Just How Important is Goaltending in the Playoffs

Now that we're down to the final four, it's time to start taking a look at the  masked men between the pipes. They're only players on the ice for a full 60 minutes and the ones who continually jump in front of flying rubber missiles but when things go wrong they receive all the blame. Being a goaltender is a tireless and thankless job, you're either the hero or the goat. So far in these playoffs we've seen our fair share of goats and hero's between the pipes.

Regular season success has absolutely no baring on the postseason. Just ask the Chicago Blackhawks who found themselves trailing the Detroit Red Wings 3 games to 1 in their Western Conference Semi Final. In the same sense goaltending in the regular season is a completely different ball game than goaltending in the playoffs. Just ask Marc-Andre Fleury who is growing roots on the bench in Pittsburgh.

The pressure on a goaltender in the playoffs is surreal. One wrong move, react half a second to late, lose the puck in a scramble, allowing a goal that zaps your teams momentum and you're getting boo'd off the ice. Mix all those worries with; rebound control, defencive errors and some insanely talented forwards and you have everything that's going on inside the mind of a goalie. There's so much to think about and roughly a 10th of a second to react.

No matter how many goals a team scores or how skilled that team may be, without a solid goalie that team will not succeed. Goaltending is key for a long playoff run and for any team who's mission is the Stanley Cup

It's been a roller coaster ride for goalies throughout these playoffs. Jonathan Quick went from being the goat in game one to statistically being the best goalie through 2 rounds. Then you have a goalie like Tuukka Rask who's really showing he belongs and has been making people forget Tim Thomas. But then Rask wipes-out giving the Rangers an easy goal and unfortunately costs his team the game, which turns Rask into the goat.

Goaltending can help solidify a teams chances at a Stanley Cup or be the flat tire on that road. Sometimes all a team needs is to change it's goalie. We're going to look at the goalies who are making a positive impact on their team and some other goalies who are holding them back these playoffs.

Jimmy Howard

If the Detroit Red Wings built Howard a statue it wouldn't be enough to thank him for his efforts between the pipes this season. Coming into the postseason as a 7th seed and upsetting the number 2 seed and nearly upsetting the number one seed. Howard has outdueled both Jonas Hiller and Corey Crawford and as a result the Wings have been winning. Howard went 7-7-2 through the first two rounds and ranked 3rd with a GAA of 2.22 amongst goalies who had played 11 games.

Upon taking a 3-1 stranglehold on the Blackhawks, Howard and the Red Wings had won 5 of their last 6 games and the goaltender had them at the doorstep of a Conference Final birth. Unfortunately defeating the Blackhawks is a lot easier said then done and they came back from their 3-1 deficit to beat the Wings in 7 games. Despite the second round elimination, Jimmy Howard came up big for the Wings.

Jonathan Quick

In all honesty has there been a better, more clutch goalie through the playoffs? When you look at the statistics the answer is no. Howard is 8-5-2 through the playoffs sporting a 1.50 GAA and a .948 Save Percentage. And oh by the way he also has 3 shutouts. This may only be Jonathan Quick's second season leading a team in the playoffs but he's quickly turning into a clutch playoff goalie.

The way the Western Conference Finals have shaped up, we'll see proven playoff goalie Jonathan Quick square off against Corey Crawford who has yet to prove himself in the playoffs. Which goalie will elevate their team to the Finals?

Henrik Lundqvist

It's hard to watch the New York Rangers and not feel bad for Henrik Lundqvist. He is such a skilled goaltender but his team can't do anything to help him win. Makes one wonder if the Rangers are wasting the best years of the "kings" career. Despite his team virtually not showing up through the playoffs, Lundqvist has continually come up big time after time. When the Rangers needed him most in round 1 he stepped up posting back to back shutouts in games 6 and 7.

With his team down 3 games to the Boston Bruins, Lundqvist came out ready to play in game 4 and made 37 stops to help his team get their first win of the series. While Lundqvist stood tall the Bruins proved to be too much for the Rangers as the King was eliminated in game 5. With the lack of success in New York will Lundqvist stay there?

Tomas Vokoun

If not for Tomas Vokoun coming off the bench and stepping up after Fleury's meltdown, the Pittsburgh Penguins would probably be at home instead of the Eastern Finals. Vokoun has been shinning between the pipes and helped the Penguins focus on what they're good at; scoring goals.

No one knows if the Penguins will put Fleury back in again but with the way Vokoun has been playing, it would be tough to pull him. This may be Vokoun's Stanley Cup run from now on.

Tuukka Rask

It's hard to criticize a goalie who's won 8 games but watching these playoffs I haven't been impressed by Tuukka Rask. The only reason he has these wins is because his team has bailed him out time after time. In game 7 of the first round against the Leafs, he allows 4 goals and his team ends up down 4-1. Since the Bruins came back no one showed to much concern but his play in the first round was alarming. He wasn't stellar and didn't look much better than James Reimer.

Rask has just 1 playoff run under his belt and it didn't go very well. He's fairly in-experienced, this is his year to show that he can carry the team and perform in the playoffs. Despite his 8 wins he's posting a rough 2.22 GAA and a .928 Save Percentage, not fantastic numbers. He's getting by because his team is scoring. When the Bruins had a chance to close out the series in New York, Tuukka didn't bother to show up. He'll need to stay on-top of his game in order for the Bruins to make it to the Finals, especially if he comes up against the Penguins. If you don't agree name 1 game Rask has "stolen" for the Bruins, these playoffs.

Craig Anderson

Craig Anderson is another goalie who is hard to criticize. He's been the backbone of the Senators team and dominated in the first round. But in the second round he just hasn't been good enough. It's tough for any goalie to stop the likes of Sidney Crosby, James Neal, Evgeni Malkin and Jarome Iginla, but Anderson needed to find a way to stop the Penguins offence.

Anderson ranks last with 5 wins and a 3.01 GAA amongst all goalies who have gone 2 rounds. The Senators weren't able to get the goaltending they need to take down the Penguins.

Corey Crawford

Want to know the one reason the Chicago Blackhawks wont win the cup? Their goaltending. Splitting the season with Ray Emery really benefited Corey Crawford. Now that Crawford has been relied on to play on his own and steal some games for the Blackhawks, he hasn't been able to. With the kind of slump the Blackhawks are in they needed their goalie to steal a game or two for them and Crawford has failed to do that.

The Blackhawks want Crawford to be their goalie of the future but if he continues to bomb in the playoffs that future may be over in a hurry. It may be time for the Hawks to allow Crawford to learn during the playoffs, much like the Bruins did with Rask.

