Hockey 101: What Not To Do In The Stanley Cup Playoffs
The Conference Finals got underway yesterday, and the two games could not have been more opposite if one had been played on asphalt with rollerblades.
In a very tight game that started with San Jose scoring 1rst on the power play and then not scoring again, and Chicago scoring two unanswered full strength, I couldn't have been happier with Game 1 in the Western Conference Championships. This series was setup to go to a Game 7, with plenty of OT periods along the way, seemingly from the beginning of the season.
The other Game 1 today was a much different affair, and one that should be examined. For everything right that Philly did, the Habs did something wrong. Example: The Flyers scored 6 goals and the Canadiens scored 0. I know this won't be news to you, but on the whole this isn't how you play hockey.
Here are some other ways to not play hockey in the Stanley Cup Playoffs:
- Don't give up two unanswered power play goals.
- Don't give up six goals by six different skaters.
- Don't get penalized twice as much as your opponent.
- Don't let your opponent have 8 players with a +2 or higher rating.
So, you get the point. Pretty much the Philadelphia Flyers showed up for the opening game of the series on home ice, and the traveling "Les Habitants", The Habs, the Montreal Canadiens. As good as they've played throughout the playoffs so far I'm inclined to chalk Game 1 up to nerves, being a bit unprepared, and pretty much just getting overwhelmed in a very hostile arena.
I will guarantee one thing, however. If the Canadiens come out in Game 2 on Tuesday, which is the first game of the double header starting at 7:00pm Eastern on Verus on DIRECTV, they'll be down 0-2 to the high-flying Flyers, which, when you're the #8 seed "Cinderella" at the ball, is an unenviable position.
Check back Wednesday and we'll compare notes from Game 2 of both games.
