Ritter's Rant: NHL Playoff News And Notes

It’s Time to Shout "Boo", Not "Lou"

The Vancouver Canucks won game one of their round two series against the Chicago Blackhawks by a score of 5-1. For the Canucks, it was the perfect start to the series, for the Blackhawks, a wake up call.

Now, four games into the series, the Hawks have all but dismissed the Canucks game one win, winning three games in a row including the Hawks' 7-4 dismantling of the shaken Canucks in last night’s game four action.

Vancouver fingers are pointing at goaltender Roberto Luongo for his sub-par performances, odd considering all the support Luongo got from the Canucks fans after the Olympics.

There were a lot of Vancouver fans that (for whatever reason) felt that Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo somehow was the main reason Team Canada pulled off the gold medal win at the 2010 Olympics. For the record, I was/am on the record as saying Luongo didn’t impress at the Olympics and, in fact, still had plenty to prove.

Well Vancouver Fans, what say you now?

I’m Seeing Stars:

The best part of this year's playoff is that every night a new hero seems to emerge.

Thursday night, Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzen has one of the most dominant playoff performances of all-time netting four goals, adding two assists for six points.

Friday night, Chicago Blackhawks forward Jonathan Toews light the lamp three times, added two assists, netting five points against the Vancouver Canucks, leapfrogging over Sidney Crosby for the playoff scoring lead in the process with 18 points thus far.

Every night there is the potential to witness something special—that’s what the playoffs is all about, isn’t it?

Them’s The Drapes:

Is anyone out there having a worse playoff than Detroit Red Wings forward Kris Draper? Through 11 games, Draper has registered zero points and just four shots on goal. It’s not that Draper should be getting a lot of points—he’s not that kind of playoff performer, that said, I cannot remember a playoffs where Draper has been so invisible.

Speaking of under performing Red Wings, last year's playoff hero Daniel Cleary, has also been a non-factor throughout this years playoffs. Cleary registered nine goals and 15 points in 23 playoff games last season, through 11 games in this years playoffs he has just two goals on 23 shots and no assists...Time to pick it up Danny Boy!

The Kid Is Alright:

No question about it, Sidney Crosby has had what can only be termed as a tough series against the defensive juggernaut that is the Montreal Canadiens.

Let’s face facts—Montreal all but nullified the best offense in the game when they disposed of the Washington Capitals in seven games, so there really shouldn’t be all that much of a surprise that Crosby (and his team) are struggling scoring goals.

In the end, Crosby and the Penguins should emerge victorious, a win tonight in game five will go a long way in making that possible. Look for Crosby to play a major role in the Penguins next three two or three games—his scoreless streak cannot last forever, can it?

***For more NHL news and notes check out my website at

www.theslapshot.com

Until next time,

Peace!