Destiny, Les Habs - C'est Incroyable!

Vol. I, No. 60

Montreal magic was preserved in Pittsburgh tonight, as the Habs defeated the defending Stanley Cup champions 5 - 2.  It was not an even game.  The Canadiens were on top from the get go.

There is a rich history with the Penguins and Canada. From a hockey standpoint, the first game ever played by the 1967 expansion Penguins was against the Montreal Canadiens.  On October 11, 1967 league President Clarence Campbell dropped the opening puck in the first home opener at the Igloo. To build the franchise, Pittsburgh drafted French Canadian players from the minor leagues.  From Michel Briere, through Jean Pronovost, to Mario Lemieux, the Penguins have always had a strong French connection. That may not be a coincidence.

The Pittsburgh Penguins play at the forks of the Ohio. Two rivers come together, the Allegheny and Monongahela, from the north and southeast. They form the first gateway to the west, after crossing the Appalachian Mountains (also known locally as the Alleghenies). From Pittsburgh, a raft can take you to New Orleans, and a canoe can reach Minneapolis (with some hard paddling upstream).

French explorers preceded the English colonists by about 70 years - Mont Real (Royal Mountain) was named in 1535 by Samuel de Champlain on the land of the local Huron Indians. French fur traders, known as Voyageurs, penetrated the hinterlands and claimed much of North America west of the English coastal settlements. From Montreal and the St. Lawrence on down, the French extended their influence all the way to Louisiana.

Of course, English settlers claimed all lands to the west, and both powers started to build forts in the outback, eventually leading to the Seven Years' War (as it was known in Europe) from 1756 to 1763.  Here, it was known as the French and Indian War. One of the most strategic points was Fort Du Quense, located at the headwaters of the Ohio.  It was established in 1754, and contested by English settlers moving west from the state of Pennsylvania.  

About that time, a young Virginian lieutenant, working with English General Edward Braddock, was able to convince the British to change tactics in the woods, to defeat the French and their Indian allies.  His name was George Washington. By 1758, the British controlled the area and built a new bigger fort, naming it Fort Pitt in honor of William Pitt the Elder, Great Britain's leader during the Seven Years War. 

So why the history lesson? Because the French have again invaded Fort Pitt, known these days as Pittsburgh. The Montreal Canadiens faced the defending Stanley Cup champions in a decisive game seven, at the Mellon Arena just uphill from the old fort.  It's really only short walk to the point of the triangle where the rivers all meet. It's the same triangle that appears as part of the Penguins' logo.  This time, the French won.

With the Penguins' elimination, tonight's game was the last sporting event ever to be held at Mellon Arena, which started out in life as Pittsburgh's Civic Arena. Its renaming was appropriate, as one of the original franchise investors was Richard Mellon Scaife. Tonight's game was the 166th straight sellout. The place has also been known as the Igloo, or the house that Mario built. Suffice to say that it has a long and proud history, as a symbol of Pittsburgh's Golden Gateway revival of the 1960s. A chapter of Pittsburgh history is now done.  It is curtains on the old Civic Arena.  

Next year, the Pens take the ice at the new Consol Energy Center, named for the coal company of the same name. Con Coal would not exist if it were not for the mountains that have the coal, and the rivers on which it was barged, along with iron ore from ranges to the north and west. Thank Andrew Carnegie, Edgar Thompson and other industrial robber barons for building the infrastructure that enabled development of the coal and steel industries. But I digress.

In May 2010, an odd constellation of events has happened in the hockey world.  The best in the west have made it to their conference finals. In the east, it is exactly the opposite. The French invaders from Montreal entered the Stanley Cup playoffs as the bottom seed. They took down the #1 seed, and tonight defeated the #4 seed, defending SC champs. They have emerged from the Pittsburgh series on top. 

