)
Patrick Sharp (CHI)
Marty St. Louis (TBL)
Eric Staal (CAR)
Jonathan Toews (CHI)
Ray Whitney (CAR)

Defencemen:
Jay Bouwmeester (FLA)
Duncan Keith (CHI)
Steve Staios (EDM)

Goalies:
Cam Ward (CAR)
Pascal Leclaire (CBJ)

The next round of players will be announced after the conclusion of the Quarterfinals.

Canada opens the WC against Slovenia in Halifax on May 2nd.
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Watch Rick Nash own Kari Lehtonen in last year's gold medal game...