How Bout Them Playoff's

Oh, what a night! The NHL, and fans not from Pittsburgh, are very happy and excited for Tuesday night in the nation’s capital. The big players played there heart out and I am impressed with the resilience these Capitals have shown in the last two playoff series. An outcome of this game that was maybe not so good, was it gave big game goalie Marc-Andre Fleury his first career playoff OT loss. I guess it had to happen at some point in his career, but surprisingly against a team that had lost its last seven previous overtime games. It should be an amazing scene in downtown D.C. I just wish this series didn’t have to end, and that it doesn’t fatigue the winning team so much that they have nothing left for the next round.

The other game was up and down and all around, as Kane and Toews vaulted the upstart Blackhawks into the Western Conference Finals. Now, I don’t want to say I told you so, but… I told you that this team was the dark horse that no one was talking about! I am happy for this once proud organization, and now Cubs fans have something else to be distracted by for a little more time.

As we move forward to the Memorial Cup in this week’s Top Shelf (scorers I am keeping an eye on), I want to salute all of the MVP’s of the CHL tournaments. First the WHL, where the Kelowa Rockets captured the Ed Chynoweth Cup and Sabres 2008 draft pick Tyler Myers was named Tournament MVP. Myers, a 6-8 defenseman, had 20 points in 22 playoff games after compiling a career-high 42 points in the regular season, and has already signed an entry level contract for the Sabres.
In the OHL, the Wayne Gretzky "99" Award as the Most Valuable Player of the 2009 OHL Playoffs went to the young Tyler Hall. Hall has already been slated to be the top pick of the 2010 NHL Draft finishing with an amazing 36 points in 20 playoff games, after posting a 90 point campaign. Now he just has to stay focused with still another year in the OHL.
In the QMJH, Shawinigan and Drummondville will play a Game 7 Tuesday night, but it will be hard not to give it to Yannick Riendeau of Drummondville. Riendeau has 49 points in 18 games including 27 goals. The non-drafted Bruins property, Riendeau finished the 2008-2009 regular season as the league leader in goals, assists, points, power play goals and game-winning goals.
I hope all “Pucking Awesome” Blog Fans enjoy the Memorial Cup coming up May 15th!