It has been over 15 years since I have seen a hockey game in Montreal. I vowed never to return after the Habs moved out of the historic Montreal Forum and after the incident on December 2, 1995 between Patrick Roy, my favorite NHL player of all time, and the team coach and team management.

For those of you who do not know, Patrick Roy was the star goalie of the Montreal Canadians in the early 90s, winning two Stanley Cups with the team. Then on December 2, 1995 he had a meltdown in net. I don’t remember the official statistics anymore, but they Detroit Red Wings scored something like 9 goals on him on 25 shots. Unheard of, especially for such a legendary goalie like Roy. His head was not in the game and he asked to be taken out. He was not. Each save, and there were few of them, the fans jeered him. When they finally pulled him, Roy was furious and walked past the team president and coach and said “I have played my last game as a Montreal Canadian.” A few day later he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche and the Avs won the Stanley Cup that season and Roy helped them win another a few years later. The Habs have won nothing since, having advanced in the playoffs only 4 times since that trade. ESPN calls it the worst trade in the history of the HNL.

Well they did make up. The Habs did retire #33 just two weeks ago on November 22nd, 2008. I decided it was time to go see hockey in Montreal, 13 years to the day of the “incident”. For starters, the Bell Centre is right outside my hotel, here is the photo from my room. How could I resist?

Fellow Everest trekker Richard, and fellow conference speakers Tim, Beth, Gary, and Alan and I bought $100 scalped tickets and headed to the Bell Centre. The first thing I noticed was how big it was, the upper deck seats start above the second illuminated row in the photo below, where other hockey arenas stop.

I of course went to pay homage to Patrick Roy’s retired number before the game started.

After we ate French Canadian hot dogs and pizza as well went to buy some hats (I got a Roy hat) and stuff the game was ready to start. The first thing that I noticed was that everything was in French. (Well, duh.) Second when they sang the national anthems, the US went first and then the Canadian national anthem went and it was sang in French and everyone in the stadium sang along. It was an amazing sight. (Even Richard got into the spirit, but he sang along in English since he is from BC.)

This is a place to watch hockey! The fans really make the game. The size of the arena must be intimidating for smaller market teams. Barry from Toronto swears that the new arena in Toronto is bigger, I disagree. (Google confirms: Bell 21,273, Air Canada Centre: 19,000.) Barry out of respect to the Habs in their own house will remain neutral since he is a Leafs fan of course.

The Habs jumped out to a quick lead playing good hockey and executed well. They had a 3-0  lead after the second period. A 4th goal was called back at some point and a chant (in English) of “The Ref Sucks” was awesome.

After the third period started the Thrashers (visiting from Atlanta) scored a goal and the “charge!” music was playing and I asked out loud: “How to you say Charge! in French?” The guy in the row in front of me said: “Charge!” The Thrashers got a very quick 2nd goal and I was commenting that maybe we can see a shootout.

Oddly, the Habs fans chant “Ole, Ole, Ole” like it was soccer. I said wrong sport and wrong language.

 

Next, the Thrasher score very late in the 3rd period making it 3-3. My hopes for an overtime shootout are now becoming reality. Richard just rolls his eyes at the Habs. The Bell Centre becomes quiet, but the fans never lose faith. Massive “Go Habs Go!” chants start.

The Habs score a goal with about 4 minutes to play making it 4-3. We figure it will hold. The Thrashers pull the goalie with 1 minute to play. The Habs get a very difficult empty netter with 41 seconds to go.

 

Game over, right? Well no, the Thrashers refuse to die and score 20 seconds later! making it 5-4! Six goals in the last period, double the whole game thus far! And like 4 goals in the final few minutes!!

 

Luckily the Habs clear the puck after losing the face off and win the game. We go out for the famous Montreal “smoked meat” and beer at the local pub. The beautiful waitress loves Patrick Roy and tells me she owns a gun (I think she is lying about the gun part to scare us away). She says that she had a photo taken on Patrick Roy’s lap when she was 7. I try to use that to my advantage to get her to take a photo on my lap (sorry Kathleen!) but settle for a photo with her wearing my Patrick Roy hat. A fun end to a great evening at the Bell Center!

