2010 Playoffs

You Stay Classy, Philadelphia

by Chris on June 11, 2010
in 2010 Playoffs, Chicago Blackhawks, Chris, GoonSquad, Philadelphia Flyers

It’s finally over. Congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks on winning the Stanley Cup in what I would consider the weirdest hockey season ever. How fitting was it then that Patrick Kane scored a weird goal that seemingly only he saw go in to win it all? I’m telling you, this was a spooky weird season, and while I am glad it’s over from a pain and suffering standpoint (see weird event number 50: Boston losing 4 straight) I am eagerly waiting October to start anew.

One thing that is not unusual, or weird in any way, was the lack of class on the part of the Philadelphia Flyers fans. There were a lot of fans left in the building when Gary Bettman handed out the Conn Smythe, and Lord Stanley’s Cup. I get the booing of Bettman, as there isn’t a more universally disliked figure in hockey, but to boo Jonathan Toews when he received the Smythe, and then again when he received the Cup was totally uncalled for.

I guess it’s impossible to show a little class in the face of defeat. I have to be honest, I was convinced the Flyers were going to win it all, and I was wildly impressed with their resilience. But then the fans went and boo like that and the goodwill went out the window, turning dark faster than a date with Jordan Van der Sloot.

The trouble with Flyers fans is they think they are just passionate. Well, I guess to a point they are, but they are also the most obnoxious group of people on Earth most of the time. I can say I’ve met a cool Habs fan, and a cool fan from pretty much every rival the Bruins have with the exception of the Flyers. Universally, they all suck.

So, Kane won it for the Hawks in OT setting off a party in Chicago that hadn’t been seen since 1961. That leaves the Toronto Maple Leafs with the longest drought now, and the beloved Bruins are right there with them. Looking at both rosters, and the way the draft will fall this year, I’d like to think the Bruins will be raising the Cup sooner than the Buds, but one can never tell in this new NHL. I am looking forward to June 25th and the NHL Draft. Hopefully the Bruins don’t fuck it up.

{ 0 Comments }

Memorial Day Mayhem

by Chris on May 26, 2010
in 2010 Playoffs, Chicago Blackhawks, Chris, GoonSquad, Philadelphia Flyers, The Hammer, Winter Classic 2010

It’s the Wednesday before Memorial Day, and that can only mean one thing. That’s right, the Hammer and I will be winging our way to Indianapolis for the Greatest Spectacle in Sports in about 8 hours. Hammer has been going so long, I think mechanics were still riding with drivers his rookie year. I am post CART/IRL fallout. Anyway, point being, it’s a long tradition, and I am excited to see Hoodie, eat a giant steak or two, watch for Indiana High School Lacrosse (Go St. Joe’s!) and relax until the cows come home.

I’m sure Saturday night will find us in front of a TV somewhere to catch game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Or, as I like to call it, are you kidding me? The Frigging Flyers are in the finals?! On the bright side, the road team in the Winter Classic has lost in the finals the previous two years (Pittsburgh, Detroit) but on the negative side, it would give the Flyers one more, us against the world style hurdle to climb if they were to win it. This Flyers team never gets away from their game, ad are playing excellent hockey right now. Chicago is quiet a talented group as well, but I don’t think they have played a team with the kind of fight the Flyers have in them this playoff season. As an aside, when I get back, there will be a discussion on this being the weirdest hockey season ever. I digress, I will be openly pulling for the Hawks to break a curse of their own, and lift Lord Stanley’s since 1961. It will not be an easy path, and they better be ready for the fight of their lives.

Please take a minute to reflect on what Memorial Day means, and if you know anyone in uniform, thank them for their service to this country. I have said a lot of stupid stuff in this blog over the last 5 years, and if it weren’t for people protecting my freedoms, I wouldn’t be able to write openly. Maybe I just gave you someone to blame for this mindless crap? Dang soldiers protecting my freedom to be dumb! In all seriousness, thank you to all the men and women around the globe that are serving, or have served this great nation. We here at Goonblog couldn’t be more thankful for your service! Back in a week! Go Blackhawks!

{ 1 Comment }

Goonblog Bringing the Noise

by Chris on May 3, 2010
in 2010 Playoffs, Chris, Dave, Goons, GoonSquad, Shawn Thornton, The Hammer, The Ref

As I sit here in the office, in what feels like 95% humidity regarding the storm clouds threatening rain and looking at the Scarlet Tanager in my back yard, I can only think of one thing. Hockey. Granted that can be said of pretty much everything I do, but today as I sit and enjoy my day off, I have hockey and metaphors on the brain.

