An Apology Then NHL Playoff Preview

Hello to my readers. I know it's been two months since my last post and I apologize for that. Many events have happened to me in that time period and I was unable to avoid any of it...as a good friend of mine used to say “Feces occurs!”

But now I'm back and things have settled down. I'm ready to return to “My Thoughts on the World of Sports” in a better way.

Now on to the NHL playoffs!

Tonight, I begin my playoff preview with the Eastern Conference pairings which could produce exciting action. Now comes my time to spout off my feelings about the East.

(1)Washington Capitals vs. (8) New York Rangers

Washington's scoring punch was down a bit this season mainly due to Alex Ovechkin's off year as he scored “only” 32 goals. Alexander Semin had 28 tallies for the Caps and old reliable Mike Knuble chimed in with 24 goals.

Injuries have also hampered the Capitals and none was worse than defenseman Mike Green's concussion suffered on February 25th versus the Rangers. Green could be ready for game one as he has been skating regularly with the team.

Goaltending was much improved this season as Michal Neuvirth has taken the reins in net. Neuvirth finished the regular season with 27 wins, a 2.45 Goals Against Average and a .914 Save Percentage.

The Rangers had balanced scoring this season led by center Brandon Dubinsky's 24 goals Followed closely by Ryan Callahan with 23 twine ticklers. Marian Gaborik, Derek Stepan, and Brian Boyle also were 20 goal scorers for the “Blue Shirts”.

New York has been bitten by the injury bug as well. The aforementioned Ryan Callahan is till in a walking boot after breaking his right ankle. Without Callahan, the Rangers will lack some of the physical play needed to slow Washington's speed.

If there's one area where the Rangers are superior it's the play of goalie Henrik Lundqvist. “King Henrik” won 36 games, enjoyed a sparkling 2.28 GAA, a .923 Save Percentage, and 11 Shutouts. Lundqvist is very capable of stealing games in the series and is the main reason the Rangers won a playoff berth.

My Prediction: While Lundqvist can steal the series, Washington has too much firepower for the Rangers.

Washington --- 6 Games

(2)Philadelphia Flyers vs. (7) Buffalo Sabres

Let there be no argument, the Flyers can score as seven players scored more than 20 goals. Center Jeff Carter had 36 goals for the season while Danny Briere tallied 34 for Philly.

One key injury the Flyers must deal with is ageless defenseman Chris Pronger's right hand injury. While hopeful to play, he's doubtful for game 1 of the series.

Goaltending is a huge question mark for the Flyers. Twenty-two year old Sergei Bobrovsky will get the call for Philadelphia in game 1 versus Buffalo. We'll see how young Sergei will handle Stanley Cup playoff pressure for the first time. Should he fail, veteran Brian Boucher will fill the void in goal.

The Sabres are entering the playoffs playing their best hockey of the year. Buffalo has been scoring of late and goalie Ryan Miller has been playing his best hockey recently.

Offensively, Buffalo is led by Thomas Vanek and Drew Stafford with 32 and 31 goals respectively while the rest of the scoring is well balanced.

The key to the Sabres playoff run rests on the shoulders of net minder Ryan Miller. Miller, a perennial all-star, is capable of winning a playoff series by himself and we all know that history often repeats itself.

I Say: It will come down to goaltending --- the experience of Miller versus the youth of Bobrovsky even with the Flyers firepower, I see an upset.

Buffalo --- 6 Games.

(3)Boston Bruins vs. (6) Montreal Canadiens



The Bruins style of play begins with defense and goaltending. Norris trophy candidate Zdeno Chara was a plus 33 while youngster Adam McQuaid was at plus 30 from the blue line. In goal, Vezina Trophy favorite Tim Thomas had a season to remember. Thomas had 35 victories, an even 2.00 GAA, 9 shutouts, and an NHL record .938 save percentage. If Thomas should fail, Boston would still be in good shape with backup goalie Tuukka Rask.

While the Bruins don't score a ton of goals, six players scored at least 18 goals. Milan Lucic led the way with 30 goals while Nathan Horton ended the regular season with 26 tallies.

While Montreal won't scare anyone with their offense, they did have three players with 20+ goals with Brian Gionta leading the way with 29 to the back of the net.

Carey Price will handle the load in goal for the Habs. Price had 38 wins this season, a 2.35 GAA,a .923 save percentage, and 8 shutouts.

What I Think: This rivalry will be fiercely played as both teams feel they have to prove themselves. The Bruins must play physical hockey to neutralize Montreal's skating ability While Carey Price must be superb to keep the Habs in the series.

Boston --- 7 games

(4)Pittsburgh Penguins vs (5) Tampa Bay Lightning


We know what the Penguins will probably struggle scoring goals without mega-stars Sydney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. So where will the scoring come from? Pittsburgh hopes that Chris Kunitz, Tyler Kennedy, and James Neal can pick up the slack.

