Written by: Melissa Harder
Game 5 – April 22
Current Mood: Disappointed and sad
Current Song: Nothing. This one I had to write in
silence.
I woke up at 9 am yesterday and realized that
playoff hockey was already on. It is totally weird to watch hockey in your
pyjamas (and yet I am happy to watch NFL football in my pjs. But playoff hockey
so early in the morning? It seems just bizarre). I turned on the TV and saw
that the Pittsburgh Penguins were going to fail in their quest to become the 4th
team to come back from a 3-0 deficit. We all knew it would be hard to do but
even more difficult for two teams to do it in the same playoff year. What did
the Penguins loss mean for the Canucks? Good omen or bad?
It started out well. Vancouver was able to fight off
two early penalties in the first period and hometown fans were treated to a
little “Sedinery” with the twins pairing up for a beautiful power play goal.
Cory Schneider stood tall on a last second breakaway save right at the end of
the first that made everyone, including me, hold our collective breath. Both
goalies played well in the second and kept the game at 1-0. (A small note:
Slava Voinoff sounds like “Slababoinoff” and every time Kirk and I heard it
during the game we giggled like children. It helped to ease a very tense third
period. I don’t know why we thought it was funny. We just did.) But then
Richardson scored on a power play goal where no one picked him up in front of
the net and suddenly the game was tied and the Canucks were facing and early
exit in overtime. It’s hard to describe the feeling you get when you face
series ending OT as a fan (I know, I know, imagine how the players feel! But
still. It feels more stressful to watch OT than play it, I’m convinced.) I
remember how it felt to watch the Canucks-Blackhawks in Game 7 last year and
the elation when Alex Burrows scored. This time the outcome was very different.
The Vancouver Canucks, President’s Trophy winners,
and the team that went all the way to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals last
year is out of the playoffs and I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that
this isn’t something anyone expected. I suspect it doesn’t matter to the
players whether you make it to the end and lose or lose early – this loss
probably hits them the same way. And while the players will be out golfing far
sooner than expected, the Canuck front office has some soul searching to do and
some big decisions to make this offseason.
Vancouver was the third President's Trophy winner
in four years to be knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.
"We had expectations and hopes to go far in
this playoff," Schneider said. "It seems like around the league,
parity is running wild. Look at Pittsburgh, ourselves, Detroit, San Jose. New
York's facing elimination, Boston held it off today. We can't take anything for
granted. Anyone is capable of winning in this league." (from si.com)
Canuck fans are left wondering what might have
been. What if Daniel Sedin had scored on that breakaway late in the second?
Would a two-goal lead have been safe? What if that wraparound shot attempt
early in the OT period bounced off someone, anyone
and went in? What if Dan Hamhuis didn’t lose an edge and have his pocket picked
by Jarret Stoll who scored at 4:27 of overtime for a 2-1 Los Angeles series
clinching win? What if Vancouver had held onto their home ice advantage instead
of losing three times at Rogers Arena?
But what ifs aren’t going to cut it. The fact is
the Canucks didn’t deserve to win the series but they put up a good fight, especially
in the last two games. When your back is against the wall, you find out who you
can count on, and who will bring their best and who shrinks from the limelight.
And in the end, I’m proud of what the team accomplished this year and say what
every fan says when a season ends in disappointment: There’s always next year.
Edmonton Oilers lock up Jordan Eberle with 6-year deal
Written by: Matthew Blunk
The Philadelphia Flyers aren't the only NHL team keeping busy this summer.
One week after locking up left wing Taylor Hall with a seven-year contract, the Edmonton Oilers signed forward Jordan Eberle to a six-year, $36 million extension. The newly "man-strong" Eberle posted 34 goals and 76 points in 78 during the 2011-12 season, in a breakout campaign for the 22-year-old right wing.
Flyers sign Scott Hartnell, Wayne Simmonds to extensions
Written by: Matthew Blunk
Amidst the uncertainty of this NHL offseason, with murmurs of a potential lockout to come, the Philadelphia Flyers have signed two more players to long-term deals.
Philadelphia signed forward Wayne Simmonds to a 6-year, near $24 million extension on Aug. 16. On Monday, the Flyers agreed to extend forward Scott Hartnell with a 6-year, $28.5 million deal. …
Top 50 NHL players of the 2012 season
Written by: Matthew Blunk
1) Evgeni Malkin, C - Pittsburgh Penguins
2) Sidney Crosby, C - Pittsburgh Penguins
3) Claude Giroux, C - Philadelphia Flyers
4) Steven Stamkos, F - Tampa Bay Lightning
5) Jonathan Quick, G - Los Angeles Kings
6) Alexander Ovechkin, F - Washington Capitals
7) Henrik Lundqvist, G - New York Rangers