Posted by Steve in Montreal, Canada.

Being a sports fan is hard these days.  Sports is supposed to be an escape from reality but unfortunately has become reflective of it. 

(1) Plaxico Burress was booked yesterday on gun possession charges.  (2) Starbury has been banned from the Knicks.  (3) Former New York Ranger Sean Avery was indefinitely suspended for inappropriate comments about an ex-girlfriend.  (4) Notre Dame Head Coach Charlie Weiss is holding on for dear life in South Bend.

(1) Everyone knows that Plaxico was stupid/unwise/whatever adjective you want to use.  The Giants were right to suspend him.  Mayor Bloomberg has threatened to throw the book at him.  He's big on anti-gun violence and is going into an election year for a controversial third term.  I generally have a favorable opinion of Mayor Bloomberg but he should have put the term limits issue to a vote of the citizens, NOT the City Council.  A Burress trial is the perfect non-partisan distraction to the election, economy, and everything else going on. 

(2) The Knicks, their fans, and Starbury are all losers in the Starbury saga. 

(3) Avery's inappropriate comments really hurt the NHL when it needs a lift.  Avery asked if a camera was present and unloaded on an ex-girlfriend.  The NHL should unload on him for a while.  Yeah, see you next season Sean.  He'll probably only get a few games but deserves more.  It's not the first for him.  Martin Brodeur didn't shake his hand after last season's playoffs and I can't blame him.  It's not only waving his stick in front of Brodeur but the trash he unloaded about Brodeur's personal life.  Not cool and I don't like the D*vils.

(4) Notre Dame fans need to take a timeout.  Yes, Charlie Weis hasn't lived up to expectations.  But who do you bring in to replace him?  The Pope?  He's busy and would probably pass on the job if offered to him.  JH, his brother Brendan, and I threw other names around earlier today via e-mail.  I don't think Jim Tressel would ever leave Columbus as he is a native Buckeye.  Urban Meyer is having fun in the sun at Florida.  Nick Saban has rebuilt Alabama quicker than I hoped almost two years ago, January 3, 2007.  Saban has said that the Alabama job is the last job he will take before retiring.  Most importantly, I don't see any of them going to South Bend because they have a better chance of being successful in their current jobs than taking the Notre Dame job.  Why tarnish your reputation? 

Why take the Notre Dame job?  OK, yes, you will make millions.  (The buyout on Weis' mega millions contract maybe the only thing that buys him more time in South Bend.)  But, you have to deal with alumni and fans who think Knute Rockne is still the coach.  The administration watches your every move.  Notre Dame's high academic standards make it hard for them to recruit the student-athlete to come to South Bend.  Let's face it, other top schools have easier academic standards than Notre Dame.  Notre Dame has become a victim of its own success.  The Irish are haunted by a 21st century "Four Horsemen" of alumni, fans, administration, and academic standards.  It results in a plague and pestilence over South Bend.

If Weis doesn't survive, I think current Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach Jon Gruden will take the Notre Dame job if he wants it.  His main defensive assistant, Monte Kiffin, may go help his son Lane who was announced as Phil Fulmer's replacement at the University of Tennessee.  Gruden literally grew up in the job as a ball boy.  He knows all the glory and pitfalls of the job.  He has a Super Bowl ring with the Bucs.  Returning the Irish to national prominence would cap a coaching career.           

I stepped back to listen to the Knicks game tonight on ESPN 1050.  The Knicks lost but played the Trailblazers tough.  I can live with that.  Sports at last, NOT courtroom, egos, or other drama plaguing the sports world. 

I also listened to the Canadiens-Thrashers game on NHL GameCenter which rocks.  My high school French was a little rusty but it was good to listen the game.  I also texted Steve who was at the game as an after hours conference activity with Richard from the Mount Everest Base Camp trip.  Steve described the game as a "religious experience".  That's what sports should be.  Allez Les Habitants allez!  Go Habs go (Canadiens nickname)!  I'm looking forward to Steve's write-up tomorrow.

