Top Shelf: Crosby’s Comin’ Back Tonight
NHL March 27th. 2008, 12:05pm
The audible sigh of relief you hear emanating from western Pennsylvania is not for Zach Duke striking out five Tigers in as many innings yesterday in Bradenton. Sidney Crosby is set to return tonight for the Pens. Lee Diekemper recaps the night in the NHL.
Minnesota 3, Edmonton 1: Niklas Backstrom had a rough Monday, getting pulled early in a Wild loss to the Oilers. Last night Backstrom turned the tables on Edmonton and stopped 33 shots. The offensively inconsistent Wild, which killed all six penalties, are now atop the scrum known as the Northwest Division.
Colorado 6, Vancouver 3: Peter Forsberg returned March 4. But he really returned last night. Avs coach Joel Quenneville put Forsberg on the second line and, presto!, he sets up three goals. Our friend Adrian Dater of the Denver Post suggests the Avs would benefit by missing the playoffs.
Anaheim 2, Los Angeles 1 (SO): Ducks rookie goalie Jonas Hiller saved the defending Stanley Cup champions from a disastrous loss. Hiller turned away 31 shots and the Ducks clinched a playoff berth.
Columbus 4, Chicago 0: Fredrik Norrena’s second shutout of the month pretty much closed the door on the Blackhawks playoff hopes. Things appear promising for hockey in the Second City though. A lot of young talent and — how 20th Century? – some games may actually be on free TV next season.
16 Responses to “Top Shelf: Crosby’s Comin’ Back Tonight”
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March 27th, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Zach Duke bearing even some resemblance to his 2005 form (8-2, 1.81 ERA) would be huge for the Pirates. They’ll still suck, sure. But, they could have a decent starting staff if Duke comes back.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:19 PM
gotta love the ‘five reasons to believe in the pirates …. or not’ article in the post gazette yesterday
gotta beat the isles tonight, finally get to see hossa and sid together. bye bye chris minard / connor james
March 27th, 2008 at 12:25 PM
I can barely even watch the Wild these days. It’s too maddening. The nonstop goalie drama for this team makes the Vikings perpetual “QB controversy” seem sane in comparison.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:28 PM
s1rweeze…yea, but they have the best unis in hockey.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:32 PM
@spencer: just think what their unis would have looked like if they had gone with the name that I voted for. Minnesota Freeze.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:39 PM
I am now a Minnesota fan. If the Wild win their division, it’ll put Calgary in the 5th seed and they’ll face the Ducks. Those two teams will beat the crap out of each other, which will make them more vulnerable in the next round(s).
March 27th, 2008 at 12:40 PM
And the Blackhawks have the best unis in hockey. Red Wings are up there too.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Caps unis, especially the whites are pretty tight.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Date on his blog entry… March 22nd since then they have won 2 convincing games against the Flames and Canucks.
And best Unis in Hockey, right now, goes to the Bruins. The Wild’s are near the top though.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:45 PM
@sportsgal:
I would love to see a Ducks-Flames first round series. The Ducks wouldn’t put up with Dion Phaneuf’s tired coward act and beat the snot out of him.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:46 PM
The old Vancouver Canucks threads have got to be the fugliest uniforms in the NHL–or anywhere else. Ever.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Jibbles, I know you hate Dion Phaneuf but you can’t hate him more than douche bag Chris Pronger. Seriously, how can anyone (aside from Ducks fans) like that guy? He’s the biggest prick in the league!!
March 27th, 2008 at 12:51 PM
@the 412: Agree
@ Sportsgal: You haven’t seen my latest piece on Phaneuf have you? (but Pronger is a close second in hate-ability) Don’t forget I have to watch that ass play the Avs 8 times a year.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:54 PM
Ha ha, no I hadn’t seen that, thanks for the link. I tend not to read articles on the Avs seeing as your team tried to take out the best defenseman in the league with a shady hit.
Still say Pronger is a bigger douche.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:56 PM
@Sportsgal: If they meet in round one let’s just say they are playing for that title
March 27th, 2008 at 1:22 PM
The Caps black unis were better than their current red and white one.