1) Just when SJ seemed poised to take a strangle hold over the Wings their forwards get greedy and allow an odd man rush with a mere half a minute remaining. The result, Robert Lang, largely invisible before that point in the series, buries the game tieing goal and the Wing carry that momentum into OT where they win evening their series at 2.
2) The game was totally over. The Wings had narely a prayer. Then the Shark forwards smelled blood, or more specifically a chance for an open net goal. They started to hang back in the neutral zone to pick up a loose puck and bury it into the yawning cage. Unfortunately for them, that didn't happen and this lapse of judgement could possibly cost the Sharks the series that now shifts to the Motor City tomorrow.
3) Meanwhile the Senators, long the team that does the choking in the playoffs, are apparently beating the Devils at their own game. Using tight defense, good forchecking, excellent goaltending and opportunistic scoring to carve out a commanding 3-1 series lead. Admittedly Marty was NOT at his best last night. Giving up 2 un-Brodeur like goals. However this Senator team seems to have shed their choking of years past and is playing with a confidence we haven't seen of the Ottawa sextet, well.... ever!
4) NJ has its work cut out for it, but they are NOT out of it yet. Any team that has Brodeur can steal a game and a win in Jersey could change the momentum around again and make the Senators a tad less sure of themselves.
5) Tonight is the pivotal game 5 in Buffalo. If the Sabres have a legit Cup team tonight is the time to display that and come out strong and not play passively as they have for the past 3 games. The Sabres lose tonight and you can kiss their Cup chances nite-nite!
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I was screaming at them to get back, get back! I blame Wilson for not having players who should know better out there at the end! I still feel confident we can whip the deadwings at the joe tomorrow night!
Rangers vs Buffalo game is on Friday, not tonight.
New Jersey looks done. Brodeur has been outplayed by Emery, And (as I mentioned in my blog the other day) The Devils haven't been able to contain either TB's or Ottawa's top scoring line at all, and last night was a continuation of that, as the top line had 2G and 3A last night.
This is a team that has a Selke winner (Madden) a Selke finalist this year (Pandolfo), the best goaltender in the game, and a solid defense, yet they have been killed by the Heatly-Alfredsson-Spezz line and the Lecavelier-St. Louis-Richards lines.
Wonder if that coaching change has anything to do with that?
Notwithstanding the silly and unjustified coaching change in New Jersey, the responsibility for the Devils' teetering position rests squarely on the shoulders of Marty the wonder-goalie. The team has played admirably in front of him against a talented and balanced Ottawa group. You just can't expect to win when you let up that many weak goals. The whiff on Fisher's wrister last night was inexcusabble. And is the sharp angle shot proving to be Marty's achilles heal? He was obviously playing for a pass to the slot way before Heatley let his wide-angle shot go. The devils have played well enough as a team. They'd be the ones in the driver seat right now if the real Brodeur had shown up.
1) Thanks to B_Washington for the Ranger-Sabres game time correction. They are playing Friday not tonight!
2) Sauce is correct in his assessment of Brodeur's recent poor play. He has given up way more soft goals these playoffs than we can recall he has ever done in recent memory.
3) The Devils have not been able to contain the top unit of Spezza/heatly/Alfredsson. Does not bode well for the men from the swamp
Sauce, I totally agree with you... The Devs have played the Sens evenly (at worst), and could easily be UP 3-1 if their tender could stop ANYTHING...
"Hello, Buffalo Sabres personnel -President's Trophy winners... It's time to wake up for your series versus the NY Rangers..." Faux, you are dead on... If the Sabres drop game 5 at home, they're done... What an amazing thought that is, but its true...
While the Sharks let one get away, the Wings WERE the better team last night... I was surprised that Robert Lang, not only scored the tying goal, but was actually one the ice at such an important time...
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