Posted by The Tank on the Sports Roller Coaster in NY.          

Though SATT focus on baseball and football, the NHL is in full swing.  The 2008-2009 season started with two victories over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Prague.  The Rangers had momentum coming back home and lead the Eastern Conference with 13 points though the Canadiens have three games in hand and are only two points back.  I have listened to some games on the radio and intend to get to the Garden to watch some of the action in person this season.

The Rangers lost young prospect to Alexei Cherepanov at 19 years of age to heart issues during a recent game for Avangard Omsk in the Russian Continental Hockey League (KHL).  Alexei broke Pavel Bure's record goals record.  Alexei was learning the professional hockey ropes from teammate and former Ranger Jagomir Jagr.  Alexei had a bright future and it's tragic that he passed so soon.  May his memory be eternal.

Posted by a saddened Tank in NY.

One of the greatest songs of all time, "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey, was playing over the loudspeakers as the Detroit Red Wings were winning 3-2 in the last minute of the third period against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Red Wings were in line to win their third Stanley Cup in 11 years.

But, the Penguins' Talbot tied to it with 31.3 seconds remaining.

Wow!  Talbot took all the air out of the Joe Louis Arena.  The alternating cheers of "We want the Cup" and Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" lyrics "...Born and Raised South Detroit..." stopped immediately.

Hockey may NOT get as much attention as it deserves but it has the best playoff format, sudden death overtime.  One shot, one mistake is the difference between raising the Cup for Detroit or extending the series to a sixth game to Pittsburgh.

After a brief intermission, Detroit was better rested as Pittsburgh had to expend lots of energy to tie the game.

Detroit had the most shots in the first overtime period but Fleury was equal to the task.  The Red Wings outshot the Penguins by almost two to one for the game.

The Penguins had a man advantage early in the second overtime but the Red Wings killed the penalty.

One of the TV announcers granted permission to his 11 and 13 year old children to stay up late as the game was over 100 minutes long.

Detroit's made a critical mistake as Hudler hit Skadery in the mouth for a four minute penalty with about ten minutes left in the third overtime.

Sykora pulled a Babe Ruth and told one of the TV announcers that he would score the winning goal.  True to his word, Sykora put the puck past Osgood to win the game and send the series back to Pittsburgh.

Posted by a Tired Tank in NY.

A cold foggy mist descended over Shea for Friday's Brewers-Mets game.  The Brewers were one of my pre-season dark horse picks.  The Brewers really surprised last season with young players like Tony Gwynn, Jr, Prince Fielder, and others.             
                   
The Yankees and Red Sox are both 5-5 coming into this first game between both teams of the season.

DW singles to start the bottom of the fourth.  Brewers pitcher Manny Parra throws over to first.  It almost makes you wish for Aaron "The Human Raindelay" Heilman.  Almost.

I am multi-tasking as usual and listening to the Yankees game on the radio.  Wang is perfect through three innings, touch wood.  Gotta love technology. 

Beltran walks.

Wang gives up his first hit to Pedroia but Big Papi grounds into a double play.  Yeah!  At the end of four, Yankees 0 - Red Sox 0. 

Delgado singles to right and DW scores.  Mets 1 - Brewers 0.

Adam Sandler starts the "Let's Go Mets!" cheer.  Like The Tank, Sandler is a Yankees fan who roots for the Mets.

Easley flies to left center, Beltran tags, and scores.  Mets 2 - Yankees 0.

The Fenway official scorer takes the hit away from Pedroia.  Wang has a no-hitter and A-Rod is charged with the error.  Touch call according to John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.

Wild pitch to Ryan Church.  Delgado advanes to second.  Church singles to center, Delgado advances to third.

Matsui walks. 

Casanova singles to left.  Delgado scores and Church advances to second.  Mets 3 - Brewers 0.
         
Posada lines a foul ball down the left field line.  Darn it!

Figueroa is safe on his own bunt.  Bases loaded with one out.  Talk about helping your own cause.  Jose Reyes steps to the plate and grounds out into a double play on the first pitch.  Darn it!  Mets 3 - Brewers 0 at the end of four.
                             
