After defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday night, the Chicago Blackhawks crept closer to hoisting the elusive Lord Stanley’s Cup. Fifty years have passed since the Blackhawks last won the championship, but they are well on their way to securing the ultimate prize, after winning their seventh consecutive game this postseason. As the stakes have gotten higher, the Blackhawks have continued to get better and have shown why they are without a question the class of the NHL this season.
What makes the Blackhawks so lethal is their ability to adapt to any style of play. They can win high scoring shootouts, as witnessed by their 6-5 Game 1 victory over the Flyers in the Finals. They can win slugfests (they have won both of their overtime games these playoffs). They have two exceptional lines of defense, with a potential Norris Trophy winner in Duncan Keith. They have three of the top scoring lines in the NHL. They have a rising star in goaltender Antti Niemi. Quite frankly, the Chicago Blackhawks are the most complete team in hockey.
After a disastrous start to these 2010 NHL playoffs, the Blackhawks have continued to progress with each successive series. In the first round, the team played tight and felt the pressure of being the favorites to win the Stanley Cup Finals. The Blackhawks put way too much pressure on themselves to dominate every game and show why they were the best team in the NHL. As a result, they struggled mightily in their first three games against the Nashville Predators in the first round. The Blackhawks went against their physical style, as they had an astounding 13 fewer hits, 13 more giveaways, and three fewer shots on goal.
After the series was tied 2-2 heading into Game 5, the turning point of these playoffs occurred for the Blackhawks. Down 5-4 with under 30 seconds remaining in regulation and playing shorthanded, Patrick Kane scored the equalizer to tie the score, and Marian Hossa followed Kane’s heroics with the game-winning goal 4 minutes into overtime. The Blackhawks seemed to relax after this game and play like the 112-point team they were in the regular season. After scoring only seven goals in the first four games of the Nashville series, they scored ten goals in the final two games of that series and finally displayed the crisp, precise offense that was existent in the regular season.
Though the Blackhawks had two mental breakdowns in home losses to Vancouver in the second round, they absolutely throttled the Canucks in winning three road games and showed throughout the series that they were the better team. Chicago made Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo look overmatched, as the Blackhawks scored a remarkable 21 goals in their four wins in the series.
In the conference finals, the Blackhawks continued to progress, as they swept the top-seeded San Jose Sharks in four games. Unlike the previous two series, the Blackhawks used stout defense and goaltending to dethrone the Sharks. They held the second line of Joe Pavelski, Ryan Clowe, and Devin Setoguchi, who dominated the first two rounds, without a goal. In addition, despite being outshot by a combined 118-110 in the first three games of the Western Conference Finals, the Blackhawks only allowed five goals during that span. With outstanding defense, the Blackhawks swept one of the top teams in the NHL.
With a great mix of talent and finally playing more loose and relaxed, the Blackhawks are currently firing on all cylinders. Offensively, they have three outstanding lines of offense, with Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Marian Hossa anchoring the first line, Dustin Byfuglien, Patrick Sharp and Kris Versteeg in the second unit, and Andrew Ladd, John Madden, and Troy Brouwer playing in the third line. The offense has a nice mix of youth, experience, size, and speed. Any one of these nine guys can take over a game at any time. In fact, each of these nine guys has scored at least one goal in these playoffs, and the Blackhawks have eight different players with at least 10 points in these playoffs. Kane, Toews, Byfuglien (with 3 in the conference finals alone), Hossa, Sharp, and Versteeg all have scored either game-winning or game-tying goals in these playoffs. It shows how lethal this offense has been this season.
