Sometimes timing is everything. Roman Hamrlik's brutal pinch with under 20 seconds left in the second period of last night's Game 4 loss at the hands of the Capitals turned this game, and this series, on its head. Mike Knuble cashed on a nice feed from Boyd Gordon to tie the contest heading into the intermission, and the Caps proceeded dominate in the final frame...Nicklas Backstrom has been hands down the best player in this series...even when Alex Ovechkin seems to be a little "off" he's still bringing it, as illustrated by his filthy tie-breaking goal early in the third period - he's third in playoff scoring behind Backstrom and #87...Marc-Andre Bergeron still playing a regular shift at even-strength...wow.
The Sabres have been very unimpressive against a Bruins team that clearly wants it more than Lindy Ruff's squad...Ryan Miller has been great, but so too has Tuukka Rask...Patrice Bergeron should've been a Selke candidate over the likes of Jordan Staal, who would've been fourth on my ballot - Bergeron's been unbelievable all season and in this series, as well...
Supposedly Lou Lamoriello blew a gasket at Devils' Coaches after Game 4's loss...Martin Brodeur needs to be better, as he's played well in just one game in this series...the players in front of him, who have looked slow, flat, and downright old need to play better, too...Chris Pronger is good at hockey, for those who didn't know...it will be interesting to see how the Flyers fair without Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne, it goes without saying that these are tremendous losses...Daniel Carcillo is the worst actor this side of Entourage's Johnny Drama...
Sidney Crosby is ridiculously good, and is playing arguably the best hockey of his NHL career - 31 points over his last 12 games - are you kidding me? Jason Spezza turns the puck over too much in bad areas at bad times...Pascal Leclaire starting tonight for the Sens...that should bode well (sarcasm)...Maxime Talbot has been unbelievable thus far; everything he does from this point forth will just add to the playoff legacy that he built for himself last spring...The Penguins look to be in top-form at the right time - sound familiar?
Joe Pavelski is officially the only clutch player on the San Jose roster; without him they could technically be golfing right now...Upon last check Joe Thornton still has no hair on his peaches...Craig Anderson is the truth, and should've been a Norris Candidate over Brodeur - anyone who watches the Avs know Anderson has come up with more big saves at big times this year than any tender, while Brodeur still gets the nod based on reputation...Poor Dan Boyle...Chris Stewart will go down as far from a one-year wonder...
Nashville has wanted it more than Chicago over the first three games...Patrick Kane has been great over his short playoff career...I expect Jonathon Toews to step to the forefront tonight in Game 4...not so sure about Joel Quinneville's decision to put Dustin Byfuglien back on defense...Shea Weber, Ryan Suter, and Dan Hamhuis deserve more accolades than they receive, which is due in large part to playing in the anonymity of Nashville...
The Vancouver-Los Angeles series has been the most entertaining series thus far...Drew Doughty, the best defenseman in the NHL? I'd be hard-pressed to support an argument against him...I've never been a big Mikael Samuelsson fan, but he's had a great season and an even better playoffs...Henrik Sedin's goal last night was a beauty...Wayne Simmonds is a heckuva player...Roberto Luongo is doing nothing to silence the critics who love to note his past playoff performances...Alexander Edler has been very impressive, especially with his physicality, while Sami Salo has continued to be a "steady eddy" on the Vancouver blue line...
Henrik Zetterberg was built for the playoffs...I was very impressed with Jimmy Howard's response in Game 4...If you don't know who Keith Yandle is, get used to hearing his name - one of the best up-and-coming defensemen around...The 'Yotes would love to see Captain Shane Doan, their best forward by a country mile, back for Game Five...
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