A goalie either becomes a hero or a goat in the playoffs, there's no room for average goaltending. The goaltenders who are turning heads and coming up big for their teams will be the ones who go far, while the others will fall into the shadows.

Has Raffi Torres Put the Final Nail in his NHL Career?

With the NHL changing the rules to cut down on head-shots and concussions, players who like to make big impact hits had to redefine their game or get left behind. Players like Matt Cooke, Dan Carcillo and Steve Downie have all had to change the way they play to stay on the right side of the law. But one player who hasn't been able to adjust his game successfully is Raffi Torres.

From his hit on Jordan Eberle in 2011 to his hit on Marian Hossa in last years playoffs, Raffi Torres just can't seem to figure out a way to play within the "rules". There is a fine line that a player like Torres must toe, but he continually crosses that line. Torres is the type of player who can't find a permanent home, he's bounced around between 6 different NHL teams. His job is to bring something to each team he plays for to convince them to keep him and thats usually physicality. But Torres keeps crossing the line and after his last hit on Tuesday night in the second round of the playoffs, it may be time for teams to start crossing him off their team.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei5UkHL0oNM

We'll start with his latest hit of Jarret Stoll. Was it a dirty hit or a head hit? It was not a dirty hit but rather an illegal hit, the principal point of contact appears to be the head. The tough thing about this hit is that Stoll leaned forward to get the puck and by that point it was virtually to late for Torres to stop. Had this been a player not named Raffi Torres, they probably get a phone hearing and 1 or 2 games max. Since this hit involves the controversial Raffi Torres, an in-person hearing is called and there's a lengthy suspension.

What's really startling about Torres is his MO. He seems to be aiming to take star players out of the game and that's exactly what the NHL is trying to get rid of. He hits Jordan Eberle one of the Edmonton Oilers best young players, Marian Hossa a key member of the Chicago Blackhawks offence and Jarret Stoll another key player on a Stanley Cup contending team.

Big hit's with unfortunate outcomes happen in the NHL, look at the Eric Gryba hit, but continually going after key players is something the NHL can't continue to allow.

When you look at the Stoll hit it's a really grey area that the NHL needs to make clear. Torres doesn't extend his elbow or leave his feet, but he did finish his check on an angle that targeted Stoll's head on the play. Basically what the NHL is saying is Torres took a "bad route" to finish his check, as he skated east-west. Torres also hits upwards into Stoll's body forcing his head backwards instead of hitting through Stoll. Had this been anyone else, I think they get the benefit of the doubt with this hit, but it's not it's the infamous Raffi Torres.

The consensus online is that Torres shouldn't be suspended for this hit and that the only reason this is such a big deal is because of Torres' history. A team can no longer get the benefit of the doubt when Torres hits somebody, anytime anything is borderline with this guy you know Brendan Shanahan will be calling. Which is why teams are going to start to give up on him. No team wants a player that can't get away with anything, he's become a liability on the ice.

Whether people like it or not and despite his best efforts, Raffi Torres is a dirty hockey player. The book is out on him, he likes to take star or impact players out of the line-up. If a 25 game suspension in last years playoffs didn't deliver the message clear enough to Raffi Torres what's it going to take?

With the 6 game suspension, could this be the final hit of his career? Raffi Torres will be an un-restricted free agent this coming offseason and if the San Jose Sharks don't resign him, where does he go? While his hit on Stoll wasn't malicious, it was a dangerous play and it may cost him a lot more than 6 games.

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What We Learned From the First Round of NHL Playoffs

The first round of the 2013 NHL playoffs is in the books. For the Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Boston Bruins the dream is still alive as they advance to the second round. But for the teams that fell just short, it's going to be a long offseason and for some the first round will have left a bitter taste.

The first 4 wins are in the books, now it's just the final 12. So what did we learn and what can we take away from the first round of the 2013 NHL playoffs?

• The Pittsburgh Penguins aren't as good as everyone thought.

This was supposed to be the Penguins year. A healthy Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin combined with James Neal and the addition of Jarome Iginla. The Penguins made a statement, their goal in the playoffs is nothing short of the Stanley Cup. While they still have a shot at that goal, some weaknesses have been exposed in their team and the road is only going to get tougher. Until the Penguins figure out their goaltending issues, they wont be able to lay claim to the Stanley Cup. Looks like Pittsburgh isn't the big power-house everyone believed.

• 8th seed don't care

Remember when Brian Burke was the GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs and he said he didn't want to just squeak into the playoffs in 8th only to be clobbered in the first round, then the LA Kings went on to win the Stanley Cup from the 8th seed? In the first round, especially in the East, what seed you finished didn't mean much. Look at the Islanders giving the Penguins all they could handle, The Senators as the 7th seed upsetting the 2nd seeded Canadiens and the Detroit Red Wings following along the Senators path by upsetting the Ducks.
Once you make the playoffs it's a whole new ballgame, throw out the regular season as it means nothing. In a best of 7 series, anything can happen- it all depends what team shows up.

• Never underestimate your opponent

After the Bruins closed out their series with the Leafs in game 7, Milan Lucic admitted that the Bruins kind of underestimated the Leafs.

"I think after Game 4 we did. I don’t think once the series started we underestimated them. That’s why we had a 3-1 lead after four games, but after that it just seemed like it was almost like a bit of we did underestimate them a bit and when it felt like we deflated them in that Game 4 overtime goal that wasn’t the case at all."

Underestimating the Leafs almost cost the Bruins the series as the Leafs showed no quit and a lot of heart, battling back from a 3-1 series deficit.

• Goaltending is kind of important

You can pretty much say every team that was eliminated in round one, didn't get the type of goaltending they needed. Look at the New York Rangers, when they needed a big game Henrik Lundqvist stepped up. In fact "the King" stepped up with shutouts in both game 6 and 7.  Look at the at the Canadiens and Canucks, both teams didn't get the goaltending they needed and as a result they're out. Goaltending nearly cost the Pittsburgh Penguins in their first round series but instead it cost the Islanders. Had the Islanders had someone other than Evgeni Nabokov between the pipes, they may very well have upset the Penguins.

• Despite no experience and having the odds against, the Leafs actually played pretty solid playoff hockey

Yes, everyone in Toronto is disappointed and so are the players, after coming within 11 minutes of moving on to the 2nd round, but they really shouldn't be. This series for Toronto was a win-win. They gained valuable playoff experience and now know what it takes to win in the playoffs. The Leafs did far better than anyone expected and nearly pulled off the unthinkable, that is a huge plus for the Leafs and will only help them going forward.

• Maybe Alex Ovechkin Really Can't play in the playoffs

Sigh, yes another disappointing first round exit for Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. I really thought they would advance this year and Ovechkin would finally find the playoff success that has eluded him, but sadly that was not the case. Ovechkin was held scoreless for the last 5 games of the series and most importantly in game 7 when his team needed him the most. Ovechkin scored just 1 goal and added 1 assist, a far cry from his dominance during the regular season. It's been 9 seasons since Ovechkin joined the Capitals and they've failed advance past the 2nd round in any year.

Interesting stats

• The Kings and Blues played in the closest series. The teams spent 98.8 either tied or within 1 goal of the other. Through 6 games there was only a 5 minute span where the was a 2 goal cushion. Talk about some close, nail-bitting hockey.


• Carey Price is 4-11 in his last 4 playoff appearances and hasn't made it out of the first round.


• How close were the first round match-ups? Well a staggering 17 games needed extra time to decide a winner, which breaks the previous record of 16 in just one round.


• Remarkable all 6 "original 6" NHL teams made it into the playoffs and 4 of them are still alive.

Round two begins tonight. Get ready for even more exciting hockey as teams look to add 4 more wins on route to the Stanley Cup.

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The Unsung Hero Of Each Playoff Team

Every team has big name players that are counted on to produce and carry the team. These players like Phil Kessel, Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews and Corey Perry, get all the glory when the team is successful. But when the stars stop producing it's up to the secondary players to step up and fill in the hole. While the unsung hero of each playoff team may not get the recognition or attention, their team wouldn't be nearly as good without them.

Chicago Blackhawks- Niklas Hjalmarsson

When you look at the Blackhawks blue line the names that pop out are Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. Rarely do you immediately think of 25 year-old Niklas Hjalmarsson as one of the team's top defenceman. Despite being a relative unknown, he's paired with Keith on the Blackhawks top defencive pairing and has been given the task of facing the Minnesota Wild's top players.

He's one of the Blackhawks best penalty killers and leads all Blackhawk players in time on the ice while shorthanded averaging 2:45 a game. New this year Hjalmarsson has also added some offence to his game. He put 10 points on the board in 46 games on the Blackhawks blue line.

Pittsburgh Penguins- Matt Niskanen

Much like Niklas Hjalmarsson, when you look at the Penguins blue line Matt Niskanen isn't the first name that comes to mind. But Niskanen had a solid season, putting up 14 points (3rd best for Penguins D) and averaging over 20 minutes a night. To pick an unsung hero for a team like the Penguins is so difficult as they have stars all throughout their line-up but Niskanen is a guy who is a consistent producing defenceman who continually flies under the radar.

Anaheim Ducks- Daniel Winnik

Daniel Winnik has turned himself into a key player for the Ducks. Winnik finds his home on the third line wing with Saku Koivu and Andrew Cogliano. The three of quickly become one of the Ducks most creative and dangerous lines combining for 69 points in the regular season. In addition to the lines offence, they've also become the Ducks go-to shutdown line and have been given the task of shutting down the always-dangerous Pavel Datsyuk.

Winnik has been a fantastic two-way forward this season, focusing on his own end first (+13) and still putting up 19 points. Daniel Winnik is the type of forward that teams win with and right now the Ducks are benefiting from his strong play. Look for him to play a big role in the Ducks Stanley Cup run.

Montreal Canadiens- Brandon Prust

When a guy is voted as the unsung hero of a team, then you can't not put him on the list. Brandon Prust has had a huge impact on the Canadiens. From helping with their physical play to mentoring Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk, Prust has done it all for the Canadiens and he's even had an impact on the scoreboard.

Prust suited up for 38 games in his first season with the Canadiens and put up 14 points and led the team with 110 penalty minutes. He's stepped up as leader for the Canadiens and proved to be a very valuable asset. For the Canadiens to make a deep playoff run they'll need Prust to play his best and by the off-ice leader of the Habs.

Boston Bruins- Dennis Seidenberg

Dennis Seidenberg may be one of the most underrated defenceman in the entire Eastern Conference. He has a Stanley Cup ring, 52 games of NHL playoff experience and is one of the Boston Bruins top defenceman night in and night out. Yet he is continually overlooked.

Seidenberg is the type of player who can do it all. The coach has faith to send him into any situation. He ranked second in the NHL in plus/minus, was 2nd amongst Bruins defenceman in points (17) and he took just 5 penalties all season. He's the type of defenceman who understands just how valuable he is and what it takes to win. He laid his body on the line to block 115 shots this season, that dedication and heart.

St. Louis Blues- Chris Stewart

When I looked at the St. Louis Blues' stats from this season, I was shocked to see Chris Stewart leading the team in scoring. Chris Stewart is not only the Blues unsung hero he's also one of the most under-appreciated players in the Western Conference.

Stewart put up 36 points this season with the Blues, more than he has in any other season and doing so this year in just 48 games. He lead the Blues in goals, power play goals and points, despite playing four minutes a night less than David Backes who put up 28 points. The Blues in general are a pretty under the radar team, but despite that they've managed a 2-0 series lead over the defending Stanley Cup Champions. Teams overestimating Christ Stewart and the Blues can only help the Blues.

Los Angeles Kings- Trevor Lewis

Anytime your own teammates crown you the unsung hero of your team you know you're doing something right. Trevor Lewis plays wing on a line with Jarret Stoll and Dwight King, the line was a key part in the Kings Stanley Cup win last season. Once again the three will show what they can do in the playoffs. Dwight King was the surprise last playoffs scoring 5 goals and finishing 3rd on the team in playoff scoring and this post-season many are expecting Trevor Lewis to play the same role.

“He’s got the skill, he’s got the shot, he’s got the speed. Just a matter of not only our line but every line coming together and ramping it up an extra notch or two." ~ Jarret Stoll

Lewis finished with 14 points through 48 games while averaging 15 minutes a night and was one of the Kings best penalty killers. If the Kings are to come back from being down 2-0 in round one, Trevor Lewis will need to start scoring again.

Vancouver Canucks- Jannik Hansen

Jannik Hansen finished the season as the 4th leading scorer for the Canucks behind the Sedin twins and Derrick Roy. Hansen put up 27 points in 47 games this season and continued to prove just how valuable he can be- despite being the 10th highest paid forward. Hansen kills penalties, spends time on the power play and uses his great speed for both offence and defence. He plays a great defencive game and was +12 on the year. He's one of the most versatile Canucks forwards as he can play either wing and fit in on any line.

Toronto Maple Leafs- Jay McClement

At the beginning of the 2013 season no one expected the Leafs to even come close to the playoffs. But thanks to a break out season from Nazem Kadri, stellar goaltending from James Reimer and great coaching from Randy Carlyle, the Leafs are in the playoffs. But aside from the big names on the Leafs another player who deserves some major credit is Jay McClement.