Giambi strikes out.  Molina hits to left center.  Matsui scores, Posada goes to third and Molina to second.  Yankees 1 - Red Sox 0 with one out in the fifth.  Gonzalez please don't hit into a double play.  Yes, he walks and the bases are loaded thank God. 

Figueroa gives up his first hit to Hardy who doubles to left to score the first run.  Mets 3 - Brewers 1.

The Yankees only score one run.  Darn it!

Dillon strikes out on 3-2.  He threw away his helmet and started running to first but the ump called him out.  Mets 3 - Brewers 1 going into the bottom of the fifth.

Manny flies out to deep right.  Whew!  Unfortunately, JD Drew's hit to deep right hits off of Abreu's glove for the first hit and home run.  At the end of five innings, Yankees 1 - Red Sox 1.

The Cowbellman performs near me at Shea while A-Rod comes to the plate at Fenway.  A-Rod singles to left with two outs.  Yeah!

Matsui doubles to the Green Monster.  A-Rod advances to third. 

Gross flies out to right at Shea.  Prince Fielder doubles to left center.  Braun hits a bomb to center but Beltran sprints and catches it.  In the middle of the sixth, Mets 3 - Brewers 0.

Yankees are out of the sixth.  Darn it! 

Joe Smith starts to warm for the Mets while Ryan Church flies to right center for the second out of the sixth.  Casanova flies out to the double

Speaking of great defense, the Rangers and D*vils are tied at 0 in the second period.  Wow, what a New York sports night!

Joe Smith takes the mound in the top of the seventh.

Timlin relieves Buchholz to start the 7th.  Giambino hits a bomb to center.  Molina hits a double off the Monster.
         
DW's throws is wild of first.

Gonzalez sacrifice bunts to Timlin and Molina advances to third.  Timlin gets the hook.  Yankees 2 - Red Sox 1 with one out in the seventh.

Craig Counsell grounds out to Reyes to end the top of the seventh.  Mets 3 - Brewers 2.

Melky sacrifices Molina home.  Yankees 3 - Red Sox 1 with two out in seventh.

Get up and stretch!  It's the Seventh Inning Stretch at Shea.

Cano strikes out.  Get up and stretch (at Fenway)!  Yankees 3 - Red Sox 1.

Chavez walked.  Anderson sacrifices Chavez to second.  Last night's hero Pagan comes to the plate hitting .600 with Runners In Scoring Position.  He singles to right.  Mets 4 - Brewers 2.  DW singles to center.  The center fielder fumbles the ball and Pagan advances to third.
             
Pedroia grounds out to A-Rod.  Yeah!

Big Papi grounds to first.

Beltran hits into a double play.  Darn it!

Aaron "The Human Raindelay" Heilman is booed.

Manny strikes out!  Yeah!  Yankees 3 - Red Sox 1 at the end of seven. 
                               
Javier Lopez comes out of the bullpen for the Red Sox.  Abreu grounds out to Casey who flips it to Lopez.

Heilman strikes out Weeks.  OMG!

A-Rod singles to center. 

Heilman gets out of the eighth.  Time for the 8th Inning Sing-Along.  Tonight is Billy Joel's "Movin' Out".  Good selection, but not as good as Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" from Opening Day.    BTW, I met Billy Joel during the Sting and Annie Lennox concert a Jones Beach in July 2004.  This before I bought a digital camera.  Darn it!
                           
Matsui grounds to second to force A-Rod.
                               
Rangers 2 - D*vils 0 in the third period just flashed on the left center score board.  Yeah!  The crowd at Shea goes crazy.

Delgado strikes out.  Easley comes up to MC Hammer's "2 Legit to Quit" but he grounds out.
           
Giambino walks to load the bases.  Francona brings the hook for Lopez.

Wagner comes into the game the tune of "Enter Sandman".

Fielder grounds out to Wagner.  Braun flies out to right.  Two out in the top of the ninth.  Hall flies out right.  It's great to hear "Takin' Care of Business" again.  Mets 4 - Brewers 2.

