Yeah, neither do we.




Please allow me to take you into the wide world of blogging for a moment.  When Chris or I log into our little Go Daddy homepage to write a new post, it shows how long it's been since our last visit.  Blogs are usually fresh for 3-5 days or so.  Whenever "Six days since your last visit" pops up on the page, I know it's about time to start thinking about a new post.

After 7 days, maybe I'm feeling a little lazy...not the end of the world.

After 10 days, maybe a blackout has hit the tri-state area or the sports world is really, really slow.

After 14 days, you should probably look for my name in the obituaries or on the side of a milk carton.

So as I sit here, sixteen days since my last posting, I'm happy to report that I am indeed in good health.  I won't get into excuses about the complete and utter lack of activity on this blog.  I'll just call it a quick 'spring break' and will ensure you no such lapses will happen again...

Lot's has happened since the last time we put out a blog.  The Mets got bad, LeBron James got Rondo'd, and LT got in unspeakable amounts of trouble.  But it is Saturday, after all, and we're long overdue for a Saturday Puck-Fest.  Last night the NHL playoffs got narrowed down to four teams remaining, and it happened in the most historical of fashions.

Now before discussing the Flyers' comeback (or was it Bruins collapse?  Get back to me on that,) it's worth noting that the 2010 NHL playoffs had already been a little kooky.  When the barely-able-to-get-in Canadiens went into Washington and defeated the thought-to-be-unstoppable Capitals in an epic game seven, we should have known there was something big at work in 2010.  #1 Washington lost to Montreal.  #2 New Jersey went out with a whimper to Philly.  #3 Buffalo couldn't handle Boston.  Every team that worked so hard to earn a high seed in the east went on to royally crap the bed.

All bets were off as far as the Philly-Boston and Montreal-Pittsburgh second round matchups were concerned.  And sure enough, the #8 seeded Canadians disposed of the defending champion Penguins.  Once Boston took a dominating 3 games to 0 lead on the Flyers, it seemed certain that two of hockey's biggest rivals would play for the right to advance to the Stanley Cup.

The only problem was...somebody forgot to tell the Flyers all of this. 

I can't tell you how close Boston came to sweeping Philly.  Game four went to overtime and Boston had chance after chance to bury the Flyers and embarrass them in their own building.  So after Philly's Simon Gagne won the game in OT, it was hard to actually fault the Bruins for not sweeping.  But it was certainly fair to fault them for that egg they laid in game 5 in their own arena.  The Flyers seemingly take all the momentum, use it to win game 6 at home, and out of nowhere it's all even for a game 7.  See how quickly 'near-sweeps' can spiral out of control?

As far as game seven is concerned, I don't want to be the billionth person to describe how much the game paralleled the entire series.  Boston rolled out to a 3-0 score, and promptly put everything on auto-pilot.  They were more than accommodating to the Philly comeback, and the fans sat in horrified shock as Gagne scored the dagger late in the third to put the Flyers up 4-3. 

You just get the feeling that Boston's fans would have rather lost a blowout than to lose the way it happened.  If the Flyers came in and leaped out to a three or four goal lead, it would have been somewhat explainable (momentum, Boston caving under pressure, etc.)  But to play so terrifically and earn a 3 goal lead at home, only to spit it all up?  Are you kiddin' me?

You didn't have to be Barry Melrose to realize that Boston's game completely changed after their hot start.  Fourteen shots for Boston in the first period (three goals) and then eleven shots combined in periods two and three (zero goals.)  After everything that had happened in the series, I cannot even begin to try to explain how the Bruins let it happen.  But for the team and their fans, they will have an unexpectedly-long offseason to think about it.

Luckily, the Flyers' effort won't be overlooked in all of this.  Coach Peter Laviolette (a NY Sport Blog favorite) did a remarkable job in never allowing his team to quit.  Even the absolute diehards had little hope for the Flyers during that first period.  But a James van Riemsdyk shot takes some funny bounces to find the back of the net, and the Flyers never looked back. 

So it should be quite an entertaining series between the #7 Flyers and #8 Canadiens.  Just don't ask me to root for someone.  It would be like choosing between a stubbed toe or a paper cut...

(For the record, though...I'll pick Montreal in six.)

In the Western Conference, far lass explanation is needed.  The #1 and #2 seeds took care of their business and will meet for a chance at the Stanley Cup.  Chicago has a great offense, great defense, and iffy goaltending.  San Jose has a great offense, great defense, and solid goaltending.  Based on that magnificent logic, I will take the Sharks in seven.

Thanks for reading.  We definitely missed you more than you missed us.