The biggest turnaround for the Leafs has been their penalty killing. Last season they were the 3rd worst penalty killing team in the league, this season they're 3rd best. Who's been killing all these penalties- Jay McClement. If you're questioning the impact that McClement could have had on the PK, just remember he was the cornerstone of the Avalanche PK that went from 30th to 12th once he joined.

McClement is a versatile forward who can fit anywhere in the line-up and take key face-offs when Tyler Bozak needs a break. He wears an A his jersey and provides solid veteran leadership for this young Leafs team. Picking up Jay McClement may have been one of Brian Burke's best moves.

Washington Capitals- John Carlson

Time to put another defenceman on the list. When you think of the Washington Capitals you don't exactly think of a shutdown defencive team, you think of the highflying Alex Ovechkin. Even the Capitals defenceman have exceptional offence and a prime example is John Carlson.

But Carlson's defence is extremely underrated. Carlson ranks 7th on the Capitals and 2nd in defenceman with 22 points. But aside from the offence Carlson is 2nd on the blue line with 59 hits and leads all Capitals defenceman with 17 takeaways. He ranked 3rd in the NHL with 123 blocked shots. Adam Oates also trusts John Carlson on the penalty kill and as a result is the Capitals best penalty killer averaging 2:53 on the power kill. Not bad for an "offensive-minded defenceman".

San Jose Sharks- TJ Galiardi

Galiardi is a player who has struggled to find his place in the NHL and at the beginning of this season it looked like he still hadn't found his place. But Galiardi picked up his play near the end of the season and began to look like the player of the future that the Sharks thought he was. He but up 14 points in 36 games with the Sharks and was a +1.

New York Rangers- Derek Stepan

It's easy to get over-looked in New York City. With all the bright lights, big names and sports teams there is so much happening in the city. The Rangers stars include the king Henrik Lundqvist, Rich Nash, Ryan Callahan and Brad Richards, but one player who's managed to fall through the cracks is Derek Stepan. For a player whoes coach was worried about centering the 2nd line, Derek Stepan has silenced all his critics.

The 22 year-old had a break-out season that saw him lead the New York Rangers with 44 points and 18 goals. He had a stellar end to the season, notching 3 game-winning goals and recording 7 multi-point games insuring his Rangers a spot in the Playoffs. John Tortorella has gone from being worried about the youngster to using him in any situation- Power play or penalty kill.

Detroit Red Wings- Justin Abdelkader

Aside from Red Wings fans, how many of you have heard of Justin Abdelkader? Now how many of you have heard of Pavel Datsyuk? Well Abdelkader is a winger on the Pavel Datsyuk line. He brings a strong net presence and is one of the Red Wings best Penalty killers. He put up 13 points in 48 games this season.

Ottawa Senators- Patrick Wiercioch

Senators rookie defenceman Patrick Wiercioch put up 19 points from the blue line, ranking him 2nd amongst Senators defence. Wiercioch has been brought up through the Sens program and has transformed into a solid offencive defenceman.

Minnesota Wild- Mikko Koivu

After a big offseason all the focus this season was on Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, someone who was overlooked was the guys wearing the C- Mikko Koivu. To the surprise of many Koivu actually out-scored James Neal, Corey Perry and Jarome Iginla, not bad for the Wild captain who was overshadowed. These numbers are typical for Koivu yet he still doesn't get the recognition he deserves around the league; Hopefully the playoffs will be his coming out party.

New York Islanders- Frans Nielsen

The Islanders this season were carried by the play of John Tavares and Evgeni Nabokov, but those two got a little help along the way. Frans Nielsen finished 4th on the team in scoring with 29 points, now while Nielsen has never lead the Islanders in scoring or even made an all-star appearance he's still a key member of their team. He's become a key member of the penalty kill and often generates short-handed chances based on his creativity. While Tavares may lead the way, without the help from players like Nielsen it would have been another year without a post-season birth for the Islanders.

Why the Leafs Stand A Chance Against the Bruins

Last night the Toronto Maple Leafs played their first playoff game in 9 years. What was supposed to be a happy moment for Leaf fans, turned into a nightmare when they found out just how good the Boston Bruins are.

Despite the fact the Leafs got manhandled during the opening game of this series, there's still a lot of hockey to be played and the Leafs still have a shot against the Bruins. There was no question heading into this series that this would be a tough match for the Leafs, but every match-up in the playoffs is tough.

My biggest pet peeve is many Leafs fans' started counting the Leafs out before the puck even dropped on this series. I understand that the Bruins have won 9 of the last 10 games against the Leafs, but the playoffs are a different story, everything else gets wiped away. Yes the Bruins destroyed the Leafs last night, but a bounce or two in favour of the Leafs and it's a different hockey game. If James van Riemsdyk had buried the puck instead of hitting the crossbar, then the Leafs are up 2-1 instead of down 2-1 after the first.

The Leafs, at least for the first period were in the game and competing hard against the Bruins. If you call yourself a Leafs fan and are saying they don't stand a chance, don't call yourself a Leafs fan. You're not being a realist, anything can happen in the playoffs and Leafs match up just fine against the Bruins.

The good news for the Leafs is players like Nazem Kadri, James Reimer and Tyler Bozak who didn't have any NHL playoff experience, now have an NHL playoff game under their belt. They got their first taste of playoff hockey and now they know what's it's like and what it takes to be successful in the playoffs. Using what they learned in the last game, not just the rookies but all the Leafs, can now come out better prepared for game two.

Here's my three reasons why the Leafs stand a chance and if they utilize these aspects, could defeat the Bruins.

1. Goaltending

As inexperienced James Reimer is in the playoffs, Tuukka Rask is also pretty inexperienced. Rask was the backup in 2011 and 2012 and was responsible to the Bruins mega collapse in 2010. Last night Rask did not look good. He looked shaky and frustrated early on and if the Leafs had managed some sustained pressure they would have been able to beat him early.

While this may not be a popular opinion, I think the Leafs have better goaltending this year  in James Reimer than the Bruins do in Rask.

Reimer has something to prove, he wants to show the Leafs brass that he can get the job done and be the number one goalie for the Leafs in the future.

If James Reimer can find his game and hold the Leafs in games where they're being outplayed the Leafs will have the edge between the pipes.

2. Special Teams

The Leafs have a very skilled roster. With players like Phil Kessel, Joffrey Lupul, James van Riemsdyk, Nazem Kadri and Tyler Bozak. Aside from Tyler Seguin the Bruins don't have any young skilled forwards.

The Leafs also boast the 2nd best penalty kill in the league. While the Bruins also have a solid penalty kill heir power play is horrendous ranking 26th in the league. If the Leafs can make the most of their opportunities with the extra man and limit their time spent in the box, they'll win the special teams battle.

