One of the most amazing parts about playoffs in sports is that the teams and players involved have the opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. As well, the fact that come playoff time it’s anybody’s ball game.
But rather then discussing the upsets we witness time and time again where the first place honcho is knocked out by the eighth place underdog I’m going to dig a little deeper and talk about the individuals who suddenly have come alive during the playoffs, specifically in the NHL.
In 2005/06, the hockey world watched as round by round the Edmonton Oilers, an 8th seed eliminated three higher ranked teams including the top seed in their conference and marched to the to the Stanley Cup finals. Leading the charge was Oiler forward Fernando Pisani. Pisani scored 14 goals in the playoffs, only four less then he scored all season long.
In 2007/08 the Detroit Red Wings, who were known as “chocks” due to previous early exits from the playoffs after strong regular seasons, walked into the 07/08 playoffs, once again on top of the NHL mountain. After only notching 38 points in 80 regular season games, Johan “The Mule” Franzen tallied 13 playoff goals in 08 carrying the Detroit Red Wings over the playoff hump and to Lord Stanley’s Cup along with stars Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg.
The theme of unlikely heroes has carried itself into the 2008/09 playoffs as Jussi Jokinen who before this playoffs was really only known for his impressive shootout numbers, helped the Hurricanes to a first round upset over the New Jersey Devils and a 3-2 series lead over the Boston Bruins in round two. What’s amazing about Jokinen’s performance thus far is not his numerous goals but yet the timing of them. With six goals in the playoffs three of them are game winners and one led to Carolinas late game seven victory over the Devils.
If Jokinens knack for scoring late continues, the Canes could be walking the same road they did in 06… The road to the Stanley Cup.
The Battle of Two Heavyweights
In black shorts and yellow trim, Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara is 6”9 and weights in at about 255 lbs.
His opponent, in red shorts and white trim, Carolina Hurricanes forward Eric Staal is 6”4 and weighs in at about 205 lbs.
The two have been matched up against each other all series long and the 50 pound weight difference proved to be irrelevant to Eric Staal. In the first rounds [games] between the two, Staal basically dominated the Great Wall of Chara.
But likely Norris Trophy winner, Zdeno Chara isn’t going down without throwing a few blows to his opponent. In round five between the two tonight, Chara pummeled Staal on a few occasions as the Bruins cut the series lead to 3-2.
With great series’ like Washington vs. Pittsburgh and Anaheim vs. Detroit a Carolina vs. Boston series seemed to be an underdog when it came to excitement and fan appreciation in the second round. But as the series moves to game six and story lines continue to build hockey fans have to be happy with what they’ve gotten out of this series thus far.
My personal favorite storyline… Paul Maurice behind the bench of a winning team. Anyone at MLSE want to comment?
