Thursday Morning Hockey, part 1

I promised hockey articles, so here this is.

Normally I don't post about hockey because the Pens are my team, and the Pensblog and Empty Netters do way better jobs covering them than I could ever do, even if I were unemployed and did nothing but use the Internet all day.

Most of the amateurish posts on the Pens are from armchair GMs and other "geniuses" who know, just KNOW, how to solve the Pens' woes during a dreaded 2 game losing streak. These people suck. For future reference, during events of Penguin non-dominance, you may visit the following site:

[Arethepensgoingtobeok.com]

Meanwhile, the rest of the league. In the Eastern Conference, the Caps have basically clinched their division by now and are hoping they can clinch the number one spot in the East. If you're also trying to remember the last time a 1st seed in the East made the Stanley Cup Finals, much less won it all, you're not alone. The highest seeds to make it recently: 4th (Penguins and Senators), 2nd (Penguins, Hurricanes, and Lightning). The "race" for 3rd seed, meanwhile, is more meaningful in my book. The 6th seed in the playoffs is usually the hottest team. Both of the last two years, the 6th seed has lost to the Penguins in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Coincidence? Yes. But also, there's a lot to be said for finishing your season on a high note. If I were a betting man (OK, if I were a GOOD betting man), I'd put money on the Islanders to be that seed, since their play of late has been very solid. I wouldn't be surprised to see Philly there, either.

In the West, we have an orgy of talent at all levels. The Sharks lead, to no one's surprise, but we can all remember how well they've done each spring. I don't see their playoff push being a particularly long one this year, either. The Hawks are good, but in the same way the Sharks are. I see a lot of people picking them to win it all, but right now I don't see them winning the Cup. The two most bizarre things about the "other" conference right now are:

1. Nashville?!? PHOENIX?!?

2. Calgary plummeting in the standings.

Obviously, Calgary will be fine. They always make the playoffs, and they're also always a tough out. I hope that both the aforementioned unpopular teams make it, and then move to a city that cares. Nashville had great seasons a few years ago, and their attendance still sucked. These teams deserve better.

And can we briefly talk about Gretzky's legacy? The second he stops coaching the Yotes they go from punchline to powerhouse. Coincidence? NO!


Finally, your game of the night. This one should be obvious:

Capitals @ Penguins, 7:30

WHY: If you need to ask, you haven't been paying attention to hockey.

WHY NOT: You don't like either team?

CAPS WIN BECAUSE: Theodore is on a hot streak, and you always take the hot goalie. Revenge factor is in play (the Pens haven't thought too much about the Caps, whereas the Caps are obsessed). Caps on a winning streak against decent teams. Home ice seems to mean nothing to these teams. Ovechkin desperately wants to embarass the Pens at home.

PENS WIN BECAUSE: Brent Johnson may start, and goalie playing against former club is most of the time an extra edge. Crosby shows up huge against rivals, and right now he's the best goal scorer in the league. The Caps are better than last year, and the guys will be motivated to test themselves. Fuck the Caps.

PREDICTION: Capitals 5, Penguins 3. Injuries have given the Penguins unfamiliar line combos, and Washington will jump out to an early lead. Should progress slowly until it gets interesting at 4-3, then the Caps ice it with an empty netter. Ovechkin leads the game with 1 goal, 2 assists, and Crosby leads the Pens with a goal and assist.


If you don't want to watch that one, there's always... Rangers at Flyers or... Predators at the Coyotes? Hey, what do you know? I must be prescient.

- Matt