3. Leafs aren't afraid of the Bruins

For the Leafs to go into this series thinking they're going to beat the Bruins physically is just wrong. You can't beat the Bruins at their own game. Many have tried and all have failed, the Bruins WILL ALWAYS win the physical battle. There's not one player on their roster who won't beat the crap out of an opposing player.

But the Bruins count on hard-hitting and intimidating their opponents to win games. The good news is the Leafs aren't intimidated or afraid of the Bruins. They know what to expect from the Bruins and they know they're going to get hit and beat up in this series. You saw Mikhail Grabovski get assaulted several times last night but he never shied away.

So while the Leafs can't be more physical than the Bruins, they can frustrate them by not giving up or joining them. The old saying- "If you can't beat them join them", is what the Bruins count on. They coax their opponents into an intense physical battle and strike when their opponents are off their game plan. The Leafs need to play tough but stick to their game plan and not roll over. If the Leafs can hang tough and keep coming back for more punishment, they'll frustrate the Bruins and likely force them into taking dumb penalties.

Here's an interesting tidbit for all you Leafs fans out there. The last time a 5th seed won the Stanley Cup was the New Jersey Devils after the last lockout shortened season. Guess who the Devils beat in round one? The Boston Bruins.

While it isn't going to be easy and it wont be likely, if the Leafs can get stellar goaltending from James Reimer, make the Bruins pay for taking stupid penalties and force them into taking stupid penalties, there is a chance the Leafs can take this series.

 

Having said that I still stick to my prediction of Bruins in 6 games.

 

Why the Toronto Maple Leafs Stand A Chance Against the Boston Bruins

Last night the Toronto Maple Leafs played their first playoff game in 9 years. What was supposed to be a happy moment for Leaf fans, turned into a nightmare when they found out just how good the Boston Bruins are.

Despite the fact the Leafs got manhandled during the opening game of this series, there's still a lot of hockey to be played and the Leafs still have a shot against the Bruins. There was no question heading into this series that this would be a tough match for the Leafs, but every match-up in the playoffs is tough.

My biggest pet peeve is many Leafs fans' started counting the Leafs out before the puck even dropped on this series. I understand that the Bruins have won 9 of the last 10 games against the Leafs, but the playoffs are a different story, everything else gets wiped away. Yes the Bruins destroyed the Leafs last night, but a bounce or two in favour of the Leafs and it's a different hockey game. If James van Riemsdyk had buried the puck instead of hitting the crossbar, then the Leafs are up 2-1 instead of down 2-1 after the first.

The Leafs, at least for the first period were in the game and competing hard against the Bruins. If you call yourself a Leafs fan and are saying they don't stand a chance, don't call yourself a Leafs fan. You're not being a realist, anything can happen in the playoffs and Leafs match up just fine against the Bruins.

The good news for the Leafs is players like Nazem Kadri, James Reimer and Tyler Bozak who didn't have any NHL playoff experience, now have an NHL playoff game under their belt. They got their first taste of playoff hockey and now they know what's it's like and what it takes to be successful in the playoffs. Using what they learned in the last game, not just the rookies but all the Leafs, can now come out better prepared for game two.

Here's my three reasons why the Leafs stand a chance and if they utilize these aspects, could defeat the Bruins.

1. Goaltending
As inexperienced James Reimer is in the playoffs, Tuukka Rask is also pretty inexperienced. Rask was the backup in 2011 and 2012 and was responsible to the Bruins mega collapse in 2010. Last night Rask did not look good. He looked shaky and frustrated early on and if the Leafs had managed some sustained pressure they would have been able to beat him early.

While this may not be a popular opinion, I think the Leafs have better goaltending this year in James Reimer than the Bruins do in Rask.

Reimer has something to prove, he wants to show the Leafs brass that he can get the job done and be the number one goalie for the Leafs in the future.

If James Reimer can find his game and hold the Leafs in games where they're being outplayed the Leafs will have the edge between the pipes.

2. Special Teams
The Leafs have a very skilled roster. With players like Phil Kessel, Joffrey Lupul, James van Riemsdyk, Nazem Kadri and Tyler Bozak. Aside from Tyler Seguin the Bruins don't have any young skilled forwards.

 The Leafs also boast the 2nd best penalty kill in the league. While the Bruins also have a solid penalty kill heir power play is horrendous ranking 26th in the league. If the Leafs can make the most of their opportunities with the extra man and limit their time spent in the box, they'll win the special teams battle.


3. Leafs aren't afraid of the Bruins
For the Leafs to go into this series thinking they're going to beat the Bruins physically is just wrong. You can't beat the Bruins at their own game. Many have tried and all have failed, the Bruins WILL ALWAYS win the physical battle. There's not one player on their roster who won't beat the crap out of an opposing player.

But the Bruins count on hard-hitting and intimidating their opponents to win games. The good news is the Leafs aren't intimidated or afraid of the Bruins. They know what to expect from the Bruins and they know they're going to get hit and beat up in this series. You saw Mikhail Grabovski get assaulted several times last night but he never shied away.

So while the Leafs can't be more physical than the Bruins, they can frustrate them by not giving up or joining them. The old saying- "If you can't beat them join them", is what the Bruins count on. They coax their opponents into an intense physical battle and strike when their opponents are off their game plan. The Leafs need to play tough but stick to their game plan and not roll over. If the Leafs can hang tough and keep coming back for more punishment, they'll frustrate the Bruins and likely force them into taking dumb penalties.

Here's an interesting tidbit for all you Leafs fans out there. The last time a 5th seed won the Stanley Cup was the New Jersey Devils after the last lockout shortened season. Guess who the Devils beat in round one? The Boston Bruins.

While it isn't going to be easy and it wont be likely, if the Leafs can get stellar goaltending from James Reimer, make the Bruins pay for taking stupid penalties and force them into taking stupid penalties, there is a chance the Leafs can take this series.

Having said that I still stick to my prediction of Bruins in 6 games.

Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins Prove that Hockey can Heal

For most people hockey is a way to escape reality. Every struggle you're facing just vanishes while you're mesmerized by your favourite hockey team. An escape from reality and a little bit of fun is just what the doctor order for the city of Boston. The hockey game on Wednesday that featured the Boston Bruins squaring off against the rival Buffalo Sabres, was far more than just a hockey game.

For the city of Boston winning championship's is nothing new. They've racked up a Stanley Cup, NBA Championship, 3 Super Bowl wins and 2 World Series titles in the last 13 years. Their fans have had numerous opportunities to express their pride and show their support. But none of those moments came close to the game at TD Garden on Wednesday.

