Halak DeCapitates Washington

Vol. I, No. 47

The Eastern Conference is upside down. Boston and Philadelphia were the #6 and #7 seeds, and yet have survived the quarterfinals, beating the #2 and #3 seeds. The last game of the quarterfinals happened tonight. The upset is now complete and in a sense, historic.

In Washington, the #8 seed came back from a 3-1 series deficit and earned a game seven final showdown.  In the last game of the quarterfinals, in our nation's capital, the Canadiens took the President's Trophy winning Washington Capitals deep into the third period, with a 2-0 lead. 

The Caps bounced back with a goal late in the third period, getting the puck past Jaroslav Halak, the biggest stone wall of the playoffs. The Caps had a power play, with 90 seconds left, to even the score. Montreal had three empty net attempts which didn't go. But Washington could not do the trick and finished with a third game in a row, scoring only 1 goal against Montreal.

The Canadiens achieved a stunning, historic upset.  No other #8 seed in history has ever come back from a 3-1 series deficit.  Since April 23, there were three straight victories against the best regular season team in the NHL. The Habs shut down the most successful power play in the league.  Washington scored once in 33 chances.

Halak, in goal for Montreal, was astounding. He was the story of this series.  In the first three games, with a 1-2 win/loss record, Halak allowed 3.67 GAA with a save percentage of 0.887. These are not stats that win playoffs, let alone regular season games. But after being benched for Game#4, something changed with Jarolav.

The goaltender who returned to the ice on April 23 recorded a sensational 1.00 GAA and save percentage of 0.978 over the next three games. Halak didn't do it alone, as the team blocked 41 shots in front of him. This mentality comes from desire. But without his stone wall against 134 shots, Montreal would not be advancing to the semi-finals.

In the East, the bottom three seeds have now made it into the Conference semi-finals. The other team hails from Pittsburgh; its players wear 2009 Stanley Cup rings and are lead by Sid the Kid. The eastern regular season top three seeds, Washington, New Jersey and Buffalo, are all out for summer vacation.

Meanwhile, in the West, the tables are turned right side up. The top three seeds (San Jose, Chicago and Vancouver) are in the semis. The fourth team is Detroit, seeded #5 and last year's Stanley Cup finalist. Nobody in hockey should be surprised by this result. So what are the odds that Montreal winds up facing San Jose in a Cup Final?  Stranger things have happened, but don't ask me to name them.

And the latest news of the evening.  Philadelphia's mighty warrior, the toughest guy in the NHL, Ian Laperriere, is out for the rest of the season with a brain contusion and mild concussion.  If he returns to hockey, he will play with a visor. Meanwhile, #7 seed Philadelphia is well rested for its next match against #6 seed Boston.  Rest or rust?  Will a long layover affect the Flyers' play? Philly plays again on May 1st, in Boston, after eight days of R&R.

The semifinals start tomorrow, on Thursday April 29 at 9pm, with the Red Wings playing in San Jose.

Hockey Rules.