Defensively, the Blackhawks are just as good, if not better. The top line of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook is arguably the best in the NHL. Keith logs an average of nearly 28 minutes of ice time per game while Seabrook averages 24 minutes of ice time. Both players do an exceptional job of clearing the puck, getting into passing and shooting lanes, and anchoring the power play unit. They helped the team record 14 power play goals in the first three rounds of the playoffs. The second line of Brian Campbell and Brent Sopel is equally as potent, as they both do a stellar job of quarterbacking the power play unit and passing the puck to the front line. Finally, goaltender Antii Niemi has continued to improve, sans the game 1 performance in the Stanley Cup Finals. After permanently taking over the starting goalie spot from Cristobal Huet in mid-March, Niemi has recorded a 2.49 GAA in the playoffs, including an impressive 1.67 GAA against the Sharks. With the Blackhawks playing in several close games in these playoffs, Niemi has been counted on to make several clutch saves, and he has responded by posting a 14-4 record this postseason.
Overall, the Blackhawks are the most complete team in hockey, with three exceptional lines on offense, two stellar lines on defense, and a rising goaltender in Antii Niemi. As a result, they have won their past seven straight and 10 of their past 11 postseason games and they have shown the ability to win in a multitude of ways. Their early postseason struggles against the Predators seem like a distant memory, as they swept top-seeded San Jose in four games and are well on their way to defeating the Flyers for their first Stanley Cup victory in 50 years.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Kobe is Right: It’s All About Defense for Lakers
After a second straight loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night, Kobe Bryant, who recorded a spectacular 38 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds in game 4, criticized his team’s porous defensive effort in Phoenix. He refused to answer any questions about offense in his postgame press conference. Instead, he pointed out that the Lakers were thoroughly outhustled, outplayed, and extremely lackadaisical defensively. In addition, he noted that the Lakers will not win this series if they continue to play ineffective defense. He was right.
For all the talk about the Lakers inability to execute on the Suns zone defense, they have still scored an average of 107.5 points in their past two games. However, they have allowed a whopping 118 and 115 points to the Suns in these past two games, which has allowed the Suns to get back into this series. The Lakers have scored more than enough points to put themselves in position to win the game, but their defense has been nothing short of embarrassing. Defense wins championships, but the Lakers have yet to receive that memo in this series.
Offensively, the Lakers have actually played better than most observers think. Sure, they have had a few problems adjusting to the Suns defense, like attempting an uncharacteristic 60 3-pointers in their past two games. Still, the Lakers managed to score 62 points in the second half of game 3, against the zone defense, and over 50 points in each half of game 4. In game 4, they shot a very respectable 49.5% from the field, committed only six turnovers, and accumulated 25 assists, which adds up to a very impressive 4.17:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Clearly, the Lakers offensive struggles have been blown out of proportion.
The other end of the floor has been an absolute nightmare for the Lakers. They have allowed the Suns to get off uncontested shots on a regular basis, and they have been unable to make the defensive adjustments like the Suns did in games 3 and 4. In fact, in these past two games, the Suns have recorded an astonishing 28 offensive rebounds, 74 free-throw attempts, and have committed only 14 turnovers. With two All-NBA defenders in Ron Artest and Kobe Bryant and a distinct size advantage over the Suns, the Lakers have absolutely no excuse to allow the Suns to record this many points and rebounds.
Throughout these 2010 playoffs, the Lakers have won most of their games with outstanding defense. In the first two rounds, the Lakers were 6-0 when allowing fewer than 100 points. Conversely, they were only 2-2 when allowing at least 100 points. While 100 points may not seem like exceptional defense, the Lakers can afford to give up a few more points than other opponents due to their top-notch offense. In addition, the Lakers, especially when they battle the Suns, play with at a faster tempo with more possessions that the average NBA team, so their defensive statistics are inflated. Thus, the Lakers do not need to play outstanding defense every night to give themselves a chance to win; instead, they just need to give more effort on that end of the floor.
For all the talk about the Lakers inability to execute on the Suns zone defense, they have still scored an average of 107.5 points in their past two games. However, they have allowed a whopping 118 and 115 points to the Suns in these past two games, which has allowed the Suns to get back into this series. The Lakers have scored more than enough points to put themselves in position to win the game, but their defense has been nothing short of embarrassing. Defense wins championships, but the Lakers have yet to receive that memo in this series.
