We have our first Sean Avery controversy of the playoffs: Yes, he did interfere with defenseman Mike Green on a play that led to Scott Gomez's goal. A subtle little pick by Avery tripped up Green, and Gomez was in alone on goal.
If Avery does nothing more than this, we can live with it. What, you thought he would be an angel? If Avery doesn't play with sandpaper, he is a non-factor. We wonder: Could this be a sign he's not getting special attention from referees?
No doubt, Avery is into this series?witness the check he laid on a Caps player while the Rangers were nursing a 4-3 lead late in the third period.
But what was with the hack and cross check on Caps goalie Jose Theodore with 90 seconds left? Answer, as provided by Caps TV color man Al Koken while Avery was getting his helmet repaired: "Avery has some screws loose." ?
Looked like the Penguins were running the Flyers in circles, didn't it? ?
Tyler Kennedy's goal will have Flyers fans wondering if goalie Martin Biron can do enough to win a series. Looked like a softy, even if it did come on a Penguins' 3-on-1. Plus, the Penguins were able to get to the front of the net and create havoc.
Mistakes and lapses by Flyers defensemen proved costly in Game 1. And, there's a question how badly Kimmo Timonen is injured after getting crunched into the boards in the opening seconds. ?
Speaking of goalies, Theodore doubters might have more fuel after Game 1 against the Rangers. But he can't do it alone. Head to head, Theodore against Henrik Lundqvist is no contest. On the winning goal, Caps defenseman Jeff Schultz got used by Brandon Dubinsky. If the Rangers keep making the Capitals' D look foolish, this series will be no contest. ?
The Devils' key players delivered in Game 1 against the Hurricanes. Zach Parise and Patrik Elias scoring means the Hurricanes must improve their coverage to keep these skilled players from being factors.
Another big factor: The Devils kept Hurricanes defensemen Joe Corvo and Anton Babchuk from creating offense, and both guys are scorers. ?
Overlooked factor for the Penguins: Coach Dan Bylsma found a way to get Ruslan Fedotenko playing with confidence. That's another element of the team's forward depth and intensity. ?
Overlooked factor for the Rangers: Coach John Tortorella is a fiery guy, and his attitude fuels his players. Tom Renney couldn't fire them up with a blowtorch. ?
Alex Oveckhin had 13 shots on goals. The Capitals dominated in the faceoff circle. And they lost? Not a good sign. ?
Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward didn't get much help, and he certainly didn't help his own case with a bad clearing pass that led to the Devils' first goal. Oops. ?
Don't minimize the effect of Bill Guerin on the Penguins. His fight with Braydon Coburn late in Game 1 was a message?the Penguins won't be messed with by the Flyers. If Guerin is engaged, he is a factor. Pittsburgh needs that edge. ?
Likewise, don't overlook Scott Gomez. Without Chris Drury in the lineup, Gomez becomes pivotal with his big-game ability. ?
Early power-play opportunities put the Blues in position to jump on the Canucks. Credit Roberto Luongo for making big saves without rebounds. A strong power play is key to the Blues' success. The Canucks also deserve credit for their penalty-killing ability. The Blues failed to score on a five-on-three?that's inexcusable, except for the Canucks' ability to deny shots and passing lanes.
It's the Canucks who took advantage, with a second-period power-play goal to go up 2-0 after their first goal came on a delayed penalty. ?
Want to bet this is in every team's scouting report: "Don't let Brad Boyes shoot from the left faceoff dot"? He's deadly from there. ?
Is it too early to suggest Keith Tkachuk's reputation as a playoff ghost continues? ?
The Canucks closed out their victory with a great third period, featuring closure of passing lanes and preventing the Blues from getting flow and transition.
Nice way to start the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs.
If Avery does nothing more than this, we can live with it. What, you thought he would be an angel? If Avery doesn't play with sandpaper, he is a non-factor. We wonder: Could this be a sign he's not getting special attention from referees?
No doubt, Avery is into this series?witness the check he laid on a Caps player while the Rangers were nursing a 4-3 lead late in the third period.
But what was with the hack and cross check on Caps goalie Jose Theodore with 90 seconds left? Answer, as provided by Caps TV color man Al Koken while Avery was getting his helmet repaired: "Avery has some screws loose." ?
Looked like the Penguins were running the Flyers in circles, didn't it? ?
Tyler Kennedy's goal will have Flyers fans wondering if goalie Martin Biron can do enough to win a series. Looked like a softy, even if it did come on a Penguins' 3-on-1. Plus, the Penguins were able to get to the front of the net and create havoc.
Mistakes and lapses by Flyers defensemen proved costly in Game 1. And, there's a question how badly Kimmo Timonen is injured after getting crunched into the boards in the opening seconds. ?
Speaking of goalies, Theodore doubters might have more fuel after Game 1 against the Rangers. But he can't do it alone. Head to head, Theodore against Henrik Lundqvist is no contest. On the winning goal, Caps defenseman Jeff Schultz got used by Brandon Dubinsky. If the Rangers keep making the Capitals' D look foolish, this series will be no contest. ?
The Devils' key players delivered in Game 1 against the Hurricanes. Zach Parise and Patrik Elias scoring means the Hurricanes must improve their coverage to keep these skilled players from being factors.
Another big factor: The Devils kept Hurricanes defensemen Joe Corvo and Anton Babchuk from creating offense, and both guys are scorers. ?
Overlooked factor for the Penguins: Coach Dan Bylsma found a way to get Ruslan Fedotenko playing with confidence. That's another element of the team's forward depth and intensity. ?
Overlooked factor for the Rangers: Coach John Tortorella is a fiery guy, and his attitude fuels his players. Tom Renney couldn't fire them up with a blowtorch. ?
Alex Oveckhin had 13 shots on goals. The Capitals dominated in the faceoff circle. And they lost? Not a good sign. ?
Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward didn't get much help, and he certainly didn't help his own case with a bad clearing pass that led to the Devils' first goal. Oops. ?
Don't minimize the effect of Bill Guerin on the Penguins. His fight with Braydon Coburn late in Game 1 was a message?the Penguins won't be messed with by the Flyers. If Guerin is engaged, he is a factor. Pittsburgh needs that edge. ?
Likewise, don't overlook Scott Gomez. Without Chris Drury in the lineup, Gomez becomes pivotal with his big-game ability. ?
Early power-play opportunities put the Blues in position to jump on the Canucks. Credit Roberto Luongo for making big saves without rebounds. A strong power play is key to the Blues' success. The Canucks also deserve credit for their penalty-killing ability. The Blues failed to score on a five-on-three?that's inexcusable, except for the Canucks' ability to deny shots and passing lanes.
It's the Canucks who took advantage, with a second-period power-play goal to go up 2-0 after their first goal came on a delayed penalty. ?
Want to bet this is in every team's scouting report: "Don't let Brad Boyes shoot from the left faceoff dot"? He's deadly from there. ?
Is it too early to suggest Keith Tkachuk's reputation as a playoff ghost continues? ?
The Canucks closed out their victory with a great third period, featuring closure of passing lanes and preventing the Blues from getting flow and transition.
Nice way to start the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs.
