2013: The NHL season that almost wasn't

It was about a 50-50 crowd. It's always like that with Chicago, Detroit, Boston, NY Rangers.
The Ducks' defense has been outstanding all season. If there was an All-Star Game and Francois Beauchemin wasn't in it, it would have been robbery. Sheldon Souray was a great offseason pickup. Huge slap shot. He plays the point on the power play and the Ducks were No. 1 in the league until the weekend, No. 2 now, I think. Luca Sbisa has been really good since he got benched a couple of weeks ago. Boudreau said he was playing average and he's better than that, so he sat him down for a couple of games to think about it. Bryan Allen and Toni Lydman have been OK. Cam Fowler up and down. The guy Lovejoy they just got has rotated in and out with Lydman.
The most notable thing about the Ducks has been their balanced scoring. Until recently when some of the stars starting asserting themselves and building up their points, they had something like 12 guys with between 5 and 8 goals.
Some of their lesser players, even guys who sucked last year like Cogliano and Winnik, have been good.
I'd say that Boudreau is a helluva coach.

 

I really want to see Gabby succeed in the playoffs, so the jury's still out there. I'm rooting for him though. Would love for him to shed that "regular-season coach" tag.

 

It's like that for Canuck games as well.

 

Fantastic game, though I'm disappointed to see the Blackhawks lose it. Amazing that they are on the start they are and in danger of losing the No. 1 seed.

 

What sort of chance would you give Anaheim against Chicago in a best-of-seven series if everyone is healthy?

 

Even if you consider the B'hawks have a slight -- emphasis on slight -- skating advantage, Ducks counter that in goal. Both Ducks goalies, Hiller and Fasth, are better than Crawford and Ducks-reject Emery.

 

Whoever had home ice would have a slight advantage.

 

Interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing Anaheim in a live game. I didn't think anyone in the west could stay with Chicago in a best-of-seven.

 

Hard to say from last night's game. Chicago was missing Hossa and Sharp, and I think Anaheim was missing a few guys too. But they looked like their size would give Chicago some problems.

Hate to say it as a Hawks fan, but I'm not sure how playoff-built they are. Then again, Quenneville will change the lines and the more playoff-style guys will see much heavier minutes then, too.

 

If the Caps could find away to fortify Mike Green's glass groin, they'd be OK. They're very good with him on the ice. Mediocre without him. He just misses so many damn games.

Good win tonight in the Peg. They'll have opportunities to pick up ground on the teams they're chasing. Another one tomorrow in Winnipeg and one Sunday at NYR, which inexplicably got punked by dog-ass Florida at home tonight.

 

Martin Brodeur scored a goal tonight, the third of his career.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-watch-devils-goalie-brodeur-scores-goal-20130321,0,6178301.story

It was an empty net on the other end because of a delayed penalty call and an extra attacker. I thought play would stop as soon as Brodeur touched the puck, though.

 

It only stops if he controls the puck, not merely touches it. So he made a save, gave a rebound, then the other team knocked it into their own net. Since he was the last one to touch the puck on his team, he gets credited with the goal.

So awesome.