East Shows Convincing Wins
Ovechkin Debuts Tonight
Well, the important game one is over for three of four series in the East. All three of the games ended one sided and all the winners showed what the playoffs are all about. Scoring and goaltending are the obvious ingredients to winning, but this time of year is all about grit and the value of the fore-check. Pittsburgh, New York, and Montreal all took a 1-0 game lead over their opponents and here is why.
All three teams scored first, scored a lot while getting incredible goaltending and an amazing performance from their respectable checking lines.
Pittsburgh Penguins 4 – Ottawa Senators 0
Pittsburgh took game one thanks in part from a huge game from veteran Gary Roberts. Whoever said this forty-two year old grinder is too old for the big league was just proved wrong. He scored two goals and rumbled himself sixteen penalty minutes in the game. Sidney Crosby was held off the scoring sheet and took more hits than he had shots. This takes attention off Evgeni Malkin who had a 3 point night.
Ottawa always looked a step behind and could not get one of their twenty-six shots by Fleury. Daniel Alfredsson is being missed already as the offense was no where to be found. Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza only combined for six shots, which will not cut it. These two need to step up with the absence of their captain.
The third period was very entertaining that brought two melees in the last five minutes. Game two will be just as intense as this one.
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New York Rangers 4 - New Jersey Devils 1
Former Devil, Scott Gomez, proved that karma really exists. He tallied three assists to lead the Rangers to a dominating win against his old defensive team. Just like Roberts to the Penguins, Sean Avery’s role to be the king of all pests. Avery annoys, disturbs, and is hated by everyone on the teams he faces. On top of all that, he scores big goals. This grinder put in the third goal that sealed the game for New York.
The Devils on the other hand, failed at what they do best, play defense. Their stars played so-so and though they were not out-shot by the Rangers they were out performed. This team needs more anger and drive to win this series. It does not help that Henrik Lundqvist is playing his best hockey ever.
Sean Avery and Ryan Callahan are two fore-checkers that owned New Jersey in game one. The thought that New York won this game with a quiet Jaromir Jagr is scary.
Montreal Canadiens 4 – Boston Bruins 1
You knew Boston was in a dilemma when the Kostitsyn brothers scored two goals in the first two minutes of the game for Montreal. The Canadiens set the pace early and kept the pace late. It was unbelievable to see them hitting the much larger Bruins, especially Zdeno Chara. The speedy Habs really showed how superior they were in game one and the score should have been worse for Boston.
The Bruins looked really slow and lost at times. They only got off eighteen shots and their dump-ins were useless to the great hands of goalie, Carey Price. The Montreal goalie is so comfortable with the puck unlike their net minder, Tim Thomas. He should be voted the sloppiest goalie in the playoffs with his un-coordinated style. Definitely not as bad as Roman Cechmanik but terribly close.
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I do not know how the Bruins could pull off an upset. They got spanked by a team without their captain. Boston better start watching videos and play-by-plays to make this an interesting series.
Tonight is the long awaited playoff debut of Alexander Ovechkin. It will very interesting to see how the much bigger Flyers attempt to contain the young gun. The Washington Capitals and the Philadelphia Flyers will put on a great show in this highly anticipated series.
By Kevin Chaves
ProHockey-fans.com Staff Writer
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