Both of Canada's Teams now find themselves on the brink of elimination. The Canucks picked up a big win on Sunday, but at best they have a 15% probability of winning the series. Montreal faces similar odds, but if Hall Gill is not in the lineup next game I'd say that will be all she wrote for the Canadiens. Vancouver has an equally difficult task, needing to win back to back games against the 2nd place team in the Conference, likely without Sami Salo who took a devastating shot to the nuts tonight. You are probably looking at an 80% chance that neither is able to win their series and maybe a 3% chance that both win their series.
So that debate about who is Canada's team for this playoff run doesn't really matter anymore. Unless the unlikely actually happens, I will be shifting my allegiance to the Boston Bruins for the remainder of the playoffs. When Montreal is eliminated, the Bruins become the Cinderella team of the post season. My father once tried out for Boston, on the same blue line as Bobby Orr. Not a lot of people can say that.
Oh Ye of little faith!!!
ReplyDelete4-1 Canucks over the Blackhawks!!!
If Montreal loses, they'll riot. But if Montreal wins, they'll riot. They are distinct.
ReplyDeleteThe Canucks management failed the team in the '08/09 off season. The Canucks lost in '09 because their defence couldn't handle Dustin Byfuglien at the net,or their swift and determined forwards,Kane,Toews, on the sideboards.
ReplyDeleteManagement knew it was likely they'd face Chicago in the playoffs again, so they failed to trade for a big tough defenceman who could handle Byfuglien.
Luongo is,as usual, brilliant,then terrible,then brilliant again,then terrible............ The Canucks need a defence that can make up for Luongo's shortcomings on off nights,and while they're close, they're not quite there yet.
Canada's team? They already played,won the Gold Medal in the Olympics in February,anybody in the NHL finals is a concoction of multi-nationals that just happen to be situated in a Canadian city.
Some American teams probably have more Canadian players than some Canadian teams,so a "Canada's Team" in the NHL playoffs is a bit of a misnomer.
I just cheer for the underdog or whoever plays the hardest,and so far,it's been Montreal and Chicago.
DMorris