Also, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury must be at the top of his game if the Pens' are to survive. Fleury has played well this season as his 36 wins and 2.32 GAA suggests.

Tampa Bay has plenty of goal scoring capabilities to win any playoff series. Led by Steven Stamkos (45 Goals), Martin St. Louis (31), and Vincent Lecavalier (25), The Lightning are ready to prove that the regular season was no fluke.

Keeping pucks out of the net could be a problem for Tampa Bay. The Lightning will depend on veteran Dwayne Roloson to man the net. If Roloson isn't at peak performance, the Lightning would be in serious trouble.

My Opinion: Pittsburgh has found a way to win without Crosby and Malkin while Tampa Bay wins with offense as well. It comes down to the men between the pipes.

Pittsburgh --- 6 Games.

That's a breakdown of the Eastern Conference of the NHL.

Enjoy and thanks for reading!

Dick

Send email to dlafrance2@207me.com

hit counter

Screen Capture Software

The Bruins Prayer: Revisited

As the Boston Bruins make a run for a top three in the NHL's Eastern Conference, I thought this would be an appropriate time to revisit The Bruins Prayer.


The Bruins Prayer


"Our father who art in Boston. Hockey be thy name. Thy will be done. The cup will be won. On ice, as well as in the stands. Give us this day our hockey sticks. And forgive us our penalties, as we forgive those who cross-check against us, Lead us not into elimination. But deliver us to victory. In the name of the fans, Lord Stanley, and in the name of the Bruins. Amen."

I am going to add two little statements:

May "The Force" be with the Boston Bruins.

Beware The Bear!

Dick

Send email to dlafrance2@207me.com

hit counter

Screen Capture Software

Beware The Bear! The Boston Bruins Are Coming Out Of Hibernation

With the National Hockey League season at the All-Star break, teams are positioning themselves for the final push towards the Stanley Cup playoffs.

As the standings are as of this moment, the Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars are topping the Western Conference while defending champion Chicago Blackhawks are struggling a bit after making sweeping changes to their roster.

The Eastern Conference is a bit jumbled as the Philadelphia Flyers are in the top spot while the Tampa Bay Lightning continue to shock the NHL by leading the Southeast division by four points over the powerhouse Washington Capitals. The Pittsburgh Penguins are holding their own despite major injuries but perennial power New Jersey Devils are floundering in the NHL cellar.

The team I will focus on has been solid all season and seems to be poised to make a run at not only capturing their division but could make a deep run in the playoffs.

The team?

The Boston Bruins

At the break, the Bruins are the Northeast division leaders with a record of 28-15-7 for 63 points, four points ahead of the Montreal Canadiens and the number three seed in the Eastern Conference. By winning 7 of 10, Boston has shown the defensive prowess head coach Claude Julien's teams are noted for. In that stretch, the Bruins have increased their goal production which has been a sore spot for a few seasons.

Let's briefly break down the Bruins season to this point.

The core of this seasons' team is the defense and goal tending. In fact, the Bruins are the NHL's top defensive team yielding a mere 112 goals in 50 games, with a league leading 8 shutouts and an NHL best .939 save percentage. The defensive corps is lead by leading Norris Trophy candidate Zdeno Chara. The man with the leagues hardest shot leads Boston with a +22 plus/minus rating and has 10 goals from the blue line including 6 on the power play.

Also helping Chara are veteran defensemen Dennis Seidenberg, Andrew Ferrence, and surprising rookie Steven Kampfer. All are on the plus side of the plus/minus ledger and can play the physical game when necessary.

Goalie Tim Thomas is certainly at the top of his game. His 1.81 Goals Against Average is by far and away tops in the league as well as his .950 Save Percentage.... that's point NINE FIFTY! Just think, the Bruins were willing to peddle him away after off-season hip surgery.

Though challenged offensively, Boston has been scoring goals of late. Milan Lucic leads the B's with 20 goals, while Patrice Bergeron has 16 tallies within his team leading 40 points. More is expected from veterans Michael Ryder (14 goals), Nathan Horton (12), Blake Wheeler (10), and David Krejci (7). Youngster Brad Marchand has surprised by potting 13 goals and plays the defensive end superbly with a +21 rating.

Also, the Bruins don't lack for toughness. Resident tough guy Shawn Thornton backs away from nobody for a fight and Lucic, Gregory Campbell, and young blue liner Adam McQuaid will mix it up as well.

As I see it, the Boston Bruins are one goal scorer away from being a serious contender for Lord Stanley's Cup. Boston General Manager Peter Chiarelli isn't afraid to pull the trigger on such a deal and it would be both shocking and disappointing should he not add a sniper.

Beware the Bear!!!