The lack of physical play from the Flyers on Saturday kind of surprised me, and much like the threatening clouds outside, I think there will be a storm inside the Garden tonight like none of have seen in a while. Forget for a second that most of the Goonblog staff will be on hand for said event, that is a storm of a different kind, and let’s focus on the two teams on the ice for a moment.

This is a series that harkens back to the roots of Old Time Hockey. The orange and black of the Broad Street Bullies, vs. the black and gold of the Big Bad Bruins. There is a lot of bad blood between these two clubs, and I expected more of a physical tilt on Saturday. What we got instead, was an up and down affair in which the Bruins won a thriller in OT from the stick of Marc Savard. An ending that could have easily been a pitch for a new Disney movie about a plucky young group of hockey players that refuses to go down without a fight. It was a great game to be sure, but the feeling was it shouldn’t have gotten that far, and there was just enough of a physical snarl to it to set up a real slugfest in tonight’s pivotal game 2.

Saturday was not totally without a physical element. Mark Recchi, the Recchasaurus as it were, had his helmet knocked off twice. There were plenty of hits, and plenty of dirty looks, I just expected more scrums after the whistle, and maybe even a fight. Perhaps the flow of the game had something to do with it. Tuukka seemed content to stop play whenever he could, and when the game did get going, Philadelphia spent a good deal of the game trying to claw their way back in. Boston on the other hand, did indeed follow a good bit of their blueprint for success, and got in on the fore-check when they could. Like I said, it wasn’t a bad game, or a non physical game, I just expected a bit more snarl.

Tonight should be a horse of a different color to be sure. For starters, the Goonblog Staff is taking a field trip, so it’s gotta at least be a cool spot to be eh? Secondly, I think Philly may feel like they let one slip away on Saturday, both on the scoreboard, and on the penalty sheet. Thirdly, and this could be the most important, I expect the return of Shawn Thornton tonight. With the Marco Sturm injury, that re-opens a spot for Thornton, and it may give the Flyers an incentive to gain a competitive advantage by starting a fight with the seasoned Boston enforcer. It should be a great tilt tonight in Boston. If you are looking for the Goonblog team, just follow the noise. I’m sure we’ll be around there somewhere.

{ 8 Comments }

Working on a Shocked Face

by Chris on April 27, 2010
in 2010 Playoffs, Chris, GoonSquad

I am very surprised the Bruins are moving onto the second round. Sort of. You see, I am not the guy that was calling into 98.5 all season saying the team lacked heart (or in Bostonese: Hahhhhhhhht!) and that I wasn’t renewing my season tickets. I am also definitely not the guy that was saying they don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell at making the playoffs. Not me. No – I am the guy that said, I think they’ll make the playoffs, but get bounced in the first round. I said that when I thought they were going to finish up 8th and play Washington, a team the have matched up very with poorly all season.

When the draw came out as Buffalo, I said Bruins in six. How convenient for me they won in six eh? No, it’s true. Ask Dave, the guy around the corner. He told Miller, Milan and I he thought we’d have a lot more time for walking in about a week the morning after game 1. I told him, nope, Bruins in six. He looked at me like I was crazy. On the other hand, I get the you’re fucking crazy look quite a bit.

The point is, and yes I do have one, the Bruins have picked the best time of the year to play their best hockey. The Bruins just beat the third seeded team featuring arguably the best goalie all season long in Ryan Miller. They accomplished this by following their blueprint for success. Get physical. Don’t get pushed around. Fight. Their compete level was high all series, with the exception of game 5, and their goaltending was stellar. In fact, it was almost too good. The boys are starting to rely on Tuukka Rask a bit too much, and it is affecting their breakout. With the feeling they will get bailed out by the goalie, the passes have been less crisp to start the breakout (Dennis Wideman, I am looking at you) and have subsequently been scored on by Buffalo. They need to tighten that up, if they are to advance to the next round.

I love the way this team is playing right now, and I am impressed they have done this well without some key cogs in the wheel. Marc Savard was cleared today, and will play next round. Dennis Seidenberg is close. I am not sure on Mark Stuart, but he has to be close too. Marco Sturm and Blake Wheeler should be getting the memo the playoffs have started any day now, and can only help this club when that happens. Bottom line is, this is a dangerous club right now, and I would not want to play them next round. Glad I was wrong about you, boys! Go Bruins!

{ 2 Comments }