Tonight's game opened with ex-NJ Devil Brian Gionta on the scoreboard with a PP goal at 0:32 of the first period (with Sid Crosby sitting in the penalty box). Then, Marc-Andre Fleury allowed three more goals, finally being pulled in the second. Pittsburgh battled back, but could not overcome a two goal deficit. Gionta scored another power play goal, his second of the game, to put the icing on the cake.

The real Canadien hero has got to be Jaroslav Halak. Montreal's netminder was dominant, stopping 37 of 39 shots. Facing the most effective power play in the league, he stonewalled Pittsburgh three times in the third period. The Habs, meanwhile, scored a PP goal on Pittsburgh replacement goaltender Brent Johnson.

Montreal was loose, and had nothing to lose. Pittsburgh looked stiff throughout the series. In short, there was no doubt at the end. The better team won.

Montreal's win makes the Eastern Conference "topless". The #1, #2 and #3 seeds are already gone. With Pittsburgh out, the #4 seed is also done. That leaves the Eastern Conference final to the #6, #7 and #8 seeds. The Flyers forced a game seven tonight, defeating Boston 2-0. In fact, the Flyers are only the sixth team in history to come back from a 0-3 series deficit.

Where did the Bruins go?  Where did these Canadiens come from? The Penguins now join Detroit, Washington, Buffalo and New Jersey, 21 other NHL teams and the rest of the college hockey world.  Hockey is over except for five remaining NHL teams and the IIHF World Championships in Germany (which end on May 23rd). The last weeks of ice hockey are drawing to a close.

Meanwhile, out in the NHL west, the #1 team (San Jose) and #2 seed (Chicago) are waiting for the Conference finals to begin. The only semi-final left is Boston-Philly.  Game seven of that series happens on Friday night (for the first time in months, there will be no NHL game on Thursday). For hockey fans, it is a harbinger of the end of the season, although we can all pay attention to the IIHF games which run for the next 11 days.

A Stanley Cup final is shaping up, with the best of the west facing the least of the east. Don't pay attention to the seedings. A Cup outcome is anybody's guess.  Could it be destiny for the Habs to again rise to the top?  Nous verrons (we shall see).

Hockey Rules. 

Expectations and the Western Road

Vol. I, No. 59

The Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks face off tonight for game six of their Western Conference semi-final series.  Chicago can close out the series with a win on the road. Expectations are insanely high for both teams.

Chicago has been shut out from possessing the Stanley Cup for 59 years. They are alone in despair among the Original Six NHL teams.  Their misery had been shared by the New York Rangers, but in 1994, the Blue Shirts were able to end their own 54 year drought.  For Chicago fans, the Hawks echo an even longer drought suffered by the baseball Cubs, who have not won a championship in 102 years.  The Hawks have gotten to the Stanley Cup finals three times since 1965, losing to the Montreal Canadiens twice, and most recently losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992.

Vancouver, an expansion club which joined the NHL in 1970, has never won Lord Stanley's chalice.  They have been to the dance twice, losing to the New York Islanders in 1982 and the New York Rangers in 1994.  It seems that teams in the Big Apple have the Canucks' number. But the team from the Second City on the shores of Lake Michigan, does it have Vancouver's number this year?  Not yet.

In the regular season, these teams played four times and split the series 2-2. Chicago finished second in the Western Conference with 112 points, followed by Vancouver in third place with 103 points.  Then came the 2009-10 playoffs.

In the quarterfinals, both teams continued their comparable play. The Canucks defeated Los Angeles in a 4-2 series.  Chicago handled the Nashville Predators, also winning in six games.  They entered the Western Conference finals with no clear favorite.

Before this year, Hawks netminder Antti Niemi had never appeared in an NHL playoff game. He entered the league one year ago, playing three games before being sent down to the Rockford IceHogs minor league affiliate. In 2009-10, he played 39 games, with a respectable 2.25 GAA and 0.910 Sv%.

Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo has had more experience, but played 68 games this year before the playoffs (not counting his games in the Olympics).  Some goalies can take the extra long seasons, others can't. Luongo's playoff performance in front of the home crowd has been leaky. He has been better on the road.