Dick

Send email to dlafrance2@207me.com

hit counter

Screen Capture Software

More Rants, Raves, and Opinions

I had brain lock trying to come up with a subject for this particular post. I have been paying attention to many noteworthy events in our wonderful world of sports. While not one event overly consumed me (not even Tiger Woods) but many captured that short attention span of mine.

Therefore, I am just going to serve a second helping of Rants, Raves, and Opinions. Here we go!

I'm sure we have all noticed Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James seemed disinterested in an embarrassing Game 5 loss to the Boston Celtics at home Tuesday night. He shot a dismal 3 for 14 from the field and had no life whatsoever. A bad game? More than likely so, however if the Cavs want to continue playing ball, James must come up huge in Boston or the Cavs season ends. I think LeBron will play well, but Boston will find a way to bounce Cleveland from championship contention.

Quick, name the New York Yankees best starting pitcher for the first 6 weeks this season. If you said Phil Hughes, treat yourself to a hot fudge sundae. In his 6 starts, Hughes sports a spiffy 5-0 mark with a minuscule 1.38 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 39 innings pitched while allowing only 22 hits and much improved control. I watched a portion of his last 2 starts versus Boston and Detroit and saw that plus fastball everyone knew he had along with a much better idea of how to pitch. Maybe the question I should have proposed was name the best pitcher in the American League after the first 6 weeks this season.

How about those Montreal Canadiens?(!) The #8 seed in the Eastern Conference of the NHL playoffs have pulled off highly improbable feats by defeating Presidents' Trophy winners Washington Capitals and the defending Stanley Cup champions Pittsburgh Penguins each in 7 games series. How have the Canadiens done this? First, the play of opportunistic forwards Michael Cammarelli and Brian Gionta have been nothing short of spectacular. The unheralded Cammarelli has 12 goals in the playoffs while Gionta has 7 and both have given maximum effort every shift. Second and more importantly, net minder Jaroslav Halak has been far and away the premier goalie in the playoffs.

Finally, staying in the NHL, can the Philadelphia Flyers complete the stunning comeback against the Boston Bruins? Boston thoroughly outplayed Philly winning the first 3 games. But somehow, the Flyers have willed 3 victories in succession to force Game 7 in Boston. The Flyers have simply out hustled the Bruins to even the series and appear to have the upper hand. Coincidentally, the return of Philadelphia forward Simon Gagne and the loss of Boston center David Krejci has turned the tide as well. All bets are off in this one!

I hope you enjoyed this segment. What are your thoughts?

Dick

Send email to dlafrance2@207me.com

hit counter

Screen Capture Software

Mother's Day 1970 --- A Very Special Day in Sports

With Mother's Day upon us, we should give thanks to our moms for allowing us to be who we are … men, women, and children who love sports. But do we remember any sporting events that were so historic that it has been and will be passed on for generations to come?

There was such an event on Mother's Day, May 10th, 1970 when the Boston Bruins completed a 4-game sweep of the St. Louis Blues to capture the Stanley Cup for the 1st time since 1941 --- a 29 year drought.

One may ask,”Why is this event special”? The answer is that the game winning goal came from arguably the greatest player in the rich history of the National Hockey League (apologies to Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe and their supporters) and made the legend that is one Robert Gordon Orr.

My memory of this particular game is actually vague as a mere 10 year old, exactly a week shy of my 11th birthday. But what I do remember was I was home in front of the television watching intently as I sensed the crowd of old Boston Garden was anxious for a winner. The Blues had played their best game of the series that Sunday afternoon, desperate for a win after being hammered by “The Big Bad Bruins” the 1st three games.

Next thing I knew, the overtime period had started, then ended quickly and suddenly. To be honest, I only remember the great Bobby Orr being pitchforked into the air by St. Louis defenseman Noel Picard. As Orr was airborne, parallel to the ice, he raised his arms above his head as if he was flying like Superman. Then again, Bobby WAS Superman. An amazing moment for an almost 11 year old to witness.



To commemorate the 40th anniversary of that event, a statue of Orr will be unveiled at the TD Garden on Monday May 10th. And yes, the statue is of Bobby flying through the air after the Cup winning goal. It's also fitting the the Bruins will be playing the Philadelphia Flyers that evening as they try to move on to the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Dick

Send email to dlafrance2@207me.com

hit counter

Screen Capture Software

The Bruins Prayer

The Boston Bruins will be playing the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference semi-finals of the NHL playoffs. A good friend of mine, Mr. Tom Picard, a member of the Director Production Management team at ESPN posted this fun little prayer on Facebook recently. As a Bruins fan, I will share with all of you here.