Offensively, the Lakers have actually played better than most observers think. Sure, they have had a few problems adjusting to the Suns defense, like attempting an uncharacteristic 60 3-pointers in their past two games. Still, the Lakers managed to score 62 points in the second half of game 3, against the zone defense, and over 50 points in each half of game 4. In game 4, they shot a very respectable 49.5% from the field, committed only six turnovers, and accumulated 25 assists, which adds up to a very impressive 4.17:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Clearly, the Lakers offensive struggles have been blown out of proportion.
The other end of the floor has been an absolute nightmare for the Lakers. They have allowed the Suns to get off uncontested shots on a regular basis, and they have been unable to make the defensive adjustments like the Suns did in games 3 and 4. In fact, in these past two games, the Suns have recorded an astonishing 28 offensive rebounds, 74 free-throw attempts, and have committed only 14 turnovers. With two All-NBA defenders in Ron Artest and Kobe Bryant and a distinct size advantage over the Suns, the Lakers have absolutely no excuse to allow the Suns to record this many points and rebounds.
Throughout these 2010 playoffs, the Lakers have won most of their games with outstanding defense. In the first two rounds, the Lakers were 6-0 when allowing fewer than 100 points. Conversely, they were only 2-2 when allowing at least 100 points. While 100 points may not seem like exceptional defense, the Lakers can afford to give up a few more points than other opponents due to their top-notch offense. In addition, the Lakers, especially when they battle the Suns, play with at a faster tempo with more possessions that the average NBA team, so their defensive statistics are inflated. Thus, the Lakers do not need to play outstanding defense every night to give themselves a chance to win; instead, they just need to give more effort on that end of the floor.
Monday, May 24, 2010
These Conference Finals Have Shown that Rest Equals Rust
For the most part, both the NBA and NHL Conference Finals have been a major disappointment. It’s quite possible that none of these four series will last more than five games, and a majority of these games have either been lopsided or lackluster. For instance, every game in the Flyers-Canadiens series has been decided by at least three goals. A common factor in these conference finals is that the team with more rest entering the series has been on the losing end of these conference finals.
First, in the NHL, the San Jose Sharks, after dethroning the Detroit Red Wings in five games, had a whopping eight-day gap between the conclusion of the conference semifinals and the start of the conference finals. By the end of the Red Wings series, the Sharks were clicking on all cylinders, as the top two lines of forwards were at the top of their games. In particular, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, who both struggled in the first round, amassed a combined 12 points in the conference semifinals.
However, all the momentum gained from the Detroit series was immediately lost in the conference finals, in which the Chicago Blackhawks swept the Sharks in four games. The Sharks clearly lagged behind the Blackhawks all series, as Chicago had the edge in puck possession in every game of the series. The Sharks were also often a step in slow in reacting to the puck, something they excelled at in the Detroit series. Clearly, the long rest period negatively affected the Sharks, as they could not carry over their momentum into the conference finals.
The Eastern Conference Finals was no different, as the Montreal Canadiens, who had two more days of rest than the Philadelphia Flyers, looked completely flat in the first two games of the conference finals. In fact, the Flyers shut out the Canadiens by a combined score of 9-0 in the opening two games, including a 6-0 romp in the opening game. Montreal goaltender Miroslav Halak, who played exceptionally in the first rounds against Washington and Pittsburgh, has not looked the same in this series, while the Canadiens offense as a whole has disappeared, getting shut out in three of the first four games of the series. Like San Jose, Montreal has been negatively affected by the long rest, as they have not maintained the same level of play that they showed in their first two series.
