I heard that the Pittsburgh Penguins are the new Stanley Cup Champions. I didn’t personally watch any of the Stanley Cup final games when they were broadcast.  I was so incensed by Gary Bettman and the NHL kowtowing to the NBC schedulers (putting all of the players at a disadvantage by making them unnecessarily play back to back games) that I vowed not to watch. After hearing about Crosby’s breach of Stanley Cup etiquette, I am glad I remained true to my boycott. 

Apparently Crosby was too busy celebrating to shake the hand of Nicklas Lidstrom when the line formed. Nick Lidstrom waited around awhile but Crosby wasn’t forthcoming. Being the gentleman he is, Lidstrom did not complain in the press. But his teammate of over 15 years, Kris Draper, another gentleman and fellow four time Stanley Cup Champion refused to remain silent. Now Draper is being castigated in the media for taking a shot at hockey’s Poster Boy, Sidney Crosby. How dare Draper?

Lidstrom and the rest of the Red Wings formed the line, as did most other Penguins, and went through the time honored ritual which makes hockey the greatest sport. The self-absorbed Sidney was nowhere to be found. Crosby can’t plead innocent by lack of inexperience. He was in the same line last year on the losing side.  Traditionally, Coaches and Captains seek each other out immediately to congratulate each other as soon as the lines form. Crosby may have captained his team to the Stanley Cup but that doesn’t mean he can flout tradition because he’s God’s newest gift to hockey.

I am very happy for Long Island’s own Rob Scuderi, a St. Anthony HS alum, who came up through the hockey programs out here in Suffolk County and later at Boston College. I am also happy that  another Staal brother gets his name on the Stanley Cup. I only hope that our Staal will have the same good fortune with the Rangers some day soon. 

In fact, I congratulate all the Pittsburgh Penguins, except Sidney Crosby. Bettman has chosen his Poster Boy well. Both have a lot of class, all of it low.

Posted under New York Rangers

As if we haven’t had enough of the NHL making up new rules to punish the unworthy, ie the Avery Rule, last night Evgeni Malkin got an instigator penalty during the last five minutes of  the game but he will not get the requisite one day suspension that goes along with it.

Is it because he’s Evgeni Malkin? (Rhetorical question) Some rules don’t apply to players like Malkin, Crosby and Ovechkin. Rules are only invented or “interpreted” to punish the unworthy, the goons, the fourth line pariahs of the league. But. you can bet you sweet assets if Niklas Kronwall or Tomas Holmstrom had been the instigator last night they wouldn’t see the white of the ice at the Igloo on Tuesday. They’re not worthy.

What with the Penguins being down 2-0 in the series, suspending Malkin would put the Penguins at a potentially insurmountable disadvantage for game 3. Gary and Colie couldn’t let that happen, now could they? They cant’ let the Ice Chickens and the Poster Boy go down in flames. They must have this series go on as long as possible to put that extra playoff money in Mario’s pocket.

I did not watch the game on Saturday or last night in protest of the NBC BullSh*t scheduling. I saw the play in question on NHL on the Fly. Malkin got 5 for fighting, 2 for instigating and a 10 minute misconduct. According to the NHL rules, Malkin should be suspended for one game. What happens if Malkin commits another suspendable offense? Because he was not suspend for the one game yesterday, will he get a pass on his next offense? 

Malkin was stymied all game by the Red Wings and by the end of the game was extremely frustrated and vented that frustration. So far, Makin has 41 minutes in penalties during the playoffs.  That’s about half the penalty minutes he’d had all season. While Malkin may not be a fourth line goon, judging by his performance last night he’s a powder keg waiting to explode.

47.22 Fines and Suspensions – Instigator in Final Five Minutes of Regulation Time (or Anytime in Overtime) - A player or goalkeeper who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five (5) minutes of regulation time or at anytime in overtime, shall automatically be suspended for one game. The Director of Hockey Operations will review every such incident and may rescind the suspension based on a number of criteria. The criteria for the review shall include, but not limited to, the score, previous incidents, etc. The length of suspension will double for each subsequent offense. This suspension shall be served in addition to any other automatic suspensions a player may incur for an accumulation of three or more instigator penalties.