Home ice is supposed to confer an advantage on teams, playing in familiar venues without travel, and with the support of raucous home crowds.  In three of the semi-final series, the home team has won 11 games, and the road team has won 5 times.  The home ice edge has held up in both eastern series.  The San Jose-Detroit contest had only one road win, when the Sharks took game three at the Joe (Louis Arena).

In this series, Chicago entered with home ice advantage. But, somehow, the Chicago/Canucks experience has been different. Vancouver has won two road games in Chicago.  The Hawks returned the favor in Vancouver.  The only home ice win was in game two, when Chicago managed to grab a 4-2 victory in front of the home crowd. Tonight's game is in Vancouver.  Can the Canucks finally win one game in front of their own fans?

Expectations on the Canucks are complicated by the fact that Vancouver is located in British Columbia, a province of Canada.  Hockey franchises north of the border have an insecurity complex against the American (US) teams, mainly due to economics. The Canadian dollar has had a disadvantage against the greenback for years. 

One year ago, one Canadian buck was worth about $0.85 US.  That meant that the Canadian teams had less to spend on their salaries, and that all other things being equal, better players would prefer to make bigger bucks south of the border.  This, and the fact that Canada looks at hockey as its national sport, creates an expectation or desire for all Canadian teams to beat their US counterparts.

In net tonight, Chicago's Niemi has been strong in these playoffs, after prior game losses. His record over the past two weeks is 3-0 in that situation.  On the opposite side of the rink, team captain Bobby Loo is undoubtedly desperate to perform well in front of the Canuck faithful.  If Vancouver loses tonight, it will be eliminated.  The team, the city and the country will remember.

Vancouver's backs are against the wall.  Can Luongo find the magic to prolong the series? It will be an intense game.  

On the other hand, Chicago has 59 years of disappointment to deal with.  If the Hawks are forced back to the Windy City for a game seven, one more Vancouver road victory will just prolong the six decade drought and years of disappointment.

The Hawks are one game away from a Conference final.  Only Vancouver, Bobby Loo and Canadian pride stand in the way (not to mention the Sedin twins).  Meanwhile, the Sharks are circling in the pool, awaiting their next victim.

Hockey Rules.

P.S. Five Chicago players come from BC, including Troy Brouwer, one of tonight's scorers. Kris Versteeg, another Chicago goal scorer comes from neighboring Alberta, as does Brent Sopel, a veteran who played for the Canucks for seven seasons.  It is a small hockey world.

P.P.S. Injuries are taking their toll on the Canucks. Alexander Edler is out, crunched by the Big Buff. Sammy Salo is back, but may be playing hurt. In the middle of the second period, Bobby Loo had his bell rung by the goalpost.  Pipes 1, Loo's noggin 0.

P.P.S. Chicago has a three goal lead with one period of play left. The third goal was a shorthanded breakaway on a Vancouver PP.  That kind of thing can seal the deal.  Niemmi has a shutout going, on top of two other shutouts in this year's playoffs.  Unless the Canucks can strike fast, Niemmi breaks a franchise record for most playoff shutouts, Chicago wins another road game and the Black Hawks are one step closer to a Stanley Cup.

Habs Magic Continues

Vol. I, No. 58

The Habs have it. Tonight, they evened their series with the Pittsburgh Penguins at 3-3.  One more game decides the semi-finals and which team reaches the Eastern Conference final. And from that point, it is only four victories away from playing for Le Coupe Stanley.

Where do these Canadiens get off?  The eighth seed in the east has come out of nowhere, to win four games against the league leading Washington Capitals, and then three games against the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Part of the explanation is Jaroslav Halak, who is perfect in games facing elimination.  Another part is the Montreal crowd. Their noise factor is almost a seventh man on the ice. But maybe the real explanation is the magic of their tradition.  Every CanadiAn hockey player knows, down deep, that the CanadiEns are the best and will always remain so.