Similarly, both the conference finals series in the NBA have been equally as lopsided, especially in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Orlando Magic, who absolutely dominated their two first round series by sweeping both Charlotte and Atlanta, have been annihilated by the Boston Celtics in the conference finals, losing the first three games of the series. Entering the series, the Magic had seven days of rest, while the Celtics only had two days after struggling to defeat Cleveland. The long layoff caused the Magic to lose their edge in this series, as the Celtics have led for all but four minutes against the Magic. In addition, Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, and Rashard Lewis, the three marquee players for Orlando, have averaged a combined 20 points fewer than what they accumulated in the Atlanta series. Additionally, Orlando’s overall intensity and execution haven’t been the same against Boston, as they have recorded more turnovers than assists in the conference finals.
Along the same lines, the Phoenix Suns looked shaky in the first two games of the conference finals against the Lakers. After having eight days off between games, the Suns looked out of sync in the opening two games against the Lakers, allowing an astonishing 126 points per game and shooting under 31% from three-point range. The trio of Steve Nash, Channing Frye, and Amare Stoudemire particularly saw their production dip in the first two games, as they averaged a combined 17 points fewer than what they recorded in the conference semifinals. It took the Suns until the third game of the series for them to finally play like their normal selves.
It’s no accident to why the Suns, Magic, Flyers, and Sharks all struggled with longer rest. In the regular season, these teams play on a consistent basis, with no more than two or three days off at a particular time. With more game action, playoff teams build a stronger rapport and establish an identity. Extensive time between series destroys the momentum and everything a team has built during a period of time, since teams have never been accustomed to taking this much time off. It is very difficult for a team to regain its swagger after not playing for a period of time, especially in the playoffs where teams battle hard on a regular basis. For teams like the Suns who play at a faster pace, they need continuity to excel, since their offense revolves more on precision and rhythm. Overall, these playoffs have proven that the teams with more rest have shown rust, while teams that have played on a consistent basis have maintained their rhythm.
First, in the NHL, the San Jose Sharks, after dethroning the Detroit Red Wings in five games, had a whopping eight-day gap between the conclusion of the conference semifinals and the start of the conference finals. By the end of the Red Wings series, the Sharks were clicking on all cylinders, as the top two lines of forwards were at the top of their games. In particular, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, who both struggled in the first round, amassed a combined 12 points in the conference semifinals.
However, all the momentum gained from the Detroit series was immediately lost in the conference finals, in which the Chicago Blackhawks swept the Sharks in four games. The Sharks clearly lagged behind the Blackhawks all series, as Chicago had the edge in puck possession in every game of the series. The Sharks were also often a step in slow in reacting to the puck, something they excelled at in the Detroit series. Clearly, the long rest period negatively affected the Sharks, as they could not carry over their momentum into the conference finals.
The Eastern Conference Finals was no different, as the Montreal Canadiens, who had two more days of rest than the Philadelphia Flyers, looked completely flat in the first two games of the conference finals. In fact, the Flyers shut out the Canadiens by a combined score of 9-0 in the opening two games, including a 6-0 romp in the opening game. Montreal goaltender Miroslav Halak, who played exceptionally in the first rounds against Washington and Pittsburgh, has not looked the same in this series, while the Canadiens offense as a whole has disappeared, getting shut out in three of the first four games of the series. Like San Jose, Montreal has been negatively affected by the long rest, as they have not maintained the same level of play that they showed in their first two series.
Similarly, both the conference finals series in the NBA have been equally as lopsided, especially in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Orlando Magic, who absolutely dominated their two first round series by sweeping both Charlotte and Atlanta, have been annihilated by the Boston Celtics in the conference finals, losing the first three games of the series. Entering the series, the Magic had seven days of rest, while the Celtics only had two days after struggling to defeat Cleveland. The long layoff caused the Magic to lose their edge in this series, as the Celtics have led for all but four minutes against the Magic. In addition, Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, and Rashard Lewis, the three marquee players for Orlando, have averaged a combined 20 points fewer than what they accumulated in the Atlanta series. Additionally, Orlando’s overall intensity and execution haven’t been the same against Boston, as they have recorded more turnovers than assists in the conference finals.
