Top Shelf: Ovechkin Closes in on 60
NHL March 13th. 2008, 9:16am
If we were the A-Team, then our NHL writer, Lee Diekemper, would totally be Face. Here’s his recap of the night in hockey.
Washington 3, Calgary 2: Olie Kolzig got his 300th win, thanks in no small part to Alexander the Great’s game-winner with two minutes left. AO now has 56 goals in his march to 60 (and beyond?). Nicklas Backstrom is still bummed about his game-winner for the Pens Sunday.
Anaheim 4, Vancouver 1: The defending Stanley Cup champions look to be a tough playoff obstacle in Orange County. The Ducks beat the Canucks for a team-record eighth straight home win, chasing Roberto Luongo in the second period after he gave up four goals in 19 shots. Luongo has started 19 straight games and 35 of the last 37. Think he just might be a bit cashed?
Pittsburgh 7, Buffalo 3: No Sid the Kid? No problem! The Pens, perhaps the favorite NHL team of Finland, blasted the Sabres while Sidney Crosby rested his gimpy right ankle. The Sabres meanwhile are hurting.
Florida 4, New York Islanders 2: Rick DiPietro did not enjoy his March trip to the Sunshine State. He gave up a total of 10 goals in a span of a little over 24 hours in losses to the Lightning and Panthers. Karlis Skrastins’ unassisted goal midway through the third won the game for the Panthers, their fifth straight. Is the Isles’ logo one of the worst?
Toronto 3, Philadelphia 2: If the postseason began today, the Flyers would sneak into the playoffs as the eighth seed. But after losing consecutive games to the Maple Loafs, last night without Matt Sundin no less, what’s the point? The Flyers have four-game sweep written all over them. At least Flyers fans can look forward to more expensive tickets next season.
23 Responses to “Top Shelf: Ovechkin Closes in on 60”
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March 13th, 2008 at 9:19 am
not happy about the europe crap, saw how sluggish it made the ducks at the season start (they came into pittsburgh dead on their legs), now theres more time over there? no thankyou
March 13th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Sick mustache Diekemper
March 13th, 2008 at 9:20 am
I haven’t been this excited about Hockey in a long time. Even though my Wild are choking, the Caps are at least interesting to watch.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:25 am
@pki – At least the rest of the Northwest lost last night. Little victories, I know.
And what is the worse jersey, the Old Mas and the Sea Isles jersey, or the Nashville old third jersey?
March 13th, 2008 at 9:25 am
mole:
at least it’s in oct. plenty of time to recuperate.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:28 am
vancouver’s old jerseys where they looked like something out of the old tv sci-fi show “V” were pretty hideous.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:33 am
i guess you were being sarcastic? the opener this year for them was the fifth of october.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:33 am
DiPietro gave up 11 goals (8 vs. TB, 3 vs. FLA, 1 empty-netter) in two games, but hey, why should this thing start being accurate now, right?
March 13th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Yeah, the old Cap’t Highliner jerseys were pretty awful. Especially when you consider that the original logo and color scheme are classics. Why they decided to change it in the first place is a complete mystery to me.
As for the Vancouver flying V jerseys, those were awesome. I had one back in the day and wore it in my first grade class photo.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Lozo, only 13 more years of DiPietro on Long Island!
March 13th, 2008 at 9:39 am
also carolina won again, theyre on a damn roll and thats bad for washington. they better hope the flyers trip up bad because thats looking like their only shot.
not sure which i want more, the flyers to miss the playoffs, or ovie to get left out of hart discussion for missing the playoffs.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:40 am
@gonzo – Worst.Contract.Ever
March 13th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Moleman, you probably want the Flyers to miss the playoffs. They disgust me sometimes. although Jeff Carter is playing his little ole heart out. A good note though, we’re missing our 2 best players in Richards and Gagne. But I still demand they win.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:46 am
no, i’m not. could be worse. much worse in fact. the game in finland could be in february.
if the nhl is determined to have the pens play abroad, at least it’s early in the season. there’s no good time to do it but if it must be played, get it over with early.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:50 am
oh i got you, i thought you meant that it wouldnt interfere with the regular season. yeah i mean as far as season time goes thats the best choice.
and youre right gonzo i do want them to miss it especially if the pens get the one seed because i dont want that matchup
March 13th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Once again, Lee shows no love for the Carolina Hurricanes. They never get included on Top Shelf. Ever.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Everything came up Milhouse for the Avs last night. All NW teams lost.
I’m very surprised about your Flyers Gonzo. I thought they’d be a 5 or 6 seed this season. They better not let the Leafs in, the last thing we ned is Maple Leafs fans thinking their team is good
March 13th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Jibble, we already have Habs fans thinking their team is the best, so we don’t need 2 canuck teams in that boat.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:54 am
@jibblescribbits – Oilers vs. Avalanche tonight buddy. Got a prediction? I’m thinking 4-3 Oilers win in OT with another Cogliano goal.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Ovechkin will not be left out of the Hart Trophy discussion if the Caps miss the playoffs. I don’t like to play favorites, but I am definitely in the tank for Ovechkin – big fan.
I mentioned it in an earlier hockey post – the Flyers are not getting the quality of goaltending they need to overcome their other issues. Biron was bad and badder in the home-and-home with Toronto, including a back-breaking softie last night. The Flyers will probably keep the 8th seed, but this is not a team that can go far in the playoffs – in My opninion.
And kudos and plaudits to the Hurricanes – Samsonov and Corvo have really helped that team. As long as Eric Staal plays at his potential, this is a team that may be able to win a round in the playoffs.
March 13th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
@lohur:
The avs are 4-1 against EDM this season and have won: 4-2, 4-3, 3-2, 4-2 and lost 2-3.
For tonight: Avs win 4-3 (OT) GWG Sakic
March 13th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
@Gonzo: Canucks fans always feel their team is a cup contender, even though they have one scoring line and Luongo.
March 13th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
well i shouldnt say he wont be left out, but he wont win and should not win. the last player to win the hart without making the playoffs with mario in 87-88. he won the points race by 19 over an injured gretz and had 168 points. if ovie wins the points race it wont be by more than ten, and his point total will not be so high to demand winning it.
iggy and malkin will be close enough and both of them have led their teams to the playoffs in the two best divisions in hockey, which is infinitely more impressive than ovechkin leading the capitals to golf.
if they miss the playoffs it should be iggy or malkin winning it with ovie a strong third. no playoffs, no hart, sorry.