These Habs are one game away from entering the Eastern Conference final. Meanwhile, Alex Ovechkin is out of NHL play, off in Germany playing for home country Russia in the IIHF World Championships. Sid the Kid has one goal in the Montreal series (scored tonight). Tonight's 4-2 victory in Montreal was achieved without the services of Habs defenseman Hal Gill, who was injured in Game 5.  

The semi-final series is mirroring the quarterfinals against Washington. Can the Habs repeat their seventh game performance, and beat the Penguins on the road in Pittsburgh?  Wednesday night, the hockey world will know if this Cinderella story is real.

Meanwhile, in Boston, the Philadelphia Flyers staved off elimination with an impressive 4-0 victory.  Their series returns to Philly on Wednesday too. That means that two games will be played in Pennsylvania on the same day.  One contestant in the Eastern finals will emerge from the Pittsburgh-Montreal series. If Boston can win at the Wachovia Center, they can also move on.

Philly may be without the services of goalie Brian Boucher, who was injured in the Boston game tonight. As of tonight, the extent of his injury is unknown. The Flyers have been snake-bitten this year, with a string of goalie injuries and rotating goaltenders. Boucher's replacement was Michael Leighton, who started off the season with the Carolina Hurricanes before being put on waivers, and getting picked up by the Bruins.

The Eastern Conference remains in suspense, while in the West, the San Jose Sharks are relaxing and waiting for the outcome of the Vancouver - Chicago series.  It is still possible that an all Canada Stanley Cup final might happen, if Montreal wins on Wednesday and Vancouver can win two straight.  

Hockey Rules.

Hard, Hurtin', Western Hockey

Vol. I, No. 57

The western prairies of Canada breed a toughness which leaks into hockey. The sons of miners and farmers live in a physical world, and take their lives onto the ice.

At the other end of the continent, free flowing hockey exists in the Quebec leagues.  The Europeans play an even more refined game, often referred to as Eurotrash by the hardcore NHL types who prefer grind it out games with hitting and obstruction.

Well, that's the way hockey used to be. But styles have merged as international players have come into the NHL (and returned to their native countries).  The old Canadian minor league system of Junior hockey, which used to be highly regional, now mixes players from all over North America and beyond.  Colleges also intermingle with Junior hockey, taking 19 and 20 year olds out of the Junior system, if the young men aren't sure about their NHL draft prospects.

Even at the highest levels of the sport - in the NHL - the Western Conference has a reputation for being rougher than teams in the East. The travel schedule is surely more demanding, and in places like Edmonton and Calgary, the frontier spirit breeds a respect for tough, hard-hitting, play.  

Tonight, Vancouver and Chicago met in their semi-final series. Canucks veteran defenseman Sami Salo was hit with a shot and taken to the hospital. Another Canucks defenseman, Shane O'Brien, caught a stick around his forehead. There was blood all over the place. After stitching up, O'Brien returned to the ice in the third period.

Despite the loss of two blueliners, Vancouver controlled the game for two periods, going up on the Blackhawks by a score of 3-0.  In the third period, the Hawks scored a goal.  Vancouver needed the game to stay alive. They won 4-1, and return to home ice in British Columbia on Tuesday night.

Three teams are left in the Western Conference, trying to advance.  San Jose is assured of a Conference final berth.  Chicago or Vancouver will be their opponent.  These teams were the top three during the regular season. Unlike the Eastern Conference, there have been no surprises, no Cinderella stories.

Hockey Rules.

PS Two eastern games will be held, more or less simultaneously, on Monday night.  The Montreal-Pittsburgh series is on the line, with Penguins ahead 3-2.  Philly and Boston go at it back in Boston, with the Bruins ahead 3-1.  The Flyers and Canadiens have their backs to the wall.  Expect intense games.

Trophy Tidbits and Upside Down Eastern Hockey

Vol. I, No. 56

Boston, Montreal, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are "duking" it out for the Eastern Conference title. The winner gets a trophy.  Can you guess its name? (Hint: the Eastern Conference used to be the Wales Conference, from 1974 to 1981). Princes, Dukes and Lords notwithstanding, this story also includes a King.

The trophy originally cost $2500, dates from December 1925 and was the idea of  England's future King Edward VIII (aka Duke of Windsor, Uncle Edward to Queen Elizabeth II and great Uncle Edward to Prince Charles, all House of Windsor, mind you).

This was the same Edward who abdicated the English throne, preferring to marry an American commoner and divorcee, Wallis Simpson.  He also was the last King of Ireland. His younger brother George (Elizabeth's late husband) never inherited that crown. In Ulster, perhaps some old timers wish things had turned out differently.

Edward, the highest English lord of all (way up the ladder above that Stanley fellow who was only a Viceroy) sponsored the trophy for award to the then mostly Canadian National Hockey League. Its first recipient was the Montreal Canadiens, who beat the New York Americans in the final that year.

The following year, Madison Square Garden sponsored a competing team, named the Rangers after owner Tex Richards' home state cavalry. The Amerks franchise failed in 1942, which is considered to be the start of the NHL "Original Six" era.

In 1925, the Stanley Cup went to the Montreal Maroons.  In those days, Montreal had TWO teams in the "National" Hockey League, and the Coupe Stanley was awarded to the winner of inter-league play against the Western Hockey League.  The Maroons were coached by Lester Patrick (grandfather of Craig Patrick, who was the longtime GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins). They beat the Victoria Cougars.  

The current trophy possessor comes from Pittsburgh. The Penguins have won the trophy two years in succession, repeating as Eastern Conference champions in back to back years. The first time (2008), they did not earn the Stanley Cup. Last year, the Penguins collected the big enchilada, overcoming the defending champion Red Wings in a full seven game series.

Which brings us right back to 2010.  The Canadiens and Penguins are locked in a 2-2 series tie, trying to gain entrance to the Eastern Conference final. Of all four teams mentioned at the beginning of this piece, Montreal is the greatest surprise. The #8 regular season Habs are playing in May, when the top three seeds (Washington, New Jersey and Buffalo) have all washed out in the first round.  #4 (Pittsburgh) is contending with #8 (Montreal) along with #7 and #6 fighting for the other Conference final spot. Something about this picture is upside down.  Does the regular season really make a difference?

Pittsburgh and Philadelphia were expected to be strong contenders at the start of the season (although Philly played a lackluster regular season). Boston has become more competitive over the past three years, and their elimination of Ottawa in the first round was no surprise. But Montreal, with its plowing through the Washington Capitals and playing even with Pittsburgh, is the Cinderella story of these playoffs.

Montreal is in the party because of one player. Jaroslav Halak is turning in a career-high goaltending performance for Montreal.  His save percentage, before tonight's contest, was 0.934 and in his "hot" games, he has been allowing 1 goal per game.  He and Boston's Tuukka Rask are the top two netminders in the playoffs.  Halak is on the eve of unrestricted free agency, and that means there will be a bidding war for his services once the playoffs are concluded.

Halak has been inconsistent.  In three games against the Washington Capitals, he allowed 5 or 6 goals against.  On April 30, the Penguins scored 6 goals.  But in the other games, Halak has been a stone wall, allowing 1 or two goals. So far, Halak has not pitched a shutout.

In the Saturday contest, the Penguins established a lead with a power play goal in the first period at 18:18, scored by Quebecer Kris Letang. The Pens' power play has been dominant, with a 30% success rate.  In the second period, Sergei Gonchar launched a missile from the right point.  It beat Halak cleanly over his right shoulder, aimed perfectly at the top corner of the net. 

Tonight, the Penguins played a physical game. Hits were frequent and hard. A few Montreal players had their bells rung. Ex-Penguin Hal Gill, a key defenseman for the Habs, went to the locker room. The Pens were able to get players in front the Montreal net. Even so, Montreal  outshot the Penguins.  The game boiled down to the goaltenders.

