Random notes from a playoff weekend

Going round the horn:

What do the San Jose Sharks do now about Vesa Toskola? And what has happened to this guy and to the Sharks, who after giving up just four goals in the first three games of the series have suddenly suffered multiple blowouts? Here's Toskola's game by game against the Oilers:

PAUL SAKUMA/AP

What happened to Vesa Toskala? There was something in the air that night; The stars were bright, Fernando.

Game 1: 16 shots, 1 goal
Game 2: 25 shots, 1 goal
Game 3: 58 shots, 2 goals (triple OT)
Game 4: 31 shots, 5 goals (replaced by Nabokov with 11+ remaining)
Game 5: 18 shots, 6 goals

Since the end of the first period of Game 4, he's given up 10 goals on 34 shots. At this point, turning to Nabokov in Edmonton's rink seems the obvious play, but it would also be a huge question mark. Nabokov has just that Game 4 action in the playoffs, and made but two starts since the beginning of April.

Either way, it'll probably make no difference at all. The Oilers have looked more and more the better team the past two nights, Chris Pronger looming larger and larger each time out.

Oh, and here's Dirk Nowitzki, after teammate Jerry Stackhouse's deliberate free throw miss at the end of the game Saturday night miss the iron, giving the Spurs a chance:

ERIC GAY/AP

You'd be grumpy too, if guarded by Bruce Bowen.

"He's been in the league for 10 years so you should that he's gotta hit the rim so the clock won't stop. But at least got the win and we correct our mistakes."

And: "I was wondering what the hell he was doing - but at least we won the game."

Ira Winderman on the Heat up 3-1 over the Nets and ready to roll on:

Is it too late to revoke Jason Kidd's first-team All-Defensive nod? The only time you notice Kidd defensively against Wade is when he's running from behind, trying to catch up.

What next in Ottawa? The Senators taking the most heat for their tank job against the Sabres range from Alfredsson and Chara to Hasek to John Muckler and Bryan Murray.  How about Redden, mediocre apart from a decent Game 4, and Heatley, into one of his disappearing acts?

The last word, as usual, goes to Bob Cole, turning in a Shatneresque performance at the end of that series:

And listen
to the pin drop
here
in Scotiabank Place
This is a sudden, sudden ending
- it always is! -
as we said,
sudden death,
whoever came up
with that term
did a heck of a job.

What a season
for the Ottawa Senators
a gold medal for Alfredsson
but nothing silver here.

Comments

[chad inglis]

that bob cole poem is a brilliant find.

[Peter]

OK, off topic from everything else but from reading the stories about the Senators' shortcomings it seems as though Alfredsson is among the first couple of players who will likely leave Ottawa this summer. How well do you think Mats Sundin and Daniel Alfredsson would compliment one another every night? At 5 million a year he's about what I expected the Leafs would want to pay their top acquisition this off-season. Give me one good reason why the Leafs should not jump all over Alfredsson if he becomes available to us.
But then snap back to reality, is a Leafs-Sens deal involving Alfredsson even possible?

[cy]

Peter, judging from the tea leaves from earlier in the season, it's Chara or Redden who would be at the top of the Leafs wish list. They need blueline help first and foremost, to me, so that's where I'd be looking, although I claim no special conduit to JFJ on that particular nugget, or any other. On the other hand, off his record this past season, I would be leery of JFJ successfully negotiating a Pizza Pizza order, so stay tuned.

And Chad, here's one more from Saturday's broadcast, not quite as good, but still able to stand up to closer analysis (pls insert Shatner pauses at the end of each line):

And here in Game 5
it has come down to this:
one goal and Buffalo will move on
one goal and Ottawa's season
will be over.
But the Sens are gonna come out fighting
you know that
they have nothing to lose
and everything to gain, they wanna go back for Game 6
in Buffalo
if necessary.
That game will be played
on Monday.
Let's talk about this one now, folks.

[Peter]

A season well eulogized by the great Bob Cole, I hope he never stops.
Upon reflection of my last message I thought the same things you did vis-a-vis Chara/Redden/9671111. D is key and either of those two would be a good addition. I'd take Redden first in a heartbeat to soften the blow of McCabe's imminent departure, there are just too many ways to mess up that situation that you've got to think Ferguson will end up making some sort of mistake. There's top-tier offensive talent (Elias) availabe if management decides to go that road. Despite a great power-play there is much room for improvement offensively.
I'm really looking forward to seeing what Paul Maurice can get out of his team next year. I think he'll get more out of Jeff O'Neill (his former captain, don't forget) than PQ could and that could make a difference. The Domi quote from a few days back about Maurice running the best practice he ever took part in was what made me more optimistic than anything else that's been printed though.
It's odd, nicest day of the year so far in Halifax but all I can think about is hockey...

[COACH]

Stackhouse is one dumb baller. First , the 3 pointer screwup in game 1 and now the stupid free throw. What's next ? He shooting at the Spurs' basket.
One reader suggested that Mark Cuban trade him ... for a donkey !