Yankees 3 - Red Sox 1 in the middle of the eighth.

Abreu makes a great catch on Youkilis.  Three up, three down in the 8th.  At the end of eight innings, Yankees 3 - Red Sox 1.         
                   
Gonzalez doubles to left.

Melky sacrifices Gonzalez to third.

Cano grounds out to third.  Gonzalez holds at third. 

Abreu hits an infield single to Pedroia.  Gonzalez scores.  A-Rod grounds out to end the inning.  In the middle of the ninth, Yankees 4 - Red Sox 1.

Casey lines out to Melky to start the ninth.  Lugo grounds to short.  Coco Crisp bunted to third but Wang can't get it.  Crisp is safe at first.  Crisp advances to second on defensive indifference on the first pitch to Pedroia.  Pedroia lined to Matsui to end the game.  Ballgame over, Yankees win, the Yankeeeees win!         

Wang pitched a two hitter and the Yankees won 4-1.  Wow!  All without Jeter.  Double wow!

This is one of the many great things about New York.  Mets win, Yankees win, and Rangers win 2-1 according to Don LaGreca reporting live on the ESPN 1050 AM post-game report.
                         
Posted by The Tank in a New York State of Mind reporting Live from Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens.

Do you know where you were on June 14, 1994?  I do.  I was on the campus of SUNY Buffalo hanging out after graduating college.  I wasn't a Ranger fan at the time.  Brian Leetch wasn't either as he grew up a Bruins fan in Connecticut; I grew up a Canadiens fan in beautiful Upstate New York, AKA Appalachia according to Governor Spitzer.  (Speaking of Linda's "favorite" politician, Governor Spitzer, along with Messrs. Sarbanes and Oxley have pretty much handed New York's financial capital standing to London.  Thanks for nothing!)
                             
Back to hockey.  I was happy for New Jersey Dave, a roommate from freshman year and huge Ranger fan who often referenced 1940.  I lost touch with NJ Dave but knew he was somewhere smiling celebrating the Stanley Cup.     

Fast forward nearly 14 years to this past Thursday night at the Garden.  I wasn't there but enjoyed listening to the ceremonies on ESPN 1050 Radio and watching it on MSG while eating some ribs at Brother Jimmy's BBQ on the Upper West Side.  

As always, Sam Rosen did a great job emceeing the event.  Sam and JD are as good as it gets when it comes to calling hockey games.  Only former Bruines coach and current CBC Hockey Night Canada host Don Cherry is in their league.
                         
Leetch was introduced to thunderous applause and cheers.  It was a reunion of many of Leetch's 1994 teammates.  The retirees (Giacomin, Gilbert, Messier, and Richter) wore blue jerseys in honor of their numbers being lifted to the rafters of the Garden.  Leetch had the honor of announcing that teammate Adam Graves would be the next number retired.  The crowd erupted and the look on Graves' face was priceless.  
   
As John the European would say, no one throws a ceremony quite like the Garden.  It's hard to disagree.  Congratulations Brian!  Welcome to hockey immortality!

Written and posted by The Tank in NY.  Photo courtesy of PermaGuest Outlaw Jack reporting live from the world's greatest arena, Madison Square Garden.

Over 70,000 hockey fans were treated to an icy and  snowy overtime shootout in Buffalo, where Sidney Crosby's dramatic goal lifted the Penguins past the Sabres 2-1 in an outside game at the home of the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, NY. The NHL decided to hold an outside game in a large venue as a template for future games. I think it worked and should lead to more in the future. 

Crosby said of the day:

 

"Growing up, I played a lot outside," said Crosby, a Nova Scotia native. "When you see 70,000 people jammed into a stadium to watch hockey, it's a good sign. The atmosphere and environment, I don't think you can beat that."

You can't. This is something the NHL should do two or three times a year. It got everyone engaged and brought out a ton of fans. In essence, it was a media event.

There have been rumors of Rangers v Detroit in Yankee Stadium or even Rangers v Islanders.