At the end of the game, the Pens drew a penalty, allowing a Montreal PP goal at 19:30.  Fleury stopped 32 of 33 shots. Pittsburgh emerged with a 2-1 victory and a 3-2 series lead.

Going back to Montreal on Monday night, the Pens have the upper hand.  If the regular season stats mean anything, if being a defending champion has an influence, then the Canadiens may be getting to the end of their party, when their coach turning back into a pumpkin. Will a glass slipper be found at the Bell Center on Monday?  Only Jaroslav Halak has the key to that question.

Hockey Rules.

P.S. No surprises in the West.  The Red Wings have been dislodged from their perch by #1 seed San Jose.  The only other teams in contention are #2 Chicago and #3 Vancouver.  The two play tonight, with the Hawks up 3-1. Vancouver will pull out all the stops, if Bobby Loo has a good game.  If not, the Western Conference finals might be decided tonight.  Sharks vs. ???  For the purposes of east coast viewing, let's hope that Chicago can win one more game.  Otherwise, there will be some late night TV for all of the Western finals.

Hockey Across the Pond

Vol. I, No. 55

While the games rage in North America, with minor league cups, Olympic contests just past and the "Inter"National Hockey League Stanley Cup playoffs going on right now, there is a hockey world beyond the Western hemisphere.

Ice hockey is played in Europe, Asia and just about on every continent on earth.  Along with soccer, it is truly an international sport.  Since the soccer pro leagues in North America are still a weak shadow of all other sports played here, it can be argued that hockey is the most popular game on earth.  

Rumor has it that a game broke out in Antarctica not too long ago, where the mean temperatures in summertime (when there is light present to work or play outside) vary from -15 to -35C.  Being outside at -31F, with a wind, is not conducive to hockey or any other form of human activity. In the land of real Penguins, hockey is an oddity practiced by scientists who have too much time on their hands.

There is an international hockey consortium which links all individual country leagues. The  International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) is hosting the 74th annual 2010 World Championships right now, with 16 teams from Europe, North America and Asia (yes, Kazakhstan).  The games are taking place right now in Germany.

Today, the home nation won its first game against the US squad, in front of a crowd of 77,803 (take that, Fenway).  Germany beat the USA. with an overtime goal 2-1. Germany's coach is Uwe Krupp. 

The tournament attracts players from US colleges, NHL, and leagues in each country. A host of Russians who play in the NHL (but are no longer in the Stanley Cup running) have travelled to the Worlds, with the intention of avenging their poor showing in the Olympics. Ovechkin, Semin, Kovalchuk and Varlamov all made plans right after the Olympics - if they were not in the hunt for Lord Stanley, their next games would be at the Worlds.

You have to wonder about the distraction.  Would keeping revenge in the back of your mind, for your mother country, might that affect play during the "paying" league?  With free agency and trades occurring every 3 - 5 years, how deep do loyalties run towards Atlanta, New Jersey or Washington?  But when it comes to your mother country, who would refuse a chance to shine again?

Canada is again aiming for gold, and has a power ranking of #2 in the tournament.  On top is Russia.  The expectations for Team Germany, ranked #11, are enormous.  The Germans have not fared well in IIHF competitions and for Coach Krupp, it could be a swan song.  He has been at the helm as national coach for five years.

For results, the IIHF website is updated regularly.  iihf.com

Hockey Rules, globally!

P. S. Philadelphia escaped extinction tonight. Down 0-3 in the series, the Flyers jumped out to an early lead in tonight's semi-final game at the Wachovia Center.  Boston tied the game late in the third period.  The game went to overtime. The Flyers took a penalty in the OT for an illegal boarding hit. At 10:05pm, the Boston power play went to work with the game tied, 4-4.

