NHL Playoffs: Hats off to a bunch of jerks

Written by

Janet Eagleson

Published on April 24, 2019

The Hurricanes are already what the Maple Leafs should be. I love this bunch of jerks.
Petr Mrazek wasn't good enough for the lowly Wings. He wasn't even good enough for the Canes heading into this season. Just look at him now.

Now four division champs are gone. GONE. Get in and you really can win.
Geez, Justin Williams does it again. That's 15 Game 7 points all-time. Which old guy would you want -- Williams or Patrick Marleau. Yup, 100% of the time.
The Leafs didn't lose because Jake Gardiner made a queasy pass in Game 7. They didn't lose because Frederik Anderson's worst game was Tuesday. They lost because of dozens of little reasons, compounded from mid-season to now.
Speaking of the Leafs. Mike Babcock's stubbornness will be his downfall. Like his third-period line choices. Patrick Marleau with Auston Matthews with six minutes left? You, me and every coach alive would have shortened the bench and rolled the studs.
Like it or not, the referees had the discretion to make the Cody Eakin call. The bottom line is simple. The Knights collapsed and Marc-Andre Fleury allowed not one, not two, not three but FOUR goals in 4:01.
Joe Pavelski was badly hurt on a play that could have happened in any game in the NHL. More often than not, the guy who loses the face-off crosschecks the winner. It's been an acceptable play. Not any more. Godspeed, little Joe.
Jamie McGinn's goal-mouth slide saved the game early in OT. Then he delivered the game by outmuscling Tom Wilson in the crease. First star all the way.
Dougie Hamilton's favorite player growing up was Alexander Ovechkin. It makes the little hate-on the two have going even funnier.
Barclay Goodrow played hero for the Sharks in 7:26 of ice time. Across almost four periods. I sure hope his parents were in the house. #livingthedream
The Caps were great, but didn't they look old and slow as the game went on?