It's Here!

Well, we’re OFF! My favorite time of the year has begun… with about six hours of non-stop hockey on the tube last night, to be followed up with more of the same this evening. Tonight is when the real action begins for us Wings fans, last night was just hors d’oeuvres. But such tasty hors d’oeuvres they were! I watched Pittsburgh totally dominate Ottawa; the Sens were never in it last night and will be lucky to win one game in this series. I don’t get to see too much of the Eastern Conference during the regular season, given as how I live in a Hockey Wasteland. But based upon what I saw last evening, I think the Penguins have what it takes to make it to the Finals. I imagine folks in Montreal, New York, Boston, Philly, and New Jersey might have other ideas, however.

The Pens – Sens game was good, but the San Jose – Calgary game was what playoff hockey is all about… the game was physical and fast, complete with beauteous moves, bone-crushing hits, the odd fight or three, and an outcome that was in doubt until the final horn went off. Case in point:

Last minute in the third, the Sharks pull Nabokov for an extra skater and they score with less than a minute left. That wasn’t enough, however. San Jose couldn’t score again to send the game to OT, despite the flurry...nay, bombardment!... of shots in the remaining 50 seconds. Still and even, I’ll bet there were LOTS of hearts stuck in throats on The Red Mile until the horn went off. And lots of disappointed fans in San Jose, too. Game Two in the series is tonight, but it won’t be televised. Versus will show the Detroit game, followed up with the Dallas – Anaheim opener. The Ducks and the Stars will be every bit as good as the Sharks – Flames. As it's said: It's ALL good!

I wasn’t disappointed with last night’s outcome. On the one hand I’d like to see San Jose go out in the first round, as I have a tendency to root for the underdog. OTOH, that means the Wings would get Calgary in the second round (assuming the Wings advance), and I’m not so sure that would be a good thing. We handled them easily last year, but the Flames can be…and are… a dangerous team. But if San Jose wins the series and Colorado upsets Minnesota (the Avs are on their way), then Deeetroit gets the Avs in the second round. A Wings - Avs series is always entertaining, to say the VERY least. And it could be shades of 2002, as well.

Either way is fine with me. We just have to get by Nashville first. Game ON!