Takin' a T/O with BT: Busting the Myths and Trends of the 2008 NHL Playoffs

Ahh, the NHL playoffs—a time where "true fans" jump out of the woodwork at the smallest hint of a hot team going on a run and declare that "they were there from the start" or "I always kept the faith."

This must be a great season for oil; people are getting their lawn equipment ready to go, and the wheels on a bandwagon have never run smoother.

But for as many positive bandwagons there are, there are just as many negative ones, dedicated to playoff under-performers, monumental disappearing acts, and unforgettable collapses—leading to some of the most vilified players in the history of the game.

But each year, for at least a month or two, the wheels fall off these bandwagons. Players get hot and start playing their best hockey of the year (and rightfully so), and all of the sudden some of those naysayers are silenced—at least until the playoffs are over for their favorite team.

So today we're looking at who some of those playoff "over performers" are, who's getting a bad rap for no reason, who isn't living up to their expectations, and who came as advertised at the NHL Trade Deadline.

Martin Gerber

The Line: A streaky goalie who piggybacked onto a cup winner and can't stay hot for more than a few games.

So What's Happening?

At the beginning of the playoffs, how many people thought goaltending would be Ottawa's problem (I'm looking in a mirror as I write this, so don't worry—I'll admit to it, too).

My big issue was that I've never seen Gerber throw a team on his back and carry them anywhere.

In '02-'03 with Anaheim, he only saw action in two games, and his stats were atrocious (3.00 GAA and a .833 Sv%), while on Carolina's cup run, he seemed to be more of a hindrance (1-1 in six games, 3.25 GAA, and a .856 Sv%).

And last year on Ottawa's run to the finals?

He didn't even get into a game.

This year however, it's the exact opposite. If Ottawa even has a chance at coming back in this series, it's because of Gerber.

In looking past the two-game deficit that the Sens have to try to climb out of tonight, Gerber has played outstanding hockey.

In two games, Gerber has faced 88 shots, averaging 44 a game, which is an insane number of shots against—even in today's NHL—while Gerber has only allowed eight goals.

What's more, is that most of the goals have been a result of poor defensive coverage by the Sens, and Gerber being left out to dry while trying to keep his team in it.

Sidenote: He also hasn't given up the "Andrew Raycroft Special." You know, the fluttering shot from the point that just kind of eludes him despite the fact that he's thrown his ENTIRE body in front of it (cue Leafs' fans hanging their heads in dismay)?

He was also able to fight tooth and nail to keep the Penguins lead to three, while the Sens offense finally found first gear on Saturday to tie the game. Although the go-ahead goal was scored on kind of a cheap wrap-around, the Sens should have never put themselves in a shorthanded situation that late in the game.

The Verdict

Although he has proven to be inconsistent, the Senators have certainly gotten the royal treatment from Gerber this postseason. The team should look to answer questions about its offense and defensive liability this offseason before goaltending, although that is still a need this team needs to address sorely.

If he plays this well next season, then most of the critics should be answered.

Today, however?

He's only proved that he can stymie the Penguins for two games—there's nothing saying he won't fall back to Earth later in the series (or the rest of the playoffs if they make it that far).

Marian Hossa

The Line: A consistent playoff dud and non-factor.

So What's Happening?

If you were to look solely on the stat sheet, Hossa isn't doing terribly.

On a team stocked with talent, he's got three points in two games (all assists), including two assists on the final two goals of game two.

But let's step away from the stat sheet shall we?

Frankly, anyone can get points in the playoffs, or at anytime for that matter. It's just being in the right place at the right time.

The fact that Hossa still disappears on his shifts, and is a less-than-imposing presence on the ice this series is being overlooked by one simple fact:

He's being overlooked.

Is anyone surprised? On a team with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, most players would get overlooked.

The big knock on him at the trade deadline was that this is a guy who wouldn't help you in the playoffs. Some thought though, that being a third or fourth scoring option would be good for Hossa—that all he needed was a little less attention.

Apparently, this guy just doesn't like playing hockey in the early summer months though.

The Verdict

Nothing revolutionary here—still a massive under-performer come April.

Joe Thornton

The Line: Lacks leadership and "disappears" during the playoffs.

So What's Happening?

Now the knock on Thornton is that he doesn't have that "leadership quality" to be a productive leader, nor can he take his team through the playoffs.

I think that's fairly near-sighted of people—and not just this season.

First of all, let's look at it from a production standpoint:

Thornton has played in 60 NHL playoff games, while tallying 40 playoff points. Although that's good, it's not over-the-top, or anything that's really substantial to argue that he's the man come playoff time.

However, there were two seasons in which he didn't gather any points during the playoffs: '97-'98 (six games, no points) and '03-'04 (seven games, no points), which takes it to 40 points in 47 games which is slightly better (although nothing of legend yet).