I myself am Canadian, and darn proud of it too! But one thing I've always loved about Americans is their patriotism. Americans have the most pride and respect for their country and they're willing to show you it anytime. As soon as the rest of America found out about the bombing at the Boston Marathon, they came together to stand tall with Boston.

One of the best moments from the game on Wednesday was the crowd itself singing the national anthem. I got chills watching, listening to the national anthem being loudly and proudly sung by the 17,000+ in attendance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-KXHN-ETDig

While long time anthem singer Rene Rancourt started the anthem he handed the reigns over to the TD Garden. The fans didn't let him down. They picked up where he left off and finished the Star-Spangled Banner united as one.

The pre-game ceremony was like one I have never seen before. Seeing the players on both the Sabres and Bruins singing the national anthem and getting choked up during the video, spoke volumes. It wasn't just a hockey game being played on Wednesday, it was a way to help Bostonians heal.

"It was incredible. To see how everyone was reacting and watching that video was obviously very emotional for everyone. The whole time, we were fighting back tears." ~ Brad Marchand

Not only was this an escape and a chance to be entertained, it was also a way for Bruins' fans to make a statement about their patriotism and pride. They wanted to send the message that they would not be defeated.

When people go through down times there is always a sports team that they turn to and fixate their attention on. Sports occupy the human race. You talk about it with family and friends, watch it, compete in it and it provides a distraction from everyday life. Whether you like it or not, Sports dictate how people live their lives.

With the role sports play, TD Garden was the perfect place for the city of Boston to come together and show they're still strong and united.

Despite the shootout loss, the Bruins clinched a playoff birth with the point they earned. Not only have the Bruins locked up their ticket for the playoffs, there's also a solid chance they'll go far and challenge for the Stanley Cup. Having a competitive Bruins hockey team is just what the city of Boston needs. They'll have a chance to rally behind the Bruins on their quest in the playoffs.

While the Boston Bruins will give the fans something to hold onto and rely on, the fans will also help the Bruins with emotional support and pride. While tragedies are never anything good, sometimes good can come out of them. The Boston Bruins now have a new reason to win the Stanley Cup- for their city.

While the scoreboard showed that the Sabres had defeated the Bruins, there were no losers from that game. The entire city of Boston and America stood proud and got behind their hockey team's. The entire city of Boston won on Wednesday. They showed they wouldn't be defeated and that together in numbers, united, they were strong. Boston Strong!

Seeing both the Bruins and Sabres skate to centre ice to salute the crowd and hearing the USA- USA chants break-out, was a special scene. Showing that both teams and everyone in the building was on Boston's side.

It's going to take awhile for things to fall back into place and people to get back on with their lives. Many lives were impacted in one way or another on Monday. It's going to take time for the city to recover. Having a team to cheer for such as the Boston Bruins will help make that process easier.

What fans will take away from the game on Wednesday isn't the score, for that truly didn't matter. But instead the patriotism, pride, strength and resiliency from the people in Boston. Boston may have been shaken but they wont be broken!

Why Brendan Gallagher Deserves the Calder

One of the most exciting things to watch unfold during the NHL season is the rookie race. Watching the top rookies adjust to life in the NHL and make their presence felt for their teams is a treat to watch. The top draft picks from previous drafts showcase their skills and battle it out for the chance to win the Calder Trophy. Normally the players in the running for the Calder are players taken inside the top 5, but this year the Calder trophy may go to a guy drafted 147th.

Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher is having a season to remember. He's worked his way into a top 6 forward role with the Canadiens, is fourth in rookie scoring with 24 points and has successfully become a pest that other teams hate to play against.

While there are other favourites for the Calder like, Jonathan Huberdeau, Cory Conacher or Brandon Saad, with the season Brendan Gallagher has had there's no doubt he deserves to at least be in the running for Calder.

Gallagher is only 5 foot 9 but he plays as if he was 6 foot 4. His drive and determination to not be shoved around and make an impact despite being so small has earned him a lot of respect. He's determined to make an impact with the Canadiens and help them win at whatever cost and that's what separates him from other rookies. Brendan Gallagher's will to win.

Brendan Gallagher makes his living parked atop the blue ice. Right in the goalies kitchen. He gets abused by the goaltender he's screening and the defenceman covering him. But every time you slash him, hit him, punch him or knock him down he get's right back up and comes back for more with a big smile on his face. That is the heart of a competitor.

I remember watching the Sabres and Canadiens square off a couple weeks ago and Gallagher was right in front of Ryan Miller. Miller gave him some pretty hefty slashes with his goalie stick, and then defenceman Tyler Myers- who is a foot taller than Gallagher- came over to try and dispose of him. Gallagher took the abuse from Myers and Miller, standing there with a big smile on his face, knowing that he had gotten under their skin.

A huge part of Brendan Gallagher's game is his ability to get under the opponents skin. He drives the opposition nuts and baits them into taking penalties or making dumb plays. He successfully got under the skin of Leafs forward Nazem Kadri last week. Kadri was so upset over Gallagher he ran around throwing hits and trying to be the tough guy instead of scoring goals.

On top of Gallagher being an annoying little bugger he can also produce. He's 4th in rookie scoring with 26 points but tied for first in goals by a rookie with 13. He leads all rookies in game wining goals with 3. He's scoring at a point-per-game rate of .62, 2nd best to Huberdeau and is averaging 22.57 scoring chances per 60 minutes of ice time. The most remarkable thing is he's played 4 games less than his competition because of injury, yet is still right in the mix.

What makes Brendan Gallagher's impact so unique is not only his small stature but his small reputation. Heading into the season all anyone in Montreal wanted to talk about was Alex Galchenyuk and what his odds were for winning the Calder. No one gave Gallagher a shot to make the team out of training camp and certainly no one expected him to out-play Galchenyuk.

Now Gallagher has found a home on the Canadiens second line and see's himself going up against the oppositions best and tallest defenders every game. Yet Gallagher seems to flourish under the pressure and rises to the occasion. There's no slowing the 20 year-old rookie down.

Brendan Gallagher has done everything right for the Montreal Canadiens this season. He's scoring goals, drawing penalties and has become a force to be reckoned with. It would be a shame to see his efforts this season go to waste should he not win the Calder Trophy.

Brendan Gallagher appears to the be the offencive spark plug the Canadiens were missing. His work ethic and never give up style of play has inspired his Canadien teammates and catapulted them near the top of the Eastern Conference.

The fact that Brendan Gallagher battles for every lose puck, every shift, every game and is willing to pay the price makes him special. His will to win and work ethic set him apart from other rookies. Whether he wins the Calder or not is yet to be seen but for now he'll take a trip to the postseason with a strong and tight nit Canadien team. Branden Gallagher is going to be a key and valuable member of the Montreal Canadiens for the foreseeable future, he may even do enough to drive them deep into the playoffs.

