| 03 May 2010
Before the play-offs started, I echoed blogger legend HockeyTownTodd's sentiment that the key to play-off success/failure depends on two things...
- Injuries
- Officiating
Well, here's a breakdown of the series so far...
- Injuries - 1
- Penalties Against - 18 (in two games)
It's quite clear that officiating is trying to pick up the slack because of our sheer lack of injuries. "They're not injured, so we're going to penalize them 'till it hurts!"
We're averaging nine minor penalties per game. We were the second least penalized team during the regular season...something is wrong with this picture.
But aside from injuries and officials, we still could have pulled out that game last night if not for one other factor...B.S.
No, not that B.S. (though there was plenty to go around)...I'm talking about broken sticks. VS had exclusive coverage of last night's game, but I'm sure somewhere Mickey Redmond was spitting up blood during that third period.
- 5:34 into the 3rd period, Dan Cleary chops at the puck as Rob Blake carries it into the zone...Blake's stick snaps and San Jose gets a 5-on-3. They score the tying goal.
- 12:30 into the 3rd period, Nick Lidstrom goes for a slap shot and his stick splinters. Heatley pokes the puck around him and skates down 2-on-1 with Joe Thornton. Thornton puts home the rebound for the game winner.
So aside from the fact that we spent enough time in the penalty box to cover an entire period of play, we still might have pulled off the win if not for two ridiculously ill-timed broken sticks.
That should be at least a little comforting, though it pales in comparison to the fact that we're averaging 18 minutes in penalties a game with zero fighting majors through two.