Along the same lines, the Phoenix Suns looked shaky in the first two games of the conference finals against the Lakers. After having eight days off between games, the Suns looked out of sync in the opening two games against the Lakers, allowing an astonishing 126 points per game and shooting under 31% from three-point range. The trio of Steve Nash, Channing Frye, and Amare Stoudemire particularly saw their production dip in the first two games, as they averaged a combined 17 points fewer than what they recorded in the conference semifinals. It took the Suns until the third game of the series for them to finally play like their normal selves.
It’s no accident to why the Suns, Magic, Flyers, and Sharks all struggled with longer rest. In the regular season, these teams play on a consistent basis, with no more than two or three days off at a particular time. With more game action, playoff teams build a stronger rapport and establish an identity. Extensive time between series destroys the momentum and everything a team has built during a period of time, since teams have never been accustomed to taking this much time off. It is very difficult for a team to regain its swagger after not playing for a period of time, especially in the playoffs where teams battle hard on a regular basis. For teams like the Suns who play at a faster pace, they need continuity to excel, since their offense revolves more on precision and rhythm. Overall, these playoffs have proven that the teams with more rest have shown rust, while teams that have played on a consistent basis have maintained their rhythm.
Monday, May 17, 2010
LeBron and Cavs Are Complete Fakes
Watching the Cleveland Cavaliers this postseason was a complete embarrassment to the NBA, especially considering how they acted and played during the regular season. Prior to the season, the Cavs acquired Shaquille O’Neal, one of the most charismatic and outspoken individuals, to go along with the NBA’s most marketable superstar, LeBron James. They needed to make a splash after the Orlando Magic overwhelmed the Cavs in the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals and decided to go all-in for the 2009-10 season, considering LeBron James’s impending free agency. Owner Dan Gilbert, the front office, the players, and fans all believed that the Cavs would be the overwhelming favorites to win a championship this season and bring a title to a starving Cleveland fan base.
The Cavs played the regular season like they were the clear juggernauts of the NBA. Throughout the season, the Cavs absolutely man-handled their opponents, as they coasted to a league-best 61-21 record, including a 35-6 home record. In addition, their midseason acquisition of Antawn Jamison from the Washington Wizards (for no cost) added offensive firepower to an already explosive team. They outscored opponents by an average of seven points per game and had the league’s MVP in LeBron James, who averaged 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.6 assists. The regular season success led to an excited fan base, as the Cavs sold out every home game for the first time in franchise history. In addition, the players seemed to mesh very well together, as they were often seen dancing around, talking, and laughing on a consistent basis. Everything was set up for a Cavs championship run.
However, everything changed once the playoffs started. From the first-round series against the Chicago Bulls, the Cavs never looked like the same team everyone saw in the regular season. There was no more dancing around, more tension on the sidelines, and a poor exhibition of teamwork. As a result, though the Cavs defeated the Bulls in five games, the Cavs were ungracefully eliminated from the playoffs by the Boston Celtics in the second round. In the Celtics series, the Cavs lost the last three games, including the last two in merciful fashion. The primary reason for the loss? LeBron James, whose attitude and play negatively contributed to the team’s efforts.
In the final three games of the series, James accumulated a combined 19 turnovers and did not play with the same sense of urgency that he displayed in the regular season. Throughout the past twelve months, James kept saying that nothing short of a championship this season was acceptable, and that he would do everything in his power to get one. He did just during the regular season, as he held himself accountable for the team’s successes and failures, while developing a chemistry with his teammates that was unparalleled. However, his demeanor changed completely in the playoffs. He never displayed any sort of on-court leadership with his teammates when his team needed him the most. For instance, during the lopsided loss in game 5, James acted indifferent throughout the game, even though his team was losing. He stood away from the action, took only 14 field goal attempts, never displayed a sense of urgency, was unwilling to take over the game, and most notably, never brought his teammates together to fix the problems.
