Stanley Cup Playoffs, Day 26
Hey, just because I'm working 7 out of 14 days a week (and spend the rest of them recovering from those 7 days), it doesn't mean that I'm not interested in hockey. I just have less time to devote to it or write about it. Anyways, I digress. Today is important because we have our 1st conference final team, for the Western Conference.
So, after writing a whole bunch of eulogies altogether because I couldn't get around to doing them when they ACTUALLY happened, I have to write yet another one. This time, for the St. Louis Blues. The team that changed their coach early in the season and reaped the benefits of the Ken Hitchcock style of play. That and they had really, REALLY good goaltending throughout the season. It helps that both Halak and Elliott played well and they had a good system to play to. What didn't happen was the 2nd round of the playoffs. Everyone had originally picked St. Louis to win this series because, quite frankly, they were playing the offensively challenged LA Kings, the lowest scoring team to make the playoffs. Yet, the Blues managed to score EVEN LESS (or maybe the Kings' offense FINALLY woke up). Or maybe it was because the Kings just had a better goaltender in Jonathan Quick (no, that's really his name). Regardless, the Blues actually have quite a lot to be proud of. As a team, they were floundering at the beginning of the season but was able to right their ship and even make it to the top of the Western Conference and as the Central Division winners. They made it pass their 1st round against San Jose no problem, which speaks volumes about their improvement because the last time they made the playoffs (2008), they were swept out in the 1st round. Now, they've improved to being swept out of the 2nd round! [/sarcasm] Anyways...this team has a lot to be proud of and lots of good things to just improve on. The Kings really just wanted to win that much more and here they are, the 1st team to make it into the Conference final, ending 19 years of Kings fans' frustration. Good luck next year St. Louis because you can only go up from here.
In a strange world that the NHL is, the LA Kings become the 1st 8th seeded team to defeat the 1st and 2nd seeded teams in the same years' playoffs (they defeated Vancouver in the 1st round and st. Louis in the 2nd round). What does suck is the fact that the Kings will NEVER have home-ice advantage regardless of how far the make it because they're the 8th seeded team of the West and the lowest seeded team remaining in this year's playoffs.
In Penguins news, Sidney Crosby was spotted at the Kentucky Derby (when did he start to like horses?) with pant pockets that are a tad...too small. They have resulted in rather hilarious captions about him trying to be nonchalant and trying to put his hands in his pockets but because those pockets are too small, he can barely shove his FINGERS into them XD. I know you're awkward but this really does take the cake in terms of totally awkward Sidney Crosby photos with fans.
I will return when there's another eulogy to be written, and that could actually be quite soon...
So, after writing a whole bunch of eulogies altogether because I couldn't get around to doing them when they ACTUALLY happened, I have to write yet another one. This time, for the St. Louis Blues. The team that changed their coach early in the season and reaped the benefits of the Ken Hitchcock style of play. That and they had really, REALLY good goaltending throughout the season. It helps that both Halak and Elliott played well and they had a good system to play to. What didn't happen was the 2nd round of the playoffs. Everyone had originally picked St. Louis to win this series because, quite frankly, they were playing the offensively challenged LA Kings, the lowest scoring team to make the playoffs. Yet, the Blues managed to score EVEN LESS (or maybe the Kings' offense FINALLY woke up). Or maybe it was because the Kings just had a better goaltender in Jonathan Quick (no, that's really his name). Regardless, the Blues actually have quite a lot to be proud of. As a team, they were floundering at the beginning of the season but was able to right their ship and even make it to the top of the Western Conference and as the Central Division winners. They made it pass their 1st round against San Jose no problem, which speaks volumes about their improvement because the last time they made the playoffs (2008), they were swept out in the 1st round. Now, they've improved to being swept out of the 2nd round! [/sarcasm] Anyways...this team has a lot to be proud of and lots of good things to just improve on. The Kings really just wanted to win that much more and here they are, the 1st team to make it into the Conference final, ending 19 years of Kings fans' frustration. Good luck next year St. Louis because you can only go up from here.
In a strange world that the NHL is, the LA Kings become the 1st 8th seeded team to defeat the 1st and 2nd seeded teams in the same years' playoffs (they defeated Vancouver in the 1st round and st. Louis in the 2nd round). What does suck is the fact that the Kings will NEVER have home-ice advantage regardless of how far the make it because they're the 8th seeded team of the West and the lowest seeded team remaining in this year's playoffs.
In Penguins news, Sidney Crosby was spotted at the Kentucky Derby (when did he start to like horses?) with pant pockets that are a tad...too small. They have resulted in rather hilarious captions about him trying to be nonchalant and trying to put his hands in his pockets but because those pockets are too small, he can barely shove his FINGERS into them XD. I know you're awkward but this really does take the cake in terms of totally awkward Sidney Crosby photos with fans.
I will return when there's another eulogy to be written, and that could actually be quite soon...