Just a few things that caught my eye:
- Ever notice how the cream always rises to the top? Jonathan Toews rebounded after a sub-par effort in Game 1. And he's only 20 years old. I'm telling you -- he's either channelling Steve Yzerman or Joe Sakic; take your pick. Either one carried his team like a sherpa.
- Weird stat. The Red Wings have allowed a power-play goal in in a franchise-record 11 straight playoff games. It's the league's longest streak during a single post-season in a couple of decades. Something like this could catch up to them at a really bad time.
- Stem to stern, that Blackhawks' D is the fastest and most mobile group of six I've ever seen. I get all ga-ga over Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. And sometimes I'm hard on Brian Campbell. But Niklas Hjalmarsson, Cam Barker and Matt Walker are the best four-five-six around right now, at least for mobility. And all are under 30...
- The pride of Newfoundland was at it again. Good for him.
- Definition of clutch? Mikael Samuelsson has goals in three straight; the last two have been game winners. Those damn Wings are just so deep.
- Judge Redfield Baum has sent Gary Bettman and Jerry Moyes to their respective naughty chairs and has told them they need to mediate the Coyote situation. You and I both know how that's going to work. Two-year-olds are the most violent creatures on earth.
- Speaking of Phoenix it seems the great Wayne Gretzky will be out as coach if the low-ball offer from Jerry Reinsdorf is accepted. Does that not seem strange to you? Maybe he should move home to Brantford... hey wait -- isn't Hamilton about 20 minutes from Brantford? My gawd, there really is a conspiracy in the desert.
- Things don't look great for Tuomo Ruutu and Eric Cole. There seemed to be a sombre resignation to the team at practice today with guys talking about 'moving on'. That leaves the trio of Joni Pitkanen, Tim Gleason and Scott Walker to play the heavy. Unless household name Dan LaCouture gets the call. I'm not even shaking in my boots.