Ramblings: If a team loses a Game 7 that’s too close to call – should we say they choked? (May 10)

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First I would like to address the Sidney Crosby concussion issue for which many fans and media are pounding the league, the Penguins, and Crosby over. Puck Daddy in particular is really taking this issue to heart and don’t seem to want to let up until Crosby is forced to sit. There are three things that could have happened here, in my view:

1. Crosby suffered a concussion, and then returned five days later and two games after that went head-first into the boards, suffering another concussion. If this happened, the NHL and the team (and Crosby) would all be unquestionably stupid for playing him again. Are they unquestionably, and undeniably stupid? Maybe. But all of them at the same time? With all eyes on them, around the world?

2. Crosby didn’t suffer a concussion the first time, (though perhaps maybe a knee injury – that leg really went over weird). He was held out of a game just in case it was a concussion, as they should with any blow to the head. And then he returned five days later. Two games after that, he hits the boards hard with his upper back/shoulder hitting and taking the bulk of the blow a micro-second before his head hit. It knocks the wind out of him (as he later stated), but the last thing he’s feeling is any kind of head injury. With all those legs in the way, can we really be certain enough about what happened to grab a soapbox and start preaching?

By the way, if the first incident was a knee injury and everyone is publishing “concussion this” and “concussion that”, then in today’s NHL of hiding injuries wouldn’t they be wise to just let that story move forward? To protect the knee from being targeted?

3. Crosby did suffer a mild concussion the first time (because he’s more susceptible to them) and he returned far too early. Even having passed the protocols it was far too early. But then with the second incident, he didn’t suffer a concussion at all (shoulder took the brunt, curls up when he hit, says he had wind knocked out of him). He wasn’t wobbly getting up. The concussion spotters still dropped the ball by not at least taking a look. But I’m a positive person – and I just can’t believe that so many people would be reckless with Crosby’s life. And I want to wait until the Penguins are eliminated or until they win the Cup so we can get the real story (that’s when the “injury truth” comes out).

I’m not championing any of the options. What I want is for people to calm the hell down, wait for all the details, and then jump down people’s throat when you have them. All of them. If the first option turns out to be the case then in July a full investigation should be launched and improved protocols should be implemented so it doesn’t happen again. To me, Crosby would quit hockey if his future was at stake and I believe he would do it earlier than most players. So I guess upon further review maybe I’m championing Option 3.

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Tonight is probably the biggest night in the NHL in the salary cap era. Connor McDavid’s first Game 7? And on the same night, Crosby vs. Ovechkin Game 7? With both victors going to the final four? Yes please.

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Nobody with any brain would wager significant money on tonight’s Washington-Pittsburgh game. It really is just a toss of the coin – and I think the winner will eventually win the Stanley Cup. So with the understanding that winning the Stanley Cup comes down to a Game 7 that nobody (and I mean nobody) can predict a winner… it seems a shame that Alex Ovechkin, Braden Holtby and the Capitals will be labeled ‘chokers’ if they lose. A championship title that could literally be lost to a fluky overtime goal, and it might result in a complete re-tool of this Washington team. And by the same token, they’ll be ‘clutch’ if they win.

Why can’t a game just be two great teams that ends up being decided by luck or timing? Maybe Team A wins if the game is held on a Wednesday night but Team B would have won it if it was on Thursday. But instead, we’ll be sitting on our couch holding one ‘choker’ sign and one ‘clutch’ sign, ready to drape one over the neck of Ovechkin.

– Justin Williams is 7-0 in Game 7s…

– Home teams are 97-69 all time in Game 7s.

– The team that scores first in a Game 7 is 124-42 all time.

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That’s enough non-fantasy talk. Time for the goods. And then there were six…

Clarke MacArthur had his second straight two-point game. He’s done a great job of whipping himself back into game shape and has been the second-best April addition to a team in the NHL (Sobotka ahead of him). Okay, so there were only two additions in April, but still – he’s been great. He’s added a missing element that’s basically given the Sens three lines that can score.

Viktor Stalberg left the game early in the second and with Chris Neil only getting 1:49 of ice time, the Senators were basically rolling with just 10 forwards.

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Mika Zibanejad had two points and he ends the playoffs with nine points in 12 games. He ended the regular season well too, and combined season/playoffs he has 18 points in his last 21 games. An injury ruined his breakout this year, so I’m looking for him to do it in 2017-18 instead. His nine points led the team – and that’s just in time for his contract negotiations. He’s a restricted free agent this summer.

The last word on Henrik Lundqvist? Well, despite his weaker Games 2, 5 and 6, I think he showed that he still has enough gas in the tank to help fantasy leagues for at least another season. He ends the playoffs with a 0.927 SV% which is a big upgrade on his season’s 0.910. But I don’t think he’s the guy to steal enough games to get the Rangers a Cup. That was the Lundqvist of ages 25 to 33. No, now he’s a 32-game regular season winner and he’s good enough to backstop a Cup team if the skaters win it for him. But for the purposes of fantasy, I went from panicky “seller” to “hold”.

Most disappointing Ranger? Kevin Hayes and his three points (all assists). And runners-up are J.T. Miller and Chris Kreider. These are three players who really showed signs of breaking out this year…and in a way they did. So next year, with this experience under their belt, all three should build on that – and actually carry it a little longer. Both Hayes and Miller enter contract years next season and will stand to make a ton of dough with big numbers.

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Derick Brassard: one point in the series, still second on the team in points with nine.

J-G Pageau: seven goals…still looking for his first assist.

Craig Anderson was actually ho-hum all series, but he sure came to play last night. He was so confident in net that you knew in the first period that he was in the zone and would be tough to beat. Don Cherry said as much on Coach’s Corner, but I had that sense long before Cherry came on. This is shaping up to be a magical run for him. Talk about determination and inspiration…

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Neil nailed it with his Ben Bishop take (found here). I can’t help but wonder if the Stars can be really, really good with just the two simple changes that they’ve already made: coach and goaltender. Remember last September we all figured that the Stars were a top team (with terrible goaltending). Could be a quick turnaround, though as Neil notes they would likely need a veteran, steady defenseman added.

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New Jersey GM Ray Shero has confirmed that Ilya Kovalchuk is indeed interested in returning to the NHL, so they will look to sign-and-trade. First, Kovalchuk’s camp will need to work out a deal with another club. Where he lands will have a huge impact on his production as I can see him get anywhere from 57 to 72 points.

The Kings signed Tanner Pearson to a four-year contract worth $15 million. That’s pretty good value for a 24-goal scorer on a low-scoring team, and frankly I’d rather have him at that cap hit than Nikita Zaitsev’s albatross. But don’t get me started on that again. The important thing is that there is an actual body of work with Pearson, one that indicates an upward trajectory. And the new coach will only help in his likely crossing of the 50-point threshold in the season ahead.

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Don’t forget to set your Dobbernomics playoff lineup!

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ICYMI – the Marlies scored three goals in 33 seconds starting with 1:54 left in the game and down by a goal. Start the clip at around 4:20: