Leafs were crushed on that trade IMO. Quality for quantity, through and through. It would have been an much fairer deal if there was no retention.
I wouldn't say crushed but they definitely didn't "win" the trade. But they had to get rid of him with them going full rebuild. Kapanen looks pretty good in the playoffs this year, they were able to package Spaling with Polak for a good return and they have the 1st rounder and 3rd. I'm okay with the deal.
I'm hoping for Pens vs. Sharks final. Either Kessel gets a cup or Thornton/Polak/Reimer get a cup.
Can't win with a guy like him in the playoffs though Don't know how many times I heard that on here when he was a Leaf.
I think the sayings were more akin to "you can't win with a guy like him as your franchise forward or face of the franchise" as he was in Toronto. I think he's really benefitting from a reduced role on the 3rd line and the more favorable matchups he sees. He's no longer being counted on as "the guy" like he was in Toronto. The Penguins have the luxury of two players in Crosby and Malkin that can be leaned on to carry the team. Even though I didn't care for his antics in Toronto of being lazy and hard to coach I'm actually happy to see him perform well but I still don't think he's a guy you want as one of your franchise players and I don't think he's a role model or leader.
Yah that went on for a bit. Didn't look good for the camera.
CBC showed what they thought was the play. Essentially Crosby had a path to the net off the face off for a possible scoring opportunity and Hornquist jumped in and knocked the puck away. Not overtly wrong but I thought it showed some lack of situational awareness on Hornquist's part. I get the impression Crosby finds Hornquist annoying.
Sid appears to be pulling the "I'm wearing the C" card here.
It looks like hes just tapping his chest.
Anyway, Tampa is pretty lucky that this series is 2-1 and not 3-0 already. Pit has been pretty dominant in all 3 games so far and especially the last 2. If Tampa cant keep it a little closer and win on Friday this one is done in 5.
I'm still thinking of that second period and the 4 on 3 today. The period was one of the most dominate in recent memory, especially in the playoffs. Wave after wave and cycle after cycle with Vasilevskiy making saves and the defence trying their best to hang on with moments of Tampa getting some chances sprinkled in. Then finally, finally, a chink in the armour and a goal.
The 4 on 3 was also a thing of beauty. Who among us didn't think to themselves "they are going to score here" or after Hughson said "imagine if Letang were not in the box?" didn't think "they won't need him." Great chances, great passing, a ridiculous shot, and a Cammalleri-esque knee. Icing on the cake was ex greaser Schultz along for the ride. Seeing a PP of three high end scorers throw it around like that was something of a rarity.
The skill shown from both teams in this series is a treat.
Anyway, Tampa is pretty lucky that this series is 2-1 and not 3-0 already. Pit has been pretty dominant in all 3 games so far and especially the last 2. If Tampa cant keep it a little closer and win on Friday this one is done in 5.
They've been one goal games in the third period each time. The first game wasn't Pittsburgh domination by any stretch, outside of the usual score effects. The second one was an OT win. It could pretty easily be 2-1 Tampa. The key thing is that there's been no noticeable step down from Bishop to Vasilevskiy. If he keeps playing well, this series is going 6 or 7.
__________________ "The great promise of the Internet was that more information would automatically yield better decisions. The great disappointment is that more information actually yields more possibilities to confirm what you already believed anyway." - Brian Eno
They've been one goal games in the third period each time. The first game wasn't Pittsburgh domination by any stretch, outside of the usual score effects. The second one was an OT win. It could pretty easily be 2-1 Tampa. The key thing is that there's been no noticeable step down from Bishop to Vasilevskiy. If he keeps playing well, this series is going 6 or 7.
This is the first series in almost 20 years where Team A has outshot Team B by 15+ shots in each of the first 3 games (124-69 total) and the TB dam hasn't even broken yet (credit to Vasilevski). The last 2 games it looks like the Pens are practicing offensive zone plays for long stretches of time. Goalies aside the Pit skaters are pumping the TB skaters up and down the ice. If this level of play holds there is no way this series is going 7 games and if Pit wins tomorrow its not even going 6.
4 at
2 
must show all Flames games nationally when they play on Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays !!!
