| Sometimes if a team has a bit of lack of confidence in the goalie it leads to better D. Teams with a star goalie sometimes get too reliant on the goalie, they aren't as tight defensively because they have that little voice in their head saying "well, if I don't seal this guy off the play, it'll probably be okay, Kipper will stop him". Sometimes when a team puts in the second string goalie, you'll see the defense sealing off and blocking shots and clearing pucks like they're possessed. Wouldn't be surprised if there was some "okay, Olie's out, time to really make sure we're defensively sound" thoughts on the Caps bench last night.
The Bruins were thwarted last night by A) their standard third period collapse and B) the greatest goalie ever to strap on a pad. After having a slim 13-12 shot advantage in the first, the Bs were outshot 12-8 and 13-5 over the final forty minutes. Business as usual. Timmy played well, 34 saves on 37 shots, but when your team is getting 13 fewer shots on the other goalie and is losing over 60% of the faceoffs, there's only so much you can do. And of course DiPietro came in for some more hero worship from the Bruins announcers. After the game, the guys in the studio were kicking around the idea of DiPietro as MVP candidate. Yeah, a goalie who is 10th in the league in save percentage and 15th in goals against average is going to win the MVP. Over goalies like Brodeur, Kipprusoff, and Luongo. And over all the skaters in the league like Crosby. Sure, guys. DiPietro isn't going to win the MVP. He isn't going to be a finalist for the MVP. He isn't going to win the Vezina. I highly doubt he'll even be a finalist for the Vezina. I'm just glad we don't play the Isles again this season so I don't have to listen to this anymore!
The NHL has the best ad campaign they've had in ages, if not ever. I love the Sedin twins dancing at a bachelor party. I love Ovie ordering room service for Sid. It shows NHL players as real people with personalities, having fun. That's just what they need to do. More ads like these, and run them on other channels during non-hockey programming. Run 'em during an NBA game. Run 'em during primetime. Get people talking about the league.
-Ricardo
"2 minutes by yourself and...you feel shame, you know...and then you get free" | 