Year Of the Goalie Tandems

Good goaltending is the key to any successful hockey team. A team is only as good as their goaltending and will only go as far as their goaltending will take them. Just ask the Los Angeles Kings who wouldn't have had a shot at the Stanley Cup Finals, let alone the Stanley Cup without Jonathan Quick. Or the Philadelphia Flyers who lost in the finals because of poor goaltending from Brian Boucher and Michael Leighton. Goaltending makes or breaks a championship team.

For most teams relying on one goalie to come up big night after night is tough enough. Teams will usually ride their starter all year, plugging in the backup only when the starter is dead tired. But this year has been a different story for many teams. On any given night you don't know who you'll see between pipes.

With the season shortened due to the lockout, it was obvious teams would need to rely on their backup goalies more. Backup goalies everywhere are rejoicing as they're playing more games in this shortened season then they would in a normal 82 game season.

With the gruelling and compact 48 games season, more and more teams are using goalie tandems. Not only are we seeing more goalie tandems this season, but the teams who are utilizing both goalies are amongst the best in the NHL this season.

Chicago Blackhawks

Corey Crawford (25 games played) 17-4-4 and Ray Emery (19 games played) 15-1-0.

The Blackhawks are the prime example of this season's goaltending tandems. They've used both Crawford and Emery during various stretches this season. As a result both goalies are fresh and playing well in the final games before the playoffs.

By using both the veteran and the younger goaltender it helps relieve the pressure from the younger Crawford and also allows him to learn from the veteran Emery.

Using the goalie tandem this season has proven to be a great idea for the Blackhawks. Both have been stellar at times this season and as a result they're currently in first place in the entire league.

Toronto Maple Leafs

James Reimer (27 games played) 16-5-5 and Ben Scrivens (18 games played) 7-8-0.

Remember when everyone was freaking out about the Leafs inexperienced goaltenders? Then when the Leafs were going to acquire a goalie at the trade deadline everyone was against that notion? Good times in Toronto.

Both James Reimer and Ben Scrivens have played well for the Leafs and have them currently inside the playoff picture. Having two young goalies battle to become the starter, has forced both Scrivens and Reimer to elevate their game. The Leafs finally have a competitive goalie tandem and as a result they're having a great season.

Now that the Leafs don't have to worry about their goaltending holding them back, they're able to focus on offence. Leafs sit 5th in the Eastern Conference.

St. Louis Blues

Brian Elliott (17 games played) 8-7-1, Jaroslav Halak (16 games played) 6-5-1 and Jake Allen (14 games played) 9-4-0.

The St. Louis Blues don't have a goalie duo, they have a goaltending trio. While Elliott has struggled at times this season the Blue have been able to call on other goalies to step up and carry the load while their "number one" goalie was off his game.

Halak and Elliott combined to carry the Blues last season and won the William. M. Jennings trophy for their efforts. They became the first goalie tandem in NHL history to both record at least 6 shutouts in a season.

After their strong performance between the pipes last season everyone expected the same again this season. Unfortunately that didn't happen. Both netminders lost their job to the rookie Jake Allen and Brian Elliott even found himself in the AHL by March.

With the last handful of games before the playoffs both Halak and Elliot have re-found their game and are ready to prove critics wrong. The Blues are a team on the prowl. Sitting 6th in the West- they're a scaring team heading into the playoffs.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Marc-Andre Fleury (29 games played) 21-6-0 and Tomas Vokoun (18 games played) 11-4-0.

In the first round of the playoffs last season goaltending was the Penguins downfall. They played their rivals in the Flyers and let their
emotion's get the better of them. To insure that wouldn't happen again they brought in Tomas Vokoun to hold down the fort when Fleury isn't playing well.

The Penguins have arguably the best goalie tandem in the league right now. Both goalies have been stellar this season posting Save Percentages above .910. It's been an up and down season for Fleury who has struggled at times but Vokoun has stepped up and shut the door while his counterpart was struggling.

While Vokoun likely wont win any accolades for his performance between the pipes this season, he's been huge for the Penguins. By sharing some of the load Fleury will be rested for the playoffs and if he has some rough patches Vokoun can step in.

The Penguins goaltending is a big reason they're the Stanley Cup favorites and why they're currently first in the East.

Anaheim Ducks

Jonas Hiller (23 games played) 13-5-4 and Viktor Fasth (22 games played) 14-5-1.

The Ducks, much like the Blackhawks, have utilized their goalie tandem for the best. Hiller faltered this season and battled injury, during that time Fasth came in and proved he's ready to be an NHL goalie. Instead of letting their situation turn into a controversy they've used their tandem to propel them into 2nd in the West.

The Ducks have had a remarkable turnaround from last season and their goalie tandem deserves a lot of credit for carrying the load.

In addition to the teams listed above who have fully utilized their goalie tandems and are benefiting in the standings, at least a third of all NHL teams are playing their tandems more and more often. The Vancouver Canucks have used both Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo at times this season, the Ottawa Senators were forced to use both Craig Anderson and Ben Bishop, The New Jersey Devils have used both Martin Brodeur and Johan Hedberg and the Lightning have also used multiple netminders.

When you look around the NHL this seems to be the year of the goalie tandems. Some of the teams atop of the NHL have been utilizing their goalie tandems to the fullest and as a result their dominating the NHL.

Corey Crawford and Ray Emery Solid Goalie Tandem

For most teams having one goaltender claim the right to be the starter is good enough. That goalie plays the majority of the games and carries the weight of the team and as long as he's consistent there's no issues. Having two goaltenders perform above expectation usually throws a wrench in things, but for the Chicago Blackhawks they're perfectly fine with that. Both Ray Emery and Corey Crawford have been splitting time between the pipes for the Blackhawks this season and things have been going just fine.

As soon as two goalies on the same team start to play well everyone immediately wants to create a goaltending controversy. The Blackhawks are proving that having two goalies playing like starters is more of a blessing than a curse.

The most important thing for the Blackhawks is the fact that both Ray Emery and Corey Crawford are grinding out wins. Both goaltenders have 15 wins and while Emery boasts a better 15-1-0 record their stats are nearly identical.

What's the big deal with the Blackhawks rotating goalies? They're in first place in the entire NHL, let alone the Western Conference and have already clinched a playoff spot. Them rotating goalies during their remarkable streak at the beginning of the year is likely the reason the streak lasted so long. Each goalie was fresh and opponents were kept guessing on which goalie they'd face.

