Tim Thomas' Year Off

Over the weekend Tim Thomas announced he was going to take a year off.
My original thought was that it might be th smart move for him. Get out of the spotlight after all the attention he's been in since missing the White House meeting and, with his ambition for wanting to play in the Olympoic in 2014, maybe join the U.S. team for the Deutcheland Cup and World Championship (just to keep in good standings with Hockey USA). The only downside I thought of at the time was that being 38 and having a year off would hinder his abilities as a goaltender.

Then ideas started coming out about how he wanted out of Boston and that was his way of saying "Trade me or I walk" and it made more sense. A fresh start woul  be good for Thomas, but this is a pretty selfish way of wanting a trade. He basically handcuffs the Bruins with a $5,000,000 and a diminishing asset for every game he sits out.

As much as I like to see the Bruins suffer, this is just plain stupid.

For a second view on this, here is our dad:

There is now a 100% guarantee that a season ending lock out will occur in the NHL…

TIM THOMAS!!!!

This selfish P.O.S. just put the owners in a position which they (justifiably) will want to prevent in the future. It is also a position that no player (especially lead by Fehr) will concede.

Players will have be held accountable for living up to the contract they signed. They won’t. So get ready for 27 teams requiring handouts from Toronto, Montreal & New York in a couple years when the lockout finally ends.

Future headline… TIM THOMAS singled handedly destroys the economy of the NHL!

(He will them have something in common with Obama.)

Tonight's Prediction

New Jersey 1
Los Angeles 2 (OT)

While it seems almost a lock for the Kings to win tonight with how the series is going, this game might be different. Out of the 3 times in these playoffs the Kings have had a 3-0 series lead, they are 1-2 in game fours. While it wouldn't be shocking to see the Kings end the playoffs tonight, it's equally not as shocking to see the Devils go one more game. Either way, I'm hoping for overtime.

Lidstrom Retires

Lidstrom Retires

The hockey world was saddened on Thursday when Nicklas Lidstrom officially retired. He is definitely a top 5 defenseman of all-time and his accomplishments back it up: 4-time Stanley Cup winner, Conn Smythe, Olympic gold medal, member of the Triple Gold Club, 7 Norris Trophies, 10-time First Team All-Star, and multiple All-Star Games (even being one of the first captains for the All-Star draft). Red Wings GM Ken Holland said it best that Lidstrom was a "no-maintenance" player, and its true, Lidstrom was never on a Patrick Kane-like binge and the one "recent controversy" (Crosby handshake) he was involved in he was the good guy. It will be a long time before the NHL ever gets a defenseman to the caliber of Lidstrom.

Tonight's Prediction

New Jersey 2
Los Angeles 3 (OT)

It would be nuts if this series went into a third straight overtime, but I'm predicting it. Nothing changes though as the Kings will once again be victorious. The Devils might struggle to make a series out of it.

Saturday Night Hockey: Game 2

Don't have much time between now and Game 2, so I'll touch on Lidstrom's retirement and Thomas' year off (among other things) on Monday before Game 3. For now, just the essentials.

Prediction

Los Angeles 4
New Jersey 1

Since the teams used Game 1 to feel each other up (or is it out?), the Kings will likely be the ones who start off dominating the series.

Lineup Notables

Los Angeles Kings vs. New Jersey Devils

Los Angeles: Simon Gagne (concussion) and Scott Parse (hip) are out. Jonathan Quick starts tonight.
New Jersey: Henrik Tallinder (leg) is out. Martin Brodeur will start.

2012 Stanley Cup Review - (1) New York Rangers vs. (6) New Jersey Devils

Series Summary

This series was...weird? The first couple of games the Devils set the tone for most part, but ended up with the series as 2-2 (with Game 3 going almost exactly like Game 1, down to the goal scorers). When the Rangers finally woke up and started setting the pace, they lost (maybe it was because the Devils started aiming for their heads). Throughout the series, two things were clear:

1. The Rangers were T-I-R-E-D
2. Torts' press conferences were golden.

The Rangers will now have to deal with an offseason of disappointment (really? Conference Finals is pretty damn good), and the Devils move on the Stanley Cup Final.

Games

New Jersey Devils 0
New York Rangers 3

New Jersey Devils 3
New York Rangers 2

New York Rangers 3
New Jersey Devils 0

New York Rangers 1
New Jersey Devils 4

New Jersey Devils 5
New York Rangers 3

New York Rangers 2
New Jersey Devils 3 (OT)

Three Thoughts On The Series

• The fact that games 3-7 was scheduled on the same days as when they faced off in 1994 is eerie.
• The comments by JP Parise was probably the biggest "Shut up Dad" moment.
• I would talk about the Rangers, but I'm going to keep it in the room.

Picture Of The Series

Here is a picture of Brodeur's scorpion save. Despite being over 40, the dude still has it.

Play Of The Series

This powerplay goal by the Devils in Game 6 was a thing of beauty.

2012 Stanley Cup Review - (3) Phoenix Coyotes vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings

Series Summary

The first two games was royal domination for the Kings, as the Coyotes nearly lost it (their cool) when near the end of Game 2 they took a ton of penalties, with Hanzal, Doan, and Morris taking penalties that could have been suspendable (with Hanzal being the only one missing a game) and Smith diving (then again what else is new). The Coyotes lost Game 3, but it was more promising as they were able to play the way they wanted and not let the Kings dominate. The Kings finally lost (for the second time in the playoffs) when they got shutout. Game 5 was a goal-for-goal affair between the two teams. In overtime, Michal Rozsival collided with Dustin Brown and had to be helped off the ice with a knee injury. On the ensuing faceoff, the Kings stormed into the Coyotes zone and ended the game when Dustin Penner buried a rebound right in front of the net. The Kings move on to the Final while the Coyotes head north...just kidding, they're getting there ownership sorted out.

Games

Los Angeles Kings 4
Phoenix Coyotes 2

Los Angeles Kings 4
Phoenix Coyotes 0

Phoenix Coyotes 1
Los Angeles Kings 2

Phoenix Coyotes 2
Los Angeles King 0

Los Angeles Kings 4 (OT)
Phoenix Coyotes 3

Three Thoughts On The Series

• Got to hand it to the Kings, they just didn't let the Coyotes have nothing in the first two games.
• I get that he has a reputation for going down easy, but when Mike Smith nearly amputated his leg, it was a dumb penalty called against him (Brown that is, Smith deserved an ejection).
• I don't know if there was fines on their comments, but that was some blatant ref attacking by Doan, Yandle, and Smith after Game 5.

Picture Of The Series

With all the confusion over what Kings team the LA Media should be caring about, the Kings (hockey) came out with a handy infographic.

Play Of The Series

That was one weird handshake line wasn't it?