Kicking Off The New Week

I would just like to say that no, I didn't forget about this blog over the last couple days. If you knew the kind of week I'd had you'd understand why I needed a couple days to just unwind and get my head back.

Also, my playoff preview post for Apryl DeLancey is up and has been for a couple days. Like I said, I've been unplugged for a couple days so Here it is.

Cheech was in town this weekend so we went up and hung out with him and The Nurse for the first time in who knows how long. There were intentions of getting a post up yesterday, but between watching the Penguins beat the Flyers like a rented mule and it being selection Sunday, that went out the window.

Anyway, it's Monday so here's what's going on in the world of pucks.


Pronger Suspended 8 Games For Stomping Incident

So I suppose I should take pride in the fact that I ranted about Pronger all last week and he finally does end up being suspended. Look out, cause I feel very little vindication.

Colin Campbell, are you kidding me? Seriously? Eight games? That's it?

In the grand scheme of things, what does an eight-game suspension even do to the Ducks? Here's your answer: NOTHING.

Pronger will be back in time for the playoffs and back in time to get a couple games under his belt before the playoffs start.

How can you justify giving Chris Simon 30 games for the same thing and then give Pronger only eight?

Granted Chris Simon has done more malicious things on the ice than Pronger and is a dirtier player, but Pronger is also a repeat offender when it comes to suspensions.

I was calling for at least 10, but upon further review and discussion with Cheech about this, he should have gotten 15-20. The Ducks are going to the playoffs regardless of how these final games go. That's a given.

When the team is healthy they are one of, if not the most dominant teams in the NHL. Losing Pronger during the playoffs would hurt the Ducks in my opinion, but losing him for almost all of the regular season isn't sending him a message.

Boo to you Campbell in letting this happen, but at least you broke out the ruler to slap him on the wrist like a Catholic school nun.

Simon has even spoken out about this claiming that there are two sets of rules. One for the gritty tough guys and one for the pretty boys like Pronger.

Read More Here

Forsberg May Return Tonight

Honestly, who didn't see Forsberg getting hurt here? Anyone?

Anyway, getting Forsberg back and Adam Foote back should help this team get into the playoffs. If I had to pick a darkhorse in the Western Conference it would be these guys.

When healthy this team can flat out play. The only question mark to me is if Jose Theodore can keep up his play of late in the playoffs. If he can, the Avs could be a team to look out for.

Sundin, Antropov Out Tonight

Cheech looked at me this weekend and said "Why do my beloved Leafs do this to me every year? They play like crap all season and then decide to show up in March. Th make a run to get back in the playoff hunt, getting my hopes up. I know what the eventual outcome will be, but this is ridiculous."

He had basically mailed in the season back in December when the team was 14th in the Eastern Conference. Who could blame him? Then all of a sudden the Leafs start playing solid hockey and have been one of the hottest teams in the league over the past month and a half.

With nine games to go, they sit six points out of a playoff spot as the current 12-seed in the East. Any chance they did had is now probably gone with Mats Sundin and Nik Antropov being injured.

Both of those guys lead the Leafs in points. If there is any chance of getting in, the young guys need to step up and start carrying the team. If I was a Leafs fan, I'd be getting the golf clubs ready.

Oilers Snap Sharks' 11-Game Win Streak

With a shootout win last night the Oilers ended the Sharks' 11-game win streak. Winning 11 straight in the NHL is something to be proud of and not many teams can say they've actually done it. Some of you my be saying "Oh well look at the Houston Rockets, they've won 22 straight so what do you have t say to that?"



A 22 game streak is impressive, but here's my problem with the NBA. There's no contact. I don't call the little bumping while going up for a rebound or taking a charge contact. Plus, for the most part they just stand around on the court looking for the one guy on the team that any sports idiot could name.

Try playing for 60 minutes and getting drilled into the boards and battling for every inch of ice and then tell me that the NBA is a physical league. Please. These guys bend a finger back and are out for a month. Cry me a river, guys in the NHL could have a broken bone in their foot and if they can get it in a skate they play on it.

I'm much more excited to watch March Madness than see whatever goes on in the NBA playoffs.

One final note today. As stated throughout the week, this was the opening round of the playoffs in our fantasy league. I have to say this because Gopher had a blog of his own ready for me to post should I have gone down in the first round.

All week I trailed, then Saturday came and I took a marginal 8-6 lead into Sunday. Thanks to some stellar play by the Penguins and Marc-Andre Fleury I ended up winning by that same margin.

That's right, the Runner Up Superstars are marching on to the semi-finals where they will face Cheech for the third straight year.

This should be a fun one.