Day-50 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs:
Observations and Random thoughts by Chris Madsen:
ATTENTION ALL BROADCASTERS: Now that we are three games into this Series, will all please take note that the Bruins and Blackhawks are playing in the STANLEY CUP FINAL…not the Stanley Cup Finals. This drives me crazy. Have you watched a single period of play? It says FINAL right on the ice!
Now, if we can only convince Hall of Fame Announcer Doc Emrick that you cannot “further” a puck. However, a puck can travel “farther”.
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AND THAT’S A POWER PLAY?: The Blackhawks have amassed one, that’s right, (1) shot on goal during their last 5 Power Plays. How do you have a man advantage and yet there seems to be two Bruins in pursuit of a loose puck to every one guy for the Blackhawks? And have you ever seen a Power Play more reliant on the guys at the point than what the Blackhawks are telegraphing right now? With guys like Kane, Toews, Sharp and Hossa (hopefully, he will return for Game-4 from “an upper body injury”), how is it that the Power Play cannot seem to work the puck into a shooting position from the top of the circles down?
No wonder Tuukka Rask was able to toss his third shutout of the Playoffs in Game 3!
BTW, Rask will bring a shutout streak of over 166 minutes on home ice into Game 4, which is scheduled for Wednesday night in Boston. Better turn the “Power” back on, Chicago!
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HOME…HOME ON THE RANGE(RS): You just knew, that when former Canucks Coach Alain Vigneault withdrew his name from consideration in Dallas that he was bound to land somewhere. Now, several sources are saying that he will be introduced later this week as the new Head Coach of the New York Rangers.
It is said to be a 5-year contract worth about $10 million.
That’s along time to be saddled with a guy whose team lit-up the Regular Season (313-170-57 over 7 seasons with Vancouver), but failed miserably in the Playoffs with a mark of (33-32).
Vigneault replaces John Tortorella–was fired by the Rangers on May 29. Several sources are saying that Tortorella has had one interview with the Canucks, and that he will be brought back for a second interview.
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UNTIL THE NEXT TIME WE LACE ‘EM UP AND HIT THE ICE!–Chris Madsen
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TONIGHT’S SCHEDULE:
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