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Ducks sink, and there will be a new champion this year.'Battle of California' sums things up nicely, and we linked to them, emmm..., only because they mentioned Chris Drury.
Battle of California:
The Stars and Round Two: Reunited and it feels so good -- On the same day that Danica Patrick got the victory monkey off her hot little back, the Stars made it to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2003.
In that time, Chris Pronger came and went from the Edmonton Oilers. The NHL instituted a salary cap and left ESPN because of a horrific lockout. The Stanley Cup champions now include a team from Florida, California and frickin' North Carolina. Also, Britney Spears went absolutely, 100% bats*** crazy. My oh my how times have changed…
* Stu Barnes happened to score his 10th playoff GWG. Now, I’m not going to say that makes him better than Joe Thornton.
But hot damn if #14 isn’t the closest thing the Stars have to Chris Drury...
Looking ahead:
CLUB DE HOCKEY CANADIEN and Bruins - Game 7. Flyers and Caps - Game 6:
If CHC and Flyers, we play Pittsburg.
If CHC and Caps, we play CHC.
If Boston and Flyers, we play Flyers.
If Boston and Caps, we play Caps.
Against the Flyers, we have home ice, otherwise not.
The Rangers are good enough to win the Cup, if healthy. Watching the Habs play the Bruins, they can each be taken. Their goalies are no match for the King.
I still worry about Washington, but not as I did before after seeing Jagr get new life. He can make their lives miserable.
Jagr's interview after game one was very interesting. He usually jokes, but this time he was serious. He said that he likes a long series. Asked about being played close and physical by White, he said something like "Maybe someone can stay with me for two or three games, and hit me hard, but eventually they will get tired and I will not." Look at gave five - he was right.
Let's Go Rangers!!
This was from another post by someone else, but I agree and it is said well:
"The difference between hockey and all other sports is that no matter how physical and ugly a playoff series may become, the end is always celebrated with the handshake line. Invariably at this point an announcer always says something like "Now let's watch one of the gratest traditions in all of pro sports."
Because this tradition is so widely revered is exactly why Brodeur was so wrong to miss the opportunity he had to be part of it. It speaks to his me first attitude as much as the several times he threw his team mates under the bus while being exposed by the Rangers."
and last but not least
New Jersey's Martin Brodeur, San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov and New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist were named finalists for the NHL's Vezina Trophy on Monday.
Jagr and Lundqvist might also be on a very short list for the Conn Smythe, if this cup run gets going. Don't they?
Brodeur certainly damaged his 'legacy' with his words as much as his performance in the Rangers series.
It's the best of times for Rangers fan - 12 more.
Nabakov would seem to be the favorite for the Vezina if the GM's vote for their own. Brodeur and Lundqvist split the eastern conference GM's and Nabakov gets all of the western GM's.