Live-Blog: Game 4

Caveat: I've never previously done live-blogging. To ease the stress (snark: I wouldn't blog if I found it stressful), I think I'm just going to focus on Bozo the Clowns (specifically the pre-game and intermission commentators). And Don Cherry. And whatever else I feel like blogging about.

--It's raining in Ottawa. No snow? This isn't Edmonton in early June. Disappointing.

--The trio of Bozo's the Clown make their first appearance. Bill Clement facilitates the top 2 Bozos talking.

--Ferraro says Pronger should have been suspended. Hull yells at Anaheim fans and says Pronger should NOT have been suspended.

--Note to Brett: Honey, are you really that desperate to be liked? Perhaps you don't really like to be hated?

--Note to self: Wow, did Bozo Brett really just make sense? Hull has a good point here. Regardless of the ultimate result, if the NHL wants to punish illegal hits to the head, then the NHL needs to punish all illegal hits to the head. Even if such an illegal hit results in no injury, punishment should now be forthcoming. (I think I could agree that MORE punishment should result when injuries result.)

--Chris Neil rant: Chris Neil wants to call Chris Pronger a "backstabber"? Chris Pronger has more talent in his rebuilt-from-surgery wrist than Chris Neil could ever dream of having. Of course, I'm happy for Neil, what with the birth of his first child and an appearance in the Cup Finals. (Not snark here. I would hope Neil would be having a blast at this particular life juncture.) But memo to Chris Neil: You and Chris Pronger share more in common that just your first names. You play the same "on-edge" style. The only difference is that Pronger is a perennial Norris Trophy winner who's also won a Hart Trophy, and Chris Neil is, well, that character guy who's good in the locker room.

(Reflective note in midst of live-blogging: My natural loathing for Chris Neil appears here. Wow.)

--I like Mike Fisher (his forechecking prowess against my Pens notwithstanding). He's articulate and smart. Why is he friends with Chris Neil? Ah, what that whole "team concept" can do. Mike Fisher and Chris Neil, polar opposites on the ice (I don't really think Chris Neil is THAT smart of a player, sorry), can be friends. Life's amazing.

Random Comment: I understand all about advertising, really, I do. It's not like the NHL has a decent American TV contract anyway (a whole other topic for a whole other time). But really, let's be honest. The officials deliver the game-puck on time, not any company. And it's not like NHL officials deliver the puck on time anyway, not with the pregame festivities of listening to Bozo 1, 2, and 3, and the beautiful spectacle (no snark, I mean this) of the Canadian and American national anthems being sung.

Canadian bias? Or blind eyes? Or just Chris Neil is a punk. Ottawa fans who claimed Sidney Crosby dived need to wake up and smell the roses. Or at least honestly admit that their lovely, edgy character guy, just took a ridiculous dive. Yes, Chris Neil is so huge and strong and tough that he throws himself on the ice. Diving like that doesn't get you called a "backstabber," rather, but that hockey insult, pure and simple, of "diver."

(Oh, and this is weird, because Edzo and I didn't agree on much when he was Pittsburgh's coach. But it wasn't exactly like Edzo had all that much to work with as Pittsburgh's coach last season, so it wasn't like we had a lot, really, about which to disagree. But the point is: I agree with an announcer for the 2nd time tonight. Chris Neil dove. Wow. I'm far more astounded by the fact an announcer and I share an opinion than by the earth-shattering (snark) news that Chris Neil is a diver.)

Update: At least the Ducks killed that stupid penalty.

The Anaheim Parade to the penalty box: Canadian bias aside (in all seriousness, from where do the majority of NHL officials hail?), I might be in for a record. I think Pierre just told the Ducks to play their game and forget Chris Neil. Just to be difficult, I'd like to tell Anaheim: play your game, without boneheaded penalties, as much as possible, and in so doing, you will get Chris Neil. Eventually. Where it matters. By winning.

Maybe this will have to be a new feature. Keep track of my record for agreeing with the announcing "team." But I do agree the Ducks will miss Pronger on the PK.

A beautiful, and just sight: Chris Neil is in the penalty box. It's a beautiful thing, baby. Absolutely wonderful.

On the ensuing Anaheim PP, Scott Niedermayer gets the Sidney Crosby/Chris Pronger treatment.
Memo to Senators fans: C'mon. Crosby is the best player in the game at nineteen. And Pronger's not just scary good, he plays with that dirty edge you love in Chris Neil but hate in the opposition. But booing Scott freakin' Niedermayer? He was a Devil for years, and I hated him, but c'mon, Scott Niedermayer screams class.