Clearly, the Cavs were not the same team everyone saw in the regular season. They acted completely differently both on and off the court. All of the dancing, communicating, and laughing that everyone kept seeing in the regular season was nonexistent in the playoffs. The chemistry and bond between the players could not be seen either, as the Cavs were unable to make the necessary in-game adjustments. This change in attitude reflected LeBron James’s indifferent demeanor, as the league MVP never took action when his team needed him most. Furthermore, this postseason has proved that James should not be linked or compared to the all-time greats, such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Although James may be statistically superior or on-par to these two legendary guards, he does not display the willingness to win in the biggest stages. There is a reason why Bryant and Jordan each have four and six championships, respectively. When their teams needed them the most in most calling circumstances, both players stepped up when they needed to. James has a long way to go to match up with these legends and if he continues to display an unmotivated demeanor, he may never get a championship.
The Cavs played the regular season like they were the clear juggernauts of the NBA. Throughout the season, the Cavs absolutely man-handled their opponents, as they coasted to a league-best 61-21 record, including a 35-6 home record. In addition, their midseason acquisition of Antawn Jamison from the Washington Wizards (for no cost) added offensive firepower to an already explosive team. They outscored opponents by an average of seven points per game and had the league’s MVP in LeBron James, who averaged 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.6 assists. The regular season success led to an excited fan base, as the Cavs sold out every home game for the first time in franchise history. In addition, the players seemed to mesh very well together, as they were often seen dancing around, talking, and laughing on a consistent basis. Everything was set up for a Cavs championship run.
However, everything changed once the playoffs started. From the first-round series against the Chicago Bulls, the Cavs never looked like the same team everyone saw in the regular season. There was no more dancing around, more tension on the sidelines, and a poor exhibition of teamwork. As a result, though the Cavs defeated the Bulls in five games, the Cavs were ungracefully eliminated from the playoffs by the Boston Celtics in the second round. In the Celtics series, the Cavs lost the last three games, including the last two in merciful fashion. The primary reason for the loss? LeBron James, whose attitude and play negatively contributed to the team’s efforts.
In the final three games of the series, James accumulated a combined 19 turnovers and did not play with the same sense of urgency that he displayed in the regular season. Throughout the past twelve months, James kept saying that nothing short of a championship this season was acceptable, and that he would do everything in his power to get one. He did just during the regular season, as he held himself accountable for the team’s successes and failures, while developing a chemistry with his teammates that was unparalleled. However, his demeanor changed completely in the playoffs. He never displayed any sort of on-court leadership with his teammates when his team needed him the most. For instance, during the lopsided loss in game 5, James acted indifferent throughout the game, even though his team was losing. He stood away from the action, took only 14 field goal attempts, never displayed a sense of urgency, was unwilling to take over the game, and most notably, never brought his teammates together to fix the problems.
Clearly, the Cavs were not the same team everyone saw in the regular season. They acted completely differently both on and off the court. All of the dancing, communicating, and laughing that everyone kept seeing in the regular season was nonexistent in the playoffs. The chemistry and bond between the players could not be seen either, as the Cavs were unable to make the necessary in-game adjustments. This change in attitude reflected LeBron James’s indifferent demeanor, as the league MVP never took action when his team needed him most. Furthermore, this postseason has proved that James should not be linked or compared to the all-time greats, such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Although James may be statistically superior or on-par to these two legendary guards, he does not display the willingness to win in the biggest stages. There is a reason why Bryant and Jordan each have four and six championships, respectively. When their teams needed them the most in most calling circumstances, both players stepped up when they needed to. James has a long way to go to match up with these legends and if he continues to display an unmotivated demeanor, he may never get a championship.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Big-Game Success Separates Crosby from Ovechkin
Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin? Who’s the best hockey player in the world? It’s a debate that has gone on since the 2005=06 season, the year both men entered the league and the year after the infamous lockout. Both players have had exceptional careers up to date, with both men surpassing 50 goals this past regular season. These two superstars have additionally scored over 100 points in four out of their five seasons in the NHL. However, what separates Crosby from Ovechkin is his ability to get the job done in the biggest moments, something Ovechkin has yet to do.
