After defecting from the Pittsburgh Penguins to join the Detroit Red Wings because he thought he had a better chance of winning the Stanley Cup (it was so rough when Detroit ended up losing Pittsburgh), Marian Hossa has jumped ship again.

The Chicago Blackhawks have given Hossa a 12-year deal worth about $59.3 million which averages out to $5.2 per season for the first eight years and then drops down to $3.5 million for the last four.

The Blackhawks had a great season and I think that they have a real chance to not only make it to the playoffs again next season but, now that they’ve got experience in the postseason, I think they could go all the way to the Finals.

If they happen to make it that far and they lose with Hossa in the lineup, it will be the third year in a row that he’s been with a team that has narrowly lost the Stanley Cup.  If that happens, the superstition about not touching the conference trophy might pale in comparison with the bad luck associated with having Hossa in the lineup.

image: TSN

There is no image to put up yet but Chicago Blackhawks winger, Patrick Kane, will appear on the cover of EA Sports’ NHL 2010 although top draft prospect, John Tavares, has signed on to help promote the game which is expected to hit shelves this September.  

Meanwhile, Alexander Ovechkin has been chosen to front the NHL 2K10 game. 

The Detroit Red Wings were successful last night in winning the 2009 Western Conference title and eliminating the Chicago Blackhawks.  To their credit, the ‘Hawks held on as best they could with Martin Havlat and starting goaltender, Nikolai Khabibulin, knocked out of the lineup but, ultimately, the Wings were just too hot to handle.

image: Zuma Press

Detroit showed their strength as a team when they pulled together to compensate for the absence of star players, Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk.  They played a patient, determined game and in the end it paid off.

I have to say that I was impressed with Blackhawks backup goalie, Cristobal Huet, tonight despite his team’s loss.  He looked a lot better than he did during the last game.  Unfortunately, he had just made an incredible save when Darren Helm scored for Detroit at 3:58 into overtime (Dan Cleary scored the other goal in the team’s 2-1 victory).

Now, of course, we know for sure that the defending Stanley Cup champions will face their rivals from last year in a rematch between the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins.  I didn’t think that I would be but I’m actually pretty excited.  It’s pretty rare to see the same two teams heading to the Stanley Cup finals and then there’s the fact that Marion Hossa has changed sides and this year will put on a Red Wings jersey as he takes on his former Penguin teammates.  He left the team (and turned down the lucrative contract that they offered him) because he thought he had a better chance of winning the Cup with the Red Wings.

I’d like to mention that the last time this sort of thing happened, the Edmonton Oilers ended up beating the New York Islanders in 1984 after losing to them the previous year.  If history repeats itself, there’s a chance that the Penguins will be hoisting Lord Stanley over their heads in the next week or two.

I just thought I’d also point out that Sidney Crosby went ahead and grabbed the trophy after winning the Eastern Conference Finals but Henrik Zetterberg refused to touch it.  Sid had a good point, though.  He didn’t touch it last year and it didn’t seem to change his luck.  I guess we’ll have to wait and see…

image: TSN

Amazingly, the schedule is already available and it begins this Saturday.  Fortunately, that means that both teams will have gotten roughly the same amount of rest (just a day difference).

• Game 1 - Saturday, May 30, 8pm ET Penguins at Red Wings
• Game 2 - Sunday, May 31, TBA Penguins at Red Wings
• Game 3 - Tuesday, June 2, 8pm ET Red Wings at Penguins
• Game 4 - Thursday, June 4, 8pm ET Red Wings at Penguins
• Game 5* - Saturday, June 6, 8pm ET Penguins at Red Wings
• Game 6* - Tuesday, June 9, 8pm ET Red Wings at Penguins
• Game 7* - Friday, June 12, 8pm ET Penguins at Red Wings

* If Necessary

Joel Quenneville had some choice words about the officiating in Game 4 between his Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings.  Unfortunately, the NHL didn’t see eye-to-eye with the coach and his actions ended up costing him $10,000USD.

His offence?  After a roughing call against defenceman Matt Walker as the first period ended, Detroit scored and extended their lead to 3-0 (they ended up winning the game with a final score of 6-1 and have taken a 3-1 series lead). 