Following Campbell’s review of the situation, he determined Malkin should have been assessed a game misconduct for not having his jersey tied down during the fight but not suspended as an instigator. Now isn’t that conveeeeenient. (Church Lady font)

Way to go Colin!  Make the NHL more of a joke.

Posted under New York Rangers

Because of Gary Bettman’s lousy television contract, the Stanley Cup Final schedule is being dictated to the NHL, its teams, the players and their fan base by the programmers at NBC Sports.

The first two games of the Stanley Cup finals are going to be played back to back this weekend in Detroit because NBC doesn’t want to take up its valuable weeknight primetime schedule with NHL hockey. Bettman acquiesces because he needs the exposure for the NHL and he’ll take it anyway he can get it, even if it means putting the game and it’s players to disadvantage.

After garnering good ratings with the Winter Classic, one would think that NBC would be willing to put the Stanley Cup Finals up against its schedule of all repeat sitcoms on Monday night, thus allowing both teams a day off in between games. Televising the Stanley Cup Finals in primetime might also attract fans who might not watch midday on a weekend but would watch on a week night. But, that would make too much sense.

Having back to back games on Saturday and Sunday is a win/win situation for Pittsburgh, whose younger legs might not be so weary come Sunday, as opposed to the beat up Red Wings.  Doesn’t it play into Herr Bettman’s hands to give the Penguins every possible advantage. The Cindy Crosby/Gary Bettman love fest continues.

For me, the best possible scenario is for the Red Wings to sweep and for the NBC ratings to be dismal this weekend. Well, maybe a sweep is too hopeful but I’ll take a  Red Wings victory anyway they can get it.I wonder how the officials will try to hand the series to Penguins.  Let’s see if they’ll make up any “new rules” during this series. Perhaps they’ll drag out the old “goaltender interference penalty on Tomas Holmstrom” chestnut that worked so well last year. Maybe another intended but not blown whistle to waive off a goal. 

If the Wings do prevail, their victory will be besmirched for the simple reason that for yet another year, we will have to watch that smarmy little pisher of a Commissioner hand out the greatest trophy in sports.

LET’S GO RED WINGS

Posted under New York Rangers

Saturday was my first game back in the Garden since the Avalanche game on February 28th. I refuse to humor MSG and NBC by giving up my entire Sunday to encourage their ridiculous schedulers. No professional hockey game should be played at 12:30 in the afternoon.

Of course after such a long absence, one has to catch up with their section mates. Since last I posted nearly two weeks ago, the Rangers have gone 4-2 in  their last six games. In fact, since John Tortorella replaced Tom Renney as coach the Rangers have gone 7- 4- 1 in 12 games.

I asked the couple who sits in front of me, George and Joanne,  if they thought that John Tortorella was the difference maker in the Rangers recent success. Was the new style of play the reason why the Rangers were winning? Or, were the players putting in more effort since they had gotten their way when Sather fired Tom Renney? I was not prepared for the answer I received.

Joanne, very insightfully, said it really wasn’t possible to say whether or not the Rangers would have had less or more success under Renney. Tortorella had the benefit of the trade deadline acquisitions of Avery, Antropov and Morris. Out of the mouth of babes. I mean that in the most flattering way. Joanne is a babe. I don’t usually associate hockey acumen with babehood.

But, her response gave me pause. She comes to almost all the games with George. George coaches hockey. Joanne goes to those games, too. Of course she would make an insightful response. There are many intelligent, knowledgeable and passionate women hockey fans out there. Sometimes I forget that because the vast majority of the fans in the stands and on the messageboards are men.

So George, if you read this, you better realize Joanne’s a keeper. She’s cute. She understands hockey and she likes you. What more could a guy want?

Posted under New York Rangers