Ahira's Hangar

round two matchups have finally been decided:

East:
Penguins vs. Capitals (probably the NHL execs dreamed of this - Ovechkin vs. Crosby)
Bruins vs. Hurricanes

West:
Red Wings vs. Ducks
Canucks vs. Blackhawks

Well, all first games of the second round have now been played. Boston, Detroit, Vancouver, and Washington all hold 1-0 series leads against their opponents. The Bruins look good, and I would think that they are now the team to beat for the Cup!

While flipping channels today, I happened upon the Wings vs. Ducks game in the 3rd period...and within 30 seconds of my tuning in, I witness the Wings tie the game 3-3!

Then, of course, the Ducks steal it in overtime. Sucks when you lose at home...especially during the playoffs.

And yeah, I heard about the possible Ovechkin/Crosby rivalry. If it produces exciting hockey, then that's good.

I missed today's game. I had to be at work. I freaked out when I heard that it went to the third overtime and I had to miss it.

(Then again, since my team lost, maybe it was better to be at work anyway. )

Well, the Phoenix Coyotes are officially bankrupt. A Canadian billionaire has offered to purchase the team and be financial savior, but only if the NHL allows him to move the franchise to southern Ontario - possibly Hamilton (which I would think would piss off both the Leafs and the Sabres over close geographic proximity, and one or both of those teams might try to block the move) or Kitchener-Waterloo.

If they do move, then Ontario hockey fans will be stuck with two crappy hockey teams.

I think they should let it go-hockey's a cool sport, but it seems to be losing its US fan base. Of course the strike didn't help, but the expansion needs to be pared down and some of these new rules have to go. Get back to basics!

A while back on the espn website they said that if the recession goes on long enough, the NHL might lose half of its teams, the NBA perhaps a third, baseball a few, and football will probably be OK.

Yeah - the expansion to all of these sunbelt cities was nuts. Are any of those teams other than the Ducks and the Stars (and maybe Carolina??) financially viable?

Most of the series are currently tied:

Wings/Ducks 2-2
Blackhawks/Canucks 2-2
Pens/Caps 2-2

The one surprising lopsided series if Bruins/Canes with Canes leading 3-1. Every few years the Hurricanes make a serious run for Stanley, and this looks like it will be the year.

Now there are all sorts of rumors that a group has gotten together to purchase the financially troubled Atlanta Thrashers and move them to Hamilton, Ontario.

I do not know how this will work with the proposed move of the bankrupt Phoenix team to southern Ontario.

I also do not know how hard the existing Toronto and Buffalo franchises might fight this, given how close Hamilton is to both.

Led once again by Johan Franzen, the Mule, the Wings have taken a 3-2 lead in their series with Anaheim. Also leading their series 3-2 are Chicago and Pitsburgh. Carolina might put Boston out of the playoffs tonight, but I have not had time to check on the score of that game...

edited to add:
Boston won, so I believe all four series are now at 3-2.

The Chicago Blackhawks won both the game and the series last night, becoming the first team to advance to the conference finals. Good to see such a historic franchise undergoing a revival.


edited to add:
all three other series are going to seven games

the Campbell Conference (otherwise known as the Western Conference) is set:

two Original Six teams - the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings will meet

the Prince of Wales Conference (otherwise known as the Eastern Conference) is still up the air, as the Boston/Carolina game seven is now heading to overtime

so the Pittsburgh Pengiuns are still waiting for the identity of their opponent...