After the game, coach Quenneville said: "I think we witnessed probably the worst call in the history of sports there. Nothing play.  You know, they scored, it’s 3-0.  They ruined a good hockey game and absolutely destroyed what was going on the ice. … Never seen anything like it."

I have to agree with him.  I did not agree with that call and I think it really changed the dynamics of the game.  It’s too bad.  The Blackhawks will try to stave off elimination in Game 5 on Wednesday in Detroit.

image: TSN

Wow.  I’m sure the Chicago Blackhawks would like to permanently erase today’s game against the Detroit Red Wings completely from their memory.  It was one of those games where it was almost uncomfortable to watch and I’m not a particular fan of either team.  It was just painful.

image: Zuma Press

Things looked a little promising for the Blackhawks at the start of the game.  Sure, I was concerned when Cristobal Huet was announced as the starting goalie but I was encouraged by the fact that Martin Havlat was in the lineup despite the fact that he took a crushing hit this past week and failed to practice with the team.  I had no idea but those few moments of hope for Chicago were about to fade – quickly.

First of all, Havlat, who commentators claim forced his way on the ice and dared management to stop him, only played for seven minutes and 59 seconds.  Then, of course, there were all those goals that Detroit scored against them.

It started with a short-handed goal by Marian Hossa.  During the remainder of the game, Hossa scored a second time along with Johan Franzen, Valtteri Filppula and Henrik Zetterberg, who also scored twice.  The lone goal tallied for Chicago was scored by captain, Jonathan Toews.

The Red Wings barely seemed bothered by the absence of star players Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom, who was a last-minute scratch (no reason was given).  “We heard this morning during the pre-game meal he (Lidstrom) was not playing. We just had to deal with it,” Zetterberg said. “Everybody had to step up and play.”  I think it goes without saying that the team definitely pulled it together.

I can’t say the same for Huet, who was a hot mess between the pipes for Chicago.  He allowed five goals in 26 shots on net and, at one point, was replaced by third goalie, Corey Crawford for the last 15:55 of the second period.  When Huet returned in the third, I figured the slaughter was over but he ended up allowing one more goal by Zetterberg on a power-play.

Game 5 takes place on Wednesday, May 27 at 7:30pm (ET) in Detroit.  If they win the game, they will take the Western Conference title.

The Chicago Blackhawks blew an amazing 3-0 lead in Game 3 of the 2009 Western Conference Finals against the Detroit Red Wings.  They scored two quick goals in the first period and struck again less than a minute into the second but then the Red Wings seemed to wake up and quickly evened out the game.

image: Zuma Press

Heading into the third period it was all locked up and it remained that way until Patrick Sharp scored at 1:52 of overtime allowing the Blackhawks to skate away with a 4-3 victory.  The win has cut Detroit’s series lead, making it 2-1.

Both teams were dealing with injuries.  Detroit played without star player, Pavel Datsyuk, in the lineup and Chicago’s Martin Havlat left the game in the first period after getting smashed by Niklas Kronwall.  Coach Joel Quenneville said Havlat had shown signs of improvement after the game and would be reevaluated today.

The most scary injury, though, was the loss of starting goaltender, Nikolai Khabibulin, who had to be replaced by Cristobal Huet with the game tied at 3-3.  I really expected for things to take a turn for the worse for Chicago with this development but Huet, who hasn’t played so far in the postseason, hung on and stopped six shots in the third. “I didn’t have time to think really,” Huet said. “I’ve been practicing a long time for that moment. I was anxious but at the same time ready to help the team in any way I could.”

Game 4 is Sunday at the United Centre in Chicago.

In an overtime thriller, the Detroit Red Wings successfully won their second home game over the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2009 Western Conference Finals.

I know it was a loss for the ‘Hawks but I still think they played a very good game.  It was a tough one but, in the end, Mikael Samuelsson scored 5:14 into overtime to give Detroit the 3-2 victory.

image: TSN

It just shows what kind of stamina a well-trained and disciplined team like the Red Wings can deliver despite the fact that their legs must be pretty tired at this point (they played for the fourth time in a week, including those last two hard-fought games against the Anaheim Ducks in the semifinals).