Now in the '97-'98 season, a lot of those former Bruins were in their younger days. Hal Gill, Kyle McLaren, Jason Allison, and Anson Carter were all under 25, while Thornton and Sergei Samsonov were both in their teenage years.

Although all of those players, aside from Gill, got at least a point in that series, Thornton did not. The only player he really outperformed that year was Gill, as Joe had seven points in 55 games—not numbers you'd expect him to tear up the postseason with.

The years after that, Thornton showed flashes of potential in the playoffs, but every so often he'd seem to take a step backwards, as he was looking more and more like a regular-season star, and an average Joe come April.

That all came to a head in the '03-'04 postseason.

He was held pointless in the playoffs, and it marked the beginning of the end for his career as a Bruin.

Everyone seems to forget however, that this guy's rib cage was being held together with scotch tape and Vicodin.

People talk about leading by example come playoff time. Well you don't always have to put up points to lead by example—ask Gary Roberts.

The fact that people questioned Thornton's commitment to the team and to winning, while he was out digging in corners and fighting for loose pucks with his ribs in the state they were, the rest of the team's commitment could have been questioned.

Glen Murray only had three points while Brian Rolston only had one. Why couldn't they have stepped up the production?

The fact that the ribs aren't exactly an injury you can just "freeze" and go out and play through is impressive in itself. Day-to-day activities are hard enough when you're abdomen is in a state of constant pain—the fact that he played hockey through that pain is mind-boggling.

Watching Thornton now, he seems to have it figured out. He'll go through some weak offensive and defensive patches in the playoffs; however, he seems to have found a fit in San Jose amongst the hard-hitting Sharks.

The Verdict

Thornton will bring home a cup long before the Bruins do.

You Need Veterans to win in the playoffs

The Line: Pretty self-explanatory

So What's Happening?

Maybe I'm only familiar with this one, as it was the line spouted off by MLSE for so many years pre-cap: "We aren't going to develop younger players, as it takes veteran presence and leadership to win."

Sound familiar?

However, I don't have to tell you how the past few years have disproved this theory. Although all of the teams have a little veteran presence, the young kids are making some of the biggest impacts this season.

Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Ryan Malone (all Penguins) are all in the top ten in NHL playoff points, and all of them are relatively young—Malone is getting up there for a "young guy," though.

If Marc-Andre Fleury really turns it on, showing he can win when the pressure is on and thus proving me wrong, then (Tim McCarver moment coming!) those guys have a lot to do with Pittsburgh winning the series.

What about Alexander Ovechkin and Carey Price?

Both are first-timers strutting their stuff in the NHL playoff picture: Price with 1.57 GAA and .943 Sv%, while Ovechkin has been seemingly flying around the ice.

The Verdict

As Gary Roberts continues to prove to this day, age, experience, and grit can't be overlooked in the playoffs—it takes a mix of that and youth to win.

Martin Brodeur

The Line: The best goalie in crunch time.

So What's Happening?

This is an interesting one.

There's no doubting that Martin Brodeur is one of the greatest goalies in the history of the NHL. He will one day hold the record for most wins and most shutouts by a goalie in a career.

But the whispers going around the league is that he's lost a step—that as he gets up there in years, his best days are probably behind him.

Now, although that is true, it doesn't help that the team around him has deteriorated from what he once knew.

The NHL lockout saw New Jersey bid adieu to Scott Stevens, while the salary cap era has forced them to jettison the talented Mr. Niedermayer, Brian Rafalski, and Scott Gomez, while barely holding on to Patrick Elias.

With a roster that has been trying to find its step the past few years, Brodeur has carried them, posting three-straight 40+ win seasons since the lockout.

The catch?

Brodeur has also started 78 and 77 games respectively the past two years, while posting some of the lowest playoff numbers of his career.

That's not saying much when you average a GAA below 2.00 and a save percentage about .920 in the playoffs.

This postseason, Brodeur has looked a little more human, if you will, and playing all of those regular season games at his age may be a little too taxing.

The Verdict

As of right now, I would still take Brodeur to win me one big game—just not a series.

With as many games as he's started at such a consistent level over his career, that he can hack the 75-77 game range during the regular season and still be the guy to steal you a series or two (I wish I had known this before my playoff predictions).

Let Kevin Weekes get into a few more games over the next couple of years, and maybe keep Marty's numbers closer to the 67-70 range and I think he'll have a few more years of series swiping left in him.

Will these trends continue over into the next round of the playoffs?

For some of the players they could, but the others may not be so lucky. The one thing I've noticed about the playoffs this year though, is that there's scrappy, hard-hitting, rough-play each and every game.

The playoffs are back to being a battle folk!

Oh, and how 'bout them Calgary Flames?

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