Posted by Steve in New York.

A fly on the wall reporting from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners:

• Many New Yorkers are counting down the days until the NJ Nets move to Brooklyn.The Knicks are so bad that we are just ready to toss in the towel and become Brooklyn Nets fans.
• Its time to check out the Devils new home. The Devils moved to Newark, NJ, and anytime a new arena opens in your sports radius, you have to go see it, even a High School field.
• Yankee fans are still in denial about Clemens. While I want to believe, I know in my heart that he is guilty, just as Barry Bonds is. Andy Pettette came clean, time to come clean Roger. Too much circumstantial evidence and the confession by your best fiend only hurts you.
• The Yankees need to make an offseason move. All they did was spend a lot of money keeping the status quo.
• Mets fans are mad as hell. All Mets fans want just one thing for Christmas: a starting pitcher.
• Steve's Uncle thinks the Mets pitching is ok. While the rest of the family will trade the farm for Santna and others. Uncle Joe defends Omar saying that the Mets payroll will balloon and that you can't give up too much. The rest of the family thinks that he is crazy, time to win man!!!
• The Mets should swap Orlando Hernández and Aaron Heilman. Heilman just whines about wanting to be a starter and lacks the 90s needed to be a big league closer. He is young and has enough arm strength to give 175-200 quality innings. El Duque is getting too old to give you 200 quality innings.

 

Posted by Steve in a food coma.

Long Island Mike writes on many historical, political, and sporting topics.  Though a huge Red Sox fan, he is still a friend of The Tank.  As hard as NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman may try to run hockey into the ground in North America, his and other owners' greed and stupidity during the recent lockout will never extinguish Long Mike's love for the great sport of hockey.  Please find this latest hockey gem.

See you at the rink.

Written by The Traveling Tank and posted by Steve in NY. 

The real puck is dropped moments later.

At 37 seconds, Rozsival scores assisted by Drury and Jagr.  Whoa!  Is this a repeat of my last Ranger game, 7-0.

Carl the Bell Hop is dressed in goalie gear.  Friend and former co-worker Rich explains that the Rangers were looking for someone to wear goalie gear all about town.  They filmed various spots around town from rowing a boat with a hockey stick in Central Park, riding a pedicab, riding in a cab, etc.  They are all funny moments but why didn't they ask me?  Didn't they see me in a Frosty the Snowman outfit trying to cheer my colleague up after 9/11 at my firm's 2001 company holiday party .  Anyway, Carl the Bell Hop now has season tickets.  Good onion Carl.
             
Julia Stiles and Peta Nemcova are the celebrities featured on the Garden Jumbotron.  Getting a picture with A-Rod is cool but I would rather have my photo with either one of those beautiful ladies. 
       
Nina from work asks me for the score and it was Indians 4 - Yankees 1.  While waiting in the food line, I hear screams coming from fans watching the TV down the way.  The Yankees thankfully score a run and close the margin to 4-2.

The food line is taking forever.  The Panthers tie the score and then take the lead 2-1 just after I got to my seat.  What do you expect being outshot 14 to 6.  Darn it!

The fans behind me start comparing the Rangers to the Mets.  Their language is unrepeatable and make Steve and Linda look like the happiest people in the world.  This is beyond sad.  I don't know even if my positive energy can help them.

Former Saturday Night Live star Jimmy Falon is holding a Rangers program with James Dolan face on it.  The camera shot is quickly ended we'll see how quickly he is escorted from the Garden.  Falon should have taken to the freight after appearing in the Red Sox movie.

After 2 periods, Panthers 2 - Rangers 1.  Indians 9 - Yankees 3 in the bottom of the 5th.  Double darn!

The Rangers tie the game at 6:07 of the third period on a goal by Petr Prucha and assisted by Malik.

The Rangers fans have more fight than the team.  Even radio ad star Bobby Granger pictured below is escorted from the Garden by security after fighting in the stands. 

The third goal was scored by #23 Chris Drury assisted by Jagomir Jagr and Malik at 8:46.  Malik has three points and still gets booed.
                        