Obviously, the Blackhawks really need to step up their game and use that home ice advantage in these next two games (in Chicago) or they will be eliminated.  I would hate to see them get swept.  The entire team is going to have to put in a lot of extra effort and this is where experience and maturity can be a major factor.  This is a young team and, last night, only Jonathan Toews scored (twice!).

Game 3 takes place in Chicago on Friday night.

The Detroit Red Wings beat the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 1 of the 2009 NHL Western Conference Finals and I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.  The Red Wings had a lot of things going for them last night and it just seemed like the Blackhawks just couldn’t get it together.

image: TSN

Detroit definitely came out pumped and ready.  It’s kind of hard not to be when you have fans like the ones in the Joe Louis Arena.  Octopi were on the ice, people were screaming and the Bulin Wall came tumbling down.  Seriously, Chicago netminder, Nikolai Khabibulin was shaky between the posts and, in the end, Detroit skated away with a 5-2 victory.

In the end, the more experienced Red Wings won out over the speed and agility of the young Blackhawks.  Only Adam Burish and Kris Versteeg managed to score while stars like Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane failed to get on the board.

Speaking of Burish, did you see him almost get his throat sliced up?  It was a really close call and, although he was bleeding, he remained in the game.

The Vancouver Canucks were eliminated from the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs last night by the Chicago Blackhawks.  Many Canadians (not including me) were saddened by the fact that the last team from Canada was knocked out of the postseason.

image: TSN

The victory can be attributed to the younger Chicago players who played the most important role in winning the high scoring game (final score 7-5).   Budding star, Patrick Kane recorded his first playoff hat trick while Jonathan Toews scored the go-ahead goal in that insane third period.  This is the first time the team will compete in the Western Conference finals since 1995.

The best part (for the Blackhawks) was that they got to win at home, in the United Center, with the support of a thunderous crowd.  It was insanely loud in that building and the team seemed to really be fueled by the energy.  “It’s awesome. We didn’t want to go back to Vancouver,” Toews said. “Nobody knew what was going to happen. It was unbelievable. … We’ve found ways to come back, especially late in games.”

Chicago coach Joel Quenneville added: “I don’t think anybody anticipated the craziness of the third period. The turns and swings were gigantic.  How it unravelled and unfolded, it was an amazing ending.”

Indeed, it was and I was really surprised by how the two goalies fared.  Chicago’s Nikolai Khabibulin made 33 saves but his Vancouver counterpart, Roberto Luongo, made just 23.  “We had some chances early and I made some saves, but the rest of the way I didn’t help my teammates out,” said Luongo, who was near tears in the Canucks’ locker room. “When you let in seven goals, I don’t think that’s a very good performance.”  Sorry, Luongo, but I’d have to agree.

The Blackhawks will face either the Detroit Red Wings or Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference finals and I’m hoping for a Blackhawks/Ducks matchup.   What about you?

The Washington Capitals are just one game away from being eliminated by the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Could the much-hype matchup between Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin come to an end in Game 6?

image: Newscom

Incredibly, though, the Pens will have to admit that they are ahead due, in part, to some “assistance” they’ve received from the Capitals themselves.  Tonight’s overtime win was courtesy of a goal that was deflected into the back of the net by Capitals defenceman, Tom Poti.  I’m sure Evgeni Malkin couldn’t predict that Poti would be the one to help him score the goal but no one was complaining.  “These games come down to mistakes and bounces,” Crosby said. “And we got a good bounce there on the last goal.”

Of course, if you’ve been watching the series, you will remember that, back in Game 3, a shot by Kris Letang was deflected in by defenceman Shaone Morrisonn.  “It’s always hard when you play in overtime and you allow a silly goal like this,” said goaltender, Simeon Varlamov. “That’s twice now. … But winners make their own luck.”

Yeah… if I was him, I’d be pretty pissed off.

Meanwhile, over in the Western Conference, the Vancouver Canucks are facing a fate similar to that of the Capitals.

The Chicago Blackhawks struck first but then the Canucks quickly tied the game in the first period.  They came on strong in the second with the Sedin twins and Mats Sundin teaming up on Chicago goaltender, Nikolai Khabibulin, and scoring a really nice goal.  In the end it just wasn’t enough.

The teams were tied at 2-2 late in the third period when the Hawks scored on a power play.  They put another one into the empty net and secured a 4-2 victory.