Puck You! The Legend Returns
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Text message I received on my cell phone last night: "Hey al...ROENICK!"
Mike Eng sent me that message literally seconds following Jeremy Roenick's OT goal that send Philadelphia flying past Toronto. I then, like any hardcore fan, went on to flip out over the phone about how Roenick and the Flyers team should all rot in hell.
But now that the dust has settled and it's a new day, let's just reflect on last nights game. Like Melissa I missed the first period, well not entirely. I could portions of it from the AV Times office. I missed the second as well because I didn't get home from work yet. Again, the Flyers came out hungrier, probably carrying the momentum of that 7-2 shellacking in game 5. They took a 2-0 lead going into the second and things weren't looking so good.
The third period started slow, with no team getting any quality chances, but then things picked up. Off all players, Karel Pilar, playing his first post-season game in 2004, got Toronto on the board with a nice point shot that went off the post. Then Mats Sundin also scored later to force the game into overtime, and Toronto carried the momentum even into the extra frame.
Tie Domi had a great chance to score the winner but Robert Esche had a big save. The season is over for Toronto and it'll be interesting to see what the summer brings. I hope Philly gets struck by the Lightning and lose in four straight.
I spend enough time as it is sticking up for my team over here in Vancouver Canuck territory, but I can't help but criticize them too. I think they're too old for one thing. Their average age is 32, and it shows on the ice. They're not as fast as the other teams are, and they're getting beat to a lot of loose pucks. I really think they need more youth on their team. I look at the four teams remaining, and I wonder what difference experience really makes.
My puck you goes to, you guessed it, Jeremy Roenick, for putting away the Maple Leafs and sending Philly into the third round. Damn JR, talking about how, oh, I was planning to shoot that side and all that garbage. He was lucky.........LUCKY!
Question marks are surrounding the Leafs now. I think they need to make some serious changes, beginning with Pat Quinn. I liked this guy earlier in his Leaf days, but they've had too many playoff disappointments. I think they could use a new coach, I really do. Also, get rid of Antropov, please. Why have you hung on for this guy so long? Aki Berg - you're done! Get rid of this guy too, what has he done all series? And get a new backup goalie, a more youthful one because injuries will plague Belfour if he stays another season I know it. Anyways, "enough is enough and it's time for a change," as Owen Hart used to say.
Certainly the talent was there, but the chemistry wasn't. I think Toronto should quit trading for washed up 'old guys', like Leetch and Francis, and get a little more youth on this squad.
Mike Eng sent me that message literally seconds following Jeremy Roenick's OT goal that send Philadelphia flying past Toronto. I then, like any hardcore fan, went on to flip out over the phone about how Roenick and the Flyers team should all rot in hell.
But now that the dust has settled and it's a new day, let's just reflect on last nights game. Like Melissa I missed the first period, well not entirely. I could portions of it from the AV Times office. I missed the second as well because I didn't get home from work yet. Again, the Flyers came out hungrier, probably carrying the momentum of that 7-2 shellacking in game 5. They took a 2-0 lead going into the second and things weren't looking so good.
The third period started slow, with no team getting any quality chances, but then things picked up. Off all players, Karel Pilar, playing his first post-season game in 2004, got Toronto on the board with a nice point shot that went off the post. Then Mats Sundin also scored later to force the game into overtime, and Toronto carried the momentum even into the extra frame.
Tie Domi had a great chance to score the winner but Robert Esche had a big save. The season is over for Toronto and it'll be interesting to see what the summer brings. I hope Philly gets struck by the Lightning and lose in four straight.
I spend enough time as it is sticking up for my team over here in Vancouver Canuck territory, but I can't help but criticize them too. I think they're too old for one thing. Their average age is 32, and it shows on the ice. They're not as fast as the other teams are, and they're getting beat to a lot of loose pucks. I really think they need more youth on their team. I look at the four teams remaining, and I wonder what difference experience really makes.
My puck you goes to, you guessed it, Jeremy Roenick, for putting away the Maple Leafs and sending Philly into the third round. Damn JR, talking about how, oh, I was planning to shoot that side and all that garbage. He was lucky.........LUCKY!
Question marks are surrounding the Leafs now. I think they need to make some serious changes, beginning with Pat Quinn. I liked this guy earlier in his Leaf days, but they've had too many playoff disappointments. I think they could use a new coach, I really do. Also, get rid of Antropov, please. Why have you hung on for this guy so long? Aki Berg - you're done! Get rid of this guy too, what has he done all series? And get a new backup goalie, a more youthful one because injuries will plague Belfour if he stays another season I know it. Anyways, "enough is enough and it's time for a change," as Owen Hart used to say.
Certainly the talent was there, but the chemistry wasn't. I think Toronto should quit trading for washed up 'old guys', like Leetch and Francis, and get a little more youth on this squad.
