The NHL semifinal rounds have gotten off to an unusual start with some early upsets and a wide fluctuation of goaltending. While goals are at a premium in the Western Conference with just seven total goals scored over the first three games, the East has seen 16 tallies over the first two games.
While the Vancouver Canucks have been battling it out with the Nashville Predators in a series where seeing a red light is like finding a diamond in the rough, the Flyers and Bruins ended with a score reminiscent of a Packers vs. Bears game in the fall.
After playing almost six periods of shutout hockey including a 1-0 Game 1 win, ‘Nucks goaltender Roberto Luongo finally let in a fluke shot from behind the net with less than two minutes in Game 2. The Preds went on to win that game 2-1 in the 2nd OT period after their goaltender Pekka Rinne held them in the game stopping 32-of-33 shots. Rinne and Luongo are two of the finalists for the league’s Vezina Trophy awarded to the best guy between the pipes each season.
After Eagles fans were jeering NFL commish at Radio City Hall and chanting “we want football”, the Flyers may have gotten confused and let up a touchdown and extra point on the ice to lose 7-3 to the Bruins. This series should tighten up between these bitter rivals as time moves on but with the win the Bruins have regained home ice advantage for the series.
The Red Wings, who lost a low-scoring battle 2-1 in OT against San Jose, and the Capitals who dropped a 4-2 decision to the Bolts lost their openers as well. Detroit and Washington were favored by our staff back in October to play in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Used with permission of the author.
Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.
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