The Bruins Prayer


"Our father who art in Boston. Hockey be thy name. Thy will be done. The cup will be won. On ice, as well as in the stands. Give us this day our hockey sticks. And forgive us our penalties, as we forgive those who cross-check against us, Lead us not into elimination. But deliver us to victory. In the name of the fans, Lord Stanley, and in the name of the Bruins. Amen."

I am going to add my own little statement:


May "The Force" be with the Boston Bruins.

Dick

Send email to dlafrance2@207me.com

hit counter

Screen Capture Software

My Sports Heroes

Growing up during the 1960's and 70's I was fascinated by sports by the 4 major sports and their athletes. Living in Maine, I listened to the Boston area teams on radio, watched them on television (although I was a New York Giants fan in football --- at the time they were the CBS team with a northeast affiliate), and occasionally attended Boston Red Sox games. I developed an affinity with 3 major stars of the day in baseball, football, and hockey and was a fan of the Boston Celtics, though never really had a favorite player. The 3 players are in their respective Halls of Fame and one is arguably the greatest player his sport has ever witnessed...okay that's debatable.

That being said, here are my sports heroes growing up in ascending order:

3.Fran Tarkenton --- Quarterback, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, Pro Football Hall of Fame

In my opinion, no quarterback in the history of the NFL had the mobility, escape ability and vision “Sir Francis” had. I remember watching this smallish Giant quarterback make defensive lineman look silly as he weaved in every conceivable direction to escape their pass rush. After many great escapes, Fran often completed a long for a big gain or the occasional touchdown.

Fran was also the unquestioned leader of the Vikings during his second stint, leading the team to 3 Super Bowl appearances although he never won a championship. He was selected to play in 9 Pro Bowls and was ans All-Pro 1st or second teamer on 3 occasions. Upon retirement, Tarkenton was the NFL's all time leader completions, passing yardage, and touchdown passes.

Today, Fran owns a plethora of companies from software for small business to financial services for business to Tarkenton Sports, Fran's online store.

2. Bobby Orr --- Defenseman, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Hockey Hall of Fame

With apologies to Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr is the greatest player in the rich history of the National Hockey League. Orr revolutionized the sport with his brilliant skating ability, uncanny awareness, and unbelievable puck control. Being able to watch on television, nobody was comparable to the great number 4. I can't count how many times Bobby would rush the puck the length of the ice, pirouette around defenders, make pinpoint passes to teammates, and make incredible defensive plays. He could actually do all those in the same shift!

And yes, I was watching on television when Bobby scored “The Goal” on Sunday May 10th, 1970 (Mother's Day). I recall the replay as he was tripped into the air and his arms elongated in celebration as the Bruins had won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 29 years. It was a great moment for a 10 year old kid to experience.

I have been told that Orr was not a tough physical player, but Bobby more than held his own. Actually, he was a tremendous fighter. He fought tough guys like Wayne Carleton and Keith Magnuson to name a couple and, if memory serves correctly, started a bench clearing brawl in Philadelphia versus the Flyers before prior to the “Broad Street Bullies” days.

Bobby's records as a defenseman would have been unmatched had it not been for a major knee injury that forced an early retirement. His play however has earned him his own section at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, which I have been blessed to visit.

Today, Orr has an online store where we can buy signed and unsigned memorabilia, including photos of “The Goal”.

1.Carl Yastrzemski --- Left Field, First Base, Third Base, Designated Hitter, Boston Red Sox, Baseball Hall of Fame.

“Yaz” was my sports idol, no doubt about it. I was fortunate to see Carl play as a youngster both at Fenway Park and on television. He was graceful in left field, a decent 1st baseman, a pretty good DH, but a horrible 3rd sacker for the handful of games he played at the hot corner. Incredibly powerful for a man his stature, Yastrzemski had the most vicious uppercut swing the game has ever known. In left field, he played the famed “Green Monster” better than anyone ever has. He could throw runners out at any base as he either lead or was near the lead in outfield assists annually. At the plate, he would hit majestic homeruns off any pitcher and could also hit doubles off the wall at Fenway.

Saying these great things about Carl, I also can remember him dogging it now and then for no apparent reason. Then there's the playoff game versus the hated Yankees in 1978 when “Yaz” fouled out to third baseman Craig Nettles to end the game. I guess one can't have all pleasant memories of their god.

Today, Carl is a roving instructor for the Red Sox in the minor league system. He has also launched his official website (link above) which includes his bio, stats, merchandise, and the text of his Baseball Hall of Fame induction speech.

These players were the sports heroes of my youth. Are there any sports heroes today? There are indeed , from Dwyane Wade to Peyton Manning, Albert Pujols to Sidney Crosby, and even Tiger Woods with his ongoing problems is still considered a hero to many. However, I don't believe these sportsmen of today match up to what we had in my days growing up.

Maybe I'm getting old.

Dick

Send email to dlafrance2@207me.com

hit counter