It's really quite remarkable looking at the Blackhawks goaltending turnaround. Last season there were talks they would go hard after Roberto Luongo. This season they have two fantastic netminders who could easily both be in the running for the Vezina trophy.

For the Blackhawks this is the perfect situation. Corey Crawford is still very much a rookie this being his 3rd full year in the NHL. At the age of 28 with less than three years under his belt he's still got a lot to learn and a few more seasons before he finds his game. Now Crawford has the chance to learn from the veteran Ray Emery who is in his eighth NHL season and has tons of experience.

Crawford is still young. The puck handling skills and confidence he possessed early in the season have taken a major hit. Having the veteran Emery around provides a chance for both goalies to not only learn from each other but push each other to be better. Right now either goaltender is capable of taking over the starters job and sometimes that healthy competition is just what a team needs.

Now rotating the hot-hand during the regular season is one thing and it seems to have worked for the Blackhawks, but playoffs are a completely different story. Crawford's goaltending during last years playoffs was a major disappointment and a huge reason why the Hawks were eliminated in round one.

While the Hawks may want Crawford to carry the load in the postseason, why not throw Ray Emery a bone? Right now Emery is playing his best hockey since 2007 when he carried the Ottawa Senators to the Stanley Cup Finals. Emery has only 1 loss on the season and his 1.90 GAA and .924S% are slightly better than Crawford. With how well Emery has played this season and a deep playoff run under his belt, give him a shot to start in the first round of the playoffs.

The good thing about having both goalies playing so well- apart from the fact you win more, is the flexibility it gives a team. If they go with Crawford and he gets hurt the Blackhawks can put in Emery without skipping a beat. If one goalie starts to flounder in the post-season they have that option to put the other goalie in. Either way it's a win-win situation.

While the Blackhawks will need to make a decision on whether they start Corey Crawford or Ray Emery in the post-season, right now they're enjoying their "problem." Having both of your goalies inside the top 5 of all goalies and having your backup ranked 3rd is usually a blessing.

As long as the Blackhawks have two goalies who are winning games, it shouldn't matter who's between the pipes.

Alex Ovechkin is still Alex Ovechkin

Professional athletes, especially hockey players, go through different phases in their careers. Some players start slow and pick up steam latter on while others enter with a bang and slowly fizzle out. For Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin the latter seemed to be true.

Ovechkin burst onto the NHL scene in 2005 scoring 52 goals and putting up 106 points in his rookie season. In the next four season he would score no less than 46 goals in each season and put up career numbers in 2007 when he scored 65 goals and notched 112 points. Alex Ovechkin was on top of the proverbial hockey world, winning trophies for individual accolades left, right and center. But one thing was missing, playoff success.

Despite being one of the most exciting and electrifying players in the NHL, Ovechkin still faced never ender scrutiny about his game. Many said he was a one-dimensional player who couldn't play defence and was selfish.

Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau decided he would transform Alex Ovechkin into that dynamic two-way player in order to better the Capitals as a whole. This new philosophy saw Ovechkin's scoring production plummet and he scored less than 40 goals for the first time in his NHL career.

Fast forward to the beginning of 2013 Alex Ovechkin still hadn't re-found his game, scoring just two goals in the teams first 10 games. Immediately discussions began that Ovechkin was no longer an elite player and had fallen from grace. The negativity surrounding the Russian sniper was absurd everyone was ready to write off the 27 year-old former superstar.

But to steal a line from the Russian himself; "You forgot to flush him down the toilet." Whoever's job it was to flush that toilet needs to be fired because Alex Ovechkin is back. He now has 23 goals in his teams last 29 games including a stretch that has seen him score 16 goals and add 7 assists in the last 14 games.

With two goals in Sunday nights win Ovechkin is tied with Steven Stamkos for the lead in the scoring race with 25 goals. It appears Alex Ovechkin is back, but it begs the question did he really go anywhere in the first place?

Every athlete goes through slumps at some point in their game. Some slumps are caused by health issues like Sidney Crosby has been dealing with, others are caused by maturity and a need to grow up like Patrick Kane. Even when Ovechkin was going through his "slump" he still put up 30+ goals. Sure it may not have been the 50+ goals we've become accustomed to but most teams would love players to score 30 goals during a slump.

One thing you have to remember is that when you have a player as skilled and gifted as Alex Ovechkin that skill doesn't just vanish! Ovechkin didn't just wake up one morning and turn into a "normal" player, he's always had the skill he showed early in his career and is showing now. He just didn't know how to use that skill without getting in trouble.

Alex Ovechkin is an exciting player who brings fans to games and scores highlight reel goals, but that often doesn't translate well to a team game. Coaches Bruce Boudreau and Dale Hunter both tried to change Ovechkin's game and force him to play defence. He was forced to play outside his comfort zone and was told by coaches that they'd rather win games 1-0 than 7-5. He was trashed in front of the media by his coaches and teammates- no matter where he turned everyone wanted to change him or criticize his game.

Now that Adam Oates is behind the Capitals bench, Alex Ovechkin seems to have found a coach he can trust. Yes Oates moved him from  the left side to the right side but the message was still the same- score goals. Oates is the first coach for the Capitals that has earned the respect and trust of Ovechkin.

“It’s respect. He never met me before. I totally respect who he is and what he’s accomplished and when you suggest something like that it has to be a meeting of the minds, with private conversations and he had to trust me." ~ Adam Oates

Alex Ovechkin feels comfortable know that his coach has faith in him and isn't going to try and change his game or throw him under the bus. That trust between player and coach is so key in the NHL today.

"This year is much different. It’s trust. I don’t have that last year. When you have those kind of feelings you want to go out there and play for your coach and do your best out there.” ~ Alex Ovechkin

Things are clicking for the great 8 and as a result Alex Ovechkin is starting to turn heads again. He's finding success on the power play again scoring 14 goals on the man advantage through 39 games, he's re-found the chemistry with Nicklas Backstrom and most importantly he trusts his coach.

Alex Ovechkin has evolved as a player through all the changes over the last 3-4 seasons. He's become more defencive, passes the puck more and is willing to go to the dirty areas. But what really stands out is the fact that Alex Ovechkin was on the ice with his team up one goal in the final minute of the game.

Early in that career that would never happen, they'd staple him to bench in close games. Now that there's trust, understanding and communication between Alex Ovechkin and Adam Oates, Ovechkin can be counted on to do the little things.

Is Alex Ovechkin's resurgance enough to earn him consideration for the MVP award? Alex Ovechkin is back and bette than before, he's still an elite NHL player who is going to prove all his critics wrong. The Washington Capitals are only as good as their star player and captain, now that he's ready to play they're making a run for the playoffs.