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NHL Playoff Observations -- Friday Night

Just a few things that caught my eye:

  • I got some extra sleep Thursday night. I didn't mean to but there was nothing decent on TV.
  • Steve Downie, Sean Bergenheim and Dominic Moore are not only the Bolts' best line but perhaps tops on all teams left in the postseason. Speedy, determined, physical, skilled and unbelievably irritating.
  • Is there a better player to watch than Pavel Datsyuk? I rewound my PVR (not unlike a TiVo) to watch him pick Ryan Clowe's pocket from behind, immediately transition to offense and then undress Niclas Wallin on an outside-in move for a clear lane to Antti Niemi. Sidney Crosby is the best in the game but it could be easily argued that Datsyuk is number two. He's brilliant in all three zones. 
  • What the freak was Antti Niemi doing in the second period? It was like watching a guy try to eat soup with a fork -- he couldn't pick up a thing. 
  • Steven Stamkos got just what he needed -- a dirty goal. Teams have shutdown his (one-dimensional) one-timer so he needs to do something else and fast. Looks like he's found it.
  • Speaking of Sid the Kid, I got a sick feeling in my gut when the news broke he'd had a post-concussion setback. I've said it before and I hope I'm completely wrong, but check the parallels between Crosby and last second-coming... Eric Lindros.
  • Anyone else notice there aren't any great teams left in the postseason? Good teams, yes. But great? Not a chance. Every single one has some serious warts. And so far, I'm seriously unimpressed by Round 2 -- can you spell pedestrian?
  • Drum roll please -- Washington's top scoring center is... Marcus Johanasson? 
  • Joe Pavelski finally showed up for the game at 9:38 of the third period. He laid down a perfect bunt up the first base line to send it to extra innings. It was just what the doctor ordered for the boys in teal.