Helpful PP tips: It might be a good idea for Anaheim to use their PP to get shots on Ottawa's goalie rather than allowing another class act, Mike Fisher, to get a shot on Jiggy. Fortunately, Jiggy has made the saves he's had to make so far in this game.

Shot Clock Check: Anaheim finally gets a shot. Wow. More than halfway through the first period, welcome to Game 4 of the Cup Finals, Anaheim Ducks.

Wow: I can't quite recall which losing version of the Penguins on which Ric Jackman was featured on the Pittsburgh blueline, but suffice it to say the Pens had a few years (insert reminder that the Pens made the playoffs for 11 consecutive years prior to those years) where they earned the right, on merit of wretchedly awful (not just merely bad) play, to draft two of this year's Calder Trophy nominees. In any case, several Pens' message boarders (seriously now: is there a better term?) moaned about letting the "great" Ric Jackman leave. Still, watching Jackman on the ice at the same time as Teemu Selanne. No offense to Jackman and no matter what great thing he might yet go on to do, but Ric Jackman and Teemu Selanne do not belong on the same sheet of ice.

Quality Drop-Off: You can't help but notice the huge gap in talent level that exists between #1 and #5-7 defensemen. When Scott Niedermayer leaves the ice, it's not like Anaheim just twirl out another #1 defenseman. And that does make a difference. Those #5-7 defensemen have to keep the play simpler, and they sure as heck do not provide the same support to Selanne's line and the "Kid" line as would Norris Trophy winners. Granted, of course this is probably a "duh" moment. But just know that as a Pittsburgh Penguins fan whose blueline depth was the team's weakest link all year, it's a little odd to see Anaheim's lower level blueliners reminding me of the limited skillsets of Joe Melichar and Rob Scuderi.

(Um, obviously, in any case anyone doesn't get it, Anaheim's blueline is far superior to Pittsburgh's. It's just that, well, all defense corps, especially those headlined by 2 legitimate #1 defenseman, have an obvious quality dropoff from #1 to #7 on the depth chart.)

Funny Emerick Story: Emerick tells a story about Kerry Fraser officiating some game that wasn't a NHL game. At least that's what I think.
Note to self: Blogging and watching the game simultaneously is fun, but it does mean I can't attend to Mike Emerick's stories as I usually can. Not that I necessarily do. But say this for Emerick, who narrated those 1991 and 1992 Stanley Cup videos I memorized as a kid. He's got some great hockey stories to tell.
Other note to self: Ah, Kerry Fraser. He wasn't allowed to officiate in the playoffs. Seeing the (snark warning) high level of officiating in these playoffs, one has to wonder how much worse (seriously now) the officiating would be if Fraser had been officiating any of these playoff games.

Dang: Just as I was about to type that the Ducks owed Jiggy a beer for every save he made that period, Ottawa's captain scores a goal. Of course the class act (still serious) Fisher makes the play in the corner that helps that goal get scored. The Ducks still owe Jiggy 12 beers for keeping them in a period in which they were outshot 13-2. But the Ducks had better wait until the Finals end before they buy Jiggy those beers. Jiggy's sure going to need to be sharp if the Ducks start making a pattern of playing every period like period 1 of Game 4.

Media Manners? or Blunt Honesty: Ryan Getzlaf shows that he has yet to go to the Sidney Crosby school of media manners, e.g., having one personality on the ice and a much more, er, nuanced personality as soon as it's time to talk to a reporter. Getzlaf informs Pierre that the call was horrible and complains about the officiating while also admitting that this type of officiating isn't exactly new. I'm sure Pierre, like me, appreciates Getzlaf's blunt honesty. And now a little advice for the Ducks: channel that frustration and energy into, you know, shooting the puck at Ray Emery. Seriously. It would be good for your frustrations. And better for the shot clock.

(Memo to Getzlaf: I'm only a little older than you, but NHL officiating has been like this for a very, very, long time.)


Oh, and: Just a reminder, something I forgot about, but I really dislike Ottawa's coach. He's a whiner and a cryer and a complainer, and I've never liked him. I'm not sure I quite remember my history with him (did he coach a playoff team that lost to my Pens?), but I know I have never liked him. Whining and crying, especially in a coach, is highly unattractive. Motivate your players and strategize. Do what Scott Bowman did when he told the '92 Pens NOT to retaliate to the '92 New York Rangers--but don't work the officials from the bench or in the press. It's annoying, and it's not where winning coaches should focus their energy or effort. But, really, what do I expect Murray to know about winning? There's a reason Murray is Murray and Bowman's the winningiest coach in NHL history.