This season, the Capitals ran away with the President’s Cup Trophy and were a heavy favorite to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. After all, they had 18 more points than every other team in the Eastern Conference and were the top-ranked scoring team in the NHL. They had superstars on both offense (Ovechkin and Alexander Semin) and on defense (Alex Green). They faced the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens in the first round, and the Capitals had a 3-1 series lead heading into Game 5 at home. From there, everything fell apart.
The Canadiens won the remaining three games of the series to record one of the greatest upsets in the history of sports. After recording 19 goals in their first four games of the series, the Capitals only scored one goal in each of their last three games. Though Ovechkin had five goals and five assists in the series, he failed to deliver when the team needed him most in Games 5-7. Ovechkin recorded one goal and one assist in the final three games of the series, and his Capitals were an abysmal one for 33 on power plays over the seven games. This series symbolizes Ovechkin’s inability to deliver in the biggest moments. In his five seasons in the NHL, Ovechkin has only managed to win one postseason series, a win over the New York Rangers in seven games in the 2008-09 playoffs.
On the other hand, Sidney Crosby has done wonders in the postseason. The Pittsburgh Penguins were the worst team in the NHL prior to Crosby’s arrival. Though his team struggled in his first two years in the league, he nonetheless made the most out of his lackluster supporting cast. He single-handedly carried Pittsburgh to the 2007 playoffs, in which he scored an unprecedented 120 points. Then, with the emergence of young stars Marc-Andre Fleury, Evgeni Malkin, and Jordan Staal, the team took off in Crosby’s third year. He led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals, in which his team was ousted by the Detroit Red Wings in six games. In those playoffs, Crosby recorded a staggering 27 points and 21 assists, as the Penguins dominated Ottawa, NY Rangers, and Philadelphia en route to the Stanley Cup Finals appearance.
Crosby carried that momentum into the 2009 NHL playoffs, in which the Penguins won the Stanley Cup. On the way to hoisting the Cup, Crosby’s Penguins defeated Ovechkin’s Capitals in seven games in the second round. In the decisive game 7, Crosby game up huge, as he recorded two goals and one assist to seal the Penguins 2-1 victory. Ovechkin could not match Crosby’s performance, as he only attempted three shots on goal and scored a meaningless goal when the game was out of reach.
Also, Crosby outdid his brilliance in the 2008 playoffs, as he recorded 15 goals and 31 points on his way to winning the 2009 Conn Smythe Trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding player in the playoffs. Even in this year’s playoffs, despite playing with a depleted roster, Crosby came up huge in the first round series against the Ottawa Senators. With the Penguins trailing 1-0 in the series and 1-0 in Game 2, Crosby scored the game-tying goal, assisted on the go-ahead goal, and made a miraculous save to preserve the lead and the win. The Penguins went on to win the series in six games. Such moments are what define great players, and Crosby’s heroics in the postseason define his greatness.
In addition, the 2010 Olympic Hockey Tournament, one of the greatest hockey events ever, displayed Crosby’s greatness. First, Crosby’s Canada’s team and Ovechkin’s Russia team met in the quarterfinals of the tournament. In the single elimination game, Canada routed Russia 7-3, further showing Crosby’s big-game success over Ovechkin. Then, in the gold medal game, which was the highest rated hockey game since the 1980 gold medal game, Crosby scored the golden goal in overtime to help Canada hoist the gold medal. The legend of Sidney Crosby just continued to grow.
While Crosby already has two Stanley Cup Finals appearances, a Stanley Cup championship, a Conn Smythe Trophy, and an Olympic gold medal to his resume, Ovechkin only has two Hart Trophies to his resume, which only indicate his regular season prominence. Ovechkin has yet to deliver on the biggest stage, as evidenced by his team’s meltdown in the first round of the 2010 NHL playoffs. Crosby is well on his way to a third straight Stanley Cup Finals appearance this season, and his ability to come up grand on the biggest stages makes his the best hockey player in the world.
