Watched some great hockey over the weekend. My wings lost yesterday, but not too much to worry about yet, although I'd like to see the Power Play start working again.
One of the more interesting moments over the last few games came in the Montreal-Boston series. As I'm a big fan of original six NHL teams, and of the Habs, especially. But they're starting to try my patience. Montreal won the last game, but in the final minute had one of their players (Mike Ribeiro) give one of the greatest acting performances since "Raging Bull". After being knocked to the ground, Ribeiro fell down then seemed to notice that he was one of only two players back to defend against 3 attackers, which would have resulted in a 3 on 1. He then proceeds to writhe in pain on the ground for a good minute, doing his best impersenation of John Hurt in "Alien". After they stop play a trainer comes onto the ice, touches his shoulder for a few seconds and then Ribeiro gets up and skates to the bench, while trash talking to the Bruins bench. Classy, Mike, classy. Some of the real highlights were the interviews with Bruins players after the game.
Today, coach Claude Julien defended Ribeiro, saying he must be hurt because he didn't practice and didn't play in the remaining 35 seconds of the game. Of course he didn't play: He was too busy taunting Marty Lapointe!
Its hard to figure out how to deal with something like this, and I know I'm asking too much, but I expect nothing less than for the coach to issue an apology and insist that it won't happen again, and then make the player apologize. That would likely have put an end to it, and taken some of the wind out of Boston's sails as well. As it is, the Bruins are ready to play and mightily pissed-off (with reason).
Articles on the Ribeiro Affair
NY TIMES
Note to Boston for game 5: Invite Triumph to sing the Canadian National Anthem.
Note to Dallas after game 3: Thank you for being slightly less useless than I thought you were.
Note to Detroit for game 4: If I don't see a goaltender interferrence penalty or two on the box score, I'm going to start the petition to fire Dave Lewis myself. I'm sick of this.
I'm with you here, Andy. It's time for Vokoun to get "Riendeaux"-ed, a la Bob Probert.
Ron McLean says Boston fans won't boo the Canadian Anthem for game 5. I hope he's right.
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hnic/instigator/gfx/2003-2004/hebites.html
Well, my hope is that losing an overtime game that they should have won (because Boston was not called for a penalty) will be the only penance for the Habs, especially as the punishment fits the crime. But it may not be over yet. The only question is can Montreal come back from a 3-1 deficit. Not likely, but then all of the games (except the first) have been very close.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpdnRxM2dhBF9TAzk1ODYxODgzBHNlYwN0aA--?slug=ap-predators-redwings&prov=ap&type=lgns
If Lewis really thinks they're struggling because of goaltending then we're doomed.
Unless Cujo scores a goal, I don't see it making a big difference.