Game 3 Recap

After a two day layoff, the Finals resumed tonight in Edmonton, and, as a result, I too, have returned. In spite of the fact that I didn't see the game. Such is the life of a busy actor.

Looking at the box score and news reports of the game, the one thing that strikes me most is the power play numbers. More specifically, I was struck by the Hurricanes 0-5 mark on the night. This is a huge improvement for an Oilers' PK that had allowed Carolina to go 4-15 (26.7%) over the first two games. They also managed to draw the 'Canes into seven penalties. Its going to be very important moving forward for Edmonton to stay on the positive side of the penalties. While their power play has been rather dreadful, every minute they spend in Carolina's end is a minute they don't have to spend worrying about their inexperienced goaltender.

In other news, it really sucks to be Marc-Andre Bergeron right about now. First, you do the right thing and clear the opposing forward out of the crease, inadvertently knocking your team's starting goaltender out of the series. Then, in Game 2, you do the right thing by going to the ice to try to block a shot in a 2-on-1 situation, and your skate deflects the puck into the net. Then you get scratched for game 3. Methinks that this is not a week he will look back on fondly.

Bergeron Suicide Watch: Day 1

It's official. Dwayne Roloson is out for the rest of the series. Suddenly, Marc-Andre Bergeron is the most hated man in Alberta.

This is huge. Imagine a baseball team making it to the World Series and then losing half of it's starting pitching staff and it's closer in a freak dugout incident. That's how huge this is.

Then again, maybe not. I'll be interested to see how well the Oilers defense rallies to protect Ty Conklin. In Game 1, after Roloson left, the Hurricanes only registered a single shot three shots on goal. One of which could hardly be qualified as a "shot" as much as a "tap in for birdie" (baseball, then golf; how many more analogies can I make?). I think they'll be able to pull off a similar feat in Game 2, or at least a reasonable facsimile thereof. Really it has been the Edmonton defense that has been carrying them all along anyway. Roloson, in my opinion, hasn't been particularly spectacular. Ultimately, this will only be as big a loss as the Oilers allow it to be.

Game 1 Recap

Wow...

I'm not entirely sure of what I just saw. Was it an exciting hockey game? Or just a series of bizarre events that fascinated, but did not truly inspire? I really don't know how to feel right now.

Actually, that's not entirely true. I feel bad for Patrice Marc-Andre Bergeron, who may turn out to be the goat of the year after his hit on a Carolina player knocked Dwayne Roloson out of the game. I also feel bad for Ty Conklin, who, as near as I could tell, only touched the puck once in the entire game.

I also know that I'm definitely excited to see how Edmonton will respond in Game 2. I can't think of a more demoralizing way to lose a game than what they accomplished tonight, and it may be made more difficult if the injury to Roloson turns out to be serious. If Roloson is out, I don't think anyone in Edmonton can possibly feel confident about their chances with Conklin in goal, even though he didn't really get a chance one way or the other to show how he'll respond to the pressure of the Stanley Cup Finals.