This season, the Capitals ran away with the President’s Cup Trophy and were a heavy favorite to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. After all, they had 18 more points than every other team in the Eastern Conference and were the top-ranked scoring team in the NHL. They had superstars on both offense (Ovechkin and Alexander Semin) and on defense (Alex Green). They faced the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens in the first round, and the Capitals had a 3-1 series lead heading into Game 5 at home. From there, everything fell apart.
The Canadiens won the remaining three games of the series to record one of the greatest upsets in the history of sports. After recording 19 goals in their first four games of the series, the Capitals only scored one goal in each of their last three games. Though Ovechkin had five goals and five assists in the series, he failed to deliver when the team needed him most in Games 5-7. Ovechkin recorded one goal and one assist in the final three games of the series, and his Capitals were an abysmal one for 33 on power plays over the seven games. This series symbolizes Ovechkin’s inability to deliver in the biggest moments. In his five seasons in the NHL, Ovechkin has only managed to win one postseason series, a win over the New York Rangers in seven games in the 2008-09 playoffs.
On the other hand, Sidney Crosby has done wonders in the postseason. The Pittsburgh Penguins were the worst team in the NHL prior to Crosby’s arrival. Though his team struggled in his first two years in the league, he nonetheless made the most out of his lackluster supporting cast. He single-handedly carried Pittsburgh to the 2007 playoffs, in which he scored an unprecedented 120 points. Then, with the emergence of young stars Marc-Andre Fleury, Evgeni Malkin, and Jordan Staal, the team took off in Crosby’s third year. He led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals, in which his team was ousted by the Detroit Red Wings in six games. In those playoffs, Crosby recorded a staggering 27 points and 21 assists, as the Penguins dominated Ottawa, NY Rangers, and Philadelphia en route to the Stanley Cup Finals appearance.
Crosby carried that momentum into the 2009 NHL playoffs, in which the Penguins won the Stanley Cup. On the way to hoisting the Cup, Crosby’s Penguins defeated Ovechkin’s Capitals in seven games in the second round. In the decisive game 7, Crosby game up huge, as he recorded two goals and one assist to seal the Penguins 2-1 victory. Ovechkin could not match Crosby’s performance, as he only attempted three shots on goal and scored a meaningless goal when the game was out of reach.
Also, Crosby outdid his brilliance in the 2008 playoffs, as he recorded 15 goals and 31 points on his way to winning the 2009 Conn Smythe Trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding player in the playoffs. Even in this year’s playoffs, despite playing with a depleted roster, Crosby came up huge in the first round series against the Ottawa Senators. With the Penguins trailing 1-0 in the series and 1-0 in Game 2, Crosby scored the game-tying goal, assisted on the go-ahead goal, and made a miraculous save to preserve the lead and the win. The Penguins went on to win the series in six games. Such moments are what define great players, and Crosby’s heroics in the postseason define his greatness.
In addition, the 2010 Olympic Hockey Tournament, one of the greatest hockey events ever, displayed Crosby’s greatness. First, Crosby’s Canada’s team and Ovechkin’s Russia team met in the quarterfinals of the tournament. In the single elimination game, Canada routed Russia 7-3, further showing Crosby’s big-game success over Ovechkin. Then, in the gold medal game, which was the highest rated hockey game since the 1980 gold medal game, Crosby scored the golden goal in overtime to help Canada hoist the gold medal. The legend of Sidney Crosby just continued to grow.
While Crosby already has two Stanley Cup Finals appearances, a Stanley Cup championship, a Conn Smythe Trophy, and an Olympic gold medal to his resume, Ovechkin only has two Hart Trophies to his resume, which only indicate his regular season prominence. Ovechkin has yet to deliver on the biggest stage, as evidenced by his team’s meltdown in the first round of the 2010 NHL playoffs. Crosby is well on his way to a third straight Stanley Cup Finals appearance this season, and his ability to come up grand on the biggest stages makes his the best hockey player in the world.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)