No luck for the Bruins this time around. The boys in orange killed the power play to keep their season going. Not many teams have come back from 0-3.  I think the stats are 5 out of 160 times, or something like that. At 14:40 of the OT, Simon Gagne, back from an injurty for his first game, scored the tam winner to prolong Philly's season.

Game 5 returns to TD Gardens on Monday night.  The Flyers only have to win three straight to advance. Anything is possible on the ice.  But the odds are still heavily in favor of Boston.

Three series now stand at 3-1.  San Jose, Chicago and Boston all have good chances of advancing to their Conference finals. The Penguins-Canadiens series is tied up 2-2, behind incredible goaltending on both sides of the ice. Tomorrow night, one team will emerge with an edge. 7pm at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh. Will Sid the Kid break out? San Jose will also have a chance to put away the Detroit Red Wings at 10pm. It will be a good night for hockey (thanks, Badger Bob).

The Reds Have It

Vol. I, No. 54

On May 6, the red teams came out flying. 

Down 3 games to none, the Detroit RED Wings (hey, they even have the color in their name) decimated the San Jose Sharks by a lopsided score of 7-1, including an amazing four-goal, four-point, natural hat trick effort by Johan Franzen.

Franzen's performance was spectacular. He scored four points in the first period (tying previous NHL playoff records), scored three goals in succession without any other intervening scores (the natural hat trick) and capped things off with a third period power play goal, making it four goals in one game (tying another NHL record). He was a one man wrecking crew.

With the onslaught, Detroit chased Sharks netminder Evgeny Nabokov from the goal, at the end of the first period.  By that time, Detroit was ahead 5-0. The next two periods were only a 2-1 game, with the Wings on top. San Jose has been taken apart before, and the question for 2010 is how tough the Sharks are this year.  They still have a 3-1 series lead, and the next game returns to the Shark tank in San Jose.  Expect the Sharks to come out with a perfect game.

The other red team also played in front of a home crowd. At the Bell Center (or Centre Bell) in Montreal, the Canadiens found a way to come from behind and eke out a 3-2 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Over the past two games, these teams are tied at 3 total goals apiece. The series is tied at 2 games apiece. The #8 seed Canadiens have won six of the past ten games against two Eastern Conference powerhouses, Washington and Pittsburgh. These Habs are for real.

The Habs and Wings aren't the only teams that play in red.  A few others come to mind, including the Washington "Rock Your Red" Capitals, the New Jersey Devils, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Phoenix Coyotes, the Ottawa Senators, the Calgary Flames, the Carolina Hurricanes, the Russian national team and Team Canada.  That's a lot of red jerseys.  Why so much red?

It boils down to human vision.  Red lights and red flags get our attention better than any other color. That is because the human eye sees light more effectively at 6500 Angstroms than at any other wavelength.  In non-technical terms, we see red better than any other color.  And that is because the sun emits its maximum power at, you guessed it, 6500 A (after being filtered through our atmosphere).

So, let's say you are a team "designer" and want to give your players an edge.  You put everyone in red, and players can see each other in their peripheral vision, can sense each other's presence faster, can see more players silhouetted against the white ice.  By seeing better, the team members play better.

If you skate, the next time you are on the ice, try looking at people who are wearing red or white.  You will see the red people in the corner of your eye first.  

There is one other color that works well on the ice - although not quite so well as red.  Black contrasts against the white ice too.  So which teams wear black?  The Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Then there are teams which combine red and black. The New Jersey Devils. I wonder when the Devils will bring out black jerseys edged with red highlights. Changing jerseys is a tradition in the NHL, because the teams know that modified or changed designs will bring in more revenue. Sometimes the changes are minor, and sometimes they are mindboggling. For a history of jersey designs and team colors, go to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.  

Pittsburgh and Montreal - black against red.  All tied up.  Look for black and gold to be bringing the fire on Saturday at the Mellon Arena. And, on Saturday, the Wings returns to San Jose. Can they win two in a row? Detroit has history on their side.  San Jose has hunger. Nabokov won't give up 5 goals again.

Hockey Rules.