The Garden announcer didn't even have time to announce the third goal by Ryan Callahan at 8:58.  Rich called it.  Well done Rich!  Rangers 4 - Panthers 2.  

Dancing Larry grooves to "Strike It Up".  Enough said.               
         
Straka scores at 13:02 assisted by Malik and Drury.  Rangers 5 - Panthers 2.

You can't go wrong with "Potvin sucks" chant nor with Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" during a TV timeout at 4:15.

"Hey Don" I shout out to ESPN 1050's Don LaGreca as he walks by.  He nods and waves back.

In a game that truly had three acts -- a strong beginning, unspired middle, and a strong finish.  I tell Rich if the Rangers don't make the Eastern Confernence Finals with a chance of winning it all, the season is a failure.

The last minute of the game is marked by "We want the Cup!" chants.  Final score: Rangers 5 - Panthers 2.

The Stars of the Game:

The Anaheim Ducks won the Stanley Cup, the best trophy in sports, last night in Anaheim.  The Ducks broke the Senators' back in Game 4 in Ottawa on Monday and then finished them off with a 6-2 victory to win the series 4 games to 1.
                                                                        
After the victory, Ducks Captain Scott Neidermayer received the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the Series from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.  He came back a moment later to lift the 36 inch high and 35 pound Lord Stanley's Cup over his head like a feather.
                              
Why is the Stanley Cup so special?  The NFL, NBA, and MLB Trophies are nice but it doesn't have every player from the winning team's name engraved on it like the Stanley Cup.  Players are immortalized forever on Lord Stanley's Cup.

Hockey is also special because of the handshake after every series.  Even though players players knock the stuffing out of each other during the series, they shake each others hand and show respect for the opponent afterwards.  Very classy.
                      
Much maligned NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman quelled the Anaheim crowd as he announced "I'm bringing gifts" as he came out to the ice to present the Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup Trophies.  One of Bettman's few good decisions during his "dual lockout" commissionership is to give the Cup the white glove treatment whenever it is in displayed public. 
                                       
Since the Canadiens/Rangers/Sabres weren't in the Finals, I had no rooting interest for either team.  I was happy though to see some world class hockey on network TV.  It was a trip down memory lane to my Buffalo days as NBC had Don Cherry on during an intermission of Game 4.  For the uniniated, Cherry coached the Boston Bruins to their last Stanley Cup in the 1970s and is the current star of CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.  Cherry is old time hockey at its best and advocated fights as a way to control the game.  He challenged the NHL, NBC President Dick Ebersol, and the "US audience" to take him up on it.  I don't think they will but he is always passionate and thought provoking.  (I have no evidence of this yet but don't be surprised if Cherry's appearance was a test of the US waters for more CBC hockey coverage in the US market.  Just a hunch as TV networks are very calculated and they are not rolling legends out like Cherry from competing networks for nothing.)  BTW, Don MacLean, Cherry's "Hockey Night in Canada" Co-Host, is the perfect good cop foil to Cherry's politically incorrect bad cop rants.  If you have a chance to watch them cover the closing of Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens in 2000 or even a regular "Hockey Night in Canada" on a Saturday night, you are in for a treat.
                                     
I am happy for former Buffalo Sabre Brad May from my college days.  It's probably the last game for Finnish star Teemu Selame.  Congratulations are also in order for the Neidermayer Brothers, Rob and Scott.  

Hockey may not enjoy the best TV ratings but it, like soccer, is strong at the youth level throughout North America.  Despite its current inept and greedy leadership, let's hope the NHL continues to recover and grow.

Posted by an optimistic Tank in NY.

PermaGuest Outlaw Jack went to the Rangers-Sabres Game 4 at the Garden and filed this brief but entertaining report and photos.

"Much beer was had. The Garden was electric with the power of the fans cheering the Rangers on through the game."

The Rangers won the game 2-1 to tie the best of 7 series at 2 games apiece.  Game 5 is in Buffalo on Friday.

Photo posted by Steve with special commentary from PermaGuest Outlaw Jack posted by the Tank in NY.