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NHL Playoff Observations: Ring of Fire

Just a few things that caught my eye:

  • I was going to wonder out loud if Devin Dubnyk had run out of gas. But not any more. He's fine. His team? Running on fumes.
  • Is it me or does Brian Burke have old-man eyebrows? Maybe it's that awful slicked-back hair that makes those brows look like small mammals. And that open shirt, tie-over-the-shoulder look? He looks like the father of the bride at about midnight -- disheveled, greasy and louder than life. Maybe he should try threading. I hear it works for men, too.

  • Patrick Kane absolutely owns the Wild in the postseason. Try nine goals and six assists in 14 playoff games spread over the last three years. #sizzle.
  • "Proper levels of pugnacity, testosterone, truculence and belligerence." I wonder where the 5-9/150 Johnny Gaudreau fits in that description. Or the 5-10, uber-skilled Jiri Hudler, who just happened to be the man screening the goalie on the winner. And taking a beating. How would Burkie rationalize that?
  • Corey Crawford is like a brain worm in Minny's head -- even coach Mike Yeo's: "He's a star against us. He's Brodeur. He's Roy. He's everybody against us, so we've got to find a way to solve that." Brodeur? Roy? Right. This is the same goalie who was pulled in the first round against Nashville. Wow.
  • The Flames pulled it out, but they won't get much more. Their top line has just one point this postseason and it came on Gaudreau's winner Tuesday. The Ducks' top line? Try 17 playoff points. Now that's a mismatch.
  • Where-o-where did the Wild's power play go? Oh, where-o-where could it be? They were 6-for-17 heading into Tuesday. Then they went 0-for-3 ... with NO SHOTS on two of those three. Ugh.
  • Toronto sports radio has spent a good chunk of the day debating whether or not Sam Bennett should dress and therefore burn year one of his entry-level deal. Argh. There is no debate. He makes their team better, so you don't send a message to your team by benching him.
  • The Flames have every right to be outraged about that Sam Bennett non-goal. That pad-save kick out will become the most-viewed gif of the week. But they got their revenge.
  • Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire. What an apt post-game anthem.